Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Oct 19: "We come across different versions of our epic poetry like Ramanayan and Mahabharat. Archaeological researches and other findings have not been able to pool enough evidences to prove the fact that the stories depicted in these epics actually took place. They are part of our belief systems. History should always be based on written records and researches. Therefore, it has not been possible so far to adopt these epics as part of our history," said well-known historian and head of the department of history, Delhi University, Prof Upinder Singh, who is also the daughter of former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.
She was delivering Padoor Gururaj Bhat memorial lecture organized by Padoor Gururaj Bhat Memorial Trust and Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Research Centre on Sunday October 18 at Nutana Raveendra Mantapa of MGM College here.
"When we try to match the belief that Ramayan and Mahabharat had happened during the period around 5,000 BC, we come across something else. The year 5000 BC belonged to stone age. If war had happened then, it should have been fought by using stones. But these epics belong to iron age. Although they would have taken place in the years later than 1000 BC, we are not getting stone edicts or archaeological materials to prove this claim. It may be seen that there are different versions of these epics including Jain Ramayan and Pampa Bharat. Another version of Ramayan named 'Rajam Naama' was prevalent during the period of Mughall emperor, Akbar. This was Persian Mahabharat. It does not contain Bhagawadgita," she pointed out.
Upindar insisted that history cannot be built unless the people have freedom of thought and expression. In such a scenario, history loses its future, she warned.
About Indian history, she noted that it is not one, but a combination of histories belonging to different provinces. "We have to take into account that all the provinces which are geographically different, had their own culture, observations, writings, sculpture, traditions, coins etc. When the culture and traditions of one area gets introduced in another region, it might merge with the local culture and give rise to a new culture altogether. All these facts need to be studied in depth. No one would be able to gain all the knowledge after being conversant with just one language. Multi-lingual studies would be of utmost importance to learn history," she felt.
She lamented that in the current set up, interaction about history has been losing its importance because of the efforts being made to exercise control over new thoughts and beliefs instead of encouraging them.
Mangalore University vice chancellor, Prof K Bhyrappa, who presided over the programme, said that an endowment chair in memory of Dr Padoor Gururaj Bhat has been set up in the university to pay tributes to this great historian, who he said, was a model for others.
Administrative officer of Manipal Academy of General Education, Dr H Shantaram, was present. Prof Sripati Tantri of the trust welcomed and introduced Prof Upinder Singh. Vishwanath Padoor proposed vote of thanks. Director of Govinda Pai Research Centre, Prof H Krishna Bhat, presented the programme.