Since my student days at the University of Amsterdam, in the early fifties, I have been intuitively concerned with the need for an autonomous social science tradition in the various regions of the world. During that period, on reading Ibn Khaldun, I was told that art could not develop without artists. By the same token, an autonomous tradition cannot develop with out the commitment of an intellectual, creative and independent group striving for that tradition. I then raised the question: what were the factors conducive to the birth of such a tradition and what were the serious impediments? In order to liberate, one must first understand the condition of bondage. This led me to the problem of the captive mind. During the 11th World Conference of the Society for International Development, New Delhi, 14—17 November 1969, I presented a paper entitled Captive Mind in Development Studies. I commented on the intense bombardment on the developing societies of an ever-growing volume of literature from the West resulting in uncritical assimilation by the scholars developing societies, which did not have a functioning group of independent scholars leaving aside isolated individuals who could react critically and selectively. A critical and selective reaction does not involve only those contri butions that are given attention, but also those that are ignored. Ignoring a valuable contribution from the West is as negative as uncritically accept ing whatever is served on the academic platter. The dish is relished with out concern for how it is cooked and what the ingredients are. Like the side effects of fast food, many of such imported intellectual recipes adver tendy affect the consumers. Coming back to our theme, during the last few decades suggestions have been made that an Asian social science tradition be generated. At the moment, this is still an idea, not yet dominant amongst Asian social scientists. What I mean by an autonomous Asian social science tradition should not be confused with the often repeated suggestion that we pay attention to local problems with appropriate methodology. That is also a