The Bhagavad-Gita for the Modern Reader: History, interpretations and philosophy

by M.V. Nadkarni

What is the Bhagavad-Gita? Is it just a religious text? When was it composed? How relevant is it to the modern world?

This book answers these foundational questions and goes beyond. It critically examines the Bhagavad-Gita in terms of its liberal, humanist and inclusive appeal, bringing out its significance for the present times and novel applications. The author elaborates the philosophy underlying the text as also its ethical, spiritual and moral implications. He also responds to criticisms that have been levelled against the text by Ambedkar, D. D. Kosambi, and more recently, Amartya Sen. The volume proposes unique bearings of the text in diverse fields such as business & management and scientific research.

Eclectic and accessible, this work will be of interest to scholars of philosophy, religion, history, business & management studies as well as the general reader.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Mukund S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not a yet another interpretation of the Gita but provides a broad overview and a framework with which to read and understand the great work. It captures the origin, spread and influence of Gita throughout the world and highlights how different scholars, philosophers, thinkers and leaders have interpreted all or portions of the text over the last two millennia. For those interested in Indian philosophy, it provides a concise summary of how the Gita has been interpreted in the three main schools of Vedanta - Advaita, Visishtaadvaita and Dvaita. The Gita has meant different things to different people and the book brings this out in a lucid and understandable manner.

The author deserves credit for clearly pointing out the absurdity of criticisms levied against the Gita by people such as Dr. Ambedkar, Kosambi and Veerabhadrappa. With their narrow interpretations and serious misunderstandings of the Gita's real message, they come across as characters in the fable of the elephant and the blind men.

The author could have been more careful in crediting the original proponent for certain explanations provided in the book. For instance, some of the interpretations credited to Dr. Radhakrishnan were first brought out by Bhagavad Ramanuja more than a thousand years ago and should have been attributed to the latter.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat nominal believer's exposition. There is no point to this book.