Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (Historiography and Historical Exploration of Rajasthan)

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In the light of the history of Rajasthan and focussing on Dr. Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha the present work stands on the foundation of the primary sorces. It econompasses the historiography and explorations the histoiography and explorations the history of Rajasthan. After Colonel Tod it was Ojha, the great historian and archaeologist, that reached the history of Rajasthan to its pinnacle. His were not the times of fast pace and internet surfing, Rather his was a perilous path paved with stones that he strode on. Dr. H.C. Jain, a reowned historian and writer, has endeavoured to give a factual account of the stages of Ojha's journey in the present work. Conjoining the dispresed links with reference to Ojha's journey's in the present work examines the principles and trends in the historiography of Rajasthan. Moreover the work studies his varied works and miscellaneous essays, the analysis of the complete contribution of Ojha in a fluent language is an addtional feather in the cap. Hopefully the present research work will establish itself as a milestone in the historiography of Rajasthan. It will not only acquaint the present genration with the unique contribution of Ojha in the field of history and exploration of Rajasthan but also motivate the scholars to a more serious reseach.

The rewriting of history has become signigicantly relevant today and it is an immense help to the present to inculate generation have a sense of resposiblity to the part. The rewriting of history is possible through newer resources and objectives perspectives. The historians have been endevouring to enrich and re –interpret Indian history for a centuary now. The country is rich with its socio –cultured diversity and magnitude. Hence without enriching its regional history, the rewriting of Indian history cannot be imagined. The indigeneous resources can be better utilized by writing regional history.

A historian transcrbes the steady dialetic between the past and the present. Since he is not a tape recorder, he is bound to be influement by internal and external factors. A historian is after all a human being working in and steam of thoughts. In that case his commitment to write objectively can only be his inspiring force. A historian ought to be evaluated keeping in view his contemporary socio –political forces.

The writer of this work has made a humble attempts to present a comprehensive evaluation of the great historian. Ojha, who has worked objectively by making a better utilization of indigeneous resources and by and working under the pressures of his time. Ojha was steadily engaged in writing and research and this earned him prestigious title of 'a priest historian of Rajputana and pillar of glory' and bring out work of universal level. Ojha retained a Rajasthan personality, nourished Indian thoughts but had an international perpective. His love for history and culture is worth emulating.

Hailed as 'Heroditus of Rajasthan, the name of Dr. Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha is a milestone in the traditions of writing history of Rajasthan. A world famous scholar of paleography, a reowned litterature of Hindi and great archaeologist, Pandit Ojha laid the foundation of Rajasthan history by imparting it a definite form and shaping historical research on inscription lost into oblivion and other souces, Ojha brought to light various dark phases of ancient medival history and thus saved it form becoming a pratting tale.

Ojha was versatile genius endowed with a unique historical knowledge. He left no stone unturned to enrich his treasure of historical knowledge. He steadily conversed with sources of history. Indeed history was his vital forces. The present research work on such a significant historian and his works is now in your hands.

The history penned by Mahamahopadhyaya Gaurishanker Hirachand Ojha(1863-1947) is a milestone in the historiographical tradition of Rajasthan. He was wedded to history. Towards the fagend of his life he had written the third volume of hte history of Jodhpur state and was engaged in revising the history of Dungarpur state. The prefaces to his books exude his ripeness in historical thinking. He never claimed his statements or books to be final on a subjects. On the contrary he believed that the time was not ripe to write a comprehensive history of Rajasthan and hoped that some other scholar would be credited with it.

Ojha had a clear vision about history. He considered history a sacred subject. Without evidences he would rather deny to write history. His book, dispersed articles and his lectures on 'Medical Indian culture' exude his philosphy of history. He had dynamic and liberal views, free from communalism of any sort, however, he was proud of being a Hindu. He was greatly influenced by the heros like Maharana Pratap and Durgadas.

He steadily strove for the development of one script and one languages. Despite having a good commands over the English Languages,he wrote in Hindi and thus generated interest in the subject and gave a significant contribution to the development of the Hindi language. Without criticizing English, he worked remarkably towards awakening the masses using history and the national languages as tools.

Ojha enriched the history of Rajasthan, dovetailed broken links, rejected several accepted belifs, gave due credit to the indigenous souces to revise medieval history and brought to light new facts. Above all, he endeavoured hard to change the form of the history of Rajasthan. Despite a writer's constrains and constrictions. Ojha's name would be inscribed in golden workds in the tradition of historiography.

This work aspires to present a balanced study of historiography of Rajasthan and the unprecedented expansion of knowledge. Moreover it hopes to record the sky high flight of the great personality into the exploration of the history and culture of Rajasthan. Besides the coming generation will be able to get aquainted with the journey of a historian form the sequestered lane of a town to the high post of history and thus be inspired to embark upon the task of research on the history of Rajasthan.

The life history of a humble and bucolic background inspired this scholar to work on the subject. However this dream of mine could be realised only through the worthy guidence of my mentor Dr. Vijay Kumar Vasishtha. He not only inspired me to select this topic but also guided me at every sterp. I am fortunate to obtain the co –operation of Professor Govind Sahaya Vyas whose love and tutelage helped me to clutch at straws.

Dr. K.S. Gupta (Udaipur) encouraged me a lot to work on the subject from the very beginning. His role was significant in seeking assitance from the historical research institutes of Sitamau and Udaipur. I am highly obliged for his assistance and fatherly love, I am indebted to him for all I have learnt from him during the last 30 years.

I am specially thankful to professor Shirin Mehta (Ahmedabad) whose scholarly comments could be incoroporated in this book. I salute her extensive knowledge, profound philosphy of history and of course her affection for me.

I owe my gratitude to late Shri Rajeshwari Ojha without whose assistance, I would have had no acess to the personal collection of his father Dr. Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha. I interacted with him for 7 days at strech and that, too, in his declining age. I am grateful to him for his scholarly suggestions. Besides his son Shri Kamlesh Ojha's (Mumbai) assistance, too, proved to be greatly useful.

I owe my thanks to the employees and offers of Natnagar Research Institute, Sitamau. The assistance and hospitality of the director Dr. Manohar Singh Ranawat will never pass into oblivation.