CHARVAKA

Rationalism. Secularism. Freedom

Heretical Sects

  • D. D. Kosambi’s Views on the Six Heretics and the Buddha: A Critique

    RAMKRISHNA BHATTACHARYA

    Ramkrishna Bhattacharya compares how Indian Marxist thinkers D. D. Kosambi and Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya interpreted early Buddhism and its contemporary heretical sects. While Kosambi emphasized the Buddha’s social philosophy and the Middle Way as practical responses to socio-economic transitions, Chattopadhyaya initially viewed Buddhism as an illusion before adopting a similar historical-materialist perspective.

  • Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya’s Assessment and Reassessment of the Sāmañña-phala-sutta :
    A Critique

    RAMKRISHNA BHATTACHARYA

    Ramkrishna Bhattacharya analyzes Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya’s evolving perspective on early Buddhism and the five contemporary heretical sects in the Sāmañña-phala-sutta. Moving from a rigid, doctrinal framework in Lokāyata to a concrete historical-materialist method in later works, Chattopadhyaya re-examined ancient Indian materialism and radical social critique within its specific historical epoch.