The Hindu : Kerala News : `Marxist historiography of India accepts colonial historians'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 14, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

`Marxist historiography of India accepts colonial historians'

Staff Reporter

Indologist says it denies cultural continuity and identity

PALAKKAD: Michel Danino, convener, International Forum for India's Heritage, Coimbatore, said here on Sunday that "Marxist historiography of Indian history accepts in practice the broad framework of the erstwhile colonial historians, even as it throws new insights, some of which are often valuable."

Delivering the keynote address at the Justice P.R. Sundaram Iyer Memorial Lecture at the Pudukode kendra of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on `A thematic view of Indian civilisation,' Mr. Danino said "the history of India that we study for our examinations is really a nightmarish account of India. Our real ties are with `Bharatavarsha' that lie outside textbooks. If the history of this tie is lost, our soul loses its anchorage."

A long-time student of Indian civilisation, Mr. Danino said the "colonial-Marxist" view the history of India from a purely materialistic, social and economic definition of man. Since no spiritual dimension is acknowledged, India's religious and spiritual movements and evolution are interpreted purely from a materialistic standpoint.

"Indian spirituality and religion are therefore of no value, as are India's great spiritual figures. To a Marxist historian, Swami Vivekananda's or Sri Aurobindo's or Tagore's understanding of Indian history and civilisation is of no relevance. Thus India's cultural continuity and identity are basically denied. Artificial breaks are introduced in time (for instance, the imaginary Aryan invasion of India) or in society (the Brahmins vs. the rest of India)," he said.

Mr. Danino said: "We do hear of India's `diversity' but not what constitutes its `unity.' India's cultural bond, for instance the reach of epic and Puranic lore to the remotest corners of the country, is not thought to be a worthwhile object of study. Thus Indian education is neither Indian nor education."

He said India's civilisational achievements and contributions to the world in science, technology, philosophy, spirituality, religion, art, literature, scripts, etc., are consistently underemphasised. Failing to work out an Indian historiography of India, this perspective in effect promotes a de-Indianised view of Indian history, which can logically lead only to the atomisation of India, since one is left to wonder what can hold together this bewildering medley, Mr. Danino said.

Delivering the Justice Sundaram Iyer Memorial Lecture, T.C. Murali Madhavan, Head of Department of Indian Literature, Sri Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, said "our cultural heritage is based on dharma and truth. It believes that whatever we gain without Dharma will not last. Brahma and Dharma are misunderstood but they are indispensable and two sides of the same coin. It is the basis of Indian culture."

Mr. Madhavan said "the Aryan theory of Indus Valley civilisation is disputed now with more studies of our ancient history and heritage. It is now found that the Vedic culture is 7,000 years old. The Brahma culture starts from Rig Veda and Dharma is the cornerstone of our culture," he said.

C.L. Ramakrishnan, former Director, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, presided.

P.A. Ramakrishnan, former vice-chairman of Bhavan's Pudukode kendra made the introductory remarks. R.S. Narasimhan, chairman, welcomed the gathering and P. Rajeshkumar, co-ordinator, Centre for Sanskrit and Vedic Studies, proposed the vote of thanks.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala