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.

The origin, development and importance of Memorial-stones in India (4)

The origin, development and importance of Memorial-stones in India (4)

Sind / Sindh had been part of India / Bhart for centuries, till Arabs invaded and tried to Islamize……

The warriors of Sindh were resisting them with their valour……

However, they could not match with the cunningness of their enemies, when they were following the code of conduct of war etc…..

In 712, the invasion started, within 300 – 400 years, Sindh was Islamized……

and slowly, all the monuments, temples, sculptures etc., started disappearing, as the iconoclasts were destroying them regularly……

now the condition of Hro-stones are like this…….

Hero-stones in Sind: Lower Sindh in southern Pakistan is dotted with many ancient cemeteries boasting the tombs of fallen heroes, and stones erected in memory of their heroism and chivalry (Hero stones). Most of the tombstones bear weaponry depictions symbolizing death in the line of action or at least participation in battle. They are found at Oongar in the district of Thatta, province of Sindh and , a Jats burial site, is located fifty kilometres from the city of Hyderabad, close to the Buddhist stupa of Sudheran in the district of Tando Muhammad Khan, also in Sindh[1]. One finds inscriptional slabs lying all over the site at the cemetery of the Jats but it is difficult to find any inscriptions at all at the Oongar necropolis since all of the chaukhandis have disintegrated and not a single tombstone is in its original condition[2]. In other words, they were destroyed and only parts are available there now. Hero-stones and sati stones found in the Sind province of present Pakistan has been pointed out by many and also noted that they are disappearing[3]. Central Asian and Bactrian areas exhibit broken sculptures of many panels and they are identified and interpreted differently. As the Indian kings / people were massacred there, it is mentioned as Hindu-kush = Hindus blood i.e,  the Hindus were  completely routed and eliminated there, and hence, memorial stones must have been erected. Till “Hindu-kush” occurred incidence at that area, they were there struggling with invading groups. Thus, only left out monuments have been recorded by Auriel Stein during his exploration. After Talibanization, even sculptures in the museums were destroyed and therefore, the fate of the sculptures and paintings found at the sites cannot be imagined.

Memorial stones in Cambodia / Siam / Thailand: In the Siamese culture, schools pointed out about the bloody sacrifice to the Earth Goddess offered at the Door of the Underworld, an ancient tree, a termite mound, a cave, a ring of stones[4]. At the time of the Buddhist ordination ceremony and its site, the Uposatha hall was surrounded by a ring of stones. Michael Wright noted that, “There is no evidence that these stones were developed from anything in India or Lanka, whereas scholars have proposed an affinity with prehistoric circles of rough-hewn stones found in the Northeast.” However, as the South Indian merchant guilds were having close contacts with these areas, there were possibilities that some sailors, merchants and other crew members might have died there and they might have erected memorial stones for them. Stone circles are considered as memorial stones, as noted above. Here, in the Siamese tradition, as there had been mixture of several peoples, the changes noted would be appreciable. Whether such circle stones were used for good or bad purposes – is also difficult to ascertain now. In any case, they were associated with sacrifice / death only.

Interpreting death, last rites and memorial stones in the context of race, language etc., by the colonial and other ideologists: Indians must have had their territory touching the other dominant civilizations like Sumerian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Chinese. Thus, their influence on the other cultures has been appreciable. That is why most of the people of the ancient civilizations wanted to come to India.  Indologists were pointing out such similarities and facts during last 150-300 years, but, suddenly changed their attitude. Thus, they changed their theory of the origin of race from the Ganges valley to other places[5]. The historiography was also changed accordingly. The glorification of Indian civilization turned to criticizing even disparaging. This attitude could be noted from the works of William Jones also. With the history writing of Vincent Smith, the Indian history was reduced to 2000 years starting with the Alexander’s invasion / Asokan script. About philosophy, initially, the world scholars accepted that India was the origin of philosophy, thus, every book of philosophy started with Indian philosophy. Thus, the fight started between India and Greece and Indian history has been made to start after Alexander’s invasion, the “sheet anchor of” Indian history. Then, “Aryan-Dravidian” race theory was introduced to dive, but the underlying concepts (rites conducted from birth to death) match with each other. However, the comprehensive and holistic study of Hero-stones gives a different picture. Again, one could note the commonality, in spite of the fact that such practices were carried on far and wide and even chronologically varied from Bronze Age to Modern Age.

Conclusion: Only few examples have been given for each area and state for illustrative purposes. An exhaustive study can also be made incorporating all details after conducting field study and reading local literature. Thus, with limited study and the above discussion, the following points are noted as conclusion:

• The belief in soul, transmigration of soul, karma, life after death, rebirth, cycle of birth and death, etc., have been the basis for the creation of the memorial stone.
• Even during the Bronze Age period, Indian Hero-stones were found in the Central Asia, but, portions were destroyed.
• There is difficult in connecting protohistory with historic narratives in the Indian context, as historians have such thumb rule.
• Logically, scientifically and technologically, such restriction appears to be artificial, inconsistent and redundant considering many other archaeological, material and scientific evidences.
• After the Mahabharat War around 3102 BCE, the participant armies with warriors dispersed and started moving to their destination[6]. However, as some could not reach, they settled down on the way and they became new dynasties and people groups. However, many commonalities could be noted among these people groups[7].  Jains – essences, gymnosophists (people wearing no dress or white dress); Rajaputs – Scythians, etc[8].
• The Hero-stones were found in the areas of Central Asia, Gandhara, Sind and other provinces on the west and Burma, Siam, Kedah etc., on the East.
• That Indic / Hindu / Vedic / Sanatana believing people were living in many parts of the world, at a particular time can also be understood and known from the prevalent of memorial stones and related philosophy.
• Thus, the memorial stone erection had been an Indian practice found from the Bronze Age to 18^th century.
• The dichotomy of dividing Indians based on race, language etc., is also cleared considering the prevalence of memorial stones in different places as pointed out, as “karma” continues!

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

09-05-2024

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[1] Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali. “Memorial Stones of Sindh, Pakistan: Typology and Iconography.” Puralokbarta 1 (2015): 285-298.

[2] . According to the notables of Oongar, village people have purportedly removed many of the decorative slabs either to sell in the lucrative markets in such items or simply in order to decorate their drawing rooms with these valuable pieces of art. Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali. “Vanishing Visual Heritage: Sati and Hero-stones in Nagarparkar, Sindh.” P.54

[3] Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali. “Vanishing Visual Heritage: Sati and Hero-stones in Nagarparkar, Sindh.” Journal of Indian Society of Oriental Art 27 (2010): 232-238.

[4] Wright, Michael. “Sacrifice and the underworld: death and fertility in Siamese myth and ritual.” Journal of the Siam Society 78.part 1 (1990).

[5] Léon Poliakov. The Aryan Myth: A History of Racist and Nationalist Ideas in Europe. New York, 1974.

As the European Indologists were using the expression “Aryan,” perhaps, even the Sanskrit scholar like B.G. Tilak was misled and tried to locate the Aryan origin to “Arctic region.”

[6]  Even the Greeks were mentioned as “degraded khastriyas,” by old Indologists, but, such details were suppressed later in 20^th century itself.

[7] Pococke, Edward. India in Greece; Or, Truth in Mythology... Griffin, 1856.

[8]  These are discussed by Richrd Garbe, Col. Tod and others linking Christianity with India, lost tribes etc.

culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14th and 15th 2024 (3)

culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14^th and 15^th 2024 (3)

Simultaneous session held on 15-03-2024: Simultaneously, a parallel technical session was held online at 10:30am which was chaired by Prof. Mallika Begum – assistant professor at SIET. There were four presenters in total, concentrating on the topics –

1. Healthcare among Adiyan and Mavidan Community[1],
2. Challenges faced by Tribes post covid,
3. Exploring collecting honey practices among the Alu Kurumbas[2] and
4. Cultural influences on Childhood Obesity[3].

As usual, for a regular listener, reader and researcher of these topics could easily remember, recognize and locate the sources (books, papers etc) of the last 50 or even 100 years. A simple Google search also shows many secondary sources with the same or similar titles. About the tribes, the Europeans have taken undue importance and studied with bias. Many times, they have tried to compare these Indian tribes with that of “the last tribes,” proceed and conclude accordingly. Therefore, the paper-presenters should see al tleast, they are mentioning them in their reference or acknowledging otherwise. It is impossible to mention and acknowledge all the sources and references, but, since the plagiarism check is done, such softwares always point to “copying”!    

Rangoli Competition held concurrently: Concurrent to both the sessions, the Rangoli Competition was held with the participation of seven teams from various colleges judged by Prof. Brinda – Ambedkar Law College. It was followed by Saritha Bowmick’s [4] Endowment Lectureship where Dr. B. Bindu– Former Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology, Kannur University was invited as the speaker. She discerned her thoughts on the anthropological research post Covid-19 and on the vulnerables where the former experienced the rise of the digital era and the latter experienced the influence by the anthropologists on restudying social flexibility, intimacy and sexuality.

Valedictory function: The second day of the conference came to an end with the Valedictory session. The Welcome address was given by Dr. Prabhu Kumari Vanama – the co-convener and organizing Secretary of the Conference. It was followed by a report on the Two Day – International Conference by Aishwariya Wincy- 1st year MA Anthropology student, the University of Madras. Presidential address was given by Dr. M.P. Damodaran, Head of the Department of Anthropology and Convener of the conference.

• The session moved on to the Chief Guest Address by Prof. CMK Reddy – President of the TN Medical Practitioners Association and the Chairman of the Linguistic Minorities Forum of Tamil Nadu.
• Following which Dr. G.J. Sudhakar who is a Professor Emeritus from CPR Institute of Indological Research was awarded with the Life Time Achievement Award and later, discoursed his words of wisdom with the audience.
• Prof. Pareshwar Sahoo – Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Utkal University was called to distribute the certificates to all the presenters, winners and participants.
• The Valedictory Address was given by Prof. K.S. Sarwani – Director at IQAC, TN Ambedkar Law University.  

The Valedictory session was concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. M. Rajam – Guest Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras followed by a photo session.

How the papers were presented?: The papers delved upon the selective nature about the theme, area, survey, number of subjects etc., and thus have been with limitations. Though, the researcher acknowledges such “limitations,” they come to conclusions, making them universal, that is not accepted. Moreover, at that time, they bring many popular myths into their narratives to suit their conclusions. As every individual varies, no two individuals could be compared and equated. Though individual differences are accepted, they are identified as couple, family, group, society, nation, country and so on. Where, the coming together individuals have to bury their differences and co-operate to work for a common cause for the same entities of couple, family, group, society, nation, country and so on. That is how, they have been functioning since time immemorial or from Paleolithic to modern periods.

Research has to be updated even at crossroads: As the students, researchers and other young scholars have decided to present papers doing PhD, completing PhD and working as lecturer, Assistant Professor etc., they have to prepare papers to suit the topic and theme of the conference and they are ready or prepared to answer the questions asked. In such academic proceedings and processes, there cannot be any concession, compromise and adjustment. As in the modern times, many facilities are available at the University level, the students have to update their knowledge by reading the recent books and research papers on the subject. They have conducted field studies and get new details and they cannot rehash or manipulate the previous or already published data and information.

Topic may have to be explicit and straight: Had the topic “culture at cross-roads?” been “culture at cross-roads? In India,” specifically, then, the paper presenters and speakers would have come to their topic straight away, after all, here, Indians have to deal with their issues in the changing times. Much time need not be spent by the speakers and paper presenters to explain it again and again without reaching any consensus. As pointed out, it has been a Western concept dealing with the meeting of different people groups, in Europe where, the migration of people was taking place at different periods. As they were believing in race, racism, racialism, segregation, exclusion and other principles, they had been at crossroads to place them at a particular place. About silk-road, maritime-route, trade routes etc., the scholars are well aware of..

Scientific, unscientific, unscientific, pseudo-scientific and so on: There is a difference between scientific and humanities subjects, where research is carried on. The experiments carried on in science and technology have been universal, producing the same results and being accepted universally. The experiments conducted by the arts, humanities and other non-science and technology subjects have been selective, choosy and discriminating covering a small portion, area, issues or few issues of a community or society, at a particular place and time and so on. Though, they too nowadays, they claim that they follow “scientific methodology” etc., they cannot reproduce the same result every time. In fact, in history, history writing, and historiography, the concerned experts openly accept that they do not require any objectivity in their writings.

Note: I waited for many days, requesting the organizers to send the details, photos etc., to complete the blogging. As I have not received as on 24-03-2024, I post the concluding part with the available materials today, i.e, 24-03-2024.

I thank Dr Prabhu Kumari Vanama for sending photos today – 24-03-2-24 and they are also included.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-03-2024

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[1] The Mavilan are a Scheduled Tribe of the Indian state Kerala. They inhabit the hill country of the Kannur and Kasaragod districts. They speak Tulu as their primary language and also have knowledge of Malayalam.

Rohisha, I. K., Tessy Treesa Jose, and Jyothi Chakrabarty. “Prevalence of anemia among tribal women.” Journal of family medicine and primary care 8.1 (2019): 145-147.

[2] Sathyanarayanan, C. R., and Nirmal Chandra. “The lost landscapes and livelihood: a case study of the Alu Kurumba of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.” J Anthropol Survey India 62.2 (2013): 821-50.

Jayaprakash, Prabhakar. “Uunending cultural and economic colonization: the case of Alu Kurumba Adivasi women” Perspectives in Social Work 30 (2015): 1.

[3] Kumanyika, Shiriki K. “Environmental influences on childhood obesity: ethnic and cultural influences in context.” Physiology & behavior 94.1 (2008): 61-70.

Chatham, Rebecca E., and Sandra J. Mixer. “Cultural influences on childhood obesity in ethnic minorities: a qualitative systematic review.” Journal of Transcultural Nursing 31.1 (2020): 87-99.

[4] Sharit Bhowmik 1948-2016; https://www.ces.uc.pt/emancipa/cv/gen/sharit.html

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14th and 15th 2024 (2)

Culture at cross-roads? – the International conference held at the University of Madras on March 14^th and 15^th 2024 (2)

14-03-2024 afternoon session[1]: The afternoon’s session (3 pm to 5:30 pm) commenced with a special lecture by Dr. Ananta Kumar Giri, who talked about what lies beyond cross cultures.  It was followed by the 1^st technical session from, where Assistant Professors of Post Graduate and Research Department of Historical Studies of Government Arts College for Men, Dr. M. Palani and Dr. J. Sadayamuthu preceded as the Chair and Co-chair respectively.  There were six presentations in this session. All the presenters focused on how various ideas, disciplines, concepts and issues overlap with cultures.  

Simultaneously, competition and cultural exhibitions were held where participants took part in Poster making, Crafts and Culinary exhibitions on the theme “Cultural diversity”. The judges for the competition were Ms. Arokiya Anbazhagi, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Women’s Christian College and Dr. Sasikala, Head of the Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Madras. The first day of the International Conference concluded with a talk by the chairperson Dr. M Palani.

15-03-2024 – the second day of proceedings:  The second day was held on 15^th March 2024. It started with the 2^nd technical session from 9:15 – 10:30 am with 8 presenters who presented a large variety of disciplines that interact with culture from street art to food, from uniform civil code to globalization.  This session was chaired by Dr. M.P. Damodaran – Head of the Department of Anthropology.  

It was followed by the 3rd technical session from 10:45am – 1pm chaired by Dr. Pareshwar Sahoo – Assistant professor in the Department of History at Utkal University and co-chaired by Dr. T Kausalyakumari– Head of the department of History – Ethiraj College. There were 7 presenters who focused on the topics such as women’s participation in politics, menstrual hygiene, archaeology, culture in early Madras and cultural identity vs intellectual property rights.

The student-paper presenters, generally had dealt with the topics taken for the purpose.

The paper presenter delved upon the topic of “theatre hall” and went on to list out all such auditoriums, halls, theatres, lecture halls etc., making sweeping remarks, before the establishment of such halls by the British, there was no culture (perhaps theatre culture) in Madras!

Audience- students

The paper presented on “menstrual hygienic”: The topic dealt with “menstrual hygienic” has been limited, but, making conclusions universal. Already many has researched in this topic[2]. It has been a favourite topic for many[3]. In Tamilnadu itself, there have been many studies covering Salem[4]. She conducted a survey with an English questionnaire, where, the subjects do not know English. This type of research has to be careful, as with the few samples, it cannot decide the fate of an entire state or country. Just by surveying the conditions of 100 persons, one cannot conclude the conditions of 100 crores population. She was stressing as if such “taboo” has been peculiar in India, without mentioning such taboo prevalent in other countries, perhaps, throughout the world. The Google Scholar shows thousands of books and papers on the topic[5] and therefore, it is better the paper presenter avoid bias and interpret the data restricting to her chosen area.

oppo_0

Students audience- backside

Intellectual property rights of the indigenous people: The Indian tribes, traditional knowledge etc., have been also a favourite topic[6]. The indigenous and tribals have many skills in science and technology, but they pass on them to their progeny from generation to generation[7]. They are not registering their cultural heritage and hence, others are copying and using it. Actually, in India, the Vanavasis (forest-dwelling people) were never disturbed and they continued to live with their facilities.  Even today, few islands of Andaman & Nicobar are not disturbed, as the indigenous tribes living there for millions of years never want to mix with others. Food, medicine and other requirements are provided periodically, some persons come and take them away, but, none are allowed to enter their islands.

Dr Pareswar Sahoo heading the session

Audience…….

Culture at crossroads – how it affects the Acts and Rules applicable to Indian women in 21st century: K. V. Ramakrishna Rao  – Culture at crossroads – how it affects the Acts and Rules applicable to Indian women in the 21st century. After discussing about many case laws, he concluded as follows: As it has been mentioned as “crossroads,” what the roads crossing each other has to be mentioned specifically, as it cannot be hypothetical. When people or peoples meet at the “crossroads,” i.e, the place of intersection of two or more roads, the action, interaction and counteraction among them have to be studied.  Thus, the judiciary, judicial judgments and Acts applicable to civil society have to be secularized completely.

• Utopian concepts of egalitarianism in all spheres of Indians can be achieved only by true and complete secularization of Indian society leading to Social Justice.
• Therefore, religion should definitely be treated as personal concept instead of putting it on national agenda.
• As the ideals of Social Justice can be materialized by actual commitment, keeping reality in mind, all efforts should be taken to have uniform civil and criminal laws in the Indian context.
• If the secularization process is completed in true spirit, then there will not be any objection to such uniform civil code. For this broad-minded, educated and liberal scholars of secular but religious personalities should be consulted without any discrimination on any factor. As the UCC Bill introduced in 2019 has been still pending even in 2024, Indians may have to wait and see.
• In such process, not only the Indian Constitution, but also all Acts and rules can be secularized to the satisfaction of all sections of Indian society.
• But, unless all Indians follow them strictly, the ideals may not be implemented.
• Therefore, the people should not only be taught about their rights, but also others should sincerely help them to get their rights with responsibility.
• Thus, it is believed that Indians would achieve Social Justice through secular principles.

Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology – are they at loggerheads or crossroads?: J. Soundaraajan and K. V. Ramakrishna Rao discussed about Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology in the context of culture. After discussing the issues, he concluded as follows:

• As historical and archaeological chronologies have been different, they have to be correlated, corroborated and corresponded for the purpose.
• How the prehistoric (archaeological) dates and historic (written) evidences could be brought together at a meeting point has to be considered.
• Whether historical and archaeological cultures could be fit into such chronology or not- should be decided with the eras, dates and chronograms appearing in the inscriptions.
• Now archaeo-astronomical evidences and datings are not accepted by the field-archaeologists, but, they are used by others in the multi-disciplinary approach, even in the megalithic sites.
• The study of cultural change in the countries like India, is very difficult. As the vast country with the largest coastal areas had been interacting with many other cultures, the cross-cultural, cultural influence and related processes would vary during every 50-100 years, yet, the culture exhibited show some commonness.
• The 2500 years old sculptural evidences prove orderliness of the Indian art and architecture.
• The 3500-2500 years old literature and other non-material culture also show such uniqueness with less variance.
• All such consistencies are noted even in 21^st century proves that processural archaeology also works in India. 
• Thus, coming to the question – Archaeology, Processural archaeology and Cultural archaeology – are they at loggerheads or crossroads? – answer can be given – Yes.

The following papers were also presented:

Ganesan – Lambadis

Venkatesan – Tirukkural

Ramesh – Rock art of Tamilnadu

Vibin – Temples in Kanyakumari

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

Note: I was expecting inputs from our friends and waiting. As I could not get it, I posted this second part with the available material.

19-03-2024

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[1]  Based on the report received from the one of the convenors Dr Vamana Praphu Kumari.

[2] Sinha, Rabindra Nath, and Bobby Paul. “Menstrual hygiene management in India: The concerns.” Indian journal of public health 62.2 (2018): 71-74.

[3] Kamath, R., et al. “A study on knowledge and practices regarding menstrual hygiene among rural and urban adolescent girls in Udupi Taluk, Manipal, India.” Global journal of medicine and public health 2.4 (2013): 1-9.

[4] Balamurugan, S. Sangeetha, S. Shilpa, and Sheethal Shaji. “A community based study on menstrual hygiene among reproductive age group women in a rural area, Tamil Nadu.” Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences 3.2 (2014): 83-87.

[5] Van Eijk, A. M., Sivakami, M., Thakkar, M. B., Bauman, A., Laserson, K. F., Coates, S., & Phillips-Howard, P. A. (2016). Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open, 6(3), e010290.

[6] Munzer, Stephen R., and Kal Raustiala. “The uneasy case for intellectual property rights in traditional knowledge.” Cardozo Arts & Ent. LJ 27 (2009): 37.

[7] Bengwayan, Michael A. Intellectual and cultural property rights of indigenous and tribal peoples in Asia. London: Minority Rights Group International, 2003.

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.

Inauguration of RSN Memorial Library and Indological Research Institute at Chennai

Inauguration of RSN Memorial Library and Indological Research Institute at Chennai

How the Library was thought about: As explained in the earlier blog, Sri R.S.Narayanaswamy and I used to discuss about setting up library with the collection of rare and old books. With his demise, then, I discussed with Dr N. Ravichandran searching for space. One day he called me informing that the Vishva Hindu Vidya Kendra has constructed a new building and they were ready to provide space for the library, so that we could arrange our books there for the purpose. In fact, I was seriously thinking and even about to construct a metallic roofing shed on the third floor of my house to have the library and also use the space for monthly meetings, seminars etc. I fixed it in Google also. Then, I decided to move all my valuable collection there, as he suggested. So I went there discussed with Sri Vedantamji and Dr N. Ravichandran and decided to move books there.

How much the books suffered due to nature-made and man-made calamities: I started moving my books with steel racks in  July 2022 and went on till September 2022. At weekends and holidays, I went there and sorted them out subject-wise and arranged in the racks. As I knew each and every book, I could recognize and place them accordingly. Again, there were several books torn, wrappers missing, even books found in piecemeal.. for me, it was the third calamity, as I had faced earlier twice in 2015 floods and the Vardha cyclone in 2016 with the loss of one-third of books. In 2o15, my house was submerged in the floods and waters entered the house destroying almost all household things. The room that I constructed backside, above five feet from the road gave me shelter for my books and my books for six days, when there was no current. This is happening for the third time. Anyway, I sat there, going through such pages, wrappers and torn-books trying to match with each other. For example, the DED was in such a bad condition that took one day to put together with all the pages. Then, about the inauguration……it was getting postponed…….Then, in 2023, it was perhaps finalized. 

Memorial Library and Indology Research Institute: Dr Subramaniansamy inaugurated the RSN Memorial Library and Indology Research Institute at the second floor of Sri Vedanta Bhavan, Vishva Hindu Vidya Kendra, T. Nagar on 28th at 4:00 PM at Ramanujam Street, T. Nagar. He was the Former Indian Institute of Technology Professor of Mathematical Economics and Harvard University Economics School. Also, Dr. Sudha Seshayan, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr M.G.R., Medical University. Ms Chandralekha, ex-IAS, T.R. Ramesh, Advocate, Temple Worshipers Society President participated. Dr. Sathyamurthy, founder of REACH Foundation, was supposed to come, but did not.

The organizing team of the function: The coordination committee for the event included Vishva Hindu Vidya Kendra President Vedantam G, Madras University Department of Ancient History and Archeology Visiting faculty K.V. Ramakrishna Rao, Vishva Hindu Vidya Kendra General Secretary Girija Seshatri, Dr K. Venkatesan, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Chennai, Dr P. Ramesh, Lecturer, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, UCAL, Fuel System Manufacturing Consultant Dr. Ravichandran were also present. Of course, there have been many who helped us at different levels. I cannot forget Sri Ramasubbu, who has been helping me.

What the spears spoke- as per the media:

• Dr Sudha Seshyyan explained the importance of Indology and Indological studies in the present day. She also explained as to how the textual references could be used for the Indological research.
• Ms Chandralekha IAS (retd.,) explained her own experience of reading history and Indology to pass the Civil Services and also explained how the ancient texts should be decoded with the scientific background.
• Dr. Ravichandran spoke about “RSN, the Memorial Library,” specifically “RS Narayanasamy”.
• K.V. Ramakrishna Rao, Visiting Professor, Department of Archaeology, highlighted the importance of “Institute of Research in Indology” and “Indology”.
• Finally, Dr Subramanian Swamy pointed out how the reading of law would be useful to everybody. Particularly, girls and women should read law to understand their position. He emphasized that all students should learn law so that they could realize their position, wherever they work.

The special feature of this library is that about 50-60 years of English-Tamil dailies and magazines have been cut out, sorted subject-wise and pasted on separate newspaper-sized papers, arranged according to pound usage.

What is Indology?: Indology has been the study of “India”[1], but not the 1947-India that is “Bharath.” It is the systematic study of India in all aspects of arts, sciences and technology from the prehistoric to modern periods. As the Indic culture, tradition, heritage and civilization were spread, registered and found recorded in many parts of the ancient world, it was understood accordingly by the Western or European experts during the 17^th to 20^th and perhaps in 21^st century also.

Indology connotation from Germany to Dutch to India now: The term Indology (in German, Indologie) is often associated with German scholarship, and is used more commonly in departmental titles in German and continental European universities than in the anglophone academy. In the Netherlands, the term Indologie was used to designate the study of Indian history and culture in preparation for colonial service in the Dutch East Indies. But, now Indians are not at all reading about “India” properly, because of regionalism, linguistic and other parochialism.

Indian, Asian, South Asian studies – how nomenclature changes: However, the focused study on India has been interpreted as nation-oriented, nationalist, nationalistic and so on[2] and thus, “Asia” concept introduced. Thus, now, it is also known as South Asian studies, that is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent, and as such is a subset of Asian studies. That Columbus could discover an “India” in the west proves the existence of “India” in the Americas. Many scholars have pointed out the connection between the Aztec-Maya-Inca civilizations with that of India and SEA. Even Rabindranath Tagore[3] has written about “Greater India” and promoting such society.

Classical Indology based on the Indic literature: Classical Indology majorly includes the linguistic studies of Sanskrit literature, Pāli and Tamil literature, as well as study of Dharmic religions (like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.), thus, Indology has no boundaries, even in the “Asian” context. Just 100 yeas back, Indians and non-Indians were moving in all directions without any passports and visas. The India that included Tibet, Burma, Gandhara, Sind, and other areas were slowly separated by the Colonial rulers for administrative convenience.

Modern Indology has widened scope like Indian Ocean Studies: In the context of Maritime history, under water archaeology and marine engineering, Indian Ocean played a crucial role always. Every ship and boat that came to India had to sail through Indian Ocean to reach India. Now, Indians cannot imagine that the Ocean could be named after their country or nation. Thus, it is clear India was influencing others for many centuries in many aspects. Thus, Indology covers not only ancient, medieval, but also modern periods.

Indology may have to face other ideological studies: Indology has to face and embrace the following:

• Subaltern school, Local, Oral and Feminist histories [mostly misinterpreting Indic tradition, culture, heritage and civilization].
• Trends In Indian historiography: History From Below
• Indian judiciary, judgments and impact on society [living in relation, same sex marriage, breaking of joint family system etc].
• Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization [changes in the taxation system, goods and services affecting the traditional industries].
•  Genetic studies [DNA, R1a, biometrics etc.,] –aiding and abetting “Aryan-Davidian” dichotomy and race theories [pseudo-scientific]
• Peasant Movements to Urban naxals [targeting to divide Indian society]
•  Working-class Movements, Tribal Movements [targeting to divide Indian society]
• Histories of Caste, Tribes and Genders [misinterpretation of Varna, caste, Jati, Kula, gothra, ethnicity, denomination etc.]

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

29-10-2023

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[1] There were “India-intra-gangem” and “India-extra-gangem” of the Greeks and two Indias located by the European cartographers – one proper India and another away from India in the east i.e, Southeast Asia, also known as “Greater India”.

[2]  Even certain historians have been dubbed as “nationalist or nationalistic” historians, equating with “right,” as opposed to the “left.” Thus, Jadunath Sircar, K. A. Nalikanta Sastry etc., would come under this category. https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/44466/1/Unit-20.pdf

[3] Greater India was first published in 1921.The essays in the volume are authorized translation of papers read by the author in connection with the swadeshi movement in Bengal, circa 1905-1910. The contents include ‘Our Swadeshi Samaj’ (Swadeshi Samaj), ‘The Way to get it Done’ (Saphaltar sadupay), ‘The Nationalist Party’ (Sabhapatior Abhibhashan, Pabna Sammilani, in part) and ‘East and West in Greater India’ (Purva o Pachim).

Analysis of Archaeological Material Remains through Geoarchaeology, Geo-Micro Fossils and Literary Sources of South India (3)

Analysis of Archaeological Material Remains through Geoarchaeology, Geo-Micro Fossils and Literary Sources of South India  (3)

K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, Superintendent of the Archeology Department of India, who participated as a special guest, told the press[1]: After 4 phases of excavation research was completed, its full report containing 982 pages was submitted to the central government last January. Only the central government can publish the Report on Keeladi. He said that natural disasters were not the reason for the destruction of Keezadi city. The central Government cannot make any change in our report. This report includes materials, data and evidence of how we have dated the antiquity of Keeladi in 2 years.

1,100 years of history[2]: We have records of the city of Keeladi from 800 BC to 300 AD. But the city must have existed by at least 1,000 AD. There can be various reasons why a city is destroyed. But natural disasters were not the reason for the destruction of Keeladi city. The 1,100-year history of Keeladi will be revealed when this thesis is published. The present city of Madurai was formed only in the 9^th century AD. So the people who were in Keezadi must have gradually migrated from there and formed the present city of Madurai. While we study fossils a lot, we don’t really study the habitats that depend on them. Burial is only part of the habitat. The way of life of the people can be known only by studying the living areas of the people. Instead of looking at Vaigai and Tamiraparani as a separate river region, studies should be done in all the places along the South Indian rivers. It provides various historical information. We are applying for new archaeological research in Theni district. Madras University has so far conducted research in more than 30 locations. Research has been conducted in Kanchipuram for 6 years. These reports should be published by the University. If we want to know the history of Kanchipuram, it will be known only when the thesis of Madras University is published.

17-08-2023 – the paper reading session: Though, about 30 papers were received, only 17 had come to present papers. The following papers were presented on the first day.

T. Sreelakshmi. Director Archaeological Survey of India Dharohar Bhavan, 24, Tilak Marg, New Delhi	Symbols and Symbolism – New Evidences and Dimensions From Buddhist Establishments In South India
Dr. S. Rama Krishna Pisipaty Geo-archaeologist, Former Professor & Dean SCSVMV Deemed to be University, Enathur, Kanchipuram – 631561. sramakrishna.pisipaty@gmail.com	Palaeochannels & Settlement pattern in Lower Palar: Geo-archaeological approach
Dr. Ganesan Ambedkar, Dept of Dravidian & Computational Linguistics, Dravidian University, Kuppam – 517426; Phone: +919490736166	“System and Systematic differences among Dravidian Languages”.
C. Uma, Ph. D., Research Scholar, Dept. Of Ancient History and Archaeology,  Madras University, Chepauk, Chennai – 05	Sangam Literature references to understand the select Archaeological vestiges of Tamilnadu
K.V. Ramakrishna Rao,   I.R.S (Retd) Guest faculty, University of Madras and Visiting faculty for Annamalai University, Research Scholar, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras, Chennai.	A critical and unified study of submerged Poompuhar city based on Multi-disciplinary Study
Singaravelavan J S Ph. D., Research Scholar, Dept. Of Ancient History and Archaeology,  Madras University, Chepauk, Chennai	Archaeology of Amanambakkam
Dr. S. Ganesan Assistant Professor Department of History Institute of Distance Education University of Madras, Chennai – 600005	Goddess Lakshmi As Gleaned Through The Epigraphs And Copper Plate Grants

C. Uma had dealt with her paper, “Sangam Literature references to understand the select Archaeological Vestiges of Tamilnadu,” by giving literary evidences to compare with certain archaeologically related issues by comparison. The Sangam landscape is the name given to a poetic device that was characteristic of love poetry in classical Tamil Sangam literature. The core of the device was the categorisation of poems into different tiṇais or modes, depending on the nature, location, mood and type of relationship represented by the poem. Each tiṇai was closely associated with a particular landscape, and imagery associated with that landscape—its flowers, trees, wildlife, people, climate and geography—was woven into the poem in such a way as to convey a mood, associated with one aspect of a romantic relationship. She travelled from the Paleolithic to the modern period in such exercise covering the submerged cities also. It is difficult to demythologize such literary evidences dealing with the events that occurred millions of years ago, that too, away from the coast and supposedly buried under waters at the depth of hundreds of metres. The torpidity, current, murky waters and such other factors also affect real underwater exploration and excavation.

N.  Preetha presented a paper on, “Spatial studies on Jain Beds – A Petrological analysis,” giving elaborate details about the geology in general – In geology, a bed is a layer of sediment, sedimentary rock, or volcanic rock “bounded above and below by more or less well-defined bedding surfaces”. Specifically in sedimentology, a bed can be defined in one of two major ways. First, Campbell and Reineck and Singh use the term bed to refer to a thickness-independent layer comprising a coherent layer of sedimentary rock, sediment, or pyroclastic material bounded above and below by surfaces known as bedding planes. By this definition of bed, laminae are small beds that constitute the smallest (visible) layers of a hierarchical succession and often, but not always, internally comprise a bed. Then, she compared with the “Jain beds,” as if the Jain monks had chosen such rocky beds after going into the “Petrological analysis”! It is really amazing that they studied the rock structure as sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic, gneiss etc.,

 

K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, read a paper, “A critical and unified study of submerged Poompuhar city based on Multi-disciplinary Study.” He concluded as follows: The scientific studies have to be scientific and not hypothetical[3]. The Satellite and remote sensing imagery with all scientific manipulations have limitations.  The estimates that are of whatever nature with reasonableness cannot be decided as conclusive. As technical instruments are used definite results have to be presented. Besides archaeological limitations, the historical conditions are also to be satisfied.

• Under such circumstances, the Poompuhar Satellite-Bathymetric studies require more tangible and archaeological evidences, so that they can be taken up for historical studies.
• The geological datings have to be matched with geographical sedimentary level datings.
• The assumed structures have to be man-made, so that they could be decided as canal, waterway,  well, wall or harbor etc.,
• Archaeological evidences have to be obtained at the prospective levels where the earlier “Poompuhars” are located.
• They are to be dated and matched with the 1000-6000-9000-13000 BCE continuum or 7000-9000-15000-20000 YBP continuum.
• Otherwise, the Poompuhar hypotheses may survive as “Kumarik kandam” narratives.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-08-2023

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[1] தமிழ்.இந்து,  கீழடி நகரம் அழிவதற்கு இயற்கை சீற்றம் காரணமல்ல – இந்திய தொல்லியல் துறை கண்காணிப்பாளர் தகவல், செய்திப்பிரிவு, Published : 18 Aug 2023 06:10 AM; Last Updated : 18 Aug 2023 06:10 AM.

[2] Based on a news report appeared in the Tamil Hindu and the link is given below: https://www.hindutamil.i.n/news/tamilnadu/1098649-natural-disaster-not-responsible-for-destruction-of-keezhadi-city-archeology-department-of-india-informs-2.html

[3] Gao, Jay. Bathymetric mapping by means of remote sensing: methods, accuracy and limitations, Progress in Physical Geography 33.1 (2009): 103-116.

The detectable depth is usually limited to 20 m. The accuracy of the retrieved bathymetry varies with water depth, with the accuracy substantially lower at a depth beyond 12 m. Other influential factors include water turbidity and bottom materials, as well as image properties.

Analysis of Archaeological Material Remains through Geoarchaeology, Geo-Micro Fossils and Literary Sources of South India (1)

Analysis of Archaeological Material Remains through Geoarchaeology, Geo-Micro Fossils and Literary Sources of South India  (1)

Research and seminar under RUSA: The Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras conducted a two-day seminar on how geological survey, fossil and literature studies with archaeological remains could contribute to history,, archaeology and related disciplines. The topic is Analysis of Archaeological Material Remains through Geoarchaeology, Geo-Micro Fossils and Literary Sources of South India[1]. This study is being carried out under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)[2], a holistic scheme of development for higher education in India programme with funds received. Departments of Ancient History and Archaeology, Geography, Tamil Literature and Mathematics participated work together in this project. Thus it is a multidisciplinary research seminar organized and held on 17th and 18th of August 2023 in the University campus.

The announcement made in June 2023 about the Seminar: About this seminar, there was a news note appeared in Dinamalar, “On behalf of the Department of Ancient History and Archeology of the University of Chennai, next month, on the 13^th and 14^th,  (now dates changed to August 17^th and 18^th) research papers are invited in the international seminar on the topic ‘Geoarchaeology, Geomicroforms’. For this, comments including ‘Geo microfossils, Geoarchaeology’ should be sent to the address ‘Head of Department, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Chennai, Chepakkam Campus, Chennai – 05’ by 30th. For more details, contact on mobile number 94456 28813 or email ‘jsrajan2013@gmail.com’.

Instructions to paper presenters: As the subject matter has been multi-disciplinary, the papers should be theme oriented by the researchers and experts.

• The papers should be specific on the theme chosen.
• Inter-disciplinary approach can be there, but, the respective experts can emphasize their field of study and research.
• The received papers would be scrutinized, processed and selected for presentation.
• The paper presenters are requested to present papers with PPT bringing out their new findings hitherto published so far.
• New, current and updated facts and figures; data and information; interpretations and results are expected.
• No generalizations may be made.
• Already known facts, details and information etc., need not be compiled and repeated.
• Papers should be based on original research of the author with primary sources.
• The final paper should not exceed 10 pages excluding foot notes and references (to be given at the end of the paper).
• 12 points can be used of any font.

The sub-themes are as follows: – considering the multidisciplinary approach and academic cooperation of different departments and experts, the following topics are also considered for the paer presentation.

• the scientific study of archaeology of the earth in all aspects
• sedimentology (study of sediments)
• stratigraphy (study of adding of rocks),
•  their part in identifying the actual qualities of the excavations,
• Comparing and differentiating geoarchaeology and archaeology in the context
• uses of geospatial technologies such as GIS
• Indian maritime contacts with ancient civilizations since c.7000 YBP.
• Palaeolithic to Neolithic cultures and their correlation with the human evolution.
• Literary evidences for the above in the Indian literature.
• Correlation, corroboration and correspondence of the above evidences.

Theme of the seminar: Though the studies on Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil started and its mineral properties in early 19^th century, a complete and holistic understanding of Geoarchaeology and Geo-Microfossil and its formation predictions lacks till date. Most of the study on Geoarchaeology and Geo-Microfossil is centered upon dating the Geoarchaeology and Geo-Microfossil on stylistic grounds, of a particular region without taking all the available evidence. In India the Geoarchaeology and Geo-Microfossil study is usually carried on the basis of formal methods to date them.  Dating the Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil is considered to be the most important aspect in the study of Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil, whereas, other aspects like the meaning and message behind the Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil along with mathematical models in predictions of its age and pigments are usually not given importance because of the lack of insight passed on directly or indirectly from those who made and used the Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil (informed method).

Micro-fossil studies in India: Till date, all the reported Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil from the district is dated back to the prehistoric times on stylistic grounds, other associated finds in and around the Geoarchaeology and Geo-Micro Fossil site has been overlooked. Microorganisms are known to impact aquifers by modifying their rates of dissolution. In the karstic Edwards Aquifer, microbes colonizing the aquifer surfaces enhance the dissolution rates of the host rock. In the oceanic crustal aquifer, the largest aquifer on Earth, microbial communities can impact ocean productivity, seawater chemistry as well as geochemical cycling throughout the geosphere.  The mineral make-up of the rocks affects the composition and abundance of these sub-sea-floor microbial communities present. Through bioremediation, some microbes can aid in decontaminating freshwater resources in aquifers contaminated by waste products.

Archaeological investigations and Chronology: The detailed biological and palaeontological analysis of microfossils in such contexts may be an important source of archaeological data.  By critically reviewing a range of specialized cross-disciplinary analyses, it is shown how microfossils can be used to provenance inorganic artifacts, reconstruct aspects of their manufacturing technology, and infer their function. In Tamilnadu, excavations have been carried on at different sites and our archaeologists have been getting very important evidences. The script has been dated to c.6th cent.BCE and iron usage go back to c.1200 BCE. Thus, the historical chronology changes with the findings. The Poompuhar underwater excavations might reveal new results that might change the existing position also. Here, the geoarchaeology, micro-fossils and other scientific studies could bring results correlating, corroborating and corresponding with the Sangam Tamil literature. In this way, I hope all the concerned departments come together in this seminar to proceed further.

Updating of subjects is necessary: The updating of any subject has been making it current / recent and bringing to the usage with progressed, developed and advanced information and innovation. As the “goods and services” that are used now, get updated, such old “goods and services” get “outdated” and therefore, “update or perish” would come into play. If “publish or perish” has been common among the researchers, “update or perish” has been an axiom among the science and technology users, as the gadgets, instruments, tools, and machinery get outdated day by day. The exact position and condition would come to the academician, syllabus and the subjects. If Indians continue to read old subjects, that too, without any updating, they themselves better understand what would happen. History writers have not thought about progressed, advanced and developed stages of man, society, and nation in spite of many developments have taken place. Therefore, this multidisciplinary approach would pave way for new findings and interpretations.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-08-2023

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[1]  Seminar brochure – https://www.unom.ac.in/webportal/uploads/seminar_conference/archaeology_seminar_20230609115934_95211.pdf

[2] The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan is the central government’s contribution to further the promise held by the rich expanse of India’s state universities. The country’s future lies in empowering these campuses with all that it takes to enhance learning, better research and promote innovation. A centrally sponsored scheme, RUSA understands that sometimes the most important lessons of life are learnt outside the classroom. So whether it is upgrading libraries or computer laboratories, promoting autonomous colleges or clubbing them to consolidate their strength and forming cluster universities, this programme realizes that every institution holds the power to enrich lives through top-class education. With universities, to prepare universe-ready scholars. http://rusa.nic.in/

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..