1.
What are the problems encountered in the use of literary sources for writing ancient Indian history? Illustrate with examples (20 marks)
Answers
Answer:
The major problem in finding literary sources is the fragility of the medium. They used palm-leaves inscribed with a stylus and rubbed with ink. In the hot and humid climate of India palm leaves quickly deteriorate and are subject to infestation by insects. The other problem is cows and goats getting into one’s library and consuming one’s manuscripts.
In the Middle East one of the most popular mediums of writing was parchment which keeps very well in the desert. Even Egyptian papyrus manuscripts have survived for thousands of years in the dry desert atmosphere.
This is the reason why the Vedas and other important literature was never written down but memorized and transmitted orally for thousands of years.
The major source of information is from engravings on temple walls or stelae like those of Ashoka.
The earliest example of writing on clay tablets is from the IVC from about 2600 but it remains indecipherable. Later Brahmi and Karoṣṭhi were developed around the 4th century BCE - so we have no written documents before the rise of Buddhism.