"NCERT books....teach us to hate 5000 years old Indian history"
New Delhi
The ugly truth of Marxist school of history and the manner they celebrate the defeat of indigenous Indian leaders came to light during a panel discussion here.
"Indian history is full of stories of resistance and fight. These are not portrayed. In the manner history has been written largely by the Matxist tradition we are only being made to celebrate our losses," remarked historian and author Vikram Sampat.
Participating at the discussions on 'Ignored Historiography of Assam' Assertion' organised to mark the 400th year of Assam's iconic hero Lachit Barphukan at Vigyan Bhawan, among others film critic Rajesh Kr Singh shared similar sentiment.
"There was this challenge earlier...It is being faced even today. The Marxists have destroyed our history," Singh said.
To a question on NCERT books and school curriculum on History, he said the real Indian history is not being taught.
"You ask about NCERT books....that history (of valiant fight by Indian and Hindu leaders and generals) are not being taught. They teach us to hate 5000 years old Indian history. That is there today and that's the challenge.How do you stop all these happening," said Singh.
He maintained "the establishment of history writers in India are ruled by them. It is ruled by Marxists".
Singh also said there are also challenges posed by radical Islam schools and also the church.
Dr. Sangita Gogoi in her presentation spoke at length on the tradition of history writing and other socio-cultural superiority of the Ahoms compared to other societies of their contemporary India.
Chandraprakash Dwivedi said that Lachit Barphukan ascended to Dolakaxoria Barua, Ghorabaruah and then to Barphukan with the duty of driving away the invading Mughals from the western frontier of their sacred homeland. There are many stories like Lachit in India which are still to be told through books, films and other popular culture, he added.
Prof. Rajib Handique from Gauhati University talked about several sons of Assam who deserve special mentions for their contributions but are still ignored in Indian historiography to a large extent.
The distance of Assam and Northeast from Delhi may be one of the reasons for such negligence, he opined.He also appreciated Suryya Kumar Bhuyan's laudable effort in bringing Lachit Barphukan's life and works to the forefront with his monumental work on the Ahom general.
Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the plenary session on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the valedictory session on Friday.
Vikram Sampath also deliberated on the negligence that Assam and Northeast or South India have been suffering in the so called mainstream historiography of India.
Substantiating his view he mentioned that in India young generations grow up with the stories of Bhakhtiyar Khalji's military expeditions but are unaware of his humiliating defeat in Kamrupa in the hands of King Prithu. He also referred to the appreciation, the indomitable spirit of Ahoms in Alamgirnama, an important mughal historical document.
Lachit was Shivaji of East; It's time to honour unsung heroes : Amit Shah
(Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to the historians and students of history to identify 30 great empires in Indian history that ruled for more than 150 years and 300 warriors who fought to protect the motherland.)
New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that it was high time to honour several of our anonymous freedom fighters and national icons.
Underlining the Modi government’s decision to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark 75 years of the country'sliberation, he said iconic figure Lachit Barphukan of Assam was like Shivaji and he too had fought the Mughal rulersvaliantly.
“Today, there is peace in the north-east. Development of the region has begun,” Shah said.
He said the steps taken by the Centre have ended the differences between mainstream India and the region, which is now connected by rail and road. The growing connectivity has brought the people together, he added.
The Home Minister said perhaps time is ripe to correct the 'history books' based on reality andthe valiant fight put forth by many Indian leaders and kings.
"I often come across complaints that our history has been distorted and tempered with. These allegations could be true," he said at the plenary session of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan.
"But who stops it from correcting it now? Who stops us from writing the correct history now" the Home Minister asserted.
"If Lachit Barphukan, the Ahom general, was not there in Assam during those times, Assam and Northeast India would have never become a part of India," he maintained.
Shah said that Lachit gave capital punishment to his own uncle for procrastinating the work of building the war bastion around Guwahati. Only a true patriot can show this singularity of mind. He also said that right from 1206 to 1671 Assam was invaded 22 times by Muslim invaders but they could not keep it under the thumb of Muslim rule for long. "Often within a short period of time, the region would garner its strength again and win their motherland back.As a result North East India's culture still exists in its purest form till today," Shah said.
The Home Minister recalled the sacrifices of freedom fighters in various parts of the country.
“All of them had some common characteristics that helped the people to regain swaraj,” Shah said.
“The Mughals attacked the northeast part of India in general and Assam in particular 22 times. Barphukan fought valiantly against the invading army and repulsed the attacks successfully,” he said.
The Home Minister appreciated Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for organising celebrations to mark Barphukan’s 400th birth anniversary. Narrating anecdotes on Barphukan’s “commitment” and patriotism; Shah said that the Ahom warrior disregarded personal illness to fight the decisive battle of Saraighat, in which he defeated the Mughal army. That victory stopped further attacks from Delhi, he said.
“Barphukan even built a navy. While the Mughals had large ships, Barphukan built smaller boats and his infantrymen possessed rifles. But he overcame the obvious asymmetry in power and in this, he was aided by soldiers loyal to him,” the Home Minister said.
Shah was speaking at an event organised by the Assam government in Viagyan Bhavan here to mark the 400th birth anniversary of the great Ahom warrior.
Shah said the Ahom commander Lachit Barphukan was like “Shivaji in the West” who helped in India’s quest to attain ‘swaraj’ (self-rule).
Assam celebrates Lachit Diwas on November 24 as a tribute to Barphukan’s valour and heroism. Barphukan (November 24, 1622-April 25, 1672) was the famous general of the Royal Army of the Ahom Kingdom of Assam who defeated the Mughals and successfully halted their ever-expanding ambitions under Aurangzeb.
Shah also appealed to the historians and students of history to identify 30 great empires in Indian history that ruled for more than 150 years and 300 warriors who showed exemplary courage and valour to protect the motherland and conduct research and write extensively about them.
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