The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c4: Preface

The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c4

Language: English

Preface

v1.c4.1

In the present work an attempt has been made to give an account of the dynasties that ruled in Northern India during the period of transition intervening between the decline of the Gurjara-Pratīhāra empire and the Muslim conquest. The history of Northern India between *c.* 916 and 1196 A.D. only very roughly covers the *period* of this transition. In my account of the dynasties I had often to go beyond these limits for the reason that the history of some of the dynasties began before 916 A.D., and in other cases some of them were not conquered by the Muslims till considerably after 1196 A.D. As the work was really intended to bridge the gulf between the Hindu and the early Muslim (better called Turkish and Afghan) periods, I have, acting on the advice of Dr. Barnett, taken the liberty of overstepping the limits whenever necessary.

v1.c4.2

The idea of the present work suggested itself to me as early as 1920-21 when I was faced with the task of delivering lectures on the Hindu period of Indian History to the Post-Graduate students of the University of Calcutta. The first two volumes of the work were however actually planned and completed during my stay in Europe during the years 1927-29. These two volumes mainly contain the political history of the ‘Dynasties.’ The third volume which is in course of preparation will deal with the following topics : (*i*) Minor Dynasties, (*ii*) Administrative History, (*iii*) Economic History, (*iv*) Social and Religious History, (*v*) Literary History, (*vi*) Monuments and Coins, (*vii*) Origin of the Rajputs, and (*viii*) The Causes of the Decline and Downfall of the Hindu Dynasties in Northern India.

v1.c4.3

Within the limited time at my disposal, I have spared no pains to make the Index and the Synchronistic Table as full and accurate as possible. In some cases I have tried to indicate in the Index alternative forms of the spelling of names, so that the reader may find the name from whatever angle of transliteration he approaches the book. I have thus sometimes given the same name twice under different forms. As a general rule modern place names are spelt as they appear in the *Imperial Gazetteer of India (Atlas)*, Vol. XXVI. One important exception is 'Bihar' for Behar. As to ancient Sanskritic names, I have followed the system adopted by Profs. Macdonell and Keith in the *Vedic Index*. Any want of uniformity in the spelling of Arabic and Persian names will, I hope, be rectified to some extent by the Index.

v1.c4.4

The importance of Maps in the study of History is recognised in all countries. In the case of Ancient and Mediaeval Indian History, however, the task of preparing maps is rendered extremely difficult by the lack of detailed information concerning the exact areas indicated by the various geographical and topographical names in Indian records. Moreover, there is evidence to show that in some cases the same geographical term indicated different regions not only in different periods but also within the same period. I have, therefore, taken some risk in preparing the ten maps which are included in the first volume. Moreover, to save time and cost I have prepared the maps by my own hand and therefore they may not be found to be so accurate as mechanical reproductions of Survey of India maps. But within these limitations I have spared no labour to make the maps useful to the reader. In this task I have received considerable assistance from Dr. H. C. Raychaudhuri. The printing of Ancient and Mediaeval names in red will, I hope, increase the value of the maps.

v1.c4.5

At various stages of my work I have received occasional suggestions and help from the late Sir T. W. Arnold, Sir E. Denison Ross, Sir Wolseley Haig, Prof. H. H. Dodwell, Mr. H. A. R. Gibb, Dr. Margaret Smith (all of the School of Oriental Studies, London), Prof. F. W. Thomas (Oxford University), Mr. C. A. Storey (Librarian, India Office), Mr. John Allan (British Museum), Mr. J. Van Manen (Asiatic Society of Bengal), Prof. R. C. Majumdar (Dacca University), Dr. M. W. Mirza (Lucknow University), Dr. H. C. Raychaudhuri and Prof. M. Z. Siddiqi (of the University of Calcutta). I take this opportunity to express my gratefulness for their kind assistance. To Mr. J. C. Chakravorti, the Offg. Registrar and Mr. A. C. Ghatak I am thankful for the help rendered to me in the printing and publication of this volume. Acknowledgment is also due to Mr. Benoy Krishna Ray for assistance in preparing the Index. To Messrs. H. C. Chakladar and J. N. Bannerji I am indebted for the permission to use an excellent snapshot of the porch of the temple of Mukteśvara at Bhuvaneswar, which is reproduced on the cover. To Messrs. Aga Kazim Shirazi and S. N. Mitra I am indebted for occasional help in proof reading. I must also express my appreciation of the courtesy and consideration shown to me by the officers in charge of the various European libraries, specially those attached to the School of Oriental Studies (London), the British Museum and the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris. But above all, I am indebted to Dr. L. D. Barnett, who with unfailing kindness and great patience has gone through every chapter of the first two volumes of the present work and suggested corrections and alterations most of which I have incorporated in the body of my thesis. It was also due to his intercession that the High Commissioner of India made a grant of £30 towards the expenses of the publication of this work. Dr. Barnett has further increased my debt of gratitude to him by adding a kind Foreword to this work.

v1.c4.6

It was the late Sir Asutosh Mookerjee who first offered me facilities for research in Indian History. The irreparable loss which the University of Calcutta has suffered by his untimely death is too well-known to require any mention here. But I take this opportunity to dedicate this volume of my work to his memory as a token of the gratitude and admiration I shall ever cherish for him.

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Mukteswara Temple