Percolation of Hindu-Muslim politics in Historical accounts and the past. Is History only about Mughals and other invaders?

 

It has become a moot question in our politics and society that how do you identify yourself as an Indian, whether through the constitution or your religion? As if this was not enough of a digression from important questions that we want to take this debate to even our past an historical account.

There is no denying the fact that despite being living side by side for centuries and to put it mildly, Muslims and Hindu don't trust each other. I am consciously refraining from using harsh words like hate and animosity. Though this hate has been aptly utilised for centuries by different regimes to keep a stranglehold on their power seats, whether in a form by invaders calling out to eliminate ‘Kaafirs’ (it was the war cry of Babur), or shielding of the religious superstitions and practices in the name of secularism (e.g. Shah Bano case), or equating nationalism to Hinduism (a powerful tool used by the current government). My concern here is that instead of focusing on issues that really concern us whether of education, health, infra etc. we are so mired down in identity politics that even a hope of resurgence to sensible issues seems far-fetched. 

Points shared by Vikram Sampath in India Today Conclave

In this era of innocent/mindless WhatsApp info-transmissions which I am thankful to, as otherwise I would not have engaged with this video about "white washing" of the history of India by Marxist historians, I put up my analysis for your consideration in refusal to believe the following points as mentioned by the celebrated speaker Mr. Vikram Sampath in that video.

Mr. Vikram Sampath at India Conclave 2021

1. It was claimed by him that the presentation of Indian history is made in a very derogatory and demeaning sense. It doesn't talk respectfully about its ethos, nature and events.
2. The second claim is that it's a third party's version of Indian history where it is viewed completely from the eyes of invaders.
3. It doesn't give proper emphasis to local or regional kingdoms that persisted alongside major kingdoms of the Indian subcontinent, such as Ahoms, Nagas, Vijayanagar kingdom etc. Also it is not buoyant enough about the resistance movements like the one put up by the Maharana Pratap against Akbar. The history of India is Delhi centric.
4. There is also a complaint about lack of space given to nationalist historians during the Congress regime of 70 years, also the nascent stage of nation building. This led to the parochialisation of the academic journey of Indian history.
5. Another claim made by the esteemed guest was that the whole of the violent history of Islamic invasion was brushed under the carpet in our historical discourse and it is this disenchantment with the Concealing of facts that is expressed in the form of Ayodhya dispute or changing of names.

 

Purpose of Historical Analysis

Now my rebuttal point by point as discussed below is based on my study of school textbooks that were written primarily by Marxist historians. It is also based on my understanding of the social and political culture of our country which I have been studying since a long time, being an ardent student of it. 

Firstly after reading those history books, I could not have been more proud of our past and culture. It is true that these books don't deal with the glorification of the mythological aspects of our culture and rather find the economic, social circumstances which led to the evolution of the various religions, their rituals and practices through detailed scrutiny of our religious text and symbols such as Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana etc. Now how many of us even know the sequence or timeline of Vedas leave aside their teachings and findings. I don't see any emphasis on Upanishads or Vedantas regarded as the backbone of hinduism or hindu philosophy in TV debates rather just hollow jingoism about the threats to our culture from outsiders. I can safely say that Marxist Historians are only all praise about the Upanishads and any person in order to have a clear view about Hinduism should go through them.

Upanishads are the Historical Treasure of our Country

It would have served us no good if these books would have hidden the causes, effects and evolution of harsh realities of our society such as Casteism, untouchability, sati pratha etc. I could quote an example of a family from ancient time where the mother, father and son were all of different professions living together thus basing the Varna system on the foundation of talent and knowledge not on the basis of birth which it later degenerated into.

Indian Social Strata

The other contention is that history of India is the history of invaders. From the early ancient times of Aryans to the Muslim invaders and later Britishers. Now history even in its crudest form is not any story or tale, it is a rigorous and detailed exercise of analysing the administrative and political system, cultural practices, architecture, infrastructure, and major events such as wars, famines etc. and their effects.

 

The Mughals and Britishers for a long time controlled large tract of Indian subcontinent and hence it is pertinent that we study their way of administration and cultural impact they had on our society. Now even today if you go to any government office the terms you will encounter have Mughal imprints such as taluq, pargana, tameel etc. Who doesn't relish the flavours of biryani, kebabs, korma and Naan. Even the quintessential and most innocent Indian snack samosa has its roots in Persia. The tallest of Indian structure and buildings like Taj Mahal, Lala Quila, Indian Parliament, President House etc. can't be just ignored.

 

The Majestic Taj Mahal

Even a cursory study of Indian history textbook will take you the beautiful journey of different architectural styles of Indian Temples and contribution of southern king to the Temple development of India. So next time if somebody claims of lopsided historical account she must be advised to first go through them.

 

A Delhi centric Historical portrayal is definitely true and lack of details of smaller and remote rulers and their administrative system is largely missing such as Ahoms or Nagas. But leave aside the past, tell me how much consideration is given to these remote and distant places of North East or to that extent even southern parts of India in national news even in current times. Isn't our polity even today Delhi centric?

 

Ahoms of North East

How much we know about the cultural diversity of our country even in this era of information technology where information travels at the speed of light. By saying that I though do not imply that we should forget the contribution of small and regional kingdoms, personalities and practices to our culture. It would be practical and wise if these aspects are catered to by state and local governments with due support from national intelligentsia.

 Another issue raised was that of Missing local and regional resistances like that of Maharana Pratap or that of Sikh gurus against the invaders or foreigners. I totally disagree with it as these struggles are unequivocally mentioned with due respect to the valor of small forces against the large and better organised adversaries. The only aspect of these struggles that discomforts the right wingers is that these are not painted as religious or communal struggles. It be would be interesting to know that while Akbar's army was led by Raja Man Singh into the Haldighati Battle, they were opposed by the forces of Hakim Shah Sur an Afghan and Bhil fighters neither of them Hindus.

 

Hakim Khan Suri: General in Maharana's Forces

The claim that the current religious discord and antagonism in our religious and social milieu is based upon distorted history is difficult to digest. I doubt that leaving apart a handful of population, majority of it has any access to authentic sources of history or textbooks to have any mal effect on them. It is the general mistrust and animosity based on experiences of various conflicts and riots which is enough to keep the two communities at loggerheads. The role of politicians of all fervors and their vested interests is enough to sustain the fire for the acrimonious relationship between the communities. The Hindu- Sikh faceoff generated by the politician after the Lakheempur kheeri incident is just a small example how adept these people are to provide religious shade to any incident.

 

Indus Valley Civiliation: A highly Planned city unparalleled even to current times.

Next time if somebody complaints you about lack of spotlight on Hindu Architecture or Religious practices then you should discuss with her our greatest historical heritage Indus Valley Civilisation and the quality of life its people enjoyed in form of roads, sanitation, and security. But it might not become a passionate debate as we have not been able to determine the religious nature of the people of Indus Valley Civilisation.