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M. V. Nadkarni
ISBN13: 9780198073864
ISBN10: 0198073860
Hardback, 288 pages
Published by Oxford University Press in 2011
About the Author:
Mangesh V. Nadkarni is an Honorary Visiting Professor, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru - a former ICSSR National Fellow and Former Vice-Chancellor, Gulbarga University. An author of several books such as “SocioEconomic Conditions In Droughtprone Areas : A BenchMark Study Of Drought District Of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka And Tamil Nadu” (1985) ; “Hinduism: A Gandhian Perspective” ; “Social Science Research In India HB” among others.
About the Book – A Book Review by Gopinath Mavinkurve
The book is an analytical treatise containing essays delving into the relevance of Gandhian thought in negotiating with contemporary dilemmas. Critically examining conventional notions of good and bad, it presents a comprehensive analysis of ethics as a conceptual framework and guide to the problems of rapidly globalizing societies. The author explores issues related to economic development, social environment, humanism, culture and religion in the context of modern ethical aspects like social justice, equity, and harmony across different sections in societies. He stresses the need for a holistic approach to resolve moral questions in everyday life. In these scholarly dissertations presented in 9 essays, the author cites several thinkers from ancient philosophers to contemporary commentators of repute such as Amartya Sen, Ramachandra Guha, Gurucharan Das, Vandana Shiva and several others of international repute, to support the arguments put forth. Balancing Western notion of the ethical and the Hindu notions of Dharma, the author analyses Gandhi, the thinker, activist, and philosopher. He presents an engaging connection between three systems of thought—ethics, Gandhian principles, and the Hindu scriptures.
This book presents deep insights into the principles that the Mahatma stood for and lived by. To quote VM Rao, who has written the Foreword to this book, “This book makes an admirable attempt to explore the building blocks need to construct such a wide agenda. He is uniquely qualified for this task as a leading ecological economist, who has worked extensively and in-depth on the developmental issues relating to the poor and marginalized subsisting in locations with degraded resources and vulnerable to frequent disasters such as droughts and floods.” “Nadkarni pursues these dicta to their roots, going deep into Gandhian thought and vision for mankind. What distinguishes his approach is that he is a social scientist turning to Gandhi for guidance and not a Gandhian, who is usually prone to accepting Gandhi as an authority on all issues and problems.” VM Rao concludes with this recommendation: “I recommend the book to all those who are worried about ‘Today’ and wish for a peaceful and prosperous ‘Tomorrow’. Gandhi can help if and only when we are willing and even eager, to help ourselves.
In the essay titled “Ethics, Environment and culture”, the author discusses different approaches to the environmental problems like climate change, pollution of air, water and soil, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, shortage of vital resources like water and energy in the light of rapid industrialization and our tilted sense of ‘development’ which is construed to mean building dams, power plants, quoting Vandana Shiva’s deep feelings for the need for protection of natural resources and water bodies. Nadkarni balances the inevitable advancements of industrialized infrastructure projects, by suggesting 2 approaches – one, by using technology to reduce pollution per every unit of produce from the intended project and two, the Gandhian way of reducing wants, particularly of the type which consume large amounts of energy. But ground realities are far from these noble intentions, industries are known to turn on their effluent treatment plants upon sighting Pollution Control Board officials, while surreptitiously letting untreated waste into our rivers – even the Holy Ganga is not spared, although on an auspicious day one may bow reverently before it! Such is the paradox - our teachings and our thoughtless worldly behavior! Nadkarni steers clear of vindictive attacks on the functioning (or otherwise of) government bodies, while subtly bringing out this dichotomous behavior, in his inimitable style.
Apart from the stated Gandhian perspective, the author also presents a couple of essays delving deep into the foundations of Hinduism and how ethical behaviour had been a predominant part of early Hindu thought as is evident from the scriptures – The Bhagwad Gita, the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, the Puranas, the Vedas and the Upanishads. The essay titled “Humanism in Hinduism” is an enlarged and revised version of his Shri G. R. Bhatkal Memorial lecture presented at the Indian Institute of World Culture, Bengaluru in February 2009.
In the final essay, titled “Ethics in Hinduism”, the intricacies of ‘Dharma’ have been discussed, emphasizing how ‘dharma’ sustains society, ensures the well-being and the progress of society. Our actions, thoughts, knowledge, acts of philanthropy – each of these can be either satvik, rajasik or tamasik as has been amply demonstrated in the essays presented in this book. A donation made without any expectation with due respect and regard to the receiver is satvik, one made for the sake of gaining importance or popularity in society is considered rajasik, while one given grudgingly and with contempt to the receiver is tamasik, as has been mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures. This very tenet of life shows how purity of mind and thought is necessary although all these are acts may be perceived to be acts of kindness in society.
The essays have carefully avoided being preachy or suggestive of wanting to change the world or even to influence the reader to change for the better – what I intend to convey is that it is not a self-help book, but merely presents various teachings from writings of yore that stand the test of time and become relevant to readers even to this day. A truly well-researched study on the subject, presented in a lucid language, for those readers interested in such analytical essays on moral philosophy. The book has global appeal, having been published in 2011 - the current times being of moral turbulence and depravity. Can we not find the relevance of this topic in such times, when societies in several parts of the world are sinking lower in their credibility, dependability and reliability leading to a crisis of morality with its awful social and financial behavior in public life every passing day?
The book is available on Flipkart, E-bay and several other websites in India and abroad.
Weblinks
Oxford University Press link
Available on Flipkart here
Available on E-bay
Blogger's Post-Script: This book review has been published in the Kanara Saraswat Magazine Nov 2011 Diwali issue.
