This book investigates the origins of the modern concept of Hinduism by examining the collaborative and contentious interactions between British colonial actors and Indian intellectuals. Brian K. Pennington, a scholar of religious studies, utilizes a diverse array of primary sources to challenge the notion that Hinduism was solely a Western invention. He argues that Indian authors played an active, agency-driven role in shaping religious discourse during the colonial period, responding to and engaging with British perspectives on practices such as image-worship and conversion.

Scholars in the field of South Asian studies recognize this work for its nuanced approach to the colonial construction of religion. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the depth of the archival research presented by the author.