'Early Medieval' Origins of India

India is considered a civilization with intrinsic attributes that emerged in the Vedas or Harappan times, but historical studies have moved away from singularity in origin and expansion to pluralities and long-term processes spanning centuries and millennia. Manu V. Devadevan's radical reinterpretation of India's past examines the evolution of institutions, ideas, and identities that are characterized as Indian, tracing their emergence to specific conditions between 600 and 1200 CE.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 524 pages
Publication date: 03 December 2020
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

India, widely acknowledged as a civilization with a distinct set of intrinsic qualities, has its roots dating back to the age of the Vedas or even earlier, during the Harappan times. In recent years, historical studies have shifted away from rigid perspectives that view India's origin and expansion as singular and unitary. Instead, there is a growing emphasis on recognizing the pluralities and long-term processes that have shaped India's history over centuries and millennia.

A significant school of thought challenges the notion of India as an ancient civilization, arguing that it is a construct of the colonial and nationalist imagination. In his groundbreaking reinterpretation of India's past, Manu V. Devadevan departs from these reifying assessments. Instead, he delves into the evolution of institutions, ideas, and identities that are commonly referred to as "Indian." Rather than endorsing their Indianness, Devadevan traces their emergence to specific conditions that developed in India between 600 and 1200 CE, a period historically known as the early medieval period.

This shift in perspective offers a more nuanced understanding of India's historical development. It recognizes the complex interplay of cultural, social, and political factors that have contributed to the formation of India's unique identity. It also challenges the notion of a linear progression from antiquity to modernity, highlighting the diverse and multifaceted nature of India's history. By examining the early medieval period, Devadevan sheds light on the processes that shaped India's institutions, ideas, and identities during a crucial period of transition. He explores how the interactions between different cultures, religions, and political systems led to the emergence of new social structures, intellectual movements, and artistic expressions.

Through his work, Devadevan challenges the dominant narratives that have shaped our understanding of India's past. He encourages us to look beyond the surface-level narratives and explore the deeper roots of India's cultural and historical heritage. By doing so, we can gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of India's place in the world and its role in shaping the course of human history.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 155 x 230 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108748513