PALAMAU: UNDER THE EAST INDIA COMPANY (Writer Dr. Santosh Kumar Mukherjee)

 PALAMAU: UNDER THE EAST INDIA COMPANY

(Writer Dr. Santosh Kumar Mukherjee)

Review by editorial team with inputs from prof. Subhash Chandra Mishra

The Book entitled 'PALAMAU' by Late Santosh Kumar Mukherjee is a sincere attempt to present a brief history of Palamau, the ancient gate-way of Chota-Nagpur. In the ab-sence of very limited resources avail-able on the subject, very meager and stray references to Palamau in the Mohmmedan and Brit-ish chronicles, it was a difficult task to venture into the area and present successfully and orderly and analytical account of the

history of Palamau which could be informative and helpful to research-ers, faculties, students and the other stakeholders.

The work is based mainly on original sources of information, claimed by the author. Persian chronicles have been the main source of information in construct-ing the chronology of the ancient (very little information is found for this period in ancient texts) and me-

diaeval periods. Other sources of information forming the basis of the contents in the book are; unpub-lished records preserved in the Na-tional Archives of India, New Delhi; the State Archives of the Govt. of West Bengal at Kolkata,; the cen-tral records office of the Govern-ment of Bihar, Patna; records of the Commissioner of Chotanagpur at Ranchi and the Deputy Commis-sioner of Palamau, Daltonganj. Other re-sources utilized in preparing the work are the various topo-graphical, statistical, survey and settlement re-ports of Palamau.

The author has not only focused on the historical chronology of the region for a long period but has also gave an account of the demographic dynamics, political set-up changing over the periods and a socio-eco-nomic analysis of the region. In the

Dr. S. K. Mukherjee or Kaba Da was teaching history at GLA College. Daltonganj Since 1973. The book is based on his Ph.D. work (1972) under the guidance of Prof. Balmukund Virottam of Ranchi University. The Book showcases the old metthod of crafting a Ph.D. thesis and high standard of a research work conducted in1970s.

whole, I feel that the academic con-tents of the thesis/book will be of immense use for the academic fra-ternity and others. It will also help to understand the socio-economic backwardness of the region for the policy makers and administrators.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Kebu Da was the incarnation of Shrawan Kumar, who served his mother like an ideal son. In Kebu Da I have felt and witnessed the glimpse of Shravan Kumar.

Life of a Kebu Da was sublime.

Students bowed their head before him as mark of respect. He was a good friend. He was a loving hus-band. He was Ajatshatru.

The Scholars of history will find revealing facts about Palamu in this book. It has eight (8) chap-ters. All

the chapters will speak that Dr. S.K. Mukherjee has inward eye to peep into the facts. I can only say that it is a book to be read and digested. In the last I would like to bless Rajiv Mukherjee (Raju) who is following the footsteps of his father. A worthy son of a worthy father.

Chotanagpur in general and Palamau in particular was not ex-posed and was little known area of Bihar at the time when this research work was undertaken.

Dr. Mukherjee's work is original and based mainly on pri-mary sources. He has consulted Persian sources for pre-British period and archival sources available at National Archives and West Bengal state ar-chives for British period. He has also con-sulted Survey Settlement Records and other official docu-ments available at Patna, Ranchi and Daltonganj for research for the pe-riod under study.

He has described in detail the condition of people of Palamau un-der the East India Company and the reaction of the people against the Company's rule. The participation of the people in 1857 movement has also been focused. Mukherjee offers a fo-cused historical study of the Palamau region during the period of East In-dia Company rule (1765-1858). The book is a valuable regional history that sheds light on the political, eco-nomic, and social transformations experienced in this part of eastern India under colonial administration.

The author also pays significant attention to resistance movements and local responses to colonial rule. By examining revolts, social tensions, and everyday forms of resistance, the book moves beyond a purely admin-istrative history and captures the lived experiences of the people of Palamau. This approach makes the narrative more dynamic and grounded in socio-cultural realities. Another notable aspect is the use

of maps, archival references, and his-torical records, which enhance the credibility and depth of the study. The inclusion of geographical context helps readers better understand the strategic and economic importance of the region during the colonial period.

One is sure that this work will be of immense help to re-search schol-ars as well as general readers after publication. The book is an important historical study that explains the political, economic, and social condition of the Palamau region during the rule of the East India Company. The book highlights how British colonial policies affected local admin- istration, land systems, tribal commu-nities, and regional economy. It pro-vides valuable information about re-sistance movements, revenue settle-ments, and the changing structure of society in Chotanagpur. It also helps readers understand the roots of tribal struggles and colonial exploitation in eastern India during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Palamau Under East India Company: History & British Rule

History of Palamau Under the East India Company | Dr. Santosh Kumar Mukherjee

Palamau History: East India Company, British Rule & Tribal Resistance

Palamau and the East India Company: A Historical Study

पलामू का इतिहास: ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी और ब्रिटिश शासन | डॉ. संतोष कुमार मुखर्जी

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