Vice President calls for an ‘objective re-evaluation of Indian history through fact-based research’

The Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said historians should be committed to truth and called for an ‘objective re-evaluation of Indian history through fact-based research.’

Stressing the need for greater academic rigor in historical research, he cautioned against “selective or incomplete accounts of Indian history”. He said that retelling historical facts through an ideological viewpoint will provide a distorted view, as was done under the colonial rule. Instead, he urged historians to strengthen ‘scientific writing of history with the help of specialized bodies like the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).

The Vice President was participating in the valedictory function of the Golden Jubilee year of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), organized by the Ministry of Culture. He also inaugurated an exhibition on ‘Freedom Struggle of India’ by ICHR on the occasion.

VP Naidu also called for greater research on unsung Indian heroes of the freedom struggle, many of whom were ‘limited to mere footnotes in history books’. As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, he said, their individual stories must be documented to reveal their ‘pain, struggle and the great pride with which they fought for the motherland. ‘Untold history must be told’, he said.

Touching upon India’s civilizational values such as brotherhood, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, the Vice President said ‘these values have defined us and remained constant in our civilizational history. Kings and kingdoms changed over time, but these values remained a guiding lodestar to us.’

Calling upon people to earnestly learn about Indian history, Naidu said history can unshackle ‘our minds of any inferiority complex we may harbour’. He emphasized that recounting tales of our freedom struggle will ‘not only remind us of the importance of nationalism but also of social harmony and brotherhood’.

Suggesting that ‘history should not be a niche subject monopolized by a chosen few, the Vice President said that there is a tremendous amount of work to be done in the domain of translation of literary and historical sources and accounts of ancient and medieval ages.