At the suggestion of Kulapati Munshiji, the Bhavan undertook a monumental project of great historic significance in 1944. Munshiji wanted the Bhavan to produce an exhaustive and authentic history of our motherland, a history not of her rulers, but of her people and their culture. He had realised that all our countrymen, particularly the younger generation, should be made aware not only of the glory, greatness and achievements of our nation down the ages but also of her weaknesses and drawbacks.
With this objective, the Bharatiya Itihasa Vibhag was established by the Bhavan to bring out the History and Culture of the Indian People, covering all aspects - spiritual, cultural, political, social and economic - of life of the Indian people from the Vedic Age to modern times. It was a highly ambitious project of gigantic magnitude. Seventy-five top ranking historians of great minence, each an expert in a chosen period of Indian History, were commissioned to write a most comprehensive and critical history. The late Dr. R.C. Majumdar, distinguished historian of international repute, led this team of scholars as the General Editor of the series.
The last volume entitled 'Maratha Supremacy' in this series of 11 volumes was brought out on January 26, 1977. The publication of this volume marked the successful completion of this historic project after hard and sustained labours spread over 32 years.

The following are the 11 volumes:
Vol. I The Vedic Age (from the earliest times).
Pages 565, with illustrations.
Vol. II The Age of Imperial Unity (600 B.C. to 320 A.D.).
Pages 797, with 35 plates and 4 maps.
Vol. III The Classical Age (320 to 750 A.D.).
Pages 818 with 43 plates and 4 maps.
Vol. IV The Age of Imperial Kanauj (750 to 1,000 A.D.).
Pages 649 with 3 maps.
Vol. V The Struggle for Empire (1000 to 1300 A.D.).
Pages 1000 with 62 plates and 2 maps.
Vol. VI The Delhi Sultanate (1300 to 1526 A.D.).
Pages 882, with 46 plates and 4 maps.
Vol. VII The Moghul Empire (1526 to 1707 A.D.).
Pages 1004, with 42 plates.
Vol. VIII The Maratha Supremacy (1707 to 1818 A.D.).
Pages 880.
Vol. IX The British Paramountcy and Indian Renaissance - Part I (1818 to 1905 A.D.).
Pages 1245 with 2 maps.
Vol. X The British Paramountcy and Indian Renaissance - Part II
Vol. XI The Struggle for Freedom (1905 to 1947 A.D.).
Pages 1176, with 18 plates.

This history series has acquired international reputation and has been hailed as an outstanding achievement of modern Indian scholarship. It has found a place in all the major libraries and universities of India and abroad as an authentic work of reference. Many volumes have gone into seven and eight editions.