Neha Patil (Editor)

Kupamanduka

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Kupamanduka/ Kupamanduka-nyaya is a Sanskrit language expression. Literally it means; "frog in a well". The phrase is used in relation to a person who considers his knowledge horizon as the limit of human knowledge. Amartya Sen opines that its meaning carries a caution in opposition to insularity. Kupamanduka denotes a propensity to bigotry and intolerance and the inability to be positive, or paranoia. Mohammad Bakri Musa likens it to the Malay language phrase katak di bawah tempurong (frogs under a coconut shell).

Examples of usage

  • "But due to the acute paucity of scientific psychological publications in India, we often suffer the disadvantages of a kupa manduka (frog in the well) existence."
  • "Arrogance and infinite faith in their own wisdom are attributes of the kupa manduka,..."
  • "I think it is not that we see ourselves as a kind of flourishing Kupamanduka, a well-frog confined to a little well but a culture, a civilization, a people that has soared in the world, interacted with the world and not been afraid of interaction."

    • References

    Kupamanduka Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA