Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu calls for objective re-evaluation of Indian history

March 29: Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said historians should be committed to truth. He appealed to the historians and called for an “objective re-evaluation” of Indian history through fact-based research.

He said that retelling historical facts through an ideological viewpoint will provide a distorted view, as was done under colonial rule. Instead, he urged historians to strengthen ‘scientific writing of history with the help of specialized bodies like the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). Naidu called upon state governments to organize regular visits to important historical places for children. He suggested that school textbooks must cover stories of freedom fighters’ lives in an interesting and engaging way.

Vice President Naidu was participating in the valedictory function of the Golden Jubilee year of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), organised by the Ministry of Culture. The Indian Council of Historical Research is a captive body of the Ministry of Education established by an Administrative Order. The body has provided financial assistance to historians and scholars through fellowships, grants, and symposia.

The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, It was established by the Ministry of Education & Social Welfare, Govt. of India (now, Ministry of Education) on 27th March 1972 on the recommendation of a Working Group set up by the Government of India in  December 1971. ICHR was registered under Societies Registration Act (Act xxi of 1860) being an Act for registration of Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies in India.