Introduction
Indology, a multifaceted discipline, delves into the intricate tapestry of Indian culture, spanning art, languages, sciences, economics, society, religion, spirituality, and civilizational facets. However, beneath the layers of colonial influence and historical contingencies lies an often-overlooked non-colonial native perspective —the Indic paradigm. This write-up argues that this Indic paradigm, rooted in indigenous knowledge processing, has perpetually existed but has been obscured by the dominance of colonial perspectives in studying Indian society.
Historically, colonial scholarship was molded by specific ideologies that excluded the non-colonial paradigm from academic discourse. The indigenous perspective, often repressed or ignored, remains conspicuously absent from academic literature. The prevailing Western belief that it pioneered the methods for studying and dissecting societies ignores the rich indigenous knowledge generation and application traditions.
“New Indology” emerges as a platform to unearth the latent non-colonial lens marginalized by academia and even indigenous intellectuals. It is not the creation of something new but the reclamation of what already exists—a foundational step toward the reconstruction of Indology.
Indology research seems incomplete, as the scholarly landscape predominantly lacks the non-colonial lens. This paper introduces an ” Indicism ” theoretical framework to fill this void. While the term “-ism” typically conveys a philosophy or system, “Indicism” offers Indics (or dharmics) a tool for introspection, assessment, and understanding through “sva parikshan,” or self-examination. The goal is to shift away from the conventional Western concepts when studying the Indic civilization.
To grasp where Indicism fits, one must consider the relationship between “Sanatana Dharma” and “Indic.” “Sanatana” signifies eternal, representing the everlasting laws governing life. “Dharma” is not merely a religion but a fundamental natural order. “Indic” pertains to that rooted in dharma, encompassing present geographical boundaries and the enduring Indic thought and practices across time and space. Indic thought endures not due to organization or proselytization but because of its intrinsic spiritual orientation and intuitive nature.
The Indic lens transcends human intellect and deductions, relying on profound inner experiences rather than intellectual dissection. Anchored in natural law, Indic thought is not constrained by space or time, making it ideal for assessing the unique Indic phenomenon.
The Indicism Concept for Academia
Despite enduring imperialism and colonialism, the core of Indic culture, embodied in the six Darshanas, particularly Yoga and Vedanta, persists as living philosophies, culture, and traditions. These philosophies converge on knowledge acquisition; realizing that the ultimate reality as one, even amidst the plurality of deities and philosophical traditions. This unique universalism, inherent to the six Darshanas, forms the foundation of Indic thought and Indicism.
The need for Indicism in academia and beyond becomes evident when considering the prevalent Western lens used to study India, even within the subcontinent’s educational curricula. A need for more theoretical frameworks allows self-assessment, self-critique, and solutions to societal issues from an Indic perspective. “Sva-parikshan,” rooted in the term “sva,” meaning self, is the basis for developing critical theories under the Indicism paradigm.
Existing Western paradigms, such as Orientalism and Occidentalism do not address dharmic societies like India. Indicism offers a pre-colonization approach to examining societal phenomena, allowing for exploring topics like the caste system that Western paradigms struggle to comprehend. Rather than constantly attempting to decolonize Indic thought, Indicism provides an established lens for understanding various facets of life and society.
Indicism, while not a new theory, offers a fresh perspective for academics to study Indic culture through their chosen Darshana, much like a tool for understanding life itself. To grasp the utility of Indicism, one must redirect their senses inward, akin to the practices of the Yoga Darshana, to perceive life through an indigenous lens. There is a wealth of pre-colonial literature and guidance to facilitate this transformation in perspective.
Reference:
Kanojia, A. (2023). Indicism-A Theoretical Framework and Three Critical Theories for New Indology. International Journal of Indology, 1(1). https://indologyjournal.org/index.php/ijoi/article/view/16/5