Culture creates ideas. Civilisation shares ideas. Can India be considered the mother of civilisation? What ideas has India given the world? 

The world today is dominated by ideas that can be traced to Europeans in the 19th century. The Europeans trace their thought to Greek culture, and to Christianity. However, scholars are now arguing that ideas of freedom and equality emerged when European explorers encountered Native American tribes. The tribal nations could not understand why Europeans bowed to kings. Tribal society, by definition, tends to have fewer hierarchies and the hierarchies are more functional, than hereditary. People who talk about “Hindu civilisation” are arguing with 19th century scholars. But if the world is looking for a new way of thinking in the 21st century, India has three powerful ideas to offer.