essay 2

[ruchia]

"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."

Study of historical events tells us about the importance of those events, the impact of the event and individuals that played a role in that event or made that event fruitful. History puts too much emphasis on individuals because if those individuals had put the effort, the event wouldn’t have occurred. However, I agree that the events and trends were made possible by a group of people and not the famous few about which the history talks about.

Mahatma Gandhi played a crucial role in the independence of India from the British. He led numerous events which progressed towards independent India. Many other leaders were involved in the freedom fight of India. It was the non violence movement led by him that drove out the British from the country. Study of historical events places too much emphasis on individuals because it the human thought and effort that lays the ground for the event. However, very little is known about other individuals who helped him in making the events fruitful. I feel that it is not that these individuals did not play important role, but role of Gandhi was very crucial to the events that more importance is given to him. It was his prudence and leadership qualities that led to independence of India. Hence, by virtue of this example, I feel historians are not wrong in placing emphasis on only famous few individuals in respective historical events.

However, it is not that the people involved in the event are not mentioned or not given credit for their contributions. Recently, I read autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi and came to know of all those who played an important role in his life and his struggle for Independence. Hence, I feel if one goes into a detailed study of a particular event, he/she can learn about the contributions of other individuals in the event. Hence, in a brief account of the event, the main emphasis is placed on the leader of the event since all the topics would not be of that importance to all the readers. The intrigued readers can themselves research more into the event and read about it. Therefore, it is because of this purpose of not making the anecdotes lengthy that the historians are forced to cut down on all the other individuals involved in a particular event.

Hence, I would like to conclude that study of historical events places emphasis on few individuals involved in the event. In the first place, it is the quality of these individuals that makes them very important and hence the historians are forced to associate the events with them. However, the reader can always find out about other individuals by going into the details of the event. They are not talked about in the first place to avoid making a lengthy anecdote of the event.