Bringing back the intellectual discourse

Intellectualism is not dead yet, and its relevance is still valid even in this information superhighway. Historians and academics Mukesh Williams and Rohit Wanchoo present a strong case for the revival of the well-reasoned argument, with an analytical study of the critical aspects of modern, post-colonial Indian culture society. The book gathers intellectual discourse and thought-provoking debate from many esteemed scholars on Indian language, Indian English literature, media, Hindutva politics, religion and the South Asian diaspora, in that order. The best reads in this collection are, understandably, on the least understood subjects: the evolution of the "primary Indian language", and the question of Indian religious identity.

The history of Indian language and its vernacular branches is as eventful as that of the land and its various rulers. Hindi and Bengali were originally regional vernaculars that rode on the powerful waves of British colonialism and pro-independence nationalism to gain impetus and diminish Sanskrit's prevalence and importance. Ironically Hindi (and Bengali to a lesser extent) would later face accusations of its own brand of imperialism in the face of its rising hegemony in post-colonial India; the antagonism was particularly pronounced in the South, and parts of Maharashtra.

Sanskrit was historically popular amongst the Brahmins as the elite language of choice for aesthetic and political discourse, early Indian literature and epic poetry. Its inherently complex linguistic system meant Sanskrit could never become accessible to the common classes, and this void would have to be filled by regional vernaculars. This ensured that, among others, the message of the Mahabharata could be heard by one and all, irrespective of the original language of the source document. Not surprisingly, the Tamil language and literature was marginalised in the age of Sanskrit hegemony, and ignored by orientalist scholars in their study of Indo-European languages. It took a Tamil Renaissance in the late nineteenth century for the language to have some semblance of a vocal footing. Yet, Sanskrit did not always hog the limelight. Persian, for example, was the main language of the administration till the late 19th century, having been a legacy of the Mughal Empire. It faded away from the scene as English became prevalent, along with Hindi and Bengali at the other polar end.

The emergence and starkly exponential progress of Hindi on the Indian linguistic scene did not come about without its share of trouble. The Hindi vs. Urdu conflict was just another facet of the communal struggle in North India. The result was a divergence of the erstwhile Hindustani tongue into two distinct streams "" Sanskritised Hindi in the Devanagri script and the Persianised Urdu in a derivative of the Arabic script "" unwilling to share cognates or acknowledge their historical commonalities. The Hindi-Tamil dichotomy and the rejection by South Indian states of Hindi as the Centre-mandated national language, is familiar to most. Their suggestion of English as the sole official language did not go down well with the swadeshi forces still bent on purging all imperialist legacies from Indian culture and lifestyle. There is more on the intertwined development of language, literature and the transition of sovereignty, from the early centuries AD to postcolonial times.

Another pressing question that comes up is the correct explanation of the "Indian" identity vis-a-vis religious identity. Can Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs be Indian enough to put their nation before their religion? The painful fallout of Partition has opened a Pandora's box on the role and importance of religion in a country that is constitutionally defined as secular. Political parties have not shied away from exploiting this issue to inflame voters' emotions and serve their agendas. There are many imperceptible shades of gray, and the authors have done well to invite a diverse array of scholarly theses to tackle this contentious issue as played out over the years.

While no leisurely read, this is a valuable work that becomes useful in understanding India's inherent makeup and substance, beyond the superficial, overhyped media perceptions of a third world country-turned-emerging Asian tiger, famous for its movies, cricket, and IT talent. A must-read especially for the young generation, ideally in the tenth standard social sciences syllabus.

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REPRESENTING INDIA
LITERATURES, POLITICS, AND IDENTITIES

Mukesh Williams and Rohit Wanchoo
Oxford University Press
285 pages, Rs 695