Chapter 1 HOW, WHEN AND WHERE

How Important Are Dates?

Historically, dates were central to understanding the past, focusing on rulers' coronations, battles, and significant life events. However, history is also about the processes of change over time, such as the development of tastes (like for tea) or the establishment of British rule, which occurred over extended periods rather than on specific dates. While precise dating is sometimes relevant for major events, many significant historical changes are gradual processes that cannot be confined to a single date.

Which Dates?

The selection of dates as significant in history often reflects the priorities and focus of the historian. For instance, British historians in India tended to center their narratives around the activities and policies of Governor-Generals and Viceroys, linking historical periods to their reigns. This perspective often overlooks the experiences and actions of other groups within society. As historical focus shifts to broader social, economic, and cultural changes, different dates and periods gain importance.

How Do We Periodise?

Historians divide the past into periods to capture the central features and changes characteristic of a time. A common periodisation of Indian history is into 'ancient', 'medieval', and 'modern' periods, a division influenced by Western historical concepts. James Mill, in his "History of British India," divided Indian history into 'Hindu', 'Muslim', and 'British' periods, reflecting his view of Asian societies as less civilized than Europe. This classification is problematic as it overlooks the diversity of faiths and practices within periods and oversimplifies historical change. Historians today often prefer to characterize periods based on economic and social factors, or use terms like 'colonial' to describe periods of subjugation, recognizing that divisions are interpretations that reflect our understanding of the past and the significance of change.

How Do We Know?

Administration Produces Records

Official records are a primary source for understanding the last 250 years of Indian history. The British administration placed great importance on documentation, maintaining detailed records of instructions, plans, policies, agreements, and investigations. Record rooms were attached to all administrative institutions, and specialized institutions like archives and museums were established to preserve these documents, including letters, memos, reports, and surveys conducted at various administrative levels.

Surveys Become Important

The British administration utilized surveys extensively to understand and administer the country effectively. Revenue surveys mapped topography, soil quality, flora, fauna, local histories, and cropping patterns. Census operations, conducted every ten years from the late nineteenth century, provided detailed data on population, including caste, religion, and occupation. Botanical, zoological, archaeological, anthropological, and forest surveys were also undertaken.

What Official Records Do Not Tell

While official records offer valuable insights into administrative perspectives and priorities, they do not always reveal the experiences and feelings of ordinary people, tribals, peasants, or workers. To understand these aspects, historians consult other sources like diaries, accounts of pilgrims and travelers, autobiographies, popular booklets, newspapers, and writings of reformers and artists. However, these sources are often produced by the literate, making the study of the lives of the illiterate a more challenging task.

Exercises

The chapter's exercises focus on critical thinking about historical sources and periodization. Questions ask students to evaluate the truthfulness of statements about historical records and periodization, analyze the problems with James Mill's classification, explain the importance of official documents and surveys, and differentiate between various types of historical accounts like newspaper reports and police records. An activity encourages students to imagine themselves as historians researching change in a tribal area, listing potential sources, thereby reinforcing the understanding of how historical knowledge is constructed.