Hindu Diaspora

Hindus have relocated to 150 countries and are explored here through 18 historical studies and personal narratives. Historical studies are situated in Europe, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Trinidad, Surinam, and Guyana. Identity pressures and negative stereotyping are looked at in American schools, and diasporic temple building is the focus in Africa and the US. Identity through food and religious practice occupies the last articles. In the case of food, vegetarianism is studied in the British context (conclusion: Hindus are vegetarian because of their religion and the same types of factors motivating Westerners). The article on the transmission of religious practice from homeland mother to diasporic daughter addresses what practices are kept, and of those, what modifications are made. Editor Rukmani is Chair of Hindu Studies at Concordia University, Montreal. The book is distributed by South Asia Books. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)