Journey of the Upanisads to the West (An Old and Rare Book)

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The book highlights the impact of the Upanisads on the western thought. The author here makes a very interesting discovery by pointing out how and when the message of the Upanisads reached the western countries. In so doing he has covered the entire 19th century and force- fully demonstrated to what extent the western philosophers and litterateurs were influenced in their writings by the teachings of the Upanisads. This is precisely what is meant by the 'journey of the Upanișads to the west'.

The kernel of the Upanisadic teaching in author's view consists in pantheism which is elaborately explained in the first section of the work. In other two sections the author has made a penetrating analysis of some important philosophical and literary thoughts of the west with a view to substantiating his principal thesis. The eminent figures whose systems come within the purview of his discussion are Schelling. Schopenhauer, Madame Blavatsky, Emerson, Whitman and many other contemporary stalwarts. The author has thus opened up a new horizon and sought to fulfil a long-felt need of all sections of inquisitive readers. In fact there has been no exhaustive, adequately warranted and well-documented analysis so far on the subject the author has brought to light.

Born in 1937-Studied in Churulia High School (Dist: Burdwan), Asansol College (now known as Asansol B. B. College) and Bangabasi College, Calcutta. M. A. in Philosophy and English & Ph. D. from Calcutta University.

An actor and director of a registered theatrical group in Calcutta writer of several plays in Bengali (original as well as adaptation), the author has been working as a lecturer in Philosophy in F. C. College, Diamond Harbour, West Bengal since 1962.

My original dissertation entitled "Impact of the Upanisads on the nineteenth century western thought" appears. With a modified caption. The book seeks to present the nature and extent of impact of the ancient Upanişads on some literary and philosophical systems of the west. In my introduction to the dissertation that follows I have outlined the pantheistic conception which constitutes the principal current of thought of the Upanisads and have referred to the eminent figures of the western world whose systems were directly or indirectly influenced by this unique conception.

Admittedly this impact of the Upanisads has been a continuous process and there is no gainsaying that the pristine Indian philosophical speculations as recorded in the Vedas and the Upanisads continue to captivate the thinkers and scholars even today. I have, however, endeavoured to pinpoint the traces of the pantheistic world-view of the Upaniṣads in the western systems covering a definite period for reasons mentioned in my survey. With all the dossiers available I have attempted to substantiate my view in an unbiased manner.

I convey my sincerest gratitude to the renowned scholar Dr. Govindagopal Mukhopadhyay, Professor and Head of the department of Sanskrit, Burdwan University for having extended his wise guidance in spite of all his academic preoccupations. There is no denying the fact that but for his kind assistance I could not have continued my research work on this subject. I must also express my deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to the illustrious academic Late Hiranmay Bandyopadhyay for his inspiring guidance and active assistance. In fact it was he who for the first time in grafted in me the desire to undertake a research work on this subject. It is a misfortune for me that he could not see the book in print which he so earnestly desired He had, however, favoured me by contributing a valuable 'foreword" before he passed away. I am also beholden to the authorities of Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark for having assisted me in my work. I am particularly grateful to Swami Lokeswarananda. Secretary of the R. K. M. Institute for he took keen interest in my subject and invited me to deliver a series of lectures on it in his Institute in 1982. My obligations are also due to the authorities of Calcutta University for their commitment to grant a subsidy towards the cost of publication of this book.