The Spirit of Modern India

by Robert McDermott, V. S. Naravane

Overview

This introduction to modern Indian thought establishes the historical context in which Indian thinkers of the past century developed their ideas, showing how those ideas comprise a coherent vision that is both Indian and contemporary. The Spirit of Modern India offers a full treatment of these ideas in an intelligible and concise approach and format.

Despite a growing interest in Indian thought and life, the best writings of major twentieth-century thinkers have not been well presented within their cultural framework. This is the first single volume to offer such a wide representation of India's experience and scholarship through traditional and contemporary strains as articulated by her greatest modern thinkers. The period designated "modern" refers to the remarkable century between the mid-1800s and the mid-1900s.

The Spirit of Modern India includes writings by Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Tagore, Gandhi, Nehru, Radhakrisnan, and Sri Aurobindo. These writings are arranged according to each era of Indian thought and culture--philosophy, religion, ethics, education, esthetics, and national vision. Each is introduced to illuminate the material and put the selections into their historical and cultural context.

A chronology lists important dates and works of major authors and dates related to Indian and Western intellectual history. A glossary of important names and terms makes the more technical selections readily accessible. The bibliography will guide the reader to further reading.

The Spirit of Modern India provides a valuable service to those who wish to better understand India and it modern roots.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584204954
Publisher:	SteinerBooks
Publication date:	08/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Robert McDermott, Ph.D., is president emeritus and chair of the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). His publications include Radhakrishnan (1970); The Essential Aurobindo (1974, 1987); The Essential Steiner (1984); (with Rudolf Steiner) The Bhagavad Gita and the West (2009); and The New Essential Steiner (2009). He has also published on William James, Josiah Royce, M. K. Gandhi, the evolution of consciousness, and American thought. His administrative service includes president of the New York Center for Anthroposophy; president of the Rudolf Steiner [summer] Institute; chair of the board of Sunbridge College (New York) and of Rudolf Steiner College (California). He was a member of the council of the Anthroposophical Society in America (1996-2004). He is the founding chair of the board of the Sophia Project, an anthroposophic home in Oakland, California, for mothers and children at risk of homelessness. He is a Lindisfarne fellow, a Fetzer mentor, and a member of the Esalen Corportion.
Vishwanath S. Naravane, born in Allahabad, received his Ph.D. from Allahabad University and taught there for twenty years. In 1965, he was appointed professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy, Pune University. He has lectured in various countries and worked as a visiting professor at several colleges and universities in the U.S. In addition to philosophy and religion, Dr. Naravane taught courses in Indian history, art and literature.

Table of Contents

C O N T E N T S:

Preface

NEW AWAKENING

Introduction
Keshub Chunder Sen
Sri Ramakrishna
Swami Vivekananda
Debendranath Tagoe on God and Man

PHILOSOPHY

Introduction
S. Dasgupta
S. Radhakrishnan
Sri Aurobindo
Radhakrishnan on the Function of Philosophy
Radhakrishnan on Indian Philosophy

DHARMA

Introduction
M. Hiriyanna
S. Radhakrishnan
Gandhi on His Mission
Radhakrishnan on Dharma
Sri Aurobindo on Dharma
Radhakrishnan on Religion
Muhammad Iqbal

KARMA-YOGA

Introduction
M. K. Gandhi
Vinoba Bhave
Vivekananda on Karma-yoga
Gandhi on the Gita
Sri Aurobindo on Karma-yoga

AESTHETICS

Introduction
Ananda Coormaraswamy
Rabindranath Tagore"
J. Krishnamurti
Rabindranath Tagore
Sri Aurobindo on Art

EDUCATION

Introduction
Sri Aurobindo
Rabindranath Tagore
Sri Aurobindo on Education

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

Introduction
Ramana Maharshi
Sri Aurobindo
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Introduction
Jawaharlal Nehru
Independence Day: 15 August 1947

Chronology
Glossary of Important Names and Terms
Guide to Further Reading
Acknowledgments
Index