A WIDE CANVAS
ACADEMIC FASHIONS AND FRAUDS
Napoleon is reported to have said that war is too important a matter to be left to generals. We may say in general that any subject is too important a matter to be left to academics.
From social sciences such as history, sociology, anthropology to pure sciences such as physics and biology, the quest for knowledge has turned from a search for truth to the advancement of pet theories and suppression of criticism , denial of space to alternative views, and condemnation of critics in the name of academics. In this we see the academics ganging up like the forty thieves, like the mafia.
It is widely recognised that study of history cannot be objective; apart from the fact that facts or events are often recorded by people according to their own prejudices, there is no agreement as to what constitutes history. And writers indulge their prejudices or preferences, not only in the selection of data but also in their interpretation. But in many scholars such prejudices are innate: a Westerner can hardly appreciate non-Western approaches to history.
Leopold von Rinke, German historian who initiated source-based historical studies.
By Julius Shraeder. Public domain. Wikimedia Commons.
Then there is the deliberate advancement of certain theories or views as the basis of assessment, such as Marxism and Feminism. Most writers judge the past with today's ideas in mind. And ruling cliques darken, whiten or distort facts. For instance, the Congress govts in India projected Gandhi-Nehru as the main force in the freedom struggle and neglected all other leaders.The Marxists subjected even ancient history to class analysis; they completely white-washed the negative and anti-national role played by them during the second world war.Thus every aspect of history as it is recorded, written and taught is full of holes.'Study the historian, before you begin to study the facts', said E.H.Carr, a noted historian of the last century.He believed that there did not exist a hard core of facts, apart from their interpretation. Carr was a leftist, and supported Lenin, Hitler and Stalin, praised their work, and suppressed their atrocities. He eulogised Marxism as the best form of totalitarianism, and as the future of the world.Alas! He died 7 years before the collapse of USSR! Thus, Carr's historical sense was faulty. We get more balanced views from Toynbee, who regards history as the study of cultures and peoples. Daniel Boorstin in the US viewed American history as "consensus"- beyond group and class interests.
Daniel Boorstin ,distinguished American historian. Unlike current historians, he was not a narrow specialist; he had a broad sweep and deep understanding of many aspects of life.
Public Domain, Wikimedia commons.
On the whole, Toynbee, Boorstin and Will Durant provide a more balanced and far deeper understanding of history. It should be clear to any sober person that no society can survive if the different classes or groups are always engaged in fighting each other. People learn to adjust contending claims, and learn to live together , rather than trying to annihilate each other. And no group or class holds permanent sway. As the history of modern USSR shows, even modern communists could not hold on to power with all their military might.
By Julius Shraeder. Public domain. Wikimedia Commons.
Then there is the deliberate advancement of certain theories or views as the basis of assessment, such as Marxism and Feminism. Most writers judge the past with today's ideas in mind. And ruling cliques darken, whiten or distort facts. For instance, the Congress govts in India projected Gandhi-Nehru as the main force in the freedom struggle and neglected all other leaders.The Marxists subjected even ancient history to class analysis; they completely white-washed the negative and anti-national role played by them during the second world war.Thus every aspect of history as it is recorded, written and taught is full of holes.'Study the historian, before you begin to study the facts', said E.H.Carr, a noted historian of the last century.He believed that there did not exist a hard core of facts, apart from their interpretation. Carr was a leftist, and supported Lenin, Hitler and Stalin, praised their work, and suppressed their atrocities. He eulogised Marxism as the best form of totalitarianism, and as the future of the world.Alas! He died 7 years before the collapse of USSR! Thus, Carr's historical sense was faulty. We get more balanced views from Toynbee, who regards history as the study of cultures and peoples. Daniel Boorstin in the US viewed American history as "consensus"- beyond group and class interests.
Public Domain, Wikimedia commons.
On the whole, Toynbee, Boorstin and Will Durant provide a more balanced and far deeper understanding of history. It should be clear to any sober person that no society can survive if the different classes or groups are always engaged in fighting each other. People learn to adjust contending claims, and learn to live together , rather than trying to annihilate each other. And no group or class holds permanent sway. As the history of modern USSR shows, even modern communists could not hold on to power with all their military might.
By Louis le Grand, Altes Museum, Berlin.
Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.
Perhaps the greatest current distortion in history is the West's attempts to play down the militant nature of Islam, for which the world's history of the last 1300 years stands witness. This is the technique adopted by the Marxist historians of India such as Romila Thapar who glorify the Muslim invaders and their role, and paint ancient India in unfavourable light. What Marxists attempted to do through writings and distorting history, Muslims on their part are physically accomplishing, destroying all the ancient monuments, to eradicate all traces of ancient, pre-Islamic history.
Buddha image disfigured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. No surprise that, since it is the place of Mohammad of Gazhni who destroyed Somnath! It is a wonder it was allowed to stand so long! Taken from www.deesha.org/2007. copyright status not known. shown here purely for educational purpose.
Islamic zealots destroying ancient monuments in Iraq.Buddha image disfigured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. No surprise that, since it is the place of Mohammad of Gazhni who destroyed Somnath! It is a wonder it was allowed to stand so long! Taken from www.deesha.org/2007. copyright status not known. shown here purely for educational purpose.
Photo taken from www.freethinker.com.uk. Copyright status not known. Shown here for non-profit educational purpose.
Iran, Iraq, Syria were the seat of the ancient Mesopotamian civilisation,whose monuments the Islamic State is deliberately destroying.
By Goran tek-en [CC BY-SA 3.0(http:://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] via Wikimedia Commons.
The position is no different in the so called 'hard' sciences.Take Evolution, for instance. The Darwinian theory of evolution is taught with a ferocity and fanaticism that would shame a Marxist or Roman Catholic or Jihadist.This theory has been traditionally opposed by Islam and Christian churches, and this opposition has been routinely and contemptuously dismissed by the "scientific" community. But scientists themselves are increasingly questioning it. In 2007, 700 scientists signed an open statement expressing their doubt on Darwin's theory. (www.dissentfromdarwin.org) [In 2001, only 100 had signed it.] They said:
We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life.
Darwinists...have never asked scientifically if random mutation and natural selection can generate the information content in living things.
Yet, the mainstream science is monopolised by committed Darwinists who not only block independent research in their institutions, but refuse to engage even with scientific criticism. Consequently, "a trivial idea ..has been elevated to the status of a scientific theory that governs modern biology", says Dr.Michael Egnor, professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics at State University of New York at Stony Brook , one of the signers. What we have to remember is that this theory has not so far been scientifically proved, and the advocates are assuming away lot of things. Yet it is promoted in the name of science by the establishment, which refuses to deal with scientific evidence against it, projecting only one side of the story. This is so characteristic of the arrogant modern academic mind or religious fundamentalism.
Ideally, research in the freedom of an academic institution like university should lead one to wherever it takes- in search of Truth.
Research holding aloft the torch of knowledge. Library of Congress, USA
In practice, it hardly ever works that way. Right from the appointment of faculty, approval of research subjects, the approval of theses, so called "peer review" before publication in so called 'academic journals'- at every step and stage, some dominant group or vested interest is exercising its hold and killing or cutting dissent. Those who dare to stand out lose chances of grants for research, risk losing or missing coveted appointments, vilification and social ostracism. Even rumours are floated against them.
NYC New York Public Library Research Room.
By Diliff (Photography by Diliff, edited by Vessil) [GFDL (http:://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons"
Various reasons are cited for these developments- like funding, industry-academic nexus, influence of political or religious groups,etc. One is source of funding. It is said that oil, automobile, energy, and pharmaceutical industries,etc lobby for suppression of research into new methods or products or areas. Church groups overtly or covertly controlling the institutions would not allow views inimical to them to be aired.
Often, it is a more subtle or sinister method at work. A professor would choose as faculty those who had been his or her own student, loyal to his line. Even free expression of opinion in the discussions might led to undesirable consequences for the student in assessment. Often, plain professional jealousy is at work. And in some cases, women students face problems from professors seeking sexual favours. Even leading American universities like Harvard were in the news recently on this ground.
Widener Library, Harvard University: the largest library system in the world.
By John Phelan (Own work)[CC BY 3.0 http:://creative commons.org/licenses/by/3.0]via Wikimedia commons.
In India, our universities have never enjoyed true autonomy, in academics or administration. Even in the supposedly liberal era now, they are not free to fix their syllabus, prescribe qualifications for the faculty , even decide on holidays. What the autonomy of the deemed universities means in practice is that the student has no choice but to toe the line of the teacher, the teacher has no freedom but to teach the official line, etc. [In fact, in no field can Indians be really autonomous- trained as they are by the Macaulay education system to be clerks. Even the top functionary can only be a glorified clerk.]
Many universities in India are leftist dens, where dissent is not tolerated.. In Tamil Nadu, theories like Aryan invasion, the supposed oppression of Dalits, who are supposed to be the original inhabitants of India, etc are gospel truth.
Our mainline newspapers like Times of India and The Hindu shout loudest about freedom of speech and expression. But their own columns are reserved for expression of their own leftist-pseudo secular, anti-Hindu line. They do not report both sides of a story, they do not report all the facts, they do not disclose all. Even when these are pointed out they do not respond or care or correct themselves. So much material is available about the falsehood written by Arundathi Roy or Setalvad in regard to Gujarat riots or about Mother Teresa. These newspapers will never report them. Yet, they talk of freedom of expression.They will magnify if a small church in some corner is attacked by unknown elements, but when hundreds of Hindu shops are burnt in Bengal or Hindus are forcibly converted in Pakistan, or missionaries indulge in their games, or NGOs utilise foreign funds without rendering accounts, these newspapers will not care or dare to report them. After all, they are secular: blind in one eye.
They operate on the principle that they alone have monopoly of truth, whatever they say is alone right, just or fair, that freedom means freedom to criticise the sober elements and silence their voice. Take simple things like dress in public places. If you insist on youngsters appearing properly dressed in public places, or in colleges, it is old-fashioned; if you expect decency in public places, it is restricting freedom. But if they advocate uncommitted men and women roaming the streets in the name of some Valentine day, it is freedom! If you say you are a Hindu, you are communal; if you say you are a Muslim and will not sing Jana gana mana, it is minority right! If you fast on Ekadashi, it is superstition; if the Muslims observe fast, it is religious freedom! If you seek cow protection, you are communal. But if the Muslims want that pork should not be eaten, it is freedom. If you hit a street dog with a stone or stick, it is cruelty to animals; but if a Muslim bleeds a cow to slow and painful death for his 'halal' beef, it is religious freedom! What is Santa Claus to us or we to Santa Claus- whoever the devil he was- that we have to rejoice in him? But our newspapers will blow this up, which has lost significance even for most westerners, as if it is an important national event for us Indians. The hypocrisy of the English language media is crossing limits, exactly as it is happening in the academia.
The leftists controlled education in West Bengal for over 30 years. They promoted their own Marxist view of history, supporting Moscow and China. And this continued even after USSR disintegrated and communism collapsed there. What freedom did they allow for others with alternative theories and views? The Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, and institutions like ICHR have been captured by the leftists. What freedom did they allow independent or dissenting scholars? If a non-leftist is appointed , they shout as if some invasion has taken place. Any one dissenting is duly dubbed a fundamentalist, Hindu fanatic, etc. Their members even lied on the Ayodhya issue, and were fully exposed in the court hearings: that they had done no research, and were merely airing their or others' opinions. They even disputed established archaeological evidence. No front line newspaper in India had the decency to publish all the archaeological evidence or the arguments on behalf of the Hindus;but they will devote any amount of space to promote the leftist views as secular, or to cine-stars and starlets. Yet they claim to be fair, and speak for freedom. These are all leftist tactics- shout for or in the name of freedom when you can, and crush that very freedom for others when you control things.
We Hindus have to be vigilant on this front. In India, the so called liberal-progressive English media of all varieties is basically promoting anti-Hindu agenda. They are staffed by such elements. Many of them carry Hindu-sounding names, while not being Hindu.. Those who write or voice opinions on Hindu issues hardly know or practise Hinduism first hand. For instance, Amartya Sen says that he was brought up in an atmosphere free of religious practices, yet he mouths opinions against Hinduism. The same thing happened with Nehru. He was almost an Englishman by temperament, a non-practising Hindu and he gave a totally negative connotation to the word secularism.He never followed any idea of Gandhiji in any area.
Outside India, Hindus face extreme hostility. The western hordes (consisting of Churches, Muslims, media, academics, political elements, business interests etc) are noticeably anti-Hindu. In American campuses, Hindu religion is taught through textbooks which do not represent Hinduism truthfully, fairly, sympathetically or favourably. Nor is it taught by persons who practise the religion- as it happens with every other religion. This is a clear racial discrimination and denial of our right and freedom.Yet our PM has no time or head for such issues, but is only bent on pleasing Obama who is on his way out! Indian politicians do not realise that the West has been anti-India since Independence. America which was pro-freedom during Franklin Roosevelt's time, turned pro-Pakistan and has been its chief prop. American administration is anti-India, no matter who becomes the president there. Ambassadors like Chester Bowles and J.K Galbraith, two well-wishers of India had to struggle against their own administrations to support India.
Oh, what a photograph! From left: Galbraith, President Kennedy, B.K Nehru. Lyndon Johnson, Pt.Nehru.
One thing is clear. In academics or media, there is no such thing as neutral reporting or advocacy. Every editorial or main article in every newspaper only supports or advances the editor's or proprietors' policy and views. The way therefore for those who disagree with them, and who are denied space or voice there, is to find or found their own. This is plainly more honest. Many of us have to continue to read papers like Times of India or The Hindu even when we know they are not factual and are biased, only because we do not have alternatives. It is like political parties: all parties sound or do alike. The BJP which opposed Sec.66A of the Information Technology Act in 2007 supported it when it came to power ! Fortunately, it has been struck down by the Supreme Court today. All are opportunists, all are hypocrites.
The world of academics, scientists and writers is also full of frauds and misdeeds. Plagiarism, fabrication, plain deception, cheating, bribery,sabotage, dishonesty and forgery in research, false or fabricated data- these are common among academics and scientists. It is said that in the US, up to 70% of the students cheat at the high school level. We are also slowly catching up with those high standards!
NOTE:
1. The current situation in Iraq is alarming where the ISIS is on a mad spree to destroy all old monuments. It has already bulldozed entire cities. I request friends to see the reports and pictures on the Web- hundreds of them are available. Our mainline newspapers are strangely low-keyed in reporting the matter.
2. American academics, administration and European govts are not only observing studied silence in the matter, but are encouraging pro-Islamic studies on the campuses. Criticising Islam is considered to be breach of freedom on American campuses! (But one can criticise Israel, Hindus etc no end!) Oxford University recently instructed its writers to avoid references to pig, pork and other pig-related products in their books! And they cancelled a lecture by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy there recently! That is how fearful they are of the Muslim lobby! And that is academic freedom for you in the West!
NOTE:
1. The current situation in Iraq is alarming where the ISIS is on a mad spree to destroy all old monuments. It has already bulldozed entire cities. I request friends to see the reports and pictures on the Web- hundreds of them are available. Our mainline newspapers are strangely low-keyed in reporting the matter.
2. American academics, administration and European govts are not only observing studied silence in the matter, but are encouraging pro-Islamic studies on the campuses. Criticising Islam is considered to be breach of freedom on American campuses! (But one can criticise Israel, Hindus etc no end!) Oxford University recently instructed its writers to avoid references to pig, pork and other pig-related products in their books! And they cancelled a lecture by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy there recently! That is how fearful they are of the Muslim lobby! And that is academic freedom for you in the West!
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