THE NECESSITY OF INDIAN HISTORY

 

             The necessity of Indian History

Anatomically modern humans first came to India from African Migration in the early years of 75,000 to 55,000 BCE.

Why studying history required for Indians?

Indian history gives us the aptitude to learn from others’ mistakes which were done in the past. We don’t really talk about the mistakes done by our peers, parents, or siblings which can later be sorted out by us, instead we talk about the mistakes done by the people of ancient times. It can be the mistake of our royal highness or the royal courtiers or it can be the foreign invaders who went to an extent of draining wealth from India completely and using Indians as their slaves. Not to forget but they also made the land with a rich source of heritage and culture as dry as a desert in a span of a few years. Coming back to the topic of mistakes, it can also be the mistakes of our own Indian society which looks trustworthy, but actually had some traitors within. However, history helps us to understand the reasons why people may behave the opposite to their reaction. It also helps us become impartial in making decisions.

Indian history builds empathy through studying the lives and struggles of people of the past. It also gives us a fair idea of ancient excavations, monuments, coins, paintings, culture, tradition, etc. History for sure teaches us the role of a leader and also in providing their subjects a complete comfort.

However, when we talk about India, we always wonder what might be the extent of our country. The total area of India is about 32,87,263 sq km. India extends about 2933 km from East to West and around 3214 km from North to South. According to the ancient script of Vishnu Purana, one of the slokas states that “THE COUNTRY WHICH LIES NORTH OF THE OCEANS AND  SOUTH OF THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS IS CALLED AS BHARATHA”. Our country is known by different names and they are as follows [ Bharat, Bharatha, jumbudweepa, Bharathakhanda, and Hindusthan ]

One thing for sure is that the word “INDIA” is derived from the Greek word “INDOS” which is the other name of the river Sindhu ...one of the most important rivers of the Indian subcontinent.

The word “HISTORY” reminds us mainly of the rulers who ruled our country for a certain period. The first empire to rule India was the MAURYANS followed by KUSHANS then the GUPTAS then came CHOLAS preceded by the VARDHANAS AND EARLY CHALUKYAS thenceforth by RASTRAKUTAS, LATER CHALUKYAS, and finally by the HOYSALAS.  These kingdoms ruled India from 324 BCE to 1192 CE. The Hindu Era ended after the decline of the Hoysala dynasty.

The Arabs were the first among the Muslims to invade India. The first Muslim dynasty was the slave dynasty followed by Khilji, Tughlak, Sayadhi, and Lodhi. These kingdoms made Delhi their capital and ruled from 1206 CE till 1526 CE. They were commonly known as “THE DELHI SULTANATE”. A war broke out between Ibrahim Lodhi (the last ruler of the Lodhi dynasty) and Babar.

Babar won the war against Lodhi and established the Mughal Empire. The Great Emperors of the Mughal Empire was Humayun , Akbar , Jahangir , Shahajahan  and Aurngzeb. The Mughals ruled from 1526 CE to 1856 CE.

From the year 1856 everything in India changed. No monarchs, no laws just the firing of the guns and canons,  strikes by mankind, and deceased bodies everywhere.

This was the start of the Great British rule in India. Indians were treated as slaves and were forced to participate in the 2^nd world war which caused many casualties. Their law and ordinance continued till the year 1947. That’s when the Indians had enough of the British nuisance and hence decided to put an end to the British rule.

We the people of India got the Independence on 14^th August at 11’o clock the night but however, but India gained liberty and became a free country at midnight between 14^th and 15^th August.

 On November 26^th, 1949 our constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly but the Constitution of India came to the spotlight on 26^th January 1950.

Now India is one of the 7^th largest countries with a population of 138 crores and a GDP of 2.62 lakh crores USD. This proves to us that any obstacles or challenges which come our way should be dauntlessly faced by us. For this kind of bravery in one’s life Indian history is required.

If we say history, it not only means the rise and fall of the Indian empire, but it can even be about the Indo-Aryans who got settled in India and introduced the varna or caste system or the birth of new religions or the different stone ages, or the first war of Indian independence or the bravery of Indian freedom fighters and soldiers. It can even be about the history of our flag which resembles courage, peace, and fertility of our auspicious land including the Ashoka chakra which is navy blue in color and signifies that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.

Aside from this one thing is certain, history can help humans solve the current problems which are faced by us today. Therefore history plays a salient part in human culture and schools in the present-day scenario. So knowing about Indian history is a must for all the citizens of India.

Let me end this with a quote from Mark Twain (American novelist and travel writer)

“INDIA is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legends, and the great grandmother of tradition. The most valuable and most constructive materials in the history of a man are treasured up in India only.”

 

 Aiana....