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Top 10 Facts About Ram Sharan Sharma

He was born on November 26, 1919, he was an Indian Marxist historian and Indologist known for specializing in the history of Ancient and Early Medieval India. Over his entire career, he has authored 115 books which have been published in fifteen languages. Ram headed numerous History departments at different universities each of which he made significant changes.

Readers as well as other historians have described Ram as a man who sheds light on the origins and growth of civilizations, and religions. His entire career revolved around the exploration of social and economic aspects of ancient India. Here are some of the incredible facts about Ram Sharma.

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1. His Eventful Early Life 

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Ram joined Patna College where he studied for six years. He later did his Ph.D. at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the  University of London. His thesis on the history of Sudras in Ancient India. It was published as a book in 1958 and the revised edition in 1990. From 1958 to 1973, Ram was the head of the Department of History at Patna University.

2. He Was Associated With Famous People

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Ram was associated with Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha who is a social reformer and journalist. His connection with Sinha strengthened his ties with the left movement and broadened Ram’s mental horizon.

During his youth, Ram was associated with leaders such as Karyanand Sharma and Sahajanand Saraswati as well as scholars like Rahul Sankrityayan. Many of his fans believe that his determination to fight for social justice came from the influence of these people.

Even in his later years, Ram became one of the Indian intellectuals who wanted historians to realize that history had important lessons for present leaders and citizens.

3. His Successful Career

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From 1973 to 1978, Ram was the professor and dean of the History Department at Delhi University.  In 1969, He was also the founding chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research from 1972 to 1977. Ram was a visiting professor of history at the University of Toronto in 1965 and 1966. 

From 1973 to 1978, Ram became the deputy-chairperson of UNESCO’s International Association for Study of Central Asia. He was also an important member of the National Commission of History of Sciences.

4. He had Numerous Accolades

Ram got the Jawaharlal Fellowship in 1969. He was also a visiting fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies. With his experience in History studies, Ram got the Campbell Memorial Gold Medal in 1983 from the Asiatic Society for Bombay. He has been the recipient of the K.P. Jayaswal Fellowship and was invited to receive Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri.

In 1989, Ram was the recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award. He was also the president of the editorial group of the scholastic magazine Social Science Probings.

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5. His Works Has Earned Him Great Fame

Ram has published 115 books each of which has been translated into many Indian languages even if they have been written in Hindi and English. Some of his works have been translated into many foreign languages like Japanese, Russian, French, and many more. His contribution to Indian history was widely recognized while his research on the ancient period was highly regarded. His scholarship has led to the growth of the Indian history department and has been acknowledged for generations to come.

6. He Made Institutional Changes

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While he worked at Patna University, he made drastic changes to its syllabi and made an imperialist historiographical legacy of the colonial period. Many have given him credit for activating the history department by initiating many academic programs. 

In Delhi, Ram spent a smaller part of his career developing the Department of History at Delhi University. He made great efforts to convert the history department into a greatly functioning division.

7. He had a Unique Writing Style

His works revolved around early Indian social structure as well as material and economic life. He studied these aspects of Ancient Indian History and brought on the elements of change and continuity. His studies have generated a lot of historical literature over the years. He is a prominent historian whose work was greatly praised and well-received among various communities around the world.

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8. Some of His Major Works

Over the course of his career, Ram has been able to publish numerous successful works such as Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India, Sudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order Down to Circa, Urban Decay in India, and India’s Ancient Past. 

His book Looking for the Aryans is based on the original inhabitants of India in which their Harappa culture was their creation.

9. He Faced Political Controversies

In 1977, Ram’s book Ancient India was banned. The ban was later withdrawn by Congress in 1980. He decided to write a revised version of the book and tried to incorporate new facts based on new archaeological findings.

10. Sharma’s Legacy Among Other Historians

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After his death, famous historians Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib, D. N. Jha, and Satish Chandra paid tribute to Ram at a function organized by the Indian Council of Historical Research. They each shared the influence Ram had on their work and career. Professor Bipan Chandra labeled him as the greatest historian of India. 

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Ram has been able to influence other historians with his books and his take on some of the social issues as well as the changes people should make to differentiate the past and the present. His works brought on questions that led to a lot of authored history books. He has not only inspired young authors but also aspiring history authors that have gained an interest in his writing style and ideas. His influence in the world of history has brought on changes in history departments in a number of universities.