We have the best gods! The encounter between Hinduism and Christianity in La Reunion

Journal/Book: J Asian Afr Stud. 1997; 32: PO Box 9000, 2300 Pa Leiden, Netherlands. E J Brill. 286-295.

Abstract: Christian religion, imposed on South Indian immigrants from advent in La Reunion (Indian Ocean) by the French administration, did not succeed in eradicating belief in the Hindu gods: rather, Christianity became for the Tamils a matter of mere public display, acted out to satisfy the island's ''others'' and to demonstrate integration into the mainstream society, Meanwhile, Tamils in La Reunion today face an important dilemma emerging from within: to reform or not to reform their Hindu folk rites. As a brahmanic Hinduism is recently imported from India and propagated among Tamils of the younger generation.

Note: Article Ghasarian C, Univ Calif Berkeley, Ctr S Asia Studies, Berkeley,CA 94720 USA

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