Shastrartha in India: Rediscovering a Foundational Methodology of the Indian Knowledge System

Shastrartha was conceived as a collaborative and intellectually enriching quest for truth, where ideas were clarified, examined, tested, and refined through disciplined, respectful, friendly and constructive exchange. Rooted in both worldly and spiritual disciplines, this dialogic tradition flourished across present-day South Asia and played a central role in shaping Indian intellectual culture and fostering a vibrant tradition of knowledge-making. Originating in the Rigveda, Shastrartha gradually evolved academically into a discipline with a robust technical framework, practiced across diverse fields of knowledge ranging from philosophy, ethics, governance, and logic to social, scientific, and spiritual inquiries, thereby becoming a foundational method of dialogue and discussion in the Indian Knowledge System (IKS).

The book examines Shastrartha as an integral component of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and explores its relevance through the lens of modern disciplines such as research methodology, communication, media studies, law, critical inquiry, among others. Structured into four parts comprising twelve chapters—Conceptual Framework of Shastrartha (2 chapters), Shastrartha Through the Ages (4 chapters), Methodology of Shastrartha (5 chapters), and The Future (Futuristic Perspective)—the work presents both the historical depth and contemporary significance of Shastrartha. The study establishes that Shastrartha was practiced across disciplines, faiths, languages, and modes of expression (verbal [textual and oral], non-verbal, and paralinguistic) throughout educational institutions in South Asia before the introduction of the modern education system with the establishment of the University of Calcutta in 1857, whose curriculum largely excluded the methodology of Shastrartha. Thereafter, most modern universities in India were modeled on the pattern of the University of Calcutta, resulting in the gradual exclusion of Shastrartha from Indian academia and intellectual discourse.

An important methodological contribution of the book is the classification of the sixteen categories of the Nyaya Sutra into four practical domains: Composing Infallible Arguments, Finding Fallacies, Approaches to Shastrartha, and Ascertainment. Through this framework, the book presents Shastrartha as a systematic methodology applicable to modern academic and professional contexts. Furthermore, the book attempts to advance a pragmatic approach to the decolonization of Indian education by re-centering indigenous traditions of inquiry, reasoning, and debate. It argues that Shastrartha offers a viable intellectual framework for fostering critical thinking, contextual understanding, and epistemic self-reliance while reducing excessive dependence on imported intellectual products.

The book further offers comparative analyses between Shastrartha and Western communication theories and models, while also relating them to contemporary domains such as research methodology, content analysis, critical analysis, legal processes, and deconstructionism. In doing so, it demonstrates how classical Indic methods of reasoning and dialogue can contribute meaningfully to modern intellectual practices. Finally, the book envisions the future potential of Shastrartha in strengthening democratic dialogue, journalism, policymaking, pedagogy, critical thinking, and digital discourse. By bridging ancient Indian intellectual culture with present-day national and global concerns, the book presents Shastrartha as a timeless Indic model for intellectual clarity, knowledge refinement, ethical debate, and social resilience. The book is published by Manohar Publishers and Distributors, Delhi.

 SELECTED ENDORSEMENTS

‘This book fills the much-needed understanding of methodologies for systematic debates. In today’s climate of bombastic statements and fiery emotional outbursts with little rigor, the influencers have made a mockery of our tradition of serious discourse. Political sides and binary absolutes have replaced respectful disagreements. The role of debates as a propellant for intellectual advancement has been lost. I congratulate the author and thank him for this valuable contribution.’

–RAJIV MALHOTRA

Founder, Infinity Foundation, Princeton, USA

 ‘Shastrartha in India is a well-researched, readable, and timely resource that revives a rich and valuable indigenous tradition while adding significant and fresh dimensions to the study of argumentation, communication and rhetoric from a global perspective. It uniquely reveals the rich history and implications of Shastrartha and Nyaya, and deftly traces their significant modern applications, enhancing and expanding perspectives, and even resolving current issues in communication theory and practice.’

–PROF. (DR.) KEITH LLOYD

Kent State University at Stark, USA

(Prof. (Dr.) Ajitabh, is a senior journalist and Former Director, Rungta Institute of Technology and Management.)