Chapter 1

How, When and Where

How important are dates?
They help in finding out how things were in the past and how things have changed.
Earlier, history was an account of battles and big events such as the following:
The year a king was crowned
The year he was married and had a child
The year he fought a particular war or battle
The year he died
The year the next ruler succeeded to the throne
For such events, dates were important. However, now the concept has changed. More
emphasis is given on why things happen and not on when things happened.
Which dates?
The dates around which we write history become important because we focus on a
particular set of events that are important. When the focus changes and we look at a
new set of events, a new set of dates become significant.
In histories that revolve around the lives of the British Governor Generals, the status
and activities of Indians do not fit in. For focusing on Indian activities, a new format is
required. As such, old sets of dates lose importance and a new set of dates comes into
focus.
How do we periodise?
It was in 1817 that James Mill in his book A History of British India divided Indian history
into the following three parts:
The Hindu period
The Muslim period
The British period
However, Indian historians have usually divided Indian history into the following:
Ancient history
Medieval history
Modern history

 The modern period was associated with the forces of modernity like reason, science,
liberty, democracy and equality.
The medieval period was associated with a society where modernity did not exist.
What is Colonial?
The British came to India, established their rule, subjugated the local nawabs and rajas,
collected revenue to meet their expenses, bought goods they wanted at low prices,
etc.
The British rule brought about changes in Indian values, tastes, customs and practices.
The process of subjugation of one country by another that leads to political, economic,
social and cultural changes is called colonisation.
What sources do historians use in writing the Modern Indian history?
Administration produces records
The official records of the British administration are an important source. Every
plan, instruction, policy, decision, agreement and investigation was clearly
written.
The British felt that all the important letters and documents were to be carefully
preserved. As such, they set up record rooms attached to administrative
institutions.
Institutions such as archives and museums were also established for preserving
records.
Surveys
Detailed surveys were carried out by the British to map the entire country.
Revenue surveys were conducted in villages in order to know the topography,
the quality of soil, flora, fauna, cropping pattern, etc.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, census operations were held every
ten years, which provided information about the distribution of population in
different provinces, castes, religions and occupations.
Other surveys such as botanical surveys, archaeological surveys, zoological
surveys, forest surveys and anthropological surveys were also carried out.
What official records do not tell?
Official records do not help us in knowing what other people in the country felt and
what lay behind their actions.

 For knowing that, unofficial records are read, which of course were more difficult to
find as compared to the official records.
Some of the non-official records were as follows:
Personal diaries of people
Accounts of travellers and pilgrims
Autobiographies of important people
Popular booklets
Newspapers
Writings of reformers, poets and novelists