Professor Thapar argues the importance of understanding and positioning various well-established perspectives on the Indian past in order to arrive at an informed understanding of contemporary situations - such as disputes between Hindus and other Indian communities. It is vitally important for historians and informed lay readers to consider the wide range of opinions and views that are available on our past, particularly on religion and society in ancient India.

This volume has essays on Durkheim and Weber's views on Indian caste and society; on D.D. Kosambi's contribution to Indian historiography; and on the recent attempts to project a composite Hinduism in early India by ignoring evidence on the existence of multiple communities and diverse identities.

(This is a new paperback edition of the earlier hardback published in 1992.)