AN ADVANCED HISTORY OF INDIA
BY
R. C. MAJUMDAR, M.A., Ph.D.
Formerly Vice-Chancellor of Dacca University
H. C. RAYCHAUDHURI, M.A., Ph.D.
Sometime Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture, Calcutta University
KALIKINKAR DATTA, M.A., Ph.D.
Sometimes Vice-Chancellor, of Patna University, and Professor of History, Patna University
THIRD EDITION
With an additional Appendix on the Emergence of Bangladesh
PART I ( Ancient India)
PART II (Medieval India)
PART III (Modern India)
Appendix IV: The Emergence of Bangladesh
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
The book has been thoroughly revised and brought up to date by incorporating in this new edition the results of the latest research in Indian history. Although we have adhered to the old decision of narrating the history of India from the earliest time to the achievement of independence in 1947, we have added a few notes on some important events by modifying Appendix II and adding a new Appendix III. The new Appendix II brings the amendments to the Indian Constitution up to date, and Appendix III refers to the aggressions of China and Pakistan. Appendix III is not intended to be a full and critical narrative of the wars with China and Pakistan, but simply a recital of the chief events in these two episodes which vitally affect the future of India. The appreciation of this book by the press and the public has exceeded our greatest expectations, and we have spared no pain to make it still more useful by means of the new material added to this edition.
January 1967
R. C. M and K. K. D
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
All changes of a momentous character have taken place in India since the first publication of this volume. The most important of these is the abdication of power and authority in India by the British, with the grant of virtual independence to the Dominions of India and Pakistan. It has therefore been thought desirable to bring this history up to August 16, 1947, when power was actually transferred to the hands of the Indians. Although in general this revised edition does not go beyond that date and does not even refer to such notable events as the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, nevertheless passing allusion has occasionally been made to later happenings in order to make the treatment of some non-controversial topics up-to-date. The recent integration of Indian States into different Unioim took place after August 15, 1947, but the readjustment of the boundaries of these states has so completely changed the political geography of modem India that it would be unwise to ignore it in a text-book of Indian History. We have accordingly dealt with this matter in an Appendix.
A second Appendix gives a summary of the new ConstitutionofIndia which came into force on January 26, 1950. A new chapter has been added to describe India’s struggle for independence, and the accounts of constitutional changes in 1935 have been somewhat abridged. The whole book has been thoroughly revised in order to correct errors and incorporate the results of the latest research. The appreciation of this book by the press and the public has exceeded our greatest expectations, and we have spared no pain to make it still more useful by means of the new material added to this edition
R, C. M.
Second Edition 1950