K. P. Jayaswal

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Jayaswal on a 1981 stamp of India

Kashi Prasad Jayaswal (27 November 1881 – 4 August 1937) was an Indian historian and lawyer. Jayaswal's works Hindu Polity (1918) and History of India, 150 A.D. to 350 A.D. (1933) are classics of ancient Indian historical literature. Among other things, he is credited with showing that Indian republics, based on principles of representation and collective decision-making, were among the most democratic polities of the ancient world.[1]

Biography

K. P. Jayaswal was born in

Allahabad University. He went on to Jesus College, Oxford University, where he was awarded the Davis Scholarship in Chinese and graduated with a M.A. in Ancient Indian History in 1909. He was called to the Bar of Lincoln's Inn in London in 1910. After returning to India, Jayaswal set up practice at the Calcutta High Court, where he came into contact with Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, who inspired Jayaswal to undertake further research in ancient Indian history. Jayaswal moved to Patna in 1916, and remained there.[2]

A prolific scholar, Jayaswal wrote more than 120 research papers in addition to 11 books and numerous commentaries and translations. He also played a pioneering role in excavating and restoring ancient sites, including the university of

Royal Asiatic Society of London in 1931.[3] Historian R. C. Majumdar criticized his theories about the Gupta history as "too conjectural and full of wild guesses to be seriously considered".[4]

He was twice elected president of the

]

Jayaswal is the grandfather of Oxford economist Sanjaya Lall.

Influence on Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'

Jayaswal loved

Hyderabad:

It was a good thing that Jaiswalji was my first admirer. Now when I have savoured the love and encouragement of the Sun, Moon, Varun, Kuber, Indra, Brihaspati, Shachi and Brahmani, it is clear that none of them was like Jaiswalji. As I heard the news of his death, the world became a dark place for me. I did not know what to do."[6]

Actually Jaiswalji was the first person to appreciate the historical sense in the poetry of Dinkar.[6]

K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute

The K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute in Patna was established by the Government of Bihar in 1950 with the object of promoting "historical research, archaeological excavation and investigations and publication of works of permanent value to scholars".

References

  1. ^ Sharma, Ram Sharan (1969). Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India. Delhi. Motilal Banarsidass. isbn9-780-8968-4176-5
  2. ^ K. P. Jayaswal Commemoration Volume, 1981; K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna, p. 61
  3. ^ K. P. Jayaswal Commemoration Volume, 1981; K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna, p. 29
  4. OCLC 34008529
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  5. .
  6. ^ .

External links