Sanskrutinu Vahen - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Sanskrutinu Vahen" by Chandrabhai K. Bhatt, based on the provided pages:

Overview and Publisher's Introduction:

"Sanskrutinu Vahen" (Streams of Culture) by Chandrabhai K. Bhatt, published by Bharti Prakashan Mandir, is presented as the first book in a series aiming to present useful literature from independent or translated works. The publisher encourages reader feedback on language, style, and content. The book was delayed due to unfavorable circumstances. The publisher notes that the chapter on Hindustan might seem incomplete but attributes this to the difficulty of evaluating recent events and the need for historical perspective to clear the political fog.

The book is a translation of Will Durant's "The Story of Civilization." While drawing heavily from Durant's details, Bhatt has taken the liberty to derive different conclusions from a socialist perspective, particularly in the chapter on Hindustan. The publisher acknowledges that readers may not agree with all of Bhatt's views, but believes the book's utility is enhanced by its diverse perspectives, showcasing how history, like humanity, is shaped gradually and is subject to varied interpretations over time.

Key Themes and Concepts:

The core theme of the book revolves around the concept of culture (Sanskriti) and its development through history, emphasizing the evolution of human consciousness and societal interactions.

Definition of Culture: Culture is not a static object but a dynamic process, the action of advancing and developing humanity. It essentially means improvement or becoming refined.
Pre-requisites for Culture: The foundational element for culture is humanity's capacity for cause-and-effect reasoning, which leads to wisdom and shapes thoughts and actions.
Human Evolution and Consciousness: The text traces the evolutionary path from early hominids to humans, highlighting the development of intellect and the ability to consciously adapt to changing circumstances. This conscious action is what distinguishes human culture from the unguided evolution of other species.
Mechanistic vs. Humanistic Civilization: The book contrasts "Mechanistic Civilization" (related to the advancement of tools and technology) with "Humanistic Civilization" (focused on the improvement of human relationships). It argues that while technology has advanced, the true measure of civilization lies in the quality of human interaction, empathy, restraint, and tolerance.
The Cycle of Societal Change: The author discusses how societal structures (like feudalism or capitalism) are formed and eventually become obsolete as human creative and productive powers advance. When a societal structure hinders progress, it is eventually broken down to make way for a new one that allows for further development.
The Direction of Culture: The author suggests that culture's progress has historically focused on improving human tools and instruments. However, a significant shift is now occurring towards improving human-Races relationships, emphasizing the importance of mutual empathy, restraint, and tolerance.
The Unknown and Knowledge: Culture's fundamental characteristic is the movement from the unknown to the known. History is the story of developing human consciousness, revealing new truths and expanding the boundaries of knowledge.

Historical Overview:

The book then embarks on a chronological journey through the history of civilizations, highlighting key aspects of their development:

The Stone Age: Depicts the harsh realities of early human existence in a hostile natural environment, emphasizing the struggle for survival, the development of basic tools (stone implements), and the crucial discovery of fire.
Sumeria: Explores the origins of civilization in Mesopotamia, mentioning its early rulers, social structures, legal reforms (like those attributed to Urukagina), and the rise and fall of city-states, hinting at the influence of Semitic and non-Semitic peoples. The discovery of Sumerian civilization is noted as significant for understanding the earliest roots of recorded history.
Egypt: Focuses on the geographical influence of the Nile River on Egyptian civilization. It details the progression of its political structure from nomes to unified kingdoms, the achievements in architecture (pyramids), art, and the divine status of kings. The summary touches upon the changing fortunes of Egypt, invasions, and eventual decline. It also highlights the complex religious beliefs, the role of priests, and the surprisingly progressive status of women in some aspects of Egyptian society.
Babylonia: Discusses the economic life, legal codes (Hammurabi's code), advancements in astronomy, medicine, and language. It notes the cyclical nature of civilizations, their rise due to prosperity, and their eventual fall due to luxury and external threats.
Assyria: Portrays Assyria as a militaristic civilization, marked by its disciplined army, territorial expansion through conquest, and the harshness of its rule. It highlights the role of religion in justifying their actions and the impact of external invasions on its eventual downfall.
The Migratory Peoples: Briefly introduces various peoples who played a role in shaping the ancient world, including Aryans, Hittites, Urartians, Scythians, Lydians, and Phoenicians, and their contributions or impact on the historical narrative.
Persia: Details the rise of the Persian Empire, its administrative structure under rulers like Darius and Cyrus, its tolerance towards diverse cultures and religions, and its eventual decline. The influence of Zoroastrianism and its ethical principles are also touched upon.
Palestine/Judea: Explains the early history of the Israelites, their struggles, the development of their monotheistic religion centered around Yahweh, and the prophetic critiques of societal injustices. The summary notes the influence of these prophets in shaping later religious and ethical thought.
China (Ancient): Chronicles the early stages of Chinese civilization, including mythological origins, the development of societal structures, early inventions like silk production, and the philosophical contributions of figures like Laozi and Confucius. It highlights the emphasis on social order, family hierarchy, and ethical conduct in Confucianism.
India (Indo-Aryan & Vedic Period): Discusses the arrival of Aryans in India, their societal structure, early religious practices (worship of nature), and the foundational texts of Vedic literature. It touches upon the evolution of religious thought leading to the Upanishads and the philosophical quest for ultimate truth.
Mahavira and Buddha: Introduces the emergence of two major spiritual figures in ancient India, Mahavira (Jainism) and Buddha (Buddhism), and their respective philosophies emphasizing asceticism, non-violence, and the path to liberation from suffering. The text notes the critique of existing societal norms and religious practices by these reformers.
Alexander to Harsha: Covers the period following the initial stages of Indian civilization, mentioning Alexander's invasion, the rise of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta and Ashoka, the impact of Hellenistic culture, and the subsequent Puranic and Buddhist influences on society and governance.
Post-Gupta India: Touches upon the fragmentation of empires after the Gupta period, the challenges posed by invasions (like the Huns), and the subsequent regional kingdoms.
New Japan: Discusses the early myths of Japan's origins and its initial religious practices. It then shifts to the Meiji Restoration and the subsequent rapid modernization and Westernization of Japan, leading to its emergence as a global power.
The "Savage" in Japanese Life: This section highlights the severe impact of feudalism and the Samurai class on Japanese society, emphasizing the strict social hierarchy, the code of Bushido, and the brutal practices like Seppuku. It also touches upon the suppression of women and the prevalence of societal ills like poverty and exploitation.
"Lokjivan" (People's Life) in Japan: Explains the social structure, the rigid caste system (Samurai, artisans, farmers, merchants, and outcasts), and the harsh realities faced by the common people, including forced labor and the subjugation of women.
Religion in Japan: Describes the syncretic nature of Japanese religion, incorporating Shintoism (worship of nature and ancestors) with Buddhism, and the eventual complex pantheon of deities.

Underlying Philosophy:

The book implicitly argues for a universal, underlying progression of civilization driven by human consciousness and the pursuit of knowledge. It acknowledges the cyclical nature of empires and the impact of external forces, but ultimately emphasizes the continuous stream of cultural development. The author's socialist perspective is evident in his critique of exploitation and the call for a more equitable distribution of societal progress.

Overall Impression:

"Sanskrutinu Vahen" appears to be an ambitious attempt to synthesize world history from a particular philosophical and perhaps socio-political viewpoint, translated into Gujarati. It offers a broad sweep of ancient civilizations, highlighting their key characteristics, advancements, and eventual transformations. The book seems to advocate for a more humanistic approach to civilization, valuing interpersonal relationships and empathy alongside technological progress.