Book Summary: "India, that is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution" - J Sai Deepak

Sai Deepak J The book India That is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, and Constitution quite unsettled me. I was bewildered by the information that began swirling around me. The author was on an overdrive with passion for his subject, and it was challenging to keep pace with him.

It is more than an ordinary book. It is empowering course material with many resources to take away. However, it is only partially amenable to review in the usual way.

That is when it struck me that I best explain it by unboxing a set of resources.

A storm will have been stirred up when the proposed trilogy is published. By then, I expect enough knowledge in the books to hold one’s ground and maybe even engage in combat.

Sai Deepak’s credibility is high as a man who works with hard facts from sources. You can verify this from the tens of viral videos in which he takes on all tricky questions and answers them with ease and precision. He seldom wastes a word, lacks the right one for his need, or deviates from the discussion point.

All these qualities come through in his writing, which doesn’t mean you can understand him if you pay less than full attention.

With that said, let me return to the question: ‘What’s in the box of resources?’ as I call the book.

Grab your copy by clicking on the below link:

Hard Cover: https://amzn.to/3OJh7EX

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ZFNWJg

Book publication date: August 2021.

Brief about the Author:

J. Sai Deepak is an engineer turned litigator, practising as an arguing counsel primarily before the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Delhi.

A mechanical engineer from Anna University, Sai graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from IIT Kharagpur’s Law School in 2009.

He has carved a niche as a civil, commercial and constitutional litigator.

He has been part of several landmark cases, such as those related to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Basmati Geographical Indications and the Marital Rape Exception in the Indian Penal Code.

In 2019, Sai was awarded the Young Alumni Achiever’s Award by his alma mater, IIT Kharagpur. Apart from delivering lectures on constitutional issues, he writes prolifically for leading newspapers and magazines.

He is the author of the bestselling first book of the Bharat Trilogy, India, That Is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution.

India that is Bharat:- Book Review

Exordium:

Sai Deepak J India, that is, Bharat, need not have run over 11 chapters.

The title is the thesis: there is/was/remains a resolute Indic civilisation—condensed in the denotation Bharat—attacked, marginalised, and misconstrued by the colonial Christian civilising mission during British imperial rule in South Asia; this civilisational asset now needs to serve as the basis for a new constitution of independent India.

The Author narrates the heroic tale of this beleaguered yet resilient, incorruptible civilisation (engulfed by the colonial past) in a righteous chorus of global indigeneity championed by Latin American decolonial scholars led by Walter Mignolo.

This indigene, the “Hindu,” unblemished by concerns of caste, unencumbered by the fact that it is a majority in the Indian nation-state, this ecumenical decolonial avenger, can then stand proudly next to the Aymaras, Qhichwas, Navajos, Haida, Maoris and claim rightful reparation from history.

If we are to believe Deepak, all previous critiques of colonial history penned in the 75 years since Indian independence have been prisoners of a colonial consciousness bereft of any ability to recognise the essence of this Indic civilisation. Deepak’s messianic intervention commands a purge: cleanse your consciousness!

The book has three sections; the first deals with the literature on decolonisation. The expected cast, Mignolo, Aníbal Quijano, Ramón Grosfoguel, and Enrique Dussel, feature heavily. Deepak admits that he finds allies and alibis in this academic milieu, a journey of recent discovery. With vigour, he starts hitching the decolonial wagon to the Hindutva juggernaut.

He identifies four schools and assigns them a series of dilettante definitions. The Modernists, the Postmodernists, the Postcolonial (Subaltern Studies primarily, one suspects; however, apart from a throwaway reference to Gayatri Spivak, no actual members of the subaltern studies find a mention).

These three are irredeemably steeped in the guilt of coloniality.

Section I: Colonlality:-

In this section, Deepak examines the expansion of European powers, focusing mainly on how the British and other European colonisers sought to establish control over India's economy, politics, and social structures.

He describes colonialism not just as a military or economic venture but as an attempt to rewire the fundamental nature of Indian society. The imposition of Western institutions, ideas, and values was not benign; instead, it was designed to replace the native ethos with European ways of thinking.

Deepak argues that the colonial enterprise was not limited to political domination but extended to colonising the mind and spirit. Indian education, culture, and even religion were targeted for transformation.

The Macaulayan system of education, which promoted English and Western thought while de-emphasising Indian knowledge systems is a prime example of this attempt to colonise Indian intellect. Deepak carefully presents evidence showing that the impact of this colonial project continues to manifest in contemporary Indian governance, law, and society.

Section II: Civilisation:-

In this part, Deepak moves beyond the physical aspects of colonialism and delves into what he calls "Abrahamic coloniality." He explores how Abrahamic religions—specifically Christianity and, to some extent, Islam—were used as tools to justify and sustain colonialism.

This section is one of the most provocative, as it challenges widely accepted notions of religious neutrality and secularism. Deepak argues that these concepts were often employed to erode India's native belief systems. Abrahamic thought systems, with their exclusivist, monotheistic frameworks, were fundamentally at odds with India’s pluralistic, inclusive, and polytheistic traditions.

The book provides ample documentation of how Christian missionaries, often in collusion with colonial administrators, attempted to undermine Hinduism and other indigenous belief systems. This aspect of colonisation, according to Deepak, has left a lasting imprint on India’s religious and cultural landscape, contributing to the erosion of native traditions and the adoption of Western-centric models of secularism and governance.

Section III: Constitution:-

The book's final part is perhaps the most critical, as it ties together the themes of colonialism, religion, and culture and examines their impact on India’s Constitution and civilisational identity.

Deepak critiques the Indian Constitution for being excessively rooted in Western, mainly British, legal traditions and not adequately reflecting India’s civilisational ethos.

He does not argue against the Constitution per se but questions the assumptions and frameworks that informed its drafting.

Deepak suggests that India’s current legal and political systems are, in many ways, a continuation of colonial governance structures. He also posits that the Indian state, in its attempt to be secular and democratic, has neglected its civilisational roots, resulting in a form of governance alien to the native populace. The book calls for a better reassessment of the Constitution and governance models to reflect India’s unique cultural and civilisational identity.

To summarise, the book takes the reader through the soul and heart of India.

Epilogue:

India that is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution by Sai Deepak J is a bold and thought-provoking work that challenges many dominant narratives about India’s history, identity, and Constitution.

Its critique of colonialism, both physical and ideological, is compelling and well supported by evidence. While the book’s complexity may deter some readers, it offers a fresh and much-needed perspective on the enduring impact of coloniality on India’s civilisation.

Deepak’s call to reassess India’s governance and constitutional structures in light of its civilisational ethos will surely spark debate and discussion. Whether one agrees with his conclusions or not, India, that is, Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution, is an essential read for anyone interested in India’s past, present, and future.

It is a clarion call for India to reclaim its civilisational identity and assert its unique place in the world, free from the shackles of colonial thought and structures.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is the depth of research that Deepak has put into it. Arguments are supported with citations from historical records, legal documents, and scholarly works. This lends the book an air of credibility and intellectual rigour often missing in polemical works on Indian history and identity.

Deepak’s training as a lawyer is evident in the precision with which he presents his arguments, making the book not just a work of history or political science but a legal and civilisational critique.

Learning:

One of the book’s biggest strengths is the depth of research Deepak has done. The arguments are supported with citations from historical records, legal documents, and scholarly works.

This lends the book an air of credibility and intellectual rigour often missing in polemical works on Indian history and identity.

Deepak’s training as a lawyer is evident in the precision with which he presents his arguments, making the book not just a work of history or political science but a legal and civilisational critique.

Sai Deepak J & Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Bloomsbury USA Bloomsbury Business