Kashi Among all the holy sites, Kashi holds a very special place in Hindu conscience. In the context of the cyclic nature of creation and destruction, the city of Mahadev is believed to have never ceased to exist. In the recent backdrop of the “Gyanvaapi” excavation case, the book “Vishwanath Rises and Rises”, takes us on a literary journey from the Upnishadic origin of Kashi to the untold stories of an unwavering Hindu resistance. From the tales of stalwart guardians of the Hindu holy city, the Gahadavala dynasty, safeguarding its spiritual sanctity through tumultuous times, to the unparalleled resolve of the Marathas, to the Rajas of Banaras, it’s a fascinating story of the perseverance of The Hindu Society. Kashi faced numerous invasions and destructions, yet flourished. Attempts had been made to change the historic spiritual attribute of the city, but Kashi’s resilience defied such discord. Dive into this captivating conversation to uncover untold tales of the sacred city.

Book Link – https://amzn.to/4aaoL3H

About the Speaker: Meenakshi Jain is a historian interested in cultural and religious developments in ancient and medieval India. Her recent publications include Vasudeva Krishna and Mathura (2021); Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples (2019); The Battle for Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya (2017); Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries, and the Changing Colonial Discourse (2016); Rama and Ayodhya (2013); The India They Saw: Foreign Accounts of India from the 8th to mid-19th Century, 3 vols., (2011); and Parallel Pathways (2010). In 2020, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contribution to the field of literature and education.

Dr. Rinkoo Wadhera is a researcher with a post-doctorate in Gender Studies and folkloristics. She is also an educational consultant & teacher-trainer with schools. She is the author of – Existentialism and Upanishadic Resolution in Indian English Poetry.