WHAT IS HISTORY ?

CAN HISTYORY BE OBJECTIVE ?

History a sense of adventure. It is a journey across time and space. It transports us into
another world, another age, in which people lived differently. Their economy and society,
their beliefs and faiths, their clothes and food, their settlements and buildings, their arts and
crafts – everything was different. History can open doors into such worlds. One common
question which arises is “Why should we bother about pasts that are no longer with us, pasts
that have gone by?”
But history is not just about the past. It is about the present. The society we live in has been
fashioned by those who came before us. The joys and sorrows of their daily lives, their
attempt to grapple with the problems of their time, their discoveries and inventions, slowly
transformed human societies. These changes were often so gradual, so seemingly small,
that their impact was not noticed by people at that time. Only later, when we return to the
past, when we study history, can we begin to see how these changes happened, and we can
observe their long-term effect. Breading history we can understand how the modern world
has emerged o\ver long centuries of development.

Studying history can help us understand more than the past. It enables us to develop
important skills and qualities. When we try and enter another world, we have to learn how to
do this— to understand people whose lives were different. As we do this, we open up our
minds and break out of our small sssssssspresent-day worlds. We begin to see how other
people may think and act. This can become a learning experience that enriches us in many
different ways. It not just about the kings and queens who lived in ancient India, and about
their conquests and policies , about hunters and peasants, crafts people and traders. We
see how fire came to be used, and iron tools were discovered; how wheat and rice began to
be cultivated, and and towns developed. We came to know about pilgrims and saints,
buildings and paintings, religions and beliefs. We found out that history is not only about
great men. It is also about the lives and activities of ordinary women, men and children.
History is not only about political events, it is about everything that happens in society.

How historians come to know about the past. Somewhat like detectives, historians
follow clues and traces left by people who lived in the past. Everything that survives from
earlier times – stone tools, traces of plants, bones, written material and pictures, ornaments
and implements, inscriptions and coins, buildings and sculpture, pots and pans — can tell us
something about the past. Historians and archaeologists study these sources and try and
understand them. In this book, you will see many of these sources and find out how
historians study these. But studying history can help us understand more than the
past. It enables us to develop important skills and qualities. When we try and enter another
world, we have to learn how to do this— to understand people whose lives were different. As
we do this, we open up our minds and break out of our small present-day worlds. We begin
to see how other people may think and act. This can become a learning experience that
enriches us in many different ways.

To retrieve the past , historians have to find sources that make the past accessible . But
sources do not just reveal the past , historians have to grapple with sources , interpret them
, and make them speak , This is what makes history exiting . the same sources can tell us
new things if we ask new questions , and engage with them in new ways . so we need to see
how historians read sources , and how they discover new things in old resources .
 PARTS OF HISTORY
1) ANCIENT
2) MEDIEVAL
3) MORDERN

ANCIENT
 Ancient India is replete with examples of huge empires being governed efficiently. The
Mauryan Empire is a classic example of how to govern a huge population spread over
the vast Indian subcontinent. They had well defined ministries for all the major aspects of
administration. They even had an effective internal and external espionage
system.  Ancient India is full of examples of political and diplomatic strategies which
altered the history of Empires. Best known example is obviously of Chanakya. Apart from
Chanakya, there are examples of several other astute statesmen/ diplomats in later
Indian kingdoms till 10th century AD. We can still learn a lot from these ancient
strategies/ diplomacy which might help us even today.

Warfare was a well developed sciences in India even in the times of Mahabharata, where
we can see precise army unit formations known as ‘Akshauhini’ which had specific
numbers of infantry, cavalry and charioteers. We already know about battle field
formations known as ‘Vyuhas’. We also find examples of military strategy being played
out in many of the wars in ancient Indian Kingdoms, notably Harshavardhana,
Samudragupta etc.

 Sanskrit is one of the most scientific languages in the world. It is also the most efficient
language which can convey the maximum message in minimum words. Every shloka we
read are structured in 4 equal parts. We have an ancient encrypted sutra in
CIIRC,Bangalore, which is believed to be containing details about 64 art forms in 7–8
languages. To decode that today, people are using modern day computers. Such is the
level of language proficiency and encryption of ancient India.

There is a lot to learn from ancient history. The Indian Subcontinent was one of the most
flourishing regions of the world during ancient times. Two of India’s greatest empires
Mauryan followed by the Gupta Empire took India to glory.

The able rulers of these empires were great administrators. They were not only powerful
in terms of army or warfare techniques but also gave importance to art, literature,
architecture, science, astronomy and medicine.

Some of the biggest scientific inventions and literary works are credited to this period.
Scholars like Kalidas, Aryabhatta, Chanakya were born in Ancient India. The science of
Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedas came from ancient India as well.

The number zero and the fact that earth is spherical were discovered in Ancient India.
The magnificent coins and architectural structures built in Ancient India are so artistic
that they are loved all over the world. Being an Indian, we should feel proud to be a part
of this rich heritage and culture.

MEDIEVAL
The Medieval Age is to me the most interesting era in Indian history, as Indian culture
was at a crossroads like never before. The early half of this era was marked by
fragmentation, tensions and decay within India, and continuing Hun raids sweeping
through the heartland on North India. The Southern kingdom of the Cholas is another
huge fixture to reckon with. It stupefies me how Rajendra Chola managed to conquer his
way up to the banks of the Ganges, earning himself the epithet ‘Gangaikonda' (please
help if I muddled up the title). The second half began with the Arab conquest of Sindh,
the repeated Ghaznavid invasions, and the faceoff between the strong Rajput
confederacy led by Prithwiraj III and the treacherous Muhammad of Ghor. Far more
importance should be, — and is, as long as it pertains to academia — accorded to the
Delhi Sultanate. There were benevolent rulers like Qutbuddin Aibak as well as bigots like
Alauddin Khilji. Most importantly, this marked the first notable interaction between
Medieval India and Central Asia. The origin of the Mughals from Mongols and Turks is an
intriguing study. Prof. Wei Kwei-Sun's ‘THE MOGHULS| Chingizid and Timurid:
Connections and Differences’ published via the Asiatic Society sheds considerable light
on it. The Central Asian roots of the Mughals, and its amazing blend with ‘Indianness'
never ceases to catch my breath. Lisa Balabanlillar’s mindblowing article ‘Lords of the
Auspicious Conjunction’  is an extensive authority on the topic. It also serves as a welcome
break from typical takes emphasizing either on their indigenous or foreign nature. There
are far too many reasons to love the Medieval era. It's more enthralling than one would
probably imagine.

MORDERN
The Modern Age showcases the tyranny of colonial rule, the rise of nationalism, the
tedious and bloody march to freedom, and political complications leading to and ever
following Partition. The early half gave rise to pre-eminent cultural enclaves that are
really interesting. The early days of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras, for instance, are
hauntingly alive. But the Modern Age is also complicitly interwoven with politics, politics,
and POLITICS. Ugh, that is enough to make it nearly repulsive to me. It tends to ignore
and subdue all other facets of society. In all, it's a shadowy semblance of India’s former
glorious past.
CAN HISTORY BE OBJECTIVE ?