Veteran thinker urges young historians to build unbiased and fact-based historical research
Tumakuru: Renowned literary and cultural thinker Baraguru Ramachandrappa called upon young historians to construct history free from prejudice and urged society to strongly oppose the spread of fabricated narratives and misinformation in historical discourse.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a one-day national conference titled "History Festival: 30 Years of Meaningful Journey and Scientific Progress of Historical Research in the Digital Age", organised by the Department of History and Archaeological Studies of Tumkur University in collaboration with the Save Our Country Foundation on Friday.
Expressing concern over the present state of historical studies, Ramachandrappa said the field of history is currently facing multiple challenges and warned against deliberate distortion of historical facts for political purposes.
“Today’s historians must build history without prejudice and stop factories that manufacture false facts,” Baraguru Ramachandrappa said.
Concern raised over misuse of history and misinformation
Baraguru criticised attempts to spread misinformation based on caste, religion and political agendas, saying false narratives were increasingly being circulated among the public.
He referred to misleading claims spread in society and stressed that historians have a major responsibility to present the truth objectively during such times.
The veteran thinker also expressed concern about the declining quality of research in recent years and emphasised that universities should focus not only on infrastructure but also on academic content and intellectual integrity.
“Universities are not merely buildings. The content and quality of education inside them matter the most,” he stated.
He further remarked that individuals should strive to become “heroes in history, not villains,” while underlining the importance of historical awareness among literary, educational and political thinkers.
Experts stress source-based historical interpretation
Former Vice Chancellor of Karnataka Central University S. Chandrashekhar also addressed the conference and said interpreting history without proper evidence or sources amounts to a serious academic error.
He stressed that history must be studied not only to understand the past but also to improve the future.
Tumkur University Vice Chancellor M. Venkateswaralu highlighted both the positive and negative impacts of social media and technology.
He said technology had strengthened human relationships in many ways, but expressed concern over its misuse for harmful and misleading purposes.
University announces infrastructure expansion
During the event, the Vice Chancellor announced that a new campus had been developed to strengthen the university’s infrastructure and academic growth.
He revealed that nearly Rs. 15 crore had already been mobilised from donors for developmental activities and assured that an additional Rs. 5 crore would be secured in the coming days.
As part of the conference, students participated in a colourful procession on the university campus. A commemorative issue marking the History Festival was also released, while an exhibition showcasing ancient coins and historical artefacts attracted participants and scholars.
