Translocal Lives and Religion: Connections Between Asia and Europe in the Late Modern World

This book explores the intellectual trajectories of individuals who interacted with religious discourses, doctrines, or practices in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, using the approach of "connected religion" and reconstructing a narrative from diverse standpoints. It examines the cases of migrants, expatriates, and religious leaders producing and propagating beliefs and practices, and asks questions about the significance of improved travels and communications, the impact of specific individuals, and the role of the South Asian referent in legitimizing the propagation of religious views.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2021
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the profound intellectual journeys of remarkable individuals who engaged with religious discourses, doctrines, and practices during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Drawing inspiration from the historiographical model of "connected histories" proposed by S. Subrahmanyam and S. Gruzinskis, this book introduces the concept of "connected religion" and encourages the exploration of cross-cultural and "translocal" encounters. By bringing together a diverse range of documents that represent various aspects of the story, the book reconstructs a narrative from multiple perspectives, offering analytical insights. Through specific case studies of interactions between Asia and Europe, the volume uncovers the lesser-known narratives of migrants, expatriates, and religious leaders who shaped and propagated beliefs and practices. These cases raise thought-provoking questions about the significance of improved travel and communication for the diffusion of religious content across national, cultural, and institutional boundaries. They also examine the impact of charismatic individuals, both established and subaltern, in reconfiguring institutional forms of religion. Moreover, the book explores the role of the South Asian referent in legitimizing the propagation of specific religious views, shedding light on the complex interplay between religion, culture, and power in the late modern world.

Offering an innovative methodological framework and original cases based on extensive research, this book appeals to scholars of religion, specialists in South Asian studies in late modernity, and a broader audience interested in the study of religious dynamics and cultural transformations.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781781795835