Dynamics of conversion and religious change more generally are extremely complex, yet it is crucial for contemporary societies to understand them. This volume contributes to this understanding by focussing on the processes and modalities of conversion within, between and across various religious traditions (Hinduism, Islamic Reformism, Christianity, indigenous religions) from a multi-disciplinary perspective, including anthropology, sociology, religious studies, history and theology. While the book deals with Indian case studies, the introduction, preface (by Piers Vitebsky) and afterword (by Aparecida Vilaça) also offer a comparative perspective linking the Indian situation to contexts of conversion in other parts of the world. The introduction not only provides an overview of important research on conversion in India, it also intends to advance the general theoretical reflection on conversion, considers analytical tools for further research and discusses the work of important theorists such as Pierre Bourdieu, Joel Robbins and Marshall Sahlins who are not generally referred to in debates on conversion in India.

'… contains ten riveting historical and anthropological case studies of the several modes in which 'conversion' has taken place in various parts of India. Without employing the notion of conversion in a strictly ‘religious’ sense, the authors situate their respective chapters in terms of continuity, change, process, and event. Utilizing the metaphor of Godroads, the book offers a welcome and fresh perspective by critically engaging with the notion of conversion …’

Mukesh Kumar Source: Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute