Is it difficult to write 100-200 years old history faithfully and honestly in the Indian context? Contemporary history writing towards balanced historiography (5)

Is it difficult to write 100-200 years old history faithfully and honestly in the Indian context? Contemporary history writing towards balanced historiography (5)

The contemporary history writing and historiography: The problems and dangers in writing contemporary history have been pointed out by the European and American writers. They have been mostly delving upon the World War I and II and the ideological power struggle involved. How the war crimes and related problems have been dealt with by NATO and WARSAW ideologists, the economic blockades and fiscal sanctions. Incidentally, a Communist writer pointed out the danger in writing the contemporary history[1]. Another view can be read here that of Ramachandra Guha[2] and also his yet another version here[3]. However, in the Indian context, the Indians have to face contemporary historiographical attacks both from outside and as well as inside. They have been still facing physical and ideological attacks from many such ideological groups. They have been eloquent in blaming others, but, less constructive in giving ways and means positively for the betterment of India. As Indian historians and historiography have already been ideologized and working in groups, their writings cannot be unified, but giving different versions, but, ultimately the dominant version prevails and the weak slowly die down.

Do historians cover all historical subjects with ideology?: Indians include thousands of groups of people engaged in a variety of job, work and avocations. During the last 3000-2000-1000-500-100 years, definitely much has affected them in many aspects, the Indian society formed and existing has been with certain specific culture, tradition, heritage and civilization. The A to Z of duties and responsibilities[4] can be studied under different categories (these are given only for illustrative purposes and not exhaustive):

• Science, technology
• Mathematician, astronomer, geology, cosmology, cosmogony,
• Law, acts, rules, judiciary, jurisprudence
• Education, schools, colleges, universities, specialization
• Health, medicine, diseases, hospitals
• Agriculture, seeds, cereals, oil,
• Ores, metals, metallurgy, utensils, bronzes
• Cotton, silk, yarn, weaving, textiles,
• Cattle, milk, milk products
• House, house construction, materials
• Temple, construction, sculptures, artisans, sculptors, stone worker,
• Artist, painter,
• Food, cooking, preservation of food
• Ruler, king, emperor, dynasty, chieftain, politics,
• Tax, cannons of taxation, exemption, exports, imports,
• Boat, ship, building, inland water transport, oversea navigation

Historians, history-writer, historiographer, archaeologist, or any other related experts do not cover all the subjects.  They may call themselves as Marxist, pro-Marxist, anti-Marxist, subalternist, left, right, centre, nationalist, anti-nationalist, non-nationalist or any other expression, they have been arguing, counter-arguing, etc., for many decades, without concluding but going on blaming others.

The available contemporary evidences should be preserved: Definitely, the available contemporary and Indian evidences should be preserved:

• The Mail, The Hindu, Indian Express (English dailies), Swadeshamitran, Navamani, Dinathanthi, Dinamani (Tamil dailies), Kalki, Ananda Vikatan, Kumudam, Kalkanu (Tamil magazines) contain day to day news of 19^th and 20^th centuries. Therefore, all such dailies in e-format should be made available to the public and researchers.
• Accordingly, the events and news of 1900 onwards had been well recorded.
• Even old photographs and cine-films contain the then existence condition of popular places, roads, buildings etc., that may add more evidence for history writing.
• The narratives 70-80-90-100 years old people should be recorded immediately, before they leave us with data and information.
• Audi alteram partem meaning “listen to the other side”, or “let the other side be heard as well”. Hence, the all sides, both sides or the other side of the events could be known and analyzed.
• Knowing the facts, they should be allowed to record for the posterity.

How to get Indian history completely?: For convenience, and familiarity, the Madras presidency, Madras and Madras related events, personalities and issues have been taken up for discussion. In the same way, the problems and facts of each state, important city and local leaders can be taken up, so that the whole India would be covered and such narratives can be compiled for future generations:

• As Indians have been divided based on language, region, religion, ethnicity and other factors, they have been compartmentalized in groups.
• However, there have been celebrations, festivals, tirta-yatras, going on 24×7 basis -unite all Indians and they are not controlled by any ideology.
• The print and electronic media now exposes many interesting facts of celebrations, festivals and events to the viewers and they could understand how they are in common, though, the names and places differ.
• Naturally, Indian culture, tradition, heritage and civilization unite them in all such gatherings.
• That they are Hindu need not be a communal factor, but, historical and therefore, such interpretation should be stopped in historiography. The common people of India not only do not know such interpretation and they do not bother also.
• That majority of Indians has been carrying on their activities with all the 1000 years disturbances etc., prove some inherent resilience among themselves.
• Therefore, the criticizing historians, disparaging historiographers and condemning writers should recognize such intrinsic resistance, innate spirit, inborn confidence, or inbuilt strength.
• As the biographies, autobiographies of leaders, scientists etc., have been published, the history of others can also be published, so that the current and as well as the future generations know them.
• Time will decide, who will be remembered for long and forgotten.
• The responsibility of all writers, speakers and lecturers should be to unite Indians.

Regional separatism, linguistic enthusiasm and state exclusivism should not affect India’s unity and integrity: As crores of Indians living far away from each other, yet enjoy the food, music, cinema, and so many other common things, with the modern connectivities, they can still come together. As armed forces have such spirit, all Indians should have unified feelings. If the regional parties, leaders and ideologists still want to question the Indian unity and integrity in different way, they would be only misleading the people of the respective state. The central-state relations would also be affected with such confronting attitude and verbose. Thus, the fellow-Indians of other states also could get affected with such confronting states creating uncomforted conditions. However, now in modern times, Indians of all states have been united together in many ways. Their relationships have been there in every state. The IT and similar jobs have made them to go different parts of India and work. Thus, millions have already been settled in other states during the last 75 years and they have already been converted to local conditions, speaking local languages and following customs.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

15-05-2024

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[1]  Rajani Palm Dutt, Problems of Contemporary History, 1963. Book published by Lawrence and Wishart (London, 1963).https://www.marxists.org/archive/dutt/1963/contemporary-history.htm

[2] Guha, Ramachandra. “The challenge of contemporary history.” Economic and Political Weekly (2008): 192-200.

[3] Ramachandra Guha, The Challenge of Contemporary History, Historia 54,1, Mei/May 2009, pp 112-128.

The author notes, “A somewhat different version of this article was published in the Economic and Political Weekly I am grateful to André Béteille, Sumit Guha, Mukul Kesavan, Sunil Khilnani, Srinath Raghavan, James Scott and two anonymous reviewers for their comments.”

[4] In Indian context, duty is always connected with responsibility, accountability and liability and therefore, the individual discipline is expected much that helps the growth of family and society.

Note- the graphics have been added to create awareness how anti-Indian forces, ideologists and writers have been working…..

Is it difficult to write 100-200 years old history faithfully and honestly in the Indian context? Mythologization of modern leaders (2)

Is it difficult to write 100-200 years old history faithfully and honestly in the Indian context? Mythologization of modern leaders (2)

Only few Indians know all other leaders: Very often, people groups talk about their leaders like – Gandhi (1869-1947), Nehru (1889-1964), Patel (1875-1950), Bose (1897-1945), Rajaji (1878-1972), Jinnah (1876-1948), Ambedkar (1891-1956) and other mainstream heads and regional chiefs of the states. Though, thousands of other leaders, religious heads, scientists and others were there, they may not be known to all Indians, as they were not made publicized. Even after the spread of print and electronic media, such tendencies continue. Though, it cannot be called as censor, the influenced and controlled media has agenda to do so. The media allows the programs, news and other features only that are decided by the choice of the owners and not that of the viewers. Slowly such enforced burden continues and the viewers are accustomed to such imposed programmes. In the same way, the history writers and historiographers also decide what they write and what they do / should not write.

All Indian leaders should be studied: As the Indian recent history covers 100-200 years, definitely, the leaders of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc., may have also to be added. For the Bengalis, it is very familiar, as they used to get news about the nearby states including Myanmar, Thailand and beyond[1]. So also, the Punjabis still remember and get the news of their relatives, who are still in the Western Punjab in Pakistan. The relation of the Tamils of Tamilnadu with that of Sri Lanka is viewed carefully and seriously. But, the Indians of other states do not get such details.After all, Jinnah lived in India and his house is there in Bombay / Mumbai[2]. But, when Jinnah. EVR, Ambedkar and others decided to meet, they met at the house of Ambedkar and not at that of Jinnah. In fact, many, including historians do not know that Jinnah, EVR and Ambedkar met together. No historian or researcher raised any question about it. Historians do not talk about Western Punjab and East Bengal or East Bengal and West Bengal. Therefore, it is imperative that Indian students should read about the leaders of other states also.

The history of the leaders of India, pre-1947 India and after 1947 India: How these leaders acted, reacted and counter-acted can be noted during the British rule, before and after independence. Particularly, the study of separatist leaders has been interesting. Though millions of documents, lakhs of books and thousands of photos are available, not all are available in the public domain. Not all of them were handed over to India by the British and Indian government also made them open to all. Of course, when the Indian historians become biased, their likes and dislikes changed completely. When most of the senior leaders started dying after independence because of age, the next generation of leaders have not been so, the current generation lost the chance of knowing facts about them. When India itself was divided into Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Burma and Sri Lanka  either by administrative convenience or freedom struggle, separation created in knowing the leaders of other countries carved out of the “British India. ” When the  formation of linguistic based states within India completed, such exclusivism arose among the linguistic groups. Thus, the pre and post-1947 Indian history makes a lot of difference.

The politics of statue erection: Till 1970-80, Ambedkar was not known to the south, particularly, the Tamilnadu people. The DK-DMK leaders also did not bother about him.  Their speeches and writings show the fact. As they give importance and publicity about him, they did not do the same of them some 40-50 years back. But, suddenly, 1980s onwards, thousands of Ambedkar statues started appearing in Tamilnadu. At that time some even questioned, why statues for a person, who was not a Tamilian. Many Tamilnadu political and other leaders claim that they are the heir of Ambedkar and produce all sorts of rhetoric literature accordingly. Even if Prakash Ambedkar or Anandraj Yaswant Ambedkar comes to Tamilndu, they might be surprised or shocked to note how many are claiming the heir-ship. Mayavati started installing her statues in UP[3], just like what the Dravidian leaders did in Tamilnadu. Ironically, when the statue of Karunanidhi was installed, while he was alive, it was demolished on the occasion of death of his political rival MGR in 1987. Later, as mentioned above, the Ambedkar statues were started to be installed throughout Tamilnadu. The DK also joined the race with the installation of EVR statues everywhere. Thus, statue erection has beome a political culture in India.

Statue-tomb culture increasing in Tamilnadu: Now, perhaps none can / could point out the facts of the Dravidian leaders now elevated to divine level. Crores are spent to build memorials, buildings and other spots year by year. Thus, during the last 70 years, more and more neo-political-spiritual places are created. The tomb culture has already started from 1970 and now in Madras / Chennai, most of the Marina beach has been encroached by the tombs of C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran, Jayalalita and M. Karunanidhi. There is a joke that every CM might reserve a place in the Marina Beach for the purpose. Their places of tombs have been constructed, reconstructed, renovated, modified, enlarged many times spending crores of money. Evidently, a new type of cult has been created and none can criticize such sectorial rituals, factional rites and group lirugy. The yearly rituals and ceremonies are conducted on the days of birth, death and other occasions. The beach has also been lined with many statues and they are increasing year by year. “Manimantapam” has become a routine affair and it is declared for every leader, evidently chosen based on caste, religion and other sectarian reasons. Under such circumstances, only esteemed eulogy, superlative tributes, and praising elegy are only allowed. The life-histories of all these leaders are not written or know to the public. Thus, tomb-statue culture also suppress the facts of the leaders.

Mythologization of life-histories of leaders: Even among the State / regional leaders like – Sheik Abdullah, Jagjivan Ram, Karpoori Thakur, Om Prakash Chautala, Charn Singh, Prafulla Kumar Mohanti, Lal Denga, Jyoti Basu, Biju Patnaik, N. T. Rama Rao, E. V. Ramasami Naicker, Potti Sriramulu, Nambudripad, Ramakrishna Hegde, Bal Thackery, Vijayaraje Sindia, Man Mohan Singh, etc., many of them are forgotten now. Only for illustrative purposes, few leaders have been mentioned and it is not exhaustive list. In many cases, their real life-histories have been mythologized, though, they lived just 100 years back and some are living also. The regional parties, of late, have been trying to mythologize and portray their leaders in the new cast, so that the past is erased or completely changed. As the political and social leaders are claimed by different parties, they try to project them to suit their ideology and hence suppress the facts that are not suitable to them. Thus, the suppression of facts work in different ways with the modern mythologization. Here, also no historian or researcher gives 100% authentic biography, yet, lessons are included in the textbooks for students to read and answer as per the designed pattern, as otherwise, the students cannot get marks and even pass the exams.

How facts are suppressed[4]: Generally, negationism[5] is applied to suppress all the negative aspects of life of any particular leader and new positive aspects are added year by year by the followers, disciples and admirers. However, as the relatives, friends and contemporaries live even today, they know the facts and hence, they point out in incorrect projection of such leader. Here also such persons are threatened or warned not to meet any persons, give interview and so on. Thus, the old persons of 70 to 100 years old are also prevented to tell the truth. Of course, in the 100-200 years newspapers also, some news would have come and researcher could find out. Here also, the researchers are harassed and access denied maximum. They are asked to come again and again, send back on flimsy pretext and thus, they too stop coming. Yet, such details are prevented to be recorded in the mainstream media, books and journals. Even in the research journals, conference proceedings and seminar compilations, certain vested interests see that they are excluded. Thus, systematically such details are suppressed forever and in due course, they are forgotten.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

15-05-2024

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[1]  The Greater India Society for the study of Indian culture in East, South East and Central Asia. The terms the Society used in its aims and objects to describe the vast geographical expanse of what it felt constituted ‘Greater India’ now are largely forgotten and perhaps sound somewhat archaic: ‘Serindia, India Minor, Indo China and Insulindia’ referring respectively to what corresponds now roughly to modern Xinjiang, India, South East Asia and North West Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Iran. 

[2] Jinnah Mansion, also known as the South Court, is an unoccupied house in Malabar Hill, a premium neighbourhood of the city of Mumbai in India associated with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and first governor-general of Pakistan. It was built by Jinnah and remained his main residence for 10 years until he left in 1946 for Karachi.

[3] Mayavati justified before the Supreme Court during the hearing in 2009 petition against the profusion of statues of Mayawati, her mentor Kanshi Ram and elephants – her party Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)’s symbol – built at parks in Lucknow and Noida with taxpayers’ money when she was chief minister between 2007 and 2012. The statues of bronze, cement and marble had critics accusing her of self-obsession and megalomania.

[4]  As the author himself has faced and undergone all such problems, such exigencies can be explained in detail, yet, it is not possible.

[5] Historical negationism, also called historical denialism, is falsification or distortion of the historical record. It should not be conflated with historical revisionism, a broader term that extends to newly evidenced, fairly reasoned academic reinterpretations of history. In attempting to revise the past, historical negationism acts as illegitimate historical revisionism by using techniques inadmissible in proper historical discourse, such as presenting known forged documents as genuine, inventing ingenious but implausible reasons for distrusting genuine documents, attributing conclusions to books and sources that report the opposite, manipulating statistical series to support the given point of view, and deliberately mistranslating texts.

Why Indian students should spend crores for the publication of research papers paying to foreign companies? (2)

Why Indian students should spend crores for the publication of research papers paying to foreign companies? (2)

Foreign business thrives on India: The suggestion was made after examining the rise of the OA method adopted by Indian researchers. Picture this: In 2011, there were 14,850 OA publications, with 5,864 being gold OA. By 2020, the total number of OA publications had increased to 50,662, with 30,604 being gold OA and 20,058 other OA publications (see box). Also, the number of journals levying APCs has grown consistently: it was 1,825 in 2011 and 5,661 in 2022. The authors felt that with the growing number of OA publications from India, a central and state-level single-window option for funding in OA journals would help researchers.

All About OA
1) What is Open Access	* Open access (OA) keeps research work open to all
	* Gold OA removes all restrictions and permission barriers
	* Green OA places a version of research work in a repository chosen by the publisher with certain terms and conditions to access the article
2) The APC model	* The Article Processing Charges (APC) has changed the underlying strategies of the journal business model, shifting from demand-side to supply-side economics
	* Instead of charging readers and librarians for subscription or license of scholarly work, the OA model supports the production cost of an article by the author paying the APC
	* APC per document varied from journal to journal with the minimum APC being $8 for chemistry and materials sciences and the maximum $6,000 for health and medical sciences journals
	* In the area of business, economics and management, the highest APC was between $1,001 and $1,500

The charges are mandatory and they justify such charges: The website declares[1], “To cover publication costs Wiley Open Access journals charge an Article Publication Charge (APC). APCs vary by journal. To see a full list of APC prices for Wiley fully open access journals and subscription journals which offer open access, please see our Article Publication Charges page.” How to pay – has also been explained[2]. It also warns, “When submitting an article to a Wiley Open Access journal, the submitting author must agree to pay the publication charge minus any eligible discount (or request a waiver). After acceptance the article will enter the production cycle and the author will be asked to pay the publication charge for the journal minus any eligible discount. When final formatting corrections are made and the author approves their article for publication, payment of the publication charge must be received before the article will be published online. The submitting author assumes responsibility for the article processing charge, and Wiley will not issue refunds of any kind.” Copy right, how the article is published in a journal, who buys and reads or how it is accessed and other reasons are cited for justification of publishing charges collected. Thus, the terms and conditions have been explicit and it is doubtful that all Indian paper senders and payers would have understood or not.

The Publication charges increasing year by year and so also Indian researchers: The EC and US academic companies have understood the potential of India and thus, they have decided to exploit it. As India has 140 crores population with millions of IT experts, doctors, engineers and other professionals, they are in demand in every country. Unlike other nationals, the Indians have been calm, docile and sincere in their duties and work with commitment. Therefore, they have indulged and engaged in this commercialization and business. Initially, the foreign journals did not charge APCs, but, slowly started charging on different pretexts. The global average per-journal APC is US$1,626 [Rs 1,35,000/-], its recent increase indicating “that authors choose to publish in more expensive journals”. A 2019 analysis has shown 75% of European spending on scientific journals goes to “big five” publishers (Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor & Francis and the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the trend continues even today. Together they accounted for 56% of articles published, as they have commercialized the situation and conditions.

Million-Billion business of publishing papers: Author fees or page charges have existed since at least the 1930s. Different academic publishers have widely varying levels of fees, from under $100 [Rs 1,000/-] to over $5000 [Rs 4 lakhs], and even sometimes as high as €9500 [Rs 9 lakhs] or $10,851 [Rs 8 lakhs] for the journal Nature. Meanwhile, an independent study indicated that the actual costs of efficiently publishing a scholarly article should be in the region of €200–€1000 [Rs 15,000/- to Rs 80,000/-]. High fees are sometimes charged by traditional publishers in order to publish in a hybrid open-access journal, which makes an individual article in a subscription journal open-access. The average APC for hybrid journals has been calculated to be almost twice as high as APCs from full open-access publishers. Journals with high impact factors from major publishers tend to have the highest APCs. Publishers’ high operating profit margins, often on publicly funded research works, and their copyright practices have subjected them to criticism by researchers. For example, a Guardian article informed that in 2010, Elsevier’s scientific publishing arm reported profits of £724m [Rs 800 crores] on just over £2bn [Rs 1600 crores] in revenue. It was a 36% margin – higher than Apple, Google, or Amazon posted that year. So, just like cellphone, internet usage etc., the article-publishing business has also been operating effectively with profits.

1970-80s – Indian journals were in demand: During the 1970-80 period, many Indian journals , mostly published by the Indian Research Institutions, CSIR, Defence and other organizations were popular among the researchers. The subscribers used to wait for the journals and read them. In fact, they were sold in the book and newspaper stalls. Some publishers used to export to the USA and European countries, as there was a demand for them. The Indian Journals contained highly researched articles, papers, and reports about discoveries and inventions with locally available technologies and resources. Not only, the Journal were so cheap, but, the inputs, raw materials, parts and accessories used and the final products and goods produced or manufactured were also cheap and economical. Only thousands of Indians used to subscribe and read such journals (at that time the annual subscription was Rs 10/- and then increased to Rs 100/-). In fact, the contributors of the articles to those journals were paid honorarium. Many times, the US-European scientists, technical experts and manufacturers used to surprise and recognize the importance of the Indian and Indianized science and technology. Thus, they started buying extracts (floral, herbal etc), rare-earths, handicrafts and man-made locally manufactured goods and subject to critical analysis and research[3].

Electronification, digitization and commercialization of education: The teaching and learning processes and accompanying materials have been electronic oriented and made accordingly. The books, journals and other documents are digitized. Even objects, tools, laboratory activities, manufacturing processes, hospital treatments etc., have been videographed and used for education. The cellphones, televisions, CCTVs and all other equipments are connected, monitored and tracked. Thus, illiterate or literate – most of the Indians have been brought under such electronic and digitized systems with Adhar card, Voter ID, biometrics etc. Therefore, the position and condition of the students need not be explained, as they are found to be with cell-phones always, except when they sleep and go to toilets. The exams have to be conducted in a careful and controlled manner, as the students adopt and adapt new electronic gadgets and methods to cheat the invigilators. Thus, how researchers behave, interact, prepare their papers and related activities need not be explained.

To become an Assistant Professor paper publication is necessary: To become an Assistant Professor, one should have a basic degree in Humanities or science or technology, so that then, he / she can complete a master degree of a subject of the choice. Post completion of a master’s degree, candidates need to appear for the UGC NET exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) with the concurrence of the University Grants Commission (UGC). It is one of the mandatory requirements to become an Assistant Professor. Candidates must also publish their research papers in various peer journals as it will add value to candidates’ resumes. The UGC-NET Exam is conducted twice a year in June and December respectively in well over eighty subjects in various cities of the country to decide the eligibility of candidates passing out from Indian universities for the selection of “Assistant Professors as well as “Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professors” in the colleges and universities of India. The selection is based on the aggregate performance of candidates in both the papers – Paper I and Paper II. Although the examination demands a wide extensive and intensive preparation at the same time depending on the time and facilities available, an intelligent approach to the preparation for the examination may make it easier for aspirants to clear the exam with relative ease and freedom from anxiety.

From “Publish or perish” to “Pay and get published” condition: Coolidge in 1932 reportedly coined the phrase “Publish or perish” and it is affecting most of the academicians and they are forced to prepare and submit some papers for publication. Academic institutions and university mechanically decide the competency of the candidates appearing for jobs with their publication of papers. Administrators and interviewing selectors are increasingly using this as the criteria during recruitments, including such columns in their applications and reports. Thus, the prospective candidates and researchers resort to different methods to publish their papers. For real, genuine and capable candidates, there is no problem, as they know the subject, have writing capabilities and presentation skills and thus, easily getting their papers published at conferences, seminars and workshops. However, for others with some drawbacks, they struggle in this aspect. Here, the transition takes place, the “Pay or perish” position changes to “Pay and get published” condition.

“Pay and get published” leads to other unacademic activities: Scholars, who publish infrequently or who focus on activities that does not result in publications like instructing undergraduates, may find themselves out of contentions for many teaching positions. It is due to these reasons that there is an immense pressure to publish and thus other methods are also creeping inside. This pressure to increase the number of publications has led to unethical practices and waste full research with vested interests. The groups formed at different level try to exploit and commercial this drawback or demand. The increasing scientific articles have fuelled the demand for new journal and the groups, immediately work and implement also. There is intriguing, alarming and proliferation of scientific journals of all kind. Majority of the publications still goes uncited, as they are created for exploitation and commercialization and not for real research. This means that neither they are appreciated by the peers nor they are of any importance to the industry or patient. Most of the published research works are done just to improve the curriculum vitae (CV) of the researcher and they do not find any merit in practical terms. The increasing number of publication have led to a rise in unethical practices, and dubious research practices such as salami slicing, plagiarism, duplicate publication, fraud, ghost authors etc.

From November 2022 onwards, publication of a paper is not mandatory: The MPhil scholars were required to present at least one research paper at a conference or seminar. On the other hand, PhD scholars had to present two research papers at conferences or seminars and publish at least one paper in a refereed journal prior to submitting their thesis. However, in the new regulations for the doctoral programme released on November 7, 2022 the commission has removed this requirement. Still, whether the researchers have known this or not, their enthusiasm, vigour and urge for “payment publication” has not changed.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

10-04-2024

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[1] https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/open-access/article-publication-charges.html

[2] https://authorservices.wiley.com/asset/photos/licensing-and-open-access-photos/How to pay the APC for an OA journal article.pdf

[3] Working in the Central Excise department, many times, I noticed how such items were exported and why the foreign buyers wanted them.

Why certain archaeologists should make hue and cry about the findings of skeletons, skulls and bones? – forensic anthropologists vs archaeologists (2)

Why certain archaeologists should make hue and cry about the findings of skeletons, skulls and bones? – forensic anthropologists vs archaeologists (2)

Many Indus Valley Civilization-type skeletons found In India before and after 1947: The human skeletons were found in the Mohanjadaro-Harappan sites since 1922 from India before and after 1947 as follows:

• The archaeological site of Mehrgarh is located in Baluchistan of Pakistan
• Kalibhangan – The site is located on the left riverbank of Ghaggar, in the northern part of Rajasthan, about 310 km northwest of Delhi. Kalibangan means black bangles by local dialect because the countless fragments of black terracotta bangles found scattered over the site.
• Lothal -This site is located in the Delta of Sabarmati River, Gujarat.
• Dholavira – This is an archaeological site of Kutch district in Gujarat state of India. The site is the fifth largest Harappan site ever discovered in Indian subcontinent
• Rakhigarhi – It is a village in the Haryana state of India, around 150 kilometers apart from Delhi
• Harappa –  Harappan Civilization was named after this type-site situated now in Pakistan.
• Mohenjo-daro This site is one of the largest settlements of Harappan Civilization ever discovered. It is an archaeological site in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay discovered this site as early as 1922.
• Farmana This site is located in the Rohtak district of Haryana state.

Here, in all such excavated sites, forensic experts were present or not; samples taken for genetic studies; results published; how they helped the archaeologists to improve their hypotheses and theories of Aryans, Dravidian etc., are not known. Pitchappan with all the data has been inclusive or does not assert boldly about the researched genetic evidences  that the living here – had been Dravidian or otherwise. Here, modern-day experts of forensic experts, forensic anthropologists, anthropo-archaeologists, archaeo-anthropologists and related experts could object to each other for their individual methodology adapted and adopted in their respective studies. Just because, for specialization, each new expert-group created cannot dictate terms with others, as every discipline would claim the superiority, expertise and excellence of their subject.  So because of their inter-disciplinary rivalry, the material evidences cannot suffer and Indians should not be misled by their biased, ideologized and partial reports.   

Post-1980 grouping of skeletons: Several skeletal series came under anthropological scrutiny during the post‐1980 era[1]. Important sites studied include:

● Mesolithic: Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena caves (Sri Lanka), Bagor, Kanavaypatti, Deulga rock shelters, Kalpi, Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha, Bhimbetka, Lekhahia, Damdama.

● Harappan: Rakhigarhi, Sanauli, Farmana, Harappa, Mohenjo Daro (Pakistan).

● Neolithic–Chalcolithic: Ieej, Balijapalli, Banahalli, Budhihal, Tekkalakota (restudy), Inamgaon, Daimabad, Tuljapur Garhi, Hullikallu, Agripalli, Chinnamarur, Peddamarur, Tharsa, Kaothe, Walki, Ramapuram, Nevasa, Chandoli (restudy), Apegaon, Mehrgarh.

● Megalithic: Khairwada, Borgaon, Erladinne, Raipur, Kanyathirthum, Kodumanal, Naikund, S. Pappinayakkan Patti, Anaikkaraipatti, Kodanginayakkanpatti, M. Kallupatti, Mahurjhari.

● Historic–medieval: Kumar Tekri, Padri, Jotsoma, Roopkund, Chaul, Sanjan, Kuntasi, Bolpur.

Do the archaeologists neglect skeletal remains?: The forensic anthropologists note that archaeologists have not been so interested in the study of skeletal remains[2], “Human bones were never a priority area of research in Indian archaeology. Bioarchaeology in India, on some levels, is still hindered by the attitudes of archaeologists, which resemble those of American scientists of decades past”. So, already here our archaeologists have been compared with the American archaeologists.

Larson also is quoted[3], “Unaware of the potential of human skeletal remains, many archaeologists view them as, at best, an irrelevance, and when encountered in situ as objects whose excavation is time consuming and which somehow does not constitute “real” archaeology.” Here, the anthropologists have to be asked whether they really consider them so.

Along the same lines, the late S.S. Sarkar, a biological anthropologist at the University of Calcutta, wrote[4]: “I have felt that archaeologists of this country are not yet so interested in skeletal remains as they are with potsherds. I tried to ascertain in certain cases as to what happened with the excavated skeletal remains, their whereabouts, or the completion of their reports, but I failed to obtain a scientific answer from any quarter. And if those facts were available, some lacunae in our knowledge would have been filled up … The reconstruction of the skeletal remains should not be considered at par with pottery‐washing and mending.” (Sarkar, 1972: x). so even such trend continues in 2024 has to be analyzed to find out the fact. The response of the archaeologists in this regard also should be known and recorded.

Specialization, formation of new subjects and inter-disciplinary research: for job-market and other economic factors, now the same subject is studied with different banners, syllabus and school also. As the students of science and technology have also been struggling to get jobs, they also enter into other subjects for getting jobs. Moreover, with their scientific background, they could easily grasp and understand other subjects like history, anthropology, archaeology, forensic science, forensic anthropology, remote sensing etc. Thus, they too compete with others. However, none can dictate terms with others or expect others to give all data and information on a platter, so that he could start his research immediately. No non-archaeologist could grab all the work done by archaeologists for several days, months and even years. Therefore, inter-disciplinary studies would foster academics and not inter-disciplinary rivalry or accusations.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

09-04-2024

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[1] Walimbe, Subhash R. “Human skeletal studies: Changing trends in theoretical and methodological perspectives.” A companion to South Asia in the past (2016): 482-495.

[2] Walimbe, Subhash R. “Human skeletal studies: Changing trends in theoretical and methodological perspectives.” A companion to South Asia in the past (2016): 482-495.

[3] Larsen CS,  Bioarchaeology: interpreting behavior from the human skeleton. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Bush, H, Zvelebil, M, editors., Health in past societies: biocultural interpretations of human skeletal remains in archaeological contexts. Oxford: Tempus Reparatum, 1991, p.5.

[4] Sarkar SS., Ancient races of the Deccan. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1972, X.

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (5)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (5)

Today, the last day of the conference had two sessions VII and VIII with the following papers.

09.01.2024, Tuesday – 10.00-11.30 AM Session – VII: Microscopy and compositional study:  this session was chaired by Dr. Mudit Trivedi and the following papers were presented.

Scientific Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics – K. Krishnan: The first compositional analysis of ceramics from the Indian sub-continent dates back to the 1920s. Those were wet chemical analyses that led to the identification of the elemental composition. The 1960s witnessed the application of petrographic methods to study ceramics. However, interpreting those results was difficult and offered many challenges. Therefore, the results of those early studies were presented as additional information in the respective excavation reports or as research notes. Though isolated, problem-oriented studies on ceramics using scientific techniques in recent years have brought out several interesting results that benefitted the scientific discipline and archaeological studies. This paper will present the applications and limitations of scientific analyses of pottery and its relevance to cultural studies through reviews and case studies. For this, studies on ceramics from different Harappan settlements in Gujarat will be presented. He focussed on understanding general issues such as provenance and clay paste preparation techniques. He also elaborated on the applications and limitations of the methods employed and how a balancing interpretation was made to satisfy the archaeological goals

Northern Black Polished Ware: An Ancient Science  – Alok Kumar Kanungo: Ancient sciences often denote to traditional knowledge systems, when the practices involved in the production cycle of the artefact are situated and contextualized to particular geo-cultural zone. When a knowledge system stands apart from its contemporary and remains in action only for a particular time period, that leaves behind more questions than answers. Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) is one such pottery type of India. The paper will deal with this ware’s history, science and technology by mapping the distribution trends of NBPW, and microscopic and elemental composition analyses of a selected sherds.

Some Aspects of NBPW Manufacturing Technologies  – Sidharth Shankar Rai: Potteries are the most fascinating artefacts for archaeometric investigation because separate pottery tradition represents distinct cultural tradition and the development of pottery manufacturing technology indicates societal innovation for producing a better product. Ancient Indian Glazed ware commonly known as Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) in archaeological literature is the iconic black glazed pottery produced in early Historic India from 7th century BCE to 1st century CE in the Ganga Valley. The NBPW has been manufactured in such a way that the gloss of this pottery has remained unaffected after passage of more than 2,500 years. . The production of glaze is a major achievement of ancient craftsmen. It is a result of different processes including the melting and solidification of a variety of vitreous compounds. Seven black coloured NBPW sherds and one ancient brick sample from archaeological site of Kausambi are analysed in order to understand the composition of clay, firing process and nature of the surface of the pottery. The samples are analysed through SEM, EDS and XRD. It is reported that locally available clay is used for pottery manufacturing and pyrolysis of clay minerals is responsible for the sparkling beauty of the NBPW.

From the East to the West: Investigating the Presence of South China Sea Ceramics in South Asia – Aude Favereau: Research on the movement of people and goods from the Mediterranean world to China via South- and South-East Asia aroused a great deal of interest, particularly on cultural exchanges that occurred by the end of the 1st millennium BCE and the beginning of the 1st millennium CE. Evidence of contact between communities in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea basins during this period highlighted complex cultural interactions involving the exchange of artefacts but also the dissemination of technologies and styles. But what about the circulations from East- and South-East Asia to South Asia? Were there imported ceramics or vessels used to carry commodities? Are South China Sea ceramics known in South Asia? This paper proposes (1) to review the ceramics of South Asia reported in the literature as being potentially linked to the East and to assess what is known about these vessels in South-East Asia; (2) to introduce a selection of ceramic types that circulated widely in the South China Sea and that are also found at sites facing the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar to question whether these types travelled up to South Asia; and (3) to make inferences about interactions and exchange activities during pre- and protohistoric times.

Provenience Unveiled: Exploring Torpedo Jars through Geochemical and Petrographic Analysis – Ritvik Balvally: The regions of West Asia, Arabia, Eastern Africa, and Roman-Byzantine territories had trade connections with China, and India in the 1st millennium CE. Western India was a hub for Indian Ocean trade, especially between 3rd to 10th centuries CE and ceramics; glazed and un-glazed were a major part of this exchange. Torpedo Jars are West Asian transport vessels used for overseas exchange during this period lined with bitumen. But the provenience of these ceramics has so far eluded us. Although attempts have been made to study the bitumen and petrographic analysis of Torpedo Jars separately, the picture is still unclear as to where the Torpedo Jars are exactly manufactured. Thus, this study emphasises a two-pronged approach to bolster data further and infer it to understand the provenience of these ceramics. The geochemical data comprising biomarker and carbon isotopes on chromatographic fractions of the bitumen lining of these Torpedo Jars is compared to oil seep references from different areas in southern and southwest Iran. Data on bitumen collected from numerous Iranian archaeological sites has been used as proxies to complete the investigation. On the other hand, thin-section petrographic studies would help in determining the petro-mineral profile of the ceramics.

The Elemental Composition of Late Medieval Glaze on Ceramics from the West Coast India – Laure Dussubieux: Glaze is a thin layer of a vitreous material fused at the surface of a ceramic. It is applied either for decorative purposes, adding colours and shine to the ceramic paste, or for practical reasons, as it improves the impermeability of the ceramics to liquids. Glazes often have compositions very similar to glass and are either silica or lead-based, with the addition of different alkali or alkali-earth rich ingredients depending on when and where it was produced. Metals and oxides are added to modify the colour or opacity of the glazes. Being able to determine the elemental composition of the glaze is important as it is a way to obtain information about the dating and provenance of the ceramics. In west coast of India, there are several medieval sites which have given evidence of glazed ware of Monochrome variety, and the epicenter of production evidence comes from the Gulf of Khambhat during 14-16th c. CE. This paper will illustrate the study of glaze on ceramics with the case of artefacts found at the site of Bhagatrav in Gujarat, dating from the 14th to 17th c. CE. Several types of glazes were identified based on their compositions: a Celadon from China, two samples possibly manufactured at or around Bhagatrav, two samples possibly produced in Khambhat, Gujarat and two samples with a likely Indian origin, although a more precise place of manufacture cannot be proposed. These results indicate a connection of Bhagatrav with the long-distance trade of the Indian Ocean as revealed by the presence of a ceramic sherd from China, contrasting with more local or regional exchange networks that connected Bhagatrav to Khambhat and possibly other localities nearby.

India was not depicted properly in her slides….

Marine Seismics and its use in Marine Archaeology  – Rajesh Nair: Marine seismic technology is pivotal in underwater archaeology, particularly in exploring submerged ancient civilizations resulting from historical climatic shifts. Given that more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface is covered by vast water bodies, traditional survey methods prove inadequate for visualizing sedimentary layers, human-built structures, and lost cities concealed beneath. Fusing marine seismics with sophisticated seismic interpretation techniques yields a profound advancement in marine archaeology. Seismic attribute analysis adeptly identifies nuanced data variations, hinting at the presence of shipwrecks, submerged edifices, and artefacts. Seismic inversion, in turn, refines data, offering insights into the archaeological site’s age and the preservation status of its relics. Incorporating 3D visualization provides multifaceted perspectives, facilitating meticulous excavation planning. The amalgamation of seismic inversion methodologies with multi-point geostatistics, as exemplified in the Mumbai offshore region (Ambati et al., GGGG, 2021), serves to model subsurface structures and pinpoint anomalies in sedimentary deposits. This comprehensive approach fosters non-invasive investigations, mitigating the need for destructive physical excavations. Not only does it unearth archaeological features, but it also supplies vital information about their attributes and geological context.

Discussion: The questions may be written down and sent to the paper presenters, s announced by the organizers. . In the slides shown by Laure Dussubieux, India was depicted in the truncated form. The organizers could have noted to avoid such depictions. When asked about the holes found in the tripod type ceramics, the paper presenter could not answer, but explained away mentioning that was only hypothesis. In fact, she went to teacher / guide telling that she would better explain. Suggestion was also made to compare the tripod pottery with that of South India. Perhaps, the Thailand researchers my not be knowing about the tripod ceramic potteries fund in the South India.

2.30-4.00 PM Session VIII: Pyrotechnology: The session was chaired by Prof. Ajithprasad P.

Chemical-technological Analysis of the Li People Ceramics of Hainan Island: The Problem of Preserving Pottery Traditions  – Ekaterina Girchenko and Oleg Kardash: This paper investigates the pottery traditions of the Li people of Hainan island in southern China. The Li people till recently, lived isolated in mountainous areas for a long time, so they have preserved many ancient traditions up to the present day. It is a matter of principle for our respondents from the Donghe village not to use modern tools and containers in the ceramic crafts, but to make all the necessary attributes from bamboo, wood and shells. All stages of pottery-making were recorded in the study. Eight samples of clays and ceramic fragments, both fired and unfired, were selected for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis, in order to reconstruct the structure, mineral composition and chemical properties of clays that according to potters were suitable and unsuitable for pottery-making. The chemical research has made it possible to establish temperatures that are quite high for firing over an open fire, which means that the complex structure of the fire pit with coconut shells and branches made it possible to achieve reducing roasting parameters for ceramics over an open fire as if they were fired in a kiln. The results of the experiments are correlated with the archaeological materials, so it is possible to recreate the specific characteristics of ancient pottery.

More ideas on Harappan Stoneware Bangles  – Massimo Vidale: The presentation summarizes what is presently known about the complicated pyrotechnology of Harappan stoneware bangles based on discoveries at Mohenjo-Daro and following important experimental studies during the excavation at Harappa. He went into the technical details of how the bangles were manufactured with the furnace etc. We propose critical considerations of what has been published so far and some new possible interpretations about the firing technology of this amazing and unique class of personal ornaments. He has already published papers and books on the topic individually and also with his colleagues.

On the importance of Technical Ceramics: Archaeometric Analyses and Historical Interpretation of Crucibles, Furnaces, Moulds and Tuyères and a Case Study from Southern Thailand  – Thomas Oliver Pryce: In a traditionally constituted archaeological team, ceramic artefacts fall under the purview of the ceramicist, while metal artefacts lie within that of the metallurgist. However, while the former is usually chiefly concerned with huge amounts of pottery, the latter is often asked to consider technical ceramics, or all ceramics that are not pottery or fragments thereof. This category can include materials from a wide variety of sources: ceramic building materials like adobe, bricks, clay flooring, cob and tile, as well as crucibles, furnaces, hearths, moulds and tuyères from a range of high-temperature industries. Of course, such division of specialist labour is rarely planned as such, and rather it results from the uncertainties implicit in discoloured, degraded, fragmentary and/or vitrified artefacts as they come out of the ground.

And such evaluation must be initiated as they are excavated, as passage via the pot wash can destroy vital information. With this paper, I will give the case study of Khao Sam Kaeo, a 4th-1st c. BCE entrepot and proto-city state in peninsular Thailand, which has produced exceptional evidence for exchanges of raw materials, techniques and even artisans across the Bay of Bengal. In Southeast Asia, there is a class of metal artefacts called ‘Indian high-tin bronze bowls’, due to comparators from the subcontinent with a particular configuration of typo-stylistic, technological, elemental and lead isotopic characteristics. Applying a ‘technological approach’ to these bowls, demonstrating how, where and by whom these artefacts were produced depends upon the associated technical ceramics, in particular vitrified and slagged fragments and globular vessels with a nippled base.

Live potters (Handmade Naga Pottery and Black Pottery of Azamgarh) workshops and kilns for hands-on experiments will be available throughout the conference at KV Ground, adjacent to TTJ Auditorium. Nagaland  – Mrs. Chahang Phom and Ali Phom with Interpreter Mr. Pangtuk Phom and Uttar Pradesh  – Mr. Ramjatan Prajapati and Sohit Kumar Prajapati explained the process. The participants and delegates carefully noted the manufacturing activities carried on for the purpose. The artisans came here for the purpose.

After the paper presentation, the certificates were distributed to some of the participants ad delegates. Alok Kumar Kanungo thanked all who participated and attended the conference and as well as the organizations helped them accommodating to host by providing all facilities. Rajan also thanked all hoping to meet again on some other conference. The Five-day deliberations concluded with the National Anthem.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

09-01-2024

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (3)

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024 (3)

07.01.2024, Sunday

Museum (DakshinaChitra Heritage) and Field (Mamallapuram [Mahabalipuram]) Visits

08.30 AM Tour starts from IIT Madras

10.00 AM Arrival at Dakshina Chitra  – Traditional welcome and briefing

10.30-12.30 Noon Museum tour

12.30-1.00 PM Heritage Museum Bazaar

1.00-1.30 PM Lunch in Kanali Hall

1.30 PM Departure from Dakshina Chitra

2.30 PM Arrival at Mamallapuram

2.30-3.00 PM Welcome Refreshment

3.00-6.00 PM Guided Tour of Mamallapuram – Dr. Dayalan Duraiswamy

6.00-7.00 PM Sunset at the beach

7.00-8.00 PM Dinner at Tamil Nadu State Tourism Hotel

8.00 PM Depart from Mamallapuram

9.30 PM Arrival at IIT Madras

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

07-01-2024

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024.

History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics – The Proceedings of the Third International Conference in Commemoration of Iravatham Mahadevan 2024.

Third conference held at IIT Chennai: The 3^rd International Conference in Commemoration of Padma Shri Awardee Iravatham Mahadevan was held as the “History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics” jointly by IIT, Gandhinagar, Gujarat and the Tamilnadu State Archaeology Department, Chennai on the dates 05-09 January 2024 at the T.T. Jagannathan Auditorium, IC & SR, IIT Madras, Chennai 600036. The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology takes pride in organising the International Seminar in commemoration of Padma Shri Awardee Iravatham Mahadevan’s contribution to Tamil language and society. In March 2022 the 1st International Seminar and in March 2023 the 2nd International Seminar were conducted and at present the 3rd International Conference is being conducted from 5th to 9th January 2024 on the topic History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics, to bring the ceramic researchers on a common platform to exchange the views on the present trend of research.

The purpose of the conference is explained: “At a time when India is witnessing the collapse of its traditional ceramic industry in favor of an alternative- metallic, more automated and less labour-intensive, this conference will provide new impetus on the roots of an activity on the brink of extinction.”The aims of the conference are[1]:

• To engage with the most up-to-date research on South Asia Ceramics (pottery) vis-à-vis the fields of archaeology, ethnography, experimental studies and archaeometry.
• To present the main actors in these fields to a large number of South Asian students and young scholars and train them to newer techniques and approaches.
• To discuss the development of ceramics through the ages and archaeometry involved to interpret the past technology with the help of archaeologists and/or scientists.
• The study of ceramics, involves ethnography, history, archaeology and scientific investigations, a combination of which has not evolved fully in south Asia even though ceramics predominates this area. Further, the need of standardization of ceramic studies in terms of nomenclature, chronology, typology and technology among various researchers, is envisaged.

Keeping in view of above objectives, a five-day Conference on ‘History, Science and Technology of South Asian Ceramics’ from 05-09 January 2024 is organized in collaborations: IIT Gandhinagar, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology and IIT Madras.

Different aspects of ceramics studied: Eminent scholars from around the world, and ceramic craftsmen from India will share their work and deliver lectures and carry out hands-on experiments for the participants. With pre-designed requested paper from the experts a book on Ancient Ceramics of South Asia: Archaeology, Ethnography and Global Connections will be published[2]. The study of ceramics, involves ethnography, history, archaeology and scientific investigations, a combination of which has not evolved fully in South Asia even though ceramics predominates this area. Further, the need of standardization of ceramic studies in terms of nomenclature, chronology, typology and technology among various researchers, is envisaged.

Inauguration of the conference: As per the programme, the Inauguration of the Conference was to be in August Presence of  Hon’ble Thiru. Thangam Thenarasu  and Hon’ble Thiru. Ma. Subramanian, but, due to their preoccupation with other work, they could not come. Therefore, TN Additional Chief Secretary participated, inaugurated and released the proceeding volumes of the earlier conferences and also other reports and books. Prof. K. Rajan welcomed the delegates, Dr. Alok Kumar Kanungo explained  the Scope of the Conference.  Prof. Rajesh Nair IITM also had dealt with the scope of Archaeology. It appears that others Thiru T. Udhayachandran , Dr. K. Manivasan , Dr. R. Balakrishnan  also did not turn up for some reasons. Dr. R. Sivanantham thanked all for the conduct of the conference.

Date and Time: 05.01.2024: (11.00 AM – 01.30 PM) SESSION I: DOCUMENTATION, TYPOLOGY, PAINTING AND DESIGN Chairperson: Prof. Carla Sinopoli

1. Marine Seismic and its use in Marine Archaeology Rajesh Nair: He explained how with the scientific instruments, the buried objects under water could be located, identified and analyzed. He also explained the sophisticated instruments in the IIT Madras and how they are useful for the exploration of oil and gas. Marine seismic technology is pivotal in underwater archaeology, particularly in exploring submerged ancient civilizations resulting from historical climatic shifts. Given that more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface is covered by vast water bodies, traditional survey methods prove inadequate for visualizing sedimentary layers, human-built structures, and lost cities concealed beneath. Fusing marine seismics with sophisticated seismic interpretation techniques yields a profound advancement in marine archaeology. Seismic attribute analysis adeptly identifies nuanced data variations, hinting at the presence of shipwrecks, submerged edifices, and artefacts. Seismic inversion, in turn, refines data, offering insights into the archaeological site’s age and the preservation status of its relics. Incorporating 3D visualization provides multifaceted perspectives, facilitating meticulous excavation planning. The amalgamation of seismic inversion methodologies with multi-point geostatistics, as exemplified in the Mumbai offshore region (Ambati et al., GGGG, 2021), serves to model subsurface structures and pinpoint anomalies in sedimentary deposits. This comprehensive approach fosters non-invasive investigations, mitigating the need for destructive physical excavations. Not only does it unearth archaeological features, but it also supplies vital information about their attributes and geological context.

2. Painted and Decorated Pottery of the Indus Tradition (5500-1000 BCE): Origins, Continuity and Change Jonathan Mark Kenoyer: He explained with many examples of ceramics, potteries and potsherds obtained from the many sites of Indus Valley, from West to East dating back to 7000 BCE. The colour, colour pattern, symbols, designs made with hands, impressions, were pointed out and even compared with the IVC seal signs. He suggested that these designs and patterns might have been carried o women. He also pointed out how the people of Sind, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and other places have still been engaged in the manufacture of such ceramics and potteries.  The development of pottery with various forms of painted motives and other types of decorations will be examined in the context of the Indus Tradition circa 5500-1000 BCE. Early decorations and painted designs on pottery can be linked to ornamentation developed in other technologies such as basketry and woven or embroidered textiles. Ethnoarchaeological studies of pottery colour use and motif selection will be presented along with suggestions for ways to better interpret the ideological importance of different motifs that have long continuity in the Indus Tradition. Changes in pottery painted motifs and the introduction of new decorative techniques that were used alone or in combination with painted motifs will also be examined. During the Regionalisation Era or Early Harappan Period, many different pottery decorative styles can be identified in various regions of the Indus Tradition. During the Integration Era, Harappa Phase (2600-1900 BCE) very distinctive painting styles spread throughout the Indus region with minor localized patterns. During the Localisation Era, new pottery shapes and painted motifs appear in different regions, signaling major changes in ideology and possibly function. While there are some changes in painted motifs and decorative styles over time, there are also some important continuities. Overall, the study of painted and decorated pottery of the Indus Tradition provides a unique window into the technology, culture and ideology of the diverse Indus communities.

Meeting J.M. Kenoyer after many years. He speaks Hindi fluently…….

3. Mesolithic Pottery with Special Reference to North- Central India Jagannath Pal: It is believed that pottery is generally associated with the food-producing economy of the Neolithic culture. However, pottery has been found at many sites of the Mesolithic culture in India and abroad. The question is whether it is indigenous to the Mesolithic or is the result of cultural contact with neighbouring sites of advanced culture, i.e. Neolithic or Chalcolithic. At many sites, apparently, it is the result of cultural contact with the advanced cultures of the neighbouring areas. The excavations of the Mesolithic sites in the Vindhyas, in the rock-shelters and open-air settlements, have revealed a cultural sequence:

1. Epi-palaeolithic (transitional from Upper Palaeolithic to Early Mesolithic),

2. Mesolithic (heavily patinated non-geometric tools, pre-pottery),

3. Mesolithic, geometric tools, triangle alone, without pottery,

4. Mesolithic, geometric tools, triangles and trapeze with pottery, and

5. Advanced Mesolithic, geometric and diminutive tools with pottery. He discussed about the technique, typology and cultural horizon of the ceramic industries of Mesolithic India with special reference to north-central India (Vindhyas).

 4. The Sorath Harappan Ceramic Tradition of Gujarat: A Typological and Stylistic Appraisal Ajithprasad P. 5.OCP and PGW: Continuity and Change from Harappan Bhuvan Vikrama Date and Time: 05.01.2024 (02.15 PM – 06.00 PM) Chairperson: Dr. Aude Favereau

The Sorath Harappan is the regional manifestation of the Harappa culture in Gujarat. The regional traits are more easily visible and identifiable on the ceramic vessels of the Sorath Harappan. Although it was G. Possehl and M.H. Ravel in the 1980s who defined the term Sorath Harappan, many of the distinct features of the ceramic tradition were described and illustrated by S.R. Rao in the late 1950s and 1960s, soon after his pioneering excavations at Rangpur and Lothal. Over the last five or six decades, a large volume of data on the Sorath Harappan and allied pottery assemblages has accumulated with the excavation of more than fifty sites in Gujarat. These have helped to unravel several new traits of this regional ceramic tradition that evolved side by side with the Classical Harappan ceramic tradition. The impact of Classical Harappan ceramic technology on the evolution of regional features is a significant factor. The new data, largely scattered in different publications and excavation reports, are examined with a view to assessing the typological and stylistic features of the Sorath Harappan pottery. He traced the significance of the geographical distribution of the Sorath Harappan sites and the evolution of the specific typological and stylistic traits of this regional pottery tradition.

6. Ceramic Sequence of Vadnagar: An Overview Grace Ann Varkey: Pottery is associated with human activity and is accepted as one of the oldest and most important traditional crafts. It is the most common available artefact during an excavation. These vessels were a tool for cooking, serving, and storing food and a way of artistic expression. The excavation at Vadnagar, Gujarat (season 2016- 2019) yielded a large number of ceramics right from Pre 2nd century BCE to the 17th -19th century CE. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to understand the nature of activities occurring in the characteristic features of ceramic and behavioural patterns in the various cultural periods of Vadnagar.

With Shanti Pappu, Sharma Research Institute………

7. New Perspectives on Early Historic Pottery from Coastal West Bengal Kaushik Gangopadhyay: The early historic period in South Asia is well known for developed pottery industry which circulated through trade and interaction networks. Therefore, pottery serves as good evidence of regional technological development and also acts as a proxy for charting networks during the early historic period within India and also outside. From this perspective, studies of pottery from extensive early historic sites is a desideratum. In this paper, the author presents a detailed analyses of ceramics from a lesser-known archaeological site of coastal West Bengal, which is being excavated by the author at the village of Bahiri in east Medinipur district. The paper demonstrates variations in typology, manufacturing techniques and composition within the pottery industry of the site. The ceramic industry also demonstrates the connection of this site to the larger Bay of Bengal interaction sphere during the early historic period.

8. Analysis of Vessel Proportion, Weight and Function of Ceramics Anup Ranjan Mishra: In archaeology, the third dimension ‘Form’ represents human action and is retrospectively studied in relation to the other two dimensions – ‘Time’ and ‘Space’. The Form has many quantifiable attributes. For instance, if the case of ceramics is considered, two of its attributes commonly studied are ‘quantity/number’ (frequency) and ‘measurable dimensions’ (size, diameter and height). Apart from these, another attribute ‘weight’ is also important in ceramic study. The vessel proportion and weight are directly related to the function of vessels, techno-environment and dexterity of the potters. In an assemblage of standardized ceramics, uniformity in all the attributes (technological, formal, stylistic and functional) including the vessel proportion and weight is observed. He examined the significance of vessel proportion and weight in relation to the function of ceramics in Chalcolithic and early Iron Age assemblage with the help of statistical analysis.

9. The Voice of a Pot: Reconstructing Societies through Practices of Production Prerana Srimaal: Foussing on technological data from pottery assemblages with clear chronological and stylistic patterns, the pottery was discussed. The case study of Early Neolithic-Chalcolithic pottery from the middle Ganga Plains will be taken up to showcase how previous technological studies of these assemblages were largely analysed en bloc, with little or no chronological subdivisions. This approach proved useful in comparing Neolithic and later Chalcolithic or Early Historic pottery sequences and organizations but failed to capture the internal variability within each period or phase, be it Neolithic, Chalcolithic, or later historic periods. Hence, it meant we could not reconstruct society and its complexities through the excavated pottery, even though it is often the largest group of artefacts found in an excavation. Dealing with issues like: why ‘pottery’ and ‘archaeology’? How to visualize human societies through pottery studies? – issues of gender attribution and its attendant problems like division of labour and essentialism. Subsequently, the paper will also provide an opportunity to analyse production phases not only from one period to another but also within the different periods, which will help us identify and compare different production as well as decorative styles, which in turn will emphasize the use of multiple lines of evidence to formulate and test hypotheses and illustrate the prehistoric context of social relations.

10. Ganeshwar Ceramics of Sikar District Rajasthan Sudarshan Chakradhari and Ravindra Nath Singh: He had dealt with the morphological and scientific analyses of pottery finds from Ganeshwar (A well know Copper production site for Harappans) excavation 2013, Sikar district of Rajasthan. The Ceramic shows indigenous development of pottery; to naked eye what seems as OCP in reality is not so but a distinct indigenous ceramic tradition known as Ganeswar ceramic.

11. Stability and Change in South Indian Ceramics: A View from Kadebakele Carla Sinopoli: Drawing on ceramic data from the South Indian site of Kadebakele this paper examines long term sequences of ceramic change from the Neolithic through the Iron Age and into Early Historic and early Medieval periods. In contrast to many regions, ceramic change in South India seems to be marked by long periods of stability, punctuated by more dramatic changes in technology and vessel forms. This paper seeks to explore the pace and sequence of changes through an analysis of vessel morphology and the social contexts of ceramic use.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-01-2024

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[1] https://hss.iitgn.ac.in/k-event/3rd-international-conference-in-commemoration-of-padma-shri-awardee-iravatham-mahadevan/ – :~:text=Keeping%20in%20view%20of%20above,of%20Archaeology%20and%20IIT%20Madras.

[2] https://events.iitgn.ac.in/2023/hstsac/

The Proceedings of the 82nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (5)

The Proceedings of the 82^nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (5)

Paper presentation: As per the first list printed, there were 676 papers and supplementary lists were added and thus total number approaching 1067, however, the break-up figures are not known.

Sl. no	Session	Prof/Dr	Listed	No. of papers presented[1]
1	Ancient India	Shalini Shah	100
2	Medieval India	Najaf Haider	113
3	Modern India	Sajal Nag	274
4	Countries other than India	S. Srinath	23
5	Archaeology	Seema Bawa	49
6	Contemporary India	Kalpana Kannabiran	117
	Total		676	1067

Kalpana Kannabiran[2] presided over the “Contemporary India” session and S. Srinath the “Countries other than India” section. Definitely, the young researchers had taken an interest in presenting their papers.

Ancient India session, paper reading……

Ancient India -paper reading…….

Above – Ancient India, paper reading…..

Modern India below……..

Medieval session – below

Contemporary India session – paper reading………below……

Countries other than India – below……

Archaeology session – below

Contemporary India – below……

The details about the Supplementary papers: As anticipated, many brought their papers, at the time of coming to the congress and the organizers accommodated such papers, lists were prepared and uploaded to the official website also. The details can be accessed and verified from here:

List of papers

Click to access flp82.pdf

Supplementary  list for Ancient India

Click to access slp82anc.pdf

archaeology

Click to access slp82arch.pdf

Contemporary India

Click to access slp82ci.pdf

Medieval India

Click to access slp82med.pdf

Modern India

Click to access slp82mi.pdf

Countries other than India

Click to access slp82oti.pdf

This clearly proves that many students, researchers and others are interested in presenting papers, at IHC still has such clout.  Therefore, such academic proceedings should be given more importance than other un-academic activities and routine rituals. Actually, the students are spending Rs 5,000/- to 10, 000/- to attend IHC and present papers, and therefore, they should be taken care of properly without any discrimination.

Symposiums, special lectures etc carried on: The list of papers document also contains details of symposiums, special lectures etc., organized by the IHC and as well as IHC joining with other organizations. The following details were given:

SPECIAL LECTURE, 6:30 pm

SANĀTANA DHARMA OR DHAMMA SANTATI ?

Professor Krishna Mohan Shrimali

(Former) Professor of History, University of Delhi

SYMPOSIUM

‘Reason and Ideology in Indian History’

29th December, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Speakers:

1. Professor R. Mahalakshmi (JNU)

2. Professor Y. Subbarayalu (Coimbatore)

3. Professor Arun Bandopadhyay (Kolkata)

SYMPOSIUM

29th December, 5: 30 pm

Kunwar Singh Tail Chitra Staphna Parishad, Arrah

Short felicitation for the outgoing Secretary, IHC

ALIGARH HITORIANS SOCIETY

Panel

“RECONSTRUCTING INDIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY”

29th–30th of December 2023

INDIAN HISTORY CONGRESS &

UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD

Two-Day Symposium

“Deccan: Past and Present”

29th–30th December, 2023

When amounts are spent for these symposiums, all connected are responsible for accountability.

Transparency should be there in “awards rewards and prizes”: As mentioned many were to be honoured with awards, but, several of the chosen had not turned up. After all, awards rewards and prizes are liked by everyone. Just look at the students, who pose for photographs at the time of receiving certificates after reading paper. Yes, similar condition is there for the receivers of awards rewards and prizes. Definitely, without informing the recipients or their acceptance, none would have gone to print the brochures with their photos and all. Having done all processes, if they were not coming to receive raise several questions. Even the selected sectional presidents were not to be seen and they were replaced with others. Generally, the selection of such persons would be decided during the General Body meeting with the “consensus” of other executive members. The “in-absentia” selection / rejection process would lead to such problems. Moreover, many times, they did not bother about the status of the “chosen ones,” as to whether they are “members of IHC” or not. Just for the purpose, they come and disappear and they would be forgotten by other 1000s of members.

Academic processes should be balanced without partiality: At least, the present and future generation of the IHC members should know how the “chosen ones” are chosen, according to whom prerogative and such other prevailing conditions. When they talk about democratic, social, transparent, reasonable etc., in such processes, such changes should be announced to the members. Moreover, the booklets are printed in their names and duly circulated. When so much restrictions are introduced, imposed and duly implemented to the paper presenters (already explained many times) and reducing such important academics to ritual, as pointed out elsewhere and in the previous blogs-postings, the privileged members and groups should not exploit the situation and conditions.

Cultural programmes at the evening: The students and other groups performed cultural programs for the delegates and they were good. Each group exhibited their skills in their own way and the delegates from all over India could enjoy them. The delegates encouraged and appreciated their performance. Many sat there throughout the program taking photographs. Definitely, such cultural performances unite Indians and they could understand the fundamental linkages running through the strands of music, dance and other forms of performance arts. They may be called tribal, banjara etc., but they have unique styles, postures, rhythms, tunes etc., for each category. That is perhaps, it is said that music requires no language.

The delegates fees collected are to be accounted properly: The accounts details printed in the proceeding volume points out that certain amounts are not included in the IHC account[3], as recorded by M/s. Mehta Associates, Chartered Accountants[4]. Their letter dated 21-10-2023 addressed to the Members, Indian History Congress, but the office bearers think that the remarks need not be elaborated and explained to the members. “Value of various proceedings and symposia papers s on the closing date have not been considered as no details are provided to us”………….. “Fixed deposits are not renewed – appears to be ridiculous. All these can be elaborated and discussed, but not done. The IHC should look at the interests of the member who pay lakhs to run the show every year through their delegate fees. If 1000, 1500 or 2000 delegates attending the conference means, they are spending Rs 50 lakhs, 75 lakhs and 100 lakhs / one crore Rupees or ₹ 5 million, ₹ 7.5 million, and ₹ 10 million respectively. Therefore, the organizers are responsible to answer the members about their accounts. Here, also how the General Body Meeting was conducted, accounts submitted and other details were not coming. Of course, equally, they might be receiving funds from the State and Central government funding agencies and sponsors for kits, food, transport and other itineraries. Therefore, money should not be wasted for any account.

We can meet again: Kakatiya University has hosted two IHC and other conferences and it is capable of hosting one more also. They have expertise and experience of holding many national and international seminars and conferences. Thus, all the delegates, friends and well-wishers can meet again on another occasion. The new-year 2024 may bring all successes, happiness and peaceful results with the blessings of God and our teachers.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

02-01-2024

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[1] Despite the requests made, as the details could not be obtained, the column was left blank. The total figure mentioned is based on the newspaper’s reports.

[2] Kalpana Kannabiran is an Indian sociologist, lawyer, human rights columnist, writer and editor based in Hyderabad, India. In March 2021, after a decade-long tenure, she retired from the post of Professor and Regional Director of the Council for Social Development, Southern Regional Centre, a research institute recognised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

[3]  IHC proceedings, 81^st session, 2022, p.1283.

[4]  Their letter dated 21-10-2023 addressed to the Members, Indian History Congress.

The Proceedings of the 82nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (4)

The Proceedings of the 82^nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (4)

IHC opposing RSS for demonizing Nehru: Expressing grave concern over the growing communal politics in the country, the newly elected General President of the Indian History Congress (IHC), Prof Aditya Mukherjee stressed the need to embrace the ideology of former Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru which will help ‘to explain our present and chart out a vision of the future[1]’. Delivering the General President’s address on “Jawaharlal Nehru in Our Past, Present and Future” at the 82^nd Session of Indian History Congress soon after his installation at the Kakatiya University (KU) campus here on 28-12-2023, Thursday, Prof Mukherjee said, “It is because of what Nehru stood for that he is demonized so blatantly by the communal forces today[2]. All kinds of lies and abuse are spread about him using the massive propaganda machinery that the communal forces command today[3]. Nehru is blamed for all of India’s problems for the partition of the country.”[4] Detailing the attempts to tarnish the image of Nehru by the RSS, he said, “A book called 97 Major Blunders of Nehru has now been expanded to “Nehru Files: Nehru’s 127 Historic Blunders”. The list keeps growing as new ‘facts’ are invented. He is even said to have a secret Muslim ancestry.”

Why Aditya is repeating the stuff again and again?: “The demonizing of Nehru and the values he stood for could only be done by distorting history and that is what communal forces have done blatantly,” Prof Mukherjee alleged. Summing up his speech, Mukherjee said “Nehru’s fantastic efforts to raise India from what Tagore called the ‘mud and filth’ left behind by the British has now been replaced with the Indian people being pushed back into that same ‘mud and filth’ of ignorance, obscurantism, dis-empowerment, unfreedom and above all communal hatred.” Incidentally, it is noted that he has repeated the stuff that already appeared in the “National Herald,” the Congress mouth piece[5]. Ironically, the title also appears similar, “Why they demonize Nehru.”[6] Of course, in 2015 when he addressed a seminar at AMU organised ahead of November 14, the 126^th birth anniversary of India’s first PM said[7], “it had become quite the fad to “demonize” India’s first prime minister and hold him responsible for whatever ails modern India. “This tendency can be countered with a proper reading of history”[8].

Mridula Mahajan flayed the incumbent government at the Centre: Earlier, the Chief Guest of the programme, Dr Mridula Mukherjee, Professor of History (Retd.), Jawaharlal Nehru University, in her address also flayed the incumbent government at the Centre for its attempts to misuse and distort Indian history. She stressed the need to stand up against the assault on democracy. It is not known why historians should be associated with any political party, when the talk about secularism, communalism, sectarianism, fascism and so on. Ironically, they have already been accused of holding Government jobs and as well as associating with political parties. In fact, Mridula faced such charges. When they preach to others for some values, then, they should first follow the same. We know what Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa has advised, “One should have the badge of authority for preaching, as otherwise, preaching becomes mockery”!

Mridula Mukherjee wrote “History of Congress Party”: Historian Mridula Mukherjee is a member of the editorial board that brought out the official history of the Congress, although she is the director of Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), an autonomous body under the ministry of culture[9]. As per the rules, she is prohibited from associating with any political party[10]. “Congress and the Making of Indian Nation”, a two-volume publication brought out by the Congress and released recently during its plenary session, has finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as chief editor and commerce minister Anand Sharma as convener of the editorial board[11]. The book was released by PM, who is also the culture minister, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi[12]. There is a team of professional historians associated with the project. Mridula, her husband Aditya Mukherjee, a professor of history at Jawaharlal Nehru University, her sister Sucheta Mahajan, also in JNU’s history department and Bhashyam Kasturi, her colleague in NMML, and Rizwan Qaiser, from the department of history and culture, Jamia Millia Islamia, are all part of the team. Kasturi is a contract employee. While sources in the JNU and Jamia administration could not confirm if association with a political party is flouting service rules, in case of Mridula Mukherjee, the violation is clear. She has just over eight months left of her tenure.

What S A Nadeem Rezavi talked about: Secretary of Indian History Congress, Prof S A Nadeem Rezavi, in his welcoming address, also expressed similar views and gave a brief about how the IHC fought against the communal and dictatorial forces since its inception. He appears to be of “Anti-Modi” campaigner type, as had confronted his own VC in such an ideological war[13]. SAZ Rezavi was suspended by the AMU VC in 2016 for his objectionable comments on VC[14]. It is surprising that the historians have been contradicting or confronting each other whenever they were involved with politics. When, the AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. General (retd.) Zamiruddin Shah’s remarks on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi in an interview published in The Times of India on 7 May 2014 was of appreciative nature[15], a number of History academics of AMU, JNU and Delhi University on 9 May 2014 adopted a resolution objecting to and criticising him[16].

“secular and scientific study of history”: KU VC, Prof T Ramesh, who presided over the programme, has praised the IHC for its secular and scientific study of history. He reminded the audience that the KU hosted the IHC in 1993. Registrar Prof T Srinivas Rao, outgoing General President of IHC Prof Kesavan Veluthat, and several other noted historians were present. Again the problem has been what is exactly “secular and scientific study of history”, what is “secular and scientific study ..” etc., when the IHC members have been reading, listening and watching the papers, books, speeches and acts of the elite, emeritus and popular historians.  

KU Vice-Chancellor appeals to historians to research Kakatiya irrigation system: Kakatiya University (KU) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Thatikonda Ramesh, emphasised the imperative for historians to adopt a scientific approach to studying history amidst contemporary challenges[17]. Addressing the valedictory session of the 82^nd session of the Indian History Congress (IHC), Prof Thatikonda Ramesh highlighted the dwindling interest in historical disciplines, stressing the responsibility of historians and researchers to revive this interest[18]. He underlined the crucial role of history in administration and lamented the lack of enthusiasm for social sciences, contrasting it with the rapid advancements in technology. Prof Ramesh also praised the enduring usefulness of Kakatiya tanks and irrigation systems and urged members of the IHC to spearhead extensive awareness programmes for history’s study and preservation. KU Registrar Prof T Srinivasa Rao presided over the event. General President of the Indian History Congress, Prof Aditya Mukherjee, IHC Secretary SA Nadeem Rezavi and others spoke. The conference saw 1,063 researchers presenting papers over three days, culminating in the passing of several resolutions during the session.

Valedictory session: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka is scheduled to attend the concluding session of the IHC annual session on December 30^th 2023. However, it appears that he did not turn up.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

01-01-2024

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[1] Telangana Today, Communal forces demonizing Nehru, says Prof Aditya Mukherjee, BY UPDATED ON – 03:25 PM, THU – 28 DECEMBER 20.23

[2] https://telanganatoday.com/communal-forces-demonizing-nehru-says-prof-aditya-mukherjee

[3] Deccan Chronicle, Adopt Nehru’s ideology to protect democracy in country: IHC, DC Correspondent, Published on: December 28, 2023 | Updated on: December 28, 2023

[4] https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/281223/uhc-calls-for-fight-against-communal-politics.html

[5] National Herald, Why they demonise Nehru, Purushottam Agrawal, Published: 14 Nov 2022, 12:00 PM

[6] https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/why-they-demonise-nehru

[7] Times of India, Demonizing Nehru has become quite the fad : Historians, Eram Agha / TNN / Updated: Nov 12, 2015, 20:28 IST

[8] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/demonizing-nehru-has-become-quite-the-fad-historians/articleshow/49759429.cms?from=mdr

[9] Times of India, Nehru library head on Cong panel, flouts rules, Akshaya Mukul / TNN / Dec 29, 2010, 01:18 IST.

[10] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nehru-library-head-on-cong-panel-flouts-rules/articleshow/7181440.cms?from=mdr

[11] The Telegraph, Congress confronts dark chapter 125-year history, as the party sees it, Our Special Correspondent, Published 29.12.2010, 12:00 AM.

[12] https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/congress-confronts-dark-chapter-125-year-history-as-the-party-sees-it/cid/450385

[13] Indian express, AMU prof suspended for objectionable FB post, By: Press Trust of India, Aligarh | July 24, 2014 04:34 IST

[14] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/amu-prof-suspended-for-objectionable-fb-post/

[15]    Radiance weekly, Academics Slam AMU VC’s Remarks on Modi, Written by…., Published on September 29, 2022  https://radianceweekly.net/academics-slam-amu-vcs-remarks-on-modi/

[16] The signatories to the resolution released by the Deputy Coordinator, Centre of Advanced Study in History, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, are Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, AMU; D.N. Jha, Professor of History (Retd.), Delhi University; P.K. Shukla, Formerly, Member Secretary, Indian Council of Historical Research; I.A. Khan, Professor of History (Retd.), AMU; Shireen Moosvi, Professor of History (Retd.), AMU; Mridula Mukherjee, Professor of History, J.N.U.; Ramesh Rawat, Professor of Hindi, AMU; S.A. Nadeem Rezavi, Associate Professor, AMU; Aditya Mukherjee, Professor of History, J.N.U.; Farhat Hasan, Professor of History, Delhi University; S.Zaheer Husain Jafri, Professor of History, Delhi University; Ishrat Alam, Associate Professor of History, AMU; and Shalin Jain, Associate Professor, Delhi University.

[17] Telangana Today, KU Vice-Chancellor appeals to historians to research Kakatiya irrigation system. PUBLISHED DATE – 08:54 PM, SAT – 30 DECEMBER 23

[18] https://telanganatoday.com/ku-vice-chancellor-appeals-to-historians-to-research-kakatiya-irrigation-system

The Proceedings of the 82nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (2)

The Proceedings of the 82^nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (2)

Academic proceedings: Mridula Mukherjee, former Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, and former Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, was the chief guest at the inaugural session held at KU auditorium on Thursday 28-12-2023. As usual groups of historians, academics, history enthusiasts and scholars among others including delegates from different parts of the country who attended the session, according to the organisers. From the inaugural day onwards, six separate sessions were planned to be organized on the following sessions:

Sl. no	Session	Prof/Dr	No. of papers presented
1	Ancient India	Shalini Shah
2	Medieval India	Najaf Haider
3	Modern India	Sajal Nag
4	Countries other than India	S. Srinath
5	Archaeology	Seema Bawa
6	Contemporary India	Kalpana Kannabiran
	Total		1067

The split-up figures were not available.  Generally, during the valedictory function, the sectional presidents used to brief about their experience with data.

Academic proceedings: A grand total of 1067 papers were set to be presented at the event, marking a robust discourse on various facets of Indian history. Recognizing scholarly achievements, the IHC would confer prestigious awards for outstanding historical publications[1]. Notable among these are the Barpujari Award, the Prof. Mohammad Habib Award for Medieval Indian History, and the newly introduced Prof. Annapurna Best Book Award for Ancient Indian History[2]. Additionally, the IHC boasts several awards for the best research papers across diverse historical domains, encouraging submissions from scholars under 45 years old. Noteworthy prizes include the Professor Vijay Kumar Thakur Memorial Prize for Ancient India, the Professor J.S. Grewal Prize for Medieval India, and others recognizing exceptional work in specific historical sections[3]. Noted historian Ramchandra Guha will be conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award, given every five years, by the IHC[4].

Awards for best paper[5]: There are nine prizes for the best papers submitted at the Indian History Congress session in a particular section or field by members who are not above the age of 45 years on the last date for the receipt of papers submitted for the prize (December 2023). Please note, however that there is no age-bar for Prize No.9 below.

1. Professor Vijay Kumar Thakur Memorial Prize of Rs. 10,000 for the best paper submitted for Section I (Ancient India)

2. Professor J.S. Grewal Prize of Rs. 10,000 for the best paper submitted for Section II (Medieval India)

3 & 4. Professor P.S. Gupta Memorial Prize of Rs. 10,000 and Professor J. C. Jha Memorial Prize of Rs. 10,000 for the best two papers submitted for Sections III (Modern India), IV (Countries other than India).

5. Professor Sudhir Ranjan Das Memorial Prize of Rs. 10,000 for the best paper submitted for Section V (Archaeology).

6. Professor Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize of Rs. 15,000 for the best paper submitted for Section VI (Contemporary India)

7. Professor B.B. Chaudhuri Prize of Rs. 10,000 for the best paper submitted on Economic and Social History of India (Ancient, Medieval and Modern).

8. Dr Nasreen Ahmad Memorial Prize of Rs. 7,500 for the best paper on Gender History.

9. Dr I.G. Khan Memorial Prize of Rs. 15,000 for the best paper submitted on History of Science and Technology (No age bar.)

10. Professor O.P. Jaiswal Prize of Rs. 7,500 for the best paper submitted on Indian National Movement.

11. Dr Gyaneshwari Jaiswal Memorial Prize of Rs. 7,500 for the best paper based on Archival/Epigraphic Data.

12. Professor M. Athar Ali Memorial Prize of Rs. 20,000 will be awarded for the best paper submitted at the 82nd session. There is no age-bar, and no application need be made.

The announcement of the paper selected for the prize will be made at the 84^th session. A member who wishes his paper to be considered for any of the prizes above is requested simply to indicate on it the award/(s) for which he wishes it to be considered and (in case of every prize except No. 9) attach a Xerox of some document bearing the date of birth (e.g. xerox of relevant page of passport, high school certificate, or letter of Principal of College or Chairman of Department).

The paper presentation session has been reduced to ritual, routine and mechanical: The young student delegates were evidently more interested in visiting places, taking selfies and posting them in the social media. They ever discussed about the academics, the paper presentation etc.

Go to the respective section

• Sit and wait for the turn
• Present paper within 5 to 10 minutes depending upon the president’s wish
• Face questions or no questions and discussion
• Get certificate
• Take photo and
• Go away
• Do not bother about the paper presentation of others
• Ask your friends to take photos or video to cover the above
• Post in the social media
• The attendance of IHC session is over and successful

Paper selection, editing and publication[6]: For the last 50 years experience, personally observing the paper reading sessions, nature of the papers and their themes, the way they were selected / rejected, and published had a pattern. They give more importance to the medieval session than other sessions. Next comes, the modern session dealing with the same or similar topics and issues again and again. Criticizing, condemning and attacking rightists, their ideology, Sangh Parivar – RSS, BJP, VHP, Bajran Dal etc., had been common and repeated. Opposed to such attitude-papers are rejected totally. In fact, during the course of years, many have understood and they do prepare such papers, instead, they go for dalits, women rights, children rights, minority rights, Christian missionaries’ contribution for education, socialism model, communalism, secularism, fascism, sectarianism, parochialism etc.,

• Earlier asking questions and discussion would be there perhaps for one hour also.
• Then, it was cut short.
• Summaries were published considering the academic importance.
• But, later, that also stopped, as they did not want to accommodate any view, interpretation or facts that could directly or indirectly affect their ideology.
• The following papers were also read / presented list was given
• Now, that was also stopped on the plea that every paper presenter is given a certificate for the paper presentation.
• Enjoy with the “List of papers received,” where your paper is listed, whether you go there, present it  or not!

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

31-12-2023

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[1] Telangana Today, Indian History Congress to be held at Kakatiya University after 30 years, PUBLISHED DATE – 05:47 PM, SAT – 23 DECEMBER 23

[2] https://telanganatoday.com/indian-history-congress-to-be-held-at-kakatiya-university-after-30-years

[3] Telangana Today, IHC Lifetime Achievement Award to be conferred on Ramchandra Guha, Published date – 03:48 PM, Tuseday- 26 December 23

[4] https://telanganatoday.com/hc-lifetime-achievement-award-to-be-conferred-on-ramchandra-guha

[5] Based on the “List of papers” issued by the IHC.

[6]  The previous proceeding volumes can be compared with the contents by dividing into several groups to understand the pattern e.g., before 1947 and after 1947; before 1992 and after 1992; before 2014 and after 2018 and so on.