Hindutva reading builds on colonial interpretations of Indian history: Romila Thapar
Historian Romila Thapar argues that colonial-era interpretations of Indian history continue to influence modern Hindutva narratives. She suggests that a greater focus on physical evidence could have led to a more nuanced understanding of India's past.
Why it matters
It addresses the ongoing academic and political debate regarding the interpretation of Indian history and national identity.
Hindutva reading builds on colonial interpretations of Indian history: Romila Thapar left Historian Romila Thapar addresses the Second Sitaram Yechury Memorial Lecture on the topic 'Historiography and Early Indian History' on October 25, 2026 ANI ANI https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/quqk05/article71624306.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/20261025355L.jpg ANI New Delhi, Oct 25 (ANI): Historian Romila Thapar addresses the Second Sitaram Yechury Memorial Lecture on the topic 'Historiography and Early Indian History' at Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan, in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI Photo/ Naveen Sharma) Had greater attention been paid to physical evidence such as inscriptions, Indian history may have been interpreted differently, says the historian New Delhi: Historian Romila Thapar, 96, on Sunday (October 25, 2026) argued that colonial historians fundamentally shaped the way Indian history came to be understood, reducing complex social and political processes to simplified religious narratives that continue to influence historical interpretations today and propagate the Hindutva reading of Indian history.
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