Indraprastha - The Earliest Delhi Going Back to the Mahabharata Times

$40
FREE Delivery
Quantity
Delivery Ships in 1-3 days
Item Code: NAY902
Author: B. B. Lal
Publisher: Aryan Books International
Language: English
Edition: 2021
ISBN: 9788173056468
Pages: 78 (Throughout B/w Illustrations)
Cover: HARDCOVER
Other Details 9.50 X 7.00 inch
Weight 450 gm
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
23 years in business
23 years in business
Book Description
About the Book
In Delhi, as one moves southwards from the Pragati Maidan, along the Mathura Road, one sees on the left the fortification walls of Purana Qila. These were built by Humayun/Sher Shah along the periphery of an l0-metre high mound. In the revenue records the site is mentioned as Indrapat and local tradition identifies it with Indraprastha of the Mahabharata times.

Keen to find out the truth, in 1954-55 the author laid out a trench in the southern part of the mound and found shards of the Painted Grey Ware which is the characteristic ceramic industry met with at all the sites associated with the Mahabharata story. This discovery was confirmed by subsequent excavations as well. These excavations revealed that from the Mahabharata times (circa 1000 Ban), the site continued to be occupied up to the British times - a span of 3000 years. Thus, Indraprastha is the earliest and longest-lived city of Delhi.

The book presents this glorious panorama.

Born in 1921, the year when coincidentally the discoveries at Harappa threw, in a single stroke, the antiquity of Indian civilization back to the 3rd millennium BCE, Professor B. B. Lal had the privilege of excavating, during 1961-69, an equally important site of the Harappan Civilization, namely Kalibangan. in the Sarasvati basin. Besides throwing up many new features, this site has given to the world the earliest agricultural field, dating back to circa 2800 BU.

With an exceptionally brilliant academic career, culminating in a first class first in M.A. (Sanskrit) from the University of Allahabad, Lal joined the Archaeological Survey of India in 1946 and rose to become its Director General in 1968. However, the heavy administrative work left no time for research and hence he took voluntary retirement in 1972, joined the [Awaji University, Gwalior, and thereafter moved on to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, of which he was also the Director.

Lal's excavations at several sites, nearly two dozen books and about 150 critical papers published in scientific journals all over the world have brought him laurels from the academia, which include Vidya Varidhi from Nalanda Mahavihara. Mahamahopadhyaya from Darbhanga University, D. Litt. from Institute of Archaeology, St. Petersburg. Russia, and another D.Litt. from Deccan College, Pune. In 2000 he presided over World Archaeological Congress and in the same war was awarded Padma Bhushan by the President of India.

Professor Lal entered his 100th year on May 2, 2020. On this occasion, the President of India, Humble Ram Nath Kovind, felicitating him observed: "I am happy to learn that National Monuments Authority and Prof. B.B. Lal Centenary Committee are celebrating the centenary of Prof. B. B. Lal, the globally renowned archaeologist and a living legend. He is well-known for his work on sites related to Indus Valley Civilization, Mahabharata and Ramayana .... I wish Prof. B.B. Lal a long life and good health."

Introduction
It has all along been held that, prior to Lutyen's New Delhi, there had been seven cities in this region, the earliest of which was Lal Kot/Qila Rai Pithora, dating back to the Rajput times. It was followed, in succession, by Siri, Tughlakabad, Jahanpanah, Feroze Shah Kotla, Purana Qila and Shahjahanabad (Fig. 1.1). In fact, an entire book had been written with that title (Hearn 1906). This was so, in spite of the fact that literary evidence and local tradition had always indicated that there did exist a city, in Delhi, going by the name of Indrapat, which was none other than Indraprastha of the Mahabharata times.

It was, however, left to the present writer to unravel the mystery.

Led by a keen desire to know the truth, in 1954-55, he undertook excavations in the mound known as Purana Qila, bounded by the fortifications built by Humayun and Sher Shah, and found there the Painted Grey Ware which had been found at all the sites associated with the Mahabharata story. This duly established that the first city of Delhi was not Lal Kot but Indraprastha (For further details please see Chapter V).

Book's Contents and Sample Pages







Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. What locations do you deliver to ?
    A. Exotic India delivers orders to all countries having diplomatic relations with India.
  • Q. Do you offer free shipping ?
    A. Exotic India offers free shipping on all orders of value of $30 USD or more.
  • Q. Can I return the book?
    A. All returns must be postmarked within seven (7) days of the delivery date. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more please view our return policy
  • Q. Do you offer express shipping ?
    A. Yes, we do have a chargeable express shipping facility available. You can select express shipping while checking out on the website.
  • Q. I accidentally entered wrong delivery address, can I change the address ?
    A. Delivery addresses can only be changed only incase the order has not been shipped yet. Incase of an address change, you can reach us at help@exoticindia.com
  • Q. How do I track my order ?
    A. You can track your orders simply entering your order number through here or through your past orders if you are signed in on the website.
  • Q. How can I cancel an order ?
    A. An order can only be cancelled if it has not been shipped. To cancel an order, kindly reach out to us through help@exoticindia.com.
Add a review
Have A Question

For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy

Book Categories