Problems of Ancient India

History, as E.H.Carr has pointed out, is an unending dialogue between the past and the present. Probably this interaction of the past with the present is the cornerstone for sustaining interest in History. History is to the society what memory is to one's head. It is a generally accepted fact that such knowledge of the past is the foundation for the edifice of the present as well as for the future. The present book under review, Problems of Ancient India, by K.D.Sethna, is thus an example to show as to how the debates on historical themes are never ending streams and they go on by throwing up new insights and new perspectives depending on the contemporary understanding of the past.

Sethna's book, Problems of Ancient India, is an interesting enquiry into some significant aspects in the ancient period of Indian History. The author has made some random selection of eleven such aspects and each one is assigned a separate chapter. The topics, though varied, generally revolve round geographical and chronological themes. The book starts with a chapter on the location of Kamboja, in which several theories connected with the place in the historical setting are discussed. To drive home his point, the author asserts: "D.C.Sarkar is right about his Kamboja on this side of the Hindukush. Agarwala is right about his Kamboja on the other side of the mountain. Both are wrong in ruling out each other's Kamboja.  The historical truth is that there were two Kambojas." (p.4)

The question of domesticating of animals by the Aryans is in itself an interesting enquiry. The second chapter of the book is on the domestication of the horse and the use of the spoked wheel-chariot by the Aryans. The author has shown different perspectives in the understanding of the original home of the Aryans, their migrations and the evolution of the wheeled cart they used. He speculates that the sledge carriage must be the prototype of the cart that the Aryans have used. In the chapter on `Search for Soma', the author demystifies the theory of Mr.Wasson that the divine plant Soma, from which the ancients brewed wine, was a mushroom. Here he has profusely quoted Sri Aurobindo's interpretation of some hymns, to disprove Wasson's theory. In establishing the time of Kalidasa, the author has thoroughly analysed the writings of scholars like R.C.Majumdar, R.D.Bhandarkar, A.S.Altekar, A.D.Pulaskar, B.P.Pande and a host of others. He convincingly connects Kalidasa to the period of Vikramaditya and establishes the latter's reign to start with 57 B.C.  The knowledge of metals like iron, copper, etc. in deciding the chronology finds place in the chapter on Rama-Ravana-Lanka.

The author's familiarity in reading into the published inscriptions and journals connected with publication of ancient inscriptions, like The Indian Historical Quarterly, etc. is very clear in the chapters like: To Panini's time from Panini's place; The Greco-Aramaic Inscription of Kandahar; etc.

With regard to the veracity of the Ceylonese chronology, the author wants to make litmus tests on the issues like date of the death of the Buddha and comes to the conclusion that the chronicles do not correspond to the prominent contemporary Indian sources. A number of examples are given in support of this view. The way the Imperial Gupta rulers  and their times are mentioned in the Travels of Hiuen Tsang forms  the subject matter of another chapter, in which the dates of Baladitya, Narasimha Gupta and Chandra Gupta I are debated. A large number of Chinese sources are also cited to prove the point of view of the author. In the chapter The Indica of Megasthenes, Sethna appears to have declared a virtual wordy war on the opinions expressed by R.C. Majumdar in relation to the observations made by Megasthenes in his book, Indica. He finds fault with Majumdar who was of the opinion that Megasthenes lacked powers of keen observation and therefore his testimonies should not be accepted in their totality.

The entire book, Problems of Ancient India, is laced with strong arguments supported by varied sources. K.D.Sethna, who already has to his credit several publications on Ancient India, handles all the "Problems" that he has chosen with great dexterity. The author's urge to arrive at the `truth' on such problems is also evident.  He has commitment to his convictions and this clearly comes up in his work while refuting others' opinions.  It should also be said in this context that factual contents in history, more particularly in the ancient period of Indian history, are shrouded in controversies. Diagonally opposite views have been expressed and debated on issues like chronology and geography. These aspects do contribute to the correct understanding of historical occurrences. But historiography in recent decades has undergone a welcome change by underscoring the need to analyse the socio-economic forces which were at work rather than drifting   towards mere chronology and things connected to geographical details alone. In other words, we generally tend to search in history the factors which we consider today as the most important ones in society. Therefore, the exercise which K.D.Sethna has undertaken in his book, if only it included such aspects like Society, Economy, Administration, etc., his labour must have yielded much more dividends, as a larger audience would have been benefited by his book.

Though the problem areas chosen by the author and the way his arguments run in defending his line of thinking appear to be quite traditional, his approach is not fanatical. He looks at these issues with an open mind but comes down heavily on the scholars and their views whenever he scores over them. Sethna exhibits his strong loyalty to his own views which he zealously guards with commitment.  The entire book, Problems of Ancient India is packed with meaningful debates on the issues which the author must have been ruminating for a very long period even before reducing them to writing in the present form. The entire book is well documented. The tenor and the high tide with which the author takes the reader through his work, is sure to evoke interest among the academics as well as the general public.

— K.S.S. Seshan
Professor of History, University of Hyderabad

June 2001