Why the unsung heroes of the freedom struggle? This was the question posed by Dr. Sebastian Joseph, while delivering a special address on the “Role of unsung heroes of freedom struggle“ in connection with the Independence Day Festival Celebrations, 2016 at the Indian Rare Earths Ltd, Udyogamandal. When we look at the history of India’s struggle for independence it becomes obvious that a multitude of freedom fighters are not found in the columns of histories about the movement. This happens because of the paradigm of historical research and writing controlled and shaped in ways that are in consonance with the dominant ideologies of the times. To be specific, the role of the marginalised are neglected and so much is written about the elite segments about whom there is a lot of written evidences available for the historian. Significant changes in the history writing occurred when conceptions and perspectives about power politics and relations transformed, even though at a very later stage in independent India. He pointed to a series of forest sataygraha and protests led by the poor adivasis of India predating such interventions even form the Indian National Congress. Shri. S. Surya Kumar, Head, RED, presided over the meeting and Shri. G. Balasubramanian, DGM (HRM) welcomed the gathering.
