Albiruni (An Eleventh Century Historian) - An Old Book

Albiruni (An Eleventh Century Historian) - An Old Book

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Book Specification

Item Code: NAH120
Author: Dr. J.S. Mishra
Publisher: Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi
Language: English
Edition: 1985
Pages: 94
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 8.5 inch x 5.5 inch
Weight 220 gm

Book Description

About the Book

In this original and significant study the author tries to show biographical and historical background of the academic achievements of Albiruni, the scholar of Science and human ties, the eleventh century Arab historian who composed hundreds of books on different subjects, His monumental work entitled 'Tahqiq ma-lil Hind, was written on the material life, culture, history, philosophy and science of Indian people. The present book for the first time throws light on the method, approach, treatment of history and historiography of Albiruni who supplies ample information about this country. In this regard he sur-pasees the Greek traveller Megasthanese and Chinese travellers Fa-Hian and Hiuen-tsang.

About the Author

Dr. J.S. Mishra (b. 1939 ) Reader in the Deptt. of History, Banaras Hindu University, was educated in B. H. U. Aftar serving Islamia Degree College (1961), Srinagar Kashmir University and Kurukshetra University ( 1964-65) he joined B. H U. in July 1965. In 1958 got the award of Bombay Board of Education for biographical sketch. In 1970 he received Acharya Narendra Deva National Award from U. P. Government. Basidas several research articles his publications include Indian History and Culture (1968), Eleventh Century India (1968) and Social History of Ancient India (1974), its second and third revised editions were published in 1981 and l983.

Preface

Albiruni was an outstanding Arab historian of early medieval time who enjoyed deep affection and profound respect of his countrymen as well as gratitude of the entire Muslim world. He was a great intellectual of eleventh century whose books and writings contain a distinctive concept of humanistic ideals. He has written over a hundred books on various subjects including science, philosophy, religion, geography and history. 'Tahqiq-ma-lil Hind' is one of his monumental works in which he has dealt with amazing clarity about Indian subjects like science, maths. geography, philosophy, history and religion. Hence, he can be rightly compared with Greek traveller Megasthanese and Chinese travellers Fa-Hian and Hiuen-tsang of ancient India.

The eleventh century stands out as one of the landmarks of Indian history when Mahmud of Gazan, a patron of Albiruni, invaded India more than twenty-six times. But these invasions of his master did not affect him and he kept himelf peacefully engaged in his objective writing" In this way Albiruni was a unique person who always devoted himself in academic pursuits.

The present work deals for the very first time about Albiruni's life., work, stay and travel in India. Beside this the estimate of is work has been done histrographically.

I find it difficult to express my feeling of gratitude to Prof, L. Singh, Prof. R. S. Sharma, Prof. Irfan Habib and Prof. J. N. Vajpeyi who gave their suggestions in course of this study. Ofcourse I am myself responsible for any errors concerning with this work.

I express my gratefulness to my esteemed colleagues Dr. K.L. Srivastava, Dr. J. Chaubey, Dr. L. Rai (History Department), Prof. P.K. Jha (Head, Deptt. of French Studies), and Sri P.K. Roy (Social Science Faculty) who helped in preparing the manuscript.

I am thankful to the University Grants Commission which has given a grant through Banaras Hindu University for its publication. The author is thankful to Sri Purushottam Das Modi, of Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi for his active cooperation in publishing.

I beg pardon from the readers

not providing diacritical marks for sanskrit words.

In the last I must express my thanks to my wife Mrs. Vidya Mishra and sons Asim and Navin for preparing the index.

Contents

Preface III
CHAPTERS
I. Albiruni's Life and Career Jan-23
His stay in India 9
His travel in India 11
His work 13
II. The Treatment of History in Tahqiq-Ma-Lil-Hind 24-54
Historical Objectivity 24
Versatile Knowledge 26
Arab liking of Indology 27
Abu-Sahl's inspirations 28
Albiruni's book Tahqiq-ma-lil Hind 29
Albiruni's sources of information 34
(A) Reporters' information 35
(B) Study of original books 37
(C) Knowledge based on translated works 38
(D) Albiruni's self-observations 39
Albiruni's general standard of judgement 43
The Comparative and Critical way of Albiruni's description 45
The specialty of Albiruni's approach 46
III. Albirunis View About Hindu Social Formation 55-74
Materialist approach 55
Restrictions on Hindu social order 55
Four Varnas 56
Untouchable and professional class 60
Conversion of Hindu slaves 63
Spiritualistic and materialistic division of life 64
Sanskaras 66
Hindu marriage and family life 67
Polygamy 68
Polyandry 69
Restricted Marriage 69
Status of women 70
Bibliography 75-90
Index 81-87

Sample Pages






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