Itihaser Bitarka, Bitarker Itihas by Pratyay Nath, Kaustubhmani Sengupta [Hardcover]

When studying history, one thing repeatedly stands out—the diversity of opinions among historians, the multiple interpretations of the same event, and the intense debates surrounding them. Why does this happen? If we think about it, we realize that the task of historians is not just to determine what happened in the past, where it happened, or when it happened. Rather, they also strive to understand why events occurred, how they unfolded, and what their consequences were. Historians do not merely arrange events in chronological order; they analyze different occurrences to explain historical processes.

In doing so, a historian’s interpretation depends on how they establish connections between different events, how they perceive cause-and-effect relationships, and what historical sources, language, or methodology they use. These factors shape their explanations, leading to differences in perspectives among historians. Thus, history emerges as a combination of past events, the sources from that time, and the present-day interpretations of those events.

This book delves into these methodological aspects of historical research. It focuses on twelve major themes from India’s past, each of which has sparked significant debate among historians. Twelve young authors discuss the historiography of these topics, reflecting on the various techniques involved in historical writing. They explain how history is constructed, how narratives take shape step by step, and how one historian’s argument differs from another’s.

Additionally, the authors highlight how a historian’s contemporary social, political, and theoretical context shapes their interpretation of the past. As they analyze the evolution of different historical debates, the interaction between historical research and the present repeatedly comes into focus.

Until now, discussions of such debates in Indian history have primarily taken place in English. This book brings that vast intellectual discourse into accessible Bengali, making it available to students and general readers alike.