Amish Tripathi Calls for Decolonising Indian History During Pune Book Event

Pune, 3rd August 2026: Bestselling author Amish Tripathi on Saturday said India needs to “decolonise” the way its history is taught, arguing that many historical narratives continue to reflect colonial interpretations rather than an Indian perspective.

Tripathi was speaking at an exclusive book-signing event for his latest titles, Dhruv-Tara and The Great Indian History Quiz, at Solanki Booksellers in Pune Camp. The event attracted a large gathering of readers, history enthusiasts, and literature lovers, who interacted with the author and had their books personally signed.

During the event, Tripathi was felicitated with the traditional Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Pagadi by Altaf Shaikh, founder of Alratech Project. Mukesh Tanvi of India Book Distributor, Pune, was also present. Kanhaiyalal Solanki, founder of Solanki Booksellers, presented the author with an idol of Lord Vitthal-Rukmini as a mark of respect.

Speaking about the inspiration behind The Great Indian History Quiz, Tripathi said a conversation with his teenage son prompted him to reflect on how history is taught in schools.

“I was speaking to my 17-year-old son and asked him about history. What is taught today is largely colonial nonsense. Some of it has been decolonised, but much of it still remains unchanged,” Tripathi said.
He added that his approach was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of bringing about change through individual action.

“My outlook is like Mahatma Gandhi’s—be the change. Instead of merely complaining, I decided to write this book,” he said.

Tripathi argued that India’s historical narrative requires a fresh perspective rooted in facts and free from colonial interpretations.

“History needs to be decolonised. The British period is rarely described as a Christian invasion, yet the Turkic colonial rule is often referred to as an Islamic invasion. This distinction was mischievously formulated by the British to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims, and unfortunately those divisions continue even today,” he said.

Tripathi, whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide, said he hopes the new publication will encourage young readers to question conventional narratives and develop a broader understanding of India’s past.

The interactive session featured questions from readers on mythology, history, and Tripathi’s writing process. Several attendees queued up to get signed copies of Dhruv-Tara and The Great Indian History Quiz. Among those present were book enthusiasts Umesh Jagtap and Sanjeev Phadtare, along with many other readers from Pune.

The event concluded with an extended book-signing session and photo opportunities, drawing an enthusiastic response from literature lovers. Many attendees described the interaction as an engaging discussion on Indian civilisation, mythology, and the importance of understanding history through multiple perspectives.