Sushil Kumar (scholar)

Dr Sushil Kumar is a nationalist scholar, an Educationist, Motivator and a military Historian of India. He figures in the list of anti corruption crusaders of India. He single handedly fought of once rampant corruption in Indian Council of Historical Research(ICHR). He brought in efficiency in the Organization n cleared dirty and lazy stables and faced the Honorary appointee Chairmen of ICHR even at the cost of his career and reputation. Finally his stand was vindicated and the ICHR was reviewed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for smoother and efficient functioning.He is a notary of world peace. In the said pursuit Kumarinaugurated The World Peace Congress at Bangalore, India.^[1] postulating upon the need for peaceful co existence and disarmament in the world.

A distinguished scholar and a former Officer of the Armed Forces of India Kumar had taught Military history and researched in war and Peace Studies. A product of DAV Colleges of Amritsar and Jullundur he studied International Law and History in the Center for International Politics, Organizations and Disarmament, School of International Studies, JNU under the guidance of Professor Mohammad Zuberi. Kumar holds a high a place among the respected apolitical Historians of India. He has continued in the forte of Educational Administration, Social restructuring and Military History.

In December 2000 Kumar's name had figured in all the Indian Newspapers for his alleged official views as the Director Indian Council of Historical Research upon Babri Masjid controversy. The Scholar issued statement of clarification to quell the controversy which was carried by The Asian Age.

Kumar, had to bear the brunt for the statement mischievously ascribed to him. Some termed Kumar as a Congress Party man while others linked his name with BJP while some called him a Communist and some linked him with Smajwadi Party. Kumar remained apolitical and cool in the raked up controversy which settled of its own. The news of action against him http://www.thehindu.com/2000/12/24/stories/0224000p.htm. was much ado about nothing. He continued relentlessly to improve the Institution and brought in many reformations. He opened the doors of the Institution to transparency and made all functionaries accountable for their actions.

Besides his excellence in academics Kumar had shared protege relations with Late Mrs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Rajesh Pilot. Kumar had also been a close confidante of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee then the External Affairs Minister, whom he saved from an unruly mob, sustaining even personal injuries at Raj Path during a violent agitation- protest against Sanjay Chopra/ Geeta Chopra murder case. The scholar shared closeness with even the Samajwadi Leader of India Shri Mulayam Singh and was a guest during the wedding of Akhilesh Yadav in 1998. His Social, Spiritual and personal contacts included Shri Yogi Adiya Nath- present Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Shri Anath Kumar of Karnataka amongst hosts of others while he was Director at ICHR.

Kumar has his origin and roots in the State of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal which he often describes as his mother-states. The Land of Haryana is rich in History but historical research or dissemination thereof, according to Kumar is neglected thereat. Kumar chose a parcel of Land in 1989 as the place for his permanent residence cum the place for The Center for Historical Research where he would reside after his retirement from the Services of the Union of India and would carry out the Historical Research along with avid scholars interested in the Indian Culture in the tranquility of Shivalik Foothills in Village Naggal Sodian, Tehsil Kalka, District Ambala, Haryana. On 15 August 1995, when the new district of Panchkula was carved out of the District of Ambala, his piece of registered residential land in village Naggal Sodian came in the new district of Panchkula. In 1995, itself Kumar laid the foundation for the Centre for Historical Research. Dr Kumar's avowed aim has been to better the Education System in India, improve the research methodologies and spread Indian Culture and inculcate the values of education. His silent ground level endeavours have been helping the common citizens and students.

Kumar is an alumnus of JNU, New Delhi Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.^[2] He is also alumnus of GNDU, AmritsarGuru Nanak Dev University (Distinguished Alumni). He had studied for Law in Agra University, Agra University. He completed his MSc Defence Studies from Madras University Madras University. Kumar had won Gold Medal and Silver Medals for his academic distinctions. He topped the Punjab University in BA Honours in History and topped the Guru Nanak University in MA Previous prior to joining IAF.

A soldier-scholar, Kumar has been espousing that history needs to be constantly researched and preserved by the common man, irrespective of his letters. History, he espouses ought to be didactic, and carried forward because it is the memory of the society. An unconventional approach to History and making the historian out of a common man has earned Kumar a large following.

Sushil Kumar (Scholar) has written columns for The Indian Express, New Delhi http://www.indianexpress.com/news/soldiers-were-the-heroes-of-1857/29684/, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-forgotten-harbingers-of-1857/32777/.

In one of his radio interviews, broadcast on Republic Day, Kumar exhorted the soldiers and officers of the Armed Forces, to keep books in trenches, ships and in cockpits, for a successful transition to a second career in "civvy street".

Publications

Sushil Kumar has authored articles and Books such as "Surrender of Japan", Nuclear Strategy for Third World Countries with focus on India, China and Pakistan, Philosophy of History, Pokhran Revisited, Rock Art: The Product of Human Imagination and Imaginable Achievements, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Yudh Hote Hi Rahenge. Why Tinker With History? Soldiers were the Heroes of 1857, The forgotten Harbingers of 1857 etc.

References