Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/19

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INTRODUCTION

effect that the civilization of the world will be unified. It is shown that the present conditions of India and of Hindu- ism are such that they may find a fit place in the future cosmopolitanism. Both India and the Western world are preparing themselves unconsciously for the same goal. Secularization of politics in its purest form means not to allow theological ideas to be the determinant of the social group. Staunch and rigorous observance of this principle is necessary for the unity of civilization. How the Western world is approaching this ideal is just described. In India politics under Hinduism were strictly secular. It is only under the subjection of foreign theophratries that connexion between politics and religion is brought into existence.

Future of Tribal Culture. The fates of theophratries and also of the federated tribal society of Hinduism is discussed. I may here make some remarks regarding the fates of the tribes unconnected with Hinduism.

The future of the natural tribe is to be absorbed in a larger tribe or help to form a culture common to many tribes. This type of tribe does very little of adoption of individual outsiders. But the theophratries try to take in members from other communities by a process called conversion.

The following are the factors in which the two different types of tribes resemble. These factors again produce a feeling of unity.

(i) Common head. (ii) Common worship. (iii) Common festival. (iv) Common history and tradition.

Sometimes the natural tribe loses political independence but still keeps its tribal individuality. This happens to be the case when the tribe has a strong literary tradition.

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