Themes in Modern Indian History An introduction to Historical Approaches
Early Historical Practices High Textual Cultural Traditions: Legends, Puranas, Epics Lineages of Monarchs: Vamsabalis Court Chronicles and Hagiographies Muslim Court Chronicles Renderings of Divines Tales Caste Records and Family Narratives
British Historical Construction of India British History Writing of India India Imagined as modular well defined Territories with natural frontier and clearly defined history British Imperial Civilizing Mission and the Idea of India Periodization of Indian History
Indian Nationalist Historians and Redefining of Indian History Classical Antiquity Medieval Darkness/ Imperial Glory Colonial Modernity as Problematic Liberator Quest for Nationhood Resistance and Collaboration Elite Historiography
Marxist-Nationalist Historiography of India New Meaning of Nationhood Materialist Interpretation of Indian History Economic Foundation of Colonialism Social Background of Nationalist Movements in India Role of Workers and Peasant Movements in Indian History
Cambridge School of History Ideology or Self Interests Elite Competition Patron Client Relationship and Politics of Locality Province and Nation Factional Disputes Role of Interest Groups
New Social History Continuity and Change Role of Information Patterns of Class formations and Industrialization New Historical Perspectives
Subaltern History Rebellion against Elitist Bias History from below Understanding of Subaltern Mentality and Peasants as Historical Actors Questioning Pre-political Notion of Hegemony and Domination Europe as the site of production of Historical Knowledge