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Thread: Sources of Indian History--revisited

  1. #1

    Sources of Indian History--revisited

    This is a paradox that inspite of plethora of literary sources available in India like Vedic literature, Puranas, epics and other scriptures and secular books, no dependable history book is available prior to Kalhan's Rajatarangini, the history of the rulers of Kasmir.

    Generally it is lamented that Indians had poor sense of history and there does not exist dependable historical accounts of ancient history of India. But it is not totally true picture of the reality.

    There are a number of sources of the pre-history and ancient history available in India but the scholar who intend to reconstruct history of those times have to labour hard to critically examine them before using them to arrive at convincing conclusions.

    Let us share here the studies on the issue of the sources of ancient history of India.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  2. #2
    Inspite of the fact that about the emergence of prehistoric sources of history of India started in a big way to come after the discovery of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, of late, there has spurt in coming of sources through archaeological research being carried out in various parts of the country. They have been used by painstaking pioneers of indian history for reconstruction of prehistory and ancient history of India. These sources are categorized as Archaeological sources and comprise of ancient remains of artifacts, buildings, monuments, implements, ornaments, sculptures, metal pieces, ornaments, toys, seals and sealings, coins etc.

    Various archeaological explorations and excavations have yielded this treasure of sources of history of India and is being studied, analysed and used to reconstruct the lost threads of history of Ancient India.

    The literary sources is another category of sources which provides information on various facets of the life, culture and civilisation of people of India through the ages. These sources start with Rigveda and continue to appear in the form of books from time to time.

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  3. #3
    As regards literary sources of the history of India are

    concerned, the National Archives of India, 1-Janapath,

    New Delhi is the biggest repository in the country

    where millions of documents are available for use

    of the researchers.

    Thanks.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  4. #4
    Several Rajasthan rulers had very intimate relationship with

    the Mughals. They kept a continuous dialogue with the Delhi

    Government and kept a record of every bit of event, happening

    and its consequent action and reaction. This plethora of records

    and correspondence is written in Persian, Rajasthani, Hindi etc. and

    is kept at Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner. Some of the books like

    Nansi-ri Khyat in three volume, Suryamall Misrans, Vamsa Bhaskar,

    and Veer Vinod are historical books found at the RSA, Bikaner.

    Some of the Framans issued by the Mughal Emperors and Nishans

    have been translated into English by J N Sarkar. The documents

    are being used by the research scholars interested in medieval Indian

    history in general and history of Rajasthan and adjoining region.

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  5. #5
    Records for writing the history of Haryana are kept at

    Haryana State Archives, Panchkulla which include mostly

    copies procured from the National Archives of India regarding

    medieval history and original documents starting from 1857 onwards.

    Thanks
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  6. #6
    Most of the documents related with the history of Punjab

    are available at Lahore. Some records relating to PEPSU and

    the East Punjab are kept at Punjab State Archives, Patiala.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  7. #7
    Records relating the expansion of the Maratha power

    are scattered all over India. Marathas were good letter

    writers and used to inform their superiors of the minutest

    developments which occurred in the vicinity of their posting.

    This has left a rich heritage of contemporary records mostly

    written in Marathi or at times in Persian. The biggest collection

    of this archival asset is available at Poona. G S Sirdesai, Rajwade,

    J N Sarkar and others have done yeomen's service in their systematic

    sorting and translating thousands of documents in English.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  8. #8
    Natnagar Sodh Sanstha, Sitamau [MP] is very rich in archival sources

    for history of medieval India in general and the Jats of 17-18th Century in particular.

    It was established by Dr. Raghubir Simha, the Kunwar of the Sitamau native state.

    Old MSS of several treatises and letters exchanged between various rulers and the

    Delhi Emperors and the Marathas are worthy possessions of this repository.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  9. #9
    The old records kept at erstwhile native states headquarters like Jaipur,

    Alwar, Kota, Bharatpur,Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Bundi etc. of Rajasthan

    containing land records, revenue demands, correspondence of various types,

    land settlement records etc provide multi faceted sources of history of those

    days which are used to study socio-economic, cultural and political conditions

    of the medieval and modern history.

    These sources have been used by scholars and as regards history of the Jats since the

    time the Mughals entered the Indian political scene is concerned, many a monographs and

    research articles have appeared mainly based on the records available in the Rajasthan

    State Archives and other repositories. They are really mines of information on various

    issues and are being used by the research scholars.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  10. #10
    Khudabux Library, Patana contains rich collection of rare books belonging to the times of Sultanate and Mughal period.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  11. #11
    National Library Calcutta keeps millions of books,

    newspapers, journals and magazines which are useful

    for the research scholars of social sciences and history.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  12. #12
    Geeta Press, Gorakhpur has published several books on the scriptures

    and brought out special issues on various facets of indian culture,

    religion and heritage. They have published Vedas and other Hindu

    scriptures like Srimadabhagavata Gita.
    Last edited by DrRajpalSingh; May 7th, 2013 at 05:18 PM.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  13. #13
    Nagari Pracharini Sabha Varanasi has brought out many old MSS

    in the form of printed books and has saved the precious source

    material for history writing from destruction.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  14. #14
    The two epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are very important

    sources of History of India which should be used with caution

    by sifting myth from facts by using other research tools for their examination.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  15. #15
    Architectural and artifact remains serve as a solid source of ancient history

    and at times serve as cross check on literary sources to reach some tangible conclusion.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  16. #16
    The remains collected from the Harappan sites spread in various parts

    of north-western parts of the country have sent dated history of India

    several centuries back. Prior to coming to light of this culture and civilisation,

    generally it was the Aryan advent in sometime 2nd millenium B.C, that historical

    dates were decided by the modern writers of history.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  17. #17
    Ashoka's rock inscriptions and Pillar Edicts have revolutionised the study of ancient Indian History.

    Prinsep's reading of these ancient valuable source of historic studies have led to increased interest

    in finding out/digging out newer information since then.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by DrRajpalSingh View Post
    The remains collected from the Harappan sites spread in various parts

    of north-western parts of the country have sent dated history of India

    several centuries back. Prior to coming to light of this culture and civilisation,

    generally it was the Aryan advent in sometime 2nd millenium B.C, that historical

    dates were decided by the modern writers of history.

    In his monograph entitled, New Light on the Indus Civilisation, Volume I, [Delhi],

    Dr. K.N. Sastri, former curator of Harappa, has placed his comments on the data

    collected from various sites of the region and has concluded that according to his

    findings the origin of this civilisation goes back to the first half of the 4th millennium

    B. C. and the end to the beginning of the second millenium B.C. He is of the view that

    the resolution of the complex question of the chronology of the Harappan civilisation is

    closely associated with the solution of the chronology of the Dark Period of Indian History

    between the time of post-Harappan period and the advent of the Buddhist period.

    Therefore, kindly help us to find some candle light of sources/studies which could illuminate this phase of 'Dark Period'.

    Thanks
    Last edited by DrRajpalSingh; May 10th, 2013 at 08:58 PM.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  19. #19
    Archaeological Survey of India maintains several Museums all over India where antiquity

    remains collected from various places are kept and preserved for the use of research scholars.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by DrRajpalSingh View Post
    Archaeological Survey of India maintains several Museums all over India where antiquity

    remains collected from various places are kept and preserved for the use of research scholars.
    The regional and zonal offices of the Archaeological Survey of India and the state Government Departments

    of Archaeology also keep an eye on the heritage sites and excavations of the same, collect material and

    ensure its deposit in the authorised museums.
    History is best when created, better when re-constructed and worst when invented.

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