A HISTORY OF ANTHROPOLOGY (Second Edition)

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: Benoy Kumar Sarkar

• Language: English

• Cover: Hardcover

• ISBN: 9788131610961

• Pages: 636

• Release Date: 01-12-2019

About the Book

Benoy Kumar Sarkar's work offers an analytical study of Sukracharya's code, providing deep insights into various facets of ancient Indian culture and sociology. Divided into two books—Non-Political and Political—this volume delves into a range of subjects that reflect Hindu cultural evolution, particularly through the lens of Sukranîti.

In Book I: Non-Political, Sarkar covers diverse topics such as ancient Indian geography, ethnology, mineralogy, botany, and zoology, providing extensive data collected from the Sukranîti text. Each chapter explores different aspects of Hindu society, including flora, fauna, and mineral resources, along with their economic relevance in Hindu life. Sarkar examines the historical development of Hindu sciences and their philosophical interpretations, focusing on subjects like the doctrine of seven metals and the classification of animals.

Book II: Political transitions to more political concepts, with a preface on Hindu politics, and sections on the economic foundations of the state, Sukra’s materialism, and international law. The book explores ancient political philosophy through the Sukranîti, examining its relevance to modern political thought and the economic management of the state. This volume also includes an appendix that touches on various historical and philosophical aspects, including international relations and the political activism of Hindu thinkers.

This book serves as an important text for students and scholars of political science, sociology, history, and Indian philosophy, offering a rich blend of ancient knowledge and modern political theory.

Contents

BOOK I – NON-POLITICAL

• Chapter I: Relativity of the Nitisastras

  • Hindu Culture and Sociology in Sukranîti

  • Landmarks in the History of Hindu Political Development

  • Milestones in the History of Hindu Political Speculation

  • Unity and Diversity in Indian National Life

  • Preliminary Spade-work

• Chapter II: The Data of Ancient Indian Geography

  • Sukranîti as a source of Geographical Information

  • Climate and Soils

  • Flora and Fauna

• Chapter III: The Data of Ancient Indian Ethnology

  • The Races and Their Identification

• Chapter IV: The Data of Ancient Indian Mineralogy

  • The Synthetic Philosophy of Sukrâchâryya

  • The Doctrine of Seven Metals

  • The Economic Mineralogy of Sukrâchâryya’s India

• Chapter V: The Data of Ancient Indian Botany

  • Identification of Sukra Flora

  • Agriculture and Botany as Science

• Chapter VI: The Data of Ancient Indian Zoology

  • The Fauna in Sukranîti

  • Economic Zoology

BOOK II – POLITICAL

• Chapter I: A Preface to Hindu Politics

  • Fundamentals of Nîti

  • Hindu Achievements in Democracy

  • The Date and Locale of Sukranîti

• Chapter II: The Economic Foundations of the State

  • The Territory, Wealth, and Property

  • Organization of Industry and Commerce

• Chapter III: The Philosophical Affiliations of Sukra’s Materialism

  • Sukra’s Economics in Hindu Science

• Chapter IV: The Categories of International Law

  • International Relations and Law in Ancient India

About the Author

Benoy Kumar Sarkar (1887–1949) was a Bengali social scientist, political activist, and intellectual known for his contributions to sociology, economics, and political theory. A key figure in pre-independence Bengal, Sarkar spent several years abroad, where he became a prominent anti-imperial intellectual. Despite holding degrees in English and History, he was a Professor of Economics at Calcutta University and authored over fifty books on topics ranging from philosophy to comparative religion. His work reflects a profound engagement with Hindu thought and Indian culture.