ANCIENT INDIA
In Historical Outline
This book is a substantially modified and enlarged version of the author's
Ancient India: An Introductory Outline (Delhi, 1977) and surveys the major
developments in India's social, economic and cultural history up to the end of
the ancient period and the beginning of the early middle ages and explains the
rise and growth of states with reference to their material basis. Special attention
has been paid to the elements of change and continuity in society, economy and
culture, and to the changing forms of exploitation and consequent social
tensions as well as to the role of religion and superstition in society. The book
demolishes the popular historiographical stereotypes created by the Hindu-
chauvinist Communal writings. It also gives the lie to the view that the Indian
society has been stagnant and changeless—a view which was propagated by
Western scholars in the heyday of British imperialism and continues to be
peddled ingeniously in our own times.
The assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the demolition of the Baburi
Masjid are two _unforgettable milestones in the unfolding of the backward-
looking Hindu revivalist and fascist politics of contemporary India.
Since both Harappa and Mohenjodaro are situated now in Pakistan, the Hindu
revivalists are busy locating the epicentre of the Harappan culture in the elusive
Saraswati valley.
Dwijendra Narayan Jha graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta, in 1957
and obtained M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in 1959 and 1964 respectively from Patna
University where he taught history up to 1975. He is currently professor of
history at the University of Delhi.
Professor Jha has lectured at universities and other centres of education in
India and abroad and was National Lecturer in History, University Grants
Commission, during 1984-5. His works include Revenue System in Post-
Maurya and Gupta Times (Calcutta, 1967), Ancient India: An Introductory
Outline (Delhi, 1977), Studies in Early Indian Economic History (Delhi, 1980),
Economy and Society in Early India: Issues and Paradigms (Delhi, 1993) and
numberof articles published in Indian and foreign journals. He has to his credit
several edited works including Feudal Social Formation in Early India (Delhi,
1987) and Society and Ideology in India: Essays in Honour of Professor R.S.
Sharma (Delhi, 1996).
Professor D.N. Jha was president of the ancient Indian history section of the
Indian History Congress in 1979 and its General Secretary from 1985 to 1988.