Question

Critically analyse James Mill's periodisation of indian history?

Answer 1

Explanation:

James Mill a wrote a three-volume book in 1817 called ''A HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA'' in this he divided indian history into three period as Hindu , Muslim and British . the periodisation had the following problem:

1) He wote that the peiod before the british rule was of darkness and british rule could civilize it. so british rule was necessary for indians. but we know that it added to the misery of the people.

2) His idea of the periodisation was very wrong because we cannot use the religon of the ruler or his charecterand his age as people in India have always practiced a variety of faiths. :)

Answer 2

James Mill divided his book into three period, namely: Hindu Muslims and British. According to his prejudiced version of Indian history, the British rule represents all the forces of progress and civilisation, while the period before British rule represents darkness, ignorance, despotism, religious intolerance, caste taboos, superstitious practices, etc.

The view of Mill has several problems which is not acceptable due to reasons:

A variety of faiths existed simultaneously in these periods.

All rulers in ancient India did not share the same faith.So naturally there wouldn't be religious tolerance.This will be a hindrance to the progress, enlightenment and happiness of the nation. 

So we cannot characterise an age only through the religion of the rulers of the time.

Thus the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers is that the subjective account of a historian distorts the facts.