1. The term Religion, with its western origin, is NOT applicable to eastern religions. The term “Matham” is not same as the term “religion”.

2. The meaning of religion is applicable only to abrahamic one, and hence the paganic cultures and cults cannot be termed as religion. With this understanding, the very perspective that IVC (or ISC in my view) did not have any religion at all.

So if we negate the non-existence of religion prior to abrahamic faiths, then we have to have a entirely new perspective of the past.. we have to see the history based on cultures and NOT on religions. And most cultures, due to their absense of any holy books, were open to mutual interaction and learning..

Pls see the video of his speech during his book release at Arsha vidhya Gurukulam at Anaikatty.. The video is one hour long, and pls see it when you are free..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFmL65VsWdk

One important points that he makes is the Non-Translatable words of Sanskrit, which when done, will totally distort its original meaning.. for eg, the word yagna is different from the translated word “sacrifice”.. so as the word “Atma” is different from “Soul”.. the word yoga is already NOT translatable..

And this point is very important, w.r.t the debate in this post.. Max Muller’s translation of vedas is being quoted as authentic source, and that is where the problem lies.. Rajeev Malhotra explains, how the deeper broad meaning of sanskrit words are NOT translatable, and that’s the reason, English translation of vedas would distort the original meaning a lot..

Like wise he gives some more examples on this aspect..

1. Also, the entire abrahamic religions is based on the “History Centrism”, whereas, the entire eastern set of religions (including Budhism which rejects the concept of Brahman), are NOT so.. which means, the western abrahamic religions cease to exist if their history is denied, whereas eastern religions like Budhism will continue even if the history of budha is denied..

This is one of the major differentiations, that Rajeev Malhotra explains in his book..

2. He counters the false claims of “All religions are same”, and all are one.. In Christianity and other abrahamic religions, even a christian is NOT in oneness with either Jesus or his GOD.. that is not so in eastern religions.. and this single factor itself is enough to disprove this self-deceiting argument of “All religions are same”.. there are many other powerful arguments he gives in his book.

3. He explains about the anxiety about being different from others, which he calls the difference anxiety.. So many people run up to the “all religions are same” argument, because of the fear of difference.. The reality that everyone is unique is NOT being accepted.. We can see this difference anxiety even in many posts of this blog . How many times have we resorted to arguments like “all men are same”, “all women are same”, “men and women are equal” etc.. so the next time, one say these things, pls understand that he/she are expressing a feeling of insecurity, and probably a psychological treatment might be needed

4. The author brilliantly explains, how Indian Civilization is being digested, through various means. By digesting, he means, taking indian concepts, and fitting them within their western christian framework, and then rejecting all those that does not fit its history centric theory.

More interesting details in the above video i had given.

Although not related directly, the below article in 2ndlook on alexander myth gives a wonderful prespective of alexander and the greek empire, and the utilitarian value of greek’s alexander propoganda..

http://2ndlook.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/the-genesis-of-the-greek-miracle/

http://www.india-today.com/itoday/26011998/indus.html

http://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_2007_dholavira.asp

there are hundreds of such sites along saraswathi river bed, yet to the excavated.. The dimension of history will definitely change with each discovery..

Infact, these findings will rewrite the entire world history, and that has been the nightmare of the western academic institutions..