Unmasking
the Distortion: The True History of India
Indian civilization, one of the
oldest living cultures in the world, is rich with extraordinary achievements,
profound philosophies, and remarkable figures who have shaped not just a
nation, but human history. However, this illustrious narrative has, over time,
been marred by the imposition of false narratives, deliberate obfuscations, and
a systematic erasure of its great kings, scientists, rishis (sages), and poets
from the annals of history.
The
Evidence of Our Ancestors
Reconstructing the history of such an
ancient civilization is not a simple endeavor. The groundwork is laid by a
variety of evidence, including ancient texts, geological and archaeological
findings, coins, and inscriptions. Among these, the ancient texts are often
treated as primary evidence, providing insights that have been indiscriminately
dismissed by scholars of Western descent.
The Puranas, Vedic scriptures, and
epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana hold valuable knowledge trapped within
their verses. Unfortunately, many Western historians adopted a dismissive
stance toward these texts, erroneously branding them as mythical fabrications.
This rejection of evidence resulted in a gap in understanding and has led to a
major distortion of India's historical timeline.
Motivations
Behind Historical Manipulation
Pandit Venkatachalam brings to light
the underlying motivations behind this distortion, particularly highlighting
the perspectives of European Indologists. Many of these scholars, entrenched in
their Christian beliefs, were uncomfortable with the Hindu cosmology depicting
our current era as the 28th Kaliyuga—a belief that suggested a universe aged
around 195 crore years. In contrast, the Biblical canon asserted that creation
occurred in a tightly defined timeframe—specifically, in October 4004 BCE.
This theological conflict prompted a
revisionist approach: once prominent figures like William Jones, in
consultation with contemporaries such as Warren Hastings, began editing and
altering historical timelines to fit this narrow worldview. Events and figures
from Indian history were forcefully aligned, misleadingly connected where
necessary, while significant portions were simply discarded.
Interventions
in Indian History
The imposition of a Biblical timeline
meant that Indian history had to be reinterpreted through a lens that suited
Western narratives. This orchestration led to conspicuous interventions:
- Disregarding Indigenous
Texts:
Indian historical texts were deemed unreliable, leading to a preference
for vague accounts from foreign travelers, such as Megasthenes and Hiuen
Tsang, whose observations were often taken out of context.
- Misidentifying Historical
Figures:
Figures such as Mahapadmananda, Chandragupta, and Bindusara of the Maurya
dynasty were incorrectly placed alongside Alexander the Great to create a
points of reference, while the historical essence of the Gupta dynasty,
which produced renowned scholars, was diluted.
- Tampering with Artifacts: Coins and inscriptions
were manipulated to serve revised narratives. Significant texts like Rajatarangini endured alterations
that obscured the true timeline and contributions of kings like Raja
Vikramaditya of Ujjain.
The
Aftermath of Historical Distortion
The ramifications of these
distortions have far-reaching consequences. Prominent figures and events were
systematically misrepresented or erased. For instance:
- Buddha was erroneously
relocated from 1887 BCE to the 6th Century BCE.
- Chandragupta Maurya, a pivotal figure in Indian
unification, saw his timeline altered from 1534 BCE to 327 BCE.
- Adi Shankaracharya was pushed from 509
BCE to 788 CE, instead of retaining his revered position in Indian
philosophy.
·
Buddha got pushed from 1887 BCE to the 6th Century BCE
·
Chandragupta Maurya got pushed from 1534 BCE to 327 BCE
·
Adi Sankaracharya got pushed from 509 BCE to 788 CE
·
Gupta dynasty got pushed from 327 BCE well into CE
·
Raja Vikramaditya of Ujjain, Salivahana and the Agni Vamsa kings were
entirely removed from
Such manipulations extend even to the
Gupta dynasty, which, with its cultural resurgence and advancements in science
and arts, was inaccurately shoved into the timeline of the Common Era, hence
negating thousands of years of rich history.
Conclusion:
Reclaiming Our Heritage
It is imperative to confront and
dismantle these meticulous deceptions prevalent in historical narrations.
Acknowledging the existence and contributions of Indian historical figures and
events is crucial in reinstating the real legacy of this ancient civilization.
Scholars, historians, and citizens alike must delve back into the ancient
texts, embrace archaeological findings, and scrutinize existing narratives to
pave a way for a reconciled understanding of India's illustrious past.
In reclaiming this heritage, we not
only honor the monumental figures who shaped our civilization but also foster a
greater understanding of humanity’s collective history—a tapestry woven from
diverse threads, interlinked by time and shared experience. As we strive for
clarity and recognition, we must uphold that history is not merely the past but
the foundation upon which future generations will build.