Haryana: Past and Present (Set of 2 Volumes)

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Haryana-the gateway to north India- is of geographical importance having Shivalik Hills in the north and the deserts of Rajasthan in the south. The State was the home of the legendary Bharat dynasty, from which 'Bharat', India's other name, has been culled. It has a chequered history dating back to the Vedic Age. Down the centuries, the State has played a leading role in the history of India. Its proud people have always excelled in almost every walk of life. To quote late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, "the people of Haryana have been as much men of peace as warriors. They have proud achievements to their credit as agriculturists and craftsmen."

Haryana: Past and Present covers multifarious aspects of academic interest, e.g., geography, history, society, culture, etc. The volumes, it is hoped, will be well received by the academics and others in India and elsewhere.

SURESH K. SHARMA (b. 1946), an alumnus of Delhi University, opted for library profession after obtaining post- graduation in Modern Indian History and Bachelor of Library Science degrees in the early seventies. Documentation, bibliography and indexing have been his special forte. He has to his credit a number of publications including Fifty Years of Indian Historical Writings, Social Sciences in Modern India, Kashmir Through the Ages, Rajasthan Through the Ages, Delhi Through the Ages, Cultural and Religious Heritage of India, Raja Rammohun Roy: An Apostle of Indian Awakening, Encyclopaedia of Higher Education and Discovery of North-East India.

Haryana, iconed as the cradle of India's age-old civilization, has a chequered history dating back to the Vedic Age. It finds occasional references in the Mahabharta. Kurukshetra, a sacred city and the scene of the epic battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, is situated in Haryana. Being a focal point of national unity, this place has been, from time immemorial, attracting numberless pilgrims from all parts of the country. No doubt, the State continued to play a leading part in the history of India. It is interesting to note that for invaders from the north-west, this region was a gateway to the riches of India. Panipat, Karnal and Kanjpura have been the scene of decisive wars in Indian history.

Geographically, the State is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh in the east, Punjab in the west. Himachal Pradesh in the north and Rajasthan in the south. Fetching an area of 44,212 square kilometers, Haryana, the 17th State of the Indian Union, came into existence as a result of bifurcation of the former Punjab State on linguistic basis under the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act of 1966. 1st November, 1966 was a red letter day in the annals of Haryana when fortune thrust upon it the status of a full-fledged State of the Union. The emergence of Haryana as a State was a corollary to the Sikh demand for a Punjabi suba. Needless to say, the State of Haryana over the years, has managed to make a mark for itself in all fields of human endeavour.

Agriculture is the mainstay of more than three quarters of its population. Rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, barley, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds and potatoes are the major crops of Haryana. The State has a huge industrial base owing to its more than one thousand large and medium, and a number of small scale units. Surprisingly, Haryana is the largest producer of passenger cars, tractors, scientific instruments, etc.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages