Decolonisation and Indian Heritage

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, scholars, historical citations, and concepts related to colonisation, decolonisation, and Indian Knowledge Systems from the text.

Colonialism (Kohn & Reddy, 2006)

The process of European settlement, violent dispossession, and political domination over the rest of the world, including the Americas, Australia, and parts of Africa and Asia.

Colonialism (Ronald J Hovarth, 1972)

A broad concept referring to European political domination beginning in the early sixteenth century, where settlement or population transfer serves as the main distinction from imperialism.

Contempt for the Native

A foundational aspect of colonialism described by Aimé Césaire in 'Discourse on Colonialism', stating that colonial activity, enterprise, and conquest are based on and justified by contempt for indigenous people.

Cultural Project of Control

Nicholas Dirks' concept that colonialism was itself a cultural endeavor that classified colonised societies as traditional and constructed rigid binary oppositions such as European/Asian, modern/traditional, West/East, and male/female.

Monoculture

The widespread standardization across linguistic, aesthetic, technological, and biological/medicinal domains that replaces diverse indigenous frameworks with colonial structures.

Colonisation of Identity

The collective hijacking and manipulation of a nation's past, history, culture, and philosophy to serve the purposes of the coloniser.

Decolonisation

The process of recognising the mental colonisation that has taken place, freeing oneself from biases and prejudices, and returning to one's true identity through critical evaluation.

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)

The indigenous cultural, philosophical, and intellectual traditions of India from which colonised individuals were disconnected in order to connect them to Coloniser Knowledge Systems (CKS).

'The Beautiful Tree'

A term used by Mahatma Gandhi in his 1931 London speech, and later chosen as the title of Dharampal's research book, describing the flourishing indigenous educational system of India that perished under British rule.

Macaulay's Educational Vision (1835)

The policy aimed at creating a class of interpreters between the British rulers and the millions they governed—'a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect.'

British View of Working-Class Education (1807)

As expressed by Davies Gilbert, the perspective that educating the labouring classes would harm their morals and happiness, rendering them refractory, insolent, and discontented with their rank in society.

Indian Vision of Education

A path to inner liberation and self-elevation aimed at enlightening the mind and heart, fostering discernment, and strengthening the bond between the student, Nation, World, Nature, and God.

Tirukkural

A major work of philosophy and poetry written by Thiruvalluvar around 500 CE.

Aryabhattiya

A foundational mathematical and astronomical text authored by Aryabhatta in 510 CE.

Brihat Samhita

An encyclopedic treatise on astronomy and mathematics written by Varahamihira in 550 CE.

Brahmasphutasiddhanta

A landmark work on mathematics and astronomy composed by Brahmagupta in 665 CE.

Yukti Kalpa Taru

An ancient Indian text on naval engineering written by Bhoja Narapati between 1000 and 1050 CE.

Sidhanta Siromani

A major mathematical treatise authored by Bhaskara II in 1150 CE.

Rani-ki-Vav

The Queen's Stepwell in Patan, built in the 11th century CE by Queen Udayamati, showcasing subterranean water architecture in the Indian subcontinent.

Bartaman Bharat

A work on Vedanta philosophy and societal commentary authored by Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902 CE).

Native Schooling Monitorial System (1823)

An Indian educational practice documented by the district collector of Ballari in which advanced scholars taught less advanced scholars to reinforce their own knowledge, a system later copied in England.

Ancient Indian Universities

Historical institutions of higher learning such as Nalanda, Takshashila, and Kanthalloor Sala that harboured scholars from across India and abroad.