Indian Culture & English: A Talk by Prof. G S Amur

Center for Developmental studies, Dharwad organized a talk on Indian Culture & English: by Dr. G S Amur an eminent literary critic and a retired English Professor. The purpose of the talk was to find the impact of English on Indian culture. Dr. Amur began his talk with a direct reference to Samuel P. Huntington's Clash of Civilization that claims that following the collapse of communist Russia, world has deprived of any ideological clash and clash of civilization has taken its place. West versus Islam is one such example.

• Before entering the central theme of the talk he clarified his choice of " Indian culture" and not " Hindu Culture" saying that the term "Hindu" is not evolved within and was given to us by western outsiders.
  
• He also defined culture as " way of life" by quoting a supreme court ruling.
• Another clarification he made was that by "English" he does not mean mere English Language by entire "baggage" that comes with it - English institutions etc.

By using a tree and roots metaphor, Dr. Amur, "One must study any culture" he asserted by first looking at its roots and then its current form or status ie. tree. The Indian culture can be broadly classified into Vedic non-vedic components and later includes religions such as Buddhism that evolved within Hindu culture and also those that came to us from outside such as Christianity and Islam. A closer looks at the roots of Indian culture reveals that we have four broad theme or guiding principles. and non-

• Bahuthwa ( Pluralism)
  
• Purusharthas ( Prime Pursuits of life)
  
• Varnashrama
• Jnana & Rajakiya

While our guiding principles are are strong and enduring our commitment to practice them is lacking he noted. We are either hypocritical or incompetent to follow those ideals. The Varnashrama principal is good in spirit but it was unfortunate this was degenerated into caste system. Some historical developments such as census taken up by British Government cemented this caste system much deeper into Indian psyche. One more point the talk noticed that today politics in India has become very powerful and "intelligentsia" has not been in position to have any say in directing nation further.

Other points made by the presenter.

• No culture grows by "isolating itself " from other cultures in fact isolation only kills it. However in accepting anything from other culture, care must be exercised. While western culture is borrowing "good" and "enduring" themes from other cluture, we are not that selective in our choices