Sociology · Indian Sociological Thoughts B K Nagla
Chapter 4 : Romila Thapar: Biography and Contribution towards Sociology
Table of contents33 sections
- 1.Biography and Ideology
- 2.Key Terms
- 3.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 4.Works of Romila Thapar
- 5.Key Terms
- 6.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 7.History of India
- 8.Division of History
- 9.Geographical Structure
- 10.Population in the Past
- 11.Ethnic Composition
- 12.Key Terms
- 13.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 14.History and Beyond
- 15.Key Terms
- 16.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 17.Lineage
- 18.Key Terms
- 19.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 20.Economy
- 21.Key Terms
- 22.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 23.Religious Ideology
- 24.Key Terms
- 25.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 26.Polity
- 27.Orientalists
- 28.Key Terms
- 29.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 30.Conclusion
- 31.Key Terms
- 32.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 33.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Biography and Ideology
Romila Thapar is a prominent Indian historian and cultural analyst whose work deeply intersects with sociological understandings of early Indian society.
- Early Life & Education: Born in India in 1931 into a well-known Punjabi family. She spent her childhood across various parts of the country due to her father's army career. She earned her first degree from Punjab University and completed her doctorate at London University in 1958.
- Academic Career: She has taught Ancient Indian History at London University, Delhi University, and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She served as an honorary fellow of Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford and as a Professor-at-large at Cornell University (USA). She is currently Emeritus Professor of History at JNU, New Delhi.
- Ideology and Interpretation:
- Her primary interest lies in the social and cultural history of ancient India.
- She emphasizes the role of ideology in historical interpretation, noting that the increasing interest in the historiography of the early period reflects this awareness.
- Methodology: She employs the comparative method to study similar societies, utilizing both literary and archaeological sources. Her interdisciplinary approach also draws upon linguistic, ethnographic, and other fields of Indology.
Key Terms
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Comparative Method | An analytical approach used by Thapar to study similar societies by cross-referencing literary, archaeological, linguistic, and ethnographic evidence. |
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Romila Thapar (1958): Received her doctorate from London University; currently Emeritus Professor at JNU.
- Core Focus: The social and cultural history of ancient India, specifically the transition from lineage-based societies to state formations.
Works of Romila Thapar
Thapar has travelled extensively across Europe and Asia. In 1957, she undertook a study tour of Buddhist cave-sites in China, notably including Tun-Huang in the Gobi desert. During her time in London, she was a frequent broadcaster for the BBC.
10 Major Publications of Romila Thapar
Key Terms
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| None | No specific sociological terms defined in this section. |
📌 Exam Tidbits
- 1957: Thapar's study tour of Buddhist cave-sites in China (Tun-Huang, Gobi desert).
- Enumeration: The source lists exactly 10 major publications by Romila Thapar.
History of India
Thapar's…
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