SAHMAT
8, Vithalbhai Patel House, Rafi Marg New Delhi-110001
Telephone-3711276/ 3351424 e-mail-sahmat@vsnl.com26.5.2003
ROMILA THAPAR AND THE HONOUR OF INDIAN HISTORIANSí PROFESSION
The Aligarh Historians Society and SAHMAT unreservedly condemn the well-orchestrated campaign against Professor Romila Thapar over the issue of her appointment as Kluge Professor at the Library of Congress, USA.
The campaign is clearly instigated by the countryís saffron forces, and is designed to dissuade foreign academic bodies from according honours to such Indian scholars as the Hindutava forces regard as ëLiberalí or ëLeftistí.
The more eminent the scholar, as Romila Thapar undoubtedly is, the more fierce and bitter the attack. Professor Romila Thapar has received the highest possible honours within this country, and these honours have come her way because of her dedication to academic rigour, scientific approach and a steadfast espousal of democratic and secular values. Any recognition of her work abroad brings honour to this country, and those who decry her contributions to scholarship in effect belittle our countryís status in the academic world. We are sure that such tactics of the saffron brigade would not succeed; and Indian historians, and scholars as hitherto, will continue to defend the cause of independence and rationality in the pursuit of their profession.
Prof. Irfan Habib
( President) Aligarh Historian SocietyRam Rahman
for SAHMAT
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