Consider the following statements about Communal School of Historiogr...
- The historians of this school, relying completely on the colonial historiography of medieval India and colonial era textbooks, viewed Hindus and Muslims as permanent hostile groups whose interests were mutually different and antagonistic to each other.
- This view was not only reflected in the writings of the historians but it also found a more virulent form in the hands of the communal political leaders. In their view, India’s medieval history was one long story of Hindu-Muslim conflict.
- As a corollary of this view, it was then argued that the 19th- and 20th-century Muslims had the ‘happy’ and ‘proud’ ever present memory of having been the ruling class, while Hindus had the ‘sad’ and ‘humiliating’ memory of having been the subject race. This, ultimately, developed mutual hatred among these groups often resulting in communal riots and, in the end led to the partition of India.
Consider the following statements about Communal School of Historiogr...
Communal School of Historiography in regard to History of India
Introduction:
Communal School of Historiography is a school of thought that emerged in the 1920s in India. This school of thought saw Hindus and Muslims as having mutually antagonistic interests and was often used by communal political leaders for community-based mobilization in furtherance of their political interests.
Statement Analysis:
1. This school of historiography saw Hindus and Muslims as having mutually antagonistic interests.
- The Communal School of Historiography viewed the history of India through the lens of communalism and saw the relationship between Hindus and Muslims as one of mutual antagonism.
- This school argued that the history of India was a series of conflicts between the two communities, and that the Muslims were responsible for the subjugation of Hindus.
- This view was based on the belief that Muslims, as a foreign, non-Indian community, could not have the best interests of India at heart and were therefore inherently antagonistic towards the Hindus.
- This view was used to justify the demand for a separate Muslim homeland and contributed to the partition of India in 1947.
2. This school is often used by communal political leaders for community-based mobilization in furtherance of their political interests.
- The Communal School of Historiography has been used by communal political leaders to create a sense of community identity and mobilize people along communal lines.
- This has often been done for political gain and has led to the politicization of communal identities in India.
- Such mobilization has often led to violence and has contributed to the communal tensions that continue to plague India.
Conclusion:
Thus, both the statements are correct. The Communal School of Historiography viewed the history of India through the lens of communalism and saw the relationship between Hindus and Muslims as one of mutual antagonism. This view has been used by communal political leaders to create a sense of community identity and mobilize people along communal lines, often for political gain, leading to communal tensions and violence.