Delving into various streams of Indian philosophical thoughts, Kannada writer and Saraswati Samman recipient S.L. Bhyrappa said the bedrock of Indian culture and civilisation was enshrined in the vedic thought as espoused through upanishads.
He was delivering the inaugural address of a three-day national seminar — 100 years of philosophy in Mysore University: An overview — on Thursday to mark the centenary of the founding of the department of philosophy in 1916.
Dr. Bhyrappa said the quintessence of the vedic thought is found in the philosophy espoused in the upanishads that number around 110 to 120 of which 12 are important. While the western philosophers were engrossed in material aspects of the universe, which helped in development of science, Indian philosophers grappled with the concept of death and this comes to the fore in the Kathopanishad. Even Buddha was haunted by it (old age, disease and death) which led him to renounce the world and seek enlightenment, he added.
Citing scholars like R.D. Ranade, Dr. Bhyrappa said Buddha was a product of the upanishadic age and drew from it but was not antagonistic to upanishads as propounded by many scholars. “Buddha stopped short of speculating as to what lay beyond the realm of the physical world, while the upanishads delves deep into what lies beyond,” he said.
The essence and complexities of Indian philosophies are best espoused in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, said Dr. Bhyrappa, pointing out that the former dealt with simple concepts of idealism while the latter was complex. But by the time of Vyasa, Indian philosophical systems were well-developed and Vyasa used these philosophical concepts and presented them through a story in Mahabharata, Dr. Bhyrappa said.
He said without a sound grounding in philosophy, a writer cannot conceive grand themes incorporating values and ethics in depth and could only be superficial.
In the initial few minutes of his talk, the writer recalled his teachers in the department of philosophy like H.P. Shantha on whom he depended for emotional succour having lost his mother, brothers and sister to plague; Yamunacharya, who introduced him to philosophy though Kathopanishad, and Javadekar of Baroda University, who encouraged him to complete his Ph.D.
C. Basavaraju, in charge Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, scholars of philosophy, and faculty of the department were present.
A trip down memory lane
Dr. Bhyrappa’s speech was laced with anecdotes from his early life, and on how the plague claimed the lives of his brothers, sisters and mother that left him pondering the issue of death.
Though a topper in history and economics, Dr. Bhyrappa opted for philosophy and this irked college principal Purushottam, who was into sociology. Dr. Bhyrappa recalled his principal saying: “Young man, why do you want to take philosophy, it won’t earn you bread.”
“This prompted me to reply, I will open a bakery and earn my bread but philosophy is what I want to study,” recalled Dr. Bhyrappa.
He then described his days in Baroda. He completed his Ph.D thesis in one year but the Registrar refused to accept it on the grounds that he had not completed two years, prompting an intervention from his guide Jawdekar. “At the interview, I was welcomed by the panel members who said ‘take your seat Dr. Bhyrappa’.”
He was persuaded to take up postdoctoral research by Dr. Javadekar, but Dr. Bhyrappa expressed his inclination for creative writing. A disappointed Dr. Javadekar fumed at him but on receiving a copy of his novel Vamshavriksha, the guru presented him suit material and ₹150 towards tailoring charge, and said: “Your novel is steeped in philosophy and you have not deserted it.”
