Carlo Formichi (1871-1943): Indology, colonialism and fascism in early Twentieth-Century Italy

Carlo Formichi was Professor of Sanskrit and English at the University of Rome La Sapienza from 1913 to 1941 and one of the leading Italian Indologists in the early half of the twentieth century. An active participant in the cultural debates of the 1910s and ’20s, with the advent of fascism he supported the regime and joined its cultural establishment. Some authors have characterized his figure solely as a fascist propagandist, ignoring his earlier phase. A more accurate perusal of his scholarly work reveals the originality and richness of his figure as a scholar, as well as his implicit acceptance of certain British colonial stereotypes. The study throws light on various aspects of Italian Indology during Formichi’s lifetime and its complex relationship with political power and colonialism.