Don’t distort the past: historians

‘Unfortunately, even the PM has suggested that in the hoary past Indians had learnt plastic surgery of a kind far beyond what is now possible’

Wary of a renewed effort to rewrite Indian history by injecting “ancient mythology and speculative chronology,” the Indian History Congress (IHC) on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution urging all members of the political establishment to refrain from making statements contrary to well-established historical facts.

The resolution, “In Defence of Scientific Method in History,” took note of the fact that “unfortunately, even the Prime Minister has suggested that in the hoary past Indians had learnt and then forgotten plastic surgery of a kind going far beyond what is now possible.”

Apart from stressing the need to insulate history-writing from chauvinistic approaches, the IHC used the current dispensation’s claims of restoring India’s glory to provide a rationale against distorting history. The political establishment “should understand that loose or irresponsible statements of this kind tarnish the good repute of this country.”

Explaining the rationale for the resolution, eminent historian Irfan Habib cited the slew of statements from various quarters — including from within the government — flagging various myths and manufacturing new ones.