Historian Bipan Chandra dies
Gurgaon: Noted historian Bipan Chandra died on Saturday at his residence here after a prolonged illness. He was 86. “He had not been keeping well since the last few months. He passed away at 6 am,” his family said. Chandra’s textbooks on history have been taught in schools and colleges for a long time.
Gurgaon, Aug. 30: Noted historian Bipan Chandra died on Saturday at his residence here after prolonged illness. He was 86.
“He had not been keeping well since last few months. He passed away at 6 am,” his family said.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, Chandra had donned multiple roles including that of chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, member of the University Grants Commission ( UGC) and the chairman of the National Book Trust ( NBT).
Considered to be a specialist in economic and political history of India, Chandra had authored several books including The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism, In the Name of Democracy: The JP Movement and the Emergency, Nationalism and Colonialism in Modern India and The Making of Modern India: From Marx to Gandhi , among others. The left leaning author had founded the journal Enquiry and was a member of its editorial board for a long time. Born in 1928 in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, Chandra studied at the Forman Christian College, Lahore, Stanford University, US and the University of Delhi. He worked as the reader at Hindu College of Delhi University and then became the professor of history at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Chandra’s text books on history have been taught in schools and colleges in the country for a long time. Chandra served as sectional president and then the general president of the Indian History Congress in 1985, was also awarded ‘ Itihas Ratna’ on his 86th birthday in December this year, by the Asiatic Society of Bihar. A number of leaders and scholars expressed grief over the demise of the veteran historian. “The cremation will take place at 3 pm at the Lodhi Road elec- tric crematorium,” family said. Lamenting his death, Congress leader Digvijay Singh tweeted, “My condolences to the Family of historian Bipan Chandra. One of the most eminent historians of India. May his soul rest in peace”.
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki also wrote on Twitter, “Bipan Chandra an Indian historian passes away. May his soul rest in peace.” “Sad to hear about the passing away of noted historian Prof Bipan Chandra. May his soul rest in peace,” said Congress leader Naveen Jindal, in his tweet.