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