BISHNOI: AN ECO-THEOLOGICAL “NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT” INTHE INDIAN DESERT(Published in the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, 19.1, August 2010)ABSTRACT:
Although Rajasthan is the “desert” state in the North West of India, it has been a fertile ground for interreligious interactions for last several centuries, welcoming or battling the new groups entering South Asia. In this article I present my fieldw
ork done with theBishnois, a Rajasthani community that transcends the boundaries of Hinduism and Islam.Although Bishnois are now considered a caste-group within the Hindu community, they wereclassified with Muslims in 1891 Census of Marwar. I also note that despite the several commonelements of Hindu and Muslim practices and ideas in this community, at present the Bishnoisreject any connection with Islam. I conclude that this “Hinduization” can be contextualized withsimilar process taking place with several other “liminal” communities.
