War, Dharma, and Politics: Unfolding Political Theory in the Bhagavad-Gītā

Abstract

This review essay critically examines Stuart Gray’s reading of the Bhagavad Gītā in his work The Political Theory of the Bhagavad-Gītā: Deep Ideology, Nationalism, and Democratic Life on the Indian Subcontinent. It explores how Gray situates the Gītā within a broader comparative political theory, arguing that Hindu nationalism reconfigures the text to legitimize a political vision rooted in mythic pasts and divine action. The review interrogates Gray’s claim that the Gītā functions as a philosophical site for political modernity and cultural authority, often aligned with exclusionary ideologies. While acknowledging the originality of Gray’s analysis, this essay also reflects on the limitations of framing the Gītā within Western paradigms, urging more grounded approaches to Indian political texts and their contemporary receptions. © 2025 Anoop Kumar Suraj, Published with license by Koninklijke Brill BV Anoop Kumar Suraj.