Author: O N Krishnan
Publisher: Asian Publication Services
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 302
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170060664
Description
This book aims to uphold the secular tradition of Gandhian and Nehruvian legacy. This succeeds in countering the mistaken view prevalent in some sections of the political elite, intelligentsia and middle-class in the county that Nehruvian secularism is anti-religious or irreligious and hence alien to the cultural ethos of our country. This also exposes the philosophical barrenness and intellectual bankruptcy in the concept of Hindutva and shows how secularism is rooted in the dharma tradition of the land as exemplified by the Ashoka’s Dharma-chakra adorning the centre of Indian National Flag.
An attempt has been made to present the concept of secularism in the proper perspective in terms of the time-honoured Dharma tradition of our land and clear the misconceptions and distorted views. In the process, this reaffirms the firm philosophical foundation and intellectual moorings of the concept that is the guiding – spirit of the Nation.
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMTNS
PROLOGUE
PART ONE: DOCTRINAL ASPECTS
CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATION OF TRUTH
Brahmanical Religion Opposed By The Buddha Upanishads
Karma Determines the Evolution
Karma theory adopted From Shramanism
Evolution Of thoughts In The Upanishads
Dualism (Creator God)
Conditioned Monism (Brahman-Parinamavada)
Absolute Monism (Advaita Vedanta / Maya theory)
Ultimate Truth In Buddhism
Advaita Vedanta And Theory Of Self Refuted Ultimate Goal
Ethical System and Philosophical Foundation
Theocratic Nationalism Rejected
Three Truths Or Three States Of Existence
Other Dependency And Dharma
CHAPTER 2: DHARMA
Varna Dharma
Varna Classification And Caste Groups
Roots Of Dharma In Brahmanical Tradition
Svadharma And Sadharana Dharmas
Dharma In Buddhism
Ashrama Dharma
Violence, War And Dharma-yuddha
CHAPTER 3: DOCTRINAL SUPERIORITY OF BUDDHISM
CHAPTER 4: BRAHMANISM-IS IT TOLERANT?
CHAPTER 5: CAUSES OF DOWNFALL OF INDIA?
PART TWO: THE GREAT BHAKTI AND REFORM MOVEMENTS
CHAPTER 6: THE GREAT BHAKTI MOVEMENT
South India
North India
Ramananda
Kabir
Guru Nanak
Bhakti: Movement Heralds Composite Culture
CHAPTER 7: COMPOSITE CULTURE
CHAPTER 8: THE GREAT REFORM MOVEMENTS
Westernization
Influence Of Christianity
Raja Rammohan Roy And Brahmo-Samaj
Dayananda Saraswati
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Swami Vivekananda
Rabindranath Tagore
Sri Aurobindo
PART THREE: CLASH OF IDEALS: BRAHMANISM AND SHRAMANISM
CHAPTER 9: SAVARKAR AND THE HINDUTVA
CHAPTER 10: MAHATMA GANDHI
Truth
Satyagraha
Communal Divide
Piligrimage And Penance
Noakhali Peace Yatra
In Bihar
In Delhi
In Calcutta
Ultimate Sacrifice
His Dream
PART FOUR: A NEW INDIA AND ITS IDEALS
CHAPTER 11: THE BIRTH OF NEW INDIA
The Indian Constitution
Jawaharlal Nehru
Dhamma-Chakra And Ideal Of Ashoka
CHAPTER 12: PANCHSHILA AND IDEAL OF ONE WORLD
PART FIVE: PRESENT AND FUTURE
CHAPTER 13: THE BJP AND CULTURAL NATIONALISM
CHAPTER 14: INDIA’S GREAT LEGACY AND FUTURE DESTINY
EPILOGUE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX