I will admit, when I first saw the Substack notification pop up that the Centre for Studies in Hindu Conservatism (CSHC) had posted an essay called “How Mythological Fiction is Quietly Dismantling Hindu Values”, I was greatly looking forward to reading it. I went into it thinking that it would be rip into the works of authors like Amish Tripathi, of the Shiva Trilogy. Instead, I found quite the opposite opinion on his writings.

“A crucial clarification is that this article is not an attack on creative liberty. There are several contemporary works on Hindu theology that engage with these traditions from within the framework of Dharma itself. For instance, Amish Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy reimagines Shiva as a mortal and writes on his journey of becoming deified. This is imaginative fiction that does not claim to correct theology. Left-Liberal worldview, however, views religion as something evil and interprets it accordingly.”

Before I go any further, let me make a few things clear. I have no enmity with the writers of the essay to which I write this answer. I have never spoken to or met them, nor have I ever read any of their writings before. Any harshness in my words should be taken as naught but a gentle hand suggesting that they take stock of other worthwhile targets.