‘Eminent Distorians’ Is Not A Neutral History; It’s A Counter-narrative With A Mission

Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat’s History. Utpal Kumar. BluOne Ink. Pages 335. Rs 799.

Utpal Kumar’s new book, Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat’s History, is a bold, provocative, and meticulously argued critique of India’s post-colonial historiography.

Published in January 2025, this book takes aim at a deliberate distortion of Bharat’s past by a select group of influential historians driven by ideological biases, political pressures, and a tendency toward subjectivism, sycophancy, and negationism.

With a sharp pen and an unflinching gaze, Kumar seeks to peel back layers of narrative manipulation to reveal a suppressed history that he believes has been sidelined for far too long.

The book’s central thesis is compelling: the transfer of power in 1947 didn’t just mark India’s independence from British rule but also ushered in a transfer of agency in historical storytelling. According to Kumar, this agency fell into the hands of a clique of historians—names like Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib, and Bipan Chandra loom large—who shaped India’s past to fit a Marxist, Left-leaning framework. This resulted in a selective retelling that downplayed indigenous resilience and achievements while overemphasising external influences and portraying India’s historical trajectory as one of stagnation until “enlightened” foreign ideas arrived.

Kumar’s critique is not just academic; it’s personal and passionate, reflecting a deep frustration with how history has been wielded as a tool to serve political ends rather than truth.

Kumar organises his arguments into thematic chapters, each tackling a specific aspect of historical distortion. For instance, he dedicates significant space to the portrayal of Islamic invasions, arguing that the “eminent distorians” minimised the cultural assaults and iconoclasm of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods, framing them instead as commercially driven episodes. He contrasts this with the resilience of Hindu society, spotlighting the Vijayanagar Empire as an underappreciated bulwark against Islamic expansion—a point he feels has been deliberately overlooked.

Chapter 6, “The M Factor: Evaluating the Contributions of the So-called Mughals and Marathas,” is particularly striking, challenging the lionisation of Mughal rule while downsizing the Marathas’ role in shaping modern India.

Kumar’s writing is incisive and gripping, often laced with a dry wit that keeps the reader engaged despite the dense subject matter. His use of primary sources, oral traditions, and archaeological evidence—like references to findings at Ram Janmabhoomi—lends credence to his claims. The book shines brightest when it deconstructs specific historiographical fallacies, such as the alleged Marxist lens applied to ancient texts or the sidelining of native resistance to foreign rule.

One of the book’s most valuable contributions is its call to rethink how history shapes identity. Kumar argues that the patterns emphasised by these “distorians” have become mental models that influence not just academia but public perception, education, and policy.

He’s at his most persuasive when he connects this to contemporary issues, urging readers to reclaim a more balanced understanding of Bharat’s past. However, critics might argue that Kumar’s own perspective leans heavily toward a nationalist lens, potentially mirroring the ideological slant he condemns.

In the end, Eminent Distorians is not a neutral history—it’s a counter-narrative with a mission. It’s a must-read for anyone disillusioned with sanitised textbooks or curious about the politics of history-writing in India.

While it won’t settle the debate, it certainly reignites it with fervour and flair. Whether you agree with Kumar’s conclusions or not, his work demands attention, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable questions about truth, power, and the stories we tell ourselves about the past.

The reviewer is an economist and a socio-political observer. Views expressed are personal.