Râs Mâlâ: Hindoo Annals of the Province of Goozerat, in Western India is a 1856 historical work by British colonial administrator Alexander Kinloch Forbes. Divided in two volumes, the work has four sections documenting the history and chronicles from 8th century Gujarat (now in India) to arrival of British and folk literature of Gujarat as well as an historical account of the place and people he came to know during his stay in Gujarat. It was later translated into Gujarati in 1869.
Alexander Kinloch Forbes (1821–1865), a British colonial administrator, appointed in 1842 came to Ahmedabad as an assistant judge in 1846 where he began to learn Gujarati language first from Bhogilal Pranavallabh, and then from Dalpatram, a Gujarati poet. Forbes also had a deep interest in archaeology, ancient monuments and manuscripts, which made him intensely interested in the old archaeological and historical remains of Gujarat.[1][2]
Forbes, along with his colleagues, established Gujarat Vernacular Society in 1848. Dalpatram was associated with Forbes since the establishment of Gujarat Vernacular Society and they became close friends. Dalpatram became instrumental, assistant guide and interpreter for Forbes in his attempt to draw the history of the province. Forbes furnished Dalpatram with necessary assistance to travel extensively and collect the chronicles and inscription from different parts of the province. Dalpatram had profound knowledge of Braj Bhasha and Charani dialect, which were popular languages in poetry gatherings at that time. Thus, Dalpatram helped Forbes to map the province and to give an outline of native world view, life style of local people.[1]
Forbes arranged a Kavi Melo (a gathering of poets) at the court of Maharaja Yuvansinha of Idar State in the month of Dussera festival in 1852, and invited Charan poets and other local bards. He inquired of these poets about the history, life practices of the people, language, different rulers, great people of the past, traditions of their region, and recorded it for Ras Mala.[1] He also visited many Jain libraries in search of bards who told the stories of history of Gujarat.[3][4]
Publication history
In 1854, Forbes left for England, and returned to India in 1856 and published Ras Mala.[1][2]
In the subtitle of the work Forbes uses the word annals, in a fashion that is used by James Tod in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1829 and 1832).[1] A brief memoir on Forbes, prepared by A. K. Nairne, appeared in the 1878 edition of Ras Mala.[1]Ras Mala was translated by Ranchhodbhai Udayaram Dave into Gujarati, and was published by Forbes Gujarati Sabha in 1869[5][6] as Gujaratna Ketlak Aitihasik Prasango Ane Vartao.[7]
Content
The Ras Mala has two volumes; each volume is divided into two books. The text contains illustrations, principally architectural, prepared by Forbes himself.[1]
The Ras Mala starts with a description of natural boundaries of Gujarat as viewed by Forbes.[8] The first book gives an account of the rise and fall of the Chavada and Vaghela dynasties. It covers the period from about the eighth to thirteenth century. The second book gives an account of the conquest of Muslims over Anhilwad, a capital of Chavda and Vaghela kings, and the political conflicts between Muslims and Hindu rulers. The third book describes the rise of Maratha power in the province and its fall with the arrival of the British. The fourth book, entitled Conclusions, gives an outline of the life practices of the people of the province: it describes the Hindu castes, Hindu beliefs, religious services and festivals, land tenures under Muslim rulers, Marathas and the British rule, marriage institution, funeral rites, etc.[1][9]
Reception and criticism
In the introduction of the 1878 edition, J. W. Watson serving at the Rajkot as the British Resident, noted, "There are few other books of reference about Goozerat [Gujarat], and none of them so encyclopaedic in character."[10] H. G. Rawlinson, an historian who introduced a new edition of Ras Mala in 1924, called the book "a work for all time".[11]Ras Mala is often compared with James Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan and James Grant Duff's A History of the Mahrattas.[12]
References
^ abcdefghChotai, Dhara Kantibhai (2016). "Chapter 3". Literary Historiography in Gujarati in The 19th century Issues in Ideology, Identity and Representation (PhD). Gandhinagar: Central University of Gujarat. pp. 113–140. hdl:10603/192581.
^ abJhaveri, Krishnalal Mohanlal (1924). Further milestones in Gujarāti literature. Bombay: N. M. Tripathi & Co. pp. 14–15. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Unnithan, Chitra (2014-02-22). "Briton inspired Dalpatram to write in Gujarati language". The Times of India. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
^Surinder Singh; I. D. Gaur (2008). Popular Literature and Pre-modern Societies in South Asia. Pearson Education India. pp. 181–182. ISBN978-81-317-1358-7.
^Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 1319. ISBN978-81-260-1194-0.
^Shukla, Jaykumar R. (April 2013). "રાસમાળા". In Thaker, Dhirubhai (ed.). Gujarati Vishwakosh (Gujarati Encyclopedia) (in Gujarati). Vol. 17. Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. OCLC 551875907.
^Jhaveri, Krishnalal Mohanlal (1934). The present state of Gujarati literature. University of Bombay. pp. 82–84. Retrieved 6 June 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Phiroze Vasunia (16 May 2013). The Classics and Colonial India. OUP Oxford. p. 294. ISBN978-0-19-162607-4. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
^Isaka, Riho (2006). "Gujarati Elites and the Construction of a Regional Identity in the Late Nineteenth Century". In Bates, Crispin (ed.). Beyond Representation: Colonial and Postcolonial Constructions of Indian Identity. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 169. ISBN978-0-19-567497-2.
Bibliography
Kapadia, Aparna (2018-05-16). "5. Rās Mālā: Re-Discovering a Warrior Past". Gujarat: The Long Fifteenth Century and the Making of a Region. Cambridge University Press. pp. 129–171. ISBN978-1-107-15331-8.
mala, râs, mâlâ, hindoo, annals, province, goozerat, western, india, 1856, historical, work, british, colonial, administrator, alexander, kinloch, forbes, divided, volumes, work, four, sections, documenting, history, chronicles, from, century, gujarat, india, . Ras Mala Hindoo Annals of the Province of Goozerat in Western India is a 1856 historical work by British colonial administrator Alexander Kinloch Forbes Divided in two volumes the work has four sections documenting the history and chronicles from 8th century Gujarat now in India to arrival of British and folk literature of Gujarat as well as an historical account of the place and people he came to know during his stay in Gujarat It was later translated into Gujarati in 1869 Ras MalaFirst edition title page Volume 1 1856AuthorAlexander Kinloch ForbesCountryIndiaLanguageEnglishGenreHistoryPublication date1856 Contents 1 Origin 2 Publication history 3 Content 4 Reception and criticism 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksOrigin EditAlexander Kinloch Forbes 1821 1865 a British colonial administrator appointed in 1842 came to Ahmedabad as an assistant judge in 1846 where he began to learn Gujarati language first from Bhogilal Pranavallabh and then from Dalpatram a Gujarati poet Forbes also had a deep interest in archaeology ancient monuments and manuscripts which made him intensely interested in the old archaeological and historical remains of Gujarat 1 2 Forbes along with his colleagues established Gujarat Vernacular Society in 1848 Dalpatram was associated with Forbes since the establishment of Gujarat Vernacular Society and they became close friends Dalpatram became instrumental assistant guide and interpreter for Forbes in his attempt to draw the history of the province Forbes furnished Dalpatram with necessary assistance to travel extensively and collect the chronicles and inscription from different parts of the province Dalpatram had profound knowledge of Braj Bhasha and Charani dialect which were popular languages in poetry gatherings at that time Thus Dalpatram helped Forbes to map the province and to give an outline of native world view life style of local people 1 Forbes arranged a Kavi Melo a gathering of poets at the court of Maharaja Yuvansinha of Idar State in the month of Dussera festival in 1852 and invited Charan poets and other local bards He inquired of these poets about the history life practices of the people language different rulers great people of the past traditions of their region and recorded it for Ras Mala 1 He also visited many Jain libraries in search of bards who told the stories of history of Gujarat 3 4 Publication history EditIn 1854 Forbes left for England and returned to India in 1856 and published Ras Mala 1 2 In the subtitle of the work Forbes uses the word annals in a fashion that is used by James Tod in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan 1829 and 1832 1 A brief memoir on Forbes prepared by A K Nairne appeared in the 1878 edition of Ras Mala 1 Ras Mala was translated by Ranchhodbhai Udayaram Dave into Gujarati and was published by Forbes Gujarati Sabha in 1869 5 6 as Gujaratna Ketlak Aitihasik Prasango Ane Vartao 7 Content EditThe Ras Mala has two volumes each volume is divided into two books The text contains illustrations principally architectural prepared by Forbes himself 1 The Ras Mala starts with a description of natural boundaries of Gujarat as viewed by Forbes 8 The first book gives an account of the rise and fall of the Chavada and Vaghela dynasties It covers the period from about the eighth to thirteenth century The second book gives an account of the conquest of Muslims over Anhilwad a capital of Chavda and Vaghela kings and the political conflicts between Muslims and Hindu rulers The third book describes the rise of Maratha power in the province and its fall with the arrival of the British The fourth book entitled Conclusions gives an outline of the life practices of the people of the province it describes the Hindu castes Hindu beliefs religious services and festivals land tenures under Muslim rulers Marathas and the British rule marriage institution funeral rites etc 1 9 Reception and criticism EditIn the introduction of the 1878 edition J W Watson serving at the Rajkot as the British Resident noted There are few other books of reference about Goozerat Gujarat and none of them so encyclopaedic in character 10 H G Rawlinson an historian who introduced a new edition of Ras Mala in 1924 called the book a work for all time 11 Ras Mala is often compared with James Tod s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan and James Grant Duff s A History of the Mahrattas 12 References Edit a b c d e f g h Chotai Dhara Kantibhai 2016 Chapter 3 Literary Historiography in Gujarati in The 19th century Issues in Ideology Identity and Representation PhD Gandhinagar Central University of Gujarat pp 113 140 hdl 10603 192581 a b Jhaveri Krishnalal Mohanlal 1924 Further milestones in Gujarati literature Bombay N M Tripathi amp Co pp 14 15 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Unnithan Chitra 2014 02 22 Briton inspired Dalpatram to write in Gujarati language The Times of India Retrieved 2014 02 22 Surinder Singh I D Gaur 2008 Popular Literature and Pre modern Societies in South Asia Pearson Education India pp 181 182 ISBN 978 81 317 1358 7 Amaresh Datta 1988 Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature Sahitya Akademi p 1319 ISBN 978 81 260 1194 0 Shukla Jaykumar R April 2013 ર સમ ળ In Thaker Dhirubhai ed Gujarati Vishwakosh Gujarati Encyclopedia in Gujarati Vol 17 Ahmedabad Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust OCLC 551875907 Jhaveri Krishnalal Mohanlal 1934 The present state of Gujarati literature University of Bombay pp 82 84 Retrieved 6 June 2018 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Kapadia 2018 p 140 Kapadia 2018 pp 140 141 Kapadia 2018 p 132 Phiroze Vasunia 16 May 2013 The Classics and Colonial India OUP Oxford p 294 ISBN 978 0 19 162607 4 Retrieved 7 April 2018 Isaka Riho 2006 Gujarati Elites and the Construction of a Regional Identity in the Late Nineteenth Century In Bates Crispin ed Beyond Representation Colonial and Postcolonial Constructions of Indian Identity New Delhi Oxford University Press p 169 ISBN 978 0 19 567497 2 Bibliography Edit Kapadia Aparna 2018 05 16 5 Ras Mala Re Discovering a Warrior Past Gujarat The Long Fifteenth Century and the Making of a Region Cambridge University Press pp 129 171 ISBN 978 1 107 15331 8 External links EditRas Mala at Google Books Volume I Ras Mala at Google Books Volume II Ras Mala at the Internet Archive Gujarati translation Ras Mala in Gujarati Vishwakosh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ras Mala amp oldid 1122809741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
