Summary
1.
Colonial Approach
- What
it says:
- British
historians criticized Indian society and culture.
- They
praised Western culture and values.
- Examples:
- Historians
like James Mill and Vincent Smith followed
this approach.
2.
Nationalist Approach
- What
it says:
- It
was a response to the colonial approach.
- Before
independence, it focused on ancient and medieval India.
- After
independence, it focused on modern India.
- Examples:
- Historians
like R.C. Majumdar and Tara Chand belonged
to this school.
3.
Marxist Approach
- What
it says:
- Focuses
on the conflict between colonial rulers and Indian
people.
- Also
looks at conflicts between different groups in Indian society (like rich
vs poor).
- Examples:
- Historians
like R.P. Dutt and A.R. Desai followed
this approach.
4.
Subaltern Approach
- What
it says:
- Criticizes
older history for being elitist (focusing only on
rich/powerful people).
- Focuses
on the role of ordinary people (like farmers, workers,
lower castes).
- Examples:
- Ranajit
Guha was
a key historian of this school.
5.
Communalist Approach
- What
it says:
- Views
Hindus and Muslims as permanent enemies.
- Says
their interests were always in conflict.
- Impact:
- This
idea led to division and partition of India.
6.
Cambridge School
- What
it says:
- Indian
nationalism was not about fighting the British.
- It
was about Indians fighting each other for power and benefits from
the British.
- Criticism:
- It
ignores the ideals and sacrifices of Indian leaders and
people.
7.
Liberal and Neo-Liberal Interpretations
- What
it says:
- Colonialism
might have hurt Britain’s economy.
- Money
spent on colonies (like railways in India) could have been used to
develop new industries in Britain.
- Examples:
- Historians
like Patrick O’Brian, Hopkins, and Cain support this
view.
8.
Feminist Historiography
- What
it says:
- Focuses
on women’s history and how colonial laws affected women.
- Studies
issues like women being denied property rights and
resources.
- Examples:
- Important
works include Pandita Ramabai’s The High Caste Hindu
Woman and Katherine Mayo’s Mother India.
Key
Points to Remember:
- Each
approach has a different focus:
- Colonial: Praises
British, criticizes India.
- Nationalist: Focuses on
India’s struggle for freedom.
- Marxist: Looks at class
conflicts.
- Subaltern: Focuses on
ordinary people.
- Communalist: Divides history
by religion.
- Cambridge
School: Says
nationalism was about power, not ideals.
- Liberal/Neo-Liberal: Says
colonialism hurt Britain too.
- Feminist: Focuses on
women’s history and gender issues.