History is like the commons. Any one can enter the commons and write or re-write history — until the myths are blown by subsequent research and study. European theorists, and some copy-cat Indian historians, portrayed the Aryans as a superior race who invaded and ‘civilized’ India and other lands. It was a myth. Ancient civilizations had flourished in many parts of India long before the Indo-Aryan movements: for example, archaeological discoveries in Keezhadi and other places in Tamil Nadu have traced a flourishing civilization to 3500 BCE.

Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ America was an early lesson in history that we all learnt in school. It was inaccurate in many ways; the land now called America was populated by men and women for several centuries before Columbus landed on the continent. Research has proved that the North Vikings had reached North America nearly 500 years before Columbus.

Distorians Abound

Politicians love to take liberties with history. The BJP (and the government) accused the Congress of mutilating the National Song, Vande Mataram, and insisted on a day-long debate in both Houses of Parliament in the winter session. The party’s speakers narrated their version of ‘history’; it was distorted history — distory. The chief distorian was the prime minister, Mr Narendra Modi. To quote his words:

“Vande Mataram was composed at a time when, after the 1857 freedom struggle, the British Empire was unsettled and imposed various pressures and injustices upon India… . It was then that Bankim-da issued a challenge, responding with greater force, and from that defiance Vande Mataram was born….

“……Mohammed Ali Jinnah raised a slogan against Vande Mataram from Lucknow on October 15, 1937. Instead of firmly countering the baseless statements of the Muslim League and condemning them, Jawaharlal Nehru, then Congress President, did not re-affirm his and the Congress party’s commitment to Vande Mataram and began questioning the Vande Mataram itself. Just five days after Jinnah’s opposition, on October 20, 1937, Nehru wrote a letter to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, agreeing with Jinnah’s sentiment …..

“……(Nehru said) ‘I have read the background of the Vande Mataram song. I feel that this background may........

© Mathrubhumi English