Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha

Indian historian (1863–1947)

Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha (15 September, 1863– 17 April, 1947), born in Rohida village of Sirohi District, was a historian from the Indian state of Rajasthan. A prolific author, he wrote several books ( in Hindi ) on the history of Rajasthan and other historical subjects. Subsequent historians from Rajasthan have referred to him as Guruvara Mahamahopadhyaya (e. g. Dasharatha Sharma in Early Chauhan Dynasties). Ojha regarded Kaviraj Shyamaldas as his guru and worked under him as assistant secretary of the historical department, Udaipur

Dr. Ojha was born in a Audichya Brahmins family, his father's name was Hirachand Ojha. His primary education was completed at his home and then he moved to Bombay for further education, where he learnt about Scripts, Archaeology and History. Thereafter, he came to Udaipur, where Maharana Fateh Singh appointed him as Head of State Archaeological Department. In 1908, Dr. Ojha was appointed as Head of Rajputana Museum, Ajmer. He worked on this post for 38 years.

In 1894, Dr. Ojha published his Bharatiya Prachin Lipimala (the first book devoted to the palæography of India), a revised edition was published in 1918. Dr. Ojha penned Solankiyon ka Itihasa (History of the Solanki) in 1907 and Sirohi Rajya ka Itihasa (History: Kingdom of Sirohi) in 1911. In 1926, Ojha published the first book of his History of Rajputana series. Histories of the princely states of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Dungarpur, Banswara released over a twelve year period (1929–1941). Ojha also wrote a biography of James Tod titled Supraprasiddha itihaskara Karnala James Tod ka jivan charitra. A 1928 lecture series at the Hindustani Akademi, Allahabad was published as Madhyakalina Bharatiya Sanskriti

In 1927, the All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan conferred the honorary degree of Mahamahopadhayaya (greatest of venerable teachers) on Ojha. In celebration of his seventieth birthday, the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad brought out and presented to Ojha a felicitation volume (containing original articles from several scholars) titled Bharatiya Anushilana Grantha.

Asokakalina dharmika abhilekha ( Religious inscriptions from the reign of Ashoka). G. H. Ojha and Shyam Sunder Das; Prastavana, V. K. Mathura. Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan, Delhi 2002 ( In Prakrit, Sanskrit and Hindi ). Bharatiya Prachin Lipimala ( The palæography of India ). First published 1894. Publisher of 3rd edition Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi 1971. Bharatiya Sahitya ki Ruparekha ( Outline of Indian Literature ). Publisher: Bharatiya Granthaghar, Lucknow 1956. Madhyakalina Bharatiya Sanskriti ( Indian culture in the Middle Ages). Publisher: Hindustani Akademi, Allahabad, 1945. Quarun i Vusta men Hindustani Tahzib, sanah 600 se sanah 1100 tak ( Urdu translation of above listing ) Translated by Prem Chand. Publisher: Hindustani Akademi, Allahabad. Nagari Anka aur Akshara ( Evolution of Devnagari numerals and alphabet ). G. H. Ojha, Keshavdev Mishra. Tenth edition 1949. Publisher: Hindi Sahitya Sammelana, Prayaga 2006. Prachin Bharatiya Abhilekha ( Ancient Indian inscriptions ). Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan, Delhi 2006. Suprasiddha itihaskara Karnala James Tod ka jivana charitra ( Biography of Col. James Tod ). Publisher: Rajasthani Granthaghar, Jodhpur 2002. Ojha Nibandh Sangrah (Collection of Article)by publisher: Shabd Mahima Prakashan, Jaipur 2010. .

Bharatiya anushilana grantha [Festschrift ( festival of writing/celebratory publication ) honouring Gaurishankar Hiranchand Ojha on his seventieth birthday, includes articles on Hindi literature]. Publisher: Hindi Sahitya Sammelana, Prayaga 1933.

Ojha Nibandha Sangraha. Publisher: Udayapura Sahitya Samsthan, Rajasthan Visva Vidyapith, 1954.

Muhonata Nainasi ki khyata. Hindi translation by Ramanarayan Dugar. In 2 volumes. Editor Volume 2: G. H. Ojha. Publisher: Nagaripracharini Sabha, Kashi 1934. Prachina Mudra ( Coins of ancient India) by Rakhal Das Banerji, translated by Ramchandra Varma. Editor G. H. Ojha. Publisher: Nagaripracharini Sabha, Varanasi 1992. Prithvirajavijaya (Poem in Sanskrit on Prithviraja III by Jayanaka in 12th century CE and commentary of Jonaraja). Edited by G. H. Ojha and Chandradhar Sharma Guleri. First published 1941. Publisher: Rajasthani Granthaghar, Jodhpur 1997.

Koshotsava Smaraka Sangraha. Collection of articles on Hindi language and literature to mark completion of Hindi shabdkosh (dictionary). Dedicated to the memory of Shyam Sundar Das. First published 1927. Editor: G. H. Ojha. Publisher: Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi 1985.

Mahamahopadhyaya Raibahadur Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha Sangraha Suchee. Principal Editor Dharmapala Sharma; Editors Ishvarsingh Ranawat, Mohabbatsingh Rathore. Publisher: Pratap Shodha Prathishtan, Udaipur 2008.