Chalking out concrete measures to document a comprehensive history for Kerala from prehistoric era to the present times remained a main concern of the second Kerala History Conference, which concluded at the Providence Women’s College here on November 16.
As suggested by noted historian M.G.S. Narayanan during his presidential address of the three-day event, the conference had passed a resolution seeking support from the government to establish an Institute of Kerala History and Culture to oversee different researches and studies on the history of the State.
The setting up of such an institute was also passed as a resolution by the conference later.
Prof. Narayanan, during the opening session of the event, had suggested that an all-inclusive multi-volume series on the history of the State from ancient to the contemporary era be brought out under the supervision of a strong and judicious academic body.
After spelling out a list of possible titles of the volumes to be included in the series, Prof Narayanan also suggested that a board of editors consisting of scholars could be nominated for this purpose. “The board may assign different volumes to groups of scholars under a chief editor,” he said. In an attempt to avoid any controversy on this, he also made it clear in his speech that an “acceptable” multi-volume series on Kerala’s past could only be the product of an institute with scholars of different talents and perspectives.
Titles suggested
Among the units suggested by Prof. Narayanan for the series were ‘Geography and Prehistory,’ ‘Megaliths and their Culture,’ ‘The Dawn of history and the Sangam Age,’ ‘The Great Southward Movement and Parasurama’s Axe,’ The Brahmin Settlement of Kerala, ‘The Age of Cheraman Perumals of Mahodayapuram,’ ‘Small Principalities and the Growth of Malayalee Culture,’ Advent of European Powers,’ ‘Maritime History of Kerala,’ ‘State and Society in Modern Age’ and the ‘Kerala beyond Borders of Kerala.’
“A team of historians and researchers who could be entrusted with the task of writing different units for the multi-volume series will be suggested during this meeting,” said A.M. Shinas, assistant professor of history, Government Arts and Science College, Kozhikode, who was also one of the organisers of the conference.
