Kashi Prasad Jayaswal
By Vashita :-
Kashi Prasad Jayaswal
Introduction :
• K.P Jayaswal was a Nationalist
Historian.
• He was one of the great nationalist
historians of the first half of the
twentieth century.
• Kashi Prasad Jayaswal was an
Indian historian and lawyer.
Early life and Education :
• He was born in Mirzapur (U.P) .
• He Graduated from Allahabad University.
• He went to Oxford University for higher
studies where he completed his M.A in
history.
• He Joined as an Advocate in the Calcutta
High Court in 1911.
Contribution of K. P Jayaswal in
Indian Historiograpy :
• He wrote more than 120 research
papers in addition to 11 books and
numerous commentaries and
translations.
• He also played a pioneering role in
excavating and restoring ancient sites,
including the university of Nalanda in
modern Bihar.
• He was also an expert in numismatics, and
his discovery of several coins of the
Maurya and Gupta periods led to his being
the first Indian to be invited to speak at the
Royal Asiatic Society of London in 1931.
His Works -:
Books : ‘Hindu polity’(1918):
His famous book “Hindu polity” inspirable book for
the Indian historian during the British Period , he
said that ideology of western historians in which it
was propagated that India had learned about
political institutions and ideas from the west and
there were anarchical states that existed in Ancient
India he emphasised that , there were democratic
rules (Not absolute but we can see the collective
decision making process in ancient India ) and
several political institutions existed in ancient India.
The concept of Gana Rajya and sangh rajya could
be seen in ancient India also. Vaishali ganrajya was
one of the oldest Republics of the world.
History of India :150 A.D to 350 A. D
(1933)
His History of India , about India under
Naga Dynasty ( 150 A.D 284 A.D)
The Vakataka Empire (284 A. D 384 AD) .
Etc.
An imperial History of India(1934)
An Imperial History of India in a
Sanskrit Text, C. 700 B.C.-c. 770 A.D.:
With a Special Commentary on Later
Gupta Period
Manu and Yajnavalkya
The text is laid out as a frame story in which
the sages of Mithila approach Yājñavalkya
and ask him to teach them dharma.
Articles :-
He contributed articles on various fields. Some of
his prominent articles, which were published in the
Journal of the Bihar Research Society were :
Saisunaka and Mauryan Chronology and the Date of
Buddha’s Nirvana ’ ,Empire of Bindusara,
Chronological Summary in Puranic Chronicle and
Kaliyug era, The Brihadratha Chronology, cir. 1727
B.C. -727 B.C. , Revised Date on the Brahmin empire,
Wema Kadphises and Kushana Chronolgy,,
Contributions to the History of Mithila, On the rule of
Pushyamitra Sunga, etc.
• Jayaswal did pioneering work in deciphering the
Hathigumpha inscriptions as well as inscriptions of
Asoka.
• The other inscriptions studied by him include
inscriptions in Bhubaneshwar Temple, Sunga inscription
of Ayodhya, Saundra Guptas’s inscription of Allahabad,
Rajgir stone image inscription , Rajgir stone image
inscription, Kandaha inscription of King Narsimhadeva
of Mithila, etc.
•
In the field of numismatics he wrote articles on Purana
coins and suggested numerous new readings for the
legends on the coins of the Gangetic valley.
• He also wrote on the six silver coins of Sungas and
Criticism:
Historian R. C. Majumdar criticized his
theories about the Gupta history as
“too conjectural and full of wild
guesses to be seriously considered”.
Conclusion :-
The K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute in Patna was
established by the Government of Bihar in 1950
with the object of promoting “historical research,
archaeological excavation and investigations and
publication of works of permanent value to
scholars”.
