Disinheritance and Indian Christianity: Mou Banerjee’s Bold Rethinking of Conversion, Caste, and Nation

Frontline
Frontline 5M India
Mou Banerjee's book explores the impact of Christian conversions in colonial Bengal on caste, inheritance, and nationalism, revealing deep-seated anxieties within Hindu society.
Disinheritance and Indian Christianity: Mou Banerjee’s Bold Rethinking of Conversion, Caste, and Nation
Why it matters
Mou Banerjee's 'The Disinherited: The Politics of Christian Conversion in Colonial India' delves into the historical and socio-political implications of Christian conversions in colonial Bengal. The book argues that these conversions not only challenged caste hierarchies but also stirred anxieties within Hindu nationalism. Banerjee traces the evolution of religious apologetics and the legal battles faced by converts, particularly focusing on upper-caste individuals like Gyanendramohan Tagore, whose conversion led to familial disinheritance. The narrative extends to the struggles of oppressed-caste Christian peasants, illustrating how conversion was both a tool for social mobility and a source of exploitation. Banerjee also discusses the role of figures like Munshi Meherullah, who resisted missionary influence, and Bhabanicharan Banerjee, whose life exemplified the tensions between personal faith and national identity. Ultimately, the book critiques the notion of disinheritance, emphasizing its varied implications across different socio-economic classes.

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