The birth centenary of one of India's foremost historians and teacher of history at Calcutta's Presidency College for 24 years, Sushobhan Sarkar was observed in December last year. Sarkar's contributions to the study of Indian history and its historiography remain of enduring significance - especially his writings on what after him, came to be called the Bengal Renaissance. Though a Marxist historian, Sarkar never flinched from criticising aspects of Marxism that disturbed him, as seen in his assessment of Joseph Stalin and his protest over the Soviet military occupation of Prague. The best way to pay tribute, the author feels, is to fight for democratisation in Marxism and in history writing.
