Historiography is a new art for India. Before the advent of British rule, we did not have any historian in the true sense. In modern times, India produced a number of historians but that they laid their emphasis mainly on the political history and not, on social history. However, some efforts in this direction were made from the third quarter of the nineteenth century but these efforts were regional. The focal point of these studies was three presidencies-Bengal, Bombay and Madras. The largest and most important province Uttar Pradesh has not drawn the attention of researchers, scholars and historians.
The primary object of this book is to study the Hindu society of the Province in the pre-mutiny era of nineteenth century.
It covers a period from 1801 to 1856. This period witnessed the fulfilment of the British Empire. India was governed by the Company's Government. 1857 was the year of turmoil which led to the transfer of power from the Company to the British Crown.
Though the society then was station, rudimentary yet few glimpses of socio-religious reforms, western culture and education may be seen.
In the present work, social stratification, social institution, life-style, fairs and festivals, means of amusement, religion, superstitions of the Hindus, system of education, social reforms, and Governmental activities of social welfare have been fully analysed. The position of women has also not been ignored. In the end, I have given in brief the generalisations and findings.
For the present study, I am deeply indebted to my teacher and supervisor Dr. Agam Prasad Mathur, Reader and Head of the Department of History, Agra College, Agra and Convener of the Board of Studies, Agra University, Agra, for his valuable guidance, encouragement and intensive involvement in this project.
I am grateful to Dr. C.P. Goyal, Professor and Head of the School of Social Works, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi, who showed keen interest in the present study. I shall be failing in my duty, if I do not express my gratitude to Dr. B.B. Jain, Head of the Department of English, Agra College, Agra who has been kind enough to look after the linguistic aspect of the thesis.
I am also thankful to Professor Pradeep Johri of Raja Harish Chandra College Moradabad, Dr. S.P. Mathur, Bundel-khand College, Jhansi, Km. Sadhna Agarwal, Hindu College Moradabad, Sri Brijendra Singh, Sri K.C. Varshney, Sri B. Nath Chaurasia for the co-operation and help extended by them. I owe special thanks to my friend Mr. B.D. Agarwal for his constructive criticism and useful suggestions made at different stages of this study.
I am indebted to my Principal Dr. R.P. Mittal who had been liberal enough in granting me leave and providing me all possible facilities for the present research.
I am thankful to my brother-in-law Sri N.K. Agarwal and brothers Sri Mahavir Prasad Jain and Suresh Chand Jain who took a lot of trouble in getting the thesis typed and corrected.
I owe my heartfelt gratitude to my wife Dr. Shashi Jain, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Hindu College, Moradabad for the assistance she offered during the course of my study.
Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1086)
Archaeology (753)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
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