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The Future in the Past : Essays and Reflections
The Future in the Past brings together essays by Romila Thapar on issues and ideas that have preoccupied her throughout her career These are subjects that surfaced frequently in discussions over the last six decades as they do even more so at present. Among them are the use and misuse of history, the myths surrounding the coming of the Aryans, religious fundamentalism in the study of society, the overt and the insidious attempts by right-wing elements to pervert Indian culture, variants of the Ramayana, the importance of museums, why dissent is important to democracy, the role of the public intellectual, and much more. Central to the arguments in these essays (versions of which first appeared in Seminar magazine) is an analysis of how the past permeates the present and influences the future.
Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2023
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About the author
Romila Thapar
93 books360 followersRomila Thapar is an Indian historian and Professor Emeritus at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
A graduate from Panjab University, Dr. Thapar completed her PhD in the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Her historical work portrays the origins of Hinduism as an evolving interplay between social forces. Her recent work on Somnath examines the evolution of the historiographies about the legendary Gujarat temple.
Thapar has been a visiting professor at Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the College de France in Paris. She was elected General President of the Indian History Congress in 1983 and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1999.
A graduate from Panjab University, Dr. Thapar completed her PhD in the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Her historical work portrays the origins of Hinduism as an evolving interplay between social forces. Her recent work on Somnath examines the evolution of the historiographies about the legendary Gujarat temple.
Thapar has been a visiting professor at Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the College de France in Paris. She was elected General President of the Indian History Congress in 1983 and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 21, 2023
Romila Thapar is such a name in academia who can’t be ignored by anyone. The vast amount of literary work that has come from her amasses a large amount of historical data and narratives that’s a proven treasure for the world of history. Her latest book The Future in the Past is one such collection of her works written in the past 50 years and explores different aspects of history, politics and education at large.
We get to read about the importance of museums and what might be their relevance in the future, the role they play in making people understand the evolutionary trajectory of culture itself. We are also introduced to the much debated topic of Aryans, their relevance in Indian history and the controversy around it.
The author, who is also a prolific public intellectual, shares her feelings about contemporary issues especially around politics, culture and religion. She digs deeper into how propaganda has substituted meaningful public discourse and is affecting the mass psyche of the country. She also links it with history and how we should discuss it. My favourite parts were the chapters around Indian epics and the messages around it. Something that I truly believe can help people understand and distinguish propaganda from truth. This book is collection of some of the greatest pieces by Prof. Thapar and I hope that everyone picks it up especially in the current socio-political situation that we live in.
We get to read about the importance of museums and what might be their relevance in the future, the role they play in making people understand the evolutionary trajectory of culture itself. We are also introduced to the much debated topic of Aryans, their relevance in Indian history and the controversy around it.
The author, who is also a prolific public intellectual, shares her feelings about contemporary issues especially around politics, culture and religion. She digs deeper into how propaganda has substituted meaningful public discourse and is affecting the mass psyche of the country. She also links it with history and how we should discuss it. My favourite parts were the chapters around Indian epics and the messages around it. Something that I truly believe can help people understand and distinguish propaganda from truth. This book is collection of some of the greatest pieces by Prof. Thapar and I hope that everyone picks it up especially in the current socio-political situation that we live in.
June 15, 2023
A brilliant collection of essays by one of the best historians of our times, The Future in the Past will feel resonant for anyone curious to understand our history, it's evolution & cultural significance.
I especially enjoyed the first section of essays titled History that offer a crucial understanding of historiography itself, why it's pertinent to understand Indian history & how the current political climate is trying to erode & weaponize it's narrow interpretation of our heritage. The discussions on the Aryan identity and matriarchal societies were equally fascinating in their lucidity, reasoning & insight.
Although these essays are written by Romila Thapar over the course decades, appearing in journals/books throughout, this collection is particularly useful for our current times in terms of its relevance. I would recommend this book to anyone that seeks to understand Indian history in a manner that does justice to the field and wants to explore how ideas of modernity, rationality & culture evolved within our diverse country. It's a greater starter for someone wanting to dive deeper into these ideas.
I especially enjoyed the first section of essays titled History that offer a crucial understanding of historiography itself, why it's pertinent to understand Indian history & how the current political climate is trying to erode & weaponize it's narrow interpretation of our heritage. The discussions on the Aryan identity and matriarchal societies were equally fascinating in their lucidity, reasoning & insight.
Although these essays are written by Romila Thapar over the course decades, appearing in journals/books throughout, this collection is particularly useful for our current times in terms of its relevance. I would recommend this book to anyone that seeks to understand Indian history in a manner that does justice to the field and wants to explore how ideas of modernity, rationality & culture evolved within our diverse country. It's a greater starter for someone wanting to dive deeper into these ideas.
December 31, 2023
Romila Thapar, an Indian historian and professor emerita at Jawaharlal Nehru University, is renowned for her work on social and cultural history, historiography, and the relationship between society, economy, and religion. Thapar has written extensively on Indian history, including Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, Ancient Indian Social History: Some Interpretations, Recent Perspectives of Early Indian History, A History of India Volume One, and Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300. Thapar's book, "The Future in the Past: Essays & Reflections," offers a fascinating journey through history, revealing the multidimensional nature of India's past, including social, religious, and political dimensions. The book is approachable to readers of all backgrounds, addressing historical prejudices and challenging traditional interpretations. Thapar's work is a must-read for its fascinating and thought-provoking information, appealing to both experts and ordinary readers.
June 4, 2023
The book The Future in the Past made by Romila Thapar deals with history, contemporary times, epics, renunciations and dissent, museums, and education. While choosing this book I was aware of the wide idea of the author over history and how she would interlink everything to make things knowledgeable and precious for every reader who reads it.
In this book, she kept in mind to deliver the history which was not defined to everyone. History is open for the understanding of the past: a sensitive understanding, analytical, and open to critical enquiry.
This book is surely a pure connection between the future and the past.
Romila Thapar tries her best to reduce the myths about history. After completing the book you would be full of insights and ideas.
One must read this book for a better idea about the future with the help of history.
In this book, she kept in mind to deliver the history which was not defined to everyone. History is open for the understanding of the past: a sensitive understanding, analytical, and open to critical enquiry.
This book is surely a pure connection between the future and the past.
Romila Thapar tries her best to reduce the myths about history. After completing the book you would be full of insights and ideas.
One must read this book for a better idea about the future with the help of history.
August 8, 2025
The edition I read is a hardback, 326p, isbn 9789395853149 published by Aleph Book Company in 2023.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews