Makrand Mehta
Makrand Mehta (25 May 1931 – 1 September 2024) was an Indian social and business historian from Gujarat.
Biography
[edit]Makrand Mehta was born on 25 May 1931 at Ahmedabad into 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 was associated with several organisations including Gujarat Itihas Parishad, Gujarat Vidyasabha and Darshak Itihas Nidhi.[2]
Makrand Mehta was married to historian Shirin Mehta.[2] He died from dengue in Ahmedabad, on 1 September 2024, at the age of 93.[3]
Works
[edit]Mehta wrote more than 25 books in English and Gujarati. He also published several papers on social and economic history. His last book Business Culture of Gujarat was published by Zen Opus, Ahmedabad, in December 2023.[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)
- Sanstha Sthapan Ane Samaj Parivartan (Gujarati)
Reception
[edit]Mehta published a research paper titled Sectarian literature and Social Consciousness - A study of the Swaminarayan sect 1800-1840 in December 1986 in Arthat. 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.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e "Historian Makrand Mehta felicitated". The Times of India. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Historian Makrand Mehta, 93, passes away in Ahmedabad
- ^ Mahurkar, Uday (31 May 1988). "Research paper on Swaminarayan Sect triggers off controversy". India Today. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
- 1931 births
- 2024 deaths
- People from Ahmedabad
- 20th-century Indian historians
- Indian business writers
- Indian social sciences writers
- Gujarat University alumni
- Academic staff of Gujarat University
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda alumni
- University of Pennsylvania alumni
- Gujarati-language writers
- English-language writers from India
- Deaths from dengue fever