History under threat, warns Indian History Congress head

Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi has raised deep concern over the deliberate distortion of India’s history

Indian History Congress general secretary Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi has raised deep concern over the deliberate distortion of India’s history and warned that it posed a significant threat to the country’s pluralistic past and diverse cultural heritage.

Delivering his keynote address at the inaugural session of the ninth international conference of the Kerala History Congress at MES Kalladi College, Mannarkkad, on Friday, Prof. Rezavi underscored the need to protect the integrity of historical records and resist attempts to manipulate them for ideological or political gain.

Prof. Rezavi criticised recent changes to history textbooks and syllabi which, according to him, were designed to promote a narrow Hindutva-inspired view of Indian history. This approach, he warned, marginalises non-Hindu communities and non-Brahmanic sections of society.

Prof. Rezavi also highlighted the importance of preserving the rich diversity and pluralism of India’s past, citing examples of cultural exchange and cooperation between different communities throughout history.

He said serious historians such as Romila Thapar, R.S. Sharma, Satish Chandra, and Bipan Chandra had contributed hugely popular textbooks that were banished by the first BJP regime in 2003. “They, however, continue to be read by the masses,” he said.

Prof. Rezavi cited Irfan Habib’s Medieval India, late Aniruddha Ray’s The Sultanate of Delhi, Meena Bhargava’s two volume work Exploring Medieval India, and Understanding Mughal India as examples.

He criticised the authorities for removing the popular writings of the stalwarts and then blaming them that they were doing nothing.