It is a moment of pride for both the International School for SreeSankaracharya Studies as well as Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit that a peer-reviewed academic journal named ‘Prispanda’ has been successfully launched by the School, thus laying yet another milestone in the onward journey of ISSS in pioneering academic activities in the field of Sanskrit Philosophical Tradition. International School for Sree Sankaracharya Studies, an initiative of the Govt. of Kerala to promote research, innovation and promotion of Advaita Vedanta, was established in the year 2014, and since then it has been set on fulfilling its avowed task. The school has its goal set clearly before it, to revive, contextualize and restore the vigor and dynamism of Indian thought streams by organizing various academic programs, such as study circles, international lecture programs, textual study workshops, Debate forums, competitions for young scholars, regional lecture programs etc., in collaboration with sister concerns like ICPR, Central Sanskrit University, RashtriyaSamskrta Vidya PeethamTirupathyand various other Universities in the country. In a way the Schoolhas been promoting academic philosophy beyond the imagination of any standard Department of Sanskrit, filling the gaps where the traditional departments fail in addressing the impinging issues in Indian philosophy. We are very happy to note that most of the leading scholars in the field of Indology and Indian philosophy have been part of one or the other programs of the school so much so thattoday the School is a household name for the academia in Indian Philosophy across the globe.
The most valuable as well challenging task the School undertakes is to revamp Advaita Vedanta and reinterpret it in a way that befits best the current intellectual climate. As late Prof. Arapura has rightly pointed out, Vedanta tradition has evolved out down the centuries, reacting to the socio cultural situations that emerged in the southern peninsula of our country. Dissident groups kept on sprouting from the main stem and branched out eventually claiming independent status, but retaining their textual commitment to the main stem. Ironically these very dissident streams, those that quarrelled with the parent tradition on various accounts, paved way for the evolution, growth and sustenance of the school of Vedanta. Through this dialectical move the tradition kept renewing itself producing new theses that not only contextualized the system but also improved upon the basic concepts involved therein. It is interesting to note that these different sects of Vedanta have gone to mould the culture and tradition of the land in which they were born, the land that spread south of Vindhya ranges, known as Dakshinavarta. In fact, we could trace its influence even in the day to day living habits of ordinary people, a number proverbs, ideals and metaphors would stand as testimonials to this. In short, it is evident that the schools of Vedanta have had a decisive role in moulding the life pattern of the people here, and the Journal would be equally interested in looking at the cultural residues of these influences.
We are passing through a difficult period; even as the world shrinks with innovations in information technology, ideological differences and divisive tendencies in terms of nationality, culture and religion loom large in the horizon, threatening the nations and creating insecurities among them, which in turn force them to equip themselves better with arms and amenities, funds that should have been otherwise spent on welfare measures. India since time immemorial has placed trust in negotiations, on the role of creative and constructive dialogues in resolving ideological conflicts and our Vada manuals are the standing testimonials to that. Fine argumentation has great role in resolving conflicts even today, and ISSS is pledged to reinvent this method by renewing and revamping our methods of argumentation as befitting today’s context. Clarity of thought that leads to clarity in speech and interpersonal dialogue, has always been a useful method in resolving conflicts. The Parispanda, the newly launched journal is pledged to sharpen the method of argumentation by perfecting its tools and upgrading our tool box by adding newer equipment that suit better the changing times, as well as demonstrate how ideal argumentation could take place, through its publications. Indian philosophy has always flourished through argumentation, as the oft quoted statement reminds us, vade vadejayate tattva bodhah. One of the primary goals behind the initiation of this journal is to encourage debates on ensuing issues on Indian philosophy presently debated in the field, or juxtapose the Indian counterparts of those concepts that currently draw attention of scholars across the globe, or drive home the inadequacies or illogicities involved in upholding/ promoting certain ideals / concepts that we habitually advocate and so on.
The colonial and the post-colonial period have witnessed a setback in the traditional way of engaging philosophy in the above mentioned realms. The discontinuance of the Sanskrit tradition has damaged the native way of philosophizing beyond our imagination. During the colonial and postcolonial period Indian thinkers trying to explore Indian Philosophy along the paths carved out by the early Indologists were made to adopt an externalist approach towards the discipline; this otherness implicated in their studies has effected an alienation in their works, something which often went undetected in these studies of the natives during that period. Unfortunately, even after seven decades of self-rule nothing much has changed in the academia, and Indian philosophers continue to view their tradition through the lenses provided by the European Indologists, and as a result, their researches continue to remain externalist in their approach. The Parispanda would make an earnest effort towards decolonizing our thinking and bring home what K.C Bhattacharya called “the swaraj in Ideas.”
Initiating a journal is indeed a service rendered to the discipline, but it is also a great responsibility. The present journal has been envisaged as an Annual released every year during September in both print and online modes. In view of the ensuing danger to the environment by printing large number of copies, the journal would primarily be in the online mode, and the prints shall be made available to the individuals or institutions as per demand. Though the maiden volume is not based on a common theme, eventually we shall convert it as a concept based volume. One of the pronounced missions of the journal would be to encourage scholars to take a relook at the ancient Indian mode of philosophizing with an aim to revive it, revitalize it and contextualize it as befitting the 21st century world. As Matilal rightly pointed out, nothing has been preserved as sacrosanct, above criticism in Indian Philosophical platform, and the school fully endorse this. The Board of editors will have an open and unassuming approach in evaluating the papers submitted for publication.
We are aware that in India we have very few academic journals in Indian Philosophy. I remember an incident that occurred a few years back when I met Prof. Rajendraprasad, one among the senior living philosophers of our country, and a veteran thinker, during a conference in the ICPR Academic Centre, Lucknow. After listening to my paper he suggested that I could publish it in a journal. “But how many journals do we have now in India? I want you to take up this responsibility of starting a good journal in Philosophy. There is a pressing need for it, and I see that you can do it.” From his look I read that it wasn’t a suggestion, but an order. He was convinced that philosophers as a creed and academics in general do not have the habit of buying books, hence bringing out monographs may not help much in enhancing conversations and debates among academics. Years rolled down,this order issued by Prof. Prasad kept burning within me. And I am happy that with the decision of the governing body to start a journal of ISSS, I am able to fulfill this dictate of Prof. Prasad. The current executive of the School is pretty well aware of the huge responsibility of running this academic journal; as the oft quoted statement goes, it is easy to start a journal but hard to sustain it. With the cooperation of the academic fraternity and friend’s circle spread across the globe, who are by now well within the fold of the academic activities of the School, we hope to sustain the quality and temper of the journal in the coming years.
It is believed that the profile of a journal will be a mirror that well reflects the history of the major debates that took place in the discipline during the era. For instance, from the volumes of the journal of Indian council for philosophical Research (JICPR) during a particular period you can detect the major debates that took place in the country during that time. For instance, during 80s and 90s when Gettier problem became a topic of discussion among Indian academics a series of papers were published in JICPR on this. For a researcher who wants to trace the evolution of Gettier problem in Indian context, the volumes of JICPR would be the best source material. This way a leading journal in fact, functions as a mirror stretched out against the current philosophical concerns that preoccupy the academia of the discipline.
I take this opportunity to thank all the contributors of the present volume. There is a popular belief that the best scholars are those who know where to publish their papers. Against this popular belief here are some, who willingly offered papers for the maiden issue of our journal. I am aware that it is the trust they place on the School and also on me that went behind this act of kindness. I am also grateful to the reviewers who have meticulously done their job. One of the main challenges in running a peer reviewed journal is to get the support of scholars to assist you in reviewing the papers. In India there is a tendency to read our western peers more, and hardly any time has been set aside to read or appreciate our immediate colleagues, a colonial aftermath from which we are yet to get relieved. Fortunately the School has a good number of academic well wishers who come to our aid on short notice, and I here wish to register our indebtedness to all of them, and expect their continued support in our onward journey with this journal. I would fail in my duties if I miss out the contributions made by Dr. Sangamesan, K.M., Asst. Director of ISSS, whose efforts constituted a major chunk in materializing this journal. He has done the design, lay out and page setting of the papers, and attended to all the formalities in procuring ISSN No. etc. Without his support the School couldn’t have even dreamt of realizing this long cherished dream of bringing out a volume. Thanks are also due to the members of the present Directorate, members of the Governing body and Academic Advisory committee, who have given great support, something which turned out as the most valuable one towards materializing this journal.
Prof. Sreekala M. Nair