Indian History Congress (IHC)

Indian History Congress (IHC)

Why it matters? 

  • NCERT’s new Partition Horrors Remembrance Day modules blame Jinnah, Congress, and Mountbatten for Partition. The Indian History Congress condemned them as “distorted, communalized history,” ignoring Britain’s divide-and-rule policy and omitting Muslim suffering.  

What you should know? 

  • In 1935, an All-India Congress was organised by the Bharata Itihasa Samshodhaka Mandala (BISM) to celebrate its silver jubilee. The event resulted in the inception of the IHC. 

  • The IHC stands as the largest association of professional historians in South Asia.  

  • With approximately 35,000 members, over 2,000 delegates actively participate in its sessions annually.  

  • Since its inception, the IHC has consistently organised sessions and published proceedings each year.  

  • The primary objective of the IHC is to advance the cause of secular and scientific historiography. 

  • The body also passes resolutions on issues related to history writing, textbook content, education policy, and preservation of archives.  

  • In 1946, it petitioned the government to allow researchers access to archives. 

  • It also began to engage with the history taught in schools and colleges and in 1948, it resolved to contribute to the syllabi in universities and colleges across the country.