This valuable work, written by a noted Indologist Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder, is broadly divided into two parts. In the first part the author has focused on Ancient India and the topics incorporated in the second part are particularly on Modern India. Collecting valuable materials from pre-historic and historic periods, Dr. Chunder made a comparative study of the ancient political systems of India and Iran. His comments on different Old Persian inscriptions are really fascinating. Dr. Chunder has shown that the great Persian Monarch Darius ‘was impartial and actuated by a motive of general welfare’. Dr. Chunder also has thrown interesting light on the common concept of divine order in Ancient India and Iran. Dr. Chunder stated that "in Ancient India the term ‘common code of conduct’ implied a body of some ethical values and morally useful practices without distinction as to race, class, colour or creed. For his profound knowledge in law, Dr. Chunder could easily discuss ‘the idea of law in the Dharmasutras’, mainly of Gautama, Vasistha, Baudhayana and Apastamba. He also commented that Kautilya ‘was a curious mix of conservative and liberal views’. Moreover, Dr. Chunder thoroughly discussed Asoka’s theory and practice of dhammavijaya. Dr. Chunder’s views on Sri Krishna are quite different from that of Swami Vivekananda. Dr. Chunder also focused on different manifestations and tradition of Indian Art. In Part two of this work Dr. Chunder thoroughly discussed the history of Calcutta, Vivekananda’s views of religion, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Syamaprasad, Dr. Ambedkar, Prafulla Chandra Sen and Pablo Picasso. He made a brief review of India’s cultural progress since Independence. He also referred to the composite culture as preached by our constitution. He said that in his, concept of Swarajya people would "enjoy full fundamental or human rights protected by a powerful enforcement system". The scholarly world would certainly welcome it as a useful addition to the study of Indian history.
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