It should incidentally be noted that some of the words in the
quote are by PRAFUL BIDWAI
himself. It is he who is writing "The best description of dharma is found in the
"Manusmriti."
and "All of them
were Hindu."
I too perhaps would disagree with some of the historical views
of the Hindutva-vadi politicians.
But a criticism ought to be fair. I personally see nothing
wrong with saying that
"The "spirit of Bharat" is dharma"
or "Bharat excelled in every branch of
Science".
There is often a view that the final and accurate version of
history and its interpretation
has been found. It is dangerous for history to get "settled".
It ought to be stirred up
time to time.
A lot of historians, specially in India, are writing history
based on what other historians
just before them have written. They have not bothered to go
back to original sources
or have tried new points of view. A lot of history students in
India today are incapable of going to
the original sources because all their education has been in
English and that is the only
language they are comfortable in. Many of India's future
historians will come from them.
Perhaps most.
A lot (if not an overwhelming majority) of newspaper reporters
too are a product
of an all-English education. They write that "a Jain city was
found under Fatehpur-Sikri"
or "Roop Kanwar revived the practice of Sati". They would have
known more
had they researched their stories better by consulting Hindi
sources also.
Certainly all attempts to present a biased version of history
should be subject
to criticism. Those who engage in doing that ought to do a
fair job. In Bengal
a whole generation has grown up using Marxist text-books. I
frequently
see Bengalis mentioning that Buddhist institutions in
Bihar/Bengal were destroyed
by "Hindus". Apparently that is what they have been taught. It
is specially sad
since some of the best Indian historians at one time were from
Bengal.
Yashwant
For, an Indian scientist friend of mine has drawn my attention to a
troubling report in INDIA ABROAD, January 21, 2000, hidden away on the OPINION
page.
http://www.indiaabroadonline.com/PublicAccess/ia012100/Opinion/ConcernExpressed.html
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Concern expressed about plans to alter history books (By PRAFUL
BIDWAI)
If Murli Manohar Joshi, the Union Human Resources Development
Minister, has his way, Indian .....
* The "spirit of Bharat" is dharma, "the ultimate source of all values."
The best description of dharma is found in the "Manusmriti."
.....
* In ancient times, "Bharat excelled in every branch of
Science... Our sages realized reality lying in every sphere of life." All of
them were Hindu.