‘The Historian as an Archivist’: The Pioneering Role of N. K. Sinha in the Field of Economic History of Bengal (1903-1974)

This article will look into the genesis of writing economic history in Bengal and aspects of the methodology adopted by Professor N.K. Sinha and his subsequent followers. He developed a deep and abiding faith in empirical history and archival research. I wish to focus on the individual as well as the institution in formulating a new type of history writing in Bengal. He was the indispensable rallying point for students, colleagues, and fellow practitioners of the craft. Extensive use and deep analyses of official archival records and objective emphasis on economic factors are some of the hallmarks with which the ‘Sinha School’ of historiography can be identified.