Meenakshi Jain's nomination to RS places India’s rich cultural heritage at the heart of public discourse: Amit Malviya

Noted Historian Dr. Meenakshi Jain

BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya said Dr. Meenakshi Jain's Meenakshi Jain is a central voice in contemporary Indian historiography, advocating for alternative perspectives on India’s religious and cultural past and her nomination to Rajya Sabha places India’s rich cultural heritage at the heart of public discourse.

Noted historian and academic Dr Meenakshi Jain has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President Droupadi Murmu, along with three other distinguished individuals, in a move recognising exemplary contributions to public life, diplomacy, legal service, and scholarship.

The other newly nominated members include public prosecutor Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, former foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Kerala-based social worker and educationist C Sadanandan Master, ANI reported.

Meenakshi Jain, known for her rigorous academic work on Indian civilisation, religion, and politics, has authored several critical texts challenging dominant historical narratives. Her appointment is viewed as a step towards recognising Indian scholarship rooted in indigenous perspectives.

"Her notable works include: •Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries, & the Changing Colonial Discourse (2016) — examines the British colonial narrative on Sati.
•Rama and Ayodhya (2013) & The Battle for Rama (2017) — scholarly defenses supporting the historical context of the Ayodhya temple. •Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples (2019); Parallel Pathways on Hindu–Muslim relations; numerous works on Mathura, Kashi, and indigenous Indian education. Awarded Padma Shri in 2020 for her contributions to literature and education, she has made immense contribution to reclaim indigenous narratives. Her textbooks, such as Medieval India for NCERT (2002), replaced earlier editions by left-leaning historians," tweeted Malviya.