History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c11.1

v1.c11.1

Sir Vincent Smith observes at page 357 of his ‘Early history of India’ 3rd Edition, that when “the wholesome despotism of Harsha terminated by his death, India instantly returned to her normal condition of anarchical autonomy.” This is, I am afraid, a wrong and an unhistorical view. To those who look upon India as one country and who consider a despotic imperial rule as the only remedy for her political ills, the political condition which usually obtained in ancient India may appear as one of anarchical autonomy. But it must be remembered that India never was one kingdom at any time except the present, when the British rule has brought the whole country under subjection. India may indeed be called one country from certain aspects of race, religion and tradition, but it cannot be denied that it never was, at least in ancient history, one country politically. It generally consisted of a number of kingdoms and these were usually at war with one another. To apply to this condition the term anarchical autonomy would be improper.