The Importance of History
The other day I was reading a book by Abraham Eraly, "The Mughal Throne". It gives an interesting account of the Mughal arrival and expansion in the subcontinent. It's very well written in that it has the advantage of an enlightened interpreter in Mr. Eraly. After reading the book, I asked myself a question - does the study of history serve any purpose? By studying human development over ages, people have tried to figure out the workings of history. Some have undermined its value for posterity. For some, the study of history warrants attention if it proffers the knowledge of the future course of events. If you look at the past generations with the eyes of the present, you notice human progress sometimes slows to a crawl and generations stagnate in the pits of time. But, after tarrying for ages, man takes a giant leap. Certain props that suit his present are accepted and those that grow heavy discarded. Then, follow the periods of assimilation and inward testing. When a...