Author: josd

What is history if it is written by the conqueror? What is a civilization if it forgets its own past? Bhārata is not just a nation—it is a civilizational continuum, stretching from the Vedic dawn to the present, from the Sarasvatī-Sindhu culture to the Mauryas, Guptas, Vijayanagara, Marathas, and beyond. Unlike the linear historical models imposed by the West, Bhārata’s past is cyclic, layered, and deeply interconnected with its dharmic worldview. It is a history of resilience, adaptation, and continuity, despite repeated invasions and colonial distortions.

What is science if it denies consciousness? What is technology if it is severed from dharma? In the worldview of Sanātana Dharma, science and technology were never divorced from philosophy, ethics, and metaphysics. Unlike the mechanistic reductionism of modern materialist paradigms, the Indic approach to knowledge (jñāna) recognizes the universe as a living, conscious entity (chaitanya). From Vedic astronomy (Jyotiṣa) to metallurgy, from architecture (Vāstu Śāstra) to Ayurveda, Sanātana Dharma envisions science not as a conquest of nature, but as a harmonious unfolding of ṛta—the cosmic order.

The literature of India has a rich and diverse history, deeply rooted in its vernacular languages. For centuries, literary works have been composed in a variety of regional languages, each reflecting the unique culture, history, and socio-political realities of the respective communities. While Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic were dominant in the literary traditions during specific historical periods, the vernacular languages began to flourish significantly in the medieval and modern eras. Vernacular literature in India represents a democratization of literary expression, allowing a wider spectrum of society to access, engage with, and contribute to the literary canon. The evolution of this literature is inextricably linked to the social, cultural, and political landscapes of India, with its impact being felt across multiple aspects of Indian life. Below are several research topics on literature in vernacular Indian languages.

The comparative study of religions is an academic discipline that explores the similarities and differences among religious traditions. By examining the rich diversity of spiritual paths and philosophical systems across cultures, scholars can better understand the universal aspects of human religious experience as well as the unique characteristics of specific traditions. This subject holds particular significance when comparing the religious landscapes of the East and West, which have distinct historical, cultural, and philosophical foundations. The juxtaposition of Eastern and Western religious traditions can offer profound insights into how different societies approach ultimate questions regarding existence, the divine, morality, and the nature of the self. The following topics provide a starting point for research papers in the comparative study of Eastern and Western religions.