برصغیر کے مسلم عہد سے متعلق استشراقی نگارشات : تجزیاتی مطالعہ Orientalist Writings Related to the Muslim Era in the Subcontinent: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Abstract

This research paper aims to critically analyze the Orientalist historiography of the Muslim period in the Indian Subcontinent, focusing on the writings of prominent European scholars such as Sir William Jones, Henry M. Elliot, Stanley Lane-Poole, and Sir Jadunath Sarkar. It explores how their interpretations and methodologies shaped the understanding of Indo-Islamic history within the broader context of colonial discourse. The study investigates the underlying motives, implicit biases, and methodological limitations of these historians, highlighting how colonial perspectives often influenced their portrayal of Muslim rule. It further examines the lasting impact of Orientalist narratives on subsequent Western and South Asian historical writings and the perception of Islamic governance and culture. Through a critical and comparative approach, the paper identifies both the intellectual contributions and the distortions within Orientalist scholarship. Ultimately, it emphasizes the necessity of decolonizing historical discourse by incorporating indigenous perspectives, local sources, and balanced interpretations, thereby fostering a more nuanced, authentic, and inclusive reconstruction of South Asian history.