History of Gujarat presents the political, socio-economic and cultural history of Gujarat from 940 to the 1900s, starting with the Chaulukya period through the Delhi Sultanate, the Gujarat Sultanate, Mughal rule and finally, British rule.

Following the NEP 2020 History syllabus, this authoritative textbook will help students explore important topics and study historians’ debates on these issues.

• The book draws on specialist historical research and presents a new continuous history in English from the Chaulukya (Solanki) period, for the first time since the volumes of M. S. Commissariat.
• Presents examples of the unique Maru-Gurjar(a) style of language, architecture and literature, and discusses the politics behind the term.
• Resists traditional categorisations and traces continuities, through the second millennium, in language, structures of governance, the nature of patronage, cultural forms in architecture, design, art, that accommodated new ideologies and religious preferences.
• Investigates the role of women in public life, child marriage and widow remarriage under different dynasties.
• Questions the assumption that caste boundaries grew rigid only after Delhi’s conquest of Gujarat, and traces the historical presence of caste segregation and anti-caste resistance through successive regimes, starting with the Chaulukyas.
• Helps students rethink temple destruction and reconstruction campaigns through an analysis of each new dynasty’s political strategy and economic objectives.
• The book offers stunning photographs, detailed maps and translated excerpts of fascinating primary source texts.

This book is recommended reading for undergraduate students, GPSC aspirants, and general readers curious about Gujarat’s rich history.

Amrita Shodhan is Senior Research Associate, SOAS, University of London.

List of Maps
List of Images, Boxes and Dynastic Flowcharts
Preface
Introduction

I. CHAULUKYA RULE IN GUJARAT,
c. 940–1300

 1. Chaulukya Rule: Political History and
Territorial Expansion
2. Chaulukya Rule: Political Administration,
Socio-economic and Culture History
Appendices
References

II. GUJARAT UNDER THE DELHI SULTANATE, c. 1304–1407

3. Gujarat under the Delhi Sultanate: Political History and Territorial Expansion
4. Gujarat under the Delhi Sultanate: Political Administration, Socio-economic and Cultural History
Appendices
References

III. THE GUJARAT SULTANATE,
c. 1403–1572, 1583–1591

5. The Gujarat Sultanate: Political History and
Territorial Expansion
6. The Gujarat Sultanate: Political Administration, Socio-economic and Cultural History
Appendices
References

IV. MUGHAL RULE IN GUJARAT,
c. 1573–1800

7. Mughal Rule: Political History and Territorial Expansion
8. Mughal Rule: Political Administration, Socio-economic and Cultural History
Appendices
References

V. BRITISH RULE IN GUJARAT,
c. 1800–1900

9. British Rule: Political History and Territorial Expansion
10. British Rule: Political Administration, Socio-economic and Cultural History
Appendices
References

Epilogue: Towards Nationalism, Independence and Partition
Index