भारतीयता : इक्कीसवीं सदी की देहरी पर
By रमेशचद्र शाह
Summary
The text explores the state of Indian culture at the threshold of the 21st century, contrasting its foundational ideals with contemporary realities. It begins by noting that Indian culture traditionally viewed humans as children of immortality and saw divinity pervading all creation, considering both life and enjoyment as legitimate pursuits. However, it maintained a caution against self-forgetfulness through sensual attachment, accepting desire only when not opposed to dharma. This broad conception of dharma, which gave unrestricted acceptance to human enjoyment within moral boundaries, is presented as unique. The author reflects on a 1930s incident where a poet influenced by India, when asked for a message for India, shouted for more conflict. This poet found inspiration in India's dying flame but was disturbed by Indians' imitative inferiority towards Western culture. The text laments the disappearance of great figures like Aurobindo, Gandhi, and Ramana Maharshi, and even second-tier leaders, questioning why Indians rely on great men rather than improving their collective character. It observes a growing dominance of mediocre people in politics, education, administration, and culture, suggesting a corruption of character. Values like truth, austerity, non-violence, compassion, and tolerance, which were the country's backbone for millennia, no longer seem effective in conduct. The text questions whether dharma and spirituality are active in the lives of the elite who run the country, and notes that literature reflects neither faith nor the spiritual emptiness taking hold. The author argues that no culture operates by considering the capacity of the average person; all great civilizations set high ideals. It contrasts the Western path, where knowledge split from its holistic goal of self-knowledge, leading to science on one hand and dogmatic religion on the other, resulting in conflict. The text then addresses the impact of Western consumerism and market forces on India, acknowledging a bleak picture where Indianness seems reduced to an export commodity. However, it suggests a cooler assessment reveals a less dark reality, citing Gandhi's observation that only those on the surface of the ocean are dirty. Despite corrupt politics penetrating villages, traditional virtues and value
Conclusion
The document concludes that while contemporary India appears mired in moral decay, with its intellectual and political classes abandoning traditional values of truth, non-violence, and inner freedom, the core of Indian culture remains resilient. The author argues that the current crisis stems from a historical imbalance—India’s overemphasis on renunciation and otherworldliness, which weakened its social and political fabric. However, the text suggests that the very ideals that once defined Indian civilization, such as the pursuit of self-knowledge and a holistic view of life, are now more relevant than ever. The outcome is a call for a critical self-examination and a rebalancing of material and spiritual pursuits, implying that India’s future depends on rediscovering its unique synthesis of knowledge, devotion, and action, rather than succumbing to either Western materialism or its own past excesses.