Noted historian Bipan Chandra dies at the age of 86

GURGAON: Noted historian Bipan Chandra died today at his residence here after prolonged illness. He was 86.

"He had not been keeping well since last few months. He passed away at 6 AM this morning," his family said.

A Padma Bhushan awardee, Chandra had donned multiple roles including that of Chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Chairman of the National Book Trust.

Considered to be a specialist in economic and political history of India, Chandra had authored several books including The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism, In the Name of Democracy: The JP Movement and the Emergency, Nationalism and Colonialism in Modern India and The Making of Modern India: From Marx to Gandhi, among others.

The left leaning author had founded the journal 'Enquiry' and was a member of its editorial board for a long time.

Born in 1928 in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, Chandra studied at the Forman Christian College, Lahore, Stanford University, United States and University of Delhi.

He worked as the Reader at Hindu College of Delhi University and then became the professor of History at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Chandra's text books on History was taught in schools in the country for a long time.

Chandra, who served as Sectional President and then the General President of the Indian History Congress in 1985, was also awarded 'Itihas Ratna' on his 86th birthday, by the Asiatic Society of Bihar.

A number of leaders and scholars expressed grief over the demise of the historian.