The book offers to undertake a conceptual approach to the issue of Hinduism and Human Rights in a cultural ethos in which they are perceived. It offers a rich network of interrelated questions about Human Rights from variety of Hindu and non-Hindu angles. The study focuses on the conceptual level of debate and tries to show that there is a room for classical or traditional Hindu concepts and ideas in the current international debates on Human Rights protection. The book raises many pertinent issues concerning the relation between Hinduism and Human Rights. The indological literature on Hinduism and Hindu culture has never addressed the human rights perspective, and the author has analysed this issue by discussing issues like Caste System (varna, jati), The Stages of life (asrama), The Four Ages (yugas), and Freedom of Conscience and Hinduism. This volume will be of immense value to scholars and students of law, religion, and philosophy. This will also be of interest to social theorists and comparatives.

Arvind Sharma is Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University. His books include Religious Ferment in Modern India (with H. W. French, 1981), The Gītārthasangraha of Abhinavagupta (1982), The Hindu Gītā (1986), A Hindu Perspective on the Philosophy of Religion (1991), and A Buddhist Perspective on the Philosophy of Religion (forthcoming) .

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