How gets to fund Indological research?

[Guest guest]

Dear Readers,

 

The bandwidth has recently been dominated by the discussion of

`Eurocentrism' and the place of `Indology' and to some extent

`Buddhology' within `Western' universities. The volume and length

of postings would seem to indicate the importance -- at least for

some of us -- of these issues. But perhaps underpinning much of

the discussion has been a deep concern about the lack of funding

for Indological research and about the question of how this

shortfall should be corrected. It has recently been suggested

that private foundations might improve the impoverished condition

of many departments of Indology. About this possibility I have

deep reservations.

 

Most well organized foundations are run like well organized

corporations. Corporations generally see their `philanthropic'

giving in terms of investment, as investment which has to be

justified to the board and major shareholders in terms of the

promotion of their `core business.' Major foundations are no

different. They also have boards, they also have stakeholders,

they also have a `core business.' A private foundation which

wishes to fund a lecture series usually does so only if the

series of lectures promotes its own interests. This is what

bothers me. Such a relationship seems to me to sit uncomfortably

with what, in this country at least, is seen as an inalienable

principle, academic freedom.

 

That said, there is no question that funding needs to be

increased and that new sources need to be found. But long term

improvement will not, I believe, be secured through the piecemeal

injection of funds into lecture series, undoubtably useful as

these are. What is required for long term improvement was, I

believe, indicated by J. W. de Jong back in the '50's.[1] The

critical moment in establishing the long term existence of

Buddhist Studies in Europe came with the establishment of chairs

of Buddhist Studies in Paris, Leiden, Hamburg, and Vienna. This

is where funds from private foundations should be channeled. And

depending on the articles of establishment, it is also the means

by which academic freedom can be guaranteed. This would require a

substantial `investment' from a foundation and a willingness to

sacrifice control over research and the curriculum. If this is

possible I would welcome it.

 

 

Many regards,

 

Richard Mahoney

 

 

@InCollection{jong:study,

author = "J. W. de Jong",

title = "The Study of Buddhism. Problems and Perspectives.",

booktitle = "Studies in Indo-Asian Art and Culture",

key = "dejong:1974",

pages = "13--26",

publisher = "International Academy of Indian Culture",

year = "1974",

editor = "P. Ratnam and L. Chandra",

volume = "4",

series = "\'{S}ata-Pi\d{t}aka Series, Indo-Asian Literatures",

address = "Delhi",

note = "Eng. tr. of `Die Studie van het Boeddhisme. Problemen

en Perspectieven.' [inaugural Lecture, University of

Leiden, 28 Sept. 1956] (The Hague\,: Mouton, 1956)",

}

 

 

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