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Western Messengers of Indian Thought & Indiamusafir said Apr 8, 2006, 9:36 PM:Apologies for the rather late start: As an world-centric conscious Indian rediscovering Indian thought in English, I have been immersing myself in the wisdom of the Great Indian though leaders and traditions such as Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekenanda, Aurobindo and Indian Classical Music, Social structures. What strikes me is the powerful role that Western thinkers, followers have played in documenting, sharing and experiencing the best of our thought. A preacher C.F.Andrews brought Tagore and Gandhi together and responsible for taking both their message to the world. Louise Fischer from Princeton wrote a wonderful biography of Gandhi. The great French savant, novelist, dramatist, essayist, and mystic Romain Rolland , British-American playwright and novelist Christopher Isherwood all documented and shared the lives of the Great Indians. Vivekenanda speeches and words while traveling espousing the cause of Vedanta was recorded by disciples from all over the world. Even the finest work of documenting our Classical traditions including Music is been done by Western Scholars. It is not in the realm of mystics and classics where Westerners have played a role. An English preacher Verrier Elwyn who rebelled against both his early influences( Church and Gandhi) in 1930’s became the first Anthropologist to bring to light the lives of the tribals of India. And now today there are Philosopher like Ken Wilber among so many others who pursuing this journey. Do you think this will continue or ethnic boundaries will harden ? |
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