Summary:
This is the first volume in a series of books that covers Indian history from the earliest times to August 1947, when India achieved independence from foreign rule. This volume covers the prehistoric antecedents before the Indus Valley Civilisation and gives a vivid account of the developments that took place in the Indian sub-continent till the demise of the glorious Maurya dynasty. In doing so, the book describes the evolution of languages and religion, examines cultural and other factors that have influenced the evolution of Indian civilisation and also vibrantly portrays the historical events that took place during this period of over 5000 years. The author also provides his own succinct comments on the events that took place in antiquity as have been reported in, and corroborated by, various sources. This book is a worthy addition to the analysis of Indian history.

Contents: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; AUTHOR'S PREFACE; PROLOGUE; INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME I; Chapter 1; THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN LANGUAGES; Chapter 2; PRE-HISTORIC ANTECEDENTS; Chapter 3; HARAPPAN (INDUS VALLEY) CIVILISATION (3300-1300 BC); Chapter 4; THE VEDIC AGE (1500 B.C. --
about 500 A.D.); Section I; DECIPHERING THE EPICS ; Section II; THE COMING (RETURN?) OF THE ARYANS; Chapter 5; OF HINDUISM, THE CONCEPT OF TIME, AND THE VARNA SYSTEM; Chapter 6; CLAN-STATES AND KINGDOMS ; (~ 600-300 BC); Chapter 7; THE FERMENT OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT (~600 to 250 BC); Section I; THE UPANISHADS; Section II. THE STORY OF BUDDISM A Prince Explains Life and Creates a Religion; Section III; THE SPREAD OF JAINISM; Vardhamana Mahavira-Conqueror of the Spirit; Section IV; THE AJIVAKAS AND THE MATERIALISTS; Chapter 8; MAGADHA ASCENDANT (684-321 B.C.); Chapter 9; THE TALE OF TWO INVASIONS; Chapter 10; THE GLORY OF THE MAURYAS; Section I; THE BEGINNINGS; Section II; ASHOKA the GREAT (269-232 B.C.); Section III; THE IMPERIAL MAURYA RULE ; Section IV; KAUTILYA and the ARTHASHASTRA; Chapter 11; PENINSULAR INDIA; Section I; OF MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS; Section II; OF PEOPLES AND LANGUAGES; Chapter 12. SHARDS OF LIGHT IN PENINSULAR HISTORYSection I; THE AGASTYA CONNECTION ; Section II; Section III; A MAURYAN INTERLUDE ; CONCLUSION.