East of Suez. Several interesting essays have surfaced recently exploring the differences in western and eastern mindsets -- occidental and oriental systems of thought and philosophys. Among them is the essay, "On Being Indian: Globalization, Bharateeyata And Hindutva," by Dr. Vandana Shiva. The author draws some intrgiuing observations. For example:

Contemporary western civilization is built of brick and wood. It is rooted in the city. But Indian civilization has been distinctive in locating its source of regeneration, material and intellectual, in the forest, not the city. India's best ideas have come where man was in communion with trees and rivers and lakes, away from the crowds. The peace of the forest has helped the intellectual evolution of man. The culture of the forest has fuelled the culture of Indian society. The culture that has arisen from the forest has been influenced by the diverse processes of renewal of life which are always at play into the forest, varying from species to species, from season to season, in sight and sound and smell. The pluralism, thus became the principle of Indian civilization.

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