The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c2.2

c2.2

The radical divergence of my hypotheses from the conclusions of my predecessors renders it all the more obligatory on my part to express my gratitude to them. But for their invaluable pioneer work in the domain of ancient Indian politics, it would have been impossible to write a connected account of the development of Hindu administration or to offer fresh interpretations of its various aspects. My particular obligations are due to my tutor Prof. H. J. Laski and other teachers at the London School of Economics and Political Science who guided my studies in Sociology, Political Science and Public Administration. Prof. A. Berriedale Keith and Dr. L. D. Barnett kindly offered valuable suggestions on the dates of some Sanskrit texts. Prof. C. N. Nallamuthu Ammal, M.A., B.Sc. (London), of Lady Willingdon's College, Madras, brought some Tâmil data to my notice and assisted in their evaluation. Dr. Pran Nath, D.Sc. (London), during his tenure at the India Office Library, extended to me all facilities of research there and directed me to a number of little known texts which, otherwise, might have escaped my notice. The advice of my colleague Mr. Kṣetreśa Chandra Chaṭṭopādhyāya, M.A., never grudged on the busiest of days, was always helpful in handling Vedic and classical Sanskrit texts. Another colleague, Mr. Bisheshar Prasad Srivastava, M.A., offered valuable criticism and saw part of the book through the press. Mr. Ram Shankar Prasad, M.A., read the proofs of the rest of the work and also compiled the Index.