We have studied the sources of
ancient and mediaeval Indian history.
This year we are going to study the
sources of Modern Indian History.
Historical sources include material, written
and oral sources. Similarly sources based
on modern technology such as audio,
video and audio-visual are included.
Material Sources : Various objects,
monuments, places, coins, sculptures etc.
can be included in the material sources
of history.
Buildings and Places : The period of
Modern Indian History is believed as
period of European, especially the British
rulers, and governance of Princely States.
In this period various buildings, bridges,
roads, water supply system, fountains etc.
were built. These buildings include
government offices, residences of officers,
leaders and revolutionaries; palaces of
rulers of princely states, forts, prisons etc.
Among these monuments many buildings
are intact even today. Some are declared
as national monuments, where as some
are converted into museum. For eg.
Cellular Jail in Andaman.
While visiting these sites we get
information about contemporary history,
architecture, nature of the monument and
also the economic condition of that
particular period. Just as during the visit
to Cellular jail in Andaman we get
information about the revolutionary work
of V.D.Savarkar; by visiting Manibhavan
in Mumbai or Sevagram Ashram at
Wardha we get information about the
history of Gandhian era.
Museums and History : For
the study of History various objects,
paintings, photographs and such
other things are preserved in a
museum. At the Aga Khan Palace
in Pune, we can see different objects,
documents giving information about
the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
Aga Khan Palace, Pune
Statues and Memorials : During the
Pre Independence and Post Independence
period, memorials of many personalities
were erected in the form of statues. These
statues are also important for the study
of modern Indian history. The various
statues provide information about the
contemporary rulers and eminent
personalities. The display plaque on the
statues gives us information about the full
name of the concerned person, birth and
death details, brief information about their
contribution and a biographical sketch of
the person. Just as the statues of Mahatma
Jyotirao Phule, Lokmanya Tilak, Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar, there are memorials
which are erected in the memory of
various events which give information about the concerned event, period, people
related to the event etc. For e.g. Hutatma
Smarak at various places.Written Sources : The following
aspects are included in the written sources
of Modern Indian History.
Newspapers and Periodicals :
Newspapers provide us information about
the contemporary events. Along with it,
detail analysis of a particular event, views
of eminent people, editorials are also
published. We get information about the
political, social, economic and cultural
happenings of that period. In the pre
independence period, newspapers like
Dnyanoday, Dnyanprakash, Amrit Bazaar
Patrika, Deenbandhu, Kesari acted as
important source of awakening the minds
of the people. Through the newspapers
we can study the British policies regarding
India and their effects on India. During
the British period, newspapers were not
only the source of political events but
also acted as a source of social
reformation. The ‘Nibandhmala’ by
Maps and Drawings : Map is also
regarded as an important source of history.
The changing nature of a city or a
particular location can be traced through
maps. The Survey of India was an
independent department established during
the British period. Through scientific
methods of survey, they have created
maps of India, various provinces of India,
cities etc. Similarly, the plans designed by
the architects prove important from the
view of study of architecture of a building
as well as phases of development process of a particular area. For example, the
Department of Mumbai Port Trust has the
original plan of the Bombay Port.
Information about development of Bombay
city can be understood through the plans
drafted by architects and engineers.
Oral Sources : The following sources
are included in the oral sources of Modern
Indian history.
among the people. Apart from freedom
movement, the Powadas were composed
based on the work of Satyashodhak
Samaj for awakening among the oppressed
classes, the Samyukta Maharashtra
movement and such other events.
Video, Audio and Audio-Visual
Sources : During the modern period, due
to the development of Technology there
was a development in the art of
photography, recording, Films etc.
Obviously, these photographs, records
or films can be used as a source of
history.
Photographs : Photographs are visual
source of modern Indian history. With the
discovery of art of photography,
photograph of various persons, events,
objects, structure, places were clicked.
Through these photographs we get
information of the person or an event in
a visual format. In case of mediaeval
period there are paintings available that
depict the physical features of a person
or visual description of a particular event,
but the authenticity of these paintings is
doubtful. Comparatively photographs are
considered to be more reliable. The
photograph of a person gives information
about the physical features, dressing style
etc. Photograph of an event give a visual
image of the event whereas photograph
of an object or a structure helps in
understanding its nature.
Recordings : The discovery of
technique of recording was also as
important as photography. Recording is a
form of audio source of history. During
modern period, the speeches of leaders or
important personalities, songs etc are
available in the form of recordings. They
can be used as a source of history. For
example. National anthem ‘Jana Gana
Mana’ sung by Rabindranath Tagore
Inspirational Songs : During the
period of freedom movement various
inspirational songs were composed. At
present some of these songs are available
in written form, but there are many other
unpublished inspirational songs memorised
by freedom fighters. Through these
inspirational song we can get information
about the conditions during pre
independence period and also the spirit
behind the freedom struggle could be
understood.
Powada : Powada is a source for
getting information about a historical
event or the work of a person. There are
various Powadas composed on freedom
struggle of 1857, valour of revolutionaries
during British rule etc. These Powadas
were used to create motivation and spirit himself or the speeches of Subhash
Chandra Bose can be used as an audio
source for the study of history of Modern
India.
Films : Films are considered as a
unique discovery of modern technology.
In the 20th century, there was a great
development in the technique of
filmmaking. Dada Saheb Phalke, in the
year 1913, laid the foundation of Indian
film industry. Audio visual recording of
Dandi Yatra, Salt Satyagraha, Quit India
Movement and such other historical
incidents are available. Through these
films the events could be seen in realityCompared to ancient and mediaeval
period, the sources of study of modern
Indian history are found in abundance
and variety. The archaeological sources
of this period are to a great extent found
in a better state. There are many written
sources preserved in the archives. But
while referring the written sources, the
ideology and opinions of the author
regarding the particular event needs to be
examined. There is a great need of
preserving these historical sources through
which the rich tradition of history can be
handed over to the next generation.
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