The Proceedings of the 82nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (3)

The Proceedings of the 82^nd session of Indian History Congress held at the Kakatiya University (3)

Mridula Mukherjee who inaugurated the session: Mridula Mukherjee is the daughter of V.D. Mahajan. Vidya Dhar Mahajan (1913-1990) was a historian, political scientist, and advocate. He married to Savitri Shori Mahajan who was a historian. They had two daughters and one son. Their son Ajay Mahajan and daughters Sucheta Mahajan and Mridula Mukherjee are also historians. Sucheta and Mridula have been professors of history at the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for Historical Studies. Sucheta had been a visiting scholar at the College of Wooster in Ohio and Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (Foundation House of Human Sciences) in Paris. Mahajan died on 10 July 1990 at the age of around 77 years. Ironically, he studied at the Sanatan Dharma College, Lahore which was closed after 1947 and started in 1948 in India. Perhaps, the IHC might dub him as “nationalist” historian placing him along with Jadunath Sircar, KAN Sastri, Ajay Mitra Sastri and others[1]. However, Mridula Mukherjee has been that of “IHC category.” She has been rebellious and litigant also, as she fought legally against her brother and also with the government, when she was not given an extension for his post.

Ancient India

Hindu identity and Indian nationalism

Parallel sessions on different topics, symposiums etc: The Aligarh Historians Society started holding special sessions with invited historians on some selected themes and topics. Most of the lectures would be monotonous, as the speaker or the paper reader would go on to speak or read and most of the audience would be in the relaxing mode. Rarely, there would be interaction or questions allowed. College delegates might feel that it would be esteemed to be there and listen to them. This year, they announced that K.L. Tuteja delivered ‘Professor S C Misra Memorial Lecture’ and K.M. Shrimali a special lecture on ‘Sanatan Humanism’ at the university auditorium from 5.30 p.m. at the university auditorium on Thursday.

The three-day event also featured a symposium on –

1. ‘Reason and Ideology in Indian History’ and parallel sessions –
2. Aligarh Historians Society Panel on ‘Reconstructing Indian Economic History’ and
3. IHC panel on ‘Deccan: Past and Present’ and ‘Dalit History Panel’.

About, “dalit,” very often, they used to make hue and cry, but, none bothered about the constitutional validity and legality. Just like some vested media and the Christian groups, interestingly, these historians also engage themselves and rehash what they have already recorded in their writings and speeches. They would be verbose with narratives and discourses based on micro and macro studies with a lot of usage of statistics also[2]. In fact, to prove their points, they use statistics and such data manipulation can be easily found by the mathematicians and statistics experts. This also, I have been pointing out many times. 

Symposium on dalit..

What you should do, if your paper is not listed: These  details are included in the “List of papers” booklet issued by the IHC:

• If a paper is not listed here or in the Supplementary List, because a member’s paper was not received in time or for some other and the member wishes to present it at this session, he/she may please hand over two copies of the paper at the Secretary’s Office immediately.
• If a member had sent his/her paper in time, and it is not listed in the Section for which he had sent it, he may please check it in the Section to which by its theme it may have been assigned. For example, if a paper is sent to Section I or II, but deals with archaeological matters, it may be found in Section V (Archaeology). If it is still not found there, the member concerned may please immediately inform the IHC office at the venue of the session.
• Some members while sending their papers omitted to give their Membership Nos. They would need to let us have their Membership Nos. before presenting their papers, in the Assigned Sections.
• It will not be possible to include any paper that has not been received latest by 4 pm., on the first day of the session

So just to get into the “List of papers,” one has to pass through such ordeal, but, what they say about the publication of the paper presented. Read the following carefully.

Ancient India

Health and medicine

Health and medicine session.

IHC standards coming down or it wants to go the easy way: The IHC claimed[3], “Due to constraints of space, summaries have not been published over the past several years. Since 2016, the list of papers presented has also been omitted, as all papers presenters are awarded certificates at the session itself.”

• 2016 to 2022, “the following papers were also presented” – list was not printed, in other words, those papers are rejected, they have to be happy with the certificates given!
• The editorial policy as had been recorded above shows their way of functioning, selecting and accommodating in the bulky volume. Therefore, “Due to constraints of space,” excuse becomes redundant.  
• That “all papers presenters are awarded certificates,” is quite amusing, as they have not come here to get such “awards,” that too, “at the session itself”!
• Because, they would not be given at any other place, as IHC would not conduct any ritual to do so.
• In fact, it is not any ISI or ISO 90021, such standard certification to be displayed.
• When the papers of Sectional presidents are already printed and distributed during the session, there is no necessity to print their papers again in the volume to waste paper. They are “awarded” for heading the session suitably.
• Yet, these rituals are conducted and going on.

The scientific approach to study history is also and always emphasised for the last 40 years.

How delegates react to the local media?: Some local media persons tried to get feedback from the delegates and the delegates mostly praised the IHC, organizers and the arrangements made, in a stereotype mode that appears artificial. There were cultural and entertainment programs arranged in the evening. The videos uploaded and available had been only of this nature and the critical discussion about the proceedings, particularly, about the academics, paper reading, questions asked, how the paper presenter and audience reacted and such other details were not forthcoming. Whether the same pattern of presenting papers, getting certificates and going away would serve the purpose or it should be changed and such other serious issues are not dealt with or discussed. In the social media, of course, there have been some photos, but, they have been that of individual nature. They appear to feel great to present paper at the IHC and get a certificate.  So this is a really unfortunate attitude and such mind-set would not be helpful to serious researchers. Moreover, the IHC has become very indifferent in the aspect, s year by year, they were making the paper presenting as a mere ritual.

Food and accommodation: From the feedback received from the delegates, food and accommodation had been satisfactory. Only about the Rs. 5,000/- delegate fees, many expressed that it was high. As for as the accommodation is concerned, at some places, the delegates were asked to vacate on 30th evening / night itself. Because of the chill and foggy climate, the trains were running late. Therefore, some were to be accommodated at the University guest house and they had to go to station to catch their trains. As has been dealt with this issue in earlier conferences, many times, it is better that the organizers have limited crown with complete academic-oriented proceedings, so that such crown can be accommodated satisfactorily. As hundreds of delegates come for sightseeing or as tourists, the increasing delegate fees only affect the genuine researchers, students and lower-middle class / poor categories.

Interested are going through the books…..

Book stalls etc: Book stalls and related items were also accommodated, where different publishers displayed their books. Definitely, interested delegates had visited the stalls, gone through some of books, but only few buyers. Obviously, the prices of books have been going on increase to Rs 1000/- and so, and ordinary readers, students and others cannot afford to buy such books. Therefore, they just do “window shopping.” They might ask about the price, giving discount and then, silently move away. As usual, the “Puducherry World History Congress” stall was there, but, none was there when, our representative had gone there. Definitely, the coterie of IHC might not like such an organization coming up. Anyway time would tell during the course of time, when people come and go. 

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

31-12-2023

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[1] During the BM-RJB issue, the historians got themselves divided into several categories – Masjid historians-Mandir historians; Babri historians – Bajrang historians; sacred historians – communal historians and so on; even archaeologists were divided accordingly.

[2]  Now, anyone carefully reads the articles in “Economic and political weekly, ” such trend can be noted. For social processes, none could fix the parameters  and decide the social behavior, conflicts and related processes. Perhaps, to prove their “scientific nature” of studies, they have been prone to use such methods.

[3] IHC proceedings, 80^th session, Kannur,2019, Preface,  p.ix

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.

Peace Congress 2023 – “Conflict analysis and conflict resolution” conducted at state level conference held on September 19th 2023

Peace Congress 2023 – “Conflict analysis and conflict resolution” conducted at state level conference held on September 19^th 2023

the “Peace Congress” held at WCC

Peace Conference in Chennai at WCC: The Women Christian College (WCC) conducted a Peace Congress 2023 on 19^th September, 2023 at their college campus. It was organized by the department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology and sponsored by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in India (UBCHEA). It was about “Conflict analysis and conflict resolution” conducted at state level. UBCHEA claims that it, “is committed to education that develops the whole person – intellectually, spiritually, and ethically. They claim[1] that the draw strength from our Christian identity and values and our collaboration with Asian colleges and universities. Together we prepare individuals for lives of professional and personal fulfillment and meaningful service in community with others. The United Board is a nongovernmental organization. We are registered as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization in the United States and as a public charity in Hong Kong”. They have Chennai Consultancy Office within the WCC campus[2].

the program of conference…..

21-09-2023 – International peace Day[3]: Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more. This year’s – 2023 – theme is Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals. It is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will create a culture of peace for all. Perhaps, coinciding with that day, the organizers might have decided to conduct such programmes. 2023 marks the mid-point in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2023 observance of the International Day of Peace coincides with the SDG summit (18 – 19 September) to mark the mid-point milestone. The SDGs aim to bring us closer to having more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence. But without the buy-in and contribution of a wide range of actors including the 1.2 billion young people alive, the goals will not be achieved.

Invited speakers – Dr Mallika Joseph….

Mallika Joseph presenting her paper…………………..

Rev John Prasad…………..

John Prasad presenting his paper……………………………………..

Karthikeyan presenting his paper………………

Varieties of programmes in one day: It is evident that the programmes had been mainly targeted students. In one day congress, they had –

• Paper presentation (students)
• Paper presentation (staff)
• Mime
• Role play

However, as they had sent circulars to perhaps all Universities and colleges, perhaps, “staff” also participated. No list of papers, and other details were given to the paper presenters. As they (the events) were held simultaneously at different places, all could not attend the programmes taken place.

History of UBCHEA[4]: Founded in 1922, the United Board’s work in its first three decades focused on 13 Christian colleges and universities in China: Fukien Christian University, Ginling College, Hangchow University, Huachung University, Hwa Nan College, Lingnan University, Nanking University, St. John’s University, University of Shanghai, Shantung Christian University, Soochow University, West China Union University, and Yenching University. The United Board took its name from the union of the governing boards of these institutions, which recognized the benefits of combining their efforts to create and sustain higher education institutions. United Board support came in the form of raising funds and coordinating their use to support capital construction, library collections, student scholarships and other critical educational functions, including sponsoring visiting American faculty and staff. The United Board suspended its work in China in 1951 and shifted its efforts to other places, becoming the largest single source of funding support of Tunghai University in Taiwan and providing major support to Chung Chi College in Hong Kong in its early years. Elsewhere in Asia, the United Board provided critical assistance to International Christian University in Japan, Yonsei University in Korea, and Silliman University in the Philippines. Later decades brought expansion of the United Board’s work to additional institutions in Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The United Board was formally invited to return to mainland China in 1980, and has provided extensive support there for faculty development, new academic disciplines, and programs to improve teaching and learning. Today our network continues to thrive and grow. In recent years, we have worked with more than 80 institutions of higher education, from 15 countries and regions, providing scholarships, fellowships, training, professional development, project grants, and general support to promote whole person education in Asia.

Invited speakers speak: Dr Mallika Joseph, Rev Dr John Prasad and Dr T. C. Karthikeyan talked from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and there was no discussion. Though Mallika raised some questions, there was no discussion and she did not answer also. When John Prasad started his topic on “Science to hurt, Science to heal,” the power went off. Perhaps conflict started in the deliberations. The speeches appeared to have addressed students and they carried on their discourses. Particularly, the last speaker Karthikeyan took about one hour and went on to explain all his slides. Even after finishing his speech, there was no rapporteur or sectional head. Perhaps, he could utilize the time to exhaust. Though, they delved upon – positive peace and negative peace theoretically, they could not come to any practical solution. Their expressions used – positive peace and negative peace have been intriguing. Then, one may think about neutral peace, zero peace, peaceful peace, peaceless peace and so on with verbose. 

Conflict resolution is required or solution for peace?: When people are getting affected, then, definitely solution has to be given immediately. The root cause of malice that affects peace has to be recognized and eradicated straight away. It is not managing conflict, as such condition naturally allows conflict and then, resolution is sought to control and contain. Why the Sri Lankan issue was given importance now, is not known. In the case of Sri Lanka conflict, Tamils, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians” were mentioned repeatedly by the speakers, but, how and why certain people groups is identified with languages, whereas, other with religion is not known. It is well-known that all Tamil-speaking people are identified by their religion as mentioned or all Sri Lankan Buddhists, Muslims, Christians may not be speaking Tamil or speaking other languages also. Particularly, when their speeches are addressed to students, the speakers should not feed or thrust their ideas on them. Therefore, such bias would in fact create conflict among the researchers. The importance given to “Manipur incidence” has also been intriguing. Every speaker seems to mention it one way or the other, though, all the issues connected with it were not analyzed, discussed or debated. About the emphasis given to LTTE, Sri Lanka issue, etc., already pointed out.

from Stella Maris College…

Paper presentation – staff

Paper presentation (staff): As no list of papers to be presented was given, one had to follow what was presented. There were only six paper presenters and time given was five minutes each and some discussion allowed. Rev Dr John Prasad presided over. Ironically, the first paper presenter went away after presenting paper. This is just like what has been going on in other seminars, conferences and workshops. So just imagine the position of the last paper presenter, he / she and the sectional head would be there with empty chairs.  As no details were given, the papers presented were in the following order:

1. Assistant Professor from …..Stella Maris College.
2. J. Soundararajan HOD, Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras.
3. K. V. Ramakrishna Rao, Guest Faculty, Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras.
4. Assistant Professor from Fatima College, Madurai.
5. Assistant Professor from Fatima College, Madurai.
6. Thanga Rajesh, Asst.Prof, Defence & Strategic Studies Guru Nanak College. …

Based on Tamil novels, social media and other such sources, they started presenting papers, particularly from Fatima college.  The paper, “A Critical Study of Conflict analysis and conflict resolution,” was presented jointly by J. Soundararajan and K. V. Ramakrishna Rao and I presented my paper, “Afflicting issues, Inflicting problems and Conflicting zones.”

from Fatima College, Madurai……

Last paper presenter………

Students’ paper presentation: It was held at a different place. As there was no PPT provision, they were asked to present their papers.

Valedictory function: Dr Bernard D’ Sami, Dr. Bernard D’ Sami served as an Associate Professor in History and former Head of the Department of History at Loyola College, Chennai. He recently concluded his tenure as Dean of the School of Excellence (SHE) and is the Senior Fellow at LISSTAR (Loyola Institute of Social Science Training and Research) at Loyola College, Chennai. The other rituals were carried on as per their schedule.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

20-09-2023.

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[1] UBCHEA, https://unitedboard.org/about-us/about-united-board/mission-vision/ In the brochure, a brief about UBCHEA has been given.

[2] UBCHEA, Chennai Consultancy Office, Riverlands Hostel Building, Women’s Christian College, 51, College Road, Nungampakam, Chennai – 600 006, India, Phone: (91)44-29819718

[3] 2023 Theme -Actions for peace: Our ambition for the #GlobalGoals;  https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace

[4] In the brochure, a brief about UBCHEA has been given.

Why history curriculum has been losing importance, history departments closing down and history becoming useless in American and European Universities (1)

Why history curriculum has been losing importance, history departments closing down and history becoming useless in American and European Universities (1)

What to be taught and what not to be taught – how and why such a situation arises?: History, that too, recent history or the just 100 to 200 years past has becoming a conflicting issue among many world democracies in recent times. As the living persons of 70-80-90 and more years old know the recent past, the present generation of any category cannot suppress the facts of the recent past. Moreover, such happenings, incidents and occurrences have also been well recorded in the daily newspapers, papers and official records. Therefore, the history of just past cannot be changed, erased or brought under negationism on any account. As political parties align, realign and change alliances during the 50-100-150 years, their origins, original sins and after-sins cannot be forgotten. However, the moment one political party or leader comes to power, the party or he tries to change history and thus, the educational curriculum and syllabus are tampered. Of course, as the American and European countries continue to dominate global affairs, they too are interested in the subject of history. What to be taught and what not to be taught – are decided by the dominant global groups and they give pressure directly or indirectly. As the ideologies control historians, history teachersand history writers, they faithfully work, as per the directors and instructors of their masters.

2019 – How US started dealing with the history subject in the Universities: The closing down of the history department in the Europe and USA coutries has become a noticeable feature. The US media reported in 2019 itself that the U.S. colleges and universities were abandoning the study of American history and, at some institutions, the study of history altogether[1]. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni evaluates the general education programs of more than 1,100 colleges and universities every year[2]. The 2018–19 report found that only 17 percent of them required any kind of foundational course in American history or government. In other words, 83% of them did not require history. As of 2016, only four out of the top 25 national universities (as ranked by U.S. News and World Report) required a course in U.S. history in their history majors. Thus, it could be understood that how USA assess about the importance of history, its continuance in the academics and unility value in daily affairs.

2020 – The British Universities started closing down the departments of history, languages etc: The University of Sunderland has closed its history faculty after just 14 students wanted to study the subject this year 2020[3]. The same condition was found in the politics, languages and other departments[4]. In short, as the subjects of science and technology are attracted more in many aspects, these abstract subjects are losing their importance[5]. Moeover, as the strength of students joining these departments dwindling down and reaching less than 10, the authorities note that they had to spend more to keep the departments live[6]. As for as the university’s accounts department is concerned these departments are not profit making centres[7]. Many times, the authorities advised these departments to maintain austere methods in controlling the expenses incurred on any account[8].

Is history learned only by the elite?: Some of Britain’s biggest names in the education field of history are warning that the subject could be at risk of becoming a degree for the elite, after two modern universities announced plans to close down their history courses. Aston University in Birmingham and London South Bank University informed staff that they would be cutting history degrees. Aston is consulting on plans to close its entire department of history, languages and translation, and London South Bank has said its degree courses in history and human geography will not recruit from this autumn. Experts warn that with the government pushing universities to focus on perceived “high value” Stem and vocational courses leading to higher salaries, more history and other humanities courses could face closure. And with universities able to expand their numbers unrestricted, Russell Group institutions at the elite end of the sector are taking more students, while some modern universities are struggling to recruit.

The utility value of history is analyzed: The Guardian discussed this issue with verbose getting opinion from many[9]. A spokesperson for LSBU said that out of its 7,000 new students for the current academic year “fewer than 40 enrolled in the courses that are closing”. At Aston, the university is involved in a consultation with affected staff and the University and College Union[10]. Prof Kate Williams, a popular historical author and presenter on TV history programmes including the BBC’s Restoration Home and Time Watch: Young Victoria, said: “I’ve heard people say, ‘Well, history is protected at the top Russell Group universities’. But that is a really dangerous route to go down. Are we saying that if people don’t get 3As, they don’t deserve to do history?”

History in the job-market: Williams, who is a professor of public engagement with history at the University of Reading, fears that working-class students who don’t want to leave home to go to university, or can’t afford to, may find themselves unable to study the subject. “It should be a degree that is open to all, and that means it must be available to those who want to study locally. Otherwise we might as well be going back to the Victorian period when this sort of university education was only for elite men.” Williams said she was angry that the government is “pushing a vision that only Stem subjects [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] matter and degrees are only worthwhile if you immediately move to a job paying a very high salary”. “History is so important,” she said. “It explores and tells us who we are. We should be doing more of it as a country, not less.”

History is required to understand World History: Michael Wood, a professor of public history at the University of Manchester, who has been presenting popular history TV programmes since the 1970s, agreed: “You can’t understand the world without history. For universities not to offer that possibility to people, and not to offer it to ordinary folks, the sort of general audience I have been in contact with, is terrible.” Richard J Evans, a former regius professor of history at the University of Cambridge and the author of bestselling books on the Hitler era, said: “History is an absolutely core subject, along with English and modern languages, which are also under threat in some of the modern universities.” Evans argued that Conservative MPs have attempted to portray history as just “a collection of facts about the British past which you instil into young people to make them patriotic”. He said a history degree should be about equipping students from all backgrounds with the critical skills needed to navigate modern life. “In the present day, where we are overwhelmed by floods of misinformation and conspiracy theories, it is more important than ever to have the skills to look critically at the evidence and to distinguish fact from fiction,” he said.

If history degree does not get a job, it worries the history students and degree-holders: Amal Al-Azzani, a third-year history student at Aston University, who grew up in a single-parent family in Birmingham and was the first generation to go to university, said: “We are all so confused and shocked. I feel like the skills I am learning in this degree, I could take anywhere. It’s about putting together information and backing up an argument with evidence. The idea that history isn’t an employable degree is just bizarre.” Historians want the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, to end his frequent threats about pushing out so-called “low value” courses, and to publicly back humanities subjects. Research by the British Academy has shown that of the 10 fastest-growing sectors in the UK economy, eight employ more graduates from the arts, humanities and social sciences than other disciplines, with these graduates working in areas including financial services, education, social work, the media and creative industries.

History subject is required: Emma Griffin, the president of the Royal Historical Society and professor of modern British history at the University of East Anglia, was anxious that her degree, which she said was very accessible and produced “rounded” graduates, must not become the preserve of the middle classes. “For reasons of cost, many students need to study at their local university. Understanding our own past shouldn’t be a luxury pursuit for the privileged few, and we think that everyone should have a history option.” Griffin warned that more history closures are already on the horizon. “There are more in discussion, and there are academics at other universities who feel their positions are threatened.” She said the removal of the cap on student numbers, allowing elite universities to expand, made the demise of smaller history departments in less prominent universities “inevitable”. “These aren’t blips or unfortunate mishaps, it is the government’s policy working as it was designed to,” she said.

History degree is cheap to get: Unlike subjects with expensive kit or laboratories, expanding a subject like history is a relatively cheap way for a successful university to increase its income from £9,250 a year fees. But Griffin said that cramming more students in has negative effects on the degree. “A history department cannot suddenly absorb lots more students without an impact on quality. Universities won’t employ new permanent teaching staff for a trend that might prove temporary, so inevitably you just get a casualised workforce managing the extra teaching workload, as well as a lot of stress and overwork amongst the existing staff.” Prof Catherine Fletcher, an expert on Renaissance and early modern European history at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “History colleagues at more than one Russell Group university have told me of the stress they are under with soaring numbers of personal tutees and lecture theatres packed to the rafters.” She added: “This gives more choice to some students, but leaves others from less privileged backgrounds with no options at all.” The University and College Union is fighting the closures at Aston and LSBU, as well as other proposed humanities job cuts at universities including Chester, Leicester and Hull.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

17-09-2023

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[1] The Federalist, While Americans Gobble Up History Books, Colleges Shut Down History Departments, BY: Jonathan Pidlunzy, JUNE 19, 2019

[2] https://thefederalist.com/2019/06/19/americans-gobble-history-books-colleges-shut-history-departments/

[3] Chronicle.Live, University of Sunderland closes history, politics and language departments, ByWill Metcalfe, 07:37, 23 JAN 2020UPDATED08:07, 24 JAN 2020.

[4] https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/university-sunderland-closes-history-department-17616249

[5]  Times.higher.education, History departments face ‘unprecedented turbulence’ in UK sector, Patrick Jack, June 13, 2023

[6] https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/history-departments-face-unprecedented-turbulence-uk-sector

[7] UCU, UCU to fight closure of history & language courses at Aston University, 16 April 2021

[8] https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11509/UCU-to-fight-closure-of-history–language-courses-at-Aston-University

[9]  The Guardian, Studying history should not be only for the elite, say academics, Anna Fazackerley,,Sat 1 May 2021 08.30 BST.

[10] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/01/studying-history-should-not-be-only-for-the-elite-say-academics

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..

The updating, revising and correcting history subject – why controversy about it?:

The updating, revising and correcting history subject – why controversy about it?:

What is updating of the subject – history?: The updating of any subject has been making it current/recent and bringing to the usage with progressed, developed and advanced information and innovation[1]. 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. The same position and conditions 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.

1. A reached a place B in the first century.
2. C travelled and reached the same place B in the 10^th century.
3. D started the journey and arrived at the same place B in the 20^th century.

How can history be updated here?  A historian has to think about –

• the mode of transport used,
• the route followed,
• the nature of roads and
• other factors.

Historians have to tell explicitly as to whether the travellers used the same transport from the first century to 20th century or whether the mode of transport changed or not.

• Satavahanas produced very fine and excellent jewellery in c.3rd cent.BCE
• Rajaputs produced fabulous and fantastic jewel ornaments in 10^th century CE.
• Indians produced such fine, fabulous and fantastic jewel ornaments in 20^th century CE.

Here, how the same jewel manufacturing technique had been in existence and continuing for more than 2300 years? Therefore, historians have to update the details giving the historical development of transport and the jewellery manufacture. The outcome – reaching destination B and the jewellery reminds the same, but not the science and technology behind them.

What is revising history?: As historians cry, it is not “revisionism,” as they apprehend in the negative perspective[2].  Now revising any subject is – making revisions of the syllabus within a short span of time, so that all the portions are covered and ready for the examination. The students are also relaxed so that they could revise their subjects and portions within a short and specific period and get ready for writing exams. Therefore, it has been very common to delete or exclude certain chapters from the subject books. Or they may declare that they are not included in the “Syllabus for the examination purpose.” Thus, the students are also assured of not getting any questions from the “out of syllabus” or “out of portion.” So when this has been going on for many years in all subjects, including history, why suddenly cry foul nowadays, particularly for the last 70 years.  

Syllabus revision and propaganda: In implementing educational policy, the study of subjects and structuring syllabus, generally, the government takes control. This has been the practice of the nations following the European and then US models of curriculum. However, every nation or country has its own educational system, subjects for study and syllabus suitable to the students with changing times.

• That Indians have been living with their thousands of years of civilization, culture, tradition and heritage confirm the existence of such a well-structured, established and proven system oriented to the public.
• The material cultural evidences of the past thousands of years prove this fact. There could be interference, intervention and revision for imposition, modification and improvement in between, because of the non-Indian domination.
• Yet, most of the Indian teaching, learning and associated processes have been continuing at different levels from villages to metros.
• At the time of examination, “revision” is always talked about, as it is only Re-Visioning of the subject studied and thus getting ready for the re-reading of the subject read again.
• As there is choice system, many students skip certain portions, units and parts and concentrate on scoring more marks. In fact, the teachers themselves advise that certain portions, units and parts are not for examinations, as they are not covered or taught or not necessary for academic importance for higher studies.
• However, revision makes campaigning, agitation and propaganda running riot among the peer groups.

Why history is losing importance and job-market?: In the case of history subject, its importance has been dwindling down, as there have been no takers at the college or University level. As most of the students go for other job-oriented disciplines, these subjects like history, etc., are not felt any importance. Thus, the history subject has been scrapped and the departments closed down. In fact, the irony has been for 5 to 10 students, there have been more staff and it is questioned by the audit and other authorities, as they have to spend lakhs and crores to run the department with staff paying salaries and recurring expenditures. Even for archaeology, questions have been raised about why spend crores for digging and taking out certain objects and say that men lived and used lithic tools etc., again and again. Moreover, the dividing of people with biased ideology, influenced philosophy and predisposed thought have been hallmark of historians after independence.  The utility value is considered of for any subject or discipline.

What is correcting of history?: Many times how historians have been so vociferous, raucous and boisterous about updating, revising and correcting history. In other subjects, there is no problem, as they correct and proceed.

• The word “atom” has been a misnomer, a + tom = one that cannot be divided, but atom can be divided.
• Dalton’s atomic theory said, “Atoms cannot be subdivided, created, or destroyed,” but, it is totally wrong.
• Till Giornado Bruno and others, the Europeans believed that Earth was stationary and all planets revolve around it[3].
• “Flat Earth Theory” has been there and still there are such believers[4].  
• Origin of man (many theories[5])

There have been many examples, but, few important and well-known have been cited for illustrative purposes. These have been corrected and such subjects have been updated for the benefit of humanity. But, historians still believe in race, ethnicity, colour, creed and related issues and hypotheses and theories developed out of such ideas floated before 20^th and 21^st centuries. Therefore, history subject has to be updated with science and technology.

Examinations quell and students excel: As the examinations came near, these objections that appeared in the news and the associated politics also died down. The students started preparing and appeared for the examinations. They scored good marks and they proceeded further accordingly with their scored marks, and merit. In spite of politicization regionalization and other ideological obstructions, the students have come out with laurels proceeding to higher, professional and other studies. Now, they have been well-informed and they know what they want and how to get them. Thus, in spite of other diversions and attractions, they have been marching towards the goals. With their contribution in future, perhaps, the future of India still marches ahead economically and scientifically.

For updating, revising and correcting history: Few illustrations are given for the purpose of updating.

• The evolution of man with lithic and metal has to be periodized with the available archaeological evidences.
• The science and technology behind the metallurgy have to be arranged date-wise.
• The sculptural evidences can be taken to match with the literature and thus for history.
• Indian history has to be written with the two-sided view of the narratives and discourses.
•  History of housing, food, hygiene, medicine, education, science and technology, and all related aspects come into history with chronology.
• The chronology of science and technology has to match with the Indian historical development of man.

Indians and Indian students have been well-informed: Now out of 140 crores / 1400 million, Indian population, 120 crores / 1200 million have cellphones. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said that India has over 1.2 billion mobile phone users and 600 million smartphone users[6]. Therefore, news, information and details reach more than 100 crores people immediately on any subject. Indians, irrespective of their status, they have been mature enough to understand the issues, problems and controversies. The youngsters and students have been more conscious about their future and thus, the majority of them have been concentrating on their studies and careers.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

06-08-2023

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[1]  If “publish or perish” has been common among the researchers, “update or perish” has been axiom among the science and technology users, as the gadgets, instruments, tools, machinery get outdated day by day.

[2] In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of a historical account. It usually involves challenging the orthodox (established, accepted or traditional) views held by professional scholars about a historical event or timespan or phenomenon, introducing contrary evidence, or reinterpreting the motivations and decisions of the people involved. The revision of the historical record can reflect new discoveries of fact, evidence, and interpretation, which then results in revised history. In dramatic cases, revisionism involves a reversal of older moral judgments.

[3] The geocentric and heliocentric theories, their propagators and prosecution of heliocentric scientists by the Church can be read in any book. In fact, we physics students used to read from D. S. Mathur’s “Properties of matter” book.

[4] Flat Earth is an archaic and scientifically disproven conception of the Earth’s shape as a plane or disk. Many ancient cultures subscribed to a flat-Earth cosmography. The idea of a spherical Earth appeared in ancient Greek philosophy with Pythagoras (6th century BCE). However, most pre-Socratics (6th–5th century BCE) retained the flat-Earth model. In the early 4th century BCE, Plato wrote about a spherical Earth. By about 330 BC, his former student Aristotle had provided strong empirical evidence for a spherical Earth. Knowledge of the Earth’s global shape gradually began to spread beyond the Hellenistic world. By the early period of the Christian Church, the spherical view was widely held, with some notable exceptions. It is a historical myth that medieval Europeans generally thought the Earth was flat. This myth was created in the 17^th century CE by Protestants to argue against Catholic teachings. Despite the scientific fact and obvious effects of Earth’s sphericity, pseudoscientific flat-Earth conspiracy theories are espoused by modern flat Earth societies and, increasingly, by unaffiliated individuals using social media

[5]  Out of Africa, Neanderthal etc..

[6] The Secretary informed the audience about the media landscape in India and said that India is a country with a tradition media comprised of 897 television channels, of which over 350 were news channels, and over 80 thousand newspapers coming out in various languages. However he added, recently there has been a shift towards new media with youngsters consuming information from this new media.

The proceedings of the 81st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27th to 29th , 2022 – academic proceedings, paper reading, presentation and publication (5)

The proceedings of the 81^st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27^th to 29^th , 2022 – academic proceedings, paper reading, presentation and publication (5)

The obsession, hype, or craze for paper presentation at IHC and the standard: Every year, it is constantly claimed by the IHC authorities through their reports, news appearing in the media and the business session details that more than 1000, 1500 0r 2000 papers are received on various themes and topics and they are collected[1]. Ten years means 10,000 to 20,000 papers, thus, the volume of such papers collected can be noted. Paper reading, presentation and publication has become some sort of ISI trade mark or ISO 90021 certification. Thus, young history students, research scholars and even professors of all sorts come here to present papers. They (papers submitted) are sorted out, separated and classified for different topics. Now, just 81^st session has been over. Thus, for more than 50 years period, e.g., about one lakh – 1,00,000 and for 80 years, much more papers must have been received. But, none bothers or thinks about, how these papers are disposed off.

What happens to the rejected papers, how they are disposed off?: The paper preparing persons – whether students, researchers, professors, experts or otherwise, are definitely, the genuine ones spend a lot of time, energy and money to bring out their papers. Spending thousands of rupees, they are reaching the venue travelling hundreds and thousands of kms distance. And the papers are brought to the conference to present with the hope that they would be published. Many well-researched, presented with PPT and illustrations are ignored, though, they are appreciated by others[2] after the presentation at the section. But, only a few privileged ones are getting their wishes fulfilled, i.e, their papers are getting published and others are rejected – not published. So where such rejected papers have been going? Every sectional president has been getting a copy and thus, during the last 81 years, nearly or at least 300 such persons [sectional presidents] would have received thousands /lakhs of papers. The IHC editor would have received all the copies for every session. Are they kept in the permanent IHC office, store room or record room? Or are they distributed among their students for reference?

How they could have been used by others?: Thus, these papers would have gone to the respective Universities, colleges and institutions and in turn given to their students for usage. Any MPhil, or PhD student can easily use such materials as received on the platter. Thus, such a condition is sad, pathetic and horrible, as the hard work, industrious research and studious labour are to be enjoyed by others. This is unjustifiable and looting the work of others, when these ideologists go on insisting about oppression, suppression and exploitation of so many people, social groups, working classes etc., this can be noted as academic looting,  research pillaging and scholarly prowling.

Are every time new papers presented?: Even the printed volumes of the IHC can be used for such purpose of the critical study of the organizers and their way of bias adopted and adapted in selecting, rejecting, editing and recommendation of papers for publication. Thus a person who regularly attends fo 10, 20, 30, 40 years can easily identify, which paper is read where on / which topic or title and by whom and where also. Thus, he can get the feeling that this is already there or red or published. If he attends IHC, SIHC, APHC, UPHC, PHC, OHC, APHC, THC, TNHC, KHC (Karnataka), KHC (Kerala) etc.[3], he can still easily point out and identify that the same paper or of such nature are read and presented again and again by the same person or by some other.

What are topics, themes and thesis are taken up and dealt with?: Going through the papers presented, read and published, they are grouped as follows:

social conflicts, communal issues, community consciousness

• struggle, social struggle, societal conflicts, class struggle,
• majority, majority politics, majoritarianism, minority, vote banks, politics thereof
• Muslim women’s rights, Shariat law, court cases
• Masjid-mandir issue, the historicity of Ayodhya, and related issues,
• community, class, violence, mob violence,
• left alternative, communist model, Marxist methodology, Leninist option, Maoist substitution,
• Dalit, oppressed, suppressed, exploited, migration, social mobility,
• ambiguities, contradictions,
• marginalization, exclusion, deprivation
• sectarian, sectarian affiliation, lumpen elements,
• Hindu-Muslim, colonial exploitation, riots,
• Cow, beef, beef-eating, vegetarianism, related politicized issues
• Mughal-Muslim, feudalism,
• Democracy, authoritarianism,
• socialistic, secular, communal
• Vimochana samaran,  communist movements, Marxist interpretation, working class,

These are given only for illustrative purposes and not exhaustive. The published proceeding volumes may be referred to.

What is the logical, rational and reasonable balance used in the selection of the papers?: If a regular attendee of IHC and listener to the paper presentation and reading can easily understand how themes, issues and topics are selected, repeated and even forced to thrust on others. The same, similar or modified narratives, discourses and plots are recurring and replicated. They can be matched easily with the printed volumes of the IHC. A careful reader of the volumes could easily identify such sermons, ideologized and pushed to the members. Even the sectional presidents of the past and present choose to repeat their already published matter by changing and modification. If the period is 1500-1700 has already been selected and printed, then, 1500-1550, 1550-1600, 1650-1700 are taken and such split is exploited with the change of titles and contexts to have a new-look.

• Paper presentation + reading = publication
• Publication – printed or on-line versions [of late]
• Such printed + on-line versions changed or modified
• Modified – again presented or changed as “new-looks”
• They are again redressed and presented as sectional president addresses
• They ae changed to be presented for panel discussion

If any publisher is found, negotiated and settled, they are completed and brought out as books.

Now new standards have been declared: Now the General Secretary declares[4], “Due to constraints of space, summaries have not been published over the past several years. Since 2016, the list of papers presented has also been omitted, as all papers presenters are awarded certificates at the session itself.”

1. Due to constraints of space, summaries have not been published over the past several years. See the volume, the size no. of pages and weight also has been increasing. For the first time, perhaps, here, all the volumes were disposed off quickly, as they were given free.
2. Since 2016, the list of papers presented has also been omitted: the expression “omitted” proves the mentality of “rejection.” They cannot “misplace, mislay, or go astray” to do so. It is not a great achievement of the IHC, or editor or whosoever took such fantastic “omission”!
3. The such omission has been due to the reason – as all papers presenters are awarded certificates at the session itself: So the “fantastic omission,” goes on to justify this. So spend Rs 5000/- or more, just come and read paper within two or three or five minutes get a “certificate” and forget! Is it okay, logical, rational, scientific, secular or what is that?

So if this policy is pursued, they should return the papers with whatever reason to the paper submitters, as they have all details.

Now data and information can be processed not only for plagiarism and even for other purposes: If every time some new data, information, materials, field visit details are given to bring out new result, then, it can be considered as new paper. Systematic, in fact, ongoing research, as he gets new details and results, thereby, he can easily correct, make it perfect and present consummated and finality without rehashing or repeating the stuff. If all the titles, themes, names of the authors and related key words are fed, processed and analyzed, the reality of manual processing can be assessed. If a regular attendee / knowledgeable participants / independent observers of the proceedings join such data processing, the results can be narrowed down eliminating mistakes. Anyway, the printed stuff available as the papers printed and circulated, souvenirs, proceeding volumes and others tell the factual position.

The factual events Supreme Court judgments also reveal the position: There had been many issues during the last 50 years that had gone to the courts and decided judicially. In fact, many emeritus, elite and eminent historians were also involved out of the court and in the court and they were divided accordingly, as they were supporting one or the other ideology.  Their ideology had been so vociferous, authoritative and dominant that were explicitly propagated through print and electronic media. The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) 3[5], held at New Delhi, from 4^th-11^th December 1994 also exposed their divide and fight turning into non-academic nature and political bias with their vested ideologies[6]. The following judgments can be cited that exposed their ideologies:

• Ahmad Khan v. Shah Bano Begum [1985 (1) SCALE 767 = 1985 (3) SCR 844 = 1985 (2) SCC 556 = AIR 1985 SC 945] (otherwise known as Sha Bano case)
• Indra Sawhney Etc. Etc vs Union Of India And Others, Etc. … on 16 November, 1992 Equivalent citations: AIR 1993 SC 477, 1992 Supp 2 SCR [Mandal or Mandal Commission Report judgment]
• World Archaeological Congress (WAC) 3, New Delhi, 4^th-11^th December 1994 (this is an event only) [where experts fought with each other, because of ideoloy]
• Sarla Mudgal V. Union of India 1995 AIR 1531 1995 SCC (3) 635; JT 1995 (4) 331 1995 SCALE (3)286 454 (Unicorm Civil Code case)
• M Siddiq and others vs Mahant Suresh Das & Ors   AIR 1999 dated 9 November, 2019 [Masjir-Mandi case or Ayodhya verdict]

The resolutions drafted, circulated or not, discussed and debated[7], passed and printed in the volumes also vouchsafe the stand of the IHC[8].

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

01-01-2023

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[1] Some State History Congress organizers have been collecting CDs i.e, in digital form and it is not known how such huge data is used in digital and as well as non-digital forms.

[2] There have been many papers, even recommended by the sectional presidents and the reasons are known only to them……

[3] It is said, because of the authoritarian nature, bias and other reasons, the state history congresses have started functioning in many states with the support of state philanthropists, politicians and ideologists.

[4] R. Mahalakhsmi, Secretary, Proceedings of  Indian History Congress, opt.cit., preface, p.ix, PIHC, 2022.

[5] India Today, Political wrangles add a touch of bizarre to archaeology conference in New Delhi, KAI FRIESE, ISSUE DATE: Dec 31, 1994 | UPDATED: Jul 19, 2013 10:16 IST.

[6] https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19941231-political-wrangles-add-a-touch-of-bizarre-to-archaeology-conference-in-new-delhi-810050-1994-12-30

[7] After B. R. Grover, none questions and invariably, the resolutions were passed just like that. During the last decades, the public obviously never bothered about the resolutions or proceedings. Even about them of the 81^st session, the media has not covered properly.

[8]  Note, at the Kannur session, 17 members sat together and passed 8 resolutions! PIHC, 2022, opt.cit, pp.1277-1283

The proceedings of the 81st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27th to 29th , 2022 – commercialization, marketing and propaganda! (4)

The proceedings of the 81^st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27^th to 29^th , 2022 – commercialization, marketing and propaganda! (4)

History as a product: The inviting of DMK Chief and ruling Dravidian CM for the inaugural session, their domination on the first day morning on the roads leading to MCC and inside the campus and of course on the stage, the narratives and discourses of his Ministers on the “Dravidian” approach, his discourse on “Dravidian superiority” and the subsequent proceedings accommodating the “Dravidian discourse” show the ideological impact imposed. The DMK IT wing and the propagandist group worked well with the print and electronic media to cover the event[1]. The Rs 35 lakhs grant, the gratitude response of the principal, event management and other factors exhibit the touch of an alliance of marketing ideology with academics. Nowadays, meticulous marketing and propaganda are required for selling any product. Thus, to accommodate 2500 delegates, entertain and satisfy them, different “start-ups” and “end-ups” are required, till they vacate the campus.  

Registration Fees and Payment Modes: The circular issued by the local secretary fixed the “delegate fees” as follows: Keeping in mind the cost of conducting the conference the Organizing Committee has decided on the following fee structure:

Registration Fee structure

1. Delegate Fee (with accommodation) Rs 4000/- + 18% GST of Rs 720/- = Rs 4720/-
2. Delegate Fee (without accommodation) Rs 2870/- + 18% GST of Rs 630/- = Rs 3500/-
3. Student Delegate Fee (With accommodation) Rs 2870/- + 18% GST of Rs 630/- = Rs 3500/-
4. Student Delegate Fee (Without accommodation) Rs 2050/- + 18% GST of Rs 450/ = Rs 2500/-
5. Students without Paper Presentations Rs 820/- + 18% GST of Rs 180/- = Rs 1000/-

The tariff definitely exhibits “commercialisation” of the event rather than keeping the “academic pursuits” intact. No student, who wants to attend and present a paper could pay Rs 2,500/- or who pay Rs 1000/- would go away without presenting a paper. Moreover, they have not treated all such delegates equally. The kit was not given, even though, the bag was sponsored by the “Jaya group of Institutions.” Even for all delegates, the “list of papers” was not given. The papers presented during the different panel discussions were also not provided.

Accommodation: Regarding the accommodation, the circular says, “We are trying our best to accommodate the delegates on our campus so that they have a splendid experience. Accommodation in MCC Halls (Hostels) is non-A/C single (for men) and shared (for women) and with common washrooms and toilets. Accommodation will be provided from 26th evening to 30th morning. Considering the number of the delegates who require accommodation, rooms will also be arranged in dormitories, lodges and hotels outside the College premises. For research students, dormitory type of accommodation will be provided. All are advised to bring torch light and mosquito repellent. Accommodation cannot be assured to delegates who have not paid their delegate fee and submitted the duly filled in proforma on or before the last date. Delegates travelling with their families are requested to arrange for their own accommodation. Non-IHC members cannot avail of accommodation provided by us”. In other words, the organizers incur expenditures of a “recurring” nature.  The food was provided at the students’ canteen.

Sarees sold……………….

Sponsorships, donations and grants received for the Conference: The Tamilnadu Government has granted Rs 35 lakhs. The sponsorships have been received from many Institutions and industries:

1. SRM Institution
2. Jaya Group of Institutions.
3. Sterlling Holidays Resorts.
4. Sundaram Indusries.
5. etc…………………

Taking the delegate fees paid by 2500 members, even if a minimum 1000/- per head is taken, they would have received Rs 25 lakhs and 2000 means, Rs 50 lakhs. Thus, the total sponsored amount might exceed Rs 1 crores and of course, the pay GST too. Therefore, even, if all expenditure is taken into account, they could save 50% of the amount received. Then, in fact, they should have fixed the delegate fees less than, charing Rs 2500 and 4000 and all.

About the stalls, etc: The examination Hall has been provided for putting up stalls for selling the books, expositioning the “start-ups” etc. And there were two saress selling sarees also. One stall was for “academic consultancy” to students for “preparing research paper,” researchers for “publishing and editing books” etc. One stall for the MCC-MRF alliance for “start-ups.” One stall was occupied by the “Puducherry World History Congress” (hereinafter mentioned as PWHC) campaigning for membership. Thus, commercialization has been visible. It is understood that they charged Rs 15,000/- for a 10×10 sq.ft area proving chairs and tables, light and fan. All the three days, no doubt, the historians, professors, research scholars and students were visiting the stalls to buy books. Of course, some of them were also buying sarees. Interestingly, many times crowd was seen at the stall of “Puducherry World History Congress.”  Once the complaint was made that the crowd gathering at the stall was blocking others. In other words, it was attracting many. Of course, many became annual and life members of PWHC.  The “international” approach and academic planning appeal and instil confidence. And thus, hundreds became members immediately during the three days.

Proceeding volume of  80^th Kannur session: It was distributed here for the members. Though, it has become bulky running into 1392 pages (1283 for papers), declares[2], “Due to constraints of space, summaries have not been published over the past several years. Since 2016, the list of papers presented has also been omitted, as all papers presenters are awarded certificates at the session itself.” The no.of papers published are as follows:

1. Ancient India  ………………. – 27,
2. Medieval India  …………….. – 22,
3. Modern India   ……………….- 36,
4. Archaeology …… …………..  – 10,
5. Countries Other than India – 8 and  
6. Contemporary India………. – 16.

Thus, totally 119 plus 6 = 125 papers have been included, about 10 pages for each paper. I have carefully read and noted the contents of the papers. As I have been listening to regulars for the last 35 years, I know their way of presentation, reading and publication of papers.

• The editorial policy as had been recorded above shows their way of functioning, selecting and accommodating in the bulky volume. Therefore, “Due to constraints of space,” excuse becomes redundant.  
• That “all papers presenters are awarded certificates,” is quite amusing, as they have not come here to get such “awards,” that too, “at the session itself”!
• Because, they would not be given at any other place, as IHC would not conduct any ritual to do so.
• In fact, it is not any ISI or ISO 90021, such standard certification to be displayed.
• When the papers of Sectional presidents are already printed and distributed during the session, there is no necessity to print their papers again in the volume to waste paper. They are “awarded” for heading the session suitably.
• Yet, these rituals are conducted and going on.

The scientific approach to study history is also and always emphasised for the last 40 years. The volumes were distributed initially by verification of membership etc., but suddenly, it was given away to everybody.  29^th morning, the boxes kept opposite to the counters got emptied, as the copies were taken away.

The product, customer and consumers of IHC – the nuances of cost, value and price- is ignored: The tariff / delegate fee structure, accommodation and other facilities offered to differentiate the services offered by the IHC. Then, comes the “product.” Thus, the GST – Goods and Service Tax justifies. When a “product” has to be marketed and sold, customers and consumers are required. The customers and consumers are cearly identified in the IHC proceedings. Though the delegates come in 1000s, and present papers in 1000s, only 100 are published. The cost, value and price of the paper is not determined, assessed and taxed properly. As the opinion-making and decision taking authorities of IHC differ in marketing, publicizing and propagandist ideologies, they too differ. Thus, customers are the paper presenters whose papers are published and the consumers are the paper presenters who get certificates. The consumers, as usual, consume everything including taxes, as they cannot pass the burden to any other person. GBM is held, business meetings are held, balance sheets are presented and thus, the business is complete.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

31-12-2022

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[1]  Their SUN-group of network, dailies and poster blitzekering / Blitzkrieg have no match for other way of publicity.

[2] R. Mahalakhsmi, Secretary, Indian History Congress, preface, p.ix, PIHC, 2022.

The proceedings of the 81st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27th to 29th , 2022 – Panel discussion, resolutions passed etc., (3)

The proceedings of the 81^st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27^th to 29^th , 2022 – Panel discussion, resolutions passed etc., (3)

Medieval section – headed by Ishrat Alam……

Medieval section – headed by Ishrat Alam……audience RHS view

Medieval section – headed by Ishrat Alam……audience LHS view

Modern India section – headed by Salil Misra…………………….

Modern India section – headed by Salil Misra…………………….audience view

Countries other than India- Section…….

Countries other than India- Section…….headed by Margit Koves………

Similar titled paper appearing in the IHC proceeding………as coould be noted

Manas Dutta papers already published and appearing…………..

Manas Dutta papers already published and appearing…………..

Other discussions: On the second day [28-12-2022], the IHC Symposium on ‘The Evolution of Social Hierarchies in India’ was held with Shalini Shah, R P Bahuguna and Irfan Habib as the key speakers. Prof Habib participated through the online mode. He made observations regarding the caste system in medieval India. There were also special panels, such as ‘Framing the Syllabus for History Under the National Education Policy’ by Aligarh Historians Society, ‘Relooking Tamil History in Socio-Economic Lens: New Questions and Perspectives’ by G J Sudhakar and Arun Bandopadhyay[1], Sudhakar co-ordinated[2]; ‘The Elephant in the Classroom: Teaching Histories of Gender’ by the History Collective, and ‘Dalit History and Politics’ by Y Chinna Rao. The Department of History, MCC, organised two special panels, namely ‘Archaeology and Cultural Heritage of Tamil Nadu’ and ‘Discourse on Dravidian Studies.’ Actually, nothing was informed to the delegates about the last two panels. A booklet, “Panel on relooking Tamil history through Socio-Economic lens new questions and perspectives,” was given to some delegates containing “abstracts” of some papers.

The panel discussion and their result: This type of narratives have become routine and ritualized and they are carried on without caring the delegates. Here in the 81st session, they were held, perhaps, only to them, as the panellists may get some TA etc. The papers presented were not circulated, leave alone that the different panels were discussing with various issues, themes and topics. Most of the “paper presenters” have not spoken about anything new, except the verbose and opinionated views.

For example, in “Many meanings of an Agrarian Relation: Metamorphosis of Mirasidar – Paraiyan encounter in Tamilnadu over Nineteenth century” by Arun Bandhapadhyay, most of the details are already available in his own papers and book published during the last 30 years[3]. Now in 21st century, under the “Dravidian model” or “Dravidian discourse,” what he would opine is the question[4]. If these are read by the Dravidian historians, it has to be seen how they react.

Another paper by Manas Dutta, “Between performances and lived experiences: Exploring the role of Madras Army 1858-1918,” again his own papers already published of the same titles are available[5]. He has dealt with[6], “….the Paraiyans, one of the Dalit sub-caste of the Madras Presidency, and their transformation from a marginalized group to one which was believed to be one of the worthwhile recruits for the colonial army.” And his paper was also published in the early IHC session[7]. So why listeners should revisit these discourses, again and again, is not known. Moreover, they do not encourage or allow listening delegates to ask questions and avoid also.

Aligarh Historians elected in the IHC: Professor Shireen Moosvi (ex-faculty member, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University) has been elected as the Vice President the Indian History Congress, the largest body of professional historians in India, while Professor Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, Professor Manvendra Kumar Pundhir, and Professor Syed Jabir Raza have been been elected as the Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Treasurer respectively[8]. Eminent historian Professor Irfan Habib and Professor Ishrat Alam have been elected as Members, the Executive Committee of the prominent body[9]. Incidentally Professor Alam was also the President of the Medieval India Section of the Indian History Congress this year. Notably the annual session of the Indian History Congress was held at Madras Christian College, Chennai between December 27-29, where these historians got elected for their respective positions during the Executive Committee and General Body meetings. During this 81st session of the Indian History Congress, a large contingent of 30 teachers and researchers from the Department of History, AMU participated and contributed research papers in its various sessions, symposiums and annual felicitation lectures. Can you say how many of your Universities elected in this way for IHC?

Resolutions passed by the IHC (details given by News click): The History Congress concluded its 81^st session with a general body meeting and approved as many as five resolutions. It elected Aditya Mukherjee (Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi) as president and Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi (Aligarh Muslim University) as secretary.

1. One of the resolutions raised concern about the official promotion of the ‘Indian Knowledge System’. It read that it was a worrying trend that the Arthaśāstra and Manusmriti are held as major achievements, although “both texts show a deep-rooted rejection of equality and an addiction to the caste system.”
2. Another resolution noted that the implementation of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) through the National Testing Agency (NTA) “marks a significant step backwards” for History, a discipline “where the emphasis has been on methodologies, source-based analysis and interpretive frameworks.”
3. On University Grants Commission’s draft syllabi for History in higher education, the Congress resolved that the omission of any mention of the caste system, the removal of the Mughal emperor Akbar in Medieval History and other such developments were grossly “unacademic” features.
4. With special reference to mosques in Varanasi and Mathura, the IHC held that “structures of any architectural significance that are over 200 years old should be duly protected as ‘monuments’ by the Archaeological Survey of India.”
5. A resolution was also passed on the COVID-19 pandemic, which observed the failure of the state policy and the lack of state support during the state-imposed lockdown.

Again, there is no “Grover type” well-informed historians are not there and they can go on passing such resolutions, where they do not have any locus standi.

2019 to 2022 and onwards: On the third day, 29-12-2022, many delegates started moving away from the campus. Moreover, they knew that the session was winding up by the afternoon with business session and valedictory function. The Tamil Nadu government allotted Rs 35 lakh towards the Indian History Congress[10]. Notably, in 2015 the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) stripped the IHC of its special funding. This large event was hosted by the Department of History, MCC. with R Venkataramanujam as the local secretary of the 81st Session of the IHC[11]. The IHC was held in Tamil Nadu after 26 years. It was previously held in the Madras University campus in Chennai in 1996. The previous 80th annual IHC meeting was held in Kannur in 2019 when Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan had to face demonstration, sloganeering and of course the aggressive behaviour of Irfan Habib. The Indian History Congress was founded in 1935; it is considered the country’s oldest professional body of historians. At present, it has more than 1,500 members.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

30-12-2022

MCC organizers appreciating the students for their excellent work…………………………….

We can understand from their eyes, joy and happiness…………………………..

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[1] The Hindu, Indian History Congress session concludes, THE HINDU BUREAU

December 30, 2022 06:47 pm | Updated 06:47 pm IST – CHENNAI

[2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/indian-history-congress-session-concludes/article66318104.ece

[3] Bandhpadhyay, Arun, 1992. “The Agrarian Economy of Tamil Nadu 1820-1855”, K.P. Bagchi & Co., Calcutta.

[4] Bandopadhyay, Arun. “Agrarian Change and Social Mobility in Colonial Conditions: The Mirasi Question in Nineteenth Century Tamil Nadu.” Indian Historical Review 36.2 (2009): 237-256.

[5] “Revisiting the Role of the Paraiyans in the Madras Presidency Army, c. 1801-1894”, The Inclusive,Vol. 1, Issue 2, 2012

[6] “Understanding the Social Complexities in the Madras Army, 1807-1858” paper presented at the Indian History Congress at Gour Bangha University, Feb 2011 and published in the Proceedings of IHC in the Modern India Section. ISSN: 2249-1937.

The article deals with the Paraiyans, one of the Dalit sub-caste of the Madras Presidency, and their transformation from a marginalized group to one which was believed to be one of the worthwhile recruits for the colonial army. The narrative delves on their exalted status as a military subaltern within the general set up of the army department and also traces their subsequent socio-political positions in the southern society under the colonial rule after the 1880s. Despite their primary dependence on agriculture for their survival, several of them preferred to be enlisted in the army under the colonial rule in India for better livelihood and social standing. The official/archival documents highlighted that the Madras Presidency army had given much benefit to them and became a source of their social occupational mobility. Thus, It has been given them a new sense of identity and power and their empowerment as a caste. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2455328X221094391

[7] IHC, February 2011.

[8] Aligarh Muslim University, ALIGARH HISTORIANS ELECTED IN THE INDIAN HISTORY CONGRESS, Aligarh, December 29, 2022 | Public Relation Office.

[9] https://amu.ac.in/news/2022/12/29/aligarh-historians-elected-in-the-indian-history-congress

[10] News Click, Stalin Opens Indian History Congress, Says ‘False History Should be Sidelined’, Sruti MD | 30 Dec 2022.

[11] https://www.newsclick.in/stalin-open-indian-history-congress-false-history-sidelined

The proceedings of the 81st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27th to 29th , 2022 (1)

The proceedings of the 81^st session of the Indian History Congress held at Chennai from December 27^th to 29^th , 2022 (1)

The 81^st session of the Indian History Congress (IHC) was held at the Madras Christian College (MCC): The 81^st session of the Indian History Congress (IHC) was held at the Madras Christian College (MCC) campus in Chennai between December 27 and 29, 2022, as decided. The principal met the CM earlier and invited him officially and got his consent. About 1,500 delegates attended the session from all parts of India, as one on-line news reported[1]. For the delegates, the “list of papers” was not given. More than 1,000 papers were presented at IHC’s 81^st session, held after a gap of two years due to the pandemic. After Kannur in 2019, sessions were not held in 2020 and 2021. In his presidential address, titled ‘New Sensibilities, New Expression: Passages to a New Formation,’ Kesavan Veluthat argued that the ‘early medieval’ period was indeed a distinct phase in the history of India. The sectional presidents read their papers [already printed and circulated] at their respective sessions.

Registration of the delegates

Registration of the delegates…

The venue – Madras Christian College[2]: Madras Christian College was established in 1837 as General Assembly School by Rev. John Anderson of the Free Church of Scotland. Rev. William Miller’s indefatigable efforts led to the upgrading of the school into a college in 1865. A succession of Scottish missionaries developed the college around the core values of academic excellence, spiritual vitality and social relevance. Dr. Chandran D.S. Devanesen, the Head of the Department of History, became the first Indian Principal of the College in 1962. He was also the Founding Vice Chancellor of the Northeastern Hill University. The College was one of the earliest institutions to be conferred with autonomous status in 1978. Presently the college has 34 academic departments offering courses ranging from the under graduation to research degrees. In addition, there are a number of units involved in extension activities.  

Department of history and historians of this college: The Department of History is one of oldest in the college. Rev. George Patterson, the first Professor of History joined the college in 1876. The Department of History was founded in 1887. A galaxy of eminent Professors such as Rev. E.M. Macphail, Rev. Frederick William Kellet, Prof. Ferrend Edward Corley, Prof. Ernest John Bingle, Dr. Chandran D.S. Devanesen, Dr. M. Sargurudoss, Dr. M. Abel, Dr. Chiranjeevi J. Nirmal, Dr. S. Krishnaswamy and others have been among its many institution builders. The Department has produced distinguished historians such as Sardar K.M. Panikkar, K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, C. Minakshi, K.V. Raman, M.G.S. Narayanan, S. Manickam and K. Nambi Arooran among others. Its alumni have also excelled in various professions such as academics, civil service, archaeology, politics, business, etc.

In six different sessions, papers were presented: Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan, the sitting secretary of IHC, reported that 1,002 rigorously researched academic papers were presented at the event. The papers were presented in six simultaneous sessions, namely Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, Countries other than India, Archaeology and Contemporary India. The technical sessions were chaired by prominent historians –

1. Malini Adiga (Ancient India),
2. Ishrat Alam (Medieval India),
3. Salil Misra (Modern India),
4. Bishnupriya Basak (Archaeology),
5. Margit Koves (Countries Other than India) and
6. Sudha Pai (Contemporary India).

Again, as usual, only “five minutes” were given to the paper readers. However, the “chosen ones” were allowed to read taking more time. In some sessions, many were asking and discussing in Hindi and obviously, those who do not know Hindi, cannot follow what they discussed. The papers have been also of the same nature revolving around certain issues that are repeatedly discussed again and again. Instead of giving any solution to problems, they are analyzed, discussed and elaborated on with verbose. Retired Prof Deepak Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, delivered the SC Misra Memorial Lecture.

DMK cadre waiting for M.K. Stalin with flags etc.,

DMK cadre controlling members awaiting for their leaders….

Leader has arrived……..

Dravidian stock, Dravidian model etc.,…………..

Ironically, the announcer told that the “National anthem and Tamilttai vazthu would be sung and all are requested to be seated….”

And then corrected herself. National anthem first sung, followed by “Tamilttai vazhthu,” and ended with “amen”!

Incidentally after “Tamilttai vazhthu,” the VIPs on the stage and delegates started sitting, but, signalled to stand, as Wilson started his “sermon”ending with “amen.”

Ironically, all including Stalin sat down,……

but, suddenly, prayer started and they started to get up and stand. ..

s the choir started, they again stood up……………………….the principal secretary was annoyed and told something and Wilson was smiling with awkwardness…….

After the welcoming of Wilson, a documentary about the MMC was shown on the screen.

Ramnujam, invites…………………

Stalin releasing the IHC Kannur proceedings..

Audience during the inaugural session…

audience LHS

Audience – delegates…..

The “Dravidian stock” CM gave a lengthy speech in Tamil: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday 27-12-2022 termed as a ”danger”, distortion of history and warned against falling for ”imaginary stories” being floated by some as history[3]. In his address at the 81st annual session of the Indian History Congress here, Stalin also stressed on the need for a government to remain secular[4]. The Chief Minister said many wondered if studying history would ensure them a lucrative career but doing so is not just about getting a degree and salary. ”We should study history to know ourselves. Only those who have studied the past can create history in the present; can predict the future. Such history should be a science-based fact. Some people are talking about imaginary stories as history. One should not get fooled by believing them and they should not be accepted,” he said. A knowledgeable society will not accept such theories, Stalin added. ”The danger that has engulfed the country today is this distortion of history. The dignity of the Constitution should be safeguarded in education, language, culture, authority, economy and administration,” he said[5]. He carefully read from the paper.

S. R. Bommai v. Union of India: Citing a 1994 ruling of the Supreme Court, he underscored the need for a government to remain secular and rein in forces that divided people of different faiths[6]. S. R. Bommai v. Union of India ([1994] 2 SCR 644 : AIR 1994 SC 1918 : (1994)3 SCC1) was a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India, where the Court discussed at length provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India and related issues. This case had a huge impact on Centre-State Relations. The Indian landscape was so (secular) once upon a time but ”the differences are the ones created by some persons later.” Pointing out at the various archaeological excavations underway in Tamil Nadu, including at Keeladi and Kodumanal, Stalin said ”we are speaking proudly about our historic specialities only based on scientific facts.” For instance, Keeladi studies have shown that urbanisation and literacy prevailed in the Tamil landscape as early as the 6th Century BC[7]. Such studies, undertaken by the DMK government since 2021 in seven locations in the state, are being done in association with various other agencies, he pointed out[8]. Many efforts to highlight the historical importance of such places, like setting up of museums are on, the Chief Minister informed[9]. ”History should not be a document that talks only about kings, their lifestyle and victories. History should also reflect people from all walks of life. This is our view,” Stalin said[10].

Stalin claimed that History should start from Tamilnadu: Pointing to the recent archaeological excavations that have thrown up evidence of urban settlements having existed in the state at least 2,600 years ago, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday said it will be apt to “rewrite” the history of the Indian subcontinent from the Tamil landscape[11].  This, he has been telling many times within two years. Contending that history should not be a document that talks only about kings, their lifestyle and victories, but should also reflect people from all walks of life[12], Stalin pushed the need to write “real history” and not ones that are “distorted.” However, it is not known how the IHC would take this point and react to “rewriting history.”

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

30-12-2022

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[1] News Click, Stalin Opens Indian History Congress, Says ‘False History Should be Sidelined’, Sruti MD | 30 Dec 2022

https://www.newsclick.in/stalin-open-indian-history-congress-false-history-sidelined

[2]  As per the circular issued by the Local Seretary of the IHC.

[3] DtNext, Distortion of history a danger engulfing the country: Stalin, PTI, Published on :  27 Dec, 2022, 2:19 pm. https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/12/27/distortion-of-history-a-danger-engulfing-the-country-stalin

[4] https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/12/27/distortion-of-history-a-danger-engulfing-the-country-stalin

[5] PTI, Distortion of history a danger engulfing the country, says Stalin, Updated: Dec 27 2022 2:07 PM.

[6] https://www.ptinews.com/news/national/distortion-of-history-a-danger-engulfing-the-country-says-stalin/483667.html

[7] NDTV, MK Stalin Says Distortion Of History A ‘Danger’ Engulfing The Country, India News, Press Trust of India, Updated: December 27, 2022 2:38 pm IST.

[8] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mk-stalin-says-distortion-of-history-a-danger-engulfing-the-country-3641486

[9] Siasat, Distorting history is dangerous phenomenon: Stalin , Photo of Indo-Asian News Service, Indo-Asian News Service|  Published: 27th December 2022 3:46 pm IST

[10] https://www.siasat.com/distorting-history-is-dangerous-phenomenon-stalin-2489285/

[11] National Herald, Distortion of history a danger engulfing the country: MK Stalin, Amarabati Bhattacharyya, Published: 27 Dec 2022, 5:00 PM

[12] https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/distortion-of-history-a-danger-engulfing-the-country-mk-stalin