FROM FIRE TO LIGHT Paperback

"From Fire to Light: Rereading the Manusmriti" by Arvind Sharma. This scholarly yet accessible work challenges conventional interpretations of the Manusmriti, an ancient and often controversial Indian text widely regarded as a source of oppression, particularly against lower castes and women. Arvind Sharma, an acclaimed academic, argues that this prevailing understanding tells only a partial story. Drawing on textual, commentarial, and historical evidence, he offers an alternative reading that aims to bring a new perspective to the Manusmriti. The book seeks to shift the paradigm of understanding this ancient text, suggesting it represents a form of social engineering different from what has been commonly imagined, and inviting readers to explore its plural character within the broader Hindu tradition.