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“If consciousness is what emerges when information inside an individual is processed in increasingly complex ways, then civilization is what emerges when information inside a collective/group is processed in increasingly complex ways.”
~ Source
Illustration by The Geostrata
Being one of the world’s ancient civilisations, Bharat reflects a unique worldview, philosophical tenets, diverse religious and spiritual heritage, social structures, art, literature, and historical experiences. The core principles of Sanātana and Dharma remain deeply rooted in the conscience of indigenous people. The tradition of passing values and ethical learnings with ‘Shrutis’ is still engraved in the generations, not moulding the new soil from rigorous stencil, but giving them the resources to mould themselves with the same soil.
Itihāsa - Purana tradition of Bharat is not just a literary work of ancient times, but a critical historical experience which is part of our self-consciousness. The verses, the stories and the literary tradition portrayed have become an artistic image of our glorious history of development.
With many accusatory theories and history based on historicism of a particular school of thought, the name “India” has been criticized several times because of the Indus/ Sindhu derivation. But our constitutional phrase, “India i.e. Bharat,” emphasises the reconnection of the past and the present and awakens civilisational consciousness. This is not with the etymology of India but with Bharat.
The patronymic dimension of the word is taken from the ‘shrutis’, however, there's much more to its ontological dimension. The core concept and expression of the word lies in √bhṛ (भृ)- which in itself is synonym of dhāraṇa, poṣaṇa, and bharaṇa, a call for continuity, nourishment and eternity of the civilisation, more like a child in divinity.
As per Huntington’s definition, ‘the highest cultural grouping of people and the broadest level of cultural identity people have, short of that which distinguishes humans from other species.’ The Indian etymology for the same is Saṃskṛti. With the prefix of ‘sam (सम्),’ it identifies the importance of togetherness for ‘saṃskaraṇa’ i.e to succeed with pure intentions and cause.
At the first look, it seems that meaning of civilisation and Saṃskṛti is same. However, the values attached draw a borderline between them, Civilisation is a predefined notion of accomplishment and predetermined society standards for the positive growth, with a very little room for corrections and changes.
However, Saṃskṛti offers a dynamic concept with a great room of development with the changes of time and a sense of community and togetherness. The idea can be defined as the success by collective faith and adherence towards a common goal.
Derived from the root word ‘√cit (√चित्)’, the word Cetanā carries a significance beyond the Western translation - ‘thinking’. As per the ancient Indian psychosis, it defines the process of our soulful mind to determine, distinguish, implement, feel and obtain the information to devise our physical actions in a desirable direction. Pāṇini associated Cetanā with saṃjñā (संज्ञा) — harmony to evoke the concept of collective consciousness.
The itihāsa-purāṇa tradition provides a psychological and ontological description in the Indian context. To quote Prof. Adluri – Itihāsa represents the empirical world aesthetically to problematise both being in the world and the relationship of ontology, text, and the world. In other words, itihāsa is history that has overcome historicism: history that has become critical and self-conscious.
QUESTIONS OF SELF-AWARENESS
To crown itself as Vishwa Guru, India needs to develop this ancient but sanātana (eternal) concept to reconnect with civilisation. The answer is a crystal clear affirmation. But, the next question arises - Is India actually walking on the same path or just using the deceptive image of getting into the same shoes?
The answer to the second question is complex. Let’s go back to the history of invasions and colonisation. Repetitive invasions and the rule of invaders using harsh measures tried to convert this Cetanā into a hollow idea of religious fanaticism. So, it somehow survived in core principles.
However, the real vanishment started when this hollow space got an alternative, in the form of colonial ideologies. Western concepts and westernisation with the face mask of globalisation and cultural diplomacy is still invading out traditional and cultural spaces, eliminating the critical thinking and self- awareness aspect of Bhāratīya Saṃskṛti.
India’s diplomatic approach towards the cause has been modernised but lacks the ancient principles of expression. Indian Civilisational Consciousness is often identified within modern constructs of religion and societal hierarchies.
The concept has been generalised in the name of ‘Vishwa guru’ citing the ancient practices but not actually implementing those practices.
Hence, giving a false image of what actual civilisation consciousness means and curbing down its importance as being a concept so powerful on papers but merely a diplomatic tactic in reality.
CONCLUSION
The most significant step towards the solution is decolonising the minds and multiplying the knowledge beads with reforms in the educational as well as governance sector. Rather than making it a divine imposition, it should be in the conscience of every citizen beyond territorial boundaries. To conclude, as Shri Rajiv Malhotra highlighted, civilisation should be “encoded in multiple ways, like the same DNA is encoded in every leaf of a tree.”
BY NIDHI SONI
CENTRE FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE
TEAM GEOSTRATA
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