Social Life in Ancient India 800 B.C. - 183 B.C.

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The study of the social life of the people of Ancient India is a subject of great importance and interest to the students of history and civilization. Several researches have been done to portray the social life in Ancient India and many papers have also been published. But, so far, no comprehensive study has been taken to highlight the social aspects of the Indian life of the period under review. The book is the coordinated, collected and comprehensive account of the social aspects of Ancient Indian life of the period from 800 BC to 183 B.C. Relevant data and information have been arranged systematically and new interpretations attempted. The research study conducted by the author the report of which has formed the basis of this book, relied as sources, on literary and epigraphic evidences, besides the archaeological and numismatic, sociological and anthropological materials, both Indian and Foreign. The book has been divided into two parts. The first part is ranging from Post-Vedic till Pre-Maurya period. The second part reflects the social life of lodia during the Maurya period. The book deals with the social life of the people during the period under study in various aspects, such as family life, position of women in the household, caste system, professions, systems of education, seats of learning, food habits, costunins. cosmetics, Jewelleries, hobbies and recreations, prevailing system of slavery, public economy, social evils etc. The book is a treasurer for libraries, historians, academicians and students of history.

DR. SWASWATI DAS (born in West Bengal: 1959) is the Lecturer in History, P.D. Womens College, Jalpaiguri. She is M.A. in History, and Doctor of Philosophy (Arts), of the Jadavpur University. Dr. Swaswati Das has several research papers to her credit, which have been published. As delegate to national and international seminars she has had many opportunities to have deliberations and fruitful exchanges on the subject of history.

It is rather a pleasure on my part to complete my work entitled Social Life in Ancient India 800 B.C.-183 B.C., which is varied in scope and nature. It aims to throw light on many important and obscure points connected with the topics of enquiry. It was started a few years back, when after the completion of my M.A. degree of Jadavpur University, my parents and my only brother inspired me to continue my studies in some research work. My respected Professor Dr. S.K. Maity, ex-Head of the Department of History of Jadavpur University, took great interest on me and inspired me to take a project on social life. I do not know, how to express the deep sense of obligation which I owe to my preceptor under whose inspiring supervision I have the privilege to carry on my research work and complete my thesis. I take the opportunity to express my gratefulness to Dr. J.K. Basu, the Principal, P. D. Women's College, Jalpaiguri, for taking keen interest in my work. I am also thankful to all of my colleagues of P.D. Women's College, Jalpaiguri, for their well wishes. I hereby, express my appreciation and gratefulness, for the help which I received from the members of the staff of Jadavpur University Library, the National Library, the Ramkrishna Mission Cultural Institute, all of Calcutta, and P.D. Women's College Library of Jalpaiguri. My respectful thanks are due to Sri Shyamal Chakraborty, the Education Officer, Indian Museum, Calcutta, for his help. Thanks are also due to the Authority of the Indian Museum who kindly permitted me to take photographs of some sculptures. 'Moo' has helped me greatly by taking photographs attached to this thesis. I am indebted to the authors of a large number of texts, references of which are quoted, and acknowledged in the footnotes. All that I can say about my husband, Sri Sital Kumar Basu, is that he has always been taking a keen and an active interest at every stage.

**Contents and Sample Pages**