India and the legacy of British Orientalism, the shift of Indian historical narratives since Independence
Abstract
Throughout the expansion and dominance of the British Raj in India, British Orientalist schools of academics produced the majority of the scholarship on Indian history that is both taught in schools and referenced in further historical research. However, these Academics came from a strictly colonial tradition and their political and personal biases bled deeply into their text, resulting in their writings misunderstanding many aspects of Indian history, grossly oversimplifying, and being often used to justify British Colonial rule. Since Independence Indian scholars have been rewriting these flawed historical narratives to rectify the issues as well as write it in their own languages for the Indian peoples to read. While researching this process in historical narratives I worked with Dr. Al-Amad from ETSU to research the nature and shortcomings within British Oriental studies as well as well as Dr. Nishant from Podar College in Nawalgarh during my time at the ETSU Destination Nawalgarh study abroad program. As a result of these studies, I have learned about an interesting and changing field in historiography and believe the process and work done by Indian historians since the colonial era prompts a greater conversation about bias and flaws within older historical narratives and what can be done to go about fixing those issues.
Start Time
15-4-2026 2:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 3:30 PM
Room Number
252
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
UG Orals
Presentation Category
Arts and Humanities
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Jennifer Adler
India and the legacy of British Orientalism, the shift of Indian historical narratives since Independence
252
Throughout the expansion and dominance of the British Raj in India, British Orientalist schools of academics produced the majority of the scholarship on Indian history that is both taught in schools and referenced in further historical research. However, these Academics came from a strictly colonial tradition and their political and personal biases bled deeply into their text, resulting in their writings misunderstanding many aspects of Indian history, grossly oversimplifying, and being often used to justify British Colonial rule. Since Independence Indian scholars have been rewriting these flawed historical narratives to rectify the issues as well as write it in their own languages for the Indian peoples to read. While researching this process in historical narratives I worked with Dr. Al-Amad from ETSU to research the nature and shortcomings within British Oriental studies as well as well as Dr. Nishant from Podar College in Nawalgarh during my time at the ETSU Destination Nawalgarh study abroad program. As a result of these studies, I have learned about an interesting and changing field in historiography and believe the process and work done by Indian historians since the colonial era prompts a greater conversation about bias and flaws within older historical narratives and what can be done to go about fixing those issues.
