Indologists of nineteenth century referred to India as the cradle of civilization. Is that a compliment? What does it mean to refer to a civilization as a cradle? indiccivilization cradle primordialnation
Rituals – What is Atmayagna? Does the internalization of ritual lead to Atmajnana? If so, how? How do we even begin to understand this phenomena, asks
This book review is about two works that cover the history of Indology and Orientalism. Both of these works concern themselves with how India appeared in the eyes of various European intellectuals who attempted to study and understand her. Studying the Orientalist descriptions of India as the experience of Western culture rather than knowledge about Indian culture, will simultaneously help us understand Western culture, and at the same time help us access Indian culture without these descriptive occlusions. For this reason alone, these two books are important readings for Indics who want a better understanding of their culture and traditions.’
Our current understanding of rituals is limited & we struggle to explain their true value. Ad hoc explanations & one-line answers fall short. We must address this gap to ensure that these Cultural Treasures don’t fade away
The research of Indologist Frits Staal demonstrates that the fundamental structure of Vedic ritual resembles that of language syntax. Could language have evolved out of ritual? What are the consequences if this is true?
In the India of today, we find a whole new generation increasingly disconnected from rituals & mantras. Indians are at a crossroads today, where we are asking “why perform rituals in this day and age?”
Does Christian theology maintain an exclusive control over interpreting the past of various cultures and traditions of the world? Question by #MartinFarek in his book ‘India in the Eyes of Europeans’
India in the Eyes of Europeans’ by Prof. Martin Farek – a book about how European intellectuals, in Indology & other fields of social sciences, have studied and described India over the centuries
Modern English educated Indian tends to translate Asuras as demons & inextricably connect it to Christian theological concepts of evil & unholy and assume them to be villains.
The first people to translate the word #Asura as demons were the British/European missionaries & they interpreted our culture and traditions through the lens of a pre-existing framework, namely Christian theology.
Hindu Pluralism: Religion And The Public Sphere In Early Modern South India where author Elaine Fischer raises a number of interesting questions, but fails to explore them in a systematic & structured manner.
The most important skill I learnt during my doctorate was the research process itself; namely, learning to learn” by Author describing his experience at Prof. S.N. Balagangadhara’s research program at Ghent University.
Europe, India, and the Limits of Secularism by Jakob De Roover
Did liberal secularism strengthen and in some cases create Christian and Islamic fundamentalism within India?
Europe, India, and the Limits of Secularism by Jakob De Roover Chap 1 ‘Limits of Liberal Secularism’ discusses difficulty in separating sphere of politics from private sphere of religion taking examples of hijab and crucifix
Dr. Arvind Kaushik has completed his PhD in Philosophy and Religious Studies from University of Pardubice, Czech Republic. Arvind Kaushik's research interests lie in the domain of culture and religion within Tamil Nadu. His dissertation focuses on the relationship between Saiva Siddhanta and the intellectual roots of Tamil nationalism. Arvind Kaushik completed his PhD under the supervision of Professor Martin Farek, whose specialization is in the field of Vaishnavism. He also completed a research internship in Ghent University, Belgium, under the supervision of Professor Jakob De Roover, who has done extensive research on Secularism in India and its roots in Protestant Christianity. Arvind Kaushik received his intellectual training under the research program known as the Comparative Science of Cultures started by S.N. Balagangadhara, a former (now retired) professor at Ghent University. This research program studies Western culture against the backdrop of Indian culture.
