IN DEFENCE OF HISTORY: Symposium to mark Prof. Irfan Habib’s 90th birthday (Video Recording)
In Defence of History -- Symposium to mark Prof. Irfan Habib's 90th birthday 12 August 2021
Introduction, Sep-Oct, 2021
For me and countless others Professor Irfan Habib has been a source of great inspiration, not just for his outstanding intellectual output but also because of his unwavering commitment to the Marxist world outlook and to the founding values of…
Reflections on looking again at the Aryan Question
I should like to begin by conveying birthday greetings to Professor Irfan Habib. All good wishes, Irfan. You have in your wisdom provided us with excellent historical vision and insight, and you have received the extensive admiration and affection of…
On Capitalist Colonialism and Imperialism
Today we have gathered to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of one of the greatest historians of India, if not the whole world. It is both a solemn and a joyous occasion. There is no point in even sketching the awesome…
In Defence of History
It is a matter of great honour to be associated with an event felicitating Professor Irfan Habib, one of the tallest intellectuals India has produced since independence. Professor Habib is a historian with a global presence. He has the rare…
The Current Assault on History
History for a country can be likened to memory for an individual. If one’s memory is vitiated by inaccurate imaginings of vainglory or of false recollections of wrongs suffered, the affected individual is likely to do much harm to himself.…
Imperialism, Gold Standard and the Colonised
It is an honour to be asked to contribute a paper to this special issue of Social Scientist on the occasion of Professor Irfan Habib’s ninetieth birthday. The seminal academic influences on the development of some aspects of my own…
Irfan Habib and Modern Indian History
This essay analyses the contribution of Irfan Habib to the history of modern India. It presents his engagement with key ideas of modern Indian history in the form of a plot or a story. In writing this story I have…
Irfan Habib: A Biographical Note
As he enters his 90s, Irfan Habib has just embarked on a new book on the history of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. The book will be part of the People’s History of India series, a project that has consumed…
A Tribute to Irfan Habib on His 90th Birthday
The most eminent set of people that I have known are all here, present today. Romila, Professor Bagchi, Aditya Mukherjee, Prabhat himself of course, and many others – many who have taught me, continue to teach me. Hence I am…