'We must understand the plural character of Indian society'

Indian Council of Historical Research Member-Secretary Gopinath Ravindran was heckled last week after he sought to differ from views expressed by David Frawley, an American who stressed on extensive Vedic studies in India at a lecture series in New Delhi.

'We need a much greater debate on this. Everyone should be allowed to have their views,' Ravindran tells A Ganesh Nadar

Indian Council of Historical Research Member- Secretary Gopinath Ravindran was heckled after his comments on a lecture by David Frawley on 'Textual evidence in Vedas -- cultural and historical implications.'

Frawley, an American, is director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan this year.

"One of the points Frawley made was that he was unhappy with the way Indian history has been taught here. He also said that to understand Bharatiyam, one needs extensive study of the Vedas and that there was no 'Aryan invasion'," Ravindran told Rediff.com

"All of us have studied ancient history right from our school levels. Also, the Aryan argument is a long-running one. And we have evidence that people did come from outside," Ravindran added.

"Frawley had claimed that Indians have had 'political independence only for the last 70, 100 years,' an argument I refuted by saying that during the time of the Mauryas and other rulers, we were free and had political independence," Ravindran explained.

"We have to understand the plural character of Indian society," he said. "We need a much greater debate on this. Everyone should be allowed to have their views."

Ravindran refused to identify the hecklers in the audience, but added, "Obviously, they don't like any disagreements and did not want a debate."

When asked if he met Frawley after the lecture and if the issue was resolved, Ravindran said, "No, I did not meet him. This argument has been going on for a few hundred years. It cannot be resolved in one debate."

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What is the ICHR?

According to its Web site, the Indian Council of Historical Research is 'an autonomous organisation,' which was established in 1972.

The ICHR's objectives are:

• 'to bring historians together and provide a forum for exchange of views between them;'
• 'to give a national direction to an objective and scientific writing of history and to have rational presentation and interpretation of history;'
• 'to promote, accelerate and coordinate research in history with special emphasis on areas which have not received adequate attention so far;'
• 'to promote and coordinated a balanced distribution of research effort over different areas;'
• 'to elicit support and recognition for historical research from all concerned and ensure the necessary dissemination and use of results.'