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Front Cover
Back Cover
Origin and Growth of Satī in Early Medieval India: A Historical Investigation
Authors:
G.C. Chauhan
,
Sachin Chahal (authors)
,
Mahesh Sharma (foreword)
ISBN:
9789395474351
Binding:
Hardcover
Year:
2026
Pages:
258 with 8 b/w illustrations
Size:
16 x 24 x 2 cm
Weight:
554 grams
Price:
INR
1495
1346.00
About the Book
Origin and Growth of
Satī
in Early Medieval India: A Historical Investigation
explores the historical background and evolution of the
Satī
practice in early medieval India. The ancient custom of a widow immolating herself on her husband’s funeral pyre—known as
Satī
—has a complex and multifaceted history. Initially viewed as an expression of devotion and fidelity, the practice gradually transformed over time and was, in many instances, imposed upon widows.This study traces the evolution of
Satī
from a rare and voluntary act to a more institutionalised and widespread ritual, particularly among the upper social strata. It examines the social and economic forces that contributed to its proliferation, including the emergence of warrior and royal cultures, inheritance disputes, and the consolidation of patriarchal norms.Drawing upon literary and epigraphic sources, the authors provide a detailed analysis of various dimensions of the
Satī
tradition. They also consider the influence of colonial interpretations, orientalist discourses, and indigenous cultural frameworks. Through this comprehensive and nuanced approach, the book offers a deeper understanding of the complex historical trajectory of
Satī
in early medieval India.
About the Authors
G.C. Chauhan
G.C. Chauhan is a scholar of ancient Indian history, specializing in social institutions and economic history. He has authored sixteen books and published over seventy research papers in national and international journals. His notable works include
Economic Dimensions of Buddhism in Early India: From 6th Century BCE to 7th Century CE
(Sanctum Books, New Delhi);
Origin and Growth of
Satī
in Early Medieval India: A Historical Investigation
(Sanctum Books, New Delhi);
Ancient India: Insights into Social & Economic Dynamics
(Sanctum Books, New Delhi);
An Overview of Historiographical Approaches
;
Reflections: Looking Back on Social Institutions of Ancient India
;
Economic History of Mauryan India
;
Early Indian Feudal Society and its Culture
;
What Happened in Ancient India, Vol. II: From the Mauryas to 1200 CE
;
Agrarian Economy of Ancient India (from the earliest times to 1200 AD)
;
Light and Shades of Popular Beliefs in Hill States: A Case Study of Shimla Hills
;
Indian Buddhism: A Historical Overview
;
Some Aspects of Early Indian Society
;
Origin and Growth of Feudalism in Early India (from the Mauryas to 650 AD)
; and
Economic History of Early Medieval Northern India
.
Professor Chauhan’s works are widely recognised for their depth of analysis and insightful interpretation of ancient India’s social and economic structures.
Sachin Chahal
Sachin Chahal is Assistant Professor of History at Panjab University Constituent College, Balachaur, Punjab. His research focuses on early medieval Indian history, with particular emphasis on social and cultural formations. He has published more than a dozen research papers in various academic journals and is the author of
Society during Harsha’s Times (606–647 AD)
. He is currently working on a study titled
Socio-religious Life as reflected in the Skanda Purana
.
Mahesh Sharma
Mahesh Sharma is Professor of History at Panjab University, Chandigarh. He is the author of
Western Himalayan Temple Records: State, Pilgrimage, Ritual and Legality in Chamba
(Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2009);
The Realm of Faith: Subversion, Appropriation and Dominance in the Western Himalaya
(Shimla: IIAS, 2001); and co-editor,
Indian Painting: Themes, Histories, Interpretations
(Ahmedabad: Mapin; Ocean, NJ: Grantha Corporation, 2013).
Mahesh Sharma has been the India-Chair Professor at the University of Tel Aviv, Israel; Senior Fulbright Fellow at the Center for India and South-Asia (University of California at Los Angeles); Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla; and Visiting Faculty at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville. He was also a co-awardee of the Discovery International Award by the Australian Research Council for a collaborative project with the Australian National University, Canberra.
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