Not a scholar. Not a guru. A fellow traveller sharing the road.
Where it began – Here is my story
“It started with childhood curiosity, Indian television epics, and a father who said — go read the original.”
My name is Hina Panchal. I grew up watching the great Indian television epics — Ramayan, Mahabharat — completely captivated. Those stories felt alive to me in a way nothing else did. The characters, the battles, the dilemmas, the devotion. Even as a child, I sensed there was something beneath the surface of those stories that I hadn’t yet reached.
My father saw this curiosity and guided me to the source. He encouraged me to read the original texts — not the summaries, not the retellings, but the real thing. So I picked up the Valmiki Ramayana. That was my first original text, and the journey that began there has never stopped.
From the Ramayana I moved to the Bhagavata Purana, the Shiva Purana, the Mahabharata, and then the Bhagavad Gita. Each text opened a new door. But it was the Yoga Vasistha that changed everything.
Until the Yoga Vasistha, my love was for the stories — the epics, the myths, the characters. After it, I found myself drawn into something deeper: Indian philosophy itself. The questions about consciousness, the nature of the self, the structure of reality. I began reading the Upanishads — a journey still very much underway. My favourite companion on this road has been Radhakrishnan’s The Principal Upanishads and Indian Philosophy — a book I return to again and again.
BrowsingIndia is the result of that reading journey. I am not a scholar or a guru — I am a fellow reader who found these texts extraordinary and wanted a place to share that. If you are curious about Indian philosophy, epics, or history, this is where your own reading can begin.
My Journey
The Television Serials — The First Spark
Ramayan and Mahabharat on Indian television. As a child I was completely absorbed — the characters, the battles, the moral questions. This was my first introduction to the Indian epics.
Valmiki Ramayana — The First Original Text
My father encouraged me to go to the original texts rather than retellings. The Valmiki Ramayana was the first. That decision shaped everything that followed.
The Puranas & Mahabharata — The Great Expansion
From the Ramayana I continued to the Bhagavata Purana, Shiva Purana, and Mahabharata. Each text expanded the picture. My interest at this stage was still primarily in the epics and mythology.
Bhagavad Gita — Philosophy Enters
The Gita sits at the centre of the Mahabharata but reads as a complete philosophical text on its own. It was my first sustained encounter with Indian philosophical thought as distinct from narrative.
Yoga Vasistha — The Turning Point
The Yoga Vasistha was the turning point. Until this text, my interest was in the epics. After it, I became genuinely interested in Indian philosophy — Vedanta, Advaita, consciousness, the nature of the self.
The Upanishads & Radhakrishnan — The Ongoing Journey
Reading the Upanishads is an ongoing journey. My most-used reference is Radhakrishnan’s Principal Upanishads and Indian Philosophy — careful, scholarly, and still deeply readable. BrowsingIndia grew out of everything this reading has opened up.
What BrowsingIndia is
BrowsingIndia is not an academic project. It is written by a reader, not a professor or a spiritual teacher. The goal is to make Indian philosophy, epics, and history genuinely accessible to anyone curious about them — wherever they are starting from.
What this is
“A fellow reader sharing thoughtful interpretations grounded in the texts — not a teacher who has arrived at final answers.”
Who this is for
“Anyone curious about Indian philosophy, epics, and history — wherever they are starting from.”
The approach
“Plain language without losing depth — the goal is always to make the original ideas accessible, not to replace them.”
The purpose
“To give curious readers a clear starting point for their own exploration of India’s philosophical and literary tradition.”
How content is approached
Every article is based on close reading of traditional texts, supported by scholarly translations and research, and written to make complex ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. That continuing exploration shapes the content published here.
Primary texts first
Ideas are explored through primary texts such as the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Vasistha, and Puranic literature, alongside respected scholarly translations and commentary.
Research-backed
Scholarly translations and commentaries — including Radhakrishnan, standard academic sources — are used to verify interpretation and context.
Clearly interpreted
Content reflects my own reading and understanding of these texts. It is interpretation, not authoritative religious instruction. Readers are always encouraged to read the originals.
Educational intent
All content is for educational and informational purposes. BrowsingIndia is not a source of religious guidance, spiritual advice, or professional counsel of any kind.
A full editorial policy is available at editorial-policy — covering sourcing standards, interpretation guidelines, and correction procedures.
Curious about
Indian philosophy?
Start wherever you are. Every article is written to be a clear entry point — no prior knowledge needed.
“Have a question or suggestion? Feel free to contact me.