“The Dreamlike World” of Jung: Evolving Perspectives on India in German-language Literature

In this presentation, journalist and India expert Bernhard Hertlein offers a comprehensive exploration of evolving perspectives on India during the transformative period of 1918-1945 – a time that also inspired C.G. Jung to travel to India. Hertlein’s observations are based on the German literature of the period, especially youth literature in German language. He explores the complex interplay between stereotypes and nuanced representations, reflecting broader global shifts and Germany’s turbulent 20th-century history. Highlighting the symbolic significance of geographical features such as the Indian jungle and the Ganges, Hertlein also explores the evolving representation of the country, considering the historical representation of the Indian people as well as the influence of colonial stereotypes on literature. Finally, he uses Jung’s text “The Dreaming World of India”, which offers a reflective account of India through a European lens.