"This is the real reason why our history books are in tatters.."

Prof Dilip Chakrabarti

Said : Prof Dilip Chakrabarti, Dean, Centre for Historical and Civilisational Studies, The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) and Professor Emeritus, Department of Archaeology, Cambridge University to Rajiv Malhotra, Indian-American researcher, author, speaker : Current affairs, inter-civilization, science. This was revealed, in a tweet, by Rahul Singh @Rahul_aryanab

It is worth noting that, in March this year, HRD Minister Smriti Irani had appointed Prof Chakrabarti as member of Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). As per the media reports Irani appointed  Prof Chakrabarti overruling the recommendation of its chairperson Y Sudershan Rao.

I just stumbled upon this tweet on my TL and found it quite interesting. I am no expert in history, or for that in any other field worth mentioning, but this piece highlighted with yellow colour drew my attention and I got an opportunity to read it carefully. I must confess, however, that a significant credit for my interest in reading this tweet about history goes to Chetan Bhagat's recent tweet about historians.

Chakrabarti's starting point dates back to "many years since Independence" when he observed that academically bright students hardly opted for History/Indology. This eventually resulted in "only mediocre and academically gutter" elements occupying the teaching jobs. According to Chakrabarti, mostly those who failed the IAS exam a number of times used to try for these teaching jobs. Those who were bright and ambitious never opted for research or teaching.

Chakrabarti terms 'mediocre' academicians (History/Indology) as Marxists and finds them far better than the 'gutter' category, which he calls non-Marxists. According to Chakrabarti : 'Mediocre' i.e. Marxists researchers, can read books and express themselves better in English language. They muck up some Western theories and consider themselves a better class of scholars than the other group (non-Marxists). 

Having described the 'mediocre' researchers he clarifies : "It is these people whom we call 'Marxists in our history set-up. Most of them have not seen a book written by Karl Marx."

Chakrabarti hits the 'non-Marxists' really very hard : "The less we think of the 'Non-Marxists' the better. They are blissfully ignorant of all academic norms and knowledge. Essentially country bumpkins who cannot read possibly a whole book in any language, they fill up space in the history departments of most of our universities and research organizations."

"History/Archaeology/Indology - they are all professional disciplines in their own rights. Expertise cannot be acquired except with some love and commitment. Most of the characters who adorn the top level of the Indian academia in History/Archaeology/Indology are virtually semi-literates in their subjects and unmindful of anything else except their own interest,"  Chakrabarti's says, as quoted in the tweet. His concludes with the following comment.

"As things change politically in the country, the dichotomy between Marxists and non-Marxists in historical research will hopefully go away; but the scenario dominated by the mediocres and the elements of the gutter will not go away unless the study of India's ancient past acquires some respectability in Indian education and society."

@Rahul_aryanab Bear in mind that Prof. Chakrabarti was working heuristically with provisional categories. He wasn't endorsing @RajivMessage!

— Richard Fox Young (@RichardFoxYoung) November 3, 2015

@Rahul_aryanab Prof. Chakrabarti offers a helpful corrective2 @RajivMessage's simplistic categories. Wld he crown him an INDOLOGIST? No way!

— Richard Fox Young (@RichardFoxYoung) November 3, 2015

Prof Dilip Chakrabarti to @RajivMessage. This is the real reason why our history books are in tatters.. pic.twitter.com/CFXoqP2Eae

— Rahul Singh (@Rahul_aryanab) November 3, 2015

@Rahul_aryanab @RajivMessage @bullwinkle108 @KapilZeroSibal Will force bright students4History/Archaeology/Indology? pic.twitter.com/Gy8O1cNm4m

— OBSERVER (@gdjasuja) November 3, 2015

A prime minister, who understands Gandhi would have trekked to Bisari this October 2. Modi, however, chose to chase power in Bihar.

Said : Amrith Lal, an eminent journalist, in his blog published in today's The Indian Express. 

Amrith Lal

The article, published under the title "Mahatma Gandhi, Narendra Modi and two interpretations of filth", describes how the mob lynching of Akhlaq and his son Danish - just after someone orchestrated a rumour that they had beef in their home - can be equated with the killing of Mahatma Gandhi by  Nathuram Godse who had been a member of the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha. 

The incident of communal clash, in which Akhlaq was killed and Danish critically injured, took place in Jarcha area of Dadri in Bisada village just 50 kms from national capital city of Delhi on the night of September 28. According to Lal, the incident is a painful reminder of how this nation has betrayed its father who firmly stood for the Hindu-Muslim unity, a crucial factor to his idea of Swaraj.

Lal noted that "Until recently, Godse’s men lived on the margins. Today, they seek to sanctify him in public. Bisara is a reminder of Godse and yet another murder of Gandhi’s idea of India," hinting at the heightened activism of the Sangh Parivar responsible for current incidences of communal clashes and violence in UP and Bihar.

Family members of Akhlaq, who was killed in a communal clash
in Jarcha area of Dadri, mourn the loss at his residence
in Bisada village. (Source: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

According to Lal, Modi, who has consistently invoked Gandhi in his governance programmes, should have visited Bisari today. "Modi, however, chose to chase power in Bihar," he concludes.

We don’t have a president, we have a scared kid at a horror movie covering his eyes. Putin is ugly, ruthless, vicious, and I don't like him at all, but he's brilliant.

Said : Ralph Peters in the Bill O'Reilly The Factor show. Peters is a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel, author, and media commentator. He is perhaps best known in the media for his appearances on Fox News.

Watch him on "The Factor" below :

More quotes from Ralph Peters

"I told the PM, we will fulfil your dreams of Swacch Bharat, Skill India and Digital India. We will do the work and you will earn fame when you go abroad"

Said : Arvind Kejriwal when asked what he discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with him today, reported NDTV. 

Kejriwal said : "I told the PM, we will make Delhi sparkle within two years if you cooperate with us. All you have to do is cooperate with us. Political ideologies should not come in the way." 

Asked how PM Modi reacted, Mr Kejriwal said: "He heard us and said we will see."

In an open letter in June, Mr Kejriwal had clearly conveyed his displeasure over Prime Minister's use of the L-G to harass his government. In the letter he had also appealed to PM Modi to take steps to improve Delhi's deteriorating law and order situation or hand over police to the city government.

 "Delhi people have voted for us and the rest of the country supported Modi. So please let us run Delhi and you (Modi) run the country. Don't create trouble for us every day through the L-G. This is not being a good Prime Minister. Taking revenge for losing Delhi from people and AAP is not right" 

Mr Kejriwal has been directly accusing PM Modi for creating trouble in smooth working of his government's day-to-day affairs without mincing any words.

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"I predict that Art 370 will be deleted around Sept 2015"

I predict that Art 370 will be deleted around Sept 2015.

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 30, 2014

< Dei @Swamy39 u failed this #GoMutraBucketChallenge too 😂

— Suryanarayan Ganesh (@gsurya) August 24, 2015

@gsurya @Swamy39 Jethmalani says you people don't want to learn? http://t.co/lkmuctz4pw CC to @RamJethmalani5

— Observer (@gdjasuja) August 24, 2015

"Modi sahab does not speak at all these days. He is one of the great disappointments of my life. The man should speak."

Said : Ram Jethmalani, an eminent lawyer and one of the first persons to propose Narendra Modi's name as BJP's prime ministrial candidate.

According to a PTI report carried by the Economic Times, Jethmalani criticised the government for stopping Hurriyat leaders from attending Pakistan High Commission's proposed reception which eventually led to the cancellation of NSA-level talks between both countries. 

Jethmalani said the Pakistan High Commissioner here represents a sovereign government and "how can you prevent him from meeting people?" He opined that such actions bring "tremendous disrepute" to the country and creates bad precedent of diplomatic behaviour. 

"They neither know international law, our leaders...I am talking about all leaders, more in the Congress. Modi sahab does not speak at all these days. He is one of the great disappointments of my life. The man should speak," Jethmalani was quoted as saying. 

"If you don't know how to speak then at least consult someone. Surely, there are better people and just because you are Prime Minister, you are not the wisest person. But he does not want to learn."

According to him calling Hurriyat leaders as 'separatists' reflects "gross misunderstanding" and "ignorance" among the "illiterate people in cabinet, government, parties". 

He said that "a lasting and honourable peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue must and can be found which can be acceptable to political elements and regions of the state." 

It is worth noting here that Jethmalani had formed a Kashmir Committee in 2002 to play the role of interlocutor on Kashmir. 

According to Jethmalani, this committee had ensured that both sides diluted their extreme positions. "On their side, extreme position is secession. On this side, the extreme position is repeal of Article 370," he claimed. 

"If you don't know how to speak then at least consult someone. Surely, there are better people and just because you are Prime Minister, you are not the wisest person. But he does not want to learn," he added. 

Watch Jethmalani Speaking on this issue.

परवानों की बत्ती गुल कर दी मैंने. देखिये कैसे?

@NBTjashn @Rekhta जिन्हें जलने का नहीं जनून उन परवानों की परवाह नहीं है मुझको हफ्तों से बत्ती गुल है दरवाजे की और वो बता रहे हैं आज मुझको!

— Observer (@gdjasuja) August 22, 2015