The Chatterjee-Mukherjee Debates

The Chatterjee-Mukherjee debates were a scholarly exchange in India during the 1930s about how history should be studied and interpreted. Chatterjee argued that Indian history should focus on social and economic changes driven by common people, emphasizing a bottom-up approach. Mukherjee believed history should highlight the actions of great individuals and leaders, adopting a top-down perspective. The debate shaped debates about nationalism and identity, influencing Indian historiography by questioning whether history should prioritize the masses' experiences or prominent figures' roles.