Books on Native American Heritage, Colonisation Released in Delhi
Authors highlight shared histories and cultural resilience of India and Native American communities
- Two books on Native American folklore and colonial impact released at ICCS event in New Delhi
- Prof. Yashvant Pathak says India and Native Americans share philosophical and historical commonalities
- “Sacred Storied Landscapes” explores ecological wisdom in Native folklore; “Acculturation of Amerindians” examines cultural erosion
- Scholars underline colonial atrocities and resilience of Indigenous traditions
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Dec: Two new works exploring Native American folklore, colonial histories and cultural resilience were released in New Delhi on Saturday, with scholars drawing parallels between Indigenous experiences in America and India. The event, held at Keshav Kunj, Jhandewalan, was hosted by the International Centre of Cultural Studies (ICCS).
Speaking at the launch, Prof. Dr. Yashvant Pathak said ancient civilizations across the world share deep similarities — in philosophy, belief systems, world views and historical suffering under colonialism. India and Native American communities, he noted, bear many such commonalities. “Both regions and their people have endured the cruelty of colonialism. This pain is often reflected in Native American writings,” he said.
Prof Pathak praised authors Dr N. Rajagopal and Dr Osheen Sharma for presenting these themes with clarity and depth in their respective books.
The first book, “Sacred Storied Landscapes” by Prof. N. R. Gopal, examines ecological wisdom and cultural resilience embedded in Native American folklore. The work contrasts traditional Indigenous worldviews with modern Western consumerism.
The second book, “Acculturation of Amerindians”, authored by Dr Osheen Sharma, evaluates 19th-century Native American writers and documents how European dominance attempted to distort, diminish and overwrite Indigenous identities.
Prof Pathak, a professor at the University of South Florida and an expert on Indigenous traditions, spoke about the “lost generations” of Native Americans — communities devastated by colonial violence, forced assimilation and cultural erasure. He said the issues highlighted in the books remain deeply relevant today.
The launch concluded with reflections from scholars, cultural researchers and ICCS members on the need to preserve Indigenous knowledge systems and acknowledge historical injustices.
