'Casting the Buddha': How Buddhism's ties to power shaped its survival

The chronological approach-from the time of the historical Buddha to the present moment with a Bharatiya Janata Party-run government at the Centre-makes the book easy to follow

CASTING THE BUDDHA: A Monumental History of Buddhism in India

Author: Shashank Shekhar Sinha

Publisher: Macmillan

Pages: 448

Price: ₹599  A Gupta period image of Gautama Buddha, dating back to the late sixth century or early seventh century, adorns the cover of Shashank Shekhar Sinha’s book Casting the Buddha: A Monumental History of Buddhism in India.  Made of a copper alloy, it shows the Buddha in a standing position holding out his right hand in the abhaya mudra —a gesture offering protection and fearlessness. While the physical artefact is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the museum’s website mentions