In a profound discussion that challenges long-held Western perspectives, scholar and author Jeffrey Armstrong has called for a decolonised reading of the Bhagavad Gita. Speaking on January 6, 2026, Armstrong argued that the sacred text's original philosophical depth is often lost when filtered through English translations and a colonial mindset.
The Lost in Translation Dilemma
Armstrong meticulously explained how translating Sanskrit concepts into English has fundamentally altered the Gita's meaning. He highlighted critical distinctions that are routinely blurred. For instance, the Western idea of "God" is not synonymous with the Sanskrit "Bhagavan," a term carrying vastly different connotations of divine immanence and personal relationship. Similarly, he stressed that "dharma" is not simply "religion."
While religion often implies a dogmatic system of beliefs, dharma refers to the eternal, inherent order of the universe and one's righteous duty within it. Armstrong posits that viewing the Gita merely as a religious book is a reductionist error imposed by a colonial framework that seeks to fit Indian wisdom into familiar Western categories.
Reclaiming Sanskrit's Philosophical Depth
The core of Armstrong's argument centres on the Sanskrit language itself. He emphasised that Sanskrit is not just a linguistic vehicle but a precise philosophical tool. Its structure, etymology, and vibrational quality are integral to conveying the subtleties of Vedic thought. When these nuances are stripped away in translation, the text's spiritual and practical guidance is diluted.
Armstrong urged audiences to actively "unlearn" the imposed frameworks through which they have historically encountered Indian scriptures. This decolonisation of the mind, he suggested, is the first step toward a genuine understanding. The goal is not to reject English or other languages but to approach the source with humility and an awareness of the semantic gaps.
The Gita as a Guide to Dharmic Living
Moving beyond academic critique, Armstrong reframed the Bhagavad Gita's purpose for the modern seeker. He described it as a timeless manual for "dharmic living" rather than a sectarian religious doctrine. Its teachings on duty, action, knowledge, and devotion are universal principles applicable to navigating life's complexities.
This perspective invites a reconnection with Sanatan wisdom—the eternal knowledge system of Bharat. It is a call to rediscover the Gita in its authentic cultural and philosophical context, free from the layers of foreign interpretation that have obscured its original intent for centuries.
The discussion, which forms part of a larger conversation on cultural reclamation, underscores a growing global movement to engage with indigenous knowledge systems on their own terms. By returning to the source language and its inherent wisdom, Armstrong believes we can access the Gita's true transformative power as a guide for both personal awakening and harmonious societal existence.
