The Dynastic History of Northern India: Early Mediaeval Period (Set of 2 Volumes)

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The Dynastic History of Northern India Early Mediaeval Period is a comprehensive account of the history of northern India between the tenth and the twelfth centuries AD. This period, which is characterized by transition and the presence of various regional dynasties, marks the beginning of the end of the Hindu dynasties and the gradual establishment of the early Muslim rule in northern and western India. Prof. Ray has admirably marshalled the details of events of the period to present a continuous history and has bridged the gulf between the Hindu and the early Muslim (Turkish and Afghan) periods. Whenever necessary, Prof. Ray has overstepped chronological limits of the volume in order to present a continuous history of the dynasties and kingdoms.

VOLUME 1, deals with the period of transition intervening between the decline of the Gurjara-Pratihara empire and the Muslim conquest. It contains detailed enumeration of the dynastic history of Sind, Kashmir, Nepal, Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, the Sähis of Afghanistan and the Punjab, Gähadvälas (Gaharwars) of Varanasi and Kanyakubja, Rästrakutas, and the later Gurjara-Pratiháras of Kanauj. The entire evidence, as available from contemporary epigraphs, coins and literary sources, including also the Persian and the Arabic works, has been fully utilized by Prof. Ray in reconstructing the historical details of the Period.

VOLUME II, deals with the history of the Candellas, Haihayas, Kachwähas-Paramarás, Chaulukayas, Chauhans, Tomars and the Guhiltos, as derived from the epigraphic, numismatic and literary evidence, besides the Jaina tradition and the Persian works. Prof. L.D. Barnett, in his foreword to the book, writes, 'No such comprehensive work in the domain of Indian history has yet appeared, and Dr Ray deserves credit as much for the boldness of his design as for the skill and industry with which he has executed it.

Dr Ray has added to the utility of the work by providing each volume a detailed index. maps, bibliographies, genealogical tables and appendices on certain subjects and aspects requiring separate discussion.

Prof. Hem Chandra Ray was born in 1896 in Faridpur District, now in Bangladesh. After a brilliant academic career at Calcutta University, he joined as an assistant to Prof. D.R. Bhandarkar in 1923 and also participated in the excavations at Paharpur. He was awarded the Premchand Rovchand scholarship and the Mouat Medal for his research on Kautilya's Arthasastra. During 1927-29, Ray worked at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, on The Dynastic History of Northern India: Early Mediaeval Period for Ph.D. degree and was also awarded D. Litt for its companion volume. In 1942, he joined the University of Ceylon and was also the Professor of History for some time in University of London. In 1958, he became the Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts in the newly established Vidyalankara University in Ceylon. During his stay in Ceylon, Prof. Ray published on behalf of the University, the History of Ceylon, in two volumes as the Editor-in-chief. The volumes have also been translated into Sinhalese. Prof. Ray had planned to publish the third volume of The Dynastic History of Northern India, which, however, could not be published due to his death in Colombo on the 10th of November, 1964.

In the present work an attempt has been made to give an account of the dynasties that ruled in Northern India during the period of transition intervening between the decline of the Gurjara-Pratihara empire and the Muslim conquest. The history of Northern India between c. 916 and 1196 A.D. only very roughly covers the period of this transition. In my account of the dynasties I had often to go beyond these limits for the reason that the history of some of the dynasties began before 916 A.D., and in other cases some of them were not conquered by the Muslims till considerably after 1196 A.D. As the work was really intended to bridge the gulf between the Hindu and the early Muslim (better called Turkish and Afghan) periods, I have, acting on the advice of Dr. Barnett, taken the liberty of over- stepping the limits whenever necessary.

The idea of the present work suggested itself to me as early as 1920-21 when I was faced with the task of delivering lectures on the Hinda period of Indian History to the Post-Graduate students of the University of Calcutta. The first two volumes of the work were however actually planned and completed during my stay in Europe during the years 1927-29. These two volumes mainly contain the political history of the Dynasties." The third volume which is in course of preparation will deal with the following topics: (i) Minor Dynasties, (ii) Administrative History, (iii) Economic History, (iv) Social and Religious History, (v) Literary History, (vi) Monuments and Coins, (vii) Origin of the Rajputs, and (viii) The Causes of the Decline and Downfall of the Hindu Dynasties in Northern India.

"Histories," says Bacon, "make men wise." To read with understanding the record of men's strivings in the past for good and for evil, of the ambitions of individuals and the struggles of masses in their play and counter-play, is off en saddening, but always helpful for the knowledge of the present. Most of the worst errors of society might be avoided if its leaders had knowledge of its past and power to use it. Even the driest bones of historical fact are precious: they reveal conditions and forces in the past which have still a significance for the present, for man changes little, and "bleibt stets von gleichem Schlag," even the most sweeping revolutions being unable to destroy the bonds which unite him to former generations.

Indian culture has produced singularly few works of genuine historiography; but it has preserved abundant materials for the historian in the form of inscriptions, literary data, and documents of various kinds. By judicious use of these, it is possible to construct a record of the political and social experiences of many centuries. The story is indeed very incomplete : great gaps yawn in many parts of it, and even where the facts are visible, the causes which brought them about are often obscure. But the main lines of Indian history are now certain, thanks to the patient and skilful labours of generations of scholars, and, in the present work, Dr. Ray has rendered at service of immense value by supplying a complete critical survey of them as they run through the North from the latter end of the classical period down to the beginnings of the modern era. He has not only collected all the relevant materials and arranged them in lucid connexion, but he has likewise examined them in the spirit of judicious and constructive historiography, emending where possible their errors, discounting their exaggerations, and endeavouring to interpret obscurities by the light of sober sense. No such comprehensive work in the domain of Indian history has yet appeared, and Dr. Ray deserves credit as much for the boldness of his design as for the skill and industry with which he has executed it.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages