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A review by shehab
The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity by Amartya Sen
5.0
amartya sen is an intellectual giant and this a collection of his essays that ostensibly prove india’s generous argumentative heritage. the book is in fact much more than an orientalism-like rebuttal of western perceptions (appropriated by the indian far-right- the original butt of the book’s rebuttal it would seem) of the indian other. it’s a delightful journey alongside an incredibly learned mind through india’s deep pluralist, rationalist, humanist, agnostic, scientific, artistic roots (and some). and a much more enjoyable read than ed said’s orientalism which set out to do something similar for the middle east. sen starts with:
“Prolixity is not alien to us in India. We are able to talk at some length. Krishna Menon’s record of the longest speech ever delivered at the United Nations (nine hours non-stop), established half a century ago (when Menon was leading the Indian delegation), has not been equalled by anyone from anywhere. Other peaks of loquaciousness have been scaled by other Indians. We do like to speak. This is not a new habit. The ancient Sanskrit epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which are frequently compared with the Iliad and the Odyssey, are colossally longer than the works that the modest Homer could manage. Indeed, the Mahabharata alone is about seven times as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey put together. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are certainly great epics: I recall with much joy how my own life was vastly enriched when I encountered them first as a restless youngster looking for intellectual stimulation as well as sheer entertainment. But they proceed from stories to stories woven around their principal tales, and are engagingly full of dialogues, dilemmas and alternative perspectives. And we encounter masses of arguments and counterarguments spread over incessant debates and disputations.”
a few key recurring figures star in sen’s history: rabindranath tagore (whose school sen studied at), emperor akbar (a figure that should be made a hero in the islamic world based on this reading) and emperor ashoka all of whom require more reading on. along the way, sen finds time to illuminate the ancient china – india relationship (timely), introduce film maker satyajit ray and show the skeptical side of the ramayana (indeed, sen’s accounts of hinduism where atheism is simply one extreme of the scale are striking).
tagore in particular demands further digging, a wise, universalist, humanist with much to say on nationalism, education, politics spirituality.
riveting. required reading for anyone with even a cursory interest in mother india.
“Prolixity is not alien to us in India. We are able to talk at some length. Krishna Menon’s record of the longest speech ever delivered at the United Nations (nine hours non-stop), established half a century ago (when Menon was leading the Indian delegation), has not been equalled by anyone from anywhere. Other peaks of loquaciousness have been scaled by other Indians. We do like to speak. This is not a new habit. The ancient Sanskrit epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which are frequently compared with the Iliad and the Odyssey, are colossally longer than the works that the modest Homer could manage. Indeed, the Mahabharata alone is about seven times as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey put together. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are certainly great epics: I recall with much joy how my own life was vastly enriched when I encountered them first as a restless youngster looking for intellectual stimulation as well as sheer entertainment. But they proceed from stories to stories woven around their principal tales, and are engagingly full of dialogues, dilemmas and alternative perspectives. And we encounter masses of arguments and counterarguments spread over incessant debates and disputations.”
a few key recurring figures star in sen’s history: rabindranath tagore (whose school sen studied at), emperor akbar (a figure that should be made a hero in the islamic world based on this reading) and emperor ashoka all of whom require more reading on. along the way, sen finds time to illuminate the ancient china – india relationship (timely), introduce film maker satyajit ray and show the skeptical side of the ramayana (indeed, sen’s accounts of hinduism where atheism is simply one extreme of the scale are striking).
tagore in particular demands further digging, a wise, universalist, humanist with much to say on nationalism, education, politics spirituality.
riveting. required reading for anyone with even a cursory interest in mother india.