Reviews
By Chintaharan Chakravarti, A. C. Banerjee
Summary
The review section of this issue assesses three recently published works on Indian history and literature. Dr. P. C. Gupta’s monograph ‘The Last Peshwa and the English Commissioners, 1818‑1851’ continues his earlier study of Baji Rao II. Relying heavily on unpublished British official documents, Gupta traces the deposed Peshwa’s life in exile at Bithur and examines the role of the English commissioners who supervised his establishment. The reviewer praises the book for its narrative clarity and human interest while noting the paucity of Marathi sources. A. C. Banerjee’s ‘Aurangzeb’ is a translation from Urdu that seeks to present a balanced portrait of the controversial Mughal emperor. The reviewer finds that Banerjee humanises Aurangzeb without glossing over his religious policies and appreciates the accessible style. The third work reviewed is Prof. Chintaharan Chakravarti’s edition of the ‘Bṛhat Kathākośa’ of Harisena. This collection of stories is significant for the study of Sanskrit narrative literature. The reviewer highlights the editor’s meticulous work in collating manuscripts and providing annotations. Each review situates the book in its historiographical context, emphasises its strengths and notes areas for further inquiry.
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Conclusion
The reviews collectively underscore the value of rigorous archival research, the need for balanced biographies and the importance of critical editions. They encourage readers to engage with new scholarship on Maratha history, Mughal studies and Sanskrit narrative literature.