This is the first book in the Bharat trilogy, exploring the impact of European colonial consciousness on Bharat as a civilisation and its influence on the Indian Constitution. Covering the period from the Age of Discovery in 1492 to the Government of India Act of 1919, the book lays the foundation for understanding the complex interplay of colonial influence and indigenous traditions.
The narrative dives into the author's journey to understand India's civilizational roots and the impact of colonialism. Growing up in the 1990s and initially set on pursuing engineering, he had a change of heart after encountering the writings of Swami Vivekananda and Hindu philosophy. This shift led him to recognize the importance of studying India's history and culture to counter attempts to undermine its heritage. He pivoted to law, focusing on constitutional law, and engaged in significant cases involving civil liberties and religious institutions. This legal work deepened his interest in India's history, pushing him to reconcile constitutional principles with the country's civilizational ethos. By exploring scholarly works on decolonization, he uncovered the concept of "coloniality." Coloniality refers to the structures of power established by European colonialism, which enforced racial hierarchies and European dominance while undermining indigenous cultures and histories. In contrast, "decoloniality" seeks to restore the agency and dignity of colonized societies, making it a fitting approach for reclaiming India's culture. The exploration extends to global coloniality and its religious underpinnings, highlighting how coloniality affected India's knowledge systems, languages, religions, tribes, castes, education, and political structures. There is a critique of postcolonialism for failing to adequately address these issues. The narrative sets the stage for studying the colonial impact on India's constitutional journey and promotes a decolonial constitutionalism grounded in civilizational awareness.
Final Summary: "India that is Bharat" by J. Sai Deepak is a meticulous examination of how European colonial consciousness has influenced Bharat's (India's) civilisational identity and its constitutional framework. The book delves into the religious and racial roots of coloniality and critically assesses the impact of British colonial rule on the Indian legal and societal structures. By contextualizing Bharat's historical timeline from the Age of Discovery to the Government of India Act of 1919, Deepak aims to trigger a decolonial awakening in the Indian consciousness, urging readers to reclaim their Indic heritage and values.
This book is aimed at readers interested in Indian history, law, and cultural studies, particularly those who seek a deeper understanding of colonial impacts on modern Bharat. It is also valuable for legal professionals, historians, and scholars of decolonial studies.
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