Editorial Note, May-Jun, 2016

It is often claimed that in contrast to the semitic religions, which are imbued with a proselytising drive and are therefore intrinsically incapable of settling down to a state of peaceful mutual coexistence, Hinduism is characterised by a certain tolerance and accommodativeness. In the current issue of Social Scientist, however, we have articles by two renowned historians of ancient India disputing this view and highlighting the intolerance of brahmanism towards Buddhism in particular, which at one point of time had posed a serious challenge to its hegemony.