Original sources vital for history, says expert

Historian and former Professor of History at the University of Hyderabad, Aloka Parasher-Sen, on Saturday emphasised the importance of returning to original sources and cautioned against interpretations based solely on earlier readings.

Delivering a lecture on “Ancient Indian History – Recent Researches and Interpretations”, organised by the Department of History, Andhra Loyola College, she explained the value of multiple perspectives, the selective nature of memory and history, and the ways in which narratives of the past emerge through oral traditions, recovered evidence and later reconstructions.

She highlighted how nationalist and imperial viewpoints shape historical interpretations in different ways and called for openness to new readings, underscoring history as a dynamic and evolving discipline.

The programme was attended by the college Correspondent Fr. Rex Angelo, Principal Fr. Melchior, Vice-Principal Fr. Kiran, Dean Baby Rani, B. Kalyani, student coordinator Nomitha Reddy, and faculty members and students of the Department of History.