Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan

Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or the Central and Western Rajput States of India surveys the contemporary geography and history of Rajputana, India, along with the history of the Rajput clans who ruled most of the area at that time. The first volume was published on 20 June 1829; the second volume in 1832.

Colonel James Tod, the author of this book, was an Englishman serving with the British East India Company's army, which he joined as a cadet in Bengal in 1799. Tod commanded the escort attached to the resident with Sindhia from 1812 to 1817. In 1817 he was placed in charge of the Intelligence Department which largely contributed to the break up of the Maratha Confederacy in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, and was of great assistance in the campaign in Rajputana. In 1818 he was appointed political agent for the states of western Rajputana, where he conciliated the chieftains and settled their mutual feuds.

Searching for the origins of Indian institutions, Tod sought to present the patterned meaning of ancient Indian literature in a way that European readers could both understand and appreciate. He explained that,

Being desirous of epitomising the chronicles of the martial races [sic] of Central and Western India, it was essential to ascertain the sources whence they draw, or claim to draw, their lineage. For this purpose I obtained from the library of the Rana of Oodipoor Udaipur their sacred volumes, the Pooráns, and laid them before a body of pundhits, over whom presided the learned Jetty Gyanchandra. From these extracts were made of all the genealogies of the great races [sic] of Soorya and Chandra, and of facts historical and geographical. [James Tod, "Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India," v. 1, p. 17. 2 vols. London, Smith, Elder (1829, 1832); New Delhi, Munshiram Publishers, (2001) ISBN 8170691281]

The book gives a very minute and detailed account of :

* The Feudal system prevailing at that time.
* The genealogical history of the ruling Rajput clans.
* The annals of Mewar.

See also

* Mewar
* Marathas
* Rajputs

References

Literature