Research Catalog

Political violence in ancient India

Title
Political violence in ancient India / Upinder Singh.
Author
Singh, Upinder
Publication
  • Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2017.
  • ©2017

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TextUse in library JFE 17-9979Schwarzman Building - Main Reading Room 315

Details

Description
xvii, 598 pages : illustrations, maps; 25 cm
Summary
Political Violence in Ancient India argues that the idea of a nonviolent India is an artificial twentieth-century construct deeply influenced by Gandhi and Nehru. Ancient Indian history is marked by considerable violence of various kinds, as is the history of other parts of the world. However the issue of violence was debated in India with greater intensity than elsewhere. There was a recognition of the possibility of necessary force veering into violence, and of the strong tension between violence and nonviolence in the political sphere. This book looks at the evolution of the theory and practice of kingship and the attitudes towards political violence between c. 600 BCE and 600 CE by examining a vast array of texts, inscriptions, artistic representations, and numismatic and archaeological material. These include the ideas of Buddhism and Jainism; the emperor Ashoka; the Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata; the political treatise, the Arthashastra; and the poetry of Kalidasa. The book examines how the problem of the relationship between kingship and violence was addressed in general as well with reference to punishment, war and the forest.--
Subject
  • Political violence > India > History
  • Violence > Moral and ethical aspects > India
  • Nonviolence > Political aspects > History. > India
  • Violence in popular culture > India > History
  • India > History > To 324 B.C
  • India > History > 324 B.C.-1000 A.D
  • India > Politics and government > To 997
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents
Foundation -- Transition -- Maturity -- War -- The wilderness.
Call Number
JFE 17-9979
ISBN
  • 9780674975279
  • 0674975278
LCCN
  • 2017008399
  • 40027466908
OCLC
976405982
Author
Singh, Upinder, author.
Title
Political violence in ancient India / Upinder Singh.
Publisher
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2017.
Copyright Date
©2017
Type of Content
text
Type of Medium
unmediated
Type of Carrier
volume
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Other Standard Identifier
40027466908
Research Call Number
JFE 17-9979
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