The Kushana period (c. 2 half of the 1 century B.C. to c. mid – 3 century A.D.) is one of the most important phases of history of not only the Indian subcontinent, but also the whole of the orient. Momentous discoveries and propagation of new thought-provoking theories about the Kushanas in the last two decades have made a reassessment of our knowledge about them a desideratum for proper understanding of the oriental as well as Indian history. The present monograph aims at fulfilling this need. Divided into different articles and appendices, the monograph deals with various aspects of initial, political, chronological, administrative, religious, socio-economic and commercial history and some problems and latest theories and hypotheses concerning the Kushanas. Latest informational data have been utilised in writing the concerned topics. Therefore this book is a must for all persons and libraries interested in Indian and Central Asian history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR B.N. Mukherjee
B.N. Mukherjee, formerly the Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture, University of Calcutta, and also an ex-National Fellow in History, is an internationally acclaimed authority on early Indian and Central Asian history and culture. He is connected with several academic bodies and has held responsible positions. He has published fifty books and contributed more than 750 articles in different learned journals in India and abroad. In 1983 he made a major breakthrough in palaeographical research by successfully deciphering the so-called Shell Script of ancient India. In 1989 he discovered a new variety of the Kharoshti script (Eastern Kharoshti) and also an early script consisting of Kharoshti and Brahmi letters, probably called in the Lalitavistara as Vimisrita-lipi (Mixed script). In 1992 he was honoured with the award of Padmashri by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding expertise in numismatics. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquary (London), an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (London), an Honorary Life Member of the Hellenic Numismatic Society (Athens), an Honorary Fellow of Asiatic Society (Calcutta) and an Honorary Fellow of the International Centre for the Study of Bengal Art (Dhaka), Prof. Mukherjee has been honoured in India and abroad. He has traveled widely, delivering lectures and presiding over numerous seminars and conferences. He was the General President of the sixty first session of the Indian History Congress (2000-2001) and the eighth session of the All India Art History Congress (2003).
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