Global Tantra: Religion, Science, and Nationalism in Colonial Modernity, by Julian Strube.

Cantú, Keith Edward

"Global Tantra: Religion, Science, and Nationalism in Colonial Modernity" by Julian Strube explores the intersection of Tantra, Theosophy, and nationalism in colonial India, focusing on the "Bengali Intervention" at the turn of the twentieth century. The book highlights the collaborative efforts of Bengali scholars like John Woodroffe and Shivachandra Bhattacharyya Vidyarnava in reshaping the contours of "Global Tantra." Strube's study offers a critical perspective on the Eurocentrism in the study of Tantra and emphasizes the agency of Indian theosophists in shaping esoteric practices. The book, while lacking in translations of source material, serves as a significant intervention in the fields of Tantra studies, yoga studies, and Western esotericism, providing valuable insights into global history and individual agency in religious contexts."

ADMINISTRATION of British colonies; MEDIEVAL manuscripts; LOCAL history; JUDGES; WORLD history; HISTORICAL source material

Aries, 2025, Vol 25, Issue 1, p143

1567-9896

Review

10.1163/15700593-tat00005