India, home to all major religions, is also a battleground for religious fanaticism. No other country has witnessed as much proselytizing or heard as many war cries in the name of faith. Over the centuries, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians have fought bloody wars, sought violent conversions, and declared jihad, as their religions have been overtaken by the forces of fundamentalism. From Kashmir to Gujarat, Punjab to Goa, India has borne witness to numerous conflicts fueled by religious extremism.
In Holy Warriors, Edna Fernandes delves into these regions of religious tension, meeting the generals and foot soldiers involved in communal wars. These individuals express their faith with a mixture of rhetoric and rage, offering stories marked by bigotry, bloodshed, insecurity, and despair. Fernandes approaches these encounters with understanding, tolerance, and even a sense of humor, creating a vivid and insightful portrait of a nation deeply divided by dogma.