William Jones: Orientalist and Scholar of Ancient India

Born in London in 1746, William Jones was one of the most celebrated orientalists who came to Calcutta in 1783 as a judge of the Supreme Court.  His contribution to reveal of India’s past to the world is immense.

One of the best minds of the 18^th century, Jones was a linguistic genius. He knew all the important languages of Europe as well as Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Turkish.      

William Jones was the president of the Asiatic Society of Bengal which he founded in 1784. He also published a journal named Asiatic Researches.  In 1789, William Jones translated Kalidasa’s Sakuntala. He followed it by translating Gita Govinda and the law-book of Manu which was published posthumously in 1794 under the title Institutes of Hindoo law.

   

Tantia Tope: Hero of the Revolt of 1857

Tantia Tope was the leader of the rebels of Central India who unfurled the banner of rebellion during the Revolt of 1857, known variously as First War of Independence, Sepoy Mutiny etc. The original name of this brave Maratha Brahmana was Ramchandra Panduranga who was endowed with indomitable spirit.

During the uprising, Tantia Tope, an expert in the original Maratha Gurilla tactics, joined the troops of Nana Saheb, leader of the revolt in Kanpur. He helped Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi in her fight against the British forces. After her death in the battle on the 17th June, 1858, the British devoted their energy chasing him from place to place. An act of betrayal by Man Singh, a feudatory of Sindhia, found Tantia Tope in the hands of the British who sentenced him to death on charges of rebellion and murder on April 18, 1859.

Begum Hazrat Mahal: Important leader of the Revolt of 1857

Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the important leaders of the Revolt of 1857 which shook the very foundation of the British rule in India. Born a courtesan, she was one of the wives of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the ruler of Oudh, who was deposed by the British in 1856 and sent to exile in Calcutta. She led the revolt at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Acting as a regent of her eleven year old son Brijis Qadr, she ruled Awadh and under her tutelage the administration was reorganized. During the revolt, the residency of Lucknow was raided on her instruction. Providing spirited lead to the rebels she joined Maulvi Ahmadullah at Shahjahanpur.

After her defeat by the English, Begum Hazrat Mahal retreated to Nepal. She refused to accept the pension offered by the British and chose to die unknown in alien country in 1879. She is buried in a grave in Kathmandu. 

Bimbisara: First Great Emperor of India

Vulture’s Peak, Rajagriha|Wikimedia Commons

The most remarkable king of the Haryanka dynasty of the great Magadhan kingdom in the 6th century BC was Bimbisara, also known as Srenika. He ascended the throne in c 545 B.C. He was the first Indian ruler who conceived the idea of an extensive empire. 

He embarked on a policy of imperialism by conquering the little kingdom Anga which had its capital at Champa near modern Bhagalpur in Bihar. In ancient times, the port city of Champa was of substantial commercial significance.

Though Anga was the only conquest of Bimbisara, he strengthened his position by matrimonial alliances with other kingdoms. His marriage with Kosala Devi, a sister of Prasenjit of Kosala, brought him the part of Kasi (Varanasi). He was also married to Chellana, the daughter of Chetaka, the Licchavis king of Vaishali. Another wife of Bimbisara was Khema who was born into the royal family of Madra in central Punjab. 

Bimbisara's capital was Raagriha, the modern Rajgir in the Nalanda district of Bihar.

An energetic ruler, Bimbisara did not tolerate inefficient officials who were summarily dismissed. He is credited with building roads and causeways for the benefits of his subjects.

Bimbisara was in diplomatic contact with Puskarasarin, the ruler of Gandhara, whose kingdom also included Taxila.

Bimbisara was deposed, imprisoned and murdered by his son Ajatashatru in about 494 B.C. 

                King Bimbisara visits Venuvana in Rajagriha |Wikimedia Commons

History Questions: Bengal Nawabs and the English

Q.1 The Battle of Plassey was fought in

(a) 1782

(b) 1757

(c) 1748

(d) 1764

Answer (b) 1757

Q. 2 Plassey is situated in which state of India?

(a) Bihar

(b) West Bengal

(c) Odisha

(d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer (b) West Bengal

Q. 3 Battle of Plassey was fought between

(a) Siraj-ud-Doula and British East India Company

(b) Mirzafar and British East India Company

(c) Mir Kasim and British East India Company

(d) Shuja-ud-daulah and British East India Company

Answer (a) Siraj-ud-Doula and British East India Company

Q. 4 Battle of Buxar was fought in

(a) 1764

(b) 1757

(c) 1748

(d) 1764

Answer (a) 1764

Q. 5 Buxar is situated in which state of India?

(a) Bihar

(b) West Bengal

(c) Odisha

(d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer (a) Bihar

Charles Wilkins (1749-1836): Father of Indology

Charles Wilkins was a famous British scholar and Orientalist who played an important part in instilling interest in Oriental studies in the Europe. His claim to fame rests in being the first translator of Bhagavad Gita into English. Completed in 1784, this translation is considered the first direct one of a Sanskrit work into English. 

Charles Wilkins, an employee of the East India Company, learnt Sanskrit, Bengali and helped William Jones found the Asiatic Society of Bengal on 1^st January, 1784.  In 1787, Wilkins translated Hitopadesha.

Veerashaivism of Basava

Veerashaivism or Lingayatism is one of the important Shaivite sects having its followers in the state of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Veerashaivism was founded by Basava, a minister of King Bijjala Kalchuri who usurped the throne of Chalukyas of Kalyani in 1156. The theology of this sect is ‘qualified monism’. However, it is more famous for its social doctrines. Basava repudiated caste system instituted complete equality among his followers, opposed image worship, pilgrimage, sacrificial rituals. 

In Veerashaivism, the linga of Shiva is the only sacred symbol a small specimen of which is carried around the neck of the adherents. Here authority of the Vedas is rejected and the followers of either sex are allowed to remarry after the death of their spouses. 

Basava also condemned cremation of the dead and burial is the usual practice among its followers even today.

In recent years, orthodoxy has crept into Veerashaivism to some extent. The sacred literature of the sect is primarily composed in Kannada and Telugu.