Pre-Mussalman India: A History Of The Motherland Prior To The Sultanate Of Delhi

This book proposes to introduce the reader to the distant past of India, prior to 1206 A.D., the era of the first Sultanate. A correct and reliable history of India has yet to be written. Not only individual peculiarities of temperament, but also in born prejudices and other defects have, in the absence of trustworthy records, all combined to minimise the historical value of most books on the subject. This is especially true of the earliest or the Hindu period. Many fanciful theories started over a hundred years ago have, with slight alterations to suit later socalled ethnological conclusions, been accepted and repeated by later writers; and they are now put down in ordinary textbooks as if they are all proved history. The fact, however, is that no European has yet correctly understood Indian Vedic literature, nor the true origin and principles of the caste system which has played such a great part in the building of Indian civilization. Some of the chapters give paragraphs onthe postVedic Ages, Alexander, Ashoka, The Sunga Dynasty, The Guptas, Chinese Pilgrims, Harshavardhana, Miinor Hindu Kingdoms, Etc.