Reviews

Summary

The Reviews section evaluates recent scholarly works. It commends B.K. Barua’s "Early Geography of Assam" for compiling geographical names from the Kalika Purana, Yogini Tantra, copper plates and itineraries to reconstruct ancient Assam’s geography, despite scarce sourcesfile:///home/oai/share/563029_compressed-327-430.pdf. The review highlights the usefulness of the alphabetical list of place names and recommends the book to historians. Another review assesses A.L. Basham’s "History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas", acknowledging his extensive use of Pali, Jaina and Tamil sources but criticising speculative reconstructions and some sweeping statements about Indian civilisationfile:///home/oai/share/563029_compressed-327-430.pdf#:~:text=We%20welcome%20this%20book%20on,However%2C%20to. It notes that both Basham and earlier scholars rely on hostile traditions, limiting their ability to present unbiased histories. The reviewer appreciates Basham’s chapters on the later history and epigraphy of the Ajivikas and his discussion of their doctrine of determinism (niyati)file:///home/oai/share/563029_compressed-327-430.pdf#:~:text=new%20information%20of%20any%20importance%2C,Manimckalai%2C%20Nilakeci%20and%20Civaiinacittiyde%2C%20Thoughfile:///home/oai/share/563029_compressed-327-430.pdf#:~:text=into%20detailed%20discussion%20about%20the,best%20to%20give%20a%20plausible. Overall, the section offers balanced critiques, pointing out merits and shortcomings and urging readers to approach new scholarship critically.