Renowned historian Romila Thapar received the PG National Award 2024 on Monday in New Delhi, acknowledging her significant contributions to ancient Indian history. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking at the ceremony, praised Thapar’s dedication to historical integrity, especially in her opposition to the “distortion” of history for what he described as “communal” purposes.
At the event, Vijayan pointed out that Thapar’s “fearless criticism of the Sangh Parivar” has led to her being disfavored by the group, particularly for her stance against its political involvement in shaping narratives of history and education. “It is because of her fearless criticism of the Sangh Parivar, especially their political interventions in history and education, that she is severely disliked by them,” Vijayan remarked. He further explained that the Sangh’s “dislike” stems from Thapar’s work that draws a clear line between “Hindutva,” a political ideology, and “Hinduism,” a religion.
Vijayan highlighted other key areas in which Thapar’s views stand out, particularly her opposition to the colonial approach of dividing Indian history into distinct Hindu, Islamic, and British periods. He remarked that she has been a “fierce critic of the colonial segmentation of the study of Indian history.” This colonial-era categorization, he said, does not capture the true essence of India’s historical and cultural evolution. Moreover, Thapar’s disagreement with the notion that Hindu origins are traceable to the Aryans or the Indus Valley Civilization was another point Vijayan raised, adding that Thapar believes historians should “preserve India’s history” and resist efforts to “saffronise” it. He commended her for “coming out openly against… attempts to rewrite history,” reinforcing her commitment to maintaining objectivity in historical scholarship.
The PG National Award, established to honor the legacy of Marxist philosopher and writer P. Govinda Pillai, who passed away in 2012, is managed by the PG Sanskriti Kendra, founded in 2019. The award celebrates individuals who have significantly contributed to fields of thought and knowledge. In 2023, author and activist Arundhati Roy was honored for her impact on writing and advocacy. Previous awardees also include Advocate Prashant Bhushan and journalist N. Ram, recognized for their influential work in law and journalism.
Romila Thapar has been an eminent figure in the field of ancient Indian history, having dedicated decades to studying and writing about the social and cultural aspects of early India. She began her academic journey in 1931 and obtained her bachelor’s degree from Panjab University before completing her PhD at the University of London. Over her career, Thapar taught ancient Indian history at institutions like Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where she served until her retirement in 1991.
