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The Argumentative Indian

the argumentative indian, books on India, Best Books on Indian History

Written by noble winning economist Amartya Sen, the Argumentative Indian is a collection of 16 wide-ranging essays about our history, culture, caste and intellectual heritage. It highlights the tradition of reasoning and arguments in the long-standing history of India against fundamentalism which is being spread by Hindutva forces. It begins on a high note, from Arjun's dialogue with Krishna in Mahabharata to the argument of Jabali with Ram, exemplifying the questioning nature of our history. It also evokes a sense of pride in Indian identity by highlighting the contribution of India to so-called 'Western Values' like secularism, democracy and science. Most of these values are perceived to be adopted post- colonialism. But Sen rejects the claim and provides examples of Ashoka and Akbar as pluralists and multiculturalists, way before colonialism.


However, as much as I liked the variety of themes it touched, I am glad that I endured the book to the end. This is not an easy book with long and stretched essays. Same examples of Arjun's argument with Krishna, pluralism of Akbar used in many essays to prove a different point gets irritating after some time. So if you trust your reading ability, make sure you bear till the end because the overall message of India's intellectual identity comes out pretty well. Otherwise, look for another book of the same theme.

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