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“The Brickbats That Fall on the Writer Are Immense”: Dr Vikram Sampath on Writing History in a Polarised Age
“Monochromatic” and “Whitewashed” Narratives Shape How India’s Past Is Understood: Dr Vikram Sampath
Contested Pasts: Why History in India Remains a Political Battleground
Bengaluru, 19 January 2026: As debates over history, memory, and narrative intensify in the public sphere, questions around how India’s past is written and interpreted are coming into focus. Historian and author Dr Vikram Sampath, known for his extensive work on Indian history and biography, joined media entrepreneur and author Shutapa Paul on the latest episode of the “What India Needs!” podcast to talk about the challenges of writing Indian history in an era marked by political polarisation.
The episode explored how historical writing in India has moved into the public and political arenas, adding complexity to the historian’s role. Recent debates around biographies and reinterpretations of historical figures have shown how attempts to revisit or humanise them can invite sharp reactions.
Reflecting on the present climate, Dr Sampath described modern history writing as risky terrain, noting that some historical personalities have become politically sacrosanct. “The brickbats that fall on the writer are immense,” he said, adding that “you don’t know where the bomb is going to burst on your face”.
Paul shared an African proverb to frame the central concern of the exchange: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
Challenging a Monochromatic View of History
A key focus was exploring what Dr Sampath described as a “monochromatic” and “whitewashed” understanding of India’s past. He argued against the idea of a single narrative, emphasising that history must accommodate different perspectives. Likening historical interpretation to the parable of blind men describing different parts of an elephant, he explained that no single account can claim absolute completeness.
The conversation also turned to the revolutionary tradition within India’s freedom movement. While Paul pointed out that “a lot of our freedom struggles are somewhat removed or much focused on Gandhi and Nehru”, Dr Sampath spoke of how an “unending trail of revolutionary struggle” deeply unsettled the British Raj and shaped colonial responses.
When History and Politics Intersect
Petitions written by imprisoned revolutionaries like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar to the British colonial government are often cited and debated as evidence of ideological compromise. Addressing these debates, Dr Sampath explained that such documents followed standard administrative formats. The language often resembled “a schoolchild writing impositions to a class teacher” because political prisoners had limited choices when addressing the colonial authorities.
Paul noted that such subjects often become “political hot potatoes” in public discourse, that “in the times we live in, everything becomes very political”.
Balancing Historical Trauma and Context
The episode also addressed the burden of historical memory and the need for honest engagement with difficult periods of the past. Dr Sampath referred to the Islamic conquests as “the bloodiest story of human history”, arguing that avoiding such discussions prevents meaningful understanding and reconciliation.
He suggested that India needs a process of truth and reconciliation to acknowledge historical trauma and past injustices without perpetuating contemporary blame. In Dr Sampath’s view, a truthful assessment of history is essential to prevent citizens from continuing to be burdened by what he described as the “albatross” of unresolved pasts.
He also touched upon history education, emphasising that history should not be taught for political comfort. As he put it, people “should not look up to these characters as their heroes” but instead study history to develop critical thinking and an awareness of the past.
Reclaiming India’s Historical Knowledge
In the final segment, Dr Sampath talked about his personal journey, recalling his decision to exit a decade-long corporate career and become a full-time historian. He spoke about facing a period of deep internal conflict, as he performed what he termed “inane” tasks like calculating the profit and loss of a US firm. Ultimately, it led him to choose passion over corporate security, a move that has allowed him to pursue what he described as “soul-actualisation” through his research and writing.
Today, Dr Sampath runs a for-profit technology venture and a non-profit research foundation. Describing himself as a perennial optimist and emphasising his commitment to reclaiming India’s knowledge sovereignty, Dr Sampath expressed that he intends to stay the course “till the very last ball of the match is played”.
The episode offers a candid and thought-provoking exploration of history, memory, and scholarship, shining a light on the responsibilities and risks of revisiting India’s past in the present moment.
Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/uX7AeWlspYk
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
About the “What India Needs!” Podcast
“What India Needs!” is a thought-provoking podcast dedicated to exploring key topics crucial to India’s development. Our mission is to delve into pressing issues, engage with experts and
thought leaders, and uncover actionable solutions for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Join us as we navigate the complexities of India’s growth, from policy and governance to technology and innovation, fostering informed discussions that inspire change and drive progress. To know more, check out our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@
About Shutapa Paul
The host of the “What India Needs!” podcast, Shutapa Paul, is an anchor, commentator, author, and media entrepreneur. After a successful career in journalism, she founded Dharma Media
Consultants, an award-winning brand-building and communications company. Her deep knowledge and experience in the investing, startup, and impact ecosystem have earned her numerous accolades, including being listed in Businessworld’s 40 Under 40 (PR & Corp Comm), Social Samosa’s 40 Under 40, and Agency Reporter’s 40 Under 40. She is also the recipient of Business World’s Excel Communications Personality of the Year award and ranks among LinkedIn’s “Top Voices”. With Shutapa Paul at the helm, the “What India Needs!” podcast promises to be a vibrant platform for discussing impactful ideas and insights.
About Dr Vikram Sampath
Bangalore-based historian Dr Vikram Sampath is the author of 10 acclaimed books on Indian history, including Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars, Voice of the Veena: S. Balachander, Women of the Records, and Indian Classical Music and the Gramophone. His two-volume biography Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past and Savarkar: A Contested Legacy, and his recent books, Bravehearts of Bharat: Vignettes from Indian History, and Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi have all gone on to become national bestsellers. His latest book, Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum (1760-1799), has been creating waves even before it hit the stands and in just a month of its publication, went on for a third reprint!
In 2021, Vikram was elected a fellow of the prestigious Royal Historical Society. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi’s first Yuva Puraskar in English literature and the ARSC International Award for excellence in historical research in New York for his book My Name Is Gauhar Jaan: The Life and Times of a Musician. The book has even been adapted for a play, Gauhar, by Lillette Dubey. He was among four writers and artists selected as writers-in-residence at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in 2015. Vikram has a doctorate in history and music from the University of Queensland, Australia, and was a senior research fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. He was also a fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, an Eisenhower Global Fellow, and a visiting fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin. Currently, he is an adjunct senior fellow at Monash University, Australia. He is the Founder of the Archive of Indian Music, the Foundation for Indian Historical and Cultural Research (FIHCR) that fosters new scholarship in Indian history, and NAAV AI, a tech startup that he established with Sandeep Singh Chauhan that translates content from English to Indian languages.
