Historian dead

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7. The noted historian and former Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), Prof. Ravindra Kumar, died here on Friday after a brief illness. He was 68. He is survived by two daughters.

Known for his pioneering work on the social consequences of colonial rule in India, he is much acclaimed for his essays on the Rowlatt Satyagraha and on the politics in the city of Bombay in the 1920s and '30s. He is also remembered for his work as editor of documents relating to events in 1947 for a volume in the ``Towards Freedom'' series. Prof. Kumar was the Director of NMML for 17 years during which time he set up the Centre for Contemporary Studies and turned it into a major research centre. He has also been the Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research.

The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, has condoled his death. ``The sudden and tragic death of Prof.Kumar has deprived the country of one of the foremost historians who provided valuable insights into the understanding of contemporary events and forces at work,'' she said in her message.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Measures to improve mental health
Next     : PM to visit Mumbai today