India@2047 Summit: Vikram Sampath Questions Historical Narratives, Calls for Reclaiming Civilizational Identity

At the india@2047 summit hosted by ABP Network, historian Vikram Sampath delivered a thought-provoking address questioning India’s post-Independence historical narratives. Emphasizing the need to revisit and reassess the nation's past, Sampath stated that the colonizers not only ruled India politically but also shaped its historical consciousness by portraying India as a fragmented, regressive civilization. He argued that even after independence, successive regimes failed to correct this narrative due to ideological biases, particularly those influenced by Marxist historians.Citing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words, Sampath stressed the importance of viewing India as a “living nation,” and said reclaiming its civilizational ethos is key to achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047. He raised concerns over how India’s ancient knowledge systems, achievements, and spiritual foundations were systematically undermined, not just by colonial powers but also post-1947 intellectual establishments.Responding to criticisms of being a “nationalist historian,” Sampath said historical reinterpretation is essential in any evolving democracy and should be driven by evidence, not ideology. He called for a culture of scholarly debate, not suppression, and highlighted the curiosity among youth as a driving force behind independent research efforts that challenge long-held narratives.