Sun Dec 28 14:09:53 UTC 2025: Summary:
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of a political assault on history in India, with communal forces distorting curricula and undermining academic institutions. He highlighted the removal of key themes like the Mughal period and anti-caste movements from school syllabi, the marginalization of Marxist historians, and the elevation of fringe figures in the freedom movement while belittling Mahatma Gandhi. He criticized the ideological reshaping of institutions and warned against attacks on scientific temper and dissent. Vijayan defended history as a democratic duty and pledged support for the Indian History Congress in upholding a secular and scientific approach to the past.
News Article:
Kerala CM Warns of “Political Assault” on History, Cites Curriculum Distortions
Kannur, India – December 28, 2025 – Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan delivered a stark warning today regarding what he described as a “sustained political assault” on the discipline of history in India. Speaking at the inauguration of the 84th session of the Indian History Congress, Vijayan accused “communal and obscurantist forces” of actively distorting historical narratives, undermining academic institutions, and rewriting curricula to suit a narrow ideological vision.
The Chief Minister pointed to specific instances of alleged historical manipulation, including the removal or dilution of key themes from school syllabi. He cited the Mughal period, popular resistance movements against caste oppression, and the trauma of Partition as examples of historical events being erased or minimized. He also criticized the portrayal of the freedom struggle as an uncontested narrative led by a select few, and the omission of significant events such as the Malabar Rebellion of 1921.
Vijayan further alleged that institutions such as NCERT, UGC, and ICHR were being ideologically reshaped, and that Marxist historiography and scholars were being marginalized. He expressed concern over the elevation of figures with marginal roles in the freedom movement while belittling Mahatma Gandhi, calling it a “sheer distortion of history.”
He also warned against the promotion of pseudo-scientific claims and the capture of research bodies through ideologically driven appointments, arguing that attacks on scientific temper and dissent would inevitably strengthen authoritarianism.
“History will not be surrendered,” Vijayan declared. “Truth will not be replaced by mythology. Scholarship will not bow to power.” He assured the Indian History Congress of the Kerala government’s full support in its efforts to uphold a secular, inclusive, and scientific approach to the past. The Chief Minister emphasized that defending history was a democratic duty.
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