Medieval Punjab: Perspectives On Historiography And Polity

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An intensive study of the local histories not only throws light on many an hitherto unknown or little known facts but also enables us to reconstruct history as a whole, believed Professor Grover. This second volume in the series, The Collected Works of Professor B R Grover, is a collection of articles on 18th-19th century Punjab History another forte of his, expertise. He believed that "the identity, concept, personality and territorial jurisdiction of the Punjab through the ages is of vital importance." Professor Grover not only unearthed the hitherto untapped sources but also analyzed them critically in several articles being presented in this volume.

Professor B.R. Grover, former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research, with an academic and administrative career spanning more than 55 years, has left an indelible mark as one of India's most eminent and dedicated historians. He has left behind a massive wealth of historical research based on original Persian, Urdu, Ottoman Turkish, Punjabi and English sources. Known for doing intensive research in the archives and libraries of India, several European countries and the United States of America, Professor Grover had carved out a distinct position for himself as a moving encyclopaedia of source material on agrarian history of the Mughals, especially the land revenue administration.

Professor Grover believed that Regional history is the 'key to history" and its study and analysis "is a very fruitful exercise as it affords full opportunity for the exploitation of regional source material of multifarious nature," which has essentially to be linked with a larger landscape at all India level. The Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors attracted a great deal of attention on the part of the British and the Indian historians, and whereas a number of writers have laid emphasis on the political and religious aspects of the Punjab, not much attention was paid to the agrarian aspects and historiographical study about eighteenth century Punjab. This neglected area was covered by Professor Grover through his critical study and analysis about the nature of relationship that existed between the Durrani chiefs and the Sikh Sardars, and between the Punjab Hill Chiefs and the Mughals, the Afghans and the Lahore Darbar and other important aspects bearing on social and economic life of the people in both rural and urban areas.

**Contents and Sample Pages**