The Madras School of Orientalism

'Madras School of Orientalism' (MSO) refers to a school of scholarship emanating from certain intellectual projects of early nineteenth century south India. This book explores new ideas on India's history and culture that were coming out of the Madras School of Orientalism-the projects undertaken in language, history, religion and law, the concerned Indian intellectuals. Orientalist study of south India constituted a distinctive school, which modelled itself upon the Calcutta Asiatic Society but claimed that Calcutta Orientalists did not understand the peculiarities of south India, and hence made generalizations about India that were faulty. The volume has contributions from very well-known academics like T.R. Trautmann, Nicholas Dirks, Phillip Wagoner, Sylvia Vatuk, Donald Davis, and A.R.Venkatachalapathy. It contains 24 illustrations which includes figures and maps. The introduction by Trautmann succinctly contextualizes the ideas and activities of the Madras school.