India is a country with rich history, culture and heritage. The country with one of the oldest civilizations. The ancient Indian culture and history are astonishing in themselves.
India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.
Mark Twain
Ancient Indian Culture – Is A Hidden Treasure
Homosexuality was tolerated, and sexual openness was not frowned upon, in fact, Indian women were not confined to vail, home and kids they were the rule makers but look at us now! Influenced and driving in a new direction, but who is to blame? it’s unfortunate that we are not aware of our own culture. The land that had the best of warriors, great rituals, mesmerizing art and best of brains is unknown by its own people. If the world is a market we as a country are supermarkets, where each and everything is available that too of premium quality.
So, if you are a curious creature with a passion for history, a student preparing for civil services, an individual who is mindfully growing his/her knowledge or if you are an indian – This article is for you. Here is a list of books about some indispensable reads on Ancient Indian history and Indian culture.
And if reading is not your best trait you must work on it & start reading little if not much from today itself. You can start with Our Favourite 8 Sudha Murthy Books – A Fine Collection Of Book For New Readers
1. Ancient history by R.S.Sharma- NCERT
Yes, the boring one topped the list. The first has to be this book, taught in all CBSE board schools is the base to explore the ancient past of our country India. nothing can better provide you with the most essential and basic understanding of the past than this course book that we as kids have always found boring.
The fact is this one top the list of books UPSC aspirants prefer, therefore we can say this source of Ancient Indian culture is reliable and profound at its best.
2. EARLY INDIANS: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From
What is our origin?
A thought that has plagued the minds of many Indians, including you, at some point or other. Tony Joseph has combined the ancient and the modern past to create a story about how our forefathers influenced who we are today in more ways than we can comprehend.
He has also used DNA data, which is often overlooked in historical studies. This fascinating account of our evolution is based on genetics & science. You can not skip this one if you are truly a digger of Ancient Indian stories.
3. The Wonder That Was India by A L Basham
Every individual should read this book as an introduction to Indian culture. “Once you have background knowledge as per this book, it will extend your range of understanding the old Indian civilization when you read other Indian history books,” one Amazon reviewer says.
Correctly so, because the accounts in the book by author Arthur Llewellyn Basham were influenced by his father’s firsthand accounts, as well as the author’s own knowledge of and research into Ancient Indian culture and society.
4. Prehistory and Protohistory of India – An Appraisal by VK Jain
This book discusses a variety of broad subjects. Tools, technology, settlements, life patterns, and natural history are a few of them.
There is also a thorough discussion of the peninsular Indian megalithic cultures. There are also maps, line drawings, and descriptive annotations on each site. The Ancient Indian history has been given a new approach in the book.
5. Ancient India by RC Majumdar
This book provides a thorough and fascinating history of the ancient Indians.
The author goes into considerable length to describe the religious, literary, and cultural aspects of the ancient history of India and its inhabitants. Also highlighted are the political and administrative environments.
6. History of Ancient India | First Edition | By Pearson: Pashan Kal Se 12vi Shatabdi Tak – by Upinder Singh
Because there are photos relating to the events mentioned in the chapters, readers may completely immerse themselves in the book’s content. The Ancient Indian history is made more attractive and mesmerising by the pictures attached.
Along with this, the book also explains how language changed over time by focusing on the writings of European scholars known as Orientalists and how practices like translation, textual analysis, epigraphy, etc. spread.
7. Ancient History of India by Charles J. Naegele
If you are someone who enjoys reading about the mythology and creation of Hinduism, then this is your book. This book offers a novel perspective on ancient Indian history, Manusmriti and its connection to Rigveda are at the centre of it. It investigates any connections to the Indus Civilization, which existed between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago in Ancient Indian history.
Additionally, it sheds light on the Indus Valley Civilization’s usage of technology as well as Aryan society, culture, and caste systems.
8. COROMANDEL: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF SOUTH INDIA by CHARLES ALLEN
The book provides an in-depth exploration of the Coromandel coast, a part of India’s south coast known as Cholamandalam, or “the land of the Chola Dynasty.” the writer has a new view towards the ancient history of India.
In the book, Charles Allen continues to discuss Velathu Lakshmikutty, a woman who fought against caste prejudice, and writes, “The role played by women in history is as underwritten in India as anywhere, so it is only right to end with a mention of another woman of Kerala whose part in its Ancient Indian history has only recently been publicly recognized.”
9. The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History BY SANJEEV SANYAL
Those who try to comprehend civilization and societies have long focused on the Indian Ocean. This is due to the fact that it encompasses a portion of a planet with some of the most varied cultural history. Nobody would have ever seen the ancient history of India in the way that Mr Sanyal has made us look.
In contrast to most historical works, which tend to concentrate on the Ancient Indian culture they are discussing, the Indian Ocean is the key factor in the creation of these indian cultures.
10. INDIAN ART AND CULTURE BY NITIN SINGHANIA
The book illustrates the growth of Indian culture in connection to the people who inhabited its country wonderfully. It accomplishes this by describing the Stone Age when spears & arrows were the primary tools of survival, and how Sanskrit & education gradually replaced them.
The book additionally sheds light on how ancient society differed from modern society in that our forefathers spent a significant amount of time concentrating on personal growth.
In the same way that Indian culture and heritage values are limitless, so are the names in the list of books. These were some of the angles with several dimensions of notation in the past.
Don’t let the bookworm and curious child in you die; learn more about books and their history. And do let us know if something interesting cross your way.
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