Guest guest Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 I can confirm Brian's point of view, at least from my own limited experience. A couple of years ago, the University of Oslo arranged a debate between the media spokesperson of a major Norwegian company which at that time was busy in India, and myself. The subject of the debate is unimportant in this context, but during the discussion it transpired that this company did not feel the least bit of need for Indological advice. They operated according to normal business procedures and bought their expertise on India and matters Indian in India. My impression is that South-Asianists/Indologists are fairly isolated creatures. The press is not very interested in Indological matters - at least not in this country - and business couldn't care less. However, we should not underestimate Mr. Malhotra's article. His intentions and programme is clear: he wants to participate in determining how India is being "taught" and "thought of" in American (and presumably European) institutions of learning. Going by the language of the article, we must suspect that India's government would support his efforts, and it is not impossible to assume that a government wanting to please India could play along with Mr. Malhotra's efforts. After all, these matters are important to India. Scholars of the sort Mr. Malhotra is complaining about, may have to brace themselves for rougher weather sometime in the future. Best regards, Lars Martin Fosse Dr.art. Lars Martin Fosse Haugerudvn. 76, Leil. 114, 0674 Oslo - Norway Phone: +47 22 32 12 19 Fax: +47 850 21 250 Mobile phone: +47 90 91 91 45 E-mail: lmfosse DO NOT OPEN UNEXPECTED ATTACHMENTS. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS BEING ABUSED BY MALICIOUS OPERATORS. > -----Opprinnelig melding----- > Fra: Sfauthor [sfauthor] > Sendt: 8. desember 2003 23:10 > Til: INDOLOGY > Emne: Re: [Y-Indology] Article on India Studies > > > > In a message dated 12/8/03 1:11:47 PM, > subrahmanyas writes: > > >Here is an article on India Studies regarding the > >ideology and funding of India related academic programs > >in the United States. It is not much different in Europe either. > > > > Does South Asian Studies Undermine India? > > http://us.rediff.com/news/2003/dec/08rajiv.htm > > > I think the article vastly overstates the influence of South > Asian Studies. > IMHO, South Asia scholars are more like fleas riding on the > axle of a chariot > commenting on the amount of dust being kicked up. > > Infinitely more important are the personal experiences > generated by millions > of tourists, millions of immigrants, hundreds of millions of > media consumers > (with virtually none of the journalists having a formal SAS > background), and > billions of dollars in trade and investment. > > Re the biggest story of the day, the rapid increase in > outsourcing, I can't > imagine any private company basing its outsourcing decision > on anything a SAS > scholar would say--if they are even aware the field of study > exists. It's all > cost, quality, timeliness, etc. > > If a US state government (e.g., New Jersey) steps in, its a > calculation based > on public-sector unions' pressure, etc. None of the players > are going to > consult a Sanskritist before making an outsourcing decision. > > > Brian > > > -------------------- > YogaVidya.com > BrianDanaAkers.com > -------------------- > > ------------------------ Sponsor > ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits > for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. > Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. > http://www.c1tracking.com/l> .asp?cid=5511 > > http://us.click./mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/x3XolB/TM ---~-> indology Your use of is subject to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 I find complete resonance in Rajiv Malhotra's article and had independently arrived at similar conclusions about 10 years ago. It is amusing, but not surprising, that Shri Fosse casts a sinister cloud on the motives and repercussions of Malhotra's essay. Not suprising because the bullheadedness and refusal to see the world through 'our' eyes has been the hallmark of the imperial-minded Western 'scholar.' I have a few things to say about the motives of these Western 'scholars' too but like Shri Fosse (and others of his ilk who have perfected this fine art) I will be content to only insinuate. Warm regards, r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 RP Parrikar's comment does not resonate too well: I guess the Scandinavians (M. Fosse is one, from Norway) were indeed great empire builders, from New Foundland to Greenland, Iceland and Russia, Normandy, England, Ireland and Sicily -- but that was 1000 years ago, and I fail to detect a great Norwegian imperium in India. Show me the imperial-minded Western scholar in Scandinavia... Some people see ghosts and conspiracies everywhere... MW. ===================================================== >I find complete resonance in Rajiv Malhotra's article and had >independently arrived at similar conclusions about 10 years ago. It >is amusing, but not surprising, that Shri Fosse casts a sinister >cloud on the motives and repercussions of Malhotra's essay. Not >suprising because the bullheadedness and refusal to see the world >through 'our' eyes has been the hallmark of the imperial-minded >Western 'scholar.' I have a few things to say about the motives of >these Western 'scholars' too but like Shri Fosse (and others of his >ilk who have perfected this fine art) I will be content to only >insinuate. > >Warm regards, > > >r \ ============================================================ Michael Witzel Department of Sanskrit & Indian Studies, Harvard University 1 Bow Street, Cambridge MA 02138, USA ph. 1- 617-496 2990 (also messages) home page: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/mwpage.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Shri Fosse's skulduggery evidenced in his perverted delusions about future collusion between Rajiv Malhotra and the Indian govt brings to mind passages from the memoirs of the great mathematician Norbert Wiener. Wiener tells us how in the 1940s and 1950s there was this mistaken and misplaced belief in Western academia and government about the inherent superiority of the Westerner's ability and judgement vis-a-vis the non-white men of science. Prof. Wiener says he knew from the outset what his colleagues would not even admit in their imagination: that ability to juggle mathematical equations is not limited to men with blanched skin. It seems to me that Shri Fosse and his kind are still struck in a time warp. Now that their work is finally coming under scrutiny from the unwashed natives they are reduced to ascribing motives of those who dare to question. Shri Fosse refuses to understand, but then as Sinclair noted, "it is hard to make a man understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." Warm regards, Rajan P. Parrikar http://www.parrikar.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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