Ashirbadi Lal Srivastava, more commonly known as A.L. Srivastava, born 16 September 1899, in Andhana, Uttar Pradesh, died 12 July 1973, in District Agra, was an Indian historian specialising in medieval, early modern and modern history of India, author of fifteen monographical works, ten of which are research monographs.
Life and work
Srivastava studied history in Lucknow where he made his Ph.D. in 1932, and in Agra and Lucknow where he achieved D. litt. with works concerning the three first Nawabs of Oudh in the 18th century. Besides English and his mother tongue Hindi, he mastered Persian, the language at court and of diplomats, and Urdu as well and owned a working knowledge of Sanskrit, Marathi, Rajasthani and Punjabi. For Arabic sources he asked the advice of Muslim Maulwis. In 1917, he was married to Phool Kumari ; the couple had three sons and three daughters. 1927 he passed M.A. and got a job at Government College, Udaipur. 1932 he was awarded Ph.D. from University of Lucknow. In 1934 he became head of Dungar College, Bikaner, in 1938 he was promoted to D. Litt. by the University of Agra. In 1943, Srivastava was appointed head of the history department at D.A.V. College, Lahore. In 1946, he was given additional charge of the professor and head of history department, Panjab University, Lahore. In August, 1947, he was appointed professor and head, history and political science department, Agra College, Agra and retired from this Institution on 30 June 1962. Srivastava published in English as well as in Hindi. As his Guru in history he named Prof. K. R. Qanungo, while recognizing the Bengali historian Jadunath Sarkar as "greatest authority on the history of India". He died in his 74th year from stomach cancer. Srivastava is a recipient of Sir Jadunath Sarkar Gold Medal of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta for his research work on medieval Indian history. He was a contributor to the Encyclopædia Britannica and to the Bengali and the Marathi Encyclopaedias of Calcutta and Poona and founder resp. chief editor of two research journals, Agra College Journal of History and Uttara Bharati Journal of Research. As academic teacher he supervised about 30 students for their Ph.D. and D.Litt. degrees. His work on Akbar has been praised as the standard biography by critics.
History of the Indian Subcontinent, in Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, 1974, pages 334-430. Publisher-Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., Helen Hemingway Benton, U.S.A.
Life in Sanchi sculpture by A. L Srivastava
Nandyāvarta, an auspicious symbol in Indian art by A. L Srivastava
Śilpa-śrī, studies in Indian art and culture by A. L Srivastava
Umā-Maheśvara : an iconographic study of the divine couple by A. L Srivastava
On Siva and Uma
Bhāratīya kalā-pratīka by A. L Srivastava
Origin and development of symbols in Indic art; a study
Pro. Kr̥shṇadatta Bājapeyī : smr̥ti viśeshāṅka
Commemoration volume on the life and work of K.D. Bajpai, 1918-1992, Indologist, and on the civilization of India
Śilpa-sahasradala : directory of unique, rare, and uncommon Brahmanical sculptures by N. P Joshi
Indian art icons : revealing some glaring glimpses by A. L Srivastava
Bhāratīya saṃskr̥ti aura śilpa by A. L Srivastava
Study of depiction and influence of Hindu culture and mythology in Indian sculpture
Indian iconography : musing in some unique and unusual sculptures by A. L Srivastava
Svāstika : Bhāratīya jīvana kā eka apratima pratīka by A. L Srivastava
Swastikas as depicted in Indic art and culture; a study
Savatsa gau, athavā, Savatsa dhenu by A. L Srivastava
Śrī Hajārīmala Bān̐ṭhiyā abhinandana-grantha
Commemorative volume published on the occasion of the 71st birth anniversary of Hajārīmala Bān̐ṭhiyā, b. 1924, social worker and educationist from Rajasthan; reminiscences by his friends and associates on his life and work; includes articles by Bān̐thiyā
The Aligarh movement; its origin and development, 1858-1906 by Ema. Esa Jaina
Study on the movement of Indian Muslim regeneration established at Aligarh, India
Pañcāla kā mūrti-śilpa : eka śodhaparaka vivecana by A. L Srivastava
Administration of justce in seventeenth century India; a study of salient concepts of Mughal justice by B. S Jain
