There weren't too many subjects I used to ace in school. Of course, I attribute that, not unfairly to a lack of mentoring and an inability of the system to understand that if I couldn't learn the way they taught, they had to teach the way I learnt. At any rate, I had a natural aptitude for English and always did quite well there, but also managed high grades in the social sciences which included history. Of course I realise now that that was primarily because my retentive abilities were / are high. But nonetheless, I was always pleased with my high grades in history.
If I was to look back now, my "history" classes left me with a deluge of historical dates of events which even now I am not entirely sure bore any historical significance, a long list of Mughal emperors, British viceroys and lords and the many scores of battles they fought against each other. I learnt of Indian independence, the central figures in that quest, the important dates such as 15th August being Independence Day and 26th January Republic Day and other more obscure dates and related events.
Nowhere however did I learn about how India had evolved into what it was in 1995. It seemed like the subsequent 50 years didn't count as history. The battle of Plassey (while extremely significant in the larger context) or the policies of Cornwallis were more important for impressionable 15 year olds to learn rather than to know the inexplicable manner in which India was partitioned, the bloodshed that followed as a consequence of the blunders the British committed, about the nonsensical creation that was East Pakistan, about the in fighting in the Congress, the birth of the Muslim League and of Jinnah's lust for power.
I tell anyone who listens that in contrast to education in some of the private schools today, I feel moderately let down with what I experienced, and in contrast with undergraduate education in the West, I feel positively cheated. However, we can but look to put right what Fate and Circumstance conspired to put us through. I have read through about 40 pages of Ramachandra Guha's book "India after Gandhi - the history of the world's largest democracy" and already I have learnt more about post 1947 India and its creation than I did in 5 years of school studying "history". This book should be prescribed reading not only for all school students but indeed, I would encourage every Indian and foreigner interested in India to read this book. It also happens to be on the Economist's list of the best reads of 2007.
Mr. Guha's style is measured yet riveting and students and lovers of history and India surely must doff their hats to the gent. For one as yet unschooled in many seminal works of history, every page so far has been a pleasure that I seek to absorb to the fullest. This is definitely a book that will occupy pride of place in my humble collection.
Labels: books, history
