Surendranath Dasgupta’s first volume of A History of Indian Philosophy (1922) marked a watershed moment in the evolution of Indian thought. Unfortunately, neither Dasgupta nor his substantial body of writings is remembered outside the world of philosophers, academics and interested students. Of all of Dasgupta’s work, Philosophy (published in five volumes), the last of which was barely completed on account of his sudden death in 1952, is the most renowned. Each volume was reviewed by major scholars of that time, such as Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Louis Renou and F.W. Thomas.

Although the works of Indologists like Max Mueller and Vivekananda’s speeches and writings had made the Western world take serious note of India’s heritage, Dasgupta’s was the most systematic and comprehensive, based on primary materials in Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit, that was widely hailed in the academic world.

There are many reasons why Dasgupta’s work made a difference. He was among the foremost Sanskritists of his time. Besides, his deep knowledge of Western science and philosophy together with exposure to the stimulating environment of Cambridge equipped him ideally for the task. His logical analysis made him overtly critical of some of the established lines of thinking. He did not allow his personal emotions, mystical experiences and spiritual attainments to cloud his analytical thinking.

In the first volume of Philosophy are covered the Vedas, Brahmanas and the early Upanishads, the six systems of Hindu thought together with Buddhist and Jaina philosophy; the second volume deals with the Sankara School of Vedanta (continued from the first) and the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, among others; the third with the principal dualistic and pluralistic schools and philosophical ideations of some Puranas; the fourth with Indian Pluralism in the philosophical realm; and the last volume examines southern Saivism, Saiva philosophy in the Puranas and other important texts. Such was the single-handed, majestic sweep of Dasgupta the like of which was not attempted earlier or since.

Dasgupta remained amazingly productive till his last day, though eye and heart ailments made him virtually bedridden for the last eight years of his life. Many of his other works like Yogaas Philosophy and Religion and Indian Idealism are considered influential, but his lasting fame rests on Philosophy. As a member of the Indian Education Service, a Professor of Philosophy at Presidency College, the principal of Government Sanskrit College and King George V Professor of Mental and Moral Science at Calcutta University as well as a leading academic philosopher from India for international conferences, he continued to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

Dasgupta subordinated his desire to develop his own system of philosophy —a brief outline of which was published as the theory of Dependant Emergence — to his primary mission of authoring Philosophy. Therefore, the perception that questions Dasgupta’s standing a sa front-ranking philosopher or that his magnum opus is more about the historic evolution of our systems than of original thinking does not stand scrutiny.

Evidently, Dasgupta was not a propagandist or a populariser of our noblest thoughts. His was an intense and solid work built logically. His interactions with Sigmund Freud, Benedetto Croce and such luminaries stand testimony to his abiding respect for our high traditions.

Calcutta of the 1920s saw the best works of Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha and C.V. Raman being published. In the field of humanities, Dasgupta’s work stands out in terms of its scope, philosophical insights, overall impact and continued relevance. Unfortunately, a vicious and sustained campaign about his private life compelled him to leave Calcutta forever. Except for a bust at the Sanskrit College, there is nothing to commemorate this great man. Dasgupta remains in the heart of scholars and the legacy of Philosophy remains undimmed over a century.

(Amitabha Bhattacharya retired from the IAS as Principal Adviser (Education and Culture), Planning Commission, New Delhi)