Indian Antiquary Vol 62

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
BOOK-NOTICES
MAHARANA KUMBIA: SOVEREIGN, SOLDIER, SCHOLAR, by HARBILAS SARDA, M.L.A. Second Edition, 1932, pp. xxvi + 234. Vedic Yantralaya, Ajmer.
The first edition of Maháráná Kumbha by Mr. Harbilas Sarda was published in 1917, and was welcomed by all students of Rajput History as a work of absorbing interest. The book has now been re-written and enlarged into the present edition, so much so that it is practically a new work.
The book is divided into sixteen chapters. The first three deal with the "Guhilot Family of Mewar," "Rana Kshetra Singh and Laksh Singh" and "Mahârâna Mokal." The next eight chapters discuss the history of the reign of the illustrious Mahârânâ Kumbha of Mewar. Chapter XII sets forth the achievements of the Mahârânâ, while Chapter XIII describes Kumbha's monuments. In Chapters XIV and XVI, the author has estimated the position of Kumbha respectively as a scholar and as a sovereign. Chapter XV gives a summary of nineteen of the more important inscriptions of the time of the Maharapa, along with a short note on the coins issued by this ruler. A valuable appendix is added, which not only gives the text of seven of the inscriptions of Kumbha, but also quotes an interesting passage from the famous Ekalinga-mahatmya. Not the least important feature of the book is the Index, which the first edition sadly lacked. It is by no means free from foibles and inaccuracies, some of which we will notice shortly, but it cannot be denied that, taken as a whole, the book is a scholarly production, is written in such a style that it roads like a novel and is much more of a history than a compilation of history of which we have recently more than one instance, so far at any rate as Rajpûtânâ is concerned.
Another interesting feature of the book is the way in which the author has tried to prove the partial and untrustworthy nature of the accounts of some Muhammadan historians, especially of Firishta, which is chiefly relied upon by European scholars. The author has impartially shown that Firishta has, in instances more than one, either remained silent about or slurred over the defeat
of a Muhammadan king by a Hindu ruler. But we regret to note that the pleasure from the perusal of the book is somewhat marred by the numerous misprints, and the general absence, and, in a few cases, the improper use, of diacritical marks. We also regret that some of the views of the author cannot be acceptable. Thus, following an impossible theory about the "Krita-Gupta Eras," Mr. Sarda has placed the date of Mihirakula's battle
[ OCTOBER, 1933
with Bâlâditya in "about 131 A.D." (p. 54)! We are also unable to accept his view that "Prithviraj, king of Ajmer, ruled the whole of Northern India" (p. 82) or that the Chauhan king Visaladeva, uncle of Prithviraja, "conquered the whole of upper India" (p. 196).
Mr. Sarda does not believe that the "chivalrous" Rão Rápmal entertained any idea of appropriating the throne of Chitor (p. 61). Yet he speaks of the brutal murder of Raghavadeva who was "loved throughout Mewar for his high character, courage, manly beauty and patriotism" (p. 41), and also refers to the gradual rise of the Râthod nobles, to whom "all positions of confidence and trust as well as those of political and military importance were bestowed" (p. 59).
In spite of these differences of opinion which are by no means of a serious nature, we have no doubt that it is a work worthy of a scholar and that it will be read with much interest and profit by a lay. man also. We hope that, like Hemâdri during the time of the Yadavas of Devagiri, or Sâyana during the Vijayanagara rule, Mr. Sarda will find time to write more books of this nature.
D. R. B.
GANGA-PURATATTVANKA. 9 x 7 in.; 337 pages. Published from the Gangd Office, Krenagarh, Sultanganj, dt. Bhagalpur, 1933. Rs. 3.
Kumar Krsnananda Simha of Banaili and the editorial staff of the new Hindi illustrated monthly magazine Gangd are to be congratulated on the enterprise and success shown in the publication of this special archeological number of their journal, which contains a large number of instrucancient and medieval Indian history and culture, tive papers dealing with various aspects of including archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, linguistics, scripts and painting, etc. We find here papers by some of the most distinguished Indian scholars of the present day, such as Rao Bahadur S. K. Aiyangar, Rai Bahadur Hiralal, Dr. Hirananda Sastri, Mr. K. P. Jayaswal, Dr. N. N. Law and many other well-known names. Some of the articles furnish useful summaries of the far-reaching results of the explorations carried out in recent times at Mohenjodaro, Nålandâ, Basarh, Paharpur and other sites; others describe archaeological treasures preserved in some of the principal museums, while a few are of a more speculative character. Many of the papers are illustrated. The volume provides in a handy form a mass of information for the Hindi-reading public, not otherwise readily available to them in that language,
C. E. A. W. O.