Author
Kamlesh Kapur, an
educator and researcher,
has a Masters in
Economics from Punjab
University, and a
Masters in Education
from St. John’s
University, USA. She
was among the first twenty women to be directly
selected in the Indian Central Services. Kamlesh
Kapur has had a long association with secondary
school students. For over twenty years she taught
World History and Global cultures using various
prescribed textbooks. After completing a
comprehensive review of the Indian history sections
of these textbooks, she found numerous inaccuracies
and outdated theories. She spearheaded the
movement for correcting the content and developing
an appropriate program of study based on recent
discoveries emanating from various fields of
research. She has a long term commitment for
preparing young students for multiethnic
demography in all the countries. She has also
prepared lessons and techniques for teaching subjects
such as Cultural Diversity, Pluralism and
Multiculturalism.
Sterling Publishers
Hardbound • 704pp •Size: 7"x9.75" $ 59.99
Soft cover same size, $ 45.99
Available from the author, contact:
[email protected]
ENDORSEMENT
Yes, this is a very important and well done
publication, a model for other scholars to
follow. The geographical and cultural
continuity is a key point to emphasize, such as
we noted in Hidden Horizons. India does not
have a borrowed civilization from immigrants
but reflects largely an indigenous development.
- Vamadeva (David Frawley)
Portraits of a Nation
History of
Ancient India
There has been a momentous shift of paradigms
regarding the historical view of ancient Indian
civilization brought about by new
archaeological, geological and more recently by
genetic findings of the last two or three decades.
Kamlesh Kapur has filtered the material from
primary sources, research papers and
monographs and has presented the material in a
very lucid and engaging style in a text suitable
for high school students.
- B. N. Narahari Achar, Professor of Physics
The University of Memphis
“Portraits of a Nation — History of Ancient
India” is a timely book. Kamlesh Kapur’s
pioneering book brings together latest scholarly
findings to provide a rational understanding of
Indian civilization. I recommend it strongly for
use in schools and for self-study.
- Subhash Kak, Professor
Oklahoma State University
India being the oldest living civilization today,
and Indian diaspora increasing dramatically in
the United States, a need for an authentic book
with accurate and contextualized information
has long existed. Portraits of a Nation – History
of Ancient India is a very timely book that
meets that need.
- Bal Ram Singh, Professor
Director Center for Indic Studies,
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Kamlesh Kapur
2010 • ISBN9788120752122
Portraits of a Nation
History of Ancient
India
Kamlesh Kapur
2010 • ISBN9788120752122
The history of India has been written and
rewritten several times, each time with a
different context. Historical narratives act as a
powerful vehicle of culture and tradition from
generation to generation. Therefore it is
essential to give an authentic narrative of
India’s past using all the new evidence which
has surfaced through archaeological excavation
in the Indus-Sarasvati region. Researches in the
field of ecology, natural history and genetics
have given us enough pointers enabling us to
write a fairly accurate history of Ancient India.
This book ties up all this new evidence with the
internal evidence from the literary sources.
Discarding several theories and assumptions, it
focuses attention on the contributions of Indian
civilization and culture to mankind. It is a
comprehensive work highlighting those
historical events and developments which left
significant impact on the heritage of mankind.
Presented in a non invasionist model, this book
attempts to reclaim the accurate chronology of
Ancient Indian history and do away with many
myths
and
prevailing
misconceptions
surrounding it. Supplemented by numerous
photographs and illustrations of ancient relics,
inscriptions and maps, it makes an interesting
read meant for students and general readers.
Foreword • Acknowledgments • Preface •
List of Maps • Abbreviations
of Medicine and Surgery in Ancient India – The
Science of Ayurveda • Impact of Indian Culture
and Indian Civilization • Music, Dance and
Drama in Ancient India • Women in Ancient
India
SECTION ONE
Historiography
SECTION FOUR
History of Southern India
Science of Historiography • Questions of
Approach • Sources of History and Historical
Evidence • Honesty in Sifting Evidence and
Problems of Interpretation
Early History • The Satvahana Dynasty of
Western India • The Kadamba Dynasty • The
Ganga Dynasty • The Chalukyas of Badami •
The Pallava Dynasty • The Rashtrakuta
Dynasty • The Imperial Cholas and Pandyas •
Kalinga and Odisha • Contributions of
Southern India • Epilogue • Bibliography •
Glossary •index
Contents
SECTION TWO
Origin of Civilization and the Rise of Early
Dynasties
Geography of India • Beginnings of Indian
Civilization and European Time Frame •
Submerged Cities and Advanced Civilizations
in Ancient India • Homeland of Early Indian •
The Vedic Age • Vedic Age and the
Technologically Advanced Indus-Sarasvati
Civilization •Vedic Religion – Hinduism •
Indian Culture • Indian Society and the Varna
Dharma • The Age of Epics • The Rise of
Buddhism and Jainism • Zoroastrianism • The
Age of Assimilation and Expansion of Ideas
SECTION THREE
Ancient India during 600 B.C. to 1000 A.D.
The Rise of Magadha Empire • The Invasion of
Alexander and its Impact • The Maurya
Dynasty • Intervening Period and the Kushana
Era • The Gupta Period • Invasion by Huns
and Rise of the Vardhana Dynasty • Pratiharas,
Paramaras, Palas • India’s Contributions to the
World of Ideas • The Contributions of Ancient
India to the Civilization of Mankind • History
Sterling Publishers
Hardbound • 704pp •Size: 7"x9.75" $ 59.99
Soft cover same size, $ 45.99
Available from the author, contact:
[email protected]