Heritage for India
By A. U. Patel
Summary
The article "Heritage for India" by A. U. Patel argues that India possesses a profound and ancient heritage in science, literature, arts, and astronomy, yet many of its citizens remain ignorant of this legacy, necessitating a renaissance of Sanskrit language and literature. The author establishes India's status as a cradle of human civilization, noting that the analysis of its history and culture began in the late 18th century when Europe "rediscovered" it. Patel presents the Indian cultural sphere as a seamless, organic unity, a mosaic of various strands, which he attributes primarily to the unifying force of Sanskrit language and its literature. To support this, Patel cites the French philosopher Laplace, who credited India with the ingenious decimal system and the concept of zero (shunya), used as early as 2000 B.C. He also quotes A. L. Basham from *A Cultural History of India*, who observed that no other land possesses India's long cultural continuity, with China second and Greece third. The author emphasizes that the *Ramayan* and the *Mahabharata* have moulded Indian life and literature, fostering ancient, medieval, and modern cultural unity, as noted by Dr. Sunit Kumar Chatterjee. Furthermore, Patel highlights the stabilizing grammatical work of Panini’s *Ashtadyaya* from 2500 years ago and the philosophical contributions of Sankara, Ramanuj, and Madhwa. The text also draws upon the admiration of Western scholars to underscore Sanskrit's grandeur. The German writer Goethe praised Kalidasa's *Shakuntal*, while Max Muller marveled at the Vedas. Similarly, Thoroeu and Emerson expressed deep affection for Sanskrit literature, with Emerson bathing his intellect in the *Bhagvad Gita*. Aldous Huxley is mentioned for his commentary on the *Bhagavad Gita*, calling it a "song celestial." Finally, Patel invokes the *Brihadaranyaka Upanishad*, advocating for its core values of giving, self-control, and compassion as guiding principles. He concludes by rejecting Rudyard Kipling's assertion that "East is east and West is west," arguing instead for a vital interplay between East and West to foster a more open society.
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Conclusion
India’s monumental contributions to global civilization, spanning science, literature, and philosophy, underscore the profound significance of its ancient and medieval heritage. The country’s unparalleled cultural continuity, deeply rooted in Sanskrit literature and language, has historically fostered an organic unity across the subcontinent. Despite this rich legacy, which has long inspired both Eastern and Western intellectual traditions, a pervasive domestic ignorance of these achievements necessitates urgent action. The revival of Sanskrit is therefore critical, serving not merely as an academic pursuit but as a catalyst for a broader cultural renaissance. By re-engaging with this heritage, India can bridge the perceived divide between East and West, fostering a more open, interconnected global society that recognizes and values its foundational role in human thought and progress.