08-24-2005, 12:08 AM
Or by marginalizing it.
Op-ed in Pioneer, 24 Aug., 2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Afraid of facts, Govt goes easy on history </b>
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
<b>The Union Government appears to have developed cold feet after deciding to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the uprising of 1857. Initial lavish plans, that included official writing of the history of what British scholars refer to as the Sepoy Mutiny and nationalist historians in India describe as the First War of Independence, have been put on hold.</b>
This is evident from Union Minister of Culture S Jaipal Reddy's reply to an unstarred question submitted by Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra <i>{Mr. Mitra is the eidor of Pioneer}</i>. Rather than reply in detail to the points raised by him, the Minister has offered an anaemic response.
Mr Mitra had asked whether Rs 100 crore that had been earmarked, as reported, for the celebration; whether an official history of the uprising was being commissioned; if so, who were the chosen historians; and, what had been the response of Pakistan and Bangladesh to the suggestion of a joint sub-continental commemoration of 150 years of 1857.
"No funds have so far been earmarked for the celebrations. However, financial constraints will not be allowed to affect the scale or scope of celebrations," the Minister has said in his cryptic response, adding, <b>"The Government has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to chalk out the programmes to be taken up as part of these celebrations."
The GoM is headed by Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and comprises Minister for Home Affairs Shivraj Patil and Mr Jaipal Reddy. A fourth member is yet to be inducted to replace the late Sunil Dutt.</b>
Notwithstanding the Government's official response, the Ministry of Culture is believed to have asked for Rs 100 crore to fund various programmes to mark the historic occasion. <b>One of the programmes, closely identified with Mr Arjun Singh's "detoxification" campaign and fondness for sarkari itihaas, under active consideration is the writing of an official history of the events of 1857 and those of 1858.</b>
Some professional historians, close to the present dispensation in the Human Resource Development Ministry, have been sounded out on the proposal. Others, sensing the potential of handsome patronage, have pitched in with offers.
<b>However, a glitch has surfaced, threatening Mr Arjun Singh's plan to produce an official version of 1857-58. </b>
<b>It has been pointed out that the British were able to put down the mutiny and crush all resistance and defiance, including that of Rani Laxmibai, only because there were a large number of Indians, especially Sikhs, who eagerly joined the counter-attack of John Company's Lal Paltan and later helped carry out horrendous mass executions of mutineers.</b>
The questionable role of some rulers of the time, whose descendants are now key politicians, has also been brought to the GoM's notice. <b>No matter how hard modern day court historians try to sanitise the events of 1857-58, they will not be able to whitewash these facts. On the contrary, by officially acknowledging them, the Government could end up opening a Pandora's box of discomfiting political reactions.</b>
While celebratory events can be planned at short notice, even as late as 2006, it will take at least a couple of years to produce an official history of 1857-58. <b>But the Government now appears to be in a quandary over whether to press ahead with the plan because it could have serious political repercussions.</b>
Hence, the evasive reply of Mr Jaipal Reddy.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is a facetious way to cop out of the celebrations.
The Sikhs of that time are not the same as those now. And their reasons for joining the Brits were based on facts at that time. It is important to bring out the various responses that the uprising brought out and deal with them so that the idea of India is strong. Also what about the Baloch and other battalions?
Op-ed in Pioneer, 24 Aug., 2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Afraid of facts, Govt goes easy on history </b>
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
<b>The Union Government appears to have developed cold feet after deciding to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the uprising of 1857. Initial lavish plans, that included official writing of the history of what British scholars refer to as the Sepoy Mutiny and nationalist historians in India describe as the First War of Independence, have been put on hold.</b>
This is evident from Union Minister of Culture S Jaipal Reddy's reply to an unstarred question submitted by Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra <i>{Mr. Mitra is the eidor of Pioneer}</i>. Rather than reply in detail to the points raised by him, the Minister has offered an anaemic response.
Mr Mitra had asked whether Rs 100 crore that had been earmarked, as reported, for the celebration; whether an official history of the uprising was being commissioned; if so, who were the chosen historians; and, what had been the response of Pakistan and Bangladesh to the suggestion of a joint sub-continental commemoration of 150 years of 1857.
"No funds have so far been earmarked for the celebrations. However, financial constraints will not be allowed to affect the scale or scope of celebrations," the Minister has said in his cryptic response, adding, <b>"The Government has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to chalk out the programmes to be taken up as part of these celebrations."
The GoM is headed by Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and comprises Minister for Home Affairs Shivraj Patil and Mr Jaipal Reddy. A fourth member is yet to be inducted to replace the late Sunil Dutt.</b>
Notwithstanding the Government's official response, the Ministry of Culture is believed to have asked for Rs 100 crore to fund various programmes to mark the historic occasion. <b>One of the programmes, closely identified with Mr Arjun Singh's "detoxification" campaign and fondness for sarkari itihaas, under active consideration is the writing of an official history of the events of 1857 and those of 1858.</b>
Some professional historians, close to the present dispensation in the Human Resource Development Ministry, have been sounded out on the proposal. Others, sensing the potential of handsome patronage, have pitched in with offers.
<b>However, a glitch has surfaced, threatening Mr Arjun Singh's plan to produce an official version of 1857-58. </b>
<b>It has been pointed out that the British were able to put down the mutiny and crush all resistance and defiance, including that of Rani Laxmibai, only because there were a large number of Indians, especially Sikhs, who eagerly joined the counter-attack of John Company's Lal Paltan and later helped carry out horrendous mass executions of mutineers.</b>
The questionable role of some rulers of the time, whose descendants are now key politicians, has also been brought to the GoM's notice. <b>No matter how hard modern day court historians try to sanitise the events of 1857-58, they will not be able to whitewash these facts. On the contrary, by officially acknowledging them, the Government could end up opening a Pandora's box of discomfiting political reactions.</b>
While celebratory events can be planned at short notice, even as late as 2006, it will take at least a couple of years to produce an official history of 1857-58. <b>But the Government now appears to be in a quandary over whether to press ahead with the plan because it could have serious political repercussions.</b>
Hence, the evasive reply of Mr Jaipal Reddy.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is a facetious way to cop out of the celebrations.
The Sikhs of that time are not the same as those now. And their reasons for joining the Brits were based on facts at that time. It is important to bring out the various responses that the uprising brought out and deal with them so that the idea of India is strong. Also what about the Baloch and other battalions?