Can Indian civilization be compared to a “thousand-branched tree”? What have been its outstanding achievements and its impact on the world?\n\nThese are some of the questions this book asks. But it also deals with issues confronting more and more Indians caught in an identity crisis:\n

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• What does it mean to be Indian?
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• What is specific to the worldview developed by Indian culture?
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• How has it dialogued with other cultures?
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• Is it built on durable foundations, or is it little more than colourful religiosity and quaint but outdated customs?
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• And what are the meaning and application of secularism and tolerance in the Indian context?
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