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available inscriptions and seals. It also discusses its probable relation with the old Dravidian culture. In conuinuation of this, chapter three deals with the probable reality of Hindustan in the third millenna B. C. and discusses the problems of ethnic history in the context mainly of archa. eology and linguistics. Here, the study reaches its top height of scholar. ship and research acumen. One interesting point discussed is that the Harappan civilization had a small section of Dravida-speaking population and it is laid down now, from the fourth millennium B. C. to the second. this section slowly migrated to come to south by stages.
Following the hunts in the first two chapteis, here we have a precise discussion on the relation between Indo-Aryans on one side and the Dravidians and the Proto-Munda on the other. In the end, the author rightly concedes that a great deal is still obscure, that continued integral research is necessary and that answers to questions raised are only tentative hypotheses.
With this introduction in the first part, in the second, the author continues his study, rightly with political and Socio-economic state of republics in Ancient India. He shows how, states and Governments were both monarchical and non-monarchical; how, in the governance of nonmonarchical republics, an element of democracy persisted and how the head or the Senapati was not necessarily by heritage in all States and Governments. For this, the terms Gana and Sangha in their different meanings; mainly political and social are analysed. The author shows how Ksatriyas dominated the scene even though Brāhmaṇas and Vaisya s'were also members of Ganas and Sanghas. There was inequality in status and Sudras. comprising of workers of craft, and slaves were the lowest in the ladder. The varņa-system that we popularly know as căturvarnya, is also discussed in this context. His opinion about the all-out domination of Ksatriyas can create second thought because of the race for politcal and social supremacy in which Brahmaņas did not lag behind. The lot of Sūdras is not discussed much.
In chapter five the author narrates, discusses and analyses the state of Indian community in the latter half of the first millinneum B. C. This creates a sound basis for the clear perspective of Indian culture in its varied aspects because this millinneum has been the most eventful in Indian history. The author discusses the status of grama and its headman, different clans, groups etc., that were, in their own sphere, able to take their own decisions and were ruled by their own norms. A sort of
