Reviews
By Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy, Subimal Chandra Datta
Summary
The *History of Rajputana* (Fasciculus 818) by Rai Bahadur Gaurishankar Hirichind covers nearly 300 years of the Udayapur/Mevar state, from the late 16th to the early 19th century, spanning rulers from Rini Pratap to Mahdrina Sajjanasimha. The work prioritizes literary evidence—historical poems like *Rijavilas*, *Bhimavilis*, and later compositions such as *Vamabhaskar* and *Viravinoda*—over inscriptions, reflecting a shift from earlier volumes. The author acknowledges the challenges in extracting historical truth from Rajput literary sources, which blend fact and fiction, drawing parallels to European methods of analyzing traditions. While scholars like Dr. Tessitori highlight the Rajputs' imitation of Mughal patronage of literature, the present work emphasizes the crude nature of Rajput historical narratives compared to Mughal accounts. The reviewer notes the author’s preference for Rajput traditions over contemporary Muslim records, as seen in the account of Rani Pratip, though they acknowledge differing scholarly perspectives on the reliability of such sources. Despite potential disagreements, the work is deemed monumental, rivaling Tod’s *Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan*. In *Kultur und den persischen Golf*, Amelia Hertz argues for a shared Proto-Elamite origin of Mesopotamian, Indus Valley, and later Indian, Greek, and Hebrew civilizations, emphasizing continuity in agricultural and mathematical traditions. The work highlights advanced Indian mathematical theology, evident in Vedic altar constructions, and its influence on later European developments. *Studies in Tamil Literature and History* by R. Ramachandra Dikshitar asserts
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Conclusion
This comprehensive analysis of Rajputana's history from the 16th to 19th centuries offers critical insights into the evolution of historical literature under Rajput patronage. The shift from inscription-based evidence to literary sources like historical poems and chronicles highlights a unique cultural synthesis, though the author's prioritization of Rajput traditions over contemporary Muslim records invites scholarly debate. While acknowledging the limitations of Rajasthani literature as historical sources, the work underscores its cultural significance and monumental contribution to regional historiography, positioning it as a vital counterpart to Tod's seminal annals. The study ultimately emphasizes the need for nuanced approaches to interpreting pre-colonial Indian historical narratives, balancing literary value with methodological rigor.