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Quick Summary: Incarnations by Sunil Khilnani brings India’s history to life through the personal stories of fifty individuals who have shaped the subcontinent.
From the Buddha to revolutionaries like Subhas Chandra Bose, Khilnani navigates the complexities of India’s identity, philosophy, and socio-political evolution.
Each profile offers a glimpse into the changing tides of India’s cultural, spiritual, and political landscapes.
Tapan’s Verdict: Skim it 🤓
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Incarnations: Actionable Insights
India’s History Is a Stage for Fierce Ideological Clashes
Khilnani challenges the passive “palimpsest” view of Indian history by arguing that it’s an arena of intense cultural, political, and religious battles.
This is illustrated by figures like Ambedkar, who, despite drafting the Constitution, believed India’s caste system could only be truly dismantled by rejecting Hinduism altogether. His dramatic conversion to Buddhism alongside 400,000 followers in 1956 symbolised this ideological war.
Similarly, Subhas Chandra Bose, with his militaristic ideals, diverged starkly from Gandhi’s nonviolent approach. Bose’s INA (Indian National Army) exposed the fault lines in India’s freedom struggle, showing how divergent philosophies competed for the same goal of independence.
The stories of Bose and Ambedkar remind us of how India’s history is often intertwined with its global connections. For a fascinating look at how India’s oceans became a stage for historical and cultural exchange, you can explore my book review of The Ocean of Churn.
Hinduism: Resilience Through Plurality
Khilnani highlights Hinduism’s adaptability, which allowed it to confront criticism while retaining core principles. Leaders like Mahavira and the Buddha questioned Vedic orthodoxy, particularly caste and ritual sacrifice.
Mahavira reinterpreted the concept of tapas (heat) as a personal discipline rather than sacrificial fire, offering a transformative perspective.
This flexibility has also allowed Hinduism to assimilate monistic philosophies like Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta, which holds that the sensory world is illusory and that self (atman) and the divine (Brahman) are unified.
Shankara’s monism later became a rallying point for Indian nationalists seeking pride in indigenous intellectual traditions.
India’s Intellectual and Political Riches Rediscovered
The discovery of the Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft written by Chanakya, altered the way Indians viewed their history.
Found by librarian Shamashastry in the 20th century, the manuscript revealed a sophisticated, indigenous understanding of governance, strategy, and administration.
For example, it emphasized pragmatism: “An arrow unleashed by an archer may kill a single man…but a strategy unleashed by a wise man kills even those still in the womb”.
The Arthashastra reminds us of how ancient Indian texts shaped governance and statecraft, much like the Mahabharata shaped philosophical and moral thought.
If you’re intrigued by the layered narratives of ancient Indian epics, check out the article on Mahabharata Unravelled for a book review.
Ashoka: The Lesson of Religious Tolerance
Ashoka’s reign exemplifies the transformative power of empathy in governance.
His Rock Edict XII stands out as a timeless appeal for civility:
“Whoever praises his own religion…only harms his own religion. Therefore, contact between religions is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines of others”.
Khilnani uses Ashoka’s example to reflect on India’s contemporary struggles with religious pluralism, questioning whether its leaders today can live up to this ethos.
The Sacrifice of Visionaries Often Goes Unrewarded
Visionaries like Basava, a 12th-century reformer, faced intense opposition for challenging societal norms. Basava’s radical egalitarianism led to severe backlash after he sanctioned an inter-caste marriage. The fallout included mass violence and the collapse of his movement.
This pattern repeats in modern India, with figures like Rabindranath Tagore, whose opposition to nationalism often left him sidelined in political debates despite his cultural contributions.
Memorable Quotes
India’s past is an arena of ferocious contest, its dead heroes continually springing back to life and dispatched to the frontlines of equally ferocious contemporary cultural and political battles.
An arrow unleashed by an archer may kill a single man or not kill anyone. But a strategy unleashed by a wise man kills even those still in the womb.
Restraint in speech…not praising one’s own religion or condemning the religion of others without good cause…Whoever praises his own religion…only harms his own religion.
