UNIT 1 CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE

Objectives and Introduction to Indian Civilization

Objectives:

After reading this unit, you should be able to:

• Elaborate on different approaches to the study of Indian Civilization
• Give an account of India in terms of its cultural and historical geography and how these contribute to its diversity and plurality
• Explain how despite the underlying plurality, India is an all-encompassing civilization
• Examine the various elements that have played a role in unifying Indian civilization

Introduction:

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world and home to over a billion people. Known for its cultural diversity and plurality, it cannot be fully captured by one discipline alone. This is due to its diversity in population, geography, environment, modes of livelihood, and culture. This unit explores four broad approaches to studying Indian civilization.

1. Diversity and Plurality:
   • India’s population reflects various historical migrations, resulting in racial, ethnic, and religious diversity.
   • Different regions have distinct languages and ways of life, contributing to India's richness and diversity.
2. Cultural and Historical Geography:
   • Ecological and Physiographic Variations: These variations explain the richness and diversity of different regions of India.
3. Social Structure and Cultural Diversity:
   • The religious and socio-political historical past is essential for understanding the evolution of Indian society.
   • No society can be properly understood without reference to its history.
4. Elements of Unity in Indian Civilization:
• Despite internal conflicts and continuous warfare, regionalism never significantly threatened India’s unified identity.

1. Different Approaches to Study Indian Civilization:

• Multidisciplinary perspectives are required to understand the complexities of Indian civilization.
• These approaches help in understanding the diverse aspects of life, population, geography, and culture.

2. Cultural and Historical Geography:

• India’s geography is diverse, with various ecological zones contributing to its cultural richness.
• Physiographic variations, such as mountains, plains, and rivers, have shaped regional cultures.

3. Social Structure and Cultural Diversity:

• The social structure of India is influenced by its historical and cultural background.
• Understanding the evolution of society requires examining religious and socio-political histories.

4. Elements of Unity in Indian Civilization:

• Despite regional differences, certain elements have always contributed to India’s unity.
• Cultural practices, festivals, and historical events have fostered a sense of national identity.

Approaches to the Study of Indian Civilization

Introduction to Indian Civilization

• Civilization Definition: The term civilization originates from the Latin word "civis," meaning citizen or townsman. It implies agricultural practices, trade, planned dwellings, multiple cultures, art, religion, and administrative and political structures.
• Indus Valley Civilization: One of the earliest examples of a complex society revealed through artifacts and monuments.
• Indian Civilization: Considered one of the oldest continuing civilizations, traced back to the Harappan civilization.

Four Broad Approaches to Study Indian Civilization

1. Catalogue Approach
2. Cultural Essence Approach
3. Cultural Communication Approach
4. Approaching India as a Type

Catalogue Approach

• Description: Involves recording traits, institutions, and qualities assumed to be essentially Indian.
• Focus: Lists traits or qualities contributing to "Indianness," considering geographical, ecological, regional, class, or religious differences.
• Assumption: What it means to be Indian varies from scholar to scholar.

Cultural Essence Approach

• Description: Seeks the essential style and process representing Indian civilization, not just traits or content.
• Focus: Concepts like "unity in diversity," tolerance, brotherhood, and respect for the spiritual and divine.
• Nature: Abstract and subjective, not statistically measurable.

Cultural Communication Approach

• Description: Focuses on how civilizational content is transmitted and communicated through society.
• Structural Integration: Highlights unity and interdependence within Indian civilization.
• Key Concepts: Great Tradition vs. Little Tradition, cultural synthesis, and interaction.
  • McKim Marriott: Universalization and Parochialization.
  • Robert Redfield: Interaction and interdependence between peasant communities and townsfolk.

Box 1: Parochialization and Universalization

• Universalization: Integrating elements of little tradition into the great tradition (e.g., goddess Lakshmi as a universal form of local goddess Saurti).
• Parochialization: Adapting universal rites, beliefs, and cultural ideals to local contexts (e.g., Naurtha festival as a localized version of Navarathri).

Box 2: Little and Great Traditions

• Robert Redfield: Emphasized the interdependence of peasant communities (little tradition) on townsfolk (great tradition).

Approaching India as a Type

• Description: Comparative approach viewing Indian civilization in juxtaposition with other societies.
• Focus: Typifying India based on commonalities with other societies (e.g., village society, agrarian society).
• Limitation: Unique aspects like the caste system are not suitable for cross-cultural comparisons.

Key Points Summary

1. Civilization and Complexity: Defined by agricultural practices, trade, planned dwellings, multiple cultures, art, religion, and political structures.
2. Catalogue Approach: Lists traits contributing to Indianness.
3. Cultural Essence Approach: Focuses on concepts like unity in diversity, tolerance, and spirituality.
4. Cultural Communication Approach: Explores how civilizational content is communicated within society.
   • Marriott: Universalization and Parochialization.
   • Redfield: Interaction between little and great traditions.
5. Approaching India as a Type: Compares India with other societies based on commonalities.

Understanding the Geography of India

Introduction

• Complex Historical Traditions: India’s regional diversity and variations in social structures are deeply rooted in its geography.
• Physiography and Culture: India's basic physiography has provided a framework for its historical, cultural, and political patterns.

Three Broad Geographical Zones

1. Perennial or Nuclear Zones
2. Route Zones
3. Zones of Relative Isolation

Perennial or Nuclear Zones

• Characteristics: Fertile river basins, plains, and deltas. High population density, stable state systems, and centers of agriculture and trade.
• Historical Significance: Centers of political activity and human settlement. Emergence of pre-modern and modern cities.
• Examples:
  • Northern India:
    • Gandhara: Early nuclear zone, spread influences from Western and Central Asia.
    • Sutlej-Jamuna and Gangese-Jamuna Doab: Cities like Kurukshetra, Kanauj, Delhi, Agra.
    • Kosala, Bengal, Saurashtra: Each with distinct linguistic traditions and cropping patterns.
  • Southern India:
    • Andhra: Telugu-speaking, rich agricultural deltas of Godavari and Krishna rivers.
    • Tamil Nadu: Chola and Pandyan kingdoms, Tamil-speaking, fertile plains of Pennar river and Kaveri delta.
    • Maharashtra and Mysore: Marathi and Kannada-speaking, dry agriculture with millet, maize, and gram.
    • Kerala: Isolated by Western Ghats, distinct culture and social structure, wet rice cultivation.

Route Zones

• Characteristics: Connects regions, acts as passages for invaders and traders, semi-arid regions.
• Examples:
  • Malwa: Connects North India with the western coast and Deccan.
• Cultural and Social Traits: Mosaics of diverse cultural and social elements, without unified political traditions.

Zones of Relative Isolation

• Characteristics: Inaccessible, less conducive for human settlement, sparsely populated.

• Examples:

  • Northern Arc: Borders of Baluchistan and Afghanistan, inhabited by Islamised tribes.
  • Gilgit and Jammu and Kashmir: Unique cultural traditions.
  • Himalayan Plains: Extending through Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim, dual influence of Tibetan-Buddhism and Hinduism.
  • North-East India: Between Burma and India, influenced by south-eastern cultures.
  • Rajasthan/Marwar: Inhabited by Rajputs and refugees from Muslim invaders.

• Central India:

• Vindhya Mountains and Surrounding Areas: Eastern Gujarat, Narmada River, eastern Banaras, and Kaimur hills.
• Mountainous Terrain South of Vindhya Range: Northern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, north-western Orissa, and south-eastern Bihar.

Notes on Indian Civilization

Objectives

• Elaborate on different approaches to the study of Indian Civilization.
• Describe India's cultural and historical geography and its contribution to diversity and plurality.
• Explain how India maintains an all-encompassing civilization despite its plurality.
• Examine various elements that unify Indian civilization.

Approaches to the Study of Indian Civilization

1. Catalogue Approach

   • Focus: Traits, institutions, and qualities considered essentially Indian.
   • Method: Statistical analysis of diversity (geographical, ecological, regional, class, religious).
   • Example: Listing traits that contribute to "Indianness."

2. Cultural Essence Approach

   • Focus: Essential style and process representing Indian civilization.
   • Key Concepts: Unity in diversity, tolerance, brotherhood, spiritual respect.
   • Nature: Abstract, subjective.

3. Cultural Communication Approach

   • Focus: Transmission and communication within the civilizational system.
   • Key Theories: Great Tradition and Little Tradition (McKim Marriott, Robert Redfield).
   • Examples:
     • Universalization and Parochialization (Marriott)
     • Little and Great Traditions (Redfield)

4. Approaching India as a Type

   • Focus: Comparative analysis with other societies and cultures.
   • Method: Identifying common features (e.g., village or agrarian society).
   • Limitation: Unique aspects like caste system may not allow cross-cultural comparisons.

Understanding the Geography of India

1. Perennial/Nuclear Zones

   • Description: Fertile river basins, plains, and deltas.
   • Features: High population density, stable state system, trade centers.
   • Examples:
     • North India: Sutlej-Jamuna doab, Gangese-Jamuna doab, Bengal, Gujarat.
     • South India: Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mysore.

2. Route Zones

   • Description: Connect nuclear zones, passage for invaders and traders.
   • Example: Malwa region.
   • Features: Semi-arid, mosaic of cultures, no unified political tradition.

3. Zones of Relative Isolation

   • Description: Inaccessible, less conducive for settlement.
   • Examples:
     • North India: Ladakh, Gilgit, Jammu and Kashmir, Himalayas, north-east.
     • Central India: Vindhya mountains, northern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.

Viewing India from a Structural and Cultural Perspective

• Historical Influence: Religion, economy, and politics shaped social structure and culture.

• Pluralism: Invasions, migrations, and accepting religion added diversity.

• Segmentation and Stratification:

  • Religious Diversity: Flourishing of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism; acceptance of Islam, Christianity.
  • Varna and Jati System: Social order, restricted mobility, extended kin groups.
  • Kinship and Jati: Influence on identity, power dynamics, social networks.

• Modern Perspective:

  • Nationalist Portrayal: India as a singular entity.
  • Secular State: Respect for all religions, mixed national symbols.
  • Unity in Diversity: Absorption and reshaping of foreign elements, socio-cultural richness.

Key Symbols of Secular India

• National Flag: Buddhist wheel of law.
• National Emblem: Lions from Asoka's seal.
• National Anthem: "Jana Gana Mana," representing unity.

Notes on India's Civilizational Unity

Overview

• Discuss the different views on India's civilizational unity.
• Explore the contributions of Brahmanical ideology and external intrusions to Indian unity.
• Analyze the debate on regionalism and national identity.

Three Views on India's Civilizational Unity

1. Denial of Unity

   • Proponents: Geographer Spate, colonial authors (Hobson-Jobson, Strachey).
   • Argument:
     • India consists of distinct perennial/nuclear regions.
     • Regional variations challenge the concept of a unified Indian civilization.
     • Unity seen as an artificial construct of colonial conquest.

2. Assertion of Unity

   • Proponents: Nationalist leaders, Embree.
   • Argument:
     • Despite regional variations, an all-encompassing Indian civilization exists.
     • Emphasis on India's civilizational legacy of physical, political, social, and religious unity.
     • Rejection of colonial emphasis on regionalism as a misreading of history.

3. Synthesis of Unity and Diversity

   • Proponents: Vincent Smith, Embree (partially).
   • Argument:
     • India is a composite culture, reflecting ‘unity in diversity’.
     • Recognizes the uniqueness of Indian civilization’s ability to absorb diverse elements.
     • Embree partially rejects this, emphasizing Brahmanical ideology over diversity.

Embree's Perspective on Indian Unity

1. Brahmanical Ideology

   • Core Elements:
     • Notions of karma and reincarnation.
     • Concept of dharma and hierarchical social order.
     • Respect for Brahmans and rituals.
   • Role:
     • Provides a coherent philosophy of life and world-view for the majority.
     • Acts as a unifying force through classical texts and historical experiences.
     • Influences political power and governance, even under Islamic rule.

2. External Intrusions

   • Islamic Influence:
     • Significant impact on India's political and cultural landscape.
     • Created a unifying effect by countering regional political aspirations.
   • European Influence:
     • Reinforced political unification by disrupting the potential for regional independence.
     • Colonial emphasis on unity as artificial led to nationalist reactions highlighting historical unity.

Regionalism vs. National Unity

• Regionalism:

  • Viewed as a force challenging Indian unity.
  • Colonial writers highlighted regionalism to question the existence of a unified Indian identity.

• Counter Argument:

  • Regional variations do not negate national unity.
  • Regionalism seen as internal political rivalries rather than a challenge to civilizational unity.
  • Brahmanical ideology and external influences played a role in maintaining unity despite regional differences.

Conclusion

• Unified Identity:
  • India's civilizational unity is attributed to the pervasive Brahmanical ideology and the impact of external intrusions.
  • Regionalism exists but does not undermine the concept of a unified Indian civilization.
  • The notion of ‘unity in diversity’ captures India's unique ability to integrate diverse elements into a cohesive civilizational framework.