Author: Anuradha Dutt
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: September 12,
2000
While a large part of
the developed world celebrates the merits of esoteric Indian wisdom, the
proposal of the University Grants Commission to introduce Vedic astrology,
Ayurveda and Karmkand into the academic curriculum has triggered outraged
reactions in some sections of the urban intelligentsia as an attempt by
Hindu fundamentalists to resurrect both Brahminism as Brahmins traditionally
have perpetuated these vidyas and obscurantism.
If any among the intelligentsia
do support the proposal, they are conspicuous by their silence.
The UGC is also being
criticised for being partial towards Hindu systems of knowledge.
Pro-Hindutva organisations are being blamed for influencing both school
and college/university curricula, to the detriment of minority groups.
This latest move is viewed as a further attempt at cultural imperialism.
Yet, such censure may not be justified if one considers that both Vedic
astrology and Ayurveda are being taught in, say, the United States to Americans
of non-Indian descent, and that long before the UGC thought of Indianising
the academic curricula, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had already popularised these
esoteric disciplines in the West among his huge following that includes
top notch professionals. Sanskrit for instance, given its due by
German Max Mueller and others, is still seriously studied abroad.
Clearly, the Indian intelligentsia
is more close minded, in comparison, in its public posturing on areas of
knowledge that do not subscribe to dogmatic Western rationalism.
Little matter that not all Western intellectuals are linear thinkers.
Carl Jung dwelt on the mystical potential of the human psyche.
As logical extension,
parapsychology, which is a respectable component of academic courses in
Western universities, has been studying the enigma of reincarnation as
a causative factor for certain psychological states. Buddhism sees
it as a perpetuation of sanskaras or tendencies through repeated births.
Indian psychiatry remains outdated by comparison by seeking to deny the
paranormal.
Why there should be such
high pitched reactions to the UGC proposal is particularly mystifying in
view of the fact that all the three subjects not only provide vocational
outlets to a growing number of people, but are commonly turned to by the
vast majority of Indians. Karmkand, the performance of rituals, and
astrology, are essential to the rites of passage that mark the lives of
Hindus, who down the ages, have constituted the bulk of the population.
Ayurveda is a favoured alternative medical system even among non-Hindus.
Incidentally, some highly
rated books on Ayurveda and Vedic astrology have been written by Western
scholars like Dr David Frawley, Hart Defeouw and Robert Svoboda.
And, such esoteric texts as the Devi Mahatmya, one of the fundamental treatises
of the Tantrik tradition, have been spawning research papers in Western
universities, with the rediscovery of the Mother Goddess as a living force
by many occidentals.
Against such a backdrop,
for India to deny its own heritage appears shortsighted. A senior
journalist who supports the UGC plan views the resistance to it as a symptom
of deracination. Correctly disseminated and practiced, these knowledge
systems, which cannot be wished away since they are integral to the dominant
Indian ethos, can be freed from the clutches of charlatans and prove beneficial
in the long run.
UGC Chairman Hari Pratap
Gautam, a surgeon who practiced in England for a decade and became Vice-Chancellor
of the BHU on his return, defends the introduction of these three subjects
and a fourth by way of the study of human consciousness and yogic sciences
in universities on secular grounds. One, it will provide career options
as teachers and consultants to those not inclined towards the conventionally
popular professions. Two, a very large number of foreigners interested
in Eastern lore may join these courses, thereby generating more revenue
and creating interest in India. And, three, the New Age requirement
of holistic development, which in turn helps resolve conflict at all levels,
can be facilitated through the study of these subjects geared to the inner
self.
The courses will be taught
at the post-graduate level, and Karmkand, for one, will require knowledge
of Sanskrit. Mr Gautam emphasises that admission to the courses will
be open to anyone qualified for them irrespective of caste or religion,
which in fact should serve to break the Brahminical hold over the traditional
pool of knowledge, while ensuring its perpetuation. A committee of
experts will work out the modalities. These disciplines are already
being taught as sub-subjects in Sanskrit departments of universities.
Academic Amita Singh
points out that certain sections remain suspicious of the proposal because
they view it as an extension of the Government move to rewrite history
books from a Hindu standpoint. Clearly, these doubts need to be dispelled
before the new courses are introduced. The involvement of reputed
Western scholars in the exercise may serve the purpose.
