Remodelling Indian Thoughts: Homage to Bimal Krishna Matilal

This anthology is actually a product of an International Conference organized to commemorate the 25th death anniversary of Professor Bimal Krishna Matilal, Spalding Professor of Oxford University. In line with the thoughts of their respected teacher, students of Professor Matilal, the contributors of this anthology have focused to show that the theories proposed by traditional Indian scholars from either the orthodox tradition or from the heterodox tradition can be found to deal with questions discussed by modern Western scholars. The papers of Shoryu Katsura, Arindam Chakraborty, Nirmalya Narayan Chakraborty, Mainak Pal, O’Brien, and others exhibit evidence in this regard. Not only logic or epistemology, but also ethics and aesthetics had attracted Professor Matilal to such an extent that he provided a new analysis of dharma on the basis of the two great epics Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata along with the views of contemporary Indian intellectual thinkers like Bankimchandra and Radhakrishnan to show how in Indian tradition, even in contemporary writings, philosophical theory and practical life go hand in hand. In accordance with this ideal, contributors like Robert P. Goldman, Indrani Sanyal, Aparajita Mukhopadhyay and others have referred to the different instances of moral dilemma, disputes and conflicts as found in epics to delineate the discourse of Dharma-ethics. When philosophy is viewed through the lens of the debate between a śāstra and its prayoga or application, the Śilpaśāstras or art treatises are best seen as a cross between an art manual meant for practice and a text that maintains quality control. Thus this book is a must-read text for anyone who wants to know the relevance of Indian philosophy in the solution of modern philosophical issues generally believed to belong to the Western philosophy.

About the Author's:

Professor Madhumita Chattopadhyay teaches Philosophy at Jadavpur University. She is also the Coordinator of the Center for Buddhist Studies, Jadavpur University. She has also officiated as the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Jadavpur University in 2021. Professor Chattopadhyay has been well-trained in both Western and Indian philosophical traditions. Her area of specialization is Buddhist Philosophy with emphasis on Buddhist Epistemology, Logic and Semantics. She has authored four books on Buddhism and contributed articles in peer reviewed national and international journals. Of the different books written by her, mention may be made of Walking along the Paths of Buddhist Epistemology, Ratnakirti on Apoha, Nāgārjuner Darṥanaparikramā, Tarkabhāṣā of Mokṣākaragupta.

Professor Gargi Goswami, teachesPhilosophy at Jadavpur University and is also the Deputy Coordinator of the Centre for Buddhist Studies, Jadavpur University. Her areas of interest are Buddhist Ethics, Feminist Ethics and Social Philosophy. She has published several articles and has authored books like, Marriage as a Social Institution: Its Social and Ethical Implications, Bharatiya Dharmaniti: Tathya O Tattva (in Bengali), along with Professor Indrani Sanyal. She has also edited the volume Ethics and Culture: Some Contemporary Indian Reflections along with Professor Aparajita Mukhopadhyay.