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Ramesh Chandra Majumdar

ラメーシュ・チャンドラ・マジュムダル

Ramesh Chandra Majumdar

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1888-12-04 （Khandarpara, Gopalganj District, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh)）
Died
1980-02-11 （Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India） age 91
Nationality
India
Languages
Bengali, English
Religion
Hinduism
Residence History
Dacca (University of Dacca / Dhaka) → Calcutta (Kolkata) → Benares (Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi) → Nagpur (Nagpur University) → United States (visiting at University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania)

Career

Occupations
Historian, Professor, Vice-Chancellor, Researcher
Active Years
1914-1979
Affiliations
University of Dacca (Head of History; Vice-Chancellor), University of Calcutta (Professor), Banaras Hindu University (Principal, College of Indology), Nagpur University (established College of Indology; Principal), University of Chicago (visiting lecturer), University of Pennsylvania (visiting lecturer), Indian History Congress (General President), Asiatic Society (President)
Memberships
Indian History Congress, Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Asiatic Society
Influenced By
Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Education

Presidency College, Calcutta
Department of History
Degree: B.A.(Hons), M.A.
Period: 1907–1911
Year of Graduation: 1911
Country: British India (India)
Graduated B.A. (Honours) and M.A. in History
University of Calcutta
History
Degree: 博士（Ph.D.相当）
Period: 1911–1918
Year of Graduation: 1918
Country: British India (India)
Doctoral thesis: 'Corporate Life in Ancient India'

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Corporate Life in Ancient India

1918 History

A scholarly study of corporate and communal economic organizations in ancient India, based on his doctoral thesis.

Ancient Indian historyEconomic historySocial organization

The Early History of Bengal

1924 Regional history

A study on the early history of the Bengal region, providing foundational narrative for regional history.

History of BengalAncient history

Champa (Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East, Vol. I)

1927 Overseas colonies / Southeast Asian history

Study of ancient Indian influence and colonial presence in Champa (central Vietnam).

Southeast Asian historyIndian cultural expansion

Suvarnadvipa (Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East, Vol. II)

1938 Southeast Asian history

Research on ancient Indian influence in Suvarnadvipa (Southeast Asia).

Maritime contactColonial influence

Kambuja Desa

1944 Southeast Asian history

Study on ancient Indian colonies and cultural transmission in the Cambodia region.

Cambodian historyCultural exchange

The History and Culture of the Indian People

1951 Comprehensive history (multi-volume)

An 11-volume comprehensive history (1951–1977) covering from the Vedic period to independence, edited and largely authored over decades.

Comprehensive Indian historyNational history

History of the Freedom Movement in India

1962 Modern history / Political history

A three-volume analysis of the Indian independence movement, written independently after disputes with a government editorial committee.

Freedom movementFormation of national consciousness

Sepoy Mutiny and Revolt of 1857

1963 Modern history

A study of the Revolt of 1857 (Sepoy Mutiny), presenting his interpretations of the events.

Colonial ruleRebellion history

An Advanced History of India

1960 Textbook / Survey

A widely-referenced scholarly survey of Indian history, used as a textbook with multiple parts/editions.

Educational Indian historyHistorical overview

Ancient India

1977 Ancient history

An introductory overview of ancient India; one of his late major works.

Ancient civilizationsArchaeological perspective

Bibliography

  • Corporate Life in Ancient India (1918)
  • The Early History of Bengal (1924)
  • Champa (1927)
  • Outline of Ancient Indian History (1927)
  • Arab Invasion of India (1931)
  • Suvarnadvipa (1938)
  • The History of Bengal (1943)
  • Kambuja Desa (1944)
  • The History and Culture of the Indian People (1951–1977, 11 vols.)
  • An Advanced History of India (1960)
  • Sepoy Mutiny and Revolt of 1857 (1963)
  • Historiography in Modern India (1970)
  • Ancient India (1977)
  • India and South-East Asia (1979)
  • The History of Ancient Lakshadweep (1979)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scholarly and fact-focused narrativeExpository and systematic writingEmpiricist approach
Recurring Motifs
Emphasis on national/ethnic historyRevival of ancient Indian cultural prominenceFocus on regional histories

Legacy

R. C. Majumdar was a major 20th-century Indian historian known for contributions to ancient Indian studies, Southeast Asian research and multi-volume national histories. His later adoption of Hindu nationalist interpretations generated controversy and divided scholarly opinion.

Academic Societies

  • Indian History Congress
  • Bangiya Sahitya Parishad
  • Asiatic Society

Archives

  • University of Calcutta archives (holds some of his papers)
  • Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan collection

Quotes

  • History belongs to the people, and national consciousness is formed through the record of past events.
    Source: Interview with Majumdar, 29 April 1979 (1979)

Trivia

  • Served as 4th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dacca (1937–1942).
  • Served as Sheriff of Calcutta (1967–68).
  • Spent 26 years compiling 'The History and Culture of the Indian People' (11 volumes).