The Problem of Indian History by Michel Danino* (Published in Dialogue, April-June 2012, vol. 13, no. 4) Varying interpretations, even controversies, are common in the history of every nation, but India seems to have more than a fair share of them. In fact, Indian history appears to be as much a battlefield as the bygone wars it describes. In a 1942 article entitled “ ‘Histories’ of India,” K.M. Munshi wrote, “Most of our histories of India suffer from a lack of perspective. They deal with certain events and periods not from the Indian point of view, but from that of some source to which they are partial and which by its very nature is loaded against India.” 1 Paradoxically, this statement, which refers to colonial readings of Indian history, remains largely true today. There are different reasons for this peculiar situation, among them: 1. India is a country of unparalleled complexity, with a bewildering social, linguistic and spiritual diversity, and an ancient cultural heritage acting as overall cement. It is, as has often been said, a civilization more than a nation. This diversity naturally allows a variety of historical perspectives. 2. The destruction of centres of learning (such as Nalanda, other universities and numerous temples) erased important indigenous sources of Indian history. Such gaps in our sources have naturally increased dependence on Greek, Chinese, Arabic and European sources, creating a pattern for Indian history to be seen through foreign eyes. 3. Indians have often been accused of having no historical sense. This colonial prejudice has been ably refuted, recently by Arvind Sharma, 2 but it remains true that the Indian mind is more interested in a * French-born Michel Danino has been living in India since 1977, researching and writing on Indian civilization and culture. His recent titles are The Lost River: On the Trail of the Sarasvati (Penguin India, 2010), Indian Culture and India’s Future (DK Printworld, 2011). He is currently guest professor at IIT Gandhinagar and visiting faculty at IIM Ranchi.