Review: Select Inscriptions Bearing on Indian History and Civilization, Volume I (600 B.C.–600 A.D.)
Summary
This review evaluates Dines Chandra Sircar’s compilation of inscriptions covering Indian history from 600 B.C. to 600 A.D. The reviewer notes that the volume is divided into three parts: inscriptions from the Achaemenian and early imperial periods; inscriptions of post‑Maurya dynasties such as the Indo‑Greeks, Kuṣāṇas and Sātavāhanas; and inscriptions of the imperial Guptas and their contemporaries. Sircar provides transliterations, translations and contextual notes, along with facsimiles and maps that aid interpretation. The reviewer emphasises that bringing together scattered epigraphic records in a single volume is invaluable for students of history and linguistics, as the inscriptions shed light on political events, administrative practices, social conditions and the development of Indo‑Aryan languages. The compilation includes material from outside India, such as inscriptions from Ceylon and Central Asia, thus broadening its scope. Minor criticisms are directed at the lack of cross‑references to certain script variations, but overall the reviewer praises the editor’s scholarly rigour and the usefulness of the volume as a reference work for historians and epigraphists.
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Conclusion
The review concludes that Sircar’s volume is an essential resource for reconstructing ancient Indian history and understanding the evolution of early Indo‑Aryan languages. Its chronological arrangement, careful translations and informative notes make it a standard reference for scholars. While minor additions could enhance future editions, the reviewer commends the work’s comprehensiveness and anticipates that it will greatly assist students and researchers engaged in the study of India’s past.