History and Civics AIC-1

Q.1. Observe the picture and answer the

following:
1. Name the structure.
2. What was it used for?
3. What does it resemble?
4. Describe the characteristic feature of structure in
detail.
Ans- 1. The structure above shown in the image is a
Citadel of Mohenjo Daro, made from interlocked
baked mud bricks. The word Citadel has been taken
from French meaning the centre fort of the city.
Ans 2.
The Citadel was a raised platform that had buildings
of higher importance like Great Bath, Granary,
Workshops, Assembly Hall, etc. The main purpose of
these significant structures was to conduct rituals,
public gatherings, residence to administrative
people, and administration. It had a tall mud-brick
embankment with rectangular bastions situated at
regular intervals for protection from enemies and
floods.
Ans 3. The Citadel resembles that during the
Harappan period, the existence of social
organization with the political and social divide in
the position and power of the people. The Citadel
was a structure of higher importance and it was
vested with people of higher authorities.

Ans 4. Characteristic features of the Citadel-

i. It was built on the western part of the city
on an elevated or raised platform in the
shape of a parallelogram.
 ii. It was segregated from the lower town by
burnt mud-brick walls or embankments
with bastions at regular intervals for
protection from floods and enemies.
iii. Presence of archaeologically important
structures like Great Bath, Granary,
Workshops, Assembly Hall, etc.
iv. Competitively less population than Lower
Town.
v. Residence for people with high authority
people like priests, kings, etc.
vi. The Citadel gives important information
on the advancement of efficient and
urban town planning.
 Q.2 Answer the following.
1. Name the Chairman of the Drafting Committee
of the Constitution. When did the Constitution of
India come into force?
Ans I. The Constitution of India is a framework or a
-- set of rules and regulations for defining the
principles, procedures, and powers of the
government and the right and duties of
citizens.
II. At present the Constitution of India has a
Preamble accompanied by 448 articles and
101 amendments in 25 parts, 12 schedules,
and 5 appendices, making it the world's
largest written constitution.
III. The Drafting Committee was a team of seven
members, elected by the Constituent
Assembly on 29th August 1947, to make a
draft of the constitution. The chairman of this
committee was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The seven
members included Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar,
N. Gopalaswami; B.R. Ambedkar, K.M Munshi,
Mohammad Saadulla, N. Madhav Rau
(replaced B.L. Mitter, who resigned due to
health issue.), and T.T Krishnamachri(replaced
D.P. Khaitan, who died in the year 1948).
 IV. The Constitution of India, as a whole came
into effect on 26th January 1950.

2. State any two ways in which the script of the Indus

Valley Civilization provides us with valuable historical
information.
Ans - Script of the Indus Valley Civilization-
a) It is the most primitive form of writing in the
Indian Subcontinent. The script is not derived or
originated from any other civilization.
b) The script is a pictographic script with over 4000
engraved objects out of which only 417 distinct
signs have specific patterns like fish, humans,
birds, etc. However, only 31 signs have been
repeatedly used.
c) The script exhibited stories of creatures or
animals in lively poses. The script is engraved on
ladles, ivories, potteries, bangles, shells, seals,
etc.
d) The script is boustrophedon, i.e. written from
right to left on one line and then from left to
right on the next line.

e) The script can be found on clay tags which were

utilized for the identification of goods.
Archaeological evidence shows the presence of
these clay tags in The Mesopotamian
Civilization; hence we can deduce that there
used to be a network of trade and
transportation carried on with other countries
during the times as far as Mesopotamia.
 f) Based on the discovered script, historians and
archaeologists prophesied that the people of
the Harappan Civilization cultivated rice and
cotton.
g) Due to no repetition and short inscriptions, it is
difficult for historians to indicate some pattern
in the script. This is a reason why the Harappan
script is not yet deciphered.

3. Write short note on importance of Epics.

Ans - The Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata were
written in the Later Vedic Period. Pertinent
information on Epics-
a) Ramayana-
It was written by Sage Valmiki in Sanskrit
between 500 – 100 B.C.E. which tells the
story of Rama rescuing Sita from Ravana
with the help of Sugriva and Hanumana. It
envisages an ideal family and society.
 b) Mahabharata-
The Mahabharata was written by Sage
Vyas in Sanskrit in verses that describe the
fierce battle between the Pandavas and
the Kauravas. It includes the Bhagwad Gita,
which is the most sacred book of Hindus.

Importance of the Epics-

i. These epics reveal crucial social, political,
and economical information about Indian
history during the Vedic Period.
ii. The Epics illustrate the exquisite works in
the field of literature and are eulogized
for their philosophical values.
iii. These Epics also stated the artery and
weaponry powers of the Aryans.
iv. The Bhagwad Gita particularizes the
karma philosophy and the immortality of
the soul.
 v. The Epics were the main pillars or guiding
books for the establishment of Hinduism.

4. Why is 26th January celebrating every year? Why

was the constituent assembly formed?
Ans -
I. The Constituent Assembly was formed on 6th
December 1976.
II. This Assembly elected the Drafting Committee
which was a seven-member team, headed by
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, to draft the Constitution.
III. The members of the Constituent Assembly
were elected by the Provincial Legislative
Assembly.
IV. It consisted of a total of 385 members. i.e.,
292 were elected and 93 nominated by the
Princely States.
V. On 20th November 1946, it was determined
that the first session of the Constituent
Assembly would be conducted on 9th
December 1946.
VI. Later, the Constituent Assembly became the
Provisional Parliament of India, until the new
election took place under the new
Constitution between 25 October 1951 and 21
February 1952.
 VII. The main reason for the formation of the
Constituent Assembly was to draft or adopt
the Constitution of India on the framework
provided by the Cabinet Mission Plan (24
March 1946.)
The Constitution, unabridged come into effect on 26th
January 1950, that’s why every year this date is
celebrated as Republic Day.

Q.3 Answer the following.

1. Why does Indian Constitution disseminate

constitutional supremacy?
Ans - The Constitution of India is a set of rules and
regulations for defining the principles, procedures, and
powers of the government and the right and duties of
citizens. The constitution of India disseminates
constitutional supremacy than parliamentary
supremacy. The reason for this is that the Constitution
of India was not created by the Parliament but by the
Constituent assembly. So the Parliament has no right
to override the Indian Constitution. This is the reason
why Indian Constitution disseminates constitutional
supremacy.
2. Mention the difference between position of
women in Early Vedic period and later Vedic period?
Ans – Difference between the position of women in the
Early Vedic Period and Later Vedic Period-
Early Vedic Period Later Vedic Period
a. The birth of a girl was i. The birth of a girl was
welcomed in the family. contemplated as desolation
in the family.
b. Women were ii. Status of women declined.
admirable and respectful.
c. Widow remarriage iii. Widow remarriage was
prevailed in this period. prohibited.
d. Liberty to move freely iv. No rights to move freely
and have opportunities in and have no opportunities in
education and other education and other social
social matters. matters.
e. Participation of women v. No participation of women
in rituals, sabhas, in rituals, sabhas, and
discussions. discussions, except upper-
class women.
f. Similar dress styles vi. Different dresses for men
made of cotton and wool and women made of weaved
for men and women. silk.
g. Child marriage, Sati, vii. Child marriage, Sati, and
and dowry system were dowry system became
not followed. quotidian.
h. Monogamy and viii. Polygamy and
Swayamwara were Swayamwara were
practiced. practiced.

Q.4 Answer in brief.

1. Mention the goals of objective resolution?
Ans - On 13th December 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru
defined the aims and objectives based on which the
Constituent Assembly would draft the Constitution.
These resolutions were the goals and moral values
behind the making of the Constitution of India. This
resolution was passed by the Constituent Assembly on
22th January 1947. Main Goals of Objective Resolution-
a. Free India will be a Republic Nation.
b. The ideals of social, political, and economic
democracy would be granted to all the
people.
c. All fundamental rights of the citizens would
be granted in the Republic of India.
d. Safeguard of the rights of minorities and
backward classes would be ensured by the
State.
2. What were the features of urban planning in
Harappan civilization?
Ans – Cities of Harappan Civilizations like Mohenjo
Daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan, Harappa, etc were
brilliant examples of urban town planning, giving
concrete evidence for the existence of highly
developed civilization. Some of the features of urban
planning in Harappan Civilization-
a) Division of cities into Citadel(built on a
raised platform) and Lower
Town(residential dwellings).

b) The Citadel was built on a platform of mud

bricks and separated from Lower Town by a
wall or embankment. It consisted of
historically important buildings like the
Great Bath, Granary, Assembly Hall,
Workshop, and residence for the
aristocrats.

c) The Citadel was built on the western part of

the city whereas the Lower Town was built
on the eastern side.
d) Archaeological evidence suggests that the
city was divided into rectangular blocks and
the streets were built in grid patterns,
running north-south and east-west direction
crossing each other at 90°.

e) The average width of the road was between

13 to 14 feet for an easy passage of carts.
The corners of the houses were rounded to
allow passage of carts.

f) Presence of street light, public well.

underground drainage and dustbins have
 also been discovered, giving the details of
the importance of sanitization and hygiene
in the Indus Valley Civilization.

g) Houses were made from burnt or sundried

bricks whereas the roofs and staircases
were made from woods. Houses were built
on an elevated platform for protection from
floods. Doors opened on narrow lanes
rather than on the main road.

h) The construction of the houses and drains

found in archaeological digs conveys that
the streets were arranged before the
houses.
i) The main drainage lines were made with
bricks set in mortar and enclosed with
removable bricks or stone slabs for regular
cleaning.

j) Presence of bath drains, wells, and a soak

pit. The existence of closed drainage
systems and houses was preoccupied with
windows, doors, and ventilators for proper
airflow and ventilation.

k) Kitchens were constructed at the corner of

the courtyard, which had wells and a
storeroom.