Sita Ram Goel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sita Ram Goel
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Sita Ram Goel
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| Born | 16 October 1921 Punjab Province, British India |
| Died | 3 December 2003 (aged 82) |
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| Alma mater | University of Delhi |
| Period | Late 20th century |
| Genre | History, Politics, Comparative Religion |
| Subject | Hinduism, Dharmic traditions, Christianity, Islam, Communism, Indian politics, British Imperialism |
| Notable works | How I Became a Hindu The Story of Islamic Imperialism in India History of Hindu–Christian Encounters, AD 304 to 1996 Catholic Ashrams Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them |
Sita Ram Goel (born October 16, 1921 – died December 3, 2003) was an important Indian historian, writer, and activist. He was known for his writings about Hinduism and Hindu nationalism in the late 1900s. His work has been both praised and criticized. People often discuss his strong views on Hindu nationalism and how he wrote about other religions like Islam and Christianity.
Later in his life, Goel became a commentator on Indian politics. He openly supported Hindu nationalism. This position led to many discussions and studies among experts who looked at Indian society and politics.
Contents
Life and Early Years
Growing Up in India
Sita Ram Goel was born into a Hindu family in Punjab in 1921. He spent his childhood in Calcutta. His family followed the teachings of Garib Das, a special religious teacher. They often read verses from his book, the "Granth Saheb," at home.
Goel studied history at the University of Delhi and graduated in 1944. As a student, he was very active in social causes. He worked at a Harijan Ashram in his village. Harijans were a group of people who faced discrimination. Goel supported them and the Indian freedom movement. He also strongly supported Mahatma Gandhi. These beliefs sometimes caused disagreements with others in his village. During his college years, Goel also learned to speak and write Sanskrit.
His Writings and Ideas
Discussing History and Religion
Sita Ram Goel wrote many books and essays. He often explored the history of religions in India. He also wrote about Indian politics and society. His works aimed to share a Hindu perspective on various topics.
In 1993, a book by Ram Swarup called Hindu View of Christianity and Islam faced calls for a ban. Goel supported Swarup and spoke out against banning books. He believed in the importance of discussing history openly.
Freedom of Expression
Goel also reprinted an essay called The Dead Hand of Islam in 1986. Some people disagreed with its content. They tried to take legal action against Goel. However, a judge decided that Goel had the right to publish historical discussions. The judge said that stopping the publication of history would be wrong. He explained that a nation needs to remember its past.
Goel also published The Calcutta Quran Petition with Chandmal Chopra in 1986. This book also caused debate. These events showed Goel's strong belief in freedom of speech.
Books on Temples and History
One of Goel's well-known books is Hindu Temples - What Happened to Them. This book discusses the history of Hindu temples. There were attempts to ban this book in 1990. Goel's writings often focused on historical events. He wanted people to understand the past from a Hindu viewpoint.
His Impact and Legacy
Many people saw Sita Ram Goel as a brave and intelligent thinker. Koenraad Elst called him an "intellectual kshatriya." This means someone who fights for ideas with their mind. David Frawley described Goel as "modern India's greatest intellectual kshatriya." He also said Goel was "one of India's most important thinkers" after India gained independence. Frawley noted that Goel always sought the truth, even if it was difficult. He believed Goel's thinking was very strong and unique among Hindu scholars.
Selected Books and Booklets
Books in English
- How I Became a Hindu (1982)
- The Story of Islamic Imperialism in India (1982)
- Defence of Hindu Society (1983)
- History of heroic Hindu resistance to Muslim invaders, 636 AD to 1206 AD (1984)
- St. Francis Xavier : the man and his mission (1985)
- Catholic Ashrams : adopting and adapting Hindu dharma (1988)
- History of Hindu–Christian Encounters, AD 304 to 1996 (1989)
- Hindu temples, what happened to them : Vol. I, A preliminary survey (1990) - with Arun Shourie and others.
- Jesus Christ : an artifice for aggression (1994)
Books in Hindi
- Pathabhṛshṭa (1960)
- Saikyularijma : deśadroha kā dūsrā nāma (1983) - translated as India's secularism, new name for national subversion.
Images for kids
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Sita Ram Goel
See also
- Ram Swarup
- Koenraad Elst
- David Frawley
