Guest guest Posted September 29, 2002 Report Share Posted September 29, 2002 Hi: I have joined this group just two days ago, and I am not sure about the stage of this discussion. Pardon me if you find these comments inappropriate. A couple of months ago I referred to Dr. S.N. Balagangadhara's book. I really find his understanding and insights important. Though, my question is then how to understand the reality when these "created" categories become "real". For example "Religion", even if it is a eurocentric category, in India has become very real for people. Secularism, on the other hand, inspite of being a category with "protestant" roots, has become real for those who want to negotiate peace in communal situations in India. ( I mean, in a limited way I know only about India) It is indeed important to unpack the politics of making of these categories, no dobt about that. My small point is that those who choose to use these categories are not necessarily blind to that politics, ( or malicious in attitude) but rather have some investment in employing those categories in a particular way. Thanks D. --- subrahmanyas2000 <subrahmanyas wrote: <HR> <html><body> <tt> <BR> One of the things that more Indians have started<BR> realizing is that the categories that Eurocentric<BR> thinking has created may not be applicable to<BR> India and its people.<BR> Eurocentric/semitic concepts include ideas like 'Religion'<BR> 'God' etc where there may not be an Indic equivalent.<BR> <BR> This eurocentric/semitic categorization has also now<BR> resulted in academics/scholars from the west <BR> appropriating what is convenient from India and then<BR> reducing India to just anthropological/sociological<BR> categories.<BR> <BR> In recent years many western academics (some out<BR> of ignorance, others maliciously) have tried to <BR> distance Buddhist philosophy from India.<BR> <BR> A recent book by Dr.Balagangadhara called<BR> 'The Heathen in His Blindness' examines and studies<BR> the concept of 'Religion' in the west and how it<BR> is projected onto 'others' like India.<BR> <BR> The Heathen In His Blindness<BR> by S.N.Balagangadhara<BR> E.J.Brill, 1994<BR> <BR> Regards,<BR> Subrahmanya<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </tt> <br> <tt> <BR> indology<BR> <BR> </tt> <br> <br> <tt><a href=""> Terms of Service</a>.</tt> </br> </body></html> ______________________ Missed your favourite TV serial last night? Try the new, TV. visit http://in.tv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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