UNACADEMY HUMANITIES

By AJAY DHAYAL
EDUCATOR UNACADEMY
BOOK 1 (Ancient India )

Q.1 Explain with examples the layout design of the Great Bath on the Citadel in Mohenjodaro.
Lay out design of the Great Bath:
i. The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank in the courtyard surrounded by corridor on all four sides.
ii. There were two flights of steps on the north and south leading into the tank.
iii. The tank and steps were made water tight by bricks and mortar.
iv. There were rooms on three sides in one of which was a large well.
v. Water from the tank flowed into a huge drain.
vi. There were eight other bathrooms four on either side of the corridor.

Q.2 Describe the domestic architecture of Harappan cities.

The Domestic Architecture of Harappan Cities:
i. The lower town provides examples of residential buildings.
ii. Many houses were centred on a courtyard, with rooms on all sides.
iii. The courtyard was probably the centre of activities such as cooking, weaving etc.
iv. There are no windows on the walls along the ground level.
v. The main entrance does not give a direct view of the interior of the courtyard.
vi. Every house had bathroom.
vii. Every house was connected to the street drains.
viii. Some houses have remain of staircases to reach a second storey of the roof.
ix. Many houses had wells.
Q3. Explain how the centres of craft production are identified in the Harappan culture. Also explain how recovered artefacts are
classified.
OR
Explain any five features of the urban centres of Harappan Civilization. Also explain the strategies followed by the archaeologists to
study the social and economic differences of the Harappans.
Answer :
Harappan craft
i. By looking at the raw material such as stone nodules, whole shells copper etc.
ii. Archaeologists also look for unfinished objects.
iii. They also look for rejects
iv. Waste material.
v. Archaeologist looked for tools used by those people.
viii. Any other relevant point
Any four to be explained

Classification of recovered artefacts

i. One simple classification is in terms of material such as stone, clay,
bone ivory etc.
ii. The second is in terms of function
iii. The archeologists have to decide whether it is a tool or an ornament.
iv. Sometimes indirect evidence is taken into consideration.
v. Archaeologists have to develop frames of reference to identify

function of artefact.
Features of Urban centers of Harappan Civilization
i. Settlement divided into two sections.
1 .Upper Citadel
2 .Lower town
ii. .Citadel built on mud brick platform, walled and physically separated
from lower town.
iii. Lower town much larger was also walled; here buildings were built on
platforms.
iv. Drainage-- every house was connected to the street drain. Main
Channels were made of bricks and limestone was used for covering drains.
v. Road--Roads were in grid pattern, intersecting at right angles.
vi. Domestic architecture:-Residential building were centered on
courtyard with rooms on all four sides, had bathroom, drains
connected with street drains, wells and no windows in the walls for
maintaining privacy.
vii. .Great bath-It was a rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by
corridors on four sides, with two flights of steps. there were rooms on
three sides and in one was a large well there were eight bathrooms
viii. Ware house
ix. Dockyard

Social & economic differences in Harappa

[Link]-Differences were reflected in the burials where common people
were laid in pits where as some graves contained pottery and ornaments.
These variations showed the social economic difference.
2. Artefacts:- Archaeologists have classified artefacts as utilitarian and
luxurious. Utilitarian include objects of daily use and made of ordinary
material where as luxurious were made from costly and non-local material.
3. Jewellery- Different ornaments also reflected the social & economic
difference like shell rings, Jasper beads as precious and semi precious
material where as terracotta and micro beads were ordinary.
[Link]:- Citadel as the upper town and lower town reflected the social
and economic difference

Q.4 Explain the problems faced by archaeologists in classifying the finds of Harappan
artefacts. Mention archaeologists’ interpretation of Harappan town planning.
OR
Q.5 Explain the role of Cunningham and John Marshall in Indian archaeology.
Answer :
The archaeologists faced problems in classification
i. Classification in terms of material, such as clay, stone, bone, etc
ii. On the basis of functions- it is difficult to decide where it is a tool or an ornament
iii. Issue of resemblance with present day things
iv. Artifacts were found in house, in a drain or in grave o in some other area
vii. Any other relevant point

HARAPPAN TOWN PLANNING

i. The CITADEL had buildings which were constructed on mud brick platforms
ii. The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by a corridor on all four sides. There were twoflights of
steps on the north and south leading into the [Link] were rooms on three sides, in one of which was a large well. Across a lane
to the north lay a smaller building with eight bathrooms, four on each side of a corridor. Scholars suggest that it was meant for
some kind of a special ritual bath.
iii. LOWER TOWN
The Lower Town was also walled. the settlement was first planned and then built accordingly
iv. DRAINAGE SYSTEM
It seems that streets with drains were laid out first and then houses were built along them. Houses were built with unbaked bricks
but drainages were made with burned bricks
v. ROADS AND STREETS were laid out along an approximate “grid” pattern, intersecting at right angles.
vi. .DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE
- Many were centred on a courtyard, with rooms on all sides.
- Every house had its own bathroom paved with bricks. House drains connected through the wall to the street drains.
- Some houses have remains of stair cases to reach a second storey or the roof. Many houses had wells
ANS: 6
CUNNINGHAM AND JOHN MASHALL
Cunningham
i. Cunningham was the first Director-General of the ASI and called as father of Indian archaeology. Cunningham’s main
interest was in the archaeology of the Early Historic periods.
ii. He used the accounts left by Chinese Buddhist pilgrims who had visited India between the 4th and 7th centuries CE .
iii. Harappan artefacts were found fairly often during the nineteenth century and some of these reached Cunningham, he
did not realise how old these were.
iv. A Harappan seal was given to Cunningham by an Englishman.
v. He noted the object, but unsuccessfully tried to place it within the time-frame of c. sixth century BCE-fourth century CE. It is not
surprising that he missed the significance of Harappa. John Marshall
i. John Marshall , the Director-General of ASI and he made a major change in Indian archaeology.
ii. He was the first professional archaeologist to work in India, and brought his experience of working in Greece and Crete to India.
iii. He was interested in spectacular finds and patterns of everyday life.
iv. Marshall tended to excavate along regular horizontal units, measured uniformly throughout the mound, ignoring the stratigraphy
of the site.
v. This meant that all the artefacts recovered from the same unit were grouped together, even if they were found at different
stratigraphic layers.
vi. As a result, valuable information about Harappan civilisation was irretrievably lost.

Q.7 Explain the subsistence strategies followed by the Harappans.

OR
Q.8 How did the Harappan Civilisation come to an end ? Explain it with evidences.
SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES (DIETARY PRACTICES) OF HARAPPAN CULTURES AND MATURE HARAPPAN CULTURES
i. The Harappans ate a wide range of plant products.
ii. Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices from finds of charred food grains and seeds
iii. These are studied by Archaeo - botanists, who are specialists in ancient plant remains.
iv. Food grains found at Harappan sites include wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, sesame, Millets and rice.
v. The Harappans ate a wide range of animal products
vi. Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct use of animals from finds of charred animal bones found at Harappan sites. These
include those of cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig.
vii. These are studied by Archaeo-zoologists or zoo-Archaeologists who are specialists in ancient animal remains.
viii. Bones of wild species such as boar, deer and gharial were also found. We do not know
whether the Harappans hunted these animals themselves or obtained meat from other hunting (tribal) communities.
ix. Representations on seals and terracotta sculpture indicate that the bull was known, and oxen were used for ploughing.
x. Terracotta models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan and at Banawali (Haryana)
xi. Archaeologists have also found evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan (Rajasthan).The field had two sets of furrows at right
angles to each other, suggesting that two different crops were grown together.
xii. Archaeologists have also identified the tools used for harvesting. Harappans used stone blades set in wooden handles and
metal tools made of copper.
xiii. Most Harappan sites are located in semi-arid lands. Traces of canals, water reservoirs and wells have been found at the
Harappan sites indicate that agriculture was practiced.
END OF THE CIVILISATION
i. Climatic change,
ii. Deforestation,
iii. Excessive floods,
iv. Shifting and/or drying up of rivers,
V. overuse of the landscape
EVIDENCES OF THE END OF CIVILIZATION
i. Most of the Mature Harappan sites had been abandoned..
ii. Distinctive artifacts of the civilisation- weights, seals, special beads, writing, long-distance trade, and craft specialization
disappeared after 1800 BCE.
iii. House construction techniques deteriorated
iv. Large public structures were no longer produced.
v. Overall disappearance of artifacts and settlements indicates a rural way of life.
vi. It appears that a strong unifying element, perhaps the Harappan state, came to an end.

Q.9 Describe the familial ties and rules of marriage as per the Brahmanical
prescription during c. 600 BCE – 600 CE. 8
OR
Q.10 Describe the Brahmanical theory regarding kinship and the ideal
occupations of the varna order. Give examples to prove that this theory
was not universally followed.

Familial ties during 600BCE-600CE:

i. Every family varied in terms of number of members.
ii. They had definite relationship with one another, common activities and shared food and resources.
iii. They performed rituals together.
iv. They had larger network of people called Kinfolk.
v. The family ties were natural based on blood.
Rules of marriage:
i. Sons were considered important to continue lineage and daughters were married outside and had no claim on resources of the
household.
ii. Endogamy and exogamy were prevalent.
iii. Polygyny was also there.
iv. Polyandry- like in Pandavas were in practice.
v. Dharmasutras and dharmashastras recognized eight forms of marriages out of which only four were considered good.
vi. The girls were married to the right person at a right time and kanyadana was considered a religious duty of the father.
vii. Women were expected to give up their father‟s gotra and adopt that of their husband on marriage.
viii. Members of the same gotra could not marry
Kinship:
i. Families were usually a part of kinship.
ii. This was regarded natural, based on blood.
iii. Kinfolk had relations with one another but sometimes they quarreled.
iv. The feud of Kauravas and Pandavas reinforced the idea of patrinity.
v. Sons could claim the resources and the throne.
Varna order:
i. Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras contained rules about ideal occupations.
ii. Brahmins were supposed to study and teach Vedas, perform sacrifices and rituals, give and receive gifts.
iii. Kshatriyas were to engage in warfare, protect people and administer justice, study Vedas, get sacrifices performed and make
gifts.
iv. Vaishyas were to carry on trade, agriculture and pastoralism in addition to study of Vedas, get sacrifices performed and make
gifts.
v. Shudras were to do menial jobs and to serve the three higher varnas.
Instances to prove that this theory was not universally followed:
i. Non kshatriya kings- Contrary to the ideal occupations of the Varna [Link] Shungas and Kanvas were Brahmins.
ii. Some Satavahana queens retained their father‟s gotras even after marriage.
iii. Examples of endogamy were found in the Satavahana rulers.
iv. Bhim‟s marriage with Hidimba was deviation from the Dharmasutras.
v. The rule of gendered access to property defied in the case of Vakataka queen Prabhavati Gupta.
vi. Eklavya acquiring archery skills and the Mandasor inscription of guild of silk weavers from Lata Gujarat is an example of
deviation from rules of ideal occupation.

Q.11 ‘‘Mahabharata is a complex text.’’ Support the statement in the context of

historians who have analysed it with various elements.
OR
Q.12 ‘‘Mahabharata is a story based on kinship and social relations.’’ Support
the statement with examples.
Historians considered several elements when they analyze the Mahabharata.
i. Language – Historians examined texts in different languages such as Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali or Tamil.
ii. Content – Historians classify the content of the present text under two broad heads –
a. Sections that contain stories designated as the Narrative.
b. Sections that contain prescriptions about social norms designated as the Didactic.
This division is by no means water tight. The didactic section includes stories and narrative often contains a social message.
iii. Authors –
a. Original story was composed by Charioteer Bards known as Sutas who generally accompanied Kshatriya warriors to
the battlefield. Their compositions were transmitted orally.
b. Brahmans took over the story and committed it to writing. New kings wanted their history/ itihasa to be recorded.
c. Later Mahabharata composed by Sage Vyasa.
iv. Dates –
a. Historians also try and ascertain the possible dates of the composition or compilation of the texts as well as the place where they
may have been composed.
b. Early to fifth century BCE, the Mahabharata was orally transmitted.
c. From fifth century BCE, it was written down by the Brahmanas.
d. Between C200 and 200 CE – compositions were made when Krishna grew in importance.
e. Between C200 to 400 CE large didactic sections like Manusmriti were added
Mahabharata is a story based on kinship and social relations.
i. Kinfolk – Familial ties based on natural and blood relations. Historians investigated and analyzed attitude towards family and
kinship.
ii. The idea of Patriliny – Mahabharata reinforced this idea, feud over land and power was between Kauravas and Pandavas who
belonged to a single ruling family that of the Kurus.
iii. Types of marriage – Endogamy, Exogamy, Polygyny and Polyandry system were followed.
iv. Kanyadana or gift of a daughter in marriage was considered an important religious duty of a father.
v. Gotras of Women – Women were expected to give up their father’s gotra and adopt that of their husband’s on marriage.
vi. Members of the same gotra could not marry
vii. Each gotra was named after a Vedic seer.
viii. Matriarchal society – Satvahanas had names derived from Gotra of mothers.
ix. Guru Shishya Parampara – The story of Ekalavya and Dronacharaya
x. Importance of Mother’s advice – Pandavas marrying Draupadi after mother’s advice. However, the advice given by Gandhari to
her son Duryodhana was not followed.
xi. Succession of women – Although ordinary women had no access to land, Queen Prabhavati Gupta had rights over land which
she donated.
xii. Rules of Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras were not always followed. For example, Non-Kshatriyas even Brahmanas became
rulers. Like wise eight forms of marriage were recognized but only four were considered as good while the remaining were
condemned.
xiii. It is possible that these were followed by those who did not accept Brahmanical norms

Q.13 Explain how the Sanchi Stupa stands testimony to successful conservation
policies taken up in the 19th century. Why did this not happen in the case of
the Stupa at Amaravati ? Explain. 4 + 4 = 8
OR
Q.14 “To understand the meanings of Sculptures, historians have to be familiar
with the stories behind them.” Support the statement by giving examples
from Buddhist and Hindu Art from 600 BCE to 600 CE.
Conservation of Sanchi Stupa
i. The rulers of Bhopal(Shahjahan Begum and her successor Sultan Jahan Begum)provided money for its preservations.
ii. She funded the museum.
iii. She funded the guesthouse where John Marshall lived and wrote the volumes.
iv. She funded the publication of the volumes.
v. ASI also helped to restore and preserve it.

Fate of Amravati
i. Local Raja wanted to build a temple on the ruins of stupa.
ii. Colin Meckanize prepared report on Amravati but was never published.
iii. Walter Elliot , the commissioner of Guntur took away Sculpture panels of Amravati to Madras.
iv. Slabs of Amravati were sent to Asiatic Society of Bengal.
v. Indefensible policy led to decline of original work of Amravati.
Hindu and Buddhist Art and Sculpture
Hindu Sculpture and Art
i. Vaishnavism – Sculpture of ten Avatars. Eg. the Varaha rescuing the earth goddess(Aihole), Vishnu with Sheshnag.
ii. Shaivaism- Sculptures of Shiva in Linga
iii. Sculptures of Shiva in human form too.
iv. The image of Durga at Mahabalipuram.
v. Sculpture of Vasudeva –Krishna in Mathura.
vi. Ellora Sculptures.
vii. Kailash Nath temple.

Buddhist Sculptures
i. Empty seat of Buddha indicated meditation.
ii. Wheel stand for first Serman of Buddha.
iii. Shailabhanjika , an auspicious symbol of prosperity.
iv. Gajalakshmi –Goddess of good fortune.
v. Tree symbolizes an event in the life of the Buddha.
vi. Images of Buddha and Bodhisattas.
vii. Serpants and animal motifs.
viii. Scenes from Jataka stories and Buddha’s hagiography.

The Amravati could not survive because

i. Amaravati was discovered before scholars understood the value of its preservations.
ii. In 1854, Walter Elliot, collected several sculpture panels and took them away to Madras.
iii. By the 1850s, some of the slabs from Amaravati had begun to be taken to different places - to the Asiatic Society of
Bengal at Calcutta, to the India Office in Madras and some even to London.
iv. British officials continued to remove sculptures from the site on the grounds that earlier officials had done the same.
v. Local rajas also took remains of Amravati Stupa to build their temple.
Questions : 15 The Sixth Century BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in early Indian
history’. Justify with two arguments.
The sixth century BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in early Indian history
i. An era associated with early states, cities.
ii. An era associated with the growing use of iron.
iii. An era associated with the development of coinage.
iv. It witnessed the growth of diverse systems of thought (Religions) including Buddhism and Jainism.
v. It is also associated with emergence of Sixteen Mahajanapadas

Q.16 Explain the characteristics of Mahajanapadas and explain Magadha as the most powerful Mahajanapada.
OR
Q.17 Explain the main features of the Mauryan administration and explain the principles of Ashoka’s ‘Dhamma
Characteristics of Mahajanpadas
i. Most Mahajanpadas were ruled by kings.
ii. Some known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies where power was shared by a number of men, often collectively called
rajas.
iii. Both Mahavira and Buddha belonged to such ganas.
iv. Each Mahajanpada had a capital city which was often fortified.
v. Brahmins laid down the norms for the rulers in texts known as Dharmasutras.
vi. Rulers were advised to collect taxes and tribute from cultivators, traders and artisans.
vii. Gradually, some states acquired standing armies and maintained regular bureaucracies.
viii. Some others continued to depend on militia, recruited more often than not, from the peasantry.

Magadha as the most powerful Mahajanpada

i. Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially productive.
ii. Iron-mines were accessible which provided resources for making tools and weapons.
iii. Elephants, an important component of army was available in the forests of this region.
iv. Ganga and its tributaries provided water for cheap and convenient communication.
v. Ambitious and powerful rulers like Bimbisara, Ajatasattu and Mahapadma Nanda and their policies.
vi. Capitals of Magadha was Rajagaha (house of the king) which was a fortified settlement located amongst hills. Later capital was
shifted to Pataliputra, on commanding routes of communication along the Ganga.

Main features of Maurayas Administration

i. There were five major political centres in the empire. They were Pataliputra, Taxila, Ujjayni, Tosali and Suvarngiri.
ii. Administrative control was strongest in areas around the capital and the provincial centres.
iii. Communication along both river and land routes were vital.
iv. Army was an important means for ensuring protection for those who were on the move.
v. Megasthenes mentions a committee with six subcommittees for coordinating military activity.
vi. Ashoka try to hold his empire through propogating Dhamma.
Principles of Ashoka’s Dhamma
i. The principles of Ashoka’s Dhamma were simple and virtually universally applicable.
ii. According to Ashoka, this would ensure the well-being of people in the world and the next.
iii. Ashoka inscribed his messages to the subjects on stones or rocks.
iv. This included respect for elders and generosity towards Brahmins and those who renounced worldly life.
v. Treating slaves and servants kindly.
vi. Respect for religion and tradition other than one’s own.
vii. Special officers, Known as the dhamma mahamatta, were appointed to spread the message of Dhamma.

Q.18 Explain the sources used by historians to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire.

Sources to reconstruct the history of Mauryan Empire:

i) Archaeological finds -sculptures, coins, rock edicts
ii) Accounts of Megasthenes
iii) Arthashastra composed by Kautilya
iv) Buddhist, Jaina, Puranic literature and Sanskrit literary works.
v) Accounts of Chinese travellers
vi) Inscriptions of Asoka

Q.19 Describe the familial relationship observed during Mahabharat era.

• i. Families are usually parts of larger networks of people defined as relatives/ kinfolk.
• ii. People belonging to the same family share food, resources, work, and live together and perform rituals together.
• iii. Familial ties were often regarded as “natural” and based on blood
• iv. Rules about patriliny-The Mahabharata shows patriliny. It describes a feud over land and power between the Kauravas and the
Pandavas
• v. Most ruling dynasties followed patrilineal with little variations
• vi. In very exceptional circumstances, women such as Prabhavati Gupta exercised power
• vii. Rules of marriage- There were two systems of marriage- Endogamy and Exogamy.
• viii. Marriages-Girls were married at the “right” time and to the “right” person.
• ix. Kanyadana or the gift of a daughter in marriage was an important religious duty of the father.
• x. There are three types of marriage- Monogamy, polygamy or Polyandry
• xi. Marriage norms were compiled in Dharmasutras, Dharmashastras and Manusmriti.
• xii. These texts recognized as many as eight forms of marriage.
• xiii. The Gotra rules for women- Each gotra was named after a Vedic seer, and all those who belonged to the same gotra were
regarded as his descendants.

Q.20 “There are limits to what epigraphy can reveal.” Justify the statement with suitable arguments.
Limits of Epigraphy
Technical limitations –
i. Letters are faintly engraved and reconstruction are uncertain.
ii. Inscription may be damaged or letters are missing.
iii. It is not always easy to be sure about the exact meaning of the words used in inscription .
iv. Not all inscriptions have been deciphered.
v. Many inscriptions have not survived the ravages of time.
vi. The content of the inscriptions projects the perspective of the person who commissioned them.

Q.21 Explain the most important idea of Jainism and its impact on Indian thinking. (2+6)
OR
Q.22 “Be lamps unto yourselves as all of you must work out your own liberation “. In light of this statement explain the teachings of
Buddhism.
Most important idea of Jainism:-
i) The entire world is animated and hence Ahimsa is emphasized.
ii) Non injury to living beings
Impact on Indian thinking:-
i) Idea of Ahimsa left its mark on Indian thinking as a whole- Influenced Bhuddha and Gandhiji
ii) Cycle of birth and rebirth through karma
iii) Renouncing the world to free oneself from the cycle of karma
iv) High moral thinking was advised through the vows like not stealing, killing, lying or possessing property and observing celibacy
v) Simple way of life
vi) Vegetarianism

Teachings of Buddha
i) Buddha’s teachings are reconstructed from stories
ii) These stories are found in ‘Sutta Pitaka’
iii) They describe his miraculous powers
iv) They let us about how Buddha tried to convince people through reason and persuasion rather than through supernatural powers
v) He convinced a woman who was in grief over the death of a child about the variable
nature of death and did not advice her to bring back her son to life
vi) He spoke in a simple language which common people could understand
vii) He said, world is transient (Anicca) and constantly changing
viii) It is soulless and there is nothing permanent about the world
ix) By following the path of moderation, human beings can rise above these worldly troubles
x) Existence of God is irrelevant to Buddhism
xi) Buddha considered social world as the creation of humans rather than divine origin
xii) He advocated that people should follow ethics and be humane.
xiii) He believed that individual effort can change social relations
xiv) Individual agency and righteous action as the means to escape from the cycle of
rebirth
Q.23 Trace out the growth of Buddhism. Explain the main teachings of Buddha.
OR
Q.24 Trace out how stupas were built. Explain why the stupa at Sanchi survived, but not at Amravati.
The Growth of Buddhism
i. Buddhism grew rapidly both during the lifetime of the Buddha and after his death.
ii. It appealed to many people dissatisfied with existing religious practices and confused by the rapid social changes taking place
around them.
iii. The importance attached to conduct and values rather than claims of superiority based on birth, the emphasis placed on metta
(fellow feeling) and karuna (compassion), especially for those who were younger and weaker than oneself, were ideas that drew
men and women to Buddhist teachings.
iv. Buddhism grew due to Buddhist text- Tipitaka (the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka), the Dipavamsa &
Mahavamsa, Ashokavadana, Jatakas and Buddhist hagiography.
v. Buddhist Sanghas, Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis spread the message.
vi. Stupas
vii. Ashokan pillars and inscriptions
viii. Dhamma – mahamattas
ix. Buddhist sects – Hinayana and Mahayana
x. Support of Rulers
xi. Foreign pilgrims
The Main Teachings of Buddha
i. The world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing.
ii. It is soulless (anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it.
iii. Sorrow (dukkha) is intrinsic to human existence.
iv. The path of moderation between severe penance and self-indulgence.
v. Social world as the creation of humans rather than of divine origin.
vi. Advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical.
vii. Individual effort was expected to transform social relations.
viii. Emphasis on individual agency and righteous action as the means to escape from the cycle of rebirth and attain selfrealisation
and nibbana
ix. Extinguish ego and desire to end the cycle of suffering.
How were Stupas built?
i. Stupas were regarded as sacred as it contained relics of the Buddha such as his bodily remains or objects used by him were
buried there.
ii. According to a Buddhist text, the Ashoka vadana, Ashoka distributed portions of the Buddha’s relics to every important town and
ordered the construction of stupas over them.
iii. By the second century BCE, Bharhut, Sanchi and Sarnath, had been built.
iv. Donations made by kings such as the Satavahanas
v. By guilds (ivory workers financed gateways at Sanchi).
vi. Hundreds of donations were made by women and men who mention their names, sometimes adding the name of the place from
where they came, as well as their occupations and names of their relatives.
vii. Bhikkhus and bhikkhunis also contributed towards building these monuments.
Why did Sanchi survive while Amaravati did not? The Sanchi Stupa survives because
i. The rulers of Bhopal, Shahjehan Begum and her successor Sultan Jehan Begum provided money for its preservation
ii. Funded the museum
iii. Funded the guesthouse where John Marshall lived and wrote the volumes.
iv. She also funded the publication of the volumes.
v. Sanchi Stupa escaped from the eyes of railway contractors, builders and those looking for finds to carry away to the museums of
Europe.
vi. Instead of taking the original gateways of Sanchi, both the French and the English took its plaster-cast copies.
vii. H. [Link] was against the looting of original works of ancient art.
viii. Nineteenth-century Europeans were very interested in the Stupa at Sanchi.

Q.25 Describe the economic and social conditions of the people living in rural areas
from c. 600 BCE to 600 CE.
The economic and social conditions of the people in rural areas from c 600 BCE to 600 CE A Economic condition:
i. Acccording to Jataka and Panchatantra the relationship between a king and his subjects,
could often be strained – kings frequently tried to fill their coffers by demanding high taxes. The peasants particularly found
demands oppressive. Escaping into the forest remained an option.
ii. Different strategies such as (a) shift to plough agriculture, (b) iron ploughshare for the
growth in agricultural productivity, (c) the use of irrigation, through wells and tanks, and
less commonly, canals were adopted for increasing production.
iii. From the early centuries of the Common Era, the grants of land being made. For example the
inscriptions of Prabhavati Gupta.
iv. Some historians feel that land grants were part of a strategy adopted by ruling lineages to extend agriculture to new areas.
v. Others suggest that land grants were indicative of weakening political power: as kings were losing control over their samantas,
they tried to win allies by making grants of land. They also feel that kings tried to project themselves as supermen.
vi. Land grants provide some insight into the relationship between cultivators and the state.
vii. There were people who were often beyond the reach of officials or samantas: pastoralists,
fisherfolk and hunter-gatherers, mobile or semi- sedentary artisans and shifting cultivators.
B Social condition:
i. There was a growing differentiation amongst people engaged in agriculture –landless
agricultural labourers, small peasants, as well as large landholders.
ii. The large landholders, as well as the village headman emerged as powerful figures, and often
exercised control over other cultivators.
iii. Early Tamil literature (the Sangam texts) also mentions different categories of people living in
the villages – large landowners or vellalar, ploughmen or uzhavar and slaves or adimai.
iv. It is likely that these differences were based on differential access to land, labour and some of
the new technologies.
v. Gahapati was the owner, master or head of the household and also owner of the resources –
land, animals and other things – that belonged to the household.
vi. Sometimes the term was used as a marker of status for men belonging to the urban elite, including wealthy merchants.
vii. Gendered assess to property.
viii. A variety of occupations followed by the people belonging to different caste /varnas.
ix. Buddhist literature tells us about people belonging to different caste / varnas acquiring wealth and power (becoming kings).
x. Patriliny and Polygamy

Q.26 ‘‘There are indications of complex decisions being taken and implemented
in the Harappan society.’’ In light of this statement, explain whether
there may have been rulers to rule over the Harappan society.
There are indications of complex decisions being taken and implemented in
Harappan society
i. A large building found at Mohenjodaro was labelled as a palace by
archaeologists but no spectacular finds were associated with it.
ii. A stone statue was labelled and continues to be known as the “priestking”.
iii. Some archaeologists are of the opinion that Harappan society had no rulers, and that everybody enjoyed equal status.
iv. Others feel there was no single ruler but several, that Mohenjodaro had a separate ruler, Harappa another, and so forth.
v. Historians argue that there was a single state, given the similarity in artefacts - such as pottery seals, weights and bricks, the
evidence- for planned settlements such as the standardised ratio of brick size, and the establishment of settlements near sources
of raw material.
vi. According to some scholars the last theory seems the most plausible, as it is unlikely that entire communities could have
collectively made and implemented such complex decisions.
vii. There was extraordinary uniformity of Harappan artefacts.
viii. The bricks, though obviously not produced in any single centre, were of a uniform ratio throughout the region, from Jammu to
Gujarat.
ix. Settlements were strategically set up in specific locations for various reasons.
x. Labour was mobilised for making bricks and for the construction of massive walls and platforms. A planned urban centre with
well laid out drainage system.

Q.27 Much later in 1947, R.E.M. Wheeler, then Director-General of A.S.I., Tried to correlate this
archaeological evidence with that of Rigveda, the earliest known text in the sub-continent. he
wroteThe Rigveda mentions pur, meaning rampart, fort or stronghold. Indira, the Aryan war-god
is called Puramdara, the fort [Link] are-or were these citadels? It has in the past been supposed that they were
mythical…………. The recent excavationof Harappa may be thought to have changed the picture. Here we have a highly evolved
civilization of essentially non-Aryan type, now
known to have employed massive fortifications………….what destroyed the firmly settled
civilization? Climate, economic or political deterioration may have weakened it, but its
ultimate extinction is more likely to have been completed by deliberate and large scale
destruction. It may be no mere chance that at a late period of Mohenjodaro, Indira, stands
accused. Appear to have been massacred there. On circumstantial evidence, Indira stands
accused.
--- From R.E.M. Wheeler, ―Harappa 1946‖, Ancient India,1947
(i) What did the Rigveda mention about pur?
(ii) According to Wheeler what did excavation show?
(iii) What do you conclude about the destruction of this civilization and why?
(iv) Who was R.E.M. Wheeler?
ANSWERS.
1. Pur, meaning rampart, fort or stronghold
2. Excavation show that some conflict held between the both civilization.
3. The civilization collapsed due to climatic change, foreign invasion.
4. An archaeologist

Q.28 In praise of Samudragupta

This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti: He was without an antagonist on earth; he, by
the overflowing of the multitude of (his) many good qualities adorned by hundreds of good
actions, has wiped off the fame of other kings with the soles of (his) feet; (he is) Purusha (the
Supreme Being), being the cause of the prosperity of the good and the destruction of the bad
(he is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose tender heart can be captured only by devotion and
humility; (he is) possessed of compassion; (he is) the giver of many hundred-thousands of cows;
(his) mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the poor, the
forlorn and the suffering; (he is) resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind; (he is) equal
to (the gods) Kubera (the god of wealth), Varuna (the god of the ocean), Indra (the god of rains)
and Yama (the god of death)…
1. Who wrote the above Prashasti?
2. Mention two qualities of the ruler according to this Prashasti?
3. How far are these values shown by the rulers relevant in the contemporary society?
ANSWER:
1. Harishene.
2. He should be powerful, he should be plethora of good qualities, bring prosperity.
3. The ruler should be kind enough to work for the upliftment of the miserable and the poor.

Q.29 A MOTHER‘S ADVICE

When war between the Kauravas and the Panadavas became almost inevitable, Gandhari made
one last appeal to her eldest son Duryodhana :
By making peace you honour your father and me, as well as your well-wishers it is the wise man in control of his senses who guard
his kingdom. Greed and anger drag a man away from his profits, by defeating these two enemies a king conquers the
earth………..you will happily enjoy the earth, my son along with the wise and heroic pandavas….there is no good in a war, no law
(dhama) and profit (artha), let alone happiness; nor is there) (necessarily) victory in the end don‘t set your mind on
war………Duryodhana did not listen to this advice and fought and lost the war,
1 Why did Gandhari ask Duryodhana to make peace?
2 Explain the position of women during this period?
3 Why did Duryodhana not listen to his mother‘s advice?
ANSWER:
1 (a) By making peace Duryodhan could have honoured his father, mother, other elders and well-wishers
(b) Wise man can control his senses of vices like greed and anger though peace.
2 (a) Women had no scope of freedom to oppose any injustice
(b) Women were used as comodities is a family and society.
(c) Women had not right in political status
(d) Inequalities in case of education, social privileges
3 (a) Adament nature of Duryodhan
(b) Greed and anger made him optimistic toward war
(c) Advice of his mother‘s brother Sakuni goaded to the thresh of the war

Q.30 A prayer to Agni

Here are two verses from the Rigveda invoking Agni, the god of fire, often identified with the sacrificial fire, into which offerings were
made so as to reach the other deities: Bring, O strong one, this sacrifice of ours to the gods, O wise one, as a liberal giver. Bestow
on us, O priest, abundant food. Agni, obtain, by sacrificing, mighty wealth for us. Procure, O Agni, for ever to him who prays to you
(the gift of) nourishment, the wonderful cow. May a son be ours, offspring that continues our line … Verses such as these were
composed in a special kind of Sanskrit, known as Vedic Sanskrit. They were taught orally to men belonging to priestly families.
1. What is the source of this verse?
2. When was Rigveda compiled?
3. When were these hymns recited?
ANSWER:
1. Rigveda
2. 1500-1000 BCE
3. The hymns complied in Rigveda were recited on the eve when Yajanas were performed.
BOOK 2 ( Medieval India )
QUESTION - 31
Who wrote ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’? Throw light in its main features?
The book ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’ was written by Al-Biruni. Its main features are -
1. It is written in Arabic.
2. Its language is simple and lucid(easy).
3. It is written on the subject such as regional, philosophy, astronomy, social life, laws etc.
4. It is divided into 80 chapters.
5. Each chapter begins with a question and than description have given based in sanskritic
traditions.

QUESTION – 32
What were the barriers faced by Al-Biruni in understanding Indian culture?
Each traveller adopted distinct strategies to understand what they observed. Al-Biruni, for instance,
was aware of the problems inherent in the task he had set himself.
He facederal several “barriers” that he felt obstructed in understanding.
1. The first amongst these was language. According to him, Sanskrit was so Different from Arabic and Persian and its ideas and
concepts could not be easily translated from one language into another.
[Link] second barrier was the difference in religious beliefs and practices.
[Link] the third barrier was the insularity( limited outlook) of the local population
Al-Biruni depended mainly on the works of Brahmanas, He often cited passages from the Vedas, the Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita,
the works of Patanjali, the Manusmriti to provide an understanding of Indian society
QUESTION – 33
Explain briefly about the description on caste system by Al- Biruni
Al-Biruni tried to explain the caste system by looking for parallels in other societies. He noted that in ancient Persia, four social
categories were recognized.
Those were
(1) the knightsand princes ;( 2) monks, fire-priests and (3) lawyers; physicians, astronomers and other scientists; and finally (4) the
peasants and artisans.
But he suggests that social divisions were not unique to India. At the same time he pointed out that, within Islam all men were
considered equal. Though Al-Biruni accepted the Brahmanical description of the caste system, he disapproved the notion of
pollution. He says that everything which falls into impurity regain its original condition of purity. The sun cleanses the air, and the
salt in the sea prevents the water from becoming polluted. If it were not so, life on earth would have been [Link]
conception of social pollution was contrary to the laws of nature according to him.
QUESTION – 34
“Ibn Battuta found cities in the subcontinent full of exciting opportunities” Support your answer with evidences given by him”
1 .Ibn Battuta found cities in the subcontinent full of exciting opportunities for those who had the necessary drive, resources and
skills.
2. They were densely populated and prosperous
3. These cities having streets and Markets with a wide variety of goods.
4. Delhi a vast city, with a great population, the largest in India.
5. Daulatabad (in Maharashtra) was no less, and easily rivalled Delhi in size.
6. The bazaars were not only places of economic transactions, but also the hub of social and cultural activities. Most bazaars had a
mosque and a temple, and in some of them where spaces were marked for public performances by dancers, musicians and
singers.
7. Historians have used his account to suggest that towns derived a significant portion of their wealth from villages.
8. The subcontinent was well integrated with inter-Asian networks of trade and commerce, with Indian manufactures.
9. Indian textiles, cotton cloth, fine muslins, silks, brocade and satin, were in great demand in the Inter National market.

QUESTION – 35
Explain Bernier’s perception about ownership of land property in India.
He constantly compared Mughal India with contemporary Europe, generally emphasising
the superiority of the latter. He also ordered(arranged) the perceived differences hierarchically, so
that India appeared to be inferior to the Western world
a)Lack of private property in India
According to Bernier, one of the fundamental differences between Mughal India and Europe was
the lack of private property in land in India. He was a firm believer in the virtues of private
property, and saw crown ownership was both the state and its people.
b)Crown ownership of all lands
He thought that the Mughal emperor owned all the land and distributed it among his nobles, this
had disastrous consequences for the economy and society.
c)No inheritance no investment
Owing to crown ownership of land, land holders could not pass on their land to their children. So
there had any long-term investment in the sustenance and expansion of production.
d)No improvement of Lands
The absence of private property in land had prevented the emergence of the class of “improving”
landlords
e)Decline in the living standards
It had led to the uniform ruination of agriculture, excessive oppression of the easantry and a
continuous decline in the living standards of all sections of society
f)People impoverished by ruling class
As an extension of this, Bernier described Indian society as consisting of impoverished people,
subjugated by a minority of a rich and powerful ruling class.
g)The king of “beggars and barbarians
Bernier confidently asserted that, “There was no middle state in India.” and the king was the king
of “beggars and barbarians”; its cities and towns were ruined and contaminated with “ill air”; and
its fields, “overspread with bushes” and full of pestilential marshes”.
h)Remunerations of sovereignty
For instance, Abu’l Fazl, the sixteenth-century official chronicler of Akbar’s reign, describes the land
revenue as “remunerations of sovereignty. European travelers regarded such claims as rent because land revenue demands were
often very high. However, this was a tax on the crop.

QUESTION – 36
Analyze the evidence for slavery provided Ibn-Battuta.
Ans. According to Ibn-Battuta -
1. Slaves like any other commodity, were openly sold in the markets.
2. They were also regularly exchanged as gifts.
3. When Ibn-Battuta reached Sindh, he purchased horses, camels and slaves. He wanted to
offer them as gifts to sultan Muhammad Bin Tuglaq.
4. When he reached to Multan, he presented the governor with salves and horses with almonds
and raisins to the Governor of Multan.
5. Ibna-batuta says that, Muhammad bin Tughlaq was so happy with the sermon of a preacher
named Nasiruddin that he gave him” thousand tankas and two hundred slaves.
6. The sultan employed female slaves in his service and also to keep a watch on his nobles.
7. The slaves were also engaged for domestic work. But they were given low wages.
8. Ibn-Battuta found their services particularly indispensable for carrying women and men on palanquins or dola.
9. It appears from Ibn-Battuta’s account that there were considerable differentiations among slaves.
10. Some female slaves in the service of the sultan were experts in music and dance.
QUESTION – 37
Describe the relationship between the Sufis and the State from twelfth to sixteenth centuries. 8
OR
QUESTION – 38 Who were the Alvars and Nayanars ? Describe their relationship with the State.
Sufis & the state:-
i. Sufis had cordial and spiritual relationship with the state.
ii. The Sufis accepted unsolicited grants and donations from the political elites
iii. The sultans had set up charitable trusts and granted tax free land.
iv. They used the donations fully for food, clothing and living quarters.
v. Sufis accepted donations in cash & kind.
vi. All this enhanced the moral authority of the sheikhs.
vii. The kings not only wished to secure Sufis association but required legitimacy from them.
viii. Kings often wanted their tombs in the vicinity of Sufis shrines
ix. In some cases there were conflicts between the sultan and the Sufis.
Alvars & Nayanars :-
Alvars Were the devotees of Vishnu Nayanars were the devotees of Shiva State and Alvars & Nayanars
i. Both Alvars & Nayanars were revered by the rulers.
ii. Rulers tried to win their support.
iii. Chola Kings attempted to claim the divine support.
iv. Cholas built some splendid temples
v. Kings adorned temples with stone metal sculpture eg. Image of Appar,Sundarar etc.
vi. These kings also introduced singing of Tamil hymns in temples under royal patronage.
vii. The kings took the interest to organize these hymns into a text.
viii. They also took out the festivals of saints

QUESTION – 39
Describe the teachings of Baba Guru Nanak.
Or
QUESTION – 40
Describe the major teachings of Kabir.
GURU NANAK DEV JI
i. Nanak repudiated the external practices of the existing religions.
ii. He advocated the specific form of bhakti i.e. Nirguna bhakti.
iii. He rejected the sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities and scriptures of both Hindus and
Muslims.
iv. According to him, the absolute or ‘rab’ had no gender or any specific form.
v. There is only a simple way to connect to the divine by remembering and repeating the divine name.
vi. He sang his compositions in various ragas while his disciple, Mardana played the rabab.
vii. Guru Nanak Dev did not wish to establish a new religion.
viii. He organised his followers into a community. He set up rules for congregational worship (sangat) involving collective recitation.
ix. He appointed his disciple Angad as the preceptor (guru) after him.
x. After the death of Guru Nanak Dev, his followers consolidated their own practices and distinguished themselves from both
Hindus and Muslims.
xi. The practice of selecting Guru was followed for nearly 200 years by his followers.
KABIR DAS
i. The historians tried to reconstruct Kabir’s life and timings through a study of compositions attributed to him and later
hagiographies.
ii. Verses ascribed to Kabir have been compiled in three distinct traditions, viz, Kabir Bijak, Kabir Granthavali and Adi Granth Sahib.
All these compilations were made long after the death of Kabir. Kabir’s poems have survived in several languages and dialects.
iii. Kabir’s poems have been a source of inspiration to those who questioned rigid and unrooted social institutions, ideas and
practices
iv. His teachings were inspired by both Hinduism and Islam which sometimes expressed diverse and conflicting ideas.
v. His poems imbibed Islamic ideas and used monotheism and attacked Hindu polytheism and idol worship
vi. He used the Sufi concept of zikr and ishq to express the Hindu practice of nam-simaran i.e. remembrance of God’s name.
vii. Kabir’s ideas crystallised through dialogue and debate and his legacy was claimed by several groups. viii. The traditions, he
drew to describe ultimate reality through his poems
ix. He described the ultimate reality as Allah, Khuda, Hazrat and Pir.
x. He used the terms Alakh (Unseen), Nirakar (Formless), Brahman, Atman, etc to describe the ultimate reality.
xi. Yogic Tradition: Other terms with mystical connotation Commented [AD1]:

QUESTION – 41 Describe the philosophy of Sufism. 8

OR
QUESTION – 42 Describe the teachings of the philosophy of Sikhism.
Sufism
i. Group of people who turned into asceticism and mysticism.
ii. Emphasized on seeking salvation through intense devotion and love for God.
iii. Organized communities around Khanqah under a master known as Shaikh, Pir or Murshid.
iv. The master enrolled disciples (murids) and appointed a successor (khalifa).
v. Established rules for spiritual conduct between inmates as well as between laypersons and the master.
vi. Sufi silsilas (chain) between master and disciple stretching to Prophet Mohammad.
vii. Tomb-Shrine (Dargah) became centre of devotion.
viii. Ziyarat pilgrimage to his grave.
ix. Sufis remember God either by reciting the zikr (Divine Names).
x. The cult of the Shaikh revered as Wali evolved.
xi. Open kitchen (langar) run on futuh (charity).
xii. Use of music and dance by reciting divine name, Sama and Qawwali.
xiii. Day to day practices represented attempts to assimilate local traditions.
xiv. Some Sufis scorned the khanqah, took to mendicancy and observed celibacy. Known by
different names like- Qalandars, Madaris, Malangs, Haidaris. They were called be-shari’a in contrast to the ba-shari’a who complied
with the Sharia.
OR
Sikhism
i. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first guru of Sikhism.
ii. Advocated Nirguna Bhakti.
iii. Rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship and scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
iv. According to him, Absolute God or Rab has no gender.
v. Importance to Shabad or Divine name.
vi. Organized followers into community.
vii. Rules for worship were laid down.
viii. Collective recitation/ naam Simran.
ix. Hymns in the Adi Granth Sahib – The Holy Book of the Sikhs are called “Gurbani”.
x. Compositions of Gurus, Sufi poets like Baba Farid, Ravidas and Kabir compiled in the Adi Granth Sahib.
xi. Guru Gobind Singh, the last guru laid the foundation of Khalsa Panth (army of the pure).
xii. Five symbols – Uncut hair, a dagger, pair of shorts, a comb and a steel bangle.
Q ”Krishnadeva Raya’s rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation”. Justify
with suitable arguments.
Expansion and consolidation of the Vijayanagara empire under Krishnadeva Raya:
1 Krishnadeva Raya’s reign is marked by peace, prosperity and military preparedness.
2 Foreign travellers speak of his efficient administration and prosperity of the empire.
3 Agriculture flourished and to increase production the Raya’s undertook wise irrigation policy like the construction of Kamalapuram
tank.
4 There was flourishing inland, coastal and overseas trade which was an important source of general prosperity
5 Krishnadeva Raya was also a great builder.
6 He is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive
gopurams to many temples.
7 He built a new town near Vijayanagara named Nagalapuram after his mother.
8 He was a gifted scholar and patron of Telugu,Kannada and Tamil poets.
9 He worked for the welfare of his subjects.

QUESTION – 43 ‘‘The fortification walls not only encircled the city of Vijayanagara but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.’’
In the light of this statement, explain the significance of fortification. 8
OR
QUESTION – 44 Explain the sources of water for the city of Vijayanagara and also explain the development of trade of the Empire.
Significance of Fortification of Vijayanagara:
i. Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador of ruler of Persia has mentioned seven lines of forts and fortifications.
[Link] massive masonry construction was slightly tapered.
iii. No mortar was used as the stone blocks were wedge shaped.
iv. This not only encircled the city but also agricultural hinterland and forests.
v. The outer most wall linked the hills surrounding the city.
vi. The significance about fortification was it enclosed agricultural tracts.
vii. Often the purpose of medieval siege was to starve the people into submission.
viii. Fields inside the fortification were, thus the source of providing food to the people and the troops.
ix. The fortgates were well guarded so that enemy could not have easy access.
x. The roads inside the fortification were meant to serve the troops.
xi. The line of fortification was thus to provide safety to the king and the subjects.

Sources of water for the city of Vijayanagara:

i. River Tungabhadra was the main source of water to the city.
ii. Number of tributaries of Tungabhadra also supplied water for people and for agriculture.
iii. A number of streams flew down from rocky outcrops.
iv. Embankments were built along these streams to create reservoirs of varying sizes.
v. A huge reservoir was also constructed to store and supply water. Now it is called Kamalapuram tank. vi. Hiriya canal was another
source of water for the people of city.
Development of Trade of Vijayanagar empire :
i. Trade was carried out by the kings and traders.
ii. Horses for military were imported from Arabia and Central Asia.
iii. The trade was initially controlled by the Arab traders. Local communities of merchants kudirai chettis or horse merchants
participated in these exchanges.
iv. Portuguese also brought superior technology for military.
v. Vijayanagara was also known for trading with spices, textiles and precious stones.
vi. High valueexotic goods were also traded
vii. The state also earned revenue from it.
QUESTION – 45 Explain the rituals associated with Mahanavami Dibba and explain the significance of Hazara Rama temple
located in the Royal Centre. 6+2=8 OR
QUESTION – 46 Explain the architectural features of Vitthala temple and Virupaksha temple.
Rituals associated with Mahanavami Dibba:
i. Mahanavami Dibba was a massive platform with base covered with relief carvings.
ii. The major rituals was the celebration of Mahanavami known variously as Dusehra, Durgapuja and Navaratri. iii. The king
displayed their power and prestige there.
iv. Ceremonies performed included worship of the image.
v. Worship of horses was done.
vi. Sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals was done.
vii. Dances, wrestling matches took place.
viii. Procession of caparisoned horses, elephant, chariots and soldiers. ix. Inspection of army by king.
x. Tribute to king by the Nayakas.
Significance of Hazara Ram Temple:
i. This temple was probably meant for the king and his family.
ii. Sculpted panels on the walls described scenes of the Ramayana. iii. The temple was located in the sacred centre.
Architectural features of Vitthla Temple:
i. The principal deity in temple is Vitthala.
ii. Vitthala is a form of Vishnu which is generally worshipped in Maharashtra.
iii. The temple had huge gopurams (royal gateways).
iv. This temple had several halls.
v. There was a unique shrine designed as chariot.
vi. Another characteristic feature was the presence of chariot streets that extended from the temple to the gopuram in a straight
line.
vii. The streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavallions in which merchants set up their shops.
Architectural features of Virupaksha temple:
i. This is one of the earliest shrines.
ii. Guardian deity of the temple were Virupaksha and Pampadevi.
iii. The hall infront of the main shrine was built by Krishnadeva Raya to mark his accession.
[Link] was paved with delicately carved pillars.
v. Gopurams or royal gateways signalled the presence of the temple from a great distance.
[Link] or pavillions were other distinctive features.
vii. Large pillared corridors were around the shrine.
viii. Images of Gods were placed to witness special programme of music, dance, drama etc.
[Link] distinct images were kept to be used to celebrate the marriages of deities.

QUESTION – 47 Explain how the glory of Vijayanagara reached its pinnacle and how the city of Vijayanagara was sacked and
deserted.
4+4=8
OR
QUESTION – 48 Explain how the Amara-nayaka system worked very successfully during the lifetime of Krishanadeva Raya.
Explain the role of the Amara-nayaka system after his death.
Glory of Vijayanagarai.
The ruler Krishnadeva Raya was an able ruler.
ii. He expanded and consolidated his empire.
iii. He subdued the rulers of Orissa.
iv. He also inflicted defeat on the sultans of Bijapur.
v. His kingdom remained in constant preparedness of war, but peace prevailed. vi. The king also built temples.
vii. He founded a suburban township near Vijayanagara called Nagalapuram.
viii. The trade also flourished.
Decline:
i. After the death of Krishnadeva Raya, crack appeared.
ii. His successors were troubled by rebellious nayakas or military chiefs.
iii. The military commanders became ambitious.
iv. In 1565 Rama raya, the chief minister of Vijayanagara led the army into battle at Talikota and Golconda.
v. The combined forces of sultans routed the army of Vijayanagara.
vi. The city of Vijayanagara was sacked and totally abandoned.
vii. The armies of the Sultans were responsible for the destruction of the city of
Vijayanagara
Amara-nayaka system:
i. Amara-nayaka system was an innovation of Vijayanagara empire.
ii. Amara-nayakas were military commanders and collected taxes.
iii. They were given territory to govern and collect taxes.
iv. They retained part of revenue for personal use and for maintaining contingent.
v. These contingents provided the king of Vijayanagara with effective fighting force.
vi. Amara-nayakas sent tributes to the king annually and personally appeared in court.
Role of Amara-nayaka system after Krishnadeva Raya’s death:
i. After the death of Krishnadeva, Raya the nayakas rebelled against his successors.
ii. Many Amara-nayakas established independent kingdoms.
iii. This hastened the collapse of the kingdom of Vijayanagara.

QUESTION – 49 Explain about the Virashaiva traditions of Karnataka (or the Lingayats)
1. During the twelfth century witnessed the emergence of a new movement in Karnataka under the
leadership of Basavanna (1106-68).
2. Basavanna was initially a Jaina and a minister in the court of a Chalukya king.
3. His followers were known as Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats
(Wearers of the linga).
4. Lingayats continue to be an important community in the region
5. They worship Shiva as a linga, and men usually wear a small linga in a silver case on a loop strung over the left shoulder.
6. Lingayats believe that, on death, the devotee will be united with Shiva and will not return to this world.
7. Therefore they do not practice cremation of body, prescribed in the Dharmashastras. Instead, they bury their dead.
8. The Lingayats opposed the idea of caste and the “pollution” followed by Brahmanas. They also questioned the theory of rebirth.
9. They won large number of followers from the marginalized social groups.
10The Lingayats also encouraged the post-puberty marriage and the remarriage of widows.
11. Our understanding of the Virashaiva tradition is derived from vachanas (literally, sayings) composed in Kannada by women and
men who joined the movement

QUESTION – 50 What was the role of Women in the agrarian society in Mughal India?
1. Though both men and women performed certain roles in production but still women’s
contribution cannot be ignored in the agrarian society of Mughal empire.
2. Women were responsible for sowing, weeding, threshing and winnowing the harvest.
3. With the expansion of individual agricultural activity and the growth of nucleus villages increase the importance of women in
agriculture.
[Link] tasks such as spinning yarn, sifting and kneading clay for pottery, and embroidery were among the many aspects of
production dependent on female labour.
[Link] more commercialized the product, the greater the demand on women’s labour to produce it.
[Link] fact, peasant and artisan women worked not only in the fields, but even went to the houses of their employers or to the markets
if necessary.
7..Women were considered an important resource in agrarian society also because they were child bearers in a society dependent
on labour
8. Because of that need of women’s labour some social changes in the marriages, widow remarriages women were kept under
strict control by the male members of the family and the community.

QUESTION – 51 Zamindars had important role in consolidation of the Mughal empire. Explain it?
The story of agrarian relations in Mughal India will not be complete without referring to a class of people in the countryside that lived
off agriculture but did not participate directly in the processes of agricultural production.
[Link] were the zamindars who were landed proprietors who also enjoyed certain social and economic privileges by virtue of their
superior status in rural society.
3Caste was one factor that accounted for the elevated status of zamindars; another factor was that they performed certain services
(khidmat) for the state.
[Link] zamindars held extensive personal lands termed milkiyat, meaning property.
5. Milkiyat lands were cultivated for the private use of zamindars, often with the help of hired or servile labour.
6The zamindars could sell, bequeath or mortgage these lands at will.
[Link] also derived their power from the fact that they could often collect revenue on behalf of the state, a service for which
they were compensated financially.
8. Control over military resources was another source of power.
[Link] zamindars had fortresses (qilachas) as well as an armed contingent comprising units of cavalry, artillery and infantry.
[Link] if we visualise social relations in the Mughal countryside as a pyramid, zamindars clearly constituted its very narrow apex.
11 .Zamindars spearheaded the colonisation of agricultural land, and helped in settling cultivators by providing them with the means
of cultivation, including cash loans.
[Link] buying and selling of zamindaris accelerated the process of monetisation in the countryside.
13. In addition, zamindars sold the produce from their milkiyat lands and evidence also show that zamindars often established
markets (haats)to which peasants also came to sell their produce.

QUESTION – 52
Ain I Akbari’is the most important source of information to about the Mughal empire though it has its own limitations. Explain the
statement.

1. The Ain-i Akbari was the culmination of a large historical, administrative project of classification undertaken by Abu’l Fazl at the
order of Emperor Akbar.
[Link] was completed in 1598, the forty-second regnal year of the emperor, after having gone through five revisions.
[Link] Akbar Nama, comprised three books.
[Link] first two provided a historical narrative and the third book, was organized as a compendium of imperial regulations and a
gazetteer of the empire.
5. The Ain gives detailed accounts of the organization of the court, administration and army, the sources of revenue and the
physical layout of the provinces of Akbar’s empire and the literary, cultural and religious traditions of the people.
[Link] Ain is made up of five books (daftars), of which the first three books describe the administration.
[Link] first book, called manzil-abadi, concerns the imperial household and its maintenance.
[Link] second book, sipah-abadi, covers the military and civil administration and the establishment of servants also includes notices
and short biographical sketches of imperial officials (mansabdars), learned men, poets and artists.
[Link] third book, mulk-abadi, is the one which deals with the fiscal side of the empire and provides rich quantitative information on
revenue rates, followed by the “Account of the Twelve Provinces”.
[Link] fourth and fifth books (daftars) deal with the religious, literary and cultural traditions of the people of India and also contain a
collection of Akbar’s “auspicious sayings”.

QUESTION – 53
Jati panchayat was also a important phenomena during 16th and 17th century. Explain the statement?
[Link] addition to the village panchayat each caste or jati in the village had its own jati panchayat.
[Link] panchayats wielded considerable power in rural society.
[Link] Rajasthan jati panchayats arbitrated civil disputes between members of different castes.
[Link] mediated in contested claims on land,
[Link] also decided whether marriages were performed according to the norms laid down by a particular caste group, determined
6. In most cases,except in matters of criminal justice, the state respected the decisions of jati panchayats.
7. Archival records from western India – notably Rajasthan and Maharashtra – contain petitions presented to the panchayat
complaining about extortionate taxation or the demand for unpaid labour (begar) imposed by the “superior” castes or officials of the
state.
[Link] petitions were usually made by villagers, from the lowest rungs of rural society.
[Link] petitions were made collectively a sell, by a caste group or a community protesting against what they considered were
morally illegitimate demands on the part of elite groups.
[Link] included excessive tax demands which,especially in times of drought or other disasters,endangered the peasants’
subsistence.
12. In the eyes of the petitioners the right to the basic minimum for survival was sanctioned by custom.
13. They regarded the village panchayat as the court of appeal that would ensure that the state carried out its moral obligations and
guaranteed justice.
QUESTION – 54
Explain the sources of revenue of Village Panchayats during the Mughal
rule in India.
The sources of revenue of Village Panchayats during the Mughal rule in India
i. The Panchayat derived its funds from contributions made by individuals to a common financial pool.
ii. Panchayats also had the authority to levy fines.
iii. Agricultural Taxes
iv. Any other relevant point

Questions 55
A Church in Khambat
This is an excerpt from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in [Link] it reached our eminent and holy notice that the
padres (father) of the holy society. Of Jesus wish to build a house of prayer ( church) in the city of Kambayat (Khambat in Gujrat)
therefore an exalted mandate….. is being issued …. That the dignitaries of the city of Kambayat should in no case stand in their
way but should allow them to build a church, so that they may engage themselves in their own worship it is necessary that the order
of the emperor should be obeyed in every way.
Q1. From where has this excerpt been taken?
Ans. This excerpt has been taken from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598
Q2. What message did Akbar conveyed to the people of Gujrat through this order.
Ans. Through this farman Akbar ordered to the people of Gujrat to allow the construction of a Church by the padries (fathers) of the
holy society of Jesus.
Q3. which aspect of the religious nature of Akbar does this order indicate?
Ans. This order indicates Akbar‘s policy of religious toleration. We come to know that Akbar use to give equal respect to all the
religions.
[Link] were the people from whom Akbar anticipated opposition to his order?
Ans-Akbar anticipated opposition to his order from non-Christians

Questions 56
- Colin Meckenzie
Born in 1754, Colin Meckenzie became a famous engineer, surveyer and cartographer In 1815 he was appointed the first surveyor
General of India. A post he held till his death in 1821. he embarked on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order
to betterunderstand India‘s past and make governance of the of the colony easier. He says that ― It struggled long under the
miseries of dead management…Before the south came under the benign in influence of the British government‖. By standing
Vijayanagar, Meckenzie believed that the east India company would gain ― much useful information on many of these institutions,
laws and customs whose influence still prevails. Among the various tribes of natives forming the general mass of the population to
this date.
(i) Who was Colin Meckenzie ?
Ans. Colin Mackenzie used to work in British East India Company. He took birth in 1754. He is a famous engineer, surveyor and
humanist.
(ii) Which ancient city was founded by Colin Meckenzie?
Ans. Hampi
(iii) Why did he start the surveys?
Ans. He started the surveys in order to better understand India‘s past and make governance of the colony easier.
(iv) In which stages Colin Meckenzie completed his work?
Ans. traditions from the priest of Virupaksha and Pampadevi temple

Questions 57
How and when were the ruins of Hampi brought to light?
Or
Questions 58
What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Humpi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would
have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?
Ans.
(i) The ruins of Humpi were brought to light in 1880 by an engineer and antiquarian named Colonel Colin Mackenzie.
(ii) He was an employee of the English East India Company. He prepared the first survey map of the site.
(iii) His initial information‘s were based on the memories of priest of the Virupaksha temple and shrine of Pampadevi.
(iv) From 1856 onwards, photographers started to record the pictures of the monuments of this site which helped the scholars to
study them.
(v) Many of inscriptions were collected from here.
(vi) Historians collected information from these sources, accounts of foreign travelers and other literature of Kannada, Telgu, Tamil
and Sanskrit language so that history of the city could be reconstructed.
(vii) These functions complemented the information given by priests of Virupaksha temple.

Questions 59
Analyze the importance and limitations of A-i-Akbari as a source of Akbar’s reign.
OR
Questions 60
Examine the ways in which panchayats and village headmen regulated Mughal rural society.
Analyze the importance and limitations of Ain-i-Akbari as a source of Akbar’s reign.
IMPORTANCE
i. The Ain gives detailed accounts of the organization of the Mughals
ii. It included court, administration and army, the sources of revenue and
the physical layout of the provinces of Akbar’s empire
iii. It included the literary, cultural and religious traditions of the people
iv. It mentioned descriptions of provinces (subas) of the empire
v. Ain gives us intricate quantitative information of Mughal provinces.
vi. Description of diverse customs and practices prevailing across extensive territories.
vii. The Ain is therefore a mine of information about Akbar’s reign.
[Link] other relevant point
LIMITATIONS
i. Numerous errors in totaling have been detected
ii. Ain is the somewhat skewed nature of the quantitative data
iii. While the fiscal data from the subas is remarkable for its richness, some equally vital parameters such as prices and wages from
these same areas are not as well documented.
iv. The detailed list of prices and wages is mainly derived from data pertaining to areas in or around the imperial capital of Agra
v. Ain is therefore of limited relevance
Examine the ways in which panchayats regulated Mughal rural
society.
i. The village panchayat was an assembly of elders with hereditary
rights over their property.
ii. the panchayat was usually a heterogeneous body.
iii. An oligarchy, the panchayat represented various castes and communities
iv. The decisions made by panchayats were binding on the members.
v. The panchayat was headed by a headman known as muqaddam or mandal
vi. The headman was chosen through the consensus of the village elders, and that this choice had to be ratified by the zamindar
vii. Headmen held office as long as they enjoyed the confidence of the village elders, failing which they could be dismissed by
them.
viii. The chief function of the headman was to supervise the preparation of village accounts, assisted by the accountant or patwari
of the panchayat.
ix. The panchayat derived its funds from contributions made by individuals to a common financial pool.
x. Panchayat ensured that caste boundaries among the various communities inhabiting the village were upheld.
xi. Panchayats also had the authority to levy fines and inflict more serious forms of punishment like expulsion from the community.
BOOK 3 ( Modern India )
Question: 61 ‘‘Zamindars regularly failed to pay the revenue demand even after the Permanent Settlement of Bengal at the end of
the 18th century.’’ Evaluate the statement. 8
OR
Question: 62 ‘‘The jotedars became powerful in the early 19th century in many areas of rural Bengal.’’ Evaluate the statement. 8
Why the Zamindars failed to pay the revenue:
i. The company felt that after fixing the revenue demand, the zamindars would pay regularly along with unpaid balance.
ii. The zamindars failed due to very high initial demands.
iii. The high demand was imposed in 1790‟s that was the time when agricultural produce was depressed.
iv. The zamindars could not collect rent, so how could they pay to the company.
v. The revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest and had to be paid punctually.
vi. According to the sunset law, if payment did not come in by sunset of the specified date, the zamindari was liable to be auctioned.
vii. The permanent settlement limited the power of zamindars to collect rent from the ryots.
viii. Zamindars lost their power to organize local justice and the local police.
ix. Sometimes due to bad weather or bad harvest the rent was difficult to be collected.
x. Sometimes the ryots deliberately delayed the payments.
The Jotedars in the early 19th century in rural Bengal :
i. While zamindars were facing problems, some rich peasants called Jotedars were consolidating their power in villages.
ii. By early 19th century Jotedars had acquired vast areas of land.
iii. They controlled local trade as well as money lending.
iv. They started exercising immense power over the village peasants.
v. Most of the zamindars often lived in urban areas and became dependent on Jotedars.
vi. Within villages the power of Jotedars was more than the zamindars.
vii. Since Jotedars were located in villages thus their control was over a considerable section of poor villagers.
viii. They fiercely resisted zamindars to increase the jama of villages.
ix. They prevented zamindar‟s officials and mobilized peasants against them.
x. That was why when zamindar‟s estates were auctioned the Jotedars were among the purchasers.
xi. Their rise inevitably weakened zamindari authority.

Question: 63 Evaluate the way of life of the Paharias (hill folk) during the late eighteenth century. How did they respond to the
coming of the Santhals ? 5+3=8
OR
Question: 64 Evaluate the circumstances under which the Santhals settled in the periphery of Rajmahal hills during the nineteenth
century. Why did they revolt against the British rule ?
Way of life of the Paharias:
i. The hill folk who lived around Rajmahal hills were known as Paharias.
ii. They lived on forest produce and practiced shifting cultivation.
iii. They grew variety of pulses and millets.
iv. They also collected mahua for food, silk cocoons and resin for sale.
v. They lived the life of hunters and food gatherers
vi. They were shifting cultivators, charcoal producers, silk worm rearers.
vii. They lived in hutments within tamarind groves.
viii. They considered the whole region the basis of their identity and survival.
ix. They resisted the entry of outsiders.
x. Paharia chiefs maintained unity of the group, settled disputes and led their tribes in battles.
xi. They raided plains of settled agriculturists for their survival in the years of scarcity and sometimes negotiated peace with them
for their benefit.
Response of the Paharias to the coming of Santhals:
i. When Santhals started pouring into the area clearing forests, ploughing land, the Paharias
receded deeper into the Rajmahal hills.
ii. The Britishers encouraged Santhals to settle in the foothills of Rajmahal and declared Damin-iKoh as their land.
iii. When Santhal settled in the lower Rajmahal hills paharias resisted initially but were forced to withdraw deeper.
iv. They were confined to the dry interior and more barren and rocky upper hills which severely affected their lives and
impoverished them.
Circumstances under which the Santhals settled in the periphery of Rajmahal hills:
i. The santhals had begun to come into Bengal by 1780s.
ii. They cleared forests, cut down timber, ploughed land and grew rice and cotton.
iii. The santhals came to represent the power of the plough.
iv. Zamindars hired them to reclaim the land and expand cultivation.
v. British officials invited them to settle in jungle mahals.
vi. Having failed to sub-due Paharias, British turned towards santhals.
vii. Santhals were given land and persuaded to settle in the foothills of Rajmahal.
viii. By 1832 a large area of land was demarcated for them known as Damin-i-Koh.
ix. Their settlements expanded rapidly.
Santhal revolt against the British:
i. The santhals found the land was slipping from their hands.
ii. The state was levying heavy taxes on the land they cleared.
iii. Money lenders were charging a high rate of interest.
iv. Money lenders were taking over their lands when debts remained unpaid.
v. Zamindars were asserting control over Damin area.
vi. So the santhals rebelled against the British, zamindars and money lenders to create an ideal world for themselves.

Question- 65
Evaluate the main aspects of the Fifth Report on the administration and activities of East India Company, submitted to the British
Parliament.
Main aspects of Fifth Report:
i. This was the fifth of a series of reports submitted to the British Parliament in 1813.
ii. This was a report on administration and activities of East India company.
iii. It ran into 1002 pages of which 800 pages were appendices.
iv. It reproduced petitions of ryots and zamindars.
v. It also contained reports of collectors from different districts.
vi. It contains statistical tables on revenue and returns and notes on the revenue and Judicial Administration of Bengal and Madras
written by officials.
vii. This report was produced by a select committee.
viii. It became the basis of intense parliamentary debate on the nature of East India Company‟s rule in India.
ix. Researchers on careful examination have found that this Report exaggerated the collapse of traditional zamindari power and
also overestimated the scale on which the zamindars were losing their land.

Question- 66
Describe any three features of the Permanent Settlement system.
i. Permanent settlement was made with the Rajas and Taluqdars of Bengal. They were classified as Zamindars.
ii. Zamindar was not a land owner in the village but a Revenue Collector of the state.
iii. The Permanent Settlement secured the Rights of Property and permanently fixed the rates of Revenue demand. Company fixed
the revenue with the Zamindars.
iv. The company was assured of a regular flow of revenue irrespective of crop failure.
v. The estates of those who failed to pay were to be auctioned to recover the revenue.
vi. British got aYeomen class to improve agriculture.
vii. The Zamindars collected rent, paid to company and retained the difference as their income

Question- 67
Show how the power of the Jotedars within a village was more effective than that of the Zamindars.

The power of the Jotedars within the village was more effective than that of the Zamindars:
1 Jotedars were located in villages while Zamindars lived in urban areas.
2 Indirectly controlled the ryots by advancing money, controlling local trade.
3 Withholding payment of revenue.
4 Holding benami lands.
5 Purchased the auctioned estates of Zamindars.
6 They became alternate source of power in villages.

Question- 68
Examine the circumstances which led to the dispossession of taluqdars of Awadh. Explain the impact of dispossession. 4+4=8
OR
Question- 69
Find out how the sepoys got the help of rural folk and explain the measures of repression taken by the British to control the mutiny.
Circumstances which led to the dispossession of Taluqdars
i. Dethroning of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
ii. Dissolution of court & culture
iii. Annexation and dispossession of the Taluqdars of the region
iv. British asserted control over rebellious chiefs and Taluqdars to
complete the process of territorial annexation.
v. In 1857 uprising, the Taluqdars fought against the British rule.
vi. The British were unwilling to tolerate the power of rule.
vii. According to British large area of Awadh were heavily over assessed.
xii. Any other relevant point
Any four to be explained
Impact of Dispossession.
i. Taluqdars were disarmed.
ii. Their forts were destroyed.
iii. Taluqdars were removed according to the Summary Settlement.
iv. Some Taluqdars lost control over the total number of villages they
had previously held.
v. The dispossession of Taluqdars led to breakdown of an entire social order.
vi. Many of the Taluqdars joined Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow to fight against the British.
HELP OF RURAL FOLK TO THE SEPOYS OF 1857:-
i. The large majority of the sepoys were recruited from the villages of
Awadh and Eastern U.P.
ii. The issue of Cartridge, misbehavior and racial abuse by the white
officers were communicated to the villagers.
iii. The issue of cartridge, misbehavior and racial abuse by the white
officers were communicated to the villagers
iv. When the sepoys defined their superior and took up arms they were
joined swiftly by the villagers
v. Peasants joined the soldiers.
vi. Ordinary people participated in the rebellion.
vii. Rural folks (Hindus & Muslims) joined collectively against the British.
viii. Even Zamidars supported sepoys .
Measure of Suppression:-
i. British passed a series of laws to curb the rebellion.
ii. British imposed Martial Law in north India
iii. Ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish suspected Indian.
iv. Death punishment were given to rebels
v. Two pronged attack one from Calcutta and another from Punjab to re conquer Delhi.
vi. British .used military power on large scale British Tried to break up the unity of Indian
vii. Execution of sepoys to instill fear among people .

Question- 70 Analyse the steps taken by the British Government to suppress the Revolt of 1857 and explain the vision of unity of
the rebels. 4+4=8
OR
Question- 71 Examine how the rumours which were circulating among the people became the basis of the Revolt of 1857. Why did
people believe in the rumours ? Explain.
SUPPRESSION OF THE REVOLT
i. British passed a series of laws to curb the rebellion.
ii. British imposed Martial Law in north India
iii. Ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish suspected Indian.
iv. Death punishment were given to rebels
v. Two pronged attack one from Calcutta and another from Punjab to re conquer Delhi.
vi. British used military power on large scale
vii. British tried to break the unity of Indian
viii. Execution of sepoys to instill fear among people.
(any four to be explained)
The vision of unity
i. The rebel proclamations repeatedly appealed o all the sections of population to remain united
ii. The rebellion was seen as a war in which both Hindus and Muslims had equally to lose or gain.
iii. The ishtahars (notifications) harked back to the pre-British Hindu-Muslim past
iv. Mughal emperor Bahadur shah appealed to both Hindus and Muslims to fight under the standards of both Muhammad and
Mahavir
v. Glorified the coexistence of different communities under Mughal Empire.
vii.In1857, the British spent Rs. 50,000 to incite the Hindu population against the Muslims but the attempt failed.
[Link] for alternative powers

Rumors and prophecies

i. News of greased cartridges made of fat of cows and pigs and biting those bullets would corrupt their caste and religion.
ii. There was the rumor that the British government had hatched a gigantic conspiracy to destroy the caste and religion of the
Hindus and Muslim.
iii. The rumour said that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour that was sold in the market.
iv. The sepoys and the common people refused to touch the atta.
v. There was a fear and suspicion that the British wanted to convert Indians to Christianity.
Why did the people believe in the rumors?
i. The British adopted policies aimed at reforming Indian society by introducing Western education, Western ideas, and Western
institutions.
ii. With the cooperation of sections of Indian society, they set up English medium schools, colleges, and universities which taught
Western sciences and the liberal arts.
iii. The British established laws to abolished customs like Sati (1629)
iv. They permitted the remarriage of Hindu widows.
v. The British introduced their own system of administration, their own laws and their own methods of land settlements and land
revenue collection.

Question- 72 Why did the British annex Awadh in 1856 ? On what pretext did they
carry out act the annexation ? Explain.
Reasons for the annexation of Awadh by British
i. Suitable soil for cotton and indigo cultivation.
ii. Awadh could be developed as Principle Market of upper India.
iii. Takeover of Awadh was expected to complete the process of territorial annexation.
Pretext of Awadh’s annexation
i. Region was being misgoverned and mal administered.
ii. Wrongly assumed that Wajid Ali Shah was an unpopular ruler.
iii. Subsidiary alliance.

Question- 73 Explain the demands of the 1857 rebellions from the British govt.
Demands of the 1857 rebels from the British govt.
i. Rebels wanted an appeal unity of all the section of the population irrespective of cast. creed and religion
ii. They rejected Firangi raj in condemned British for the annexation they carried in the treaties they had broken, like in Awadh,
Delhi , Kanpur etc.
iii. The rebels tried to establish some kind of structure of authority and administration in the above mentioned areas.
iv. Zamindars wanted absolute rule in their own zamindari.
v. Merchants wanted reduction in the taxation, postages, tolls, etc.
vi. Military and Public servants wanted all the post of dignity with adequate salaries.
vii. Sepoyes were against the new cartridges and muskets which had arrived from India.

Question- 74 Examine the participation of the Taluqdars of Awadh in the Revolt of 1857.
The participation of Taluqdars of Awadh in the Revolt of 1857
i. The annexation of Awadh dispossessed the taluqdars of the region.
ii. The countryside of Awadh was dotted with the estates and forts of taluqdars who for many generations had controlled land and
power in the countryside.
iii. The British were unwilling to tolerate the power of the taluqdars.
iv. After the annexation, the taluqdars were disarmed and their forts destroyed.
v. The Summary Settlement proceeded to remove the taluqdars wherever possible.
vi. In pre-British times, taluqdars had held 67 per cent of the total number of villages in Awadh, by the Summary Settlement this
number had come down to 38 per cent.
vii. The taluqdars of southern Awadh were the hardest hit and some lost more than half of the total number of villages they had
previously held.
viii. British land revenue officers believed that by removing taluqdars they would be able to settle the land with the actual owners of
the soil.
ix. Large areas of Awadh were actually heavily over assessed.
x. The increase of revenue demand in some places was from 30 to 70 per cent. Thus neither taluqdars nor peasants had any
reasons to be happy with the annexation.
xi. Dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of social order.
xii. In areas like Awadh where resistance during 1857 was intense and long lasting, taluqdars and their peasants carried out the
fighting.
xiii. Many of these taluqdars were loyal to the Nawab of Awadh, and they joined Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow to fight the
British; some even remained with her in defeat.

Question- 75 Describe how Gandhiji had transformed Indian Nationalism by 1922.

Transformation of Indian Nationalism by Gandhiji:
i. By 1922, Gandhiji had transferred Indian Nationalism, it was no longer a movement of professionals and
intellectuals only.
ii. Now hundreds and thousands of peasants, workers and artisans participated in it.
iii. Non Co-operation movement spread and became a mass movement.
iv. Students stopped attending government run schools and colleges.
v. Lawyers stopped attending courts.
vi. Working class went on strike in many towns and cities.
vii. Farmers refused to pay taxes.
viii. Peasants in kumaun refused to carry loads for colonial officials.
ix. Gandhiji coupled Non- Co-operation with Khilafat movement thus broadened the base of the struggle with HinduMuslims joining
hands.

Question- 76 ‘‘ ‘Quit India Movement’ was genuinely a mass movement.’’ Justify the statement with arguments.
Quit India Movement was undoubtedly a mass movement.
The movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi
i. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Indians joined together.
ii. Strikes were organized.
iii. Students left college to go to jail.
iv. Women actively participated in the movement.
v. Lawyers left courts.
vi. Independent governments were proclaimed.
vii. People followed the slogan of Mahatma Gandhi “Do or Die” and were willing to lay down their lives for the nation.
Question- 76 How did different sections of the Indian society react on the Non-Cooperation Movement ? 8
OR
Question- 77 ‘Gandhiji had mobilized a wider discontentment against the British rule in the Salt Satyagraha.’ Explain.
Reaction of Indians on Non Cooperation Movement
i. Background-Against Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and in favour of Khilafat Movement. Gandhiji
launched Non- Cooperation Movement.
ii. Hindu and Muslims collectively tried to end colonial laws.
iii. Students stopped going to schools and colleges run by the government.
iv. Lawyers refused to attend law courts.
v. The working class went on strike in many towns and cities
vi. The countryside showed discontentment against British.
vii. Hill tribes in Andhra violated forest laws.
viii. Farmers in Awadh did not pay taxes.
ix. Peasants in Kumaun refused to carry loads for colonial officials.
x. Protest against local leadership.
xi. Participation of women
xii. Peasants, workers and others interpreted and acted upon the call to non cooperate with colonial rules in ways best suited to
their interests.
Salt Satyagraha
i. Gandhiji announced a march to break the salt law
ii. Salt law gave the state a monopoly in the manufacture and sale of salt.
iii. The state monopoly on salt was deeply unpopular as in every Indian household salt was indispensible and the people were
forbidden for making salt even for domestic use.
iv. Gandhiji hoped to mobilize a wider discontent against British rule and started Dandi March. Once he reached Dandi he broke the
salt law.
v. Parallel Salt Marches were organized in other parts of the country.
vi. Peasants breached the colonial forest laws which restricted their access to forests.
vii. Factory owners went on strike.
viii. Lawyers boycotted British courts.
ix. Students refused to attend educational Institutions and schools run by government.
x. Indians were arrested.
xi. Gandhiji made a plea to the upper caste to serve untouchables.
xii. Hindus, Muslims, Parsees and Sikhs were told to unite.
xiii. Thousands of Volunteers joined for the cause.
xiv. Many officials resigned from their posts.
xv. Gandhiji’s meetings were attended by all sections of people.
xvi. Women participated in large number.
xvii. Dandi March brought Gandhi to world attention. The March was covered by European and American press.
xviii. Salt march made British realized that they would have to devolve some powers to Indians.

Question- 78 “Though geographically and politically India is divided into two, at heart we shall ever be friends helping and
respecting one another.” Explain the statement given by Gandhi. 8
OR
Question- 79 “Non-Cooperation Movement promoted harmony between religions and created mass movement.” Explain the
statement.
“Though geographically and politically India is divided in to two, at heart we shall ever be friends helping andrespecting one
another.” Explain the statement given by Gandhijii.
Gandhiji had fought a lifelong battle for free and united India and yet when the country was divided he urged that thetwo parts
should respect and befriend one another.
ii. Gandhiji wanted harmony between two nations and between Hindus and Muslims.
iii. He did fasts to stop communal violence.
iv. He appealed to Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims to forget the past and not to dwell on their sufferings.
v. He wanted peace.
vi. At his initiative, Congress passed a resolution on the right of minorities.
vii. He wanted to provide equal rights to all Indians and India would be a democratic secular state and all are equally entitled to the
secular protection of the state.
viii. He wanted to save people from aggression.
ix. According to D.G Tendulkar, “Gandhiji was concerned about minorities in Pakistan.”
x. He wanted people to work collectively for the equality and no domination by majority.
“Non Cooperation movement promoted harmony between religions and created mass movement”
i. Hindus and Muslims collectively tried to end British rule.
ii. Movement unleashed a surge of popular movement.
iii. It entailed denial, renunciation and self discipline.
iv. Rowlatt Satyagraha and Khilafat movement promoted anti -British feeling.
v. Students stopped going to schools and colleges.
vi. Lawyers refused to attend the law court.
vii. Working class went on strike
viii. The countryside showed discontent against the British
ix. Hill tribes in Andhra violated forest laws
x. Farmers in Awadh did not pay taxes
xi. Peasants in Kumaun refused to carry loads for colonial officials
xii. Participation of women
xiii. Protest against local leadership
xiv. Peasants, workers and others interpreted and acted up on the call to non – cooperate with colonial rules in ways best suited to
their interests

Question- 80 “Mahatma Gandhiji’s role was vital in the Non-Cooperation Movement.” Support the statement. 8
OR
Question- 81 “Quit India Movement became the Mass Movement.” Support the statement. 8
”Mahatma Gandhi’s role was vital in the Non-cooperation Movement”.
i. After the success of local movements- Champaran , Kheda and Ahmedabad, Gandhiji started protest against Rowlatt Act,
Jalianwala Bagh Massacre by launching the Non Cooperation Movement in 1920.
ii. It was Rowlatt Satyagraha that made Gandhiji a truly national leader
iii. Features of Non Cooperation Movement (not to cooperate with government at any level).
iv. Boycott of schools, college and law courts. National schools, colleges were opened
v. Non payment of taxes
vi. Renunciation of titles and voluntary association with the government
vii. If Non Cooperation Movement was effectively carried out said Gandhiji, India would win swaraj with in a year.
viii. To further broaden the struggle he merged the Khilafat movement with Non Cooperation Movement.
ix. Non Cooperation Movement was first mass movement which made Gandhiji mass leader and also changed the course of Indian
history.
x. Gandhiji‟s followers were poor peasants, workers, students and lawyers and also industrialists.
xi. Gandhiji successfully brought different factions together.
xii. After Chauri Chaura incident when Gandhiji withdrew the movement, the movement collapsed. Therefore, it shows the vital role
of Gandhiji in the movement .
xiii. Louis Fisher American biographer of Gandhi wrote “Non Cooperation Movement became the name of an epoch in the life of
India and Gandhiji… It was training for self rule.”
“Quit India Movement became the mass movement”
i. After the failure of „Cripps Mission‟ Gandhiji launched Quit India Movement and gave the slogan. “Do or Die”.
ii. Youth activists organized strikes
iii. They also organized acts of sabotage all over the country
iv. J.P. Narayan became active for underground resistance.
v. After Gandhiji‟s arrest, other leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kriplani etc. became active and mobilized masses.
vi. In several districts, independent governments were proclaimed.
vii. In Satara, a parallel government Prati Sarkar was formed
viii. In Medinipur, independent government was proclaimed
ix. Youth left colleges and universities and went to jail
x. Many classes, castes and other categories joined the movement.
xi. British responded with much force
xii. Quit India Movement was violent but Gandhiji did not call off the movement.
xiii. Gandhi ji tried to reduce gap between Congress and League in 1944.
xiv. Any other relevant point

Question- 81 “Amidst the partition of India, Gandhiji showed his conviction for communal harmony.” Explain the statement with
examples.
Gandhiji efforts for restoring communal harmony
i. He tried to stop communal violence through his principles.
ii. He visited riot torn areas of various regions.
iii. He showed his concern towards the sufferings of the minorities.
iv. He worked for the equality of all classes.
v. He tried to build a spirit of mutual trust and confidence between the two communities.
vi. Any other relevant point

Question- 82 Examine the role of Congress party in making of the Constituent Assembly. 8
OR
Question- 83 ‘Different groups expressed their desires in different ways and made different demands.” Support the statement with
reference to the problem of separate electorate.
QUESTION
Role of Congress party in the making of Constituent Assembly
i. The Constituent Assembly was dominated by Congress.
ii. 82% of the members belonged to Congress.
iii. Members of the Congress differed in their opinion on critical issues.
iv. Jawahar Lal Nehru , Vallabh Bhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad were the members of Congress who played important role in the
Constituent Assembly.
v. Nehru moved ‘Objective Resolution’ and ‘Tri colour National Flag’.
vi. Patel played key role in drafting reports and reconciling views.
vii. Dr. Prasad was the President of the Assembly.
viii. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar served as Chairman of the Drafting Committee. KM Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar gave crucial
inputs.
ix. The discussions within the Constituent Assembly were also influenced by the opinions expressed by the public.
x. Any other relevant point.
Issue of Separate Electorate in the Constituent Assembly
i. Demand of separate electorate was based on defining rights of minorities.
ii. Assembly interpreted minority in terms of economically weaker groups, tribal community, religious community and groups with
backward caste.
iii. Leaders of the groups anticipated demands in the form of separate electorates.
iv. There were huge debates on this question in Assembly.
v. B.P. Bahadur wanted separate electorate for minorities
vi. [Link] urged for rights for poor and downtrodden.
vii. Jaipal Singh wanted rights for Tribals.
viii. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for depressed caste.
ix. J. Nagappa discussed about systematic marginalization.
x. Many members like Sardar Patel, R.V. Dhulekar , G.B. Pant considered separate electorate as a cause of division and against
the unity of India.
xi. Sardar Patel considered separate electorate as poison
xii. According to the members, it would lead to divided loyalties and isolate the minorities from majority.
xiii. Any other relevant point.

Question- 84
Examine the different arguments made in the Constituent Assembly over the federal structure of the Indian Government. 8
OR
Question- 85
Examine the reasons for proposing Hindustani by Gandhiji as the National Language. Why did the Constituent Assembly finally
decide not to have one as the National Language ?

Assembly debates on Federal structure

One of the topics vigorously debated was the respective rights of the central government and the states.
i. Nehru argued for strong centre.
ii. The draft constitution provided for three lists of subjects : Union , State and Concurrent lists.
iii. Art 356 gave the centre the power to take over state administration on the recommendation of governor.
iv. Fiscal federation was emphasized.
v. [Link] argued for the rights of states.
vi. Few members felt the fiscal provision would impoverish the provinces.
vii. Many faught hard for lessening subjects of Concurrent and Union lists.
viii. Ambedkar wanted strong and united Centre.
ix. To stop the communal tensions powers of centre was to be enhanced
x. Gopalaswami Ayyangar wanted strong centre.
xi. B.K. Sharma argued for strong centre for well being of country.
xii. Few members wanted strong centre for mobilization of economic resources and for proper administration.
Proposing Hindustani as National language by Gandhiji
i. Gandhiji emphasized on Hindustani as National Language.
ii. It was a language of common people.
iii. Hindustani -Blend of Hindi and Urdu.
iv. It was popular among large section of society.
v. It was a composite language enriched by diverse culture.
vi. According to him this multi-cultured language could unify Hindus and Muslims and people of the North and South.
Assembly’s decision on the language of the nation
i. R. V. Dhulekar made strong plea for Hindi.
ii. He also pleaded that Hindi to be used as the language for constitution making.
iii. They wanted Devnagri Hindi as the official and National language.
iv. Few members wanted English to continue to be used for official purpose.
v. Anti Hindi propaganda also spread across the Assembly.
vi. Each province was allowed to chose their regional language for official work within the province.

Question- 86 Examine the ideals expressed in the Constituent Assembly for the Constitution of Independent India. 8
OR
Question- 87 How were the rights of the depressed castes debated in the Constituent Assembly ? Examine the role of Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar in this context. Ideals expressed by the Constituent Assembly
i. Jawahar Lal Nehru introduced ‘Objective Resolution ‘defining ideals of the constitution of India.
ii. Proclaimed India to be an ‘independent Sovereign Republic’.
iii. Justice, equality and freedom were guaranteed.
iv. Adequate safeguards for minorities, backward and tribal areas and other backward classes.
v. Mechanically various principles of varied constitution were applied.
vi. The objective of the Indian Constitution would be to fuse the liberal ideas of democracy.
vii. The socialist ideas of economic justice were also expressed.
viii. Creative thinking was given emphasis on.
ix. Rights and equality were discussed.
Rights of the depressed class in the Constituent Assembly
i. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the depressed classes but Mahatma Gandhi opposed it.
ii. Some members of depressed caste emphasized more facilities for untouchables.
iii. Pleaded that their disabilities were caused by social norms and moral values of caste society.
iv. [Link] discussed the numerical formation of depressed class as between 20 to 25% of the total population.
v. This class had no access to education. No share in the administration for long.
Ambedkar’s Role
i. He demanded separate electorate earlier but after partition violence he no longer argued for separate electorate.
ii. Demanded abolition of untouchability
iii. Demanded Hindu Temples to be open to all castes
iv. Wanted reservation of seats in legislature.
v. Wanted reservation of jobs in government offices.
vi. Wanted change in attitude towards this caste.
vii. Wanted to erase social discrimination through constitutional legislature.

Question- 88 Explain how the coming of Gandhiji broadened the base of the Indian National Movement.
Base of Indian National Movement broadened under Gandhiji:
1 Gandhiji as people’s leader:It was no longer a movement of professionals and intellectuals,now hundreds of thousands of
peasants, workers and artisans also participated.
2 He identified himself with the common [Link] like them,lived like them.
3 Use of charkha.
4 Opposed untouchability and the degrading treatment of dalits.
5 Took up the cause of the peasants.
6 Brought changes in the Congress organisation-New branches and Praja Mandal.
7 Encourage the use of local language for communication.
8 Prosperous industrialists and businessmen involved in the struggle.
9 Highly talented Indians attached themselves to Gandhiji.
10 Emphasised Hindu-Muslim unity.
11 Gandhiji seen as ‘Mahatma’ and he had a huge following from all sections of people all over India.

Question- 89 “Through proclamations the rebels of 1857 completely rejected everything associated with British rule or firangi raj”.
Cite any four aspects to support this statement. Ans.
i. The proclamations condemned the British for the annexations they had carried out and the treaties they had broken.
ii. Condemned British land revenue settlements had dispossessed landholders, both big and small, and foreign commerce had
driven artisans and weavers to ruin.
iii. Every aspect of British rule was attacked and the firangi accused of destroying a way of life that was familiar and cherished. The
rebels wanted to restore that world.
iv. The proclamations expressed the widespread fearthat the British were bent on destroying the caste and religions of Hindus and
Muslims and converting them to Christianity
v. People were urged to come together and fight to save their livelihood, their faith, their honour, their identity – a fight which was
for the “greater public good”.
vi. The proclamations sought to unify all socialgroups in the fight against firangi raj.
vii. Azamgarh proclaimation

Question- 90
Why did N G Ranga feel that the minorities should be interpreted in economic terms? Give reasons.
Ans. N G Ranga felt that the minorities should be interpreted in economic terms
i. ACC to N.G. Ranga the real minorities were the poor and the downtrodden.
ii. the real minorities that need protection from zamindars and money lenders and assurances of protection
iii. In his opinion it was meaningless for the poor people in the villages to know that they now had the fundamental right to live, and
to have full employment, or that they could have their meetings, their inferences, their associations and various other civil liberties.
iv. According to him it was essential to create conditions where these constitutionally enshrined rights could be effectively enjoyed.
For this they needed protection.
v. They need to be given representation to the Assembly.

Question- 91 Describe the role of Gandhiji as people’s leader from 1917-22?

Ans. Gandhiji’s emerge as a people’s leader from 1917-22
i. Gandhiji led the people to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
ii. He used the mother tongue and not English in communicating nationalist messages
iii. He took up the Khilafat issue in the Non –Cooperation Movement and demanded Swaraj.
iv. Renunciation of all voluntary association with the British govt.
v. He became people’s leader through self-discipline and renunciation.
vi. He also promoted the concept of self rule through the charkha.
vii. Gandhiji displayed a concern for the laboring poor of India, as he believed that salvation for India could come only through the
farmers and workers who constituted the majority of the Indian population.(reference to BHU speech)
viii. He wanted Indian nationalism, from being an elite phenomenon- a creation of lawyers doctors and landlords, to nationalism
more suitably representative of the Indian people as a whole.
ix. He popularised Satyagraha.
x. Non-Cooperation-a much wider and popular Movement in terms of participation from all sections, widespread over India,
participation by both Hindus and Muslims-Khilafat & Non Cooperation, a united challenge to British imperialism like never before
under his leadership.
xi. He popularized Ahimsa
xii. Gave emphasis on Swadeshi & Boycott
xiii. Students stopped going to schools and colleges run by the government.
xiv. Lawyers refused to attend court.
xv. The working class went on strike in many towns and cities.
xvi. Hill tribal in northern Andhra violated the forest laws.
xvii. Farmers in Awadh did not pay taxes.
xviii. Peasants in Kumaon refused to carry loads for colonial officials.
xix. He emphasized decentralization through charkha.
xx. Emergence of Gandhian Nationalism
xxi. His language, dressing style and simplicity helped him connect with the masses.
xxii. Stressed on Hindu Muslim unity, eradication of untouchability, revival of indigenous industries through the symbol of charkha
and elevation of the status of women.
xxiii. The simple practice of Swadeshi and boycott appealed to the people.
xxiv. Empathised and identified with the common people in dress and lifestyle.
xxv. He carefully reorganized the Congress by setting up new branches in different parts of the country and Praja Mandals in the
Princely States.
xxvi. A group of highly talented Indians attached themselves to GandhijiMahadev Desai, Vallabh Bhai Patel, J. B. Kriplani,
Jawaharlal Nehru and C. Rajgopalachari. All from different regions and religious traditions.
xxvii. According to American biographer Louis Fischer –“Non Cooperation became the name of an epoch in the life of India and
Mahatma Gandhi”.

Question 92
Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?
i. Mahatma Gandhi felt that everyone should speak in a language that common people could easily understand.
ii. Hindustani – a blend of Hindi and Urdu – was a popular language of a large section of the people of India, and it was a composite
language enriched by the interaction of diverse cultures.
iii. Over the years it had incorporated words and terms from very many different sources, and was therefore understood by people
from various regions.
iv. This multi-cultural language, Mahatma Gandhi thought, would be the ideal language of communication between diverse
communities
v. It could unify Hindus and Muslims, and people of the north and the south
Question 93
What was was the Objectives Resolution? What were the ideals expressed
in the Objectives Resolution?
Ans: It was Jawaharlal Nehru, who presented Objectives Resolution in the
Constituent Assembly on 13th December, 1946. He proposed that the National Flag of India be a ‘horizontal tricolour of saffron,
white and dark green in equal proportion’, with a wheel in navy blue at the centre. It outlined and defined the ideals and objectives
of the Constituitiion which are as follows:‘horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and dark green in equal proportion’, with a wheel in
navy blue at the centre. It outlined and defined the ideals and objectives of the Constituitiion which are as follows:
(a). India was declared as independent sovereign Republic.
(b). It assured justice, equality, liberty and fraternity to all its citizens.
(c). It provided adequate safeguards to minorities.
(d). It referred to the well-being of the backward and depressed classes.
(e). India would combine the liberal ideas of democracy with socialist idea of economic Justice.
(f). India would adopt that form of government which would be acceptable to its people. No imposition from the British would be
accepted by the Indian people.
(g). India would be a federation.
(h). India would work for world peace and human welfare.

Question 94
THE FIFTH REPORT
From the Fifth Report Referring to the condition of zamindars and the auction of lands, the Fifth Report stated: The revenue was
not realised with punctuality, and lands to a considerable extent were periodically exposed to sale by auction. In the native year
1203, corresponding with 1796-97, the land advertised for sale comprehended a jumma or assessment of sicca rupees 28,70,061,
the extent of land actually sold bore a jumma or assessment of 14,18,756, and the amount of purchase money sicca rupees
17,90,416. In 1204, corresponding with 1797-98, the land advertised was for sicca rupees 26,66,191, the quantity sold was for
sicca rupees 22,74,076, and the purchase money sicca rupees 21,47,580. Among the defaulters were some of the oldest families
of the country. Such were the rajahs of Nuddea, Rajeshaye, Bishenpore (all districts of Bengal), … and others, the dismemberment
of whose estates at the end of each succeeding year, threatened them with poverty and ruin, and in some instances presented
difficulties to the revenue officers, in their efforts to preserve undiminished the amount of public assessment.
i. What was fifth report? 1
Ans: Report referring to the conditions of zamindars in eastern India, specially in districts of Bengal.
ii. Why Zamindars became defaulters? 1
Ans: Under Permanent Zamindari Settlement, The revenue was not realised with punctuality, and lands to a considerable extent
were periodically exposed to sale by auction.
iii. What was impact on zamindars? 2
Ans: Many Zamindars became defaulters, their estates were auctioned and this threatened them into conditions of poverty.

Question 95
“The life was gone out of the body”
Lord Dalhousie‘s annexations created disaffection in all the areas and principalities
that were annexed but nowhere more so than in the kingdom of Awadh in the heart of
North India. Here, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the
plea that the region was being misgoverned. The British government also wrongly
assumed that Wajid Ali Shah was an unpopular ruler. On the contrary, he was widely
loved, and when he left his beloved Lucknow, there were many who followed him all the
way to Kanpur singing songs of lament.
[Link] the state which was annexed by Lord Dalhousie.
Ans: Awadh
[Link] was the reason for annexation of Awadh? 2
Ans:Awadh was annexed on the pretext of being misgoverned by its Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
[Link] the annexation of Awadh angered the people ? 2
Ans: British government wrongly assumed that Wajid Ali Shah was an unpopular ruler.
On the contrary, he was widely loved by the people of Awadh, so when Awadh was
annexed and Wajid Ali Shah was forced to move out of awadh, people of Awadh were angered.
Question 96
“Tommorow we shall break the salt law”
On 5 April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi: When I left Sabarmati with my
companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we
would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a
rumour that I might be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let
my party come as far as Dandi, but not me certainly. If someone says that this betrays
imperfect faith on my part, I shall not deny the charge. That I have reached here is in
no small measure due to the power of peace and non-violence: that power is universally
felt. The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it
could have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest
this army of peace, we praise it.
[Link] which place, Gandhiji began the famous Dandi March? 1
Ans: From Sabarmati Ashram.
[Link] was the purpose of Dandi March? 2
Ans: To break the Salt Law, which had monopolized the production of Salt in the hands of
British, making it a very costly commodity.
[Link] type of reaction Gandhiji expected from the British , when he started Dandi March? 2
Ans: Gandhiji thought that government would not allow him to reach the coast of Dandi .

Question 97
The Problem with the separate electorate
At the Round Table Conference Mahatma Gandhi stated his arguments against
separate electorates for the Depressed Classes: Separate electorates to the
―Untouchables‖ will ensure them bondage in perpetuity … Do you want the
―Untouchables‖ to remain ―Untouchables‖ for ever? Well, the separate electorates would
perpetuate the stigma. What is needed is destruction of ―Untouchability‖, and when you
have done it, the barsinister, which has been imposed by an insolent ―superior‖ class
upon an ―inferior‖ class will be destroyed. When you have destroyed the barsinister to
whom will you give the separate electorates?
[Link] was the opposition from Gandhiji at Second Round Table Conference? 1
Ans: At the Round Table Conference Mahatma Gandhi stated his arguments against
separate electorates for the Depressed Classes.
[Link] the system of separate electorate was first introduced in India? 2
Ans: Minto Morley Reforms( 1909)
[Link] Gandhiji was opposed to the system of Separate electorates? 2
Ans: According to Gandhiji, the system of separate electorates would not only create
divisions in society, but at the same time, it will further marginalise the depressed
classes and they would never be able to become the part of mainstream.

Question 98
I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the minorities”
During the debate on 27 August 1947, Govind Ballabh Pant said:
I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the minorities and will do them
tremendous harm. If they are isolated for ever, they can never convert themselves into a
majority and the feeling of frustration will cripple them even from the very beginning.
What is it that you desire and what is our Ultimate objective? Do the minorities always
want to remain as minorities or do they ever expect to form an integral part of a great
nation and as such to guide and control its destinies? If they do, can they ever achieve
that aspiration and that ideal if they are isolated from the rest of the community? I
think it would be extremely dangerous for them if they were segregated from the rest of
the community and kept aloof in an air-tight compartment where they would have to
rely on others even for the air they breath …The minorities if they are returned by
separate electorates can never have any effective voice.
[Link] which classes was the provision of Separate Electorates made? 1
Ans: Minorities.
2. Why were the nationalist leaders of the Constituent Assembly opposing it? 1
Ans: Separate electorates would be dangerous to the minorities and would do them tremendous harm. They would be isolated for
ever, and would never become part of the mainstream.
3. How was it going to be suicidal? 2
Ans: Separate electorates would be suicidal to the minorities and would do them tremendous harm. If they are isolated for ever,
they can never convert

Question 99
Discuss how archaeologist reconstructs the past?
Ans:
1. Material evidences, allows archaeologists to better reconstruct Harappan life.
This material could be pottery, tools, ornaments, household objects, etc.
2. Recovering artifacts is just the beginning of the archaeological enterprise Archaeologists then classify their finds.
3. The second, and more complicated, is in terms of function: archaeologists have to decide whether, for instance, an artifact is a
tool or an ornament, or both, or something meant for ritual use
4. An understanding of the function of an artifact is often shaped by its resemblance with present-day things – beads, querns, stone
blades and pots are obvious examples.
5. Archaeologists also try to identify the function of an artifact by investigating the context in which it was found
6. The problems of archaeological interpretation are perhaps most evident in attempts to reconstruct religious practices.
7. Attempts have also been made to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices by examining seals, some of which seem to depict
ritual scenes. Others, with plant motifs, are thought to indicate nature worship.
8. Many reconstructions of Harappan religion are made on the assumption that later traditions provide parallels with earlier ones.
This is because archaeologists often move from the known to the unknown, that is, from the present to the past.
9. Remains of crops, saddle querns or pit are studied to identify food

Question 100
What were the policies and administrative causes of the Revolt of 1857?
0R
What were the causes of the failure of the 1857 Revolt?
Ans. (a) Imperialist policy of the British administrators.
(b) Doctrine of Lapse
(c) Abolition of pensions and Titles.
(d) Disrespect to the Mughal Emperor.
(e) Annexation of Awadh
(f)Misuse of Subsidiary alliance.
OR

Ans. (a) Breaking out before of the fixed date.

(b) Co-operation of the native states to the British.
(c) Lack of co-operation from the Elite.
(d) Limited resources of the Rebels.
(e)Absence of a common ideal.
(f) Diplomacy of the British.

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