On History and Historians

History as a field of study is primarily a retelling in an another time & place of events, contexts, motivations of characters of a time long gone, from a perspective which is by definition alien to the teller of said history. The ideal position to “tell” history should be that of Vyāsa or Sanjaya.

For Vyāsa, as someone who has transcended the vagaries of ego and desire is able to enter into the skin of characters. In him we find the poet most lucid, reflecting limpidly the configurations and distortions of the characters he seeks to portray. So, Vyāsa first.

And then Sanjaya. For he is gifted with a vision, a divine sight, that sees what is, and which he narrates as he sees it. Not recollected from memory but seen. A smaller version perhaps of the Divine Sight, the mystic seeing that Sri Krishna confers to Arjunā.

These two alone, Vyāsa and Sanjaya, in all spoken and written literature, are competent to speak and write history. And given their antiquity, the first true historians. From all others, what we receive is hearsay, a rumour travelling through muddled minds and hearts, or a spring wind gathering fragrances pell-mell as it wafts through garden and gutter.

Related posts:

Character strengths are contagious, but there is also weakness found in our strengths. Too much of something can be a fault, yet so can having too little. With too much kindness I can be seen as what…

Betta fish are a popular species of fish that are kept in aquariums for their vibrant colors and aggressive behavior. However, when it comes to aquarium plants, there is a growing concern about their…

As a startup founder, you probably know that being stubborn can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it helps you push forward and overcome obstacles. On the other hand, it can prevent…