The Unargumentative Indian

While reading 'The Argumentative Indian' I was struck by the sheer erudition and genius of the author, Dr. Amartya Sen. Though the range of book is gargantuan and research unimpeachable, I disagree with Dr. Sen on several counts. He holds Mughal Emperor Akbar and Buddhist Emperor Ashok as the reference and touchstone to judge the Indian society during those times. He posits their social conduct and propriety as evidence of the argumentativeness of the ancient Indian society. I think Akbar and Ashok were exceptions and their argumentativeness cannot be taken as an evidence to justify the argumentativeness of the society. What needs to be researched is how the exemplary behaviour of these kings influenced the society of that time. Because the fact of the matter is both the kings were ensconced in their palaces and perhaps most of their subjects would have even seen them.

My second 'argument' is, given the lack of credible evidence of argumentative tradition ,it cannot be safely said that the Indians today are argumentative. Because, facts point the opposite. We are argumentative only in our homes, on T.V. shows and books (and perhaps blogs!!). When it comes to practising argumentativeness as a virtue, we shirk from it. I believe practising argumentativeness requires tremendous objectivity, impartiality and lack of ulterior motive, which again is conspicuous by its absence in our day to day life. We take everything for granted and accept everything which is forced upon us without slight demur. This is not a middle class trait, as Pavan Varma may say, but ubiquitous across the upper middle class and rich class as well. This has resulted into blatant hypocrisy and crises of social leadership. Most of us live blinkered life, as an assembly line conditioned robot. The evidence is there to see in the way we: behave in private and public, voice our prejudiced opinions, indulge in unethical and extra-constitutional acts (without a smidgen of compunction). The world has diverted its gaze on us and expect a lot from the land which has witnessed five thousand years of human upheaval. Would we match up to the expectations? Can we create a new social paradigm for the world to practice? The answers are not easy to come and very complex with multiple layers. But we can make a start by introspecting on our own behaviour in social, econimic and religious context. By raising the bar of our own personal integrity and probity. Perhaps then we can say we are argumentative,in the line of Ashok and Akbar.