Indian social thought

Here is an attempt to interpret Indian social thought in its proper soclal.jrellglous, cultural and political perspective and to establish how these facets have been closely inter-related, demonstrating the significance of continuity In social existence. In Indian
social thought there are so many currents and under-currents but the massive stream of ideas can be located. It all began in the pre-Vedic era. The Dravldian and Indus Valley sources were non-Vedlc but they made important contributions. When the Aryan contact began, it led to considerable assimilation of culture and the process proved to be an unending one. Hinduism
continued to grow, absorbing new practices, beliefs,' rites and rituals as it came in contact with new cults, sects and religions until the modern times. Challenges from Buddhism, Islam and the West were met at different times and in the process the social thought modified itself considerably. The reform movements of the present century fulfilled the task of social reconstruction
and political regeneration.
A full chapter has been devoted to the contributions of Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi. It has been properly mphasised that in spite of the past, a secular and tolerant outlook will only mean growth In social sphere. The study establishes that the
main stream of Indian social consciousness consists of social reforms, national consciousness, religious and spiritual philosophies and traditional values.