Book Review – India & Indology

Summary

The book review of “India & Indology” introduces a commemorative volume containing selected articles by the late Professor W. Norman Brown, edited by Rosane Rocher and published for the American Institute of Indian Studies. The reviewer notes that the volume was initially meant to be a festschrift to celebrate Brown’s extraordinary career, but his death in 1975 transformed it into a memorial collection. Brown, an American who spent his childhood in India and lived there for many years, wrote prolifically on a wide range of topics: Vedic religion, Indian fiction and folklore, art and philology. The volume under review contains a curated selection of his independent works, emphasising contributions that remain relevant. Brown’s recurring themes include an unbending quest for truth, a deep respect for life exemplified in the Jain ideal of ahimsa, a view of temporal life as bondage, and reverence for great teachers. The reviewer highlights Brown’s pioneering study of Indian folklore – particularly his doctoral dissertation on “The Pancatantra in Modern Indian Folklore” – and his genealogical study of Western scholars interested in Indian story literature. Brown’s work on Indian art is also lauded; he was among the first to investigate pre‑Mughal painting and Western Indian miniature painting, recognising the influence of Jain culture on these styles. His analysis of illustrated manuscripts of the Kalpa‑sūtra and Kālakācārya‑kathā opened new avenues of research. Brown’s philological essays, some of which appear in the volume, reveal his command over Sanskrit, Prakrit and modern Indian languages and his ability to bridge linguistic scholarship with historical inquiry. While praising the volume, the reviewer notes that it is not exhaustive, focusing mainly on scholarly articles and excluding some of Brown’s book reviews and lectures. Nevertheless, the collection demonstrates Brown’s breadth and his sensitivity to Indian traditions. It offers readers insight into a scholar who served as a cultural bridge between India and the West, showing India through the eyes of one who knew its languages, religions and arts intimately.