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The
Changing Connotation of Dharma in the Early Indian
Context: A Problem in Plurality and Dilemmas
-- Nupur
Dasgupta
This
paper presents the perspectives of the past and some present
readings with regard to the genesis of the concept of Dharma—a
comprehensive term for social and moral principles in the
early Indian society. Taking a broad view from different
genres of the early Indian literature, it is observed that
the concept and practices of Dharma has taken a multi-linear
path of evolution with several simultaneous trends branching
into several directions. There were forces of differences,
discontinuities and connections in the organic growth of
these concepts and institutions between the first millennium
BC and the fourth century AD. A historical review of the
genesis of social codes in early India would reveal the
conscious working of a disciplinary apparatus with full
faith in its practicable ethical character. This is what
may be termed as the sastric attempt at controlling and
containing the social developments. On the other hand, there
was a profound concept of absolute morality in the Upanishads,
which were brought to the wider arena of public morality
in the Buddhist philosophy. Dharma, a term with a wide connotation,
enveloped a loose body of principles of absolute ethics
in a manner that could easily lend themselves to coercive
applications in the guise of sastric dictum. The early Indian
social philosophy stands unique in balancing and creating
a mixture of apportioned, graded social responsibilities
and disciplinary mechanisms. Starting with the Vedic literature,
which reveals the formation of certain terms and definitions
bearing upon power and authority, the paper moves on to
the post-Vedic theories revealing three distinct traditions
of thought in: (a) The Buddhist Pali canonical texts, (b)
Kautilya's Arthasastra, and (c) the Dharmasastras represented
by the Manusmriti. In these texts, the absolute moral principles
get shaped side by side with the distinct strands of individual,
status-oriented social codes. Towards the end, the paper
touches upon the dilemma encountered by later day intellectuals
in the perception of `Dharma', which is revealed in the
Mahabharata, a composition illustrating the flutterings
of free spirit within the gilded cage of social constructs.
The ordinary man's standpoint brings the issue into sharp
focus in the Mrcchakatika.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
The
British Empire, Ecology and Famines in the Late 19th
Century Central India
-- Laxman
D Satya
This
paper looks at how the British Raj, economic exploitation,
ecological change, and famines were interrelated events
during the late 19th century
in Central India. It analyzes the impact of colonial state
policies in the context of the material condition of the
people on the one hand, and environment on the other. The
commercial agenda of the British imperialism contradicted
rather than complemented the survival needs of the people.
How did the British justify noninterference in the face
of acute crisis like the famine? This question forms the
theoretical background to the paper. Other significant aspects
of famine, such as scarcity, hunger, disease and death,
form the main backdrop.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Franco-Maratha
Relations: The 18thCentury Revisited
--
Umesh
Ashokrao Kadam
Many
a time, the 18th century History of India is
stated to be the History of the Maratha power. But very
little justice has been done to this statement. The relationship
between the French and the Marathas was one of the most
striking features of the 17thand 18th centuries.
Hence, it is imperative to carry out research on this relationship.
It is indeed a coincidence that the careers of the two nations
in India, i.e., the Marathas and the French ran concurrently.
At the very moment, the French thought of establishing in
India and the Marathas also started to carve out an independent
state for themselves. In the light of the new material available
and the existing primary sources, the relations can be restudied
and rewritten by giving due importance to the diplomatic
projects, economic aspects of the relations, the American
war of Independence, the French revolution, the transformation
of Maratha kingdom into a confederacy, the role played by
the private merchants and traders on the Malabar coast,
French freelancers, the Maratha aristocrats and the external
relations of the Maratha power with indigenous powers in
connection to the French power. The relations between the
two were purely commercial on the side of the French, and
politically and commercially motivated on the part of the
Marathas. This paper particularly deals with the Franco-Maratha
relations from 1668 to 1749. This period mainly deals with
the French relations with the Chhatrapatis and tries to
evaluate the political and diplomatic situation in the Deccan
and the Karnataka.
©
2007 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Book
Review
In
Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India
--
Author: Edward Luce
Reviewed
by Dietmar Rothermund
Edward
Luce was the New Delhi correspondent of the Financial
Times from 2001 to 2005. This gave him a chance to observe
India's recent rise from close quarters. He made very good
use of it as this book shows. Being married to an Indian,
he is also somewhat of an insider, but he has maintained
a critical distance which enables him to look at India from
his own perspective. The gods may wonder how Luce can be
so sure about India having progressed without their help.
But his intention in giving his book this title is to controvert
the usual emphasis on "spiritual" India. It is
somewhat more difficult to explain why he finds India's
rise "strange". Probably, it is the stark contrast
between persistent poverty and surprising achievements which
strikes him as "strange". It is to his credit
that he does justice to both the aspects.
©
2006 Edward Luce. All Rights Reserved. IUP holds the copyright for the review.
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