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Vaishnava sadhu. Arya Samajist. Buddhist monk. Hindi nationalist. Communist.

These are the identities Rahul Sankrityayan (1893–1963), born a Sanatani Brahmin, donned during the early 20th century. Widely known in the field of Buddhist studies and Hindi literature, Sankrityayan was also a prolific writer whose varied ideological stances have baffled his critics and admirers alike.

While several works have tried to analyse Sankrityayan’s life through the lens of these identities, few have delved deep into the ambivalence that marked his thoughts and writings as he shifted his allegiance between these identities. A Freethinking Cultural Nationalist takes, as its starting point, the insight that Sankrityayan’s personality was a product of the Indian renaissance period, and situates his life and work critically within the wider framework of his times. By exploring the thread that held together the different aspects of his personality, it presents a multifaceted picture not just of the man, but of India itself.

Contents: Introduction: Rahul Sankrityayan in the Context of His Age. 1. Rahul Sankrityayan’s autobiography: The product of a prison cell. 2. The Arya Samaj: A ‘New Light’. 3. Buddhism: A source of Indian Pride. 4. Hindi: An Indian Voice. afterword: rahul sankrityayan-a freethinking Cultural Nationalist. Appendices. Selected Bibliography. Index.