The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity

The interplay between religion and philosophy in India is a major theme, underscoring how this dynamic has been pivotal in shaping the country’s public discourse and multifaceted identity. Sen’s critical examination of religious nationalism, especially its tendency to distort the inclusive nature of India’s historical and cultural identity, is a significant theme that confronts the homogenizing forces of nationalist ideologies. He advocates for the recognition of India’s diverse intellectual heritage, which often gets overshadowed by stereotypes of Eastern spiritualism when contrasted with Western rationality. Sen challenges the portrayal of India as a monolith of uncritical faith by bringing to light the country’s dialogic tradition, as he writes, “the nature and strength of the dialogic tradition in India is sometimes ignored because of the much championed belief that India is the land of religions, the country of uncritical faiths and unquestioned practices” (10). For Sen, the suppression of this tradition not only diminishes India’s intellectual heritage but also undermines its social and political understanding.

By invoking the contributions of Indian thinkers such as Āryabhaṭa and Kauṭilya, Sen posits that the “East-West” dichotomy, which often aligns rationality with the West and faith with the East, is a false

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