Left liberal historians always attack Bharatiya culture in two ways, simultaneously. One, they glorify those who maliciously destroyed Bharatiya culture. Two, they use the most shameful falsehoods to destroy the roots which sustain Indian culture. So, they favour the invader, and attack the original inhabitant.
Twisting History
This syndrome began well before Independence. But this disease became endemic in academia, right since the first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, took charge of distorting history.
This journalist has repeatedly penetrated the core of Left liberals, and come back with telling evidence after each combat. This article is the first of a series.
Arun Shourie’s book, Eminent Historians, contains evidence of one such encounter. Leftist historian, Professor KM Shrimali, was opposite Arun Shourie in the programme Aap ki Adaalat, Aap ka Faisla, on Zee TV, moderated by this journalist. It was in the middle of 1998. This journalist sprang a question at Professor Shrimali of the Delhi University. The professor had been writing and teaching that beef was eaten in ancient India by the Brahmins. And that the Vedas not only permitted the Brahmins to eat beef, but commanded them to do so. The Leftist historian admitted that, indeed, he had been writing and teaching this, because it was a fact.
Unable to Back Up his Claim
Arun Shourie goes on to describe the give-and-take as it unfolded. This journalist asked Professor Shrimali to cite a single verse from any of the four Vedas to substantiate his claim. Professor Shrimali tried to wriggle out by saying that he was not carrying the Vedas with him.
Suddenly, someone from the audience stood up holding up all the four Vedas, and brought them to this journalist. Now Professor Shrimali was asked to cite a single instance from the Vedas before him. The eminent professor again tried to sneak out, saying that it was not possible for him to dig out the quotation in such an off-hand manner. This journalist pointed out that the Professor was an authority on ancient Indian history.
Let Prof Shrimali quote a single verse, from a single Veda, that propagates beef-eating by anyone, let alone the Brahmins. This journalist submitted that if Professor Shrimali can cite one such verse, this journalist promises to retire from the programme
This journalist walked up to his table and picked up a book from which he began to recite verse after verse from one Veda after another, each one declaring categorically that eating beef was completely forbidden. Everywhere, it was described as a grave sin.
Arun Shourie requested Professor Shrimali to himself look at the quotations to satisfy himself. Professor Shrimali recoiled.
It was enough to convince anyone that Professor Shrimali had been exposed as an authority who was deliberately distorting a vital fact of ancient Indian history. But Professor Shrimali was not going to give up so easily.
He wrote a long piece on this episode, in a national daily. He accused this journalist of being a Swayamsevak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (whereas this journalist has never attended a shakha through 69 years of his life).
Professor Shrimali also wrote the same complaint to the management of Zee TV. This journalist was summoned by the management.
After reading the complaint aloud, this journalist explained to the management that the only defence Professor Shrimali has put up is that the question was sprung at him suddenly. He did not have time to frame his response without adequate notice.
This journalist explained to the management that the letter was written by Professor Shrimali ten days after the telecast. Even if his charge, that he was not given adequate notice beforehand, was believed at face value, Professor Shrimali had no excuse for the ten days that elapsed between the telecast and his complaint.
Now came the clinching argument. This journalist submitted that Prof Shrimali can take as much time as he needs to come up with a response. The time period can be arbitrarily decided by Prof Shrimali and not contested by this journalist. Let him answer in the next 15 days, or two months, or six months. Let Prof Shrimali quote a single verse, from a single Veda, that propagates beef-eating by anyone, let alone the Brahmins. This journalist submitted that if Professor Shrimali can cite one such verse, this journalist promises to retire from the programme.
For the last 26 years, the response is awaited from anyone who seeks to support the shameless fraud of Professor KM Shrimali.
