In his brief interaction with media after his address at the 63rd Convocation at Gujarat Vidyapith today, Guha also denounced attempts to abolish the reservation system.
"I firmly believe that reservation for Dalits and tribals must continue," he said when asked to share his views about the ongoing stirs by Jats, Marathas and Patel communities in various parts of the country pressing for reservation in educational institutes and government jobs.
"The government can manage the reservation system by reviewing the creamy layer, but reservation should be there for Dalits and tribals," he said.
He also raised concerns about the violent protests by Jats and Patels.
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"You can hold agitations, but there must not be any violence, such as setting fire to buses and vandalising shops. The method adopted by Jats in Haryana and Patels in Gujarat was improper," said Guha.
The historian said the country would have been in shambles but for its all-embracing approach.
"Today, we live in a time of rising religious fundamentalism. India may have broken and may not have survived as a nation if we had gone the way of Pakistan, which is an Islamic country, where Hindus and Christians are treated as second class citizens," Guha claimed.
as well as Naxal-affected areas.
"India is not a perfect democracy. There is deep discontent in some parts of the country. People of Kashmir as well as tribals have been treated very badly by the government of India," he alleged.
"Had Naxalites or Maoists practised non-violence, then they would have had more success. But once they picked up guns, the conflict escalated. Ordinary citizens are sandwiched in the armed conflict, which is true for Kashmir, Manipur or Bastar (in Chhattisgarh)," said Guha.
Voices for caste-based reservations across the country have been gaining momentum over the past few months. The agitation related to demand of reservation for Jats in the OBC category at Rohtak claimed 30 lives in February.