Makrand Mehta
Makrand Mehta (born 25 May 1931) is a social and business historian from Gujarat, India.
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
- 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.
- "Historian Makrand Mehta felicitated". The Times of India. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- Mahurkar, Uday (1988-05-31). "Research paper on Swaminarayan Sect triggers off controversy". India Today. Retrieved 2019-10-21.