History Notes Chapter 2 Class 10 Maharashtra Board

Historiography : Indian Tradition

Historiography in the Ancient Period

Oral Tradition:

• In ancient India, history was preserved through oral recitals (stories told by word of mouth).
• People memorized great deeds of ancestors, mythological stories, and social changes.
• Example: Stories of kings and gods were passed down orally.

Writing in Ancient India:

• The Harappan civilization (around 3rd millennium BCE) had a script, seen on seals and artefacts, but it is not yet decoded.
• The earliest written historical records are inscriptions from Emperor Ashoka’s time (3rd century BCE).
  • Ashoka’s edicts (messages) were carved on rocks and stone pillars.
  • They give information about his rule and policies.

Inscriptions as Sources:

• From the 1st century CE, inscriptions appeared on coins, sculptures, and copper plates.
• These provide details about:
  • Names and dates of kings.
  • Dynasties (family lines of rulers).
  • Territories and administration.
  • Social organization, climate, famines, and political events.

Example: Sohagaura Copper-plate (Mauryan period, found in Uttar Pradesh):

• • Written in Brahmi script.
  • Has symbols like ‘Tree-in-railing’ and ‘Mountain’ (also seen on coins).
  • Mentions a granary (grain storage) and a royal order to distribute grains carefully during a famine.

Other Sources of History:

• Literature: Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Puranas, Jain and Buddhist texts contain historical information.
• Travelogues: Foreign travellers (e.g., Megasthenes) wrote about India.
• Biographies:
  • Harshacharit (7th century CE) by Banabhatta is a biography of King Harsha.
  • It describes the social, economic, political, religious, and cultural life of Harsha’s time.

2.2 Historiography in the Medieval Period

New Styles of History Writing:

• Rajtarangini by Kalhana (12th century CE):
  • A history of Kashmir, written in a style close to modern historiography.
  • Kalhana used sources like inscriptions, coins, monuments, dynastic records, and local traditions.
  • He critically examined these sources to write an accurate history.

Historians in Muslim Courts:

• Influenced by Arabic and Persian historiography.
• Ziauddin Barani (wrote Tarikh-i-Phiruz Shahi):
  • Said historians should not only praise rulers but also write about their mistakes and bad policies.
  • Suggested historians should study the impact of wise teachings and saints on society.
  • Expanded the scope of historiography to include cultural aspects.
• Mughal historians focused on praising emperors and showing loyalty.
  • They added poetic quotes and beautiful pictures to their writings.
  • Example: Akbarnama by Abul Fazl is a critical and unbiased history of Akbar’s reign.
  • Tuzuk-i-Babari by Babur (Mughal founder) is an autobiography describing battles, regions, economy, customs, and flora.

Foreign Travellers:

• Travellers like Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, and Abdul Razzaq wrote about medieval India.
• Their accounts provide details about the Sultanate and Mughal periods.
• Example: Niccolao Manucci wrote about Aurangzeb’s time.

Bakhars:

• Bakhars are historical documents from medieval India, especially in Maratha history.
• They include stories of heroes, battles, and great men.
• Types of Bakhars: Biographies, dynastic histories, event descriptions, autobiographies, and myth-based stories.

Examples:

• • Sabhasad Bakhar: Written by Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad, it describes Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s rule.
  • Bhausahebanchi Bakhar and Panipatachi Bakhar: Describe the Battle of Panipat.
  • Holkaranchi Kaiphiyat: Gives information about the Holkar family’s contributions to Maratha rule.

2.3 Historiography in the Modern Period

Archaeological Discoveries:

• British rule in the 20th century led to archaeological research in India.
• Sir Alexander Cunningham: First Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
  • Excavated sites mentioned in Buddhist texts.
• Sir John Marshall: Discovered the Harappan Civilization, proving Indian history dates back to the 3rd millennium BCE.

British Historians:

• British officers wrote about Indian history but often showed bias against Indian culture.
• James Mill: Wrote The History of British India (1817), which was prejudiced and lacked objectivity.
• Mountstuart Elphinstone: Wrote The History of India (1841).
• Grant Duff: Wrote A History of the Mahrattas (3 volumes), but criticized Indian culture.
• William Wilson Hunter: Wrote somewhat impartially about Indian history.

Indian Historians’ Response:

• Indian historians like Nilkanth Janardan Kirtane and Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade criticized Grant Duff’s biased writings.

3. Indian Historiography: Various Ideological Frameworks

This section explains different approaches to writing Indian history based on ideologies (beliefs or perspectives).

3.1 Colonial Historiography

What is it?

• History written by British officers and Christian missionaries during colonial rule.
• Showed prejudice against Indian culture to justify British rule.

Example: Cambridge History of India (1922-1937, 5 volumes) reflects colonial bias.

3.2 Orientalist Historiography

What is it?

• History written by European scholars who admired Eastern civilizations, especially India.
• Focused on Vedic traditions and Sanskrit literature.

Key Points:

• Orientalists studied similarities between Sanskrit and European languages.
• Suggested Sanskrit could be the mother of Indo-European languages.
• Sir William Jones: Founded the Asiatic Society in Kolkata (1784) to research Indian literature and history.
• Friedrich Max Muller:
  • Translated Hitopadesh into German.
  • Edited The Sacred Books of the East (50 volumes).
  • Translated Rigveda into German (6 volumes).

Criticism: Edward Said later argued that Orientalist writings served imperialistic interests.

3.3 Nationalistic Historiography

What is it?

• History written by Indian historians to restore pride in India’s ancient glory.
• Aimed to boost the self-esteem of Indian readers.

Key Points:

• Inspired by Vishnushastri Chiplunkar in Maharashtra, who criticized biased British histories.
• Focused on India’s golden era but sometimes ignored critical analysis.
• V.K. Rajwade:
  • Founded Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal (1910) in Pune for historical research.
  • Wrote 22 volumes of Marathyanchya Itihasachi Sadhane.
  • Believed history should cover all aspects of society, not just wars and politics.
  • Said history must be written using authentic documents.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar: Wrote The Indian War of Independence, 1857, highlighting the 1857 revolt as a freedom movement.
• Other historians: Mahadev Govind Ranade, Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, R.C. Majumdar, etc.

Impact: Encouraged regional histories, especially in South India.

3.4 Historiography in the Post-Independence Era

Changes in Approach:

• Historians began writing about cultural, social, and economic histories, not just dynasties.
• Focused on communities, sciences, political ideologies, and cultural aspects.

Three Main Ideological Schools:

1. Marxist History

What is it?

• Focuses on means of production (e.g., tools, land), modes of production (e.g., farming, industry), and industrial relations.
• Analyzes the impact of social events on these factors.

Key Historians:

• Damodar Kosambi: Studied caste system transitions.
• Shripad Amrut Dange: Wrote Primitive Communism to Slavery.
• Others: Ram Sharan Sharma, Sharad Patil.

2. Subaltern History

What is it?

• Focuses on the history of the “bottommost ranks” of society (e.g., lower castes, marginalized groups).
• Inspired by Marxist ideas and Italian historian Antonio Gramsci.

Key Points:

• Uses folklore as a source.
• Ranjit Guha: Established subaltern history as an academic school.
• Mahatma Jyotirao Phule: Wrote Gulamgiri, highlighting the exploitation of shudras and atishudras.
• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Wrote Who Were the Shudras and The Untouchables, focusing on Dalit history.

Significance: Highlighted the role of Dalits in shaping India’s culture and politics.

3. Feminist History

What is it?

• Focuses on the role and achievements of women in history, which were often ignored by male historians.
• Studies women’s writings and their position in society.

Key Points:

• Tarabai Shinde: Wrote Stripurush Tulana (1882), the first feminist book in India, criticizing male-dominated society.
• Pandita Ramabai: Wrote The High Caste Hindu Woman (1888).
• Post-independence feminist literature focused on women’s employment, workplace treatment, and political equality.
• Meera Kosambi: Wrote Crossing Thresholds, with essays on women like Pandita Ramabai and Dr. Rukhmabai (India’s first lady doctor).
• Sharmila Rege: Wrote about Dalit women’s autobiographies in Writing Caste, Writing Gender.

3.5 Other Notable Historians

Historians who did not follow a specific ideology:

• Sir Jadunath Sarkar, Surendra Nath Sen, Govind Sakharam Sardesai (called Riyasatkar for his work Marathi Riyasat).
• Tryambak Shankar Shejawalkar, Yashawant Dinkar Phadke, Ramchandra Guha.

Indian historiography was influenced by social and political movements but also developed independently.