Key P
Padmavat: is the famous poem describing the story of queen Padmini, written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.
Paisacha: called after the savage Pisacha tribe, in the Hindu tradition, was form of marriage by rape, where the girl was carried off by force, or under false pretext against her will.
Palaeolithic Age: is called the old stone age&endash;the period between 2,000 B.C. and 10,000 B.C. It is also called the Ice Age.
Pali: Buddha preached in Pali language.
Panch Mahal: was built by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri. It is noted for its various types of pillars.
Panchala: In ancient times, Panchala was called maha-janapada. Early social organisation was tribal, and in course of time the territory in which a group of related tribes settled came to be known as janapada, which term was later used to connote a nation. Mahajanapada meant larger aggregates of such tribal nations.
Panchsheel: The Sino-Indian agreement of 1954 known as 'Panchsheel' enshrined peaceful co-existence, mutual respect for territorial integrity, and mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
But the principle of "mutual help in times of need" was not enshrined in the agreement .
Pandyas: was a kingdom in the south India in the 9th century. Their capital was Madurai. During the Sangam period, the Tamil poets and scholars were patronised by the Pandyas.
Panini: was the greatest of the Sanskrit grammarians.
Paramaras: This dynasty was not involved among the 'tripartite struggle' between Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas,
Parantaka-I: was the first important ruler of the Chola dynasty in 907 A.D. He ruled for almost half a century. He captured Madurai, capital of Pandyas.
Parsis: first came into India at Diu. Their sacred book is Torah.
Pasupati: The Hindu deity with three heads and horns, surrounded by animals, represented on a seal from Mohenjo-daro is referred to as Pasupati. It is also referred to as 'a prototype of the historic Siva'.
The people of Indus Valley Civilization worshipped Pasupati.
Patel, Vallabhbhai: (1875-1950) was a great and vigorous Congress leader and Deputy Prime Minister of India after independence in 1947&endash;well known as an iron man.
He was made Home Minister when Jawahar Lal Nehru formed the Interim Government in 1946.
He was not a member of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution.
Soon after independence in August 1947, he played a vital role in the integration of Princely States in India.
He is also known as the 'Bismarck of India'.
The Sarabandi (no-tax) campaign of 1922 was led by him.
Patriot of Patriots: Subhash Chandra Bose was described by Mahatma Gandhi as "patriot of patriots".
Peacock Throne: originally belonged to Shah Jahan. It now adores crown of the British Queen.
Permanent Settlement: was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal and Bihar on the suggestion of John Shore. It placed the Indian Revenue Systen on a scientific basis.
Under the system of Permanent Settlement during the British rule, Zamindars collected and paid land revenue to the government.
Persian Prose and Poetry: reached a climax under the reign of Akbar.
Peshwas: under the Maratha Empire had their capital at Pune (Poona). Refer Hazur Daftar.The first Peshwa ruler was Baji Rao.
Physiocrats: At the time of the French Revolution in 1789, the Economists were known as 'Physiocrats'.
Pitt's India Act, 1784: Through this Act, the English East India Company was brought under the supervision of the British Parliament.
Pollution concept: emerged clearly in the age of Dharma Shastras.
Polyandry (women having several husbands): As Rig Veda points out, polyandry was NOT common in the Vedic period.
Poona Pact: was signed in 1932 between various groups and parties among the Hindus led by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar on behalf of the Harijans repudiating the Communal Award given by the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald which conceded separate electorates on communal basis.
Mahatma Gandhi had staked his life to get the Award annulled and went on a fast unto death.
Portrait-bearing coins : became popular under the Kushans.
Portuguese settlements in India: The circumstances favourable for the Portuguese settlements in India in the beginning were: (1) they took advantage of the jealousy among the small princes on the Malabar coast; (2) they found that there was no State worth the name which could make sustained efforts to prevent their establishment; and (3) their warships were more formidable than any ships they met in Indian waters.
Prajapati: In the later Vedic pantheon, the supreme position was held by a Prajapati.
Prajapatya: a vaguely defined form of marriage, whose chief feature appears to be that its conditions were fixed and there was no dowry.
Prakrit: This language received royal patronage during the reign of Satavahanas.
Pratihara (Parihar): This dynasty was founded in 725 A.D. by Nagabhata of the Gurjara sect.
Prayag Prasasti: written by Harisen, is the main source of the conquests of Samudragupta.
Prayaga: was the ancient name of modern Allahabad. Prayaga was conquered by Ghori kings in 1194 A.D. Its name was changed to Allahabad by the Mughals.
Prithviraj Raso: written in Braj Bhasha by Chand Bardai is the story of the prowess and romance of Prithviraj Chauhan.
Priyadarsi: is the name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscripions.
Priyadarsika: a Sanskrit drama by king Harsha Vardhana is a 'harem tragedy'.
Provincial Autonomy: was introduced in India during the reign of Lord Linlithgo.
Pulakesan-II: was the most famous king of the Chalukya dynasty who ascended the throne in 611 A.D.
Aihole inscription gives information about him.
Pulumayi, Sri: His best-known epigraphic inscriptions are at Nashik.
Punch-marked Silver Coins: The earliest evidence of silver in India is found in punch-marked silver coins found in Bihar.
Puranas: are 18 in number.
Purandaradasa: was the earliest and the most celebrated of the Kanarese classical singers. He was once the favourite of the Vijayanagar court. He systematized Karnataka music in his masterly compositions.
Pushyamitra : was the famous ruler and founder of the Sunga dynasty (185-73 B.C.). The last Mauryan ruler was overthrown by him. He thus became the first ruler of the Sunga dynasty which succeeded the Mauryans.
The great Stupa at Sanchi and the railings which enclose it belong to the Sunga period.
