My critique of of Devdutt Pattanaik's My Gita

[Nityanand Misra]

Dear list

Please find a link to my critique of ‘My Gita’ (Rupa Publications, ISBN 978-81-291-3770-8) by Devdutt Pattanaik.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

https://swarajyamag.com/culture/not-just-his-gita-its-pattanaiks-own-fantasy-world

Thanks, Nityananda

--

Nityānanda Miśra

[Madhav Deshpande]

Dear Nityanandji,

     Thanks for sharing your review.  I tried to save this review as a pdf, but was not able to do so.  If possible, could you share a pdf file of your review?  Thanks.

Madhav Deshpande

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

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[Nityanand Misra]

On Wednesday, 8 February 2017 20:54:24 UTC+5:30, Madhav Deshpande wrote:

Dear Nityanandji,

     Thanks for sharing your review.  I tried to save this review as a pdf, but was not able to do so.  If possible, could you share a pdf file of your review?  Thanks.

Madhav Deshpande

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Prof. Deshpande Ji

Please find attached. Even I could not print to a PDF, and the publisher had made some minor copy-editing changes to my submitted draft, so I copy-pasted and converted into PDF.

Thanks, Nityananda 

[Madhav Deshpande]

Thanks.

Madhav Deshpande

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

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[Jsr Prasad]

The review is a scholarly, logical argument to expose the self claimed purana expert, Mr. Pattanaik, who even do not know the clear distinction between common and important words like ज्ञान-विज्ञान, ब्रह्म-ब्राह्मण etc. By demonstrating his ignorance under different headings, the review emphasizes on why Sanskrit knowledge is essential to paraphrase/interpret/translate any profound Sanskrit text. Congrats. Also, you've got appreciative comments in the review page. गीता सुगीता कर्तव्या किमन्यैः शास्त्रविस्तरैः ।

Regards,

Prasad

[Vaishnavi Rao]

नमस्ते,

नित्यानन्दमहोदयेन कृतं परिशीलनं पट्टनायकरचितग्रन्थस्य दोषान् सम्यक् प्रकाशयति इति निश्चप्रचम्। प्रख्यातप्रकाशनसंस्थया अवाप्तप्रतिषठ्रा च लेखकेन लिखितोSयं ग्रन्थः देशविदेशेषु अनेकैः जिज्ञासुभिः पठ्यते, येषां च विषयेस्मिन् प्रवेशो न भवति। दोषग्रशस्तोयं ग्रन्थ इति विद्वत्परिषदां बहिरपि तथ्यं प्रकाशनीयम्। वस्तुतः संस्कृतविद्वांसः स्वयमपि ग्रन्थस्यास्य दोषान् ज्ञातुमर्हन्ति। ये तत्र सामान्यजनाः सन्ति तेषां कृते एव सतर्कता अवश्यं कल्पनीया, ये च धनं दत्त्वा भ्रमं क्रीणन्ति।

विधेया

वैष्णवी

[Soma Basu]

Regards!
Dr Devdutt Pattanaik is a medical practitioner in real life and has done a Post Graduate Diploma in Mythology from the University of Bombay.

I was a fellow student in the same year.

The printing and publication of suchfake books on serious Sanskrit texts should be banned.

Many thanks to Nityananda Misra ji for his initiative !

Dr Soma Basu     

[K S Kannan]

Misra has done an excellent job: a veritable model of dignified and responsible review.

Today there is a mushroom growth of "interpreters" full of "insights" into every ancient text, especially Hindu texts - a free-for-all arena!

There was this devout and confident "scholar" who spoke at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, who said : 

The Upanishads are full of stories. One Upanishad, especially. Its name itself indicates that. It is called Kathopanishad !

Another gem from the same mouth: 

India is a chariot of light. Look at its name. Bha means light; and ratha is chariot. So Bharatha is a chariot of light!

Of the same ilk is Pattanaik: Make etymology easy - transliterate the Sanskrit word in English; you will get more insights!

KSKannan

[Jsr Prasad]

Well said sir!

Meanings of Katha and Bharata are a revelation to us :) He should definitely listen and translate the मोदकैस्ताडय story.. If such rebuttals are not attempted, Devadatta may metamorphose into devanaam-priyah! We need more young genius (as Prof. Paturi fondly calls him) like Nityananda ji!

Regards

[Nagaraj Paturi]

How can I help joinig you all in congratulating aadaraNIya Nityanandji for his review with his characteristic excellence? 

I met Dr Devdutt Pattanaik (medical doctor by training) in April 2013. 

Used to answer his questions, correcting him when necessary, with a positive opinion that he was helping the modern generation get educated about Puranic stories etc. 

I remember correcting him about this Brah + manas etymology of Brahman only. But still he seems to have repeated the error in this book too. 

The objective behind aadaraNIya Nityanandji's review, that the younger generation with whom Dr Pattanaik is popular should not be mislead, is valid and laudable. 

'My' in the title of the book may indicate that the author wants to say that he is exercising his right to view and present the book from his own perspective. 

AadaraNIya Nityanandji is not finding fault with his perspective and is not denying him the right to have such a perspective. The errors he pointed out are with regard to elementary issues such as understanding Sanskrit words, their etymologies etc., where there is no scope for perspective. 

Such geniuses as Sri Nityanandji in the younger generation give great hope for the future of the Sanskrit studies. 

Hope his endeavor will be received with open mind by Dr Pattanaik too.  

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Nagaraj Paturi

 

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

 

Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies

 

FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of  Liberal Education,

 

(Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA )

 

 

 

[ram]

This is a brilliant review on a stupid work.

While it is a pleasure to read well-written works, it would be a pain to spend time reading silly works. Thanks to Nityananda Misra for taking pains to carefully go through the work and expose the imbecile.

It is immaterial whether the author takes lesson or not, but such doltish works shouldn't go unchallenged.

Best wishes,

-ram.

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[Ajit Gargeshwari]

The review is brilliant but lets not stoop down to calling another authors work stupid silly and make remarks in a language not used on this list .

Regards
Ajit Gargeshwari
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।

[Jsr Prasad]

Ajit ji,

This is no less than a cultural denigration, and a possible distortion. Think, if such books prevail in society and read by an array of laymen, what could they pass on to next generations? I don't sit quitely when my house is burgled and property is bring stolen. No list is a tapovanam, and being torch bearers of our culture, we have no exception here.

Regards

Sent from my Motorola phone

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[Ajit Gargeshwari]

I agree I appreciated the good review of Sri Nityanandaji but even Sri Nityanandaji has not called the authors work under consideration silly or stupid. Reviewing criticizing,cautioning readers and protesting against an authors view is perfect and is always encouraged but calling any work stupid silly crazy etc and using a language which is considered to be ad-hominem nature, rude language and making personal attacks I don't know.  I just expressed my view. I am fine with any opinion If its not ad-hominem nature I stand corrected and withdraw my statement

Regards
Ajit Gargeshwari
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।

[ram]

May I draw the attention of the moderator to the use of the phrase `outright ludicrous' used by the reviewer. I wonder if silly or stupid is any more stronger than that.

That said, let me also point out that the remarks are confined to the work and not the individual. I  am also quite conscious of the statement of Sita, as beautifully put by Valmiki -- न कश्चिन्नापराद्ध्यति | Every individual has limitations of various types.

There is nothing wrong in not knowing Sanskrit. Perfectly understandable. But there is something seriously wrong in not recognizing one's limitations and attempting to provide etymological derivations of words which are totally egregious, and particularly in a work classified as `non-fiction' as rightly pointed out by the reviewer at the very beginning of his review.

Paturi ji in his mail says -- ``I remember correcting him about this Brah + manas etymology of Brahman only. But still he seems to have repeated the error in this book too." This only means that there is a sort of ``calegaa" attitude. I am not only puzzled by this, but also seriously concerned about this as it is in Mr. Pattanaik  -- the one who is expected to be all the more responsible, so that people are not mislead.

Making `ludicrous' statements is also not uncommon. But authoring a book which is replete with such statements and that too by individuals who are `widely' read   and well known creates a much greater damage. This is what I guess has made the reviewer take off significant amount of his time to thoroughly analyze and come up with such a strongly worded review. I don't think he has shown any generosity, and that's what made the undersigned too use such strong remarks.

There is absolutely no pleasure in demeaning any individual or his work. Thought I should clarify my thought on this issue, before I retire from this loop.

Thanks much, and

Best regards,

-ram.

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[Bijoy Misra]

Rajiv Malhotra earlier had communicated me about the doubtful scholarship

of Devdutt, apparently his misappropriation of phrases without acknowledging.

But Nitanandji's observations point to a serious case of illiteracy and an extreme 

eagerness to sell books through arbitrary construction.  I have communicated to 

Sri Devdutt and hopefully he would mend.   I have not read any of his books, 

but believe that he has skills in story-telling.  I wish he keeps away from the 

scriptures.  Ignorance is not a bliss!  He seems stuck in nineteenth century. 

[Jsr Prasad]

Thoughts are no different than an individual. Does not they become the basis of one's character. If I write something deliberately meaningless, I might be questioned or reviewed by the intellectuals. I should be ready to face the consequences. In that case, it is not appropriate to say that I am personally attacked.. I am responsible for anything adverse from my end. Scholars are no politicians, who at times, make scathy remarks and say this is my personal opinion, not my party's etc. Gita is a profound philosophical text, that is part of prasthana-traya. It is our national property. I am no one to distort Gita like serious texts, as per my whims and fancies. Freedom of speech is to spread goodness, positivism rather than to create confusion.

Let us move on to discuss the demerits (merits, if any?) of the book review under discussion than to discuss the decency in each others posts.

Regards,

[Ajit Gargeshwari]

Gita is a profound text. There are no two thoughts. Traditional, many modern commentators and writers on the Gita text have given different interpretations. Traditional writers have been criticized when a new commentary has been written. If  freedom of speech was to spread acceptance of one view then why are there so many commentaries and interpretation of the text. This shows that Gita text is for all and those who have read and have an ability to write might comment and give their views. One may reject or accepts another commentator or interpreters view. Its left to reader. A reader  need to cautioned about short comings of a given view. That is what the review did. Just because Gita is scared doesn't mean a new interpretation cannot be given. If one does not accept a new interpretation that is fine. It makes no difference to Gita as the text so profound. More than profound its sacred and too. 

We are not bound by affiliation to paramapara these days that we all we have to do is justify what our Guru has said and if another view is offered however good or bad it has to criticized and swear our affiliation to a particular Guru or tradition.

Just as I have the freedom to write so also another person has the freedom to write; why just write even to write but even criticize me, show my methodological faults, point to errors and ask for explanations. This does not mean I make criticism so personal that I start saying the other writer is stupid crazy out of his mind knows nothing is a joker wants to make quick money and hence he is writing. One should not get emotional loose objectivity and start making rude remarks ad-hominem nature is my point. 

Regards
Ajit Gargeshwari
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।

[Hari Parshad Das]

my pranams to vidvaj-janas.

The points made in this critique are technically correct. in many places in Mr. Pattnaik's Gita interpretation, there has been a serious deviation from the traditional positions. Thank you Nityanand ji for putting immense hardwork in this. It was certainly the need of the hour.

At the same time, please allow me to say something. I am saying this to all vidvans, not only Nityanand ji.

If many vidvans keep bashing him or hurling curses and abuses at him, i doubt that it will help. Our final aim is to help him understand that he has done a disservice to the traditional interpretations of the Gita.

His modern interpretation may also inspire other authors from the West to write their own Gitas (andha-paramparā-nyāya), which can quickly snowball into a big problem.

Maybe if someone knows him personally (someone whom he listens to), then they can sit down with him and try to calmly explain the points in a non-confrontational way to him.

There is nothing incorrect in being famous. He must have put genuine hardwork in promoting and marketing his books, giving interviews etc., so our aim should ideally be to tackle the problematic areas rather than defame him or make him feel threatened.

I noticed that a day after the first part of the critique was published, he (Devdutt) started abusing brahmins on his Twitter. This was clearly a reaction to the threat that he perceived. This may further isolate him from developing a mindset of acceptance.

This is purely my opinion — if the end result is that he becomes more negative and anti-brahmin, then our purpose will not truly be achieved. Let someone who knows him personally sit down with him and try to make him understand. Online refutations, e-mails etc. are impersonal in nature and may easily cause misunderstandings. We often end up saying things online which we may never say to a person on his face. This causes misunderstandings big time.

His biggest misfortune is that he has not heard the Gita from a traditional guru. Let someone go to him and explain it in a way that he can digest and accept. Otherwise, i doubt if it will be much effective. Our aim is not to make him our enemy, or to put him into an "us versus you" situation, but to help him understand where he has been incorrect and to help him correct his books and perspectives in life. Just my opinion.

sādhu-caraṇa-rajo 'bhilāṣī,

hari parshad das.
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[Ajit Gargeshwari]

One take away or a point of agreement with Hari Parsad Das jis post is this

Nityanadaji review is brilliant yes it is.

 

Mahatma Gandhi who has also written on the Gita says hate the sin and not the sinner. My point is counter and correct the inaccuracies but not hate the person who wrote or made or published his views not to get personal but remain objective. If we stand united only then will we able to counter and face the bigger enemies that Sanskrit scholars have to deal with. Lest keep up to the high standards Sanskrit writers and criticizers have followed from time immemorial.

 

I read about an incident somewhere. Arjuna forgets what Krishna said some time after the Gita discourse was given. Krishna tell Arjuna he cannot repeat again what he has said but gives him the Anu Gita discourse. When the Gracious Lord himself does not call Arjuna stupid or his enemies, keeps his discourse personal and yet be always impersonal so can we be.

 

Regards

Ajit Gargeshwari

[Jsr Prasad]

=======Mod note=======

Thanks to Sri Hari Parshad ji and Aji ji, for their views. May I request other scholars to respond. Or else, we may close this thread without dragging much further.

Thanks

[Nagaraj Paturi]

In my quick browsing of my inbox, due to my travel, I missed to notice the well balanced advice from aadaraNIya Hari Parshad Dasji :"Let someone who knows him personally sit down with him and try to make him understand."

I shall try to explain to Dr Pattanaik. 

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[K S Kannan]

Apropos Gargeswari's statement :

      ...the Gracious Lord himself does not call Arjuna stupid....

Kṛṣṇa calls Arjuna "durbuddhe".

[Ajit Gargeshwari]

Arjuna Said this verse and Arjuna calls Duryodhana as durbuddhe  as seen in this sloka
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः।

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः।।1.23।।

Regards
Ajit Gargeshwari
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।

[K S Kannan]

I quoted only from memory then.

Kṛṣṇa's actual words to Arjuna are harsher. He says

you are aśraddadhāna and durmedhas.

Strong enough words.

[Ajit Gargeshwari]

Agreed fortunately he was giving not a book review on lighter note. Thanks Professor!

Regards
Ajit Gargeshwari
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।

[Nityanand Misra]

On Saturday, 11 February 2017 20:28:18 UTC+5:30, ajit.gargeshwari wrote:

Agreed fortunately he was giving not a book review on lighter note. Thanks Professor!

Thanks to everybody who responded for their valuable comments and feedback. 

[Nagaraj Paturi]

                      =============================== Moderator's note===========================

This thread is closed. 

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