<b>About the Author</b><br />Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi is known for his original contributions to literature as well as for his studies on Na¯t?yas´a¯stra and Sa¯hityas´a¯stra. He has published 162 books, 227 research papers and critical essays. He has received 35 national and international awards and honours for his literary contributions.<br /><br /><b>About the Book</b><br />Va¯da, meaning debates, dialogues, discussions, was the quintessential of Indian spirit, enabling and promoting the growth of different philosophical and knowledge systems of India. It percolated deep into our mindset and enriched the moral, ethical, religious and sociocultural edifice of anything that was essentially Indian in nature. As continuation of A¯nviks?i¯ki¯ from the bc era, va¯da helped thrive Indian traditional knowledge systems. It subsists on diversity and its tradition envisages pluralism.<br />Most of our Sanskrit works, covering a wide gamut of knowledge systems, are structured in the techniques of debate. This reality applies not only to the philosophical writings, but to Indian medical systems (Ayurveda), Arthas´a¯stra of Kaut?ilya and Ka¯masu¯tra of Va¯tsya¯yana as well. Even great epics like Ra¯ma¯yan?a and Maha¯bha¯rata are no exceptions.<br />Va¯da culture involved verbal duals, attacks and even violence of speech, and all major religious systems &mdash; old or modern &mdash; were parties to it. This book also elucidates how va¯ta was vital and critical for the growth of our socio-political fabrics. It shows how some of the major conflicts in philosophical systems were centred around karma, jn~a¯na, choice between violence and non-violence, pravr?tti and nivr?tti. It also presents the manifestations of va¯da on a vast canvas during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Modern spiritual and religious gurus like Ramana Maharshi, J. Krishnamurti and Vinoba Bhave were men of dialogues. Our scholars have applied the varied techniques of va¯da against the philosophical and scientific systems of the West to prove them correct. &nbsp; &nbsp;<br />This collector&rsquo;s issue should enthrall a wide audience of philosophers, scholars and believers in Indian knowledge systems.