Indian Council of Historical Research chairman Y.S. Rao has resigned his post citing “personal” reasons.
Prof. Rao, seen as close to the Sangh Parivar given his past association with the Sangh-linked Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, had been appointed to the post just 16 months back.
While members of the ICHR contacted by The Hindu said they didn’t know any details about Prof Rao’s step, some confirmed that the Council had recommended an honorarium of Rs. 1.5-lakh per month for Prof. Rao to the government, but no decision had been taken on this yet.
Significantly, the ICHR head’s position is an honorary one, for which no salary is paid.
The appointment of Prof. Rao, who has taught at the Kakatiya University, had been controversial to begin with, with many saying he lacked the eminence and rigour for the high post. Scholars said he didn’t have the requisite historical research to his credit to occupy an office that well-known historians have held in the past.
Prof. Rao’s term saw ICHR member secretary Gopinath Ravindran resign allegedly on grounds of differences with him. Eminent historian Sabyasachi Bhattacharya also stepped down as editor of the prestigious Indian Historical Review. Soon after, the editorial board and advisory committee of the journal, that boasted many historians, was scrapped, leading to more controversy.
Prof. Rao had surprised many by saying at an event that his first visit to Ayodhya made him “feel” he had gone back to the days of Ram and Ramayana. He had also said at the same event that many branded him as someone who wasn’t eminent enough for the position he occupied.
