CONTENTS:- Preface; I. Cultural, social and political: 1. Srimadbhagavadgita: the historical view; 2. Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa: the founder of Indian historical tradition; 3. The problem of dating early Indian history; 4. Sati: a historiographical survey of the practice of widow-immolation in ancient India; 5. Sources of the history of Ayodhya (c. 606-1206 AD): a historiographical study; 6. Literary sources on the historical geography of ancient Panjab; 7. Trends in the historiography of Panjab; 8. National integration: the historical and philosophical view; 9. Nehru's rationalism; II. Social and intellectual movements in Maharashtra (Nineteenth century): 10. Mountstuart Elphinstone and the growth of indological consciousness in Western India; 11. Rudiments of Indian art historiography as reflected in the writings of Mountstuart Elphinstone; 12. Acharya Jambhekar (1812-1846): the pioneer oriental scholar and reformer of Western India; 13. Social studies in Western India during the nineteenth century; Appendix; Index.
DESCRIPTION
Essays on Indian Historiography is a modest attempt at exposing some basic problems of Indian historiography, which have influenced our cultural, social, intellectual and political lives. It investigates into the central philosophy of the Gita and its relevance today, Vyasa as the founder of Indian historical tradition, the problem of dating early Indian history, sati and Ayodhya - the subjects of wider national concern, historical geography and the trends in the historiography of Panjab, national integration and Nehru's rationalism -- the themes of perennial significance and relevance, and finally, the growth of intellectual movement in Western India. Scholars of Indian history and culture would find this book useful.
