Village history project launched in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Jan 4 (UNI) The history project of Rajasthan's edcuation department ''Apani Dharti Apane Log'' was launched by BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh here today.

The former External Affairs Minister, while lauding the project warned against any kind of politicisation said and ''it is not just a history project as is being projected but study in social anthropology which will help enlighten the younger generation with the rich culture and tradition of their villages.'' The oppostion leader in the Rajya Sabha quoting Winsten Churchil said, ''the deeper and longer you look back, the farther you look forward'' and added the project would help generate a new awakening and momentum to for the development of the villages.

Speaking on the occassion Dr Gyan Prakash Pilania cautioned against painting all the English historians with the same brush and said Col James Todd has done a yeoman service to the state by popularising Rajasthan to the outside world. He said ''The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, written by col Todd is a master piece and the book details more of his experience in Rajasthan and of the royalty and advised the project should be seen detached from the late historian.

He said the chronicling of the history of the villages would go a long way in bringing to the fore true colours of the villages. He said ''the project will help unravel the forgotten facets of the villages to the younger generations''.

Mr Pilania scotching criticism of the project of ''saffornisation of history'' said ''it is not safforn but the ture colour of the villages will come out of the project''.

Speaking on the ocassion state Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari detailed the various aspects of the project which has invited criticism from some historians and the oppostion Congress. He said the project would compile the history of about 41000 villages and 186 towns with the services of 50,000 teacher volunteers collecting the various aspects of social life of the village from its foundation.

Soliciting the support of people from all walks of life, he said the facts collected by the teachers would be placed before the gram sabhas and state and district level committes of experts would guide the compilation of the facts. The project expected to be completed in a year would have more than 4.5 lakh pages and the books thus published will be the largest book written with more than 5 lakh pages.

UNI