Notes on Contemporary Indian Thinkers
CONTEMPORARY INDIAN THINKERS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA
2. VIVEKANANDA
3. SHAIKH MUHAMMED IQBAL
4. RABINDRANATH TAGORE
5. MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI
6. KRISHNACHANDRA BHATTACHARYYA
7. AUROBINDO GHOSE
8. SARAPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN
9. JIDDU KRISHNAMURTHI
10. RAJNEESH
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
When we speak about Contemporary Indian Philosophy, we refer to the pro and post Independence period which is known as the Indian Renaissance (a period of revival of classical art, architecture, literature etc.). When we consider the ancient Indian philosophy and contemporary we do find many differences.
The growth of Indian philosophy from the ancient period was stagnated by the Muslim (636 A.D. onwards?) and British (1600 to 1947) rule for centuries. As a result a continuous development in Indian Philosophy did not take place. Again since the Muslims and British period did not provide a free atmosphere for the growth of Indian philosophy and culture, the orthodox Hindus became more defensive in their attitudes towards these foreign elements and they tend to be protective of their culture, philosophy, religion etc. This attitude made them to close themselves to any new thinking and they held on to the old. They glorified Upanisadic and Vedic philosophy and stuck to the old. Thus Indian philosophy became more regressive rather than progressive. This stage of Indian philosophy continued unto the period of Indian Renaissance.
Indian Renaissance produced a number of thinkers who had altogether different attitude towards the foreigners. On the one hand they condemned the foreign occupation of India, but on the other hand they appreciated the good things they found in the Western culture. These thinkers did not want to throw away the rich Indian heritage and buy the Western thinking, but they wanted to revive the rich Indian heritage with the help of that which is good in Western
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA
2. VIVEKANANDA
3. SHAIKH MUHAMMED IQBAL
4. RABINDRANATH TAGORE
5. MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI
6. KRISHNACHANDRA BHATTACHARYYA
7. AUROBINDO GHOSE
8. SARAPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN
9. JIDDU KRISHNAMURTHI
10. RAJNEESH
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
When we speak about Contemporary Indian Philosophy, we refer to the pro and post Independence period which is known as the Indian Renaissance (a period of revival of classical art, architecture, literature etc.). When we consider the ancient Indian philosophy and contemporary we do find many differences.
The growth of Indian philosophy from the ancient period was stagnated by the Muslim (636 A.D. onwards?) and British (1600 to 1947) rule for centuries. As a result a continuous development in Indian Philosophy did not take place. Again since the Muslims and British period did not provide a free atmosphere for the growth of Indian philosophy and culture, the orthodox Hindus became more defensive in their attitudes towards these foreign elements and they tend to be protective of their culture, philosophy, religion etc. This attitude made them to close themselves to any new thinking and they held on to the old. They glorified Upanisadic and Vedic philosophy and stuck to the old. Thus Indian philosophy became more regressive rather than progressive. This stage of Indian philosophy continued unto the period of Indian Renaissance.
Indian Renaissance produced a number of thinkers who had altogether different attitude towards the foreigners. On the one hand they condemned the foreign occupation of India, but on the other hand they appreciated the good things they found in the Western culture. These thinkers did not want to throw away the rich Indian heritage and buy the Western thinking, but they wanted to revive the rich Indian heritage with the help of that which is good in Western