ABSTRACT
This chapter first provides an outline of Vaiṣṇavism in the region of Bengal as well as a summary of the present state of the field of Bengali Vaiṣṇava Studies. It then proceeds to highlight the value of a focused examination of the Bengali Vaiṣṇava tradition in its manifold forms during the period of British colonialism. It argues that such an examination not only facilitates a more complete picture of Bengali Vaiṣṇavism, but also proffers valuable opportunities for enriching our understanding of Hinduism in colonial Bengal and South Asia more broadly, moving us beyond the entrenched Hindu “Renaissance” paradigm.
