Bengaluru: As debates around history, memory and national identity grow sharper in India’s public discourse, the role of historians has become increasingly complex and contested. These themes took centre stage in the latest episode of the “What India Needs!” podcast, where historian and author Dr Vikram Sampath joined media entrepreneur and author Shutapa Paul for a candid discussion on writing Indian history in a deeply polarised age.

The conversation explored how history writing in India has moved beyond academia into the political arena, often turning biographies and reinterpretations of historical figures into flashpoints. Dr Sampath noted that revisiting or humanising historical personalities can provoke intense backlash. “The brickbats that fall on the writer are immense,” he remarked, adding that today’s historian often writes without knowing “where the bomb is going to burst”.

Framing the discussion, Paul cited an African proverb: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter,” highlighting concerns about who controls historical narratives.

Dr Sampath challenged what he described as a “monochromatic” and “whitewashed” understanding of India’s past, arguing against the dominance of a single narrative. He stressed that history must accommodate multiple perspectives, likening it to the parable of blind men describing different parts of an elephant.

The episode also examined the revolutionary tradition within India’s freedom movement, debates around colonial-era documents, and the intersection of history and politics. Addressing historical trauma, Dr Sampath called for a process of truth and reconciliation, asserting that honest engagement with difficult pasts is essential for meaningful understanding.

The discussion concluded with Dr Sampath reflecting on his personal journey from a corporate career to full-time historical research, driven by what he described as “soul-actualisation” and a commitment to reclaiming India’s knowledge sovereignty.

Watch: https://youtu.be/uX7AeWlspYk
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MO1h7qWoQfxSFvlvjRL2J