A review of the book 'Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat's History' written by Utpal Kumar.
Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat’s History challenges this historiography, presenting Bharat’s story from its own perspective. It debunks the Aryan invasion theory, calling Vedic and Harappan civilizations two sides of the same coin. It reevaluates Ashoka’s legacy and the Nehruvian obsession with his ‘greatness’. It reinterprets Bharat’s ‘golden era’ during the Gupta period and sheds new light on the post-Gupta phase.
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Coming up: A review of the book 'Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat's History' written by Utpal Kumar.
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Before I proceed, a full disclosure: This book was bought with my own money and not been provided to me by the author or publisher.
Little bit about the author:
Utpal Kumar is the opinion editor at News18 and Firstpost. In his two decades of journalistic experience, he has worked with several media houses in the country. He started his career at the Pioneer and went on to work at the Hindustan Times, Mail Today (India Today Group) and the Sunday Guardian. Kumar has written hundreds of articles for reputed newspapers and magazines. As the books editor of most of the organizations he has worked at, he reviewed hundreds of books and interviewed preeminent authors. He is among the most trenchant nationalist voices in mainstream media. Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat’s History is his second book. His debut, Bharat Rising: Dharma, Democracy, Diplomacy, published in January 2024, is a bestseller.
Let me read a brief description of the book:
QUOTE
Bharat’s history is often written as a series of invasions starting with the Aryans knocking on the gates of the subcontinent followed by Central Asian tribes, the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, and finally Europeans. Mainstream history depicts Bharat as a barren land where various races and cultures arrived at different times. This country, we are told, belonged to each one of these migrants and invaders or to none of them.
Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat’s History challenges this historiography, presenting Bharat’s story from its own perspective. It debunks the Aryan invasion theory, calling Vedic and Harappan civilizations two sides of the same coin. It reevaluates Ashoka’s legacy and the Nehruvian obsession with his ‘greatness’. It reinterprets Bharat’s ‘golden era’ during the Gupta period and sheds new light on the post-Gupta phase.
The book argues that Islamic conquest in Bharat faced stiff Hindu resistance until Akbar’s diplomatic/matrimonial overtures. When Aurangzeb reverted to confrontation, his empire declined. Contrary to conventional understanding of history, Eminent Distorians explains how the British conquered this country from the Marathas not the Mughals.
It also examines the roles of Gandhi, Gandhians, and revolutionaries in ending colonialism. Meticulously researched and cogently argued, the book avoids a Delhi-centric view of history as it highlights significant dynasties such as the Karkotas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Pallavas, Cholas, and Ahoms, among others.
UNQUOTE
One of the biggest strengths of this book is that it is bold and unapologetically positive. It challenges well-known historians and narratives, and seeks to provoke readers to question the established story-lines. And some readers might find this as a put off as they may find the tone somewhat overtly combative.
Kumar's central thesis is as incisive as it is provocative: India's 1947 freedom wasn't merely a political handover but a hijacking of historical agency. What followed, he contends, was a Left-leaning monopoly on academia, where figures like Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib, Bipan Chandra, R.S. Sharma, and D.N. Jha—towering names in Indian scholarship—crafted narratives that portrayed Bharat as a perpetual victim of feudal stagnation, invaded and "enlightened" by outsiders.
Kumar draws from a wide array of sources: archaeological, philological, historical, and literary. The style is accessible and it is “meticulously researched and cogently argued”. The narrative may move fast, but it loosens conventional assumptions and encourages a reader to explore further.
And this fast paced narrative might be dizzying especially for readers who are less familiar with Indian history.
Final Verdict:
Backed by extensive Notes of nearly 50 pages that rivals a scholarly arsenal, Eminent Distorians demands engagement, not passive reading.
If you are someone interested in Indian historiography, especially the debates around framing India’s past, then this book is a worthwhile read as long as you read it with a discerning mindset.
I give this book 4.25/5.
The book is currently available only in Hardcover format. I have given the respective buy link in the show notes. Please check it out for the latest price.
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