Due to lack of historical knowledge on India I'm unable to contribute to the current dialogue, but I want to add a further comment to this thread.
One of the difficulties I have with Dr. Pal's work (which I know from his time on Pothos and his websites) is that I find it very confusing, this being partly understandable due to my lamentable ignorance of Indian history. However, if I were to read his book then I would hope for an explanation of said history in order to further my understanding. If, on the other hand, I need to
first research Indian history then it's not likely I would purchase Dr. Pal’s book, whatever the cost.
I use the word
difficulties above rather than
problems because I always felt Dr. Pal to be a delightfully intelligent and charming man who makes me want to know more about Alexander and India. Unfortunately, even when he was active on Pothos (and I asked for explanations) his answers made me more confused than I was previously! And nothing I've read since then has increased my comprehension - see the quotes below for an example:
From the
BMCR Review:If Pal's idea that Diodotus of Erythrae, the mysterious editor of Alexander's diary, was Chandragupta is indeed true, then there is ample ground to suspect that Alexander was poisoned. In many manuscripts Chandragupta is not mentioned, but his place is taken by Rantivarma. From this Pal concludes that Rantivarma was another name of Chandragupta and identifies him with Orontobates, the Carian satrap who fought against Alexander.
From one of Dr. Pal's
websites: The Sanskrit sources provide the crucial information that Orontobates is the same as Chandragupta who eventually became one of the greatest rulers of the East. The drama Mudrarakshasa shows that Chandragupta was also known as Rantivarma which is the same as Orontes. When and where did they first meet? We do not know but there is a clue in the form of a princess (Ada the younger, daughter of Pixodarus) who had once fired the fancy of Alexander’s youth and later became Orontobates’ wife. There is no warrant to invent a love triangle here but it is absurd to think that Alexander would forget Ada and as such her husband must have had a special place in his mind …
… Though it can be inferred from Diodorus' report, western scholars have failed to realise that Orontobates was the same as Tiridates who later assumed the name of Sisicottos or Sasigupta. Tiridates handed over the fabulous treasury of Persepolis to Alexander. As Diodorus writes he played a silent role in many of Alexander's victories. Other names of Sisicottos were Diodotus of Erythrae, Sissines, and Andragoras.
So, according to Dr. Pal, Diodotus of Erythrae was also (known as) Chandragupta, Rantivarma, Orontobates, Orontes, Tiridates, Sisicottos, Sasigupta, Sissine, and Andragoras! Now, is it likely that one man could have been all these people or have been known by all these names? In his book does Dr. Pal explain the connections? – I mean
really explain them along with supplying supporting information which might make me say, “Oh yes, I see it.” Or does he continue to use the seemingly commonplace
"A’s name has the same meaning as B; B was also known as C; C’s name means the same as D; therefore I conclude that D and A are the same person."? If the latter then I’m afraid the amateur historian in me is unlikely to find the arguments convincing. I’m wide open to learning more about Alexander via sources other than the Greek and Roman, but I'm afraid I need some kind of supporting evidence in order to believe what I’m being told rather than just taking the writer's word for it.
Best regards,
