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8 September 2024 (Google translation from Gujarati, language error is possible)
Makarand Mehta, a leading historian of Gujarat, breathed his last on 1 September at the age of 93. The evening before his death, he was finalizing his book “World Heritage City Ahmedabad and Its Half”. He enjoyed his life to the fullest. I live to write and write to live. That’s what he was saying. Mehta stuck to the writing style till the last breath of his life and worked 12 hours a day to complete each of his projects.
Makarand Mehta’s writings about the Gujarati business community and prominent traders as well as their influence on the social, cultural and economic life of Gujarat during different periods are famous among historians.
Makarand Mehta presented a research paper titled “Communal Literature and Social Consciousness: A Study of Swaminarayan Sampradaya 1800-1840”. Image source: Rizwan Qadri
Image caption Makarand Mehta also presented a research paper on Swaminarayan Sampradaya
However, in the late 1980s, an article written by him on Swaminarayan Sampradaya created controversy in the civil society and politics of Gujarat.
He presented a research paper titled ‘Communal Literature and Social Consciousness: A Study of Swaminarayan Sampradaya 1800-1840’ to social scientists and historians at a seminar in early 1986.
A social science journal named ‘Arthat’ published this research paper in its October-December issue.
The article stated that Swaminarayana was considered an incarnation of Lord Krishna by his followers. However, he was only a social reformer and conspired with his followers to portray himself as God.
The article was based on archival documents and was thoroughly analysed. However, two devotees of the sect wrote a note criticising the article and calling Makarand Mehta’s article rubbish. The newspaper also highlighted the reaction.
Some devotees felt that their religious sentiments were hurt by this article. This led to the devotees scolding the author a lot. Some devotees also threatened the author and editors of the pamphlet. These devotees approached the Gujarat government to take the matter to court.
The Gujarat government allowed the author, editor of the pamphlet to sue the publisher and took legal action. Hundreds of scholars at that time protested against the government and supported the author and publisher.
However, this chapter also warned the academics of Gujarat to be wary of powerful interests.
Makarand Mehta was born on 25 May 1931 in Ahmedabad in a Nagar Brahmin family.
Dalits
Makarand Mehta wrote a series of articles on the condition of Dalits in Gujarat, the practice of untouchability and discrimination in ordinary life, and the struggle of Dalits against the so-called upper castes. Makarand Mehta wrote a series of articles on the condition of Dalits in Gujarat. Makarand Mehta wrote a series of articles on the condition of Dalits in Gujarat, the practice of untouchability and discrimination in common life and the struggle of Dalits against the so-called upper castes since the end of the 19th century.
Published under the title ‘The Hindu Varna System of Social Change and the Dalits of Gujarat’.
Based on several sources, it reveals how systematically and diplomatically the upper caste Hindus exploited the Dalits and how strongly the Dalits agitated against it.
An important book for understanding Dalit and so-called upper caste politics in Gujarat.
The last essay was given on “Society and Consciousness in Medieval Gujarat”.
Qualifications
He was a professor at Gujarat University and M.S. University of Vadodara. He was Emeritus Professor in the University. Makarand Mehta was previously associated with the Delhi-based Shriram Institute of Business History, Punishit Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, IIM Ahmedabad and University of Pennsylvania, USA. He was the President of the Modern Indian History Section of the Indian History Congress and Gujarat History Congress.
He has studied at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, University of Pennsylvania and Gujarat University.
Before his retirement, he headed the Department of History at the School of Sciences of Gujarat University. He is associated with several organisations including Gujarat Itihas Parishad, Gujarat Vidyasabha and Darshak Itihas Nidhi.
Books
Makarand Mehta was a prolific writer. He wrote more than 20 books, hundreds of articles and hundreds of newspaper columns.
Before the so-called modernity and British rule, Gujarati poets and writers were working on issues such as devotional literature and worldly materialism.
Makarand Mehta’s books on medieval and modern history along with Dwijendra Tripathi are the most famous.
His books, ‘Nagarsheths of Ahmedabad: History of Urban Institutions in Gujarat’ (1978) and ‘Class Character of Gujarati Business Community’ (1984) are academic.
This study emphasizes the social character of Gujarati businessmen as compared to the character of the Western merchant class.
This character is also above the boundaries of religion and caste. This study shows that during the 18th century, when local residents were worried about the decline of Mudhal rule, the merchant class took upon itself the responsibility for public welfare.
Some historians have based this analysis on the practice of Nagarsheth in urban Gujarat while others have speculated on the rise of
Makarand Mehta’s other books include ‘The Ahmedabad Cotton Textile Industry’ (1984) and ‘The Historical Significance of Indian Merchants, Particularly the Shroffs (Bankers) of Gujarat, 17th to 19th Centuries’. These books are very important for understanding the economic development and social history of the state. Apart from this, books like Gujarat Ki Ghadvaiya and Mahajano Ki Yashagatha are important to know about the business community of Gujarat.
The series was based on narratives, personal diaries, newspaper reports and archival material.
He did a lot of research on the history of Ahmedabad. His Ph.D. thesis titled ‘Ahmedabad Cotton Textile Industry: Genesis and Growth’ was published in 1991.
‘Urbanisation: A Historical Perspective, Business Houses in Western India: A Study in Entrepreneurial Response 1850-1956’ (co-authored). He has written historical texts such as ‘Regional Roots of Indian Nationalism, Merchants and Ports’, ‘Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective: With Special Reference to Shroffs of Gujarat, (17 to 19 Century)’, ‘Merchants and Ports of Gujarat’, ‘History of Int Channel Trade and Customs in Gujarat’, ‘Royal Heritage of Gujarat (Gujarati)’ etc. Apart from this, he has written many research articles on Ahmedabad such as ‘Mill Workers in the Hind Quito Movement’, ‘Women’s Magazines before the Gandhi Era’, ‘Ahmedabad Ladies Club’, ‘Dr. Ambedkar’s Ahmedabad Visit’, ‘Two Cities before Ahmedabad: Ashapalli and Karnavati’, ‘History of the Pit’ over the years. He wrote the book ‘Gujaratis in East Africa: In Search of Gujaratiness’ with the financial support of ‘Darshak Itihasnidhi Sanstha’. Thus he is an expert researcher in diaspora historiography. This book of his is considered important in diaspora history. Through this book, he opened a new field of historical research called Pravasi Itihas. Makarand Mehta firmly believed that Salwari and Bhakti are not subjects that can be ignored. In the true sense, history is a laboratory of human experiences in which human achievements and mistakes should be recorded. If Gujarat’s history has to be taken forward, then there is a need to do fresh research on history keeping in mind its ideological structure. The number of books and articles is not important, but quality is more important. Therefore, historians need to reach out to the common man as well as scholars. He made the socio-economic history of Gujarat a special field of research and established the historiography of Gujarat at the international level. The use of diverse materials in history writing, field work, revelations and presentation in simple language was special in Dr. Makarand Mehta’s history writing. A Critical Work
The Ahmedabad Cotton Textile Industry: Origin and Growth
Urbanisation: A Historical Perspective
Business Houses in Western India: A Study in Entrepreneurial Response 1850-1956 (co-author)
Regional Roots of Indian Nationalism
Merchants and Ports
Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective: With Special Reference to the Shroffs of Gujarat, (17th to 19th Centuries)
Merchants and Ports of Gujarat
History of International Trade and Customs in Gujarat
The Princely Heritage of Gujarat (Gujarati)
Gujarat and the Sea (Gujarati)
Kasturbhai Lalbhai (Gujarati)
Makers of Gujarat: A Laboratory of Self-Development (Gujarati)
History, Society and Literature of Gujarat (Gujarati)
Hindu Narratives, Social Change and Dalits of Gujarat (Gujarati)
Personal Life
He is married to historian Shirin Mehta. (Google translation from Gujarati, language error is possible)
