The History of Bengal, Volume I. Hindu Period

Contents: I. Physical and historical geography/H.C. Raychaudhuri: 1. Physical aspects. 2. Bengal in holy writ. 3. The historic period. II. The legendary period/H.C. Raychaudhuri: 1. Primitive peoples. 2. The Sunahsepa episode. 3. Origins of races. 4. Aryan influences. 4. Legendary heroes. III. Early history from 326 B.C. to 320 A.D./H.C. Raychaudhuri: 1. Bengal in classical literature. 2. The Gangaridai. 3. Glimpses of Bengal before the Gupta rule. IV. Rise of Gauda and Vanga/R.C. Majumdar: 1. Bengal under the imperial Guptas. 2. Independent kingdoms in Bengal. 3. The kingdom of Samatata or Vanga. 4. Rise of Gauda. 5. Sasanka. Appendices. V. Political disintegration after Sasanka/R.C. Majumdar: 1. The kingdom of Gauda. 2. The kingdom of Vanga. Appendices. VI. The Palas/R.C. Majumdar: 1. The origin and early history of the Palas. 2. The Pala empire: a. Dharmapala (c. 770-880 A.D.). b. Devapala (c. 810-850 A.D.). 3. The decline and fall of the empire. 4. Restoration under Mahipala (c. 988-1038 A.D.). 5. The break-up of the Pala kingdom. 6. Disintegration and temporary revival. 7. The end of the Pala rule. Appendices. VII. Minor independent kingdoms during the Pala period/R.C. Majumdar: 1. The Chandras. 2. The Varmans. VIII. The Senas/R.C. Majumdar: 1. The origin of the Sena kings. 2. The Sena Kings. 3. The successors of Lakshmanasena. Appendices. IX. Minor ruling dynasties during the Sena period/R.C. Majumdar: 1. The Deva dynasty. 2. The kingdom of Pattikera. 3. The kingdom of Pithi. 4. The minor Gupta dynasty. X. Administration/R.C. Majumdar and Radhagovinda Basak: 1. Pre-Gupta period. 2. Period of Gupta imperialism. 3. Period of the independent Vanga rulers before the Palas. 4. The Pala Period. 5. The period of the Senas and other minor dynasties. Appendices. XI. Sanskrit literature/S.K. De: 1. Early period. 2. Literary activities during Gupta rule. 3. Literature during the Pala period. 4. Literature under Sena rule. XII. Rise of vernacular literature/Suniti Kumar Chatterji: 1. Origin. 2. Development. XIII. Religion : A. Development of religious ideas/Prabodh Chandra Bagchi: 1. Introduction of Aryan culture. 2. Brahmanical religion. 3. Jainism. 4. Buddhism. 5. General review. B. Iconography/Jitendra Nath Banerjea: 1. Introduction. 2. Brahmanical icons associated with Vishnu cult. 3. Saiva images. 4. Sakti images. 5. Images of Surya. 6. Miscellaneous divinities. 7. Jaina images. 8. Buddhist images. Glossary. XIV. Architecture, sculpture, painting: A. Architecture/Sarasi Kumar Saraswati: 1. Introduction. 2. Stupa architecture. 3. Monastic architecture. 4. Temple architecture. 5. Architectural members. B. Sculpture/Niharranjan Ray: 1. Introduction. 2. Early terracottas : Sunga affiliation. 3. Kushan affiliation. 4. The Gupta idiom. 5. Period of transition. 6. Paharpur. 7. Rise of the eastern Indian school of art. 8. Sociological background of Pala and Sena sculpture. 9. General features of Pala and Sena art. 10. Evolution of style : 700-1200 A.D. 11. General conclusions. C. Painting/Niharranjan Ray: 1. Early East Indian paintings. 2. Composition and style. 3. Artistic conceptions. 4. Resemblance to West Indian specimens. XV. Society/R.C. Majumdar, R.C. Ganguly and D.C. Hazra: 1. Ethnological background. 2. Aryanisation of Bengal. 3. The castes and sub-castes. 4. The Brahmanas. 5. Non-Brahman castes. 6. Socio-religious rites, ceremonies and festivals. 7. Life of the people. 8. A nation in the making. Appendices. XVI. Economic conditions/P.C. Chakravarti: 1. Sources. 2. Rural settlements. 3. Urban settlements or towns. 4. Land tenures. 5. Agriculture. 6. Measures of land. 7. Crafts and industries. 8. Trade-inland and foreign. 9. Medium of exchange. XVII. Bengalis outside Bengal/R.C. Majumdar and D.C. Ganguly: 1. Activities of Bengalis outside India: Bengalis in overseas colonies. 2. Activities of Bengalis in India outside Bengal. Index.

"This book The History of Bengal is presented in two volumes. Vol. I containing 17 chapters covers the Hindu Period and is profusely illustrated with maps and plates. This volume is edited by Prof. R.C. Majumdar who served as Vice-Chancellor of the Dacca University. Vol. II edited by Sir Jadunath Sarkar, Ex-Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University contains 26 chapters and covers the history of Bengal during 1200-1757 A.D. starting from Muslim conquest of Bengal and ending with the rule of Siraj-ud-daulah.

In writing this book of history the authors have strictly confined themselves to the data definitely applicable to the geographical limits of Bengal.

This authentic reference book is extremely useful for the students and research workers in history." (jacket)