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Call to restructure Indian history books
MADURAI: The Tamilnadu State
Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) is
approaching the Indian Council of Historical
Research (ICHR) to ‘restructure' books on Indian
history as per the correct chronology to give
due importance to ancient Tamil civilization.
“As per the records and historians' viewpoint,
the chapter on Tamil civilisation should come
immediately after the Indus Valley Civilization
in the books on Indian history. We are going to
take up the issue to set right the chronology
disorder,” A. Ramasamy, Vice-Chairman, TANSCHE,
told the news agencies here. Since the chapter
on Tamil civilization now comes after the Gupta
period, which is around 7 {+t} {+h} century
A.D., historians from Tamil Nadu have been
appealing to the TANSCHE to initiate steps for
giving the correct chronology in history books,
he said. “The Oxford University Press has
published a book written by historian Dr.
Vincent Smith nearly 100 years ago. He clearly
felt that the books on Indian civilisation
should start from the Cauvery basin,” Dr.
Ramasamy said. Discussions on this issue are
being initiated at the State level.
Subsequently, a representation will be made to
the ICHR and national historians. “We received a
memorandum from historians in Tamil Nadu to
intervene and take steps for giving the correct
chronology. A meeting of senior history faculty
in all universities in the State will be
convened shortly,” Dr. Ramasamy said.
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At present, books on the history
of India are carrying a chronology wherein Tamil
civilization is finding a place along with the
period of Buddhism and Jainism. The second
chapter on Vedic civilization should be replaced
by Tamil civilization as per the correct
chronology. “Vedic civilization should in fact
find a place in the third chapter,” Dr. Ramasamy
said. According to him, the TANSCHE is planning
to have national-level discussions too in this
regard and then a formal appeal will be made to
“restructure” the Indian history.
