Hindu civilization will always retain its continuity. Bhagwat Geeta will always inspire the man of action and Upnishad the man of thought. The quite and gentle happiness which is there in Indian way of like unlike the hectic life of the West increases its charm and graciousness.
Much that was useless in Indian culture like animal sacrifice, child marriage, sati system, untouchability etc. are vanishing. The whole face of India altering only the cultural traditions and continues.
The whole South East Asia received most of its culture from India. Early in 5th century B.C. colonists from western India visited Ceylon and gradually settled there. Because of deep influence of Indian culture in South East Asia. Indian historians proudly called this area as greater India.
Indian colonies were not like British Colonies, they were peaceful. Except the legendary Aryan king Vijaya there is no other evidence that any Indian king conquered any foreign land with sword.
Northwards there was contact between India and China about 2,000 years ago. As a special gift to Asia India has some practical blessings like rice, cotton, sugarcane, spices, game of chess and most important of all decimal system of numeral notation.
There has been influenced of Indian spiritualism also. Parallels may be traced between Pali scriptures and the New Testament and Jewish sect followed monastic practice somewhat similar to Buddhism.
Along with culture Indian thought also spread in the 19th century. Bangali mystic Ramkrishna Paramhansa and his disciple Swami Vivekananda and then Mahatma Gandhi. The west also admired Gandhiji's policy of non violence, his burning sincerity and energy.
Then in the field of literature German philosopher Goethe also borrowed Indian dramaturgy of his famous play "Faust". It was influenced by Monism of Indian thought.
Some American writers were also influenced by Indian literature like Emerson Thoreau, Carlyle, Richard Jefferies and Edward Carpenter etc.
Now in the age of globalization all the cultures of the world are mingling with each other and we expect a single culture in the future with some local differences. India's contribution in this cultural stock will definitely be great.
Questions & Answers:
Q.1 What is the most significant quality of Indian civilization?
Ans. The most significant quality of Indian civilization is that is has retained its continuity.
Q.2 Mention the most important characteristic of Indian way of life?
Ans. The most important characteristic of Indian way of life is its quite and gentle happiness unlike the hectic life of the west.
Q.3 When did Indian cultural influence begin in Ceylon?
Ans. Indian cultural influence begin in the early 5th century B.C. in Ceylon.
Q.4 Who were the first Indians to go to the South-East Asian countries?
Ans. The colonists from western India were the first Indians to go to the South-East Asian countries.
Q.5 What is referred to by Indian Historians as "Greater India"?
Ans. South East Asia is referred to by Indian Historians as "Greater India".
Q.6 Who is said to have conquered Ceylon first?
Ans. Vijaya, the legendary Aryan conqueror is said to have conquered Ceylon first.
Q.7 What did the real contact between India and China begin?
Ans. The real contact between India and China began about 2,000 years ago.
Q.8 What aspect of Indian culture influence the Far-East most significantly?
Ans. Indian Buddhism influenced the Far-East most significantly.
Q.9 Mention some practical blessings conferred on the world by India?
Ans. Some practical blessings conferred on the world by India are rice, cotton, sugarcane, spices, game of chess and most important of all decimal system of numeral notation.
Q.10 What shows that some Jewish sect were also influenced by India?
Ans. The similarities between the Monastic practices followed by the Jewish sects and Buddhism shows that some Jewish sect were also influenced by India.
Q.11 Which Indians influenced Europe and America most?
Ans. Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanand and Mahatma Gandhi influenced Europe and America most.
Q.12 Which quality of Mahatma Gandhi influenced the West most?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi's policy of non-violence, his burning sincerity and energy influenced the West most.
Q.13 In what was Goethe indebted to India?
Ans. German philosopher Goethe borrowed the device of Indian dramaturgy for prologue to his play "Faust". The play was inspired by Monism of Indian thought.
Q.14 Which American writers were influenced most by Indian thought?
Ans. The American writers were influenced most by Indian thought were Emerson, Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Richard Jefferies and Edward Carpenter etc.
Q.15 What kind of world culture we may expect to emerge in future?
Ans. In future we may expect a single cultural for the whole world with some local differences.
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