An Intellectual and Cultural History of India in Modern Times (From the 18th Century to the Present)

This book, An Intellectual and Cultural History of India in Modern Times (From the 18th Century to the Present), contains chapters on the essence of the present world of science and the state of historical Studies, and the growth of science and technology in India in modern times along with deeper studies on the impact of the British rule in India, Indian Renaissance, Gandhism, Islamic ideology for the creation of Pakistan, Indian communism, secularism, urbanization, modern Indian painting, music and dance. Explorations have also been made in the domains of the societal ideas of Gandhiji and Ambedkar, Gandhiji's environmentalism, Vivekananda's Neo-Vedantism, Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy of Nature, life and culture: philosophical and political thought of Netaji and Nehru. In the conclusion, a review has been made of India's contribution to world civilization.

Dr. Sallen Debnath, MA, Ph.D. of the Department of History, Alipurduar University, West Bengal, has been engrossed in the studies of the history of ideas and intellectual history of India, Asia and Europe for the last twenty-five years. He has authored a number of books namely The Meanings of Hindu Gods, Goddesses and Myths, ISBN 9788129114815, Rupa & Co., New Delhi, 2009; (2) Secularism: Western and Indian, ISBN 9788126913664. Atlantic Publishers, New Delhi, 2010; (3) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: His Philosophy, Political Thought and Contribution, ISBN 9789350740859, Abhijeet Publications, New Delhi, 2013: (4) Human Rights in the Context of Caste, Class and Gender in India, ISBN 9789350740996, Abhijeet. Publications, New Delhi, 2013; (5) Kamatapur An Unexplored History of Eastern India (650-1498), ISBN-9788193019078, Aayu Publications, New Delhi. 2015; (6) The Koch-Rajbanshis from Panchanan to Greater Cooch Behar Movement, ISBN 9789385161155, Aayu Publications, New Delhi: (7) Indo-Bhutan Relations in Modern Times: A Study of Bilateral Relations, ISBN 9789385161469, Aayu Publications, New Delhi, 2017; (8) The Unfortunate Indian, ISBN 9789385161551, (A Historical Novel), Aayu Publications, New Delhi, 2017: (9) Essays on Cultural History of North Bengal, ISBN 9788186860427, N.L. Publishers, 2008; (10) West Bengal in Doldrums, ISBN 9788186860342, N.L. Publishers, 2009; (12) The Dooars in Historical Transition, ISBN 9788186860441, N.L. Publishers, 2010; including two edited books: (1) Social and Political Tensions in North Bengal since 1947, ISBN 9788186860441, N.L. Publishers, 2007; (2) 1st Editor, Modern Trends in Social and Basic Sciences, ISBN 9789382623519, Readers Service, Kolkata, 2015.

This book, An Intellectual and Cultural History of India in Modern Times (From the 18 Century to the Present), is the first of its kind in the domain of studies in Indian History. This new genre of historical analysis is based on the concept of the progress of civilization through interactions and inter-impact between creative ideas and human activities across the ages. The physical structures of civilization wear off; and gradually turn into remains; and then vanish with the passing of long duration of time; but the positive ingredients of ideas and creative thoughts continue to exist all through changes with the elapse of time. India is a country of continental dimension in the field of culture; therefore, the making of an intellectual and cultural survey at all levels is well nigh impossible. In this book, attempts have been made to collocate together in the context of time and relevance only the pan-Indian major cultural trends, ideas and courses. Micro-level cultural diversities and local tendencies in the formations of regional cultural identities could naturally not be given proper attention. This book contains chapters on the growth of science in modern India, urbanization, impact of the British reforms and rule in India, Indian Renaissance, Vivekananda's neo-Vedantism, Sanatani humanism, universal religion and mission to the West, Gandhism and Gandhiji's concept of envirnmentalism, Indian communism, secularism, modern Indian painting, music and dance. Explorations have also been made in the societal ideas of Gandhiji and Ambedkar. Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy of Nature, life and culture; philosophical and political thought of Netaji and Nehru. In the concluding chapter, a review has been made of India's contribution to world civilization.

The topics analysed in this book delineate the multifarious aspects and development of Indian cultural life, continuity and change; and the themes dealt with here are cultural issues of intellectual interest. The topics partially cover the syllabi of many universities apart from the fact that the themes are subjects of general discussions and of intellectual exercise of the Indian people nearly at all levels. There should have been some more chapters on different other aspects of Indian culture of the period under study, which, can, of course, be fulfilled in the next enlarged edition of the book.

The history of ideas and as such studies in Intellectual and Cultural history is growingly emerging as the dominant propensity in historical researches as this way of study delving deep in the contents and consequences of human creative thoughts in all domains and corresponding human activities bring into light the factors and facts that laid the paths of civilizations in all the ages; and thus, Intellectual History aspires to build the pedestal of total history. The same is supposed to be true in Indian historical researches and writings; and this book An Intellectual and Cultural History of India in Modern Times (From the 18 Century to the Present), is a first hand attempt in the field.

The establishment of the British colonial empire brought India to a new threshold of overall changes in administration, society, education, economy and culture. Apart from the exploitation of the country by the colonial rulers and the drain of wealth from India to England, the imperial rule opened new avenues of socio-cultural reforms in India and of intellectual and cultural contact between India and Europe. Western education in English medium was introduced in India, the European oriental thinkers made access into the treasure of Indian literature, philosophy and history, which opened their eyes to the greatness of ancient India in culture and thought. In the wake of this new searching, the Europeans reviewed India through the writings of the ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese travellers, ambassadors and scholars to the effect of becoming enthralled by the intellectual achievement of India in the remote past when except Greece; the rest of Europe was not civilized.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages