Historian Makrand Mehta, 93, passes away in Ahmedabad

“The day before (Friday), he was riding a scooter and a fortnight back he went on a walk in the pol area. He was physically fit and actively involved in his research work for his latest book on pols of World Heritage city of Ahmedabad. We had a detailed discussion only a few days back on this book,” close family friend and historian Rizwan Qadri told The Indian Express.

Credited for extensive research on Gujarat’s social and economic history, Mehta completed his education from MS University in Vadodara, University of Pennsylvania and Gujarat University. He was a visiting professor of history at Gujarat Vidyapith and the University of Sunderland, UK from 1996 to 2001.

He was president of the Modern India Section, Indian History Congress and Gujarat Itihas Parishad. He was honorary fellow of The Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Author of more than 20 scholarly books in Gujarati and English, Mehta had contributed numerous research papers on social and economic history to prestigious journals and continued to write even in his 90s.

His latest book ‘Business Culture of Gujarat’, which talks about Gujarat’s business culture being shaped by its merchants, entrepreneurs, brokers, money-changers, artisans and even non-business people such as religious and moral preachers, was released in December 2023.

Mehta did not restrict his research to Gujarat. He was one of the few researchers from the state with his major contribution in the field of historiography research. He, along with his wife, also contributed to research on Gujarati-Indian diaspora. This also reflects in his last book that points out that the state’s business ethos in India and overseas were influenced by certain common norms such as peace, pragmatic ethics, cooperation and the spirit of tolerance.

Mehta continued to research till his last breath as he would devote most of his time in his library set up in the basement of his house. The diligence with which he researched and presented historical information even at this age without any expectation for recognition was an inspiration to many.

His friends and family members revealed that other than writing and researching, he loved exploring food and would host them regularly at his residence.

The popular books he authored in English and Gujarati include Ahmedabad Cotton Textile Industry:Genesis and Growth (1982); Indian Merchants and Entrepreneurs in Historical Perspective (1991); Beyond Boundaries: International Trade Linkages and Migration of Gujaratis (2004); History of International Trade and Customs Duties in Gujarat (2009); Britain ma Gujarati Diaspora (2009) and Gujarat ane Dario (2012) and Business Culture of Gujarat (2023).