Pretext Time

8/6/2019 Pretext Time

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History and Theory 46 (Oo 2007), 364-381 Wsyan Univsiy 2007 ISSN: 0018-2656

Forum:

TexTuresofTime

1.

PretextUreS Of tIme

SheldON POllOck

AbStrAct

Textures of Time is a i an anging oo a aiss a os o ipoan an aqusions aou isoia naaiv, o, an sy; soioogy o s; an o

po o asaining isoia u. two a pain o oos ain ais a

o spia ins o nonspiais as: Is gis o syunssaiy

an vyw iagnosi o isoy? dos a nw in o isoia onsiousnss

g in sou Inia ginning in sin nuy, in as a sign o an Inian

ay oniy? Textures is no is oo o agu a isoia isous is onsi-uivy a y a puia sy, u ai is s y iiuis a soas sin

bas av ai. ra an us o iaouns o wa ay appn in

isoywa s wos o us ay ony pus o i, uaiz os o

a uan pin a a ais aou is gs an yps o u oug p-

snaions o vaious sas o poaiy. Insa o assssing, n, w s wos

a isoy o soing s i y, w ig as w y invi us o ansn

is vy iooy, o y, a is, o a sns oisoia os o onsiousnssa an o iniy os o isoia onsiousnss. As o oniy, noing in

sou Inian isoiogapy o 15001800 oy opas o onpua vou-

ion o euop. bu wy sou w p nwnss o ay on wo o av

n pin sa way vyw? moniy aoss Asia ay av sown

siuaniy wiou syy. Sou is asyy un ou o va oninuiy an

no upu, owv, no n o an a. t is no sa in poniy.

Textures of Time is a i, sopisia, an anging oo, win y o os aiv, an aivy syngisi, ins now a wo in Inian su-

is: Vu Naayana rao an davi Suan, o iay soas, an onoi isoian Sanjay Suaanya.1 t wo aiss a os o ipoan

an a qusions aou isoia naaiv, o, an sy; soioogy o

s; an o po o asaining isoia uno ony in po-

n Inia u, as y piiy ai, vyw.

1. Vu Naayana rao, davi Suan, an Sanjay Suaanya, Textures of Time: WritingHistory in South India 16001800 (di: Pann ba, 2001). Pania pag ns ao is oo. A iaiis av n oi.


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PretextUreS Of tIme 365

I. UNhIStOrIcAl INdIA?

In a way no o onogap as on, Textures onons a aay na-ious isonpion aou u saus o Inian naaivs o pas. I

wou ai o asi is isonpion o euopan Oinais sin i isony a sus o a o wispa onusion gaing uip os in

wi isoia u an onvyin, onusion is oun aong

poonia ins in soun Asia is, anging o Auni in ay

vn nuy o fiisa in svnn. Y i was euopan ons

wo n i ignoan wi gas aning. A na is kan,

wo in is uiousy unosopoian vision o a osopoian isoy ass

a i was ony in G isoy a a o ai o onpoay isois

a psv o a as aunia (sin ony an ua pui an

aunia isoy, an su puis w oun ony in nign naions

o Ws).2 I is asonising, no o say ispiiing, o osv ow vn on-

poay isoians o isoy su as mi cau oninu o onas

isoia pniu o Ws wi iiny o Inia, w a

o i no o ns o ii y isans an o vaious poins

an a posiion ns o sais is y ing sion o o sis.3

rny onas, in is paiua o a snu o oonia ioogy, as

n uis y a posoonia inignis a uns ana ino opi-

n y aguing a isoy is Wsn an ain o wa is quainy a

auni Inian onpion o ings. I is is as posiion a ss o av

n casus belli oTextures of Time (i).4bas on avua aiva sa an su oan o uip an on

vy iiu pon Inian anguags, Textures is pa wi inoaion

aou a so o s o soun Inia o in o ign

nuy a wi niy nw vn o spiais as. t oos os as-

ing oniuion ay s wonu sois svs. tis is agy

wo o Naayana rao, wo o pas sva asan wi an ipssiv

aaion o pa in n yasas n oninuing is avous ava-

ion o wa is paps is iay o o vnaua Inia, soy

iau o Ana Pas. Wo an og a o wi o Viauini

maaaja o Vasavai, wo, in o o o pgnan, aan s

upsi own on a usa s sagiay pa aop a sis o svn ns,

n o n, su in a pupin on op o on o saps o dan

2. Ia o a Univsa hisoy wi a cosopoian Pupos, in Kant: Political Writings, .hans riss (caig, Uk: caig Univsiy Pss, 1991), 52 an n. A saping o i-

nniu-ong isous on Inias isoiogapia aiings is o in Son Poo, miasa

an Po o hisoy in taiiona Inia, Journal of the American Oriental Society 109:3(1989), 603; so o is is pa u aso suppn in roy W. P, hisoy, ti, an

knowg in Anin Inia,History and Theory 38:3 (1999), 308-311.3. mi cau, The Writing of History (Nw Yo: couia Univsiy Pss, 1988), 4

( sis ou wi ). On ou aso o Pau Vyn, Writing History (miown, ct:Wsyan Univsiy Pss, 1984), wo as sa naow euopan onpion o isoy,

oug a ag appiaion o apaiis o Inian sou (80, . 292-293).

4. S Asis Nany, hisoys fogon dous,History and Theory 34:2 (1995), 44-66.


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SheldON POllOck366

os, an wo n is o y lo raa o pu a anana o a nay

an a iwupon, o an o, s a pgnan (103).

Aos as ipoan as s aa ua oings a snsiiv an

isoiay asu aings a aopany , an inspiing ssons w a

aug in ow o a su s siousy, ow o yan ap is on

aoiouso unsan ogi o i auos an no isiss ou o

an, way onoogiss su as hg av on, as n inapa o

posai iuspion o in, geistige Pflanzennaturen a

y anasia unu an o nssiy iin in pos o isoy.5 In

aiion o, o a inwovn wi, inua isoy is i soia isoy,

spiay onning wa auos onsi a nw, o nwy asnan, ass

o uauas o iai nown in tugu as karanam, o wo w ow isoia isous a os Textures suj a.

Pa o wa as is oo so aa is is aiva, pioogia, an

puy isoiogapia o, o wi i vyw os vin o a

asu oan; a sy o soasip is o wi, givn ipov-

isn o pon suis vyw u spiay in Inia, w a aos

ain nv o s again. In aiion, oping nw inoaion an ias

a o aou tugu Nayaa ingos o tanjavu an mauai, i

sa-aing an poiia anuving; aou fn psn in ay

oonia Sou Inia; aou onasing maaa an Psian viws o vns o

i. fo suns o isoy-an-oy, wos ipoanan a-

ngis in is na agun aou nau o isoia wiing is,

spiay uss o pas in ans o ay on wis ousi Ws, an i is owa is agun a ga pa o y as ao-

ingy wi i.

Aoug a asi ai o is oo is a isoiogapy a sais a

signiian pa o is in Sou Asian oogy o gns y a i-

va nuis (136), i is no auos ain i o susania is ai,

oug in a i as nv n onsa wi onpua an anayia

sopisiaion i is (a auna a as so aing on pinipa sis o

Textures). ti aua i is a o yposis, a sin, svn-

n, an ign nuis in Sou Inia saw gn o a nw an

spii isoia awanss (136), a nw spis o isous, ivn y a pow-u si in isoia awanss in a paiua isoia on (19). t y

qusions a ow is awanss an inii, an w i was oa.

t is wi oupy u o s o is ssay. t son an o

iy ass, an sou ass is sin soia aaisis o

as o is onsiousnss a sai o sap isoia sy is.

tis nw isoia awanss is aiu o a i-ang goup o

soa-uauas a auos s ging in ay sin nuy.

li munshis o say-sis w nown o Isaia sp,

karanams ono wiing, aouns-ping, u aso poiy-aing (o

wi, owv, vin, siy spaing, is spas), an o soing o5. G. W. f. hg, Vorlesungen ber die sthetik, vo. 3 (fanu/main: Suap, 1970), 397

(ans. m. kno,Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art[Oo: canon Pss, 1975], 2: 1095).


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an anaogu o iai o a ipia cina, oug in a isunii ipia

oaion. t ass a ino ing ong a ouning o Vijayanagaa

ingo (1340) an nu ong a is aup (1565). t karanams ypi-

ay a no oya paons, ii a ga opnnss an ss suspiion an

o aiiona Inian inuas aou auoiy o pou isoy, an

pai paiua anion o sion, oing, an vauaion o vns. t

as ao is ipi in psnaion an signau o auo, wo is

na . . . an as sponsiiiy o wa pos (95-96).

cna o ova agun is nw isoia sy o karanamauos. ty wo in pos an us wiing as a iu no y o

psvaion o oing u aso o ouniaionpaps o is i

in isoy o soun Inia (20). ty poy a nw aua iio, wi

a nw ins in nus, pop nas, an vnu anoag; auaiy

as o a vau in is (125, 136). Y is is isoiogapy a s us

noing aou sous o is isoy: i siing o vin an a o

isoiogapia wo as pa osag, o nsu asi nau o

wo. t karanams a psn as aving a in onpion o uanaion, vounis a an a-ivn (122). Aoingy, s a no on-

g popua y aa yps, wi w o a gnay n as

in ai Inian isoia s, u a y iniviua aos; no ong o w

in a nav apan o o u a nw spiis aong wi a ign

o o uan agny. Inasingy w an osv an ipus o sopisia

ausa anaysis (129).

t uia iay anisaion o is nw isoia onsiousnss, anwa nas us o ogniz i, is soing auos a u. Was

isoy ay win in uip os, iss a a an singua isoi-

a gis, as isin o any o gis, a an ogniz in a

karanam wiing, an inany ogniz, ans o psn o u.t nw sy is o as an anayi anaiv o o Inoogia insis-

n on gn (254): isoia u inopoas (a an pas) va-

ious gns an is opis in no sing on. t u is i, unaon,

saigowa. A a-o a on . . . (99); i aways povis a song

assion aou nau o aiua u . . . u as is own aa-

isi onsisny, ingiy, an ang (254).l y o iusa so o s ias, an Textures sy o anay-

sis an is gna agun, wi n o Kumara-ramuni-katha(krk), a tugu karanam isoy o Ana, wi opns wi soy o

Viauinis qun i aov. dspi gna ai aou iniviu-

aiy o karanam isoians, wo a suppos o na an oa svs

in spa an i, is anonyous (sw Textures spas okaranam

s as pou o a oiv uu ai y s-aing iniviua

auos). moov, wo is nown ony o an oa poan (i

unouy on sap y a win ) o wi i was o in

ninn nuy. taiay i is a op naaiv oining a ang oaiiona soy ois an aiiy s. two sons, kuaa (Pin) raa

an Poia (rpia) raa, a on o ing, is o ous qun


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SheldON POllOck368

w av aay , son o a aisvan wo a ov anana

p. bo oys av supnaua pows, an u o soy is vo o an

aoun o i piasqu avnus, spiay Poia raas ivy, wi

onvins is a ing o pu i o a ( is insa ipison in a

suanan ag). kuaa raa gos on a ou o nigoing ingos

is oug sy, as wi y a in soy on a agi os o

asn an non sasan aps o appopia as o i us,

inuing a Paapaua, ing o Waanga, . 12951323 (y as;

karanam suppis non), a w aa o di Pasa ( isunna; muaa Sa tuguq is psuay an, oug is gna

as a 132551). tis as o a oni wi suan, an wo os

a sain in a agains suans gna, spi a a (o paps

aus) ony iy hanuan a o an wip away i as o

i oas. As i ois a ai on a paann o avn, gna

osvs ia an a pos i. t Pasa, in an a o oniion,

awas Vasavai as ajagir, o iiay sa, o Viauini maaaja.

Unsaning wa is isoy , as auos s o unsan i, is

no sip a. t aoun is i wi vaious o naaiv ns in

a ann a ss, o us a Sansi iag, ss i ssa wi usa ss

an i i wi wa. t isoia ns unov, as ougou

oo, wi no asy vn o a sun o iva sou Inian isoy

o oow, an a opia si u y anaonisi an agoia

o o onsiousnss oug wi y a i.

fis, krk is akaranam

aus o is anion o ais, saisis, av o vyay, pinia aiiy (111). t yi ns in

soy sou no onas wi isoy, oug a isaing opposiion

wn wo; insa, yi os a inga ino ing o

pas. t sy o poing wiin a yi awo ( krk susains

aua agun wi a yi naaiv awo) is vy a o anyon

wo isns auy o ; in a, oug, i an ony ogniz y a

snsiiv tugu-spaing isn (10). Wy s vaious ois an ns

a n way y a is nv a niy a. Wa w a a o

piv, owv, is a ain voving isoia awanss a opiss

igy ppiv insigs ino woings o a nw poiia sys (112).tis sys siss asy aaizaion in pa aus o op ay-

ing o isoia siuaion is. I I unsan oy, krk in so

asu is oing a vision o a ba (un) poiy, a an a pasoais o

pasan oaion (w ain o wou av n pay in o

as y Paapaua, an in a y kisavaaya, sin-nuy

Vijayanagaa po). mo poinny, owv, is oing a piu

o Vijayanagaas sa-oaion, in wi insiuiona innovaion is no an

syoiay oi in pioizing igu o a o spi ino wo op-

nay avs (102). A sa i, psn o Paapaua ans

a o p-Vijayanagaa wo o kapii, w kaaiya ing isn o giia a si in poiia uu an o povi oninuiy (101).


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las, is oniing poiys pa wiin pan-Inian sys, sin

ing us asjagirdar y onsn o suan in di (113).

tis i ap sou sui o sow a, wi wo o s an

wo is a Textures is ononing an wiingy inia, oosivs onsisny o a sns o is wo, oing isoiay asu an

insigu aguns aou an aings o pon Inian s an soiy.

So o s ais qusions a a o onn ony o Inianiss an an

sipy gis as su: Wa, o ap, ay is nw aou

karanams (an on wa vin a y sai o g wn y o)? In waways o y i o kayasthas, a goup o ga isoia p an spa-

ia ispsion in Inia, o as a ass an as as o a o o uu? Wa

isoiay gouns oos ous on iay as i i w so niy

nw pai? t auos sss inas us o pap, pa avs, an op-

p pas o pui puposs, an ginning o piva, iniviua ownsip

o oos o on pa a an pap (gaing krk y a on

awanss o iay w vn pysia aia o a win oo igus

poinny [112]), oug iay an oing an pui us o opp

pas an ownsip o anusip oos av a a p isoy. Wa ay

ay a issu is iusion o vnaua iay, u is oo was a

pan-Sou Asia pnonon in pio o aou 1000 ce onwa.

O o gna ins a wo pos paining o oos ain

ais. Is gis o syunssaiy iagnosi o isoy? Is

a nw in o isoia onsiousnss a an , in as a

sign o an Inian ay oniy?t is qusion os us o opn a s o issusinuing pa o

naaiviy an os o psnaion in isoia wiing, an qusion o

isoia ua poupi ai soas, spiay in 1970s an

1980s. t iiogapy on a is is vas; jounaHistory and Theory iswas spawn y s as an as oniu powuy o . I ys

a no niy psua a s issus a wo opning a is poin,

u y a unavoia i w a o ass oos ain sis wi

siousnss i svs. t son qusion quis ononing wo vy a

pos, on onning ginnings, o oniy. tos wo iv in

ginningsuni say ma bo, wo spo o idole o vn dmon desorigines, obsession embryogniquenow is: y a aways aun

y psn o an asn ounn. As o oniy, os wo in o

i as a puy euopan pnonon (o, wos, wo iv wi buno laou

a w av nv n on a a) wi ow up i ans in spai.

II. fActUAl, fIctIONAl, textUrAl

t ig isas soas av a in pas, aoing o Textures, a io onus isoys a w ay isoia in innion, on an on-

nwi ings a a no isoy, o o a vying a s o pasas isoy: Ony osion o an ni snsiiiy, wi is nauay avaia

pooos o aing, an pain aiu o iniy isoy wn i is ps-


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SheldON POllOck370

n an o isinguis i o non-isoia. In any ass a sing snn

suis o a agoia isinion. A naiv spa wo as o

as isoians iiay iniis i as su ans o aus o

is u a aiy an in, in unisaa ways, auos innion.

tis, [ naiv spas] say, is an an ony isoy (253).

ts a song assions jus o Inian inua isoy, oug in a

y a o as univsa: ua anaysis appis o on, Wsn is-

oians as w (253), an psuay sw. t qusions y povo

a any an awwa. Wn auoia innion as n poun ino us o

o an a a nuy, is i si so asy o in i? (An o y an inivi-

ua auoia innion, o soing o oony sa y karanams? I

a, is wou n o in spaay.) Wn pooos o aing in

i niy a uuay an isoiay onsiuinuing an spiay

aing pooos o auos oTextures, wi a opy onsiuy on isoia isousan y si sai o nauay avaia

i so oiy union? can w so aiy jusiy sovign iu a

wa w oay ig in is a a onsus py wi wa pop in

sin-nuy sou Inia oug was a a, an wa w in is y y

us av oug was y? can aning o s so singua an o-

py anspan ( a o Raya-vacakamu ainy nows a thepoin is ay onsaion o iniss asou an sv p-

inn [125]), wn puaiy o ua aning a any givn on

an a oioi is angaiiy ov i as, i innionaiy, n oj

o nss isussion s pas as?Paps, sin isoians ay a svsay isoiiz i own

aingi is unsupising a is no anowgn o o o

inps psn in i inpaion o pas. ta pas is avaia

aog unia. bu no ss isoiay onsiu a noions su as

siony, iauous o yi, ypiaiy, an u is. fo a isoy o

isoy is-o qusion o as is no w a iauous n, say,

ays unuunss o a gn in so asou, ansisoia way, u

w i ay is unuunss o auos an auins o s

in qusion. Ou isoy o i isoy ay isov a ogi w ay no ong

unsan, i w a opn o i (as kan an hg w no). In, uov in i an spa o us a is, o suspiious w sou a

asn o su a isovy.

consi, u, onp o naiv spa, asouy auoia-

iv a, o wo unsiaing appa is a ougou oo. On

on an, any Inians av n naiv spas o uip anguags; on

o, so anguags av aivy w naiv spas. Nw Psian was us

o bua o Isanu o wiing otarikh, a gn engis-using soasypiay ansa as isoy, y i as n sia a paps upwas o

-quas o os wo wo in Psian w non-naiv spasinu-

ing auos o tarikh a a a as isoy in Textures. Non o auos o oo is a naiv spa o maai, u is i no poii


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o ining u isoy in maai bakhar s. tnoo, ow any naiv spas o sin-nuy tugu si is?

t au o wi naiv spas a sai o av an inuiiv gasp is

isinion wn isoia an nonisoia ns in a aou pas,

an onnion on wi ni oia wig o oo ss is a

is isinion is syisiay in. Textures is no in a is o ais agun. toug nv using wo, ei Aua a soing sii-

a in in in a passag oMimesis a is wo n quoaion:

ho ains wiin gnay wi a is aia, was aia o O

tsan os os an os o isoy as naaiv pos; in sois o

davi isoia po poinas. h oo, u a is gnay si ains, as

o ap soy o davi an Goia; u uan os ssniaonsiss

in ings wi naaos nw o i own pin o o isan si-

ony. Now in wn gn an isoy is in os ass asiy piv

y a asonay pin a. I is a iiu a, quiing au isoia anpioogia aining, o isinguis u o syni o ias in a isoia

psnaion, u i is asy o spaa isoia o gnay in gna. ti

suu is in. evn w gnay os no iiay ay is y

ns o iauous, y piion o w-nown sana oivs, ypia

pans an s, oug ng o a ais o i an pa, an i, i is

gnay quiy ogniza y is oposiion.6

bu wi is siiaiy sops an s is in i onaiion wi

Textures. t oposiion o sy a o Aua (wo iwis quisinguisiay pivig opnu in is as ounay no naiv

spas o hoi G o biia hw, ony au pioogiss) a-aizs gnay is naaiv simplicity: a iion, vying unsovan unain, is ; isoia naaiv, y onas ioing

isoia onsiousnss o agnspos a o onaioiy an

onusy.7

bu us assu a Inian aiy is in an isoia is a

gis o anguag a is sip, i, unaon, aua. t os w g o

u o iais, aoingy, os w g o isoia. ras

o isns a o in a uu av naua snsiiviy o u. ty know

wn pas is ing a in a aua ann (5). I a no so su. roan

bas, a naiv spa o fn, nw no su ing: dos naaion opas vns . . . [as a], as as ago, ay i, in so spii

ai, in so inuiay isin au, o iaginay naaion, as w in

i in pi, nov, an aa?8 his answ was an unquaii no.

In, bas povis aiiona san o ow in gas. fo on ing, i

ay a os w g o aua os w g, no o isoia,

6. ei Aua, Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature (Pinon:Pinon Univsiy Pss, 1953), 18-19. rn soasip opias s onass; s, o

ap, isussion o ginnings o isoy in ho in fanois haog, t Invnion o

hisoy,History and Theory 39 (2000), 384-395.7. Aua,Mimesis, 19-20. to opia ings u, w a ino a, o wi isoy

is so iiu a os isoians a o o a onssions o niqu o gn.

8. roan bas, t disous o hisoy, Comparative Criticism. A Yearbook(1981), 7 (ssay was oiginay puis in 1967).


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SheldON POllOck372

u o aisi ( bass noion oleffet de relis pinn; I wi oa o i ow). fo ano, i a sips unaon iais

os oss o isoy uns up agains a, o wa any i bas av

an o a a, a you anno av isoy wiou naaion, an naaion

o nssiy opias iais.

equay ouing is po o aua in is so o naaiv sy

(y know wn pas is ing a in a aua ann), soing o

wi Textures s wiou quaiiaion ougou. bu wa, in a, os

aua an? Wa is a a? t auos oTextures ay ig in waning,wi Pau riou, o in a way o sis paion o issov is-

oia a ino naaion an is a ino a iay oposiion inisni

o iion.9 bu iiuy is y appy a vy onpoay iagnosi,

on ni n no poaiz, aou wa onsius a isoia a.

As any wis on oy o isoiogapy, ginning wi bas i no

ai, av sown, was no on n ou a vns ou in wo,

y o historical factsan no jus vnsony wn in a

naaiv. I is naaiv a as as as su, an o you anno us

a s auaiywi is jus ano naaiv auas an inpnn

iion o iniy a naaiv as isoia. An as w wi s, on an vn is

naaiviz, a s aou a saig pa o is isoiiy a o nssiy o.

tings a o opia si, owv. In Textures, isoia/aua

s no o wa ay appn, ojivy, ansnnay, yon i-

ing o any isoia sujiviy, o wa Vio a verum (in onas ocertum

) an a piosop oay wou a u-sipii. I s insao wa is u o karanam. tus wn auos us a tu . . .aways povis a song assion aou nau o aiua u . . . u

as is own aaisi onsisny, ingiy, an ang, y a ing us

aou karanams u, no u as su. Aoingy, wn a karanam is-oy siing a o Nayaa ing Vijayaagava in 1673 in tanjavu

pos as a a a is oy n iy a Sianga (an i is psu-

ay nan a is a po, no a o osvs sing i

n), y a wi jusi, an wo aong us is o noug inay o

u i ou? (255). Siiay, wn in noing inonsisnis o ins

wn ign-nuyDesingu-raja-katha an a wo opos in ninn nuy o biis oo in Ao, y a, ou as is

no o in w o no y [ ai naaiv aias] w o a

u (189), auos oTextures an ony ing o unoningny

u. to, in o aiiy o wi y iv i ua iagnos-

i is an inan gui us wa onsius aiiy o karanam is.

Aoug y o no aways a i a, i ins is no in wa ay

appn, u a in wa pop in pas in appnwi I aiy

ag is is-o qusion o a isoy o isoy.

Y i no vying in a karanam as, in auos viw, u o

aiiy an n o u, w a onon y a a awwa isoninuiy.

9. Pau riou,Memory, History, Forgetting (ciago: Univsiy o ciago Pss, 2004), 178.


10/18


W a op o assu a karanam is inuing in is aia is os no ay iv o aua, a, u; a is poing

o wa ay iv an wa anno ay av iv. Su an

assupion ss pia ai ipoa, an ig o aiy pain

as an in o pns o auos svs. ty a awa o is

ang, o su, igy poining ou a w o an injusi o sous

i w gin o i i onns oug a poss o vauaion ino y

ou noion o wa onsius a a. bu is is jus in o vauaion y

sois po o o, as wi a ynasi gnaogy o kaaiya ings

o oun-nuy Ana: I wou no ssiv o ai a ai-

s ins in gnaogia ain a no an o an as as in way

a as ins ay a, wi i as, gna yas, an igy spii

oaions. In a sns, yi oigins a a anspan vi ai a vaing

ynasy, as u o ing vas (100).

So as ay w in su a ai ssiv. can w inou is-

inions in aiiy o u wn a puy yi gis an a nown

isoia, aiy aiion oug o av n y auo? how an w

now a ins in u-ais supposy in y syisi i-

ns? Wa as us o assu a a anying o an a onsqun

o a in in quaiy o auos sous (wi in as o a oya

gnaogy ig inu a Sansi noiu in ig sy)? moov,

wa o Textures is a anspan vi o soia s-vaion ay o ano,pon, a a onging o so ig u, o so onnion wi

osi pow a ay as sin an a as anying san as sinyiv o a y karanam auo as iv anying s o a.Su a onging ay av pop us o ano gis aus o is su-

j a, wi syisi ang ing no ssnia in wasov

in u-ais o is. t oi o ay (nay, an o an

as as) os no in n ay sv o a anying a.

I ss ai o as, in sa way, wa is an y y, an, soing

quay nonivia an onsqunia, w iooy a/y aps

agains any Inian onpua s onning onoogia u. t vin

o s ss o s i in Textures as aps o i. Wn

auos inia wa viag s a oing wn y spa aou aitihya (isoy) o Panau o y a is psn in Palnati-

virula-katha, y as i jugn on a uua oogy wi ayisinguiss isoia o non-isoia iion, spi sa gn

aus (96), i again ing u, inna syisi iion o

iniaing a o nona (260). bu is a iuaiy as unviu-

ous in Inia as i is sw: you anno in in wn y an

isoy in s o i sys, an in i sys in s o in

wn y an isoy (in o wos, using isinion wn us

o goun isinion wn u an iion, an gouning isinion

wn u an iion on isinion wn us). t ony way ouo iuaiy is o ass pivig ass o u (a naiv spas

naua snsiiviy). Wa us ou gasp is w pop in ss


11/18

SheldON POllOck374

o oun-nuy Waanga vn onas y an aitihya. Noing in sous I now suggss wo gns w ogniivy o soioogiay o

owis isin.

In, w av o us engis wo y pisy aus is

no ovious Sansi (o tugu o maai) quivanon onay,

is an asy ajany in aiiona Inian usag o s purana, gno y pa n, an itihasa, Sansi wo ansa ino engis

as isoy (in, aning iay us (iti) in (ha) i was (asa)i

ss aos aqu on wie es eigentlich gewesen). t a u opia-ions, o Sansiis a as, in ying o unsan inpaion givn

in Textures o a (aitihya is tugu o, itihasa in non

Inian vnauas). A on poin i is sai o opis singuaiy, oaizaion,

asua squn, an auoiaiv ansission (93 an n. 3), was sw

i is sai o o wa is aways u an ay aua . . . a u an i

ip u noing o as o a non-paa uy (14). equay a is

is son isinion, wn u an aua ( us av asi o

op qusion o wo ivs aitihya o u an ay aua). Onus won w i vn as sns in aiiona Inia. fo onpoay

piosops, u is a popy o poposiions o snns o sas o in

su as is, onjus, o supposas. by onas, as a in wo an

y a wa a poposiions, snns, is, an so on u.10 tis os

no soun o i an Inian pisoogia isinion. faua nowg is

pratyaksha, o as on sns aa; nowg as on poposiions is shabda,

o inguisi. bu nowgs o s wo oains, wi no onsiv,a quivan in s o u.

t aua, o appany aua, as a suiv pow o auos a

sois ss o u i aings o o ovas . consi

aoun o Poaaju soy o Pratapa-raja-caritramu: A ing ivs apopy saying is son wi i i; poss son, wo is sav, gows

up, an vnuay oug pow o a is i (97-99). h a oois

i Aan duns wou av oun a Si-topson oi, o a uua psy-

oanays i A. k. raanujan ano Inian Oipus. t as ing i

o , an I susp os o us, wou in is isoy. Textures os, owv,

aus o us in soy o ay sa as, spaia an poa a-suns, an saisia ais (s a oi o i ing, wi

as i iiu o gaug o o agun): fauaiy ay as

. . . Wa is a as a oa . . . as n niy susu y u o

aua poing. Wy, uo, sou is auaiy anying o

an wa bas aousy a o a? h is a n

san o is agun: Appany ivan ai is in on o

ga insiniv onvnions o iion-aing. t ao in faus Un

Coeur simple suggss noing. I is appany ivan. Is usinss is o

no aiy, i is o a , aosp o a. I sipy

says: I a a. fo bas, an oj su as ao is suppos

10. I a gau o A bigai o ping in oug so o s issus.


12/18


o no a, u in a a i os is signiy i. rais in gna, i is

ipi, is jus su a usinss o as noaion.11

Is wa w a sing in Poaaju soy no a nw isous on isoy, u

a nw in o iiona isis, a nw realism? ta wou in an ins-ing isovy, a isovy anging ou isoy o Inians naiy, an, pos-

siy, o i oniy, u no nssaiy o i isoia onsiousnss.

ta po o ais, a as, was iy a on ogniiv ap

o Inian ins is sown y nin-nuy aspi o Inian iay

iiis, Dhvany-aloka (lig on Suggsion), wi pos is poun ui o aucitya (wa in svnn-nuy fn iiis was

givn y wo s vraisemblance an biensance, wa i is poa o

a aa o o an wa is appopia o i o ). I us s on

ounais o ais in n o isoia naaivs (sin ga isoia

psonags i king Saavaana i sup-a s su as sning o

unwo) an on si iis o ais in iiona as.12

I is insuiv o s ow s qusions o auaiy an ais, aong wi

na poposiion a w an isinguis a o iion y ans o i-

n sys o sa wo, a a wi in isussion in Textures o

Sansi aspi o w-nuy kasi, Raja-tarangini (riv o

kings), i oug i is an pipa o oos o aiv o sou Inian

s (254-260). kaanas wo as i a po (kavya)is on o w

s in Sansi anon o iv spia (i ii) ispnsaion in ys

o ai gnaions o Wsn iis o Inian isoia ining.13 t auo

is ony pon Inian wi I a awa o o piiy ass is ojiv-iy an onsy wi sp o isoia nowg (Paiswoy viuous

an wo is o ov an a, wo isouss on pas i a jug, v.

7) an o auy si is sou aias (soing karanam nv

i). Y w a o i is a as o isan iniy o in o kaana as a

isoian, in pa aus is wo is iin in ausaiy o na

o isoiogapy as su. bu is iniion ay unnssaiy sipua-

ivu euopan isoy as n onn wi naaiv, no panaion,

an vn ay on isoy a Textures as ai a oing niti, o

poiia ais an pa (o ap, 139). As o kaanas isoy, i is

no a o a wa o a iy ( aon so poo-naion) u o a sussion ous. esaising sequence o ay ings is o kaana ony pop

suj o isoia oy, owv unaiia o us i ay , an i is ii-

a o i o g i ig (in, uni karanam, o wo ai pas o

gnaogy a, i w ap Textures agun, ss aua an o npas). causa panaion is ivan aus isoy is noing u naua

11. Jas Woo, t bu riv o tu, The New Republic (Augus 1, 2005).12.Dhvanyaloka of Anandavardhana, . Paaiaa Sasy (Vaanasi: cowaa Sansi

Sis Oi, 1940), 3.10.

13. bu onas bna kv, Textkritische und philologische Untersuchungen zur Rajatarangini des Kalhana (Wisan: f. Sin, 1971), 8-9, wo agus, spi is possais, a wo is no iia in ou sns an o sou no inp piaiy as

isoy. S aso Wa Saj, Medieval Kashmir and the Science of History (Ausin: Sou AsiaInsiu, 2004), wo as a song as o piia auniiy o kaanas sussos.


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SheldON POllOck376

onsqun o squniaiy. t o Oinaiss agu a was no is-

oy in pon Inia aus nothing ever happened; asu oug vy

ia is, i usuy pops qusion w ay av n a in

onpion ohappening, an aoingy a in o o isous aou i.Textures os no isuss kaanas assions o is puposs o piosopy

o isoy, u a in ping wi is sis onnas on sy. bu

w noun wo o iiuis wi a sis: o on ing, kaanas

sy ains unio ougou wo; o ano, iagnosi pows

o naiv opn o no appy in as o is , sin Sansi was

nv anyons naiv anguag in oon-sns sns o . Y

auos a a o in a givn piso w isoy nswi assas-

sinaion o king Jayasias gnaan iion ginswi sip-

ion o gnas sv a own in ouya y is is. t

ss o soing inuiivy ig aou is jugn: i is uniy a

kaanas sous (aou wi is vy pii) wou av o su a

ai as oing a. bu jugn is ss ivan o ping us

gasp kaanas ai in using (i a is wa is oing) wo vs o naa-

iv. moov ss o a nsion wn an o kaanas

aoun an aing o a aua soy su as a o owa ing Pa

Vnaai Nayau: unwiingy iing ou o onon a o powu ny,

ing ouns is os rajya-asi (roya Goy) an soow uss

is sis. Wn w a o a is paiua naaiv is iva (268),

w gin o in ousvs siing own a vy sippy sop o sujivis.

I is no o o assss kaanas ai , oug I susp i opiss oan is apu y aing i a an isoia novis wos aouns a

in so sns isoia (259). hisoians sin i o tuyis (i w

a in a pi o a Thucydides Historiae isoy, givn is uay uni-

o ig oi) av o no ony wos a pop auay spo

u, as tuyis is pu i in a pas a wou isuss o wo

innia, wa in [ isoians] opinion, was a o in a siuaion.

many soys sis auo o Vnaai a av a us o a-

uaizing ops (in, wn auos si Vnaais ipon ag

y sow y av oun pisos apoia y). t wo vigns,

o Jayasias gna an o sou Inian owa ing, oin o suggsa isoia a is no iniivy a o o ais iion y u

(wi, again, spas o anguag in wi [ ] is win ogniz

wiou iiuy [260]); a w anno know wn pas is ing a in

a aua ann an wn i is no; an a, wi auos a w awa

o o ap o wing ou os pas o s a ig appa anasi,

o yi, o ysia, sujivy siing a o iion ss no a o

wa y sois wan o o.

I aiiy an a ou a o pag as Textures asss, n

isoy wou a u ss onnious pai an wo a saan

ay ss insingpa. (An i y isoy y o no an u,n wa inias i o y, gn, iion?) ra an us o

iaouns o wa ay appn in isoywa s iva sou


14/18


Inian wos a oing us ay ony pus o i, uaiz os

o vaious uan pins a a ais aou i vaious gs an

yps o u oug psnaions o vaious sas o poaiy.

Wa is paps os ipoan, I a no su w av o os o

gasping wy isoians wan o poy aus o iion ( way iion wi-

s wan o poy aus o isoy), wy y a so on ining, o

in, ow in an ipoan sns iiona is is aua. Paps, insa

o assssing w Inian s a isoy o y, w ig as w

s svs invi us o ansn is vy iooy.

III. the fActUAlItY Of the fIctIONAl

by is ouaion I o no o o u saus o iiona poposiions

(Wiy loan was a sa an wi a ig a o ha was wa an po-

asinaing). I insa o ou apaiy o a Inian isoy ou o Inian

iion, oug noing sain o y agun is on a sa-quo is-

inionon onay, I wan o onsi asons w ig suspn i. On

su ason is povi y isoiaiy o (puaivy) iiona o os

o us wo a ins in isoy o Inian onsiousnss; ano, y

isoiaiy o (puaivy) iiona o Inians wo on un iiona

ino a o o aion in wo.

l y o a s isinions a. consi soy a in

Textures o dsingu raja, ing o Snji, wo oug Nawa o Ao in1714. In on o s a a s vns, maaa kan, a musi ay

o dsingu raja, is y is si: As u is ons o is wo i

vss o Quan, a on Go (allare allare) . . . As gos ainown ows, a vimana [sia aio] aiv an ai i o avn

(163). Ou ins , wi onns aua in iiona, is ogniz

ipiiy y auos oTextures, u i is no anayiay inia. ty

o no wan o isiss is aiy o sia aio an ain o ows

u i o os no asiy aooa i. t ipoan poin is no a

the author o ay iiing a o o onsiousnss aou isoi-

awa is supising o insing aou a a pop a s ou

o i a wos?u a we an iniy an n o a o o on-siousnss a on is in isoy, w aou a oposi uu in ay

ign-nuy tai Nau (aing on on Go, Aa, wi sowing

uip hinu gos appa), o paps aou jus is opposi, p uua

isunsaning o Isa a is spii o is , i, an pa.

Wa as o , in so, is aing sns o a historical form of con-

sciousness a an aping, as Textures os, o iniy a form of histori-cal consciousness. In o as w onon iy wa was in a

o pon as an as o s (wi w us n o ous go on

o inp); in a, w ass a onn iniy, vn in an a pioi

way, y is ying o oi i ono a agoy a is, unss a isoy isinia, an ony oiz a posioi (an us iuay) o s

svs. A o o onsiousnss a is isoia o us an n anspa-


15/18

SheldON POllOck378

ny ino ou unsaning o pas; a o o onsiousnss a is suppos

o isoia o opns ou ono a a o ios.

A son way o suspning o a as usuy opiaing isinion

wn aua an iiona is in gising aua nan o i-

ionain o wos, in piving ow pop av soug o iv i ivs

in aoan wi paaigai. tin o Quio poaio

iion as a o o aionwi oay aoss oain o soia aion.

tis ss o av n as wi dsingu raja is, wos avio in

so ways is, as auos iiany sow, ino a pan o ingsip sa-

is in ai taipuranas. On wons o wa g dsingus a i

ay av n pan a su paions in an o o -na i

o an anin, yi Ao ing. A a, no ony os a iia a, u

sois i os, su a iiaion an a a sou o soia an poiia

aion (lu as Apos Pau, o rospi as buus).14 In, i is is

vy a insion o isoia iiaion a as i vn o iiu o

w ou aua o yia, sin yia an auaiz.

IV. the PlAce Of GeNre

Gn unouy as soing o o wi apuing in ins o

u-ais a s in Inia av ass, as y av on sw. t

isinion, o ap, wn naaivs o ings a ay ou an

naaivs o ings a av n invn Sansi s a iti-vrtta anutpadya-vastu spivyis as inigi in Inia as sw. Siiay,

oug Textures onsis ga svn-nuy Sansi woHarsha-carita

(li o king hasa) o aos inisn o iogapy (aos aus

y iv i as oo any ns o y), Inian oiss oo pains o

in oya iogapy in a way a us sap ou inpaion: akhy-

ayika, o wi Harsha-carita is sup ap in Sansi iau, is

agoiz as a gn a o wi is nown o av ou (upalab-

dha-artha), an isinguis o katha (a), wi is iaginay in is [naa-iv] onsuion (prabandha-kalpana).15 Nauay, oa opiis gin o

g wn w s is isinion opn y ano a inias

wn s o invn sois an s a o aua oings of godsan os (o say noing o iing viws o gos: a in-nuy o-

nao on Ramayana s us a vying in a is asouy uwi ano a, nuis ai, says a i is u o is).16

disussions o gn in pon Inia, owv, ypiay ass

vaious ins o poinan o pasis (pradhanya), w on woing(us sipua s), aning (isoia an a s), o o (poy);

14. fo so ions on is po, s y epi an Iiaion, in Lessons of Empire,. caig caoun, fi coop, an kvin moo (Nw Yo: Nw Pss, 2006).

15. fo si (?) nuy Sansi ion, Amarakosha (1.6.5, 7).16. t is inay is oon in Dhvanyaloka; son iaion is o svn-

nuy Kavyalankara (Onan o liau) of Bhamaha, . b. N. Saa an bavaUpayaya (Vaanasi: cowaa Sansi Sis Oi, 1928), 1.15. fo Ramayana, sSrimadvalmikiramayana, . Gangavisnu Sisnaasa (boay: Vnasvaa Sa Pss, 1935).


16/18


aionsip o anguag oi (ain gns a opos ony in ain

anguags, i pasoa in au-oi iio nown as Apaasa);

iniaions in s o pagais (so gns, i sipus, oan

us o o ings; so, i gns, giv us avi; so, i pos, su

us).17 Wa I av now oun is any iniaion a Inian ins iv

sa gn ou o uip ings (owv u s in Inia, no ss

an in euop, ou an i iga aong gns in aua iay isoy:

Mahabharata was now isoy, now juispun, now saa, now ia-

u), o a sy was a sign o anying u oiona gis o wo;

i ainy was no an in o is u ais. Textures as no onvin

a Inian as svs v pi an os poions o s a w

aua as oppos o yi (o quasi-yi).

tis is wa w s p in gasping: wa pon Inian as -

svs unsoo o inpiv pooos o in gns. W

Textures pupos o now wn a is yi o iay an wn i is isoi-

a, wa w wan o now, a as in is insan, is wa os as

ay av iv. I auos wan o a aou wa is insi iay

uu (W us s o a . . . isinion, inna o iay uu,

wn wos o isoy . . . an o s aing o pas in o os

[21]), y av o in a way o answing a qusion. Sipy o ass a

so isous is yi an no isoia o u an ay aua, o a

isinion is ui ino onsiousnss o iay wo (21), is o

ass an inpaion a s us o aou inp an aou Inians

isoia onsiousnss.

V. A NeWAN eArlYMODERNfOrm Of hIStOrIcAl cONScIOUSNeSS?

Ways o uaizing wo in pon Inia, o wi karanam woswou ano insan, av a isoy, oug as no a sa o is

ssay, is as nv n sysaiay onsu. Unsupisingy, is is-

oy (as hgs w-nown aguns aou isoy, aw, an sa wou

suggs) is osy onn wi a o poiia ang in suoninn.18

t was a onsa si in puani sy o naaiv a pou

Yuga Purana aoun ginning o coon ea wi a-up o Saavaana pi an oing o Ino-Syians, an again a, wi

pusion o Saas o Ujjain, in aa isoia naaiv,

Kalaka-acarya-katha (ay son inniu, u oing aiions o a a

inniu ai). A nw pos isoiogapy o an unpn so a

is o giona ingos, is in Sansi wi baai cauyas

in siig nuis, u gauay in ous o Inias vnaua

vouion in oa anguag, as in tai meyykirtis o coas (a-n

w nuis). Soing nw again appa in Suana-aprabandha

17. Son Poo, The Language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Powerin Premodern India (by: Univsiy o caionia Pss, 2006), 105-114.

18. On hg an isoy, s hayn Wi, The Content of the Form: Narrative Discourse andHistorical Representation (baio: Jons hopins Univsiy Pss, 1987), 11-12.


17/18


18/18


kos.22 ts inu sns o an opn uu oup wi ias o

pogss an vopn; p onss o uu; pin

o aaion o ons own i; die Ungleichseitigkeit des Gleichseitigen, o

nonsiuaniy o vy in u onoogiay siuanous iso-

is (opising a iaoni assiiaion o in uus); a nw ia o

ansiion wn pos. mos ipoan, viw o anins as a o

sing on suua siiaiy o a possi pas an uu isois o-

apss in oniy. hn aos sns o asou in o

pas, o isoiis, wi singuaiy, asou nwnss o vns, is ou

pin.

fo vin o Textures, noing oy opaa aaizs

ay on Inian onpions o poaiy o pais o isoiogapy.

t sns o isoia i in Inia ain (as on soa si i o

cina) on o assiiy, auiy, an oninuiy.23 bu on op o is, vy

appoa o Inian ay oniy a a onpua vining euop in

Iniasis as qusiona. In, i vn ss paaoia in Textures,

insoa as i wans o ny puiaiy o Wsn oniy vn wi is

iniion o oniy is as aos niy on ay on Ws. W

sou owan o ou y siing oinin: pisy -

ns o oniy oun in euop a isov in Inia. bu wy sou

nwnss o ay on wo av n pin sa way

vyw? On onay, aoug posua awais sysai pii-

a an onpua gouning, i ss a oniy aoss Asia ay av

sown siuaniy wiou syy. bu sou is asyy un ou ova oninuiy an no upu, no n o an a. t is no sa

in poniy.

t asu o a oos ipoan is no ow u i gs ig u ow u

i gs you o in. As is ssay as ai o suggs, Textures of Time gs

usisoians o isoiogapy as u as Inoogiss su as yso in

a o. I y svaions a song i is ony aus oo is is song an

wonuy povoaiv.24

Columbia University

22. rina kos, t eign cnuy as bginning o moniy, in The Practiceof Conceptual History (Sano: Sano Univsiy Pss, 2002), 154-169. An inua isoy o ay on ipping poin is o in Anony Gaon, What Was History? (caig, Uk:caig Univsiy Pss, 2007), 188-254.

23. On-co Ng, t epoa conp o eay moniy an Inua hisoy o la

Ipia cina,Journal of World History 14:1 (2003), 37-61.24. I a gau o Aison bus an Suipa kaviaj o i ons on an ai a o

is ssay.

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