Monday 7 February 2011
Environment Studies
Besides my research on dak bungalows I have been also taking lectures on environmental studies for the students of Government College Sector9 Gurgaon. The issues I have raised are greenhouse effect,ozone hole,acid rain and pollution and degradation of the environment.The students in these lectures come from the vicinity of a fast expanding megapolis of Gurgaon and are therefore both passive and active participants and witnesses of a modern (rather postmodern)transition of the city. Over the last twenty five years or so the city has seen massive high rises of office and residential spaces.The culture and lifestyle have undergone fundamental changes.The students have grown up in this milieu and have diverse responses to it. While consumer culture has its effects it also tends to make students passive.However there are some exceptions like Sandy Dancer(Sandeep Paswan) who is a distance education student who has undertaken dance classes at Gurgaon and also has started teaching dance.This perhaps could be one way of coping with the changing culture and environment of the city.The downside of this growth was brought out by Times Of India city edition in which the deteriorating conditions of civic life and services was pointed out by the people living in Gurgaon city. It is perhaps contexts like these that Daniel Bell(prominent sociologist) analysed in the American context.He pointed out that corporate performance has made society uglier,trashier,polluted and noxious.The earlier identity of the private corporation and the public interest has been replaced by a sense of mismatch and incongruence.Talking with Mr. Ajay Mahurkar(IGNOU) I found that Bell links this criticism to a fundamental flaw in the mainstream economics whose individualism (Bell points out) fails when confronted with externalities like environmental pollution and degradation.
Saturday 22 May 2010
Glossary related to Dak Bungalows
I am posting a useful and informative list of words with their meanings connected to my study of dak bungalows during the British period.
Anna: 16th of a rupee, no longer in use.
Ashram: spiritual retreat.
Ayah: Children's nurse
Bearer: Like a butler.
Bagh: Garden
Baba-logue: British children
Budgerow: Barge often used while travelling on Ganges; A large travelling boat.
Burra khana: Grand dinner.
Bhisti: Water Carrier.
Cantonment: Administrative and military area of a raj era town.
Caravanserai: A traditional accommodation for camel caravans.
Choultry: Pilgrims rest house; like a dharmshala.
Chowkidar: Night watchman at a dak bungalow.
Dak: Staging post; government run accommodation
Dharamshala: Pilgrim's rest house.
Dhobi: Person who washes clothes.
Dholi: Man carried portable chairs,people are carried in them to hill top temples etc.
Gari: Vehicle; motor gari is a car,rail gari is a train.
Gora: A white man
khansamah: Head servant
kos minar: milestone
maund: about 20 kgs
Palanquin: Box like enclosure carried on poles on four men's shoulders,the occupant sits inside on a seat.
sarai: Accommodation for travellers.
Tonga: Two wheeled horse or pony carriage.
Tatty: Woven grass screen soaked in water and hung outside windows to cool the air in a dak bungalow.
Topi- wallahs:Literally hat wearers, and generally taken to mean Europeans.
Anna: 16th of a rupee, no longer in use.
Ashram: spiritual retreat.
Ayah: Children's nurse
Bearer: Like a butler.
Bagh: Garden
Baba-logue: British children
Budgerow: Barge often used while travelling on Ganges; A large travelling boat.
Burra khana: Grand dinner.
Bhisti: Water Carrier.
Cantonment: Administrative and military area of a raj era town.
Caravanserai: A traditional accommodation for camel caravans.
Choultry: Pilgrims rest house; like a dharmshala.
Chowkidar: Night watchman at a dak bungalow.
Dak: Staging post; government run accommodation
Dharamshala: Pilgrim's rest house.
Dhobi: Person who washes clothes.
Dholi: Man carried portable chairs,people are carried in them to hill top temples etc.
Gari: Vehicle; motor gari is a car,rail gari is a train.
Gora: A white man
khansamah: Head servant
kos minar: milestone
maund: about 20 kgs
Palanquin: Box like enclosure carried on poles on four men's shoulders,the occupant sits inside on a seat.
sarai: Accommodation for travellers.
Tonga: Two wheeled horse or pony carriage.
Tatty: Woven grass screen soaked in water and hung outside windows to cool the air in a dak bungalow.
Topi- wallahs:Literally hat wearers, and generally taken to mean Europeans.
Saturday 3 April 2010
Book Review
Dear Dr. Rajvir Dhaka, As instructed by you I am sending my book review for publication in the journal Prashashak.I had attended your training programme at HIPA(June29th to July3) where you had made this offer.Dr. Shamsher Singh Gulia.(Sel. Grade Lecturer, Govt.
College, Sector9,Gurgaon).
BOOK REVIEW
R.P. RANA : Rebels to Rulers
The rise of Jat Power in medieval India
C 1665 -1735. Manohar, New Delhi, 2006,
Pages 222, Price Rs. 575/-
Dr. Shamsher Singh Gulia
It is one of the writings in recent years, by a professional teacher of medieval history who teaches at Delhi University, which has seen the resurgence of the ‘region’, where decay and decline of the ‘Empire’ has been overshadowed. It is a Perspective from the Regional Point of view. The central theme of the work is various economic and administrative frictions and tensions, that provoked the sturdy Jats to rise into Uprisings against the Mughal State and its intermediaries in the neighborhood of Delhi and Agra. Further, this study challenges the past notions about peasant uprisings, decline of the Mughal empire and forming of the new regional states. The volume discusses how north India’s rural communities passed through various socio-economic processes and the ways and the manner in which they negotiated with the state and if the situation arose, rebelled against the centre to maintain their ‘autonomy’.
This book is divided into six chapters besides ‘introduction’ and ‘conclusion’. This scholarly and well-researched study is an enlarged and revised version of author’s Ph.D thesis, entitled ‘Social and Economic Background of the Rise of Bharatpur Kingdom’, submitted at J.N.U., New Delhi, in the year 1984. The book opens with an introduction on existing historiography on the field of study and mentions various primary sources used in making of this volume. The period covered is late 17th and the early 18th centuries. The geographical region covered by the present study is the area of ‘Braj’, 'Mewat' and 'Dundhar'. The first chapter discusses the working of the village communities and patterns of rural settlements. There was multi-layered hierarchy among village communities. The village higher – ups dominated and exploited the common villagers. Natural and man made causes kept the peasantry mobile resulting in deserting of villages. Thus, the author challenges the myth of land bound peasantry unable to migrate. The words used for mobile peasantry are ‘wadhdars’ and ‘pahis’. The second chapter focuses on the activities of production, surplus sharing and the resultant exploitation. Well arranged tables, in this chapter corroborates the statements made regarding the fluctuation, in cereal production year wise. Lack of peace is attributed as a cause for declining agricultural production. The chapter third, deals with causes of the agrarian revolts. Though revolts were in itself not spontaneous in nature, but it was due to long term exploitation. From the middle of the 17th century, economic conditions of the peasantry kept on deteriorating on account of not only high revenue demands and increasing extortions, but also the manner in which revenue was extracted. The state formed a nexus with the money lenders to run the apparatus of revenue administration successfully, thereby creating another groups of exploiters. The peasants were exploited everyday and when the methods of exploitation became stiffer and stiffer, the peasantry also answered the exploiters, and the answer lay in rebellion. The fourth chapter i.e. ‘the Domain of the zamindars’ gives us a view from the perception of rural magnates i.e. zamindars. These intermediaries were so powerful that the survival of any empire in medieval times in India was based on developing and establishing a suitable hierarchy with these multi- layered rural lords. These landed people not only passed the fiscal burden on the already burdened peasantry, but at times used the peasants to serve their own interests. The State also realized their power and influence and never underestimated them. The author points to massive transformation of the zamindari rights between this period. Thus the, so-called notion of hereditary right of zamindari is challenged. A detailed data is also provided explaining the caste –wise zamindari positions and changes in it. The Mughals also played and negotiated with the clan lineages to replace trouble-making zamindars with the loyal, submissive zamindars. The fifth chapter focuses on the Jat identity and its resistance to dominant discourses. Here, the learned author has challenged the existing historiographical notions, propounded or rather associated with the eminent historian, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, that uprising of the jats was due to the policy of discrimination adopted by the 'Zindapir', the epithet used for Aurangzeb. The author argues that resistance to dominant Brahmanical culture was integral part of Jat religiosity. The Jat religious and cultural milieu was nearer to the traditions of Baba Farid and Sikh gurus. It is mentioned in clear terms that since the days of Sind conquest by the Arabs, Jats remained on the peripherals of brahamanical society. The Jat, beings a peasant-pastoral community, practiced diverse form of worship, from deification of natural forces to visiting the ‘majars’ of the living or the dead saints. Certainly, caste was the dominant rallying point behind peasant-zamindar relationship but it needs to be clearly understood that the motivating factor behind these rebellions was the misery of the peasants. The sixth and the last chapter, discusses agrarian revolts in the areas of Braj, Mewat and Dundhar regions and the series of happenings ultimately leading of the formation of the first Jat State, i.e. the royal household of Bharatpur At present, it is one of the districts of the State of Rajasthan. It is further interesting to note that without the support and solidarity by the rebel zamidars of other castes, the Jats could not had sustained their insurgency for such a long duration. It was certainly the coming together of the Jats and zamidars of other castes that gave such a tough resistance to the Mughal power and authority.
Thus, the present volume does full justice to bring out the various subtle processes through which Jat rebels became the rulers. The book is set in a rural background and the author uses extensively Rajasthani primary sources. A glossary, towards the end of the book, certainly enriches our understanding of Rajasthani, Braj and Mewati languages or dialects. In this book we hear voices of the humbler peasants, in the form of everyday experiences. Well-drawn bibliography and meticulous drafted index, certainly add charm to the reading of the book. The study also has two appendixes to it along with two well-defined, illustrated maps. A must reading for researchers, historians in the field of medieval Indian history and regional studies. It is a hard bound volume, perhaps a back-paper edition, with less cost would be a better option for the students and the general public alike.
उत्तर दें अग्रेषित करें
नई विंडो
सभी मुद्रित करेंप्रायोजित लिंक्स
Delhi Pub School, Pinjore
Limited Hostel Seats Available For Kg- 12th (All Streams)
www.dpspinjore.com
Club Mahindra Membership
6 & 12 EMI plan with 0% interest. Family holidays for 25yrs. Sign up.
ClubMahindra.com/Fun-Family-Forever
इसके बारे में और जानकारी...
Indian Oil Corporation LTD »
BBA in India »
Sikh Matrimonials »
Bitumen India »
इन लिंक्स के बारे में
« को वापस भेजी गई मेल संग्रहीत करें स्पैम रिपोर्ट करें हटाएँ इनबॉक्स में ले जाएँ लेबल और क्रियाएँ ‹ इससे नई इससे पुरानी › संग्रहीत करें स्पैम रिपोर्ट करें हटाएँ इनबॉक्स में ले जाएँ लेबल और क्रियाएँ ताज़ा करें कुल 3 में से 1-3 बातचीतचयन करें: सभी, कोई नहीं, पठित, अपठित, तारांकित, अ-तारांकित
प्रति: skhasapay fixation filled proforma and attachment - dear dr. skhasa, please send pay fixation filled proforma and attachments agp 8000. regards, ss … २२ फरवरी
प्रति: lettersBook Review - Dear Editor, In the context of the Jat Mahasabha taking up the issue of the encounter killing of …९-७-०९
प्रति: drrajvirdhakabook review - Dear Dr. Rajvir Dhaka, As instructed by you I am sending my book review for publication in the … ७-७-०९
बातचीतचयन करें: सभी, कोई नहीं, पठित, अपठित, तारांकित, अ-तारांकित संग्रहीत करें स्पैम रिपोर्ट करें हटाएँ इनबॉक्स में ले जाएँ लेबल और क्रियाएँ ताज़ा करें कुल 3 में से 1-3
अपने Gmail संदेशों को स्वतः ही किसी अन्य ईमेल खाते पर अग्रेषित करें. और जानेंआप फ़िलहाल अपने 7440 MB का 0 MB (0%) प्रयोग कर रहे हैं.खाते की पिछली गतिविधि: २५ फरवरी इस IP पर (220.227.168.118). विवरणGmail दृश्य: मानक | चैट को बंद करें | Buzz बंद करें | पुराना संस्करण | मूल HTML©2010 Google - शर्तें - गोपनीयता नीति - Buzz गोपनीयता नीति - Google मुख पृष्ठ
लोगों को जानने दें कि आप किसलिए उठे हुए हैं, या फ़ोटो, वीडियो, और वेब पृष्ठों के लिए लिंक साझा करें
College, Sector9,Gurgaon).
BOOK REVIEW
R.P. RANA : Rebels to Rulers
The rise of Jat Power in medieval India
C 1665 -1735. Manohar, New Delhi, 2006,
Pages 222, Price Rs. 575/-
Dr. Shamsher Singh Gulia
It is one of the writings in recent years, by a professional teacher of medieval history who teaches at Delhi University, which has seen the resurgence of the ‘region’, where decay and decline of the ‘Empire’ has been overshadowed. It is a Perspective from the Regional Point of view. The central theme of the work is various economic and administrative frictions and tensions, that provoked the sturdy Jats to rise into Uprisings against the Mughal State and its intermediaries in the neighborhood of Delhi and Agra. Further, this study challenges the past notions about peasant uprisings, decline of the Mughal empire and forming of the new regional states. The volume discusses how north India’s rural communities passed through various socio-economic processes and the ways and the manner in which they negotiated with the state and if the situation arose, rebelled against the centre to maintain their ‘autonomy’.
This book is divided into six chapters besides ‘introduction’ and ‘conclusion’. This scholarly and well-researched study is an enlarged and revised version of author’s Ph.D thesis, entitled ‘Social and Economic Background of the Rise of Bharatpur Kingdom’, submitted at J.N.U., New Delhi, in the year 1984. The book opens with an introduction on existing historiography on the field of study and mentions various primary sources used in making of this volume. The period covered is late 17th and the early 18th centuries. The geographical region covered by the present study is the area of ‘Braj’, 'Mewat' and 'Dundhar'. The first chapter discusses the working of the village communities and patterns of rural settlements. There was multi-layered hierarchy among village communities. The village higher – ups dominated and exploited the common villagers. Natural and man made causes kept the peasantry mobile resulting in deserting of villages. Thus, the author challenges the myth of land bound peasantry unable to migrate. The words used for mobile peasantry are ‘wadhdars’ and ‘pahis’. The second chapter focuses on the activities of production, surplus sharing and the resultant exploitation. Well arranged tables, in this chapter corroborates the statements made regarding the fluctuation, in cereal production year wise. Lack of peace is attributed as a cause for declining agricultural production. The chapter third, deals with causes of the agrarian revolts. Though revolts were in itself not spontaneous in nature, but it was due to long term exploitation. From the middle of the 17th century, economic conditions of the peasantry kept on deteriorating on account of not only high revenue demands and increasing extortions, but also the manner in which revenue was extracted. The state formed a nexus with the money lenders to run the apparatus of revenue administration successfully, thereby creating another groups of exploiters. The peasants were exploited everyday and when the methods of exploitation became stiffer and stiffer, the peasantry also answered the exploiters, and the answer lay in rebellion. The fourth chapter i.e. ‘the Domain of the zamindars’ gives us a view from the perception of rural magnates i.e. zamindars. These intermediaries were so powerful that the survival of any empire in medieval times in India was based on developing and establishing a suitable hierarchy with these multi- layered rural lords. These landed people not only passed the fiscal burden on the already burdened peasantry, but at times used the peasants to serve their own interests. The State also realized their power and influence and never underestimated them. The author points to massive transformation of the zamindari rights between this period. Thus the, so-called notion of hereditary right of zamindari is challenged. A detailed data is also provided explaining the caste –wise zamindari positions and changes in it. The Mughals also played and negotiated with the clan lineages to replace trouble-making zamindars with the loyal, submissive zamindars. The fifth chapter focuses on the Jat identity and its resistance to dominant discourses. Here, the learned author has challenged the existing historiographical notions, propounded or rather associated with the eminent historian, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, that uprising of the jats was due to the policy of discrimination adopted by the 'Zindapir', the epithet used for Aurangzeb. The author argues that resistance to dominant Brahmanical culture was integral part of Jat religiosity. The Jat religious and cultural milieu was nearer to the traditions of Baba Farid and Sikh gurus. It is mentioned in clear terms that since the days of Sind conquest by the Arabs, Jats remained on the peripherals of brahamanical society. The Jat, beings a peasant-pastoral community, practiced diverse form of worship, from deification of natural forces to visiting the ‘majars’ of the living or the dead saints. Certainly, caste was the dominant rallying point behind peasant-zamindar relationship but it needs to be clearly understood that the motivating factor behind these rebellions was the misery of the peasants. The sixth and the last chapter, discusses agrarian revolts in the areas of Braj, Mewat and Dundhar regions and the series of happenings ultimately leading of the formation of the first Jat State, i.e. the royal household of Bharatpur At present, it is one of the districts of the State of Rajasthan. It is further interesting to note that without the support and solidarity by the rebel zamidars of other castes, the Jats could not had sustained their insurgency for such a long duration. It was certainly the coming together of the Jats and zamidars of other castes that gave such a tough resistance to the Mughal power and authority.
Thus, the present volume does full justice to bring out the various subtle processes through which Jat rebels became the rulers. The book is set in a rural background and the author uses extensively Rajasthani primary sources. A glossary, towards the end of the book, certainly enriches our understanding of Rajasthani, Braj and Mewati languages or dialects. In this book we hear voices of the humbler peasants, in the form of everyday experiences. Well-drawn bibliography and meticulous drafted index, certainly add charm to the reading of the book. The study also has two appendixes to it along with two well-defined, illustrated maps. A must reading for researchers, historians in the field of medieval Indian history and regional studies. It is a hard bound volume, perhaps a back-paper edition, with less cost would be a better option for the students and the general public alike.
उत्तर दें अग्रेषित करें
नई विंडो
सभी मुद्रित करेंप्रायोजित लिंक्स
Delhi Pub School, Pinjore
Limited Hostel Seats Available For Kg- 12th (All Streams)
www.dpspinjore.com
Club Mahindra Membership
6 & 12 EMI plan with 0% interest. Family holidays for 25yrs. Sign up.
ClubMahindra.com/Fun-Family-Forever
इसके बारे में और जानकारी...
Indian Oil Corporation LTD »
BBA in India »
Sikh Matrimonials »
Bitumen India »
इन लिंक्स के बारे में
« को वापस भेजी गई मेल संग्रहीत करें स्पैम रिपोर्ट करें हटाएँ इनबॉक्स में ले जाएँ लेबल और क्रियाएँ ‹ इससे नई इससे पुरानी › संग्रहीत करें स्पैम रिपोर्ट करें हटाएँ इनबॉक्स में ले जाएँ लेबल और क्रियाएँ ताज़ा करें कुल 3 में से 1-3 बातचीतचयन करें: सभी, कोई नहीं, पठित, अपठित, तारांकित, अ-तारांकित
प्रति: skhasapay fixation filled proforma and attachment - dear dr. skhasa, please send pay fixation filled proforma and attachments agp 8000. regards, ss … २२ फरवरी
प्रति: lettersBook Review - Dear Editor, In the context of the Jat Mahasabha taking up the issue of the encounter killing of …९-७-०९
प्रति: drrajvirdhakabook review - Dear Dr. Rajvir Dhaka, As instructed by you I am sending my book review for publication in the … ७-७-०९
बातचीतचयन करें: सभी, कोई नहीं, पठित, अपठित, तारांकित, अ-तारांकित संग्रहीत करें स्पैम रिपोर्ट करें हटाएँ इनबॉक्स में ले जाएँ लेबल और क्रियाएँ ताज़ा करें कुल 3 में से 1-3
अपने Gmail संदेशों को स्वतः ही किसी अन्य ईमेल खाते पर अग्रेषित करें. और जानेंआप फ़िलहाल अपने 7440 MB का 0 MB (0%) प्रयोग कर रहे हैं.खाते की पिछली गतिविधि: २५ फरवरी इस IP पर (220.227.168.118). विवरणGmail दृश्य: मानक | चैट को बंद करें | Buzz बंद करें | पुराना संस्करण | मूल HTML©2010 Google - शर्तें - गोपनीयता नीति - Buzz गोपनीयता नीति - Google मुख पृष्ठ
लोगों को जानने दें कि आप किसलिए उठे हुए हैं, या फ़ोटो, वीडियो, और वेब पृष्ठों के लिए लिंक साझा करें
Thursday 30 July 2009
An Introduction To The Institution Of Dak Bungalows
Dak Bungalows have fascinated historians and general public alike.They were public buildings created by the British military engineers.When the British conquered the far flung areas of India, they needed a communication set up and a network of rest houses for their officials so that these newiy conquered teeritories remain under their control and authority.dak bunglows were located in enclosed compounds and sometimes these compounds contained cemetries and hence gave the notion of ghost
prevaling in these dak bunglows. there are numerous ghost stories associated with these dak bungalows.
prevaling in these dak bunglows. there are numerous ghost stories associated with these dak bungalows.
Monday 6 July 2009
Welcome
Welcome.I am Shamsher Singh Gulia.I have created this blog to share my academic interests in history and culture. I have worked on Dak Bungalows as a means of communication and administration in British India.These dak bungalows were like the dak chowkies of medieval period in their function. That is, they funtioned as a means of facilitating exchange of letters between different (British) officials and also served as a halting place for travelling officials.
I welcome your suggestions on this theme and related academic areas. I am here to share. Please you also share your thoughts, readings etc.
I welcome your suggestions on this theme and related academic areas. I am here to share. Please you also share your thoughts, readings etc.
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