The Past as Present
Forging Contemporary Identities Through History
Failed to add items
Add to cart failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
New to Audible Prime Member exclusive: 2 credits with free trial
The Past as Present
Buy Now for ₹593.00
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Manisha Sethi
-
Written by:
-
Romila Thapar
About this listen
Understanding our past is of critical importance to our present. Many popularly held views about the past need to be critically inquired into before they can be taken as historical. For instance, what was the aftermath of the raid on the Somanatha temple? Which of us is Aryan or Dravidian? Why is it important for Indian society to be secular? When did communalism as an ideology gain a foothold in the country? How and when did our patriarchal mindset begin to support a culture of violence against women? Why are the fundamentalists so keen to rewrite history textbooks?
The answers to these and similar questions have been disputed and argued about ever since they were first posed. Distinguished historian Romila Thapar has investigated, analyzed and interpreted the history that underlies such questions throughout her career; now, in this book, through a series of incisive essays she argues that it is of critical importance for the past to be carefully and rigorously explained, if the legitimacy of our present, wherever it derives from the past, is to be portrayed as accurately as possible. This is especially pertinent given the attempts by unscrupulous politicians, religious fundamentalists and their ilk to try and misrepresent and willfully manipulate the past in order to serve their present-day agendas.
An essential and necessary book at a time when sectarianism, bogus 'nationalism' and the muddying of historical facts are increasingly becoming a feature of our public, private and intellectual lives.
Romila Thapar is one of the most important indian academics writing today. Well-researched and thoroughly accessible, this volume is sure to become essential listening for those interested in Indian history and religion. It includes her experience of writing history textbooks for school, analysis of ancient history and interpretations of the epics, and the role history plays in contemporary politics.
©2014 Romila Thapar (P)2016 Audible, Inc.People who bought this also bought...
-
The Public Intellectual in India
- Written by: Romila Thapar
- Narrated by: Manisha Sethi
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4
The public intellectual in India is an endangered species. Should we care? In this well-argued book, Romila Thapar and others tell us why we should. Thapar begins by defining the critical role that such individuals play in our societies today. Collectively they are the objective, fearless, constructive voice that asks the awkward questions when government, industry, religious leaders and other bulwarks of society stray from their roles of ensuring the proper functioning of a country.
-
The Untouchables
- Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables
- Written by: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
- Narrated by: Siddhartha Valicharla
- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
The distinction between the Hindus and Untouchables in its original form, before the advent of Untouchability, was the distinction between Tribesmen and Broken Men from alien Tribes. It is the Broken Men who subsequently came to be treated as Untouchables. In searching for the origin of Untouchability care must be taken to distinguish the Untouchables from the Impure. All orthodox Hindu writers have identified the Impure with the Untouchables. This is an error. Untouchables are distinct from the Impure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
How Untouchability came into existence
- By Sandip Khandare on 02-11-24
-
Daughters of the Sun
- Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire
- Written by: Ira Mukhoty
- Narrated by: Shernaz Patel
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 205
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 172
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 171
In 1526, when the nomadic Timurid warrior-scholar Babur rode into Hindustan, his wives, sisters, daughters, aunts and distant female relatives travelled with him. These women would help establish a dynasty and empire that would rule India for the next 200 years and become a byword for opulence and grandeur. In Daughters of the Sun, we meet remarkable characters like Khanzada Begum who, at 65, rode on horseback through 750 kilometres of icy passes and unforgiving terrain to parley on behalf of her nephew, Humayun....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Befitting the queens
- By Uttara on 29-01-19
-
Indian Innovators
- 20 Brilliant Thinkers Who Are Changing India
- Written by: Akshat Agrawal
- Narrated by: Akshay Jha
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
Indian Innovators traces the journey of 20 dynamic individuals who have created cutting-edge products with global mass appeal. Each innovator comes from a diverse background - from those who hold PhDs to those who have had no formal education! Despite this difference, what unites them are their passion for innovation, the grit with which they have fought adversities and their vision for a better world.
-
Being Different
- An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism
- Written by: Rajiv Malhotra
- Narrated by: Kanchan Bhattacharyya
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
In Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism, thinker and philosopher Rajiv Malhotra addresses the challenge of a direct and honest engagement on differences by reversing the gaze, repositioning India from being the observed to the observer and looking at the West from the dharmic point of view. In doing so, he challenges many hitherto unexamined beliefs that both sides hold about themselves and each other.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Awesome Narrative
- By Niladri Bihari Nayak on 10-06-22
-
India's Struggle for Independence
- Written by: Bipan Chandra
- Narrated by: Derek Denzil
- Length: 19 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6
Designed for ardent history enthusiasts, India's Struggle for Independence is one of the most exhaustive and precise accounts of the struggle of Indian Independence ever written in the literary world. Written and edited by five expert authors, it presents a detailed outlook on one of the most important periods in Indian history.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Horrible reader
- By Sunbird on 05-11-24
-
The Public Intellectual in India
- Written by: Romila Thapar
- Narrated by: Manisha Sethi
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4
The public intellectual in India is an endangered species. Should we care? In this well-argued book, Romila Thapar and others tell us why we should. Thapar begins by defining the critical role that such individuals play in our societies today. Collectively they are the objective, fearless, constructive voice that asks the awkward questions when government, industry, religious leaders and other bulwarks of society stray from their roles of ensuring the proper functioning of a country.
-
The Untouchables
- Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables
- Written by: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
- Narrated by: Siddhartha Valicharla
- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
The distinction between the Hindus and Untouchables in its original form, before the advent of Untouchability, was the distinction between Tribesmen and Broken Men from alien Tribes. It is the Broken Men who subsequently came to be treated as Untouchables. In searching for the origin of Untouchability care must be taken to distinguish the Untouchables from the Impure. All orthodox Hindu writers have identified the Impure with the Untouchables. This is an error. Untouchables are distinct from the Impure.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
How Untouchability came into existence
- By Sandip Khandare on 02-11-24
-
Daughters of the Sun
- Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire
- Written by: Ira Mukhoty
- Narrated by: Shernaz Patel
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 205
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 172
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 171
In 1526, when the nomadic Timurid warrior-scholar Babur rode into Hindustan, his wives, sisters, daughters, aunts and distant female relatives travelled with him. These women would help establish a dynasty and empire that would rule India for the next 200 years and become a byword for opulence and grandeur. In Daughters of the Sun, we meet remarkable characters like Khanzada Begum who, at 65, rode on horseback through 750 kilometres of icy passes and unforgiving terrain to parley on behalf of her nephew, Humayun....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Befitting the queens
- By Uttara on 29-01-19
-
Indian Innovators
- 20 Brilliant Thinkers Who Are Changing India
- Written by: Akshat Agrawal
- Narrated by: Akshay Jha
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
Indian Innovators traces the journey of 20 dynamic individuals who have created cutting-edge products with global mass appeal. Each innovator comes from a diverse background - from those who hold PhDs to those who have had no formal education! Despite this difference, what unites them are their passion for innovation, the grit with which they have fought adversities and their vision for a better world.
-
Being Different
- An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism
- Written by: Rajiv Malhotra
- Narrated by: Kanchan Bhattacharyya
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
In Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism, thinker and philosopher Rajiv Malhotra addresses the challenge of a direct and honest engagement on differences by reversing the gaze, repositioning India from being the observed to the observer and looking at the West from the dharmic point of view. In doing so, he challenges many hitherto unexamined beliefs that both sides hold about themselves and each other.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Awesome Narrative
- By Niladri Bihari Nayak on 10-06-22
-
India's Struggle for Independence
- Written by: Bipan Chandra
- Narrated by: Derek Denzil
- Length: 19 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6
Designed for ardent history enthusiasts, India's Struggle for Independence is one of the most exhaustive and precise accounts of the struggle of Indian Independence ever written in the literary world. Written and edited by five expert authors, it presents a detailed outlook on one of the most important periods in Indian history.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Horrible reader
- By Sunbird on 05-11-24
What listeners say about The Past as Present
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- MARIAPPAN KATHAMUTHU
- 24-01-23
Exploring History .......
Romina Thapar has made history reading an useful art and science. She argues throughout. And her arguments are decent,convincing and even entertaining. She will be remembered as the one who established Indian History as an independent discipline. There is no concessions for the colonialist nor for the religious sentimentalist. Thapar proceeds from two values viz 'democracy' and 'secularism' !
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tushar
- 20-07-23
Very illuminating, very well read.
I learned a lot about how to understand the present in context of the past and good narration. Thank you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yajur
- 09-09-23
Brilliant and Illuminating
Although it’s not meant to be an enjoyable read, I am certain anyone genuinely interested in India’s past as I am (not stories so much, but how they have been interpreted and misinterpreted over the generations) would find it to be a very engaging and enlightening read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- shubhu
- 26-06-20
a must read
anyone who interested in understanding indian history and present must read this book.
narration is bit dull.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jagmohan Singh
- 11-10-20
wonderful presentation of Indian history
loved it a well narrated story of Indian history clearing the grain from chaff gives a clear understanding to work in present and future decolonisation process
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- M Roy
- 13-09-22
Fantastic book spoilt by the narration
The book is thought provoking and not mere recital of facts. Unfortunately the narration does just the opposite - merely reading the text mechanically without any attempt to make it engaging.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Prajna Beleyur
- 10-04-21
Enjoyed listening to a history!
Enjoyed,I should have read or heard much earlier! late better than never! great book to listen or read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- sandyqbg
- 17-05-22
Rich, Comprehensive, Highly relevant today
The first thing that anyone picking this up should know that this is not a history text book that waxes chapter after chapter from each era of our history - it is a collection of essays compiled over Thapar's long career as a historian. It attempts to cast light on the subordination of history to cater to the whims and fancies of identity politics. This is an especially relevant and powerful piece of writing in the current context of political polarization, where it has become increasingly difficult to delineate where history ends and fiction begins.
Thapar's essays have leveraged rich historical research built over decades as well as her own personal experiences to paint a picture of how the study of history as a discipline has evolved over the last century. In this backdrop, she has explored the broad strokes of each era beginning from the hotly contested ancient Indian history, through the tumultuous medieval India and ending with the formation of the modern Indian state, focusing on the cultural and social institutions and power structures that dominated these eras.
The book fills in a lot of gaps in our collective memory of history that as presented in our academic curriculum, political rhetoric or public discourse. Ultimately, it helps raise questions on how the different forces in our societies are attempting to shape our telling of history and its course shape our national identity, and serves as a warning to the reader of the beguiling pull of today's majoritarian identity politics.
If you're looking for a book that will handhold you through millennia of history of the Indian subcontinent, then please give this a skip. However, if you're looking to make sense of all the debates surrounding our Indian history, then this can help build some clarity on the subject.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
- vaibhav s.
- 24-01-22
not typical history book
well , all i can tell you is that , if you are looking for a typical history book of the Indian subcontinent it is not it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-12-23
The Historicity
Romila Thapar is beyond doubt one of the finest and most credible historians we have.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!