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 The deep roots of the
colorful and vibrant History of India go back to around 2500 B.C and
during this long period this holy land of Ganges was witness to the
emergence and fall of several mighty empires, meteoric rise of
chivalrous rulers and romantic folklores of royal princess, advent of
foreigners from different parts of the world and their assimilation in
the cultural matrix of India. The ascetic tradition of saints and
rishis, the classic works of Kalidasa, the graceful art masterpieces
of Ajanta and Ellora all have become a part of the rich cultural
heritage of India.
It was in India that one of the earliest and largest civilization,
Indus Valley Civilization, flourished. The highly urbanized city life
of this civilization constitutes a remarkable achievement of this
period. It was during the ancient period that Buddha and Mahavira laid
the foundation of new religious schools of Buddhism and Jainism
unleashing a period of religious ferment. The establishment of the
mighty Mauryan Empire and the peace loving activities of the famous
Mauryan ruler Ashoka redefined the rules of Kingship during this
period. Indian culture and administration reached its high watermark
under the Guptas and the period is known as the Golden period in
Indian History. Many foreign travelers visited India during the
ancient period and graphically depicted the myriad aspects of India in
their literary works.
The medieval period of Indian History is reminiscent of rich
exuberance of Indo-Islamic culture. The establishment of Delhi
Sultanate and later of the Mughal Empire added several new features in
the fields of political philosophy, lifestyle and art and
architecture. The magical aura surrounding medieval Indian
personalities like Akbar, Shahjahan, Noorjahan, Aurangzeb is
discernible even today in their magnificent structures like Buland
Darwaja, Red Fort, Taj Mahal and many more beautifully constructed
buildings of the period.
The downfall of the mighty Mughal Empire paved the way for the
establishment of the British rule in India. The East India Company
established several trading posts in various parts of India and later
assumed political and military powers in India. After the Revolt of
1857 the territories of India passed into the hands of the British
Crown. The Britishers not only introduced important changes in the
administrative and military sphere but also in the realms of art and
architecture. The masterpieces constructed during the British period
like the Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate and many such buildings have
today become an important constituent of Indian culture. India became
an independent country on 15th August 1947. |
