The Ways of Understanding the Human Past

Author: D D ChattopadhyayaPublisher: Centre for Studies in Civilizations/MotilalYear: 2001Language: EnglishPages: 164ISBN/UPC (if available): 8187586052 DescriptionIn this work, the author has tried to argue that the modern scientific concept of history, though has its undeniable importance, should be understood in a dehistorised manner. The modern concept of history should not be confused with the ancient or even the medieval concepts.It is widely acknowledged that an idea expressed in one language, if translated into another, its meaning and its associated understanding undergo change. The English world ‘history’ is ordinarily translated as ‘itihasa’ in the Sanskrit-rooted Indian languages. In the Euro-American tradition history is traced to the Greek words like ‘narrative, story’ and ‘account’ are closely linked too history. ‘Itihasa’ literally means what indeed happened. Its cognates in Indian languages are ‘itivrtta, upakhyana, gatha’ and ‘purana’. That these words are close