APHC brings out a 982-page volume right from 5,000 BC till date

Anyone interested in knowing the sources of history and culture of Telugu-speaking people right from 5,000 BC till date can now refer to a 982-page volume brought out by the Andhra Pradesh History Congress (APHC).

The volume, released last month, contains the sources of different genres, including archaeological, numismatic, epigraphical, archival, published works, historical journals and periodicals, along with the details of articles and research papers presented at the sessions of APHC since 1976.

The APHC, which celebrated its silver jubilee in 2001, has earned recognition from the University Grants Commission, the Indian Council of Historical Research and other national organisations for being a sound regional society promoting historical research. In 1998, it had resolved to compile and publish the comprehensive history and culture of Andhra Pradesh in eight volumes. The present volume is a continuation of the earlier project.

Following the publication of the eight volumes, several academicians and historians suggested bringing out another volume on sources, Vakulabharanam Ramakrishna, who edited the volume on Sources of History and Culture of Telugu Speaking People 5000 BC-2016 AD told The Hindu.

“As many as 16 noted historians intensively worked for two years on this exhaustive volume, which is a first of its kind. In no other State in India such a volume has been produced so far,” he said.

According to Prof. Ramakrishna, scholars whose vocation was historical writing were chosen on the basis of their specialisation in their respective areas. Also, experts in the areas of folk, tribal, fine arts and performing arts such as music, dance, theatre, painting, art and architecture were invited to contribute chapters on their respective areas of application.

The volume is divided into 16 chapters. Of these, 12 chapters pertain to historical accounts and four are on literary sources, folk arts, culture, art and architecture and fine arts.

Each chapter has a write-up/note explaining briefly the historical events of that chapter, their significance, sources consulted and also further sources, if any, to be considered. The write-up is followed by an exhaustive bibliography of the period in English, vernacular and other languages. Appendices alone run into nearly 300 pages.

In the appendices, it is stated, the contents includes the research work done in universities, the list of articles published in the ICHR Journal of History, publications of the departments of A.P. State archives, archaeology, research centres, prominent libraries, details of research papers and Presidential addresses delivered during the annual sessions of APHC.