Question

How did the British contribute to the historiography of modem India?

Answer 1

1. In the 20th century, Indian archaeological exploration and research started under British rule. A number of ancient sites were excavated under the supervision of Sir Alexander Cunningham, the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. He chose mainly the sites mentioned in the Buddhist texts for this purpose.
2. Harappan Civilisation was discovered during the tenure of Sir John Marshall. Due to this discovery, the antiquity of Indian history could be traced to 3r millennium B.C.E. or even earlier.
3. The writings of British officials about Indian history display the strong influence on the colonial policies of the British. Three volumes of 'The History of British India', written by James Mill were published in 1817. This was the first book on Indian history written by a British historian. It clearly reflects an absence of objective perspective and prejudice about various aspects of Indian culture.
4. 'The History of India', written by Mountstuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay now (Mumbai) was published in 1841.
5. The period of the Maratha Empire is very important in Indian history. Grant Duff's name stands out among the British officers who wrote about Maratha's history. He wrote the book entitled, 'A History of Mahrattas'. This book is published in three volumes. Grant Duff's writing also shows the British inclination of condemning Indian culture and history.
6. A similar tendency is witnessed in Colonel Todd's writings about Rajasthan's history.
7. The two volumes written by William Wilson Hunter on Indian history show a somewhat impartial treatment of the subject.