History now poised to swing to Left?

LUCKNOW: The Indian History Congress may drastically shift the course of discussion during its three-day session at Bareilly starting September 28 if the names of likely participants are any indication. Eminent historians with Leftist leanings, who were pushed to the flanks during the BJP''s regime, are expected to make their presence felt by presenting papers at the session.
The decision to hold the session at Bareilly was taken by the Union government in consultations with eminent historians though the University of Bombay was keen on hosting it.Bareilly University, said an eminent historian, had also offered to host the session.
For the session, three panels on Indian history, archeology and mediaeval history would be set up, said Prof Irfan Habib, an eminent historian with Aligarh Muslim University. The delegates, said Habib, could also speak on topics other than the three chosen subjects. The last day of the session, said the historian, would be devoted to organisational matters. Prof Bhattacharya is likely to preside over the session.
Along with Prof Habib, the participation of Romila Thapar, DN Jha, RS Sharma and Bipan Chandra would give a definite shift in tone and tenure of the discussion at the session. The opinion of these historians were seldom held in esteem during the six-year regime of the BJP.
These historians, felt a participant, would definitely throw some light on how to detoxify the teaching of history at the centres of excellence and also in universities. On the other hand a few historians with rightist leanings, may try to impress upon participants that their thinking on history, is still in tune with national ethos.
It was not long ago that the historians with BJP slant had repeatedly been saying that the previous governments, which allowed the Leftists some place in important bodies and history Congress, had distorted history.
The government had incorporated some changes in this direction which had started a row. Now recommendations of the Indian History Congress would enable the government to tamper with courses of study prevalent in universities and colleges, said a historian.