Established in 1972 by the Government of India as an autonomous organization, the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) has been promoting the scientific writing of history. One of its objectives is to undertake the campilation and publication of historical works. The Council has brought out on its own more than three hundred books and journals besides extending financial, assistance for publication to over three thousand historical works.

The Southern Regional Centre, (SRC) of ICHR at Bangalore (established in 1997-98) has successfully organised a series of lectures on different themes which can now be brought out as separate monographs. This is the first publication of this Centre under this scheme.

I am grateful to the learned speakers who have delivered these lectures and congratulate the staff working in the SRC for publishing the same.