• Broad overview: The Harappan Civilization: Early urban centers
• Story of discovery: Harappan civilization
• Excerpt: Archaeological report on a major site
• Discussion: How it has been utilized by archaeologists/ historians

• Broad overview: Political and Economic

History from the Mauryan to the Gupta period

• Story of Discovery: Inscriptions and the Decipherment of the Script. Shifts in the Understanding of Political and Economic History.
• Excerpt: Ashokan inscription and Gupta period land grant
• Discussion: Interpretation of inscriptions by historians.

• Broad overview: Early Society Societies (C. 600 BCE-600 CE)
• Social Histories: Using the Mahabharata Issues in social history, including caste, class, kinship and gender
• Story of discovery: Transmission and publications of the Mahabha rat
• Excerpt: from the Mahabharata, illustrating how it has been used by historians.
• Discussion: Other sources for reconstructing the social history

• A History of Buddhism Sanchi Stupa: a) A brief review of religious histories of Vedic religion, Jainism, Vaishnavism, Shaivism (Puranic Hinduism) b) Focus on Buddhism.
• Story of discovery: Sanchi Stupa.
• Excerpt: Reproduction of sculptures from Sanchi.
• Discussion: Ways in which sculpture has been interpreted by historians, and other sources for reconstructing the History of Buddhism

• Broad Overview: Outlines of social and cultural life as they appear in the traveler’s account.
• Story of their writings: A discussion of where they traveled, what they wrote, and for whom they wrote.
• Excerpts: From Al Biruni, Ibn Battuta, Francois Bernier.
• Discussion: What these travel accounts can tell us and how they have been interpreted by historians

• Broad Overview: Outline of religious developments during this period saints. Ideas and practices of the Bhakti-Sufi
• Story of Transmission: How Bhakti-Sufi compositions have been preserved.

• Excerpt: Extracts from selected Bhakti-Sufi works.
• Discussion: Ways in which these have been interpreted by historians

• Broad Overview: New Architecture: Hampi - (a) Outline of new buildings during the Vijayanagar period-temples, forts, irrigation facilities. (b) Relationship between Architecture and the political system
• Story of Discovery: Account of how Hampi was found.
• Excerpt: Visuals of buildings at Hampi
• Discussion: Ways in which historians have analyzed and interpreted these structures.

• Broad Overview: The Aini-Akbari (a) Structure of agrarian relations in the 16th and 17th centuries. (b) Patterns of change over the period.
• Story of Discovery: Account of the compilation and translation of Ain I Akbari
• Excerpt: from the Ain-iAkbari.
• Discussion: Ways in which historians have used texts to reconstruct History.

• Broad Overview: Colonialism and Rural Society: Evidence from Official Reports (a) Life of zamindars, peasants, and artisans in the late 18th century (2) Permanent Settlement, Santhals, and Paharias
• Story of official records: An account of why official Investigations into rural societies were undertaken and the types of records and reports produced.
• Excerpts: From Fifth Report
• Discussion: What the official records tell and do not tell, and how historians have used them.

• Broad Overview: (a) The events of1857-58. (b) The vision of Unity (c) How these events were recorded and narrated.
• Focus: Lucknow
• Excerpts: Pictures of 1857. Extracts from contemporary accounts.
• Discussion: How the pictures of 1857 shaped British opinion of what had happened.

• Broad Overview: (a) The Nationalist Movement 1918 -48. (b) The nature of Gandhian politics and leadership.
• Focus: Mahatma Gandhi and the three movements and his last days as “finest hours”
• Excerpts: Reports from English and Indian newspapers and other contemporary writings.
• Discussion: How newspapers can be a source of History.

• Broad Overview: The Making of the Constitution an overview: (a) Independence and then a new nation-state. (b) The Making of the Constitution
• Focus: The Constituent Assembly Debates
• Excerpts: From the debates
• Discussion: What do such debates reveal and how they can be analyzed?

Harappa, Banawali, Kalibangan, Balakot, Rakhigarhi, Dholavira, Nageshwar, Lothal, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, KotDiji.

Vajji, Magadha, Kosala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara, Avanti, Rajgir, Ujjain, Taxila, Varanasi.

Pillar inscriptions – Sanchi, Topra, Meerut Pillar and Kaushambi. Kingdom of Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.

Important kingdoms and towns: Kushanas, Shakas, Satavahanas, Vakatakas, Gupta's Cities/towns: Mathura, Kanauj, Puhar, Braghukachchha, Shravasti, Rajgir, Vaishali, Varanasi, Vidisha

Guidelines, Background

reading Discussions on

Theme and Selection of the Final Topic, Initiation/

Synopsis

interpretation. Conclusion, Limitations, Suggestions, Bibliography, Annexures, and overall presentation of the project.

by both Internal and

External Examiners