Seminar Report
Indian
History: Themes, Sources and Historical Methodologies
Held: 18-02-2026, Old Seminar Hall
The
seminar conducted under the aegis of History Society—Virasat, commenced
punctually at 3:30 pm with an introductory address by Prof. Nagendra Sharma,
Teacher in-charge, Department of History, who outlined the central theme of the
event. This was followed by Dr. Motiur Rahman Khan, Convener, Virasat,
who formally introduced the distinguished guest. In continuation, Prof. R.K.
Gupta, Principal of PGDAV (Evening) College, presented a brief historical
overview and remarked that ‘history in contemporary times is like the side
mirror of a car, which is essential for moving forward safely.’
The first eminent speaker, Seema Bawa, former Head of the Department of
History and a renowned historian, delivered a lecture on the nature of
historical sources and their interpretation in the study of ancient history.
She emphasized that history must be grounded in authentic sources and factual
accuracy. Referring to Rajatarangini, the celebrated Sanskrit chronicle
of Kashmir, she explained that it cannot be considered a primary source in the
strict sense, as it largely provides a genealogical account of the kings who
ruled Kashmir. She further advised students that archaeological sources must be
carefully examined through scientific dating, chronological methods, and
corroborated with other tools and evidentiary materials to ensure accurate
historical interpretation. About textual issues, she also noted that certain
Sanskrit texts, such as the Natya Shastra, were compiled in the 13th
century CE and reflect significant temporal gaps in the periods they purport to
describe. In
this regard, she stated that before employing any historical text as a source
for reconstructing the past, it is essential to examine the context in which
the text was composed.
The next speaker, Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri, presented his views on
medieval Indian history and its sources. He explored the various themes taken
up for inquiry by the historians and how they utilized different sources to reach
their respective conclusions. He observed that during the medieval period,
Persian and Arabic gradually assumed the prominence once held by Sanskrit as
the principal languages of administration and intellectual discourse. He
further noted that when various regional powers in India were defeated by
Turkish invaders, Persian chronicles often attributed the success of the Turks
to their superior military technology. Referring to the Chachnama, he
pointed out that the exclusive right of the Kshatriya community to engage in
warfare posed a significant limitation. As a result, broader sections of Indian
society did not actively participate in resistance against the Turkish forces,
as political authority was perceived to have merely shifted to a “new ruling”
regime to whom taxes were to be paid. Prof. Jafri also mentioned that H. H.
Risley, a British colonial administrator, observed that the region stretching
from Peshawar to Dhaka had once had a substantial Buddhist population. However,
by 1901, this population had largely disappeared. Risley suggested that many
among them might have converted to Islam. Prof. Jafri further remarked that
when Firoz Shah Tughlaq transported one of Ashoka’s pillar inscriptions from
Meerut to Delhi, he invited Brahmins and other scholars to decipher the
inscription. However, they were unable to read it. Consequently, he argued that
the modern conception of India’s “ancient past” was significantly constructed
in the nineteenth century under British colonial scholarship. He also referred to the Baoli of Palam (Delhi), which
was built by a Jain trader during Balban's rule, and he likened his reign to
Hindu gods. Thus, during those times, Sanskrit and regional languages expanded
in addition to Arabic and Persian.
Following Prof. Jafri’s address, Amar Farooqui delivered his lecture,
focusing on the problems of sources in modern Indian history, particularly in
relation to the Revolt of 1857. At the outset, he emphasized the importance of
establishing a clear chronology of sources for any serious historical inquiry.
He further underlined that engagement with existing historiography is essential
for responsible and critical history writing. In this context, he referred to
the events of 1858, when leaders such as Tatya Tope and Rani Lakshmibai of
Jhansi, along with other rebels, assembled at Gwalior and planned their
military campaign. Prof. Farooqui discussed three significant texts concerning
the events of the Revolt. Among them, he mentioned Charles Ball’s The
History of the Indian Mutiny (published in three volumes), observing that
historians should ideally analyze and write about major events only after a
certain passage of time, allowing for greater objectivity and the availability
of more comprehensive sources. In continuation, he referred to a second work in
this list, an anonymously authored volume titled The Mutiny in the Bengal
Army, highlighting how informal accounts and even office gossip gradually
became incorporated into historical narratives. The third text he discussed was
John Kaye’s History of the Sepoy War. In this regard, Prof. Faruqui
emphasized that historians must pay close attention to every aspect of a text,
including its authorship, intent, and even its publisher. He further observed
that the aforementioned works do not so much illuminate the nature and causes
of the Revolt of 1857 as they describe the manner in which the “Great Revolt”
was suppressed. He also noted that John Kaye and George Malleson were not
professional historians. Indeed, Kaye himself acknowledged in the preface to
his work that he did not consider it necessary to rely upon formal historical
records. Prof. Faruqui underscored, however, that proper documentation and
references are indispensable for rigorous historical writing.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Sanjay
Kumar, who expressed his gratitude to the distinguished guests, the principal,
faculty members, and volunteers for their contributions to the successful
organization of the event. Anushka and Ambesh of fourth Semester (Major) beautifully
conducted the program and kept the audience anchored. Yash Shukla of eighth
semester (Major) did the videography of the seminar, which will soon be
available on the Department’s YouTube channel. Other members of the society,
Priyanka Bisht and other students rendered their valuable effort in making the
event a success.
Report on ‘Visit to the National Museum
on 29th of November 2025
A visit to the National Museum, New Delhi was organised by the Department of History, PGDAV College, University of Delhi, on 29th November 2025 for the students of Semester 3 and Semester 7 as part of their academic enrichment and field-based learning activities. A total of 10 students participated in the educational excursion. The visit was coordinated and supervised by Dr. Motiur Rahman Khan, Dr. Ganesh Prasad and Dr. Darshana, faculty members of the Department of History. The objective of the visit was to familiarise students with India’s cultural, artistic, and archaeological heritage, and to provide them with firsthand exposure to the material remains that form the foundation of historical research.
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The National Museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts representing different periods of Indian history, beginning from the Harappan Civilisation to the modern era. The visit commenced with the Harappan Gallery, where students observed pottery, beads, seals, terracotta figurines and tools that reflect the urban culture, craftsmanship and trade networks of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The continuity of cultural traditions from the Harappan period to later historical phases became evident through carefully curated exhibits, allowing students to understand the depth and diversity of India’s early civilisation.
The group then explored the Buddhist Art Gallery, which displayed sculptures from the Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati schools. These exhibits helped the students understand the evolution of Buddhist iconography, stylistic variations and symbolic representations. The museum’s collection of Gupta-period sculptures further highlighted the classical artistic excellence of the era, marked by ideal body proportions, calm expressions and spiritual depth. The medieval gallery, with its bronze idols, temple sculptures and early medieval artefacts, offered insights into regional cultural developments and changing religious practices.
Students also visited the Miniature Painting Gallery, which showcased Mughal, Rajput, Pahari and Deccan miniature traditions. The intricate designs, detailed brushwork and thematic diversity of the paintings helped them appreciate the richness of courtly traditions and patronage. The Decorative Arts and Arms & Armour sections provided an understanding of India’s material culture through displays of jewellery, coins, weapons, textiles and ornaments. The wide range of collections enabled students to observe how artistic expression, everyday life and technological advancements evolved across different historical periods.
The visit proved to be particularly valuable since the syllabus of both semesters includes themes related to ancient and medieval art, archaeology and heritage studies. The museum exhibits complemented classroom learning and enabled students to connect theoretical knowledge with real objects. Many students expressed special interest in Harappan artefacts, Gupta sculptures, Gandhara images, miniature paintings and coin collections. The hands-on visual experience was more engaging than reading textual descriptions alone and encouraged students to develop a deeper interest in research, museology and heritage conservation.
The visit began around 9:00 AM from the college, and the group completed the museum tour and returned by 3:00 PM. Overall, the experience provided students with an opportunity to revisit India’s cultural past, observe rare artefacts closely and appreciate the diversity of historical traditions. The educational excursion not only enriched their understanding of India’s heritage but also helped them realise the importance of preserving these cultural treasures for future generations.
Delhi-- Lal Qila and Shahjanabad
Seminar Report
Indian History: Themes, Sources and Historical Methodologies
Held: 18-02-2026, Old Seminar Hall
The
seminar conducted under the aegis of History Society—Virasat, commenced
punctually at 3:30 pm with an introductory address by Prof. Nagendra Sharma,
Teacher in-charge, Department of History, who outlined the central theme of the
event. This was followed by Dr. Motiur Rahman Khan, Convener, Virasat,
who formally introduced the distinguished guest. In continuation, Prof. R.K.
Gupta, Principal of PGDAV (Evening) College, presented a brief historical
overview and remarked that ‘history in contemporary times is like the side
mirror of a car, which is essential for moving forward safely.’
The first eminent speaker, Seema Bawa, former Head of the Department of
History and a renowned historian, delivered a lecture on the nature of
historical sources and their interpretation in the study of ancient history.
She emphasized that history must be grounded in authentic sources and factual
accuracy. Referring to Rajatarangini, the celebrated Sanskrit chronicle
of Kashmir, she explained that it cannot be considered a primary source in the
strict sense, as it largely provides a genealogical account of the kings who
ruled Kashmir. She further advised students that archaeological sources must be
carefully examined through scientific dating, chronological methods, and
corroborated with other tools and evidentiary materials to ensure accurate
historical interpretation. About textual issues, she also noted that certain
Sanskrit texts, such as the Natya Shastra, were compiled in the 13th
century CE and reflect significant temporal gaps in the periods they purport to
describe. In
this regard, she stated that before employing any historical text as a source
for reconstructing the past, it is essential to examine the context in which
the text was composed.
The next speaker, Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri, presented his views on
medieval Indian history and its sources. He explored the various themes taken
up for inquiry by the historians and how they utilized different sources to reach
their respective conclusions. He observed that during the medieval period,
Persian and Arabic gradually assumed the prominence once held by Sanskrit as
the principal languages of administration and intellectual discourse. He
further noted that when various regional powers in India were defeated by
Turkish invaders, Persian chronicles often attributed the success of the Turks
to their superior military technology. Referring to the Chachnama, he
pointed out that the exclusive right of the Kshatriya community to engage in
warfare posed a significant limitation. As a result, broader sections of Indian
society did not actively participate in resistance against the Turkish forces,
as political authority was perceived to have merely shifted to a “new ruling”
regime to whom taxes were to be paid. Prof. Jafri also mentioned that H. H.
Risley, a British colonial administrator, observed that the region stretching
from Peshawar to Dhaka had once had a substantial Buddhist population. However,
by 1901, this population had largely disappeared. Risley suggested that many
among them might have converted to Islam. Prof. Jafri further remarked that
when Firoz Shah Tughlaq transported one of Ashoka’s pillar inscriptions from
Meerut to Delhi, he invited Brahmins and other scholars to decipher the
inscription. However, they were unable to read it. Consequently, he argued that
the modern conception of India’s “ancient past” was significantly constructed
in the nineteenth century under British colonial scholarship. He also referred to the Baoli of Palam (Delhi), which
was built by a Jain trader during Balban's rule, and he likened his reign to
Hindu gods. Thus, during those times, Sanskrit and regional languages expanded
in addition to Arabic and Persian.
Following Prof. Jafri’s address, Amar Farooqui delivered his lecture,
focusing on the problems of sources in modern Indian history, particularly in
relation to the Revolt of 1857. At the outset, he emphasized the importance of
establishing a clear chronology of sources for any serious historical inquiry.
He further underlined that engagement with existing historiography is essential
for responsible and critical history writing. In this context, he referred to
the events of 1858, when leaders such as Tatya Tope and Rani Lakshmibai of
Jhansi, along with other rebels, assembled at Gwalior and planned their
military campaign. Prof. Farooqui discussed three significant texts concerning
the events of the Revolt. Among them, he mentioned Charles Ball’s The
History of the Indian Mutiny (published in three volumes), observing that
historians should ideally analyze and write about major events only after a
certain passage of time, allowing for greater objectivity and the availability
of more comprehensive sources. In continuation, he referred to a second work in
this list, an anonymously authored volume titled The Mutiny in the Bengal
Army, highlighting how informal accounts and even office gossip gradually
became incorporated into historical narratives. The third text he discussed was
John Kaye’s History of the Sepoy War. In this regard, Prof. Faruqui
emphasized that historians must pay close attention to every aspect of a text,
including its authorship, intent, and even its publisher. He further observed
that the aforementioned works do not so much illuminate the nature and causes
of the Revolt of 1857 as they describe the manner in which the “Great Revolt”
was suppressed. He also noted that John Kaye and George Malleson were not
professional historians. Indeed, Kaye himself acknowledged in the preface to
his work that he did not consider it necessary to rely upon formal historical
records. Prof. Faruqui underscored, however, that proper documentation and
references are indispensable for rigorous historical writing.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Sanjay Kumar, who expressed his gratitude to the distinguished guests, the principal, faculty members, and volunteers for their contributions to the successful organization of the event. Anushka and Ambesh of fourth Semester (Major) beautifully conducted the program and kept the audience anchored. Yash Shukla of eighth semester (Major) did the videography of the seminar, which will soon be available on the Department’s YouTube channel. Other members of the society, Priyanka Bisht and other students rendered their valuable effort in making the event a success.
Report on ‘Visit to the National Museum
on 29th of November 2025
A visit to the National Museum, New Delhi was organised by the Department of History, PGDAV College, University of Delhi, on 29th November 2025 for the students of Semester 3 and Semester 7 as part of their academic enrichment and field-based learning activities. A total of 10 students participated in the educational excursion. The visit was coordinated and supervised by Dr. Motiur Rahman Khan, Dr. Ganesh Prasad and Dr. Darshana, faculty members of the Department of History. The objective of the visit was to familiarise students with India’s cultural, artistic, and archaeological heritage, and to provide them with firsthand exposure to the material remains that form the foundation of historical research.
.gif)
The National Museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts representing different periods of Indian history, beginning from the Harappan Civilisation to the modern era. The visit commenced with the Harappan Gallery, where students observed pottery, beads, seals, terracotta figurines and tools that reflect the urban culture, craftsmanship and trade networks of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The continuity of cultural traditions from the Harappan period to later historical phases became evident through carefully curated exhibits, allowing students to understand the depth and diversity of India’s early civilisation.
The group then explored the Buddhist Art Gallery, which displayed sculptures from the Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati schools. These exhibits helped the students understand the evolution of Buddhist iconography, stylistic variations and symbolic representations. The museum’s collection of Gupta-period sculptures further highlighted the classical artistic excellence of the era, marked by ideal body proportions, calm expressions and spiritual depth. The medieval gallery, with its bronze idols, temple sculptures and early medieval artefacts, offered insights into regional cultural developments and changing religious practices.
Students also visited the Miniature Painting Gallery, which showcased Mughal, Rajput, Pahari and Deccan miniature traditions. The intricate designs, detailed brushwork and thematic diversity of the paintings helped them appreciate the richness of courtly traditions and patronage. The Decorative Arts and Arms & Armour sections provided an understanding of India’s material culture through displays of jewellery, coins, weapons, textiles and ornaments. The wide range of collections enabled students to observe how artistic expression, everyday life and technological advancements evolved across different historical periods.
The visit proved to be particularly valuable since the syllabus of both semesters includes themes related to ancient and medieval art, archaeology and heritage studies. The museum exhibits complemented classroom learning and enabled students to connect theoretical knowledge with real objects. Many students expressed special interest in Harappan artefacts, Gupta sculptures, Gandhara images, miniature paintings and coin collections. The hands-on visual experience was more engaging than reading textual descriptions alone and encouraged students to develop a deeper interest in research, museology and heritage conservation.
The visit began around 9:00 AM from the college, and the group completed the museum tour and returned by 3:00 PM. Overall, the experience provided students with an opportunity to revisit India’s cultural past, observe rare artefacts closely and appreciate the diversity of historical traditions. The educational excursion not only enriched their understanding of India’s heritage but also helped them realise the importance of preserving these cultural treasures for future generations.
The History Society ‘Virasat’ organized a study tour for the B.A. (Prog.) and B.A (Hons.) students on 6th November, 2019 to Red Fort. The students were eager to visit this historical site as they had read about the significance of ‘Qila Mubarak.’ After a few hurdles faced during purchasing tickets and security check, the team gained entry within the Red Fort premises. The students immediately got engaged in gathering information about the different monuments of the Fort, the lifestyle of the Mughals who lived there and their political achievements. Dr. Sanjay Kumar enlightened the students about the different structures and the changes brought in them after the revolt of 1857. He told them about the difficulties of the people residing there in Shahajanabad during the time of the revolt. Many changes were introduced in the fort and the city after the revolt. Many portions were auctioned off by the Britishers and structures considered sacred were permanently damaged as a penalty for the revolt. The team of visitors from the college included 76 students along with the teachers of the department of History.
150th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi Celebrations by Virasat
The
Department of History, to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi had planned a series of programmes. This had to begin with a
lecture on Mahatma Gandhi by an eminent scholar. Dr. Mridula Arora, the Teacher
in-charge of the department requested Professor Anand Kumar, formerly at
Jwaharlal Nehru University, who very kindly gave consent for the lecture
despite of his hectic schedule. This lecture, which was an inaugural programme
too, entitled “Rashtra Nirman ki chunautiyan: Gandhiji ki Virasat” was
organized on 25.02.2019 at 4:00 P.M. in the old seminar hall of the College.
Dr. Mridula Arora hosted the programme. The programme began with the lightening
of the lamps. Principal Dr. R.K. Gupta in his welcome address remembered the
day when Prof. Anand Kumar had last deliberated on the relevance of Dr. Ambedkar in
the College. In his speech, Dr. Nagendra
Sharma, in-charge, Virasat said that the Society always tries to bring great
scholars to address the students and the faculty members to give richness and
varieties of intellectual content. Professor Anand Kumar began his lecture by
introducing some of the values which are enshrined in our Constitution and said
that Gandhiji’s idea of India was conducive to the Indianness. Gandhiji’s
teachings of non-violence and politics of morality was emphasized upon. The
lecture left the audience spellbound and the speaker got a standing ovation
from the audience. After the lecture a question-answer session took place.
Questions from the students were pouring in and Prof. Kumar was very eagerly
replying them all. Prof. Kumar was very happy to learn that the college
students who were from other streams than history had a great interest in
Mahatma Gandhi and his role in Indian Freedom Struggle. The programme ended
with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sanjay Kumar.
ESSAY
WRITING COMPETITION
In a
series of programmes to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi, the Department of History under the aegis of History Scoiety,
Virasat organized an Essay Writing Competition on the “Role of Mahatma Gandhi
in Indian Nagational Movement” on 26th of March 2019. The Society
received a number of entries and the following students selected for the
prizes.
1.
Ajay Dube of B.A. (Programme) IVth Semester (Roll No. 4091)------1st
2.
Lalruth of B.A. (Programme) VIth Semester (Roll No. 2256)----------2nd
3.
Kshitij Raj of B.Sc. (Hons.) Mathematics, VIth Semester---------------3rd
QUIZZ
COMPETITION
The
third programme in the ongoing series of programmes to celebrate the 150th
Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was a Quiz Competition on the life journey
and his role in the Indian Independence Movement was organized on 29.03.2019 at
4:00 p.m. in Room no. 102. The title of the quiz was “Gandhiji and his role
in Indian National Movement”. Around 50 students participated and after
three rounds following students were declared winner:
1. Kum Kum Yadav of B.A. (Programme), Roll No.
2284 Semester VI----1st
2.
Sahil Farooque of B.A. (Programme), Roll No 425 Semester II---2nd
3. Prayag Singh of B.A. (Hons) Pol. Science, Roll
No. 5832 Semester IV---3rd
PAPER
PRESENTATION
The
fourth and final programme in the series of Mahatma Gandhi’s Celeberation was a
competition to present papers on “Role of Gandhiji in Indian National Movement”
Each participant was given 4+1 minutes of time. Dr. Sanjay Kumar and Dr. Shruti
Vip were the judges, who decided three best paper presentations by the
following students:
1. Ajay Dube of B.A. (Programme) IVth Semester
(Roll No. 4091)------1st
2.
Lalruth of B.A. (Programme) VIth Semester (Roll No. 2256)----------2nd
3.
Ayush Raj B.A. (Programme) IInd Semester (Roll no. 385)------------3rd
ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION
In a series of programmes to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Department of History under the aegis of History Scoiety, Virasat organized an Essay Writing Competition on the “Role of Mahatma Gandhi in Indian Nagational Movement” on 26th of March 2019. The Society received a number of entries and the following students selected for the prizes.
Commemoration of 100 years of
Jallianwalah Bagh Massacre (1919)
Samprabhu, the Political Science
society and Virasat, the History Society came together to organize a
commemoration programme for the 100th Anniversary of the massacre in the association of the Film Appreciation Committee of the College on 12 April 2019
at 3:00p.m. in the Old Seminar Hall. The
programme started with the lightening of the lamp and remembering the martyrs
of the Jallianwalah Bagh. In the first
part of the programme a documentary film produced by the Film Division,
Government of India was screened for the audience. The documentary was not only
rich in content but also had original video footages of the time, which helped
the students understand the situation of the days when protests related to the
Rowlett Act were being held. After the screening of the film, Dr. S.R. Raj,
convener of Samparbhu introduced the guest speakers, Dr. Anil Dutta
Mishra, Eminent Gandhian Scholar and Dy. Director, National Gandhi Museum and
Dr. Shriram Oberoi, Associate Professor (Retd.), University of Delhi to the
audience. In his Welcome Address, Principal Dr. R. K. Gupta highlighted the
courage and determination of Udham Singh who was present in the Jallianwalah
Bagh when this brutal killing was going on and took revenge of the massacre by
killing one of the responsible British officials. Dr. Anil Dutta Mishra began
his speech by remembering the martyrs of Jallianwallah and related this
incident with the beginning of mass politics. He said that this incident
inspired many revolutionary and changed the course of Indian National Movement.
He emphasized on the fact that Gandhiji got convinced of his idea that the goal
of Swarajya can only be achieved through non-violence after this mass murder
only. Dr. Shriram Oberoi, in his deliberation, emphasized on the fact that the
Jallianwalah Bagh massacre was not the first mass murder of Indians by a
foreign power, rather it was one of the bloodiest. He remembered the killings
ordered by Nadir Shah, the Persian invader and then by Ahmad Shah Abdali. He
then elaborated upon the incidents that evolved into the mass murder. After
both the lectures, question-answer session started, in which, the students
enquired into many aspects of the massacre. Around a hundred students and
teachers from across the departments participated in the seminar. The programme
came to an end with the vote of thanks by Dr. Sanjay Kumar of Department of
History.
Commemoration of 100 years of
Jallianwalah Bagh Massacre (1919)
A Report on visit to the Humayun’s Tomb and National Museum on 10.10.2018
An educational visit to Humayun’s Tomb and National Museum was organized for the students of B.A. (Prog.) semesters IIIrd and Vth as the visits were part of their respective syllabuses. A bus from the College carrying around 50 students and teachers of the department started for Humayun’s tomb at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, the 10th of October 2018. The tomb is considered to be the precursor to the Taj Mahal and also one of the first monuments built by Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605). This Saiyid Muhammad designed monument has several features which sets the tone for the future building activities of the Mughals. A perfect example of fusion of Indian styles into Persianate char bagh and hasht bihisht concept, the tomb was also an ideological statement by Akbar after gaining his autonomy from the regencies in 1562. These tombs were, in fact, windows to the royal court and life within the royal household. Tombs were, generally endowed with properties, usufruct of which was used for the maintenance of tomb rituals as well as the buildings. These tombs employed several officials, who were identical to the officials of the royal court and performed services to the tomb rituals. Students were made aware of these facts along with the architectural features of the tomb.
After a sojourn to the medieval world of royalty and their display of pomp through the tombs, we visited the National Museum. The students spent almost an hour in the Harappan civilization gallery, understanding, profiling and enquiring about several artefacts. The students also enjoyed the Gandhara and Mathura art displayed in the Museum. They were very much interested in finding a difference in the different styles of art. To our luck, the National Museum had organized a special gallery on Uzbeg culture to celebrate India-Uzbekistan and the similarities between our two different culture.
Report on ‘Exploring Heritages of Antiquity and Modern: Inderpat/Indraprastha and Mughal Gardens’ on February 17, 2018
Archaeological Survey of India is again excavating the Inderpat/Indraprastha site these days. Their objective is to train the students of archaeology and further explore different layers of the site. As it is well known that the site was first excavated and explored by Archaeologist B.B. Lal to trace the historicity of Mahabharata. This project covered almost all the cities mentioned in the Great Epic including Hastinapur, Panipat, Sonipat and Kurukshetra. The idea was to explore the PGW Culture (Painted Grey Ware), one of the most elite among the potteries and considered to be corresponding to the period of Mahabharata. The present excavation was a great opportunity for us to provide our students of B.A. (Programme)’s Skill Enhancement Courses of ‘An Introduction to Archaeology’ and ‘Introducing Indian Art’ with a first-hand experience of archaeological excavation and preservation/ conservation of our art/artefact heritages. The History Society, Virasat, organized this trip to the excavation site and the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 17, 2018 for the above group comprising of around 40 students. We started for the site at 9.30 A.M. to reach at the excavation site at around 10.00 o’clock. Field Archaeologists, Dr. Ashwani Asthana and Dr. Baijnath Awasthi very kindly deliberated on the basics of field archaeology and guided the students around the site and its artefacts yard. They showed the implements and tools used in the excavation. The students also learnt the classification of the artefacts. Our students were very excited as they were allowed to hold the artefacts found from the site into their hands for the first time. Terracotta figurines (a decorative piece, a ram and strands of a terracotta bullock cart), dices and semi-precious beads, strands of Painted Grey Ware potteries, a stamp and punched marked coins were some of the antiquities which our students appreciated the most. Interestingly, at the Gupta level, a burial site has also been found. The students were excited to find that the grave contained a pitcher and they started comparing the Harappan burial site with the present site. It was really interesting to see the students’ imagination beyond their textbooks; their questions regarding the belief system during the time of the Guptas and their burial practices. It was a wonderful trip to the past in a time-capsule known as an educational field trip, which only took around four hours to travel from PGW (around 900BCE) to the Mughal times.
The trip to the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan was more of a visit to pay our regards to the symbol of our freedom and Republic than to learn and know about the layout of a garden conceived at the beginning of the twentieth century. Inspired by the Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the gardens around the Taj Mahal and miniature paintings of Mughal times the Rashtrapati Bhavan Mughal Gardens is spread in 15 acres. Sir Edwin Lutyens conceptualized the design of the garden in 1917 but the plantings were done in 1928-29. This garden is known for its collection of Roses. It grows 159 varieties of celebrated roses, many of them named after people of national and international fame like Mother Teresa, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mr. Lincoln, John F Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Arjun and Bhim (from Mahabharata) . The students appreciated different varieties of roses in the rose garden; a few of them were very much interested in lilies. Bonsai Garden, which is an addition by the President Pratibha Patil was appreciated by the students for its being different. Some students spent a considerable amount of their time around the spiritual and herbal gardens added by President APJ Abul Kalam. The Greeen dome of the Rashtrapati Bhavan was popular among all—teachers, students both took photographs, selfies to make this a memorable event. After all, everyone needed a dp (display picture) for facebook and Whatsapp!
A visit to the Old Fort (Purana Qila/Qala-i Kohna) was organised by the Department of History under the aegis of History Society, Virasat on 14th of November 2017 for B. A (programme) for their Skill Enchantment Course, Historical Tourism and for the GE paper of B. A. (Hons) courses, Delhi Through the ages. A total of 40 students participated in the excursion. The students were first taken to the Purana Qila, which was built by Emperor Humayun in 1533 AD, which was the main citadel of the main city Din Panah. Emperor Sher Shah later extended this city and added structures like Qala-i Kohna mosque etc. The site of the fort is important for the fact that it has been continuously occupied since Painted Grey Ware Culture and its association with old city of Indraprastha of Mahabharata. Abul Fazal Allami (d. 1602) first identified this site to be Indraprastha of Mahabharata in his book Ain-i Akbari and says that a village in the fort named Indarpat existed till his time. Archaeologist B. B. Lal, the thenDirector General of Archaeological Survey of India first excavated the site with an objective of finding remains of Mahabharata’s Indarpastha. In his preliminary enquiry, he found that the elite ceramics of PGW which can be dated from around the time of later Vedic period were present, which according to some of the historians corresponds to be the time of the Great War. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether the city actually existed at the site as no evidence of such nature could be found. It is, however, interesting that the site excavated at different point of time (excavation is still going on and our students witnessed the unveiling of the archaeological past) yields artefacts which shows that the site remained occupied regularly from the time of PGW to the Mughal times thus giving a complete profile of Delhi's past. The cascading past of the monument not only let the students peep into the different layers of the past but also helped them in understanding and valuing our National heritage.
Since the syllabus of the students requires mandatory field visits to heritage sites it was thought that the old fort is the best heritage site to visit in view of the above history. In the same manner, National Museum is a place which is a repository of our national history and heritage from the time of the Palaeolithic age to the present. Students appreciated the galleries from Harappa civilisation to the gallery of musical instruments of present times. The artefacts from the time of Harappan Civilization to the art forms practised by the Gandhara and Mathura School were very much appreciated by the students. Some students showed special interest in Mughal arms and ammunition whereas others were interested in jewellery and painting sections of the museum.
We started the visit at around 9.00 A. M from the college and concluded at the same place at around 3.00 P. M.
Report on “A visit to National Museum and National Archives” on the 2nd of November, 2017
An educational visit to National Museum and National Archives was organized by the History Department of the College on Tuesday, the 2nd of November 2017.The students were accompanied by senior members of the History faculty who introduced various aspects of Indian history, art and culture. Through such events the History Society has encouraged both students and faculty to develop more nuanced forms of academic engagement.
National Museum has showcased its objects in different galleries. The objects displayed in each gallery have been properly classified, stylistic, chronological and religious.
The main objective of this visit was to provide a platform to students where they can get detailed knowledge of museology and to gain a hands-on experience of cultural artefacts from different time periods. This unique exposure provided the foundation for reflection, experimentation, inspiration, creativity, enjoyment amongst the students and allowed for authentic learning experiences related to their curriculum.
The main objective of this visit was to provide a platform to students where they can get detailed knowledge of museology and to gain a hands-on experience of cultural artefacts from different time periods. This unique exposure provided the foundation for reflection, experimentation, inspiration, creativity, enjoyment amongst the students and allowed for authentic learning experiences related to their curriculum.
The museum gives an insight into 5000 years of India's history and the achievements and innovations in terms of art, culture and other fields of development. The departments of the museum are Pre-historic Archaeology, Archaeology, Manuscripts, Numismatics & Epigraphy, Paintings, Arms & Armour, Decorative Arts, Central Asian Antiquities, Pre-Columbian Art, Jewellery, Anthropology, Education, Public Relations, Publication and Conservation. With a possession of over 2,00,000 pieces of art, the National Museum of India has one of the largest collection of artistic works in India. The three floor building is rich in its artefacts and specimens from the past.
The collection in the Ground Floor include items from Harappan civilization and Indus Valley civilization. Other pieces that are displayed here are those portraying Gupta Terracotta & early Medieval Art, Late Medieval Art, Gupta Art, Buddhist Art, Indian Miniature Paintings, Indian Scripts & Coins and Decorative Arts. This floor also houses a library and an auditorium.
The next place of visit was National Archives of India (NAI), a repository of the non-current records of the Government of India and holds them in trust for the use of administrators and scholars. Originally established as the Imperial Record Department in 1891, in Calcutta then capital of British India, the NAI is situated at the intersection of Janpath and Rajpath in Delhi. It functions as an Attached Office of the Department of Culture under theMinistry of Culture, Government of India. It homes a wide collection of Public Records and Private Papers. It also has some of the oldest and rare publications on a variety of subjects other than the contemporary published materials.
These archives contain one of the world’s largest collections of South Asian material, covering all of India, and what is now Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and elsewhere. Regular series begin in the late 1740s, but random collections date much further back into the early-Mughal and mediaeval periods. Unsurprisingly, the collections are particularly rich in the records of the East India Company, the British Raj, and increasingly, independent India. Holdings also include Persian and Arabic manuscripts, private papers, maps, and microfilms of material deposited elsewhere. The students were given a comprehensive presentation by the deputy director of the Archives about the functioning and history of the archives.
Most government records are ordered and read in the main reading room where you register. Maps and private papers are located on the third floor. Each has its own reading room, catalogues, and staff, but a permit must be collected from the registrar on the ground floor in order to use these collections. Students were introduced to the indices of the major departments (Home, Political, and Foreign) from 1860 onwards which are located on the shelves of the reading room.
A number of teachers and students from B.A Programme and B.A Hons courses participated in the visit including Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Dr Nagendra Sharma, Dr Shruti Vip, Dr.Motiur Rahman Khan, and Shri Rajeev Ranjan, the visit had specially been organised for the students of Skill Enhancement Course, 'History of Museums and Archives’ to give them a hands on approach and first hand experience of using archival material.
The educational staff at both the places interacted with the students and for exhibit interpretation. Their queries were satisfied and information on exhibits displayed in the gallery was provided. Publication material was also provided to them.
Seminar Report
“Photography and Indian Cinema as a Window to the Past:
Some Aspects of Visual Culture”
The History Society of PGDAV College (Evening), Virasat, organized a seminar titled “Photography and Indian Cinema as a Window to the Past: Some Aspects of Visual Culture” on 17 April 2017 in the Seminar Hall of the college. Dr. Aniruddha Deshpande, a renowned professor of History and expert on the topic, was cordially invited to deliver the lecture.
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The objective of the seminar was to explore history from the perspective of visual culture. With the advent of mediums like photography and cinema, visual culture acts as a major source of historical knowledge in the minds of popular masses. The importance of visual culture in the present times can be conceded from the fact that it has recently been introduced to the undergraduate syllabus in University of Delhi. Exploring history in its connection with visual images becomes important both for the general understanding of history as well as from the examination perspective, making this topic highly relevant in our understanding of the subject.
The seminar was inaugurated as Dr. Shruti Vip, Assistant Professor in the Department of History, welcomed Dr. Deshpande, the guest speaker and Dr. R.K. Gupta, the Principal, PGDAV College, to light the lamp. Then the Principal, Dr. Gupta, presented a sapling to Dr. Deshpande in typical PGDAV tradition. He, in his formal welcome address, thanked the guest speaker for taking out his auspicious time in order to enlighten the students on the topic. He also appreciated the Teacher-in-Charge, Department of History, PGDAV College Dr. Nagendra Sharma’s commitment to maintain the academic culture and excellence in the department.
Dr. Nagendra Sharma in his address highlighted the importance of history as a subject and as a social worldview. In the course of his address, he divided the topic of the seminar into different parts i.e. photography and cinema. Having said this, he informed the audience that in University of Delhi, photography is a part of the offered generic courses while cinema is offered to the second year students.
Dr. Deshpande, the guest speaker, began his address by referring the blockbuster movie Sholay. To generate interests in the audience, he raised the question whether cinema is really a window to peep into the past. Two main characters of the film, Dr. Deshpande informs, were historical. Gabbar Singh was a notorious dacoit in lower Chambal valley and the character of Thakur was inspired by a famous police officer KF Rustamji who had killed the dacoit. But rest of the story was fictional. In this way, a historical incident that is presented in a distorted manner cannot provide us objective details. As a student of history, the most important question is to be asked what made the film such a big success. Likewise, as Dr. Deshpande referred, Mughal-e-Azam, a famous historical cinematic drama, misinforms the audience about the history of the Mughals since both Jodha Bai and Anarkali were fictional characters. Their historicity is under question and hence the film would create a negative, false and imaginary picture of the past.
“विरासत” (इतिहास विभाग सोसाइटी) 2016-17
विभागाध्यक्ष: ड़ा॰ नागेंद्र शर्मा
अध्यक्ष ‘विरासत’ : ड़ा॰ नागेंद्र शर्मा
दिनांक 16 सितंबर 2016 को इतिहास विभाग की सोसाइटी ‘विरासत’ ने कालेज के रिसर्च एंड कंसल्टेंसी सेल के साथ मिल कर ‘रिसर्च मेथडोलोजी इन हिस्ट्री’ विषय पर एक व्यखायान का आयोजन किया। यह व्यखायान कालेज के रिसर्च एंड कंसल्टेंसी सेल द्वारा आयोजित विभिन्न विषयों में शोध को बढ़ावा देने के लिए शुरू की गई व्यखायान शृंखला का एक हिस्सा था। इस व्याख्यान के लिए इतिहास विभाग, दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय की अध्यक्ष प्रोफेसर उपिंदर सिंह मुख्य वक्ता के रूप में आमंत्रित थीं। कार्यक्रम का आरंभ प्रिन्सिपल, ड़ा॰ आर॰ के॰ गुप्ता के अभिभाषण से हुआ जिसमें उन्होने ने रिसर्च एंड कंसल्टेंसी सेल की व्याख्यान शृंखला से संबन्धित अपने दृष्टिकोण से श्रोताओं को अवगत कराया। तत्पश्चात, विभागाध्यक्ष, ड़ा॰ नागेंद्र शर्मा ने मुख्य वक्ता का विस्तृत परिचय दिया। प्रोफेसर उपिंदर सिंह विश्वविख्यात फील्ड आर्कियोलोजिस्ट हैं जिनकी शोध रुचि तांत्रिक बुद्ध परंपरा एवं उससे संबन्धित अन्य धार्मिक परम्पराओं में रही है। प्रोफेसर सिंह ने अपने व्यखायान की शुरुआत शोध से संबन्धित विभिन्न पूर्वाकांक्षित लक्षणों को रेखांकित करते हुए की। उनका मानना था कि शोध के क्षेत्र में जाने से पहले ये सुनिश्चित करना चाहिए के आप अधिक से अधिक विभिन्न विषयों पर पढ़ सकते हों, भाषा पर पूरी पकड़ हो तथा नया जानने की पिपासा हो। भारत के इतिहास लेखन के बारे में उनका मानना था कि समय की मांग है कि भारतीय इतिहास को विश्व इतिहास के संदर्भ में समझा जाना चाहिए।
विभाग की ड़ा॰ श्रुति विप ने कार्यक्रम का संचालन बहुत ही सुंदरता से किया तथा कार्यक्रम का समापन ड़ा॰ संजय कुमार के धन्यवाद ज्ञापन से हुआ।
दिनांक 4 अक्तूबर 2016 को ‘विरासत’ के तत्वाधान में विभाग के विद्यार्थियों के लिए राष्ट्रीय संग्रहालय के परिभ्रमण का आयोजन किया गया। जहां इतिहास के विद्यार्थी पुरातत्व संबंधी आधारभूत व्यावहारिकताओं से आवगत हुये। इस कार्यक्रम के मध्य विद्यार्थियों के समक्ष हड़प्पा सभ्यता में मिले अवशेषों के आधार पर बनी विशेष वृत-चित्र (डॉक्युमेंट्री फिल्म) का प्रदर्शन भी किया गया । छात्र-छात्राओं ने संग्रहालय में उपलब्ध मध्यकालीन चित्रकारी तथा आभूषणों के संग्रह मे विशेष रुचि दिखाई तथा सभ्यता के विकास के इतिहास को प्रत्यक्ष्य अनुभव किया । वहीं 06 अक्तूबर 2016, को ‘विरासत’ ने विभाग के विद्यार्थियों के लिए लोदी गार्डेन के परिभ्रमण का आयोजन किया। इस परिभ्रमण का उद्धेश इतिहास के विद्यार्थियों को उत्तर-सल्तनत कालीन वास्तुकला तथा उसके साथ राजकीय शक्ति के संबंध को दर्शाना था। पूर्व-प्राचार्य, डाक्टर रामजी नारायणन ने
इस परिभ्रमण का नेतृत्व किया। लोदी गार्डेन 1444 में अलाउद्दीन आलम शाह ने मुहम्मद शाह की याद में बनवाया था। जिसमें मुख्यरूप से मुहम्मद शाह, सिकंदर लोदी के मकबरों के अलावा शीश गुंबद तथा बड़ा गुंबद जैसे लोदी वास्तुकला के नमूने उपलब्ध हैं। वास्तुकला की दृष्टि से लोदी काल वास्तव में एक संक्रमण का काल है जो मुग़ल वास्तुकला में परिपक्व होता है।
दिनांक 8 मार्च 2017 को इतिहास विभाग ने कालेज के इंटरनल क्वालिटी असोरेन्स सेल के साथ मिल कर एक फकल्टी डेवलपमेंट प्रोग्राम (FDP) का आयोजन किया। इस प्रोग्राम का उद्देश नए सी॰ बी॰ सी॰ एस॰ प्रोग्राम के अंतर्गत लागू किए गए जेनेरिक एलेक्टिव तथा एम॰ आई॰ एल॰ विषय ‘Cultural Diversity in India’ को समझना था। यह कार्यक्रम केवल विश्वविद्यालय शिक्षकों को ध्यान में रख कर कराया गया। यह कार्यशाला में दो सत्रों में विभाजित थी, पहले सत्र में उक्त विषय के प्राचीन तथा मध्यकालीन भारतीय इतिहास के पहलुओं पर चर्चा की गई। विषय-विशषज्ञ प्रोफेसर बी॰ पी॰ साहू ने प्राचीन इतिहास जबकि प्रोफेसर सुनील कुमार ने मध्यकालीन इतिहास से संबन्धित विषय-वस्तु पर चर्चा की । दूसरे सत्र में प्रोफेसर अमर फारुकी ने आधुनिक तथा समकालीन इतिहास को अपनी चर्चा का विषय बनाया। जिसके बाद दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के विभिन्न महाविद्यालयों से आए 76 शिक्षकगणों ने अपनी शंकाओं से एक दूसरे को अवगत कराया। कार्यक्रम का उदघाटन माननीय रवीद्र गुप्ता जी, प्राचार्य ने किया जबकि प्रतिभागियों को एफ़॰ डी॰ पी॰ के विषय से संबन्धित अवधारणा तथा विशेषज्ञों से विभागाध्यक्ष एवं इस कार्यक्रम के संयोजक ड़ा॰ नगेंद्र शर्मा ने परिचित कराया। कार्यक्रम का संचालन डॉ॰ श्रुति विप ने किया। कार्यक्रम के पश्चात प्राचार्य द्वारा प्रतिभागियों में प्रमाण-पत्र का वितरण किया गया। कार्यक्रम का समापन डॉ संजय कुमार के धन्यवाद ज्ञापन से हुआ।
दिनांक 4 अक्तूबर 2016 को ‘विरासत’ के तत्वाधान में विभाग के विद्यार्थियों के लिए राष्ट्रीय संग्रहालय के परिभ्रमण का आयोजन किया गया। जहां इतिहास के विद्यार्थी पुरातत्व संबंधी आधारभूत व्यावहारिकताओं से आवगत हुये। इस कार्यक्रम के मध्य विद्यार्थियों के समक्ष हड़प्पा सभ्यता में मिले अवशेषों के आधार पर बनी विशेष वृत-चित्र (डॉक्युमेंट्री फिल्म) का प्रदर्शन भी किया गया । छात्र-छात्राओं ने संग्रहालय में उपलब्ध मध्यकालीन चित्रकारी तथा आभूषणों के संग्रह मे विशेष रुचि दिखाई तथा सभ्यता के विकास के इतिहास को प्रत्यक्ष्य अनुभव किया । वहीं 06 अक्तूबर 2016, को ‘विरासत’ ने विभाग के विद्यार्थियों के लिए लोदी गार्डेन के परिभ्रमण का आयोजन किया। इस परिभ्रमण का उद्धेश इतिहास के विद्यार्थियों को उत्तर-सल्तनत कालीन वास्तुकला तथा उसके साथ राजकीय शक्ति के संबंध को दर्शाना था। पूर्व-प्राचार्य, डाक्टर रामजी नारायणन ने
दिनांक 8 मार्च 2017 को इतिहास विभाग ने कालेज के इंटरनल क्वालिटी असोरेन्स सेल के साथ मिल कर एक फकल्टी डेवलपमेंट प्रोग्राम (FDP) का आयोजन किया। इस प्रोग्राम का उद्देश नए सी॰ बी॰ सी॰ एस॰ प्रोग्राम के अंतर्गत लागू किए गए जेनेरिक एलेक्टिव तथा एम॰ आई॰ एल॰ विषय ‘Cultural Diversity in India’ को समझना था। यह कार्यक्रम केवल विश्वविद्यालय शिक्षकों को ध्यान में रख कर कराया गया। यह कार्यशाला में दो सत्रों में विभाजित थी, पहले सत्र में उक्त विषय के प्राचीन तथा मध्यकालीन भारतीय इतिहास के पहलुओं पर चर्चा की गई। विषय-विशषज्ञ प्रोफेसर बी॰ पी॰ साहू ने प्राचीन इतिहास जबकि प्रोफेसर सुनील कुमार ने मध्यकालीन इतिहास से संबन्धित विषय-वस्तु पर चर्चा की । दूसरे सत्र में प्रोफेसर अमर फारुकी ने आधुनिक तथा समकालीन इतिहास को अपनी चर्चा का विषय बनाया। जिसके बाद दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के विभिन्न महाविद्यालयों से आए 76 शिक्षकगणों ने अपनी शंकाओं से एक दूसरे को अवगत कराया। कार्यक्रम का उदघाटन माननीय रवीद्र गुप्ता जी, प्राचार्य ने किया जबकि प्रतिभागियों को एफ़॰ डी॰ पी॰ के विषय से संबन्धित अवधारणा तथा विशेषज्ञों से विभागाध्यक्ष एवं इस कार्यक्रम के संयोजक ड़ा॰ नगेंद्र शर्मा ने परिचित कराया। कार्यक्रम का संचालन डॉ॰ श्रुति विप ने किया। कार्यक्रम के पश्चात प्राचार्य द्वारा प्रतिभागियों में प्रमाण-पत्र का वितरण किया गया। कार्यक्रम का समापन डॉ संजय कुमार के धन्यवाद ज्ञापन से हुआ।
A Report on The Faculty Development Programme By the
Department of History in Collaboration with
Internal Quality Assurance Cell
(On 8th March 2017)
On the 8th March 2017 a Faculty Development Programme was organised by the department of History in collaboration by Quality Assurance Cell in the college premises . Due to sheer paucity of substantial literature and lack of clarity on the new paper of Cultural Diversity India the above programme was chalked out .The afternoon was attended by 72 delegates from various colleges of the University and was highly applauded for being absolutely flawless in terms of quality of lectures and serving the purpose of improvising pedagogical skills in the related area.
The programme was commenced in by an inaugural session which was compered by Dr.ShrutiVip wherein the auspicious lighting of the lamp was undertaken by the Principal, the panellists namely Professor Sahu, Professor Sunil Kumar and Professor Amar Faraooqi and all the senior faculty members namely Professor Sanjay Kumar, Professor Nagendra Sharma and Professor MridulaArora. Other Faculty members were endowed with other similar duties such as compeering which was entrusted to Professor ShrutiVip; registration which was managed by Professor Mati Ur Rahman Khan, Professor Saurabh Vajpayee and Mr. Rajiv Ranjan; reporting which was undertaken by Professor SarangaArora and Mr.Shyamjeet. This was followed by an introduction of the programme by the Convener of the FDP,Dr.NagendraSharma who introduced the esteemed panel to the audience and also asked the Principal to welcome both the panel and the audience. The Welcome Address was delivered by the Principal Dr. R.K. Gupta who not only gave warm wishes to the panellist through a flower pot but also gave heartiest congratulations to everybody for the International Women’s Day.
Three eminent speakers or resource persons who shed light on the concerned area were Professor Sahu known for his rare acumen in ancient Indian history; Professor Sunil Kumar widely renowned for his proficiency as a Medievalist and Professor Amar Farooqiwell known for his profound knowledge on Modern India. What was produced was an eclectic blend of Ancient, Medieval and Modern historicisations of Indian cultural ethos which are not only diverse as the title of the paper succinctly puts it (Cultural Diversity In India) but has deep historical roots that need to be dispensed to the students which explains the necessity of having such a workshop.
What follows is a detailed summary of all the three lectures :
Within the realm ofancient culture Professor Sahu’s discourse which floated within the framework of unity and diversity in ancient India it revolved around three main aspects which are as follows :1. Genesis of the term India and its historical roots 2. Urban, rural identities, variation in the above two in the then India or Bharatvarsha and their dialogue thereof and 3. Creation of larger identities within Bharatvarshathrough a process of acculturation thus creating a pan –Indian notion.
The talk began by reflecting on the term unity and diversity in India a phrase which in modern times gained currency from the time of Nehru. As for India he said that this idea only gains ground from the British times which subsumes within itself various ideas, symbols and interactions between various parts of the sub-continent.Historically, speaking if one was to trace the genesis of the term India it has its roots in the idea of janapada (whose first mention is in later-Vedic literature ) and which is equivalent to the South Indian Nadu, Mandala and also Rashtra.
Regarding the second aspect Professor Sahu spoke about was the literary evidence about regional variation and also the mushrooming of various cities a subject thoroughly discussed by B.D. Chattopadhyaya and A.K. Ramanujam. Regarding the former he said that Meghadutam, Ritusamhara, Hiuen- Tsang,Dharamshastras and Kamasutra do mention various regional identities (an aspect taken up by SherlynPullock’s work) As for the cities springing up from the region he argued the sources such as the Kamasutra mention terms such as the Nagaraka (i.e. man about town).Variation between the town and the city is discussed by Hala in Gathasaptsati . However he also said unity between the urban and rural were created through terms such as Aryavrata (as discussed by Baudhayana which only includes North India excluding Saurashtra and Bengal ) but by the time of Manu it includes the whole of northern India. Manusmriti infact discusses the crystallisations of various identities wherein both smaller castes and Yavanas try to come into the fold of Khattiyas , the former through Brahmins and the latter by giving endowments to Buddhist establishments testified by Syrian Plates and Jinda Records of Manglore (as discussed by B.D. Chattopadhyaya in Representing The Other).
Lastly, Professor Sahu spoke about was how lesser identities such as forest (mentioned as vana, Khetta and aranya) are in relationship with the Janapada and as per the sources he said they are in constant interaction with each other as forest is crucial for the supply of honey ,timber as is testified by Buddhist literature.Secondly he also argued there is a process of amalgamation of various religious identities of the countryside and the forest into the fold of larger Hindu pantheon which he says was a result of (a) expansion of state formation and b) Brahamanisation of tribes.
Regarding the Medieval culture the second speaker Professor Sunil Kumar spoke about (a) advent of Islam and establishment of new state society thereof (b) How Islam was subject to various contestations and interpretations and (c) How Islam is transformed, redefined and reformed at various stages. He began with the fact how the advent of Islam created a novel culture from the early medieval period in which the state has a significant role to play. The state creates certain physical power structures such as theQutubMinar in order to herald the onset of a new era (as discussed by Barry Flood and Finbar). The second thing he said that several layers within the Muslim society interpret Quran according to their own whims and fancies such as theQaramiyahas (who take it to its extremes) the Shamsanids (who Islamise into Qaramiyahs and later become Shafis)and also AlauddinKhalji (who created a new Mazhab of Islam). This differential interpretation he says is reflected at QutubMinar whose every storey has inscriptions which reflect the difference of interpretations.
The other thing that he spoke was the transition of Islam from ordinary to abstract within Islam of both individuals and places for example shrines disappear into mosques, transition of Qabar into shrine. Similarly he said a whole gender bias enters into Islam which is followed by redefining and re-theorising Islam ( an aspect discussed by YogendraSikand). Lastly he discussed the conversions to Islam with the expansion of state society which happens in Bengal and Punjab wherein frontier settlers undergo this process in two stages first being mixing of ideas and second being equation of cosmos for example Vrindavana being equated with Medina( a process discussed by Richard Eaton )
The last Speaker i.e. Professor Amar Farooqui centred his discourse around the following points a) How the emergence of a new middle class ushers in anew cultural era in the 19thcentury(b) how colonial versus national leads to certain contestations (c) role of the British in imperialising Indian culture and (d) Growth of a new indigenous culture in post –independent India.
Regarding the first aspect Professor Farooqi mentioned that late 19th century saw the emergence of various cultural societies such as the Asiatic Society of Bengal, emergence of Bombay as a cultural hub-.Within this ambit he argued that the print media and other agencies such as theatre, cinemas tried to challenge the colonial narrative. He emphasised on historical novels wherein Rani Lakshmi Bai was iconised as national hero. She is celebrated in works such as MajhaPrabhas a Marathi work by Vishnu Bhatt which is an account of what is happening in Jhansi. Similarly other works such as Jhansiki rani by Verma, Amrita Nagar’s GhaddarKePhool too echo of an antagonism against the colonial rulers.
The colonialists on the other hand were adamant on playing divisive caste politics playing the Hindus against the Muslims and also by using Indians against the Indians such as Jats and the Sikhs who were of good martial blood were exploited for their own military designs.Thirdly from the beginning of the 20th century the British also tried to imperialise Indian culture by transplanting British symbols and motifs with a clear disdain for all that was Indian .However post-independence a different air sets in and nationalism has a big role to play in shaping the post –independent cultural fabric.
The FDP was ended by Vote of Thanks speech given by the senior most faculty member Professor Sanjay Kumar who conveyed his sincere gratitude to both the panellists and the audience for their presence and participation. Hence this FDP cum workshop was highly successful and very well received by all the delegates. It was academically fulfilling, thought provoking and enriching in terms of knowledge and in depth analysis. At the same time it was equally enlightening on all aspects of Indian culture due to the expert inputs given by the three resource persons and hence needs to be lauded for the same. The fact that the organisers arranged for all the relevant articles concerning the paper and compiled them into a folder(for a miniscule amount of Rs. 100 only ) served as icing on the cake and hence enhanced the purpose of organising the workshop. Equally appreciated were the refreshments arranged by the department which made everybody smile much more than after listening to the lectures or receiving the folders. For sure the history fraternity looks forward to more such FDP’s in related areas of study .
“Research Methodology in History”
held on Friday, the 16th of September, 2016
The Department of History under the aegis of History Society, Virasat in association with Research and Consultancy Cell of the College organized a Talk on “Research Methodology in History”, by Professor Upinder Singh, Head, Department of History, University of Delhi. The talk was a part of a series of lectures being organized by the College under Research and Consultancy Cell to promote orientation of research among the students. The endeavor is to focus on multidisciplinary approach of research and to create an environment where the students may think out of the box. History is one of the subjects, which is very crucial in deciding not only our identity but also gives direction to future course of happenings in the society. Thus, history is about knowing our nature and culture— the diversity of our origin, the continuity and change in our lives, patterns of politics and society and the struggle we have done as a social being. Professor Singh, looking at her career as a researcher, was the best to begin with the series of planned talks in history. She happens to be a field archaeologist and a historian of repute, who has worked extensively in history of religion—especially Buddhism and its different variants, amalgamation of tantric cults of Buddhism and different cults pertaining to Hinduism. Her deliberation focused on these issues and issues related to practical approaches to research as a career.
The seminar began by an address by the Principal, Dr. R.K. Gupta, who introduced his vision for the Research and Consultancy Cell to the guest speaker and the audience. He emphasized that the College wishes to create an interface between the industry and research through this Cell thus bridging the gap between the academia and industries, which can ultimately give an impetus to research and learning. The speaker was introduced to the audience by Dr. Nagendra Sharma, Teacher-in-charge of the department, who has closely worked with Professor Singh in different academic activities of the Department of History related to course revision and evaluations. He said that academic work done by Professor Singh with her knowledge of field archaeology has opened new vistas to the world of History. He said that Professor Singh’s approach of connected histories, which has, in fact, made the idea of ‘History of South Asia’ obsolete and now people are exploring beyond the imaginary boundaries of the South Asia.
Professor Upinder Singh began her deliberation by emphasizing on prerequisites of a researcher in History. She emphasized that research is a very exciting work and a person with questioning mind, flair for writing and reading should only join the professional research work. She said that research involves a number of skills, for which one needs to learn them and that cannot be bypassed as research has no short-cuts. She then spoke on the various sources for the history and skills involved in deciphering those source materials. Her emphasis was on the different methodology, for example she said that the study of coins or numismatics can lead to different interpretations of the society as against the study of normative texts on state craft or economy. Different types of inscriptions such as donative inscription can express more than the purpose for which the inscriptions were installed. One such example has been taken up by Cynthia Talbot, who has studied temple grant inscription of Kakatiya region where she has woven the history of caste mobility in Indian society in the context of ongoing battles among different chiefs of the region. Prof. Singh also emphasized that some of the inscription she has found where the purpose of the inscription was not clear, though gives much information about the life in a Buddhist samgha. Her approach was to look beyond the study of ‘classes’ and ‘struggles’, beyond economic and political history and beyond a presumed geographical boundary of India as these approaches limit a historian to a narrow stream of Indian history and s/he cannot contextualize the history and culture of India in the milieu of larger world histories.
The talk was well conducted by Ms. Shruti Vip of the Department of History and the seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sanjay Kumar, senior most faculty member of the Department of History.
Report of Virasat 2015-16
“विरासत” (इतिहास विभाग सोसाइटी) 2015-16
विभागाध्यक्ष: ड़ा॰ मृदुला अरोड़ा
अध्यक्ष ‘विरासत’ : ड़ा॰ नागेंद्र शर्मा
दिनाँक 3 फरवरी 2016 को ‘विरासत’ के तत्वाधान में कालेज ने डाक्टर भीम राव अंबेडकर की 125वीं वर्षगांठ मनाई। इस अवसर पर “अंबेडकर की विरासत” विषय पर एक व्याख्यान का आयोजन किया गया। जवाहरलाल नेहरू विश्वविद्याल्य के प्रोफेसर आनंद कुमार मुख्य वक्ता के रूप में आमंत्रित थे। जिनका विस्तृत परिचय विभागाध्यक्ष, डाक्टर मृदुला अरोड़ा ने दिया। प्रधानाचार्य ड़ा॰ आर॰ के॰ गुप्ता ने ड़ा॰ अंबेडकर को श्राद्धांजली देते हुए उनके प्रेरक व्यक्तित्व को आदर्श के रूप में अपनाने की आवयशकता पर बल दिया। व्यखायान का सूत्रपात करते हुए विभाग के ड़ा॰ संजय कुमार ने अंबेडकर की जीवनी, उनके भारतीय संविधान संकलन तथा तत्कालीन राजनीति में योगदान की चर्चा की। प्रोफेसर आनंद कुमार ने कहा कि जब तक अंबेडकर के विचारों को भारतीय राजनीति में आत्मसात नहीं करेंगे तब तक एक बहुत बड़े तबके को हम साथ लेकर नहीं चल पाएंगे। समग्र विकास के लिए ज़रूरी है कि समाज का हर तबका साथ चले। राष्ट्र निर्माण में दलितों एवं महिलाओं को साथ लेकर चलना ही होगा। अन्यथा यह विकास यात्रा अधूरी होगी। डा॰ आनंद कुमार ने डा॰ अंबेडकर के विचारों को इस खूबसूरती से पिरोकर छात्रों के सम्मुख रखा कि जब उन्होने अपना व्याख्यान समाप्त किया तो छात्रों ने खड़े होकर करतल धव्नि से उसको सराहा। कार्यक्रम का समापन, इतिहास विभाग सोसाइटी, ‘विरासत’ के अध्यक्ष डाक्टर नागेंद्र शर्मा के धन्यवाद ज्ञापन से हुआ।
15 मार्च 2016 को ‘विरासत’ ने विभाग के विद्यार्थियों के लिए कुतुब कॉम्प्लेक्स के परिभ्रमण का आयोजन किया। इस परिभ्रमण का उद्धेश इतिहास के विद्यार्थियों को सल्तनत कालीन वास्तुकला तथा उसके साथ राजकीय शक्ति के संबंध को दर्शाना था। पूर्व-प्राचार्य, डाक्टर रामजी नारायणन ने इस परिभ्रमण का नेतृत्व किया तथा क़ुतुब मीनार एवं उसके आस-पास अन्य इमारतों, जैसे, ‘कूवत- उल- इस्लाम’ मस्जिद, अलाई दरवाजा, अलाई मदरसा तथा ‘इलतुतमीश का मकबरा’ के इतिहास तथा उससे संबन्धित विभिन्न लोक-संस्मरणों (folk memories) से विद्यार्थियों को अवगत कराया।
Report on “Understanding Cityscape: A Heritage Walk to Chandni Chowk” on Sunday, the 15th of February, 2015
A heritage walk to Chandani Chowk was organized by the Environment Committee of the College in association with the Department of History on Sunday, the 15th of February 2015 under the leadership of Shri D.N. Kalia. The walk aimed at understanding the cityscape of Shahjahanabad as it was planned in the 1630s and its continuity and changes after about 400 years of its foundation. Shri D.N. Kalia, convener of the Committee and an environmentalist with Dr. Ramji Narayanan, former Principal of the College and a heritage walk enthusiast led the walk. The walk began at Shri Lal Jain Mandir, near Lala Lajpat Rai Market and concluded near Fatehpuri Masjid.
The City of Shahjahanabad (as it was called in those days) was based on a semi-elliptical design, karmuka (bow) as depicted in Mansara, a c. 400-600 AD vastusastra. Such a plan was appropriate for a site fronting a river or sea shore. The north-south road that connected the Akbarabadi and Kashmiri Gates of the city and which includes Faiz Bazar represented the bow string. Streets connecting Turkoman and Ajmeri gates with the Lahori gate, and that running north-east and connecting the Mori and Lahori gates represented along with the outer wall of the city, the curved shaft of the bow. Chandni Chowk, which ran from the Lahori Gate of the fort to the Lahori gate of the city, was the arm of the archer. In a city laid out according to the karmuka plan, the most auspicious spot was the juncture of the two cross streets. In the Hindu village, town, or city this spot was occupied by a temple. In Shahjahanbad the Lal Qila stood at this location, the meeting place of Chandni Chowk and Faiz Bazar.
Chandni Chowk, a stretch between the Lahori gate of the fort and Fatehpuri masjid was built in 1650 by Jahanara Begum, favourite daughter of Emperor Shahjahan. The street was about forty yards wide, 1520 yards long and contained 1560 shops and porticos. A canal, the Nahr-i Bihisht (Canal of Paradise), flowed through the centre of the bazaar. On each side of the canal a row of trees provided shade and a place to rest. The bazaar was divided into several sections and each of these had its own name. The 480 yard section from the Lahori gate of the fort to the chowk of kotwali chabutra was called Urdu Bazar (Camp Market). This bazaar served the members of imperial household—soldiers, servants, clerks, artisans and others—who lived in and around the fort and who accompanied the emperor when he toured the countryside and resided, for the most part, in a great camp. To the south of the square was the Kotwali Chabutra where criminals were tried and punished in public. The section between Kotwali chabutra to the chowk was called Ashrafi Bazar or Jauhri Bazar. The chowk was an octagon with sides one hundred yards long; a large pool occupied its centre. To the north Jahanara built a sarai and a garden, and to the south a hammam. On certain nights the moonlight reflected pale and silvery from the central pool and gave to the area its name, Chandni Chowk. The Final section of the street ran about 560 yards from Chandni chowk to the Fatehpuri Masjid and was called Fatehpuri Bazar.
During the walk, some very interesting stories and facts came into discussion with Shri D. N. Kalia, who happens to be an old native of the area. He spoke of the Nahr-i Bihisht, which was connected to Hissar in Haryana and supplied water for domestic use to irrigation. Safdar Jung, in his memoire, has mentioned this canal with reverence and says that his estates near Delhi used to yield high crops due to this canal, which used to cross by present day Central Park of the Rajiv Chowk and Lodi estate. Stories of Begum Samru and her estate near Lal Qila particularly, were very informative and entertaining. It was interesting to see old style haveli from inside, where the beauty of rang mahal and the inner apartments were eye popping. Interesting facts about the town planning and the pattern of settlement not only tells the story of planning of a pre-modern city but also brings the social life of the time into light, which can only be understood if analyzed as a living history. A katra was an enclave where people of a particular community (caste or profession-wise) lived, whereas a mohalla meant to be a place with pucca houses. A kucha was a pass for men with well, which opens into a common sehan; a gulley should have enough space to cross a palki, whereas a bazaar was a stretch which allows two elephants to cross simultaneously. Apart from these technical aspects of the pre-modern town planning, we came across two interesting monuments, which speak of the ideology of the Mughal Empire. One was a copy of a farman of Emperor Jahangir, which forbids killing of animals and birds on certain days of importance for the Jains, kept in an old Jain temple near Bulaqi Begum street and a Mughal insignia of sun on the back of a later Mughal masjid in the same locality. Mughal insignia, which had sun and a couched lion—both drew their relevance from Mughal mythical stories and from Hindu mythologies, transforms in their twilight; the lion, a living creature, which is forbidden to draw in Islam and can amount to idolatry, disappears, and an Arabic verse, “La tasjudo was samsh-o-wal qamar wasjado fil Allah” (Those who do not bow before the sun and the moon their prostration is for God only) appears in the middle of the sun.
A number of teachers and students from across the departments participated in the heritage walk including Drs. Sanjay Kumar, Motiur Rahman Khan, Mayank Pandey and Shri Rajeev Ranjan and some others from the nearby community and a group of foreign tourists also joined in on the spot. Report 2014-15
दिनांक 27.12.2014 को विभाग ने छात्र-छात्राओं के लिए मुग़ल गार्डेन तथा राष्ट्रीय संग्रहालय का परिभ्रमण आयोजित किया। राष्ट्रीय संग्रहालय में इतिहास के विद्यार्थी पुरातत्व संबंधी आधारभूत व्यावहारिकताओं से आवगत हुये। इस कार्यक्रम के मध्य विद्यार्थियों के समक्ष हड़प्पा सभ्यता में मिले अवशेषों के आधार पर बनी विशेष वृत-चित्र (डॉक्युमेंट्री फिल्म) का प्रदर्शन भी किया गया । छात्र-छात्राओं ने संग्रहालय में उपलब्ध मध्यकालीन चित्रकारी तथा आभूषणों के संग्रह मे विशेष रुचि दिखाई तथा सभ्यता के विकास के इतिहास को प्रत्यक्ष्य अनुभव किया ।
21-23 मार्च, 2015 को विभाग द्वारा छात्रों हेतु अजमेर तथा जयपुर का तीन दिवसीय शैक्षणिक परिभ्रमण सम्पन्न हुआ। जिसमें, विद्यार्थियों ने चिश्ती सूफी ख्वाजा मोईनूद्दीन चिश्ती की दरगाह तथा उससे संबन्धित विभिन्न एतिहासिक स्थानों का अवलोकन कर दरगाहों तथा तात्कालिक राज्य के संबंधो और स्थितियो का अध्ययन किया । वहीं जयपुर में आमेर का क़िला, हवा महल, जयगढ़ तथा गुलाबी शहर की इतिहासिकता और तात्कालिक समाज मे राज्य शक्ति के प्रदर्शन के अनुभवो से अवगत हुये ।