The Marathi book "AGRYAHUN SUTKA", has been researched and authored by Dr. Ajit Joshi and published by Shivapratap Prakashan, Pune.
Dr. Ajit Joshi started research on this topic in 1995 and published the 4th version of the writing in 1997. He used original historical documents for the landmark research following the guidelines suggested by the great historian, Itihaasacharya Shri Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade. He has stated that when narrating a historical event, the historian must take into consideration the place, the time and also the personalities, i.e., their psychology, involved in the event.
The first article on the new hypothesis was published in the Marahthi Daily Kesarion 17 September 1995. An improved version of the hypothesis appeared in two parts in the Marathi monthly Ekata in January and February 1996. After the research was completed, the full hypothesis was published in 14 parts in the Marathi weekly Saptahik Sakal during January-April 1997.
After the book was published in June 1997, it won Dr. Jayashri Gune Award from Sanskrut Sanskruti Sanshodhika, the research wing of Dnyanaprabodhini, Pune, in August 1997. The Maharashtra Granthottejak Sanstha (formerly Deccan Vernacular Translation Society) honored the book with Nyayamurthy (Justice) M. G. Ranade Award in May 2000, at its 106th award distribution ceremony.
REVIEWS
The daily Kesari started by Lokamanya Tilak, printed a chapter from the book at the time of publication of the book in June 1997.
A detailed review of "AGRYAHUN SUTKA" appeared in the leading Marathi daily Maharashtra Times in November 1997.
The book was also reviewed by the Marathi monthly Ekata, published from Pune.
The great Marathi critic Dr. V. D. Kulkarni (Va. Di.) praised the book profusely at the time of presenting the Ny. M. G. Ranade prize. He said, "Even though the book contains historical research, its presentation and readability are very good. The proofs presented and conclusions drawn are perfectly logical, just like those in scientific research. However, the language has lalitya and is easy to understand and the agony of footnotes, which generally accompanies historical research, has been avoided! The personalities and psychology of the persons involved in a historical event have been considered for the first time in drawing conclusions in this book. The author shows great imagination but all within the boundaries of the available documentary evidence. Also, though the author is a chemical technologist and has studied in English medium, the Marathi language is quite pure and without mistakes."
The great historical novelist, Shri N. S. Inamdar (Na. Sa.) has also praised the book.