Dr Vijaya Ramadas Mandala, an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Hyderabad, has published an edited book volume titled “Exploring Power and Authority in Indian History Across the Ages” under his sole editorship with Springer Nature (Singapore and New York). A hardbound book was released last year, followed by a paperback edition in May 2026.
Dr Vijaya Ramadas Mandala
This edited book presents a fresh perspective on power and authority across India’s history, from ancient times to the modern period. Unlike the social sciences such as sociology, anthropology, and economics, history offers distinct intellectual approaches to exploring India’s past. The chapters in this book illuminate the sociological, cultural, numismatic, economic, and historical aspects of power and authority. In addition, the book’s critique of agency offers new insights into the dominant ideologies of ruling groups and the responses of the subjugated. By analysing the complexities of power and authority within socio-political, architectural, monetary, and cultural frameworks, this book provides valuable insights for readers seeking to understand their evolution in Indian history.
The 13 contributing authors, mainly from the University of Hyderabad and selected by the editor, have developed original case studies on their research themes, covering diverse aspects of Indian history. They dedicated four years to completing this project under the editor’s close supervision. This book promises to be an engaging read for history enthusiasts.
Below are the book’s online link and details. Please recommend the book to your respective libraries, where possible.