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Sources for the Modern Period in India
-
The sources for the modern period in India are mainly
literary
, as archaeological sources are less important
- The sources include official records, survey reports, indigenous records, and foreign accounts
Official Records
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The Mughals and the British introduced the culture of
recording everything
, such as administrative decisions, government proceedings, and judicial verdicts
- The official records are preserved in archives and museums , such as the National Archives of India
Survey Reports
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The British conducted various
surveys
, such as population, revenue, land, and census surveys
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The surveys also involved
mapping and topography
- The survey reports are available to us and provide valuable information on the demographic and economic aspects of the period
Indigenous Records
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The Indians wrote in
English and vernacular languages
, expressing their views and feelings on the British rule and the national movement
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The indigenous records include
diaries, accounts of pilgrims and travellers, newspapers, books, novels, and leaflets
- Some examples of indigenous records are Poverty and Un-British Rule in India by Dadabhai Naoroji, Kesari and Mahratta newspapers by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Harijan by Mahatma Gandhi, etc.
Foreign Accounts
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The foreigners who visited or lived in India during the period also wrote about their observations and experiences|
-
The foreign accounts include
travelogues, memoirs, letters, journals, etc.
- Some examples of foreign accounts are An Account of the Kingdom of Caubul by Mountstuart Elphinstone, A Passage to India by E.M. Forster, My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi (written in English), etc.
