Such are the Indian notions of history writing. These must have evolved due to the longevity of this nation. The compilers were to write the history of a nation, the beginning of which goes to the remotest past. Nobody knows the date. The life of this nation is longer than that of the writing material, whether paper, palmyra leaves, metals or stone. It is said that the barbarian invaders have destroyed our libraries and the source material. No doubt they have destroyed a lot. The huge library at Nalanda University was burning for days together. But in case of this nation, this loss can be said to be only a drop in the ocean. Nature and natural calamities have destroyed major portion of the source material. One thousand sites of Harappan civilization known so far, were destroyed by natural calamities. What a huge source material must have been destroyed then ? And it is but natural for a nation having such a longevity.
We do not know whether Valmiki who is said to have written the Ramayana and Vyasa who is said to have compiled the Mahabharata and the Puranas, themselves knew about the beginning of the life of this nation. One need not wonder hence, if they take the birth of this nation with that of the Creation it self. In ancient Indian literature, the compilation by Vyasa is numbered 28th, believe it-or not. None of the previous compilations is available at present. Many doubt whether they should believe in those 27 compilations. But what about the Tamil Sangam literature ? Three Sangams i.e., associations of literature, are said to have continued for long number of years. Of the three Sangams the literature of only the last Sangam, that too very few books, is available now. All the rest was washed away by the sea, a natural calamity.

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