Koenraad Elst

Koenraad Elst (born 7 August 1959) (कोनराड एल्स्ट) is a Belgian orientalist and Indologist known for his writings on Hinduism, comparative religion, Indian history and politics.

Koenraad Elst
Born	(1959-08-07) 7 August 1959 Leuven, Belgium
Residence	Mortsel, Belgium
Education	Doctor of Philosophy
Alma mater	Benares Hindu University
Occupation	Writer
Website	http://koenraadelst.blogspot.com [archive]

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Independent authors Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay Swapan Dasgupta Dharampal Koenraad Elst David Frawley François Gautier Ram Gopal Sita Ram Goel Girilal Jain Meenakshi Jain Rama Jois Christophe Jaffrelot Bojil Kolarov K. S. Lal Rajiv Malhotra K. R. Malkani Harsh Narain Ramesh Nagaraj Rao Yvette Rosser Ram Swarup K. D. Sethna H. V. Sheshadri Arun Shourie Dattopant Thengadi
Hinduism

Biography

Elst was born to a Flemish Catholic family. Some of his family members were Christian missionaries. He graduated in Indology, Sinology and Philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven. Around that time, Elst became interested in Flemish nationalism. Between 1988 and 1992, Elst was at the Banaras Hindu University. In 1999, he received a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Leuven. His doctoral dissertation on Hindu revivalism was published as Decolonizing the Hindu Mind.

Elst has also written about multiculturalism, language policy issues, ancient Chinese philosophy and history, and comparative religion.

He also wrote for business weekly Trends, and Communist weekly Toestanden, Inforiënt, a monthly issued by the Asian Studies Department of his home university. He wrote as foreign editor of the Antwerp-based weekly Punt in 2001-2002). He also contributed columns to Indian papers such the late Observer, the Pioneer and the weekly Outlook India.

Opinions

Ayodhya

Elst book "Ram Janmabhoomi vs. Babri Masjid, a Case Study in Hindu-Muslim conflict" (1990) was the first book published by a non-Indian on the Ayodhya debate. His opinion is that "until 1989, there was a complete consensus in all sources (Hindu, Muslim and European) which spoke out on the matter, viz. that the Babri Masjid had been built in forcible replacement of a Hindu temple." He claimed that politically motivated academics have, through their grip on the media, manufactured doubts concerning this coherent and well-attested tradition. Elst alleges that the anti-Temple group in the Ayodhya conflict have committed serious breaches of academic deontology and says that the "overruling of historical evidence with a high-handed use of academic and media power" in the Ayodhya controversy was the immediate reason to involve himself in the debate.

Elst's book Ram Janmabhoomi vs. Babri Masjid, a Case Study in Hindu-Muslim conflict (1990) was the first book published by a non-Indian on the Ayodhya debate. His opinion is that "until 1989, there was a complete consensus in all sources (Hindu, Muslim and European) which spoke out on the matter, viz. that the Babri Masjid had been built in forcible replacement of a Hindu temple." He claimed that politically motivated academics have, through their grip on the media, manufactured doubts concerning this coherent and well-attested tradition. Elst alleges that the anti-Temple group in the Ayodhya conflict have committed serious breaches of academic deontology and says that the "overruling of historical evidence with a high-handed use of academic and media power" in the Ayodhya controversy was the immediate reason to involve himself in the debate.

On Antihinduism and anti-Hindu bias

Elst has criticized alleged Anti-Hinduism and anti-Hindu biases. Elst writes for example that "when Hindus complain of factual problems such as missionary subversion or Muslim terrorism, it is always convenient to portray this spontaneous and truthful perception as an artefact of "RSS propaganda"."

On alleged negationism and history rewriting

Elst's book "Negationism in India" makes the case that the Islamic history in India is being whitewashed. He claims that there is a larger effort to rewrite India's history and to whitewash Islam. He says that the goal and methods of this alleged history rewriting is similar with the denial of the Nazi holocaust, and that in India, jihad negationists are in control of the academic establishment and of the press.

Hindutva

Elst is also a scholar on Hindutva. Winand M. Callewaert writes, Not a few students of the Kuleuven have continued a career in the US or outside the academic circle. Koenraad Elst focused on Hindutva and published several books about it.

Elst has criticized the Hindutva movement because, as he claims, "there is no intellectual life in this Hindutva movement". He claims that Hindutva advocates have not developed a "wellfounded coherent vision on a range of topics which any social thinker and any political party will have to address one day", and that there is as yet very little original or comprehensive work being done in the Hindutva movement. According to Elst, "Hindutva is a fairly crude ideology, borrowing heavily from European nationalisms with their emphasis on homogeneity. Under the conditions of British colonialism, it was inevitable that some such form of Hindu nationalism would arise, but I believe better alternatives have seen the light, more attuned to the genius of Hindu civilization."

Elst's book "BJP vis-à-vis Hindu Resurgence", and a chapter in "Decolonizing the Hindu Mind" criticizes the RSS Parivar. On the RSS, he says that its intellectual output is minimal: "Most of its pamphlets and manifestoes contain a lot of puffed-up patriotism and wailing over the Partition of the Hindu motherland, but little penetrating analysis that could be the basis for imaginative policies and a realistic strategy."

He criticized Hindutva writers for only complaining about Muslim atrocities, but refusing to search Islamic doctrine for a reason for the observed fact of Muslim fanaticism. He has also criticized fringe Hindutva writers for claiming that the Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple, or for claiming that the Vedas contain all the secrets of modern science.

Elst says, "there is no intellectual life in this Hindutva movement". He claims that Hindutva advocates have not developed a "wellfounded coherent vision on a range of topics which any social thinker and any political party will have to address one day", and that there is as yet very little original or comprehensive work being done in the Hindutva movement. According to Elst, "Hindutva is a fairly crude ideology, borrowing heavily from European nationalisms with their emphasis on homogeneity. Under the conditions of British colonialism, it was inevitable that some such form of Hindu nationalism would arise, but I believe better alternatives have seen the light, more attuned to the genius of Hindu civilization.". Sometimes, Elst is critical of Hindutva for not going far enough in its criticism of Islam. He has also criticized fringe Hindutva writers for claiming that the Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple, or for claiming that the Vedas contain all the secrets of modern science. .

The same pattern also applies with respect to Elst and the RSS. Elst views the RSS as an interesting nationalist movement, while addressing some secondary critics, in which Elst criticizes the RSS for not going far enough in the nationalist realm. For instance, he says that RSS's intellectual output is minimal: "Most of its pamphlets and manifestoes contain a lot of puffed-up patriotism and wailing over the Partition of the Hindu motherland, but little penetrating analysis that could be the basis for imaginative policies and a realistic strategy." Elst has criticized alleged Anti-Hinduism and anti-Hindu biases. Elst writes for example that "when Hindus complain of factual problems such as missionary subversion or Muslim terrorism, it is always convenient to portray this spontaneous and truthful perception as an artefact of "RSS propaganda".

On allegations of "Hindu fascism"

Elst has written at length about fascism and totalitarianism in India and the West. His book The Saffron Swastika analyses the rhetoric of "Hindu fascism". He argues that "objective outsiders are not struck by any traces of fascism in the Hindutva movements, let alone in the general thought current of anti-imperialist Hindu awakening. While one should always be vigilant for traces of totalitarianism in any ideology or movement, the obsession with fascism in the anti-Hindu rhetoric of the secularists is not the product of an analysis of the data, but of their own political compulsions."

In an article, he argued that the current tendency to accuse Hindu movements of “fascism” is nothing but a "replay of an old colonial tactic."

Elst's book The Saffron Swastika proposes an examination of the rhetoric of "Hindu fascism". He argues that "objective outsiders are not struck by any traces of fascism in the Hindutva movements, let alone in the general thought current of anti-imperialist Hindu awakening. While one should always be vigilant for traces of totalitarianism in any ideology or movement, the obsession with fascism in the anti-Hindu rhetoric of the secularists is not the product of an analysis of the data, but of their own political compulsions."

In an article, he writes that the current tendency to accuse Hindu movements of “fascism” is nothing but a "replay of an old colonial tactic."

On Nouvelle Droite and Vlaams Belang

Elst rejected the Nouvelle Droite movement after initial sympathy in the early 1990s. Among the reasons for his rejection he cites that the collaborationist aspects of the careers of two Belgian writers were covered up in Nouvelle Droite articles, and that he suspected that "its critique of egalitarianism in the name of “differentialism” could at heart simply be a plea against equality in favour of inequality, Old-Right style".

However, he does not actively oppose the Nouvelle Droite movement: "Wisely or unwisely, I have not taken my scepticism to be a reason for any active hostility to the Nouvelle Droite people, some of whom I count as friends... Time permitting, I accept invitations from that side, so that I spoke at their conference in Antwerp in 2000, if only as a stand-in for an announced speaker who had cancelled at the last minute for health reasons (Pim Fortuyn, no less, the Dutch liberal sociology professor who criticized Islam, subsequently went into politics, and ended up murdered by a leftist). Jan De Zutter criticized Elst for being too close with the Vlaams Belang, as in June 1992, Koenraad Elst gave a speech on the dangers of Islam at the Vlaams Blok Colloquium where the party proposed its first version of its 70 point anti-immigration policy Elst said that he spoke there because it was the only party where the problem of the Islam was brought up, but that he also explicitly said that he didn't agree with the party's solution for that problem, and disapproved of their xenophobia. He stated that the VB can not be and was never his party because of its xenophobia and ethnocentrism. Since this event, he has often been accused of being the party's specialist on Islam and its link with the new Pagan Movement. Though he himself denies any affinity to the party program, he admits to "lukewarm" sympathy for the Flemish cause (of independence). Lucas Catherine contrasted Elst's viewpoint with the viewpoint of Filip Dewinter, who according to her could not have been very happy with Elst's opinion that not the Moslems, but Islam, is the problem.

On Islam

Elst claims that he is not anti-Muslim, and argues often that “not Muslims but Islam is the problem”.

Belgian journalist Paul Belien has reported that Elst thinks that “Islam is in decline, despite its impressive demographic and military surge” – which according to Dr Elst is merely a “last upheaval.” But Elst also thinks that it is possible that Islam will succeed in becoming the majority religion in Europe before collapsing

Elst's book Negationism in India: Concealing the Record of Islam makes the case that the Islamic history in India is being whitewashed. He claims that there is a larger effort to rewrite India's history and to whitewash Islam. He says that the goal and methods of this alleged history rewriting is similar to the denial of the Nazi holocaust, and that in India jihad negationists are in control of the academic establishment and of the press.

On racism

Elst disapproves of xenophobia and racism, and elaborated: "Of course I have nothing to do with racism and xenophobia, and I have my life-story to prove it. Given the democratic slump in Europe, I am convinced that a measured and carefully monitored immigration is necessary. My hometown is host to people from every country, and I have a lot of foreign friends, mostly Indian and Chinese. So, I am not at all against immigrants, and I have personally helped some to integrate or to get naturalized as citizens of my country. But my criticism of Islam stands: Islam is intrinsically separatist and hostile to neighbour communities."

Elst has helped Kurds and Pakistanis to integrate into Dutch society, and has a Chinese god child. He said he believes that Turks and Moroccans can integrate themselves perfectly and assimilate, and that it doesn't matter if someone is called Ali or Fatima.

On the Aryan Invasion theory

Elst, unlike some defenders or critics of the Aryan Invasion theory, does not claim that the debate is resolved. He wrote in his main work on the subject:

"One thing which keeps on astonishing me in the present debate is the complete lack of doubt in both camps. Personally, I don’t think that either theory, of Aryan invasion and of Aryan indigenousness, can claim to have been “proven” by prevalent standards of proof; eventhough one of the contenders is getting closer. Indeed, while I have enjoyed pointing out the flaws in the AIT statements of the politicized Indian academic establishment and its American amplifiers, I cannot rule out the possibility that the theory which they are defending may still have its merits."

The Hindu nationalist N.S. Rajaram criticized Elst's book "Asterisk in Bharopiyasthan" because of Elst's alleged agenda of rescuing Indo-European linguistics from oblivion. Elst's views on the Aryan Invasion Theory were also criticized by e.g. Hans Hock, Edwin Bryant, George Cardona and rather severely by Michael Witzel.

In two books, Update on the Aryan Invasion Debate (1999) and Asterisk in Bhāropīyasthān (2007), Elst has written in support of Out of India theory. Elst argues that the migration went the other way and that Aryans indigenous to India migrated out of India, taking Indo-European languages to the middle east and Europe. Elst is one of the few supporters of that theory who uses paleolinguistics in support of the Out of India theory. The Out of India theory is considered to be an extreme view of the origin of the Indo-European family of languages and Elst is thought to be one of its leading proponents.

According to Elst, the linguistic data are a soft type of evidence and are compatible with a variety of scenarios, and the dominant linguistic theories turn out to be compatible with an out-of-India scenario for Indo-European expansion. He notes that the substratum data are not in conflict with an Indo-European homeland in India.

On the topic of the "Indigenous Aryans" polemic within Hindu nationalism, Elst writes

"One thing which keeps on astonishing me in the present debate is the complete lack of doubt in both camps. Personally, I don’t think that either theory, of Aryan invasion and of Aryan indigenousness, can claim to have been “proven” by prevalent standards of proof; even though one of the contenders is getting closer. Indeed, while I have enjoyed pointing out the flaws in the AIT statements of the politicized Indian academic establishment and its American amplifiers, I cannot rule out the possibility that the theory which they are defending may still have its merits."

Elst's views on the Aryan Invasion Theory were also discussed or criticized by, for example, Hans Hock, Edwin Bryant, George Cardona and by Michael Witzel.

Influences

He has described himself as "a secular humanist with an active interest in religions, particularly Taoism and Hinduism, and keeping a close watch on the variegated Pagan revival in Europe."

He has not adopted Hinduism: "I am neither a Hindu nor a nationalist. And I don’t need to belong to those or to any specific ideological categories in order to use my eyes and ears." As a reason for his interest in Hindu nationalism, he says that he noticed for myself that the legitimate Hindu nationalists are thoroughly misrepresented in the journalistic and academic literature about them, and that the anomaly between their image and the reality on the ground struck him by surprise. He also wrote: "However, I do readily admit to being a “fellow-traveller” of Dharmic civilization in its struggle for survival against the ongoing aggression and subversion by well-organized hostile ideologies. Only, I must add that in Hindutva-watching publications of the past decade, I have never encountered any journalistic or academic “expert” who was not a fellow-traveller of one of the warring parties." This admission extends to his political sympathies; "Rest assured that in Hindutva circles, many people count as far more important than I." He resists any attempts at direct association with the Sangh Parivar, however, calling his ideology 'Hindu Revivalism'.

Reception

Elst's work has drawn both praise and criticism. David Frawley called his work on Ayodhya "definitive", K. D. Sethna regarded it as "absolutely the last word". Paul Beliën described him as "one of Belgium's best orientalists",.

H. Jung writes, At an event at the University of Wisconsin in 1996, a case of denial of freedom of speech came to light. There, two Indian Marxists circulated a leaflet among the participants urging them not to speak to Belgian Indologist Koenraad Elst, who was about to give a talk on AIT. This action was tacitly accepted by three professors of the organizing body, among them M. Witzel.

Anti-Hindu bias on wikipedia

The Koenraad Elst article and related articles where his name is mentioned have been a magnet for Anti-Hindu censors and propagandists. Any and all positive statements about him are censored by them across wikipedia, even his bibliography was censored [8] ^[archive] [9] ^[archive]. So much for freedom of speech and tolerance of anti-Hindus.

Some examples of bias

"Survey" on the talkpage ^[archive] of a wikipedia editor:

Survey

I am conducting a survey to understand if Koenraad Elst could be cited as a valid non biased source for the 2002 Gujarat violence,Babri Masjid and Ram Janmabhoomi articles.My personal opinion is that he represents Hindutva ideology and hence quotes from him will creep in bias in these articles.Since it is a Socio-religious issue.I will appreciate views from users of all religious - non religious followings.
Can we include Koenraad Elst's comments as a valid NPOV factual/news source?
Please highlight with your comments on why we should and why we should not? Concise and responding to these questions.I will only allow the first para of your responses hare.

• The problem is that the writer is Koenraad Elst, who has a certain reputation. ^[archive] (User:Sitush ^[archive] [10] ^[archive])
• I see that we have articles on a number of books by the writer Koenraad Elst. He advocates a non-mainstream line on Indian history, chiming with certain themes in Indian nationalism, on the verge at least of extremism. I would not have thought that these books are notable in their own right. They received little or no scholarly attention. I'm thinking of merging them all back into the biography of Elst. Any views? ^[archive] (User:Itsmejudith ^[archive])
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Biographies_of_living_persons/Noticeboard/Archive7#Koenraad_Elst_Koenraad_Elst_(history%7Cwatch_this_WP:BLP_article%7Cunwatch)_ ^[archive][watch?]
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Goethean/Hindu_Nazis ^[archive]
• [11] ^[archive] [12] ^[archive] User Winged blades of godric ^[archive]
• https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Countering_systemic_bias_in_religion&diff=prev&oldid=77525700 ^[archive]

Wikipedia editors have been blocked and banned merely for writing positively about Koenraad Elst on wikipedia:

• For example, admin Bishonen says an editor should be banned and blocked because he removed "right wing Hindutva" from the lead of Koenraad Elst. Bishonen also claims that Elst (who has never identified as a nationalist and has refuted such smears) is a Hindutva promoter. [13] ^[archive]

Works

See also Koenraad Elst bibliography

Books

(Sorted chronologically)

• Ram Janmabhoomi vs. Babri Masjid. A Case Study in Hindu-Muslim Conflict. Voice of India, Delhi 1990. (A large part of this book is included in Vinay Chandra Mishra and Parmanand Singh, eds.: Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid, Historical Documents, Legal Opinions & Judgments, Bar Council of India Trust, Delhi 1991.)
• Ayodhya and After: Issues Before Hindu Society, 1991. *IndiaStar: Koenraad Elst's "Ayodhya and After" review ^[archive]
• Negationism in India: Concealing the Record of Islam. Voice of India. 1992. ISBN 81-85990-01-8.
• Psychology of Prophetism - A Secular Look at the Bible ^[archive]. 1993. ISBN 81-85990-00-X. [14] ^[archive]
• Indigenous Indians: Agastya to Ambedkar. Voice of India. 1993. ISBN 978-81-85990-04-0.
  • Dr. Ambedkar - A True Aryan. 1993. ISBN 9788185990132.
• BJP vis-à-vis Hindu Resurgence ^[archive]. 1997. ISBN 81-85990-47-6.
• The Demographic Siege ^[archive]. 1997. ISBN 81-85990-50-6.
• Update on the Aryan Invasion Debate Aditya Prakashan (1999) ISBN 81-86471-77-4
• The Saffron Swastika - The Notion of Hindu Fascism. (2001) ISBN 81-85990-69-7
• Decolonizing the Hindu Mind - Ideological Development of Hindu Revivalism. Delhi: Rupa & Co. 2001. ISBN 81-7167-519-0. Desicritics.org: Book Review: Decolonizing the Hindu Mind, Dr. Koenraad Elst, Part I ^[archive]
• Gandhi and Godse - A review and a critique. Voice of India. 2001. ISBN 81-85990-71-9. (transl: Pourquoi j’ai tué Gandhi, examen critique de la défense de Nathuram Godse par Koenraad Elst, Les Belles Lettres)
  • The Man Who Killed Mahatma Gandhi: Understanding the Mind of a Murderer ^[archive]. Edwin Mellen Press. 2016. ISBN 9781495504402.
  • Mahatma Gandhi and His Assassin ^[archive]. Voice of India. 2015. ISBN 9789385485077.
• Who is a Hindu?. 2001. ISBN 81-85990-74-3. [15] ^[archive]
• Ayodhya: The Case Against the Temple. Voice of India. 2002. ISBN 81-85990-75-1.
• Ayodhya, the Finale - Science versus Secularism the Excavations Debate (2003). Voice of India. ISBN 81-85990-77-8 Book review: 'Ayodhya: The Finale' ^[archive]
• Return of the Swastika: Hate and Hysteria Versus Hindu Sanity. Voice of India. 2007. ISBN 9788185990798.
• Asterisk in Bhāropīyasthān. Minor Writings on the Aryan Invasion Debate. New Delhi: Voice of India. 2007. ISBN 978-81-85990-80-4.
• The Problem with Secularism (Voice of India 2007) contents ^[archive]
• The Argumentative Hindu. Essays by an Unaffiliated Orientalist (Aditya Prakashan 2012)
• On Modi time : merits and flaws of Hindu activism in its day of incumbency. 2015
• Still no trace of an Aryan invasion : a collection on Indo-European origins . Aryan Books International, 2018.
• Hindu Dharma and the Culture Wars. Rupa (2019)
• Forever Ayodhya, 2023

Editor

• Gujarat after Godhra: real violence, selective outrage (eds. with Ramesh Rao) 2007
  • With Rao, Ramesh N. (2003). Gujarat after Godhra: real violence, selective outrage ^[archive]. Har Anand Publications.
• Goel, Sita Ram (2005). India's Only Communalist: In Commemoration of Sita Ram Goel ^[archive]. Voice of India. ISBN 9788185990781.

Book chapters

• Sharma, Arvind, ed. (2001). "India's Only Communalist: an Introduction to the Work of Sita Ram Goel". Hinduism and Secularism: After Ayodhya. Palgrave. ISBN 978-0-333-79406-7.
• "Linguistic Aspects of the Aryan Non-Invasion Theory," In Edwin Bryant and Laurie L. Patton (editors) (2005). Indo-Aryan Controversy: Evidence and Inference in Indian History. Routledge/Curzon. ISBN 0-7007-1463-4.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
• The Rushdie affair's legacy. Postscript to Daniel Pipes: The Rushdie Affair: The Novel, the Ayatollah, and the West. Transaction Publishers, paperback (2003). 1990. ISBN 0-7658-0996-6.
• Gujarat After Godhra: Real Violence, Selective Outrage/edited by Ramesh N. Rao and Koenraad Elst. New Delhi, Har-Anand Pub., 2003, 248 p., ISBN 81-241-0917-6.
• The Ayodhya demolition: an evaluation", in Dasgupta, S., et al.: The Ayodhya Reference, q.v., p. 123-154.
• The Ayodhya debate in Pollet, G., ed.: Indian Epic Values. Râmâyana and Its Impact. Leuven: Peeters. 1995, q.v., p. 21-42. (adapted from a paper of the International Ramayana Conference and the October 1995 Annual South Asia Conference in Madison, Wisconsin)
• The Ayodhya debate: focus on the "no temple" evidence, World Archaeological Congress, 1998
• “Ayodhya’s three history debates”, in Journal of Indian History and Culture (Chennai), September 2011.
• “The gatherings of the elders: the beginnings of a Pagan international”, Pomegranate (Equinox, Sheffield UK) 2012/1.
• India's Only Communalist: In Commemoration of Sita Ram Goel (edited by Koenraad Elst, 2005) ISBN 81-85990-78-6 (With contributions by Subhash Kak, David Frawley, Lokesh Chandra, Shrikant Talageri, Vishal Agarwal, N.S. Rajaram and others.)
• An article on an attempt to ban a book by Ram Swarup, in Sita Ram Goel, ed.: Freedom of Expression (Voice of India 1998).
• "The Rushdie Rules" ^[archive]. Middle East Quarterly. June 1998.
• An article in the second edition of Ishwar Sharan’s The Myth of Saint Thomas and the Mylapore Shiva Temple (Voice of India 1997).
• A paper in Angela Marcantonio & Girish Nath Jha, eds.: Perspectives on the Origin of Indian Civilization (DK Printworld, Delhi 2013).
• A paper in Hans Geybels & Walter Van Herck, eds.: Humour and Religion, Challenges and Ambiguities (Continuum, London 2011).
• A paper in P. Paramesvaran, ed.: Expressions of Christianity, with a focus on India (Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan, Chennai 2007).
• A paper in Herman Siemens & Vasti Roodt, eds.: Nietzsche, Power and Politics (Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 2008).
• Foreword to: The Prolonged Partition and Its Pogroms: Testimonies on Violence against Hindus in East Bengal (1946–1964) by A. J. Kamra (2000).
• "Banning Hindu Revaluation". Observer of Business and Politics. 1-12-1993.

In Dutch

• Het boek bij het Boek (“The companion book to the Book”, Waregem 2009)
• The India chapter in Wim Van Rooy & Sam Van Rooy, eds.: De islam. Kritische essays over een politieke religie (“Islam: Critical Essays on a Political Religion”), ASP, Brussels 2010.
• De donkere zijde van het boeddhisme (“The Dark Side of Buddhism”, Mens & Cultuur, Ghent 2010)
• Heidendom in India: hindoeïsme en christendom, dialoog tussen vreemden (“Paganism in India: Hindus and Christians, Dialogue between Strangers”, Mens & Cultuur, Ghent 2014):

External links

• blog ^[archive] nl ^[archive]
• twitter ^[archive]
• Articles and Books by Dr. Elst ^[archive]
• Dutch site ^[archive]
• Homepage ^[archive]
• About Elst ^[archive]
• home ^[archive]
• https://www.inflandersfields.eu/ ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst ^[archive]
• India Facts ^[archive] Articles by Koenraad Elst in India Facts ^[archive] Articles by Koenraad Elst in India Facts ^[archive]
• Pragyata ^[archive] Articles by Koenraad Elst in Pragyata ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst, (2013) The Wikipedia lemma on "Koenraad Elst": a textbook example of defamation ^[archive] see also ^[archive]
• http://vijayvaani.com/AuthorProfile.aspx?pid=276 ^[archive]
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uLl2h-aFxAdcujik4KYdd_DGKijRWwiT/view ^[archive] Belgian Decolonizer of the Hindu Mind: Koenraad Elst, Unaffiliated Orientalist Ramakrishnan Sitaraman

Collections of Elst articles

• Elst at academia.edu ^[archive] [16] ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst | The Brussels Journal ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst's Columns ^[archive]
• Elst at Daily Pioneer ^[archive]
• Elst at Outlook India ^[archive] [17] ^[archive],[18] ^[archive]
• at VOI ^[archive]
• at hindu human rights ^[archive]
• Centreright ^[archive]
• pragyata ^[archive]
• https://www.scribd.com/user/7303025/koenraad-elst9197 ^[archive]

Selected articles

• Towards A Real Hindu-Christian Dialogue ^[archive] Part IV: The Myth of Saint Thomas and the Mylapore Shiva Temple ^[archive]
• Advani, Joshi tried to save Babri mosque: Centre-India-The Times of India ^[archive] [19] ^[archive]
• Manu as a weapon against egalitarianism: Nietzsche and Hindu political philosophy : Euro-Synergies ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst on Nazism - VivaMalta.org ^[archive]
• https://voiceofindia.me/2019/02/06/buddha-was-every-inch-a-hindu-koenraad-elst/ ^[archive]
• Yoga, Indian Sciences, Vedas and Tradition – Koenraad Elst: Mistaken Identity? | Blog site of iVarta.com ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst on the BJP’s Debacle | The Rediscovery of India ^[archive]
• Projet René Guénon: Koenraad Elst , The Caste System, (full text) ^[archive]
• Indians Are Great: A brief on Koenraad Elst on "Before and After HC verdict on Ayodhya" ^[archive]
• Hinduism vs. Buddhism in the West: the Belgian case : Dr. Koenraad ELST blogs on sulekha, Religion blogs, Dr. Koenraad ELST blog from india ^[archive]
• http://www.hinduhumanrights.info/author/dr-koenraad-elst/ ^[archive]
• https://scroll.in/article/824732/from-macaulay-to-frawley-from-doniger-to-elst-why-do-many-indians-need-white-saviours ^[archive]
• Outrage in South Asia | Contemporary Issues | Articles ^[archive] In spite of Hinduism | Edward Luce | Book Reviews ^[archive] [20] ^[archive]
• The Rushdie Affair: The Novel, the Ayatollah, and the West - by Daniel Pipes ^[archive]
• Blog: Koenraad Elst: Reza Pirbhai and Voice of India ^[archive] Koenraad Elst: Still no trace of an Aryan invasion ^[archive] Koenraad Elst: Three views of Hindu activism ^[archive] Koenraad Elst: Vijayanagar negationism ^[archive] [21] ^[archive] Koenraad Elst: Meera Nanda against Hinduism and its friends: (6) Koenraad Elst's real identity ^[archive]
• THE ETHNIC MEANING OF 'ARYA' - by Koenraad Elst ^[archive]
• The Enduring Relevance of Koenraad Elst | The Rediscovery of India ^[archive]
• Revisionisten sluiten de boeken ^[archive]
• French: Le Salut : l’influence hindoue sur le christianisme ››› Dr. Koenraad Elst ››› voxnr.com ^[archive] L’enseignement des religions en Belgique ››› Koenraad Elst ››› voxnr.com ^[archive] Mais qui a tué Gandhi ? - MARIANNE en-ligne.fr ^[archive]
• Hindu Civilization - Koenraad Elst ^[archive]
• Semantics of the Indo-Aryan Controversy : Commentary : Controversy (II) - Elst, Koenraad - CLUEB ^[archive]
• Now is the right time to raise conversion issue: Koenraad Elst - Economic Times ^[archive]
• Non-random-Thoughts: Koenraad Elst is wrong on Mundas – Mundas are a product of Parashurama’s fury. ^[archive]
• Bharatbharati ^[archive] [22] ^[archive] Caste: The view from Belgium – Koenraad Elst « Bharata Bharati ^[archive] [23] ^[archive]
• Hinduism vs. Buddhism in the West: the Belgian Case ^[archive]
• Brussels Journal: Waarheidsvinding door Vrij Onderzoek | The Brussels Journal ^[archive] Banning the Quran? | The Brussels Journal ^[archive] Ayodhya Or The Lost Honor Of Historians | The Brussels Journal ^[archive]
• De donkere zijde van het boeddhisme ^[archive]
• http://www.hinduhumanrights.info/koenraad-elst-how-i-did-not-become-a-hindu/ ^[archive]
• Decolonizing the Hindu Mind | meritosuno ^[archive]
• review asterisk in bharopiyashhtan ^[archive]
• Book Review: Negationism in India - Google Groups ^[archive]
• Religion and Human Rights: An Introduction - Google Books ^[archive]
• http://www.amerika.org/texts/the-caste-system-koenraad-elst/ ^[archive]
• https://swarajyamag.com/culture/why-koenraad-elst-is-important-for-hindutva ^[archive]
• https://doorbraak.be/cultuurmarxisme-europa-secularisme-india-2/ ^[archive]
• http://www.indoamerican-news.com/indologist-sees-modis-second-term-favorable-to-the-hindu-agenda/ ^[archive]
• http://wikipediocracy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2354 ^[archive]
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Shreevatsa/Sandbox/ElstBooks ^[archive]

Interviews and Videos

• Indiafacts:Koenraad Elst, Author at IndiaFactsIndiaFacts ^[archive] Interview with Koenraad Elst on Ayodhya | India Facts ^[archive]
• Indic Academy Q&A with Koenraad Elst by abhinavagarwal ^[archive]
• http://www.saveindia.com/an_interview_with_koenraad_elst.htm ^[archive] An Interview With Koenraad Elst by Ramesh N. Rao on Sulekha ^[archive]
• Youtube: ▶ Koenraad Elst on Decolonising Indian Mind - India First JNU - YouTube ^[archive] ▶ Dr. Koenraad Elst: Steps to Protect Sanatana Dharma - YouTube ^[archive] ▶ Dr. Koenraad Elst at Bharatiya Vichar Manch, Los Angeles - YouTube ^[archive] Introduction to Sitaram Goel's Work - YouTube ^[archive]
• http://www.indiapost.com/european-scholar-champions-hindu-perspectives/ ^[archive]
• http://www.indiapost.com/koenraad-elst-on-misportrayal-of-hindus/ ^[archive]
• https://www.mynation.com/views/beyond-balidaan-badge-controversy-way-forward-dhoni-team-india-world-cup-2019-psrw8x ^[archive]
• https://swarajyamag.com/magazine/i-am-not-aware-of-any-governmental-interest-in-correcting-distorted-history ^[archive]
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytXlqm5NIoo&feature=youtu.be ^[archive]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXccBhJwHNw&feature=youtu.be ^[archive]

• https://hindupost.in/society-culture/interview-with-dr-koenraad-elst-part-iv/ ^[archive]
• https://www.hindupost.in/indologisthistorian-suspected-pro-hindu-opinion-no-chance-making-career-prof-koenraad-elst-interview/ ^[archive]
• Quotes by Koenraad Elst ^[archive]
• Koenraad Elst at the Brussels Journal ^[archive]
• Review of Koenraad Elst's Ayodhya and after ^[archive]
• Review of "Decolonizing the Hindu Mind ^[archive]
• An Interview With Koenraad Elst ^[archive]
• Interview with India Currents Magazine, Feb. '96 ^[archive]
• Hinduism vs. Buddhism in the West: the Belgian case (2004) ^[archive]
• Pondering Pagans ^[archive] Hinduism Today
• http://indiafacts.org/a-maharathi-without-a-rath-the-meaning-of-being-koenraad-elst/ ^[archive]
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzP8zbfLV4g ^[archive] The Saffron Swastika - Koenraad Elst -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOSeXBdDI_M ^[archive] Aryan Invasion Theory - Linguistic Evidence - Koenraad Elst -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfxbHsEgEK4 ^[archive] A conversation with Indologist Koenraad Elst - YouTube
• https://www.dharmadispatch.in/author/koenraad-elst ^[archive]
• https://www.myind.net/Home/viewArticle/dr-koenraad-elst-a-crusader-who-has-always-fought-for-the-hindu-cause ^[archive]
• http://francoisgautier1.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-conversation-with-indologist-koenraad.html ^[archive]
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytXlqm5NIoo ^[archive]
• The challenges before the Hindu society - Dr. Koenraad Elst - YouTube ^[archive]
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxRVWLJU-ms ^[archive] Aryan Invasion Theory | Dr Koenraad Elst Decodes Myths Around Aryan Invasion Theory | English News