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An Advanced History of India
Originally Published in 1946, An Advanced History of India at once established itself as the standard work on the subject. This edition brings the history up to 1978.
The detailed record of events is supplemented throughout by a careful study of administrative, social, economic and cultural developments. A close scrutiny of original sources has produced a clear and full picture of Indian civilization.
The detailed record of events is supplemented throughout by a careful study of administrative, social, economic and cultural developments. A close scrutiny of original sources has produced a clear and full picture of Indian civilization.
1149 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1978
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About the author
R.C. Majumdar
86 books186 followersRamesh Chandra Majumdar (known as R. C. Majumdar; 4 December 1888 – 11 February 1980) was a historian and professor of Indian history.
Born at Khandarpara, in Faridpur District (now in Bangladesh) on 4 December 1888, to Haladhar Majumdar and Bidhumukhi, Majumdar passed his childhood in poverty. In 1905, he passed his Entrance Examination from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1907, he passed F.A. with first class scholarship from Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and joined Presidency College, Calcutta. Graduating in B.A.(Honours) in 1909 and MA from Calcutta University in 1911, he won the Premchand Roychand scholarship from the University of Calcutta for his research work in 1913.
Majumdar started his teaching career as a lecturer at Dacca Government Training College. Since 1914, he spent seven years as a professor of history at the University of Calcutta. He got his doctorate for his thesis "Corporate Life in Ancient India".[3] In 1921 he joined the newly established University of Dacca as a professor of history. He also served, until he became its vice chancellor, as the head of the Department of History as well as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Between 1924 and 1936 he was Provost of Jagannath Hall. Then he became the vice chancellor of that University, for five years from 1937 to 1942. From 1950, he was Principal of the College of Indology, Benares Hindu University. He was elected the general president of the Indian History Congress and also became the vice president of the International Commission set up by the UNESCO for the history of mankind.
Majumdar started his research on ancient India. After extensive travels to Southeast Asia and research, he wrote detailed histories of Champa (1927), Suvarnadvipa (1929) and Kambuja Desa. On the initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he took up the mantle of editing a multi-volume tome on Indian history. Starting in 1951, he toiled for twenty six long years to describe the history of the Indian people from the Vedic Period to the present day in eleven volumes. In 1955, Majumdar became the founder-principal of the College of Indology of Nagpur University. In 1958-59, he taught Indian history in the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. He was also the president of the Asiatic Society (1966–68) and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (1968–69). For some time he was also the Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
When the final volume of "The History and Culture of the Indian People" was published in 1977, he had turned eighty-eight. He also edited the three-volume history of Bengal published by Dacca University. His last book was "Jivaner Smritidvipe".
When the Government of India set up an editorial Committee to author a history of the freedom struggle of India, he was its principal member. But, following a conflict with the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the Sepoy Mutiny, he left the government job and published his own book. The Sepoy Mutiny & Revolt of 1857. According to him the origins of India's freedom struggle lie in the English-educated Indian middle-class and the freedom struggle started with the Banga Bhanga movement in 1905. His views on the freedom struggle are found in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India. He was an admirer of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Born at Khandarpara, in Faridpur District (now in Bangladesh) on 4 December 1888, to Haladhar Majumdar and Bidhumukhi, Majumdar passed his childhood in poverty. In 1905, he passed his Entrance Examination from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1907, he passed F.A. with first class scholarship from Ripon College (now Surendranath College) and joined Presidency College, Calcutta. Graduating in B.A.(Honours) in 1909 and MA from Calcutta University in 1911, he won the Premchand Roychand scholarship from the University of Calcutta for his research work in 1913.
Majumdar started his teaching career as a lecturer at Dacca Government Training College. Since 1914, he spent seven years as a professor of history at the University of Calcutta. He got his doctorate for his thesis "Corporate Life in Ancient India".[3] In 1921 he joined the newly established University of Dacca as a professor of history. He also served, until he became its vice chancellor, as the head of the Department of History as well as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Between 1924 and 1936 he was Provost of Jagannath Hall. Then he became the vice chancellor of that University, for five years from 1937 to 1942. From 1950, he was Principal of the College of Indology, Benares Hindu University. He was elected the general president of the Indian History Congress and also became the vice president of the International Commission set up by the UNESCO for the history of mankind.
Majumdar started his research on ancient India. After extensive travels to Southeast Asia and research, he wrote detailed histories of Champa (1927), Suvarnadvipa (1929) and Kambuja Desa. On the initiative of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, he took up the mantle of editing a multi-volume tome on Indian history. Starting in 1951, he toiled for twenty six long years to describe the history of the Indian people from the Vedic Period to the present day in eleven volumes. In 1955, Majumdar became the founder-principal of the College of Indology of Nagpur University. In 1958-59, he taught Indian history in the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. He was also the president of the Asiatic Society (1966–68) and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (1968–69). For some time he was also the Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
When the final volume of "The History and Culture of the Indian People" was published in 1977, he had turned eighty-eight. He also edited the three-volume history of Bengal published by Dacca University. His last book was "Jivaner Smritidvipe".
When the Government of India set up an editorial Committee to author a history of the freedom struggle of India, he was its principal member. But, following a conflict with the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the Sepoy Mutiny, he left the government job and published his own book. The Sepoy Mutiny & Revolt of 1857. According to him the origins of India's freedom struggle lie in the English-educated Indian middle-class and the freedom struggle started with the Banga Bhanga movement in 1905. His views on the freedom struggle are found in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India. He was an admirer of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 23, 2018
Studied as a primer for "building the base" while I had been preparing for the Civil Services Exam, this one was a fascinating read. On one hand, it was amazingly comprehensive, with practically entire Indian history, with lots of impressive facts, being captured in a single volume. On the other hand, despite being an effort from some of the greatest historians ever, it was strangely dissatisfying. By that time, i.e. when I was studying the subject, Indian historiography had been changed by so-called secular Marxist historians. As a result, the book was rather jarring when compared with the NCERT textbooks penned by R.S. Sharma, Satish Chandra, and the Penguin volume by Romila Thapar. So much so, that despite reading it from cover-to-cover for my prelims during almost eight months, I didn't study it for the Mains out of fear that the JNU-based Marxist examiners would make a mincemeat of my answers if they are based upon the assertions & findings of this book.
Days have changed. The vice-like grip of Marxists and pseudo-seculars have lessened in these days. Hopefully that would enable more readers to openly savour and appreciate this classic.
Only reason for dropping a star is the lack of updation, as far as this book is concerned. It should have been updated in terms of facts, especially with respect to Harappa Civilization, Bhakti mivement, and the popular basis of freedom struggle along-with its internal contradictions.
Recommended.
Days have changed. The vice-like grip of Marxists and pseudo-seculars have lessened in these days. Hopefully that would enable more readers to openly savour and appreciate this classic.
Only reason for dropping a star is the lack of updation, as far as this book is concerned. It should have been updated in terms of facts, especially with respect to Harappa Civilization, Bhakti mivement, and the popular basis of freedom struggle along-with its internal contradictions.
Recommended.
June 9, 2019
Again i am giving 5 stars for unbiased book. Book is high in quality content. So basically i have read Ancient India and this one of same author. I studied these books for my knowledge. Hope i come across books more like this.
And yes book is bit outdated specially in Indus-Sarasvati Civilization. Rest part of the book is gold.
Highly recommended.
And yes book is bit outdated specially in Indus-Sarasvati Civilization. Rest part of the book is gold.
Highly recommended.
May 5, 2016
I'm still reading this mammoth multi volume piece. Have been reading it for months now. I haven't come across a better treasure trove of information on the incredible land that India is. If there's anything about India's history that you want to know, it's in here. By far the best historical resource I have found on the subject matter.
The only down side to this book is that it's narrative style isn't really something that would get you hooked and feels a bit bland, which makes reading this humongous piece harder.
The only down side to this book is that it's narrative style isn't really something that would get you hooked and feels a bit bland, which makes reading this humongous piece harder.
February 25, 2015
Like most aspirants of the civil services, this book was my Bible for some time.
September 26, 2013
A clear unbiased presentation of history. Unlike most history books, Mujumdar is quite unbiased. A work of such proportions is bound to be brief about most events, but still Mujumdar manages to accommodate all important events
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July 7, 2018It is very informative.
September 19, 2021
A must read for all history buffs. Mostly advanced material and often beyond the reach of beginners. The tome literally brims with extensive details.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews