'Indian Culture as the Song of the Spirit' represents an attempt at breaking new ground. In dealing with Indian culture, my friend, Shri V.Sivaramakrishnan, has a method and a point of view. His method is to interpret Indian culture in terms of the definition of culture given by the British anthropologist, Edward Burnett Tylor (1832-1917); his point of view is that, it derives its strength and vitality, which account for its continuity compared to other cultures, from being a thing of the spirit. In holding this view, he relies for support on Sri Aurobindo and Dr.S.Radhakrishnan. Not only in his basic standpoints but in the exposition of his subject, of which he has a firm grasp, he goes to the basic texts and the well of scholarship at which generations have drunk deep.
I would like to mention a few merits of this book on Indian culture. The language, simple and direct, is couched in a style that makes reading easy. There are no vague generalizations and wherever authoritative statements are made, they are fully referenced. Informative charts are appended to the chapters on the Upanisads, the Purinas, Classical Sanskrit Literature, Aesthetics, the Philosophical Systems, and Indian Art - you get at the substance at a glance. The chapter on Gandhiji (He Trimmed the Wick of Indian Culture') is refreshingly original, informative and interpretative. We get a beautiful portrait of that great and good man of whom "generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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