Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) is one of the most misunderstood and most heavily criticized Hindu scripture, having been attacked by colonial scholars, modern liberals, Dalit advocates, feminists and Marxists.
The “Law of Manu” was cited favorably by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who observed as follows:
“It is with an opposite feeling that I read the law of Manu, an incomparably spiritual and superior work: even to mention it in the same breath with the Bible would be a sin against the spirit…….the sun shines on the whole book. All the things on which Christianity vents its unfathomable meanness – procreation, for example, woman, marriage—are here treated seriously, with respect, with love and trust”.
The author, Dr.Surendrakumar, states that out of a total of 2,685 verses, only 1,214 verses are authentic, the other 1,471 being interpolations on the text. In reply to the criticism of the sudra caste, the verses critical of the sudras and women are considered by the author of this booklet to be later interpolations. According to him, the need of the hour is that the original Manusmriti should be reckoned as authentic, and the opposition to Manu on the basis of interpolated slokas should be rebutted because Manu and Manusmriti are worth taking pride and not something condemnable.
Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) is one of the most misunderstood and most heavily criticized Hindu scripture, having been attacked by colonial scholars, modern liberals, Dalit advocates, feminists and Marxists.
The “Law of Manu” was cited favorably by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who observed as follows:
“It is with an opposite feeling that I read the law of Manu, an incomparably spiritual and superior work: even to mention it in the same breath with the Bible would be a sin against the spirit…….the sun shines on the whole book. All the things on which Christianity vents its unfathomable meanness – procreation, for example, woman, marriage—are here treated seriously, with
respect, with love and trust”.
The author, Surendrakumar, states that out of a total of 2,685 verses, only 1,214 verses are authentic, the other 1,471 being interpolations on the text. In reply to the criticism of the sudra caste, the verses critical of the sudras and women are considered by the author of this booklet to be later interpolations. According to him, the need of the hour is that the original Manusmriti should be reckoned as authentic, and the opposition to Manu on the basis of interpolated slokas should be rebutted because Manu and Manusmriti are worth taking pride and not something condemnable.