Makrand Mehta (born 25 May 1931) is a social and business historian from Gujarat, India.
Makrand Mehta was born on 25 May 1931 at Ahmedabad in a Nagar Brahmin family.[1]
He studied at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, University of Pennsylvania and Gujarat University.[2]
He headed the Department of History at the School of Sciences, Gujarat University before retirement. He is associated with several organisations including Gujarat Itihas Parishad, Gujarat Vidyasabha and Darshak Itihas Nidhi.[2]
Mehta has written more than 25 books in English and Gujarati. He has also published several papers on social and economic history. Latest book Business Culture of Gujarat published by Zen Opus, Ahmedabad, in December 2023.[2]
His selected works are:[2]
Mehta published a research paper titled Sectarian literature and Social Consciousness - A study of the Swaminarayan sect 1800-1840 in December 1986 in Arhat. It triggered a controversy among the followers of Swaminarayan Sampraday. In it, Mehta has contended that Sahajanand, who is believed to be an incarnation of Krishna by his followers, was only a social reformer who conspired with his followers to project himself as a god. He had also argued that the sect had done nothing for poor. In 1988, the followers of the sect received a permission from the government of Gujarat to lodge a case against him under section 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of Indian Penal Code.[3]
He has married a historian Shirin Mehta.[2]
