‘Modernity,’ derived from Latin ‘modernus’ to mean ‘recent’ or ‘just now,’ is a slippery term; and unless we specify a particular field and particular context, it does not mean anything. For instance, in the field of literature, Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti, and Bana; in religion, Buddhism, Advaita, the 12th-century Veerashaiva Movement, and Arya Samaj; in political system, absolute monarchy, empire-building, and democracy –all these can be viewed as ‘modern’ since they rebelled against the ideas and practices of their immediate past and set about exploring new paths.
