8 Magbook Indian History 2020 Experts Arihant
8 Magbook Indian History 2020 Experts Arihant
8 Magbook Indian History 2020 Experts Arihant
INDIAN
HISTORY
Topical Coverage of Syllabus and Previous Years’ Questions
with more than 3000 MCQs and 5 Practice Sets
Authored By
Janmenjay Sahni
© Publishers
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18. Tribal and Peasant Uprisings 110-114 27. Religion and Philosophy 178-183
Tribal Uprising Indian Culture
Movements by the Deposed Rulers and Zamindars Religions
Indian Philosophy
19. Governor-Generals and Viceroys 115-121 Indian Languages
Governor-Generals of Bengal Dravidian Languages
Governor-Generals of India
Viceroys of India 28. Music, Dance, Theatre and Festivals 184-197
Indian Music
20. Development of Modern Education
Hindustani Classical Music
and Press 122-127 Carnatic Music
Development of Education
Indian Dance Forms
Development After Independence
Theatre in India
Development of Press
Cinema in India
21. Revolt of 1857 128-132 Fairs and Festivals of India
The Great Revolution of 1857
The Course of Revolt 29. Indian Architecture and
Areas Affected by the Revolt Painting Schools 198-205
Harappan Architecture
22. Social And Religious Reform Indian Temple Architecture
Movements 133-142 Puppetry
Rise of the Movements Handicrafts
Major Issues of the Movements Paintings
Temple Reform Movements
Deccan Education Society Chronological Panorama of
The Servants of Indian Society Indian History 206-207
British Initiatives for Social Reforms
Glossary 208-213
23. Growth of Nationalism and Struggle
Practice Set 1-5 214-232
for Independence (1885-1919) 143-155
Factors for the Rise of Nationalism Previous Years’ Solved Papers Set 1 233-242
Birth of Indian National Congress Previous Years’ Solved Papers Set 2 243-248
Struggle for Independence Moderate (1885-1905)
TOPICS FOCUS &
TREND OF QUESTIONS
Chapter one
The Stone Age
Lower Palaeolithic Age Sites
Stone Age
Sites States
The term ‘Stone Age’ is The age when the pre-historic man
began to use stones for utilitarian Belan Valley Madhya Pradesh and
used to describe a Uttar Pradesh
purpose is termed as the Stone Age.
period of human The stone age is divided into three Bhimbetka, Jogdaha Madhya Pradesh
evolution where stone broad divisions: Bagor, Budha Pushkar Rajasthan
was used as the most Pre-History Patne, Nandipalle Maharashtra
hardest material for Renugunta, Kurnool Andhra Pradesh
making tools. The stone Palaeolithic Mesolithic Neolithic Caves
Age Age Age Singhbhum Jharkhand
age started around 2 to
2.5 million years ago. Sohan Valley West Punjab
Lower Middle Upper (Pakistan)
The transition out of Palaeolithic Palaeolithic Palaeolithic
the stone age occurred
The Middle Palaeolithic Age
between 6000 BC and Palaeolithic Age
(50000 - 40000 BC)
2500 BC. Man is said to Hunters and Food
have appeared on the It’s tool pattern is based upon flakes and
Gatherers (Upto 9000 BC)
Jade Central Asia — About 2000 seals have been recovered from Harappan sites.
Carnelian Saurashtra Script and Language
Script and language are undeciphered, script is
Art and Architecture pictographic in nature. Fish symbol is most represented.
The Harappans were utilitarians although not completely Overlapping of the letters show that it was written from
devoid of artistic sense. Their most notable artistic right to left in the first line and then left to right in the
achievement was their seal engraving. The major artistic second line. The style is called boustrophedon. A
work of the Harappans were: signboard inscription bearing 10 pictographs has been
found from Dholavira in Gujarat.
Harappan Pottery
Harappan pottery is bright or dark red and is uniformly Terracotta Figurines
sturdy and well baked. Script is also engraved on it. It is Fire baked clay was used to make toys, objects of
chiefly wheel made and consists of both plain and painted worship, animals (monkeys, dogs, sheep, cattle, humped
ware, the plain variety being more common. and humpless bulls) both male and female figurines.
Harappan people used different types of pottery such as
Decline of Indus Civilisation : Different Views
glazed, polychrome, incised perforated and knobbed. The
glazed Harappan pottery is the earliest example of its kind Cause of Declines Thinkers
in the ancient world. External Aggression Wheeler, Piggot,
On the whole, Harappan pottery was highly utilitarian in Gordan-childe
character, though the painted designs on some pieces Inundation MR Sahani
show a remarkable artistic touch.
Epidemic KVR Kennedy
Harappan Seals Tectonic Disturbances Marshall and Raikes
The seals commonly are made of steatite (soft stone). The (e.g. Dholavira)
technique of cutting and polishing these seals with white Sudden Decline Wheeler
lustre was a unique invention of the Harappans.
Climatic Change RL Stein, AN Ghosh
The majority of the seals have an animal engraved on
Deforestation, scarcity of Walter
them with a short inscription. Unicorn is the animal most
resources, ecological imbalances Fairservis
frequently represented on the seals. The famous Bull seal
was found from Mohenjodaro. Main types are as follows Flood (e.g. Mohenjodaro) Marshal, SR Rao, Maickey
— The square type with a carved animal and inscription. The destruction due to change GF Holes
— The rectangular type with inscription only. Steatite image of a in course of river Ghaggar
bearded man is excavated from Mohenjodaro.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Indus 7. Almost all Harappan towns had large granaries
Valley Civilisation. [IAS 2011] because
1. It was pre-dominantly a secular civilisation and the religious (a) taxes were paid in kind and therefore, granaries acted
element, though present, did not dominate the scene. as a sort of public treasuries
2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles (b) surplus produce of the countryside was started in the
in India. towns
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) foodgrains were stored for the purpose of trade
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (d) All of the above
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 8. Which of the following was not the likely purpose of
2. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about the Great Bath in the citadel at Mohenjodaro?
Indus Valley Civilisation? (a) Community bathing
1. The cities were planned. (b) Swimming exercises and water sports
2. Non-standardised weights were used. (c) Some elaborate ritual of vital importance, including a
3. There were elaborate water drainage system. corporate social life
(d) Storage of water to be used during drought emergency
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these 9. The deification which of the following was not part of
the religion of the Indus valley people?
3. The granary discovered at Harappa was located
(a) Mother Goddess
(a) in the ‘Lower town’
(b) Forces of nature
(b) near the river Ravi
(c) Trees and their spirits
(c) within the citadel at Mohenjodaro
(d) Certain animal chimeras and their anthropic figures
(d) beside the Western ghat of the city
10. Harappan people had a common burial system, which
4. One of the Harappan deities not represented, in later Hindu in proved by
religion is
(a) the Earth burials with the head of the dead normally laid
(a) Pashupati Siva
towards the North
(b) seven mothers (Sapta Marikas)
(b) the burial of commonly used items with the dead
(c) compound creatures
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(d) unicorn
(d) the burial of the dead body in the sitting posture
5. Which one of the following statement is true about the
11. Which of the following statement about the Harappan
Chalcolithic Culture of India?
people is incorrect?
(a) They were primarily communities in the hilly and riverine
(a) The Harappans were phallus worshippers
areas
(b) They placed their Gods in temples
(b) They mostly used stone and copper objects and
(c) They worshipped Gods in the from of human beings
occasionally low grade bronze
(d) They looked upon the Earth as a fertility Goddess
(c) A large number of them appeared after the end of the bronze
Harappan culture 12. Which of the following is not a characteristic feature
(d) They were restricted to the Ganga-Yamuna doab and of the Harappan pottery?
foothills of the Himalayas (a) Well-fired red ware
(b) Painted black designs
6. Match the following
(c) Vegetal and geometric patterns
List I List II (d) Red and black polished ware
A. Kalibangan 1. Pottery
13. Which of the following characterises the people of
B. Lothal 2. Terracotta Toys Indus Civilisation? [IAS 2013]
C. Chanhudaro 3. Seal of Pashupati
1. They possessed great palaces and temples.
D. Mohenjodaro 4. Brick Platform
2. They worshipped both male and female deities.
Codes 3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
A B C D A B C D Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 2 3 4 1 (a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 2
(c) 3 4 1 2 (d) 4 1 2 3 (c) All of these (d) None of these
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (d) 7. (d) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (c)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (b)
Chapter three
The Vedic Age
Origin Early Vedic Age
The history of Vedic The word Aryan literally means of (1500 - 1000 BC)
high birth, but generally refers to
India is known largely Geography
language, though some use it as
through its religious race. According to Rig Veda, Aryans had the
texts, the Vedas, which It is difficult to say that, all the knowledge of the Indus valley
gave the period its earliest Aryans belong to one race, (Saptasindhava). Indus is the most mentioned
but their culture was more or less of river in Rig Veda. Saraswati (Naditarna) is
name. Vedas recorded
same type. considered as the holiest river. It is identified
not only the religion of with Hakra Ghaggar channel in Haryana and
The Boghazkoi inscriptions dated to
the Vedic people, but 1400 BC gives the information of Rajasthan, but in Rig Vedic description, it
also details of their lives peace treaty between the Hittites seems to be the Avestan river Harakhvati, from
where the name Saraswati was transferred to
that gave us a look at and the Mittanis rulers of the
Hittani, in which the names of the India.
their political, social and Samudra referred to collection of water and not
Vedic Gods – Indra, Mitra, Nasatya
economic pattern. The and Varuna are mentioned. sea. They had knowledge of Himavat or the
Rig Veda, the oldest snow mountain Dhawa (desert land) and
literary creation not only Reasons Behind Majuvant, from which Aryans got Soma, an
intoxicating drink.
in India, but in the entire Rapid Expansion
Indo-European literature of the Aryans Political Organisation
too, talks of a simple Chariot driven by horses.
The Rig Vedic polity was a tribal polity. Kula
socio-economic, political (family) was the basis of both social and
Weapons made of good quality
political organisations, starting with Kula, the
set-up and religious life. bronze.
hierarchy in ascending order was Grama
The use of armour (varman).
(village), Vis (clan), Jana (tribe) and Rashtra
Use of destructive machine called
(country).
as Purcharishnu.
The tribal chief called Rajan was the centre of
Origin of Aryans administrative machinery. The kings
(Gopajanasya) position was hereditary. He was
Place Views
protector of tribe and cattle, not the ruler of
Sapta Sindhu Region AC Das any specific territory. Several tribal assemblies
Arctic Region BG Tilak called Vidhata, Sabha, Samiti emerged. They
exercised military and religious functions.
Central Asia Max Muller
Women attended them occasionally.
German Plains Professor Penka
Doctrine of Divinity was not associated with
Tibet Region Dayanand kingship. Only one king, Purushasukta has
Saraswati been described as Ardhadeva (semi-divine) in
Bacteria Rhodes Rig Veda. Important Officers were Purohita,
Europe William Jones Senani, Kulpati (head of family), Vishpati,
Brajpati, Gramini, Sparsa (spy), Duta
Hungary P Giles
(messenger).
10 Magbook ~ Indian History
2. What was the main issue in the Dasarajna i.e. the Battle 9. Which of the following statements about the Vedic
of Ten Kings? family is incorrect?
(a) Non-Aryan groups had captured the cows of the Vedic (a) The basic unit of the Aryan society was the patriarchal
people family
(b) Division of the waters of the Ravi (b) The birth of a son was especially welcome because they
(c) Pani had stolen the cattle belonging to the Bharatas were needed in wars
(d) Tvastra had refused to let off the waters of Ravi (c) The sanctity of marriage had been recognised
(d) Child marriage was permitted
3. Which of the following statements about the concept of
kingship in the later Vedic period is correct? 10. An inscription of 1400 BC, which describes the Vedic
Gods, was found in Asia minor was
(a) Kingship ceased to be elective and became hereditary
(b) A glamour was created around the king and in the rituals, (a) Citacia (b) Boghazkoi (c) Hitti (d) Euphrates
he was sometimes also represented as a God 11. The term ‘Aryan’ or ‘Indo-Aryan’ and ‘Indo-European’
(c) Some kind of class alliance between the priests and the primarily denotes to [IAS 1999]
warriors developed (a) an ethnic group (b) a nomadic people
(d) The king was invariably a Kshatriya (c) a speech group (d) a superior race
4. Which of the following statements about the tribal 12. The Battle of Ten Kings was fought on the bank of the
assemblies in the early Vedic period is incorrect? river
(a) The king’s authority was substantially limited by the tribal (a) Askini (b) Parushni
assemblies especially the Sabha and Samiti (c) Shanudrie (d) Vitasta
(b) Sabha was a council of the elder members of the tribe
perhaps women also attended it 13. The ‘Dharma’ and ‘Rita’ depict a central idea of ancient
(c) Samiti was a general Tribal assembly and less exclusive Vedic Civilisation of India. Consider the following
than Sabha statements [IAS 2011]
(d) These assemblies performed only political functions 1. ‘Dharma’ was a conception of obligations and of the
discharge of one’s duties to oneself and to others.
5. The tax, which the kings used to collect from the people 2. ‘Rita’ was the Fundamental Moral Law governing the
in the Vedic period, was called functioning of the universe and all it contained.
(a) Bali (b) Vidhata Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(c) Varman (d) Kara (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
6. Which of the following regarding the social life of the (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Vedic people is incorrect? 14. The religion of early vedic Aryans were primarily of
(a) Social divisions were based on occupations [IAS 2012]
(b) The members of one family could adopt different (a) bhakti
occupations (b) image worship and yajnas
(c) Women slavery was known during Vedic period. (c) worship of nature and yajnas
(d) The society was egalitarian (d) worship of nature and Bhakti
1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (c)
Chapter four
The First Territorial
States
Mahajanapadas
Mahajanapadas Mahajanapada refers to ancient Indian kingdoms that existed between the 3rd and 6th
represent the state centuries BCE. These kingdoms and republics had evolved and flourished in a belt
stretching from Gandhara in the North-West to Anga in the Eastern part of the Indian
system that emerged in
subcontinent and included parts of the trans-Vindhyan region, prior to the rise
6th century BC. The of Buddhism in India. The 6th century BC is often regarded as a major turning point in
process of emergence early Indian history.
of Mahajanapadas were
Literary Sources
initiated by certain
There were sixteen territories called Shodasha Mahajanapadas.
important economic
The Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya (a part of sutta pitaka) provides the names of
changes and the 16 Mahajanapadas at the time of Buddha.
consequent socio- Similarly, the Jaina text Bhagavati Sutra and another Buddhist text Mahavastu also
political developments provides such list of sixteen Mahajanapadas.
witnessed during
that period.
Types of Mahajanapadas
Mahajanapadas were of two types:
(i) Monarchial States Anga, Avanti, Chedi, Kashi, Kosala, Gandhara, Magadha,
Matsya, Shursena, Vatsa.
(ii) Non-Monarchial/Republican States Kamboj, Kuru, Koliyas, Malla, Moriya, Shakya, Vajji,
Panchal, Licchavis, Bhaggas, Kalamas, Videhas, Jnatrikas.
Rise of Magadhan Empire His three wives belonged to royal family of Koshala
Mahakosaladevi (sister of Prasenjit), Licchavi (Chellana)
Out of the sixteen Mahajanapadas four were very powerful. and Madra (Khema) clan of Punjab. He sent his personal
They were Magadha, Vatsa, Avanti and Koshala. physician Jivak (son of Salavati) to his rival
The period from 4th century to 6th century BC saw the Chandapradyota Mahasena of Ujjain to cure him of
struggle for supremacy among these four Mahajanapadas. jaundice.
Ultimately, Magadha emerged as the most powerful and The Gandhara ruler of Taxila Pukkusati, sent an embassy
prosperous kingdom in North India. The founder of to Bimbisara.
Magadha was Jarasandha and Brihadratha. But the growth
Ajatashatru (492-460 BC)
started under the Haryanka, expansion took place under the
Shishunaga and Nanda reached its zenith under the He was the son of Chellana and Bimbisara, he occupied
Mauryas. throne by killing his father. He adopted an aggressive
policy of expansion. He defeated his maternal uncle
Haryanka Dynasty Prasenjit, king of Kosala and married his daughter
Vajjira.
The earliest capital of Magadha was at Rajgir, which was
He destroyed Vaishali (capital of Licchavis) after a
called as Girivraja at that time. According to a Chinese
protracted war of 16 years by sowing the seeds of discord
pilgrim, Bimbisara founded the city of Rajagriha at the foot
amongst the people of Vaishali. Buddha died during his
of the hills lying North of Girivraja.
reign and he patronised first Buddhist Council.
Bimbisara (Seniya or Sreniya) (554-492 BC) Sunidha and Vatsakar Ajatshatru’s diplomatic ministers.
He was contemporary to the Buddha and first king to have Mahashilakantaka A war engine which catapulted big
a standing army. He defeated Anga king Brahmadutta and stones.
strengthened his position by matrimonial alliances.
18 Magbook ~ Indian History
Rathamusala A kind of Chariot with a mace, helped Unorthodox character of Magadhan society. Contribution of
him to defeat Licchavis. several enterprising and ambitious rulers and their policies.
Udayain (460-444 BC)
Son and successor of Ajatashatru, he built the fort
Pre-Mauryan Economic System
upon the confluence of the Ganga and the Son rivers In the pre-Mauryan period, thus, we notice for the first time,
at Pataliputra (Patna), thus, transferred the capital an advanced food-producing economy spread over middle
from Rajagriha to Pataliputra. He was succeeded by Gangetic plains and the beginning of urban economy in this
weak rulers Anuruddha, Munda and Naga-Dasak. area e.g. Cattle rearing was no longer the primary occupation
and was replaced by agriculture. Rice was the staple cereal
Shishunaga Dynasty (412-344 BC) produced in Eastern UP and Bihar in this period.
Iron played a crucial role in opening the rainfed forests to
Shishunaga was the Minister of Naga-Dasak and was
clearance, cultivation and settlement.
elected by the people. He destroyed the Pradyota
Rural Economy A strong rural base was necessary for the
dynasty of Avanti. He temporarily shifted the capital to
beginning of urbanisation and crafts as taxes and tributes were
Vaishali.
required in sufficient measure.
Kalasoka (Kakavarin) succeeded Shishunaga. He
This period saw the second urbanisation in India, towns had
transferred the capital from Vaishali to Pataliputra and
come into existence as centres of industry and trade. The use
convened the 2nd Buddhist Council in Vaishali
of burnt bricks and ring wells appeared in the middle of the
(383 BC).
NBPW phase, in the 3rd century BC.
Nanda Dynasty (344-323 BC) Economic Terminology
Mahapadma Nanda, the great conquerer and founder of Terms Meanings
the dynasty was also known as Ekarat, Eka- chchhatra Vrihi and Sali New variants of rice.
(sovereign ruler), Sarvakshatrantaka or Ugrasena Karisa, Nivartan and Kulyavapa Units of land measurement.
(possesor of huge army). He conquered Koshala and Sita state lands; Sarthak Caravans; sresti bankers.
Kalinga (from here he brought an image of the Jina as
Shali Transplantation.
victory trophy). It is considered to be the first
Gahapatis Peasant-proprietors.
non-Kshatriya dynasty.
Dhanananda was the last Nanda ruler. Alexander Specialised craftsmen tended to form guilds because it
invaded North-Western India during his reign (326 facilitated carriage of raw materials and the distribution
BC), but the huge army of Dhanananda deterred of finished articles. We hear of 18 guilds (sreni) of
Alexander from advancing towards Gangetic valley. artisans. The guild at this stage was not the highly developed
He is probably referred as Agrammes or Xandrames mercantile system, which it was to become later. Each
in the Greek texts. guild inhabited a particular section of the town.
Chandragupta Maurya assisted by Kautilya overthrew The introduction of a Monetary System considerably
Dhanananda to establish Mauryan dynasty. facilitated trade. Coins made of metal appear first in the age
of Gautama Buddha. The earliest hoards have been found
Causes for the Rise of in Eastern UP and Magadha, although some have
Magadha been found at Taxila. Most probably, they were referred
as Nishka and Satamana.
Advantageous geographical location with both Rajgir Anathapindaka was a sresthi of Shravasti who denoted
and Pataliputra situated at strategic locations. Jetuvana Vihara to the Buddha. Menduka was another rich
Abundance of natural resources, such as iron, sresthi of Rajagriha. Pre-Mauryan Social System
enabled Magadhan rulers to equip with effective The tribal community had been clearly divided into four
weapons. The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plains and Varnas: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
sufficient rainfall were very conducive for agriculture The Dharmasutras laid down the duties of each of the four
produces. Varnas and the civil and criminal law came to be based on the
Rise of town and use of metallic money boosted trade Varna division. They condemned Vaishyas for lending money.
and commerce. The princes could levy tolls and All kinds of disabilities were imposed on the Shudras. They
accumulate wealth to pay and maintain their army. were deprived of religious and legal rights and relegated to the
Use of elephants on a large-scale in wars with its lowest position in society.
proximity to ancient Kalinga. Patriarchal tendencies became dominant. Women were looked
down in comparison to men. They were to remain under the
Magbook ~ The First Territorial States 19
tutelage of male members and were Fusion of Iranian/Persian features in the Mauryan art.
not entitled to education and Impact of Buddhism on the Zoroastrian religion of ancient Persia.
Upanayana ceremony.
Greek Invasion
Foreign Invasions After the conquest of the Persian Empire, Alexander marched to India through
the Khyber Pass in 326 BC.
Persian Invasion He constructed a bridge on the Indus river at behind about 24 km.
Cyrus (558-530 BC) of Persia was After crossing the Indus, Alexander proceeded towards Taxila. The King of
the first conqueror who penetrated Taxila, Ambhi, readily submitted and offered to help Alexander and recognised
well into India. He destroyed the city him as his sovereign.
of Capisa (North of Kabul). The most powerful among the North-Western Indians was the ruler of kingdom
Herodotus, the Greek historian, also between the Hydaspes (Jhelum) and the Acesines (Chenab) whom the Greeks
known as the Father of History tells call Porus. Porus fought bravely, but was defeated and was led a captive before
us that in 516 BC Darius I Alexander.
(552-486 BC), grandson of Cyrus, Alexander’s advance was arrested on the bank of the Beas, for his soldiers
sent a naval expedition to explore mutinied and refused to proceed further after the Battle of Vitasta and Jhelum.
the valley of the Sindhu river and His dream of an Eastern Empire remained unfulfilled. The king who had never
annexed the part of Punjab and known defeat at the hands of his enemies had to accept defeat from his own
Sind. men. Alexander remained in India for about 19 months.
The Indian soldiers were part of the While retreat he divided the whole territory from the Indus to the Beas into
Archaemenian army that conquered three provinces and put them under the overall charge of three Greek
Greece in the time of Persian ruler Governors.
Xerxes I (465-456 BC) successor of
Darius I. Darius III also enlisted Effects of Greek Invasion
Indian soldiers and sent them to The Greek invasion of India opened the trade route between North-West India
fight Alexander. and Western Asia. Europe came into contact.
Effects of Persian Invasion The invasion led to the establishment of more Greek settlements in this area.
Introduction of the Aramaic form of Opening up of four distinct routes between India and Greek by land and sea
writing, which later developed into paving way for increased trade and cultural contacts between the two regions.
the Kharosthi alphabet. Indians learnt from the Greek in the field of astronomy, coinage, architecture
Promotion to Indo-Iranian trade. and sculpture (Gandhara School of Sculpture).
Maurya empire had seen something of the working of the military machine of
Alexander and acquired some knowledge which helped him in destroying the
power of the Nandas.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Which one of the following is not true about Janapada? 7. Which of the following statements about trade regulations
(a) Its literal meaning is the place where people place their feet in the Mauryan period is not correct?
(b) A Janapada was essentially an agricultural settlement (a) There was general control over process and profits
(c) A Janapada were often named after the dominant (b) The sale of merchandies was strictly supervised by the
Kshatriya class state
(d) The establishment of Janapadas show that trade had (c) The general tax levied on merchandise was fixed at one
become the most important factor in the contemporary life tenth
(d) The state directly employed one of artisans, such as
2. With reference to the invaders is ancient India, which
armourers, shipbuilders etc
one of the following is correct chronological order?
[IAS 2006] 8. Which of the following provides the correct sequence of
(a) Greeks, Sakas, Kushans (b) Greeks, Kushans, Sakas dynasties ruling at Magadha?
(c) Sakas, Greeks, Kushans (d) Sakas, Kushans, Greeks (a) Brihdratha, Harayanka, Shishunaga, Nanda
3. Consider the following statements to Magadha (b) Harayanka, Brihdratha, Shishunaga, Nanda
emerged as the most important state in India around (c) Harayanka, Shishunaga, Nanda, Brihdratha
2600 years ago. (d) Brihdratha, Shishunaga, Harayanka, Nanda
1. Emergence of two major faiths Buddhism and Jainism in 9. Which of the following kings of Magadha transferred the
Magadha. capital from Girivraja to Pataliputra permanently?
2. The efficient rulers of Magadha who increased its (a) Ajatshatru (b) Shishunaga
territory. (c) Kalashoka (d) None of the above
3. Geographical setting and the fertile plain.
4. Abundance of elephants in the region. 10. Which of the following factor was the behind Magadhan
supremacy?
Which of the statement(s) given above are correct?
(a) Geographical position—Ganga, Gandak and Ghaghra in
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) All of these
North and son in South and capital city Rajgriha fortified
4. Assertion (A) Flourishing of the urban city states in 6th with five hills
century BC in India was a resultant to the application of (b) Fertile soil and abundance of Iron ore
iron. (c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
Reason (R) Iron was easy imported from Europe and (d) None of the above
Central Asia, where it helped in the flows of the great 11. Consider the following kings
Greek roman civilisation and they had good concernal 1. Ajatshatru
contacts with Indian monarchs.
2. Bimbisara
Codes 3. Prasenjit
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation Which of these was/were the contemporary/
of A contemporaries of Gautam Buddha? [IAS 2003]
(c) A is true, but R is false (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
(d) A is false, but R is true (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
5. Which of the following kingdoms did not appear in the 12. Which of the following observations of megasthenes
later Vedic North India? about Mauryan society are true?
(a) Kuru Panchala (b) Kosala 1. Growing practice of polygany.
(c) Kashi (d) Anga 2. Employment of women as palace guards.
3. Theft was a rare occurrence.
6. Consider the following statements
4. Slavery was absent in Indian society.
1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
his commander in chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 4
2. The last Sunga King, Devabhuti was assassinated by his
(c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) All of these
Brahmana Minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the
throne. 13. Who among the following is considered to be the
3. The last ruler of Kanva dynasty was deposed by the founder of the mahajanapada of Magadha?
Andhras. (a) Brahmadutta (b) Palaka
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) Jarasandha (c) Mahasena
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Only 3 (d) All of these
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (d) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (c) 9. (c) 10. (c)
11. (d) 12. (a) 13. (c)
Chapter five
Religious Movements of
Mahajanapada Age
Jainism Philosophy of Jainism
The origin of Jainism is shrouded in It rejected the authority of the vedas and the
The changing features of
mystery. It is believed that the 24 vedic rituals. According to them, world was
social and economic life not created, maintained and destroyed by a
Tirthankaras were responsible for the
in the 6th century BC development and origin of this personal God, but by a universal law.
were closely linked with religion, but the first twenty two are Thus, it didn’t believe in the existence of God.
of doubtful historicity contemporary It believed in Karma and the transmigration of
changes in religion and
economic and political development soul. It advocated the path of non-violence.
philosophical
helped the emergence of new social Other important aspects of the philosophy of
speculation. The conflict groups which acquired considerable Jainism are as follows:
between the established economic power. As Jainism did not — Anekantavada Objects of knowledge is of
give much importance to the notion infinite characteristics.
orthodoxy and the
of birth for social status they — Nayavada An individual understands an
aspirations of the newly objected of knowledge through
attracted the Vaisyas to their fold.
rising groups must have a particular point of view.
Rishabhdev was the first Tirthankara. — Saptabhanginaya Seven point of view to
intensified this process. Vishnu Purana and Bhagwat Purana understand an object
Numerous religious mention Rishabhdev as the of knowledge.
sects arose in the middle incarnation of Narayana. — Syadvada Understanding of an object of
knowledge is conditional.
Gangetic basin in the 6th Personal History of Mahavira
century BC. Doctrines of Jainism
Real Names Vardhamanas
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
Titles Mahavira, Nayaputa, Satya (Truthfulness)
Nirgrantha
Asteya (Non-stealing)
Birth 540 BC Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
Place of Birth Kundagrama in Vaishali Aparigraha (Non-possession of property)
Father’s Name Siddhartha
Mother’s Name Trishala (A Licchavi Five Vows or Principles
Princess, Sister of The householder had to observe the following
Chetaka) five vows:
Wife Yashoda (i) Non-injury
Class Kshatriya (ii) Non-stealing
Clan Nyaya (Jnatrika) (iii) Speaking the truth
Enlightenment Jimbikagrama / (iv) Non-possession
Rijupalika (river) (v) Non-adultery
Companion Gosala Makkhaliputta The first four principles were given by
Death 468 BC, Pavapuri near Parshvanath while the 5th one was added by
Rajgriha Lord Mahavira.
22 Magbook ~ Indian History
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (d)
Chapter six
The Mauryan Empire
Origin of Mauryans Sources of Mauryan
The most immediate Mauryan empire was originated from
the kingdom of Magadha in the
History
and unexpected result
of Alexander’s invasion Indo-Gangetic plains. Mauryans ruled Literary Sources
from the capital Pataliputra. Both Indian
of the North-West was and classical sources suggest that The Arthashastra work, in sanskrit, is a
that, it hastened the Alexander’s retreat resulted in the comprehensive treatise on statecraft and
reaction of a Vacuum and therefore, it public administration. The work is attributed
Mauryan conquest of
was not difficult for Chandra gupta to to Kautilya, the Prime Minister of
the whole country. The Chandragupta. It deals with the kingship,
carve a kingdom for himself.
period of the Mauryan Chandragupta founded the Mauryan government, state, war and peace and
empire marks a new empire by overthrowing the Nanda diplomacy, the systems of revenue,
dynasty with the help of Chanakya, who description of various aspects of espionage,
epoch in the history of
was an important minister in the Court army organisation, laws related to marriage. It
India. It was a period is divided into 15 Adhikaranas or books, 180
of Nanda Rulers.
when politics, art, Prakarnas (chapters) and 6000 verses in all.
trade and commerce Different Views on the Origin of the The Jataka stories of the Buddha’s previous
Mauryans lives tell us about the prevalent social and
elevated India to a
Sources Views economic order.
glorious height.
Buddhist Connect with the tribe of The Ashokavadana and Divyavadana contain
Sakyas, whose region was information about Bindusara, Ashoka’s
full of peacocks i.e. Moriya. expeditions to Taxila to suppress a rebellion
Jain Linked Chandragupta to and about his conversion to Buddhism.
Moriya tribe of Peacock The Dipavamsa (compiled between 3rd
trainers. century BC and AD 4th century) and
Brahmanical Describe Mauryans as Mahavamsa (written in the AD 5th century)
Shudras. are Sri Lankan chronicles, which describe in
Greek They mention that detail the role played by Ashoka in spreading
Sandrocottas Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
(Chandragupta) was born of
humble origin.
A commentary on Mahavamsa, known as
Mahavamsatika or Vamsatthapakasini
Divyavadana and They concede that the
composed in the AD 10th century, contains
Vamsathapakasini Mauryas are a member of
the moriya clan of information about the origin of the Mauryans.
pippalivana. The Jaina work Sthaviravali Charita or
Romila Thapar Chandragupta belonged to Parisishtaparvan of Hemachandra (A
the Moriya tribe. biography of Chanakya) provides very
Mudrarakshasa Mauryans were connected interesting information on Chandragupta
with Nandas. Mauryan, such as his early life, conquest of
Mauryans were of Vaishya Magadha, famine in Magadha and conversion
Junagarh Rock
Inscription origin. to Jainism.
Magbook ~ The Mauryan Empire 29
Akaradhyaksha Superintendent of mines The Chief Justice called the Dharmadhikarina and he
presided over the Supreme Court : There were two types
Lavanadhyaksha Salt Superintendent
of courts
Navadhyaksha Incharge of state boats (i) Dharmasthiya Civil Court, headed by Dharmastha.
Panyadhyaksha Controller of state trading (ii) Kantaksodhan Criminal Court, headed by Pradeshika.
Sulkadhyaksha Collector of custom or tolls
Army
Suradhyaksha Superintendent of excise
According to Megasthenes, Chandragupta had at his
Tright Pauta vadhyaksha Superintendent of weight and measure
disposal, a formidable army numbering about 600000.
Bandhanagaradhyaksha Superintendent of jails The army consisted of foot soldiers, elephants and
Ayudhagaradhyaksha Ordinance Superintendent horses. It had 30000 cavalry and 900 elephants.
Kosthagaradhyaksha Incharge of warehouse
Espionage Network
Pattanadhyaksha Superintendent of ports The spies were of two types Sansthan and Sanchari, the
Devatadhyaksha Incharge of religious institutions former worked by remaining stationed at a public place
Samsthadhyaksha Superintendent of market and the latter by moving from place to place, they were
Suvarnadhyaksha Superintendent of gold also known as Gudhapurshas.
Hastyadhyaksha Incharge of elephant force City Administration
Kosadhyaksha Incharge of treasury Nagarika was the city of Superintendent assisted by two
Kupyadhyaksha Incharge of forest producer officials. According to Megasthenes, the city council was
divided into 6 boards of 5 members each.
Madradhyaksha Passport incharge
32 Magbook ~ Indian History
Palaces
Mauryan Economy Excavations have revealed a royal palace in ruined condition
Chief source of revenue was ‘land tax’. It was the total near Kumrahar.
produce and it was collected by the revenue officers.
Foreign trade by means of the land and sea was Terracotta Objects
prevalent and regulated by passports kind of Mother Goddesses in clay have been discovered at
documents. Indigo, cotton and silk was most traded Ahichatra.
commodities. The trade routes were called vanikatha. Terracotta of Mauryan period consists of primitive idols or
Punchmarked coins mainly of silver and copper, Pana images, toys, dice, ornaments and beads.
was the silver coin, gold coins were absent.
Folk Art
Agriculture The examples include Yaksha of Parkham and Yakshini of
In some parts of the empire, the Gana Sangha System Besnagar. These statues are made of stone.
with communal ownership of land continued.
There are also references to state-owned lands called The Decline of Mauryan Empire
Sita lands. The decline was completed within half a century after the
death of Ashoka. Most historians agree on the following
Public Welfare
major causes are as follows :
The state took considerable interest in irrigation,
— The partition of the Mauryan empire in two halves is supposed to
encouraged people for repairing dams and construction be an immediate cause for the decline of the Mauryan empire.
of a water reservoir.
— Later Mauryan rulers were considered to be weak.
A reservoir (Tadaga) was probably built in Saurashtra — Ashoka’s pacifist policies were held to be undermining the
region during Chandragupta time as indicated by an strength of the empire.
Inscription of Rudradaman. There are many references — Strained Mauryan economy is also held as the major cause of
to medicine men of various kinds during this period like the decline.
ordinary physicians (Chikitsakah), midwives — The weakening of the central control under the later Mauryans,
(Garbhavyadhi) etc. led automatically to the weakening of administration.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Which of the following is the least important as a source (c) The sea route along the Western coast
material for the Mauryan history? (d) The East coast route
(a) Numismatic evidence (b) Literary sources
9. Which of the following was the factor behind Magadhan
(c) Epigraphic sources (d) Foreign accounts
supremacy?
2. Which of the following statements regarding Ashoka (a) Fertile soil and abundance of iron-ore
stone pillars is incorrect? (b) Geographical position (Ganga, Gandak and Ghaghra in
(a) These are highly polished the North and Soan in South and capital city Rajgriha
(b) These are parts of architectural structures fortified with five hills)
(c) The shaft of pillars is taperating in shape (c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(d) These are monolithic (d) None of the above
3. The Dhamma Mahamattas appointed by Ashoka were 10. The latest inscriptions of Ashoka were discovered from
entrusted with the job of (a) Kandhar Bilingual Inscriptions
(a) checking the abuse in the administration of justice (b) Sannatai Inscriptions
(b) the moral uplift of the people through propagation of (c) Maski Inscription
Dhamma (d) Bhabru Edict
(c) management of the welfare activities of the state
11. With reference to the guilds of ancient India that played
(d) All of the above
a very important role in the country’s economy, which of
4. What was the subject of Rock Edit I issued by Ashoka? the following statements is/are correct? [IAS 2006]
(a) Prohibition of animal sacrifice and festive meetings 1. Every guild was registered with the Central Authority of
(Sameja) the State and the king was the chief administrative
(b) Measures of social welfare undertaken of the benefit of the authority on them.
people 2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed
(c) Liberality to Brahmins and Sramanas by the guild.
(d) Visit to Bodhgaya 3. The guild has judicial powers over its own members.
5. The Mauryan king who issued the Nagarjuni Hill Cave Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Inscriptions and assumed the royal title of Devanampiya (a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these
was
12. The Allahabad Pillar Inscription is associated with
(a) Ashoka (b) Dasharatha (c) Bindusara (d) Brihadratha
which one of the following? [IAS 2006]
6. Which of the following was not one of hellenic kings to (a) Mahapadma Nanda (b) Chandragupta Maurya
whom diplomatic missions were sent by Ashoka? (c) Ashoka (d) Samudragupta
(a) Xerxes of Macedonia
13. Assertion (A) According to Ashoka’s edicts, social
(b) Antiochus II Theos of Syria
harmony among the people was more important than
(c) Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt
religious devotion.
(d) Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia
Reason (R) He spread ideas of equity instead of
7. Which of the following statements about the Mauryan promotion of religion. [IAS 1998]
Council of Ministers (Mantriparishad) is incorrect? Codes
(a) The members of the council were personally selected by (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
the king (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation
(b) The number of members of the council was fixed and it of A
consisted of three councillors and a Chief Minister (c) A is true, but R is false
(c) It was specially consulted in times of emergency (d) A is false, but R is true
(d) It may have acted as a political check on the king
14. The one most important feature of the Mauryan
8. Which of the following was considered the most Administration was
important internal trade route during the Mauryan (a) the presence of a Council of Ministers
period? (b) the presence of a vast bureaucracy
(a) From the North-West (in the region of Taxila) to Pataliputra (c) the use of an extensive network of spies
(b) From Shravasti to Pratisthana (d) the enjoyment of wide powers by the provincial governqrs
1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (a) 9. (c) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (a) 14. (b)
Chapter seven
The Sangam Age
Coins
The Sangam Era The Tamil kings of the Sangam period
The first detailed description of the South issued gold and silver coins, but they are
The word sangam is a Indian states is found in Sangam not found in large numbers. Roman
sanskrit word which literature. coins made of gold and silver are found
means an association, a Tamil is the oldest among the spoken all over Tamil Nadu. These coins further
sangam of poets.’ The and literary languages of South India. confirms the trade relations between
Sangam is the Tamil version of the Tamil country and Rome, during the
age of the sangam is the
Religious Life
The religion was influenced by rituals and animism. A planted log of wood called kandu was an object of worship. There
was a special festival instituted in puhar dedicated to the vedic God Indra. Deties like Korravai Goddess of victory and
murugan were worshipped.
Three stands of religion, clearly marked off from each other are discernible during the sangam period.
(i) The indigenous Gods and systems of worship.
(ii) The exotic Hindu Gods and systems of worship.
(iii) The exotic non-Hindu religious faiths and functions.
Arts
Musicians stage artists and performers entertained the kings, the nobility, the rich and the general population. Groups of
performers included :
— Thudian players of the thudi, a small percussion instrument.
— Paraiyan who beat maylam(drums) and performed kooththu, a stage drama in dance form, as well as proclaiming the king's
announcements.
— Muzhavan who blew into a muzhavu, a wind instrument, for the army indicating the start and end of the day and battlefield victories.
They also performed in kooththu alongside other artists.
— Kadamban who beat a large bass like drum, the kadamparai and blew a long bamboo, kuzhal, theri thuthi (similar to the present
naagasuram).
— PaaNan who sang songs in all pann tunes (tunes that are specific for each landscape) and were masters of the yaazh, a stringed
instrument with a wide frequency range. Together with the poets (pulavar) and the academic scholars (saandror), these people of
talent appeared to originate from all walks of life, irrespective of their native profession.
Sangam Literature
Earliest Grammar Works Ettuthogai Pattuppattu Pathinenkilkanakku Epics
Tolkappiyam oldest (8 Anthologies) (10 Idylls) 10 long poems: most (18 Minor Works) Silappadikaram by ilango
surviving Tamil text by Aingurunuru important is Murugarruppadal by Pathinenkilkanakku adigal.
Tolkappiyar. (Gudaliar Killar) largest a person known as Nakkirar. (not minor in
collection of 500 poems. significance preceptine in
nature, stock of adages
and aphorisms.
Aggatiyam by saint Padirruppattu Maduerai-Kanchi by Mangudi Most important work Manimegalai by
Gatiyan. (8 poems) smallest (Nedujeliyan II) Marudan written Tirukkural by Sattanar.
collection of poems deals with Madurai city. Thiruvalluvar referred to
praising Chera kings. as the Bible of Tamil
land.
Pattinappalai by Kannan deals Sivaga Sindamani by
with the city of Gcuhar or Tiruttakkadevar
Modern Kaveripattnam.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Consider the following statements [IAS 2003] 8. Which of the following is not a great epic of the
1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and Sangam literature?
established their domination over peninsular India in the (a) Silappadikaram (b) Manimekalai
early medieval times. (c) Pattuppattu (d) All of these
2. The Cholas sent an expedition against Sailendra Empire of 9. Which of the following is not one of the sources from
South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas. which evidence of Indo-Roman trade during the
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Sangam age is derived?
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (a) Sangam literature
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) The Roman coins of silver and gold found on the South
2. Which of the following statements about the institution of Indian coast
kingship during this period is not correct? (c) Discovery of a roman board at Arikamedu, near
(a) The form of government was hereditary monarchy Pondicherry
(b) The king, whose conquering expedition was led by a (d) The accounts of Chinese and roman travellers
mysterious wheel of gold and gem, was called Chakravartin 10. Which of the following was a great customs port with
(c) The crown prince was called Komahan an artificial harbour?
(d) In the Sangam literature, we come across numerous (a) Musiri or Muziris (b) Tondi
instances of women sellers (c) Puhar (Kaveripattanam) (d) Uraiyar
3. Which of the following was not one of the popular deities 11. The early Tamil anthologies, mention terms such as
of the Sangam age? Pahri, Otam, Timil and Patagu. These were used for
(a) Indra and Murugan (b) Shiva and Vishnu (a) boats
(c) Krishna and Balaram (d) Ganesa (b) types of market
4. The Goddess Kannagi, whose many temples were erected (c) merchandise exported
during the Sangam age, was the Goddess of (d) merchandise imported
(a) wisdom (b) learning 12. The third Sangam was held at [IAS 2008]
(c) chastity (d) prowess (a) Madurai (b) Arikamedu
5. Aruvai, Aruvai Vanigar, Aruvai vidi are the terms related to (c) Ernakulam (d) Tuticorin
(a) cloth industry (b) trade 13. The early Tamil poet who makes a reference to the
(c) agriculture (d) fishing Nandas and Mauryas in his work is [IAS 1996]
6. During the Sangam age, war was usually declared or (a) Sattanar (b) Ilango Adigal
provoked by (c) Kapilar (d) Mamulanar
(a) cutting the tutelary tree of the enemy 14. Which of the following poets of the Sangam age has
(b) lifting the cattle of the enemy referred to a Mauryan expedition against a Tamil
(c) besieging the enemy’s fort chieftain? [IAS 2001]
(d) crushing the crops of the enemy’s territory under the feet of (a) Paramar (b) Avvaiyar
elephants (c) Ilango Adigal (d) Mamulanar
7. The word Sangam is associated in Tamil history with 15. Which of the following statements about the social
(a) the literature produced during the reign of the pallava structure of the Sangam age is not correct?
dynasty of Kanchi (a) The difference in the status and economic conditions
(b) the poem written in praise of the Pandya kings of the Early was well accepted and rarely challenged by the people
christian era (b) Sangam literature mentions three regular varnas,
(c) the court poetry of Chola’s kings, who were famous for namely the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas
patronising artists (c) There were four castes namely, Tudiyan, Panan,
(d) a college or assembly (literary academy) of Tamil scholars Paraiyan and Kadamban
held under the royal patronage of Pandya kings at (d) People were organised into professional social groups
Madurai living apart from one another
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (d) 10. (c)
11. (a) 12. (a) 13. (d) 14. (d) 15. (d)
Chapter eight
Post-Mauryan Period
(200 BC-AD 300 )
Kujula Kadphises I (King one of the 5 principalities) Rome, the Greek Heracles and several Zoroastrian deities.
organised the other 4 groups under his leadership. He transferred the capital from Purushapura to Mathura.
Kadphises I only issued copper coins which show roman Vasudeva was the last king of the dynasty. He assumed
influence. the title Shaono Shao Vasudevo koshana. His coins bear
Wima Kadphises also known as Yen Kao Chan, the image of Shiva and his bull Nandi.
succeeded his father. He adopted the title Maheshwar and
ruled from AD 64-78.
Impact of Central Asian Contact
Kanishka The Kushana kings were the first to issue gold coins in India on a
Kanishka is usually regarded as the successor of Vima wide scale. The Central Asian conquerors imposed their rule on
Kadphises. Kanishka is regarded as the greatest king of numerous petty native princes; this led to the development of a
his dynasty. He is credited for starting the Saka era. This feudatory organisation. The Shakas and the Kushanas
era beginning AD 78 also came to be described as the strengthened the idea of the divine origin kingship.
‘Sakakala’ or ‘Saka-Nripa-Kala’. Manu asks the people to respect the king even if he is a child.
His Sarnath inscription suggests that his rule was based Some curious practices like hereditary dual rule were introduced,
on Satrapa system. Kanishka ruled from his capital implying less of centralisation. The Greeks also introduced the
Purushapura or Peshawar. This has been testified by practice of military governorship called strategos.
Hiuen Tsang. Kanishka established a city named
Kanishkapura in Kashmir.
On the advice of Parsva, he convened the fourth Council Post-Mauryan Economy
of the Buddhists at Kundalavana vihara in Kashmir whose The period 200 BC-AD 300 was the most flourishing period
President was Vasumitra and Vice-President was in the history of crafts and commerce in ancient India.
Asvaghosha. The council prepared an encyclopedia of The chief articles of export from India were spices,
Buddhist philosophy called Mahavibhasa.
perfumes, pearls, copper and sandalwood. The principal
Kanishka got a stupa, a matha and a town constructed at imports were cloth, glass, silver and gold. India’s most
Peshawar, in which relics of Buddha were kept. lucrative foreign trade was with the roman Empire.
Kanishka was a great patron of art and letters. The reign Mathura was a great centre for the manufacture of a
of Kanishka witnessed the execution of the best work in special type of cloth, Shataka other centres were Bengal,
Gandhara style. Varanasi, Gujarat and Gandhara.
The great tower at Peshawar (400 ft high) was chiefly Artisans of this period were organised into at least 24
made of wood and constructed under the supervision of a guilds. These guilds acted as bankers, financiers and
Greek engineer Agesilous. Kanishka built a tower near trustees. They helped in making banking a widespread
Taxila also. profession.
During his reign, the images of Bodhisattvas began to be The gold dinars and suvarna of Kushanas were of 124
erected in Gandhara style. At Mathura, we have a grains and were based on roman denorices.
headless image of Kanishka, in which he is represented in A Greak sailor, Hippalus discovered the monsoon sea
the uniform of a warrior. route to India from West Asia in AD 46-47.
The Buddhist writer : Nagarjuna, Asvaghosha, Parsva and
Vasumitra lived at his court. Charaka, the exponent of Coins by Vima Kadphises
Ayurveda was his court physician and Matara was his He proclaimed himself as Mahishvara on his coins. He
minister. was probably the first king to introduce coins of gold in
India. All his coins show unmistakable signs of his Shiva
Successors of Kanishka affiliation. The reverse side of his coins depicts Shiva with
Kanishka’s successor was Vasishka (AD 101-105). his long trident, sometimes accompanied by his bull. The
Huvishka succeeded Vasishka and according to Kalhana’s obverse of his coins represent him on a couch or standing
Rajatarangini, Huvishka ruled simultaneously with Vasishka at sacrificing altar or even riding a chariot drawn by two
II or Vajheska (Father of Kanishka II) and later with horses.
Kanishka II. Abundance of coins issued by him indicated large extent
Huvishka founded the town of Huvishkapura in Kashmir of his empire and economic prosperity. The abundance of
(reference from Rajatarangini). gold and copper coins issued by Vima Kadphises
His coins contained figures of Skandakumara, Visakha,
represents the monarch riding a chariot drawn by two
Mahasena and Uma, the Alexandrian Serapis, personified
horses.
42 Magbook ~ Indian History
6. Consider the following statements 14. Who among the following scholars were contemporary
1. The Indo-Greeks were the first to issue gold coins. of Kanishka? [IAS 2012]
2. The Indo-Greeks were the first who issued coins in their 1. Ashvaghosha 2. Nagarjuna
names. 3. Vasumitra 4. Chanakya
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (a) 1 and 2 (b) 3 and 4
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 2 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 3
1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9. (c) 10. (b)
11. (b) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (d)
Chapter nine
The Gupta Age
(AD 320-500)
Historical Sources Gupta Dynasty
Literary Sources Srigupta
The Gupta dynasty Devichandraguptam of Vishakhadatta, The Gupta dynasty was founded by
came to power in India literary works of Kalidasa, Srigupta in the AD 3rd century. He used
Mrichchakatikam of Shudraka, the title of Maharaja.
in AD 320 and ruled
Kamasutra of Vatsyayana and Nitisara of
until 550. The Gupta Kamandaka throws light on the Gupta Ghatotkachagupta
empire gave power to empire. He succeeded Srigupta. He also took the
local leaders, united Fa-Hien’s Account
title of Maharaja.
much of the Indian
subcontinent and
Fa-Hien was a Chinese Buddhist monk. Chandragupta I
He visited India during the reign of (AD 319-335)
ensured peace and Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. He wrote
Ghatotkacha was succeeded by his son
prosperity. It was his experiences in his book named
Chandragupta I (in about AD 320), who
Fu-Kuo-Ki. He gave detailed description
defined by creativity, assumed the title of Maharaja Dhiraj. Like
of the administration of the Gupta empire.
flourishing arts, Bimbisara he strengthened his position by
Fa-Hien tells us that the Chandalas lived
fabulous literature and matrimonial alliance with the
separately from the other people. When
Lichchavis-then controlling portions of
stupendous scholars are they entered a city or a bazar, they were
Bihar and Nepal. He married Lichchavi
just a few of the things required to strike a piece of wood as
princess Kumaradevi. Special Kumaradevi
warning of their approach so that other
that marked the period. type coins were minted to commemorate
people may not be polluted.
The Gupta age is also her marriage to Chandragupta I.
He was impressed by the city of
called as the Chandragupta I started the Gupta Era in
Patliputra and the palace of Ashoka.
AD 319, which marked the date of his
Classical Age. accession.
Archaeological Sources
Inscriptions Samudragupta
Prayaga Prashasti of Samudragupta (AD 335-375)
composed by Harisena mentions the Samudragupta has been called the Indian
military campaigns of Samudragupta. Napoleon by VA Smith because of his
Junagarh rock inscription of Skandagupta extensive military conquests. He assumed
mentions repairs carried out for the the titles of Vikramanka and Kaviraja.
Sudarsana lake and construction of Virasen was his commander in chief
Vishnu Lakshmi temple. during Southern campaign. Vasubandhu,
Eran inscription of Bhanugupta provides a famous Buddhist scholar was his
first evidence of Sati. minister.
Magbook ~ The Gupta Age (AD 320-500) 45
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (a) 14. (a) 15. (c)
Chapter ten
The Post-Gupta Era
(AD 550-750)
Ruling Dynasties of The Pushyabhutis
North India Their capital was at Thaneshwar. The
most important ruler of the dynasty was
Gupta empire fell to its death in the last Prabhakara-Vardhan. He assumed the
After the downfall of the leg of 5th century. title of Parama-bhattaraka
Gupta empire in the Magadha and its capital patliputra, lost Maharajadhiraja. Harshavardhana
middle of the their importance. After the fall of the belonged to this family.
Guptas, five major centres of power
6th century, North India
reverted to small
emerged in North India. These power are The Hunas
given below : It was a barbarious race, which came to
republics and small India from Central Asia. They established
monarchical states. The Maukharis their supremacy in North India. Toramana
Harsha united the small They held the region of Western Uttar was their oldest ruler and Mihirakula, the
republics from Punjab to Pradesh around Kannauj had conquered most uncultured one.
a part of Magadha. Isanavarman and his
Central India. In South Harshavardhana
son Sarvavarman were powerful rulers of
India, Pallava and this dynasty and had adopted the title of (AD 606-647)
Chalukya dynasties Maharajadhiraja. Harshavardhana was the younger son of
fought for supremacy. Prabhakaravardhana. Hiuen-Tsang gave
The Maitrakas account of his reign, in his book, Si-Yu-Ki.
They established a kingdom in Bana’s Harshacharita, inscriptions, coins
Saurashtra with Vallabhi as capital. Under and Harsha’s own writings i.e. Ratnavali,
the able guidance of Bhatarka, Vallabhi Priyadarshika and Nagananda, are other
not only became a seat of learning and authentic sources of Harsha’s era.
culture, but also a centre for trade and Shashanka, the ruler of Gauda killed
commerce. Grahavarman (Maukhari ruler) in alliance
Dhruvasena II was the most important with Devagupta and imprisoned his wife
ruler of Maitrakas. Rajyasri (Harsha’s sister). Later
Rajyavardhana killed Devagupta, but he
The Gaudas was assassinated by Shashanka in AD
606.
They ruled over a territory in Bengal and
were quite lesser known as of the four The news of the death of Rajyavardhan
kingdoms. Its most powerful ruler was reached his younger brother
Shashanka. He invaded Makhauri’s, killed Harshavar-dhana, who now coronated
Grahavarman and imprisoned Rajyasri. He himself in AD 606 and proceeded to
even treacherously murdered her brother avenge his brother’s death and release his
Rajyavardhan, the ruler of Thaneshwar. sister. From this year started the Harsha
era.
52 Magbook ~ Indian History
Society Hiuen-Tsang
Hiuen-Tsang's visited to India in AD 629, Hiuen-Tsang, a Chinese
This period witnessed the ascendancy of Varnashrama pilgrim, started off a journey from China to India to study in the
dharma and the existence of various sub-castes called Buddhist University, Nalanda. He spent many years in the court of
Varnasamskaras. Harshavardhana and influenced the king to convert to Buddhism. He
The position of women further declined. The institution of also reported what he witnessed in his book Si-Yu-Ki, which means
svayamvara declined that re-marriage of widows was not my experiences. It is also called Records of the Western World.
permitted. The system of dowry became common. There
Nalanda University
are only few references of the practice of committing Sati.
Kumaragupta, the Gupta King founded Nalanda University in the
Religion AD 5th century which became the principal seat of learning during
Harsha was primarily a worshipper of Shiva, but he was Harsha's time. Dharmapala served as vice-chancellor of this
tolerant to other religions as well. In his later life, he university during Harsha's time.
became a great patron of Buddhism. Nalanda is considered to be first International Resident University in
He endowed the land grants to the priests of both Hindu the world. The rebuilding process of Nalanda is in progress with the
and Buddhist religions. co-operation of many nations including China, Japan and Australia.
Magbook ~ The Post-Gupta Era (AD 550-750) 53
1. Assertion (A) Harshavardhana convened the Prayag 9. Which one of the following is incorrect about the
Assembly. Pallavas?
Reason (R) He wanted to popularise only the Mahayana (a) The Pallavas rose into prominence in the service of the
form of Buddhism. [IAS 2001] Satavahanas
Codes (b) All their early charters are in prakrit
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A (c) For sometime the Pallava power was eclipsed by the
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A kalabhra occupation of their dominions
(c) A is true, but R is false (d) Pallavas began the practice of making structural temples
(d) A is false, but R is true in the South
2. Emperor Harsha’s Southward march was stopped on the 10. Which one of the following is not associated with
Narmada river by [IAS 2003] Pulakesin II Chalukya?
(a) Pulakesin I (b) Pulakesin II (a) His court poet was Ravikirti, who wrote the famous
(c) Vikramaditya I (d) Vikramaditya II Prashasti of Aihole
(b) He defeated Harshavardhana of Kannauj
3. Who among the following laid the foundation of (c) He was defeated by the Pallavas under
Rashtrakuta empire? [IAS 2006]
Narasimhavarman I
(a) Amoghavarsha I (b) Dantidurga (d) He performed a horse sacrifice after defeating Harsha
(c) Dhruva (d) Krishna I
11. Which one of the following is incorrect about
4. Lands, during the Post-Gupta Period, were classified on Shashanka, the king of Gauda?
the basis of (a) He started his career in Magadha as a Mahasamanta or
(a) being cultivated and uncultivated feudatory chief
(b) being irrigated and unirrigated (b) He is said to have cut down the Bodhi tree at Bodha Gaya
(c) crops being grown on the lands (c) His capital was Karna Suvarna
(d) All of the above (d) He seems to have defeated the joint army of Harsha and
5. The theory of the emergence of feudalism in the Bhaskarvarman
Post-Gupta Period is disputed on the ground that 12. When the law books of the period referred to the king
(a) all the lands were not given in land grants as the lord of whole Earth, it only meant
(b) private ownership also existed and the status of peasants (a) his right of taking taxes
was not that of serfs (b) his right over the treasure troves
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’ (c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(d) there is no nexus between the Brahmins and the ruling class (d) a sovereign authority
6. Which of the following statements is correct about 13. Which one of the following is not a characteristic
Harshavardhana? feature of the post-Gupta period?
(a) Harsha erected thousands of Stupas (a) The focus shifted to the region South of Vindhyas
(b) Harsha sent missionaries to the West to propagate (b) Increase in the number of independent kingdoms
Buddhism (c) Development of feudal relationships
(c) Harsh regularly held the quinquennial convocation (d) Increase in the volume of trade
(d) Harsha stopped the use of animal food throughout his empire
14. Who sent Hiuen-Tsang as an envoy to Harsha’s court?
7. The Cholas maintained close political and matrimonial (a) Tai-Tsung (b) Tung-Kuan [IAS 2007]
alliance with the (c) Ku Yen-Wu (d) None of these
(a) Chalukyas of Vengi
(b) Chalukyas of Kalyani 15. Who was the author of Mandasore inscription?
(c) Chalukyas of Badami (a) Banabhatta (b) Vatsabhata [IAS 2006]
(d) Zamorin of Calicut (c) Harisena (d) Veersena
8. Which one of the following statements is incorrect of the 16. What was the purpose of the Indian visit of the
Post-Guptas agrarian structure? Hiuen-Tsang?
(a) It was marked by the emergence of landed intermediaries (a) To visit the holy places connected with the Buddhism
(b) It saw the growth of subject peasantry (b) To establish political ties with India
(c) It was rooted in the absolute royal ownership of land (c) To a mass wealth
(d) There were growing evidences of agrarian expansion (d) To know the geography of India
1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (c) 9. (d) 10. (d)
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (d) 14. (a) 15. (d) 16. (a)
Chapter eleven
The Sultanate of Delhi
Foundation of Qutub-ud-din Aibak
Delhi Sultanate (AD 1206-1210)
The Delhi Sultanate is a Captial Lahore and later Delhi. He was the
By the end of the 12th century,
term used to cover five first Muslim king in India and the founder of
Mohammed Ghori was successful in
Ilbari dynasty. For his generosity he was
short lived dynasties, occupying Delhi and started a
known as Lakh Bakhsh or (giver of Lakhs).
Delhi based kingdoms or dynasty of rulers which, together
Aibak was a great patron of learning and
with some later dynasties, came to
Sultanate, the first three patronised writers like Hasan-un-Nizami and
be called the Delhi Sultanate.
of which were of Turkish Fakhruddin.
Ghori’s sudden death in 1206
origin, the fourth was Tazul Maasir of Hasan Nizami is a work
resulted in a scramble for
primarily dealing with Aibak. He began the
the Sayyid and the last supremacy among his three
construction of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
was the Lodi. generals– Qutub-ud-din Aibak
(Delhi), Adhai Din Ka Jhopra (a mosque at
(commander of his army), Tajuddin
Ajmer) and Qutub Minar, 72 1/2 metre (238
Yalduz (ruled Karman and Sankuran
feet) stone tower in Delhi (after the name of
between Afghanistan and Sindh)
Khwaja Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki), a
and Nasiruddin Qubacha (held
Muslim saint. The construction of Qutub
Uchh).
Minar was finally completed by Iltutmish, his
At the time of Ghori’s death, Aibak successor.
was at Lahore. Ghiyas-ud-din
In 1210, while playing Chaugan (Polo) at
Mahmud, the successor of Ghori,
Lahore, he fell off his horse and died of injuries.
acknowledged Aibak as the
independent king and gave him the
title of Sultan of Delhi.
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish
The assumption of sovereign powers (AD 1211-1236)
by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1206, is Iltutmish was a slave of Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
regarded as the foundation of the By sheer ability he rose to be his son-in-law
Sultanate of Delhi and the first and the Governor of Badaun. He ruled for a
ruling dynasty of the Sultanate. quarter of a century and proved a very strong
and worthy ruler and completed the work of
The Slave Dynasty Aibak.
In 8 years, between AD 1226 and 1234, he
(AD 1206-1290) conquered Ranthambore (1226), Mandawar
The first dynasty of the Sultanate (1227), Bayana, Jalor, Gwalior, Malwa, Bhilsa,
has been designated by various Ujjain and Bengal (1231).
historians as the Slave dynasty or Iltutmish defeated Yalduz in the Battle of
the Mameluq dynasty or the Ilbari Terrain (1217) and killed him. Likewise, in
dynasty. Recognition as all rulers of 1228 he carried a march against Qubacha
this dynasty except Qutub-ud-din, and put him to death, who were Ghori’s
belonged to the Ilbari tribe of Turks. slaves.
Magbook ~ The Sultanate of Delhi 57
Ala-ud-din’s Conquests
States Native King Sultanate’s Commanders Consequences
Art and Learning Multan, Uchh Bahram Aiba entitled Kishlu Khan was defeated
and Sindh Kishlu Khan and killed.
Both Amir Khusrau and Mir Hasan Dehlvi enjoyed his
Vijayanagar Harihara and Bukka The independent state of
patronage. He built a new city called Siri, enlarged the Vijayanagara was founded.
Qutabi mosque and erected a gateway. He built the
Madura Hasan or Sayyid Independent rule at madura
Jamait Khana Masjid at the dargah of Nizam-ud-din
Ahsan Shah was established
Auliya and Alai Darwaza near Qutub Minar. He began the
Bahamani Bahman Shah Independent state of
construction of Alai Minar near Qutub Minar, but could
Bahmani was founded.
not complete it.
60 Magbook ~ Indian History
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (c)
11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (b) 14. (b)
Chapter twelve
Provincial Kingdoms
The Emergence of Provincial Kingdoms
The Bahmani and the The attack by Timur Lane in AD 1398, on Delhi and flight of the Tughlaq king from his
Vijayanagara were the capital, exposed the weakness of the Delhi Sultanate and embedded a member of
provincial Governors and autonomous principalities to declare their independence.
two great empires
Provincial Kingdoms
that arose in the
Kingdoms Capitals Founders/Most Significances
Deccan after the end
Important Rulers
of the Sultanate. The
Malwa Dhar/ Hushang Shah He founded the city of Hoshangabad.
control over Raichur Mandu (AD 1406-35)
Doab was the main Gujarat Shihab-u-din Ahmed Founded the city of Ahmedabad. Imposed Jaziya
(AD 1411-42) for the first time in Gujarat on Hindus.
issue which resulted in Mahmud Begarha Considered as the greatest Sultan of Gujarat.
the long Bahmani (AD 1458-1511) Italian traveller Barthema and Portuguese
traveller Duarte Barbosa visited his court.
Vijayanagara struggle. Mewar Chittor Rana Kumbha The greatest ruler of Malwa.
(AD 1433-68) Famous for his Javastambha or Kirtistambha after
defeating Mahmud Khilji of Malwa. A great poet, a
man of letters, an accomplished player of Veena.
Rana Sanga Defeated Mahmud Khilji II of Malwa and Ibrahim
(AD 1509-28) Lodhi. He was defeated by Babur in the Battle of
Khanwa in 1527.
Marwar Rao Jodha Built the fort of Jodhpur.
Bika (AD 1465) Founded Bikaner.
Amber or Amer Hammir Deva The most famous ruler of this dynasty.
Bengal Ala-u-ddin Hussain Desecrated the Jagannath temple at Puri.
Shah Chaitanya preached Vaishnavism in his reign.
Nusrat Shah Built Bara Sona and Qadama Rasul Mosque.
Celebrated poet, Maladhar Basu, compiler of Sri
Krishna Vijaya was granted the title of Gunraja
Khan.
Orissa
Ganga dynasty Avantivarman Built the famous Jagannath temple.
Ganga
Narasimhavarman Built the Konark temple.
Gajapati dynasty Kapilendra Fought successfully against the Bahmanis of Bidar
and the rulers of Vijayanagara.
Assam Sukapha Extended his territory in the West at the cost of
(13th century) Kamarupa.
Jaunpur
Sharqi dynasty Malik Mubarak First to assume royal titles issue coins.
Shah
Ibrahim Shah Considered as the greatest ruler of Jaunpur.
Beautified Jaunpur and made it a centre of art,
architecture learning known as Shiraj of the East.
66 Magbook ~ Indian History
Famous Travellers to Vijayanagara Kingdom The plight of widow was pitiable, but they could
remarry. The state encouraged widow
Travellers Brief Descriptions re-marriage by not levying any tax on it.
Ibn Battuta He was a Moroccan traveller, who left an account of An inscription dated AD 1534 gives evidence of
Harihara I’s reign in his book Rehla also called one Malgaura committing sati. Krishnadeva Raya
Tuhfat-un-Nuzzar ft Gharaibul-Amsar Wa himself married a Ganika called Chinnadevi.
Ajaib-ul-Assar.
Religion and Philosophy
Nicolo de Conti An Italian traveller who visited during the time of Deva
Raya I.
Early Vijayanagara rulers were followers of
Saivism. Virupaksha was their family God. Later
Abdur Razzak Ambassador of Shahrukh of Samarqand at the court of they came under the influence of Vaishnavism.
the Zamorin of Calicut. He gave an account of the reign
But Siva continued to be worshipped.
of Deva Raya II.
Vaishnavism was professed in various forms. Sri
Athanasius Nikitin A Russian merchant, who described the conditions of the Vaishnavism of Ramanuja was highly popular.
Bahamani kingdom under Muhammed III in his Voyage
to India. The Dvaita System of Madhava was also
practiced.
Duarte Barbosa A Portuguese who has given a vivid account of the
Vijayanagara Government under Krishnadeva Raya in Economic Conditions
his famous book An Account of Countries Bordering the
Indian Ocean and their Inhabitants. Agriculture It was in a flourishing condition. It
was the policy of rulers to encourage agriculture
Dominigas Paes Portuguese traveller, who spent a number of years at
in the different parts of the empire and to
Krishnadeva Raya’s court and has given a glowing
account of his personality. increase agricultural production by a Wise
Irrigation Policy. Nuniz, the Portuguese traveller,
Marcopolo The only traveller who could rival, Ibn Battuta’s tag of speaks of the construction of a dam and
The greatest medieval traveller arrived at India’s
opposite extremity, a Tamil port, enroute from China in
excavation of canals.
AD 1290. Marcopolo to his surprise found that in Industries The agricultural wealth was
peninsular India, there were tailors. supplemented by numerous industries, the most
important of which were textiles, mining and
Vijayanagara Society metallurgy. Another important industry was
perfumery.
Allasani Peddana, in his Manucharitam, mentions the four castes
Industries and crafts were regulated by guilds.
that existed in the Vijayanagara society.
— Viprulu or Brahmins followed the traditional profession of teachers and Trade
priests. The most important commercial area on the West
— Rajulu or Rachavaru were generally associated with the Ruling dynasty. coast was Malabar, with its important port of
— Matikaratalu or Vaishyas were the same as merchants who carried on Cannanore.
trade and commerce.
Among the exports, the main items were cloth,
— Nalavajativaru or Shudras were mainly agriculturists, but some of them
carried on several other professions.
spice, rice, iron, saltpetre and sugar etc. The
main imports consisted of horse, elephant, pearl,
The practice of dancing girls attached to temples was also in
copper, coral, mercury, China silk and velvet.
vogue.
Coinage
Women’s Status The Vijayanagara emperors issued a large
number of gold coins, called Varahas/Pagodas
Women occupied an honourable position in the Vijayanagara
(Varahas because the most common symbol was
society. Some of them were very learned and were eminent
Varaha the Boar incarnation of Vishnu).
laureates.
Gangadevi, wife of Kampana (one of the son of Bukka I), wrote
Harihara I and Bukka I used the Hanuman
Madura-vijayam. symbol in their coins.
Hannamma was a prominent scholar in the court of Prauda Deva. Krishna Deva Raya’s coins had the figures of
Tirumalamma was a distinguished poetess in sanskrit in the reign Venkatesh and Balkrishna.
of Achyuta Raya. Achyuta Raya used Garuda while Tirumala
maintained the original Varaha.
Magbook ~ Provincial Kingdoms 69
sect. He was founder of Marathi language and literature. He wrote The Sufi Movement
commentaries on Bhagawad Gita called Dyaneshwari/ Bhavarthadipka. The term Sufi has its origin from the Arabic
word Safa.
Namdeva (AD 1270-1350) It has two meanings
He was tailor by caste, opposed caste distincation. He founded Vakari (i) One who wear woollen clothes.
sect or the cult of Vithoba.
(ii) Symbolises purity and sacredness.
Eknath (AD 1533-1599) Sufi mysticism is associated with the liberal
He was associated with Varkari Sect. He wrote commentary on the interpretation of Quran called Tarikat.
Ramayana called the Bhavartha Ramayana and another commentary (Shariat is the conservative interpretation of
on the 11th book of the Bhagawata Purana. Quran). It believes that Haq (God) and
Tukaram (1598-1650) Khalaq (Soul) are the same. The Sufi orders
He was associated with Dharkari and Varkari sect. He wrote devotional were divided into two parts:
poems called Abhangas. He was the teacher of Shivaji. (i) Ba-shara (ii) Be-shara
Sufi Orders
Orders Founders Area of Propagations Famous Saints Principles
Chishtis Khwaja North India Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki Kept aloof from royal court
Moin-ud-din Chisti (Delhi-Ajmer) Farid-ul-din Ganj-i-Shakar (his popularised music recitations
(came with Ghori) South India verses were included in Adi Granth called Sama (Mahboob-i-Ilahi).
Burhan-ud-din of Sikhs) Amir Khusrau was disciple of
Garib. Nizam-ud-din Auliya Auliya.
Nasir-ud-ddin Chirag-i-Delhi
Suharwardiy Shikh Punjab Multan Hamid-ud-din Nagori Accepted Royal Service.
Shihab-ud-din Rukn-ud-din Abdul Fath
Suharwardi
Baha-ud-din Zakaria
Qadiri Sheika Nizamat Sind Lahore Nasiruddin Mohammed Jilani
Ullah Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan’s son)
Naqshbandi North India Sheikh Ahmed Orthodox sect
Sirhindi (Mujaddid) Mujaddid opposed Shiahs,
Ubaidullah Ahrar philosophy of
Babur Wahadat-ul-Shahdud, wrote
‘Red-i-Khafid’, arrested by
Jahangir.
Firdausi Bihar Baduddin Samaragji
Ahmed Iban Yahiya Maneri
Roshaniya Order Miyan Bayazid Tribal Areas of North Ansari wrote the book
(Akbar’s time) Ansari West Khair-ul-Bayan.
(Pir Roshan)
Mahadevi Mullah Mohammad Jaunpur Opposed orthodox Muslims.
Mahdi
Rishi Nur-ud-din Noorani Kashmir
(wali)
Qalandariya Abu Wali Qalandar Sidi Maulah Wandering monks were called
Darveshes.
Organised attack on Baba Farid.
Shattari Abdullah Shattari Gujarat, Meerut Vaji-al-din Claimed direct contact with God.
Shah Pir
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. With reference to the religious history of medieval 7. Which of the following was not a contribution of the
India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of Bhakti Movement ?
the following practices? [IAS 2012] (a) It provided a simple and in expensive religion for the people
1. Meditation and control of breath. (b) It successfully attacked some of the deep rooted
2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place. superstitions of the masses
3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in (c) It succeeded in uniting the Hindus and the Muslims
their audience. (d) It made a dent on the rigidity of the caste system
Select the correct answer using the codes given below 8. Consider the following Bhakti saints [IAS 2013]
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
1. Dadu Dayal
(c) Only 3 (d) All of these
2. Guru Nanak
2. The Sufi saint who maintained that devotional music 3. Tyagaraja
was one way of coming lose to God was
Who among the above was/were preaching when the
(a) Moin-ud-din Chisti
Lodhi dynasty fell and Babur took over?
(b) Baba Farid
(a) 1 and 3 (b) Only 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 2
(c) Sayjid Muhammad Gesudaraz
(d) Shah Alam Bukhari 9. Chisti order became the most popular Sufi order in India
on account of
3. Assertion (A) The sponser and the most prominent
(a) its high ethical ideals
figure of the Chisti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja
(b) the identification of the Chisti saints with the common
Moin-ud-din Chisti.
masses
Reason (R) The Chisti order takes its name from a
(c) the liberal outlook of many of its saints
village Chisti in Ajmer. [IAS 1997]
(d) All of the above
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A 10. Which of the following was not one of the four cardinal
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation doctrines of sufism?
of A (a) Complete surrender to the will of God
(c) A is true, but R is false (b) Annihilation of the self
(d) A is false, but R is true (c) Acquisition of mystic powers and attributes
(d) The realisation of God
4. Match the following [IAS 2001]
11. Guru Nanak’s concept of religion was
List I List II (a) severely practical (b) ethical
A. Namdev 1. Barber (c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’ (d) purely spiritual
B. Kabir 2. Weaver
C. Ravidas 3. Tailor 12. The Sufi saints made themselves popular by adopting
D. Sena 4. Cobbler musical recitations called Sama. What purpose did sama
cave?
Codes (a) It helped to attract followers
A B C D A B C D (b) It created a mood of nearness to God
(a) 2 3 1 4 (b) 3 2 4 1 (c) It helped the recluse in meditation
(c) 3 2 1 4 (d) 2 3 4 1 (d) It expressed the mood of defiance against orthodox Islam,
5. Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to which prohibited the use of music
use Hindi for the propagation of his message? 13. The greatest social impact of the Bhakti Movement on
[IAS 2002]
medieval Hindu society was
(a) Dadu (b) Kabir
(a) removal of distinctions between the higher and lower
(c) Ramananda (d) Tulsidas
castes
6. Bhak ta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal (b) decline in the superiority of the Brahmins
Emperor? [IAS 2006] (c) the remoulding of social institutions
(a) Babur (b) Akbar (d) education of people to distinguish superstitions from
(c) Jahangir (d) Aurangzeb religious values
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (d)
11. (c) 12. (b) 13. (a)
Chapter fourteen
The Mughal Empire
Shah Jahan was fond of vocal and instrumental music. The two great Hindu
Mughal Literature musicians of his time were Jagannath and Janardhan Bhatta. It is said that once
Shah Jahan was so pleased with the singing of Jagannath, the royal poet of
Hindi Literature Sanskrit, that he weighed him against gold and gave him the whole of this gold
Malik Muhammed Jayasi wrote a as a prize.
poetical composition Padmavat on But Aurangzeb who was a puritan dismissed singing from his court. However,
Padmani, the queen of Mewar in ironically, the largest number of books on classical music was written in his
1540. reign.
Akbar also gave impetus to Hindi
poetry. His reign was the golden age Literature of the Mughal Periods
of the Hindi poetry because it was in Authores Name of the Works Specifics
his time that some Hindi poets of
Gulbadan Begum Humayun Nama History of Humayun
immortal fame, such as Tulsi Das, Sur
Das, Mira, Rahim and Ras Khan, Abul Fazl Ain-i-Akbari History of Akbar’s reign
lived. Abul Fazl Akbar Namah History of Akbar’s reign
The greatest Hindi poet of Akbar’s Badauni Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh History of Akbar’s reign
time was Sant TulsiDas 1532-1623 Tawarikh-i-Alfi History of Akbar’s reign
Mulla Daud
who wrote the famous
Nizam-ud-din Ahmed Tabaqat-i-Akbari History of Akbar’s reign
Ramcharitamanas.
Jahangir Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri Autobiography
Sanskrit Literature Mutamed Khan Iqbal Namah History of Jahangir’s reign
Akbar was the first Mughal monarch Abdul Haq Nuriyya-i-Sultaniyya Theory of Kingship
who patronised Sanskrit as well Abdul Hamid Lahori Padshah Namah History of Shah Jahan’s reign
as Hindi. During his reign, many Hindi
Muhammad Waris Padshah Namah History of Shah Jahan’s reign
writers were also writers of Sanskrit. In
his time, the first Sanskrit-Persian Inayat Khan Shah Jahan Namah History of Shah Jahan’s reign
dictionary, named Parsi Prakash was Muhammad Salih Shah Jahan Namah History of Shah Jahan’s reign
compiled. Jahangir too extended royal Dara Shikoh Safinat-ul-Auliya Biographies of Sufi saints
patronage to Sanskrit writers and kept
Dara Shikoh Sakinat-ul-Auliya Translation of Upanishads
them in his court.
Dara Shikoh Hasnat-ul-Arifeen His religious and philosophical ideas
Developments in Dara Shikoh Majma-ul-Bahrain His religious and philosophical ideas
Music Aurangzeb Raqqat-i-Alamgiri A collection of his letters
The Mughal kings, except Aurangzeb, Khafi Khan Muntakhab-ul-Lubab History of Aurangzeb’s reign
had a great attachment with music. Muhammad Kazim Alamgir Namah History of Aurangzeb’s reign
Babur is said to have composed Masir-i-Alamgiri History of Aurangzeb’'s reign
Muhammad Saqi
songs. However, it was due to Akbar’s
Aquil Khan Zafar Namah-i-Alamgiri History of Aurangzeb’s reign
interest and patronage of this art that
both kinds of music instrumental and Mohammed Rafi Khan Hamlai-Haidari History of Aurangzeb’s reign
vocal made unusual advancement. In Sujan Rai Khatri Khulasat-ul-Tawarikh History of Aurangzeb’s reign
his time, the National Indian Music Nuskha-i-Dilkusha History of Aurangzeb’s reign
Bhimsen
took its birth by the blending of the
Hindus and Muslims types of music. Iswar Das Futuhat-i-Alamgiri History of Aurangzeb’s reign
His court was adorned by famous Nimat Khan Ali Waqai-i-Hyderabad Conquest of Golconda by Aurangzeb
musicians like Tansen of Gwalior and Faizi Masnavi Nala-in-Daman Translation work of Nala-Damyanti
Baz Bahadur of Malwa. kalha (in Persian)
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. With whose permission did the English set-up their first 8. Dara Shikoh finally cost the war of succession of
factory in Surat? [IAS 2009] Aurangzeb in the Battle of
(a) Akbar (b) Jahangir (a) Dharmat (b) Samugarh
(c) Shah Jahan (d) Aurangzeb (c) Deorai (d) Khajwa
2. Mughal painting reached its zenith under 9. What was the immediate reason for Ahmed Shah Abdali
(a) Humayun (b) Akbar (c) Jahangir (d) Shah Jahan to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?
[IAS 2010]
3. In Medieval India, Mansabdari System was introduced (a) He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his
mainly for [IAS 1996] Viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore
(a) making recruitment to the army (b) The frustrated Government of Jullundur adina Beg Khan
(b) facilitating revenue collection invited him to invade Punjab
(c) ensuring religions harmony (c) He wanted to punish Mughal Administration of
(d) effecting clean administration non-payment of the revenues of the Char Mahal (Gujarat,
Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur)
4. The head of the military department under the
(d) He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab upto the
recognised central machinery of administration during
borders of Delhi to his kingdom
Akbar’s reign was [IAS 1997]
(a) Diwan (b) Mir Bakshi 10. Which of the following was not one of the chief features
(c) Mir Saman (d) Bakshi of the Zabti system of Raja Todarmal?
(a) Survey and measurement of land
5. Assertion (A) During the time of Akbar, for every ten
(b) Classification of land
cavalrymen, the Mansabdars had to maintain 20 horses.
(c) Fixation of rates
Reason (R) Horses had to be rested while on march and
(d) Biennial assessment
replacements were necessary in times of war.
Codes 11. The main elements of Akbar’s Rajput policy were
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A (a) establishment of matrimonial alliances with the Rajputs
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation (b) grant of full autonomy and protection to the Rajput states
of A (c) appointment of Rajput chiefs as Mansabdars and
(c) A is true, but R is false Governors
(d) A is false, but R is true (d) All of the above
6. The motive behind Shah Jahan’s Balkh campaign was to 12. Mewar submitted to the Mughals during the reign of
(a) secure a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which Jahangir largely during to the able command of
bordered Kabul (a) Prince Parviz
(b) conquer Samarquand and Farghana, the Mughal (b) Prince Khurram
homelands (c) Mahabat Khan
(c) fix the Mughal frontier on the scientific line the Amu (d) Prince Khusrau
Darya
(d) expand the Mughal empire beyond the subcontinent 13. Which of the following was the head of the civil as well
as military administration of the province?
7. Assertion (A) Emperor Akbar marched towards (a) Diwan (b) Nazim
Afghanistan in 1581 with a huge army. (c) Bakshi (d) Fauzdar
Reason (R) He was on his way to reclaim his ancestral
country of Farghana in Central Asia. [IAS 2003] 14. Who was usually kept incharge of the Sarkars?
Codes (a) Amil (b) Fauzdar
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A (c) Sardar (d) Kotwal
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation 15. Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal
of A emperor? [IAS 2006]
(c) A is true, but R is false (a) Babur (b) Akbar
(d) A is false, but R is true (c) Jahangir (d) Aurangzeb
1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (d) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (d)
11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (c)
Chapter fifteen
The Maratha Empire
Shivaji (AD 1627- 80) Conquests
The ground for the Shivaji was born in the fort of Shivaji began his real career of conquest in
Shivner in AD 1627. He belonged 1656, when he conquered Javli from the
establishment of an Maratha Chief Chandra Rao More. Next, he
to the Bhonsle family of Poona
independent Maratha attacked the Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur in
district. The family acquired AD 1657-58. In an audacious move, he killed
state was prepared by military and political prominence in Afzal Khan, General of Bijapur in his own
the advance of Mughal the Ahmednagar kingdom at the camp.
armies in the South. The close of the 16th century. In AD 1660, a combined Mughal-Bijapuri
fall of Khandesh, the Shahji Bhonsle, the father of campaign started against Shivaji.
Shivaji, was a military officer at first Shaista Khan (Maternal uncle of Aurangzeb)
gradual disappearance
in the State of Ahmednagar and was appointed as Governor of Deccan, by
of Ahmednagar and the then from 1636, in the State of Aurangzeb, to check the rising power of
creation of Mughal Bijapur and he owned the territory Shivaji.
viceroyalty in the Deccan of Poona as a Jagir. His mother
However, in AD 1663, Shivaji made a bold
was Jija Bai, a very religious lady.
affected every aspect of attack on military camp of Shaista Khan. He
Shivaji was brought up at Poona plundered Surat in AD 1664 and later
Maratha life, which under the careful supervision of his Ahmednagar.
induced an awakening mother and an able Brahman
Aurangzeb sent his son, Prince Muazzam and
among the Marathas as Dadaji Kondadev. Shivaji also
then on his failure, Mirza Raja Jai Singh of
a nation under the came under the religious influence
Amber against Shivaji.
of Guru Samarth Ramdas.
leadership of Shivaji and Jai Singh succeeded in surrounding Shivaji in
In AD 1637, Shivaji’s father
others that followed him. the fort of Purandhar. Consequently, the
entrusted the administration of the
Treaty of Purandhar AD 1665 was signed
Pune Jagir to him. The
according to which
administration of Jagir remained
— out of the 35 forts held by him, Shivaji agreed to
under the Dadaji’s de facto control keep only 12 forts (with annual income of 1 lakh
till AD 1647, when Shivaji of huns) in his possession. The remaining 23
assumed the full charge. Before forts (which yielded 4 lakhs huns every year)
that, at the age of 18, he overran a were to be returned to the Mughals.
number of hill forts near Poona. — Shivaji agreed to the condition attached with his
He captured the fort of Torana in possession of 12 forts—service and loyalty to the
AD 1646. Shortly afterwards, he Mughal throne.
built new forts like Raigarh and — Shivaji agreed to help the Mughals against
Bijapur.
Pratapgarh.
— Shivaji was to keep possession of the territory
In 1674, Shivaji was corenated at worth 4 lakhs huns a year, in the Bijapuri
capital Raigarh and assumed the Konkan region.
title of Haindava Dharma-dharak — the Balaghat territory of Bijapur was granted to
(Protector of Hinduism). Shivaji.
86 Magbook ~ Indian History
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (d)
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (c)
Chapter sixteen
Mughal Decline and Rise
of Regional States
Later Mughals
Bahadur Shah I (AD 1707-1712)
After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, a war of succession started amongst his three
The death of Aurangzeb, the surviving sons namely Bahadur Shah I (Governor of Kabul) Azam (Governor of
mighty Mughal emperor, in Gujarat) and Kam Baksh (Governor of Bijapur).
1707 is generally regarded Bahadur Shah-I killed his two brothers, defeated Kam Baksh in the Battle of Jajau
1707. He released Sahu, (the son of Sambhaji) and recognised the independence of
as the beginning of the
Mewar and Marwar.
gradual decline of the
Khafi Khan has called him as Shah-i-Bekhabar, since he liked to appease all the
powerful Mughal empire. parties by grants of titles and rewards. He made peace with Guru Gobind Singh and
Incompetent later mughals Raja Chhatrasal. He granted the Marathas, the right to collect Sardesh Mukhi of the
could not stop the Deccan, but not Chauth. He led an unsuccessful campaign against Banda Bahadur
(Laxman Das). He died during the course of this campaign. Thus, Banda Bahadur
emergence of regional
was able to create the first Sikh capital at Lohgarh Fort.
power centres.
A Dutch Representative Committee under the leadership of Joshua Ketelar visited
his court in AD 1711. His death in AD 1712 was followed by a fresh war of
succession among his four sons—Jahandar Shah, Azim-us-Shah, Rafi-us-Shah and
Jahan Shah.
Sarfaraz Khan (AD 1739-1740) He stopped the misuse for the dastaks (free passes
allowed to the Company) and abolished all duties on
He was the son of Shuja.
internal trade against British wishes in order to protect
He took the title of Alam-ud-Daula Haider Jung. the Indian traders 1763.
He was defeated by Alivardi Khan, Governor of Bihar in the He appointed a German official Walter Rin Hard
Battle of Giriya (AD 1740) and was murdered. (Samru) for modernisation of army.
Alivardi Khan (AD 1740-1756) Mir Qasim murdered Subedar Ramnarayan of Bihar and
He legalised his usurpation by receiving a farman from occupied the factory at Patna by defeating English
emperor Mohammed Shah after paying him ` 2 crore. officer, Ellis. Hence, in AD 1763, English announced
Mir Jafar as the Nawab of Bengal and declared war
He was opposed to the attempts of the English and French
against Mir Qasim.
to strengthen their fortifications in Calcutta and
Chandernagore respectively and compared them with Mir Jafar (AD 1763-1765)
‘Beehive’. His reinstatement in 1763 by the British took place after
He favoured and nominated Siraj-ud-Daula as his the outbreak of the war with Mir Qasim. He died in AD
successor. 1765.
Siraj-ud-Daula (AD 1756 -1757) ◆
Battle of Buxar ( 22nd October, 1764) was fought between
He prohibited the English from fortifying their factories at the British and three allies (Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula of
Calcutta, but on their refusal to comply with his orders, he Awadh and Shah Alam II). This battle ended in the defeat of
seized the English factory at Kasimbazar the allies by the British forces under major Hector Munro.
4th June, 1756 and then Calcutta 15th June, 1756.
Siraj defeated Shaukat Jung, Subedar of Purnia (Bihar) in Najm-ud-Daulah (AD 1765-1772)
Battle of Manihari (1756). He was the son of Mir Jafar.
The famous Black Hole Tragedy, in which more than 400 He was made the Nawab in AD 1765 and remained a
Englishmen died took place during his reign (20th to puppet in the hands of the British during the period of
21st June, 1756). ‘Dual System of Government’ under Robert Clive.
On 9th February, 1757, he signed the ‘Treaty of Alinagar’
with company. The Awadh
Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (AD 1722-1739)
Battle of Plassey He founded the autonomous Awadh state in AD 1722.
Fought the Battle of Plassey with English forces on June 1757, this He was appointed as the Governor of Awadh by
battle saw the treachery of Mir Jafar and Rai Durlabh; bravery of a emperor Mohammed Shah.
small force under Mohanlal and Mir Madan; desertion of the Through, his military reforms, he made Awadh
Nawabs forces and escape of Siraj and his capture and execution economically and politically strong.
by Miran (son of Mir Jafar).
He treated Hindus and Muslims equally in the matter of
Mir Jafar (AD 1757-1760) employment. The highest post of his government was
held by Maharaja Nawab Rai.
He granted the right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa and the Zamindar of the 24 Paraganas to the British, Safdar Jung/Abdul Mansur (AD 1739-1754)
besides paying them a sum of ` 17.7 million as He was the nephew and son-in-law of Saadat Khan.
compensation for the attack on Calcutta. He led an expedition to Bihar and occupied Patna in
He is also known as the Jackal of Clive. AD 1742. He took part in the Battle of Manpur against
He made futile efforts to replace the English by the Dutch, Ahmed Shah Abdali (AD 1748). He was appointed as
but the Dutch were defeated by the English at Bedara in the Wazir of the Mughal empire and was granted the
AD 1759. province of Allahabad as well, by the Mughal emperor
Ahmed Shah in AD 1748.
Mir Qasim (AD 1760-1763)
From AD 1748, the Nawab of Awadh came to be known
He granted the zamindari of Burdwan, Midnapore and
as the Nawab Wazir, since, Safdar and his successors
Chittagong to the British.
held both the ‘Nawabship' of Awadh and the ‘Wajirship’
He transferred his capital from Murshidabad to Munger of the Mughal empire.
(AD 1762.
Magbook ~ Mughal Decline and Rise of Regional States 95
Ranjit Singh, formed Dal Khalsa or the army of Some important leaders of the community were as follows:
theocracy of Sikhs. He signed the Treaty of Amritsar in
Gokla
AD 1809 with the East India Company (Lord Metcalf)
regarding rights over the Sutlej area.
He was the zamindar of Tilpat, who provided leadership to
the Jat uprisings in AD 1669, which was suppressed by the
He helped Shah Shuja, grandson of Ahmed Shah
Mughal Governor, Hasan Ali Khan.
Abdali, during the succession war in Afghanistan
and in return, took the famous Kohinoor diamond from Rajarama (1670-1688)
him. Later the throne was occupied by Dost He was the Zamindar of Sinsani. He provided leadership to
Mohammed. the Jat uprisings in AD 1685, which was suppressed by Raja
Sikh forces, under the commandership of Hari Singh Bishan Singh Kachwaha of Amber.
Naula, defeated the Afghan invader, Dost Mohammed.
Churaman (AD 1690-1721)
He renovated the Sikh shrine decorating the lower half He obtained Mansab from the Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah I
with marble and the entire upper portion with copper
and established the State of Bharatpur. He served in
surmounted with thin plate of gold and gave it the
Bahadur Shah’s campaign against Banda Bahadur.
modern name of the Golden Temple.
Badan Singh (AD 1722 -1756)
Tripartite Treaty 1838 He was the nephew of Churaman. Ahmed Shah Abdali gave
Ranjit Singh signed Tripartite Treaty, in AD 1838, with him the title of Raja. He may be regarded as the real founder
Shah Shuja and the EIC (Lord Auckland), which gave freedom of the Jat States of Bharatpur.
to the British troops to pass through the Punjab. Thus, the Suraj Mal (AD 1756 -1765)
English restricted the advance of Russian forces in India
through Punjab, with the help of Ranjit Singh.
He was the adopted son and successor of Badan Singh. It
was Suraj Mal who successfully welded the scattered Jat
Zamindars near Agra into one powerful state. Under him the
First Anglo Sikh War Jat kingdom reached its zenith. He had remarkable talents
During the reign of Dalip Singh, the English invaded for war and diplomacy. He is remembered as the ‘Plato of Jat
Punjab the First Anglo Sikh War, AD 1845-46), tribe’ and as ‘Jat Ulysses.’
occupied Lahore and dictated a peace treaty, known as
the Treaty of Lahore on 9th March, 1846. Rajputs
Since, Lahore Durbar was unable to pay the war Rajputs were unhappy with the policies of emperor
indemnity, it agreed to transfer the company, the hill Aurangzeb and declared their independence. In AD 1708,
countries situated between the river Beas and Indus, Bahadur Shah invaded Jodhpur, followed by the Mughal
including the province of Kashmir. Gulab Singh, who Commander Hussain Ali in AD 1714. In AD 1721, Sayyed
was instrumental in these negotiations, was given brothers appointed Maharaja Jai Singh as the Subedar of
Kashmir by the company. Agra and emperor Mohammed Shah further gave him the
area of Gujarat.
Second Anglo Sikh War
However, the things did not improve in Punjab which Sawai Jai Singh II (AD 1688-1747)
soon led to the Second Anglo Sikh War (AD He was a distinguished statesman and an astronomer. He
1848-1849) after which Punjab was annexed to the went on to construct observatories also known as Jantar
company by Lord Dalhousie. Raja Dalip Singh and Mantar in stone so as to calculate planetary positions at
Rani Jindal (the queen of Ranjit Singh) were sent away Varanasi, Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura and Jaipur which is a world
to London on fixed annual pensions. Sir Henry heritage site. He also compiled a table of observations known
Lawrence became the first commissioner cum resident as Ziz-i-Jadid Muhammed Shahi, also translated important
of Punjab. works into sanskrit including Euclid’s Geometry. He was a
social reformer who tried to curb the practice of female
The Jats infanticide.
Spread mainly in the rural regions of Haryana, Punjab,
Western parts of the Ganga Doab and Eastern City of Jaipur
Rajputana, the Jats were recognised as a group Foundations of the city was laid in AD 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. It
practicing agriculture, during the ancient and medieval was one of the first planned cities based on the principles of Vastu
periods. Being strong warriors, they were also Shastra with the help of town planner Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. The
employed as soldiers by Hindu as well as Muslim king shifted his capital from Amber to Jaipur.
kings.
Magbook ~ Mughal Decline and Rise of Regional States 99
5. The Nawab of Bengal who shifted the capital 13. Battle of Portonovo was part of
from Daca to Murshidabad was (a) Second Anglo-Mysore war
(a) Murshid Quli Khan (b) Shaja-ud-din (b) Third Anglo-Mysore war
(c) Alivardi Khan (d) Siraj-ud-daulah (c) Third Anglo-Maratha war
(d) Second Anglo-Sikh war
6. Sayyed brothers effort to contain rebellions and
to save the empire from administrative 14. Consider the following statements about Ibrahim Adil Shah, and
disintegration failed because mark the correct answer,
(a) the feelings of the rebels had become too strong 1. Had the title of‘Abala Baba’ or friend of the poor.
to be controlled 2. Composed a book called ‘Kitab-i-nauras’ about music.
(b) a stage had been reached when nothing could 3. He built a new capital Navraspur.
work 4. He was also called ‘Jagat Guru’.
(c) they were faced with constant political rivalry, Which of the statements given above are correct?
quarrels and conspirocies at the court (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(d) the fabric of the empire had been destroyed by (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these
the niblings of the rebels and the English
1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (d) 10. (c)
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (a) 14. (d)
Chapter seventeen
Emergence of European
Powers in India
Alfonso-de-Albuquerque
The Portuguese (AD 1509-1515)
The landing of the Prince Henry of Portugal encouraged voyages for The conquest of Goa from the
Portuguese under the the discovery of sea-routes to India following
Adil Shahi Sultan of Bijapur was
which Barolomeu Dias reached cape of good
leadership of Vasco da Albuquerque’s first achievement
hope in AD 1498.
Gama at Calicut, by the February 1510. But as the city
Vasco da Gama (colonial man) from Lisbon, was quickly recaptured by the
close of the 15th discovered a new sea route from Europe to Asia Sultan of Bijapur, he had to
century is considered via Cape of good hope. He was helped by undertake second expedition.
to be a landmark in the Gujarati navigator Ibn Majid. He landed at Calicut He recaptured the place and
on 21st May, 1498. Calicut, then under the
history of India’s fortified it against any surprise
Zamorin enjoyed a high degree of prosperity.
maritime trade. Their attack. The conquest of Goa, put
Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal in AD 1499.
‘the seal on Portuguese naval
arrival on the Indian A second expedition, under Pedro Alvares Cabral supremacy along the South-West
soil was followed by in AD 1500. A fresh expedition under Vasco da coast’.
the advent of other Gama which started in AD 1502 demanded from
the Zamorin the banishment of every Muslim Nino Da Cunha (1529-1538)
European companies
resident from Calicut. He strengthened the Established settlements at San
and the resultant factories at Cochin and Cannanore and left a Thome near Madras and at
monopolisation of squadron to supervise the Malabar coast and to Hughli in Bengal and thus,
India’s coastal and destroy all Arab vessels coming to it from the developed commerce on the
Red sea. Eastern coast.
maritime trade by the
The Portuguese maritime empire acquired the In AD 1534, the Portuguese
Europeans. name of Estado da India which intended to secured permission to build
monopolise the pepper and spice trade of the factories at Satgaon and
East. Chittagong from the Sultan of
Bengal.
Important Portuguese Cochin was the early capital of
Governors the Portuguese in India. Later the
Francisco-de-Almeida (AD 1505-1509) capital was transferred to Goa by
Nino Da Cunha.
First Governor of Portuguese territory who also
fortified fort manual in Cochin and built a fort at In AD 1535, Cunha got
Anjediva. possession of Diu and Bassein
from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
In a naval battle fought near Chaul, the
Gradually, almost all of their
combined Muslim fleet won a victory over the
territories were lost to Marathas
Portuguese fleet under Almeida’s son, who was
(Salsette and Bassein in AD
killed in the battle (January 1508). A year later,
1739), Dutch and English. Only
Almeida defeated the combined Muslim fleet in a
Goa, Diu and Daman remained
naval battle near Diu (February 1509).
with them until AD 1961.
Magbook ~ Emergence of European Powers in India 101
By AD 1571, the Asiatic empire Portugal was divided into Imports As regarding imports, apart from spices the chief
three independent commands; articles of import to the Coromandel were sandalwood and
(i) A governorship at Mozambique, controlling the pepper from the archipelago, copper from Japan and
settlements on the African coast. textiles from China.
(ii) A viceroyalty at Goa, incharged of the Indian and Trade from Bengal In Bengal, the Dutch first established
Persian territories. a factory at Pipli, but soon abandoned it for Balasore
(iii) A governorship at Malacca, to control the trade of Java which was in turn neglected when a firm footing was
and the spice Archipelago. obtained at Chinsurah on the Hughli in AD 1653.
* The Portuguese brought to India the cultivation of The Dutch constructed fort Gustavus at Chinsurah.
tobacco. The first printing press in India was set-up by Subsequently, they established factories at Kasim Bazar
the Portuguese at Goa in AD 1556; the first scientific and Patna.
work on Indian medicinal plants by a European writer
was printed at Goa in AD 1563.
* In AD 1661, the king of Portugal gave Bombay to Charles
The English
II of England as dowry when Charles II married to Before the East India Company established trade in India,
Catherine Braganza. John Mildenhall, an English merchant came to India over
* Vasco da Gama visited India three times and was buried at
land route to trade with Indian merchants in 1599.
Fort Kochi. Francisco Xavier, a famous saint came to India Through, the charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I on 31st
in the period of Martin Dsousa to spread christianity in December, AD 1600 under the title of ‘The Governor and
India and Asia. company of Merchants of London trading into the East
Indies’ was formed.
The Dutch The immediate aim of the company was the acquisition of
the spices and pepper of the Eastern Archipelago and
Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) popularly therefore, the first two voyages of the company, between
known as, Dutch United East India Company was formed AD 1601-1606, were made, not to India, but to Aching (in
in AD 1602. Sumatra), Bantam (in Java) and the Malaccas.
The skilful administrative system and enthusiastic national Finally with the third voyage in AD 1608, the English
support which the company enjoyed enabled it to initiated the process of the company’s trade with India and
monopolise the entire spice trade to Europe. Captain William Hawkins, who had experience in such
ventures and could speak Turkish, was provided with a
Dutch Settlements in India letter from King James I to Akbar.
On Malabar Coast
English Settlements on
The only port belonging to them on this side was Vengurla
to the North of Goa. After a bitter struggle for power, Western Coast
Dutch were finally defeated by English in the Battle of William Hawkins journeyed from Surat and arrived at the
Bedara, 1759. Jahangir’s court in AD 1609, but failed to get permission to
erect a factory at Surat. However, the victory of English
On Coromandel Coast under captain best over Portuguese fleet at Swally (near
After an earlier abortive attempt to start trade at Surat and Surat) in AD 1612 broke the tradition of Portuguese naval
on the Malabar coast, admiral van der Haghen opened up supremacy and a Farman was issued by Jahangir permitting
trade with the Coromandel coast and set-up a permanent the English to establish a factory at Surat AD 1613.
factory at Masulipatnam (early in 1605). Sir Thomas Roe The royal ambassador from King James I
Soon another factory was founded at Devanampatnam to the Mughal Emperor, succeeded in getting two
(Tegnapatnam) or Fort St David. In AD 1610, upon Farmans by 1618, one of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir
negotiating with the king of Chandragiri, the Dutch found and the other of the Prince (Khurram) granting the
another factory at Pulicat, named Fort Geldria. permission to trade and erect factories in different parts
of the empire.
Trade During Dutch Period Surat was one of the chief centres of maritime trade, it is
Exports Textiles woven clothes according to special from Surat that the English extended their inland trading
patterns constituted the chief export of the Coromandel operations and by 1616 built subordinate factories at
coast. Other commodities exported by the Dutch were Ahmedabad, Baroda, Broach and Agra.
indigo and saltpetre opium, the most important export was Finally Bombay was declared as headquarter of the
consumed in Java and China and yielded enormous profits. company on the West coast in AD 1687.
102 Magbook ~ Indian History
Indes was formed by a royal edict and entrusted with the whole
Ryotwari Settlement
of French colonial trade. It was introduced in Bombay, Madras and Assam.
Munro and Charles reed recommended it. In this
The arrival of Dupleix as French Governor in India in AD 1724
system, the direct settlement was made between
saw the beginning of Anglo-French conflict (Carnatic wars)
the Government and the Ryots.
resulting in their final defeat in India, at the Battle of Wandiwash
in AD 1760. The revenue was based on the basis of the quality
of the soil and the nature of the crop. The revenue
was fixed for a period not exceeding 30 years. It
Economic Colonialism and was based on the Scientific rent theory of Ricardo.
British Rule The position of the cultivator became more secure.
RP Dutt in his work India Today has suggested three phases of
economic colonialism and exploitation.
Mahalwari System
It was introduced in the area of Ganga valley, parts
First Phase of Merchantalism of Central India and Punjab. Revenue settlement
was to be made by village or estates with landlords.
(AD 1757-1813)
In this system, a settlement was made with the
In this phase, company purchased goods at cheap rates and village, which maintained a form of common
sold commodities at high prices, apart from investment of ownership known as Bhai Chara or with Mahals,
surplus revenues for purchasing finished goods for export to which were group of villages. Revenue was
England. This phase coincided with success of industrial periodically revised.
revolution in Britain.
Drain of Wealth
Second Phase of Free Trade/ Industrial
Dadabhai Naoroji explained the Drain of Wealth theory in
Capitalism (AD 1813-1858) his book poverty and Unbritish Rule in India. It is that part
This phase is marked by conversion of India as market of of national wealth, which was not available for
finished goods from Britain and a source of raw materials consumption of Indians and was being drained away to
alongwith gradual decline in Indian industries including exports England without any economic or material return and this
because of heavy duties. However, this phase continued till AD drain was continuous in nature. It included home charges
1947. and interest on foreign capital investments foreign
banking, shipping, insurance and managing agencies.
Third Phase of Financial Imperialism Home charges included Expenditure by Secretary of State
(AD 1858-1947) and India office in London, dividends of shareholders of
East India Company, interest on public debt, war and
This phase was reflected by investment of surplus capital by military expenditure and store purchases in England.
British in India under Guarantee System i.e. private British
capitals investment in India was guaranteed for safe returns i.e.
guarantee of private investment of public cost. Economic Impact of British
Single best example was railways and later on plantation, Rule
banking, shipping, export-import. The return of such Decline of handicraft industries beyond recovery not
investments constituted single biggest source of drain of wealth compensated by rise of modern industries.
to Britain popularly known as home charges and such capital Adverse impact on agriculture because of new land
investments were termed as public debt at India. tenure systems.
Emergence of new social classes, landlords,
Land Revenue System moneylenders and officials.
Increased rural indebtedness.
Permanent Settlement
Thus, Haider formed a joint front with the Nizam and the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (AD 1798-1799)
Marathas on July 1780, attacked Carnatic and captured To enlist the support of France against the English in
Arcot, defeating an English Army under Colonel Baillie. India, Tipu enlisted himself as a member of Jacobin Club.
Meanwhile the English detached the Marathas and Nizam Tipu also planted a Tree of Liberty at Srirangapatna. He
from the side of Haider on November 1781, in the Battle sent embassies to Arabia, Zaman Shah of Afghanistan,
at Porto Novo, Haider was defeated by Sir Eyre Coote. constantinople, the directory at Versailles and the French
In the following year, Haider inflicted a humiliating defeat in the Isle de France or Mauritius France seized Mauritius
on the English army under Colonel Braithwaite, while the in AD 1715 and later renamed it Isle de France.
war was in progress, Haider Ali died. Realising the hostile intentions of Tipu, Lord Wellesley, the
new Governor-General of India, was determined to remove
Third Anglo-Mysore War (AD 1789-1792)
this threat once for all.
The growing power of Mysore and the success of Tipu in
The war against Tipu began in 1799 and he was defeated,
strengthening his position by undertaking various internal
first by Stuart at Sedaseer (5th March) and then by
reforms made the British, the Marathas and the Nizam
General Harris at Malvelley (27th March).
apprehensive.
Then, the English captured Srirangapatna on 4th May,
Lord Cornwallis worked on the anti-Tipu suspicion of the
1799 and Tipu died defending his capital.
Nizam and the Marathas and arranged a Triple Alliance
(AD 1790) with them against Tipu. Anglo-Maratha Conflict
Convinced of a possible war with the English Tipu sought The sudden growth in the company’s cotton trade after AD
the help of the Turks by sending an embassy to 1784 to China from Gujarat through Bombay motivated the
Constantinople in AD 1784 and again in AD 1785 and the British authorities to play a more interventionist role in the
French king in AD 1787. Meanwhile, the Tipu’s Deccan region. This ambition of English brought them in
differences arose with the Raja of Travancore because the direct conflict with Maratha power.
Raja purchased Jai kottai and Cranganore from the Dutch
in Cochin state. First Anglo-Maratha War (AD 1775-1782)
Tipu considered the Cochin state as his tributary state and The war began with the Treaty of Surat on AD 1775 and
thus, considered the act of the Travancore Raja as ended with the Treaty of Salbai on AD 1782.
violation of his sovereign rights and therefore, attacked The political ambition of the company to extend their
Travancore in April, 1790. The English seeing an influence towards the Maratha territory and the internal
opportunity, sided with the Raja of Travancore and conflict among the Maratha leaders played a significant
declared the war against Tipu. role in this war.
Tipu defeated Major General Medows in 1790, after which Second Anglo-Maratha War (AD 1803 -1805)
Cornwallis himself assumed the command of the
Wellesley who came to India as Governor-General in
English Army.
1798, believed that the only possible way to safeguard
Cornwallis approached Srirangapatna with the help of India against the French danger was to establish a strong
Marathas and Nizam’s troops. Tipu offered a tough fight, military control upon the Indian princes. In this context,
but finding it impossible to prolong the struggle, signed he pursued his aggressive policy of interference in the
the Treaty of Srirangapatna on March 1792. internal affairs of the Marathas with the desire to impose
subsidiary alliance on them.
Treaty of Srirangapatnam Though, the Peshwa accepted the subsidiary alliance of
The treaty resulted in the surrender of nearly half of the British, but the other Maratha chiefs showed
Mysorean territory to the victorious allies (the British, the resentment against it. They considered the subsidiary
Marathas and the Nizam). Tipu was to cede half of his treaty as humiliating and a threat upon their independent
territories, which were to be shared among the three political existence and thus, declared war against the
allies. British.
In addition, Tipu was to make immediate payment of ` 1.6 The internal conflicts among the Maratha chiefs and the
crore out of the total indemnity agreed upon (` 3.6 crore) attack upon Peshwa, Baji Rao II by Holkar, led to the
while the remainder (` 2 crore) was to be given in three signing of subsidiary Treaty at Bassein on AD 1802 by the
installments. Peshwa with the British.
Tipu was also to order the release of all prisoners of war. Bhonsle signed Treaty of Deogaon on 17th December,
Pending fulfilment of these terms, two of his sons were to 1803 and Scindia signed Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon on
be detained as (British) hostages. 30th December, 1803.
Magbook ~ Emergence of European Powers in India 107
In AD 1804, Yashwant Rao Holkar made an attempt to form a Since, the Lahore Durbar was unable to pay the
coalition of Indian rulers to fight against the British. His attempt war indemnity, it agreed to transfer to the
however proved to be unsuccessful and after being defeated he company the hill countries situated between the
was forced to concluded with Sir George Barlow the Treaty of river Beas and Indus, including the province of
Rajpurghat on 25th December, 1805. Kashmir. Gulab Singh, who was instrumental in
Thus, the war finally resulted in the establishment of British these negotiations, was given Kashmir by the
influence on the Maratha empire. company.
Third Anglo-Maratha War (AD 1817-1818) Second Anglo-Sikh War (AD 1848-1849)
The third and the final phase of the struggle began with the The Sikhs felt humiliation with the settlement of
coming of Lord Hastings as Governor-General in 1813, who Punjab after the First Sikh war. The Sikhs did not
reassumed the Aggressive Policy of Wellesley and was determined like the interference of the English resident in the
to proclaim the British Paramountacy in India. internal affairs of Punjab. The British, on their part
The Maratha Confederacy was dissolved and the Peshwa, Baji were anxious to occupy Punjab.
Rao II, was dethroned and pensioned off at Bithur near Kanpur. Dalhousie, the new Governor-General, was a
With Holkar a subsidiary treaty known as the Treaty of Mandsaur strong imperialist. He was simple looking for a
was signed. pretext for the annexation of Punjab, which was
provided by the rebellion of Mulraj (AD 1848),
To satisfy the Maratha pride, Pratap Singh, a descendent of
Governor of Multan, against the company.
Shivaji was made the ruler of a small kingdom of Satara founded
out of the Peshwa’s lands.
The English forces attacked Punjab (AD 1848)
and as the result of this Sikhs were badly
Anglo-Sikh Conflict defeated.
After the defeat of Bengal, Mysore and Marathas the only major Punjab was annexed to the British dominion in
Indian power that still retained its independence was Punjab March AD 1849. Raja Dalip Singh, the minor son
under Ranjit Singh, who came to power in AD 1792. of Ranjit Singh and his mother, Rani Jindan, who
He organised an alliance of Sikh Misls West of the Sutlej in 1798, acted as his regent, were sent away to London on
was successful in repelling the invasion of the Afghan ruler fixed annual pensions.
Zaman Shah. This success made him a powerful ruler and in
1801, these Misls accepted him as the Maharaja of Punjab. Conflict with Neighbouring
Ranjit Singh was soon able to extend his power to the vast States
territories including Peshawar, Multan, Kashmir, Kangra and other
Anglo-Nepal Relations
hill states.
In AD 1792, Colonel Kilpatrick was sent on a
The death of Ranjit Singh was followed by political instability in
commercial mission to Kathmandu and captain
Punjab. The line of weak successors followed—Kharak Singh; Nao
Knox was posted as British resident in Kathmandu
Nihal Singh; Sher Singh and Dalip Singh, which led the Sikh
from AD 1802-04.
empire to its downfall. The Sikh elements in the Army known as
Khalsa became supreme and began to interfere in the affairs of Anglo-Nepal War (AD 1814-16)
the state. The main reason behind the war was the frequent
There were group rivalries and Khalsa took the role of king raids by the Gorkhas in British territory and in
makers. This provided to the British a chance to interfere in the May, AD 1814 the Gorkhas attacked three police
affairs of Punjab and establish their control over the region. This stations of Butwal. Thus, Lord Hastings declared
was necessary for extending the British empire, in India, to its war against the Gorkhas. General Gardener won
natural frontiers towards the North-West. over Almora while General Ochterlony defeated the
Gorkha leader Amar Singh Thapa and forced him
First Anglo-Sikh War (AD 1845-1846)
to surrender the fort of Malaun.
During the reign of Dalip Singh, in First Anglo-Sikh War, the
Treaty of Sugauli (1815) was signed but Gorkhas
English invaded Punjab occupied Lahore and dictated a peace
did not ratified it.
treaty known as the Treaty of Lahore on 9th March 1846, which
included the following: This led to second campaign against Gorkhas in
1816 and General Ochterlony defeated the
— The Sikhs to renounce all their claims to the territories lying to the
South of the river Sutlej. Gorkhas at the Battle of Makwanpur. Now, the
— A war indemnity of ` 1.5 crore was imposed on Lahore Durbar. The Treaty of Sagauli (1816) was accepted by the
Sikh Army was limited to 20000 infantry and 12000 cavalry. A British Gorkhas. The English acquired the hill stations of
resident was posted at Lahore. Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital Almora, Ranikhet etc.
108 Magbook ~ Indian History
1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (d) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (a)
Chapter eighteen
Tribal and Peasant
Uprisings
Tribal Uprising Important Uprisings in
The tribal movements Eastern India
The laws introduced by the British
were isolated outbursts rulers were too sophisticated to
Faqir and Sanyasi Rebellion
against local (though suit the tribal customs and
conventions. Greedy As a result of continuous wars and famines,
more or less similar)
moneylenders, traders and combined with British exploitation of the land
grievances, which were and people, Bengal witnessed great economic
land-grabbers penetrated into
primarily economic in tribal areas and exploited the distress and political unrest in the 2nd half of
nature. The primary simple, illiterate people whom the 18th century.
targets were local vested law and administration did not A large number of uprooted and homeless
protest. people joined Hindu or Muslim groups of
interests; British official
Increasing official control of forest religious mendicants, known as Sanyasis or
agencies were drawn Faqirs, who formed large communities and
zones for revenue purposes
into conflict, generally seriously disturbed tribal economy. earned their livelihood from beggary. Sanyasis
because grave questions They lost opportunities of shifting began taking forcible what they could no longer
cultivation. They lost customary get voluntarily.
of law and order were
rights of using forest land for By 1772, there was a great sanyasi rebellion
involved.
grazing and using forest timber as encompassing a wide belt from Rangpur to
fuel. They found themselves Dakha. Under their brave leader Majnu Shah
exposed to exploitation by forest Faqir, the Sanyasis defeated a company of
contractors. sepoys and killed the commander. The Sanyasi
Their traditional religious life was rebellion continued till the end of the century.
disintegrated by the spread of Pagal Panthis Uprisings
Christianity by European
missionaries. The new religion also Pagal Panthi was a semi-religious sect. Its
affected their social customs and members came mostly from the primitive
habits of life. This happened tribes, Hajong and Garo.
particularly in Bihar and the The founder of this sect was a darvesh or a
Assam hills. mendicant called Karam Shah, whose son and
The social, political, economic and successor Tipu, motivated by religious and
cultural life of Indians with the political aims, organised an uprising of the
help of enactment of law led to Garo and Hajong peasants.
discontentment amongst the Tipu openly took up their cause against the
Indians in general and peasants in oppression of the zamindars, who realised
particular. Absence of redressal of illegal cases from the peasants. He asked his
the same precipitated into followers not to pay rent above a specified
rebellion and movement. minimum.
Magbook ~ Tribal and Peasant Uprisings 111
In January 1825, he led a mob of his armed brigands The rebels cut off the postal and railway communications
and attacked the houses of the Zamindars of Sherpur. between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal, proclaimed the end of
The Pagal Panthi Uprising continued for about 10 years the company’s rule and commencement of the Santhal
(1825-35) and was finally suppressed after massive regime. They attacked the houses of moneylenders,
military operations against them. zamindars, white planters, railway engineers and British
officials.
Ahom Revolt (1828-1833) The open war with the British continued till February,
Area Assam 1856, when the rebel leaders were finally captured and the
Leader Gomdhar Konwar movement was put down with a great deal of repression.
Causes The British had pledged to withdraw from Assam
Munda Uprising (1899 -1900)
after the First Burma War (1824-26), but they tried to
incorporate Ahom territories in the company’s dominion. The Ulgulan of Birsa Munda in the region South of Ranchi
in 1899-1900 is the best known tribal rebellion. Feudal,
Finally, the company gave upper Assam to Maharaja
zamindari or individual tenures was the key to the agrarian
Purandar Singh Narendra and part of the kingdom was
disorders that climaxed in the religious-political Movement
restored to the Assamese king.
of Birsa. In March, 1879, Mundas under the leadership
Kol Mutiny (1831-32) claimed that Chota Nagpur belonged to them.
Area Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Palamu, Western The Mundas envisaged an ideal and just society which
parts of Manbhum. would be free from internal as well as European exploiters,
Leader Buddhu Bhagat women also participated in the movement.
Causes Transfer of land from Kol headmen (Mundas) to Birsa Munda was the son of a share-cropper who had
outsiders like Sikh and Muslim farmers. received some education from the missionaries and then
came under Vaishnava influence. His initial popularity was
Military operations were undertaken to settle the mutiny. based on medicinal and healing powers, by which Birsa
Khasi Uprising (1829-1833) claimed to make his followers invulnerable.
Area Tribal area of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills in
The rebels were defeated in a fight and Birsa died in jail.
present Meghalaya. There was some belated relief in the Chota Nagpur
Tenancy Act of 1908, with recognisation to joint farming
Leader Tirath Singh
rights and ban on both begari or forced labour.
Tribes Khasi, Garo, Kham Pti, Singh pos involved.
Causes The British wanted to built a road connecting Some Other Important Uprisings
Brahmaputra valley with Sylhet. This led to infiltration of Chaur Uprising (1766-1772, 1795, 1816)
foreign population in the area.
Area Midnapore district. (Bengal)
English military force suppressed the revolt by 1833.
Causes Famine, enhanced land revenue and economic
Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856) distress. HO Rising The HO and Munda tribesman of Chota
The Santhal Rebellion of 1855-56, was marked by some Nagpur district took arms against the company in 1820-22
of the worst features of elemental tribal passions and and again, in 1831, till the final settlement was made in
open denunciation of British rule. The rebellion, covering 1837.
the districts of Birbhum, Singhbhum, Bankura,
Ramosi Revolt (1822, 1825-1826)
Hazaribagh, Bhagalpur and Munger in Orissa (Odisha)
and Bihar was precipitated mainly by economic causes.
In 1822, the Ramosis revolted in Satara under
Chittur Singh to oppose heavy land revenue assessment
The moneylenders and colonial administrators both
and revenue collection methods. Famine and scarcity
exploited them. The Diku (outsider) merchants charged
drove them to a rebellion in 1825-26, this time under
interest on loans, ranging from 50 to 500% exploited and
Umaji. The Ramosis’ uprising which continued for 3 years,
cheated the tribals in many other ways, often grabbing
was finally ended when people were given land grants and
their lands.
admitted in the ranks of the hill police.
The tribals turned against the British Government under
the leadership of two Santhal brothers, Siddhu and Khond Uprising (1837- 56)
Kanhu, more than ten thousand Santhals assembled in The Khonds lived in vast hill tracts stretching from Tamil
June, 1855 when a divine order was issued asking the Nadu to Bengal and covering central provinces. Their
Santhals to get out of the control of their oppressors and uprisings from 1837 to 1856, were directed against the
take possession of the country and set-up a government British. the movement was led by Chakra Bisoi in the name
of their own. of the Young Raja.
112 Magbook ~ Indian History
The main issue was the attempt by the government to Rampa Rebellion
suppress human sacrifice (Mariah), introduction of new A unique example of tribal militancy came from the
taxes by the British and the influx of Zamindars and Rampa region North of Godavari which had witnessed
Sahukars into their areas, which was causing the tribals various uprisings in the 19th century.
untold misery. Their grievances were against moneylenders and forest
Chakra Bisoi disappeared in 1855, after which the laws. The movement was led by an outsider, Alluri
movement petered out. Another important leader of revolt Sitarama Raju, claiming astrological and healing powers,
was Radhakrishna Dandasena. who has become a folk hero in Andhra Pradesh.
Naikada Revolt He was inspired by the Non-Cooperation Movement and
The Naikada forest tribes in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, admired Gandhi, though he considered violence
launched revolts against British officers and Hindus with necessary to win tribal goals. The revolt came to an end
religious fevour and attacked police stations in 1868, in a after the execution of Raju in May, 1924.
bid to establish a Dharma Raj under their charismatic
leaders. Movements by the Deposed
Kharwar Uprising Rulers and Zamindars
The crushing of the Santhal rebellion was followed by the These movements were caused by the Aggressive Policy
Kharwar uprising of the 1870’s which preached monotheism of Annexation by the British and the subsequent
and internal reform at first, but had begun to turn into a disturbances in the economy of the regions.
campaign against revenue settlement operations just before
it was suppressed.
First Polygar War (1799)
Leaders Kattabomma Nayak, Subramania Pillai and
Soundra Pandian Nayak.
Koya Rebellion
It occurred in 1879-80, in the Eastern Godavari tract of present Polygar Rebellions (Kurnool, 1799-1805)
day Andhra Pradesh and also affected some district in Orissa. Polygars were the offshoots of the Nayankara system
The rebellion was led by Tomma Sora and reflected problems prevalent in the Vijayanagara administration. The conflict
faced by tribals, like erosion of customary rights over forests, was on the question of the collection of taxes, rather,
police exactions, exploitation by money lenders and new who should collect it, the traditional classes or the
excise regulations restricting domestic production of paddy. company officials.
Sora was shot dead by the police and the movement Second Polygar War (1800-1801)
collapsed, but only with the use of six regiments of the Also known as the South Indian Rebellion, the rebellion
Madras infantry. In 1886, another uprising took place here.
broke out when polygar armies under Gopala Nayak,
The rebels, led by Raja Anantayyar, formed themselves into a
Kerala Varma and Krishnappa Nayak bombed the
Ram Sandhu (Ram’s Army) and appealed to the Maharaja of
British barracks in Coimbatore in 1800. The
Jeypore to help them in throwing out the British.
suppression was followed by signing of the Carnatic
Treaty, 1801, where by the British assumed direct
Bhil Uprising control over Tamil Nadu and the Polygar system was
In Southern Rajasthan, the Bhils were stirred to action by a replaced by the Zamindari settlement.
Reform Movement under Govind Guru, who was a bonded
Velu Thampi (1765-1809)
labourer. By 1913, it developed into a bid to set-up a Bhil
Raj. The British were able to suppress them only after The Diwan of Travancore (Kerala), Velu Thampi revolted
considerable resistance. in 1808-09 after the British tried to take away his
Diwanship and forced the state to conform with the
The Kittur Rebellion conditions of the Subsidiary Alliance system. He was the
The British prevented the adopted son of the Chief of Kittur only head of a state to be hanged during the British
(in Karnataka) from assuming power by taking over the rule.
administration. What resulted was the Kittur uprisings of
1924-29 led by chennamma, the widow of the chief. The Ganjam Revolt (1835)
rebels declared Kittur an independent state before being Rebellion led by Gumsur Zamindar, Dhananjaya Bhanja
crushed by the British. erupted in 1835, in Ganjam district of Orissa (Odisha).
Magbook ~ Tribal and Peasant Uprisings 113
Peasant Movements
Movement Location Leader Cause
Pagal Panthis (1825-35) Bengal Karam Shah, Tipu Shah Against hike rent in Bengal.
(Hajong and Garo tribes)
Indigo Revolt (1860) Nadia district of Digambar Biswas, Bishnu Peasants were forced to grow lndigo in their
Bengal Bishwas, Harish Chandra field by European factory owners.
Mukherjee (editor of Dinbandhu Mitra had written about this revolt
newspaper Hindu Patriot) in his play Neel Darpan (translated into English
by Madhusudan Datta).
Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870) Pune By MGRanade To popularise the peasants legal right.
Pabna Agrarian Uprising Pabna district of Shah Chandra Roy, Shambhu Against oppression of peasants by Zamindar.
(1873) Bengal Patel Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885 passed.
Ramosi Uprising (1877-87) Parts of Andhra Vasudev Balwant Phadke It was against the British failure to take up an
Pradesh, anti-famine measure.
Maharashtra
Bijolia Movement (1905, 1913, Rajasthan Sitaram Das, Vijay Pathhik The movement arose due to imposition of 86
1916, 1927) Singh different type of cases on peasants.
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) Bihar Gandhiji, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Against the Tinkathia System imposed by the
Raj Kumar Shukla European Indigo planters.
Kheda Satyagraha (1918) Gujarat Gandhiji and Vallabhbhai Against ignored appeal for remission revenue in
Patel case of crop failure.
Uttar Pradesh Kisan Sabha Uttar Pradesh Indra Narayan Dwivedi, To organise a stronger peasant movement in
(1918) Madan Mohan Malaviya Uttar Pradesh.
Awadh Kisan Sabha (1920) Oudh Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba To organise peasants.
Rama Chandra
Moplah Rebellion (1921) Malabar region, Sayyed Ali, Sayyid Fazl Against the oppression and exploitation of
Kerala Muslim Moplah peasants by Hindu Zamindars
(Jemnis) and British Government.
Eka Movement (1921) Awadh Madari Parsi Higher extraction of rent.
Andhra Ryots Association (1928) Andhra Pradesh NG Ranga Abolition of Zamindari.
All India Kisan Sabha (1936) — Swami Sahajananda Protection of peasants from economic
exploitation.
Tebhaga Movement (1946) Bengal Communists Against zamindars and moneylenders.
Telangana Movement (1951) Hyderabad — Against moneylenders and officials of Nizam of
Hyderabad.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Siddhu was associated with [WBPSC 2008] (a) revenue officials of the British government
(a) Santhal Rebellion (b) Munda Rebellion (b) moneylenders
(c) Kol Rebellion (d) Sanyasi Rebellion (c) landlords
(d) foreign planners
2. Consider the following statements regarding Munda
tribal uprising. 12. Muslim Faqirs form their headquarters in the Nepal
1. The Munda rebels were defeated in a fight and Birsa died Terai wandered about the country levying contributions
in Jail. and defying the authority of the British government.
2. There was some belated relief in the chhotanagpur Who of the following was their founder leader?
Tenacious Act of 1917 with recognition to joint farming (a) Chirag Ali Shah (b) majnum Shah
rights and ban on both begain as forced labour. (c) Dadu Mian (d) Titu Mian
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 13. The play Neel Darpan (1860) of the famous Bengali
(a) Only1 (b) Only 2 writer Dinbandu Mitra portrays the oppression of the
(c) Both 1 & 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 peasants by
3. Which British commander was defeated by the Santhals (a) the artisans (b) the handloom weavers
in 1855? [BPSC 2005]
(c) the common man (d) the Indigo planters
(a) Captain Nek Feville (b) Lt Bastain 14. What was the cause of the rebellion of the princes and
(c) Major Burrough (d) Colonel White the nobility of the old Ahom court in Assam in 1820s?
4. Koya Movement was organised by (a) The failure of the British to withdraw and restore Ahom
government on the conclusion of the Burmese war
(a) Guru Ram Das (b) Guru Nanak
(b) The deposition of Gandhar Konwar, their popular ruler, by
(c) Tompa Soura (d) Guru Gobind Singh
the British
5. The Rebellion started in 1816 and continued till (c) The British intervention in the internal court politics of the
1832 was Ahoms
(a) Santhal Uprisings (b) Kol Uprisings (d) The alarming rise in the activities of Christian missionaries
(c) Kutch Uprisings (d) None of these
15. Out of the numerous uprisings in Maharashtra, which of
6. Who published the Journal ‘Din bandhu’? the following is popularly known as the Gadkari Revolt?
(a) NM Lokhandey (b) Sasipada Banerjee (a) The insurrection of Narsappa for the restoration of the
(c) BP Wadia (d) Lala Lajpat Rai deposed Raja Pratap Singh of Satara (1841)
(b) The rising organised by Dadaji Daulatrao Ghorpade in the
7. The Gadkari Uprisings (1844-45) took place in interests of Kolhapur (1829)
(a) Punjab (b) Bengal (c) The rising of the hereditary servants attached of forts,
(c) Maharashtra (d) Andhra Pradesh when threatened with disbandment by Dj Krishna Pandit,
8. Kol Revolt of 1831-32 was led by [JPSC 2003] Minister of Kolhapur
(a) Buddhu Bhagat (b) Surga (d) The rising of Sawantwadi under the leadership of Phond
(c) Singrai (d) Jatra Bhagat Sawant (1844)
9. The Gadkari Uprising of 1844-45 was directed against 16. Which of the following is known as Ramosi risings?
the (a) The revolt of the peasants and the hill tribes of the Maratha
(a) Money lender (b) British Government country against the British rule under the leadership of
(c) Maharaja of Kolhapur (d) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’ Umaji Naik (1827-28)
(b) The revolt of ryots to Mysore against the Raja and the
10. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Zamindars (1831)
Bengal was for [IAS 2013] (c) The revolt of the wagheras of Okhamandal against the
(a) the reduction of the share landlords from one-half of the British rule
crop to one-third (d) The revolt of the peasants and the Zamindars against the
(b) the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were oppressive rule of colonel Hannay in Awadh (1778)
the actual cultivators of the land
(c) the uprooting of Zamindari System and the end of 17. The Ahrar Movement
serfdom (a) was moved by loyalist politics of the Aligarh school and
(d) writing off all peasant debts big nawab and zamindars
(b) dislinked the loyalist politics of the Aligarh school and big
11. The rebellions of the Moplah peasants of malabar, nawab and zamindars
during 1836 to 1854 were directed against the (c) advocated participation in the Militant National Movement
oppression by; (d) All of the above
1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (c) 12. (b) 13. (d) 14. (a) 15. (c) 16. (a) 17. (d)
Chapter nineteen
Governor-Generals and
Viceroys
Supreme Court was established at Calcutta
Governor-Generals
in 1774. Impey was appointed as the first
of Bengal Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He also
established Calcutta Madarsa or Aliya
Role of Warren Hastings Madarsa in 1781 for study of Islamic law.
Governor-Generals and (1772-1785) The Rohilla War (1774) and annexation of
Rohilkhand by the Nawab of Oudh with
Viceroys is indurable in He became Governor of Bengal in
help of the British.
the course of Modern 1772 and became Governor-General
of Bengal in 1773 through the Trail of Nand Kumar and his judicial murder
Indian History. Infact, the Regulating Act of 1773. (1775).
rise and growth of India Termination of dual administration in Chait Singh affair (1778) Chait Singh was
as a nation would be Bengal (1772). the Raja of Banaras.
traced in the vision and Introduced the Quinquennial He was the only Governor-General against
settlement of land revenue in 1772 whom impeachment proceeding were
works of these
by the method of farming out estates proceeded.
individuals. Though their
to the highest bidder. Quinquennial settlement abandoned in
works and contributions 1777 and annual settlement of land
Creation of Board of Revenue
are directed to serve (1772). Created Diwani and Faujdari revenue on the basis of open auction to the
their mother nation, yet Adalat at the district level and highest bidder was started.
their role in making of Sadar Diwani and Nizamat Adalat. Foundation of Asiatic Society of Bengal by
Codified Hindu and Muslim law Hastings and Sir William Jones (1784). He
Modern Indian can’t be
known as Father of Judicial Reforms was conservator of Asiatic Society and
undermined. in India. helped in translation of (Abhigyan
To remove the possible clash Shakuntalam) book by Kalidas and (Gita
between the Supreme Court and Govinda) book of Jaideva into English.
Sadar Diwani Adalat, he appointed
Elijah Impey, the Chief Justice of Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)
Supreme Court, as Superintendent of Europeanisation of administrative services,
Sadar Diwani Adalat. introduction of civil services and reforms to
Stopped annual allowances of ` 26 purify and improve administration.
lakh to Mughal Emperor Shah Alam Cornwallis is called the Father of Civil
II. Took away Allahabad and Kara Service in India.
from him and sold it to the Nawab of The Police system was introduced.
Awadh. Sovereignty of law and all the official will be
Regulating Act 1773, appointed him responsible to the courts.
the first Governor-General alongwith Introduction of the permanent revenue
four councellors—Clavering, Francis, settlement or the Zamindari system in
Monson and Barwell. Bengal and Bihar (1793).
116 Magbook ~ Indian History
Reform of the judiciary (1793) setting-up courts at different Sir George Barlow (Officiation)
levels and separation of revenue administration from judicial
administration. (1805-1807)
The District Faujdari Adalats presided over by Indian judges Vellore Mutiny (1806), 2nd Anglo-Maratha War
abolished and in their place four circuit courts were established, ended. Slave trade abolished in the British Empire
presided over by the European covenanted servants. in 1807.
Sir Charles Metcalfe (Officiation) A new Post Office Act was passed in 1854, postage
stamps were issued for the first-time. In 1856, Oudh
(1835-1836) was annexed on the pretext of the misgovernment.
Passed education resolution proposed by Macaulay. Abolition Bengal was placed under the charge of Lt Governor.
of press restrictions known as liberator of Indian Press. A separate Public Works Department (PWD) was
established in every province. Work on the Grand
Lord Auckland (1836-1842) Trunk (GT) road was started. Ganges canal declared
In 1839, Lord Auckland has started construction of Grand open (1854).
Trunk (GT) road from Calcutta to Delhi.
Widow Re-marriage Act of 1856. In 1855-56, Santhal
Deposition and deportation of the Raja of Satara. insurrection took place.
First Afghan War started (1836-1842). Disaster of British in First Engineering College, Thomson College for Civil
the war and recall of Auckland. Engineering was established at Roorkee.
In 1838, Tripartite Treaty between Shah Shuja, Ranjit Singh
and the British.
Viceroys of India
Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844)
Lord Canning (1856-1862)
Slavery abolished (1843).
Conquest and annexation of Sind (1843) by Charles Napier. Establishment of universities in the Presidencies of
Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857.
Lord Hardinge I (1844-1848) Outbreak of 1857 Mutiny.
In 1845, the Danish possession sold to the English. Last Governor-General after 1858 Governor-General
1845-46 the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Lahore came to be known as Viceroy.
(1846). Queen Victoria’s proclamation and the Government of
Prohibition of female infanticide and suppression of the India Act of 1858. It ended the rule of East India
practice of human sacrifice among the Khonds of central Company. Transfer of control from East India Company
India. In 1846, the rebellion of Khonds took place . to crown.
Enactment of Indian Penal Code.
Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856) Withdrawal of Doctrine of Lapse.
Lord Dalhousie’s policy mainly focussed on seizure of In 1861, Indian Council Act and enactment of Code of
different regions of India. Criminal Procedure.
Second Sikh War (1848-49) and annexation of Punjab Income tax was introduced with a uniform tariff of
(1849). 10% apart from convertible paper currency.
Second Anglo-Burmese War and annexation of lower Burma In 1861, the enactment of the Indian High Courts Act.
or Pegu (1852). Dalhousie can be regarded as the father of
the Electric Telegraph in India. O’Shaughnessy was appointed Lord Elgin I (1862-1863)
the Superintendent of the Telegraph Department in 1852.
Suppressed Wahabi Movement.
First telegraph line from Calcutta to Agra. Charter Act of
1853. Due to his sudden death in 1862. The administration
In 1853, a new treaty was forced on the Nizam of Hyderabad was carried on by Sir Napier and Sir Denison from
compelling him to cede Berar to Company. 1862 to 1864.
Railway minute of 1853. The first railway line connecting Sir John Lawrence (1864-1869)
Bombay and Thane was laid in 1853.
War with Bhutan in 1865.
In 1853, recruitment of the Covenanted Civil Service by
Indo-European telegraph from Karachi, Persia and
competitive examination.
Turkey in 1865.
Introduction of Doctrine of Lapse and annexation of Satara
Masterly Inactivity Policy was followed i.e. policy of
(1848), Jaitpur (1849), Sambhalpur (1849), Baghat (1850),
non-intervention with Afghanistan.
Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854).
Establishment of High Courts at Calcutta, Bombay and
In the educational sphere an important development was
Madras in 1865.
Charles Wood, (President of the Board Control) dispatch of
In 1868, the Punjab Tenancy Act, known as Saviour of
1854 and British assumption of the responsibility of educating
Punjab and annual grant of 6 lakh of rupees to Sher
the masses. Opening of Anglo-vernacular schools and
Government colleges. JED Bethune opened a girls school in Ali, Amir of Afghanistan and railway opened from
Calcutta in 1849. Ambala to Delhi.
118 Magbook ~ Indian History
Ramsay McDonald announced Communal Award. Gandhi’s 15th March, 1946 Attlee announces the Cabinet
fast unto death in the Yerawada Prison. Mission; Cabinet Mission, under Pethick Lawrence,
Third Round Table Conference took place during his region. Stafford Cripps and AV Alexander, arrives in Delhi on
Foundation of Congress Socialist Party by Acharya 24th March, 1946.
Narendra Dev and Jai Prakash Narayan (1934). 6th August, 1946 Wavell invites Nehru to form an
Government of India Act 1935. Interim Government.
Separation of Burma from India (1935). 16th August, 1946 Muslim League begins the ‘Direct
Formation of All India Kisan Sabha in (1936). Action Day’.
Formation of interim government by the Congress
Lord Linlithgow (1936 -1944) (September 1946). League joined in October 1946.
Formation of the Congress Ministries in majority of the 20th February, 1947 Attlee announces end of British rule
Provinces (1937). in India.
October 1937, Gandhi formulated Wardha Educational
Scheme. Lord Mountbatten (1947-1948)
Resignation of the Congress Ministries after the outbreak of Sworn in as Viceroy on 24th March, 1947.
World War II (1939). Resignation of the Congress Ministries 2nd June, 1947 Mountbatten plan was announced.
as the Deliverance Day. 3rd June, 1947 the plan to partition India announced.
August offer by Viceroy (1940), Congress rejected August 4th June, 1947 Mountbatten announces transfer of
offer. power on 15th August.
7th August, 1942 Congress Session started in Bombay. 4th July, 1947 India Independence Bill was introduced
Passing of the Quit India Resolution (8th August, 1942) in the House of Commons.
and the launching of Quit India Movement started.
6th July, referendum took place in NWFP, Boycotted by
Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
Lord Wavell (1944-1947)
On 15th August, 1947 Indian Independence.
25th June, 1945 Simla Conference to discuss Wavell plan
begins.
Two Boundary Commission were set-up for Bengal and
Punjab under Cyrill Radclife.
End of the World War II (1945).
28th January, 1946 Wavell announces Government’s C Rajagopalachari (1948 -1950)
intention to set-up an Executive Council of political leaders.
The last Governor-General of free India.
18th February 1946 Mutiny of the Indian naval ratings in
Bombay. INA trials begins (1946).
The only Indian Governor-General, remained in office till
January 1950.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Match the following 7. Who among the following Governor-Generals created
the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came
List I List II
to be known as the Indian Civil Service? [IAS 2010]
(Governors of Bengal) (Associated Events)
(a) Warren Hastings (b) Wellesley
A. Robert Clive 1. Abolished dual Government of (c) Cornwallis (d) William Bentinck
Bengal (1772)
B. Vanisttart 2. Bengal Famine (1770) 8. Consider the following statements
C. Cartier 3. Battle of Buxar (1764) 1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor General, who
D. Warren Hastings 4. Established dual Government in established a regular Police force in India on the British
Bengal from (1765-72) pattern.
2. A Supreme court was established at Calcutta by the
Codes
Regulating Act, 1773.
A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 2 3 1 (b) 4 3 2 1 3. The Indian peral code came into effect in the year 1860.
(c) 1 3 2 4 (d) 1 2 3 4 Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
2. Who among the following was the first Governor-General
of Bengal? [IAS 2006] 9. At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before
(a) Robert Clive (b) William Bentinck the might of Napoleon, which one of the following
(c) Marquess Wellesley (d) Warren Hastings Governor- Generals kept the British flag flying high in
India? [IAS 1999]
3. Which of the following statement(s) about Warren (a) Warren Hastings (b) Lord Cornwallis
Hastings is/are correct? (c) Lord Wellesley (d) Lord Hastings
1. He was the last Governor of Bengal.
2. He wrote introduction to the first English translation of 10. Who among the following Governor-Generals formed the
‘Gita’ by Charles Wilkins. Triple Alliance against Tipu Sultan? [IAS 2012]
3. He started Diwani and Faujdari Adalats at the district level (a) Warren Hastings (b) Lord Cornwallis
and Sadar Diwani and Nizamat Adalats (appellate courts) (c) Lord Wellesley (d) Lord William Bentinck
at Calcutta. 11. Match the following Loard William Bentinck
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these List I List II
(Governor-General) (Important Policy)
4. Consider the following statements and mark the correct
A. Lord Cornwallis 1. Partition of Bengal
option.
B. Lord Wellesley 2. Doctrine of Lapse
1. Lord Irwin was popularly known as Christian Viceroy.
C. Lord Dalhousie 3. Permanent Settlement
2. A separate State of Bihar and Orissa was created during
D. Lord Curzon 4. Subsidiary Alliance
the Governorship of Lord Hardinge.
3. During Lord Wellington’s tenure Communal award was Codes
propagated in August 1932. A B C D A B C D
Whch of the statements(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 3 4 2 1 (b) 1 2 4 3
(c) 3 2 4 1 (d) 1 4 2 3
(a) 1 and 3 (b) Only 1 (c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
12. Consider the following statements about main features
5. Which one of the following pair is correctly matched? of the Government of India Act, 1935. [IAS 2014]
[IAS 2002]
1. Abolition of dyarchy in the Governor’s provinces.
(a) Warren Hastings : The Battle of Plassey
(b) Lord Cornwallis : The Permanent Settlement of Bengal 2. Power of governors to veto legislative action and to
(c) Lord Wellesley : The Prohibition of Sati legislate on their owners.
(d) Lord Dalhousie : Local Self-Government 3. Abolition of the principle of communal representation.
Which of the statement (s) given above is/are correct?
6. Which of the following statements about Lord Dalhousie (a) Only 1 (b) Both 1 and 2
is correct?
(c) Both 2 and 3 (d) All of theseCons
(a) He abolished titles and pensions and passed Widow
Re-marriage Act 13. Which one of the following is not correct about the
(b) He recommended the Thromsonian System of Vernacular subsidiary Alliance?
education for whole of the North Western provinces (a) It was formulated by wellesley.
(c) An engineering college was established at Roorkee (b) British army was posted in the subsidary state.
during his tenure (c) It did not recognise an adopted heir to a subsidiary state.
(d) All of the above (d) A British resident was posted inthe subsidiary state.
1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (d) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (b) 13. (b)
Chapter twenty
Development of Modern
Education and Press
Development of General Committee of
Education Public Instructions,
1823
Modern education and The traditional schools of learning in India
In 1823, a General Committee of
development of press suffered under the impact of colonial
Public Instruction was appointed to
expansion. For one, the political tumult under
and education side look after the development of
the British regime could hardly foster concern
evolved during the education in India.
on intellectual pursuits and secondly, the
British rule in India. public endowments to these schools were not The Orientalists dominated the
forthcoming any more. But later, plea to committee and advocated the
Modern education came
promote learning by the Indian officers of the promotion of oriental learning rather
with modern political, than the Anglican one.
company and others finally bore fruit.
social and economic The Calcutta Madarsa established by Warren However, different sections both in
thoughts and these Hastings in 1781 for the study of Muslim England and in India created
thoughts were law. mounting pressure on the company to
promote Western education.
propagated through the The Sanskrit College established by
nationalist press. Some Jonathan Duncan at Banaras in 1791 for the
Orientalist-Anglicist
study of Hindu law and philosophy.
half-hearted initiatives Controversy
Fort William College established by
were taken by British Wellesley in AD 1800 for training of civil
◆
The General Committee of Public
Government of India for Instruction consisted of 10 members.
servants of the company in Indian languages
Within the committee, there were
the development of and customs (closed in AD 1802).
two groups, the orientalists who
education, but many advocated the policy of giving
1813 Act and the encouragement to oriental literature
full-hearted obstacles
Education and the Anglicist or the English party,
were placed in the way of The English missionary activists, such as
which favoured the adoption of English
evolution of independent Charles Grant and William Wilberforce, as a medium of instruction.
press by same compelled the East India Company to give up ◆
As a member of the Executive Council
government. its policy of non-intervention in education. Macaulay wrote his famous Minute on
For the first time, the British Parliament Educational Policy, dated 2nd February,
included in 1813 Charter, a clause under 1835 and placed it before the council.
which the Governor- General in council was Macaulay favoured the viewpoint of the
bound to keep a sum not less than ` 1 lakh Anglicist party. He said that a single
for education. However, the company used shelf of a good European library was
this fund for promoting Indian language and worth the whole native literature of
literature. India and Arabia. Macaulay aimed to
Establishment of Calcutta College in 1817 create a class of persons who should be
with the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy for Indian in blood and colour, but English in
imparting Western education. Three Sanskrit tastes, in opinions, in morals and in
colleges were set-up at Calcutta. intellect.
Magbook ~ Development of Modern Education and Press 123
It was followed by the Indian Press Emergency Powers Act Pre-censorship was in force. Amendments were made in
1930, to provide for the better control of the Press. The the Official Secrets Act and Press Emergency Act.
act invested immense powers in the hands of the
provincial governments, to suppress the propaganda for Developments after Independence
the Civil Disobedience Movement. Press (Objectionable Matters) Act, 1951 was passed
alongwith an Amendment to Article 19 (2) of the Indian
Developments during Second World War
Constitution.
The government, under the Defence of India Act,
This act empowered the government to demand and
assumed special powers during the Second World War
forfeit security for publication of ‘objectionable matter’.
(1939-45).
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (b) 10. (a)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (a)
Chapter twenty-one
Revolt of 1857
Social and Religious Causes
The Great The British had abandoned its policy of
Revolution of 1857 non-interference in the socio-religious life
The Revolt of 1857 has The Revolt of 1857 was a product of the of the Indians. Abolition of Sati (1929),
character and policies of British colonial Hindu Widow Remarriage Act (1856)
been hailed as the
rule. The causes of revolt emerged from were such as direct interference of
watershed or the great colonial power into Hindu religious
all aspects−socio-cultural, economic and
divide in the colonial political. Moreover, it was not an isolated beliefs.
history of British India. rebellion rather a chain of rebellions Christian missionaries were allowed to
The Revolt of 1857 was were already taken place in different enter India and carry on with their
areas of their territory, prior to 1857. mission of proselytising by an act in
fundamentally different
1850.
from earlier rebellions Early Precedents The Religious Disabilities Act of 1850
by the soldiers, peasants modified the traditional Hindu Law.
In 1806, the sepoys at Vellore mutinied,
and tribals of the but were crushed with terrible violence.
According to it, the change in religion
19th century. The scale would not debar a son from inheriting the
In 1824, the 47th Regiment of Sepoys at
property of his father.
and spread of the Revolt Barrackpore refused to go to Burma by
of 1857 was larger, the sea-route. Economic Causes
sepoys at many centres In 1844, seven battalions revolted on the British rule led to breakdown of the
question of bhatta and salaries. village self-sufficiency, commercialisation
mutinied and this was
There were mutinies in 1825 (Assam), of agriculture, which burdened the
accompanied by civil 1838 (Sholapur), 1844 (Sind) and peasantry, adoption of free trade
disturbances. The extent 1849-59 (Punjab) as well. imperialism from 1800,
of the revolt was mostly de-industrialisation and drain of wealth all
over North, Central and The Causes of Revolt of which led to overall decline of
economy.
parts of Western India. It Immediate Cause
was the most significant The issue of greased cartridges and Military Grievances
military grievances has been over The extension of British dominion in
movement of resistance
emphasised, as the factor for the Revolt India had adversely affected the service
against European of 1857. The grease was in some condition of the sepoys. They were
colonial rule. instances composed of beef and pig fat. required to serve in area away from their
The sepoys, Hindu as well as Muslim, homes without the payment of extra
were enraged. The use of the greased bhatta.
cartridges would endanger their religion. An important cause of military
However, the recent research has proved discontent was the General Service
that the cartridge was neither the only Enlistment Act, 1856, which made it
cause nor even the most important. In compulsory for the sepoys to cross the
fact, the multiple causes i.e. social, seas, whenever required. The Post
religious, political and economic worked Office Act of 1854, withdrew the free
together to produce the rebellion. postage facility for them.
Magbook ~ Revolt of 1857 129
Political Causes
The last major extension of the British Indian territory took
The Course of Revolt
place during the time of Dalhousie. Dalhousie announced in March 1857
1849, that the successor of Bahadur Shah II would have to The revolt was sparked on 29th March, 1857. The 19th
leave the Red Fort.
infantry at Berhampur (Barrackpore), refused to use the
The annexation of Baghat and Udaipur were however, newly introduced enfield rifle. The infantry was disbanded.
cancelled and they were restored to their ruling houses. Colonel Mitchell was its Commanding Officer.
When Dalhousie wanted to apply the Doctrine of Lapse to Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Native Infantry at
Karauli (Rajputana), it was overruled by the Court of Barrackpore attacked and fired at his British officers.
Directors. The mutiny was suppressed and the leader of the
Doctrine of Lapse mutiny, Mangal Pandey, was finally trial and executed.
According to the policy of Doctrine of Lapse, introduced by April-May 1857
Lord Dalhousie, the adopted sons of the deceased kings
90 men of the 3rd Native Cavalry stationed at Meerut
were de-recognised as heirs to the throne, which
refused to use the greased cartridge. 85 of them were
subsequently led to the annexation of large number of
dismissed and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on
kingdoms.
9th May.
Chronology of Dalhousie’s Annexation The next day, on 10th May, the entire Indian garrison
through Doctrine of Lapse revolted. On 11th May, 1857, a band of sepoys from
State Year of Annexation
Meerut, who had defied and killed the European officers
the previous day, marched to the Red Fort (Delhi).
Satara 1848
Bahadur Shah II was proclaimed the Shahenshah-
Jaitpur (Uttar Pradesh) 1849
e-Hindustan. The sepoy then set out to capture and
Sambhalpur (Orissa) 1850
control the imperial city of Delhi.
Baghat 1850
Udaipur 1852 Areas Affected by the Revolt
Jhansi 1853 Very soon, the rebellion spread throughout Northern
Nagpur 1854 and Central India at Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur,
Dalhousie annexed Awadh in 1856, on the ground of Bareilly, Banaras, in some parts of Bihar, Jhansi and
misrule. The annexation of Awadh was also represented by other places. However, the Southern India remained
Bengal Army, three-fifth of whom belonged to Awadh. Sir quiet. Mutinies took place at a few places in Punjab
James Outram, who had been the British resident in Awadh (Naushera and Hoti Mardan), but Sir John Lawrence
since 1854, was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner (Chief Commissioner of Punjab) easily put them down.
in 1856, but he was replaced by Sir Henry Lawrence. He
was the Chief Commissioner when revolt broke out. Other Important Events
Dalhousie abolished the titles of the Nawab of Carnatic and At Jhansi, Rani Laxmibai, the widow queen of Raja Gangadhar
the Raja of Travancore and refused to grant the pension to Rao, the last Maratha ruler of Jhansi, led the rebellion.
the adopted son (Dhondu Pant, better known as Nana In Bihar Kunwar Singh, of Arrah, raised the banner of
Sahib) of the last Peshwa, (Baji Rao II) after the latter’s rebellion, which soon spread to many parts of Bihar, including
death in 1851. Danapur, ChotaNagpur, Ranchi, Palamu etc. The tribals of the
Canning announced in 1856, that the successors of region also joined the rebellion. Kunwar Singh overthrew the
Bahadur Shah were to be known only as princes and not as British authority in Shahabad and established his own
kings. government. He marched to Kalpi to help Nana Sahib for a
joint attack on Kanpur.
Agrarian Causes
Prince Firoz Shah raised the banner of revolt at Mandsor
The Summary Settlement of 1856, which was first
(Madhya Pradesh) and kept the British forces engaged in
introduced in the North-Western provinces, was extended to Central India. Driven out of central provinces, he campaigned in
Awadh. Ruhelkhand and Awadh. He also joined the forces of Tantia
Heavy over-assessment of land revenue impoverished the Tope in Rajputana.
peasants. Khan Bahadur Khan raised the banner of revolt in Ruhelkhand
The introduction of the institution of private property rights in with epicenter at Bareilly. He proclaimed himself the Nawab
land by which land became a commodity, which could be Nazim.
bought, sold, rented or leased.
130 Magbook ~ Indian History
Opinions About the Nature of the 1857 Revolt Different Leaders Associated with
the Revolt of 1857
Author Opinion / View
Wholly unpatriotic and selfish Sepoy Mutiny Places Leaders
Sir John Seeley
with no native leadership and no popular Barrackpore Mangal Pandey
support. Delhi Bahadur Shah II, Bakht Khan Hakim
LER Ries A war of fanatic religionists against Christians. Ahsanullah (Chief Advisor to Bahadur
Shah II)
TR Holmes A conflict between civilisations and barbarism.
Lucknow Begum Hazrat Mahal, Bijris Qadir,
Outram and Taylor A Hindu-Muslim conspiracy. Ahmadullah (Advisor of the ex-Nawab of
VD Savarkar Indian War of Independence. Awadh)
Kanpur Nana Sahib, Rao Sahib (nephew of
Bipin Chandra The entire movement lacked a unified and
Nana), Tantia Tope, Azimullah Khan
forward looking programme to be implemented
(Advisor of Nana Sahib)
after the capture of power.
Jhansi Rani Laxmibai
SN Sen What began as a fight for religion ended as a
War of Independence. Bihar Kunwar Singh, Amar Singh
(Jagdishpur)
Benjamin Disraeli Is it a military mutiny or is it a National revolt?
Allahabad and Maulvi Liyakat Ali
Dr RC Majumdar The so-called First National War of Banaras
Independence of 1857 is neither first, nor Faizabad Maulvi Ahmadullah (he declared the
National and nor War of Independence. revolt as Jihad against English)
Farrukhabad Tufzal Hasan Khan
Reasons for Failure of Revolt Bijnor Mohammed Khan
The poor organisation and lack of coordination among the rebels Muradabad Abdul Ali Khan
were perhaps the most important cause of its failure. English Bareilly Khan Bahadur Khan
had better resources, modern weapons and materials of war. Mandsor Firoz Shah
Telegraph services kept Commander-in-Chief informed about the Gwalior/Kanpur Tantia Tope
movement of rebels. Assam Kandapareshwar Singh, Manirama Datta
Lack of unity among Indians, many ruling chiefs and big Orissa Surendra Shahi, Ujjwal Shahi
zamindars, actively helped British to suppress the revolt. Kullu Raja Pratap Singh
The modern educated Indians also did not support the revolt. Rajasthan Jaidayal Singh and Hardayal Singh
Neither the leaders nor sepoys were inspired by any high ideals Gorakhpur Gajadhar Singh
of patriotism and nationalism. Mathura Devi Singh, Kadam Singh
4. Who had first opined Revolt of 1857 as the first ‘Indian 12. Which one of the following pairs is incorrectly
War of Independence’? matched?
(a) Karl Marx (b) VD Savarkar Authors Books
(c) Disraeli (d) Bahadur Shah II (a) TR Holms : Sepoy War
5. Who incited the sepoys in Jhansi, the hurl defiance at (b) PC Joshi : 1857 in India
their officers and to commit violence and murder? (c) Eric Stokes : The Peasant and the Raj
(a) Rani Laxmibai (b) Tantia Tope (d) Ashok Mehta : 1857, The Great Rebellion
(c) Lachman Rao (d) Damodar Rao
13. After the Revolt of 1857, the British recruited the
6. The leader of the Revolt of 1857 in Assam was soldiers from the
(a) Diwan Maniram Dutta (b) Kandarpesvar Singh (a) Brahmins of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
(c) Purandar Singh (d) Piafi Barua (b) Bengalis and Orias from the East
7. What was the approach adopted towards the Indian (c) Gurkhas, Sikhs and Punjabis in the North
princes in the Proclamation of Queen Victoria? (d) Madras Presidency and Marathas
(a) It affirmed the treaties made between the British and Indian 14. Which one of the following territories was not affected
princes by the Revolt of 1857?
(b) It established feudatory like relationship between the (a) Jhansi (b) Chittor
government and the Indian prince (c) Jagdishpur (d) Lucknow
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(d) It affirmed the continuation of the Policy of Annexation of 15. What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria’s
Princely States Proclamation (1858)? [IAS 2014]
8. During the Revolt of 1857, the most trusted advisor of 1. To disclaim any intention to annen Indian states.
Emperor Bahadur Shah was 2. To place the Indian administration under the British
(a) Hakim Ahsanullah (b) Prince Zawan Bakht Crown.
(c) Queen Zeenat Mahal (d) Prince Bakht Khan 3. To regulate East India Company’s trade with India.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
9. Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi captured Gwalior with the help of (a) 1 and 2
(a) Rao Sahib, brother of Nana Sahib (b) Only 2
(b) Tantia Tope (c) 1 and 3
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’ (d) All of the above
(d) Nana Sahib
1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (c) 10. (c)
11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (b) 15. (a)
Chapter twenty-two
Social and Religious
Reform Movements
Rise of the Movements Major Issues of the
Introduction of Western education and ideas Movements
The intellectual skill played an important role in bringing the Religious Sphere To revitalise
among the English knowledge of some advanced ideas of the religion in the li
educated middle class Western world and of modern science to India. 'ght of modern science and religion.
From the late 18th century, a number of Indian As there was no aspect of Indian life,
prompted a group of
scholars began the study of ancient India’s which, religion didn’t influenced.
people to introspect philosophy, science, religion and literature. It Social Sphere Poor position of
about the helped the reformers in their work of religious women and evil of caste system.
backwardness of Indian and social reform. For their struggle against Political Sphere Generating political
social evils, superstitions and inhuman opinion of the people by vernacular
society and the way and
practices and customs, the reformers used the pamphlets, newspapers etc.
means to overcome authority of ancient texts.
that. The zeal to Thus, Indian religious and social reformers Brahmo Samaj
eradicate these social made use of their knowledge of Western ideas The Brahmo Samaj was the first
evils and superstitions as well as of ancient learning.
important organisation of religious
Press acted as a medium of communication reform. It forbade ldol worship and
which had become part
and was used as an instrument for building an discarded meaningless rites and
of the religious belief of opinion, e.g. from Raja Ram Mohan Roy to rituals. The samaj also forbade its
19th century India, led Gandhiji, everyone used the medium of press. members from attacking any religion.
to a series of reform To propagate the monotheistic
movements. Characteristics of the doctrine of Hindu scriptures, Raja
Movements Ram Mohan Roy, founded the
Base of social reforms was newly emerging Atmiya Sabha (1815-19). In 1828,
middle class and Western educated he established the Brahmo Sabha,
intellectuals. later the Brahmo Samaj. The Brahmo
Samaj believed that God is the cause
These movements emerged in different periods
and source of all that exists; so that
of time in different parts of India, but having
nature, the Earth and heaven all, are
considerable similarities in their objectives.
his creations.
Religious reformation was a pre-condition for
social reformation.
In the Brahmo conception of God,
there is no place for such doctrines
There was cultural ideological struggle against
as incarnation and meditation. It
backward element of traditional culture. The
does not recognise any specially
movement could not reach to the masses of
privileged priestly class as mediators
peasantry and urban poor.
between God and man.
134 Magbook ~ Indian History
In Brahmo Samaj, no sacrifice was permitted. The Brahmo He said ‘Go back to Vedas’, by this, he meant revival of
religion laid emphasis on the love of mankind, irrespective Vedic learning and Vedic purity of religion and not
of colour, race or creed and upon the service of humanity as revival of Vedic times. With this message, he went about
the highest rule of life. all over the country and in 1875 founded the Arya
Raja Ram Mohan Roy gave enthusiastic assistance to David Samaj in Bombay. Dayanand preached and wrote in
Hare, who founded the famous Hindu College in Calcutta. Hindi.
Established a Vedanta College (1825), in which courses The Satyarth Prakash was his most important book. The
both in Indian and Western social and physical sciences use of Hindi made his ideas accessible to the common
were offered. people of Northern India. He wrote three books−
Roy and his associates had to face the bitter enmity and Satyartha Prakash, Veda-Bhashya Bhumika and Veda
ridicule from the orthodox Hindus. The influence of Brahmo Bhashya.
Samaj, however, spread and branches of the samaj were The members of Arya Samaj were guided by ten
open in different parts of the country. Though, the Brahmo principles, of which the first one was studying the
samajists were never large in number, they represented the Vedas. The rest were tenets on virtue and morality.
new spirit of rationalism and reform. Dayanand framed for them a code of social conduct, in
They attacked caste rigidity, started taking their food with which there was no room for caste distinctions and
the people of the so-called lower castes and those of other social inequality. The Arya samajists opposed child
religions, opposed restrictions about food and drink, worked marriages and encouraged remarriage of widows.
for improving the status of women in the society, devoted A network of schools and colleges for boys and girls was
their lives to the spread of education and condemned the established throughout Northern India to promote the
old Hindu opposition of sea voyages. spread of education.
In 1886, Lala Hardayal instituted the Dayanand Anglo
Adi Brahmo Samaj and Vedic School of Lahore, which soon developed into a
Brahmo Samaj of India premier college of Punjab, set the pattern for such
institutions. Here, instruction was given through English
In 1866, there was a split in the Brahmo Samaj. Devendranath
and Hindi on modern lines.
Tagore founded Adi Brahmo Samaj and Brahmo Samaj of India
Those among his disciples who wanted to maintain the
was founded under leadership of Keshab Chandra Sen.
original spirit of Dayanand, founded the Gurukul at
Keshab Chandra Sen and his group held views which were more
Haridwar. This was set-up on the pattern of ancient
radical than those of other Brahmo samajists. They proclaimed
ashrams.
freedom from the bondage of caste and customs and from the
Dayanand, asserted the infallibility of Vedas. The
authority of scriptures. They advocated and performed intercaste
influence of Dayanand and Arya Samaj, however, in the
marriages and widow remarriages, opposed the custom of purdah
promotion of education, uplift of the position of woman
and condemned caste divisions. These radical view led to the split
in 1866. Keshab Chandra Sen established Tab eracle of New and weakening the hold of the caste system was deeper
Dispensation and Indian Reform Association. than that of many other reform movements.
Shuddhi Movement
Arya Samaj Dayanand tried for reconversion of those Hindus who
had been converted to other religions, like Islam and
Another influential movement of religious and social reform
Christianity. For this purpose, a purificatory ceremony
in Northern India was started by Dayanand Saraswati.
called shuddhi was organised by him.
At the age of 14, he became a rebel by rejecting idol
worship. Soon after, he left home and led the life of
wandering scholar in search of knowledge. During this Ramakrishna Mission
period, he acquired mastery over Sanskrit language and Another important reformer of the latter half of the
literature. 19th century was Ramakrishna Paramahansa
In AD 1863, Dayanand started preaching his doctrine– there is (1836-86), who was a priest in a temple at
only one God and he should be worshipped not in the form of Dakshineswar, near Calcutta.
images, but as a spirit. He held that the Vedas contained all After coming in contact with the leaders of other
the knowledge imparted to man by God and essentials of religions, he accepted the sanctity of all faiths.
modern science could also be traced there. Almost all religious reformers of his time, including
He looked on the Vedas as India’s Rock and Ages. The true Keshab Chandra Sen and Dayanand, called on him for
original seed Hinduism. His motto was India for the religious discussions and guidance.
Indians.
Magbook ~ Social and Religious Reform Movements 135
The contemporary Indian intellectuals, whose faith in their
own culture had been shaken by the challenge from the Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
West, found reassurance from his teachings. The Sanskrit College in Calcutta, of which Ishwar
In order to propagate the teachings of Ramakrishna and put Chandra was the Principal for a few years, conferred on
them into practice, Ramakrishna Mission was founded in him the title of Vidyasagar. He introduced the study of
1897 at Belur Math near Calcutta by his favourite disciple modern Western thought in the Sanskrit College and
Vivekananda. The mission stood for social service. ‘The best admitted students belonging to the so-called lower
way to serve God is to serve mankind’ was its motto. castes to study Sanskrit.
Ramakrishna Mission, since its beginning, has grown into a He was attacked by the orthodox Hindus for his powerful
very powerful centre of numerous public activities. These support to the cause of widow remarriage as well as for
include organising relief during floods, famines and his efforts at promoting education of the girls.
epidemics, establishing hospitals and running educational When, in 1855, he was made special inspector of
institutions. schools; he opened 35 schools operated completely from
Vivekananda (1863-1902) (Original name— Narendranath his pocket. He was closely associated with Bethune, who
Dutta) had a character altogether different from that of his had started the first school for girl’s education in Calcutta
master. He studied deeply Indian and Western philosophies, in 1849. The school was named Bethune School and he
but could not find peace of mind, until he met Ramakrishna.
became its Secretary.
He was, however, not content just with spirituality. The
question that constantly agitated him was the degenerated Prarthana Samaj
condition of his motherland. Beginning in Bengal, the religious and social reform
After an all India tour, he found everywhere ‘‘poverty, loss of movements spread to other parts of India.
mental vigour and no hope for future.’’ He frankly stated, ‘‘It In 1867, the Prarthana Samaj of Bombay was founded
is we who are responsible for all our misery and all our with the aim of anti-caste and women upliftment.
degeneration’’. He urged his countrymen to work for their
Two of its chief architect was Mahadev Gobind Ranade
own salvation. For this purpose, Vivekananda took upon
and Ramakrishna Bhandarkar. The leaders of the
himself the task of awakening his countrymen and
Prarthana Samaj were influenced by the Brahmo Samaj.
reminding them of their weaknesses.
Ranade believed that without social reforms, it was not
He inspired them ‘‘to struggle unto life and death to bring possible to achieve any progress in the political and
about a new state of things—sympathy for the poor and economic fields.
bread to their hungry mouths, enlightenment to the people
He was a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity and
at large’’. A band of workers devoted to this cause were declared that in this vast country, no progress is
trained through the Ramakrishna Mission. possible unless both Hindus and the Mohammedans
Parliament of Religions, 1893 join hands together.
Vivekananda’s activities outside India helped in promoting
an understanding of Indian culture abroad. In 1893, he Gopal Hari Deshmukh
participated in the All World Religious Conference and Jyotiba Phule
(Parliament of Religions) at Chicago in the USA. His Two other great reformers in Western India were Gopal
address there made a deep impression on the people of Hari Deshmukh, popularly known as Lokhitwadi and
other countries and thus, helped to raise the prestige of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, popularly known as
Indian culture in the eyes of the world. Jyotiba.
G H Deshmukh supported reorganisation of society on the
Young Bengal Movement principle of modernity, secularism and humanism.
David Hare, an associate of Ram Mohan, founded Hindu Mahatma Phule dedicated himself to the cause of the
College for modern education. He was basically a watch— oppressed sections of society and of women’s upliftment.
maker. Derozio taught in Hindu College from 1826 to 1831. In 1848, he started a school for the girls of the so-called
Derozio took inspiration from French Revolution. Because of lower castes and educated his wife; so that she could
his radical ideas, he could not have strong base, even teach in that school. In 1873, he founded the
though his ideas were much modern that of Roy’s. Satyashodhak Samaj, which was open to everyone
Because of radical ideas, Derozio was dismissed from without any distinction of caste and religion. Its aim was
Hindu College. Derozio edited the paper Calcutta Gazette to work for winning equal rights for the people of the
and India Gazette. Like Roy, he spread political oppressed castes. Jyotiba was given the title of Mahatma
consciousness through newspaper, pamphlets etc. for his work for the cause of the oppressed.
136 Magbook ~ Indian History
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (c) 9. (b) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (c) 13. (a) 14. (a)
Chapter twenty-three
Growth of Nationalism
and Struggle for
Independence (1885-1919)
movement by providing the leadership for agitation on issues Against Vernacular Press Act, (1878).
such as the age limit for the Indian Civil Services examination Against Arms Act, (1878).
and the Ilbert Bill Agitation. Against lowering the maximum age for appearing in
It is considered to be the most important Pre-Congress political Indian Civil Service.
organisation. It was the only Pre-Congress organisation, which Against plantation labour.
seriously tried to become all India body and in this context it Against Inland Emigration Act.
sponsored an All-Indian National Conference in 1883 and 1885
In support of Ilbert Bill.
at Calcutta.
146 Magbook ~ Indian History
Struggle for Independence Dadabhai Naoroji made this demand in 1906, in his
Indian National Movement was a struggle of Indian presidential address at Calcutta Session of Congress.
public at two fronts. At one front Indian public tried to A strong point made by the nationalists during this phase was
become a nation and at other front fought against the about the economic drain of India.
British to become a nation state by restoring In this context, they demanded the end of India’s economic
sovereignty to Indian people. drain.
Abolition of discriminatory laws.
Moderate (1885-1905) Opportunities for Indians in administrative jobs and holding
During this period (1885-1905) the Congress was ICS examination simultaneously in England and India.
dominated by such leaders who by their method of Abolition of salt tax, reimposition of import duties on cotton
functioning were termed moderates or liberal. They goods, reduction in high military expenditure were their other
appealed through petitions, speeches and articles loudly economic demands.
professing loyalty to the Raj. The methods of the
moderates can best be described as Constitutional Achievements of Moderates
agitation. Creation of a wide national awakening.
Popularisation of the ideas of democracy and nationalism.
Demands of Moderates Exposed the exploitative character of British imperialism.
The political demand of Congress were moderate while In this context, the ‘Theory of Drain of Wealth’ popularised by
its economic demands were radical and
the moderates played the most important role.
anti-imperialist. Expansion and reform of legislative
councils, leading to popular control of administration. Their major concrete achievements were the appointment of
Removal of restriction on freedom of the press and the a Public Service Commission in 1886. The enactment of the
speech. Indian Council Act of 1892, which provided, some powers to
Separation of the judiciary from the executive. elected local bodies.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the moderate Their efforts resulted in a resolution of the house of commons
nationalists put forward the claim of self-government (1893) for simultaneous examination of the ICS in London
within the British empire. Gokhale first made this and India and appointment of the Welby Commission on
demand from the Congress platform in 1905. Indian Expenditure (1895).
Magbook ~ Growth of Nationalism and Struggle for Independence (1885-1919) 149
He began his political career as a moderate, but later drifted Road to Partition
towards the extremism. In 1902, he wrote, the Congress here and The Curzon scheme to partition Bengal came to be
its British Committee in London are both begging institutions.
publicly known from the time the Viceroy wrote his
Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950) minute on Territorial Redistribution on
1st June, 1903.
Aurobindo Ghosh published New Lamps for Old in 1893-94
(While serving as a lecturer in Baroda) in which he criticised The province came into existence on 16th October,
the moderate politics of the Congress. He described the 1905, by breaking up Bengal and its 41.5 million
Congress leader’s pleas to the government on issues like Bengali speaking people.
Legislative Councils and simultaneous Civil Services After the Partition of Bengal the two new provinces
Examination in London and India as playing with bubbles. He that came into existence were East Bengal and
advocated the Doctrine of Passive Resistance in a series of Bengal.
articles in 1907 in Bande Mataram. The truncated new province of Bengal with its capital
Aurobindo played an important role in Anti-Partition Movement at Calcutta was to comprise 11 District of West Bengal,
and propounded the theory of organised and relentless boycott the district of Darjeeling, as also the whole of Bihar
of British goods, British System of Education, Judiciary and and Orissa (Majority of the population being Hindu).
Executive.
After his release from the jail, in 1910, he went to Pondicherry Swadeshi Movement, 1905
and thereafter concentrated on philosophical, spiritual and The initial objective of the movement was the
literary activities. Some of his books were Savitri (The longest annulment of Partition of Bengal. However, it was
epic poem in English), the Life Divine etc. soon superseded by the greater objective of
Aurobindo Ghosh raised patriotism to the pedestal of mother attainment of Swaraj.
worship and said. I know my country as my mother. I adore Aurobindo Ghosh came out with the theory of
her. I worship her. organised and relentless boycott of British goods,
In his work, Bhavani Mandir wrote our mother country is not a British system of education, judiciary and executive
piece of the Earth, neither a figure of speech nor a fiction of and the social boycott of the loyalists and civil
mind. It is mighty Shakti composed of the Shaktis of all the disobedience of unjust laws. The boycott of British
millions of units that make up the nation. products was followed by the advocacy of Swadeshi
and holding of Swadeshi melas. Charka came to
Partition of Bengal, 1905 signify the popular concern for the country’s
economic self-sufficiency.
Among the Lord Curzon’s administrative measures, the one
that elicited the strongest opposition was the Partition of An important aspect of the Swadeshi Movement was
Bengal in 1905. the emphasis placed on self-reliance or Atmasakti
Real attack on Bengal came as early as 1899 when Curzon (Advocated by Rabindranath Tagore). Several
reduced the number of elected members in the Calcutta exclusive Indian industrial ventures such as the
corporation primarily to satisfy the European business interests Calcutta Potteries, Bengal Chemical Swadeshi Stores
in the city, who often complained of delay in the grant of (Opened by Acharya PC Ray), Lakshmi Cotton Mills,
licenses and similar other facilities. Mohini Mills and National Tannery were started.
The government made attempt to suppress the
British Idea Behind Partition students by threatening to withdraw grants,
The idea of partition was first given by William Ward in 1896 scholarships and affiliations of the institutions to
(Chief Commissioner of Assam). which they belonged, through the infamous circular
Later, to meet the growing nationalist challenge in Eastern of 22nd October, 1905 issued by Carlyle, the Chief
India, Curzon and his advisors, Sir A Fraser, (the Lieutenant Secretary of the Government of Bengal (the circular
Governor of Bengal), and HH Risley, (Secretary, Home is also known otherwise as the Carlyle Circular).
Department, Government of India) searched for an effective The Congress supported the Boycott Movement only
answers and eventually, found it in the division of the for Bengal at its Banaras Session in 1905. Extremists
Bengali-speaking people. wanted to extend the movement to the other parts of
The official statement made by Risley was, Bengal united is a the country, but the moderates refused to accept
power and Bengal divided will pull in several different ways. this.
Similarly, Curzon also said, ‘‘The Indians only business was to be In 1906, Session of Congress at Calcutta Dadabhai
governed and it was sacrilege on its part to have any other Naoroji declared the aim of Congress to be Swaraj
aspiration’’. Another objective behind the partition was to split up like that of UK and other colonies.
the Hindus and Muslims.
Magbook ~ Growth of Nationalism and Struggle for Independence (1885-1919) 151
A meeting was held at Dacca on 30th December, 1906, The Home Rule Movement had borrowed the term Home
where it was decided to form a political association, called Rule from a similar movement in Ireland. The main
the All India Muslim League with three objectives : objective of Home Rule League was to attain home-rule
(i) To promote among Muslims loyalty to the British Government. for India within the British empire, on the lines of the
(ii) To protect and advance the political rights of the Muslims. autonomous colonies of Australia, New Zealand etc.
(iii) To prevent the rise among the Muslims of any feeling of Tilak’s Home Rule League
hostility towards other communities without prejudice to Tilak’s Home Rule League, launched at the Bombay
other objects of the league. Provincial Conference held at Belgaum in April, 1916, was
To propagate his Anti-League views Maulana Mohammed organised into 6 branches; Tilak launched propaganda in
Ali started an English Journal Comrade and an Urdu favour of Home Rule through Maharatta and Kesari.
Paper ‘Hamdard’. He also started Al-Hilal, which served It published pamphlets in Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi and
as a mouthpiece of his nationalist views. English.
Indian Council Act, 1909 The demands included Swaraj, formation of linguistic
Viceroy and the Secretary of state for India (Minto-Morley) states and education in vernaculars.
decided to work out some scheme to reform the legislative It was during the Home Rule Movement that Bal
councils. This culminated as Indian Council Act, 1909. Gangadhar Tilak was given the title of Lokmanya.
It introduced separate and discriminatory electorates. Annie Besant’s Home Rule League
For the provincial councils a provision of three categories Annie Besant had come to India from England in 1893 to
was made viz. General, special and chambers of work for the Theosophical Society. She had set up her
commerce. headquarters at Adyar near Madras.
For the central council, one more category Muslims was Annie Besant’s Home Rule League was formally
added. This was for the first that, the seats in the inaugurated in September, 1916, in Madras, with
legislative bodies were reserved on the basis of religion for George Arundale, as the organising secretary.
Muslim. This is called as Communal Representation.
Most of leagues work was carried on by Annie Besant
and her lieutenants— Arundale, CP Ramaswamy Aiyer
Demand for Separate Electorate and BP Wadia.
The Amritsar Session of the League, held in 1908, under the Annie Besant also brought out the papers New India and
Presidentship of Sir Syed Ali Imam, demanded a separate Commonweal. The Commonweal adopted as its cardinal
electorate for the Muslims, which was conceded to them by the programme, religious liberty, national education, social
Morley-Minto reforms 1909. reform and political reform aiming at self-government for
Jinnah for many years opposed the league. In 1910, at the India within the British Commonwealth.
Allahabad Session of the Congress, he moved a resolution The main aim of Weekly Commonweal was to popularise
condemning the system of communal electorates.
the idea of and achieving self-government for India within
the British Commonwealth. Jawaharlal Nehru in Allahabad
Home Rule Movement, 1916 and B Chakravarti and J Bannerjee in Calcutta joined the
The Home Rule Movement was the Indian response to the league.
World War I and represented the emergence of a new The repression of the government only served to harden
trend of aggressive politics. Annie Besant and Bal the attitude of the agitators and strengthen their resolve to
Gangadhar Tilak proved to be the pioneers of this new resist the government.
trend. However, the idea of starting a Home Rule League
After Montague’s Declaration (August, 1917) also known
in India originated with Annie Besant.
as August Declaration, Mrs Besant finally dropped her
The definite campaign for Home Rule, began with the league, but Tilak continued his movement.
publication of weekly, the Commonweal, on 2nd January,
1914. Tilak started the Indian Home Rule League in April, Lucknow Pact (1916)
1916 and 5 months later in September, 1916 Mrs Annie The Lucknow Session (1916) is memorable for the following
Besant started the Home Rule League. two important developments :
Tilak’s League was to work in Maharashtra (Excluding (i) The first was the readmission of the extremists.
Bombay City), Karnataka, the Central province and Berar
(ii) The second was the bond of alliance between the Congress
and Annie Besant League was given charge of rest of
and the Muslim League.
India.
Magbook ~ Growth of Nationalism and Struggle for Independence (1885-1919) 153
The league at its Annual Session of 1915 in Bombay Shortly thereafter, Montague visited India in November, 1917,
which was also attended by many Congress leaders to ascertain the views of all shades of political opinion in
(Gandhi, Malviya and Sarojini Naidu) appointed a India. On the basis of these discussions a detailed report on
committee to draw up a scheme of political reforms in Indian Constitutional reforms was prepared, which was
consultation with other communities. published in July, 1918. This report in turn formed the basis
During simultaneous annual sessions of the league and of the Montague Chelmsford reforms or the Government of
Congress held at Lucknow in December, 1916 both India Act, 1919.
passed resolution separately for a joint scheme of
Second Split in INC (1918)
constitutional reforms and reached an agreement to
cooperate in the political field on the basis of a
Reactions within the Congress sharply varied. The moderates
welcomed it as the Magna Carta of India, while others
common programme. Tilak and Annie Besant
criticised it as falling far short of the legitimate expectations of
dominated the Lucknow session.
India.
This agreement is generally known as the Lucknow The division of opinion within the Congress on the Montague
Pact or the Congress League Scheme. The pact had declaration ultimately resulted in the second split in the party,
resulted largely due to Tilak’s effort. this time the moderates walking out. The INC in a special
The Lucknow Pact exhorted the British Government to session (August, 1918) criticised the August declaration as
confer self-government on India as early as possible, to disappointing and unsatisfactory and suggested important
expand Provincial Legislative council and the modification.
Governor-Generals Legislative council and to provide The moderates led by Surendranath Bannerjee, supported the
for greater representation of the elected members on declaration in a separate conference (November, 1918).
the expanded council.
This brought about the second split in the Congress. The
It further demanded that the powers of making ultra moderates started a new party called the National
appointments to the Indian Civil Services should vest Liberal league in 1918, later on known as All-India liberal
in the Government of India and that the commissioned Federation.
and non-commissioned ranks in the military and naval
services should be thrown open to Indians. The pact Revolutionary activities
also marked the formal acceptance of separate
electorates for Muslims. First Phase
The pact succeeded in getting the reforms through Vasudev Balwant Phadke, known as Father of militant
Montague Chelmsford Reforms of 1919. nationalism, gathered backward classes including Kols and
However, the All-India Hindu Mahasabha led the Bhils and tried to create rebellion within British empire. But
crusade against the Lucknow Pact, at its conference he was caught and deported to Aden. By 1902, four
held in Lucknow, VP Madhav Rao, in his presidential revolutionary groups were set-up in Calcutta and Midnapur :
address and attacked the principle of separate (i) Midnapur Society by Sarla Ghosal
electorates. (ii) Anushilan Samiti
(iii) Atmonnoti Group
The Congress league or the Lucknow pact survived till
(iv) Yugantar group by Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Raja
the suspension of the Non-Cooperation movement in
Subodh Malik and Hemchandra Qanungo.
February, 1922, after the Chauri-Chaura incident.
First political robbery was conducted in 1906, known as
The basic defect of the Lucknow pact was that it was
Rangpur Dacoiti.
based on the wrong notion that Hindus and Muslims
formed separate communities and therefore, the pact A bomb manufacturing unit was set-up at Maniktala
proved to be only a temporary truce. (Calcutta).
Kingsford attempt to murder case, 1908 Yugantar group
Montague Declaration (1917) planned to kill Kingsford, the Magistrate of Muzaffarpur, but
The aftermath of the World War I, the rapid growth of failed.
the revolutionary activities and the popularity of the Aurobindo Ghosh was arrested and Khudiram Bose was
Home Rule Movement pressurised the British to effect arrested and executed in Hijni jail, Hazaribagh.
a change in its policies and adopt a conciliatory There was an assassination attempt on the life of Governor-
attitude towards the demands of the Indian General, Lord Hardinge (December, 1912) by Master Amir
nationalists. On 20th August, 1917, Montague Chandra, Awadh Bihari and Basant Kumar Biswas.
(Secretary of State of India) made, a historic In Madras, revolutionary activities were carried on by Bharat
declaration in the house of commons defining the goal Mata Association under Vanchi Iyer and supported by VO
of British policies in India. Chidambaram pillai.
154 Magbook ~ Indian History
Indian revolutionary activities outside India were based on — Its headquarter was known as Yugantar Ashram in San
the principle of absolute political freedom. Prominent Francisco (USA). They published the newspaper Hindustani
groups were as follows: Ghadar.
— India House by Shyamji Krishna Verma set-up in London. He — In Punjab, Bharat Mata society under Kartar Singh carried
also started the newspaper The Indian Sociologist. VD Savarkar the Ghadar movement. Similarly in Hong Kong a Sikh priest,
was its member, who later started the secret societies Abhinav Bhagwan Singh, carried the movement.
Bharat and Mitra Mela. — The movement ended with the arrest of Lala Hardayal,
— Other Members Lala Hardayal, VN Chatterjee, MPT Acharya, beginning of World War and Komagata Maru incident
PM Bapat, VSS Iyer and Madan Lal Dhingra (assassinated (chartership of Gurudith Singh carrying Muslim and Sikh
British Officer Curzon Wylie in 1909). immigrants from Vancouver, but the British Government did
Paris Indian Society It was founded by Madam Bhikaji not allow anyone to leave the ship at Calcutta and violent
Cama. She started two newspapers Vande Mataram and protests broke out).
Madans Talwar. Second Phase
India Independence Committee was set-up by Virendranath Bhagat Singh founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
Chattopadhyay in Berlin.
Kakori Train Dacoity Case 1925 — Ram Prasad Bismil
Ghadar Party Movement (1913) Indian nationalists and Ashafaqulla were accused.
including students like Tarak Nath Das, who published Free
Murder of Saunders (ASP of Lahore), 1929 — Bhagat
Hindustan Newspaper in North America helped in rising
Singh was accused.
awareness about nationalism.
— Similarly, Hind Association of Pacific coast was set-up in 1913
Assembly Bomb Case (Delhi), 1929 — Bhagat Singh,
by Sohan Singh Bhakna and also started a newspaper, Batukeshwar Dutta and Rajguru.
Hindustani Ghadar, edited by Lala Hardayal. Surya Sen was accused in Chittagong Armoury Dacoity,
— Soon activities of the association came to be known as Ghadar 1930.
Party movement, which was first secular, democratic, Udham Singh murdered General Dyer in London in
revolutionary movement.
1940.
Self Check Build Your Confidence
1. Consider the following statements [SCRA 2012] Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
1. The Lucknow Pact of 1916 promoted the spirit of unity (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
between the Indian National Congress and the All India (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Muslim League. 7. Consider the following compaigns
2. Tilak was opposed to the signing of the Lucknow Pact. 1. Imposition of import duty on cotton in 1875.
Which of the statements(s) given above is/are correct? 2. Against Arms Act of 1878.
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
3. Against Inland Emigration Act.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
4. In support of llbert Bill.
2. Who among the following rejected the title of Which of the above compaigns organised by pre-Congress
knighthood and refused to accept a position in the associations before the struggle begins?
Council of the Secretary of State for India? [IAS 2008] (a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(a) Motilal Nehru (b) MG Ranade (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) All of these
(c) GK Gokhale (d) BG Tilak
8. Which one of the following submitted in 1875 a petition
3. Who were the main architects of the Indian National to the house of commons demanding India’s direct
Conference? representation in the British Parliament? [IAS 2002]
(a) Surendranath Bannerjee and Anand Mohan Bose (a) The Deccan association
(b) Surendranath Bannerjee and Dadabhai Naoroji (b) The Indian association
(c) BG Tilak and Aurobindo (c) The Madras Mahajan sabha
(d) None of the above (d) The Poona Sarvajanik sabha
4. Which of the following movements can be said to have 9. Dadabhai Naoroji organised ‘East India association’ to
initiated the process of associating the workers with the serve which one of the following purposes?
wider nationalist struggle against British? (a) To promote nationalism among the peasant of India
(a) Swadeshi movement (b) To discuss the Indian questions and influence British
(b) Home Rule movement public to promote Indian welfare
(c) Non-Cooperation movement (c) To unite all nationalist leader under one organisation
(d) Anti-Simon agitation (d) To start an independent organisation apart from Congress
1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (c)
11. (a)
Chapter twenty four
Struggle for Independence
Second Phase (1919-1927 )
Major consequence of Montague described the Government of Gandhi’s move of starting Satyagraha was
the world war was the India Act, 1919 as a bridge between the condemned by liberals like Sir DE Wacha,
government by Parliament and Surendranath Bannerjee, TB Sapru,
erosion of the myth of
government by the representatives of the Srinivas Shastri and others like Annie
white man’s prestige. people of India. It was a transitional stage Besant.
An impetus to the in the development of self-government. These leaders opposed the Anti-Rowlatt
National movement was satyagraha because they thought that it
given by the impact of The Rowlatt Act, 1919 would hamper the reforms from the side
In 1917, the Governor-General of British Government.
the Russian Revolution
Chelmsford had appointed a committee The date for hartal was fixed to 6th April,
of November, 1917. The 1919. In Delhi, the hartal was observed
under the Chairmanship of Justice
Nationalist movement in Sydney Rowlatt to investigate the nature on 30th March and ten people were killed
India was also affected and extent of revolutionary activities and in police firing.
by the fact that the rest to suggest legislation if necessary so as to In Amritsar, Dr Kitchlew and Dr Satyapal
of the Afro-Asian world deal effectively with them. The committee were arrested on 10th April, 1919. This led
was known as the Sedition or Rowlatt to mob violence and government buildings
was also convulsed by Committee. were set on fire, five Englishmen were
nationalist agitation In this act, they provided trial of offences murdered and a woman assaulted.
after the war. by a special court consisting of three
High Court judges. There was no appeal Jallianwala Bagh
against the decision of this court and it Massacre
could take into consideration evidence not
After the hartal of 6th April, 1919, Punjab
admissible under the Indian Evidence act.
was facing a violent situation. Therefore,
The bill gave authority to the government
the Civil Government handed over the
to search a place and arrest a person
administration to the military authorities
without a warrant, detention without a trial
under Brigadier General Dyer.
for maximum period of two years was also
provided in the bills.
Dyer also banned all public meetings and
detained all the important political
Anti-Rowlatt Satyagraha leaders, including the two Congress
leaders, Dr Satyapal and Dr Kitchlew, who
Gandhiji launched his campaign against were associated with the Reception
the bill and for this, formed a Satyagraha committee for the Annual Session of the
sabha on 24th February, 1919 in INC to be held on December, 1919.
Bombay.
On 13th April, 1919, General Dyer ordered
The Rowlatt Act gave powers to the his troops to fire on a peaceful unarmed
government regarding the suspension of crowd, without warning, assembled at
the right of Habeas Corpus. Gandhi Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the
inaugurated his Satyagraha by advising to arrest of Dr Satyapal and Dr Kitchlew the
observe a day of hartal. occasion was the Baisakhi celebration.
Magbook ~ Struggle for Independence Second Phase (1919-1927) 157
According to official figure, 379 persons were killed, but Finally, Gandhi succeeded in persuading the Congress
the unofficial accounts gave much higher figure. The leaders to support the movement. Finally, at the special
Martial law was immediately enforced in Punjab on the Calcutta session (September, 1920), Congress endorsed
night of 13th April. the programme of non-cooperation. The Nagpur session of
In protest of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, Rabindranath the Congress (December, 1920) ratified the resolution
Tagore surrendered the knighthood conferred on him by passed at Calcutta Congress Session. The Khilafat
the British Government and Sir Sankaran Nair, a former Committee as well as the congress outlined four stages of
President of the INC, resigned his membership of the non-cooperation i.e.
Viceroy’s Executive Council. (i) Resignation of titles and honorary posts.
After this massacre, Gandhiji withdrew this movement (ii) Resignation from civil services under the government.
and called it as ‘It was my Himalayan Blunder’. (iii) Resignation from Police and Army services.
To enquire into this massacre, British Government (iv) Non-payment of taxes for redressal of the Punjab grievances,
appointed Hunter committee, its report was called by rectification of the khilafat wrongs and the establishment of
Gandhiji as a Official Whitewash. Swaraj.
The All India Khilafat Conference held at Karachi on 8th
Khilafat Movement, 1919 July, 1921 called upon Muslim soldiers in the Indian Army
The Sultan of Turkey, ruler of the vast Ottoman empire, to quit their jobs.
was the Caliph of the Islamic world and the Indian
Muslims regarded him as their spiritual leader Khalifa. In Non-Coorperation Movement, 1920
the World War I, Turkey was defeated. The harsh terms The Congress accepted to launch Non-Coorperation
of the Treaty of Sevres (1920) with Turkey further added movement for two wrongs (i) Khilafat issue and (ii) Punjab
the fuel. Thirdly revolts in Arab land engineered, at wrong. The third main aim of Non-Coorperation movement
British instigation, against the Sultans made the Muslim i.e. Swaraj was added at Nagpur Session of INC December,
sentiments in India to flare up, hence, the Muslims 1920.
started the Khilafat movement.
The main demand of the khilafatists was that, the Opposition to NCM
Ottoman Caliph should retain his empire with sufficient Some leaders opposed the programme of NCM. Lala Lajpat
temporal power to defend Islam, the Arab lands should Rai opposed the programme of Educational Boycott, CR
remain under Muslim rule and the Sultan of Turkey Das opposed the programme of Boycott of Legislature and
should be the warden of the places sacred to the MM Malaviya and Jinnah opposed the goal of Swaraj.
Muslims. The Congress session at Nagpur started from
MA Ansari demanded the restoration of the Arab lands to 26th December, 1920, ratified the non-cooperation
the Caliph, at the Muslim league’s 1918 Annual Session resolution, earlier passed at Calcutta (September, 1920).
in Delhi which was supported by the Congress. The Nagpur session was historic due to two important
amendments to the Constitution of the Congress. Firstly,
Course of the Movement the goal of the Congress was changed from the attainment
In April-May, 1919, the All India Khilafat conference was of self-government by constitutional means to the
formed in Bombay. At a conference in Lucknow in attainment of Swaraj by peaceful and legitimate means.
September, 1919, an All India Khilafat committee was Secondly, revolutionary changes were brought about in the
set-up with Seth Chhotani of Bombay as President and Congress organisation. The changes were as follows:
Maulana Shaukat Ali as Secretary. — Formation of Working committee of 15 members.
Other leaders associated with the committee were — Formation of an All India Congress committee of 300 members.
Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Muhammed Ali and — Formation of Congress committee from town to village level i.e.
Hasrat Mohani. creating a hierarchy of district, Taluka and Village Congress
Gandhiji was elected President of the All India Khilafat committee.
conference (November, 1919). The Amritsar Session of — Reorganisation of Provincial congress Committee on a linguistic
the INC (December, 1919) gave a great fillip to the basis.
Khilafat agitation. — Opening of Congress membership to all adults i.e. men and
women of the age of 21 or more on payment of 4 annas as
Lokmanya Tilak passed away in the early hours of
annual subscription.
1st August and people all over the country observed
hartal and took out processions, kept fast and offered
The programme of the Non-Cooperation movement had two
main aspects:
prayers. Tilak Swarajya fund was created to collect
money for movement. (i) Constructive and (ii) Destructive
158 Magbook ~ Indian History
The AICC meeting at Vijayawada on 31st March, 1921 CR Das with Motilal Nehru and others pro-changer on
outlined two more programmes: 31st December, 1922 announced the formation of the
(i) To collect 1 crore rupees for the Tilak Memorial Swarajya Congress-Khilafat Swaraj party better known as the Swaraj
fund. party. CR Das became its President and Motilal Nehru its
(ii) To introduce 20 lakh charkhas into Indian household. Secretary.
The swarajists got clear majority in the Central provinces;
Growth and Spread of Movement they were the largest party in Bengal and they fared quite
The Non-Cooperation movement was the first real mass well in Bombay and Uttar Pradesh though not in Madras and
movement launched under Mahatma Gandhi. Punjab because of strong castes and communal currents.
Thousands of students left schools and colleges and Justice Party in Madras and Unionist in Punjab, were more
joined more than 800 national schools and colleges. powerful.
The newly started national institutions like the Kashi In the Legislative assembly, since swarajists were not in
Vidyapeeth, the Gujarat Vidyapeeth and the Jamia majority, a coalition of seventy members was formed known
Millia Islamia and others accommodated many as the Nationalist party with the support of independents led
students. by Jinnah and the liberals.
Many leading lawyers of the country like CR Das,
Objective of Swarajists
Motilal Nehru, MR Jayakar, Saifuddin Kitchlew,
Vallabhbhai Patel, C Rajagopalachari, T Prakasam and The immediate objective of swarajists was speedy attainment
Asaf Ali gave up their practices. of full dominion status.
Between January and March, 1921, the districts of Rae Achievements of Swarajists
Bareli, Pratapgarh, Faizabad and Sultanpur witnessed In the very first session, Motilal Nehru put forward the
widespread agrarian riots under the leadership of Baba national demand for framing a new Constitution.
Ram Chandra.
Rangachari moved a resolution requesting the Governor-
In late 1921, there was another strong peasant outburst General in Council to revise the Act of 1919 to secure for
which is popularly known as the Eka movement under India provincial autonomy and dominion status.
the leader Madari Pasi.
Motilal moved an amendment in favour of a Round Table
The Bijolia movement in Mewar and the Bhil conference to recommend a scheme of full responsible
movement under Motilal Tejavat acquired impetus from government.
Non-Cooperation movement.
In the Central legislature, the swarajists forced the
The programme to start the civil disobedience was appointment of Alexander Muddiman committee (in 1924) to
approved by the Congress session at Ahmedabad. inquire into the defects of the Act of 1919 and to suggest
Bardoli Taluq was selected as a place from where remedies.
Gandhiji would launch Civil Disobedience campaign.
When the recommendation of the Lee commission
On 5th February, Congress volunteers were fired at by constituted under the Chairmanship of Viscount Lee to
the police at Chauri Chaura at Gorakhpur district in enquire into the organisation and condition of public services
Uttar Pradesh. In retaliation, the infuriated mob killed came for approval of the assembly, Motilal moved an
22 policemen. amendment which was carried by the majority vote.
The Congress Working committee, which met at Bardoli The swarajists further succeeded in throwing out the budget
on 12th February, 1922, called off the movement (the forcing the government to rely on its power of certification.
resolution popularly known as Bardoli resolution). The
Further in March, 1925, the swarajists succeeded in electing
country was shocked at Mahatma decision to call off
Vithalbhai Patel, a leading swarajists, as the President of the
the movement.
Central Legislative assembly.
Subhash Chandra Bose called it a national calamity.
Lajpat Rai joined the Central Legislative assembly as swarajists
and accepted the deputy leadership of the party. ML Nehru
Swarajya Party accepted the membership of Skeen committee, which was
In December, 1922, the Gaya session of the Congress, set-up to report on the early Indianisation of the Army.
became a battleground between the supporters of the
council entry and no council entry. Finally, the Resignation of the Swarajists
‘no-changers’ led by Rajagopalachari defeated the In the 1926 elections, though the Swarajya party won
‘pro-changers’. CR Das resigned alongwith Motilal 40 seats in the Central legislature and half of the seats in
Nehru as the President and the Secretary of the Madras, in other provinces, it suffered badly. The swarajists
Congress (Gaya session 1922). finally walked out of the legislature in 1930.
Magbook ~ Struggle for Independence Second Phase (1919-1927) 159
1. Which of the following statements on Gandhian 9. At which one of the following places did Mahatma
movements is not correct? Gandhi first start his Satyagraha in India? [IAS 2007]
(a) Mahatma Gandhi was in favour of mass movement (a) Ahmedabad (b) Bardoli
(b) Gandhian movements were non-violent in nature (c) Champaran (d) Kheda
(c) In Gandhian movements, leadership had no role
10. Gandhi cooperated with the British and he was awarded
(d) Mahatma Gandhi was in favour of passive resistance
the Kaisari-Hind gold medal for
2. Gandhi emerged as undisputed leader of Congress at its (a) raising an ambulance unit during the Second Boer war
................. session. (b) supporting the British war efforts during the First World
(a) Lucknow, 1916 War
(b) Calcutta, September, 1920 (c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(c) Nagpur, December, 1920 (d) his constructive work in South Africa
(d) Lahore, 1926
11. With reference to Rowlatt satyagraha, which of the
3. Gandhi coined the phrase Satyagraha in following statement(s) is/are correct? [IAS 2015]
(a) South Africa 1. The Rowlatt act was based on the recommendation of the
(b) Champaran Satyagraha ‘Sedition committee’.
(c) Kaira Satyagraha 2. In Rowlatt satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilise the Home
(d) Anti Rowlatt Act Agitation Rule league.
4. The first tribal leader who was inspired by Mahatma 3. Demonstrations against the arrival of Simon commission
Gandhi and his ideology was coincided with Rowlatt satyagraha.
(a) Jadonang (b) Rani Gaidinliu Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(c) Alluri Sitaram Raju (d) Thakkar Bapa (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these
5. The first venture of Gandhi in All India Politics was the 12. The Rowlatt Act (1919) enabled the government to
[IAS 1999] suspend the right of
(a) Non-Cooperation movement (a) free speech (b) occupation
(b) Rowlatt satyagraha (c) movement (d) Habeas Corpus
(c) Champaran movement 13. Who organised the Satyagraha sabha whose members
(d) Dandi march took a pledge to disobey the Rowlatt acts?
6. Gandhi's concept of Dharma Raj was (a) Madan Mohan Malaviya (b) Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew
(a) where everybody performs his duties (c) Mahatma Gandhi (d) Mazhar-ul-Haq
(b) where every religion had equal opportunities and freedom
14. Which of the following was not one of the founders of
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
the Khilafat committee formed in the wake of the
(d) state systems based on universal morality
dismemberment of the Turkish empire, which was
7. Which one of the following Ashrams was not set-up by perceived as undermining the position of the Sultan of
Gandhi? Turkey (the Caliph)?
(a) Phoenix Ashram (b) Tolstoy Farm (a) MA Jinnah (b) Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Sevagram (d) Gandhi Ashram (c) Maulana Shaukat Ali (d) Muhammed Ali
8. Consider the following statements. 15. In what way did the Non-Cooperation movement changed
1. The Champaran satyagraha marked Gandhiji’s the character of the Congress?
second appearance in Indian politics as a leader of (a) It brought the Congress closer to the revolutionary
the masses. terrorists
2. The Champaran satyagraha was launched to address the (b) From a passive petitioning organisation, it became an
problems faced by Indigo plantation workers. active and revolutionary movement
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) It became the organiser and leader of the masses in their
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 national struggle for freedom from foreign rule
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) Its leadership passed from the hands of the old stalwarts
to those of the young resurgents
1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (c)
Chapter twenty-five
Struggle for Independence
Third Phase (1927-1939)
It was presided by MA Ansari. On
Simon Commission
19th May, 1928 at its meeting at
Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State for India Bombay, the All Parties Conference
The political announced the appointment of a Statutory appointed a committee with Motilal
atmosphere in the Commission under the Chairmanship of Sir Nehru as its Chairman. The purpose
John Simon on 8th November, 1927. Simon
country was marked by was to consider and determine the
Commission was officially known as Indian principles of the Constitution for India.
a ferment of Statutory Commission. All the seven members
revolutionary and The committee consisted of Sir Tej
of the commission were Englishmen, who were
Bahadur Sapru, Sir Ali Imam, MS
terrorist activities. the members of British Parliament.
Aney, Mangal Singh, Shoaib Qureshi,
Communalism was also The commission was appointed to review the
GR Pradhan, NM Joshi, MR Jayakar
performance of reform of 1919 and suggested
growing as a festering further reforms.
and Subhash Chandra Bose.
wound, which erupted White Commission with no Indian Recommendations of Report
sporadically in riots and representative was greeted with strong protest. India must be given dominion status,
bloodsheds. Amidst this The Congress, at its session at held Madras in which meant independence within the
December 1927, resolved to boycott the British Commonwealth.
atmosphere came the
commission. India would be a federation, having
sudden appointment of However, the league led by Mohammed Safi
a bicameral legislature at the centre
the Simon Commission as also Justice Party in Madras, Unionist Party to which the ministry would be
in 1927. in Punjab, Central Sikh Sangh and All India responsible.
Achhut Federation did not oppose the The Governor-General would be only
commission. the constitutional head with the same
The commission paid two visits to India powers as the British Crown.
(February-March, 1928 and October, 1928) There was no provision for separate
and April, 1929), each time it faced boycott.
electorate. Citizenship was also defined
The report of Simon omitted any mention of
and Fundamental Rights were
Dominion Status even as a distant goal and
enunciated.
rejected all ideas of transfer of power at the
The Annual Session of the INC held in
centre.
Calcutta in December 1928, approved
The proposals of Simon Commission were
the Nehru Report and also served an
completely rejected by the major political
ultimatum on the British Government to
parties in the country, including the Muslim
accept the Nehru Report on 31st
league.
December, 1929, failing which the party
Nehru Report would launch another Mass Movement,
with a new goal of Poorna Swarajya.
In response to the appointment of Simon
commission and challenge given by Lord
The open session of the Muslim League
Birkenhead Secretary of State for India, the All meeting at Delhi on 28th March, 1929,
Parties Conference was called at Delhi on rejected the Nehru report and
12th February, 1928. accepted Mr Jinnah’s Fourteen Points.
Magbook ~ Struggle for Independence Third Phase (1927-1939) 165
1. The people of India agitated against the arrival of 7. The provision for separate electorate for which of the
Simon commission because [IAS 2013] following communities in the Communal award (August,
(a) Indians never wanted the review of the working of the 1932) made Gandhiji undertake a fast unto death?
Act of 1919 (a) Depressed classes (b) Backward classes
(b) Simon commission recommended the abolition of (c) Europeans (d) Christians and Sikhs
Dyarchy (Diarchy) in the provinces
8. Which of the following was not one of the reasons why the
(c) There was no Indian member in the Simon commission
Third Session of the Round Table conference
(d) The Simon commission suggested the partition of the
(November-December, 1932) has been described as just a
country
piece of window-dressing?
2. The moderate leaders left the Congress after the (a) Its composition was changed
Lucknow Session of the Congress and founded a new (b) Most of the preliminary work of the conference had been
party called the done by the Committees of the Second Conference
(a) Indian Liberal federation or Liberal party (c) As there was no fundamental issue before the conference, it
(b) National party had to deal mostly with details
(c) Congress Socialist party (d) From India only the princes attended the conference
(d) Unionist party
9. Which one of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
3. What was the main political weapon used by the Provinces Ministries Formed After 1937 Elections
moderate nationalists to exert pressure upon the (a) Bombay : Dr NV Khare
government against the Partition of Bengal? (b) Bihar Sri Krishna Singh
:
(a) Satyagraha (c) Madras C Rajagopalachari
:
(b) Civil disobedience (d) Assam Bardolai, supported by Congress
(c) Non-cooperation
:
(d) Swadeshi and boycott 10. Which of the following leaders represented liberals in the
Second Round Table conference?
4. What was the immediate reaction of the government (a) Mohammed Iqbal (b) GD Birla
to the Salt satyagraha and the Dandi march?
(c) BR Ambedkar (d) TB Sapru
(a) The Congress was banned
(b) The government resorted to repressive measures 11. The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in
(c) It did not take it seriously 1939, because
(d) It was on its guard and took measures to prevent the (a) the Congress could not form ministries in the other four
mischief from spreading provinces
(b) emergence of a left wing in the Congress made the working
5. As a result of the Poona pact the number of seats of the ministries impossible
reserved for the depressed classes out of general
(c) there were widespread communal disturbances in their
electorate seats were
provinces
(a) increased (b) decreased (d) None of the above
(c) retained at the same level (d) abolished
12. Who among the following drafted the resolution on
6. What was the provocation for MA Jinnah putting 4th Fundamental Rights for the Karachi Session of Congress in
his fourteen Points’ demanding separate electorate, 1931? [IAS 2005]
one-third seats in the Central legislature etc, for the
(a) Dr BR Ambedkar (b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Muslims?
(c) Dr Rajendra Prasad (d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(a) The dread of majority rule
(b) Communal politics of the Hindu-Mahasabha and the 13. Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death mainly
Sikh league because [IAS 2012]
(c) Differences of opinion regarding the proposals (a) Round Table conference failed to satisfy Indian political
contained in the Nehru report aspirations
(d) The challenge of the British Government to draw up an (b) Congress and Muslim league had differences of opinion
agreed Constitution of India (c) Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal award
(d) None of the above
1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (a) 10. (d)
11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (c)
Chapter twenty six
Struggle for Independence
Fourth Phase (1940-1947 )
The August Offer (1940) The Individual
The outbreak of the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow issued a statement Satyagrahas
World War II and British from Simla on 8th August popularly known There were two opinions in Congress
as the ‘August Offer’. The main purpose of about the launching of Civil
unilateral declaration this proposal was to secure Congress Disobedience. Gandhi felt that the
that India is party to war, co-operation during the World War II. atmosphere was not in favour of civil
without consultation The offer turned down the Congress disobedience as there were
with the Indian leaders demand for setting up the provincial differences and indiscipline within the
National Government, but promised for Congress. While some leaders of
in particular and its
— immediate expansion of the Viceroy’s Congress, socialists and the All India
people in general, made Executive Council by increasing the number Kisan Sabha were in favour of
the Congress to demand of Indians. immediate struggle.
— a representative Constitution making body to
a clear cut definition of be set-up after the war. The August Offer had disillusioned the
the British Government’s — a war Advisory Council would be set-up Congress. Finally, Gandhiji had a long
war and peace aims consisting representative of British India and meeting with the Viceroy at Simla in
the Indian States. September 1940, after which, he was
applicable to India. — dominion status in the unspecified future. convinced that the British would not
— right to secede for some provinces. modify their policy in India.
In this offer, the Viceroy had promised the He therefore, decided to launch
Muslim League and other minorities that Individual Satyagraha. The aim of the
the British Government would never agree satyagraha was to disprove the British
to a Constitution or Government in India, claim of India supporting the war effort
which did not enjoy their support. wholeheartedly.
Reaction of August Offer On 17th October, 1940, Acharya
The Congress rejected the ‘August Offer’ Vinoba Bhave (the first Satyagrahi)
because there was no suggestion for a inaugurated the satyagraha by
National Government and it encouraged delivering an anti-war speech at
anti-Congress forces like the Muslim League. Paunar; Bhave had been personally
selected by Gandhiji for this.
The British however, went ahead with its
implementation and accordingly in July, Mahatma Gandhi suspended it on
1941, the Viceroy’s Executive Council was 17th December, 1940 due to little
enlarged from 7 to 12 members, of whom 4 enthusiasm it created. Jawaharlal
were British and 8 Indians (as against 3 Nehru was the second to offer
Indians earlier). But, no member of the Satyagraha after Vinoba Bhave. It was
Congress or the league joined the new during Individual Satyagraha that
council. The immediate impact of the Gandhi declared Nehru as his chosen
failure of August Offer was the launching of successor. Individual Satyagraha was
Individual Satyagraha. also known as Delhi Chalo Satyagraha.
Magbook ~ Struggle for Independence Fourth Phase (1940-1947) 171
Purpose of Cabinet Mission Plan The Akali Sikhs attacked the proposals on the ground that
the inclusion of the Sikh Community in the North-Western
On 16th May, 1946, the Cabinet Mission announced its
Muslim Block (Group B) would leave the Sikhs at the mercy
own recommendations which were as follows:
of the Muslims and imperil Sikh religion and culture.
— The unity of India had to be retained.
— It rejected the league’s demand for a full-fledged Pakistan on
the ground that it would not solve the communal minority Direct Action Day
problem. On the other hand, partition would create many The league decided on 30th July, 1946 that 16th August, 1946
serious problem related to defence, communication etc.
would be observed as Direct Action Day throughout the country.
— It proposed a very loose union of all the Indian territories
The Bengal Government led by the league leader HS Suhrawardy
(comprising both British India and princely states) under a
centre that would control merely the defence, the foreign
had declared, 16th August, a public holiday. In Calcutta, on 16th
affairs and the communication. The union would have the August, the league organised public demonstration and hartal,
powers necessary to raise the financés to manage these which turned into clashes and rioting all over the city.
subjects.
— All subjects other than union subjects and residuary power Interim Government
would vest in the provinces of British India.
— The princely state would retain all subjects and all residuary
On 12th August, 1946, the Viceroy Lord Wavell invited
power other than those ceded to the union. Congress to form the government under the leadership of
Jawaharlal Nehru, which finally came into being on
— The provincial legislatures would then elect a Constituent
2nd September, 1946. The Muslim League kept out, initially.
Assembly or a Constitution making body with each province
being allotted a specified number of seats proportionate to On 13th October, the Muslim League decided to join the
its population (roughly in the ratio of one representative to a Interim Government.
million population). On 26th October, five nominees of the league joined the
— The proposed Constituent Assembly was to consist of 292 government. Congress appointees resigned to make room
members from British India and 93 from the Indian States. for the league nominees (two seats were already vacant
— The British India members were to be divided into 210 while Mr Sarat Bose, Syed Ali Zahir and Sir Shafat Ahmed
General, 78 Muslims and 4 Sikh seats. Khan resigned).
— In the preliminary meeting, the assembly was to elect not
only a Chairman and other office bearers, but also an Ministers of Various Departments
Advisory Committee. Minister Department
— The members so elected will divide up into three sections:
Jawaharlal Nehru Vice-President of the Executive Council,
(i) Section A for the non-Muslim majority provinces External Affairs and Commonwealth
(Bombay, the United Provinces, Bihar, the Central Relations
Provinces, Orissa and Madras). Vallabhbhai Patel Home, Information and Broadcasting
(ii) Section B for the Muslim-majority provinces in the Baldev Singh Defence
North-West (Sind, NWFP and Punjab). Dr John Matthai Industries and Supplies
(iii) Section C which would consist of Bengal and Assam, here C Rajagopalachari Education
Muslims had small majority over the rest. Among the CH Bhabha Works, Mines and Power
Chief Commissioners’ provinces, three i.e., Delhi, Rajendra Prasad Food and Agriculture
Ajmer-Marwar and Coorg would join Group A whereas one
Asaf Ali Railways
i.e., Baluchistan would join Group B.
Jagjivan Ram Labour
— All these sections would have the authority to draw up
Liaquat Ali Khan Finance (Shanmugam Chettiar after
provincial Constitution and if necessary, group Constitution
Liaquat Ali’s resignation)
and setting up thereby provincial and sectional legislature
and executives. TT Chundrigar Commerce
— After the first general election, a province could come out of Abdur Rab Nishtar Communication
a group. After 10 years, a province could call for Ghazanfar Ali Khan Health
reconsideration of group or union Constitution. Jogendra Nath Mandal Law
The grouping of provinces was devised to satisfy the
Muslim League, so as to give it a substance of Pakistan Constituent Assembly
to exercise almost complete autonomy in Muslim
majority provinces.
The election to the Constituent Assembly was held in July,
1946. Out of the total 292 seats allotted to British India, the
The Congress further wanted the grouping to be optional
Congress won 201; the Muslim League 73; the
(because of the opposition of NWFP and Assam of their
independents 8 and 6 members from other parties. Four
being dragged into Section B and C), whereas the league
seats remained vacant because of the Sikh refusal to join
wanted the grouping to be compulsory.
the assembly.
Magbook ~ Struggle for Independence Fourth Phase (1940-1947) 175
The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on Mountbatten delayed the announcement of
9th December, 1946 in the library of the Council Chamber, Delhi Boundary Commission Award, even though it was
and 205 members attended the meet. The league ready by 12th August, 1947 which aggravated the
representatives and the nominees of the princely states partition tragedy.
abstained. On 11th December, the assembly elected Dr The provincial assemblies of East Bengal, West
Rajendra Prasad as its permanent President. Punjab and Sind voted for Pakistan. In Baluchistan,
the decision to join Pakistan was made by a
Objective Resolution meeting of the Quetta Municipality. In the
The most important resolution known as the objective resolution North-West frontier province and Sylhet, the
which declared the assembly’s firm and solemn resolve that India majority voted in favour of joining Pakistan.
would be an independent sovereign state, was adopted on The Congress Working Committee, which met on
22nd January, 1947. It was later to be incorporated into the 3rd June, 1947, approved the Partition Plan. The
Preamble of the Indian Constitution. The league in context of its
AICC which met in New Delhi on 14th-15th June
decision, rejecting the Cabinet Mission Plan refused to join the
ratified the proposal.
Constituent Assembly.
Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant moved the resolution
for ratification. Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant while
Mountbatten Plan, 1947 moving the resolution had said, “This was the only
The British Prime Minister Attlee announced on 20th February, way to achieve freedom and liberty for the country”.
1947 in the House of Common that British would withdraw from Some Nationalist Leaders who
India by 30th June, 1948, this was known as Attlee’s
Disapproved the Plan
Declaration.
Attlee believed that announcement of the fixed date for the Frontier Gandhi regarded the partition as treachery
British withdrawal from India would bring pressure on the on the part of the Congress and felt that “The
Indians to settle their differences before them. Lord Khudai Khidmatgars were being thrown to the
Mountbatten, the 34th and the last British Governor-General and wolves”.
Viceroy, arrived in India on 22nd March, 1947. They even boycotted the referendum held in NWFP.
Mountbatten was convinced that partition was the only choice. Khan Abul Gaffar Khan wanted an independent
After the reluctant consent of the Congress for the partition of Pathan State in NWFP.
India, Lord Mountbatten held final discussion with the Congress, Suhrawardy and Abul Hasan were for an
the league and the Sikh leaders, to seek their agreement on his independent united Bengal. The Hindu Mahasabha
Partition Plan. Shortly, after this, Lord Mountbatten paid a visit to too opposed the partition.
London for consultation in May 1947. The non-Muslim majority areas in Punjab and in
According to the plan, India would be divided, but in a manner Bengal, as also the entire province of Assam
that maximum unity was maintained, Pakistan would be created, (except a part of Sylhet) remained within the
but it would be as small as possible. The plan declared that boundaries of India.
power would be handed over by 15th August, 1947 on the basis
of dominion status to India and Pakistan. The plan laid down the Indian Independence Act
procedure by which power will be transferred.
The procedure are as follows: The British Government introduced in Parliament on
4th July, 1947- The Indian Independence Bill,
— The Provincial Legislative Assembly of Bengal and Punjab would
meet in two parts separately, one representing the Muslim majority
which was enacted on 18th July.
district and the other representing the remaining district, to decide The act provided for the partition of India and the
by vote for the partition of the province. establishment of two dominions (India and Pakistan)
— In the case of Sind and Baluchistan, Legislative Assembly was to from 15th August, 1947. The legislature of each
take its own decision at a special meeting. dominion would have full power to make laws for
— A provision of referendum was provided for in the case of the NWFP that dominion.
and Muslim majority district of Sylhet. The territories of the dominion of India would include
— With regard to the Indian States, the British Government would the whole of British India exclusive of the territories
cease to exercise the powers of paramountacy.
constituting Pakistan, i.e. West Punjab, Baluchistan,
— It would then be open to the states to enter into political relation with NWFP, Sind and East Bengal. The exact boundaries
the successor government. The plan also made provisions for the
of the two dominions would be determined by a
setting up of a Boundary Commission to demarcate boundaries in
case, partition was to be effected. Boundary Commission.
176 Magbook ~ Indian History
1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (c) 7. (d) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (b)
11. (b) 12. (b)
Art & Culture
Chapter twenty-seven
Religion and Philosophy
Indian Culture Universalism
India has a universal outlook and it
The term culture refers The culture of India is one of the oldest and has been promoting the message of
unique. In India, there is amazing cultural
to the language, beliefs, peace and harmony to the entire
diversity throughout the country. The world.
values and norms, South-North and North-East have their own
customs, dress, diet, distinct cultures and almost every state has Continuity and Change
knowledge and skills carved out its own cultural niche. Despite major changes and
and all other things that There is hardly any culture in the world that is upheavels significant threads of
as varied and unique as India. India is a home continuity can be traced throughout
people learn that make
to some of the most ancient civilisations the course of Indian history, right
up 'the way of life' of including four major world religions i.e. upto the present day.
any society. Culture is Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
Secular Outlook
passed on from one Indian cultural history has been derived by
the absorbing customs, traditions and rituals
The secular character of Indian
generation to the next culture is a result of the
from both invaders and immigrants. Many
through the process of inter-mingling of people belonging to
Indian customs, cultural practices and
socialisation. languages are examples of this co-mingling diverse cultural groups over a long
over centuries. period of time. Religion is a
collection of belief systems, cultural
With the following invasions of the Islamic
systems and world views that relate
rulers, the culture of India was heavily
humanity to spirituality and
influenced by Persian, Arabic, Turkish culture.
sometimes to moral values. Religion
5000 years old Indian culture is both ancient
is different private belief in its social
and varied. But, unity in diversity, which is the
character.
main mantra of Indian civilisation can be seen
if anyone monitors its various art forms and
traditional diversity. Religions
Religion is a set of beliefs
Features of Indian Culture concerning the cause, nature and
Variety and Unity purpose of universe, human life and
often contain a moral code
A large number of languages and dialects are
governing the human affairs.
spoken in India, which is the main reason for
the growth of a great variety of literature. The Religious diversity and religious
vastness of the country and variation in its tolerance are both established in the
physical and climatic features and the country by law and custom. Four of
inter-mingling among various ethnic groups the worlds major religious traditions;
are the reasons behind the variety in the Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and
country. Sikhism are originated at India.
Magbook ~ Religion and Philosophy 179
Sikhism One of the prominent religions of India, Islam forms about 12%
of India’s population. Though India’s contact with Islam had
The word Sikh means a disciple and thus, Sikhism is begun much earlier, the real push came in the 8th century
essentially the path of discipleship. The true Sikh when the province of Sindh was conquered. Though the
remains unattached to worldly things. The Sikh must Muslims form only 12% of the total population of India but the
do his duty to his family and to the community. influence of Islam on Indian society is much stronger. The main
Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak. It preaches reason for this strong influence is that over a long period of time
the existence of only one God and teaches many Muslim rulers ruled in different parts of India.
universally acceptable ideals of honesty, The country with the largest Muslim population today is
compassion, humbleness, piousness, social
Indonesia and it is followed by India. The followers of Islamic
commitment and tolerance for other religions.
religion, Muslims constitute India’s largest religious minority.
Guru Nanak Dev included the good beliefs of other They number about 105 million. This makes India one of the
religions in Sikhism. In Sikhism, everyone has equal largest Islamic nations in the world.
rights irrespective of caste, creed, colour, race, sex
or religion. Sikhism rejects unnecessary rituals. Christianity
A Sikh believes in one God and in the teachings of It is the world’s largest religion. Christians believe that Jesus is
the Gurus, which are embodied in Sri Guru Granth the son of God and savior of humanity. The three largest group
Sahib. Gurdwara is Sikh’s place of worship. The Hari of Christianity are Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox
Mandir (the Golden temple) at Amritsar is Church and the Protestants. The Old Testament and the New
considered the holiest shrine of Sikhism. One of the Testament are the sacred texts of Christians. Confession is the
distinct features of Sikhism is the common kitchen practice by which people may confess their sins committed
called Langar. after Baptism and absolve them by a priest.
Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion, Christianity is one of the prominent religions in India. At
was its first Guru. After him, there were 9 more present, there are about 25 million Christians in India. Kerala,
Gurus who were the highest religious authority of the Goa and Mizoram states have high concentration of Christian
Sikhs. The last Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind population in India. Kerala has the largest number of Christians
Singh, declared that after him the Guru of the Sikhs among the states. Christians including Catholics, Orthodox and
would be the holy book of Sikhism, Guru Granth Protestants for the third largest group in India.
Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurumukhi About 73% of the Christians in India are Catholics. The Catholic
script. Church in India is composed of 3 individual Churches: Latin,
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib is situated in the Talwandi Malabar and Malankara. Christian community includes Syrian
village near Bhatinda. Here, Guru Gobind Singh Christians, Knanaya Christians, Goan Christians, Tamil
stayed for about a year and compiled the final Christians, Anglo-Indians, Naga Christians etc. All these
edition of the Guru Granth Sahib. Takht Sri Keshgarh Christian communities differ in language, social customs and
Sahib is situated at Anandpur Sahib. It is the place economic status.
where the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) was born in
1699 by Guru Govind Singh. Sufism
The followers of Sufism were liberal in their religious approach.
Islam They believed in the unity of all religions. Their method of
It is the second largest religion in the world. Islam is preaching spirituality was through music. Sufism basically had
a monotheistic religion articulated by the Quran and its origin in Iran and found a favourable atmosphere in India
the teachings and normative examples of prophet during Turkish rule. The Sufis were organised into religious
Muhammed. According to the traditional Islamic orders or silsilahas.
view, Quran began with revelations to Muhammed
when he was 40 years old. Judaism
In India, the Muslims are divided into two main It is one of the oldest religion in the world today, whose history
sects- Sunni and Shia. Each one of these two sects extends back through the ancient Israelite and Hebrew people.
has many different schools. Alongwith these main Through centuries of suffering, persecution dispersion and
divisions, the Indian Muslims also have other occasional victory, Judaism has continued to exert a profound
divisions. It is mainly because different communities influence around the world.
that adopted Islam have different names. The Bohra Today approximately 14 million people identify themselves as a
and the Khoja Muslim communities are prominent in member of this monotheistic faith. Modern Judaism is
West India. The Nawait call themselves as composed of different branches, each of which has a different
descendants of Arab and Persian immigrants. approach to religious life, such as adherence to the law.
Magbook ~ Religion and Philosophy 181
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (a)
Chapter twenty eight
Music, Dance, Theatre
and Festivals
Indian Music Music also has its rhythmic beats which
are divided into tala, laya and matra.
Music and Dance are two It includes multiple varieties of folk, Tala is a complete cycle of a metrical
important expressions of popular pop, classical music and R and phrase composed of a fixed number of
B. India’s classical music tradition beats. Laya is tempo-slow, medium-fast.
Indian culture. Diversity
including Carnatic and Hindustani Matra is the smallest unit of the tala.
of Indian Society found music, has a history spanning millennia
sophisticated and developed over several eras. Hindustani Classical
representation in various The Indian music is of two types namely Music
forms of music and Marga-Sangit (mystical) and Desi Sangit
It is the Hindustani or North Indian style
(secular). Indian music is divided into
dance. Various music ragas or melody types.
of Indian classical music found
and dance related throughout the Northern Indian
Ragas subcontinent.
festivals and
The style is sometimes called North
personalities have been The gamut of several note woven into a
Indian Classical Music or Shastriya
instrumental in composition may be called a raga. The
Sangeet. It is a tradition that originated
Ragas can be sung without any
projecting India’s soft in Vedic ritual chants and has been
instrumental accompaniment, but
power abroad. evolving since, the 12th century CE.
generally take tabla (drum) for the
purpose besides any stringed Characteristics
instrument. They are sung at particular The tradition was born out of a cultural
seasons and time of the day or night. synthesis of several musical traditions
Indian classical music consists of six the Vedic chant tradition, dating back to
principle ragas and 30 raginis. Music is approximately one thousand BCE, the
adapted to the season of the year, hours equally ancient Persian tradition of
of the day and mood of the performer. Musiqi-e assil and various folk traditions
The Indian year is divided into six
prevalent in the region.
seasons and each season has its own
Around the 12th century, Hindustani
raga. The principle ragas are Bhairav,
classical music diverged from what
Hindol, Megha, Sri raga, Deepak and
eventually came to be identified as
Malkauns.
Carnatic classical music. The central
The day is divided into six parts and
notion in both these systems is that of a
each part is allotted to a particular
melodic mode or raga, sung to a
ragas. Thus, Bhairavi raga is usually
rhythmic cycle or tala.
sung from 4 am to 8 am, Hindol from 8
am to 12 noon, Megha from 12 noon to The tradition dates back to the ancient
4 pm, Sriraga from 4 pm to 8 pm, Sama Veda, which deals with the norms
Deepak from 8 pm to 12 midnight and for chanting of srutis or hymns such as
Malkaus from 12 midnight to 4 am. the Rig Veda.
Magbook ~ Music, Dance, Theatre and Festivals 185
Dholak List of Indian musical instruments, dholak is a very popular folk drum of Northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as
well. It is barrel shaped, at times a cylindrical drum, with skins on both sides.
Dumroo Dumroo is probably the oldest and traditional form of percussion instrument in India. Dumroo is the only remaining
form of hour-glass drums which are seen in ancient Indian statues.
Ghatam It replicates or conveys the meaning of the pot in Sanskrit. It is an ancient percussion instrument and ancient like other
musical instruments mridangam, veena etc.
Ghungroos These are very famous musical instrument in India. Ghungroos are usually the small brass bells. It is a musical
accessory used by performers of all classical dances.
Kanjeera The Kanjeera is a very old and traditional instrument which is very popular in South Indian classical performer Mances.
Kanjeera is secondary percussion which is played as an accompaniment with the mridangam.
Kartal Kartal literally means rhythm of the hand which is made of wooden blocks with holes for the fingers and circular copper
plates, pairs of katals are played with both hands.
Khol It is usually used traditionally for accompanying bhajans and kirtans. Its high skin is relatively small with a diameter of
about 9 - 10 cm, which gives it a particularly high, piercing sound.
Manjeera It is basically a set of small cymbals and is a ubiquitous component of dance, music and bhajans. It is a very ancient
instrument seen on ancient temple walls. Manjeera is the most inexpensive and easy to play instrument.
Mridangam The Indian musical instrument mridangam is one of the most popular classical instrument of South India. Mridangam
accompanies vocal, instrumental and dance performances.
Pakhawaj The Pakhawaj in India is also called Mardal, Pakhawaj, Pakuaj, Pakhvaj, Pakavaj or Mardala, as it is a barrel-shaped,
two-headed drum.
Wind Instruments
Bansuri It is basically a folk instrument, invariably linked to the lives and playfulnesses of Krishna. However, it was during the
Bhakti Movement that bansuri raised to prominence.
Harmonium Harmonium usually belongs to the family of free-reed aerophones. The instrument is a small, table top size organ which
has bellows at the back that is pumped by one hand while the other hand plays the keyboard.
Shehnai Shehnai the wind instrument is believed to have been introduced in India by the Muslims. Shehnai is the predominant
double-reed wind instrument used in North Indian music.
String Instruments
Sarangi Sarangi has a hollow body and made of teak wood adorned with ivory inlays. It consists of 40 strings of which 37 are
sympathetic.
Sarod It is a popular Indian classical musical instrument, which is similar to the Western lute in structure. Among the
followers and connoisseurs of Hindustani classical music, Sarod is one of the most important musical instruments.
Sitar It is one of the most popular Indian classical instruments and it comes under the category of a chordophone in the lute
family. Sitar has neck crafted from toon or teakwood and a resonator carved from a large seasoned gourd.
Tanpura Tanpura in India is a drone instrument that accompanies dhrupad singing and is the most fundamental of all
instruments of Indian classical music.
Veena Veena the traditional instrument of India is also known as Saraswati Veena, which is a musical instrument of South
India. Veena is a classical instrument basically plucked stringed instrument that is used to accompany carnatic music.
Tabla It is the most popular pair of drums in the Indian sub-continent. Tabla is a pair of drums which consists of a small right
hand drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan.
Magbook ~ Music, Dance, Theatre and Festivals 187
Instrumentalists
Sarod Ali Akbar Khan, Alaudin Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Bahadur Khan, Sharan Rani, Zarin S Sharma
Tabla Alla Rakha Khan, Kishan Maharaj, Nikhil Ghosh, Zakir Hussain
Violin Baluswamy Dikshitar, Gajanan Rao Joshi, Lalgudi G Jayaraman, MS Gopala Krishnan, Mysore T Chowdiah, TN
Krishnan
Sitar Nikhil Bannerjee, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Hara Shankar Bhattacharya
Vocalists
Hindustani Shubha Mudgal, Bheemsen Joshi, Madhup Mudgal, Mukul Shivputra, Pandit Jasraj, Parveen Sultana, Naina Devi,
Girija Devi, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Gangubai Hangal, Krishna Hangal, V Rajput, Kumar Gandharva, Faiyyaz
Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur, Kishori Amonkar, Ustad Rashid Khan
Thumri Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan, Ustad Jawad Ali Khan, Rita Ganguli, Poornima Chaudhary,
Shanti Heerananda, Naina Devi
Qawwali Ghulam Hasan Niyazi, Sultan Niyazi, Ghulam Farid Nizami, Chand Nizami, Iqbal Hussain Khan Bandanawaji, Aslam
Sabari
Dhrupad Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Zahiruddin Dagar, Wasifuddin Dagar, Gundecha Bandhu, Uday Bhawalkar, Pt Abhay
Narayan Mallick, Pt Ritwik Sanyal
Odissi dancer costume is a silk saree draped in a practical Krishnanattam as the name suggests, is a dance drama
and comfortable style. Wears on the head ornament called associated with Krishna legends. It is believed that
the mathami on ears kapa on wrists kankana. Kathakali originated from Krishnanattam, sometime in the
middle of the AD 17th century the Zamorin King of
Manipuri
Calicut named Mahadevan, who was a poet of distinction
It is the classical dance from the Manipur region in the and a votary of Lord Krishna, composed eight dramatic
North-East. The people of Manipur have been protected lyrical plays dealing with various episodes of Krishna’s life.
from outside influences and able to retain their unique The poet king incorporated them into an ensemble which
traditional culture. Manipuri dance is associated with he named as Krishnanattam.
rituals and traditional festivals. The Bhagavata Mela Dance dramas of Tamil Nadu
Slow and gracious movements differentiate Manipuri from appear to have gained importance about 300 years ago,
other dance styles. The delicate arm movements and when Tirtha Narayan Yati, author of the Krishna Lila
gentle foot work characterise this dance. Tarangini in sanskrit, migrated from Andhra to Tanjore
The repertoire is dominated by the themes from the district. He began the Bhagavata Mela tradition on the
Vishnu Puranas, Bhagvata Puranas and Geeta Govinda. pattern of dance drama as expounded in the Natya
Manipuri dance is very much religious and associated to Shastra by Bharat Muni. His celebrated dance drama
Vaishnava culture of Hinduism. It was originally only compositions like Prahalad, Harishchand, Usha
performed in temples and continues to form an integral Parinayam Gollabhama, were performed annually at the
part of the religious and social fabric of Manipur. Manipuri great festival dedicated to God Narasimha.
dance, whether folk, classical or modern, is devotional in Yakshagana is a popular folk theatre form of Karnataka
nature. with a long history of nearly 400 years. A performance
Sattriya usually depicts a story from the Ramayana, the
Mahabharata and the Puranas.
The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the AD 15th
It originated from one of the very early and indigenous
century by the great Vaishnava saint and reformer of
musical dramas known as Bahu Nataka composed by
Assam, Mahapurusha Sankaradeva.
Pakkuribi Somnath in about AD 1251 and portrayed in
This drama has been for centuries, nurtured and several varieties of the Shiva-lila episodes. In times, these
preserved with great commitment by the Sattras i.e. took the form of the Yakshagana plays common to many
Vaishnava maths or monasteries. regions of India. Originally a solo performance, this form,
Sankaradeva introduced this dance form by incorporating later, developed into two and then four principal
different elements from various treatises, local folk dances. characters. Gradually, it assumed the form of a regular
dance drama picking up themes from mythology and
Other Classical Dances legend.
Chhau dance is evidently a war dance. The etymological
root of the word chhau is traced to the Sanskrit chhaya or Folk Dances of India
shade, referring to the mask used by the dancers. Themes There is really no such genre as folk dancing. Rather,
are based on mythology, everyday life, aspects of nature or there is a large body of unrelated non-classical dance
just a mood or emotion. forms. The only thing common among these dance
Rituals connected with chhau spread throughout the year forms is their rural origins. Many folk dances are
beginning from Dussehra. Actual training of the chhau performed by ordinary people rather than professional
starts from the day of Sri Panchami. Music is based on dancers. It is very usual that on special occasions, the
Hindustani ragas. The accompaniment is with a Nagra, a villagers will gather and sing and dance, accompanying
huge kettledrum, dhol, a cylindrical drum and shenais or themselves on a variety of folk instruments.
reed pipes. It would be more correct to divide these folk dances into
Mohiniattam is a dance form said to have originated in two categories named folk and tribal. The difference
Kerala. It is closely related to Bharaanatyam of Tamil between the two is cultural. Folk dances are the rural
Nadu, which was originally called ‘Dasiyattam’. It is extensions of the larger Indian population. Examples are
performed by women. The word Mohini means a maiden the bhangra and the garba.
who steals the heart of the onlooker. It is one of the However, the tribal dances are performed by India’s
important form of the classical dance tradition of Kerala, aboriginal populations. These people, known as adivasi,
presenting a perfect mode for solo performance that have a culture which is very distinct from the larger Indian
incorporates lasya and tandava styles. Its technique is population. A common example of a tribal dance is the
based on the kathakali mode. Santhali.
190 Magbook ~ Indian History
The following is a list of folk and tribal dances: — Kikli A women’s folk dance of the Punjab.
— Bathakamma A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh. — Kushan This is a folk theatre of Bangladesh and West Bengal.
— Bihu It is a folk dance of Assam. It is a very brisk and — Lathi Nauch This is a folk dance of North-East India and
aggressive dance performed by both boys and girls. Bangladesh. This was originally based upon a system of
— Bagurumba This is a folk dance of Assam. It is performed by martial arts that uses large sticks (laathi).
the Bodos and is known for its colourful attire. — Mathuri A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh.
— Bhangra This is a folk dance of the North-West Indian State of — Raas This is a folk dance of Gujarat. It is traditionally danced
Punjab. It is a lively, powerful dance. at marriages and during the time of Navaratri.
— Chah Baganar Jhumur Nach This is a dance of Assam. It is a
— Saami A women’s folk dance of the Punjab.
dance of the tea gardens.
— Sakhi Nata This is the puppet dance of Orissa (Odisha).
— Changu The changu dance is a folk dance found in Orissa and
Andhra Pradesh. It derives its name from the Changu, which Folk Dances and Tribal Dances in India
is a simple tambourine (daff) that is used to accompany this
dance. States Dances
— Daankara The daankara is a stick dance, similar in some ways
Terahtali This is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It is
to the dandiaya raas of Gujarat. However, the daankara is
performed by women while they are seated.
performed in Punjab.
— Dandaria A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra Kathakeertan, Lezin, Dandaniya, Tamasha,
Gafa, Dahikala, Lovani, Mauni, Dasavtar
— Dasakathia This is a folk theatre of Orissa (Odisha). It is
performed by a pair of performers who entertain the audience Karnataka Huttari, Suggi Kunitha, Yakshagana
with dance, songs and stories.
Kerala Kaikottikali, Kaliyattam, Tappatikkali
— Dhamal A folk dance of Punjab.
— Gair This is a dance of Rajasthan. It is performed by groups of Tamil Nadu Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam, Kummi, Kavadi,
dancers moving in and out with an almost military precision. Karagam
— Garba This is a folk dance of Gujarat. It is traditionally danced
Andhra Pradesh Ghanta Mardala, Veedhi Natakam,
at marriages and during the time of Navaratri.
Burrakatha
— Gatka A folk dance utilising swords, daggers or sticks
performed in the Punjab. Orissa (Odisha) Ghumara Sanchar, Chadya Dandanata, Chhau
— Geendad This is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It is very similar to West Bengal Kathi, Chhau, Baul, Kirtan, Jatra, Lama
the Gair.
— Ghoomar This is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It derives its name Assam Bihu, Khel Gopal, Rash Lila, Tabal Chongli,
from its characteristic pirouettes. Canoe
— Ghanta Patua This is a folk dance of Orissa. Its name is Punjab Giddha (women), Bhangra (men)
derived from the large brass gongs known as ghanta. It is
performed in the Hindu month of Chaitra. This dance is most Jammu and Rauf, Hikat
notable because it is performed on stilts. Kashmir
— Giddha This is a folk dance of Punjab, generally performed by Himachal Jhora, Jhali, Dangli, Mahasu, Jadda, Jhainta,
women. Pradesh Chharhi
— Gobbi A folk dance of Andhra Pradesh.
Haryana Jhumar, Ras Leela, Phag dance, Daph,
— Jhoomar This is a dance of the Mundas and Mahantas of Dhamal, Loor, Gugga, Khoria, Gagor
Orissa (Odisha).
— Jhumar A slow version of bhangra performed at weddings and Gujarat Garba, Dandiya Ras, Tippani, Gomph
other festive events. Rajasthan Ginad, Chakri, Gangore, Terahtaal, Khayal,
— Kahhi Ghodi This is a folk dance of Rajasthan that is Jhulan Leela, Jhuma, Suisini
performed with a dummy horse.
Bihar Jata Jatin, Jadur, Chhau, Kathaputli, Bakho,
— Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art. One of the oldest fighting Jhijhiya, Samochakwa, Karma, Jatra, Natna
systems in existence, it is now practiced in Kerala, in
contiguous parts of Tamil Nadu and among the Malayali Uttar Pradesh Nautanki, Thora, Chappeli, Raslila, Kajri
community of Malaysia.
Madhya Pradesh Karma
— Kavadi This is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu. It is played with a
wooden pole, upon which two pots are tied. The stick is then Meghalaya Laho
balanced upon the shoulder.
Goa Mando
— Karagam This is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu. It is played with a
pot balanced on the head. Mizoram Khantumm
— Kela Keluni This is a dance performed by the Kelas of Orissa Uttaranchal Garhwali
(Odisha).
Magbook ~ Music, Dance, Theatre and Festivals 191
Bhaona It is a presentation of the Ankin Naat of Asom. Some Modern Playwrights and their Plays
In Bhaona, cultural glimpses of Assam, Bengal, Orissa
Playwright Play
(Odisha), Mathura and Vrindavan can be seen. The
sutradhaar or narrator begins the story, first in sanskrit Badal Sircar Solution X,That Other History, There is No End,
and then in either Brajboli or Assamese. Bhoma Evan Inderjit
Dashavatar It is the most developed theatre form of Girish Karnad Yayati, Tughlaq, Tale Dande, Nagmandala
the Konkan and Goa regions. The performers
Nizim Ezekiel Nalini : A Comedy, Marriage Poem : A Tragi
personify the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the God Comedy, The Sleep Walkers, An Indo-American
of preservation and creativity. The ten carnations are Force
Matsya (fish), Karma (tortoise), Varaha (boar),
Rabindranath Chitra, The Post Office, Sacrifice Chandalika
Narsimha (lion-man), Vaman (dwarf), Parashuram,
Tagore Muktadhara
Rama, Krishna (or Balram), Buddha and Kalki. Apart
from stylised make up, the Dashavatar performers Vijay Shantatal Court Chalu Aahe, Sakharam
Tendulkar Binder, Kamala, Kangadaan, Ek Holti Mugli
wear masks of wood and papier mache.
Krishnattam Folk theatre of Kerala, came into existence Utpal Dutt Fariry Fauj, Leniner Daak, Tiner Talowar,
in the middle of AD 17th century under the patronage Manusher Odhikare, Din Badolor Pala
of King Manavada of Calicut. Krishnattam is a cycle for Shambhu Mitra Nobanno, Ulukhagra, Pothik
eight plays performed for eight consecutive days. Sri Aurobindo Perseus the Delivever, Vasavadutta Radoguna,
Mudiyettu Traditional folk theatre form of Kerala is The Viziers of Bassora, Eric
celebrated in the month of Vrischikam
(November-December). It is usually performed only in
the Kali temples of Kerala, as an oblation to the Cinema in India
Goddess. It depicts the triumph of Goddess India has one of the oldest and largest film industry in the
Bhadrakali over the asura Darika. The seven world. When Lumiere brothers invented cinema in the last
characters in Mudiyettu-Shiva, Narada, Darika, decade of the 19th century, they did not quite realise the
Danavendra, Bhadrakali, Kooli and Koimbidar fact that their invention would, in years to come, entertain
(Nandikeshvara) are all heavily made-up. millions across the world in an unprecedented manner. India
Koodiyattam One of the oldest traditional theatre forms may have lagged behind other countries in many fields, but
of Kerala, is based on sanskrit theatre traditions. The has maintained near parity in the field of cinema. Only 7
characters of this theatre form are Chakyaar or actor, months after its inauguration (premier show) in France.
Naambiyaar, the instrumentalists and Naangyaar, Lumiere brothers’ films were shown in Bombay for the first
those taking on women’s roles, the Sutradhar or time on 7th July, 1896.
narrator and the Vidushak or jesters are the
In 1899, Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatwadekar made a film
protagonists. It is the Vidushak alone who delivers the
on a wrestling match in Bombay. In 1901, Bhatwadekar made
dialogues. Emphasis on hand gestures and eye
movements makes this dance and theatre form the first newsreel. The honour of making the first feature film
unique. goes to Dadasaheb Phalke (Dhundiraj Govind), who made the
first film Raja Harishchandra in 1913. Indian cinema has thus
Yakshagana Traditional theatre form of Karnataka, is
completed about a 100 years and feature films have
based on mythological stories and Puranas. The most
completed a span of more than 80 years.
popular episodes are from the Mahabharata i.e.
Draupadi swayamvar, Subhadra vivah, Abhimanyu
vadh, Karna-Arjun yuddh and from Ramayana i.e.
History of Indian Cinema
Rajyabhishek Lav-Kush Yuddh, Baali-Sugreeva The history of Indian cinema can be broadly divided into three
Yuddh and Panchavan. phases:
Thus, the path breaking film of the silent era, Raja The audiences, too, were getting weary of similar story-lines.
Harishchandra, was released in 1913. During this Hence, the contemporary Indian cinema keeping pace with
time and the era of the talkies, the main sources for time and technology witnessed Dolby Digital sound effects,
Indian films were the mythological texts. advanced special effects choreography, international appeal,
(ii) Pre-Independence Talkies (1931-47) further investments from corporate sectors alongwith finer
scripts and performances. The aesthetic appeal of cinema
By this time, apart from Bombay (Mumbai), the film
became important for the film makers.
industry shaped up well in down South too. The
Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries were Facts about Indian Cinema
making indigenous films as well. By late 1940s, films India’s first Alam Ara (Light of the Universe) was released by
in India were made in various languages, but the talking flim Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Movietone 14th March,
religious influence was pre-dominant. 1931 was a historic day for India cinema. The film
was based on a successful Passi play, which was
Dadasaheb Phalke Award written by Joseph Daeeid.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award instituted in 1969, is the Film with Indra Sabha with 71 songs in film with most
highest national honour for cinema given by the most number number of songs. The film was made in 1932 by
Government of India. It is given to a prominent personality of songs Madan Theatres and the director of the film was JJ
from the Indian Film Industry, noted and respected for Madan.
significant contributions to Indian cinema. Longest LoC Kargil at 4 hrs 25 min is the longest Indian
The award is named after the veteran film actor Indian movie movie made so far. The story is of Indian soldiers
Dadasaheb Phalke, who is considered as the Father of the fighting in Kargil. Mera Naam Joker at 4 hrs 14
Indian Cinema. It presented every year to senior film min is a close second.
personalities for their contribution to the art. The award First colour Kisan Kanya is the first colour film in India. It was
carries a cash prize of ` 10 lakh and a Swarna Kamal. A film in India a 1937 Hindi feature film, which was directed by
committee constituting of eminent film personalities is Moti B Gidvani and produced by Ardeshir Irani of
appointed to evaluate the award. imperial pictures.
First Indian to Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar.
(iii) Post-Independence Films (1947 -Till get an Oscar She won the award for the best costume designer
Today) for Rich and Attenborough’s film Gandhi in 1982.
The golden period in the history of Indian cinema is
Longest Hindi The song Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon in
attributed to the 1950s. Guru Dutt, Mehboob Khan,
film song the film by the same name is the longest film song.
Raj Kapoor, Balraj Sahani, Nargis, Bimal Roy, Meena The length of the song is 20 minutes and the song is
Kumari, Madhubala, Dilip Kumar graced the screens. featured in three installments in the film.
In South India, esteemed actors like Raj Kumar,
Gemini Ganesan, NT Rama Rao and several other
actors and actresses entertained the audiences.
Fairs and Festivals of India
Besides them, numerous singers, composers, Nagaur Cattle Fair
scriptwriters, cameramen and other technicians lend Nagaur bustles with lite during the annual cattle fair, one of
a helping hand in making some of the most the largest in the country, usually held from 30th January to
outstanding films that carved their own niches in the 2nd February. The Nagaur bulls are renowned for their fleet
history of Indian cinema. footedness and attract buyers from all over, however, livestock
At one hand, Hindi cinema was growing in leaps and such as camels, goats and cows are also on display. A
bounds and on the other, the regional films were highlight of the fair is performances by folk dancers and
making their presence felt too. A number of well musicians and exciting games such as tug of war, camel
established Hindi film stars, who became a part of the races, horse races etc.
star system in India actually began their career with
the Indian regional films. Tarnetar Mela
With romantic films at the helm, the Indian cinema The three days fair, held annually in Tarnetar, coincides with
ushered into 1990s. A mixed genre was witnessed the festival at the Trineteshwar temple (three-eyed God Shiva).
during this time; romantic, thriller, action and comic Villagers from all over Saurashtra, dressed in their traditional
movies were made. Gradually, the face of Indian costumes and exquisite jewellery. Throng Tarnetar during this
cinema was undergoing change once again. fair.
194 Magbook ~ Indian History
Baisakhi Janamashtami
It is celebrated with joyous music and dancing, is New The birth of Lord Krishna, the 8th incarnation on Earth of
Year’s Day in Punjab. It falls on 13th April, though Lord Vishnu, is celebrated throughout India.
once in 36 years it occurs on 14th April. It was on this
day that the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Id-ul-Zuha or Bakrid
founded the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) in 1699. Muslims celebrates the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim, who
The Sikhs, therefore, celebrate this festival as a willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. To
collective birthday. celebrate the event, Muslims sacrifice one animal per
family or group of families.
Id-ul-Fitr or Ramazan Id
It is a day of feasting and rejoicing as it marks the end of Onam
the Ramazan (Ramadan), the Muslim time of fasting. It is celebrated in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu. It is celebrated against a setting of lush green
Rath Yatra vegetation. This picturesque harvest festival brings 10
This spectacular chariot festival celebrated for 8 days at days of colour, feasting, boat races, song and dance to
the famous Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha. Images of the state.
Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother
Balbhadra are taken out in a procession in three immense Ganesh Chaturthi
chariots. Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to This festival is dedicated to the popular elephant headed
Gundicha Mandit, a temple 3 km away. After a week, the God, Ganesha. Pune, Madras, and Bombay are the
deities return to the main temple in a similar procession. important centres of celebration. In Maharashtra, huge
The construction of the chariots begins in April. images of Ganesha are carried in procession.
6. Consider the following statements 12. With reference of India’s culture and tradition, what is
‘Kalaripayatti’? [IAS 2014]
1. Mewar and Holi festival are celebrated to mark the coming
of the spring season. (a) It is an ancient Bhakti culture of Shavism still prevalent
in some parts of South India
2. Teej (Rajasthan) marks the onset of monsoon.
(b) It is an ancient style bronze and brasswork still found in
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Southern part of coromandel area
(a) Only 2 (b) 1 and 2 (c) Only 1 (d) None of these
(c) it is an ancient form of dance drama and a living
7. Consider the following statements tradition in the Northern part of Malabar
1. Magha Naun signify the return of the Gods to the Earth. (d) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some
2. On Faguli festival, people shoot arrows at a portrait of parts of South India
Ravana. 13. Consider the following statements with reference to
3. Falaich is the festival celebrated in Kinnaur valley. the famous. Sattriya dance [IAS 2014]
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 3 (c) Only 3 (d) All of these 2. It is centuries old living tradition of Vaishnavities of
8. Consider the following statements Assam.
1. Bihu festival is celebrated on three occasion. 3. It based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional
2. Deul festival synchronises with Holi. songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
3. Mahkheda is believed to be helpful in driving away Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
mosquitoes. (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these
1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (d) 9. (d) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (d)
Chapter twenty-nine
Indian Architecture and
Painting Schools
— The great public bath was made of burnt brick
Harappan Architecture and measured 39 ft 3 inches in length and 23
One of the most Architecture of Indus Valley Civilisation ft 2 inches in width. One can enter it at either
and by means of a staircase. There was a
enduring achievements is contained in the structures of
vertical main hole at the Western and that
of Indian civilisation is Mohenjodaro which were found by the made it possible to inspect and clear the
archaeologists and in the existence of passage. An annex to the Great Bath suggests
undoubtedly its
Harappan city. Even at such an early arrangements for hot air bathing with a
architecture. Indian age the architecture of Indus valley was hypocaust system of heating.
architecture, which has well improved with almost all the — Indus valley architecture was closely
modern amenities. The architectural influenced by Mesopotamian ways.
evolved through
remains of the Indus Valley Civilisation — Various features of Mohenjodaro include a
centuries, is the result wide range of ceramic and bronze objects,
have also well testified the sharp
of socio-economic and acumen of the architects belonging to resembling those from Sumerian sites. The
Harappan people had constructed mainly three
geographical such an early age. types of buildings—dwelling houses, pillared
conditions. Indian Some important features of Harappan halls and public baths.
architecture, belonging architecture are as follows:
— In Mohenjodaro, the streets run in Some Other Prominent
to different periods of straight lines and are crossed by others Architectural Forms
history, bears the at right angles. This shows planning and
existence of some authority to control the Pallava Architecture
stamp of respective
development of the city existed. The South Indian style of temple architecture
Period. Though, the — In Indus valley architecture, throughout is very distinct from that of the rest of India.
cities of Indus valley the area, civic planning was based on a It is convenient to resolve the types of
rectangular grid oriented to the cardinal architecture into four periods corresponding
provide substantial
points and standardised brick was the to the principal kingdoms, those ruled in
evidence of extensive main building material.
Southern India down the centuries i.e. the
town planning, the — Wide streets and thorough fares were
Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and the
common. The buildings were made of
beginning of Indian Vijayanagara rulers. According to the plan,
burnt bricks which were devoid of
architecture can be decoration. There were two or more four sided, polygonal or curvilinear-the
traced back to the storeys in the buildings. Buildings in Southern Vimanas are classified in the
many streets corners suggest hotels or Southern Silpa and Agama texts as Nagara,
advent of Buddhism in eating houses. Dravida and Vesara.
India. — The streets were all aligned from East to The earliest examples of temples in the
West or from North to South on a North
Dravidian style belong to the Pallava period.
or South wind sweeps down a broad
thorough fare. Large brick culverts were The temple architecture of the Pallavas is
constructed on the outskirts of the city to divided into two groups— rock-cut
carry away storm water. (AD 610-690) and structural (AD 690-900).
— Excellent sanitary engineering was The greatest accomplishments of the Pallava
followed at that time and water supply architecture are the rock-cut temples at
was maintained as wells were used. Mahabalipuram.
Magbook ~ Indian Architecture and Painting Schools 199
These temples are further divided into: excavated pillared halls or Rajput Architecture
mandapas and monolithic shrines known as rathas. The five rathas The Rajput rulers had a keen sense of beauty in
were built by Narasimhavarman I (AD 625-645) and are named art and architecture which is seen in the artistic
after Draupadi, Arjuna, Bhima, Dharmaraja and Sahadeva. The excellence of their temples, forts and palaces.
Dharmarajaratha is the longest and most complete of these rathas. The Indo-Aryan style of architecture developed in
Chola Architecture North India and upper Deccan and the Dravidian
The Imperial Chola rulers of Tanjore developed the Dravidian style of style in South India during the Rajput period.
temple architecture almost to perfection. Their works taken up on a Both sculpture and architecture attained a high
stupendous scale include irrigation schemes, embankment of degree of excellence. The palaces of Jaisalmer,
artificial lakes, dams across the Kaveri and well-planned cities. A Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Kota represent
special feature of the Chola architecture is the purity of artistic the maturity of the Rajput style. The foundation
tradition. of Jaipur, the fabled Pink City, represents the
The two magnificent temples at Tanjore and Gangaikonda final phase of Rajput architecture.
Cholapuram in Tiruchirapalli district built in early AD 11th century Rich and royal Rajput heritage is characterised by
show the best of Chola art. The Brihadeswara or Rajarajeswara arched gateways, grand courtyards, beautifully
temple of Shiva in Tanjore built by Rajaraja Chola in AD 1010 is the carved silver doorways, marble and red sandstone
largest and highest of Chola temples and stands as a symbol of pillars with finely carved elephant brackets,
Chola greatness. frescoes and latticed galleries, massive
Constructed in granite, the main structure of the temple has a ceremonial gateways exuberantly embellished
square base about 53 m high and its lofty shikhara of thirteen with floral motifs, glass mosaics, paintings of Lord
successive storeys is 57.7 m high. A huge stone dome nearly 8 m Ganesha and Lord Krishna, ivory-inlaid fragrant
high and weighing about 81 tonnes crowns the shikhara. The sandalwood doors, elaborate fountains, smooth
temple from the top of the base is covered with exquisite sculptures ceilings and walls embellished with murals
and mouldings. The plinth is covered with inscriptions in Tamil. depicting flowers and war scenes and studded
with glass and sparkling precious stones.
The niches on three sides of the main shrine contain idols of
various Gods and Goddesses. The gopuram on the entrance gates Regional Architecture
are decorated with beautiful sculptures. The temple stands in a Sharqi Style
spacious enclosed courtyard and pavilion with one of the largest
monolithic Nandis (6 m long, 2.6 m broad and 307 m high) in
This is also known as Jaunpur style. The key
South India, a large assembly hall and a pillared portico. features of this style are use of both arcuate and
trabeate systems to support the weight of the
Vijayanagara Architecture ceiling, use of arch-and-beam combination and
By the 16th century almost all of Southern India was part of the absence of minarets.
Vijayanagara Empire. The Vijayanagara rulers were great patrons of Malwa Style
art and architecture. The Vijayanagara tradition shows a distinct
scheme of decoration in terms of architectural space.
The cities of Dhar and Mandu exhibit this style.
The key features of this style are absence of
The pillars in the mandapas consist of figural motifs in low relief on
minarets in mosques, European and Egyptian
their cubical members. The Vijayanagara rulers built strong
influence, domes on high drums, use of Ogival
fortresses, gorgeous palaces and beautiful temples. The
arches and fine jail work.
Vijayanagara temple architecture has some special features.
Gujarati Style
The characteristic feature of this period is the development of the
temple complex. The Kalyana Mandapa or marriage hall is an open Gujarat witnessed significant architectural activity
pavilion in the temple which contains a platform in the centre for for over 50 years starting from Muzaffar Shah’s
the performance of sacred dance, concentric series of rectangular declaration of independence from Delhi and the
enclosure walls with the gopuram (towered gateways) in the middle formation of the Sultanate of Gujarat in AD 1307
of each side. The city of Vijayanagara was studded with so many until the conquest of Gujarat by the Mughal
temples that it was called Kovilapura. Of the numerous Emperor Akbar in AD 1500.
Vijayanagara complexes in Southern India, the most magnificent The key features of this style are : it carried on
are those at Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai and Vellore. The the tradition of temple architecture, use of
temple of Pampapathi, the Hazara Rama temple of Hampi and the limestone carvings and geometrical designs and
Vitthalaswami temple are the best examples of the Vijayanagara presence of richy decorated buttresses.
architecture.
200 Magbook ~ Indian History
List I List II 12. Which of the following tomb is placed in the centre of
a large garden and resembles as a prototype of the
A. Babar 1. Jama Masjid (Sambhal)
Taj Mahal?
B. Humayun 2. Din Panah
(a) Akbar’s tomb at Sikandara
C. Akbar 3. Jahangiri Mahal
(b) Itmad-ud-Daula’s tomb at Agra
D. Jahangir 4. Akbar’s Mausoleum (c) Sher Shah’s tomb at Sasaram
Codes
(d) Humayun’s tomb at Delhi
A B C D A B C D 13. Consider the following statements about Bagh
(a) 1 2 4 3 (b) 2 1 3 4 paintings.
(c) 1 2 3 4 (d) 1 3 4 2
1. There are 9 caves at Bagh (Near Gwalior) on the banks
6. with reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, of the river Bagh (a tributary of Narmada).
Consider the following statements [IAS 2013] 2. The 4 cave Rangmahal has got the maximum number
1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves of paintings.
in India. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
by emperor Chandragupta Maurya. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. At Ellora caves were made for different faiths. 14. Consider the following statements
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1. The Art of Miniature Painting was introduced to India
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) Only 3 (d) All of these by the Mughals.
7. With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, 2. In the 16th century, the Mughal ruler Humayun brought
which one among the following was made earliest? artists from Persia, who specialised in Miniature
(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar [IAS 2015] paintings.
(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(d) Varaha iImage at Udayagiri (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (a) 12. (d) 13. (c) 14. (c)
Chronological Panorama of
Indian History
2350 BC Indus Valley Civilisation Period AD 1178 Bhim-II emerged, victorious in the battle with
1750 BC Decline of Indus Valley Civilisation Muhammead Ghori
1500 BC Vedic Age AD 1191 First Battle of Tarain, Prithviraj Chauhan
600 BC End of Vedic Era defeated Ghori
563 BC Buddhist Era AD 1192 Second Battle of Tarain, Ghori defeated Prithviraj
Chauhan
483 BC Death of Gautam Buddha
AD 1194 Muhammad Ghori defeated Jaichand, ruler of
540 BC Mahavira’s Era
Kannauj in Battle of Chandawar
468 BC Death of Mahavira
AD 1202 Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Nalanda University
544 BC Reign of Bimbisara (Haryank Dynasty)
AD 1206 Delhi Sultanate founded by Qutub-ud-din Aibak
492 BC End of Haryank Dynasty
AD 1210 Iltutmish ascended the throne of Delhi Sultanate
326 BC Alexander attacked India through Khyber Pass
AD 1236 Razia Sultana ascended the throne
322 BC Chandragupta Maurya appointed king
AD 1241 First Mongol invasion during the rule of Bahram
305 BC Battle between Chandragupta Maurya and Shah
Seleucus
AD 1288-1293 Marco Polo’s visit of India
304-299 BC Stay of Megasthenes in the Court of
AD 1326-1327 Muhammad-bin Tughlaq shifted his capital from
Chandragupta Maurya Daulatabad to Delhi
269 BC Coronation of Ashoka AD 1333 Moroccan traveller, Ibn-Battuta’s India’s visit
261 BC Victory of Ashoka in Kalinga War AD 1336 Vijayanagara empire founded
260 BC Ashoka fought Kalinga War AD 1347 Foundation of Bahmani kingdom
232 BC Death of Ashoka AD 1398 Invasion of Taimur on India
183 BC Attack of Indo-Greeks AD 1498 Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama in India
57 BC Vikram Era begins AD 1506 Sikandar Lodi shifted capital from
AD 78 Saka Era Delhi to Agra
AD 150 Junagarh Inscription (first sanskrit inscription) AD 1509-1529 Reign of Krishnadeva Raya
AD 319 Coronation of Chandragupta I AD 1526 First Battle of Panipat, Babur defeated Ibrahim
AD 335-380 Reign of Samudragupta Lodi
AD 380-412 Reign of Chandragupta II, Fa-Hein’s visit AD 1527 Battle of Khanwa, Babur defeated Rana Sanga
AD 1008-1009 Ghazni defeated anandapala (Battle of Waihind) AD 1533 Humayun got Dinpanah constructed
AD 412-454 Kumaragupta’s rule, Foundation of Nalanda AD 1540 Battle of Bilgram, Sher Shah defeated Humayun
University AD 1555 Battle of Sirhind, Bairam Khan defeated
AD 454-467 Rule of Skandagupta and attack of Hunas Sikander Sur. Humayun once again ascended
AD 606-647 Harshavardhana’s reign the throne of Delhi
AD 630 Visit of Hiuen Tsang during Harsha’s rule AD 1556 Coronation of Akbar, Second Battle of Panipat
fought in which Hemu was defeated
AD 632 Battle between Harshavardhana and Pulakesin II
AD 1576 Battle of Haldighati
AD 712 Arab attack of Sindh
AD 1582 Din-i-Ilahi started by Akbar
AD 915-916 Almasudi’s attack on India
AD 1583 Ralph Fitch, the first British merchant to reach
AD 405-411 Visit of Chinese traveller Fa-Hien
Agra
AD 1001-1026 17 raids of Mahmud Ghazni on India, Alberuni’s
AD 1600 East India Company established
visit to India
Magbook ~ Glossary 207
AD 1608 William Hawkins visited Jahangir’s court AD 1911 Annulment of Partition of Bengal
AD 1627 Birth of Shivaji AD 1913 Ghadar Party founded, Rabindranath Tagore
AD 1665 Treaty of Purandar signed between Shivaji and received Nobel Prize
Jai Singh AD 1914 World War I held
AD 1674 Coronation of Shivaji AD 1915 Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in India
AD 1699 Khalsa Sect established by Guru Gobind Singh AD 1916 Home Rule League founded, Pact signed
AD 1707 Death of Aurangzeb between INC and Muslim League
AD 1717 Farrukhsiyar gave firmans of East India Company AD 1917 Champaran Satyagraha launched by Gandhiji,
AD 1724 Establishment of Hyderabad state by Formation of Saddler Commission
Nizam-ul-Mulk AD 1919 Rowlatt Act passed
AD 1739 Battle of Karnal, Nadir Shah’s invasion on Delhi AD 1919 Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, Jallianwala
AD 1748 Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded India Bagh Massacre, Khilafat Movement
AD 1757 Battle of Plassey AD 1920 Non-Cooperation Movement, All India Trade
Union Congress established
AD 1760 English General Sir Eyre Coote defeated the
French Army in the Battle of Wandiwash AD 1922 Chauri-Chaura incident, Withdrawal of
Non-Cooperation Movement
AD 1764 Battle of Buxar
AD 1923 Swaraj Party founded
AD 1772 Warren Hastings appointed Governor of Bengal
AD 1924 Hindustan Republican Army founded, Gandhiji
AD 1773 Regulating Act passed
appointed President only once in Belgaum Session
AD 1774 Supreme Court was set-up at Calcutta
AD 1925 Kakori Train Case
AD 1775 First Anglo-Maratha War
AD 1927 Simon Commission appointed
AD 1784 Pitt’s India Act passed, Foundation of Asiatic
AD 1928 Nehru Report
Society of Bengal
AD 1929 Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw
AD 1793 Permanent Settlement applicable
Bomb in Assembly
AD 1799 Death of Tipu Sultan
AD 1929 Lahore Session of INC
AD 1809 Treaty of Amritsar signed between Britishers and
AD 1930 Gandhiji’s Dandi March, Round Table
Ranjit Singh
Conference, Civil Disobedience Movement
AD 1817 Third Anglo-Maratha War launched
AD 1829 Abolition of Sati AD 1931 Second Round Table Conference,
AD 1854 Wood’s Dispatch Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself at Alfred
AD 1857 Revolt/Uprising of 1857 Park in Allahabad
AD 1857 Establishment of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta AD 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact signed, Bhagat Singh hanged
Universities AD 1932 Three Round Table Conference, communal
AD 1860 Budget system introduced in India awards
AD 1865 Telegraph service started between Europe and AD 1933 Gandhiji started a magazine ‘Harijan’
India AD 1934 Congress Socialist Party founded
AD 1872 Census system started in India AD 1935 Government of India Act passed
AD 1875 Arya Samaj founded AD 1938 Subhash Chandra Bose appointed President of
AD 1876 Indian Association established by Surendranath Indian National Congress
Bannerjee AD 1939 Forward Bloc founded, World War II started
AD 1877 Delhi Darbar held AD 1940 Gandhiji launched Individual Satyagraha
AD 1885 Indian National Congress established AD 1941 Azad Hind Fauj established
AD 1893 Vivekananda’s speech in Chicago AD 1942 Gandhiji gave a slogan ‘Do or Die’ (Quit India
AD 1902 Lord Curzon appointed a commission for Movement)
improvement in University Education System AD 1944 Subhash Chandra Bose called Mahatma Gandhi
AD 1905 Partition of Bengal as the ‘Father of Nation’
AD 1906 Muslim League founded AD 1945 Wavell Plan
AD 1907 Surat Split of INC AD 1946 Cabinet Mission, Muslim League’s call for Direct
AD 1905-1908 Boycott and Swadeshi Movement Action Day
AD 1909 Minto-Morley reforms separate electorates for AD 1946 Royal Indian Navy’s mutiny
Muslims AD 1947 Indian Independence and Partition of India
Glossary
Important Sites
Ajanta The Ajanta Caves are situated at a distance of 107 km Badami It was the capital of the early Chalukyas, who
North of Aurangabad. The caves, famous for its murals, are the ruled much of Karnataka in the 6th to 8th centuries.
finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting. In The Badami cave temples are composed of four caves,
all, total 30 excavations were hewn out of rock which also all carved out of the soft Badami sandstone on a hill
include an unfinished one. Out of these, five (cave no. 9, 10, 19, cliff in the late 6th to 7th centuries.
26 and 29) are Chaitya Grihas and the rest are Viharas. In their Banskhera In 1894, during an excavation, an inscription
range of time and treatments, they provide a panorama of life in of Harsha era was founded, in which the details of land
ancient India and are a source of all kinds of information-hair grants to Brahmins is mentioned. This inscription also
styles, ornaments, textiles, musical instruments, details of describes the administrative machinery during Harsha’s
architecture, customs etc. It was from this collection of classical rule.
Indian art that a particular style was formed that travelled with
Bhitargaon It is small village in Kanpur district and is
Buddhism to many parts of the world. Cave 26 of Ajanta, is a
famous for an ancient brick temple of the Gupta
colossal representation of the moment when the Buddha shook
period. The Bhitargaon temple is a terraced brick
off the bindings of this mortal body to attain salvation. The
building, fronted with a terracotta panel. Built in the
solemn grandeur of the moment is highlighted by the sensitive
6th century during the Gupta empire, it is the oldest
portrayal of the many monks, who grieve the passing away of
remaining terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a
their master.
high Sikhara. The walls are decorated with terracotta
Ajmer It was founded in the late AD 7th century by Ajay Raj Singh panels depicting aquatic monsters, Shiva and Vishnu
Chauhan. Chauhan clan is a branch of Chechi Gujjars. The etc.
Chauhan dynasty ruled Ajmer in spite of repeated invasions by
Bhimbetaka It is located in the Raisen district of Madhya
Turkic Muslim armies from Central Asia across the North of
Pradesh about 45 km to South-East of Bhopal.
India. Ajmer was conquered by Muhammad of Ghori, founder of
Bhimbetaka discovered in 1958 by VS Wakanker, is the
the Delhi Sultanate, in 1193. The Dargah Sharif of Khwaja
biggest pre-historic art depository in India. Atop the hill,
Moin-ud-din Chishti is situated at the foot of the Taragarh hill.
a large number of rock-shelters have been discovered,
Anuradhapura It was first became a capital in 380 BC under of which more than 130 contain paintings.
Pandukabhaya, but it was under Devanampiya Tissa, during
Neolithic tools like points, trapezes and lunates made
whose reign Buddhism reached Sri Lanka. According to the
of chert and chalcedony, besides stone querns and
Buddhist texts, Anuradhapura was famous as the ancient capital
grinders, decorated bone objects, pieces of ochre and
city of Sri Lanka. In 250 BC, Ashoka got Thuparamaya Stupa
human burial were also found here.
constructed here, in which one tooth of Gautam Buddha is kept.
Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar’s first mention was during
Ayodhya It is on the right bank of the river Sarayu, 6 km from
the Kalinga War, which took place near Dhauli in the
Faizabad. This town is closely associated with Rama, seventh
3rd century BC. The history of Bhubaneswar started
incarnation of Vishnu. According to the Ramayana, the city is
when emperor Kharavela established his capital in
9000 years old and was founded by Manu. Other sources hold
Sisupalgarh. The city of Bhubaneswar once contained
that it was founded by its namesake, King Ayudh. For centuries,
7000 Hindu temples; now only 500 remains are
it was the capital for the Surya dynasty, of which Lord Rama was
standing. A few of the ruined temples were dismantled
the most celebrated king. At the time, it was known as Kaushal
through mother nature’s entropies, but the
Desai. The Atharva veda described Ayodhya as a city built by
overwhelming number of temples destroyed by Islamic
God and being prosperous as paradise itself.Its first ruling king
looters. The Lingaraj, the Parasurameswar and the
was Ikshvaku, of the Solar clan suryavansa and eldest son of
Rajarani temples are not only ancient places of
Vaivasvata Manu.
worship, they are seen as architectural marvels.
Magbook ~ Glossary 209
Champa It is located in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. It was the Khajuraho The 9th to 12th century temples of Khajuraho
capital of Anga Mahajanapada. 12th Jain tirthankara Vasudev is the evidences of the architectural geniuses during the
was born here. According to puranas, it is known by the name times of Chandela dynasty. Situated in Madhya Pradesh,
of Malini. India, Khajuraho oozes with passion, eroticism, dance
Deogarh It is a small village in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh. and music and other finesses of creative arts depicted in
It is known for its Gupta monuments, located on and near the sculpture and images of the temples. The 85 temples
Hill Fort on the right bank of the Betwa river. A number of were built in North Indian ‘Nagara’ style of architecture.
ancient monuments of Hindu and Jain origins are found within Temple town of Khajuraho is much different from any
and outside the walls of the fort. other temple city of India. It is not about religion and
worshipping and deities. The temples of Khajuraho are
Dhar It is the medieval historical town located in the Malwa region
instead famous for the eroticism etched on its walls in
of Western Madhya Pradesh. During the rule of the Paramara
the form of sculptures.
dynasty, Dhar was famous throughout India as a centre of
culture and learning, especially under King Bhoj. Kushinagar Kushinagar, district of the Eastern Uttar
Pradesh, is known for its cultural heritage all over the
Ellora It is located at 30 km from the city of Aurangabad,
world. It is one of the four holiest places for the
Maharashtra. Ellora has 34 caves that are carved into the sides
Buddhist. At Kushinagar, Great Lord Buddha, founder of
of a basaltic hill. The caves at Ellora contain some of the finest
Buddhism, delivered his last sermon. Kushinagar also
specimens of cave-temple architecture and exquisitely adorned
expresses the common thread of all sects of Buddhism
interiors, built by the Rashtrakuta rulers. It represents the
through its magnificent Vihara, Chaityas, temples and
epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 12 Buddhist
Tibetan monasteries. In ancient times, the town was also
caves, 17 Hindu caves and 5 Jain caves built in proximity,
known as Kusinara and Kasia.
demonstrate the religious harmony prevalent during this period
of Indian history. Mamallapuram Mahabalipuram, also known as
Mamallapuram is located at 60 km away from Chennai
Bodh Gaya It is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist
along the shores of Bay of Bengal. The name
pilgrimage centres in the world. It was here under a banyan
Mamallapuram is derived from the Pallava ruler
tree, the Bodhi tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to
Narasimhavarman I, an acclaimed wrestler who was
become Buddha, the enlightened one. Several centuries after
famously called as Mamallan. Mahabalipuram is known
Buddha’s passing away, the Maurya emperor Ashoka (234-198
for its history and the rock carved temples and
BC) contributed tremendously towards the revival,
sculptures that stands as testimony for it.
consolidation and spread of the original religion. It is the
monasteries, Ashoka built for the Buddhist monks and the
pillars known as Ashokan pillars erected to commemorate Arjuna’s Penance/The Descent of the
innumerable historical sites associated with the Buddha’s life. Ganges (Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu)
Indraprastha The city of Indraprastha, which is sometimes also Arjuna’s Penance is a story from the Mahabharata, how
known as Khandavaprastha, was the capital of the kingdom led Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, performed severe
by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata epic. It is often thought to austerities in order to obtain Shiva’s weapon. The Arjuna
have been located in the region of present day New Delhi. bas-relief is in the centre of Mahabalipuram, facing the sea
Junagarh It is situated in erstwhile Saurashtra, at the foot of at a short distance from the shores of the Coramandel coast
Mount Girnar on the Northern fringes of the Gir forest. Through of the Bay of Bengal where the Shore temple is situated.
various phases of history, Junagarh is described with equal
Manyakheta The city was founded in the 9th century by
importance and for many centuries, it was the capital of the
the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I and became the
Western region ruled by several dynasties of rulers such as
capital of the dynasty. Manyakheta rose to prominence
Mauryas, Greeks, Kshtrapas and Guptas. The Junagarh rock
when the capital of Rashtrakutas was moved from
inscription, found in Junagarh, was carved under the orders of
Mayurkhandi in Bidar district to Manyakheta during the
King Rudradaman.
rule of Amoghavarsha I. Amoghavarsha I and the
Kanniya Kumari Kanniya Kumari district is the Southernmost
scholars mathematician Mahaveer Acharya and
district in Tamil Nadu. The district derives its name from the
intellectuals Ajitasen Acharya, Gunabhadr Acharya and
Goddess Kanniyakumari Amman enshrined in the temple
Jinasen Acharya, helped to spread Jainism.
located at the southernmost tip of mainland India, Kanniya
Mount Abu It is located in the state of Rajasthan. It is
Kumari. Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument and it is a
famous as the pilgrimage centre of both the Hindus and
popular tourist attraction.
Jains. It is world renowned for Dilwara temple.
210 Magbook ~ Indian History
Sarnath Sarnath or Sarangnath also called Mrigadava, Migadaya, Thaneswar It was the capital of Jat King
Rishipattana and Isipatana is one of the most important Buddhist Harshavardhana. Prabhakar Vardhan, father of
pilgrimage centres in India. It is the place where Gautam Buddha Harshavardhana, was the first king of the Bains or
gave his first sermon to his five disciples. At the time of Virk clan with his capital at Thaneswar. Thaneswar is
Chandragupta ll (AD 376-414), the famous Chinese traveller the prakrit form of Sanskrit word sthaneshwar.
Fa-Hien visited Sarnath and saw four stupas and two monasteries Thaneswar is an old locality of modern Kurukshetra
here. Hiuen-Tsang has left a vivid description of Sarnath’s city and is one among the 4 places where Kumbh
monuments. melas are held after every four years alternately.
Shravanabelagola The statue of Gomateshwara Bahubali at Ujjain It is situated on the right bank of the river
Shravanabelagola, is one of the most important pilgrimage Shipra. Historically, the city is associated with
destinations in Jainism. It is a place of great importance from the emperor Ashoka, Chandragupta Vikramaditya, Raja
point of pilgrimage and also archaeological and religious heritage. Bhoja, Rudradaman, the Delhi Sultans, Mandu
Shravanabelagola is a city that comes under the Hassan district of Sultans, Holkars and the Scindias. Emperor Ashoka
Karnataka. Acharya Bhadrabahu and his pupil Chandragupta was the Governor of Ujjain. The city continued to be
Maurya are believed to have meditated there. the capital of Vikramaditya of the AD 5th century to
Somnath Somnath temple is a significant temple, comprising one of the the Vikramaditya of the 11th century until being
twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Located in Prabhas Kshetra near destroyed by Iltutmish in the 13th century. It was
Veraval, Somnath temple falls in Saurashtra region that lies on the ruled by Delhi Sultans until the 14th century and
Western coast of Gujarat. In 1024, the temple was raided by Mahmud then the Mandu Sultans until the 15th century.
Ghazni, who took camel-loads of jewels and valuables from here. The Ujjain is a very holy city to Hindus and a site for the
Paramara King Bhoj of Malwa and the Solanki King Bhima of Gujarat triennial Kumbh mela. According to ancient Hindu
(Anhilwara) took the initiative to rebuild the temple during 1026-1042. scriptures, Ujjain was originally called Avantika.
Tamluk It is located in East Medinipur district of West Bengal. The Varanasi The land of Varanasi has been the ultimate
antiquity and importance of the site have been established through pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Varanasi is the
excavation from time to time. The excavation revealed the earliest oldest living city in the world. This city is well-known
occupation from Neolithic up to modern times. In ancient period, it for Ganga Ghats and Vishwanath temple.
was known by the name of Tamralipti. It was the famous port on Vellore During medieval period, Vellore was the capital
the Eastern coast of India. Various travellers like Fa-Hien and of Hoysala rulers. Here, Keshav temple is famous for
Hiuen-Tsang studied here. its art and architecture style.
Prominent Personalities
Abdul Gaffar Khan He was popularly known as the frontier Gandhi; Ahalya Bai The widowed daughter-in-law of Malhar
he was a prominent nationalist leader of the North-Western Frontier Rao Holkar of Indore, who ruled the state between
Province and founded a nationalist organisation, called the Khudai 1764 and 1795. Famous for her construction of
Khidmatgars (servants of God), popularly referred to as the Red temples like the Annapurna and Vishnu temples at
Shirts. He was awarded with the Bharat Ratna Award posthumously Banaras and Gaya respectively.
by the Indian Government. Ahmed Shah Abdali He was belonging to the Durrani
Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan He was a son of Bairam Khan he clan of Afghanistan; he initially worked under Nadir
became a prominent noble and military commander of Akbar and Shah. During his independent rule of Afghanistan
contributed to literature. (1747-1773), he invaded India 8 times, scoring a
spectacular victory over the Marathas in the Third
Abul Fazl He was a son of Shaik Mubarak and brother of Faizi (poet)
Battle of Panipat (1761).
he was the official historian and close advisor of Akbar. He wrote
Alberuni He was originally a native of Khiva in Central
Ain-i-Akbari (a statistical account of Akbar’s empire) and Akbar
Asia; he was brought to Ghazni by Mahmud. Abu
namah (an authoritative account of his reign). He was assassinated
Rihan Muhammad was his original name, but
by Bir Singh Bundela in 1602 at the instigation of Prince Salim
became famous as Alberuni, meaning the Master.
(later Jahangir). Being a great scholar himself, he learnt Sanskrit and
Aga Khan The title of the religious head of the Borah Ismailian made a thorough study of Indian sciences and
community of the Muslims in India. It was first conferred on Hasan philosophy. His famous work, Tariq-i-Hind or
Ali Shah, who claimed descent from the prophet through his Kitab-i-Hind, is a truly scientific treatise and gives us
daughter. an accurate account of India on the eve of the
Turkish conquest of India.
Magbook ~ Glossary 211
Muhammad Ali A prominent nationalist leader and brother of Bhaskaravarman He was a famous ruler of Kamarupa
Shaukat Ali. He was a leader of the Khilafat Movement and (Assam); he was a contemporary and close friend of
the Non-Cooperation Movement. He became the President Harshavardhana of Kannauj. His court was visited by the
of the Indian National Congress in 1923. Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen-Tsang.
Muhammad Ruhela Ali He was the founder of the power of Bilhana The court poet of Vikramaditya VI (1076-1127), the
the Rohillas or Ruhelas in Rohilkhand lying to the Chalukya ruler of Kalyan; he was the author of
North-West of Awadh. In 1774, they were defeated and their Vikramankadevacharita.
last ruler, Hafiz Rahamat Khan was murdered by the Nawab Birbal, Raja A Rajput chief in the employment of Akbar; he
of Awadh with the help of the British. was the favourite of the emperor who honoured him with
Malik Ambar An Abyssinian slave who settled in Ahmednagar titles of Raja and Kavi Priya (for his Hindi poetry). He lost
and became the Prime Minister of the Nizam Shahi rulers. his life in 1586 while campaigning against the Yusufzai tribe
He introduced a number of revenue reforms, trained the in the North-Western India.
Nizam Shahi forces in the guerrilla tactics of warfare, Chand Bardai The court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan of Ajmer;
employed a large number of Marathas in the army and he was the author of Prithviraj Raso (also called Chand
foiled the attempts of Jahangir to complete Mughal Raisa), which dealt with his patron’s marriage with
annexation of the Nizam Shahi kingdom. Samyukta, his life and achievements.
Amir Khusro He was also known as the parrot of India; he Chand Bibi The daughter of Hussain Nizam Shah of
was a famous poet, historian and musician of the Delhi Ahmednagar and wife of Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur. She
Sultanate. He enjoyed the patronage of successive rulers of acquired fame for her defense of Ahmednagar against
Delhi from Balban to Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. Akbar.
He was a profilic Persian poet associated with the royal Dara Shikoh The eldest son and favourite of Shah Jahan and
courts of more than seven rulers of Delhi Sultanate. He was Mumtaz; he was interested in Sufism and tolerant of all
a soldier, composer of poetry in Arabic, Persian, Urdu and a religious faiths. His claim to the throne was contested by his
diplomat. three younger brothers (Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad),
Asanga A prominent Buddhist scholar, saint and author; he which resulted in the war of succession (1656-1658). He
belonged to the AD 4th century and was the brother of was ultimately tried on the charge of apostasy and executed
Vasubandhu (teacher and minister of Samudragupta). He by Aurangzeb in August 1659.
was the author of the Sutralankara (the earliest text of the Das, Chittaranjan An eminent lawyer who first distinguished
Yogacara School of Mahayanism). himself by successfully defending Aurobindo Ghosh in the
Asvaghosha A Buddhist (Mahayana) saint and scholar of famous Alipore Bomb Case. He gave up his lucrative
Kanishka’s period, he played an active part in the fourth practice to join the Non-Cooperation Movement. He
Buddhist Council. He was the author of Buddhacharita presided over the 1922 Session of the INC. Alongwith
(a biography of the Buddha). Motilal Nehru, he formed the Swaraj Party within the INC
Badauni A prominent historian of Akbar’s period; he is the
with the declared policy of entering the councils and
author of Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh, which contains a rather disrupting their functioning (also known as the Policy of
critical account of Akbar’s liberal reign. Responsive Cooperation). He passed away in 1925.
Because of his great contribution, he came to be called
Barani, Zia-ud-din A conservative historian of Firuz Shah
Deshbandhu (friend of the country).
Tughlaq’s period, his Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi gives us
Dyer, General The military general who was responsible for
information about the rule of the Tughlaqs upto Firoz.
the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (379 deaths and 1208
Bhagwan Das Kachhawaha ruler of Amber and son of Raja
wounded) on 13th April, 1919 and the subsequent
Bihari Mal (who voluntarily submitted to Akbar). He rose
imposition of martial law and humiliation of the Punjabis. He
very high in the service of Akbar. Raja Mansingh, who
was censured and removed from service by the government
served Akbar with distinction was his son.
on the basis of the report of an Enquiry Committee under
Bhasa An early Sanskrit dramatist of ancient India; he is said the chairmanship of Lord Hunter.
to have composed 13 dramas, the most famous being Gulbadan Begum A daughter of Babur; she was a talented
Swapnavasavadatta, Charudatta Pratima. lady and wrote Humayun Namah, an authoritative account
Bhaskaracharya A celebrated Indian astronomer and of the reign of her brother, Humayun.
mathematician of the AD 12th century; he was born at Hamida Banu Begam She was a wife of Humayun and
Bijapur and was the author of Siddhanta Siromani, also mother of Akbar. She exercised a great influence in shaping
known as Lilavati. the personality of Akbar.
212 Magbook ~ Indian History
Hare, David A watchmaker by profession, he was specially Liaquat Ali Khan He was born in Uttar Pradesh and an
interested in the spread of Western education in India. It important leader of the Muslim league. He was the Finance
was largely due to his efforts that the Hindu College was Minister in the Interim Government (1946-1947) and after the
opened in 1817 at Calcutta. partition he became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. He
Hemachandra A prominent Jaina author of the 12th was assassinated in a public meeting.
century, he was the author of Trisastisalaka Macaulay, Thomas Babington A renowned English scholar,
Purushacharita, an enormous work dealing with the lives he was the first law member of the Governor-General’s
of 126 Jaina saints. The Parisistaparvan (which deals Executive council. He drafted the Penal code, which later
with, among other things, the conversion of Chandragupta became the basis of the Indian Criminal Code. He was also
Maurya to Jainism) is its supplement. responsible for introducing Western education through
Ilbert, Sir Courtney A law member of the Viceroy’s English.
Executive council between 1882 and 1886, he sponsored Mahmud Begarha He was one of the greatest rulers of Gujarat,
the famous Ilbert bill and steered it with some he ruled for a long period of 52 years (AD 1459-1511) and
fundamental modifications (due to European protest) defeated many of his neighbours. The Italian traveller,
through the legislature. Later, he served as the Varthima, makes a mention of Mahmud’s great appetite in his
Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University. records.
Impey, Sir Elijah He was appointed the first Chief Justice of Malaviya, Madanmohan A leading nationalist leader, he edited
the Supreme Court in Calcutta by the Regulating Act of three journals (Hindustan, Indian Union and Abhyudaya)
1773. In 1775, he convicted Nanda Kumar for forgery between 1885 and 1907, and joined the Indian National
and sentenced him to death, probably under the Congress becoming its President twice (1909 and 1918). His
influence of Warren Hastings (a classmate of Impey). greatest achievement was the foundation of the Banaras
Jinnah, Muhammed Ali He was the founder of Pakistan Hindu University in 1915. He was thrice elected President of
and originally was a successful lawyer. He joined Indian the Hindu mahasabha.
politics as a follower of moderate Congress leaders like Minhaj-i-Siraj A famous historian, he was the author of
Dadabhai Naoroji and GK Gokhale, but soon joined the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, a reliable account of the early period of the
Muslim league (1913) and became its President in 1916 Delhi Sultanate.
(Lucknow session).After the ascendancy of Gandhiji in the
national politics, he completely broke away from the Mir Jumla Beginning his career in Golconda, later he joined the
Congress. Later, he reorganised the league and service of Shah Jahan with the help of Aurangzeb to whom he
demanded the partition of India on a religious basis presented the famous Kohinoor diamond. During the war of
(1940). He was known as the Qaid-i-Azam (Great leader), succession, he supported Aurangzeb and was rewarded as
he became the first Governor-General of independent the Governor of Bengal.
Pakistan. Muhammed Ali Alongwith his brother, Shaukat Ali, he led the
Jones, Sir William A famous British orientalist and jurist, Khilafat movement in 1920 and later joined the
he founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1789 and Non-Cooperation Movement. He was the President of the
served it as its President till his death in Calcutta in 1794. Gaya Session of the Congress (1922).
Kalhana The author of Rajatarangini which is a chronicle of Muhammed Reza Khan He was appointed at the instance of
the kings of Kashmir, he lived in the AD 12th century. the English as the Deputy Nawab of Bengal in 1765 and
Kaudinya According to Cambodian tradition, he was an
helped them fully in exploiting Bengal through the System of
Indian Brahmin who established the kingdom of Kambuja Dual Government (1765-1772).
Desa in modern Cambodia. Sir Thomas Munro A distinguished British revenue official, he
Khafi Khan The pen name under which Muhammed became the Governor of Madras (1820-1827). His greatest
Hashim wrote his famous historical work, achievement was the introduction of the Ryotwari system in
Muntakhab-ul-Lubab, on the reign of Aurangzeb in total the Madras Presidency.
secrecy because of the emperor’s opposition to it. Mrs Sarojini Naidu A freedom fighter and poet, she presided
Kumbha The Rana of Mewar, he was one of its greatest over the Kanpur Session of the INC in 1925 and was, thus,
rulers. He was also a great builder, being responsible for the first Indian woman President of the Congress
the construction of about 32 forts within the State of (Mrs Annie Besant being the first woman President). She was
Mewar and the ‘Kirtistambha’ or victory tower within also the first lady to be appointed as State Governor of Uttar
Chittor. Pradesh between 1947-1949.
Magbook ~ Glossary 213
Nana Phadnavis A Maratha Brahmin, he became the guardian Shams-i-Siraj Afif A famous historian as well as an officer
and Chief Minister of the minor Peshwa, Madhav Rao Narayan during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, he was the
and practically, ran the affairs of the Marathas from 1774 till his author of Tarikh-i-Firozshahi.
death in 1800. Sinha, Sir Satyendra Prasanna He was the first Indian to
Pandit Motilal Nehru, Father of Jawaharlal and a successful be appointed as a Governor of Bihar and Orissa from
lawyer, he joined the Congress party in 1919. He started a 1920 to 1924 by the British. He was also the first Indian
journal, Independent, to support the cause of Indian to be appointed as a member of the Viceroy’s Executive
nationalism. Alongwith CR Das, he formed the Swaraj Party in Council (1909) and the only Indian to be honoured with
1922 to carry out the programme of disruption of legislative a peerage. He also presided over the Bombay session
work. (1915) of the INC.
He became the President of INC twice (1919 Calcutta session Tagore, Dwarakanath He was the founder of the famous
and 1928 Amritsar session). He was also the Chairman of the Tagore family of Jorasanko in Calcutta, he earned a lot of
committee which submitted a report, known as the Nehru money in business and started the Union Bank, which
report (1928) on the future Constitution of India. was the first Bengali venture in the banking line. He was
Nivedita, Sister A famous disciple of Swami Vivekananda, she one of the earliest supporters of the Brahmo Samaj.
was an Irish lady and originally known as Margaret noble. Upagupta A famous Buddhist monk, he believed to have
Arriving in India at the invitation of Vivekananda, she devoted converted Ashoka to Buddhism. He is also referred to as
herself to social service. Moggaliputta Tissa in the contemporary Buddhist texts.
Radhakanta Deb Leader of the orthodox Hindu community in the Ustad Isa He was probably the architect, who designed
19th century, he cooperated with David Hare in his educational the Taj Mahal at Agra and supervised its construction.
activities, but was opposed to social reforms (including sati) Vijnesvara (Vijnanesvara) A celebrated Hindu jurist, he
and the activities of the Brahmo Samaj of Rammohan Roy. belonged to the reign of Vikramanka (AD 1076-1126) of
Rahmat Ali Chaudhary An Indian Muslim studying at the Kalyani Chalukyas. His work, the Mitaksara, is
Cambridge, he coined the term ‘Pakistan’ in 1933. It was a considered as one of the most authoritative expositions
development of Iqbal’s conception of a union of Indian of the Hindu Law of Succession.
provinces with a majority of Muslims in their population. The Wedderburn, Sir William An English ICS Officer of
idea was later taken up by Jinnah, who made Pakistan a reality. distinction, he took a leading part in the Congress
Ramanand One of the earliest bhakti saints of North India (15th politics after his retirement. He presided over two
century), he was influenced by Ramanuja. He was a Congress sessions in 1889 and 1910.
worshipper of Rama and preached to all without distinction of Yajnavalkya A famous upanishadic thinker, he was
caste and sex. Amongst his disciples, were Kabir, a Muslim associated by tradition with the renowned philosopher
weaver and Padmavati. king, Janaka of Mithila.
Salima Begum Daughter of Babur’s daughter and cousin of Yule, George One of those rare non-official English
Akbar, she was first married to Bairam Khan and after the merchants, who sympathised with the political
latter’s death was married by Akbar himself. aspirations of the Indians, he supported the INC and
Sanga, Rana The ruler of Mewar (1509-1529), he was one of the presided over its fourth session held at Allahabad in
greatest warriors of India. Expecting Babur to imitate Timur, he 1888.
extended an invitation to him, but his calculations did not Zain-uI-Abidin The eighth Sultan of Kashmir
materialise. He was defeated by Babur in the Battle of Khanwa (1420-1460). He is famous for his religious toleration
(1527). Later, Sanga was killed by his own sardars when he and patronage of literature. He had the Mahabharata
wanted to fight Babur for a second time. and Rajatarangini translated into Persian.
Practice Set
1. Consider the following statements regarding the
Amending Act of 1781
1. The act settled the question of the jurisdiction of
ANALYSE YOURSELF 1
(c) Diwan-i-Mustakhraj or the Officer Incharge to realise
the arrears of revenue collectors
(d) Diwan-i-Riyasat or Department Incharge of public
Supreme Court. It was to have jurisdiction over all the grievance, weights and measures, markets etc
inhabitants of Calcutta.
9. Which of the following is not included in the Vedic
2. The act provided that appeals could be taken from the literature?
provincial courts to the Governor-General in council that (a) The Samhitas (b) The Tripitakas
was to be final court of appeal, except in those civil (c) The Upanishads (d) The Aranyakas
cases which involved a sum of ` 10000 or more.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 10. Consider the following statements
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. The Regulating Act was in operation for 11 years and
Warren Hastings was the only Governor-General who
2. ‘Uttaramerur Inscription’ gives us information about had to administer India under it.
(a) diplomatic relations between the Cholas and the 2. The Amending Act of 1781 provided that the Supreme
Sailendras
Court must take into consideration and respect the
(b) autonomous village administration of the Cholas
religions and social customs and usages of Indian
(c) origin of the Cholas
while enforcing its decrees and processes.
(d) military achievements of Rajaraja-1
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
3. Which of the following are true about Harappa? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
1. Situated in the Montegomery district. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. On the bank of river Ravi.
11. The most decisive battle that led to the establishment
3. First town to be discovered in 1921. of supremacy of the British in India was
4. Largest Indus sites. (a) the Battle of Plassey (b) the Battle of Buxar
Which of the statements given above are correct? (c) the Battle of Wandiwash (d) the Third Battle of Panipat
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) All of these
12. Who founded the Lingayat Movement?
4. Consider the following statements (a) Basvaraj (b) Ramanuja
1. The Khalsa Panth was created by Guru Gobind Singh. (c) Shankaracharya (d) Kamban
2. His disciples called him Saccha Padshah.
13. Consider the following statements regarding
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Debendra-nath Tagore
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. In 1843, he reorganised the Brahmo Samaj and put
5. Which of the following Brahmanas belongs to the Yajur new life into it.
Veda? 2. In 1849, he founded Tattavabodhini Sabha to
(a) Satapatha (b) Kausitaki (c) Aitareya (d) Shadvimsa propagate Rammohan Roy’s ideas.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
6. At Kalibangan, a ploughed field showing furrows in two
directions cutting each other at right angles shows that (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(a) it was meant for single crop pattern (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) it was mainly for planting trees 14. With reference to Indian literary works, what is Digha
(c) it was a method cropping two different plants on the same Nikaya?
field (a) An important Buddhist text in Pali
(d) it was meant for crop rotation (b) Miscellaneous work in prose and verse associated
with Mudrarakshasha
7. Which of the following gives the administrative divisions (c) Collection of long sermons ascribed to Mahavira
Practice Set 1
of the Sultanate empire in the correct descending order? (d) Collection of short stories ascribed to Kautilya
(a) Provinces, Shiqs, Parganas, Villages
(b) Parganas, Shiqs, Villages 15. Consider the following statements regarding the
(c) Shiqs, Parganas, Qasbahs Supreme Court established under the Act of 1773
(d) Iqtas, Parganas, Shiqs, Villages 1. The Supreme Court was constituted in 1774 with Sir
Elijah Impey as Chief Justice and Chambers
8. The Diwan-i-Wizarat had under it other minor Lemaister and Hyde as the puisne judges.
departments, each under a distinct officer of its own.
Which of the following heads of departments did not 2. All the public servants of the company were made
help the wazir in the management of state finances? amenable to its jurisdiction.
(a) Mushrif-i-Mumalik or Accountant General Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(b) Mustawfi-i-Mumalik or Auditor-General (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Magbook ~ Practice Set 1 215
16. Which Chola King conquered the Sri Vijaya empire of the 23. “Rammohan Roy was the only person in his time, in the
Sailendra rulers by sending a naval expedition? whole world of man, to realise completely the
(a) Rajendra-I (b) Parantaka-II significance of the Modern age.” This statement is
(c) Rajaraja-I (d) Virarajendra attributed to
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (b) Subhash Chandra Bose
17. In what respect was the Diwani of Bengal, which the (c) Rabindranath Tagore (d) Mahatma Gandhi
English secured from Emperor Shah Alam, different from
a similar Mughal institution? 24. Which of the following statements is true about
(a) In the Mughal system, the provincial Diwan had a limited ‘Tamaasha’
tenure; the English got the Diwani rights permanently (a) Tamaasha is a traditional folk threatre form of
(b) In the Mughal system, the office was given to an Maharashtra.
individual; in the case of the English, the office was to be (b) It is performed in Tamples.
held by a corporate body (c) It was originated from the time of pashvas
(c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’ (d) Roots lie in Gujarati theatricals forms.
(d) None of the above
25. Why did the rich merchants of Bengal conspire with
18. The Shimla conference of political parties of India, in the English against the Nawab of Bengal?
1945 was called (a) The insulting behaviour of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah
(a) to seek the solution of communal problems existing at towards the merchants
that time in India (b) The fact that English were permitting the misuse
(b) to agree and approve the Wavell Plan for Indian of dastaks to the rich Indian merchants
self-government (c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
(c) to make a discussion about the elections going to be (d) The Indian merchants acting as intermediaries of the
held in India in the post World War II conditions English
(d) to demonstrate the support of all Indian political parties
with Indian National Army 26. The Council of the 'Nine Gems’ is associated with
(a) Ballala Sena (b) Harshavardhana
19. The main cause of the conflict between nawab (c) Chandragupta II (d) Devapala
Siraj-ud-Daula and the East India company was the that
(a) the British opposed the succession of Siraj-ud-Daula 27. Which of the following was not introduced by Balban?
(b) the British misused the trade concession (a) The festival of Nauroz
(c) the British attacked the french settlement of (b) The practice of Jharokha-i-darshan
Chandranagar in Bengal. (c) The practice of Sijda and Paibos
(d) the incident of Black Hole had occurred. (d) Inducting Turkish people for high offices
20. Consider the following statements. 28. Which of the following generals of Ala-ud-din Khilji
1. Origin of Indian music has been depicted from Samveda. was killed by the Mongols?
(a) Nusrat Khan (b) Ulugh Khan
2. Sabha and Samiti are mentioned as twin daughters of
(c) Zafar Khan (d) Alp Khan
Prajapati in Rigveda.
3. Kshatriyas precedence over Brahmins is depicted from 29. The central feature of Indian society during
Aitareya. AD 750-1200 was
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) feudalism (b) liberalism
(c) egalitarianism (d) brotherhood
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) None of these
21. “Everywhere in lane and bazaar lay the headless trunks 30. The poverty of the people found its culmination in a
of the slain. For 7 days following the general slaughter, series of famines. These famines highlighted the
the water (in the Yamuna) flowed of a blood-red colour.” divergence between
The statement describes the sack of Delhi during the (a) the precepts and practices of the British rulers
invasion of (b) the riches of England and the poverty of India
(a) Ahmed Shah Abdali (b) Nadir Shah (c) the basic requirements of the people and the priorities
(c) Timur (d) Ghulam Qadir Rohilla of the government
(d) the past and the present of India
22. Consider the following statements regarding the
Act of 1773 31. During the governorship of which of the following was
Bihar added to Bengal and Orissa to make the
Practice Set 1
35. What made Jahangir issue a Farman in 1613 permitting 43. What did Ala-ud-din do to the Khut and Muqaddam?
the English to establish a factory permanently at Surat? (a) He completely abolished their offices
(a) Reconciliation between the English and the (b) He gave them more powers for exercising their duties
Portuguese (c) He abolished the privileges held by them before and
(b) The defeat of the Portuguese naval squadrons by the forced them to pay taxes
British (d) He brought them under the control of the centre
(c) A secret offer of naval help to the Mughal emperor to
oust the Portuguese
44. The officer responsible for the safe custody of land
records during the Gupta period was known as
(d) None of the above
(a) Dhruv Adhikarana (b) Karanika
36. Which of the following is not true about Ala-ud-din’s (c) Samaharta (d) Shaulkila
military reforms?
(a) He recruited and maintained the largest standing army 45. What was the main objective of Lord Wellesley in
(b) He introduced Dagh (branding of horses) and Chehre concluding a Subsidiary Treaty (1798) with the
(descriptive roll of soldiers) Nizam?
(c) He paid the ordinary soldiers in cash (a) Create a buffer state between the British possessions
(d) He introduced a new department called Diwan-i-Arz and the dominions of Tipu Sultan
(b) Exterminate French influence and intrigues in India
37. Identify the contemporary work of the Mughal period (c) Improve his relations with the Nizam with a view to
which is useful for obtaining information on the agrarian creating a permanent rivalry against Tipu Sultan
condition. (d) Eliminate the possibility of an alliance between the
(a) Tawarikh-i-Alfi (b) Akbarnama Nizam and the Marathas
(c) Muntakhab-ul-Lubab (d) Ain-i-Akbari
46. Jaubani is a dance form traditionally performed in
38. What is not true about Ala-ud-din’s market regulations? North Eastern India by the
(a) The prices of various commodities were fixed by the state (a) Dimasas (b) Mizos
(b) He appointed shahana-i-madi as the controller of markets (c) Khasis (d) Bodas
(c) There was provision for rationing of grains during droughts
and emergencies 47. Consider the following statements regarding Lodis
(d) He met with firm resistance from the traders while architecture style’s features
enforcing these measures 1. Octagonal shaped tombs, introduced by them, which
were later adopted by the Muaghals.
39. Which of the predecessors of the modern man, is said to 2. Balconies and Kiosks showed influence of Rajasthani
have, had almost the same brain capacity as that of the
and Gujarati sytle.
modern man?
(a) Homo erectus (b) Australopithecus africanus Which of the statement(s) given above is /are correct?
(c) Ramapithecus (d) Neanderthal (a) only 1 (b) only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
40. Which of the following is not true about the Revenue
Policy of Ala-ud-din Khilji? 48. Which rock shelter in India bears largest number of
(a) He brought the peasant in direct relation with the state paintings?
(b) He tried to curb and check the intermediaries (a) Ghagharia (b) Bhimbetka
(c) He was the first to introduce the system of measurement (c) Lakhahia (d) Adamgarh
of land and assessment of revenue
49. The famous painting ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ was
(d) He abolished the Jaziya collected from the non-Muslims prepared by
41. Which of the following was not a part, of Tripitakas? (a) Mahendranath Singh (b) Nand Kishore Sharma
(a) Jatakas (b) Vinaya (c) Sutta (d) Abhidhamma (c) Sivnandan Nautiyal (d) Vishwanath Mehta
Practice Set 1
42. Which of the following statements about the creation of 50. Which one of the following sites is famous for
departments by the various Sultans is not correct? pre-historic paintings?
(a) Diwan-i-Mustakhraj or the Department of Revenue to (a) Bagh (b) Ajanta
realise the arrears was created by Ala-ud-din Khilji (c) Bhimbetka (d) Amravati
Answers
1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (c)
11. (b) 12. (a) 13. (a) 14. (a) 15. (c) 16. (a) 17. (d) 18. (b) 19. (b) 20. (a)
21. (c) 22. (a) 23. (c) 24. (b) 25. (a) 26. (c) 27. (b) 28. (c) 29. (a) 30. (d)
31. (c) 32. (c) 33. (b) 34. (d) 35. (b) 36. (d) 37. (d) 38. (d) 39. (d) 40. (d)
41. (a) 42. (d) 43. (c) 44. (b) 45. (b) 46. (a) 47. (c) 48. (d) 49. (c) 50. (c)
Practice Set
1. He was a great scholar and reformer who rose in 1851
to the position of the principalship of the Sanskrit
ANALYSE YOURSELF
6. Consider the following
Tattvabodhini Sabha
2
statements regarding
College. He opened the gates of the Sanskrit College 1. It included most of the prominent followers of Ram
to non-Brahmin students and introduced the study of Mohan Roy and Derozio and other independent
Western thought in the Sanskrit College, so as to free thinkers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Akshay
Sanskrit from the harmful effects of self-imposed Kumar Dutt.
isolation. The social reformer associated with these
2. Its organ Tattvabodhini Patrika promoted a systematic
achievements is
study of India’s past in the Bengali language.
(a) Dayanand Saraswati
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (a) Only 1
(d) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
2. A seal found at Mohenjodaro with a yogi wearing (d) Neither 1 nor 2
horned-cap and surrounded by animals has been
identified with` 7. Consider the following statements regarding the
(a) Varuna (b) Rudra Pitt’s India Act, 1784
(c) Shiva (d) Indra 1. In India, the Chief Government was placed in the hands
of a Governor-General and Council of four.
3. Which of the contemporary historians was appointed 2. The Court of Proprietors lost the right to rescind,
as the chief Qazi of Delhi by Sultan Muhammed-bin
suspend or revoke any resolution of the directors
Tughlaq?
which was approved by the Board of Control.
(a) Ibn Battuta
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(b) Zia-ud-din Barani
(a) Only 1
(c) Shams-i-Siraj Afif
(b) Only 2
(d) None of thes above
(c) Both 1 and 2
4. Consider the following statements regarding the (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Treaty of Allahabad
8. Which is the tallest of all medieval Indian temples?
1. The treaty was signed between Clive and
(a) Kailasa Temple at Ellora
Shuja-ud-Daula on 16th July, 1765.
(b) Sun Temple at Konark
2. Shuja’s old dominions were restored to him with the (c) Nilakanteswara Temple at Udaipur
exception of Kara and Allahabad which were given to (d) Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjore
Shah Alam II.
3. Balwant Singh of Varanasi was confirmed in 9. Which one of the following sites of Indus Valley
Civilisation has an ancient dockyard?
possession of his zamindari.
(a) Kalibangan (b) Lothal
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect?
(c) Rangpur (d) Kaveripattanam
(a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 2
(c) 2 and 3 (d) Only 3 10. Consider the following statements
1. On 12th August, 1765, Clive secured from Shah Alam II,
5. Consider the following statements regarding
Khajuroaho temples the powerless Mughal emperor, a firman granting to
the English company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and
1. Khajuraho temples are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and
Practice Set 2
Orissa.
Jain Tirthankaras.
2. The company was to pay him annually a fixed sum of `
2. The underlying plan of these temples of Nagara style
53 lakh for the support of the Nizamat and an annual
consist of the Ardhamandaps (an entrance porch), the
subsidy of ` 26 lakh for grant of Diwani.
Mandaps (the assembly half), the Antarala (the
vestibule) and the Garbhagriha (the sanctum). 3. The company appointed Muhammad Reza Khan and
Which of the statement(s) given above is are correct? Raja Shitab Rai as the Deputy Diwans of Bihar and
(a) Only 1 Bengal respectively.
(b) Only 2 Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
218 Magbook ~ Indian History
11. Consider the following statements 17. Consider the following statements regarding the
1. Sir Thomas Roy obtained two firmans issued by Mughal Charter Act, 1853
emperor Jahangir and Aurangzeb for trade privileges in 1. The number of the members of the Court of Directors
India. was reduced from 24 to 16, out of which 6 were to be
2. In 1700, the Directors of the East India Company nominated by the crown.
constitutes Bengal into a separate presidency and 2. The law member was made a full member of the
appoints Sir Charles Eyre as the first President. Governor-General’s Executive Council and this council
Which of the statement(s) given above is\are correct? while sitting in its legislative capacity was enlarged by
(a) Only 1 the addition of 12 members.
(b) Only 2 Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
12. Consider the following statements regarding 18. Kautilya was the Prime Minister of which of the
Derozians following Indian rulers?
1. They attacked old and decadent customs, rites and (a) Chandragupta Maurya (b) Chandragupta I
traditions. (c) Ashoka (d) Harshavardhana
2. They were passionate advocates of women’s rights and 19. The failure of the Wavell Plan has been called a
demanded education for them. ‘breakwater in Indian political history’ because
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect? (a) the Muslim League was treated at the same level as the
(a) Only 1 Congress
(b) Only 2 (b) the Muslim League got the right to use its veto in all
(c) Both 1 and 2 future negotiations
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) the Muslim League was recognised as the sole
organisation of Indian Muslims
13. Consider the following statements (d) All of the above
1. The system of dual government established by the
company in Bengal remained in operation for 5 years. 20. Which of the following statements about INA trial
2. The establishment of this masked system was a sign of is/are correct?
the company’s unwillingness to recognise that it had 1. PK Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurbaksh Singh
ceased to be a mere trading body and became a ruling Dhillon were put on trial.
power. 2. Bhulabhai Desai was the Chief Defence Advocate.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
14. Which one of the following is true regarding the 21. Name the Chola ruler who sent an embassy of
‘Swastika symbol’? 72 merchants to China in AD 1077.
(a) The Swastika appears to be not only pre-Vedic, but also (a) Kulottunga I (b) Rajaraja II
pre-Harappan in origin (c) Kulottunga II (d) Rajendra I
(b) The Swastika spread from Elam and Baluchistan to the
22. The term used for measurement of land in the
Indus Valley and Turkmenistan
Sultanate period was
(c) Around 800 BC, the symbol appears as a decorative
(a) Kismat-i-Ghalla (b) Ghalla-Bakshi
piece on PGW used for domestic purpose
(c) Masahat (d) Ghazi
(d) It is an exclusively Aryan symbol
15. Which of the four animals surrounded the Pashupati in 23. Consider the following statements regarding Raja
Ram Mohan Roy
the seal from Harappa?
1. He studied Sanskrit literature and Hindu philosophy at
1. Lion 2. Tiger 3. Elephant
Varanasi and the Quran and Persian and Arabic
4. Rhinoceros 5. Cow 6. Buffalo
Select the correct answer using the codes given below literature at Patna.
Practice Set 2
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 6 2. In 1809, he wrote in Persian his famous work gift to
(c) 1, 3, 4, and 5 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 5 monotheists, in which he put forward strong
arguments against belief in many Gods and for the
16. ‘‘Ram Mohan Roy was the only person in his time, in worship of a single God.
the whole world of man, to realise completely the
3. In 1820, he published his percepts of Jesus and asked
significance of the Modern age.’’ This statement is
his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific
attributed to
approach and the principle of human dignity and social
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Subhash Chandra Bose equality of all men and women.
(c) Rabindranath Tagore Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(d) Mahatma Gandhi (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
Magbook ~ Practice Set 2 219
24. What is the ascending order of the following units of
administration in the Chola period? 32. Consider the following statements regarding
1. Valanadus 2. Nodus Ramakrishna Mission.
3. Mandalams 4. Kurrams 1. It was founded in 1887 by Vivekananda to carry on
Codes humanitarian relief and social work.
(a) 3, 2, 1, 4 (b) 1, 2, 3, 4 2. The mission had many branches in different parts of the
(c) 4, 1, 2, 3 (d) 4, 2, 1, 3
country and carried on social services by opening
25. In Ashoka’s administration, Rajjukas looked after schools, hospitals and dispensaries, orphanages,
(a) religious matters libraries etc.
(b) collection of taxes Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(c) municipal administration (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(d) administration of justice (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
26. Consider the following statements 33. The style of temple architecture that was prevalent
1. Viceroy Lord Montague appointed a committee under under Chola dynasty was
the presidentship of Sydney Rowlatt, in 1919, to (a) Nagara style (b) Dravidian style
investigate the nature and extent of revolutionary (c) Gopuram style (d) Solanki style instructions
activities. 34. Who said ‘‘The Congress Movement was neither
2. To protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy, inspired by the people nor devised or planned by
Mahatma Gandhi surrendered the knighthood them’’?
conferred on him by the British Government. (a) Lala Lajpat Rai (b) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) Lord Curzon (d) Lord Dufferin
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
35. In pursuit of Jalaluddin, the fugitive Khwarizmi prince
Chengiz Khan, the famous Mongol warrior, came to
27. The Gupta feudatories who became strong and India’s border in the reign of
independent in Gujarat were known as (a) Balban (b) Iltutmish
(a) Vakatakas (b) Maitrakas (c) Ala-ud-din Khilji (d) Muhammed-bin-Tughlaq
(c) Yaudheyas (d) Vardhanas
36. During the Anglo Maratha Wars, which of the following
28. Consider the following statements regarding Poona was concluded last?
Pact (1932) (a) Treaty of Gwalior with Sindhia
1. 148 seats in different Provincial Legislatures were (b) Treaty of Mandasor with Holkar
reserved for depressed classes, in place of 71 as (c) Treaty of Poona with Baji Rao II
provided in the Communal Award. (d) Treaty of Suri-Arjangaon with Sindhia
2. 18% of the seats in the Central Legislature were 37. Consider the following statements regarding the
reserved for depressed classes. Regulating Act, 1773
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1. The right of vote in the Court of Proprietors was raised
(a) Only 1 from ` 500 to ` 1000.
(b) Only 2
2. The Court of Directors, hitherto elected every year, was
(c) Both 1 and 2
henceforth to be elected for 5 years.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. The number of directors was fixed at 24, one-fourth
29. Consider the following events retiring every 3 years.
1. Release of Sahu, the son of Sambhaji. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
2. The campaign against Banda Bahadur. (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
3. Independence of Mewar and Marwar acknowledged.
38. The Ashokan inscription which gives an account of the
Which of the above events took place under Bahadur Kalinga War and its effects is
Shah I? (a) Girnar Rock Edict (b) Minor Rock Edict III
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3
Practice Set 2
42. Which of the following was not one of the measures 48. Consider the following statements
taken by Balban to enforce the prestige of the crown? 1. The vetal Panchavimshatika was written by Ravilal
(a) He held a Magnificent Court with a lot of aura and Shah.
splendour 2. It has a collection of folk tales which are related to king
(b) He stopped laughter and jokes in the court Vikramaditya, the legendary king identified with
(c) He associated his sons in the administration to ensure starting of the Vikram era (58 BCE).
the prestige of the throne Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(d) He stopped drinking wine, so as to remain serious in (a) only 1 (b) only 2
court (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
43. Halebid is associated with 49. Lalit Kala Academy was established by the
(a) Cholas (b) Kakatiyas government of India to
(c) Hoysalas (d) Chalukyas (a) promote understanding of India Art.
44. Which of the following was not a cause for Razia’s (b) develop dance, drama and music
downfall? (c) increase film production
(a) She was not accepted as a ruler by the nobility as she (d) propagate India culture
was a woman 50. Consider the following statements regarding
(b) She tried to raise the prestige of the throne vis-a-vis the ‘Kautilya’s Arthashastra’
nobility 1. It places morality higher than political expediency.
(c) She showed undue preference for an Abyssinia
2. It argues the case for a fully centralised government
horseman Jamal-ud-din Yakut
for the empire.
(d) She did not enjoy popular support
3. It deals with problems of administration as well as
45. Arrange the following Buddhist councils in laws of property and crime.
chronological order. 4. It includes section on government of the state and
1. Vaishali 2. Rajagriha diplomatic relations with other states.
3. Pataliputra 4. Srinagar Which of thw abvoe statements are correct?
Codes (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 3
(a) 1,4,3,2 (b) 3,2,1,4 (c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 3 and 4
(c) 3,1,2,4 (d) 2,1,3,4
Answers
1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (b) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (c)
11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (b) 14. (c) 15. (b) 16. (c) 17. (d) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (c)
21. (a) 22. (c) 23. (d) 24. (d) 25. (d) 26. (d) 27. (b) 28. (c) 29. (d) 30. (d)
31. (a) 32. (b) 33. (b) 34. (a) 35. (b) 36. (b) 37. (a) 38. (d) 39. (a) 40. (a)
41. (d) 42. (c) 43. (d) 44. (d) 45. (d) 46. (d) 47. (d) 48. (b) 49. (a) 50. (b)
Practice Set 2
Practice Set
1. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
Area Parallel Government
ANALYSE YOURSELF 3
3. It shows all the three phases of Harappan culture.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Established during QIM (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
(a) Tamluk (Midnapur) : Jatiya Sarkar under Satish
7. Consider the following statements regarding the
Samant Pitt’s India Act, 1784
(b) Talcher (Orissa) : Parallel government under 1. The Board of Control was established to control all
Lakshman Nayak civil, military and revenue affairs of the company.
(c) Satara (Maharashtra) : Prati Sarkar under Nana Patil 2. The members of the Board of Control, 6 in number
(d) All of the above were to be appointed by the Court of Proprietors of
2. Which of the following statements is/are correct? company.
(a) The city of Dhilika (Delhi) was founded by the Tomara’s in Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
AD 736, but Chauhans overthrew them and occupied it in (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
the 12th century (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Chandela was the first early medieval dynasty to use
8. Arrange the following in a chronological order,
Hindi in Devanagari script in its epigraphs according to the date of establishment.
(c) The Sena king, Ballal Sena, is credited with the founding
1. Indian Association.
of Kulinism, a system of superiority of higher castes
(d) All of the above 2. Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
3. Madras Mahajan Sabha.
3. Consider the following statements 4. Bombay Presidency Association.
1. Muhammad Shah is also known in history by the name of Codes
the ‘Rangila’. (a) 2, 1, 3, 4 (b) 1, 2, 3, 4 (c) 3, 2, 1, 4 (d) 1, 4, 3, 2
2. Nadir Shah attacked India during the reign of Ahmad
9. Consider the following statement.
Shah.
1. The founder of Radha Swami Satsang was Tulsi
3. Battle of Kamal was fought between Nadir Shah and
Ram.
Muhammad Shah.
2. Tulsi Ram was also known as Shiv Dayal Sahib.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect?
3. The movement, Radha Swami Satsang, was started
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1 and 2
to bring religious unity and emphasised on simplicity
4. Most of the modern Indian industries were owned or of social life and social service.
controlled by British capital. Which of the following Which of the statements given above are correct?
factors attracted the foreign capitalists to Indian (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
industry?
1. Labour and raw materials were readily and cheaply 10. The achievements of Samudragupta are described
available. in the
(a) Hathigumpha inscription
2. Ready market provided by India and its neighbours.
(b) Allahabad Pillar inscription
3. Profitable investment opportunities at home getting
(c) Girnar inscription
fewer. (d) Sarnath inscription
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 11. Consider the following statements regarding
Aurobindo Ghosh
Practice Set 3
Which of the statements given above are correct? rising Maratha power
(a) 1 and 4 (b) 1, 2 and 3 (c) They were able to convince the Mughal emperor that
(c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) All of these they had no military ambitions
(d) The activities of the Pindaris and the grave law and
17. Consider the following statements order situation
1. The book ‘The Indian War of Independence, 1857, was
written by VD Savarkar. 23. Which one of the following four Vedas contains an
account of magical charms and spells?
2. Mirza Ghalib, the famous Urdu poet, witnessed the
(a) Rig Veda (b) Yajur Veda
massacre of male civilians of Delhi by the British soldiers,
(c) Atharva Veda (d) Sama Veda
after it was recaptured.
Magbook ~ Practice Set 3 223
24. Which of the following statements about the Dutch 31. What was main contribution of Jainism to Indian
interest and activities in India is incorrect? philosophy?
(a) Like the Portuguese, they treated the people of India (a) The Doctrine of Rebirth
cruelly and exploited them ruthlessly (b) The Doctrine of Syadvada
(b) They took no part in politics or cultural contacts (c) The Doctrine of Immortality of Soul
(c) They became the carriers of trade between India and the (d) The Doctrine of Brahma is Nirguna
islands of the far East 32. In the Ryotwari areas in British India, the
(d) They made several attempts to monopolise the channels moneylenders fleeced and exploited the peasantry
of trade between India and the West and usurped their lands because
25. Consider the following statements about Vedic period (a) the usurious rate of interest charged by the
1. The Kula was the basis of both social and political moneylenders made the peasants helpless
(b) they got thumb impressions of the debtors on blank
organisations.
papers
2. The Purohita was the first ranking official. (c) they obtained mortgage of the lands against the loans
3. Rig Veda vidhata, Ganga and Samiti. advanced by them
Which of the statements given above are correct? (d) All of the above
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None of these 33. Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
Dynasty Founder
26. The term ‘Yavanapriya’ mentioned in ancient Sanskrit (a) Sena Dynasty : Founder by Vijaya Sena
texts denoted (b) Pala Dynasty : Founder by Gopala
(a) a fine variety of Indian Muslim (c) Pratihara Dynasty : Founder by Bhoja
(b) lvory (d) Rashtrakuta Dynasty : Founder by Amogavarsha
(c) damsels sent to the Greek court for dance performance
(d) pepper
34. Consider the following statements.
1. The All India Trade Union Congress was formed in
27. Within two decades of the possession of Bombay by 1920.
the English, Bombay emerged as a leading port on the 2. Lokamanya Tilak played an important role in the
Western coast on account of its
formation of the AITUC.
(a) excellent natural harbour
3. Lala Lajpat Rai was appointed as its first President
(b) immunity from Maratha raids, such as at Surat
(c) improved administration under the English, which and Dewan Chaman Lal as its General Secretary.
attracted the merchants Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(d) All of the above (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
28. Consider the following statements
1. In 1690, Job Charnock established a factory at Sutanuti. 35. Consider the following statements
2. Zamindari of three villages of Sutanuti, Kalikata and 1. In 1639, Franscis Day obtained the site of Madras
Govindpur was acquired by the British in 1698. These from the Raja of Chandragiri with permission to build a
villages later grew into city of Calcutta. fortified factory, which was named Fort St George.
3. The factory at Sutanuti was fortified in 1696 and this 2. Eviadras replaced Masulipatnam as the headquarters
new fortified settlement was named ‘Fort William’ in of the English on the Coromandal coast.
1700. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these 36. Which one of the following statements about
Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien’s travel in India is incorrect?
29. Consider the following statements (a) He came to India during the reign of Chandragupta II
1. Kharaj was a land tax. (b) His object was to visit the holy places of Buddhism
2. Zakat was a tax on land held by Muslims. (c) He came by the sea route
3. Jizya was a religious tax levied on non-Muslim. (d) He visited whole India and went back to his country by
Practice Set 3
or revoke any resolution of the directors which was (a) Abul Fazal (b) Faizi
approved by the Board of Control. (c) Dara Shikoh (d) Alberuni
Answers
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (d) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (b)
11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (c) 16. (d) 17. (c) 18. (b) 19. (c) 20. (d)
21. (a) 22. (c) 23. (c) 24. (d) 25. (c) 26. (d) 27. (d) 28. (d) 29. (a) 30. (b)
31. (b) 32. (c) 33. (d) 34. (d) 35. (c) 36. (c) 37. (b) 38. (c) 39. (a) 40. (d)
41. (b) 42. (d) 43. (b) 44. (d) 45. (d) 46. (a) 47. (b) 48. (a) 49. (d) 50. (b)
Practice Set
1. Which of the following measures was not taken by
Ala-ud-din Khilji to curb the power of the nobles?
(a) He confiscated all Inam and Waqf lands
ANALYSE YOURSELF 4
7. How did the Industrial Revolution in England
affect the British Company’s relations with India?
(a) The company stopped exports from India to
(b) Matrimonial alliances only with the consent of the Sultan Britain as all raw materials were now mined and
(c) Secularisation of bureaucracy by including even Hindu produced in Britain
converts (b) The Indian goods were inferior in quality to the
(d) He gave a lot of power to his sons so as to retain power mill-manufactured goods and did not have much
patronage in the local market
2. The subsidiary alliance guaranteed protection to the (c) British goods in India became extremely cheap
Hyderabad state against external aggression. Its effect on (d) The company began to export raw materials from
internal administration was that India instead of the finished goods as was done
(a) it considerably reduced the court intrigues which the French earlier
used to revel in
(b) it improved the quality of administration 8. Consider the following statements
(c) the Hyderabad rulers lost all initiative for good and efficient 1. Firman issued by Farrukhsiyar in favour of British
government and various disruptive forces came to the (for duty-free trade) was known as Magna Carta of
surface the British Company.
(d) there was no appreciable change in the way administration 2. Farrukhsiyar issued a firman in favour of Captain
was being conducted
Hawkins.
3. Who among the following is known as the ‘father of Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
revolutionary thought in India’? correct?
(a) Lala Lajpat Rai (a) Only 1
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (b) Only 2
(c) Aurobindo Ghosh (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Bipin Chandra Pal (d) Neither 1 nor 2
4. Consider the following statements about Eran inscription 9. The Fundamental Principles of Buddhism are
1. It mentions about the Gupta king Bhanu Gupta and his friend represented by four noble truths. Which of the
Goparaja, who died in the battle against Hunas and the following is not a noble truth?
later’s wife performed Sati. (a) Sorrow
(b) Cause of sorrow
2. It is the first inscriptional evidence of Sati in India.
(c) Cessation of sorrow
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(d) Immortality of soul
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2 10. Name the person who wrote the history of
(c) Both 1 and 2 Aurangzeb in total secrecy. What was the name
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 of the work?
(a) Aquil Khan Razi’s Zafar Namah-i-Alamgiri
5. Arrange the following in chronology of their rule in Bengal. (b) Khafi Khan’s Muntakhab-ul-Lubab
1. Mir Jafar 2. Nizam-ud-Daula (c) Mirza Muhammad Kazim’s Alamgir Namah
3. Mir Qasim 4. Siraj-ud-Daula (d) Muhammad Saqi’s Masir-i-Alamgiri
Codes
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (b) 4, 3, 1, 2 11. Consider the following statements
Practice Set 4
17. Consider the following statements Select the correct answer using the codes given
1. During the rule of Ahmed Shah (a later Mughal), Nawab of below
Awadh, Safdar Jung became Wazir of the Mughal empire. (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
2. Badan Singh, a jat chief, was made Faujdar of Mathura by (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 4
Ahmed Shah.
24. Which of the following statements is not correct in
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? respect of trade in the post-Mauryan age?
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (a) Slaves were imported from Zanzibar and
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Madagascar
18. The Upanishads are collectively called (b) Slaves were imported from Ethiopia
(a) Vedanta (b) Vedangas (c) Pratistahar and Amravati were cotton producing
centres
Magbook ~ Practice Set 4 227
(d) Balance of trade was not in favour of India in the (d) gold, copper, tin and bronze
post-Mauryan age
32. Arrange the following Nawabs of Bengal in
25. The fortunes of the French East India Company were chronological order of their reign.
adversely affected at the close of the 17th 1. Alivardi Khan 2. Siraj-ud-Daula
century on account of 3. Murshid Quli Jafar Khan 4. Shuja-ud-din
(a) combined attack by the English and the Dutch on Codes
their settlements in India (a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (b) 4, 3, 2, 1
(b) the war between the French and the Dutch who were (c) 2, 4, 1, 3 (d) 4, 3, 1, 2
in alliance with the English in Europe
(c) the failure of the French to secure any 33. Which of the following acts authorised for Governor-
concessions from the Mughals General to appoint Indian Law Commission to study and
(d) None of the above codify various rules and regulations prevalent in India?
(a) Charter Act of 1813
26. Which of the following Indus Valley Civilisation sites (b) Charter Act of 1833
are in India? (c) Charter Act of 1853
1. Alamgirpur 2. Balakot (d) The Act for the Better Government of India, 1858
3. Bargaon 4. Chanhudaro
5. Farmana 6. Kot Bala 34. The Syrian Ambassador who visited the Court of
7. Larkana Bindusara was
Select the correct answer using the codes given below (a) dionysus (b) daimachus
(a) 1, 3 and 5 (c) hegesander (d) athena
(b) 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7
35. Consider the following statements
(c) 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7
1. In 1878, Sorabji Shaprrji Bengali tried unsuccessfully to
(d) 1, 4, 6 and 7
introduce a bill in the Bombay Legislative Council to limit
27. Which of the following books were written by Swami the working hours for labour.
Dayanand Saraswati? 2. NM Lokhande, set-up a working men’s club in 1870 and
1. Satyarth Prakash brought out a monthly journal called Bharat Sramjeebi
2. Veda Prakash (Indian Labour) with the primary idea of educating the
3. Satyartha Bhumika workers.
4. Veda Bhashya Bhumika 3. Sasipada Bannerjee brought out an Anglo-Marathi weekly
Select the correct answer using the codes given below called Dina-Bandhu (friend of the poor) in 1880 and
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 3 and 4 started the Bombay Mill and Millhand’s Association in
(c) 1 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4 1890.
28. Which of the following are the four Agnikula class of Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Rajputs? (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
(a) Tomars, Pariharam, Chauhans, Pawars (c) 1 and 2 (d) All of these
(b) Chandellas, Tomars, Solankis, Chauhans 36. According to ancient Indian ideas, the sequential order
(c) Chandellas, Pariharas, Chauhans, Pawars of the cycle of four aeons (yugas) is
(d) Pariharas, Chauhans, Pawars, Solankis
(a) Dvapara, Krita, Treta, Kali (b) Krita, Dvapara, Treta, Kali
29. Consider the following statements regarding (c) Krita, Treta, Dvapara, Kali (d) Treta, Dvapara, Kali, Krita
Brahma Sabha
37. The actual issue of the misuse of dastaks by the
1. A new religious society founded in 1838. company was that
2. The purpose was to purify Hinduism and to preach (a) the company was granted permits (dastaks) for the
monotheism or belief in one God. duty-free import-export trade, but the company was
3. Laid emphasis on human dignity, opposed idolatry misusing it for internal trade also
and criticised social evils. (b) the dastaks were granted to the company, but they were
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? being misused by the company’s servants
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 3 (c) the company and its servants were selling the dastaks
Practice Set 4
trade
(d) All of the above
Answers
1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (d) 16. (c) 17. (c) 18. (a) 19. (d) 20. (a)
21. (b) 22. (c) 23. (b) 24. (d) 25. (b) 26. (a) 27. (b) 28. (d) 29. (c) 30. (b)
31. (d) 32. (a) 33. (b) 34. (b) 35. (a) 36. (c) 37. (b) 38. (d) 39. (d) 40. (c)
41. (c) 42. (d) 43. (b) 44. (d) 45. (b) 46. (c) 47. (b) 48. (c) 49. (a) 50. (d)
Practice Set
1. Which of the following factors were responsible for the
rise of different religious sects during the 6th century
BC?
ANALYSE YOURSELF 5
8. What was the main objective of Ala-ud-din Khilji’s
market reforms?
(a) He wanted to keep his soldiers satisfied
1. The domineering attitude of the Brahmins towards the (b) He wanted to earn the goodwill of the people
common people. (c) He wanted to curb the power of the nobles
2. The rigidity of caste system. (d) He wanted to centralise the administration
3. The Shudras became influential. 9. What was Abwab?
4. The indiscriminate killing of cattle was ruining the (a) Toll tax
concept of new agriculture. (b) Religions taxes such as Zakat
Select the correct answer using the codes given below (c) Taxes on merchandise and custom duties
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 2 and 3 (d) Miscellaneous kinds of taxes like the house taxes,
grazing tax, irrigation tax etc
2. Identify the motifs used by the Delhi Sultans in their
constructions which were borrowed from the Hindus. 10. In the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, the Rajput force
1. Bell 2. Lotus of Maharana Pratap Singh was defeated by
3. Geometrical and floral designs 4. Swastika (a) Raja Man Singh (b) Pir Muhammad
(c) Prince Salim (d) Akbar
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 2, 3 and 4 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4 11. Which of the following is incorrect about Buddha?
(a) He did not concern himself with the problem of God or
3. Name the Delhi Sultans born of Hindu mothers.
the soul
1. Firoz Tughlaq 2. Sikander Lodi
(b) He declared that everything in the world is temporary
3. Nasir-ud-din Khusrau 4. Balban (c) According to him, desire is the cause of suffering
5. Ala-ud-din Khilji 6. Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (d) He glorified the concept of self-mortification
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 2, 4 and 5 (b) 1, 2 and 4
12. Under whose reign were the Kakatiya and Pandyan
kingdoms annexed to the Delhi Sultanate?
(c) 3, 4, 5 and 6 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 6
(a) Ala-ud-din Khilji (b) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
4. Which of the four sons of Shah Jahan fought for the (c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq (d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
throne between 1656-58?
1. Shuja 2. Murad
13. Arrange in proper chronological order the
experiments of Muhammed-bin Tughlaq.
3. Khusrau 4. Dawar Bakhsh
5. Aurangzeb 6. Dara Shikoh 1. Introduction of token currency.
2. Transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
3. Enhancement of land revenue to 50% in the doab
(a) 2, 4, 5 and 6 (b) 1, 3 and 4
area.
(c) 4, 5 and 6 (d) 1, 2, 5 and 6
4. Establishment of a separate Department of
5. Name the person or persons who invited Babur to Agriculture.
invade India. 5. Appointment of a new set of revenue officers.
1. Daulat Khan Lodi 2. Mahmud Lodi Codes
3. Bhara Mai of Amber 4. Rana Sanga of Mewar (a) 2, 1, 3, 4, 5 (b) 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
(c) 2, 4, 1, 3, 5 (d) 5, 3, 2, 1, 4
5. Alam Khan Lodi
Select the correct answer using the codes given below 14. Which of the following statements correctly
Practice Set 5
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 4 describes the difference between a Chaitya and a
(c) 1, 4 and 5 (d) 3, 4 and 5 Stupa?
(a) Chaitya is a place of worship while Stupa is a
6. The term ‘Aryan’ denotes architectural term for a mound containing the relic of
(a) an ethnic group (b) a nomadic people Buddha and later on of leading Buddhist saints
(c) a speech group (d) a superior race (b) Chaitya is a resting place, while Stupa is a funeral
7. What is the descending order of the ranks of nobility monument
under Delhi Sultanate? (c) Chaityas were constructed by monasteries while
1. Khan 2. Malik 3. Amir 4. Sar-i-Khail Stupas were constructed by kings and rich
Codes merchants
(d) Chaityas represents Mahayanism while Stupas
(a) 1, 2, 4, 3 (b) 2, 1, 4, 3 (c) 1, 2, 3, 4 (d) 3, 2, 4, 1
represents Hinayanism
230 Magbook ~ Indian History
15. Which of the following Mughal buildings is said to 22. Which among the following regarding the Carnatic
possess the unique feature of being exactly equal in Wars fought between French and EIC is/are
length and breadth? incorrect?
(a) Red Fort (b) Taj Mahal 1. The First Carnatic War was provoked by the outbreak
(c) Buland Darwaja (d) Agra Fort of hostilities in Europe in 1742 between France and
England.
16. Arrange the following Governors of Bengal in
chronological order of their tenure. 2. Dupleix, the French Governor-General in India played
1. Roger Drake 2. Robert Clive a significant role in the Third Carnatic War.
3. Vansittart 4. Henry Verelst 3. The Second Carnatic War was fought purely on
domestic issue.
5. Holwell
Codes 4. The Battle of Wandiwash in 1760 marked the
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (b) 2, 3, 1, 5, 4 elimination of French influence in India and the
(c) 1, 2, 5, 3, 4 (d) 1, 5, 2, 4, 3 resultant Treaty of Paris in 1763 reduced the French
Company to a pure trading body without any political
17. Consider the following statements about Balban privileges.
1. He called himself Naib-i-Khudai or Deputy of the God. Select the correct answer using the codes given below
2. He created Diwan-i-Arz or Department of Military Affairs. (a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 1 and 2
3. He propounded the Theory of Kingship and restored (c) Only 2 (d) Only 3
peace in the doab.
23. Name the temple built in Nagara style and located at
4. He liquidated the Turkish nobility chalisa or the group of
Khajuraho.
forty.
1. Devi Jagadamba 2. Nilakanteswara
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
3. Parsvnath 4. Kandariya Mahaveda
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) Only 2
(c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) All of these 5. Duladeo
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
18. Which of the following was/were the aims of Anglo- (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5
Burmese wars? (c) 2, 4 and 5 (d) 1, 3 and 5
1. To control forest resources.
2. To increase exports.
24. Consider the following statements regarding French
Company
3. To check French influence.
1. French East India Company was formed under state
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
patronage.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these 2. The supreme body of French Company was known as
Director’s Council of Indies and headed by
19. Which of the following statements is incorrect? Director-General.
(a) The Indus valley people worshipped mother Goddesses 3. It was highly dependent on French Government for its
(b) The Indus valley people performed horse-sacrifice grants, subsidies and loans.
(c) The Indus valley people worshipped linga and yoni
4. French readily acknowledged the authority of Shivaji.
(d) The Indus valley people worshipped the pipal tree
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
20. Consider the following statements regarding Danes (a) Only 1 (b) 1, 3 and 4
1. They could not establish their position in India. (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) All of these
2. They sold all their settlements to Portuguese. 25. Which of the following statements about Akbar
3. They were more concerned with the missionary activities is/are correct?
than trade. 1. Akbar was proclaimed king in 1565 when he was only
4. They established their factory at Masulipatnam and 13 years of age.
Porto novo. 2. Akbar was worked after by Bairam Khan.
Which of the statements given above are correct? 3. He fought his first battle with Hemu at Panipat.
(a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3 and 4 4. He has marriage relationships with many Rajput
Practice Set 5
Answers
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (a)
11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (a) 14. (a) 15. (b) 16. (d) 17. (d) 18. (d) 19. (b) 20. (a)
21. (c) 22. (c) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (b) 26. (c) 27. (b) 28. (b) 29. (d) 30. (c)
31. (d) 32. (d) 33. (d) 34. (b) 35. (a) 36. (c) 37. (d) 38. (c) 39. (d) 40. (d)
41. (d) 42. (c) 43. (c) 44. (d) 45. (d) 46. (a) 47. (d) 48. (a) 49. (a) 50. (a)
PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS
SOLVED PAPERS
Set 1
1. Building ‘Kalyana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in 4. With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider
the temple construction in the kingdom of [IAS 2019] the following statements. [IAS 2019]
(a) Chalukya (b) Chandela 1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the
(c) Rashtrakuta (d) Vijayanagara system of ‘Indentured Labour’.
Exp. (d) Kalyana Mandapa is dedicated to the ritual 2. In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did
marriage celebration of the Lord with the Goddess and it not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World
was constructed under the Vijayanagara style of temple War.
architecture. 3. Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people,
the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the
2. Consider the following statements. [IAS 2019]
colonial rulers.
1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the
Which of the statements given above are correct?
in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil’.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient
indigenous institution. Exp. (b) The first agitation that Mahatma Gandhi launched during
3. The office of ‘Mir Bakshi’ came into existence during his days in South Africa was against the system of ‘Indentured
the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi. Labour’. It was a system based on contract, in which the labours
from India were sent to work in sugarcane fields of abroad.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 Mahatma Gandhi supported the resolution on recruiting Indians
(c) Only 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 for World War in the famous ‘War Conference’.
After the Salt Satyagraha, the British responded with more
Exp. (a) In the land revenue system of Delhi Sultanate, the
censorship and Congress and its associate organisations were
Central Government appointed Amil to collect revenues in
declared illegal.
each subdivision called Shiq.
The Iqta system of land control was first introduced in the 5. With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the
Delhi Sultanate by Iltutmish. So, it is not an indigenous following pairs. [IAS 2019]
institution in India.
List I (Person) List II (Position Held)
The office of Mir Bakshi was established under the Mughal
Empire. He was the head of military department, nobility, 1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru President, All India Liberal
information and intelligence agencies. Federation
2. KC Neogy Member, Constituent
3. Consider the following statements. [IAS 2019] Assembly
1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar. 3. PC Joshi General Secretary,
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Communist Party of India
Sirhindi. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Only 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Exp. (d) Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was the founder and President of
Exp. (d) Both the given statements are incorrect. Saint All India Liberal Foundation. It was formed by the Moderate
Nimbarka was a Hindu philosopher. He is known for Congress Leaders in 1919. Its other leaders were Surendranath
propagating the Vaishnava doctrine of Dvaitadvaita or Banerjee, VS Srinivasa Sastri and MR Jayakar.
Dualistic non-dualism. Nimbarka era is not exactly known
KC Neogy was the Chairman of first Finance Commission of
but its sometime in 12th-13th century, while Akbar the third
India. He was an elected member of the Constituent Assembly of
Mughal emperor was born in 1542.
India and a member of first Cabinet of Independent India.
Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was born after Saint Kabir. Sirhindi
PC Joshi became the first General Secretary of the Communist
was Islamic Hanafi, scholar of Naqshbandi Silsilah, while
Party of India from 1935 to 1947.
Kabir was the follower of Nirgun Bhakti.
234 Magbook ~ Indian History
6. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the Exp. (b) Land reforms were enacted in independent India to
following statements is not correct? [IAS 2019] distribute agriculture land equitably. The ceiling on land was
(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar. imposed and maximum size of land which could be owned
by an individual was fixed. The main aim was to provide
(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu Gods and
agricultural land to all the rural landless labourers. As the
Goddesses.
lands got fragmented, cultivation of cash crops became
(c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons.
difficult. Land reforms failed because of various exemptions
(d) Tansen invented many Ragas. provided in the Act.
Exp. (a) Tansen was the title given to him by Raja Vikramjit of
Gwalior. His original name was Ramtanu Pandey. Tansen 10. Consider the following statements about ‘The Charter
joined Akbar’s court in AD 1562, at the age of 60 years. He is Act of 1813’. [IAS 2019]
remembered for his epic Dhrupad compositions, creating 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company
several new Ragas as well as writing of two classical books on in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.
music. Tansen composed songs on his patrons Raja 2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British crown over the
Ramchandra as well as Akbar. Akbar gave him the title ‘Mian’, Indian territories held by the Company.
meaning a learned man. 3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British
Parliament.
7. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted
emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and Which of the statements given above are correct?
individual portrait? [IAS 2019] (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(a) Humayun (b) Akbar (c) Jahangir (d) Shah Jahan (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
Exp. (c) Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor, who ruled Exp. (a) The Charter Act, 1813 renewed the company’s
from 1605. He was fascinated with art and architecture. He charter for a further period of 20 years, it ended the trade
encouraged paintings depicting the events of his own life, monopoly of the East India Company on trade matters,
individual portraits and studies of birds, flowers and animals. except on trade with China and trade in tea. The Act asserted
He shifted his emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album the sovereignty of British crown over the territories of English
and individual portraits. company.
The revenues of India were controlled by the British
8. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the Parliament through Pitts India Act 1784. It empowered the
difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?
Board of Control to supervise and direct all operations of the
1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of Civil and Military Government or revenues of the British
judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders possessions in India.
of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty
other than revenue collection. 11. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and following statements. [IAS 2019]
revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary. 1. It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan
Select the correct answer using the codes given below crafts and industries.
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 [IAS 2019] 2. The National Council of Education was established as a
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 part of Swadeshi Movement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Exp. (d) Both options are incorrect. The holder of land was
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
termed as the Zamindar. They have the hereditary right over the
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
land. The main function of Zamindars were the collection and
deposition of revenues in the royal treasury. Zamindars were Exp. (c) Swadeshi Movement was launched in the year 1905
also expected to maintain law and order in their jurisdictions. The to protest the Partition of Bengal. During the Swadeshi
troops maintained by Zamindar were to be placed at the disposal Movement, Swadeshi textile mills, soap, match factories,
of state officials whenever it was required. tanneries etc., were established which led to the revival of the
The Jagirdars were the king’s officials who enjoyed the land indigenous artisan crafts and industries.
gifted from the king. They were allotted non-inheritable land The National Council of Education, Bengal was constituted
area equivalent to their fee amount called Jagir. Jagirdars only on August 15, 1906 as a part of Swadeshi Movement. The
have the right to claim and enjoy the revenue collected from the important founder members include Surendranath Banerjee,
land. Rabindra Nath Tagore, BC Pal, Ashwani Kumar Dutt etc.
9. With reference to land reforms in independent India, which 12. Consider the following pairs. [IAS 2019]
one of the following statements is correct? [IAS 2019]
(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not List I List II
individual holdings. (Movement/Organisation) (Leader)
(b) The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural 1. All India Anti-Untouchability Mahatma Gandhi
land to all the landless. League
(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant
2. All India Kisan Sabha Swami Sahajanand
form of cultivation.
Saraswati
3. Self-Respect Movement EV Ramaswami Naicker
(d) Land reforms permitted not exemptions to the ceiling limits.
Magbook ~ Solved Paper 1 235
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? worshipped. Bodhisattvas were to help others to attain
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 Nirvana. So, the followers of Mahayana Buddhism followed the
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 path of Bodhisattvas.
Exp. (d) All India Anti-Untouchability League was established Further, Buddha was treated like a God (Deification) and it was
by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 to better organise the believed that he was the one who could ensure salvation.
untouchables. 16. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during
It was later renamed as Harijan Sevak Sangh. the Gupta period, which one of the following statements
The All India Kisan Sabha was a Peasant Movement started by is correct? [IAS 2019]
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati. It was formed at the Lucknow (a) It was considered a source of income for the state, a sort
Session of Indian National Congress, held in 1936. of tax paid by the people.
The Self-Respect Movement was founded by S. Ramanathan (b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar
in 1925. He invited Periyar or EV Ramaswami Naicker to head regions of the Gupta Empire.
the movement in Tamil Nadu against Brahminism. (c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
13. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site? (d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced
(a) Chanhudaro (b) Kot Diji [IAS 2019] labourer.
(c) Sohgaura (d) Desalpur Exp. (a) Vishtis were forced labour during the Gupta period. It
Exp. (c) Desalpur, Chanhudaro and Kot Diji are the Harappan is mentioned on copper inscriptions. The soldiers were
sites. supplied food, animals, furniture etc by the peasants. In
Central India and Western part, villagers were subjected to
Desalpur is a village and site belonging to Indus Valley
forced labour by the royal army and officials. There were no
Civilisation located in Gujarat.
wages for Vishtis and no hierarchy of labour. Vishti could be
The ancient site of Kot Diji is a site of Indus Valley Civilisation, extracted from anyone. As Vishti was not a wage labour, it was
located in the Sindhi district, Pakistan. forced labour in lieu of tax. People were forcefully bound the
Chanhudaro is an archaeological site belonging to Indus serve.
Valley Civilisation, located 130 km South of Mohenjodaro in
Sindhi, Pakistan. 17. Which one of the following groups of plants was
domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the
Sohgaura copper inscription is a Mauryan record depicting
‘Old World’? [IAS 2019]
famine relief efforts. It is written in Prakrit in the Brahmi script.
(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
14. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is (b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber
‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the (c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
stone portrait of Ashoka? [IAS 2019] (d) Rubber, coffee and wheat
(a) Kanganahalli (b) Sanchi Exp. (a) The plants of ‘New World’ (America) includes maize,
(c) Shahbazgarhi (d) Sohgaura tomato, pineapple, potato, cocoa, tobacco and rubber were
Exp. (a) Kanganahalli is an important Buddhist site. It is about native to the New World before 1492 AD and were not found
3 km from sannati; karnataka. The first inscribed portrait of anywhere else at that time. The merchants of Europe, Asia and
Ashoka (surrounded by female attendants and queens) was Africa (Old World) took products of the New World to Europe,
found at Kanganahalli. Ranyo Ashoka (King Ashoka) is Asia and Africa.
mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka in
18. Consider the following pairs. [IAS 2019]
Kanganahalli relief sculpture inscriptions.
The Sanchi inscription belongs to Chandragupta II, List I (Famous Place) List II (River)
documenting a donation given to Buddhist establishment at 1. Pandharpur Chandrabhaga
Sanchi during the reign of Chandragupta II. 2. Tiruchirappalli Cauvery
Shahbazgarhi is famous for Ashokan edicts incised on a large 3. Hampi Malaprabha
boulder. Its main purpose was to establish ‘Dhamma’
(Justice). Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
Sohgaura copper plate inscription mentions the establishment
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
of two grain depots to fight against famine.
Exp. (a) Pandharpur is a pilgrimage town located on the bank
15. Consider the following. [IAS 2019] of Chandrabhaga river in Maharashtra.
1. Deification of the Buddha. Tiruchirappalli is located in Tamil Nadu. It is drained by
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas. Cauvery river and its tributary Kolli dam.
3. Image worship and rituals. Hampi is located in Karnataka and is located on the bank of
Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Tungbhadra river. Hampi was the capital of Vijaynagara. It is
Buddhism? famous for many temples like Virupaksha Temple, Vithala and
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 Nandi Statue.
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
19. The well-known painting Bani-Thani belongs to the
Exp. (d) Mahayana Buddhism emerged by the 1st century CE.
(a) Bundi School (b) Jaipur School [IAS 2018]
It started considering Buddha as a God rather than a great
(c) Kangra School (d) Kishangarh School
teacher. The image of Buddha and Bodhisattvas were
236 Magbook ~ Indian History
Exp. (d) Bani-Thani is an Indian miniature painting painted by 23. The staple commodities of export by the English East
Nihal Chand from the Marwar School of Kishangarh. He India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th
portrays a woman who is elegant and graceful. The painting’s century were [IAS 2018]
subject, Bani-Thani, was a singer and poet in Kishangarh in (a) raw cotton, oil-seeds and opium
the time of King Sawant Singh (1748-1764). This painting has (b) sugar, salt, zinc and lead
been compared to the popular painting of Mona Lisa. (c) copper, silver, gold, spices and tea
(d) cotton, silk, saltpeter and opium
20. With reference to culture history of India, consider the
following statements. [IAS 2018] Exp. (d) By the late 17th century Bengal had begun to emerge
1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in as an important source of supplies that the East India Company
praise of Lord Krishna. could purchase for sale in Europe. Goods purchased from
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas. Bengal included cotton cloth, opium, saltpeter, sugar and silk.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries. In 17th century India lacked in production of oil seeds, copper,
4. Annamacharya kirtana are devotional songs in praise of gold, zinc, lead, etc.
Lord Venketshwara. 24. Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of
Which of the statements given above are correct? the Champaran Satyagraha? [IAS 2018]
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 4 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4 (a) Active all-India participation of lawyers, students and
Exp. (b) Tyagaraja was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. In women in the National Movement
his praise and honour he wrote numerous kritis. Tyagaraja (b) Active involvement of Dalit and Tribal communities of India
was born on 4th May, 1767 and died on 6th January, 1847. in the National Movement
Tyagaraja composed many new janya ragas as well as (c) Joining of peasants unrest to India’s National Movement
melakarta raga. He is said to have invented 66 new ragas in (d) Drastic decrease in the cultivation of plantation crops and
his time. Tallapaka Annamacharya (or Annamayya was born commercial crops.
in May 1408 and died in April 1503, He was a 15th century Exp. (c) The centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in
Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to India was marked in April 2017. It was undertaken in the erstwhile
compose songs called Sankirtanas in praise of the God undivided Champaran district in northern Bihar. He went there in
Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. April, 1917 on learning about the abuses suffered by the
cultivators of the district, forced into growing indigo by British
21. Which among the following events happened earliest?
planters/estate owners. ‘The Champaran tenant, informs Gandhi,
(a) Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj [IAS 2018]
was bound by law to plant three out of every twenty parts of his
(b) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan land with indigo for his landlord'. This system was called
(c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath Tinkathia. Champaran Satyagraha was organised against this
(d) Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed system only. Through this movement peasants unrest became a
in the Indian Civil Services Examination part of India's National Movement.
Exp. (b) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan in 1860 25. Who among the following were the founders of the Hind
showing the plight of Indigo farmer. Bankim Chandra Mazdoor Sabha established in 1948? [IAS 2018]
Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath in 1882 in the background
(a) B Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad and KC George
of Sanyasi rebellion. Satyendra Nath Tagore became the first
(b) Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and MN Roy
Indian to succeed in the ICS examination in 1863 and Swami
Dayanand established Arya Samaj in 1875. (c) CP Ramaswamy Iyer, K Kamaraj and Veeresalingam
Pantulu
22. With the reference to educational institutions during (d) Ashok Mehta, TS Ramanujan and G Mehta
rule in India, consider the following pairs. [IAS 2018]
Exp. (d) The Hind Mazdoor Sabha was founded in Hawrah in
Institution Founder West Bengal on 29th December, 1948, by socialists, Forward
1. Sanskrit College at Banaras William Jones Bloc followers and independent unionists. Its founders included
2. Calcutta Madarsa Warren Hastings Basawon Singh (Sinha), Ashok Mehta, RS Ruikar, Maniben
3. Fort William College Arthur Wellesley Kara, Shibnath Banerjee, RA Khedgikar, TS Ramanujam, VS
Mathur, GG Mehta.
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 (c) 1 and 3 (d) Only 3 26. With reference to the religious practices in India, the
Sthanakvas isect belongs to: [IAS 2018]
Exp. (b) Sanskrit College at Banaras was the first college in
(a) Buddhism (b) Jainism
Banaras. Established in 1791 by Jonathan Duncan, it was a
(c) Vaishnavism (d) Shaivism
landmark college in India from where several notable
teachers emerged. In 1958 it merged with Sampurnanand Exp. (b) Sthanakvasi is a sect of Svetambara Jainism founded
Sanskrit University. by a merchant named Lavaji in 1653 AD. It believes that idol
Calcutta Madrarsa was founded by the Governor General worship is not essential in the path of soul purification and
Warren Hastings, in October 1780. attainment of Nirvana/Moksha. The sect is essentially a
Fort William College (also called the College of Fort William) reformation of the one founded on teachings of Lonka, a
was an academy and learning centre of oriental studies fifteenth-century Jain reformer. Sthanakvasis accept thirty-two
established by Lord Richard Wellesley, then of the Jain Agamas, the Svetambara canon.
Governor-General of British India in 1800.
Magbook ~ Solved Paper 1 237
27. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the 31. After the Santhal rising subsided, what was/were the
following statements: [IAS 2018] measure/measures taken by the Colonial
1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Government?
Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri. 1. The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’ were created.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara 2. It become illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a
Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow. Non-Santhal. [IAS 2018]
Which of the following statements given above is/are correct? Select the correct answer using a code given below.
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Exp. (a) The Buland Darwaza is made of red and buff Exp. (c) The area of concentration of the Santhals was called
sandstone, decorated by white and black marble. Thus, It extended from Bhagalpur in Bihar to Orissa in the South. By
statement 1 is correct. Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza were the 1850s, the Santhals felt that the time had come to rebel
built by Asaf-ud-daula in 18th century during the days of against zamindars, moneylenders and the colonial state, in
economic strain. They have therefore, austere architecture and order to create an ideal world for themselves where they
used no marble in their construction. Hence, statement 2 is would rule.
incorrect. After the revolt was suppressed the colonial state stepped in
very quickly and efficiently to redress the grievances of the
28. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately Santhals, with the result that a more cordial relationship
discussed about diamonds and diamond mines in India? ensured. The territories that they inhabited were grouped
[IAS 2018]
under a new territorial unit – Santhal Parganas and it was
(a) Francois Bernier (b) Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
henceforth stipulated that the usual bureaucratic and judicial
(c) Jean de Thevenot (d) Abbe Barthelemy Carre
procedures of British India would not apply there. Further,
Exp. (b) The earliest trustworthy account of Golconda diamond there were special provisions for land rights and it became
mines was given by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. He was a French illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to Non-Santhals.
jeweller and gem merchant. He was a great authority on
diamonds and diamond mines in India in the 17th century. 32. Economically, one of the result of the British rule in
India in the 19th century was the [IAS 2018]
29. With reference to Indian history, who among the following (a) increase in the exports of Indian handicrafts
is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world? (b) growth in the number of Indian owned factories
(a) Avalokiteshvara (b) Lokesvara (c) commercialisation of Indian agriculture
(c) Maitreya (d) Padmapani [IAS 2018] (d) rapid increase in urban population
Exp. (c) In the world of Buddhist eschatology, Maitreya literally Exp. (c) A major economic impact of the British policies in
means the future Buddha. Maitreya Buddha is considered as the India was the introduction of a large number of commercial
5th Buddha that is believed to appear in this Kalpa or era. Thus, crops such as tea, coffee, indigo, opium, cotton, jute,
Maitreya Buddha is considered as the future Buddha that is yet sugarcane and oilseed. Exports of handicrafts suffered
to appear in this age. In various Buddhist sutras such as during British rule. Thus, option (a) is incorrect. Further,
Amitabha Sutra, as well as Lotus Sutra, Maitreya Buddha is there is no conclusive evidence of growth in number of
believed to be called as Ajita. Indian owned factories or rapid increase in the urban
Avalokiteshvaera is a bodhisattva who embodies population.
the compassion of all Buddhas. Bodhisattvas are enlightened
beings who are destined to become Buddhas but postpone that 33. Consider the following pairs. [IAS 2018]
final state in order to help humanity. Padampani is a Bodhisattva
Craft Heritage Of
who is depicted in the Ajanta paintings holding lotus.
1. Puthukkuli Shawls Tamil Nadu
30. Which one of the following statements does not apply to 2. Sujini embroidery Maharashtra
the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord 3. Uppada Jamdani Saris Karnataka
Wellesley? [IAS 2018]
Which of the above pairs is correct?
(a) To maintain a large standing army at others expense
(b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) Only 3 (d) 2 and 3
(c) To secure a fixed income for the company Exp. (a) Puthukkuli shawls are made by Todas of Nilgiri hills
(d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian states in Tamil Nadu. Locally called Pugur, meaning flower, the fine
Exp. (c) The Subsidiary Alliances System was introduced by and intricate Toda embroidery is done by tribal men and
Lord Wellesley in 1798. The British, under the Subsidiary Alliance women on shawls.
System, agreed to protect the Indian rulers against external Sujani (also known as Sujini) is a form of embroidery
threats and internal disorder but, in return, the Indian rulers who originating from the Bhusura village of Bihar.
accepted the Subsidiary Alliance System were to agree to the Uppada Jamdani Sari is a silk sari style woven in Uppada of
stationing of British contingent for whose maintenance they East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
would pay a subsidy to the British. Napolean Bonaparte was 34. Regarding Wood’s Despatch, which of the following
advancing towards East, hence, subsidiary alliance would statements are true? [IAS 2018]
defend against Napoleonic danger. There is no mention of a
1. Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
fixed income for the economy.
2. Establishment of universities was recommended.
238 Magbook ~ Indian History
3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of (c) Impose censorship on national press.
education was recommended. (d) Improve the relationship between the Government of India
Select the correct answer using the code given below. and the Indian States. [IAS 2017]
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 Exp. (d) A three -member committee headed by Harcourt
Exp. (a) In 1854 ‘Wood’s despatch’ was sent to the Governor Butler, appointed on December 16, 1927 to examine the
General Lord Dalhousie. Wood’s Despatch is relationship between the native states and the paramount
called Magnacarta of English Education in India. power.
The main recommendations of Charles Wood’s Despatch are It gave the following recommendations
as follows l
Paramountcy must remain supreme.
l
It declared English as the medium of instruction, for higher l
States should not be handed over to an Indian government in
education. English language was the most perfect medium British India, responsible to an Indian Legislature.
of education. It also emphasised the importance of the l
But it could be done with the consent of states.
vernacular languages, for it was through the medium of the l
It must fulfill its obligation, adopting and defining itself
vernacular languages, that European knowledge could according to the shifting necessities of time and progressive
infilter to the masses. development of states.
l
It proposed the setting up of vernacular primary schools’ in The Viceroy was made the Crown’s agent in dealing with states.
the villages at the lowest stage, followed by
Anglo-Vernacular high schools and an affiliated college at 38. Consider the following pairs : [IAS 2017]
the district level. 1. Radhakanta Deb–First President of the British Indian
l
It recommended a system of grants-in-aid to encourage and Association
foster private enterprise in the field of education. This grants 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty–Founder of the Madras
in-aid was conditional on the institutions employing qualified Mahajana Sabha
teachers and maintaining proper standards of teaching. 3. Surendranath Banerjee–Founder of the Indian
l
Universities on the model of the London University were Association
proposed for Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
35. Consider the following pairs. [IAS 2018]
Exp. (b) The President of the first committee of British Indian
Tradition State Association was Raja Radhakanta Deb, while Debendranath
1. Chapchar Kut Festival Mizoram Tagore was its secretary. The newspaper of this society was
2. Khongjom Parba ballad Manipur “Hindu Patriot” which adopted a strongly critical political tone.
3. Thang-Ta Dance Sikkim Its editor was Harish Chandra Mukherjee.
Which of the avove pairs are correctly matched? Lakshminarasu established Madras Native Association in 1849
Codes as a platform for educated Indians to protest against any
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 injustice on the part of the British. It was the first Indian political
(c) 1 and 2 (d) 2 and 3 organisation in the Madras Presidency. Lakshminarasu, the
founder, served as its first President.
Exp. (b) Thang-Ta dance tradition is from Manipur and not Indian National Association was the first declared Nationalist
Sikkim. Other two options are correctly matched. Khongjom Organisation founded in British India by Surendranath
Parba is a style of ballad singing from Manipur using Dholak Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose in 1876. It was originally
(drum) which depicts stories of heroic battle fought by established as Bharat Sabha and held its first annual
Manipuris against the mighty British Empire in 1891. The conference in Calcutta.
Chapchar Kut is a festival of Mizoram. It is celebrated during
March after completion of their most tough task of Jhum 39. With reference to the difference between the culture of
operation. Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the
following statements is/are correct? [IAS 2017]
36. He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and 1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in
Shrikrishna, stayed in America for sometime and was
warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilisation did
elected to the Central Assembly. He was [IAS 2018]
not leave any evidence of using them.
(a) Aurobindo Ghosh (b) Bipin Chandra Pal
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai (d) Motilal Nehru 2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas
Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
Exp. (c) Lala Lajpat Rai regularly contributed to several major 3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas
Hindi, Punjabi, English, and Urdu newspapers and magazines.
there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been
He also authored many books like Unhappy India, Young
aware of this animal.
India: An Interpretation, History of Arya Samaj, England’s Debt
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
to India and a series of popular biographies on Mazzini,
Garibaldi and Swami Dayanand. (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
Exp. (c) Indus people were basically peace loving. Their arms
37. The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to
(swords, daggers, arrow-heads, and spears) were primitive in
(a) Define the jurisdiction of the Central and Provincial
nature. No evidence of armour, helmet, body armour or shield
governments.
is available. The Aryans, on the contrary, were warlike people
(b) Define the powers of the Secretary of State for India.
Magbook ~ Solved Paper 1 239
and were conversant with all kinds of traditional arms and application to the employer or employers concerned, and on
armour and had devised a full-fledged ‘science of war’. receipt of a communication from such employer or
The horse, which played a decisive role in the Aryan system of employers to the effect that the Union has received
warfare, was not known to the Indus people. A few bones of recognition from them the Registrar shall proceed to register
horse and terracotta figure of a ‘horse-like animal’ have been such union as a recognised Union.
unearthed from Surkotada (Gujarat) and still it has not been l
This clause would mean that no union would be registered
convincingly proved that the horse was employed by the unless the respective Union satisfied the employers.
Harappans. The Indus valley people knew the use of copper, l
The Bill provides for the establishment of a permanent
bronze, silver and gold but not iron. On the other hand, some tribunal for Arbitration - the Industrial Court and
scholars claim that the horse was widely domesticated and contemplates making arbitration more and more the
used in India in the area covered by the Indus-Sarasvati (or dominant method of settling disputes. The Conciliation
Harappan) Civilisation, but this evidence remains proceedings are to last for a period of three to five months.
unsubstantiated. At Surkotada and Lothal horse evidence has No strikes can take place during this period
also been found. But, based on the above, to say that “there is
no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this 43. Consider the following statements : [IAS 2017]
animal” is wrong because there is no conclusive evidence that 1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the
tells us whether they knew about horses, or whether they were wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to
aware of horses. We have insufficient evidence to claim form trade unions.
anything about the connection between horses and Indus 2. NM Lokhande was a pioneer in organising the labour
Valley. movement in British India.
40. With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the Which of the above statements is/are correct?
following statements : [IAS 2017] (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
1. It is a song and dance performance. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the Exp. (b) To improve the lot of the factory workers in towns, the
performance. first Factory Act was passed in 1881. The Act prohibited the
3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds Lord Krishna. employment of children under the age of seven, limited the
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? number of working hours for children below the age of twelve
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) Only 1 and required that dangerous machinery should be fenced
properly. The Act also made provision for one hour rest during
Exp. (b) Manipuri Sankirtana is a form of performing art the working period and four days leave in a month for the
involving ritual singing, drumming and dancing performed in workers. Inspectors were appointed to supervise the
the temples and domestic spaces in Manipur state in India. implementation of these measures. Thus, for the first time the
Through the performances which exhibit unparalleled religious British government tried to improve the working conditions of
devotion and energy, the performers narrate many stories of labourers in factories.
Krishna often moving the spectators to tears. Dances are very NM Lokhande organised the first labour union in India at
much based upon the cymbals (kartal or manjira) and the Bombay in 1880 and named it Bombay Mill Hand Society. He
cylindrical drum known as Manipuri mridang or pung. was the first labour representative at factory commission.
41. Who among the following was/were associated with the 44. With reference to Indian freedom struggle, consider the
introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the following events: [IAS 2017]
British rule? [IAS 2017]
1. Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
1. Lord Cornwallis 2. Alexander Read 3. Thomas Munro 2. Quit India Movement launched
Select the correct answer using the code given below : 3. Second Round Table Conference
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1,2 and 3 What is the correct chronological sequence of the above
Exp. (c) The Ryotwari system was devised by Capt. Alexander events?
Read and Thomas Munro at the end of the 18th century. Lord (a) 1-2-3 (b) 2-1-3 (c) 3-2-1 (d) 3-1-2
Cornwallis was associated with Cornwallis Code of 1793. Exp. (c) Mutiny of Royal Indian Navy broke in February, 1946
42. The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 provided for [IAS 2017] at Mumbai on Talwar ship and in Karachi at Hindustan ship.
(a) the participation of workers in the management of Quit India Movement is launched on August 9, 1942 at
industries. Bombay.
(b) arbitrary powers to the management to quell industrial Second Round Table conference held in London in which
disputes. Mahatma Gandhi participated as reprehensive of Congress
(c) an intervention by the Birtish Court in the event of a ‘trade held in 1931.
dispute. 45. Which one of the following was a very important seaport
(d) a system of tribunals and a ban on strikes. in the Kakatiya kingdom? [IAS 2017]
Exp. (d) One of the most objectionable features of the original (a) Kakinada (b) Motupalli
text of Trade Disputes Act of 1929 as follows : (c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam) (d) Nelluru
l
Any Union may apply to the Registrar for registration as a Exp. (b) The Kakatiya dynasty was a South Indian dynasty
recognised Union. On receipt of such application for whose capital was Orugallu, now known as Warangal. It was
registration, the Registrar shall forward a copy of the eventually conquered by the Delhi Sultanate.
240 Magbook ~ Indian History
Motupalli was a famous sea port during Kakatiya period. 50. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of
Marcopolo, a Portuguese navigator, visited this place and Emperor Ashoka? [IAS 2016]
wrote about the prosperity and power of Andhra Desa during (a) Georg Buhler (b) James Prinsep
the reign of Kakatiya kings in his travalogue. (c) Max Muller (d) William Jones
46. In the context of Indian history, the principle of ‘Dyarchy Exp. (b) James Prinsep who held a high rank in the service of
(diarchy)’ refers to [IAS 2017] the British Eash India Company in Bengal, was the first to
(a) Division of the central legislature into two houses. decipher edicts of Ashoka. He deciphered Brahmi script in
(b) Introduction of double government i.e., Central and State 1838. Prinsep found that on most of the earliest inscriptions
governments. and coins, there is a mention of a king referred to as ‘Piyadasa’
meaning ‘pleasant to behold’. On some inscriptions, the king is
(c) Having two sets of rulers; one in London and another in
named as Ashoka.
Delhi.
The deciphering to the Brahmi script by Prinsep provided a
(d) Division of the subjects delegated to the provinces into new direction to investigations into early Indian political history.
two categories.
Exp. (d) Dyarchy, also spelled diarchy, system of double 51. With reference to the economic history of medieval
government introduced by the Government of India Act (1919) India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to [IAS 2016]
for the provinces of British India. (a) bonded labour.
The principle of dyarchy was a division of the executive branch (b) land grants made to military officers.
of each provincial government into authoritarian and popularly (c) waterwheel used in the irrigation of land.
responsible sections. The first was composed of executive (d) wasteland converted to cultivated land.
councillors, appointed, as before, by the crown. Exp. (c) In Sanskrit, the word Araghatta has been used in the
47. The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the ancient texts to describe the Persian Wheel. The ‘ara-ghatta’
most famous and often-illustrated paintings at comes from the combination of the words ‘ara‘ meaning spoke
[IAS 2017] and ‘ghatta‘ meaning pot. There is evidence to argue that this
(a) Ajanta (b) Badami (c) Bagh (d) Ellora system of lifting water from open wells was probably invented
Exp. (a) Mahayana Budhism evolved the idea of Bodhisatva, in India of the past. With its use also in Iran, the then Persia,
and perhaps its discovery there, it came to be called the
One of the most popular Bodhisatva representing atribute
Persian wheel.
'Copassion' is Padmapani Avalokiteshwar, It is Beautifully
painted as slim person, with crown on head and lotus in hand 52. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India,
on the walls of Ajantha Caves. consider the following statements [IAS 2016]
48. Consider the following pairs : [IAS 2017] 1. Siddhas (Sittars) to Tamil region were monotheistic and
condemned idolatry.
Traditions Communities
2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of
1. Chaliha Sahib Festival Sindhis rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra Gonds Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
3. Wari-Warkari Santhals (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 Exp. (c) Siddhas condemned idolatory, they advocated
(c) 1 and 3 (d) None of these renunciation of the world. To them, the path to salvation lay in
Exp. (a) 1. The Chaliha is an important festival celebrated by meditation on the formless ultimate reality and the realisation of
the Sindhis wherein they pray to their God, Jhulelal. oneness with it. To achieve this, they advocated intense
training of the mind and body through yogasanas, breathing
2. The three weeks long Nanda Devi Raj Jat is a pilgrimage
exercises and meditation. Lingayats continue to be an
and festival of Uttarakhand in India. People from the entire
important community in the region to date. They challenged
Garhwal division Kumaon division as well as other parts of
the idea of caste and the pollution attributed to certain groups
India and the world participate in Nanda Devi Raj Jat
by Brahmanas. They also questioned the theory of rebirth.
Yatra.
They believe that on death, the devotee will be united with
3. Pandharpur Wari or Wari (Vari) is an annual pilgrimage
Shiva and will not return to this world.
(yatra) to Pandharpur - the seat of the Hindu god Vithoba
in the Indian State of Maharashtra, in honour of the deity. 53. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history
were generally [IAS 2016]
49. Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples? (a) agriculturists (b) warriors (c) weavers (d) traders
1. Arasavalli 2. Amarakantak
3. Omkareshwar [IAS 2017] Exp. (d) Banjaras were the most important trader-nomads
Select the correct answer using the code given below : during the medieval period. Their caravan was called Tanda.
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 Sultan Alauddin Khalji’s market regulation system could
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 become successful primarily because of the fact that he relied
heavily on the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets.
Exp. (a) The famous Sun God Temple situated in Arasavalli The Mughal emperor, Jahangir also wrote in his memories that
Village which is at a distance of about 1 Km East of Srikakulam the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas
town district head quarters of the North coastal Andhra and sold it in towns. They transported food grain for the
Pradesh. Mughal army during military campaigns.
Magbook ~ Solved Paper 1 241
54. Satya Shodhak Samaj organised [IAS 2016] 58. The ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted as methods
(a) a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar. of struggle for the first time during the [IAS 2016]
(b) a temple-entry movement in Gujarat. (a) agitation against the Partition of Bengal
(c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra. (b) Home Rule Movement
(d) a peasant movement in Punjab. (c) Non-Cooperation Movement
Exp. (c) Satya Shodhak Samaj was established by Jyotirao (d) visit of the Simon Commission to India
Phule in 1873. The main objective of the group was to liberate Exp. (a) The Swadeshi and Boycott movements were started
the social states of Shudra and untouchable castes. Through to oppose the partition of Bengal. The idea of boycott was
his writings and activities, Mahatma Phule always condemned started after the failure of peaceful campaigns and petitions.
caste hierarchy and he began this with his attach on the Rabindranath Tagore and Ramendra called for the observance
Vedas. Through Satya Shodhak Samaj, he also preached that of Raksha Bandhan and Arandhan on the day of the partition.
there is no requirement of intermediary such as priest or a ‘Swadeshi’ means of one’s own country, according to this
perceptor to offer his prayer to God. people should use goods produced within the country. This
55. The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to was led by Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal
(a) social reforms [IAS 2016] Gangadhar Tilak.
(b) educational reforms 59. Which one of the following books of ancient India has
(c) reforms in police administration the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga
(d) constitutional reforms dynasty? [IAS 2016]
Exp. (d) The Montague-Chelmsford proposals lead to (a) Swapnavasavadatta (b) Malavikagnimitra
initiation of Government of India Act, 1919. They proposed (c) Meghadoota (d) Ratnavali
consitutional reforms with following salient features Exp. (b) Malavikagnimitra is a Sanskrit play by Kalidasa. It is
1. Diarchy was introduced in provinces. The provinces known to be his first play. The play tells the story of the love of
subjects were divided into two groups. One was Agnimitra, the Shunga emperor at Vidisha, for the beautiful
reserved and another transferred. hand-maiden of his chief queen. He falls in love with the
2. It proposed bicameral in Central Legislature. picture of an exiled servant girl named Malavika.
3. The Act provided for establishment of a Public Service When the queen discovers her husband’s passion for this girl,
Commission in India for the first time. she becomes infuriated and has Malavika imprisoned but as
56. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian fate would have it, in the end she is discovered to be of royal
National Congress at Surat in 1907? [IAS 2016] birth and is accepted as one of his queens.
(a) Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by 60. With reference to the cultural history of India, the
Lord Minto memorising of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic
(b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to tales was the profession of who of the following?
negotiate with the British Government [IAS 2016]
(c) Foundation of Muslim League (a) Shramana (b) Parivraajaka
(d) Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President (c) Agrahaarika (d) Maagadha
of the Indian National Congress
Exp. (d) Maagadha is supposed to be a courtier with these
Exp. (b) Moderates believed in the policy of settlement of roles to perform. The memorising of chromicles, dynastic
minor issue with the government by deliberations. But the histories or epic tales was the work of a different group of
extremists believed in agitation, strikes and boycotts to force people, the Sutas and Magadhas.
their demands. Some nationalists led by Lokmanya Tilak
During the first stage (from 4th century BC to the 4th century
agitated against the moderate behaviour of Congress against
AD), the task of collecting information and presenting it in
British rule. This led to a split in the Congress in 1907 which is
known as Surat split of 1907. literary form was the special task assigned to the Sutas and
Maagadhas (bards and cronical), who were the descendants
57. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the of priestly families of the Vedic period.
Second World War [IAS 2016]
(a) India should be granted complete Independence. 61. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with
(b) India should be partitioned into two before granting
the life of the Buddha? [IAS 2015]
Independence. 1. Avanti 2. Gandhara 3. Kosala 4. Magadha
(c) India should be made a Republic with the condition that Select the correct answer using the codes given below
she will join the Commonwealth. (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 3 and 4
(d) India should be given Dominion status. Exp. (d) Buddha gained Enlightenment at Gaya (now called
Exp. (d) In March 1942, a mission headed by Stafford Cripps Bodh Gaya) which came under Magadha (now present day
was sent to India with constitutional proposals to seek Indian Bihar).
support for the Second World War. Sir Stafford Cripps was a During the time of Buddha, the king of Avanti was
senior left-wing politician and government minister in the war Chandpajjota. He sent his son Mahakacchana alongwith
cabinet of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Cripps worked to seven others to invite Buddha to Avanti. There is no direct link
keep India loyal to the British war effort in exchange for a between Gandhara and Buddha’s life although Gandhara later
promise of full self-government after the war. Cripps promised flourished as a centre of Buddhist art and architecture.
to give dominion status after the war as well as elections to be Hence, option (d) is correct.
held after the war.
242 Magbook ~ Indian History
62. With reference to Indian history, which of the following (c) the power of the Secretary of State for India and the
is/are the essential element/elements of the Feudal Viceroy
system? [IAS 2015] (d) None of the above [IAS 2015]
1. A very strong centralised political authority and a very Exp. (b) Montague-Chelmsford reform and Government of
weak provincial or local political authority. India Act, 1919 in 1918, Edwin Montague, the Secretary of
2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control State and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy, produced their
and possession of land.t scheme of constitutional reforms. These reforms, popularly
3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal known as Montague-Chelmsford reforms, led to the enactment
lord and his overlord. of Government of India Act of 1919.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below 67. Which reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) Only 3 (d) All of these following statements is/are correct? [IAS 2015]
Exp. (b) Statement 1 is false. In feudalism, there is no or a 1. It recommended a Federal Government.
weak central authority. The term feudal can therefore be 2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
applied to any state that exists as a collection of significantly 3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS.
autonomous regions. Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Hence, option (b) is correct (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) None of these
63. Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics Exp. (a) The Cabinet Mission arrived on 24th March, 1946.
of colonialism in India? [IAS 2015] The objective of this mission was to devise a machinery to
1. Dadabhai Naoroji 2. G Subramania Iyer 3. RC Dutt draw up the Constitution of Independent India and make
Select the correct answer using the codes given below arrangements for Interim Government. Thus, the mission was
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these like a declaration of India’s independence. The mission spent
some 3 weeks to discuss with the leaders of various political
Exp. (d) Dadabhai Naoroji, RC Dutt, Ranade, Gokhale, G
parties, but could not arrive at any agreed solution. So, finally it
Subramania Iyer, were among those who grounded Indian
announced its own recommendations on 16th May, 1946.
nationalism firmly on the foundation of anti-imperialism by
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 proposed that there shall be
fashioning the world’s first economic critique of colonialism,
a Union of India which was to be empowered to deal with the
before Hobson and Lenin. Subramania Iyer was known for his
Defense, Foreign Affairs and Communications.
fiery articles with plenty of sting.
Hence, option (d) is correct. 68. Which one of the following movements has contributed
64. Who of the following organised a march on the Tanjore to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the
coast to break the Salt Law in April, 1930? emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’? [IAS 2015]
(a) VO Chidambaram Pillai (b) C Rajagopalachari (a) Swadeshi movement (b) Quit India movement
(c) K Kamaraj (d) Annie Besant [IAS 2015] (c) Non-Cooperation movement
Exp. (b) Spread of Salt Disobedience once the way was (d) Civil Disobedience movement
cleared by Gandhi’s ritual at Dandi, defiance of the salt laws Exp. (a) Surat Split is mainly known for separation of Congress
started all over the country. In Tamil Nadu (Tanjore Coast), partymen into moderates and extremists at the Surat Session
C Rajagopalachari led a march from Tiruchirapally to of Congress in 26th December, 1907. This was the time of
Vedranniyam. In Malabar, K Kelappan led a march from Swadeshi movement.
Calicut to Poyannur, in Assam, Satyagrahis walked from Sylhet
to Noakhali (Bengal) to make salt. 69. Kalamkari painting refers to [IAS 2015]
(a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India
65. Consider the following statements [IAS 2015] (b) a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in
1. The first woman President of the Indian National North-East India
Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
(c) a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National
region of India
Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (d) a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 Exp. (a) The Kalamkari tradition chiefly consists of scenes
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 from Hindu mythology. Figures of deities with rich border
Exp. (b) Annie Besant was the first woman President of Indian embellishments were created for the temples.
National Congress. She presided over the 1917 Calcutta 70. In a particular region in India, the local people train the
Session of the Indian National Congress. Annie Besant was of roots of living trees into robust bridges across the
Irish origin and was one of the few foreigners, who played a streams. As the time passes, these bridges become
significant role in the Indian freedom movement. Badruddin stronger. These unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in
Tyabji was an Indian lawyer who served as the third Indian and (a) Meghalaya (b) Himachal Pradesh
first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress. (c) Jharkhand (d) Tamil Nadu [IAS 2015]
Hence, option (b) is correct.
Exp. (a) Meghalaya’s double-decker and single-decker root
66. The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined bridges are unique in the world and are a sight to behold. The
(a) the separation of power between the Judiciary and the bridges are tangles of massive thick roots, which have been
Legislature intermingled to form a bridge that can hold several people at a
(b) the jurisdiction of the Central and Provincial Governments time.
PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS
SOLVED PAPERS
Set 2
1. With reference to the cultural history of India, the term 4. In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and
‘Panchayatan’ refers to [IAS 2014] ‘Pattakila’ were used for [IAS 2014]
(a) an assembly of village elders (a) military officers (b) village headmen
(b) a religious sect (c) specialists in Vedic rituals (d) chiefs of craft guilds
(c) a style of temple construction Exp. (b) In medieval inscriptions, village officials are generally
(d) an administrative functionary referred to as Mahattara and the village headmen were referred
Exp. (c) Panchayatan is a style of temple construction. as Pattakila or patel.
A Panchayatan temple has four subordinate shrines on four
corners and the main shrine is in the center of the podium, 5. Annie Besant was [IAS 2013]
which comprises their base. 1. responsible for starting the Home Rule movement.
Examples of Panchayatan temples are Kandariya Mahadeva 2. the founder of the Theosophical society.
temple in Khajuraho, Brahmeshwara temple in Bhubaneswara 3. once the President of the Indian National Congress.
and Pashavatara temple in Deogarh. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
2. Which one of the following pairs does not form part of (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
the six systems of Indian philosophy? [IAS 2014] Exp. (c) Annie Besant was associated with the Theosophical
(a) Mimamsa and Vedanta Society, she was not founder. It was founded by Madame
(b) Nyaya and Vaishesika Blavatsky and Henry Olcott. Thus, Statement 2 is incorrect.
(c) Lokayata and Kapalika Statement 3 is correct that Annie Besant became the first
(d) Samkhya and Yoga woman President of the Indian National Congress in the 1917,
Exp. (c) The six schools of Indian philosophy are as follows Calcutta session. Statement 1 is also correct, Annie Besant
(i) Samkhya dadaistic philosophy that believes in the launched the Home Rule league in India on the lines of the Irish
Home Rule leagues alongwith Tilak.
existence of conscious Porsche and unconscious Prakvti.
(ii) Nyaya School of Logic and a foundation for philosophical 6. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang), who
reasoning and debate. visited India recorded the general conditions and culture
(iii) Vaishesika deals with the physics and chemistry of the of India at that time. In this context, which of the
body and the universe. following statement(s) is/are correct? [IAS 2013]
(iv) It prescribes asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, 1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from
dhyana for attainment of salvation. robbery.
(v) Mimamsa provides method for interpreting and 2. As regards punishment for offences ordeals by fire, water
understanding Veda. and poison were the instruments for determining the
(vi) Vedanta taught and practiced by sages of Vedas and innocence or guilt of a person.
Upanishads. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier
While the term Lokayata deltas school of Indian stations.
materialism and Kapalika refer to non-puranic tantric Select the correct answer using the codes given below
form of Shaivism. (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
3. The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ Exp. (b) Hiuen Tsang stayed in India for almost 15 years and
inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from visited almost every province of the country. Thus, statement 1
[IAS 2014] is incorrect. Hiuen Tsang mentions that he was robbed many
(a) Katha upanishad time during his travells. Statement 2 is correct. Punishment for
(b) Chandogya upanishad crime was very harsh during the times. Ordeals by fire, water
(c) Aitareya upanishad and poison were used to determine (the innocence or guilt of a
(d) Mundaka upanishad person. Statement 3 is also correct. Trade flourished during
Exp. (d) Satyameva Jayate which means ‘truth alone Harsha's rule and tradesmen moved around freely bartering
triumphs’ is a mantra from Mundaka upanishad which is to their goods. Smallamount of duties had to be paid by
inscribed below the Emblem of India. tradesmen at ferries and barrier stations.
244 Magbook ~ Indian History
7. Consider the following statements with reference to the 10. Which of the following parties were established by
history of Indian rock-cut architecture. [IAS 2013] Dr BR Ambedkar? [IAS 2012]
1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut 1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India.
caves India. 2. All India Scheduled Castes federation.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for 3. The Independent Labour party.
Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. Select the correct answer using the codes given below
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths. (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 Exp. (b) Dr Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour party
(c) Only 3 (d) All of the above in 1936. This party won in the 1937 elections to the
Exp. (c) The oldest caves in India are the Barabar rock-cut Constituent assembly. Further, All India Scheduled Castes
caves and not the Badami so Statement 1 is incorrect. The federation was founded by him in a national convention of the
Barabar caves were built during the 3rd century BC and belong Scheduled Castes held at Nagpur. It was the first all Indian
to the period of Ashoka and his son Dasaratha. These caves Political party, which comprised exclusively the Scheduled
were used by the ascetics of the Ajivika sect. Thus, Statement Castes. The Peasants and Workers Party of India was
2 is also incorrect. Statement 3 is correct. The caves at Ellora founded in 1949. It was not founded by Ambedkar.
depict Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. On the other hand, 11. Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932,
the caves at Ajanta are mostly Buddhist. mainly because [IAS 2012]
8. Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of (a) Round Table conference failed to satisfy Indian political
the Government of Indian Act, 1919? [IAS 2012] aspirations
1. Introduction of dyarchy in the executive government of the (b) Congress and Muslim league had differences of opinion
provinces. (c) Ramsay MacDonald announced the communal award
2. Introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims. (d) None of the above
3. Devolution of legislative authority by the centre to the Exp. (c) Ramsay MacDonald announced the communal
provinces. award on 17th August, 1932, reserving the seats for
Select the correct answer using the codes given below ‘depressed classes’ as well as Muslims and Sikhs. Gandhiji
(a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3 was deeply, grieved by this and declared fast unto death on
(c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above the next day to protest this award. He believed that the award
aimed to divide Indian on communal basis.
Exp. (c) The Government of Indian Act, 1919, also known as
Montague-Chelmsford reforms introduced dyarchy in the 12. Consider the following statements with reference to
executive government of the provinces and devoluted the Ryotwari settlement [IAS 2012]
legislative authority by the centre to the provinces, but the 1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the
separate communal electorate was introduced by Government government.
of Indian Act, 1909. 2. The government gave Pattas to the Ryots.
9. During Indian freedom struggle, the National Social 3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being
conference was formed. What was the reason for its taxed.
formation? [IAS 2012] Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) Different social reform groups or organisations of Bengal (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
region united to form a single body to discuss the issues of (c) All of the above (d) None of the above
larger interest and to prepare appropriate petitions/ Exp. (c) The Ryotwari settlement was introduced in Bombay
representations to the government
and Madras by the Viceroy Munro on the recommendation of
(b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social Charlet Reed. In this, the direct settlement was made between
reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate the government and the Ryot (peasant/cultivators). Pattas
body for such a purpose
were issued to the Ryots on obtaining the annual rents. The
(c) Behramji Malabari and MG Ranade decided to bring land revenue was assessed according to the fertility of the soil
together all the social reform groups of the country under and was mostly collected in cash.
one organisation
(d) None of the above 13. The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai
Naoroji to the cause of Indian National movement was
Exp. (b) The Statement 1 is incorrect because petitions/
that he [IAS 2012]
representations were the method adopted by moderates for
political gain. The Statement 2 is correct because the 1. exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British.
organisers of the Congress felt that the congress platform 2. interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the
should be devoted to political topics only and so it was self-confidence of Indians.
decided to inaugurate the National Social conference as a 3. stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils
separate movement. The Statement 3 is incorrect because MG before anything else.
Ranade was assisted by R Raghunath Rao and together they Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
founded the National Social conference which held its first (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
session in 1887. (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
Magbook ~ Solved Paper 2 245
Exp. (a) Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to show that 17. The Rowlatt act aimed at [IAS 2012]
India was being drained of its wealth under the British rule (a) compulsory economic support to war efforts
and thus was fast succumbing to poverty. In 1876, he
(b) imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial
published a paper titled Poverty of India — a prelude to
(c) suppression of the Khilafat movement
‘Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India’, published in 1901. The
second statement is wrong and WRT the third one, Naoroji (d) imposition of restrictions on freedom of the press
was a great social reformer who worked for the upliftment of Exp. (b) A Sedition committee was constituted under Justice
women, but he also actively participated in the Indian Rowlatt in 1918. On its recommendations Rowlatt Act, 1919
freedom struggle. was passed, which gave unbridled powers to the government
to arrest and imprison the suspects without trial.
14. With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of
India that has been kept alive for centuries, which of the 18. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress
following statements are correct? [IAS 2012] (1929) is very important in history, because [IAS 2012]
1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the Rajput 1. the Congress passed a resolution demanding complete
kingdoms during the Mughal period. independence.
2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and spiritual music. 2. the rift between the extremists and moderates was
3. Dhrupad Alap uses Sanskrit syllables from Mantras. resolved in that session.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below 3. a resolution was passed rejecting the Two-Nation theory in
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 that session.
(c) All of the above (d) None of the above Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Exp. (b) Dhrupad is the oldest surviving form of Indian (a) Only 1 (b) 2 and 3
classical music and traces its origin to the chanting of Vedic (c) 1 and 3 (d) None of these
hymns and mantras during the Vedic age. Most dhrupads are Exp. (a) The Annual Session of INC held at Lahore in December,
religious in nature praising Hindu Gods (originally sung in 1929 under the Presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru, passed a
temples), although some texts praise the kings. A Dhrupad resolution declaring ‘Poorna Swaraj’ (complete independence)
performance starts with the alap which is a slow and be the goal of the Indian National movement.
elaborate development of a Raga (mode).
19. Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with the hand
15. How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolises
Bharatanatyam dances? [IAS 2012] [IAS 2012]
1. Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in (a) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to
Kuchipudi dance, but not in Bharatanatyam. prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation
2. Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its (b) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to witness his purity and
edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam, but Kuchipudi chastity despite the temptations of Mara
dance does not have such a form of movements. (c) Buddha’s reminder to his followers that they all arise from
Select the correct answer using the codes given below the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth and thus this life
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 is transitory
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
Exp. (a) Kuchipudi presents more realistic acting Exp. (b) Among Buddhist symbols, Gautam Buddha used the
occasionally including dialogues spoken by the dancers. Bhumisparsha gesture to summon the Earth Goddess,
Another feature of the Kuchipudi is Tara in which the Sthavara. This was the gesture to his attainment of
performer dances on edges of a brass plate, executing Buddhahood. This gesture signifies the state of enlightment
complicated rhythmic patterns, dexerity. So, the feature after meditating under the Bodhi tree for four weeks and with
describe in second statement is of Kuchipudi not standing all the temptations put before him by Mara, the God of
Bharatanatyam. evil.
16. With reference to the religious history of medieval 20. The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of
India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of (a) bhakti
the following practices? [IAS 2012] (b) image worship and Yajnas
1. Meditation and control of breath. (c) worship of nature and Yajnas
2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place. (d) worship of nature and Bhakti [IAS 2012]
3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in Exp. (c) Early Vedic Aryans worshipped different forms of
their audience. nature such as Indra and Fire God and performed Yajnas to
Select the correct answer using the codes given below impress them.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) Only 3 (d) All of these 21. Which of the following statements is/are correct
Exp. (d) Shah Wali Ullah divides into four epochs. The first regarding Brahmo Samaj? [IAS 2012]
epoch with the prophet. The Sufis were ascetics. In the 1. It opposed idolatry.
second epoch, Sufis lived in a state of continued meditation 2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the
and contemplation. The last and fourth epoch coincides with religious texts.
the India. Sufis of this period recited holy songs. 3. It popularised the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible.
246 Magbook ~ Indian History
Select the correct answer using the codes given below 3. Denial of efficacy of rituals.
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) Only 3 (d) All of these Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Exp. (b) Brahmo Samaj was established by Raja Ram Mohan (a) Only (b) 2 and 3
Roy in 1830. The Samaj opposed idolatry the need for a (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
priestly class for interpreting the religious texts and discarded Exp. (b) Both Jainism and Buddhism rejected the authority of
the infallibility of the Vedas. Devendranath Tagore considered the Vedas and the Vedic priest. They repudiated the efficacy
Upanishad as infallible and published some of its portions as of ceremonies and rituals, condemned animal sacrifices and
Brahmo Dharma. ignored God.
22. With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that 25. The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the [IAS 2012]
played a very important role in the country’s economy, (a) three main racial groups of the Indian sub-continent
which of the following statements is /are correct? (b) three main linguistic divisions into which the languages of
[IAS 2012]
India can be classified
1. Every guild was registered with the central authority of the (c) three main styles of Indian temple architecture
state and the king was the chief administrative authority (d) three main musical Gharanas prevalent in India
on them.
Exp. (c) The Nagara style developed in North India in AD 5th
2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed
century. It is characterised by beehive shaped tower. e.g.
by the guild.
Jagdamba temple at Khajuraho. The Dravid or South Indian
3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members. style developed from AD 7th century. Here, the tower
Select the correct answer using the codes given below consisted of progressively smaller storeys of pavilions. e.g.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 3 Hoysala temple. Vesara type of architecture is the
(c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above combination of the other two styles. Gadag is another style of
Exp. (c) Kautilya mentions in Arthashastra regarding the temple architecture.
methods devised for the regulation of the guilds. It includes 26. The Congress ministries resigned in the seven
registration of the guilds, laying down the checks and balances on provinces in 1939, because [IAS 2012]
the activities of the artisans, wages, rules of work and appointment
(a) the Congress could not form ministries in the other four
of special tribunal to administer the laws. But, the king was not the
provinces
chief administrative authority to the guild, rather a guild master
(b) emergence of a left wing in the Congress made the
was selected. The post was sometimes hereditary.
working of the ministries impossible
23. With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, (c) there were widespread communal disturbances in their
which of the statements given below are correct? provinces
[IAS 2012] (d) None of the above
1. Different kinds of specialised surgical instruments were in Exp. (d) The Congress ministries resigned on 22nd
common use by AD 1st century. December, 1939, in the wake of World War II as the Viceroy
2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had declared India also a belligerent country without consulting the
begun by the beginning of AD 3rd century. Indian leaders.
3. The Concept of Sine of an Angle was known in
AD 5th century.
27. The demand of the Tebhaga Peasant movement in
Bengal was for [IAS 2012]
4. The Concept of Cyclic Quadrilaterals was known in
(a) the reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half
AD 7th century.
of crop to one-third
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(b) the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 3 and 4 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) All of these
the actual cultivators of the land
Exp. (c) Sushruta (6th century BC) was a surgeon of ancient (c) the uprooting of Zamindar system and the end of
India. He is known as the Father of Surgery and his book, serfdom
Sushruta Samhita, describes about around 120 surgical (d) writing off all peasant debts
instruments and 300 surgical procedures. So, by AD 1st
Exp. (a) The Tebhaga movement was initiated in Bengal in
century, these instruments were in common use. The
1946 by the-Bengal Provincial kisan sabha to implement the
Statement 2 is wrong because his book Sushruta Samhita
Floud commission recommendation, which asked for
refers to the plastic surgery of nose, uniting of bowel and
sharecroppers to give one-third of their harvest to the owner
several other operations. The Statement 3 refers to the Surya
instead of the one-half which they were paying at that time.
Siddhanta given by Aryabhatta in AD 5th century. The Concept
of Cyclic Quadrilateral was developed by Brahmagupta in 28. The ‘Dharma’ and ‘Rita’ depict a central idea of ancient
AD 7th century. Vedic Civilisation of India. In this context, consider the
following statements [IAS 2011]
24. With reference to the history of ancient India, which of
the following was/were common to both Buddhism and 1. ‘Dharma’ was a conception of obligations and of the
Jainism? [IAS 2012] discharge of one’s duties to oneself and to others.
1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment. 2. ‘Rita’ was the fundamental moral law governing the
2. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas. functioning of the universe and all it contained.
Magbook ~ Solved Paper 2 247
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) leading a contingent of Indian National Army
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (d) assisting in the formation of Interim Government under
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Exp. (c) Derived from the Sanskrit root dhr, ‘sustain, Exp. (a) Usha Mehta (1920-2000) was a Gandhian and freedom
support, uphold,’ dharma has a wide range of meaning: it is fighter of India. She is remembered for organising the Secret
one’s duty, responsibility, imperative and thereby ‘moral Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned
obligation’ it is that which is right, virtuous, meritorious and for few months during the Quit India movement of 1942.
accordingly ‘ethical’. The Vedic notion of rita means the 33. The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the
universal harmony in which all things in the world have a introduction of the Land Eettlement System of Lord
proper place and function or the fundamental moral law, Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced
governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained. to which of the following provisions? [IAS 2011]
29. The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and (a) Making Zamindar’s position stronger vis-a-vis the ryot
maintained by [IAS 2011] (b) Making East India company an overlord of Zamindars
(a) universal law (b) universal truth (c) Making judicial system more efficient
(c) universal faith (d) universal soul (d) None of the above
Exp. (d) Jain philosophy emphasises over liberation of souls Exp. (b) The permanent settlement gave formal land ownership
and its transmigration. It believes in a universal soul and titles to zamindars, which could be transferred to others if he
seeks reunification of mortal soul with the immortal. However, failed to return revenue to the company. This formalisation of
it also emphasises over universal truth through, which it land titles and the consequent overlordship of the British made a
seeks to understand the reality. Hence, option (d) is more flurry of legal petitions.
suitable in this case. 34. Which one of the following observations is incorrect
30. What was the purpose with which Sir William about the Quit India Movement of 1942? [IAS 2011]
Wedderburn and WS Caine had set-up the Indian (a) It was a non-violent movement
Parliamentary committee in 1893? [IAS 2011] (b) It was led by Mahatma Gandhi
(c) It was a spontaneous movement
(a) To agitate for Indian political reforms in the house of
(d) It did not attract the labour class in general
commons
(b) To campaign for the entry of Indians into the imperial Exp. (d) Indeed, a majority of the Quit India movement was
judiciary carried by the labour class as they agitated through bandhs and
hartals.
(c) To facilitate a discussion on India’s independence in the
British Parliament 35. Which amongst the following provided a common factor
(d) To agitate for the entry of eminent Indians into the British for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century?
Parliament (a) Introduction of a new system of land revenue and taxation of
Exp. (a) Sir William Wedderburn (1838-1918) was a Scottish tribal products
civil servant in India and a politician. William Sproston Caine (b) Influence of foreign religious missionaries in tribal areas
(1842-1903) was a British politician. Both these politicians (c) Rise of a large number of moneylenders, traders and
together had set-up the Indian Parliamentary committee in revenue farmers as middlemen in tribal areas
(d) The complete disruption of the old agrarian order of the
1893, to mobilise support for political reforms in India,
tribal communities [IAS 2011]
among the house of commons members.
Exp. (c) In tribal areas, greedy moneylenders, traders and land
31. Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest grabbers penetrated into tribal areas and exploited the simple,
convictions were reflected in a book titled, ‘Unto this illiterate people whom law and administration did not protest.
Last’ and the book transformed his life. What was the
message from the book that transformed Mahatma 36. India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links
Gandhi? with South-East Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this
pre-eminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal,
(a) Uplifting the oppressed and poor is the moral
which of the following could be the most convincing
responsibility of an educated man
explanation/explanations? [IAS 2011]
(b) The good of individual is contained in the good of all (a) As compared to other countries, India had a better ship
(c) The life of celibacy and spiritual pursuit are essential for building technology in ancient and medieval times
a noble life (b) The rulers of Southern India always patronised traders,
(d) All of the above [IAS 2011] Brahmin priests and Buddhist monks in this context
Exp. (b) Only this aspect of Leo Tolstoy thought was (c) Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea
borrowed by Gandhi. voyages
(d) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’
32. With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta
Exp. (d) Indian shipping industry was well established both in
is well known for [IAS 2011]
the ancient and medieval times. The priests and monks, who
(a) running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit
flew to South-East Asia to preach and later settled there helped
India movement
in bridging contacts between the hosts and Indian rulers who
(b) participating in the Second Round Table conference
patronised them.
248 Magbook ~ Indian History
37. With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, home 3. The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to
charges formed an important part of drain of wealth from Buddhism.
India. Which of the following funds constituted home Select the correct answer using the codes given below
charges? [IAS 2011] (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above
1. Funds used to support the Indian office in London.
2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British Exp. (a)
personnel engaged in India.
42. What was the immediate reason for Ahmed Shah
3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British. Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of
Select the correct answer using the codes given below Panipat? [IAS 2010]
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of these (a) He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his
Exp. (d) All wars waged in defence of India was put under home Viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore
charges. In fact, the suppression of the 1857 Revolt itself was (b) The frustrated Governor of Jullundhar Adina Beg Khan
put under the home charges. Salaries and expenses regarding invited him to invade Punjab
to Indian offices were of course put under home charges to be (c) He wanted to punish Mughal administration for
paid by Indians. non-payment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahal
(Gujarat, Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur)
38. Which one of the following pairs of countries fought wars
over a region called Ogaden? [IAS 2010]
(d) He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab upto
the borders of Delhi to his kingdom
(a) Eritrea and Sudan (b) Ethiopia and Somalia
(c) Kenya and Somalia (d) Ethiopia and Sudan Exp. (a)
Exp. (b) The Ogaden war was a conventional conflict between 43. Four resolutions were passed at the famous Calcutta
Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region Session of Indian National Congress in 1906. The
of Ethiopia. question of either retention or of rejection of these four
39. Consider the following statements [IAS 2010] resolutions became the cause of a split in Congress at
the next Congress Session held in Surat in 1907.
1. The ‘Bombay Manifesto’ signed in 1936 openly opposed the
Which one of the following was not one of those
preaching of socialist ideals.
resolutions? [IAS 2010]
2. It evoked support from a large section of business (a) Annulment of Partition of Bengal
community from all across India. (b) Boycott
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (c) National education
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (d) Swadeshi
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Exp. (a)
Exp. (a) The ‘Bombay Manifesto’ signed in 1936 by twenty-one
Bombay businessmen, contained an open indictment of Nehru’s 44. After Quit India movement, C Rajagopalachari issued
preaching of socialist ideals, which were deemed prejudicial to a pamphlet entitled ‘The Way Out’. Which one of the
private property and to the peace and prosperity of the country. following was a proposal in this pamphlet ? [IAS 2010]
(a) The establishment of a ‘War Advisory council’
40. For the Karachi Session of Indian National Congress in composed of representatives of British India and the
1931 presided over by Sardar Patel, who drafted the Indian States
Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic
(b) Reconstitution of the Central Executive council in such a
Programme? [IAS 2010]
way that all its members, except the Governor-General
(a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
and the Commander-in-Chief should be Indian leaders
(c) Dr Rajendra Prasad (d) Dr BR Ambedkar
(c) Fresh elections to the Central and Provincial
Exp. (b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel presided over the Karachi legislatures to be held at the end of 1945 and the
session of Indian National Congress in 1931. The following Constitution making body to be convened as soon as
resolutions were adopted the session: possible
1. Fundamental Rights and Economic Plan programme were (d) A solution for the constitutional deadlock
formulated by Jawaharlal Nehru and adopted in the
Exp. (d)
session.
2. It admitted Gandhi-Irwin pact as Gandhi was allowed to 45. Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located?
attend the Second Round Table conference in London. (a) Bhadrachalam (b) Chidambaram [IAS 2009]
(c) Hampi (d) Srikalahasti
41. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early
medieval times? [IAS 2010] Exp. (c) In Karnataka State, at Hampi the Virupaksha temple
is famous, which was build by Krishnadeva Rai in 1509. It is
1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the
also called as Pumpapati temple. Krishnadeva Rai
incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of
(1509-1529) was the greatest ruler of Tuluva dynasty and the
Vaishnavism.
Vijayanagara empire.
2. The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last
Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.