History in the Public Domain

 

Preface 

 

History is a hot topic in the politics of the public domain. In agenda-driven histories deployed in public debates, the question of truth is set aside in favour of requirements of the time. In such situations, history is not so much about the evidence regarding what exactly happened in the past, but a matter of opinion or perspective. This is the case both in vernacular histories circulated in the public domain and in the assumptions of professional academic history. Even though the primary functions of both are different, they converge in terms of offering differing vantage points in popular politics and struggles. Pressures from different kinds of ideological positions and politics of identities of various kinds together put serious constraints on the practice and writing of history. 

Given the kind of myth and beliefs regularly thrown up as history and historians’ quick dismissal of them as uninformed irrationalities, it is important to seriously analyse the objectives and parameters of professional academic history-writing and its distinction from politically-motivated popular histories of the public domain. The controversial historical questions also need to be examined in a dispassionate and non-partisan manner. Popular histories serve as fodder in the political struggle for identity based on religion, caste, region, languages, etc. In these contestations, professional historical research is often set aside, and traditional notions and beliefs are privileged by the custodians of popular sentiments. Consequently, unverifiable social memories are preferred over verifiable historical evidence and facts; and history is misused or sacrificed in the quest for power. 

On the other hand, despite contradictions between political ideologies and historical reality, as well as other challenges, academic research conducted and emerging from universities, research institutions, and journals, has been exploring new frontiers within the contours of history as a professional discipline. Relevant historical questions are analysed on the basis of evidence and its authenticity, validation, and corroboration. Even though social and political contexts of historians, their languages, theoretical models and assumptions determine historical interpretations and narratives, credible professional historians are expected to maintain objectivity and eschew biases and prejudices. Conducted in this manner, rigorous historical research as part of the discursive field of knowledge production is complete in itself and confirms the validity of its disciplinary practice.

This collection of short essays and extended discussions on current research aims to intervene in public debates on what exactly happened in history. Given the situation, attempts of this kind can possibly help in somewhat bridging the wide gap between serious academic research and misplaced assumptions of popular histories. Some dissemination of professional historical research in the public domain is not impossible. Much as historians are accused of merely speaking to themselves (and boring others), they need to be taken seriously when intervening in public debates using specialized historical methods and practices. Historical research conducted in universities can inform public debates in newspapers, television channels, social media and roadside dhabas for that matter, to lift the discussion to an informed intellectual plank to bring about historical literacy and civility in the public domain.

Some of the short essays and reviews included in this book have been previously published at different places, which are acknowledged at the end of each of the chapters. Some are also unpublished commentaries on books, or summaries of my lectures and talks, including a few recent Webinars. I had earlier posted these on my blog, Itihasnama.

I take the opportunity to gratefully acknowledge some of the finest editors who have published my articles and reviews in their publications: M.J. Akbar and Joyeeta Basu (Sunday Guardian), Seema Mustafa (Citizen Online), Rammanohar Reddy (Economic and Political Weekly), Bhaswati Chakravorty (Telegraph), Uttam Sengupta (National Herald), and Jayanthi Krishnamachary (Frontline).

I am also thankful to senior scholars in social sciences and humanities for inspiration with excellence in rigorous research and necessary intervention in public, when needed. Rajeev Bhargava, Neeladri Bhattacharya, Partha Chatterjee, Supriya Choudhuri, Narayani Gupta, Mukul Kesavan, Harbans Mukhia, and Mahesh Rangarajan require special mention.

I would also like to thank David Curley, Jack Hawley and Werner Menski for their outstanding support and encouragement for long.

A number of colleagues and friends read everything I write: remembering to express my gratitude to Deeksha Bhardwaj, Prasun Chatterjee, Mimi Choudhury, Parul Pandya Dhar, Amar Farooqui, Charu Gupta, Mazhar Hussain, Bharati Jagannathan, Anshu Malhotra, Rashmi Mishra, Shireen M. Mondal, Tilottama Mukherjee, Farhat Nasreen, Vipul Singh, and Chitralekha Zutshi.

Last but not the least, I am thinking how appropriate it is to offer this collection of essays as a small gift to Professor Muzaffar Alam, in whose association I learned so much as a research scholar in good old Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, even though the learned Professor is known for tact and reticence, whereas I like to tell it all, even when situation demanded political correctness. There are moments in our history when scholars and intellectuals need to stick their neck out, calling a spade a spade. For, it is in the interest of our society and country that truth must prevail. This emphasis on returning to the facts of the matter is particularly urgent in the current post-truth era, which is creating so much ill-will and hatred around us. Thus, the essays also call for the much needed peace in society.

 

RAZIUDDIN AQUIL

University of Delhi 

June 2022

(Raziuddin Aquil, History in the Public Domain, Manohar Books, New Delhi).