[INDOLOGY] Eli Franco and the Fate of Indology

[Herman Tull]

I undoubtedly will regret this later, but I must throw in my "two cents"
here.

Let us not forget, the *Nay Science* was published by a highly reputable
press (OUP). Of course, that does not mean that the book should then not be
judged on its own merits. But, having said this, I happen to have read the
book cover to cover (and read it quite carefully, having an upcoming review
of the work). Not unlike any scholarly work, it has its merits and its
demerits, but the important point here is that it decidedly is a work of
scholarship (and, again, I cite its publication history). Works of
scholarship justly invite discussion. Indeed, having actually read the
work, I consider the polemical nature of the *Nay Science *to be among its
strongest elements. Agree or disagree with the authors contentions, their
work invites serious reflection, both on the nature of Indological
scholarship as well as on the nature of the humanities in general (this
critique emerges in the final chapters of the *Nay Science*).

I, for one, am grateful for the authors' boldness and for their willingness
to continue challenging "received" wisdom. And, yes, such challenges do at
times fairly engage issues of personal identity (Jewish; German; Indian)
insofar as these issues emerge in an individual's scholarship. But to
engage them as a matter of "race" is as undignified as it is illegitimate.

Herman Tull
Lafayette College



On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 8:02 AM, Simon Brodbeck via INDOLOGY <
indology at list.indology.info> wrote:

> Dear colleagues,
>
> I am sure I am not alone in being appalled and saddened by the capitalised
> section of Professor Falk's email below.
>
> Please can we keep this kind of discourse out of this forum.
>
> We would do better to make our individual minds up about the work of our
> colleagues on the basis of that work itself, rather than on the basis of
> this kind of attack.
>
> With all best wishes, from Simon Brodbeck.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: INDOLOGY [mailto:indology-bounces at list.indology.info] On Behalf Of
> Harry Falk via INDOLOGY
> Sent: 16 January 2017 09:35
> To: indology at list.indology.info
> Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Eli Franco and the Fate of Indology
>
> Dear Eli,
> Thanks for putting so much time into rebuking something that doesn't even
> deserve a rebuke. As you say at the end: this useless book is not about
> German Indology, it is about the two authors.
> They want to be right, they want to be taken as authorities, BECAUSE THEY
> ARE INDIANS, ...
> Best, Harry
>
>
>
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