Question

explain the role of indigenous and foreign sources understanding in the history of India

Answer 1

 Literature

This can be classified into

Indigenous literatureForeign literature

Literature in the ancient period was not fuelled by the urge to preserve history but was a complication of experiences   and rules of worship. Most of the literature of this period was religious. 

(a) The Indigenous literature includes the Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Aryankas, the Upanishads, the Epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha, the Brahmashastras, the Puranas.

The Buddhist and Jain literature gives knowledge of the traditions prevalent in those periods. The literature of this period are in Sanskrit Pali Prakrit. It gives us a knowledge about  music, dance, painting architecture and administration of various kings.

Kautilya`s Arthashastra is a remarkable work on the system of administration.

The Sangam literature in south is an elaborate record of life in South India. 

Though these literature lacks historical sense yet they are the main sources to venture into the facts of Indian history.

(b) Foreign Literature

The loop holes in the indigenous literature is supported by the numerous account by foreigners who were either pilgrims, travellers, traders or ambassadors in the court of various kings.

The writings of Herodotus helped in scattering the knowledge of India to Europe before the invasion by Alexander. He highlights the features of the Indo-Persian relations.

Megasthanes the Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta gives us an idea about India in his book 'Indica'.

Accounts of Fa-Hien and Hieun-Tsang who toured India as a pilgrim during the rule of Harshavardhana and the  Guptas gives us a detailed idea about the country.

Accounts by Muslims personalities also add a great insight into the history of India.

'Tarikh - e - Hind' ( 'an enquiry into India') by Alberuni  a learned mathematician and astronomer  is a remarkable document about the country. The composition of Firishta, the Ceylonese chronicle Deepavamsa of Mahavamsa of Ceylon portrays the life in the ancient period. Accounts of Pliny in the first century AD, accounts of Ptolemy in the second century AD and the  Accounts of Taranath of Tibet is an insight into the religion and history of the India in that period.

5. Foreign sources

The existence of details in the literature of the Greeks, Chinese, Persians, Romans  and  Europeans gives an account of the condition of the country then. It also speaks the truth about the conditions under which they came in contact India. The presence of various artifacts and materials of Indian origin has added to the study of Indian history.

The histories of the Chinese from 120BC to 400AD and 700AD, the accounts of Abul-Fazl in his 'Ain - i - Akbari' are a few examples of the foreign sources to know about the Indian history. 

In many cases where there was a need to fill in the vagueness caused by the lack  of evidence in the study of Indian history these foreign sources have proved handy.