India - a Relational View

INDIA: A Relational View
presentation at the international conference on Relationism,
Cambridge, UK, 14 September 2019
Prabhu S Guptara
prabhusguptara@gmail.com

Variegated!
Different
topographies,
histories,
economic
situations,
languages,
customs

Many-layered!
• Layers:
• The Caste System
(anti-Relationist!)

Layers!
• Buddhist/ Jain revolt
C6 BC – C3 BC (Relationist!)
*But* start of idolatry under Greek influence from C4BC
• Caste System
(anti-Relationist!)

Layers
Sankara
subdues the revolt
with concessions made
C9 AD (antiRelationist)
Caste System returns
but in a new context
(Temple religion + H philosophies)
C6 BC – C3 BC
(Relationist!)
• Caste System
(anti-Relationist!)

Layers
Muslim trade from C7
but kings from C12
Impact – monotheism,
equality, literacy …
• Sankara and the subduing of the revolt,
with the concessions made
C9 AD (antiRelationist):
Caste System /Temple religion/ H philosophies
C6 BC – C3 BC (Relationist!)
• Caste System (anti-Relationist!)

Layers
The rise of Bhakti and Guruism
from C16AD (Relationist)
individual-focused
alternative path to spirituality
regardless of caste or gender
Muslim trade from C7 but kings from C13 AD
revolutionary impact (Relationist)
Monotheism, equality, literacy …
Sankara and the subduing of the revolt,
with the concessions made
C9 AD (antiRelationist):
Caste System returns but in a new context
(Temple religion + philosophies)
Buddhist/ Jain revolt: C6 BC – C3 BC (Relationist!)
Caste System (anti-Relationist!)

Layers
Arrival of Biblical spirituality
(Ziegenbalg 1706/ Carey 1793)
Impact: time/ work/ health/
gender (sati, female infanticide),
hook-swinging, education, botany, forestry, printing …
cultural revolution!
• Bhakti and Guruism –C16AD (Relational)
• Islam - C13 AD (Relational)
• Sankara – C9 AD (antiRelational)
• Buddhist/ Jain revolt - C3 BC (Relational)
• Caste System (antiRelational)

Layers
Indian Reformers
Raja Rammohun Roy 1815,
Gandhi, Nehru…
• Biblical spirituality & social reform – C18 (Relational)

Layers
Indian Constitution – 1950
Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity
institutionalised many aspects of Relationism
• Indian Reformers – C19 (Relational)

Layers
The Hindutva reactionary movement
Nazi? Fascist?
working to replace the Constitution
(a “foreign construct”)
with Ram Rajya - antiRelational
• Indian Constitution – 1950 (Relational)
• Indian Reformers – C19 (Relational)

What’s ahead
• Increased stifling of dissent
• Lowering an “electronic curtain” on India (probably end-2019/ start
2020) – compare Xi’s China (also “social credit” scoring)
• Continued systematic subversion of the Indian economy
• To the point where everyone is prepared to accept the initiation of
the militarisation of the Indian economy in order to solve the
unemployment problem and achieve “Akhand Bharat” (undivided
India)
• Lands from Central Asia, through South Asia, to East Asia that were
once part of one Indian empire or another - or influenced by the
spread of Hindu and Buddhist ideas.

“Home of the Aryans up to
1250”
“Krinavanto Vishwam Aryam.
Let us make this world a
noble place to live in.”
“Let us believe that we can
make the world Aryan again”
“The world is full of the glory
of God, and India is the
mother,
This connection is immortal
till the end of the world.

All empires come to an end;
this one will also come to a end –
primarily because it has no
solutions to the real problems facing the population:
•Unemployment
•Inequality (a.k.a. loot)
•Climate-related disaster
•….

What can and should Relational activists do?
• Individual level: can I commit to being transformed deeply
enough to match the depths of relationship-breakdown in
India

• Individual level: can I commit to being transformed deeply enough to
match the depths of relationship-breakdown in India
• Group level: can I help nurture groups that are
committed to increasing Relationism?

• Individual level: can I commit to being transformed deeply enough to
match the height of sin (relationship-breakdown) in India
• Group level: can I help nurture groups that are committed to increasing
Relationism?
• National level: what can I do to hold open the
possibility of a Relational future in the country?

• Culture: only what is permitted and endorsed by the ruling party as
supporting the ruling ideology (Hindutva) – escapist/ upperCaste
versus
• Hold up diverse cultures, esp the cultures of political dissent, of the
lower castes, of the different religions, of the tribals
What can and should Relational activists
do in view of the challenges?

Culture: only what is permitted and endorsed by the ruling party as supporting the ruling ideology
(Hindutva) – escapist/ upperCaste versus Hold up diverse cultures, esp the cultures of political dissent, of
the lower castes, of the different religions, of the tribals
•Education: literacy/ STEM for functional slaves
versus
•All-round Relational education for overall
prospering

Culture: only what is permitted and endorsed by the ruling party as supporting the ruling ideology (Hindutva) –
escapist/ upperCaste vs Hold up diverse cultures, esp the cultures of political dissent, of the lower castes, of
the different religions, of the tribals
Education: literacy/ STEM for functional slaves vs All-round Relational education for overall prospering
• Economics: ensuring loot by the top few families
versus
• Financing businesses owned by those at the bottom – but how
to get the cash in ???

Culture: only what is permitted and endorsed by the ruling party as supporting the ruling ideology (Hindutva)
– escapist/ upperCaste vs Hold up diverse cultures, esp the cultures of political dissent, of the lower castes,
of the different religions, of the tribals
Economics: ensuring loot by the top few families vs Financing those at the bottom – but how to get the cash
in ???
•Politics: control by the top few families
versus
•Encouraging and supporting groups with different
ideological orientations

Culture: only what is permitted and endorsed by the ruling party as supporting the ruling ideology (Hindutva) –
escapist/ upperCaste vs Hold up diverse cultures, esp the cultures of political dissent, of the lower castes, of the
different religions, of the tribals
Economics: controlled for ensuring loot by the top few families vs Financing those at the bottom – but how to get
the cash in ???
Politics: control of the top few families vs Encouraging and supporting groups with different ideological
orientations
• Communication: censorship/ “electronic curtain”/ “Social scoring”
• versus
• “Good news media” for groups within India *and* groups outside
– e.g. Forward Press, Pippa Rann Books & Media….

What can and should Relational activists do?: Checklist
• As information-flow is prevented by the descent of the electronic curtain,
work to ensure that as much information as possible about the real situation on
the ground can be communicated at least outside India and, to the extent
possible, within India
• Invest in the education/training of Relational activists who can rebuild India at
the right time
• As dissent is penalised, work to ensure that diverse voices can continue to be
heard – Liberty (Azaadi)
• Continue to fight the evil of the Caste System (which is now well ensconced
even in Indian communities in the West!) – Equality
• Continue to work with all who wish to see India prosper, even if their
understanding of “prosperity” is partial, or different from yours - Fraternity

Relationism Day presentation on
INDIA
Prabhu S Guptara
prabhusguptara@gmail.com

India - a Relational View