Dasharatha Sharma

Dasharatha Sharma (1903–1976) was an Indologist with particular interest in the history of the Rajasthan region of India. Born in the Rajasthani city of Churu, he studied there, in the city of Bikaner and at the University of Delhi. He had degrees of Master of Arts (M.A.) in History and Sanskrit and received a Doctor of Literature (D. Litt.) for his thesis, Early Chauhan Dynasties.

Academic appointments

Sharma was the head of the Department of History at Hindu College, University of Delhi, and later was appointed Reader (equivalent of Associate Professor) in Ancient History at the University of Delhi. In 1966, he was appointed as Professor and Head, Department of History at the University of Jodhpur (now renamed Jai Narain Vyas University) and later became Dean, Faculty of Arts at the same institution. After retirement from the University of Jodhpur, Prof. Sharma served as Director of the Rajasthan Puratattva Mandir ( Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute ) in Jodhpur. He also presided over the Ancient History section of the Indian History Congress in 1967 and the General History section of the Rajasthan History Congress in 1969.

Authorship

Sharma published over 400 research papers and notes on a wide range of subjects. His Early Chauhan Dynasties was first published in 1959, a revised edition was published in 1975 and reprinted in 2002. The manuscript argues that the Agnikula myth of the origin of Rajputs was adapted from the Valmiki and calculates the year of birth for Prithiviraj III using planetary positions described in the Prithvirajavijaya. It also attributes the success of Muhammad Ghori to the rivalry between the Chauhans of Sakambari and the Chalukyas of Gujarat. Amongst other subjects, Lectures on Rajput history and culture elaborates on the origin of the Rajputs, brings attention to the celebration in Kannauj after Prithviraj III was defeated at the Second Battle of Tarain, follows the 13th-century Rajput struggle for survival, and discusses the Rajput resurgence represented by Maharana Kumbha and Rao Jodha.

In 1960, Sharma was appointed by the Rajasthan State Archives as General Editor of a comprehensive history of Rajasthan to be published by the Government of Rajasthan. This became the definitive work on the history of Rajasthan. Titled Rajasthan through the Ages this work was largely written by Sharma and was published in 1966. Samrat Prithiviraj Chauhan tritiya aur unka yug (in Hindi) is an updated text on the last Hindu king of Delhi.

Monographs

• Early Chauhan Dynasties: a study of Chauhan political history, Chauhan political institutions, and life in the Chauhan dominions, from 800 to 1316 A D :Dasharatha Sharma; with a foreword by K.M. Panikkar. ISBN 0-8426-0618-1
• Rajasthan through the ages: a comprehensive and authentic history of Rajasthan, prepared under the orders of the Government of Rajasthan (Volume I) General Editor: Dasharatha Sharma. Publisher: Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner, 1966.
• Lectures on Rajput history and culture (Raghunath Prosad Nopany Lectures 1966):Dasharatha Sharma. Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi,1970. ISBN 0-8426-0262-3.
• Kuch aithasika rukke-parvane Raju ka pu): Lectures on communuications between 17th and 18th century rulers of Rajasthan and other dignitaries, Publisher: Rajasthan Sodha Samsthana, Jodhpur 1968.
• Samrat Prithviraja Chauhan tritiya aur unka yug ( Hindi सम्राट पृथ्वीराज चौ़हान तृतीय और उनका युग)

Collected works

• Dasharatha Sharma lekha-sangraha ( in Hindi ) Editors: Manohar Sharma, Divakar Sharma. Publisher: Hindi Visvabharati Anusandhan Parishad, Bikaner 1977.

Chapters contributed to texts

A comprehensive history of India ( Vol.4 part I ) Published under the auspices of the Indian History Congress. Publisher: People's Publishing House, Delhi 1992. ISBN 81-7007-121-6.

• Chapter X(A)  The political condition of Northern India in 985
• Chapter XI  The Shahis
• Chapter XII section I Kannauj ( c. 985–1200 ) Pratiharas and Rastrakutas
• Chapter XVIII  The Cahamanas
• Chapter XIX More Rajput dynasties

Critically edited historical Manuscripts

• Dayaldasari khyata : Bikanerarai Rathoramari khyata / Sindhayaca Dayaladasa krita ; Principal editor: Dasharatha Sharma. Publisher: Anup Sanskrit Pustakalaya, Bikaner 1948.
• Kyam Khan Raso, Editors: Dasharatha Sharma, Agarchand Nahata, Bhanwarlal Nahata. Publisher: Rajasthan Puratattva Mandir, Jaipur 1953.
• Amarsimhabhiseka-kavya, Pilani 1953.
• Pamwar-vansa-darpan of Dayaldas Publisher: Sadul Rajasthani Research Institute, Bikaner 1960.
• Indraprastha-prabandha Publisher: Rajasthan Puratattva Mandir, Jodhpur 1963.
• Sangitaraghunandanam by Visvanathasimha, Maharaja of Rewa. Publisher: Rajasthan Puratattva Mandir, Jodhpur, 1974.

Edited Commemorative Volumes

• Shri Agarchand Nahata abhinandan grantha Principal Editor: Dasharatha Sharma. Publisher: Shri Abhaya Jain Granthalaya, Bikaner 1976.
• Ojha Nibandha Sangraha (Vol 1) Editor: Dasharatha Sharma. Publisher: Udaipur Sahitya Sansthan, Rajasthan Vishwa Vidyapith 1954.

Critical introductions to the following historical Manuscripts

• Mudrarakshasapurvasamkathanaka of Anantasarman Publisher: Anup Sanskrit Library, Bikaner 1945.
• Hammirayana Publisher: Sadul Rajasthani Research Institute, Bikaner.
• Dalpat Vilas Publisher: Sadul Rajasthani Research Institute, Bikaner 1960.
• Achaldas Khichi ri Vachanika Publisher: Sadul Rajasthani Research Institute, Bikaner.
• Padmini-charita-chaupai Publisher: Sadul Rajasthani Research Institute, Bikaner.
• Raas aur Rasanvayi-Kavya Dr. Dashrath Ojha and Dr. Dasharatha Sharma. Publisher: Nagari-Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi 1959.
• Hammiramahakavya Editor: Muni Jinavijaya. Publisher: Rajasthan Puratattva Mandir, Jodhpur.

Further reading

• Hamarey Purodha-19 Dr. Dasharatha Sharma ( Hindi हमारे पुरोधा-19 डा. दशरथ शर्मा ) in Hindi. Author: Dr. Girija Shankar Sharma. Publisher: Rajasthan Sahitya Academy, Udaipur, 2003. ISBN 81-88445-00-2 [1]