Open AccessScholar and Spokesman: Benoy Sarkar on the West, Religion, Nationalism and Internationalism
Author(s) -
Rohit Wanchoo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cracow indological studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.103
H-Index - 1
eISSN - 2449-8696
pISSN - 1732-0917
DOI - 10.12797/cis.23.2021.01.06
Subject(s) - nationalism , orientalism , internationalism (politics) , hinduism , ideology , religious studies , hindu nationalism , colonialism , authoritarianism , buddhism , sociology , gender studies , history , political science , philosophy , democracy , theology , law , politics
Benoy Kumar Sarkar was both a serious scholar of history and society and a spokesman who wanted to promote ideas of equality between East and West and highlight the secular achievements of the Hindus. He has been hailed as a pioneer of Neo-Indology, a premature postcolonial sociologist, a conservative nationalist and an anti-colonial internationalist. Elements of several ideologies can be found in his writings. This article assesses his critique of orientalist constructions of East and West, the features of Hinduism and Buddhism and their influence overseas, the peculiarities of nationalism and Hindu-Muslim relations in India and the conservative, authoritarian and cosmopolitan elements in his writings on nationalism and international affairs.