Was Indian history being rewritten to serve political interests? In 1968, the legendary historian R. C. Majumdar delivered a remarkable warning that remains deeply relevant to debates over India’s past.In this episode, we present the full text of R. C. Majumdar’s extraordinary Presidential Address, Indian Historiography: Some Recent Trends, delivered to the Institute of Historical Studies in 1968.An intellectual giant and one of the foremost historians of modern India, Majumdar had devoted more than half a century to historical research. In this address, he confronted a question fundamental to every nation: Should history serve political ideology, or should political ideology submit to historical truth?Drawing upon the principles articulated by Leopold von Ranke, Barthold Georg Niebuhr, Kalhana and Sir Jadunath Sarkar, Majumdar defended the historian’s supreme obligation to truth—even when the facts prove uncomfortable or contradict prevailing political beliefs.He then issued a powerful critique of the politicisation of Indian historiography, examining the influence of government policy, ideological conformity and nationalistic sentiment upon the writing of history.Among the subjects he addresses are:• The historian’s duty to establish facts without fear or favour.• The dangers of subordinating scholarship to political parties and official ideology.• The tension between historical truth and the political ideal of national integration.• The selective presentation of India’s past in the name of non-violence and national unity.• Controversies surrounding the medieval period, including Mahmud of Ghazni, Aurangzeb and Hindu-Muslim relations.• The rewriting of history to promote particular interpretations of India’s cultural and political evolution.• The danger of suppressing inconvenient facts in textbooks and academic institutions.• His appeal to younger historians to defend the integrity of historical scholarship.Majumdar’s address is more than a historical document. It is an intervention in a debate over the relationship between truth, scholarship, nationalism and political power.His closing warning is unforgettable: a nation cannot build its future upon historical falsehood, however attractive such falsehoods may appear in the present.Listen to the complete address and judge its arguments for yourself.If you believe that India’s past deserves rigorous examination, independent scholarship and an honest engagement with historical evidence, share this episode with fellow history enthusiasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Dharma Dispatch podcast so we can offer more such interesting, informative and educational content related to Indian History, Sanatana Dharma, Hindu Culture and current affairs. It takes us months of rigorous research, writing and editing and significant costs to offer this labour of love. Ways you can Support The Dharma Podcast: * UPI: ddispatch@axl * Wallets, Netbanking, etc: * Click the button below to take a paid subscription. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedharmadispatch.substack.com/subscribe
