To Tolerate or Not to Tolerate: That is the Question (A Study of Some Modern Indian Thinkers)

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In this book the author considers the various ways in which some modern Indian thinkers have reacted to the issue of what we should tolerate and what we should not tolerate. Some viewpoints seem to bypass the issue. Historical circumstances, philosophical frameworks, and sometimes religious affiliations, have featured in the discussions. There is no doubt that the subject has crucial importance in the world today. Researchers in Philosophy of Religion, Ethics, Contemporary Indian Philosophy, Gandhian studies and Dalit studies will find the book interesting and helpful. The general reader will also find the book insightful.

Seema Bose is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi. She was a Visiting Scholar at McGill University, Canada in 2005 and the Catholic University of America, USA in 2005-2006. As Visiting Adjunct Instructor in Utah Valley State College, USA in 2007 she taught courses in Philosophy, Humanities and Integrated Studies which were well received. She took part in conferences in Italy, Poland and Romania. She also delivered a special lecture in Romania. The papers she presented have been published in the various Proceedings.

The discourse of tolerance has always been associated with the relation between one religion and another. However, in historical perspective in Britain the context concerned the relation between Catholics and Protestants (Locke's writings on toleration) but this notably was to do with sectarian differences within the same religion. It also concerned the relation between State and Church. Since then, the analysis of the concept of tolerance has developed in various directions. Many have pinpointed the inadequacy of tolerance since it seems to bypass the need for intolerance of evil.

The study concentrates on the contributions of the following thinkers: Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. The unanimity among the above thinkers is an 'acceptance' which is beyond tolerance. The problematic of tolerance arises when there is a perception of duality. The moment there is realisation of 'oneness' or an all pervasive divinity, the problem dissolves and the ideal of vasudhaiva kutumbakam is realised.