The Book: MANAGING HISTORY – FACTS, FICTIONS AND LEGENDS

 

 

Synopsis:

 

History covers facts, fictions and legends at different levels of comprehension. Facts are derived from archives and documents in circulation. Fictions have their origins in the imagination of the compilers with connectivity in considerations. Legends have their base on stories that are in circulation in the society. Fictions fill up the gap where the historians find it difficult to connect the facts. Legends do offer support in comprehension when facts and fictions are considered not up to mark to capture the imagination of the readers.

The basic objective with the historians is to relate the past happenings with the present environment and extend the same to future for likely repercussions.

The historical narratives are made to revolve around people, situations and circumstances. The excellence in historical accounting depends on how effectively the imperatives are balanced.

This is how the objective is set for the historians to follow through.

Once this is done, the episodes involving people, situations and circumstances are identified to make the narratives comprehensive, connected and authentic to a reasonable degree of accuracy. This is what is involved in managing history, when the elements of accountability are taken care of.

This calls for focus on the phenomenon of ‘cause and effect’.

Further, the dynamics of managing history take care of not only the main events, but also the peripherals.

History, in the present formats, does not deal adequately with ‘unsung heroes’ of some consequence, voices of the ‘vanquished’, and sufferings of the common people. 

The book on Managing History is set to highlight the tasks of historians more ‘management oriented’ rather than ‘narratives oriented’.