Let History Inspire

 

Let History Inspire

History is the study of past events, including their causes and consequences, as well as the changes that have occurred over time. It involves investigating, interpreting, and reinterpreting evidence from various sources, such as written documents, oral traditions, and artifacts, to understand the human past. This includes political, social, economic, cultural, intellectual, and scientific developments.

As time progresses, history education should also adapt to reflect the changing perspectives on the past. In many educational institutions, the focus remains on kings and wars. While it is vital to acknowledge bravery, we should not overlook the inventions, discoveries, innovations, and other positive aspects that have transformed society. Why can't children learn about the invention of the CT scan, the evolution of laptops, or the stories behind Bluetooth and QR codes? Human beings require inspiration. For instance, the Wright brothers were inspired by birds, and the kingfisher inspired the design of the bullet train. Consider also how Bose speakers evolved.

In a world traumatized by wars and religious hatred, it is time to shift away from reading about figures like Genghis Khan, Aurangzeb, Hitler, etc. In a society overwhelmed by superficial information, we should focus on inspiring the next generation with history that emphasizes science, innovation, and the achievements of those who advocated for peace, lifted people out of poverty, and eradicated deadly diseases.

While we may not have control over government curricula dictating what we learn or teach our children, we can use social media to share the stories of remarkable individuals who have added value to life. For example, Nils Bohlin, a Swedish engineer working for Volvo, invented the seat belt in 1959, Founder of Ramraj Cotton, K.R. Nagarajan, brought back our traditional Dhoti with a modern touch and made the youth feel proud of wearing a Dhoti, a humble beginning with a roaring success. Today he has touched a revenue of 2000 crores, 250 outlets, 2500 varieties of Dhoti and a livelihood for 50000 weavers, while I type, I feel the goose bumps, and many such people create histories that change the societies.

Let us fill our minds with stories of people who saved lives, created jobs, and transformed workplaces with modern tools, rather than solely focusing on swords, guns, and men on horseback who sought power through violence.

Let me quote what A.P.J. Abdul Kalam quoted in one of his speeches- “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”

History should focus on Righteousness -the quality of being morally right. Once people grasp this concept, peace will become the way of life, and weapons will find their place in museums.

M.L. Narendra Kumar