Annals and Antiquities of Rajast’han

James Tods Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, first published in 1829–32, is a seminal work for understanding the history and culture of Rajasthan and the early colonial encounter in India. This re-issue of the original text, with over 80 original copperplate engravings, woodblock prints, and lithographs, returns the work to its original state and critically reframes it, showing how Tods Annals is not the product of a Western "orientalist" imagination but a richly complex work with Rajasthani voices providing a "multi-authored" heterogeneity. The revised volume argues for a more conjunctural, contingent, and open-ended reading of colonial history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1728 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

The two volumes of James Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, first published in 1829-32, remain the foremost source for anyone seeking to understand the history and culture of Rajasthan and the early colonial encounter in India. Authored by the first East India Company official to the region, the text played a crucial role in shaping the early leaders of India's independence movement, who reinterpreted Tod's imagined ancient Rajput national identities as a rallying cry for India's liberation from British colonial rule.

Presented in a numbered limited edition of 750 copies, this re-issue of the original text, accompanied by a companion volume, restores the text to its original form. Over 80 original copperplate engravings, woodblock prints, and lithographs are included, bringing back the visual richness of the original publication.

The companion volume, in particular, offers a critical re-examination of Tod's Annals, challenging the notion that it is solely the product of a Western "orientalist" imagination. Instead, it reveals a richly complex work that incorporates diverse Rajasthani voices, resulting in a heterogeneity that is sometimes discordant and unpredictable. By re-articulating the various voices that coexist within Tod's Annals, the revised volume advocates for a more conjunctural, contingent, and open-ended reading of colonial history.

Distributed for the Royal Asiatic Society, this re-issue of James Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike. It sheds light on the complex interplay of cultures, ideologies, and historical events that shaped the region and contributed to the broader struggle for Indian independence.

Dimension: 217 x 294 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300270525