A thought, when it emerges in the conscience of a nation, doesn't die out with the passage of time. It only remains dormant, simmering away, waiting for the ripe time to resurface — and taking those who don't find themselves in agreement with it, by surprise. It is here that history steps in, putting things in perspective.

In his talk this Sunday, Dr. Mohan David, former head of the history department, University of Mumbai, will trace the journey of the liberal and conservative ideologies in India, back to the 19th century. Titled Ideological Churning and New India, the talk will explore how Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress represented the liberal trend, while Bal Gangadhar Tilak's conservative trend came to be represented by the RSS, which seems to have emerged victorious today. Edited excerpts from an interview.