India, Oct. 26 -- Why do most Indians retain hope even in the midst of pervasive poverty and deprivation? Does religion or philosophy have something to do with it? After all, Indians love their spiritual halo, and many foreigners have asked me whether our inner 'spiritual equilibrium' is the reason why, for instance, even in the most cramped quarters of a chawl in Mumbai, there is the buoyancy that tomorrow, perhaps, things will get better and lady luck will shine.

Undoubtedly, Hindu philosophy constitutes a truly magnificent structure of thought. But from personal experience, I can say that the majority of Hindus have little knowledge of or inclination for the intricacies of philosophy. The Vedas recognise 33 gods, the Puranas 330 milli...