Defensive Art of India- With Special Reference To Bundelkhand (An Old And Rare Book)

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The emergence of defensive art, in fact, was due to the responsibility of a king to protect the borders of his kingdom to check the hostile attacks from enemies.

The defensive centres were thus meant to protect the local treasury and provide shelter to the inhabitants during the period of political upheavels. To cope up with this crisis the shelter was taken of both either of natural defences like chain of impregnable hills, thick forests, flooded rivers and also the artificial defences like moats, ramparts, bunds and fortifications. The geographical situation of Bundelkhand is such that both types of defences were in vogue, since earliest times.

This monograph is a detailed study of the defensive art of Bundelkhand. Historical background, history of forts and fortifications, study of major defence centres and geneaology of Orchha rulers, Datia rulers, Charkhari rulers and classification of forts as given in various Indian Treaties are the main issues discussed in details in the book.

Dr. Ajaipal Singh was born in 1933 in the village Paharipur-Jankhat, district Farrukhabad. He completed his High School and Intermediate from D.N. Inter College Tirwa Farrukhabad. He graduated in Science from Allahabad University and received Diploma in Civil Engineering from B. H. U. Varanasi. He took his M.A. degree from Vikram University, Ujjain and completed his Post graduate diploma in Museology from Bhopal University.

He was awarded Ph.D. degree from Bhopal University. Dr. Singh is at present employed as an Assistant Engineer (Conservation) in the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal.

As an Engineer by profession, Dr. A.P. Singh, has been practically handling the conservation works of monuments and antiquities for the last more than two decades, besides his thorough experience in the field, he also attended archaeological excavations conducted by the department and took active part in the excavations activities.

Besides the books Conservation and Museums Techniques, Forts and Fortifications of India. Dr. Singh has contributed a good number of research papers to various reputed journals.

The basic factor which is responsible for the emergence of defensive art, is the responsibility of a king to protect the boundaries of his kingdom to check hostile attacks from enemies.

The defensive centres were thus meant to protect the local treasury and provide shelter to the inhabitants during periods of political upheavals. To cope up with this crisis shelter was taken of both, either of natural or akṛtrm defences like a chain of impregnable hills, thick forests, flooded rivers and also artificial or krtrm defences like moats, ramparts, bunds and fortifications. The geographical situation of Bundelkhand is such that both methods of defence were in vogue, since early times.

This monograph is a detailed study of the defensive art of Bundelkhand.

It is my sacred and pleasant task to acknowledge the help I received in the execution of this book. I pay great respect to Dr.Rahman Ali, Reader, Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture and Archaeology, Vikram University, Ujjain, who was kind enough to go through the manuscript. I am thankful for his scholarly pains and providing guidance.

Shri K.K.Chakravarty, L.A.S., Commissioner, Archaeology and i Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal who encouraged me to complete this book, I express my gratitude to him.

My thanks are also due to Prof. Shankar Tiwari, Head of the Department of Geography, Hamidia College, Bhopal, Shri Salimuddin Curator, Indore, Shri Suresh Chandra Srivastava. Supervisor, Shri Raja Ram Singh, Curator, Bhopal Museum, Bhopal, Shri Jag Mohan Saraswat, Supdt Shri P.J. Abraham, Shri G.K.Mitra, Sub-Engineers who have always been helpful to me for the completion of this book.

It is beyond expression to account for the encouragement given by my beloved wife Smt. Meena Devi, due to which I could execute this work, inspite of my heavy preoccupation of family as well as official works.

I pay great respect to Smt. Habibum Ali who inspired me to write this monograph.

I thank my son Shri Shivpal Singh who helped me in finalising the illustrations, for his sincere help.

My indebtedness is also due to Shri K.K. Rajvaidhya, Librarian of Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Bhopal who was always helpful to me in providing rare references.

Likewise Shri Hemant Jain, Photographer, Shri P.P. Sharma, Senior Photographer, Shri Muhmood who helped me in various ways. I am thankful to them.

Mrs. Jessie Abraham has typed the manuscript neatly inspite of her own preoccupations. I thank her for her sincere help.

Apart from the above mentioned friends and all other well wishers, I record my sincere gratitude to all of those whose names are not mentioned but who helped me in various ways to complete this book.

I am also thankful to Dr.Agam Prasad and the staff of Agam Kala Prakashan for publishing this book in such a short period.

DR. A.P. SINGH

Bhopal

Dated July 17, 1989.