Indology in Sociological Research
Indology refers to the systematic and critical study of Indian society and culture through classical texts, scriptures, literary sources, legal documents, and archaeological evidence. It laid the foundation of sociological inquiry in India.
I. Origin and Foundation
- Etymology: "Indology" means study of India.
- Historical Origins: Initiated by European scholars during the colonial period.
- Pioneering Figure: August Wilhelm Schlegel – first Professor of Indology (Bonn University, 1818).
- Institutions: Asiatic Society (1787), Oriental Research Institute (1891), Bhandarkar Institute (1917).
II. Core Features
- Based on texts like Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arthashastra, and travelogues.
- Views Indian society as culturally unique and requires indigenous theories.
- Focus on historical continuity and cultural understanding.
- Relies on “book-view”, leading to idealized portrayal.
III. Streams of Indology
1. Classical Indology (Pre-1920s)
- William Jones: Founded Asiatic Society, translated Sanskrit texts.
- Max Müller: Sacred Books of the East – 50-volume series of translations.
- Henry Maine: Ancient Law (1861), Village Communities (1871).
- Presented Indian society as static, caste-ridden, religiously rigid.
2. Modern Indology (Post-1920s)
- G. S. Ghurye: Father of Modern Indology. Combined Indology with diffusionist anthropology. Key work: Caste and Race in India.
- Radhakamal Mukherjee: Combined classical Indology with empirical sociology.
- D. P. Mukerji: Marxist synthesis with Indology. Concept of "creative tradition".
- Focused on social change and rejected colonial stereotypes.
IV. Criticisms
- Over-relied on idealized textual accounts.
- Bias: Colonial (Western) and Nationalist (Indian).
- Contradictions in sources created subjectivity.
- M.N. Srinivas used fieldwork to challenge Indology:
- Concepts: Sanskritization, Dominant Caste
- Showed divergence between textual ideals and real-life practices.
V. Decline and Revival
- Declined in the 1950s with rise of field-based methods.
- Revived as Post-Modern Indology with reinterpretation of traditional texts.
Contemporary Thinkers
- Romila Thapar: Combined history with Indology; critiqued nationalist readings.
- Wendy Doniger: Feminist and alternative interpretations of Hindu texts.
- Devdutt Pattanaik: Symbolic reading of mythology for modern relevance.
Today, Indology is often taught as South Asian Studies in Western academia.
VI. Conclusion
Though Indology declined due to its limitations, it remains essential for understanding India's rich cultural and historical foundations. Modern adaptations offer pluralistic, interpretive frameworks that integrate both text and context.
