SV: SV: [Y-Indology] a fortunate exchange

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vvrsps [sMTP:vvrsps] skrev 3. mai 2001 20:07:

> Ironically, when <this view (in statement above) was common a century

ago> very

> few Hindus (if any) were even aware of it. Now, when Western scholars

proclaim

> loud and clear that such racist/hegemonic views are passe, an increasing

number

> of Hindu thinkers are convinced that this ain't quite so. No matter how

> individual scholars may feel, the impression is not only wide-spread, but

also

> spreading more and more.

 

That is undoubtedly true. I believe, but I may wrong, that this is due to

the fact that the question has become politicized, and to the fact that

many Hindus are unaware that the views held by Western scholars a century

ago are not necessarily identical with the views held by scholars today.

Another matter is that many Westerners, probably including Indologists, are

concerned with the idea of social justice, and in this respect are critical

of Hinduism, or perhaps rather the upper castes' version of Hinduism or

upper caste politics. That will attract some unfavourable attention. In

this respect, it is important to remember that "my own social and economic

interests" are not necessarily identical with the "interests of my culture

and my nation". Westerners who take sides in India's social struggles are

not necessarily inimical to Hinduism or Indians, but may simply be critical

of high caste claims and views. That is not the same as rejecting India's

values and historical glory outright.

 

>

> 2. Zydenbos: <If so, then indeed it is seriously out of step, and we need

not

> concern ourselves with it any further.>

> I am not sure if this benign neglect is either appropriate or even

practical.

> What is new in our age is the breaking down of the wall between

ivory-tower

> scholarship and the literate, even well-read, general public. Perhaps the

vast

> majority of Indologists are truly India/Hindu-respecting and

> India/Hindu-loving: or else they wouldn't be devoting their lives to the

study.

> Nevertheless, there continues to be suspicion and even disrespect on the

part

> of many intelligent and well-informed Hindus. This is bound to have

serious

> repercussions on the field.

 

See above. I agree with you that this thing won't go away simply because it

gets ignored. We might as well face it.

 

> 3. It seems to me that it is important for all Indologists and Indian

> intellectuals to address and try to resolve these issues and impressions

for

> the benefit of all.

 

Agree.

 

> 4. I am not arguing that this is the appropriate forum for this.

 

Going by the definition of the list's scope, it is not. But in pragmatic

terms, it is probably to some extent unavoidable.

 

Lars Martin

 

Dr. art. Lars Martin Fosse

Haugerudvn. 76, Leil. 114,

0674 Oslo

Norway

Phone: +47 22 32 12 19

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Email: lmfosse