: Buddha's challenge to brahminism Shepherd, Kancha Ilaiah creator New Delhi Sage Publications 2019 ix, 244p. In this provocative and scholarly book, Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd propounds a view of Gautama Buddha as India’s first social revolutionary. Buddha did his best to give the principles of tribal democracy and egalitarianism a sanctuary in his own sangha. In so doing, he foreshadowed modern India’s experiment with parliamentary democracy. Critical of the caste system, Buddha inducted low caste members into the sangha and made them his trusted advisers. He gave women an honoured place in the sangha. Dissent was indeed permitted, and even Buddha was not above the law. Pre-dating Socrates and Plato by some years, Buddha also foreshadowed key elements of their philosophy. Include Bibliography and Index Politics and government Interfaith relations Social change Political and social views India Religion Buddhist sociology Brahmanism Gautama Buddha Buddhism and state India 294.363 SHE-G 9789353282592