London, Jan 5 : Late Scottish poet Robert Burns has been dubbed a `racist, misogynist drunk' by a leading historian, who says that the Bard is not a fitting figure for Scotland''s 2009 Homecoming celebrations.

Michael Fry has put down Burns as a role model, and said that there were other more heroic figures like William Wallace, Robert the Bruce or Bonnie Prince Charlie who could better promote Scotland''s image abroad.

The Bard, as Burns is known in Scotland, is the main attraction for the Homecoming, with a series of events designed to attract visitors to Scotland kicking off on Burns Night later this month.