Studies On Archives And History

Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Archival sources for the study of Modern India. 2. Archives and historical research. 3. Archival sources for the history of Asian Countries in India. 4. Documentary sources on Mizoram. 5. Documents on the village communities in India. 6. Primary sources on Siam Burma Railway in Indian archives. 7. Persian documents in the National Archives. 8. Sources for the history of Nepal in India. 9. Some unexplored sources on the revolt of 1857. 10. British writings on India: a study of colonial historiography. 11. Archival sources on Tipu Sultan. 12. Socio-economic impact of the Abolition of Zamindari in U.P. 13. British response to technological changes in India. 14. Archival sources on Japanese occupation of South East Asia. 15. Sources on India’s struggle for freedom overseas. 16. Review of Japanese studies in India. Index.

There is hardly any general guide to the archival sources of modern India. Drawing upon his experience in the National Archives of India and survey of repositories in U.K and other places, author has provided here a glimpse of these scattered sources.

In addition to their importance for the study of Modern India, he has referred to their value for the history of other Asian countries which cam under British Indian jurisdiction at one time or another. Some of studies deal with hitherto unexplored archival collections on specific topics such as the Revolt of 1857, Tipu Sultan, Mizoram, Building of Siam Burma Railway and the Japanese Occupation of South East Asia during the Second World War.

A survey of documents available in India and abroad on India’s Freedom struggle Overseas, which needs further study is included here. The studies on history, will serve as guidelines for scholars pursuing historical research. It is hoped that these essays will be useful not only for Indians, but scholars from Asian countries as well.