[Reader-list] Fwd: Romila Thapar

[Rana Dasgupta]

>Some of you may be aware that Dr Romila Thapar, one of India's most 
>distinguished historians, was recently appointed as the the first 
holder 
>of the Kluge Chair in Countries and Cultures of the South at the US 
>Library of Congress.
>
>Unfortunately, this appointment was the subject of a vicious online 
>petition against Dr Thapar and the Library of Congress. That petition 
is 
>at http://www.petitiononline.com/108india/petition.html. The 
petitioners 
>level a number of false accusations against Dr Thapar, including this: 
"In
>regards to India, she is an avowed antagonist of India's Hindu 
>civilization. As a well-known Marxist, she represents a completely 
>Euro-centric world view. I fail to see how she can be the correct 
choice 
>to represent India's ancient  history and civilization. She completely 
>disavows that India ever had a history."
>
>As you know, this is totally untrue. I have prepared a 
counter-petition 
>which is at
>http://www.petitiononline.com/thapar/petition.html
>
>May I trouble you for a few minutes of your time to sign my petition 
in 
>support of Dr Thapar and the Library of Congress?
>
>Thank you.
>
>With warm regards,
>Gautam Patel