D.H. Shankaramurthy, Chairman of the State Legislative Council, has called upon the historians to make youngsters involved in rewriting Indian history.
Inaugurating a symposium on ‘reconstructing the history of Shivamogga district’ under the aegis of the Department of Archaeology and Museums at Shivappa Nayaka Palace here on Sunday, he said, the achievements of ancient India in science, astronomy, mathematics and medicine though were commendable. The process of documentation of these achievements and writing of history had not developed then.
The western historians, who took up the project of writing Indian history during the British rule, presented a negative account of India’s past history. In the books of Indian history authored by the westerners, the achievements of ancient India in science, technology and philosophy were ignored and the social problems that prevailed then highlighted, he said.
Even after India attained Independence from the British, the history books authored by western writers were prescribed for study. It was essential to reconstruct the Indian history through scientific use of the available archaeological and oral sources and thereby make our countrymen proud of their rich heritage of culture, tradition and knowledge systems. There was a need to create awareness among youths on the glorious past of the country and make them involved in the process of reconstruction of history, he said.
Those who wrote history during British rule gave a negative account
‘Achievements of Indians of yore in science, technology and astronomy commendable’
‘In the past, the method of documentation of important events was not advanced’
