Pages

November 04, 2012

How literature shapes history

[BACK TO KOSAMBI from permanent black UNSETTLING THE PAST Unknown Aspects and Scholarly Assessments of D.D. Kosambi - This is a collection of obscure and unknown writings by D.D. Kosambi 
NAYANJOT LAHIRI ON D.D. KOSAMBI
With Kosambi one is sometimes left with the impression of a litterateur lost in his own world, so immersed in crafting his own work of art—a Marxist grid—that he was blinkered against integrating the enormous range of archaeological discoveries which had, by then, changed the face of the Indian past. Flowing from this I would, in fact, be inclined to offer my own proposition about what lies at the core of the Kosambi corpus: namely, that literature was the larger encompassing grid which framed even his Marxism.
ROBERT P. GOLDMAN ON D.D. KOSAMBI
The reason for the neglect of Kosambi’s Sanskrit scholarship as contrasted with the celebration of his work in many other fields is, I believe, not difficult to find… By the same token, theorists and activists involved in Marxist critique and social activism have directed scant regard and even (as with the Maoists in Nepal) violent hostility for the Sanskrit establishment, which they see as aligned with archaic traditional systems of social inequality and which in the contemporary era they denounce as ‘Manuvad’.]

One of the biggest frauds perpetrated by the Marxist school of “discourse” happens to be the fact that there’s nothing like the truth but merely interpretation. This simple but evilly ingenious device has yielded a rich harvest to the Marxists. Thus, the thousands of temples destroyed merely become a matter of how history is interpreted: the truth, i.e. the act of destruction is itself ignored.
And here lies an oft-repeated theme in the annals of Marxist “history” writing: glorify the Islamic period as one of benevolence, tolerance, and secularism and vilify truly glorious Hindu empires as oppressive, regressive, and intolerant. Where the sheer weight of historical record doesn’t allow this, adopt Plan B: minimize or whitewash Islamic barbarities and ignore or explain away Hindu glory. We see these vile principles applied to the Mauraya (except Ashoka), the Gupta, the Chalukya, the Rashtrakuta, the Vijayanagar and the Maratha periods…
On the other side, Naipaul too has been consistent in being honest. His India a Wounded Civilization was a shoddy work by his standards but his explorations have been honest and that has shown up in all his subsequent works including the prophetic books that emerged as a result of his travels into Muslim lands. As far as India is concerned, Naipaul’s books are marked by one feature: they demonstrate and reflect the yearning of millions of Indian people who are rediscovering and questioning every received wisdom about their own land and culture with a confidence and zeal and in numbers that was absent even 20 years ago.]

Sahitya Akademi cordially invites you to Birth Centenery Seminar on Ramvilas Sharma (October 10, 1912–May 30,2000) 2-3 November 2012 Sahitya Akademi Auditorium, First Floor Rabindra Bhavan, 35 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi 110 001 PROGRAMME Saturday, 3 November 2012 5:00 p.m. Documentary Film Show on Ramvilas Sharma titled ‘Kaljayee Manisha’ Directed by Uday Prakash and produced by Hindi Academy, Delhi]

['Tughlaq' is dream role for any actor: Yashpal Times of India-Oct 29, 2012
As the historic ruins of Firoz Kotla came alive again with the revival of the landmark play Tughlaq after forty years, no one is happier than actor ... Yashpal cut himself from everyone to live Tughlaq Times of India-Nov 2, 2012
India has been ruled by several kings with varied personalities, but Mohammad Bin Tughlaq's traits were so unique and whimsical that his story ...]

Jihad or Ijtihad: Religious Orthodoxy and Modern Science in Contemporary Islam By: S. Irfan Habib ISBN: 9789350293751 Cover Price: Rs. 299.00 Extent: 200 pages Category: Non-fiction Publisher: HarperCollins India See interview with S Irfan Habib in The Times of India (2 Nov 2012)]

[Building a Freedom Team for India - Freedom Team of India Comment by v.c. Krishnan March 3, 2008
After being educated in a catholic institution, the history that was fed to me, reflected that nothing was great about the writings of great Indians Like AUROBINDO, Swami VIVEKANANDA, and I was condemned to think that the of the way of life, “Sanatana Dharma” as a shameful existence, BUT THANKS, it was corrected when I came in touch with the old avatar of the BJP, the Jan Sangh. Regards, vck]

Rebirth, if restricted to the physical mechanism, adds little meaning to our lives, as it becomes an endless repetition of births with no goal other than pure ...]

Sri Aurobindo Devotees: pushpanjali, Sasi balika Vidya Mandir, R.S. Puram, 9.30 a.m.; Sri Annai Meditation Centre, Kovaipudur, 4 p.m.] 

No comments:

Post a Comment