Epilogue: Tulips, Roses, and Faces Hidden in the Dust—Theoretical Perspectives and Decolonizing Methodology

In this chapter, Sai Bhatawadekar gives a chronological overview of the book’s content and discusses the intertwined methodological approaches that can parse German-Indian engagement over centuries. Bhatawadekar shows, for example, that in a well-intentioned comparison between cultures there may be power at play; imposition of power may expose internal insecurities and subversive forces; subversion may mean redefining and empowering oneself; and the self-projection of the empowerment rhetoric could be contradictory to our lived experiences. Bhatawadekar argues with examples how cross- and intercultural relationships on the macro and micro levels are not linear or circular but more dynamic, not just interpretive but also performative, not just dialogic but transformative, and not just cerebral but embodied. The agency in these dynamics lies not just with the prominent figures and grand narratives in the annals of history, but with ordinary lives and their visceral, messy experiences. Bhatawadekar contemplates how we can apply our research on thinkers and actors of the past centuries directly to the present moment of our own cross-cultural lives. We are agents of German-Indian dynamics now in real time, collectively and as individuals, and in that capacity, we need to ethically discern our positionality and choose our actions. Our own stories, our “philo-selfies” have a place and purpose too, not just peripherally, but methodologically. The narratives we create today, the voices we include and amplify will determine how robust and comprehensive cross-cultural studies will be and how we can ensure equal agency, equitable resources, and creative collaboration among cultures.