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Three Prose Writers of Indian Writing in English [Post Independence], The…
Three Prose Writers of Indian Writing in English [Post Independence]
Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan
“The challenge of Christian critics impelled me to make a study of Hinduism and find out what was living and dead in it… I prepared a thesis on the ethics of the Vedanta, which was intended to be a reply to the charge that the Vedanta system had no room for ethics”.
His philosophical ideas
His academic ideas
The Hindu View of Life [1926]:
1) The book is an account of a series of four lectures delivered by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan at the Manchester College, Oxford in September, 1926.
2) Broadly the topics covered here relate to a Hindu context on Religious Experience, Conflict in Religion and Dharma.
The first chapter “Religious Experience, Its nature and concept “gives us a vivid account of the essential characteristics of Hinduism. Actually the term 'Hindu' was a geographical term and did not refer to a religion.
In his opinion, as per Hinduism, religion is a felt inner experience of the entire personality. Religious experience is of a Self-certifying character. Religious faith is not a matter of blind acceptance of religious experience.
In the second chapter “Conflict of Religions: the Hindu Attitude”, Radhakrishnan explains how every group in within the Hindu fold is allowed to enjoy its freedom and preserve its individuality. A known fact of Hinduism is that it has no common creed and it has not prescribed a uniformed system of worship.
The third chapter “Hindu Dharma” is a discussion of the two aspects of Hinduism, the philosophical and the practical. Radhakrishnan says that the Upanishads emphasize the relative reality of the phenomenal world. All things in the world are of value as they contribute to the realization of the self. The real will qualify to be called real only when it is exempt from all change and is ever-enduring.
Coming to the practical side of Hinduism, Radhakrishan says that Hinduism is merely a way of life rather than from a thought. Life according to Hinduism is regulated against s Four–fold scale -Dharma, (righteousness), -Artha, (wealth)- Kaama (Desire)- Moksha,(Spiritual Freedom).
The fourth chapter Hindu Dharma-II focuses on the caste system in India. Though the caste system has been exploited and has a symbol of exclusiveness, it has originally designed to foster co-operation, tolerance, and trust. The institution of caste is man-made and has no divine sanction. It is meant to regulate social function.
He emphasizes the complementary nature of the caste system. In his opinion, the caste system is based on the principle of division of function wherein each caste has its social purpose, its code, and tradition.
While concluding his lectures, he sums up all the ideas/ thoughts presented and goes on to say: We feel that our society is in a condition of unstable equilibrium. There is much wood that is dead and diseased that has to be cleared away.