Makrand Mehta

Makrand Mehta (born 25 May 1931) is a social and business historian from Gujarat, India.

Makarand Mehta; in January 2020

Biography

Makrand Mehta was born on 25 May 1931 at Ahmedabad in a Nagar Brahmin family.[1]

He studied at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, University of Pennsylvania and Gujarat University.[2]

He headed the Department of History at the School of Sciences, Gujarat University before retirement. He is associated with several organisations including Gujarat Itihas Parishad, Gujarat Vidyasabha and Darshak Itihas Nidhi.[2]

Works

Mehta has written more than 20 books in English and Gujarati. He has also published several papers on social and economic history.[2]

His selected works are:[2]

  • The Ahmedabad Cotton Textile Industry : Genesis and Growth
  • Urbanization in Western India : A Historical Perspective
  • Business Houses in Western India : A Study in Entrepreneurial Response 1850-1956 (co-author)
  • Regional Roots of Indian Nationalism
  • Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective: with Special Reference to Shroffs of Gujarat, 17th to 19th Centuries
  • Merchants and ports of Gujarat
  • History of International Trade and Customs Duties in Gujarat
  • Gujarat-no Rajwadi Warso (Gujarati)
  • Gujarat Ane Dariyo (Gujarati)
  • Kasturbhai Lalbhai (Gujarati)
  • Gujaratna Ghadvaiya: Swavikas ni Prayogshala (Gujarati)
  • Itihas, Samaj ane Sahityama Gujarat (Gujarati)
  • Hindu Varnavyavastha, Samaj Parivartan Ane Gujaratna Dalito (Gujarati)

Reception

Mehta published a research paper titled Sectarian literature and Social Consciousness - A study of the Swaminarayan sect 1800-1840 in December 1986 in Arhat. It triggered a controversy among the followers of Swaminarayan Sampraday. In it, Mehta has contended that Sahajanand, who is believed to be an incarnation of Krishna by his followers, was only a social reformer who conspired with his followers to project himself as a god. He had also argued that the sect had done nothing for poor. In 1988, the followers of the sect received a permission from the government of Gujarat to lodge a case against him under section 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of Indian Penal Code.[3]

Personal life

He has married a historian Shirin Mehta.[2]

See also

References
  1. Shukla, Jaykumar R. (2013). Arvācīna Itihāsakāro ane Temanuṃ Itihāsalekhana અર્વાચિન ઇતિહાસકારો અને તેમનુ ઇતિહાસલેખન [Modern Historians and Their History Writings] (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Gurjar Grantharatna Karyalay. pp. 151–155. ISBN 9788184809558.
  2. "Historian Makrand Mehta felicitated". The Times of India. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  3. Mahurkar, Uday (1988-05-31). "Research paper on Swaminarayan Sect triggers off controversy". India Today. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
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