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Artwork for New Books in Indian Religions

New Books in Indian Religions

Marshall Poe
Hinduism
Buddhism
Hindu Nationalism
Christianity
Tina Turner
Shakti
Philosophy Of Religion
Bharatanatyam
Bhagavad Gita
Vaiṣṇava Concepts Of God
Goddess Worship
Bengal
1948 Police Action
Cultural Identity
Devadasis
Panentheism
Black Baptist Christianity
Religious Syncretism
Ethno-Nationalism
Women In Religion

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes603Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HinduismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for New Books in Indian Religions

Latest Episodes

Why Muslims in South India observe hierarchical intra-communal relationships despite the egalitarianism of their religion

In Seeking Allah’s Hierarchy: Caste, Labor, and Islam in India (U Pennsylvania Press, 2025), P. C. Saidalavi provides an ethnog... more

Vanessa R. Sasson's book The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women (Equinox, 2023) is a retelling of the story of the first Buddhist women's request for ordination. Inspired by the Therigatha and building on years of research and experience ... more

Around 500 BCE, the Indian scholar Pāṇini wrote a treatise on Sanskrit, the Aṣṭādhyāyī, describing a kind of language machine: an algebraic system of rules for producing grammatically correct word forms. The enormity and elegance of that accomplishme... more

Hinduism in the World: Migrations and Global Presence (Routledge, 2025) explores Hindu religion from a global perspective and investigates the presence of Hindu religious traditions and some of their diversity worldwide.

A timely overview and analys... more

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Recent Guests

Rishi Rajpopat
Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Human Literature Studies at the University of Macau
University of Macau
Episode: Rishi Rajpopat, "Panini's Perfect Rule: A Modern Solution to an Ancient Problem in Sanskrit Grammar" (Harvard UP, 2025)
Dr. Knut Jacobsen
Professor at the University of Bergen and author of Hinduism in the World, Migrations and Global Presence
University of Bergen
Episode: Knut A. Jacobsen, "Hinduism in the World: Migrations and Global Presence" (Routledge, 2025)
Imran Mulla
Journalist at Middle East Eye and author
Middle East Eye
Episode: Imran Mulla, "The Indian Caliphate, Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince" (Hurst, 2025)
Dr. Gil Ben-Herut
Professor at the Department of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
Episode: Gil Ben-Herut, "Stories of Shiva's Saints: Selections from Harihara's Ragales" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Dr. J. Barton Scott
Associate Professor at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: J. Barton Scott, "Slandering the Sacred: Blasphemy Law and Religious Affect in Colonial India" (U Chicago Press, 2023)
Dr. Russell T. McCutcheon
University Research Professor and former Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
Episode: Russell T. McCutcheon, "Critics Not Caretakers: Redescribing the Public Study of Religion" (Routledge, 2023)
Dr. Christopher Key Chapple
Professor of Indicative Care Theology at Soil University
Soil University
Episode: Christopher Key Chapple, "Embodied Ecology: Yoga and the Environment" (Mandala Publishing, 2025)
Dr. Nayanjot Lahiri
Professor of History at Ashoka University
Ashoka University
Episode: Nayanjot Lahiri, "Searching for Ashoka: Questing for a Buddhist King from India to Thailand" (SUNY Press, 2023)
Dr. Ithamar Theodor
Author and scholar at Zephad's Academic College, specializing in the Bhagavad Gita.
Zephad's Academic College
Episode: Ithamar Theodor, "The Philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita" (Cambridge UP, 2025)

Host

Raj Balkaran
Host of New Books in Indian Religions, engaging dialogues with experts in the field.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • My first review

    I was compelled to express my appreciation for this podcast. Ran Balkaran has such a soothing smart voice and open curiosity that each interview is a deep conversation, real dialogue, and fun exploration.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LatinaYogi
    United States4 years ago
  • Jennifer B. Saunders Is Ear Grating

    I only listened to one episode before I unsubscribed. Jennifer B. Saunders has the most broken speech I’ve ever heard for someone qualified and educated. She says um like every other word, come on. Speak better, your voice is so slow, and the “um”s need to stop.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kata R
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There are mixed feelings about the diversity of guest speakers and their articulation, with some praising the depth of conversation while others have expressed dissatisfaction with specific episodes.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and engaging discussions conducted with scholars, noting the host's gentle approach and academic rigor.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Vanessa R. Sasson, "The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women" (Equinox, 2023)
Q: How do you envision or how have you heard from others that have used this book in the classroom?
People are finding it's a really nice way to engage with learning. Hearing the story allows for a positive engagement with the material and leads to deeper discussions and personal connections.
Vanessa R. Sasson, "The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women" (Equinox, 2023)
Q: Could you say more about your choice to make Vimala the protagonist?
I needed someone who was less known and someone I wouldn't feel like I was trespassing onto their story. Vimala was perfect because she is largely unknown but has an audacious character.
Vanessa R. Sasson, "The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women" (Equinox, 2023)
Q: What was your thinking about picking that second project of the first Buddhist women?
I felt like I had no choice because the story wasn't done after my first book. It seemed inevitable that I would have to tackle the story of the women asking the Buddha for ordination.
Imran Mulla, "The Indian Caliphate, Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince" (Hurst, 2025)
Q: How does this experiment (in having a constitutional caliph) fall apart under the Republic of Turkey?
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk saw Abdülmecid's prominence as a potential threat during Turkey's transition to a modern nation.
Imran Mulla, "The Indian Caliphate, Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince" (Hurst, 2025)
Q: What was Abdülmecid's life like before he was eventually kicked out of this role?
He grew up under Sultan Abdul Hamid II in relative confinement, engaged in intellectual and artistic pursuits.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in Indian Religions

What is New Books in Indian Religions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast focuses on discussions surrounding recent publications in the field of Indian religions, featuring scholars who engage in meaningful dialogues about their research. Episodes cover a wide range of topics, including historical and contemporary issues related to Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga, and the intersection of socio-political dynamics within these faiths. The conversations often bring to light the complexities of philosophical texts, ritual practices, and cultural histories, inviting both academic and general audiences to explore the rich tapestry of Indian religious traditions.

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1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
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How many episodes of New Books in Indian Religions are there?

New Books in Indian Religions launched 11 years ago and published 603 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on New Books in Indian Religions?

Recent guests on New Books in Indian Religions include:

1. Rishi Rajpopat
2. Dr. Knut Jacobsen
3. Imran Mulla
4. Dr. Gil Ben-Herut
5. Dr. J. Barton Scott
6. Dr. Russell T. McCutcheon
7. Dr. Christopher Key Chapple
8. Dr. Nayanjot Lahiri

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