The ‘Other’ Max Mueller: Beyond the Vedas

Almost all seminars on Max Mueller held in my country begin or end with one of the many euphoric eulogies Max Mueller uttered to underline his deep attachment to ancient India, that is, India of the Vedas and the Upanishads. There is no point in quoting these eulogies here because they are far too well known. But, and this I would like to emphasise, not many seminars on this pathbreaking Indologist focus on his critique, sometimes harsh, of contemporary India, which also Max Mueller knew closely in spite of his not having experienced the Indian reality first-hand. One such scathing indictment I would like to quote in full. Pointing to the condition of Hindu widows in India, Max Mueller (1982) wrote in his article on Pandita Ramabai, the courageous Indian lady who fought against the practice of child marriage: ‘To be a widow at all is hard enough, but nothing can be more miserable than the lot of a young widow in India whose life may be said to be over before it has begun.’ Then follows a candid description of Hindu widowhood laced with the biting remark, ‘What a life to look forward to for a girl, of 10, it may be, not yet 16 years old. No wonder that they should often commit suicide.’ Ramabai of Pune, a symbol of social reform in India, challenged this evil and for her Max Mueller (1982: 122) chose undiluted words of praise, ‘She is certainly a most courageous woman, not to be turned away from her purpose by any misfortunes or any threats.’