The Bower Manuscript – Navanitika, the Ancient Medical Book of Bharat discovered in 19th century in Central Asia!

The Bower Manuscript – Navanitika, the Ancient Medical Book of Bharat discovered in 19^th century in Central Asia!

Bower to Waterhouse to Rudolf Hoernle: Next to the Bakhshali manuscript, the Bower manuscript attracts Indian researchers of Science and Technology in India. Actually, it is “Navanitika,” an ancient medical book, recovered partially. However, it is named after Hamilton Bower – a British Lieutenant, who bought the manuscript in March, 1890 while on a mission to chase an assassin charged with hacking a Scotsman to death. Just like “Periyar planetarium,” [who has nothing to do anything with astronomy], the Medical manuscript of the book has been named after the purchaser of the book, instead of the author. The story of the purchase goes in this way – On the night of 2^nd or 3^rd March 1890, a man came to his tent and offered to sell him old manuscripts and artefacts that his treasure hunters had found. Bower bought them. This proves that the European explorers, army officers, members of the Society of Jesus and others had been in the vigorous searchers and purchasers of Indian manuscripts[1]. James Waterhouse, the then President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Waterhouse mentioned that the Bower manuscript had 56 leaves (the edition now preserved at Bodleian Library has 51 leaves). That is five pages / leaves were missing from the recovered collection. He reported that the Bower manuscript was bound with two wooden boards on either end and a string running through a hole. The fragmentary manuscript was analyzed, edited, translated and published by Rudolf Hoernle in 1897 in instalments,[2] but, not completed.

The Manuscript book was meddled with: Immediately after his return to India in February 1891, Hoernle began to study the manuscript. He found that the manuscript leaves were jumbled out of sequence, but had the page numbers marked on the left. They were obviously written in three or four styles[3], thus by three / four persons or three / four different periods. After re-arranging them, he concluded that it was an abridged collection of several different treatises[4]. “On examining more closely the several leaves, I noticed that they were evidently mixed up. The leaves written in the different hands followed one another without any order. But I also noticed that many of the leaves were marked with numbers on their left hand margin…..It further seemed that the three varieties of writing distinguished three different works…………The work is a compendium of medicine, is named the Navanitika, and consists of sixteen chapters (adhydya). That it was written by a Buddhist, is seen from the initiatory salutation of the “Tathagatas” or Buddhas……based on the excellent system of the Maharishis as composed by them in olden times……..Now as to the age of the MS., I believe it to be very old and written not later than the end of the 5th century A. D. The style of writing is exactly like that which we meet with in the early Gupta inscriptions[5], between 450 and 550 A. D..,” He presented the first decipherment two months later, at the meeting of the Society in April 1891, with evidence that it was “the oldest Indian written book that is known to exist”.The Bower Manuscript, sometimes referred to as the Yashomitra Manuscript, is preserved in the collections of the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

The facts that could be derived from the analysis of the Bower Manuscript: The following facts could be listed as the facts derived from the analysis of the manuscript:

1. The Indian medical system and books travelled with the Buddhist monks going to Central Asia, China etc.
2. Sanskrit was the language used, but it was written in different scripts. Here, it was written in the Gupta Brajmi, as the British noted.
3. The writers, composers and practitioners of medicinal works acknowledged the source to “….the excellent system of the Maharishis as composed by them in olden times……”
4. In other words, the Buddhists acknowledged that they derived such knowledge from the earlier Rishis, the Hindus.
5. Thus, there had been an established medical system in the ancient India.
6. The collectors, sellers and buyers of the manuscripts used to mix-up the manuscripts without knowing the contents and significance.
7. During the 19^th-20^th centuries, the dating of the manuscripts was done relatively. Comparing the style of the script with that of the style of scripts used in the rock inscriptions.
8. As the rock inscriptions have been dated after the invasion of Alexander’s invasion and Asoka was reportedly copied the “Brahmi script” from the Greeks, they were dated to c. 3d cent.BCE.
9. Thus, the historical period of India started with c.326 BCE and all other incidences were placed in the pre-historic period.

What the Bower Manuscript or “Navanitika” deals with?: The writers salute the Tathagatas with the claim that they are going to write an approved compendium of medicine called the Navanitaka, based on the excellent system of the Maharishis as composed by them in olden times. Useful medicinal details are given for the cure of diseases of women and children. The work is commended to those physicians whose minds delight in conciseness, but on account of the multiplicity of its prescriptions.

1. The first chapter will give prescriptions of powders ;
2. the second of clarified butter;
3. the third will be concerned with oils.
4. The fourth will be about the mixtures which are used in the treatment of various diseases.
5. The fifth will give prescriptions of clysters,
6. the sixth rules about elixirs.
7. The seventh will be about gruels,
8. the eighth about aphrodisiacs,
9. the ninth about eyewashes,
10. the tenth about hair-dyes.
11. The eleventh will be concerned with applications of the yellow myrobalan.
12. The twelfth will be about bitumen,
13. the thirteenth about castor-oil.
14. The fourteenth will be concerned with the treatment of children;
15. the fifteenth will deal with the treatment of barren women.
16. Lastly the sixteenth will be about the treatment of women who have children.

 These sixteen chapters will constitute the Navanitaka.

Rudolf Hoernle on Indian Oesteology[6]: After the Bakhshali and Bower manuscripts, what made Rudolf Hoernle to take interest in “Indian Oesteology” is not known. He compared the number of bones mentioned in the medical works of the Greeks and the Indians. theory of the Ancient Indians regarding the skeleton, or the bony frame of the human body, has been transmitted to us m three different systems These are the systems of Atreya, Susruta, and Vagbhata. Pointing out that Ktesias[7] [400 BCE] came to India[8], he placed Charaka and Sushruta in the 6^th cent.BCE period. He also discussed about the two versions of the origin of medicine – one from Indra to Bharadwaja to Atreya to others and two from Indra to Dhanvantri (also called as Divadoshs, Kasiraja) to others. Rudolf Hoernle who proposed date of 600 BCE to Susruta uses a calibrating data point of Satapatha Brahmana to 500 BCE. Here, he gives 1000 BCE  to Satapatha Brahmana. Thus, he would have come across different manuscripts, birch-bark books on Indian medicine and hence his relative dates given to Indian works change. That the Indian civilization had/has been continuing for many thousands of years, whereas, the much talked, publicized and praised civilizations lie Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Roman, Greek and other civilizations had disappeared. Therefore, without proper healthcare etc., the Indians could not have lived to produce population. This implies the existence of doctors, hospitals etc., from the earlier period. The Mehrgarh evidences prove that dental surgery was practised at least 7500 YBP. The evidences of Trepanation also go back to c.4300 YBP or 2300 BCE[9]. The Chola inscription of the medieval period recorded about the existence of a full-fledged hospital with a surgeon. That so many battles and wars were fought also prove the existence of doctors, hospitals, surgeons and medicines. Therefore, putting all evidences together, the literary evidences could match with the historical and protohistorical evidences to link the prehistoric with historical period.

Rhinoplasty – From Susruta to Dinnanath Kangharia: Vaidya Bhagwan Dash in his introduction gives the following details[10]:

“Unfortunately, Lord Buddha himself succumbed to death after an operation by an Ayurvedic surgeon, and thereafter, surgery was considered as a form of violence against which his followers stood very firm and prohibited the various surgical measures by people, including surgeons of the country. The knowledge of surgery including anatomy gradually declined and looks on these subjects subsequently disappeared”.

Rhinoplasty was also practised in India, but, banned by the British government[11].

The rhinoplasty / (rhino = nose + plastiokos = shaping of) / shaping of the nose by plastic surgery practised in India up to 18^th century CE also proves the tradition of Sushruta. K. S. Goleria[12], S. C. Almast[13], Tribhovandas Shah[14], J. L. Gupta[15] and others[16] have pointed out such cases. The rhinoplasty has been practised by certain families e.g, Marattas of Kumar near Pune, Nepal, Kangharias of Kangra, and Himachal Pradesh. Dr. S. C. Almast reports that Sri. Dinanath Kangaria at Kangra and his family has been practising since 1440 CE. In fact, they claim that it was followed since the Mahabharat War, which took place around 3100 BCE. Taking the Trepanation evidences, as discussed below, it may not be brushed aside as boasted claim. Tribhovandas Motichand Shah was the then Chief Medical Officer at Junagadh in 1889 and he has recorded over a hundred cases of rhinoplasty conducted over four years describing the minute operative details and discussed the advantages of forehead rhinoplasty. Thus, it is evident that the tradition of rhinoplasty has been followed without a break.

Brahmi script exposed the forgeries and frauds of the British researchers: As the European researchers were searching for antiquities with the help of local people, they slowly understood the requirements of the Europeans. As they themselves were making profits by selling the antiquities, the guides in connivance with the locals started manufacturing copies of the antiquities, so that they could be sold to different explorers. It was in this competitive environment that Islam Akhun emerged. In 1895 he approached the British Consul in Kashgar, Sir George Macartney, with a number of manuscripts on paper. Ibrahim Mullah, Islam Akhun’s partner, was also selling similar items to the Russian consul Nikolai Petrovsky. He sent them to St. Petersburg to be translated. Ibrahim Mullah had some knowledge of Cyrillic scripts, and so he incorporated Cyrillic characters, which proved very confusing for those scholars tasked with their translation. Some were in a script similar to Brahmi and the documents were in several different formats, many bound with copper ties. Macartney purchased the documents and sent them to India in the hope that Augustus Rudolf Hoernlé, a prominent scholar of Indo-Aryan languages, would be able to decipher them. In April 1901 Stein tracked down Islam Akhun in Khotan and questioned him over the course of two days. Initially, Islam Akhun claimed innocence, insisting he had only been an agent for Macartney, and had himself purchased the documents from other parties, knowing how much the English desired them.  On his return to England, Stein met with Hoernle in his house in Oxford in July 1901 and informed the position[17].

Hoernle works destroyed or not – the background: Hoernle hoped that his own report could be destroyed but this was not possible as it had already been published. However, he was able to edit the second part before it went to print. Many of the forgeries remain in the collections of the British Library and the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, St. Petersburg. Interestingly, in the case of A.A. fuhrer, the same thing happened in bringing a casket that reportedly containing the ashes of Buddha, on which, Asokan Brahmi was inscribed[18]. Buhler deciphered the script in both cases. Vincent Smith intervened and decided. The publications of both Hoernle and Fuhrer were suspended or stopped or suppressed. Only par ts-II to VII are available. I have dealt with Fuhrer in detail in my paper[19]. The Asokan Brahmi has been placed to c.3^rd cent.BCE, but, Brahmi inscriptions are found on the monuments of Jain and Buddhist periods. Then, its dating should go to 7^th-6^th cent.BCE. When the dating of the perishable documents could go back to first centuries BCE-CE period, the scripts found on the inscriptions could not have been restricted to c.3^rd cent.BCE based on the Alexander invasion. Therefore, the dating of the Brahmi script has to be reassessed.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

29-04-2020

[1]  In another paper, I have shown how the Indian manuscripts were taken away by these groups to Europe and later to USA and supplying to Scientists, researchers, libraries and museums.

 K.V.Ramakrishna Rao, The Transmission of Medical Knowledge from Tamizhagam to Europe (15^th to 20^th centuries), sent for the seminar held at Los Angeles from November 17^th to 19^th 2006.

[2] A. F. Rudolf Hoernle, The Bower Manuscript, Parts III to VII, Archaeology of Survey of India, Calcutta, 1897.

[3]  The first point that strikes one on looking through the MS. is, that it appears to be written in three, if not four, different styles. This point has been already noticed in the November account.

Rudolf Hoernle, Birch Bark Manuscript, From the Proceedings, Asiatic Society of Bengal, for April, 1891, p.1.

[4] Rudolf Hoernle, Birch Bark Manuscript, From the Proceedings, Asiatic Society of Bengal, for April, 1891. Issued as a 20-page booklet.

[5] “The whole manuscript is written in what Mr. Fleet (in his Gupta Inscriptions in Volume III of the Corpus Inscription urn Indicorum, p. 3) distinguishes as the Northern class of the Nagari alphabet, which is characterized by the peculiar form of them. Of this class, however, three varieties are observable in the MS” – Rudolf Hoernle.

[6]  A. F. Rudolf Hoernle, Studies in the Medicine of Ancient India – Oesteology or the Bones of Human Body, Part-I, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1907.

[7] Ktesias also known as Ctesias the Cnidian or Ctesias of Cnidus, was a Greek physician and historian from the town of Cnidus in Caria, when Caria was part of the Achaemenid Empire flourished during the 5th century BCE.

[8] A. F. Rudolf Hoernle, Studies in the Medicine of Ancient India – Oesteology or the Bones of Human Body, preface, two Greek physicians, Ktesias, about 400 BCE , and Magasthenes about 300 BCE, visited, or resided in Northern India,

[9] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, The position of Surgery Before and After Buddha, Swadeshi Science Movement, Bangalore, Sastratrayi,  pp.187-198.

[10] Vaidya Bhagwan Dash, in his introduction to the Hoernle’s book, pp.xix-xx.

1984. F. Rudolf Hoernle, Studies in the Medicine of Ancient India (Osteology or the Bones of the Human Body), Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, 1984.

[11] Nasal reconstructions had been practised as a relatively routine procedure in India for centuries. This was driven by the common use of nasal mutilation in India as a means of punishment or private vengeance for various forms of immorality. The procedures are described in two well-known early Indian medical works, the Suśruta Saṃhitā, thought to date to the middle of the first millennium BCE, and the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā, believed to date from the sixth century CE.  By the nineteenth century the technique had been handed down through separate families in three different parts of India.

https://blogs.bl.uk/science/2016/10/britains-first-nose-job.html

[12] K. S. Goleria, Pedicie Flaps – A Historical Review, Indian Journal of Surgery, 1966, Vol.28, pp.247-254.

[13] S. C. Almast, History and Evolution of the Indian method of Rhinoplasty, Transactions of Fourth Internation Congress, Rome, Oct.1967, pp.19-25.

[14] Tribhuvandas, Rhinoplasty – A Short Description of One Hundred Cases, The Source Book of Plastic Surgery, 1977, pp.121-127.

[15] J. L. Gupta, Past, Present and Future of Plastic Surgery in India, Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 1991, Vol.24, pp.1-9.

[16] Keegan, Rhinoplastic Operations with Description of Recent Improvements in the Indian method, Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, London, 1900.

[17] What Stein wrote to Hoernle, “Islam Akhun is a very clever rascal, with a good deal of humour and brains quite above the level of his compatriots. His memory as to the articles he supplied was surprising. When he was once on the road to a full confession, it was easy to see how well his avowals agreed with the stories he had told M. and which your Report reproduces. I appreciate brains even in a scoundrel, and I wonder whether I. A. is not too dangerous a fellow to let loose on an innocent Khotan. … I do not know which documents you consider to be written in a kind of debased Nāgarī, and must reserve my opinion until you have shown them to me. But from what I have indicated above, you will realize why I fear that this reading will not prove more justified than my own supposition of Pahlavi characters in some of I. A.’s fabrications. Questions of this kind ought to be examined after a reliable knowledge of local facts has been secured, and I have spared no trouble to obtain this. You and others will be put by my report in full possession of these dates, and will then be able to judge for yourself whether it is worthwhile to continue the study of those documents in “unknown” characters”.

[18] JRASB, The Piprdhwd Stitpa, containing relics of Buddha. By WILLIAM CLAXTON PEPPE, Esq. Communicated, with a Note, by VINCENT A. SMITH, I.C.S., M.R.A.S. With two Plates. Pp.573-588

[19] K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, Salvaging, redeeming and Saving Archaeology and Managing Heritage in the Indian Context, A paper presented at the National Seminar, “Salvaging Archaeology and Heritage Management” held at Meenakshi College, Chennai on November 29th and 30th 2016.

Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19th Century – UGC seminar held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University [3]

Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19^th Century – UGC seminar held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University [3]

Historians and Researchers may have to fix their writings in time and space: Indians are very often told and informed through writings that, “The position of women during the period was undoubtedly low, inferior and subordinate to men in patriarchal social system. Their life was miserable because of social customs like ‘purdah’, child marriage, ‘sati’, ban on widow remarriage, their confinement to household activities, their recognition as the producers of progeny particularly sons, denial of education to them etc”. These lines are repeated again and again as established theory, without giving details, but, quoting verbatim from others[1]. And these are repeated in M.Phil and Ph.d theses, books routinely and carried on and away for the last decades. So –

1. Indian women were dying on the pyre, whenever their husbands died.
2. Indian women were put behind “purdha,” i.e., they were not coming out of their houses.
3. They were married away, when they were children.
4. They were not sent to schools and educated.
5. They were inferior to men, as patriarchal system was followed.

If all these were happening, every year, the Indian women population must have been reduced considerably. Indian men must have been searching and running after non-Indian, foreign women. Then, within a considerable period, due to miscegenation, the entire Indian population must have been changed. But nothing happened.

1. The Indian society continued with increasing population.
2. This implies that there were gynaecologist-type doctors and well-experienced mid-wives were there to take care of pregnant women and deliveries.
3. Born babies were taken care of and children grown up with care.
4. For the increasing population, they were having food, dress and housing in spite of intrusions, invasions and other disturbances by the Mughals, Mongol, Afgan, European and other forces.
5. Had they been illiterates how then they could be experts in such medical fields.
6. More textile goods were manufactured and exported till 21^st century to European and American countries.
7. In 19^th century, many women took arms, marched with cavalry and fought with the British forces, even defeating them.
8. How then, they were given such training of using arms, raiding horses, fighting with males, that too, on battle-fields?
9. In fairs, religious tours / pilgrims, lakhs of women with children were fund, how they could have come out?

In this way, many questions can be raised, as they have been logical, scientific and factual also. How then the learned historians, researchers and others could not understand, realize and noted these points.

1. Bengal was not India, i.e., the issues and problems of Bengal were not applicable to other parts of India.
2. Afganistan, Burma, Nepal, Punjab, Rajaputna, Hyderabad, Mysore, Tanjore, Travancore and other states were independent by 19^th
3. After 1857 only 19^th century, 50% of India was brought under the British Rule.
4. After the application of “Doctrine of lapse” and kidnapping or forceful taking away of sons of native kings, the British brutally brought other states under their control.
5. The French [Pondicherry, Mahe, Yanam etc.,] and Portuguese [Goa] were still keeping some parts of India under their control.
6. In spite of all these atrocities, cruelties and brutalities, they could rule 70% of India by the end of 19^th

Thus, the Acts and Rules of them were not applicable to others. Therefore, any research or historical results by any means cannot be applicable to all parts of India.

The British women and Indian women should be compared to know the position of the period 1757-1947: Women were burned alive till 18^th century officially in England and continued in 19^th century also. Some reports have recorded that even in 19^th century such women were punished. On 9 May 1726, Catherine Hayes was chained to a stake near Tyburn gallows. She was burned alive – the executioner let go of the rope (which would have strangled her) before the flames had reached her. Hayes was one of the last women ever to be burned at Tyburn. Catherine Murphy, who at her execution in 1789 was “dresst in a clean striped gown, a white ribbon, and a black ribbon round her cap“, was the last woman in England to be burned and in 1790, it was banned. Although burning was not a common punishment by this time, at least 33 women were burned alive between 1735 and 1789.  They were:

Name	Date	Place	Crime
Margaret Onion	08/08/1735	Chelmsford	Murdered husband
Mary Fawson	08/08/1735	Northampton	Murdered husband
Ann Mudd	25/06/1737	Tyburn	Murdered husband
Mary Bird	01/07/1737	Ely	Murdered husband
Mary Groke or Troke (age 16)	18/03/1738	Winchester	Murdered mistress
Ann Goodson	12/04/1738	Guildford	Murdered husband
Susannah Broom (age 67)	21/12/1739	Tyburn	Murdered husband
Elizabeth Moreton (or Owen)	10/08/1744	Evesham	Murdered husband
Mary Johnson	?/04/1747	Lincoln	Murdered husband
Amy Hutchinson	07/11/1749	Ely	Murdered husband
Elizabeth Packard	?/?/1750	Exeter	Murdered husband
Ann Whale (age 21)	08/08/1752	Horsham	Murdered husband
Ann Williams	13/04/1753	Over, near Gloucester	Murdered husband
Susannah Bruford  (age 19)	03/09/1753	Wells (Somerset)	Murdered husband
Mary Ellah	28/03/1757	York	Murdered husband
Alice Davis	31/03/1758	Tyburn	Coining (High Treason)
Margaret Bedingfield	08/04/1763	Ipswich	Murdered husband
Mary Heald	23/04/1763	Chester	Murdered husband
Mary Saunders	21/03/1764	Monmouth	Murdered mistress
Mary Norwood (age 33)	08/05/1765	Ilchester (Somerset)	Murdered husband
Ann Sowerby	10/08/1767	York	Murdered husband
Susannah Lott	21/07/1769	Maidstone	Murdered husband
Mary Hilton (or Hulton)	06/04/1772	Lancaster	Murdered husband
Elizabeth Herring	13/09/1773	Tyburn	Murdered husband
Margaret Ryan	18/03/1776	Maidstone	Murdered husband
Elizabeth Bordingham	30/03/1776	York	Murdered husband
Ann Cruttenden (age 80)	08/08/1776	Horsham	Murdered husband
Isabella Condon	27/10/1779	Tyburn	Coining (High Treason)
Rebecca Downing	29/06/1782	Exeter	Murdered mistress
Mary Bailey	08/03/1784	Winchester	Murdered husband
Phoebe Harris	21/06/1786	Newgate	Coining (High Treason)
Margaret Sullivan	25/06/1788	Newgate	Coining (High Treason)
Catherine Murphy	18/03/1789	Newgate	Coining (High Treason)

In England, burning was a legal punishment inflicted on women found guilty of high treason[2] [unfaithful husband mainly], petty treason[3] and heresy[4]. Over a period of several centuries, female convicts were publicly burnt at the stake, sometimes alive, for a range of activities including coining [counterfeiting] and mariticide[5]. So when they were burning their women in this way, how they could preach to Indians and disparage them as barbarians, uncivilized, patriarchal and so on.

A Long Time Burning: The History of Literary Censorship in England: It has been the title of a book giving details about the censorship in England. Indians need not think that England was / is free for freedom of expression / thought etc.

Literary censorship in England from the introduction of printing in 1476 to the present is the subject of this book[6]. Topics discussed include –

(1) the development of prepublication censorship from 1476 to 1695;

(2) political censorship generated by fear of enemies at home and abroad: 1695-1760;

(3) religious and political censorship in the early 18th century;

(4) influences of Societies for the Reformation of Manners on the enforcement of laws against obscene literature, beginning in 1692;

(5) liberty versus licentiousness: 1760-1792;

(6) struggles against political censorship after 1792, with greater freedoms of speech and the press evident by 1832;

(7) expurgation in the 19th century fostered especially by Thomas Bowdler and various organizations working against freedom of the press;

(8) Victorian mistranslations, expurgations, and moral censorship exercised chiefly by booksellers, libraries, publishers, and editors; and

(9) the relaxed moral censorship in the 20th century which nevertheless continues to exercise its own form of censorship–on racism, pornography, the emancipation of women. A 200-page appendix contains extracts from little-known publications banned during the past 500 years. Therefore, they should not teach Indians about all these topics.

India was different for political, social, religious and ideological purposes and interpretation: The views of the ideologists could be identified very easily, as they contradict many times in their speeches and writings. They talk about Vedic India, Hindu India, Hellenistic India, Moghul India, Colonial India, French India, British India and so on. From 17^th to 20^th centuries, they could deal with many “Indias”, yet,  they say that there was no “India” as such, till it was made later. However, coming to “invading / conquering / ruling of India,” everybody claimed that he invaded / conquered / ruled India. Incidentally, the other people wanted to discover and come to India, as milk and honey were flowing on the roads, i.e, India was so fertile, bountiful, and rich in all aspects. Columbus without coming to India, discovered “India” exactly in the opposite direction. In other words, the people who lived in the opposite direction, looked like “Indians” for the learned Columbus and he was informed accordingly by the most-learned other experts. Anyway, India was discovered, the routes were also found and the Arabs and the Europeans came. They came as traders, merchants, brokers of goods, but, slowly started setting up factories with Indian experts and workers. Then, they colonized the areas, looted and brought under control with mercenaries [private armies, armed forces]. The British India slowly enlarged from 1757 to 1857 and disappeared in 1947. Yet, the “histories” written by them, and that followed by the Indian counterparts followed a pattern forgetting the basics, fundaments and rudiments of logic. Thus, they forget “Indias” existing, when they talk about “British India” and when they quote the documents of the “British India,” they forget the documents of “other Indias.” Audi Alteram Partem (Hear the other Side) or “let the other side be heard as well” has been the legal dictum. Here, are they listening to other side i.e, getting documents of the other side? When Indians, Hindus specifically accused of for all social evils of “India” [what India, they have to tell], how such evils came up? How that they could continue for the last 5000 years in spite so many non-Hindu reformers, non-Vedic warriors and rulers continuously ruled for 1300 years?

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

23-02-2020

[1] See, Mahesh Chundra Deb, “A Sketch of the Conditions of the Hindoo women” (1839),

Goutam Chattopadhya ed.,  Awakening in the early Nineteenth Century, Progressive Publishers, Calcutta,1965), PP. 89- 105;

Neera Desai, Women in Modern India, 2nd edn, Vara and Co., Bombay 1967;

Partha Chatterjee, “The Nationalist Resolution of the women’s question,” in Recasting Women, , PP.238 – 39.

[2] Under the law of the United Kingdom, high treason is the crime of disloyalty to the Crown. Offences constituting high treason include plotting the murder of the sovereign; committing adultery with the sovereign’s consort, with the sovereign’s eldest unmarried daughter, or with the wife of the heir to the throne; levying war against the sovereign and adhering to the sovereign’s enemies, giving them aid or comfort; and attempting to undermine the lawfully established line of succession

[3] Petty treason or petit treason was an offence under the common law of England which involved the betrayal (including murder) of a superior by a subordinate. It differed from the better-known high treason in that high treason can only be committed against the Sovereign. In England and Wales, petty treason ceased to be a distinct offence from murder by virtue of the Offences against the Person Act 1828.

[4] Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of such claims or beliefs.[1] Heresy is distinct from both apostasy, which is the explicit renunciation of one’s religion, principles or cause,[2] and blasphemy, which is an impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things

[5] Mariticide literally means killing of one’s husband or boyfriend. It can refer to the act itself or the person who carries it out. Used in current common law terminology as gender-neutral for either spouse or significant other of either sex. The killing of a wife is called uxoricide.

[6] Thomas, Donald, A Long Time Burning: The History of Literary Censorship in England, Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., 111 Fourth Avenue, New York, New York 10003, 1969.https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED039231

Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19th Century – UGC seminar held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University [1]

Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19^th Century – UGC seminar held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University [1]

PG Campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) has become the Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam University: The U.G.C. sponsored National Seminar on Social Reform Movement In India and Women Education from 19^th Century was held at the Ongole campus of the Sri Acharya Nagarjuna University from 19^th and 20^th February 2020. The government has upgraded the erstwhile PG Campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) into a new university named as the Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam University [AKTP University]. The Ongole-AKTP University is fortunate in this regard, as it had an advantage of owning 100 acres of land at Pernamitta village within the Ongole city limits. The university is set up over 114 acres of land allotted for the Ongole PG Centre. It is currently running with 10 postgraduate courses and has 137 private un-aided colleges affiliated to it. Around 48 staff are working in the PG Centre and withe the upgradation, the number is likely to increase. As for as  Ongole is concerned, I have come here several times to attend seminars in 2013[1], 2014[2], 2016[3], 2018[4] etc., and it is not a new place and I have covered and posted in my blogs also [the links are given below]. Thus, I used to meet our friends again and again. It would be very nice to meet elders and get blessings, meet colleagues to share ideas and youngsters to understand the present times, as we have still been in learning processes from others. From 2013 to 2020, I have to note the changes taking place there.

The Theme of the Seminar[5]: Nineteenth-Century of British India is a milestone for the social reform movement in India. In the course of century, the social reformers of Indian and Christian Missionaries adapted several initiations for the uplift of women as well as depressed classes. The reformers, as well as Missionaries in India, have studied the caste system of India. They observed the role of women down through the ages. For instance, in the Vedic period, women were in high esteem. Women shared education along with men. Since the 8^th Century, gradually women life became very seclude in Sub-continent. No refreshing streams flowed back, into the life of women in their homes and as centuries passed, the Brahmanical code. The decline of women education was so marked and rapid by the beginning of 19^th Century, hardly one woman in a hundred could read in Madras Presidency and Malwa. It may, therefore, be stated that at the advent of British rule, female education had practically disappeared from Hindu Community, nay, it was regarded as a source of moral danger, if not as an actual vice, since only dancing girls could normally read and write. In their families, the old tradition to teach reading & writing to the new generations was continued. However, from the second decade of the 19^th century with the initiation of East India Company, Missionaries and social reformers the importance of education of women and upliftment and elevation of depressed classes were started. In this way, the Indian renaissance started in nineteenth-century and several reforms transformed the Indian society in addition to the upliftment of woman status. Further, it also elevated the status of depressed classes.

The Sub-themes of the seminar: The following these were also identified as sub-themes for the seminar and paper presentation:

1. Role of Reformers
2. Upliftment of Dalits
3. Indian Renaissance in the 19th Century
4. Uplift of women
5. Role of Press in the Social Reform Movement
6. Role of Christian Missionaries
7. Status of women Education
8. Any other issue related to the Seminar theme

The seminar hall at the second floor had a facelift, but without lift and wash-room: About the seminar hall, I have already recorded in my earlier blog as, “The seminar was held at the auditorium situated at the second floor of the building. Here, there is no lift, in other words, the building has not changed like Ongole. Nowadays, lifts can be provided with 4 to 8 lakh budget and it is not at all a big amount for Universities, as they get funds. ” And still, no provision has been made for urinal/toilet/restroom facility, though, the seminar has been modernized with chairs, stage and AC facilities. The difference can be noted from the photos of mine included in my blogs covering the earlier seminars attended. Nowadays, people give facelift only forgetting the other parts and it happens everywhere. Many times, we talk about principles, lecture about code of conduct and advocate all sorts of moral values and all, but, when anything comes to practice, most of us want to avoid, evader even started arguing against apologetically.

Ongole, where I get varieties of pickles: Earlier, daily, I used to go for walking up to the junction where there is a church and statues for the former CM and the bodyguard that got killed in the air accidence. But, this year, because of my health condition, I could not go. In fact, here in the Hotel Abhilash, I was accommodated in the first floor Room no.215 along with Prof Madhusudhana Rao, Tirupati, where there is no lift. Thus, from 2013, except the hall, nothing has changed as for as the lift and urinal. Definitely, it has been difficult and inconvenience for the aged and as well as sugar patents, they might relax once in three hours or so. Incidentally, Ongole has been famous for food in the sense that they sell side-dishes separately in packets. When I had meals first time in 2013, I was about to complete the taking meal and get up, but, suddenly, the server came and pointed out that I did not taste the other side-dishes showing kept on the other side of the table. In fact, there were nearly 35 items, but, I could not taste all. They sell different varieties of pickles also. Last time, I purchased seven varieties of pickles that we cannot get in Chennai. This time, I could get only five varieties. Thanks to Prof Madhusudhana Rao, who only informed about this and got also!

The inauguration of the National seminar 19-02-2020: The moment, we reached the Campus, there was registration. Only 40 registered and 14 with papers. After registration, we went to the seminar hall on the second floor. I had great difficulty to reach the second floor, as I was not feeling well with the raising BP coupled with a breathing problem. The seminar appeared with a new look modified with new chairs and airconditioned. From my postings, you can note the difference between the old hall and the present one. The seminar was inaugurated on 19^th morning 11.00 hours by their officials and it was some sort of family affair with the routines of lamp lighting etc.. The chief guest was Sri V. Rangaraju, Director, AP State Archives. The theme of the seminar was explained by the convener, Dr G. Rajmohan Rao. The inaugural address was by Dr I. Thirumali and the key-note address by Prof Adapa Satyanarayana. The guests, invitees were honoured and they talked about the subject matter and issues of the seminar.

The paper presentation sessions: After the inaugural, there was lunch and after lunch, the paper reading session started.  Sudarshan, Madhusudhana Rao,…. and a lady presented papers. Dr Anjaiah presided over and presented his paper also. There was an audience of 20 only.  Madhusudhana Rao presented the paper, “Colonial Prostitution of Whites and Blacks: How White and Black prostitutions were considered, treated and controlled,” was a joint paper co-authored by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao. Perhaps, for the first time, this aspect has been raked up fr research and facts brought out about the British exploitation of Indian women during the colonial period, when much raise was heaped upon them for their great role involved in the upliftment of Indian women. V. Sudarshan read a paper on Durgabai Deshmukh, and such details are already available[6]. In fact, in Chennai, the hospital started by her working under the banner of  “Andhra Mahila Sabha” has been well known to serve the poor and the middle-class people of Chennai. The lady-paper presenter was blaming Brahmins for their exclusion, treating menstrual women kept in rooms, “too much untouchability” followed among themselves etc, but, in between, she was reading about other issues that are not connected with what he was trying to point out. Though Anjaiah and others discussed about Andhra women who worked for the upliftment of women, they never mentioned that those women were Brahmins. Thus, her bias in the paper presentation was revealed and it was questioned by Anjaiah, Sudarshan and others. The sectional president also advised her to take the points and change the paper suitably.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

23-02-2020

[1] National Seminar on Migration Movements and Indian Diaspora in Modern Period was held on April 3^rd and 4^th 2013 at the ANU Ongole campus. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here:

https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/national-seminar-on-migration-movements-and-indian-diaspora-in-modern-period/

[2]  National Seminar on “Historicity of Ramayana” held at Ongole, Andhrapradesh on November 8^th and 9^th 2014. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here:

https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/national-seminar-on-historicity-of-ramayana-held-at-ongole-andhrapradesh-on-november-8th-and-9th-2014/

[3]  Social Justice and the Marginalized in South India: Experiences and Challenges” – National seminar held at C. S. R. Sarma College, Ongole on July 30^th and 31^st, 2016. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here:

https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/social-justice-and-the-marginalized-in-south-india-experiences-and-challenges-national-seminar-held-at-c-s-r-sarma-college-ongole-on-july-30th-and-31st-2016/

[4] Indian press and Socio-cultural and Religious Transformation in Colonial Rule of 19^th and 20^th Centuries: A New Perspective – National Seminar held at Nsgarjuna University, Ongole Campus. My coverage of the proceedings can be read here in three parts:

Part-I – https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2018/09/24/indian-press-and-socio-cultural-and-religious-transformation-in-colonial-rule-of-19th-and-20th-centuries-a-1/

Part-II – https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2018/09/28/indian-press-and-socio-cultural-and-religious-transformation-in-colonial-rule-of-19th-and-20th-centuries-a-new-perspective-national-seminar/

Part-II – https://kvramakrishnarao.wordpress.com/2018/09/29/indian-press-and-socio-cultural-and-religious-transformation-in-colonial-rule-of-19th-and-20th-centuries-a-new-perspective-national-seminar-held-at-nagarjuna-university-ongole-campus-3/

[5] Based on the circular of the seminar of the orgainizers issued this year 2020. However, I have a feeling that these sentences, I could remember of heard or read somewhere in some conference. I am not able to recollect immediately now.

[6] https://ddms.co.in/ – and https://ddms.co.in/founder/here about the institutional details can be found; https://ddms.co.in/milestones/ – here, the achievements of Durgabhai Deshmukh with details and photos can be seen.

The 80th session of Indian History Congress held at Kannur University – Can historians misbehave, students disrespect authority and women-delegates violate the law? [3]

The 80^th session of Indian History Congress held at Kannur University – Can historians misbehave, students disrespect authority and women-delegates violate the law? [3]

How Irfan Habib behaved can be noted. The police and security guard stood in between. Irfan Habib raised his hands.

 

Ravindran put his hand on Irfan Habib, the guard warned him.

As Irfan tried to go near to the Governor, he was pulled by the VC.

Ravindranath VC held him, but, Irfan still heckling…….

Kerala MP and others politicized and Irfan Habib aggravated: After Ramachandran Kadannappalli, the Governor Arif Mohammed Khan came to the mike and started to speak i.e, to deliver his inaugural address. Suddenly, he was asked to speak later, as the president of IHC, Amiya Kumar Bagchi had to read his presidential address. This appeared strange and shocking also as the Governor need not be kept waiting. Many times VIPs do the ritual of the inauguration and go away. Taking the opportunity, Irfan Habib came to the mike and formally proposed Bagchi to be elected as president and asked Shireen Moosvi to second. Then, Irfan Habib started talking about Kashmir issue where thousands were imprisoned without trial, people without internet etc, because of the Hindutwa agenda of the government. Thus, the speech of K. K. Ragesh and Irfan Habib proved that they wanted to talk politics. Then, the new president was allowed to read and he took more than half an hour struggling to read some portions of his printed booklet. Evidently, most of the audience was also not interested in his reading. After all these, the Governor was allowed to deliver his inaugural speech.

Ravindranath pulled Irfan Habib asiide.

The Kerala Governor had responded to the MP who raised the issue of Citizen Amendment Act and other issues: First, he mentioned all the names of VIPs and then started his speech. “I did Sociology and then Law and have the privilege of inaugurating the event. I came with a prepared speech, yes, I prepared myself, but, after listening to the political speech of others, I have decided to respond to them,” evidently pointing to the Rageesh. “As a person who entered Parliament at the age of 26, I cannot but react when confronted with political issues,” he said[1] implying that he was not nominated as a Rajyasabha MP. “I became a governor by taking an oath to protect the Constitution and speak for it. I have quit positions when I felt the Constitution was under threat,” pointing to the irrelevant and impotent speech of the two. “Please don’t give too much importance to them. Please take your places,” he told those who had stood up in protest. “You have no right to create violence or disturbance. You can’t silence me with protests. You can’t shout me down. You have come with an agenda,” Khan said, but by then he could barely be heard over the slogans. “I came to know about the harassment that (former) Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria faced because he is a Hindu,” he said, alluding to retired fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s allegation that Kaneria had been a victim of discrimination from some team-mates[2]. Incidentally, the news appeared the day before the IHC[3].

The women delegates started raising slogans and showing placards

The women delegates started raising slogans and showing placards, front side

Another view

The “woman delegate” created ruckus and the cap of the woman cop tossed up and later, she adjusted.

The ruckus-woman was taken out, see her facial expression

Note, how the woman tried to create a scene.  Three woman police could not control her?

The drama the delegate played…..

Biju Kandakkai joined the dramatic woman

The Governor explained how the protesters and demonstrators ran away from him when called for discussion and dialogue: The Governor continued his speech, “There were demonstrations outside Raj Bhawan. I sent a renowned Malayali writer on my behalf to call those who were protesting, for a discussion, but they said that they were here to protest and not for discussion. Again when I was staying at Calicut guest house, people came for a demonstration. I asked them to come inside to discuss, but, none came. Then I informed if they did not come, I would come there by 9 am to discuss, but, by 7.30 am, they disbursed. So I said that when you shut the doors of discussion then it creates an environment of violence and hate followed by a sentence of Gandhiji[4]. The moment I said this, Irfan Habibji got up from his seat and wanted to charge me,” Khan told ANI here.”My ADC stopped him and then he (Habib) went behind the sofa and came from the other side. He was stopped by my security, ADC and others. The videos clearly showed that Habib was seen going from LHS to RHS three times and VC and others tried to control him. VC at one stage, pulled his hands and made him to sit away from the Governor. Of course, there was an argument between them as could be noted by the observers.

Now the turn of eminent historians. Note how furious he was!

And these are also historians…..

Note the fury……………………….and action of the historians.

Eminent historians in action shouting and raising hands!

Intolerant IHC historians did not want to listen to the invited Governor, but, engaged in shouting, disrupting and showing placards: Since he stood on the stage, some protesters created a ruckus there,” Khan added[5]…. “I would not have spoken on this issue if it had not been raised it. Since you raised it, you are making political statements. I am under oath to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution….You have every right to protest. But you cannot shout me down…when you shut the door for debate and discussion, you are promoting culture of violence…Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, said the “partition had swept away dirt… but some potholes (were) still stinking..people in Kerala had not been affected by Partition. The people here had a sense of empathy and even without knowing the issue they came and joined when the neighbour agitated. However, Partition had affected the thinking of people in northern India. ……You have come here with an agenda, you no right to create disturbance and violence at the venue”.

One historian had exceeded limits breaching security and he had to be controlled by a plain-cloth police/security guard.

Tolerance, right to speech, freedom of thought and expression etc: Generally, nowadays, all speak about “tolerance,” there were return of titles, awards etc, some years back, but, now, they kept quiet. And there have been a lot of talk, discourses and lectures abut freedom of thought, speech and writing, but, all have been going in one way only. In Tamilnadu, we have been witnessing the effects of “Dravidian ideology” of various shades and the “ideologies” of historians have also been in the same way with sophistication. When the learned historians have the right to talk, why cannot they listen to others? In fact, the Governor was responding very pointedly giving examples and legal position, but these historians were behaving differently. Their unbecoming, improper and unruly sloganeering, shouting and disrupting the authority proves their agenda. It is appalling, deplorable and intriguing as to how they could have behaved in this way.

The news report – the protocol was violated at the Governor function

EnteThe news report – the protocol was violated at the Governor function a caption, the VC accepted the lapses.

The invited host VC accepted that there were violations of protocol: Holding “reject CAA” placards, some students, said to be from Jamila Millia, Aligarh Muslim University and JNU raised slogans. And incidentally, these students, women-delegates etc., as described by the media were nothing but, the volunteers sitting there in the counters of registration, etc., harassing the delegates. Some delegates shouted “Kerala Governor shame shame” as Khan concluded his speech. And these have been the professors. VC Gopinath Raveendran on Sunday 29-12-2019 admitted that there were protocol violations at the inauguration of the 80^th IHC where Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan was in attendance on Saturday 28-12-2019.

1. Governor’s programme duration shouldn’t be more than one hour.
2. The organisers violated the schedule. The names of two speakers, including Habib, were not there on the initial programme list.
3. But, he was made to sit there for one-and-a-half hours listening to speeches of others. Speaking to the media, Raveendran said that historian Irfan Habib’s speech was not listed in the programme[6].
4. “Several things that took place at the governor’s meeting were in violation of the protocol. Habib’s speech was not listed in the schedule,” said Raveendran[7].

As he knew such things would happen, he should have avoided Habib or kept the IHC ritual after the inaugural function. Or, he need not have invited him at all. It is evident that the IHC historians, professors and experts did not like his presence. Therefore, the entire drama, stage show and comedy or tragedy were carried on knowingly.

Five Protocol Violations Flagged by Raj Bhavan

• Normally, one hour is the duration of the Governor’s programme but as per the request of the organisers, it has been extended to 1.25 hours. However, the Governor was invited for the speech after 1.50 hours.
• As per the protocol, the Governor is supposed to speak at the end. However, he was invited first at the IHC event. Moreover, when he approached the podium to deliver his speech, he was called back by the organisers!
• Irfan Habib spoke at the event without permission. In a gross violation of protocol, History Congress general secretary Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan invited two odd people from the audience to speak on stage in the presence of the governor.
• Irfan Habib heckled the governor and attempted to stall the Governor’s speech. In a security breach, the Governor’s ADC was pushed away. IHC general secretary Mahalakshmi shouted at the Governor. Even though the security officers ordered the organisers to remove Irfan Habib from the stage, the order was not executed.
•  In an intelligence failure, the audience sitting in the front row protested and raised placards.

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao tried to reach out Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao tried to reach out to Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan and explain the position

How Mahalakshmi tried to stop Irfan Habib going ear to the Governor [from a video]

The local NEWS-18 Malayalam TV video shows my approaching to S.Z.H. Jafri asking him about the happenings, he smiled and moved away wearing his coat

When I asked Jaffry, he tried to go away

When I asked Srimali, he looked down

These historians had been adamant

While Rajan Gurukkal smiled, the other one avoided with a smile….

The eminent historians had been belligerent….Definitely, the historians knew what they did was not correct, et, they did!

What sort of ideology that preaches to act against Governor, police, authority etc?: The behaviour of the students from Jamila Millia, Aligarh Muslim University and JNU “women-delegates” or volunteers of IHC has brought a bad name to IHC. No professional or gentleman would not have conducted him/herself in that manner. They appear innocent, but, shocking to know the way they acted and conducted themselves with the police. In one video, it is seen, these young women toss cap of a woman cop down, and the police tried to catch it and adjust on her head. This is shocking to the core, because, learned women behaved with uniformed officers. Such conduct is unimaginable. That they even do not respect the police is not understandable. What sort of ideology that preaches to act against Governor, police, authority etc? Definitely, something is wrong with these personalities. We were uniformed officers and we imagined of doing such things. We only respected our higher officers. After looking at all, I tried my best to go near to the K. M. Srimali and others. I asked them, “Is this the way IHC would be conducted?,” but, they kept quite. I asked Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan, but, she went to the stage, but, only, to justify their actions. The governor of a State has been the highest authority and opposing, disrespecting or tried to misbehave him is liable to be punished under Act and Rules. This Governor might have liberally brushed aside the events or forgotten, but, it would remain a black chapter in the history of “IHC.”

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

10-01-2020

[1] The Telegraph, At history meet, CAA backlash in Kannur University, By K.M. Rakesh in Bangalore, Published 29.12.19, 5:06 AMUpdated 29.12.19, 5:06 AM

[2] http://telegraphindia.com/india/at-history-meet-caa-backlash-in-kannur-university/cid/1731173

[3] Indian Express, Danish Kaneria mistreated by Pakistan cricketers as he’s Hindu, alleges Shoaib Akhtar, Published: 26th December 2019 11:34 PM | Last Updated: 27th December 2019 12:27 AM

A video of Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar, who has been vocal on different issues, has gone viral on social media in which he had said that players refused to eat food with Kaneria just because he was a Hindu. “The players who didn’t like to talk to me just because I was a Hindu. Soon I will reveal their names. I did not have the courage to speak in this regard, but now I got the courage to speak on this issue when I heard Shoaib’s statement,” Kaneria said. “I was playing against about 22 people (sic) — 11 theirs and 10 ours. Who knows who was the match-fixer. There was so much match-fixing. Mohammad Asif told me which all matches they had fixed and how they did it,” he had said.

http://newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2019/dec/26/danish-kaneria-mistreated-by-pakistan-cricketers-as-hes-hindu-alleges-shoaib-akhtar-2081318.html

[4] Business Standard, Irfan Habib tried to charge me; was defending law which is my duty: Arif Mohammad, ANI | Politics First Published: Sun, December 29 2019. 21:53 IST, Last Updated at December 29, 2019 22:10 IST.

[5] http://business-standard.com/article/news-ani/irfan-habib-tried-to-charge-me-was-defending-law-which-is-my-duty-arif-mohammad-119122900753_1.html

[6] The Outlook, Protocol violations at Kerala Guv”s meet: Kannur VC, teNews Scroll, December 2019 Last Updated at 2:06 PM | SOURCE: IANS

[7] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/protocol-violations-at-kerala-guvs-meet-kannur-vc/1696104

The 80th session of Indian History Congress held at Kannur University – were the organizers not ready or decided to proceed in that way? [1]

The 80^th session of Indian History Congress held at Kannur University – were the organizers not ready or decided to proceed in that way? [1]

The delegates arrived at the Kannur Railway station on 27-12-2019 from Tamilnadu, Andhra, UP, Orissa etc

The politicization of Indian History Congress and the way, it has been going since 1980s and 1990s: Earlier, when I became a life member of Indian History Congress (IHC), I used to attend the sessions regularly and presenting papers also. Then, IHC had gone in the political way with a lot of brawls, tussles and infightings, leading to uglier scenes. In Calcutta session, when dinner was hosted by the Governor at the Victoria Memorial Hall, the historians virtually pounced on the food putting their hands on the biryani. At that time, we were four[1] from the Central Excise department attending the session. We asked them to stand in the queue, come in order to take the food, of course, we started serving the food also. Then, some people came running and taken over the job of serving. The 1992 events divided them and every session was politicized with RJM-BM issue one way or the other. In fact, the “RJM historians” and “BM historians” were openly talked about and mentioned in the media[2]. Te WAC-III witnessed more ugly scenes exposing the political affiliation of the so-called eminent, elite and emeritus historians[3]. So, I stopped attending from 1993 onwards. After 20 years, I attended the 74^th session of at Cuttack in 2013. As I lost my mobile phone and the laptop data, I could not post my blog, like that of TNHC, SIHC and APHC.

Decided to attend Kannur session of IHC: After 2013, now, I attended the 80^th session of IHC at Kannur[4], as my friends insisted to do so. Particularly, Mahendran wanted to present a paper there. He has been an explorer and rock painting researcher. Of course, another friend C. I. Nagarajan also joined. In fact, both applied for initial membership and Mahendran was given membership, but, Nagarajan’s application was rejected. He has been a Siddha medicine researchers growing several herbs and so on. Anyway, we all the three attended booking our tickets in advance. We proceeded Mangalore Mail on 26^th evening from Chennai Central. In our compartment, I could see some old faces, and I enquired about them. Indeed, they were old friends and they were on their way to Kannur and I was happy to meet all of them. Now, I could note that all of us have been above 60s, 70s and 80s.

The women-volunteers at the registration counter who could not get the internet connection or so, making the delegates to wait

Registration counter

Registration counter -2

Technical and scientific snag delayed the process of registration and verification of already registered members: We reached Kannur by on 27^th morning and I could see hundreds of delegates there at the station. We reached the Kannur University campus by bus arranged by the organizers. We had to wait for an hour, as they [the volunteers] at the Registration counter could not get an internet connection, their “application” not working etc. There were nearly 20 volunteers sitting with laptops, but, delaying the registration process.  The “delegate fees” collecting volunteers refused to receive money, without the “membership” verification, even for Life members and showing the number and other details. It was an irony that when they claim “scientifically” for their history, historiography, historiographical methodology etc., “it” was not functioning properly. Then, they verified the Membership, given clearance chit, so that the delegate could pay their delegate fees. They charged Rs 3,500/- and it was definitely excessive. Of course, they had tariff for the students and observers @ Rs 2,500/- and Rs 1,500/- respectively. Incidentally, no kit was given. They informed that the kit was not ready and provide later!

Delegate fees collection counter

Accommodation allotment, that lady had been indifferent

Standing for accommodation allotment

For allotting accommodation also they kept the delegates waiting: Then, we had to go to another counter after getting a message on our mobile. It took time and the delegates had to remind the delegates at the registration counter to clear. After getting a message, when approached for accommodation, they also took time. In fact, they had been impartial in allotting the accommodation that could be easily observed from their murmuring, gossiping and talking silently among themselves, and also keeping the delegates at a distance. Those who had been waiting for more than one hour was not given, but, who came then, were given immediately. After reminding 5 / 6 times, only, they allotted accommodation at different lodges and hotels. For this also, we had to get a message in phone. After getting a message, we proceeded to the bus and we were dropped at the respective lodges and hotels. I received the message, “Dear KV RAMAKRISHNA RAO (IHC-KANUR-205), Welcome to Kannur University. Your accommodation details as follows, Single-Non A/C at Plaza Tourist Home. Best wishes, Thank you, Kannur University, Kerala 27 Dec, 12.15 pm”! We were dropped at “Plaza Tourist Home” near to Kannur Railway station.

The so-called Plaza Tourist Home

“Plaza Tourist Home” – The accommodation that was provided to us: It was an old building where, “India Coffee House” was also functioning. There was no lift and we were allotted rooms at the second and third floors. I explained my problem and after keeping waited for one hour, they allotted a room on the first floor. The room was not so good and the larine cum bathroom worst. No heater and hot water facility. There were broken plastic bucket and mug. Because of health problem, I decided to stay there. Of course, Nagarajan was with me. Later, I came to know that many delegates coming from Tamilnadu had been accommodated there. Ironically, one female delegate, Assistant Professor and blind too, was given a room on the third floor. Therefore, it is evident that the volunteers and the persons, who were deciding the allotment had no sense, reason or logic. Perhaps, IHC had given the worst accommodation this type charging Rs 3,500/- In fact, I wanted to question them, but, my health prevented and I decided to keep quiet.

The gentleman who prevented me at the Food court!

Inside food court

Simple food served

Dinner, authoritarian host and “food-token”: Around 7.00 pm, we went to the campus for dinner. A pandal was put-up at a distance from the place of registration, for the purpose. There were a few volunteers and one person. When we went there, they asked “food tokens.” When we told that no kit was given, they were adamant in insisting the “food tokens” again and again. I showed the messages received on the phone to prove that we had already paid the delegate fees and accommodated also. Yet that person had been harsh and rude virtually shouting, “Without food tokens, I will not allow.” The souvenir gives “Food committee: Chairperson: Prof T. V. Balan, Convener: Sri P. J. Saju.” Then, I decided to go inside, I told him, “I have paid the delegate fees and shown the proof of message received in phone. As the organizers did not give the kit, you cannot prevent.” Immediately, he was shouting at somebody through the phone. Then, slowly other delegates also started coming inside. The behaviour of that person was shocking, as he could not understand the reality of the issue. Had they been so meticulous, then, the things would not have happened, as I pointed out above.  The dinner was simple – white rice, dry roti, dhal and subji.  I really wondered for this, that gentleman behaved differently. After dinner, we returned to our room. For going and coming, no transport provided and we spent on the auto.

The entrance of the room allotted, both the doors main door and the bathroom door cannot be closed!

The wonderful bathroom

The flush/cistern did not work

The broken bucket without handle, the mug too

The broken mug, closer view!

The doors of the bathroom, room and the sleep: As mentioned, Nagarajan stayed with me in the room allotted No.123. After going to the bathroom only, Nagarajan found that the door was not getting closed. I went inside and noted that the cistern/flushing was not working. So we had to pour water with bucket. The bucket was broken without handle.  That means, we had to virtually lift it and pour. Coming to the broken mug, it was still worse. He informed at the reception, but, they did not bother. After talking some time, he tried to close the door of the room, it was also not getting closed. So, I myself called the person sitting there and informed about the door. He came and tried to close, but not possible. Then he told to sleep and they would take care of. Thus, the day 27-12-2019 was and we went to bed! There were mosquitoes also!

The organizing committee with CM and others

The 17 sub-committees with the battalion of learned volunteers

The Souvenir, the committees and the persons: Though, they had not given the kit, later I saw the souvenir[5] inside the cloth bag given. There were organizing Committee starting with the chief minister to VC and 17 subcommittees with professors to officers running to about 100. It is evident that they knew how the “Plaza Tourist Home” would be! Somebody must have come, enquired, decided and confirmed to be fit enough for the delegates, from who they charged Rs 3,500/- Yet, the learned great persons of the “God’s own country” have treated us in the above manner. We had wait and see how things were going to be! Good night, hoping for Good morning and day!

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

08-01-2020

[1] Sridharan [he joined excise and then Income tax, of course passing through SSC examinations], Thiruvengadam, Perumal and Radhakrishnan became Life member later.

[2] The Babri historians had been dominant, as their articles, statements and other features used to appear in the national dailies, magazines and TV channels. In fact, they also acted as witnesses giving “historical and archaeological evidences” before the High and Supreme Courts.

[3] India Today, Political wrangles add a touch of bizarre to archaeology conference in New Delhi, KAI FRIESE, December 31, 1994, ISSUE DATE: December 31, 1994UPDATED: July 19, 2013 10:16 IST; http://indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19941231-political-wrangles-add-a-touch-of-bizarre-to-archaeology-conference-in-new-delhi-810050-1994-12-31

[4] Kannur (also known by its former anglicized name Cannanore and Portuguese name Cananor) is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Kannur district, state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur District and situated 518 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

[5] Indian History Congress Souvenir, 80^th session, Kannur University, 28-30 Dec.2019 containg articles and advertisements.