The three-day National Seminar titled “Dakshinapatha Through the Ages – Glory of Bharat” was held from March 15 to 17, 2025, and inaugurated by the Itihas Sankalan Samithi (Bharateeya), Telangana State, at the Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank Training Centre, Rajendranagar. The event focused on reviving and mainstreaming the historical contributions of Dakshinapatha (the southern path) often overlooked in mainstream Indian historiography.
Gracing the inaugural session, Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma delivered a keynote that set the tone for the seminar. He underscored the urgent need for a holistic and inclusive narrative of Indian history, urging scholars to correct the Delhi-centric, fragmented portrayal of Bharat’s past. “With Atma Samman (self-respect), only then can we become Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant),” he said. The Governor lamented the persistent marginalisation of the Northeast and South in historical discourse and called for a deliberate effort to research, document, and integrate their rich legacies into the national narrative.
The inaugural session witnessed the presence of several eminent scholars and dignitaries, including L.V. Subrahmanyam, IAS (Retd), Former Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh; Dr. Balmukund Pandey, National Organising Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana (ABISY), New Delhi; and Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, Former Chief Justice of Patna High Court, who presided over the inaugural session and chaired the Reception Committee.
Dr. Balmukund Pandey emphasised the need to rewrite history from a Bharatiya perspective, free from colonial distortions. He reminded the gathering that history is central to a nation’s identity, and its rewriting must rely on indigenous sources. Justice Narasimha Reddy echoed this call, urging historians to commit to truth and sincerity in their work, steering clear of ideological bias.
Adding to the discourse, L.V. Subrahmanyam praised a new generation of committed historians who challenge distorted narratives through thorough research. He critiqued the traditional Delhi-centric and colonial portrayal of Indian history that glorified plunderers while ignoring the resistance and cultural brilliance of native rulers.
On this occasion, the Governor of Telangana launched the book titled “Musunuri Nayakas – Hindu Resurgence in Dakshinapatha”, published by Samvit Prakashan.
Over the course of the three-day seminar, scholars and researchers from across the country—particularly from the Dakshinapatha region—presented papers on a wide range of subjects. These focused especially on the people and institutions that have had a profound impact on Indian society, transcending regional and linguistic boundaries and reinforcing the idea of national oneness. The presentations explored the richness of Indian culture, the depth of its philosophy, and the active role played by these entities in the resistance against early Islamic invasions and during the British colonial period, highlighting their contribution to the civilisational resurgence of Bharat.
The valedictory session saw insightful messages from esteemed leaders. Odisha Governor Kambhampati Haribabu, addressing the gathering in person, said, “History is not only related to the past, but is like a light that shows the path to the future.” He described Dakshinapatha not just as a trade route, but as a civilisational and cultural corridor that linked India’s diverse regions. Highlighting its role as a seat of Vedic knowledge, temple architecture, regional literature, and scientific advancement, he said, “Bharat is like a mother to all civilizations… India’s foundations are even more ancient than history itself.”
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, who joined virtually, also called for a realistic and balanced retelling of Indian history—one that does not dwell only on defeat and destruction, but celebrates India’s enduring cultural heritage. He highlighted Dakshinapatha as a vibrant artery of trade, maritime activity, and spiritual exchange from the Gangetic plains to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
Renowned historian and former ICHR Chairman Dr. Y. Sudarshan Rao added that the North-South division was a construct imposed during Muslim rule, fragmenting the Indian identity. He argued that the real Bharat is wherever knowledge flourished, where light emerged—spiritually and intellectually. “From Ayodhya to Lanka, wherever Lord Rama roamed, that is Bharat,” he said, stressing that Bharat is the land that connects the individual soul (jivatma) with the supreme soul (paramatma).
Presiding over the concluding session, Acharya Kishan Rao, National Vice President of the Itihas Sankalan Samiti, said that the three-day conference brought scholars and researchers together to reflect on India’s vast civilisational glory. He said Dakshinapatha was crucial to understanding Indian culture, pointing to the legacy of the Kakatiya dynasty and their architectural marvels like the Ramappa Temple, Warangal Fort, and the Thousand Pillar Temple. He also referenced cultural landmarks like Konark, Puri, and Bhuvaneshwari temples as testaments to the region’s glory.
The Reception Committee, chaired by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, comprised esteemed members like Dr. Tripuraneni Hanuman Chowdhary, Padma Shri awardee and former IT Advisor to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Dr. Dasari Prasada Rao, noted scholar and thinker. The academic leadership team included Prof. V. Kishan Rao (President), Prof. D. Manohar Rao (Working President), and M. Veerender (General Secretary & Seminar Convener), who played instrumental roles in steering the event towards success.
Over the course of the three-day seminar, scholars and researchers from across the country—particularly from the Dakshinapatha region—presented papers on a wide range of subjects. These focused especially on the people and institutions that have had a profound impact on Indian society, transcending regional and linguistic boundaries and reinforcing the idea of national oneness. The presentations explored the richness of Indian culture, the depth of its philosophy, and the active role played by these entities in the resistance against early Islamic invasions and during the British colonial period, highlighting their contribution to the civilisational resurgence of Bharat.
As speakers explored the historical connotation of “Dakshinapatha” during the seminar, it emerged that the term once encompassed the entire peninsula south of the Narmada. They referenced the Markandeya, Vayu, and Matsya Puranas to demonstrate that the territories of the Cholas, Pandyas, and the region of Kerala were all considered part of Dakshinapatha. Furthermore, the Vayu Purana’s classification of rivers was discussed to highlight how the Godavari and its tributaries fell within this southern expanse, whereas the Narmada and Tapi (Tapati) valleys did not—underscoring the evolving geographical application of the term over time.
The seminar reaffirmed the need to decolonise historical narratives and foster a historical consciousness rooted in Bharat’s civilisational ethos, offering a platform for scholars to revive, research, and reclaim the true history of India.
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