Beyond Black and White: The Italian Reception of the Debate on Native Indian Commentaries in Nineteenth-century Vedic Studies

Abstract This article discusses the nineteenth-century debate between German and British Indologists on ancient Indian commentators, shedding light how Italian received responded to this discussion. It reveals why scholars, although trained under most eminent philologists, often disagreed status of native commentaries, sometimes viewing them as an unreliable guide interpreting Vedas other texts. Moreover, criticisms approach texts reflected differences in ideological concerns underpinning hegemonic discourses Europe India. Because both transnational reception nation-building concerns, history Indological studies represents a unique perspective context European approaches subcontinent.