This conversation explores the complex interplay of religion and politics in modern India, focusing on the historical context of Christianity and its evolution from colonial times to the present. The discussion highlights the secular ideals enshrined in the Indian constitution, the impact of British rule on religious identities, and the contemporary dynamics of Christianity in a predominantly Hindu society. The conversation also addresses the challenges faced by religious minorities and the ongoing tensions in India's religious landscape.

We explore the complex interplay of religion, identity, and nationalism in India, focusing on the experiences of Hindu and Christian communities. It delves into the historical context of religious conversion, the implications of disinheritance, and the cultural differences in religious practices between India and the United States. The discussion highlights the life of Brahmabandhav Upadhyay, a figure who navigated multiple religious identities amidst the backdrop of Hindu nationalism.

Our host for this episode is Dan Hummel, Director of the Lumen Center for the SL Brown Foundation.

Our guest is Moe Banerjee, an assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Moe is a historian of modern South Asia, specializing particularly in the modern period. Her research interests include religion and politics in India, especially the evolution of the concepts of private faith and political identity in the public sphere. Her first book, which we're discussing today, is called The Disinherited Christianity and Conversion in Colonial India, 1813 to 1907, from Harvard University Press. During this episode, we discuss the long history of religion in India, the Christian missionaries that came in the modern period to reshape Indian religion and the religious landscape, the lesser-known story of Christian converts in India, and what those converts say about India today.