[DE7]⇒ Read Gratis The Indians Portrait Of A People Sudhir Kakar Katharina Kakar 9780143066637 Books

The Indians Portrait Of A People Sudhir Kakar Katharina Kakar 9780143066637 Books

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A compelling work on the cultural character of the Indian people...both provocative and revealing Shyam Benegal in Outlook A remarkably perceptive analysis of Indian character Khushwant Singh In this bold, illuminating and superbly readable study, India s foremost psychoanalyst and cultural commentator Sudhir Kakar and anthropologist Katharina Kakar investigate the nature of Indian-ness . What makes an Indian recognizably so to the rest of the world, and, more importantly, to his or her fellow Indians? For, as the authors point out, despite ethnic differences that are characteristic more of past empires than modern nation states, there is an underlying unity in the great diversity of India that needs to be recognized. Looking at what constitutes a common Indian identity, the authors examine in detail the predominance of family, community and caste in our everyday lives, our attitudes to sex and marriage, our prejudices, our ideas of the other (explored in a brilliant chapter on Hindu-Muslim conflict), and our understanding of health, right and wrong, and death. In the final chapter, they provide fascinating insights into the Indian mind, shaped largely by the culture s dominant, Hindu world view. Drawing upon three decades of original research and sources as varied as the Mahabharata, the Kamasutra, the writings of Mahatma Gandhi, Bollywood movies and popular folklore, Sudhir and Katharina Kakar have produced a rich and revealing portrait of the Indian people. An important book...a readable and carefully considered statement on the issue of identity Pavan Varma in India Today

The Indians Portrait Of A People Sudhir Kakar Katharina Kakar 9780143066637 Books

A useful examination of the powerful role that nurture plays in forming the id and super ego in contrast to the neuroscientific view that neuronal connections and neurotransmitters suggest that free will is a myth. :-) As a Westerner who has traveled the world and observed many of these cultural expressions first hand, I now have a more complete understanding not only of Eastern philosophies but my own.

Product details Paperback 226 pages Publisher Penguin Books (February 1, 2011) Language English ISBN-10 0143066633

Tags : The Indians: Portrait Of A People [Sudhir Kakar, Katharina Kakar] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A compelling work on the cultural character of the Indian people...both provocative and revealing Shyam Benegal in Outlook A remarkably perceptive analysis of Indian character Khushwant Singh In this bold,Sudhir Kakar, Katharina Kakar,The Indians: Portrait Of A People,Penguin Books,0143066633,Nonfiction Social Science
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The Indians Portrait Of A People Sudhir Kakar Katharina Kakar 9780143066637 Books Reviews

I have always enjoyed reading Sudhir Kakar's insight into the Indian psyche and personality from a Freudian perspective. It has often given me a better understanding of myself, my fellow-countrymen and Indian history. This book is one more step in that process.

In this book, Sudhir and Katharina Kakar investigate the nature of the Indian identity - what is 'Indian-ness if there is one? At the outset, the question arises as to whether one can even broach the subject of 'Indian-ness'. Aren't we a nation of a billion-plus people who are Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians and Zorastrians and so on, speaking fifteen different languages? Daunting as the task may be, the authors say that from ancient times, European, Chinese and Arab travellers have identified common features among Indians, showing an underlying unity in the great diversity. It is the components of this unity that the authors seek to explore in this book.

According to the authors, the components of this unity exist in many dimensions of our everyday life. They are exhibited in our attitudes to our families, in our notions of hierarchy as experienced through the caste system, in our attitudes to gender-related issues, marriage etc, in our views on sex, in our concept of health, healing and Death, in our prejudices towards the Other (eg, Hindus and Muslims) and in our approach to material and spiritual life. In each one of these aspects, the authors throw valuable observations and insights based on our mythology, history and contemporary practice.
I found the following observations of great interest and gave me cause to ponder further

1.The focus on the family as the exclusive source of satisfaction of all one's needs reflects a lack of faith in almost every other institution of society. The result of this is often extreme divisiveness, a lack of commitment to anyone or anything outside one's immediate family...
2. Early experiences in an extended joint family gives the child an early knowledge of when to retreat, when to cajole and when to be stubborn in order to get what he wants. This makes an Indian a formidable negotiator in later business dealings.
3.Authority relations in the Indian family provide a template for the functioning of most modern Indian business, educational, political and scientific organizations.

On the Indian attitude to sexuality, the authors say that today's India is a sexual wasteland, far from the liberal images created by our ancient texts like Kamasutra and Ananda Ranga. It is fashionable for middle-class Indians to argue that the turn towards the Puritanism of today is the result of extended rule by Central Asian Muslims and the British with Victorian values. The authors do not buy this theory. They say that India has had a long tradition of asceticism and celibacy alongside sexual experimentation and that we must seek the causes of India as a 'sexual wasteland' that it is today in our own ascetic traditions and their ascendancy.

On the seemingly perennial Hindu-Muslim conflict in India, the authors say that the conflict is actually not about religion - that is, it is not about matters of religious belief, dogmas, worship or adherence to different faiths and gods. Ordinary Indians experience the conflict differently at different times. In times of heightened conflict, for the Hindu, it is more about the long domination of the Muslim rulers in India and the purported humiliation under them. In times of relative peace, it is back to a secular vision which emphasizes common heritage and shared experiences of the past.

The final chapter 'Indian Mind' has interesting observations based on the Hindu world view of Moksha, Dharma and Karma. The analysis includes answers to perplexing questions like,
'How can a reputed astronomer working at a well-known institute of fundamental sciences, also be a practicing astrologer?' Or
How can the Western educated executive of a multi-national corporation consult horoscopes and holy men for family decisions?

I found the book very readable and providing considerable thought to the notion of the 'Indian identity'. I would recommend it for fellow-Indians to get a better knowledge of ourselves. Non-Indians too will benefit considerably if they are perplexed by the 'odd behavior' of their Indian friends, lovers, colleagues and bosses!
Over three and a half decades ago, as a first year student at my engineering school in India, I still remember the words of my professor in the first class of Engineering Drawing - "Drawing for Engineering, is like Culture to Society". My instant and implicit understanding of this statement was that Engineering Drawing is extremely important for the profession that I had decided to pursue. Now, I had no idea of the real meaning of the words Society or Culture, except the intuitive belief that "Society" is all important for our survival and "Culture" endures Societies.

Several years later, when I had to travel to Germany on a business visit, my Company asked me to undergo a two day Inter-Cultural training program. Here I appreciated that there exist several distinct global cultures and one needs to be sensitized to understand diverse cultures to work in global companies. Exposure to Hofstede's cultural dimensions was very insightful in this training.

The path breaking book "Culture and Prosperity Why some Nations are Rich but Most remain Poor" by John Kay, was not only an interesting read, but also provocative, to me as an Indian. I soon realised that no amount of rhetoric about India's rich heritage can substitute hard numbers that measures economic prosperity (poverty that is) of our citizens.

Honestly, while I could appreciate and accept Culture as a very critical dimension of a Society's existence, growth, values, and prosperity, I had no opportunity to have a good impartial insight into India's Culture, especially to the following questions that have been bothering me till date

1. While India believes in "Karma" (bad deeds in your previous life will make you suffer in the next life), why is India one of the most corrupt nations?

2. Cheating the Government by evading taxes is never considered a crime in most families. "In business it happens. Even if you pay taxes, the corrupt system siphons it off. Nobody is fully compliant. It is not possible to be fully compliant".

3. It is perfectly fine if one bends the law of the land "a little bit" for the sake of his "Family". "Everyone does it and we too, can get away by paying a small fee". We blame politicians and bureaucrats for being corrupt. But, the fact is that corruption in its true definition of the word includes most of us. Only the scale differs.

4. "My son/daughter is my natural successor to my position if I am a leading politician or a CEO. This is perfectly ok. The voters will vote and shareholders do not care". Why do we still accept such feudalistic rights in public institutions?

5. Our illiterate house maid or personal driver is paid a pittance below subsistence levels. However, we as "highly qualified professionals" demand "Outstanding rating" and an "above average" pay hike from our corporate employers, for mediocre work. Some of us are under qualified and over paid, while many of our maids and drivers are over worked and underpaid. We have two standards, a.k.a "Double standards".

6. Women in our families, even if they are qualified working professionals, are "after all women who best take care of the kitchen and kids". Men are in command!

7. We are a country that worships women in the form of Goddesses, but every day our media carries tragic news on brutal atrocities against women. In most cases, victims are ostracized and the perpetrators are let free, since there is "no evidence".

8. When can we forget our communal and caste conflicts and transform our positive energies into collective strength of all citizens of this great Democracy?

9. We are proud that we gave the world Zero and the Decimal System. Basking in past glory with almost zero contribution even after independence from British rule is getting us nowhere.

10. Our son/daughter needs to follow our instructions on education, profession, marriage and lifestyle. "Elders know better". The Twenty-first century provides opportunities in technologies and professions that our generation has never heard of in ways that we could never dream of. Can we come out of their way and allow them to excel in their chosen paths?

These are just ten among the hundreds of questions that come to my mind when I think of India. I have intentionally omitted several more, since it might raise emotions, and suppress good reasoning and acceptance of reality.

This book provides a fascinating and frank account of many such social and cultural issues. Some are tail winds that we should take advantage of. Many are strong head winds and potential derailers if we do not take collective action.

Can we for a moment take responsibility to be a part of the solution, rather than be either parts or perpetrators of the problems? This book provides invaluable insights on most aspects of Indian society.

My sole intention is to see how India can become a great and prosperous nation once again.

I am convinced that together, we can.

Jai Hind.
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A useful examination of the powerful role that nurture plays in forming the id and super ego in contrast to the neuroscientific view that neuronal connections and neurotransmitters suggest that free will is a myth. -) As a Westerner who has traveled the world and observed many of these cultural expressions first hand, I now have a more complete understanding not only of Eastern philosophies but my own.