ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a brief survey of the typical strategies that can be distinguished from an overview of Indian encounters with the Bible, illustrated with some brief examples. What is shown is the range of strategies that have been, are and could be adopted and how these choices have been impacted by, or are influenced by issues of identity, and by political and social contexts. In each case, the strategies are committed to developing a non-Western approach to the Bible so as to produce an exegesis that is Indian in approach and also in application. Five strategies, which are not necessarily mutually exclusive, are discussed: first, it is suggested as a suitable response to avoiding mimicry of Western methods of biblical exegesis, that some fruitful dialogue with a Gandhian Swadeshi movement can take place; second is the strategy of arguing that the Bible is in fact of Asian and even of Indian origin; third, to fully appreciate the religious and philosophical heritage of India and to explore the Bible with this in mind seeking analogies and making use of Indian hermeneutical traditions; fourth, to insist that biblical studies relevant to India can draw on pan-Indian experiences where social problems that are acute in the subcontinent are foregrounded. Finally, the chapter introduces tribal and Dalit hermeneutics, which are given more attention in later chapters in the book.
