Russian Studies in Medieval Indian History and Society: An Insider's View

Medieval Indian studies is a relatively new field in Russian Indology. Sym pathy for the Indian people and high esteem for the achievements of their civilisation failed to prevent generations of Russain Indologists from acquir ing a prejudiced attitude towards the medieval period of Indian history. The Soviet school of medieval Indian studies was connected with a certain break ing off with the traditions of classical Indology. The founders of the new school came from the ranks of either practical workers in Soviet-Indian re lations or specialists in colonial and post-colonial India. This, along with the impact of the particular socio-political processes in USSR/Russia had both a positive and a negative effect upon Soviet studies of medieval India.