Includes index

History is a dynamic, challenging, and ever-broadening field of study. This book, practical in its orientation, seeks to introduce the reader to the basic skills and procedures which lie at the heart of historical inquiry and method. It begins by setting the study of history within the context of Indian higher education, and then of its own evolution as an academic discipline. It then deals with the tasks involved in ‘doing history’: raising questions pertaining to history; analysing primary and secondary sources, followed by noting, interpreting, organizing, and presenting one’s findings. This way of ‘doing history’ can also be applied to the teaching of history and allows the reader to see the value of studying history. There is also a check-list for students that would aid them in writing their history theses. A special feature of this book is that it draws all of its illustrative material from Indian history while taking the reader through the basic steps in the process of historical investigation and research.