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The History and Culture of the Indian People #2
The Age of Imperial Unity [600 B.C. to 320 A.D.]
Beginning with a kaleidoscopic picture of the general condition of North India in the 6th century B.C., this second volume of the History and Culture of the Indian People depicts in full detail the growth of the Magadhan empire and the Persian and Macedonian invasions; and surveys the ways of the various dynasties like the Mauryas, the Sungas, the Yavanas, the Sakas, the Pahlavas, the Kushanas, the Saka Satraps, the Satavahanas, the Chedis and the Vakatakas. New light is thrown on interesting old problems such as the Kaniska era, the Vikrama and Saka Samvat. The History of South India and Ceylon during this period is treated at length. The history of the period is rounded off with a chapter on India and the Western World, and Colonial and Cultural Expansion. The contributors to this volume are: Dr. B.C. Law, Dr. N. Dutt, Dr. R.K.Mookerjee, Dr. J. N. Banerjea, Dr. H.C. Raychaudhuri, Dr. A. D. Pusalkar, Dr. D.C. Sarkar, Dr. A.M. Ghatage, Dr. R.C.Majumdar, Dr. V.M. Apte, Dr. S.K. Aiyangar, Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan, Dr. M.A. Mehendale, Prof. H.D. Bhattacharyya, Prof. H.D. Velankar, Prof. U.C. Bhattacharjee, Dr. K.R.S. Iyengar, Prof. S.K.Saraswati, Dr. Beni Prasad, Dr. N.R.Ray, Dr. U.N. Ghoshal. 39 plates adequately illustrate the best specimens of the unique artistic achievements of this period.
785 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
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About the author
R.C. Majumdar
86 books184 followersRamesh Chandra Majumdar (known as R. C. Majumdar; 4 December 1888 – 11 February 1980) was a historian and professor of Indian history.
Born at Khandarpara, in Faridpur District (now in Bangladesh) on 4 December 1888, to Haladhar Majumdar and Bidhumukhi, Majumdar passed his childhood in poverty. In 1905, he passed his Entrance Examination from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1907, he passed F.A. with first class scholarship from Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and joined Presidency College, Calcutta. Graduating in B.A.(Honours) in 1909 and MA from Calcutta University in 1911, he won the Premchand Roychand scholarship from the University of Calcutta for his research work in 1913.
Majumdar started his teaching career as a lecturer at Dacca Government Training College. Since 1914, he spent seven years as a professor of history at the University of Calcutta. He got his doctorate for his thesis "Corporate Life in Ancient India".[3] In 1921 he joined the newly established University of Dacca as a professor of history. He also served, until he became its vice chancellor, as the head of the Department of History as well as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Between 1924 and 1936 he was Provost of Jagannath Hall. Then he became the vice chancellor of that University, for five years from 1937 to 1942. From 1950, he was Principal of the College of Indology, Benares Hindu University. He was elected the general president of the Indian History Congress and also became the vice president of the International Commission set up by the UNESCO for the history of mankind.
Majumdar started his research on ancient India. After extensive travels to Southeast Asia and research, he wrote detailed histories of Champa (1927), Suvarnadvipa (1929) and Kambuja Desa. On the initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he took up the mantle of editing a multi-volume tome on Indian history. Starting in 1951, he toiled for twenty six long years to describe the history of the Indian people from the Vedic Period to the present day in eleven volumes. In 1955, Majumdar became the founder-principal of the College of Indology of Nagpur University. In 1958-59, he taught Indian history in the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. He was also the president of the Asiatic Society (1966–68) and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (1968–69). For some time he was also the Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
When the final volume of "The History and Culture of the Indian People" was published in 1977, he had turned eighty-eight. He also edited the three-volume history of Bengal published by Dacca University. His last book was "Jivaner Smritidvipe".
When the Government of India set up an editorial Committee to author a history of the freedom struggle of India, he was its principal member. But, following a conflict with the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the Sepoy Mutiny, he left the government job and published his own book. The Sepoy Mutiny & Revolt of 1857. According to him the origins of India's freedom struggle lie in the English-educated Indian middle-class and the freedom struggle started with the Banga Bhanga movement in 1905. His views on the freedom struggle are found in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India. He was an admirer of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Born at Khandarpara, in Faridpur District (now in Bangladesh) on 4 December 1888, to Haladhar Majumdar and Bidhumukhi, Majumdar passed his childhood in poverty. In 1905, he passed his Entrance Examination from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1907, he passed F.A. with first class scholarship from Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and joined Presidency College, Calcutta. Graduating in B.A.(Honours) in 1909 and MA from Calcutta University in 1911, he won the Premchand Roychand scholarship from the University of Calcutta for his research work in 1913.
Majumdar started his teaching career as a lecturer at Dacca Government Training College. Since 1914, he spent seven years as a professor of history at the University of Calcutta. He got his doctorate for his thesis "Corporate Life in Ancient India".[3] In 1921 he joined the newly established University of Dacca as a professor of history. He also served, until he became its vice chancellor, as the head of the Department of History as well as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Between 1924 and 1936 he was Provost of Jagannath Hall. Then he became the vice chancellor of that University, for five years from 1937 to 1942. From 1950, he was Principal of the College of Indology, Benares Hindu University. He was elected the general president of the Indian History Congress and also became the vice president of the International Commission set up by the UNESCO for the history of mankind.
Majumdar started his research on ancient India. After extensive travels to Southeast Asia and research, he wrote detailed histories of Champa (1927), Suvarnadvipa (1929) and Kambuja Desa. On the initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he took up the mantle of editing a multi-volume tome on Indian history. Starting in 1951, he toiled for twenty six long years to describe the history of the Indian people from the Vedic Period to the present day in eleven volumes. In 1955, Majumdar became the founder-principal of the College of Indology of Nagpur University. In 1958-59, he taught Indian history in the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. He was also the president of the Asiatic Society (1966–68) and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (1968–69). For some time he was also the Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
When the final volume of "The History and Culture of the Indian People" was published in 1977, he had turned eighty-eight. He also edited the three-volume history of Bengal published by Dacca University. His last book was "Jivaner Smritidvipe".
When the Government of India set up an editorial Committee to author a history of the freedom struggle of India, he was its principal member. But, following a conflict with the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the Sepoy Mutiny, he left the government job and published his own book. The Sepoy Mutiny & Revolt of 1857. According to him the origins of India's freedom struggle lie in the English-educated Indian middle-class and the freedom struggle started with the Banga Bhanga movement in 1905. His views on the freedom struggle are found in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India. He was an admirer of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 4, 2018
All facts, no imagination, no twisting, straight to the fact.
The Age of Imperial Unity covers:
1. Seventh century B.C.E - 320 C.E: Strength and spirit building of Bharat
2. 150 B.C.E - 320 C.E: Rocking of Bharat through out the world
While reading it seems empire after empire are just appearing and disappearing. Bimbisara, Ajatasatru, Nandas, Magadhs, Ashok, Saka, Pallava, Kushan, Satavahanas and Chedis, endless procession of dynasties are entering in the stage of Bharat and leaving.
Like first volume 'The Vedic Age', it also gives superfluous information about following sections:
1. Language and literature,
2. Political theories and administration,
3. Law and legal institutions covering Manu Smriti, Narada Smriti etc., religion and philosopy of Buddhism, Jainism and Vaishnavism
4. Architecture and sculptures
5. Social, education and economic condition
6. Relation with west through trade
7. Unbelievable colonial and cultural expansion of India to east and west
The only conclusion you can draw that India was really 'Sone ki Chidia'(golden bird). Lets wait for next episode 'The Classical Age'.
The Age of Imperial Unity covers:
1. Seventh century B.C.E - 320 C.E: Strength and spirit building of Bharat
2. 150 B.C.E - 320 C.E: Rocking of Bharat through out the world
While reading it seems empire after empire are just appearing and disappearing. Bimbisara, Ajatasatru, Nandas, Magadhs, Ashok, Saka, Pallava, Kushan, Satavahanas and Chedis, endless procession of dynasties are entering in the stage of Bharat and leaving.
Like first volume 'The Vedic Age', it also gives superfluous information about following sections:
1. Language and literature,
2. Political theories and administration,
3. Law and legal institutions covering Manu Smriti, Narada Smriti etc., religion and philosopy of Buddhism, Jainism and Vaishnavism
4. Architecture and sculptures
5. Social, education and economic condition
6. Relation with west through trade
7. Unbelievable colonial and cultural expansion of India to east and west
The only conclusion you can draw that India was really 'Sone ki Chidia'(golden bird). Lets wait for next episode 'The Classical Age'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review