The Serpent Power — Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe) (1924)
“Sir John has already earned an abiding place in the affections of our countrymen by his intimate and profound studies of Hindūism and his enthusiastic exposition of the basis of Hindū culture. The volume in spite of the ephemeral nature of the incidents of composition has a permanent value and must find a place in the library of every self-respecting Indian.”—The Central Hindū College Magazine, The monthly organ of Benares Hindū University.
“This matter and much more are explained with wonderful lucidity. Sir John points out that the true view of human evolution is the Eastern one, and supports and illustrates his position by reference to and also using the clearcut and meaningful nomenclature of that system of Hindū Philosophy and Religion of which he is such a master.”—The Hindu (Dr. Subramanya Aiyar).
“So ably indicates the basic principles of Indian civilization and repudiates the baseless charges with such commendable enthusiasm and righteous indignation as could have befitted one who by birth has inherited the culture—deserves study by every sincere believer in Indianp. ix thought. An admirable book—crushing reply—from start to finish shows that the author has a masterly and sympathetic grasp of the whole situation and he who goes through it will find himself in touch with the essentials of Indian civilization.”—Prabuddha Bhārata.
“Sir John Woodroffe has done well to expose the fallacies underlying certain old time attacks recently reiterated—is deeply imbued with the spirit of Shākta Vedāntism, and it is from this point of view that he defends Indian civilization. In a very fine chapter Sir John Woodroffe exhibits the various opinions held about India and her civilization.”—Servant of India (Professor R. D. Ranade).
“Contains high intellectual qualities with freedom from prejudice or nonsense of any kind—the best informed work on the subject written by one not a Hindū.”—United India and Native States.
“The book demands the close attention of every Indian who is interested in the future of his country. It is an urgent invitation to us to appreciate better both this sacred trust and the near peril which besets it, and to stand firm and faithful in the hour of ordeal. The author develops his theory with great skill and much quiet depth and the essays are strewn throughout with acute and penetrating observations expressed with a lucid solidity which tempts one constantly to quotation.”—Arya.
“Is throughout thought-provoking and replete with interesting passages. But those on whom Sir John’s eulogisms will drop like manna from Heaven should also ponder on what (else) he has to say. It would be well for India if instead of cultivating a blind racial vanity, for which Sir John’s book will furnish ample material to the unthinking bigot, we concentrate our attention on those other lessons preached by him, for only by so doing we would make a right use of the truths it contains.”— The Modern Review.
“This noble work is a trumpet call to the Indians to realise their greatness and distinctiveness and to build the great future of India—a loving and intimate student of a great culture.”—The Hindu Message.
“India owes a deep debt of gratitude to Sir John Woodroffe for this timely volume in defence of Indian culture—certain social aspects have been so satisfactorily discussed and defended by this erudite defender of our civilization that if the Indian social reformer would care to read and think over them, much of his rancour towards orthodoxy will prove baseless. India’s greatest civilization is misunderstood by many intellectual imps both foreign and indigenous. It is a consolation to find that great minds, Indian or foreign, can realise it so well as in the case of Sir John’s. Knowledge of the inner capability of the Ego teaches but one kind of patriotism which is of course universal and not national. It is as silly to hug the degenerates of our own nationality as to hate the great souls of the other continents. But to stand for their rights when oppressed is the privilege of every right thinking man and words fail us in thanking Sir John for his humane duty; may they be ever more.”—The Mahratta.
“Sir John writes profoundly of the Hindū religion and culture of which he is an ardent admirer and his defence of Indian civilization is informed with a glowing enthusiasm. He finds it easy to confound the rationalist Mr. Archer. The book will not please every Christian that reads it. But no occidental student of Indian politics should miss the reading, for it explains much in the Hindūp. xi character and point of view that before was obscure and incomprehensible. The Author believes that the ancient Hindū culture which has persisted throughout the ages, is the best for India and he is fearful lest it be lost in the political maelstrom which will follow the war.”—The Capital.
“Great erudition—sturdy champion of Sanātana
Dharma.”—The Indian Daily News.
“Most effective and crushing rejoinder—the work of a distinguished scholar and deep thinker—truly merits a very wide circulation in this country. It is a profoundly philosophic study of the subject.”—The Hindusthan Review.
“The constitution of a politically dependent people can never appear to advantage, because it is the interest of the politically dominant people to discredit everything belonging to the subject race as inferior. The Author has been actuated by a strict regard for truth and a desire for the establishment of true Dharma. He has not spared from criticism what is mean, calculating, vulgar, inhuman in his own countrymen, nor has he minced words in condemning what is low or servile or selfish or imitative in Indians of to-day. Actuated by the highest aims, he has really given a most remarkable and convincing book on a difficult and much-abused theme.”—The Bombay Chronicle.
“Ably written defence of Hindū civilization by a profound scholar . . . It would have been better if he had entered as much an emphatic protest against the prevailing abuses of Hindū society as he has taken care to define its virtues and ideals.”—The Everyman’s Review.
“It is rather unusual to find among the British members of the Indian Judiciary an apologist for the claims of the Neo-Hindū revivalists and their allies, the Extreme Nationalists. It is in this rôle that we find Sir John Woodroffe figuring as a sort of modern Soul among the prophets—much of the book is occupied with an unworthy attack on Western and particularly Christian civilization.”—The Madras Mail.
“Sir John has already earned an abiding place in the affections of our countrymen by his intimate and profound studies of Hindūism and his enthusiastic exposition of the basis of Hindū culture. The volume in spite of the ephemeral nature of the incidents of composition has a permanent value and must find a place in the library of every self-respecting Indian.”—The Central Hindū College Magazine, The monthly organ of Benares Hindū University.
“This matter and much more are explained with wonderful lucidity. Sir John points out that the true view of human evolution is the Eastern one, and supports and illustrates his position by reference to and also using the clearcut and meaningful nomenclature of that system of Hindū Philosophy and Religion of which he is such a master.”—The Hindu (Dr. Subramanya Aiyar).
“So ably indicates the basic principles of Indian civilization and repudiates the baseless charges with such commendable enthusiasm and righteous indignation as could have befitted one who by birth has inherited the culture—deserves study by every sincere believer in Indianp. ix thought. An admirable book—crushing reply—from start to finish shows that the author has a masterly and sympathetic grasp of the whole situation and he who goes through it will find himself in touch with the essentials of Indian civilization.”—Prabuddha Bhārata.
“Sir John Woodroffe has done well to expose the fallacies underlying certain old time attacks recently reiterated—is deeply imbued with the spirit of Shākta Vedāntism, and it is from this point of view that he defends Indian civilization. In a very fine chapter Sir John Woodroffe exhibits the various opinions held about India and her civilization.”—Servant of India (Professor R. D. Ranade).
“Contains high intellectual qualities with freedom from prejudice or nonsense of any kind—the best informed work on the subject written by one not a Hindū.”—United India and Native States.
“The book demands the close attention of every Indian who is interested in the future of his country. It is an urgent invitation to us to appreciate better both this sacred trust and the near peril which besets it, and to stand firm and faithful in the hour of ordeal. The author develops his theory with great skill and much quiet depth and the essays are strewn throughout with acute and penetrating observations expressed with a lucid solidity which tempts one constantly to quotation.”—Arya.
“Is throughout thought-provoking and replete with interesting passages. But those on whom Sir John’s eulogisms will drop like manna from Heaven should also ponder on what (else) he has to say. It would be well for India if instead of cultivating a blind racial vanity, for which Sir John’s book will furnish ample material to the unthinking bigot, we concentrate our attention on those other lessons preached by him, for only by so doing we would make a right use of the truths it contains.”— The Modern Review.
“This noble work is a trumpet call to the Indians to realise their greatness and distinctiveness and to build the great future of India—a loving and intimate student of a great culture.”—The Hindu Message.
“India owes a deep debt of gratitude to Sir John Woodroffe for this timely volume in defence of Indian culture—certain social aspects have been so satisfactorily discussed and defended by this erudite defender of our civilization that if the Indian social reformer would care to read and think over them, much of his rancour towards orthodoxy will prove baseless. India’s greatest civilization is misunderstood by many intellectual imps both foreign and indigenous. It is a consolation to find that great minds, Indian or foreign, can realise it so well as in the case of Sir John’s. Knowledge of the inner capability of the Ego teaches but one kind of patriotism which is of course universal and not national. It is as silly to hug the degenerates of our own nationality as to hate the great souls of the other continents. But to stand for their rights when oppressed is the privilege of every right thinking man and words fail us in thanking Sir John for his humane duty; may they be ever more.”—The Mahratta.
“Sir John writes profoundly of the Hindū religion and culture of which he is an ardent admirer and his defence of Indian civilization is informed with a glowing enthusiasm. He finds it easy to confound the rationalist Mr. Archer. The book will not please every Christian that reads it. But no occidental student of Indian politics should miss the reading, for it explains much in the Hindūp. xi character and point of view that before was obscure and incomprehensible. The Author believes that the ancient Hindū culture which has persisted throughout the ages, is the best for India and he is fearful lest it be lost in the political maelstrom which will follow the war.”—The Capital.
“Great erudition—sturdy champion of Sanātana
Dharma.”—The Indian Daily News.
“Most effective and crushing rejoinder—the work of a distinguished scholar and deep thinker—truly merits a very wide circulation in this country. It is a profoundly philosophic study of the subject.”—The Hindusthan Review.
“The constitution of a politically dependent people can never appear to advantage, because it is the interest of the politically dominant people to discredit everything belonging to the subject race as inferior. The Author has been actuated by a strict regard for truth and a desire for the establishment of true Dharma. He has not spared from criticism what is mean, calculating, vulgar, inhuman in his own countrymen, nor has he minced words in condemning what is low or servile or selfish or imitative in Indians of to-day. Actuated by the highest aims, he has really given a most remarkable and convincing book on a difficult and much-abused theme.”—The Bombay Chronicle.
“Ably written defence of Hindū civilization by a profound scholar . . . It would have been better if he had entered as much an emphatic protest against the prevailing abuses of Hindū society as he has taken care to define its virtues and ideals.”—The Everyman’s Review.
“It is rather unusual to find among the British members of the Indian Judiciary an apologist for the claims of the Neo-Hindū revivalists and their allies, the Extreme Nationalists. It is in this rôle that we find Sir John Woodroffe figuring as a sort of modern Soul among the prophets—much of the book is occupied with an unworthy attack on Western and particularly Christian civilization.”—The Madras Mail.
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