Bharati was deeply troubled by the apparent disintegration of moral values that characterized his times, affecting both colonized and colonial societies. He found himself perpetually searching for alternative ideals - sources of integrity and optimism - within the Indian philosophical traditions that he studied so deeply, with their rich and long histories. The breadth and depth of his reading and research are reflected in the essay "The Siddha & the Superman," first published in 1915, which is discussed in this episode. Bharati had not only read Nietzsche, but he had also reflected deeply upon the social implications of the German writer's powerful and controversial work. Bharati explores the Nietzschean character of the "superman" as an archetype that reflects the "historic reminiscences and spiritual aspirations" of Europe - and he compares and contrasts the "superman" with an analogous archetype from Indian culture, that of the "siddha", which Bharati translates as "perfected man." By juxtaposing these two, fundamentally contrasting models of human development, Bharati argues for the adoption of ideals that will encourage humanity to aspire for a better future - above all, one free of violence.

Music Credits:

Richard Strauss, "Also sprach Zarathustra," Opus 30, performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with conductor Georg Solti.

Drums of India, Bickram Ghosh on Tabla and V. Suresh On Ghatam. Subscribe to Bickram Ghosh's youtube channel.