Sunita has grown up in a joint family in a village in Odisha, while her cousin Arjun has grown up in a large technology city abroad. At twelve, Arjun works alone on timed puzzles and takes pride in quick, independent reasoning. Sunita solves problems by talking them over with elders and keeping the family's needs in mind. She keeps working at a task until it is done, acts firmly once she has decided, knows her own wishes and notices how others feel. Their teacher says neither child is less able; each has learnt a different way of thinking from the world around them. Sunita's grandmother has her own Sanskrit word for Sunita's good sense.
The Sanskrit word Sunita's grandmother uses is often used to represent intelligence in the Indian tradition. Which statement best describes this notion, as J.P. Das explains it?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → It has affective and motivational components besides a strong cognitive component.
Option (1) It stresses skills of attention, observation, analysis, speed and achievement orientation. — Incorrect. Attention, observation, analysis, speed and achievement orientation are skills of technological intelligence, valued in technologically advanced societies. The Indian tradition sees intelligence as integral, linked with the social world.
Option (2) It focuses primarily on cognitive parameters such as knowledge, discrimination and understanding. — Incorrect. A focus mainly on cognitive parameters marks the western views of intelligence. Buddhi does include knowledge, discrimination and understanding, but it also takes in feelings and motivation.
Option (3) It refers to remarkable ability in a specific field, such as spiritual, social or aesthetic. — Incorrect. Remarkable ability in one specific field is talent, a narrower term than giftedness.
Option (4) It has affective and motivational components besides a strong cognitive component. — Correct. The word is buddhi, which is wider than the western idea of intelligence. J.P. Das includes mental effort, determined action, feelings and opinions in it, along with knowledge, discrimination and understanding. So it has affective (feeling) and motivational parts besides a strong cognitive part. Sunita's steady effort, firm action and care for feelings fit it.
Note: Case set with N2201-072; uses its passage.
NCERT (2026-27): “Intelligence in the Indian Tradition … |