Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India

396 Pages·2023·46.893 MB·English

by  Douglas Ober

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THE SEARCH
FOR BUDDHISM IN
MODERN INDIA
DUST
ON THE
THRONE
Douglas Ober
Stanford University Press
Stanford, California
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THE SEARCH
FOR BUDDHISM IN
SOUTH ASIA IN MOTION MODERN INDIA
EDITOR
Thomas Blom Hansen
EDITORIAL BOARD
Sanjib Baruah
Anne Blackburn DUST
Satish Deshpande
Faisal Devji ON THE
Christophe Jaffrelot
THRONE
Naveeda Khan
Stacey Leigh Pigg
Mrinalini Sinha
Ravi Vasudevan
Douglas Ober
Stanford University Press
Stanford, California
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TTHHEE S SEEAARRCCHH
FFOORR B BUUDDDDHHIISSMM I INN
SOUTH ASIA IN MOTION MMOODDEERRNN I INNDDIIAA
EDITOR
Thomas Blom Hansen
EDITORIAL BOARD
Sanjib Baruah
Anne Blackburn DDUUSSTT
Satish Deshpande
Faisal Devji ON THE
ON THE
Christophe Jaffrelot
TTHHRROONNEE
Naveeda Khan
Stacey Leigh Pigg
Mrinalini Sinha
Ravi Vasudevan
Douglas Ober
Douglas Ober
Stanford University Press
Stanford, California
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Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India
First published by Navayana Publishing Pvt Ltd 2023
Hardback ISBN 9788195539291
© Douglas Ober
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Published simultaneously by Stanford University Press
Map on pp. 8–9 by Anurag Jadhav
All rigShttasn rfeosredr Uvnediv.e Nrsoit py aPrrte sosf this book may be reproduced,
Stanford, California
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
© 2023 by Douglas Ober. All rights reserved. Reprinted and published by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
arrangement with Navayana Publishing Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.
otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or
Navayainn aa nPyu ibnlfiosrhminagti oPnv ts tLotrda ge or retrieval system without the prior written
permission of Stanford University Press.
155 2nd Floor
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free, archival-quality paper
Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110049
navayaLnibar.aorryg of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ober, Douglas, author.
Title: Dust on the throne : the search for Buddhism
Typeset in Brill and Conduit ITC at Inosoft, Noida
in modern India / Douglas Ober.
PrinteOd tbhye r titles: South Asia in motion.
Description: Stanford, California : Stanford University Press, 2023. | Series:
Distributed in South Asia by HarperCollins India
South Asia in motion | Includes bibliographical references and index.
SubscrIidbeen ttiof iuerpsd: LaCteCsN a t2 0n2a2v0a4y1a14n4a (.oprrign/ts)u | bLsCcCriNb e20 22041145
Follow on(e bfaocoekb) o| IoSkB.Nco 9m78/1N50a3v6a3y5a0n2a9 (cloth) | ISBN 9781503635036
(paperback) | ISBN 9781503635777 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Buddhism—India—History—19th century.
| Buddhism—India—History—20th century.
Classification: LCC BQ345 .O34 2023 (print) | LCC BQ345
(ebook) | DDC 294.30954—dc23/eng/20220912
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022041144
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022041145
Cover design: Lindy Kasler
Photograph: Indian laborers repairing the Great Stupa at Sanchi in the early
1880s, one of the oldest and most revered Buddhist complexes in India. The
site was a thriving center of Buddhist activity from the third century BCE
up to the 12th century CE. After its rediscovery in the early 1800s, the site
underwent extensive repairs by British and Indian officials and is often
considered one of the best preserved Buddhist monuments in India today.
British Library, London, UK © British Library Board. All Rights Reserved /
Bridgeman Images.”
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