The dialectics of marxism and ancient Indian historiography: A critical evaluation

In the present research paper I have endeavored to dialectically unfold the origin, nature, extent and contradiction inherent in the Marxism and its impact on the ancient Indian historiography. A journey of ―History‖ is itself a history. To know trends, tendencies and historical interpretations in the ―proper manner‖ one should glanced back and analyzed the distance travelled by history before it arrived at the door of the twentieth century. The ―Spirit‖ that moved the Greek historians (Herodotus, Thucydides, etc.) was rational, analytical, organic, cyclic, pragmatic and humanistic; the Hellenistic historian (Polybius) was universal and practical; the Roman historian (Livy) was descriptive; the Graeco-Roman historians (Fronto, Plutarch) was humanistic and substantiality which was different from the Christian historians (St. Paul & St. Augustine) who inspired by universal, periodized, providential, apocalyptic and eschatological history. The Renaissance represents a harsh reaction to religious influence and reached its climax in the Enlightment historians (Voltaire, Gibbon, &Hume) which was the result of the Scientific Revolution (Bacon, Descartes, Vico, etc.). The 19th Century historical outlook was greatly influenced by the French Revolution; the Rationalism (Hegel); the Romanticism (Rousseau, Herder, etc.); the Scientific Revolution (Darwin); the Berlin Revolution (Niebuhr and Ranke); the Positivism (Comte); the Economic Determinism (Karl Marx) and Weber‘s Socialistic Perception. In the light and spirit of the above background the dialectical unfolding of Marxism and Marxist historiography has been attempted while its implication to the ancient Indian history (only D.D. Kosambi‘s contribution in brief) is the subject matter of the present research paper.