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Irreverent History brings together essays in honour of Professor M.G.S. Narayanan, a historian who brought about a veritable shift in the paradigm of historiography in Kerala. As much of his work has been on the history of Kerala, the bulk of writing here is on the history and culture of that state. He has, however, made lasting contributions to other areas of Indian history and epigraphy and hence, another section of this volume is devoted to epigraphy and connected history.

Following Narayanan's own interests, contributions to this colume explore first the history and culture of Kerala. A second section is then devoted to epigraphy and connected history. The colume is more than an homage to a groundbreaking scholar; It is also a monument to the influence of Professor Narayanan's ideas and work. It exploores a wide range of topics from political myth, regional authority, traditional theatre, and religious ritual in kerala to scribal cultures, caste histories, material exchange, and forms of political expression in India and beyond.

The volume will be useful for students of Indian history, especially those who seek to understand the nuances that have shaped what is today called 'God's Own Country.'