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.

Teaching of Science and Technology to the students of History or History to the students of science and technology?

Teaching of Science and Technology to the students of History or History to the students of science and technology?

Utility of the subjects and their immediate usage to humanity: Just like tourism, tourism management etc., “History of science and technology”  has been discovered, created and covered under the syllabus and offered as an “elective” subject to the postgraduate students of various disciplines. “History syllabus” has also been formulated to be taught to the students of professional courses like science and technologies, medicine, commerce, management etc., thus, much hype is created with the syllabus to reach and teach history to others.

• No teacher of those subjects proposed such a scheme that they would go and teach “science and technology” to them. 
• So why such exigency arises and for what purpose etc., have also to be analyzed.
• By going through the syllabus, it is clear that the students of professional courses do not gain much by reading such subjects.
• In every subject, mathematics, physics, chemistry, economics, commerce, accounting etc., the origin, progress and development and also the present and future status and scope of them have already been included in the syllabus and taught.
• If fact, their subjects have been and are updated and therefore, such subjects lead to innovative inventions that are immediately converted into parts, accessories, spares, gadgets, appliances, tools and so on useful to humanity.

History of Science and Technology: To write, read, teach and learn “History of Science and Technology”, one need not learn the core subject history, but, the history students cannot understand the “History of Science and Technology,” unless, they are taught from the fundamentals.

• Definitely, all non-history subjects are taught with its origin, which is nothing but history of that subject or perhaps more than that.
• That is how mathematics, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology at one side, and commerce, accounts, management, factory physics, industrial chemistry, bionics, mnemonics[1] etc., on the other side are taught in the schools and universities.
•  Though more and more science and technological subjects increase, there is demand for admission.
• However, recently, the subject “History of Science and Technology” is included for the students of history, archaeology, anthropology, numismatics and related subjects with their own formulated syllabus.
• But, they are taught only as history and not as the “History of Science and Technology.”

BCE 5,4,3,2,1,0,1,2,3,4,5 CE or BCE 5,4,3,2,1,1,2,3,4,5 CE which is correct?: The scientific study of the origin of the subject “History of Science and Technology”, has been different from the simple subject of “History of Science and Technology, for science students. In fact, under such expected conditions, the history teachers cannot teach the “History of Science and Technology”, to them.

• The concept of “zero” and infinity, decimal number system, calendar, planetary system, etc., have been perplexing even for science students, and therefore, how the history students read and understand them, is not known.
• In fact, for chronology, studying eras, dating and other exercises, history teachers have to understand these concepts. 
• Yet, no history expert is worried about “0” year in between BCE 5,4,3,2,1,1,2,3,4,5 CE years, while computing.
• Why the Roman numerals – I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X did not have “0” is also not known to them!
• Why the Fibonacci series does not start with “0,” (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc.,) they cannot explain.

These are given only for illustrative purposes and are not exhaustive. Therefore, without knowing “o,” how history teachers would teach about, chronology and related historical developments.

Historical time is linear or cyclic, if “history repeats”!: In science and technology, anything linear or cyclic is understood easily and applied practically, but, in history, nowadays, some historians claim that history is linear and not cyclic. However, having claimed, they have not been able to define exactly how the history has been linear, when “history repeats itself”[2]. Just because, historian has decided take the expression “linear,” he cannot make history “linear.”[3] Again such expertise and elite historians do not bother about the axes and the origin, the zero point. Not only X and Y axes, even Z axis has the other side also.  How then, historians visualize the –ve axes and interpret historical events. Of course, they are totally not bothered as to whether it is 2D or 3D, yet, they prefer to use such terminology in history and historiography.

Using scientific terminology is different from actually working scientifically: Just by using certain terms and expressions, scientific, scientific temper, linear, dynamic, static, etc., at one side and heuristic[4], holistic, euphemistic, epistemological, on the other side, history cannot become scientific or technological, as none of the historical hypotheses, theories and concepts can be tested in the laboratory.

• Earlier, historians used to claim with pride that they should have object in mind, objective mentality and objectivity in dealing with historical facts.
• Now, they assert that they need not have such standards (objectivity).
• Ten historians can write history about the same “object,” and all the ten histories become histories of the object!
• But, science says one is one only; 1+1=2 only, all have accepted universally for thousands of years and it continues.
• Historians and history teachers cannot say in history about anything within a year, 10 years, 100 years… in the same way again and again.
• In India itself,
  • grandfather / grandmother read one history,
  • father / mother read another history,
  • son / daughter read yet another history and
  • now grandson / granddaughter reads still-yet another history!
• This type of history is found in the case of the –
  • Grandfather – Chandragupta Maurya c.324/31 – 297 BCE
  • Father – Bindusara – c.297-273 BCE
  • Grandson – Asoka – c.268-232 BCE

Thus, within three generations, grandfather and father were prehistoric, illiterate and unhistorical also, wheras, the grandson was historic and literate! Again, the grandfather was a Jain, the father Hindu and the grandson a Buddhist! A perfect secular model family!

• In India, there had / have been millions of practices, procedures, and standards followed in day to day life for more than 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 YBP and more. They had / have  and are historical only, unlike their “histories” produced or manufactured by the European Company writers and the 1947-Indian history writers.
• Once a history writer becomes ideological, then, no two historians accept and history in India, it always becomes some sort of TV-debate where four persons come and talk about the same subject in four different ways! They come together only to differ from each other and not to come to any conclusion.

Blind Men and an Elephant: The history writers of the European Companies always mention this “cock and bull story”[5] to denigrate Indians for their acumen[6].  Not only non-Indians have read the sources properly, understood the concept and interpret such stories, but also the listeners, readers and others to verify the authenticity of the stories floated about themselves. The irony has been, this “cock and bull ……….story” has been and is still included in the syllabus and the naïve and gullible teachers go on teach and our students read and appreciate the “idiocy” – stupidity, absurdity and silliness of Indians, and believe that they (the Europeans) only taught Indians how to count, learn and dress properly. More and more “Mayos”[7] have been created to spread such “maya,” and when they would be liberated and brought to light from such darkness[8] is not known.

Any subject is offered as an elective, choice or forced: Again teaching history to other disciplines commerce, economics, management, medicine etc., is different from the teaching of “History of Science and Technology” to history students themselves. Just because, history subject is losing its scope in the academics, the history teachers cannot introduce some syllabus and try to impose the same old stuff on the non-history students.

• The utility, benefit and value of the subject also come into play, when any student selects any subject voluntarily, as an elective or for some other reason.
• The students of the “History of Science and Technology” are interested in progress, development and growth in their studies, research and further pursuits.
• Therefore, they may not be interested in what the dynasties fought with each other, rulers invaded other territories or autocrats made the people suffer.
• Even the social, communal, religious, societal, and other aspects and related issues are also irrelevant to them, as long as they divide people based on any factor.

The utility value of the subject: Ultimately, when job, assignment and employment are decided on the certificates and diplomas received, yet, the application of the learned subject in the field decides the fate of the employee, worker or staff.

• A fitter, electrician, plumber and any other technician after getting certificates, has been ready to work in the field, as he has to carry out his job, as otherwise, he will be sent out immediately on the first day, when he is found that he is not able tp work in his field, in spite of having diploma / certificates in his trade or many certificates including other disciplines. “A jack of all trades but master of none”.
• So also a professionally qualified engineer or doctor or any other expert.
• “If you know the job, come and join immediately,” that type of policy is followed today, walk-in interview, selection and appointment order.
• All the certificates and diplomas come thereafter, just for verification.
• If you have 10 certificates, diplomas and degrees in one discipline or 10 different disciplines, but, you cannot work properly, you will be fired, because, the employers want the work to go on.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

12-08-2023

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[1] Mnemonics is the study and development of systems for improving and assisting the memory, A mnemonic device (or memory device, is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval (remembering) in the human memory for better understanding.

[2] Historic recurrence is the repetition of similar events in history. The concept of historic recurrence has variously been applied to overall human history (e.g., to the rises and falls of empires), to repetitive patterns in the history of a given polity, and to any two specific events which bear a striking similarity. Hypothetically, in the extreme, the concept of historic recurrence assumes the form of the Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence, which has been written about in various forms since antiquity and was described in the 19^th century by Heinrich Heine and Friedrich Nietzsche. While it is often remarked that “history repeats itself”, in cycles of less than cosmological duration this cannot be strictly true. In this interpretation of recurrence, as opposed perhaps to the Nietzschean interpretation, there is no metaphysics. Recurrences take place due to ascertainable circumstances and chains of causality.

[3]  In the case of electricity, electronics, computers, digital technology etc., the electric pulse is sinusoidal, digitized to square-shaped pulses and so on. All such processes cannot be brought under any “linear” explanation or interpretation of history.

[4] A heuristic is a mental shortcut commonly used to simplify problems and avoid cognitive overload. Heuristics are part of how the human brain evolved and is wired, allowing individuals to quickly reach reasonable conclusions or solutions to complex problems.

[5] Cock and bull story, far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity produced by the British county hoteliers / inns to attract their customers.

[6] The Buddhist text Tittha Sutta, Udāna 6.4, Khuddaka Nikaya, contains one of the earliest versions of the story. The Tittha Sutta is dated to around c. 500 BCE, during the lifetime of the Buddha. An alternative version of the parable describes sighted men, experiencing a large statue on a dark night, or feeling a large object while being blindfolded. They then describe what it is they have experienced. In its various versions, it is a parable that has crossed between many religious traditions and is part of Jain, Hindu and Buddhist texts of 1st millennium CE or before. The story also appears in 2^nd millennium Sufi and Baháʼí Faith lore. The tale later became well known in Europe, with 19^th century American poet John Godfrey Saxe creating his own version as a poem, with a final verse that explains that the elephant is a metaphor for God, and the various blind men represent religions that disagree on something no one has fully experienced. The story has been published in many books for adults and children, and interpreted in a variety of ways.

[7] Katherine Mayo, an American lady  and also reportedly a historian wrote a book Mother India (1927) became  a polemical book as it contained many narratives of  grudge, hate and vengeance against Indian – society, religion and culture. Indians do not know any such book has been written about American or European society, religion and culture.

[8] Mohammedan or Mughal court historians always dub that the kafirs (non-believers, non-Mohammedans) of Hindustan were in the jahallia (in the darkness) and they were trying to show nur (light) through jihad (holy war) with their revealed book (al-kitabiya), as the kafirs do not are any revealed scriptures / book..

Recent Advances in South Indian Archaeology – The 2nd International Symposium in memory of Iravatham Mahadevan – Dravidian – known and unknown (2)

Recent Advances in South Indian Archaeology – The 2^nd International Symposium in memory of Iravatham Mahadevan – Dravidian – known and unknown (2)

10-03-2023 – Friday – Continuance of paper reading session: After the Minister’s visit, Appasamy Murugaiyan delved upon the nuances of syntax, grammar, linguistics, prosody, etc. With Sangam literature, he was explaining such linguistic traces, glosses and interpretations. Next, Pitchappan while presenting his views on the “Evolution of Dravidian – known and unknown” mainly repeating already published matter “out of Africa” hypothesis and theory and maintaining his stand that Dravidians came from Africa. He also claimed that “Dravidian is inclusive of language, culture and gene code”  Men originated from Africa and by 60,000 YBP spread out from Africa, unidirectionally, the Y-chromosome was spreading. Polymorphism – first man appeared in Veerumandi, near Madura, in Tamilnadu. In other words, the African primate, hominid came here to settle and evolve into a Dravidian. All the Sangam tribes Kadan, Kurumban etc., of all categories came from Africa. He undertook the 1-million-dollar project in 20006-2015 on the “Genography” project 10,000 Indian samples taken and research conducted to arrive at such results. Three unidirectional migrations represent Dravidian at different periods.  Neolithic people came from outside. How the migrated were mixed, languages cannot be determined. Root words spread occurred by 15,000 YBP. Murugan is considered as “Tamil god” Neolithic god, but, it was known in Gandhara before Sangam period. Caste system in Sangam period is noted with male domination. With chromosomes and their connection with the language speaking people are pointed out. Yet, nothing can be said definitely. Even asper the dating c.6^th cent.BCE does not help this chronology.

He was arguing that “Dravidian” evolved at different periods………………………..

For the questions asked, he maintained that humanity originated only from Africa: He claimed that he worked with the “Genographic project” and the DNA results show that humanity originated in Africa and spread to other continents. Was there any origin of man from South India and such questions were asked, but, he maintained that that humanity originated in Africa and spread to other continents. This is studied after 2500-3500 YBP, thus, much of miscegenation could have taken place. It is believed that man originated from Africa and spread to other parts of the world. He sticks to the theory, as obviously, he has been working for the project. Europeans do not accept that they originated from Europe and therefore, if they originated from India, then, evidences have to be produced.

He was stressing how humanity originated from Africa and spread……..

Tamil monkey or Dravidian monkey?: TH CM was reacting euphemistically, “Our minds become energized and happy when we say Tamil Nadu Tirunal. Nevertheless, some people tease us by saying the first monkey born in the world was the Tamil monkey. However, we are not concerned about that. Whatever we say, it is scientifically based,” he said[1]. TH CM was telling that “the first monkey on the earth was a “Tamil” monkey and such claim is scientifically based”[2], but, he (Pitchappan) says, it was a Dravidian monkey. Thus, the Tamil-Dravidian wrangle has been there linguistically and scientifically among the DNA-scientists and the Dravidian experts. As the Europeans try to have their own “Neanderthal,” Dravidians want their “Tamil counterpart.” Therefore, the hypothesized monogenetic or multi-genetic origin of hominid, homoerectus, monkey, ape, chimpanzee etc., would continue with scientific research.

Aryan invasion and Dravidan invasion or migration?: Indian history has been with the Aryan race, invasion and then, migration (through invasion and various means) hypotheses and theories. Thus, whenever the word “Arya, Aryan, Ariyan”, etc., was read, Indians think about some nomadic race coming from Central Asia entering India through the northwest and defeating the Dravidian people of the area, particularly, the Indus Valley. Though, initially, “Dravida, Dravidians, Dravidar” were not thought of, after the advent of Caldwell, such hypotheses and theories have also become popular. Thus, the Aryan-Dravidian hypotheses and theories have been part and parcel of the history books taught for the last 100 hears. As for as the Tamilnadu is concerned, such hypotheses and theories have become not only history, but also, art, archaeology, dance, drama, cinema etc., at one side and politics, political party, political ideology and so on., at the other side. Now, if the DNA research claims that Dravidian also came from Africa, then, what exactly happened in history?

Rakhigarhi or Africa? – how the archaeologists decide?: According to recent reports, with the latest works (archaeological and genetic) in and around Rakhigarhi, Sinauli, etc, the Aryan invasion hypothesis surely died its deserved death. But another theory became prevalent that said that Homo sapiens first emerged in Africa and by around some 70-50,000 years ago, a small group (possibly as few as 150 to 1,000 people), crossed the Red Sea. They travelled along the coastal route around the coast of Arabia and Persia until reaching India. This proposition was popularly called the Post Toba Theory. As per the existing models, the modern human dispersals are primarily based on lithic assemblages, a few fossils remains and genetics. According to the most popular model (MIS 5), the modern humans left Africa around 120,000 years ago and colonised the rest of the whole world by 40,000 years ago. But the recent studies tell us that as per the fossil evidence from Apidima Cave in Greece (Harvati et al., 2019[3]) and Misiliya cave in Israel[4] (Hershkovitz et al., 2018) the modern human existence outside Africa goes older than 210,000 years ago.

Pre-Toba models and other claims about the origin: However, these findings do not yet ascertain the dispersal to South Asia earlier than 120,000 years ago. The scholars of the field attribute the Middle Palaeolithic technologies’ presence in India and the rest of South Asia to the modern humans that arrived from Africa between 120,000 and 70,000 years ago (Petraglia et al., 2007). This conclusion came from a very interesting finding from the 74,000-year-old Toba Tuff deposits at the Jwalapuram site. These were the Middle Palaeolithic artefacts and resembled almost the African Middle Stone Age artefacts (Petraglia et al., 2007; Haslam et al., 2012). And that is how the Pre-Toba model (Petraglia et al., 2007) became popular to explain the initial modern human colonisation of India.

Toba, pre-Toba etc.,: Next the luminescence age testing was further carried out in various sites, and they further reinforced the pre-Toba model. The Middle Palaeolithic assemblages from Katoti in Rajasthan and Sandhav in Kutch, were found to be around 96 ± 13 and 114 ±12 thousand years old respectively (Blinkhorn et al., 2013; Blinkhorn et al., 2019). Even the research from a site in the middle of the Son Valley called Dhaba showed out middle Palaeolithic assemblages dating to around 80,000 years, thereby bringing more buttresses for pre-Toba model (Clarkson et al., 2020). These studies utilising reliable chronometric ages of Middle Palaeolithic assemblages ranging from 120 to 40 thousand years ago, hint to the notion that the South Asian Middle Palaeolithic expertise was familiarised by the modern humans as a part of the Eurasian colonisation after having branched out of Africa. Then we have the studies which show that the youngest age for the Late Acheulean assemblages from Patpara going to 137 ± 10 thousand years ago and 131 ± 9 thousand years ago in Bamburi respectively (Haslam et al., 2011). These studies corroborate the notion about the existence of archaic hominins just before the appearance of modern humans in South Asia, as understood by the Out of Africa theory.

Why not Attirampakkam?: But there is something beyond those studies which somehow has not been taken into academic consideration. At Attirampakkam Middle Palaeolithic assemblages were found which dated to around 385 thousand years ago (Akhilesh et al., 2018). As per the latest studies, it has been understood that Middle Palaeolithic technology in South Asia goes way older than academic consensus on the footprint of modern humans outside Africa (Devara et al., 2022). But just the presence of Middle Palaeolithic assemblages is not enough to decide for the existence of Homo sapiens in India a lot before the alleged dispersal around 75,000 years ago from Africa and at least simultaneous existence.

Africa or Europe?: Stringer, Chris, and Lucile Crété conclude carefully[5], “Recent progress in the recovery of environmental DNA from cave sediments promises to revolutionize our under­standing of population relationships on the ground as H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis groups interacted with each other. Few European sites in the time period between 40–60 ka contain human fossils, but many more of them could contain traces of human presence in the form of mitochon­drial and nuclear genomic material. Research so far dem­onstrates that sediment DNA can identify humans at the species and individual levels, and this could potentially map the co-existence of different populations, their sex, their kinship relations, and the extent of intermixture be­tween the different populations (Vernot et al. 2021; Zavala et al. 2021). Such breakthroughs could not have been an­ticipated even a few years ago, and no doubt there will be many more surprises to come. There is still much to learn about the ancient encounters that we have discussed in this paper, which left an indelible genetic mark on humanity today, and which makes their study so intriguing”.

10-03-2023 – Friday – Continuance of paper reading session: Last session was chaired by Ravi Korisettar and Exavation officers of the state archaeological department presented papers.

• Ramesh – Keeladi
• J. Baskar – Excavation at the settlement site of Adichanallur (2019-20 and 2020-21)
• Prabhakaran – Sivagalai
• J. Ranjith – Kodumanal excavation -2019-21
• Rangadurai  – Korkai excavation

And the details of their papers have been available in the public domain and internet, as such information has been well publicized by the TN Government.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

12-03-2023.

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[1] Indian Express, Tamil Nadu Day: CM MK Stalin recalls DMK’s role in naming State, Published: 19th July 2022 03:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th July 2022 03:19 AM.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/jul/19/tamil-nadu-day-cm-mkstalin-recalls-dmks-role-in-naming-state-2478079.html

[2] The dailies and media translated his speech as, “At that time, some people would tease us saying, “The first monkey born in the world was the Tamil monkey”. We are not worried about that. Whatever we say, we say it scientifically. Isn’t it a shame? The day that shame was wiped away, this 18th of July!”.

[3] Harvati, Katerina, et al. “Apidima Cave fossils provide earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in Eurasia.” Nature 571.7766 (2019): 500-504.

[4] Harney, É., May, H., Shalem, D., Rohland, N., Mallick, S., Lazaridis, I., Sarig, R., Stewardson, K., Nordenfelt,

S., Patterson, N., Hershkovitz, I. and Reich, D. (2018). Ancient DNA from Chalcolithic Israel reveals the

role of population mixture in cultural transformation. Nature Communication 9(1): 3336, DOI:

10.1038/s41467-018-05649-9

[5] Stringer, Chris, and Lucile Crété. “Mapping Interactions of H. neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens from the Fossil and Genetic Records.” PaleoAnthropology 2022.2 (2022).

The proceedings of the National seminar Buddhism and Sectarian Religious faith in India or Buddha and Anti-caste Bhakti Saints held at Acharya Nagarjuna University on March 1st and 2nd 2023 (3)

The proceedings of the National seminar Buddhism and Sectarian Religious faith in India or Buddha and Anti-caste Bhakti Saints held at Acharya Nagarjuna University on March 1^st and 2^nd 2023 (3)

01-03-2023 (Wednesday) – afternoon session: Afternoon, the second session, the following papers were presented:

Speaker / paper presenter	Title of the paper	Page no.
P. D. Satya Paul[1]	Title – not known, not listed / included in the “Abstracts” He spoke twice for nearly two hours….	?
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao[2]	The Sectarian encounters between the Buddhist and Jain faiths during the Medieval period for commercialization and communalization	34-35

P. D. Satya Paul delved upon the communal Hinduism criticizing P.V. Kane who carried on the Maxmueller’s project, Dr S. Radhakrishan for his opinion about Buddha (Buddha’s movement was a protestant type of reformative Hinduism) and Swami Vivekananda for perpetuating caste. He was suggesting about a “proto-sramanic” tradition before IVC, based on which, the Buddhism could have been evolved.

Getting ready for power-point…..

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao presented his paper, “The Sectarian encounters between the Buddhist and Jain faiths during the Medieval period for commercialization and communalization,” based on the medieval inscriptions, sculptures, paintings and literature. The question of “Himsa and Ahimsa” (violence and non-violence), karma, atma, rebirth etc., the following issues were discussed:

• Why Jainism and Buddhism flourished before and after the “golden period” of the Guptas?:
• What happened between the Arab / Mohammedan invasion and European intrusion during the 12^th to 16^th centuries?:
• The impact of the Europeans on the Jains and Buddhists during the medieval period
• The psychology of Non-violence and violence
• A Dispute between the Mahayana Buddhists and Digambar Jains over Mt Girnar (Gujarat), where all sectarian groups had encounters
• Internal and inherent factors are also responsible for the decline of Jainism and Buddhism
• Transition of faiths in Andhradesa and clash of faiths
• The Jaina-Buddhist conflicts in Karnataka and Tamilagam
• Ahimsavadis – Jains and Buddhists eating flesh
• Vegetarianism, non-vegetarianism and Jaina-Buddha dynasties
• Rivalry among the Business men and Priests
• Dynasties following sectarian faiths and their transition
• Sectarian faiths made talented workers to loose their identity
• Rivalry Among the Jains and Saivites or Sculptors and Agriculturalists?:
• Brahmins versus non-Brahmins
• Sectarian conflicts recorded in the inscriptions
• Oil, oil-mill and their euphemism in Jainism
• Was there any nexus between Jains and extremist groups like Kapalika, Kalamuka etc?:
• Syncretism, eclectism and inculturation
• In-lieu of conclusion – Commercialization and communalization of sectarianism

The Jaina monks that were defeated in the debates were punished based on their agreed condition……

This type of sculptures are found in many temples…….

Then, the following conclusions were drawn:

It could be noted in the most of the sectarian encounters of whatever nature, whether it was philosophical debate, theological polemics, right over property, manufacture and production of goods and services, imports and exports, monopoly of trade route and related issues. Thus, the following features could easily be noted working:

• Commercialization and communalization of sectarianism had been the hallmark of medieval inland and oversea trade and commerce.
• As more and more goods and services had to be manufactured and produced, more labourers, workers and technicians were required for carrying out various assembly, fabrication and construction activities.
• Such experts had to be trained, organized and made to work according the exigencies, emergencies and requirements at national and international obligations.
• Thus, such experts had to be faithful, loyal and obedient to the authority, rulers and government.
• Here, the merchant guilds, trade groups and commercialized communal organizations worked effectively aiding and abetting the rulers.
• Accordingly, most of them had to be polyglots, dubashis, sailors, warriors, pirates and profiteers also.
• Under such compulsions, complexities and commitments, social, political, commercial and maritime set-up, the moral, ethic and code of conduct were relegated to background, operated selectively and sectarianism ruled roost.
• The violators of their own imposed acts and rules were punished, prosecuted and even killed without any mercy, but, all carried on in the name of faith and religion only.
• Finally, syncretism had taken place to accommodate all deities, idols or the defied symbols in the places of worship.

Such depiction is found in the Buddhist paintings also…..

There was a discussion and questions by the Chair and Satya Paul and the paper presenter clarified. They questioned about the mentioning of Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Asoka as grandfather, father and son, but, I do not find any chronological or historical issue in the lineage.

Then, the former HOD of the department, who presided over the session, was facilitated.

Former HOD of the Mahayana Buddhism centre was facilitated.

02-03-2023 (Thursday) – second day proceedings:

Speaker / paper presenter	Title of the paper	Page no.
Yadhava Raghu[3]	Dasa movement and its impact on Telugu villages bordering Karnataka: a case of Pyalakurthy village, Kurnool district[4].	37-38 46
John Weasley[5]	Siddha cults in South India.	57
Sugandha[6]	The Buddhist perspective of social sratification	5 8
N. Kanakaratnam[7]	Caste revenge on adigas and Malas.	60
Eluri Harshavardhan[8]	Egalitarian ideals of Buddhism: A repository of counter discourse in Andhradesa	49

About dasa, dasari, dasari caste etc: Dasari is a Vaishnava mendicant caste in Telangana region and Andhra Pradesh, India. They are involved in various business, trades, poojas, marriage rituals, plays and agriculture. Their traditional work is in temple service. They perform death rites in burial grounds as their main occupation. Some of them work as day laborers. They are landless. Some of the Dasari Mala work in business and agriculture. They use both modern and traditional medicines. They are not vegetarians and eat rice as a staple food. The Dasari Mala prefer marriage between cousins. The bereaved and divorced can marry again. The dead are buried rather than cremated like most Hindus. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son taking charge of the family estate. They observe birth and marriage rituals. They are also known as Poosala Balija, Bukka Dasari, and Krishna Balija in different areas of their habitation. However, in Karnataka, how castes with similar sounding names can be mistaken can be noted. In Karnataka, the Dasari caste comes under Category-1 whereas Channa Dasar is SC. Similarly, Bhoyi is Category-1, but Bhovi is SC. Jangama comes under the general category, but Beda Jangama is SC. Therefore, just with the word, “Dasari,” one cannot come to any conclusion. Moreover, the paper readers started with Kanakadasa story and then switched over to the Pyalakurthy village, Kurnool Dist., to claim that the “Dasari caste” people there could be connected with the “dasaris” of Karnataka. Obviously, he is confused with “dasa” of Madhwa tradition, “Dasari” caste and other “Dasari” tradition (being obedient servant / slave.)

These are some of the Tamil Siddhar as found on the temple pillars etc., dated to later medieval and modern periods….

About Siddha, Siddhi, Cittam etc: The seminar brochure claims, “Siddha Tradition in South India was evolved out of Buddhist school of Vajrayana was more prevalent among the lower strata, strived to attain equality in religious sphere. Many Siddha cult centres of present Andhra and Telangana states including Siddhavatam, Siddeswaram, Siddula Guttalu etc. are the live examples for this phenomenon. The medieval text (14-15^th CE) in couplet form ‘Navanadha Charitra’ written by Gourana also mentioned about the Siddhas.” It is not known what is the proof to claim that “Siddha Tradition in South India was evolved out of Buddhist school of Vajrayana..,” as the Tamil Siddha tradition has nothing to do with any Buddhism.  Taking the word “Siddha”( సిద్ధ), the Telugu scholars, researchers and even historians try to link them with “Siddhar, Siddha medicine” and so on, whereas, the Tamil Siddha (சித்த, சித்தர்) nothing to do with. In the process it attempts to narrate the relationship of places like Mahendragiri (of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh) with sage Agastya (one of the very important Siddhars of Siddha medicine) and possible origins of very old common religion (Siva Siddhanla) propagated by Dakshinamurti, through his four disciples from this place. names like Siddha, Sangam, Nandi which are still used in the same sense as they were used from time immemorial. Without knowing the fundamentals, Tamil language and reading the texts of Tamil Siddhas, they misinterpret taking the words. Many list of the places, cities etc., with “సిద్ధ” in Telugu, go on interpret that all such places are connected with Siddhas since immemorial. Of course, they take the Agastya myth also for strengthening their argument.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

05-03-2023

These are imaginary pictures of 18- Tamil Siddhars…

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[1] Department of Anthropology, Andhra University – Visakhapatnam – appears to be involved in Dalit, Christian and related studies.

[2] Guest faculty, University of Madras and Visiting faculty for Annamalai University, Research Scholar, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras, Chennai.

[3] Asst.Prof, History Dept, Sathya SaiUniversity for Human Excellence, Kalaburagi, Karnataka.

[4] His paper has been printed twice as shown – this shows the mechanical way of preparation of “Abstracts” without going into the details.

[5] Research scholar, Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies, ANU, AP.

[6] Research scholar, Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies, ANU, AP.

[7]  Professor, History, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana.

[8] Dept. of History and Archaeology, Dravidian University, Kuppam, AP.

The Conference on Culture, Heritage and Nation Building held at the University of Madras on February 1st and 2nd 2023 (2)

The Conference on Culture, Heritage and Nation Building held at the University of Madras on February 1^st and 2^nd 2023 (2)

01-02-2023 inauguration: Inaugurating the seminar, the registrar of the university S. Elummalai said[1]: “Our country has a long tradition and great culture in the world. Ancestors did not capture any country by war. They fought and protected our country against those who came to capture it. It is not our tradition to quarrel with anyone. Tamils mostly used variety of grains other than rice in their diet. This year has been declared as the Year of Small Grains, a tribute to our heritage. Youngsters should know the pros and cons of processed food before consuming it. Traditional food, dress and culture are what give us pride and security”.  M.P. Damodaran, Head of Department of Anthropology, Chennai University, talked about Indian culture, how culture helped to get freedom and its importance in nation-building process.

India got freedom because of its inherent culture and heritage: Popular Carnatic singer Sirkazhi Sivachidambaram said: “During the Corona period, the entire world has been made aware of cleanliness of hands, feet and clothes. But it is already there in our tradition. In our country, music and folk songs spread health-related ideas. There are many similarities among culture, heritage and nation-building….they are interlinked and enhancing each other. We in India should be proud of our Motherland. Culture –fighting without war, the battle of freedom was fought without sword and blood, as Namakkal Kavinjar pointed out. Satyagraha, alone brought freedom. We know only kings and others, but, we do not read about the masses in history who contributed music. India is the only country that has rich culture, cultural heritage…..what we are today is the what we inherited from our forefathers. History of the patient gives the diagnosis of the patient. Publication is importance for recording history. There is difference between wrought and right information. A nation without culture is considered as a nation with importance.” Then, he sang a song of Bharathidasan about the importance of education. As per the request, he song another song “Temmangu,” a folk-song from a Malayalam film.

01-02-2023 – morning session: After honouring the guests, the special lecture was given by Dr Shaji Baby and he delved upon many issues of climate change, global response etc. With the vote of thanks, the morning session was would up. M. P. Damodaran,  Head of Department of Anthropology, Chennai University, K. Parimurugan, Vanamma Gnanprasuna, Bullaran, Founder of Vanamma Art, Culture and Education Foundation and Prabhukumari Vanamma, Head of Department of History, Bharathi Women’s University participated in the event. Thereafter, the paper presentation started. The afternoon session was held after lunch from 2 to 5 pm with the paper presentation by the participants on various topics. Some were reading their papers for more than half-an-hour.

Nation-building traditional and modern approach: Nation-building is constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state in modern context, but for countries with rich tradition, such condition is not required. Then, it is emphasized that nation-building aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. For people living together in a geographical boundary for thousands of years, again such exigency does not arise. The rule of and by majority and such other theories are also not applicable, where, people groups have been getting along with some form of democratic society. The importance given to “power” leads to military, arms and such type of martial setups and they are also not required for the traditional democratic societies. Yet, military is continued to be stressed. Nation builders are those members of a state who take the initiative to develop the national community through government programs, including military conscription and national content mass schooling. Nation-building can involve the use of propaganda or major infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth. When the economy is managed by the people without depending upon the government, such society continues to live and “nation-building” principles become redundant.

Afternoon 2.00 to 5.00 pm – academic session: Starting with matriarchy, one paper presenter ended up with Khasi tribes. A paper presented on “Yazh” (stringed instrument, like harp) contains no new information, as all details are available in many books. She started examples of different periods. The Karanthai Tamil Sangam has already brought out one book, “Yazh Nul” (a book on Yazh, the stringed instrument) written by Swami Vibulantha Swamigal. She even did not whisper his name during her presentation. A generalized extempore speech was made by one lady and she covered the position of women from ancient times to modern times without any specifics or data[2]. The person[3] who delved upon Vatican Council and inculturation was talking in general without pointing out the controversies involved in it, particularly in Chennai and Mylapore context. He pointed out how the “Mylapore diocese” evolved and divided into two in 2022 and so on. When questioned by the audience, she could not respond. This type of totally “generalized” extempore speeches can be avoided. Without preparation of paper, simply coming and trying to speak what one knows is not paper presentation at all.

02-02-2023- the second-day session: The second-day session started with academic proceedings of paper presentation by 10.30 am, though they planned to start by 10 am. In fact, the sectional presidents did not come. There were only six persons to listen to the paper. I presented my paper, “Ancient Indian coins of tribes, tribals and Folks –  A critical analysis in the context of diversity and nation-building,” with PPT. As only seven minutes were given, I had to cut short my paper. The current ideologized students have been moulded with certain predetermined ideas settled in their minds. In spite of being the students of anthropology, it is intriguing that they believe in race, racism and racialism operating consciously in their minds. They also confuse race, caste, class, social group, varna, ethnicity, tribe, people group and such other concepts theoretically and in practice. Opposing and supporting caste has always been noted in many narratives, discourses and theorization.

Utopian, egalitarian and excessive equality status and reality: Most of the paper presenters in their enthusiastic approach to many factors dealing with race, ethnicity, ethnos, language, matriarchy, patriarchy, female, male, right, privilege, duty, responsibility, accountability, liability, faith, religion, inculturation, out-culturation and host of related and other issues have drifted away from the “Nation building.”

• In fact, the extremities of such tendencies have now engaged in “nation-breaking” processes.
• Of course, India is not a nation to be manufactured, produced, fabricated, need to be put together or assembled. Yet, the concept “nation in making” has been haunting and daunting Indian minds, irrespective the Indian role in the global scenario.
• Myth, legend, fable, fiction, narrative, story, parable, allegory and such other concepts are not understood properly. Application of them to only a particular religion is noted and such narratives continued with verbose and verbatim.
• Dealing with utopian, egalitarian and excessive equality status, they have gone to the extremities forgetting the social reality, political actuality and democratic realism.
• Realism and idealism are opposite concepts and not equating precepts interpreting imaginary democratic authenticities that are not realizable. Drinking and teetotalism, debauchery and virtuosity, poverty and richness may continue in any society and where no stereotypes, typecasts, photocopies, or Xerox copies can be avoided, removed and eliminated permanently.
• The papers that delved upon the “Dravidian movement” and related topics repeated the well-known narratives and discourses made very often and they had been of more political overtones than academic nature.
• When questions were asked, the paper presenters confessed that they relied upon only secondary sources and personally, they did not know about the issues, implications and reality.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

03-02-2023

valedictory……

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[1]First day inaugural session speeches – YouTube·spotlight MDU ·01-Feb-2023, https://www.google.com/search?q=Vanamaa+Art+Educational+and+Cultural+Trust&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXgI-ZlPj8AhVG5HMBHXS7BZEQ_AUoAHoECAEQCg&biw=1366&bih=657&dpr=1 – fpstate=ive&vld=cid:4b0c8da6,vid:0-Hz-OtYHxw

[2]  In fact, thousands of books and papers are available on  “The Position of Women in India” published during the last 200 years starting with the colonial discourses.

[3] she was doing this second time doing that – i.e, presenting second paper, extempore, that too, when serious issues of  “inculturation” were talked about in the context of “nation building”.

Is history subject losing its importance? (1)

Is history subject losing its importance? (1)

Economic conditions and loss of interest in History subject: As the global economic conditions becoming weaker, skilled employment decreases, unemployment increases, cost of living increases etc., the takers of arts subjects, particularly, history has been coming down[1]. The USA gives facts and figures to show that the subject history is losing place in the job-market[2] in their country. In India, it is not known whether such figures are available, but, when the History departments of Tamilnadu are visited, at many places, the total number of faculty and staff has been much more that the number of students. Ironically, in some universities, less than 10 students are there. However, whoever joins history BA or MA wants employment and thus appears for qualifying examinations (NET, SET etc). When the conditions of American students have been shifting in this way in conjunction with economic factors, naturally, Indians have to be careful in choosing their subjects at graduation and post graduation levels carefully considering the prevailing Indian conditions.

The condition of history in USA: According to Benjamin Schmidt of Northeastern University, the number of bachelor’s degrees granted in history declined from 34,642 in 2008 to 24,266 in 2017 even as other majors, such as computer science and engineering, have seen rising enrollments[3]. Today, fewer than 2 per cent of male undergraduates and fewer / less than 1 per cent of females major in history, compared with more than 6 per cent and nearly 5 per cent, respectively, in the late 1960s[4]. Interestingly, this data and details have been picked up by others and emphasized the issues. History departments are cutting courses and curtailing hires because of falling enrollments[5]. The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point may even abolish its entire history department[6]. History education in schools is so poor that students often enter college ignorant of the past — and leave just as unenlightened. It is evident that the American statistics for Arts versus science or professional subjects versus humanities etc., clearly point to the trend of humanities, arts or particularly history losing its ground. The same issue has been analyzed by several others and recorded their anxious opinion[7].  It is clear that even American students opt for courses that give job assurance[8].

History of humanity lives with man forever[9]: In the western context, analyzing the problems of history, several reasons are identified – generalization, conspiracy theories, myths and mythology, nationalism, nostalgia, the noble savage, euro-centrism, top-down/bottom-top, the militarization of history etc. more factors can also be added, as long as bias, prejudice and concoction work in the minds of authorities, rulers, dominating powers at different capacities. In fact, such autocratic powers might have destroyed many civilizations, archaeological evidences, and historical documents, … Yet, new evidences, proof, data, and information would come up and slowly unravel and expose the facts. The human history recorded in the historical consciousness cannot be erased. As long as man continues to be born again and again, such consciousness recorded in the sound, waves and cosmos vibrates, reverberates and reaches every other human being, one day or the other. The song coming through the air, the vibrations coming through waves and the signals emanating from the cosmos live forever. Such history, historiography, historiosophy, historio-psychology, psychic-history……may not be understood by all.

In India, history versus engineering: Incidentally, I find this observation made by John Mathew, “History is of course among them, with an equal emphasis on both global and local (as in subcontinental) angles. The history of science gets some airtime because of a persuasive case made by the Divisional Chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences (himself a historian) for the inclusion of climate change as a key and necessary component of the larger curriculum for history, and likewise the related if contested provisional geological epoch, the Anthropocene. However, for a major in which there are six associated instructors, the number of students opting to read history as a degree has proven to be zero, with four students considering it for a minor. History has now been linked with politics (another subject with relatively few takers) to form a joint major, so that with the benefit of combined numbers, both subjects might, so to speak, make, if with some level of compromise,” in which the Indian condition is also brought out in the context[10]. The figures given for “history” is alarming, in the context of Krea University [11]. Of course, counter-argument is also put forward that many engineering graduates are not getting jobs or they are working for Rs 8,000/- or so or even doing menial work like working in hotels and restaurants and so on. Recently, Y. Subbarayalu made such a statement in the South Indian History Congress.

India has to deal with people more than 100, 12, 130 crores people in all aspects: Many people – of various disciplines make comments or write stories that Singapore could achieve, but Indian cannot achieve and so on, without understanding and analyzing all other factors. Singapore has just 60 lakhs population and it cannot be compared even with any village of India. So also Hong Kong has 70 lakhs population.  With some statistical figures, India is blamed for all evils, corruption, crimes and all other negative factors, but, such negative-propagandists do not understand as to how India continues to withstand, live and proceed in the annals of history even today. In other words, the random statistics cannot reflect the 100 to 130 crores people. Indian conditions have been different, as many chasing for few, whether job, ration, train, bus or anything and even reservation / quota.  The condition of 130 crores, where all groups have also been in crores and thus, the demand is unimaginable. Thus, in historical studies, illogical comparisons cannot be made. Even for the jobs of blind / visually impaired, physically challenged and so on, for one post, 50 to 100 are applying, implying that 49 to 99 would not get the job. The same trend continues for others. Therefore, history versus other subjects would be a tough competition in the job-market.

History professors and teachers work for the unity and integrity of the nation: Any subject in the educational and academic curriculum should not only be useful the individual who studies, but also for the study. By studying, mastering or getting expertise in one subject, one cannot misuse or exploit it for profit making violating the acts and rules of the land or indulging in anti-social activities. By studying history, politics or sociology; anthropology, archaeology or numismatics, one should work for the unity and integrity of the nation and not for dividing them based on propagandist methods. Even after becoming a history professor, emeritus professor or any status, one cannot support or oppose one particular ideology, philosophy, party, group etc., as it would lead to separatism only. When the employment is the criterion, they should work in that angle, instead of creating unrest, agitation, unrest, riot and other such activities instigating students, students union and groups. They can visualize and plan for job opportunities for the final year students either for going to higher studies or taking a job immediately. Civil Services, Combined Graduation, Bank and other exams give good opportunities for humanities and arts subjects. They should refer to “Employment News,” UPSC, SSC websites regularly and prepare for them.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

03-09-2022

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[1] Since the economic crisis of 2008, the pattern of undergraduate majors has been shifting across American higher education. Of all the major disciplines, history has seen the steepest declines in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded. 

Benjamin M. Schmidt, The History BA since the great recession, The 2018 AHA Majors Report, Nov 26, 2018.

[2] In 2008, the National Center for Education Statistics reported 34,642 majors in history; in 2017, the most recent year for which data are available, the number was 24,266. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of history majors fell by over 1,500. Even as university enrollments have grown, history has seen its raw numbers erode heavily. The drops have been especially heavy since 2011–12, the first years for which students who saw the financial crisis in action could easily change their majors.

https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/december-2018/the-history-ba-since-the-great-recession-the-2018-aha-majors-report

[3] Colleen Flaherty,  The Vanishing History Major- New analysis of history-major data says the field has fallen to “new low.” Can it be saved?, November 27, 2018.

[4] https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/11/27/new-analysis-history-major-data-says-field-new-low-can-it-be-saved

[5] Benjamin M. Schmidt The Death of the History Major, American Historical Association November 30, 2018.

[6]https://www.realcleareducation.com/2018/11/30/the_death_of_the_history_major_46527.html

[7] Parker Schorr, Crumbling foundations: Declining enrollment numbers loom over under-funded humanities departments, Apr 2, 2019.

[8] https://badgerherald.com/features/2019/04/02/crumbling-foundations-declining-enrollment-numbers-loom-over-under-funded-humanities-departments-causing-concern-of-yet-another-crisis/

[9] These are my own views understood with experience during the course of more than 50 years meeting many personalities and discussing with them. And sucg dialogue continues even today.

[10] John Mathew, Krea University, Its Interwoven Model and the Implications for the Study of History, February 15, 2021 | Reflections

[11] https://www.4sonline.org/krea-university-india/