This is the second volume of Dr. Radhakamal Mukerjee’s A History of Indian Civilization. The volume deals with the medieval and modern synthesis and comprises 25 chapters capsuled in 4 parts. The keynote of Dr. Mukerjee’s treatment of Indian civilization is its synthetic capacity. The renaissances in the different epochs and reigns of Indian history have reinforced this spirit. The history of Indian civilization, with special reference to renaissances is exceedingly relevant today. Some of these renaissances are: the Mahayana Renaissance, the Gupta Neo-Brahmanical Renaissance, the Post-Gupta Puranic Renaissance, the Great religious reformation led by Sankara (A.D. 788-828), the Tantrik renaissance, the Pallava and the Chola renaissances, the Bhakti and the Sufi Movements, the renaissance in literature, painting, architecture and handicrafts under the Mughal Emperors, and finally the 19 century cultural renaissance. Dr. Mukerjee considers Gandhiji as the supreme and shining example of democratic leadership in India. He stood for right rather than for might. His procedure of satyagraha was remarkably effective in Indian mass movements launched by him. Gandhi’s new techniques have far deeper and more extensive applications in social and political transformations than are imagined in the present junction.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR G.R. Madan
Dr. G. R. Madan, M.A. (Econ.), M.A. (Socio.), Dip. In Com., LL.B., Ph.D. (born 1923), had a good academic career. He worked in a research project “Socio-economic Survey of Lucknow City†sponsored by the Research Programmes Committee of the Planning Commission, under Dr. Radhakamal Mukerjee, Director, J.L. Institute of Sociology and Human Relation, Lucknow University, between 1954 and 1956. From 1956 onwards he taught in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Lucknow University till his retirement from the university service in 1984. During 1966-67 he was Post doctoral fellow at the Social Science Research Centre, Mississippi State University (U.S.A.) as well as a Fulbright Visiting Lecturer. He worked there with Dr. Harold F. Kaufman in the field of Rural Sociology. During 1970-71 he went to England under the British Council Commonwealth University Interchange Scheme and worked with Professor S.L. Anderski, at the University of Reading. His work Western Sociologists on Indian Society has been published by the International Library of Sociology, London. In 1973, he was invited to deliver some special lectures on “Social Disorganization and Social Reconstruction in India†at the Karnataka University, Dharwar, and 1976 on “Community Development in India (Some Recent Trends)†at the Bangalore University. He has published several book and articles on India’s social and economic problems. He is associated with a number of social welfare voluntary organizations. Currently he is Visiting Professor of Sociology, Maharaja Surajmal Institute, Janakpuri, New Delhi.
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