Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/5

mation and structure of Hinduism I had to introduce some theories regarding the march of civilization, social organization and organization of thought. In doing so, I had to accept the burden of giving proofs for the theory. Such a multiplicity of inquiries would necessarily cause some irregularity in the presentation of thought.

I think no historian before me has been so unfortunate in his choice of the subject. The development of Hindu society is a subject which has very few parallels as far as instruction is concerned, but a history of it offers by no means the most pleasant reading. The subject is made much more repulsive by imagination, and the name of the subject itself is such as would induce an average reader to fly from the book. (In a History of Caste, the writer has no opportunity of dwelling on personalities.) He has no series of campaigns to describe and no interesting stories to tell. In writing this history for a period extending over several millenniums, a large number of questions of scientific interest are to be discussed, and the inquirer has often to lay down the subject in hand and to master a number of sciences and to treat purely scientific questions which may have bearing on the History of Caste, leaving all other things aside.

But the difficulties do not end here. Generally, the task of investigation and that of narration is considerably divided. A historian is not asked to take part in discussions connected with various anthropological sciences. Most of the historians do not need to go deep in various controversies; but the practical aim which the writer has in view prevents him from shunning the part either of the investigator or of the narrator. He has to do more; he has to be on guard not to tire the reader by his controver-