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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Unearthing India’s Forgotten Histories

From restoring ancient temples to rewriting historical narratives, this year’s Prakashchandra Surana Historian Award celebrated the need for a wider understanding of India’s past. Pune: History is not merely a record of vanished centuries but a map to understanding the present. That was the central message at the fifth edition of the ‘Late Shri Prakashchandra Surana Historian Award’, where archaeologist K.K. Muhammed and historian-author Aniruddh Kanisetti were honoured for their...

Unearthing India’s Forgotten Histories

From restoring ancient temples to rewriting historical narratives, this year’s Prakashchandra Surana Historian Award celebrated the need for a wider understanding of India’s past. Pune: History is not merely a record of vanished centuries but a map to understanding the present. That was the central message at the fifth edition of the ‘Late Shri Prakashchandra Surana Historian Award’, where archaeologist K.K. Muhammed and historian-author Aniruddh Kanisetti were honoured for their contributions to preserving and expanding the understanding of India’s past. The awards, instituted by the Quantum Foundation, were presented at the convocation hall of the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Yerwada. The main award was presented to K.K. Muhammed, former Regional Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and a leading figure in Indian archaeology, by renowned archaeologist Padmashri Dr. K. Paddayya and Quantum Foundation Chief Trustee Pushpa Surana. Changing Contours The ceremony also recognised the changing contours of historical scholarship by conferring the ‘Digital Historian Award’ on Aniruddh Kanisetti, author, storyteller and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar. In addition, the foundation launched the Quantum Scholarship to support young researchers pursuing higher studies in history and archaeology. The first scholarship was awarded to Pune-based researcher Sujay Khalate for his Ph.D. work in ’Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology.’ The initiative reflects a growing recognition that historical research requires not only academic commitment but also institutional support. In his introductory address, Quantum Foundation representative Dr. Pratik Surana emphasised that understanding history was essential for making sense of contemporary society. “Everything around us has a history. To gain new knowledge and correctly understand the present, it is necessary to know the past,” he said. The award ceremony was attended by Prasad Joshi, Vice Chancellor of Deccan College, Prof. Sonal Kulkarni, Dean of Deccan College, and Shahida Ansari, Head of the Archaeology Department. For Muhammed, the honour was a recognition of a lifetime spent bridging the gap between archaeological discovery and heritage conservation. Speaking after receiving the award, he recalled his work in restoring the ancient Bateshwar temple complex in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, a project widely regarded as a landmark in heritage restoration. He said he had now undertaken the restoration of select ancient temples in Hampi, Karnataka. Yet, he cautioned that India’s celebration of its heritage often exceeds its efforts at preservation. While archaeology and ancient monuments occupy a prominent place in public discourse, the actual execution of conservation projects remains inadequate, he said. According to Muhammed, thousands of historic structures across the country could be revived if stronger governmental initiatives and sustained conservation efforts were undertaken. The challenge, he suggested, was not the absence of heritage but the absence of a systematic approach to protect it. Kanisetti, meanwhile, used the occasion to highlight another challenge confronting Indian historiography — the dominance of a largely North-centric narrative. “The history we learn has remained largely North-centric. South India produced great empires that not only contributed immensely to India but also expanded their influence into Southeast Asia. These histories are rarely discussed,” he said. He argued that a fuller understanding of India’s past required moving beyond familiar political narratives and exploring the diverse regional traditions, kingdoms and cultural exchanges that shaped the subcontinent. The award ceremony thus became more than a recognition of individual achievements. It was a reminder that history is a constantly evolving field — one that depends as much on excavating forgotten monuments as on questioning established narratives. As India debates its identity in the present, the search for a more complete understanding of its past has become an increasingly important intellectual pursuit.

A Tyranny of a Different Kind

Updated: Jan 2, 2025

Bangladesh

Revolutions often promise liberation but sometimes deliver a different kind of oppression. This truth has become painfully evident in Bangladesh, where the streets of Dhaka, once bustling with the fervour of revolution, now echo with a different kind of uncertainty. Over 100 days have passed since the Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus was installed as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh. Hopes of a democratic renaissance have given way to fear and disillusionment. What began as a popular uprising to depose Sheikh Hasina’s administration on August 5 this year has become a cautionary tale of unintended consequences.


Few anticipated the chaos that would follow. The Yunus-led government, far from steering Bangladesh towards stability, has presided over an alarming erosion of civil liberties. Media freedom has been one of the first casualties. No fewer than 25 editors face murder charges, and arrest warrants have been issued against 100 journalists. Even Shakib Al Hasan, a cricketing icon and former parliamentarian under Hasina’s rule, has been implicated in a murder case alongside 147 others, including the former prime minister herself. Sheikh Hasina now faces a staggering 253 cases, ranging from murder to corruption. This crackdown on political opponents and dissenting voices bears an eerie resemblance to the authoritarianism the revolution sought to overthrow.


The targeting of religious minorities has added another layer of despair. Hindus, who comprise about 9 percent of Bangladesh’s population, find themselves particularly vulnerable. “My father is 77 years old and runs a small shop,” says Zubair, a resident of Noakhali. “He’s facing a severe charge of rioting and murder simply because he allows Hindus to have tea at his shop.” Such accounts are common. In Noakhali, where Hindus once made up 20 percent of the population, fear has driven them indoors.


A documentary filmmaker who captured evidence of brutality against minorities during the power transition - 200 incidents in just four days - was forced to flee Bangladesh. His footage paints a grim picture of the anarchy that erupted after Hasina’s ouster. Transparency International Bangladesh estimates that over 600 people were killed and 10,000 injured in the first two weeks of Yunus’s tenure. Lynching, communal violence, and vigilante justice have become disturbingly routine.


Bangladesh’s internal turmoil has significant regional implications. Yunus’s government has cultivated ties with Pakistan, re-establishing maritime links, direct flights, and defence agreements while resolving long-standing issues from the 1971 War of Independence. Simultaneously, relations with India, Bangladesh’s largest neighbour and historical ally, have deteriorated. Anti-India rhetoric dominates public discourse, and incidents of disrespect toward Indian symbols have become alarmingly frequent. Even the British Parliament has expressed concern over the rising anti-Hindu sentiment.


Washington is watching closely. Former U.S. Commissioner for International Religious Freedom, Johnnie Moore, warned that President-elect Donald Trump is “deeply concerned” about the situation. Trump’s rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi adds a layer of complexity. During his campaign, Trump condemned the “barbaric violence” in Bangladesh, signalling a tougher stance ahead. His administration, set to take office in January, could press Yunus to rein in the radicals and restore order. Whether Yunus has the capacity, or the will to do so is another matter.


Despite its international posturing, Yunus’s administration seems increasingly unable to govern. Key decisions appear to be influenced by Islamist groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam. These groups have pushed through troubling changes, including the removal of Rabindranath Tagore and D.L. Roy from school curricula and proposals to alter the national anthem. Meanwhile, radical elements like Hizb-ut-Tahrir - an arm of the terrorist outfit ISIS - are reportedly active on college campuses.


The police, once a key instrument of state authority, have largely withdrawn. Branded as accomplices to Hasina’s alleged crimes, they are wary of taking decisive action. This paralysis has left ordinary citizens at the mercy of vigilantes and extremists.


Yunus’s initial dismissal of attacks on minorities as “vendetta politics” has only worsened the situation. His government’s admission of 88 communal violence cases targeting minorities is widely seen as an understatement. Transparency International’s findings suggest the true scale of the violence is much larger. Conflicting data from various government departments, with death tolls ranging from 872 to nearly 1,000, has further eroded public trust.


Bangladesh’s interim period was meant to be a bridge to stability, not a descent into chaos. The international community, particularly India and the United States, will play a pivotal role in shaping what comes next. Trump’s impending inauguration could mark a turning point, with potential diplomatic and economic pressure on Yunus to curb extremism and restore order. But as Bangladesh drifts further from its secular roots, questions remain about whether the interim government has the vision or capability to lead.


The promise of a freer, fairer Bangladesh has given way to a grim reality. If the first 100 days are any indication, the country faces an uphill battle to restore order, rebuild trust and protect its democratic values. The embers of freedom flicker weakly in Bangladesh today, overshadowed by the tyranny of a different kind. For now, the dream of a ‘new Bangladesh’ lies buried under the weight of its own contradictions.


(The author is a senior journalist based in Kolkata. Views personal.)

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