Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unleashed a veiled attack on Left historians, on Friday. He said it is unfortunate that, even after independence, people are reading fabricated history.
“Unfortunately, we were taught, even after independence, the same history which was written as a conspiracy during the period of slavery. After Independence, we should have changed the agenda of foreigners who made us slaves. But, we did not do it,” he said. Modi was addressing the closing ceremony of the year-long celebrations of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan in New Delhi.
Historians wilfully suppressed stories of fierce resistance to tyranny in every part of the country, he said.
“There are countless stories of victory over tyranny during the long period of repression. The mistake of not giving those events in the mainstream is being rectified now,” Modi said.
PM emphasised the importance of true history. He said that when a nation knows its real past, only then it can learn from its experiences. Only then it treads the correct direction for its future.
“It is our responsibility that we do not confine our sense of history to a few decades and centuries,” he said.
“The history of India is not just about slavery”, the Prime Minister added. “The history of India is about emerging victorious, it is about the valour of countless greats.”
He further added that India’s history is about standing against tyranny with unprecedented valour and courage.
Modi referred to the lines from Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. “Only by repeatedly remembering we can give the coming generation a correct picture of history.”
Human existence has a very long history. There were numerous civilisations that walked the earth. Many of them seemed imperishable. But the wheel of time brought them down to their knees. The world today assesses their history based on the remains of such civilisations.
But India faced unexpected adversities during its long history. It has withstood unimaginable terror of foreign invaders. Yet, it still stands immortal with the same energy and consciousness.
This happened because of the fact that whenever there was a crisis, some personality emerged to tackle that. In epoch, saints and scholars came to protect the spiritual and cultural identity of India. Bravehearts like Lachit Borphukan are legendary. They have demonstrated that forces of fanaticism and terror, ultimately perish. But the immortal light of Indian life remains eternal.
Narendra Modi
“It was the duty of historians to highlight our true history. They should have presented the valour of Lachit Borphukan and other great warriors to the nation” said Modi.