Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

History and sense

On whether history makes sense (Open Page, July 8), I disagree with the views of the author. The history of a country is extremely valuable for shaping the views of generation after generation. The knowledge of the wrongs committed by a society acts as a deterrent against their recurrence. There is a tendency on the part of historians to interpret history to suit their judgment and ideology, which is wrong. True history should be a faithful narration of incidents and lifestyles.

T.R. Anandan,

Coimbatore

Without a review of the past, one cannot proceed to the future. One learns the dos and don’ts and about the values that govern society from history. Had Gandhiji not been inspired by the historical plays on Harishchandra and Shravan we would not have had a Mahatma amidst us. For the construction of new ideas, new government, new technology, and new social processes, the knowledge of the past is essential.

R. Uma,

Gandhigram

It is neither good nor correct to blame a subject without studying it fully and well. Mathematically, it is correct to say that if A is B, B is A. But let us take another example. All men are mortal. Does it mean all mortals are men? What is correct in one branch of study may not be so in another. Let us not dismiss any subject on flimsy, whimsical grounds.

V. Bhanu Murthy,

Kakinada

I fully concur with the views of the author. The article aptly concludes with the words of Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code — that history is written by the victors. What sense can such history make?

Stories in this Section

From Sputnik to a new space age
King Abdullah says no
The runaway Presidential campaign
Defining India’s minorities
A Downing Street insider’s “non-account”
Iran’s Jews reject cash offer to move to Israel
Corrections and clarifications
Praiseworthy
Heartening
Needed, introspection
Unprecedented
History and sense

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu