Papers by Susmita Basu Majumdar
The Encyclopedia of Empire, 2016
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The Encyclopedia of Empire, 2016
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The Encyclopedia of Empire, 2016
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Work Pattern Analysis at a Major Rock Edict Site : Kalsi, 2020
Epigraphy is one of the major tools used for reconstruction of history . While editing an unpubli... more Epigraphy is one of the major tools used for reconstruction of history . While editing an unpublished record the epigraphists usually follow a certain format of description which includes information on the site, details about the material (stone, copper plate bronze plaque, brick etc.) on which the epigraph is inscribed, locality or provenance of the record, script and languages used, orthographic peculiarities, content of the record i.e. the reading and its translation and finally the historical purport or context or the record and how the discovery has added to the present knowledge-base. To this pattern we have now introduced an additional tool which also provides an insight into the record from a different angle. This has been termed as work pattern analysis (italics ours) which not only involves the understanding of the work of engravers but also the scribes and others involved in the execution of the record. We have published work pattern analysis of four records till now, all Aśokan, viz. the records from the sites Erragudi, Sannati, Dhauli and Jaugada (see BasuMajumdar et al. 2017: 135 – 60; 2019: 53 – 73)
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Pratna Samiksha, 2019
The present article deals with the Separate Edicts of Asoka which have been discovered at Dhauli
... more The present article deals with the Separate Edicts of Asoka which have been discovered at Dhauli
and Jaugada in Odisha and Sannati in Karnataka. Though several scholars in the past have discussed these
edicts yet this is a fresh attempt at analyzing the work-pattern of the scribes and engravers which was a
desideratum. At the same time we have also carried out extensive field survey and this exploration has brought
to light several intricacies which help in a better understanding of the inscriptions in the natural landscapes
and proper context of each text. This article explores the Kalioga-Karnataka connect which helps us to
indicate that Kalioga in its broader sense or extended territorial sense included Sannati. The presence of the
Separate Rock Edicts and their engraving pattern has led us to designate them as locality specific imperial orders
vis-à-vis the general imperial orders which is a term coined here for the first time for designating the common
versions of edicts, i.e. the Major Rock Edicts. We have also suggested here that the Separate Rock Edicts were
not in the scheme of Major Rock Edicts and were specific orders to local administrators. The omission and
inclusion of certain edicts mainly Rock Edicts XI, XII, and XIII have been dealt here at length. We have
shown through work pattern analysis that at Dhauli and Jaugada two different set of artisans were working
who probably belonged to the same school of engraving. Among the administrators addressed in edicts at these
localities we have the kumara at Dhauli mahamatras at Dhauli, Jaugada, and Sannati and nagaravyavaharakas at
Dhauli and Jaugada and also the rajavacanika at Jaugada. The SREs were never a part of the Asokan generic
communication, i.e. general imperial orders which were engraved with a scheme in mind to encircle his empire and
give an idea to his borderers and neighbours about the ruler. These two orders (SRE) were locality specific ones
which could make their entry into the prime space of general royal imperial order domain. The administrators
of the localities of Dhauli, Jaugada, and Sannati were thus successful in displaying their closeness to the apex
political power through the inclusion of SREs in the Major Rock Edict scheme.
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Kuninda Coins
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A paper on Asokan records
In
The essay entitled ‘TITLE OF THE CHAPTER’ from QUESTIONING PARADIGM... more A paper on Asokan records
In
The essay entitled ‘TITLE OF THE CHAPTER’ from QUESTIONING PARADIGMS, CONSTRUCTING HISTORIES: A FESTSCHRIFT FOR ROMILA THAPAR EDITED BY KUMKUM ROY & NAINA DAYAL is reprinted by permission of Aleph Book Company.
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Sikke bolte hain, sunna aana chahiye " " Coins speak. It's the synchronization of their vocabular... more Sikke bolte hain, sunna aana chahiye " " Coins speak. It's the synchronization of their vocabulary and style of statement with the expertise and understanding of a Numismatist that one can decode their purport "-P.L. Gupta The above words from one of the most respected experts on Indian numismatics may provide us with an adequate methodological platform to delve into the monetary history of early Bengal (up to c. 1200 CE). The monetary history of a pre-modern region of the subcontinent has surely to be based on the extant metallic pieces belonging to the period stated above. But an exercise into the monetary history of a remote period cannot be confined merely to metallic pieces, since there were other media of exchanges which can also be brought under the broad rubric of 'money'. This essay on the monetary history of early Bengal will certainly pay meticulous attention to the situation in Bengal; however, a proper appreciation of the monetary situation in early Bengal has also to address the-then subcontinental scenario, especially that the Ganga/north Indian plains experienced. On the other hand, the expression 'early Bengal' is one of convenience as there was no unified and singular geographical and/or geopolitical entity called Bengal from c. 600 BCE to 1200 CE. The span of nearly two millennia, on the other hand, witnessed the active presence of five sub-regional units (Pundravardhana, Radha, Vabga, Samatata and Harikela) with their distinctive traits in political developments, material milieu and socio-cultural situations. 1 In view of this the present study of the monetary history of early Bengal will take into consideration diversities in the monetary situations in the five sub-regions. In short, a combination of both subcontinental and sub-regional perspectives will be employed in the study. It is needless to emphasise here that the monetary history of early Bengal will draw heavily upon the available numismatic sources. We shall take a close
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Ajivikas in Eastern India
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Chhattisgarh in central India, a hilly and forested region, offered passages connecting the Gange... more Chhattisgarh in central India, a hilly and forested region, offered passages connecting the Gangetic basin with the Deccan, which opened it to influences from both the north and the Deccan. This made possible a secondary stage of state formation, marked by royalty, bureaucracy and army, with offices and practices influenced by those in vogue in the established states in the surrounding regions. The paper examines the process in the light mainly of epigraphic evidence. Such state formation created superior landed classes, mainly through land grants. The dynastic rulers patronised Vishnavism and Śaivaism, which were Brahmanical intrusions into the area, rather than any local deities or cults.
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Abstract: This paper attempts to critically evaluate the Asokan edicts in the ‘southern territory... more Abstract: This paper attempts to critically evaluate the Asokan edicts in the ‘southern territory’ of the
Mauryas. We have taken into consideration twelve sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which have yielded
Asokan records. These include mainly the Minor Rock Edicts at ten sites, Major Rock Edicts at two sites and a
fragment of a Pillar Edict at the site of Amaravati. Here we have shown how these Minor Rock Edict sites are
in identical pairs (except for two exceptions). The decision of erecting Minor Rock Edicts in twins was perhaps
a central decision. The scribes and engravers were two different distinct professions. Scribes were all literate
whereas engravers were mostly semi-literate or illiterate. The coordination between the scribes and engravers
has also been taken into consideration. This paper further shows that the orator of the Asokan inscriptions
had a separate copy of the version of the edict from which he usually read. The scribe always gave a copy of
the text to the engraver (Silpin) and this was followed while engraving the record. The paper further discusses
the case of lipikara (scribe) Capada who reproduced the text thrice for Jatinga Rameshwara, Siddapura and
Brahmagiri. We have also tried to speculate the number of persons involved in the engraving process and also
commented upon their style of engraving and their side preferences. This paper attempts to solve the Erragudi
puzzle, i.e. decoding the engraving pattern of the Erragudi Minor Rock Edict
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Papers by Susmita Basu Majumdar
and Jaugada in Odisha and Sannati in Karnataka. Though several scholars in the past have discussed these
edicts yet this is a fresh attempt at analyzing the work-pattern of the scribes and engravers which was a
desideratum. At the same time we have also carried out extensive field survey and this exploration has brought
to light several intricacies which help in a better understanding of the inscriptions in the natural landscapes
and proper context of each text. This article explores the Kalioga-Karnataka connect which helps us to
indicate that Kalioga in its broader sense or extended territorial sense included Sannati. The presence of the
Separate Rock Edicts and their engraving pattern has led us to designate them as locality specific imperial orders
vis-à-vis the general imperial orders which is a term coined here for the first time for designating the common
versions of edicts, i.e. the Major Rock Edicts. We have also suggested here that the Separate Rock Edicts were
not in the scheme of Major Rock Edicts and were specific orders to local administrators. The omission and
inclusion of certain edicts mainly Rock Edicts XI, XII, and XIII have been dealt here at length. We have
shown through work pattern analysis that at Dhauli and Jaugada two different set of artisans were working
who probably belonged to the same school of engraving. Among the administrators addressed in edicts at these
localities we have the kumara at Dhauli mahamatras at Dhauli, Jaugada, and Sannati and nagaravyavaharakas at
Dhauli and Jaugada and also the rajavacanika at Jaugada. The SREs were never a part of the Asokan generic
communication, i.e. general imperial orders which were engraved with a scheme in mind to encircle his empire and
give an idea to his borderers and neighbours about the ruler. These two orders (SRE) were locality specific ones
which could make their entry into the prime space of general royal imperial order domain. The administrators
of the localities of Dhauli, Jaugada, and Sannati were thus successful in displaying their closeness to the apex
political power through the inclusion of SREs in the Major Rock Edict scheme.
In
The essay entitled ‘TITLE OF THE CHAPTER’ from QUESTIONING PARADIGMS, CONSTRUCTING HISTORIES: A FESTSCHRIFT FOR ROMILA THAPAR EDITED BY KUMKUM ROY & NAINA DAYAL is reprinted by permission of Aleph Book Company.
Mauryas. We have taken into consideration twelve sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which have yielded
Asokan records. These include mainly the Minor Rock Edicts at ten sites, Major Rock Edicts at two sites and a
fragment of a Pillar Edict at the site of Amaravati. Here we have shown how these Minor Rock Edict sites are
in identical pairs (except for two exceptions). The decision of erecting Minor Rock Edicts in twins was perhaps
a central decision. The scribes and engravers were two different distinct professions. Scribes were all literate
whereas engravers were mostly semi-literate or illiterate. The coordination between the scribes and engravers
has also been taken into consideration. This paper further shows that the orator of the Asokan inscriptions
had a separate copy of the version of the edict from which he usually read. The scribe always gave a copy of
the text to the engraver (Silpin) and this was followed while engraving the record. The paper further discusses
the case of lipikara (scribe) Capada who reproduced the text thrice for Jatinga Rameshwara, Siddapura and
Brahmagiri. We have also tried to speculate the number of persons involved in the engraving process and also
commented upon their style of engraving and their side preferences. This paper attempts to solve the Erragudi
puzzle, i.e. decoding the engraving pattern of the Erragudi Minor Rock Edict
and Jaugada in Odisha and Sannati in Karnataka. Though several scholars in the past have discussed these
edicts yet this is a fresh attempt at analyzing the work-pattern of the scribes and engravers which was a
desideratum. At the same time we have also carried out extensive field survey and this exploration has brought
to light several intricacies which help in a better understanding of the inscriptions in the natural landscapes
and proper context of each text. This article explores the Kalioga-Karnataka connect which helps us to
indicate that Kalioga in its broader sense or extended territorial sense included Sannati. The presence of the
Separate Rock Edicts and their engraving pattern has led us to designate them as locality specific imperial orders
vis-à-vis the general imperial orders which is a term coined here for the first time for designating the common
versions of edicts, i.e. the Major Rock Edicts. We have also suggested here that the Separate Rock Edicts were
not in the scheme of Major Rock Edicts and were specific orders to local administrators. The omission and
inclusion of certain edicts mainly Rock Edicts XI, XII, and XIII have been dealt here at length. We have
shown through work pattern analysis that at Dhauli and Jaugada two different set of artisans were working
who probably belonged to the same school of engraving. Among the administrators addressed in edicts at these
localities we have the kumara at Dhauli mahamatras at Dhauli, Jaugada, and Sannati and nagaravyavaharakas at
Dhauli and Jaugada and also the rajavacanika at Jaugada. The SREs were never a part of the Asokan generic
communication, i.e. general imperial orders which were engraved with a scheme in mind to encircle his empire and
give an idea to his borderers and neighbours about the ruler. These two orders (SRE) were locality specific ones
which could make their entry into the prime space of general royal imperial order domain. The administrators
of the localities of Dhauli, Jaugada, and Sannati were thus successful in displaying their closeness to the apex
political power through the inclusion of SREs in the Major Rock Edict scheme.
In
The essay entitled ‘TITLE OF THE CHAPTER’ from QUESTIONING PARADIGMS, CONSTRUCTING HISTORIES: A FESTSCHRIFT FOR ROMILA THAPAR EDITED BY KUMKUM ROY & NAINA DAYAL is reprinted by permission of Aleph Book Company.
Mauryas. We have taken into consideration twelve sites in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which have yielded
Asokan records. These include mainly the Minor Rock Edicts at ten sites, Major Rock Edicts at two sites and a
fragment of a Pillar Edict at the site of Amaravati. Here we have shown how these Minor Rock Edict sites are
in identical pairs (except for two exceptions). The decision of erecting Minor Rock Edicts in twins was perhaps
a central decision. The scribes and engravers were two different distinct professions. Scribes were all literate
whereas engravers were mostly semi-literate or illiterate. The coordination between the scribes and engravers
has also been taken into consideration. This paper further shows that the orator of the Asokan inscriptions
had a separate copy of the version of the edict from which he usually read. The scribe always gave a copy of
the text to the engraver (Silpin) and this was followed while engraving the record. The paper further discusses
the case of lipikara (scribe) Capada who reproduced the text thrice for Jatinga Rameshwara, Siddapura and
Brahmagiri. We have also tried to speculate the number of persons involved in the engraving process and also
commented upon their style of engraving and their side preferences. This paper attempts to solve the Erragudi
puzzle, i.e. decoding the engraving pattern of the Erragudi Minor Rock Edict