Great Tradition

Relevance: GS Paper I

Why in News?

In our current era, doomsday prophets abound. Rather than prioritizing ideas, our society now emphasizes actions that yield immediate benefits to our daily lives.

More About the News: In our bustling modern world, thought is taking a back seat, yet it won't be long before we recognize the necessity of philosophy even within our materialistic pursuits. 

• A civilization must have a defined goal to fulfill its purpose. To sustain this intellectual vitality, we ought to examine the civilization and culture of India. 
• The dismissal of Indian philosophy and literature as primitive or inferior by colonial authorities, influenced by religious bias and political agendas, obscured the rich spiritual and intellectual tradition that India had to offer. 
• It's a narrative of struggle against the imposition of Western norms and values, particularly during the colonial era, and a call for a rediscovery of India's spiritual traditions as a means to assert cultural identity and sustain civilization. 

Key Points: 

• Awakening to Spiritual Heritage: It's imperative to recognize that unless India awakens to rediscover its spiritual heritage, it risks perpetuating the phenomenon of "Brown Sahibs" and remaining shackled by the legacy of figures like Macaulay. 
• Arthur Schopenhauer, the eminent German philosopher, held the Upanishads in such high regard, referring to them as "the pinnacle of human wisdom" and predicting their eventual embrace by the West. 
• Early Indologists, driven by religious bias, hesitated to accord the Vedas the antiquity they deserved, relegating them to mere mythologies. This reluctance also extended to the recognition of Sanskrit as the progenitor of Indo-European languages, initially proposed by Franz Bopp.

• Colonial Misinterpretations: The British, influenced by their own cultural framework, often misunderstood Indian social structures, emphasizing their discrete elements while overlooking their interconnectedness. 
• The missionary efforts in India, epitomized by the translation of the Bible into Indian languages, reflected a selective focus on promoting Christianity rather than engaging with India's rich Vedic heritage. 
• In England, different political factions held varying perspectives: conservatives recognized the challenge of overturning Indian tradition but sought to enhance quality of life cautiously, while liberals advocated for gradual assimilation of Western values. 
• Rationalists believed in the supremacy of reason and saw the West as its champion, aiming to enlighten the East through association.

• Political Factions and Ideological Perspectives: William Carey, a pioneering figure in both modern missionary endeavors and Oriental studies, produced extensive linguistic works with the intention of undermining indigenous languages and cultures. 
• This historical context underscores the importance of reevaluating India's spiritual legacy and resisting the imposition of Western values to foster a more authentic cultural resurgence. 
• William Archer, among others, ventured into Church Sanskrit experiments. In his book "India and the Future," Archer made a sweeping assertion about the Indian population, particularly the poorer classes, deeming them uncivilized. 
• Buchanan, a missionary linked to the East India Company, attended the annual Rath Yatra in Puri and labeled it as the "horrors of Juggernaut." 
• This perception suggests that the British projected their own notions of bloodshed and chaos onto the event, perhaps influenced by the sight of Lord Jagannath.

• Clash of Interpretations: J.N. Farquhar, a Scottish clergyman active in India from 1891 to 1923, asserted in his work "The Crown of Hinduism" that true salvation could only be attained through Christ, despite acknowledging some positive aspects of Hinduism. 
• Missionaries like Farquhar vehemently opposed government efforts to maintain a neutral stance towards Indian culture, instead fervently advocating for native conversion. 
• William Jones, the first Britisher to learn Sanskrit and delve into Vedic studies, expressed admiration for various Hindu deities and characters from Indian epics. 
• Conversely, H.H. Wilson, a prominent Sanskrit scholar of his era, believed Christianity should supplant Vedic culture. 
• Macaulay, in his Education Minute, asserted the superiority of European literature over that of India and Arabia, seeking a scholar who could interpret Vedic scriptures to highlight their supposed barbarity to newly educated Indian youth.

• The Role of Max Mueller: Ironically, Macaulay found such an interpreter in Max Mueller, initially commissioned by the East India Company to translate the Rig Veda into English. 
• Despite his role in popularizing Indian studies, Mueller's interpretations arguably contributed to the erosion of Vedic culture. 
• Nevertheless, Mueller acknowledged the profound influence of Indian literature on European thought, advocating for a more comprehensive and universal inner life inspired by Indian wisdom.

• Western Acceptance and Skepticism: WB Yeats's admiration for Tagore's Gitanjali reflects a recognition of shared humanity rather than cultural otherness, yet despite such sentiments, Western acceptance of Indian philosophy and literature has been limited. 
• Tagore's Nobel Prize win in 1913 was met with skepticism by some Western intellectuals who viewed his work as foreign to Western literary traditions. 
• Nonetheless, Indian culture holds immense value for the world, as evidenced by the scholarly contributions of figures like Charles Wilkins and Sir William Jones in the late 18th century.

• Scholarly Endeavors: Interest in Indian culture's historical significance emerged with scholars like Sir Monier Williams, whose works delved into Indian wisdom, religion, and modern society. 
• Suniti Kumar Chatterjee further emphasizes the importance of culture as the flowering of civilization, building upon ideas from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's writings on Vedic literature. 
• The Vedic hymns, while primarily addressing natural forces through polytheistic means in the Rigveda, also contain profound philosophical insights, as seen in the Upanishads.

• Cultural Exploration: Efforts to enhance understanding of Indian culture through lectures, seminars, and workshops are crucial. 
• Institutions like the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission play a vital role in disseminating the richness of Indian tradition globally. 
• Their focus on harmony between East and West, ancient and modern, reflects a broader spiritual movement aimed at holistic human development, social equality, and spiritual fulfillment for all humanity.

Conclusion:

In today's globalized world, there is a growing recognition of the importance of cultural diversity and the need to reclaim and celebrate indigenous knowledge systems. By reexamining and reconnecting with its spiritual heritage, India can assert its identity and contribute to the broader tapestry of human civilization.