Matrimonial Alliances And Ancient Indian Polity

Matrimonial Alliances Between Royal Families Were A Prominent Feature Of Politics In Ancient India. Beginning With Matrimonial Relations Among The Shodash-Mahajanapadas, The Book Traces Alliances Formed By The Nandas, Mauryas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas, The Imperial And Later Guptas, Etc. From The Sixth Century Bce To The Seventh Century Ce.

Puts Together The Authors Lectures On Aspects Of Ancient Indian Polity - Lectures - Appendices - Bibliography - Index - Covers Concepts Of Oriental Despotism, Elements Of The State Of Saptanga, Theory Of The Social Contract, Kingship, Aims Of The State, Local And Tribal Customs And Usage, Administration Of Justice, Public Finance Etc. Condition Good.

Some Aspects Of Early Indian Society is a comprehensive study of certain social institutions of early India based on literary and epigraphic traditions, located between Vedic times to the 8th century A.D. It poses new questions on ticklish issues like the social thought of Kautilya, Hindu sacraments, graded early Indian society, the question of the Sudras, subjection of women, Buddhist attitudes towards women, Ashoka Dharma as gleaned from rock edicts, feudal relationship and obligations between kings and vassal. This study of Kautilya's social thought is probably the first of its kind to discover the essentials of Hindu social thought and its systematic presentation. Some Aspects Of Early Indian Society is an attempt to trace the origin and growth of various Hindu sacraments in early Indian society.

The present work Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient Indian discusses different views on the origin and nature of the state in ancient India. It also deals with stages and processes of state formation and examines the relevance of caste and kin-based collectivities to the construction of polity. The Vedic assemblies are studied in some detail, and developments in political organisation are presented in relation to their changing social and economic background. The book also shows how religion and rituals were brought in the service of the ruling class.

The history of marriage is viewed as social history related to customs and laws, but it is also a reflection of an inner life—one that comprises tales of joy, suffering, and the mundane—most of it hidden from the historian’s eye. Analysing the institution of marriage in medieval Rajasthan, Singh reconstructs the regional social structures and cultures of the time. The history of Rajasthan has always been romanticized, especially the legends of Sati and Jauhar, both of which along with the rituals related to widowhood are seen as institutional forms of women’s oppression. Singh offers a fresh perspective on these customs, often challenging the conventional narrative and unearthing the complex motives behind them. Referring to extensive archival and literary sources, the author delves deep into practices such as polygamy, dowry, and concubinage which are situated in the changing socio-political structures. As the author takes cognizance of the regional variations with respect to cultural norms, what becomes unequivocally clear is the multicultural ethos of India and the fact that history cannot be interpreted in monolithic universal terms.