Early India: A Concise History

by D.N. Jha

This book presents a lucid survey of major developments in ancient and early medieval periods of Indian History.

Genres: History, India

269 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

This work wouldn't even be accepted as a wikipedia article. It cites few sources and gives little or no supporting evidence for many of its claims. A frequent phrase that begins a sentence is "According to one source..." What source? When? There is a "bibliography" at the end which merely lists a few hundred books - it is up to the reader to determine what bits of information came from which, and from where. Without being able to trace back the various claims, all claims in the book are dubious at best.

Let's pick a paragraph at random from Chapter 3: The Vedic Life on page 60: "What may have added substantially to royal authority was that kingship ceased to be elective. The coronation rituals of the period are reminiscent of the earlier elective nature of the king's office. But one text prescribes formulae for extending kingship for one, two, and three generations, another for ten generations. Thus kingship became hereditary and gained in power. A religious aura was created around the person of the king by invoking various gods at the consecration ceremony to endow him with their respective qualities; in the rituals he was sometimes also represented as a god."

I have so many questions. How on earth did you jump to "kingships ceasing to be elective"? From the spells? Where did these spells come from? You say you have two sources, but what are they? What is the relative trustworthiness of these, and from what time periods do we believe they were written? All kingship became hereditary, then? Are there no actual records or primary documents to support this amazing conjecture, or are you just going off of the spells? Do we have any other sources, such as shrine carvings or pottery shards that can shed light on this incredibly important shift in the ruling classes?

I'm not going to go on. I am also not going to finish this book - I am not confident in the scholarship of this work.

[Alex Marcus · Rating 2 out of 5]

The text stands true to its title - a concise history of Early India and the author has done all in his might to just stand to that. Jha pulls the 'history' up to present times placing present within the kernel of past - something that historians avoid in all might. The text surely lacks a fluid narrative base and is written in a very factual manner without proper citing of sources, hence hanging the facts in mid-air. Jha often engages in citing 'an inscription', 'a Puranic text' without going into the tardiness of stating which inscription and which Purana! Moreover, biases of the author against religious politics that finds its base in the past reflect clearly throughout the text. How far this text can be clumped into intellectual history is far more difficult to say for the author tries to place past and present on simultaneous tables without even for once trying to look at both from different lenses. The society and polities might often grow in certain directions and there is continuity but one cannot let go of discontinuities and it is essential as well as mandatory to analyse both in a historical narrative.

[Kunjila Mascillamani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was given to me by Han to whom i had confessed my illiteracy in history. I only knew how to analyze facts not the facts themselves. I had started reading 'The Myth of the Holy Cow' by the same author a year ago but had given it up because i have some problems with the argument he is putting forth in the book. 'Early India' however made me realize that i can read non-fiction and be interested in it. Thanks for that, Han.
So to the book, as usual.
It is explosive. I am going to quote the portions which need mention especially in today's socio-political environment. In Chapter I, ‘Introduction’ he gives us a taste of what is in store for the reader.

Initially inspired by the ideas of social reform, Indian historical scholarship gradually became overtly anti-imperialist. With the radicalization of Indian politics after the partition of Bengal in 1905 and the simultaneous growth of militant nationalism, Indian historical writings were conditioned and influenced by contemporary political development which sharpened the edge of the freedom struggle. Partly in reaction to the imperialist view of India's past and partly as a step towards the building up of national self-respect, Indian historians made zealous efforts to refurbish the image of India's past. Hindu culture was looked upon as the precursor of other Asian cultures; this buttressed the theory of pan-Hinduism. The ancient period of Indian history, equated with the Hindu period in James Mill's scheme of periodization, was regarded as one of prosperity and general contentment. Social inequalities were glossed over and Indian society was portrayed as a model of social harmony and peace. The age of the Guptas came in for special praise. It was considered the golden age of Indian history-an idea that continues to find importance in most textbooks.

There are many more portions which i feel are very relevant but the word limit doesn't allow me to quote all of them. I have written about all of thatin detail over here, http://kunjilacinema.blogspot.in/2016...

I am planning re-read ‘The Myth of the Holy Cow’ and read more history. For a person who was studious and who strictly believed everything her textbooks told her, i believe i have been cheated. I want to uncheat myself and soon. And thanks Jha for this one. I would like to interview you one day.

[Abhi Thakre]

I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING

[Urvi Attri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book and app😍

[Appu Mohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historian DN Jha presents history of india from the beginning to the 12th century.

The emergence of varna system & untouchability. The rise and fall of Buddhism. And how literary works like ramayana & mahabharatha were redacted to keep them in religious canvas.

Must read if you are into history .

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history of India from the earliest times until the 12th Century. A good read with an interesting discussion on the Vedic life and the Aryan controversy.