ICHR Projects: Native states
ICHR has identified certain new areas in
the ancient, medieval and modern periods of Indian History which have hitherto
been paid no attention by the ICHR so far and very less attention was paid by
individual scholars. The projects on history of Indian Science and Technology
and Environmental history will be covering both ancient and late medieval times
the project on Indian Princely States, another area which did not attract much
attention by Indian scholars where as the western scholars are divided into two
groups arguing for and against the Indian princes. Western scholars, like
Barbara Ramusack, Ian Copland, Thomas R Metcalf, John McLeod, Manu Bhagawan, Waltraud
Ernst and Biswamoy Pati, have attempted critical assessment of their role in
the British period of Indian history. Some others tried to attract the lay
readers with spicy tales about some princes.
There were about
565 princes by the time when the English withdrew from India. Most of them were
very insignificant estates. But, almost one-third of India was under their
direct rule. Surprisingly, most of them enjoyed respect and reverence of their
peoples till the last and their influence was also felt much on their
respective areas in the coming three general elections. Nawab of Bhopal said at
one time that his people, most of them were Hindus, regarded him as a deity
while his Muslim subjects though loved him had reservations. Most of the present
works were mostly concerning about major states like Mysore, Hyderabad, Baroda,
Bhopal. But, the other medium level states like Cooch Bihar, Travancore were
not sufficiently focused. Some of them had survived many vicissitudes braving
the rough tides for about a millennium. They strove to preserve, protect and
keep alive, though playing at low key and handed down to us whatever we call it
‘Indian’ today. Most of ancient manuscripts can still be traced in the estate
libraries.
The part of India under the Princes’
rule is quite justifiably referred to ‘Native India’ during the British period.
But they were not considered sympathetically by the Colonial writers and the Marxist analysts for
obvious reasons. Surprisingly, the nationalistic scholars were also not
sympathetic to them though most of these princes had attempted modern reforms
–social, economic, educational, administrative and political- within their
capabilities and resources. In the
post independent era, they disappeared unceremoniously and unwept.
This project covering those states which
did not receive much attention of the scholars like Cooch Bihar in the first
phase and the others in its second phase is approved in principle and the
members of ICHR, Prof Nikhilesh Guha, Dr Saradindu, Prof Purabi Roy in
association with other experts in the field will fine tune the project and
place on the web-site for comments and suggestions very shortly.