Class 12th QuestionBank History

STUDENT SUPPORT MATERIAL
CLASS XII
HISTORY
SESSION 2023-24
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN
MUMBAI REGION
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CHIEF PATRON
MRS. SONA SETH

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
KVS RO MUMBAI
PATRON
SHRI. SAMAJ V JOGLEKAR
ASSISTANT COMMOSSIONER
KVS RO MUMBAI
COURSE DIRECTOR
SHRI. MITHILESH KUMAR SINGH
VICE PRINCIPAL IIT POWAI

CONTENT DEVELOPERS
1. Mr. Neelesh Singh, PGT History, KV NO.1 Colaba
2. Mr. Mukesh Meena, PGT, History , KV NAD Karanja
3. Mr.Amod Ranjan ,PGT History ,KV VSN Nagpur
Edited and compiled by: -
Ms. Shraddha Chauhan
PGT History, KV OF Dehuroad ,Pune.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Mr.Krishna Kumar Bharadwaj PGT History KV NDA Pune
Mr.Prabhakar Pratap Singh TGT Social Science KV No.1 Devlali
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CH. 1 BRICKS, BEADS AND BONES
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [1 MARK]
Q- 1 The Harappan or Indus Valley civilization flourished during the …….. age.
(a) Megalithic (b) Paleolithic
(c) Neolithic (d) Chalcolithic
Q- 2 Which of the following civilization is not associated with the Harappan Civilization?
(a) Mesopotamia (b) Egyptian
(c) Sumerian (d) Chinese
Q- 3 Of the following scholars who was the first to discover the traces of the Harappan Civilization?
(a) Sir John Marshall (b) R. D. Banerji
(c) A. Cunningham (d) Daya Ram Sahani
Q- 4 Match the location of the following Harappan sites :
List 1 List 2
(Sites) (Sites)
A. Ropar (1) Uttar Pradesh

B. Alamgirpur (2) Punjab
C. Kalibangan (3) Gujarat
D. Dholavira (4) Rajasthan
E. Banawali (5) Haryana
Codes:
A B C D E
(a) (2) (1) (4) (3) (5)
(b) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
(c) (2) (1) (3) (4) (5)
(d) (2) (3) (1) (5) (4)
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Q- 5 Most of the Harappan towns had fortification which served the purpose of ……… .
(a) Safety From robbers (b) Protection against cattle raiders
(c) Protection against floods (d) All the above
Q- 6 The Harappan civilization declined as a result of ……… .
(a) Aryan invasion (b) decline in foreign trade
(c) Ecological factors (d) Not definitely known factors
Q- 7 The most common animal figure found at all the Harappan sites is …...
(a) Unihorn bull (b) Cow
(c) Bull (d) tiger
Q- 8 Which of the following items have not been found in the Harappan graves?
(a) Pottery and ornaments
(b) Iron hand axe
(c) Jewellery
(d) Copper mirrors
Q- 9 Harappa is located on the banks of which river?
(a) Indus (b) Chenab
(c) Ravi (d) Jhelum
Q- 10 The ‘ Great bath’ was found in which town of the Indus valley Civilisation ?
(a) Mohanjodaro (b) Harappa
(c) Lothal (d) Rangpur
Q- 11 Which town in Indus Valley Civilisation had no citadel ?
(a) Mohanjodaro (b) Harappa
(c) Chanhudaro (d) Lothal
Q- 12 What was the main feature of the Harappa Civilisation ?
(a) Town planning
(b) Art and architecture

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(c) Administration
(d) Agriculture
Q- 13 Where were large granaries found ?
(a) Lothal and dholavira
(b) Kalibanga
(c) Banawali
(d) Harappa and Mohenjodaro
Q- 14 Which of the following is not one of the features of the Harappan writing ?
(a) The Harappan script was pictographic and not alphabetical.
(b) It has been deciphered by James Princep.
(c) it had too many signs, somewhere between 375 and 400
(d) The script was written from right to left.
Short answer questions(3 Marks)
Q.1 Our Knowledge about the Indus Valley Civilization is poorer than that of other civilizations, why?
Ans -We are not capable to read the script of that age till now.
- Dependency on only archaeological sources i.e. Buildings, seal, beads etc.
- For other civilization literary sources are available unlike Indus Valley Civilization
Q.2 List the raw material required for craft production in Indus Valley Civilization and how these
might have been obtained?
Ans - Stone -like carnelian, jasper, crystal quartz, and steatite.
-Metal - like- copper, bronze, gold.
- Shell, faience and terracotta
Method of procuring material for craft production
-A. They established settlement near the source of material -eg Nageshwar, Balakot
- B. They might have sent expeditions to areas such as the Khetri region of Rajasthan (for copper)
and south India (for gold)
Q.3 What was the confusion in the mind of Cunningham while studying Harappa Civilization?
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Ans -He used the accounts left by Chinese Buddhist pilgrims who had visited India between the
fourth and seventh century.
- He thought that Indian history began with the first cities in the Ganga Valley.
Q.4 What were the features of settlement of pre- Harappa period?
Ans:-- They had no large buildings.
-There was a prevalence of agriculture and cattle rearing
- Some people were also engaged in sculpture.
There was no well-planned network of roads and drainage system.
Q.5 How do we know about the social difference among the Harappans?
Ans: . -By study of the structure of burials and things found from these burials.
.- By classifying artifacts into useful and luxurious things.
Q.6 How you can say that the people of Mohenjodaro were concerned about their privacy?
Ans:-On the basis of residential buildings & special structures.
- The main entrance of the house was made in such a way that it did not give a direct view of the
interior of the courtyard.
- There were no windows in the wall along the ground level.
Q.7 Why is Harappan script considered an enigmatic script or mysterious script? OR What are the
main characteristics of Harappan Script?
Ans: - Because it is yet to be deciphered. Its mystery has still not been solved yet.
- It was not alphabetical. It had too many signs; all the signs symbolized certain things.
-The sign of this script were of the period 375 to 400.
•- The script has been found on a variety of objects.
Q.8 Write a note on the agriculture technology of Harappans?
Ans: The prevalence of agriculture is indicated by finds of grains in various sites of civilization
Archaeologist have found evidence of a ploughed field at seals and terracotta sculpture indicates that
the bull was known and oxen were used for ploughing.
-Two different crops were grown together.
- Canals and wells were constructed for irrigation. Traces of canals have been found in all the
Harappan site of Shortughai in Afghanistan, Water reservoirs have been found in Dholavira.
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Q.9 How can you say that the Harappan culture was an urban one?
Ans •- The cities was well planned into upper and lower town. .
- The roads were straight and wide.
-The houses were made of burnt bricks and contained more than one storey. Every house had a well
and bathroom.
• The Drainage system was excellent with house drains emptying into street drains.
• Existence of public buildings.
-Lothal had a dockyard and was an important trading Centre
Q 10 Write a note on the drainage system of Harappa?
ANS: -The drainage was made of mortar lime and gypsum.
-They were covered with big bricks and stones which could be lifted easily to clean the drain
-Smaller drains from houses on both the sides were laid on the main channel.
-Pits were provided for sewage for the houses.
Q11- Write a short note on the seals of Indus valley people.
ans:-- More than 2000 seals have been found at the various sites.
- They are made up of various materials such as steatite, faience, ivory, pottery etc.
-They are very informative regarding dress, ornaments, hair styles etc.
-By the seals we know about the religions, commercial activities, etc.
Q.12. What do you know about trade and commerce of Indus valley civilization?
Ans:- Internal Trade: - wns advanced Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa were main trade Centre. Heavy and
small weight has been found at these sites. These are made up in the multiple of two as 1:2:4:8:16.
-There was strict control on weight and measure.
-International trade - They had trade relation with other countries such as Egypt, Oman.
-The trade was carried both by sea and land
-Probably the metals like gold, silver, Tin and copper and precious stones were imported from the
other countries,
Long answer Questions (8 marks).
Q.13 - How did Harappan civilization come to an end?

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Ans:Some schools have tried to explain the important causes which led to the abandonment of the
mature Harappan sites by 1800 B.C. Some of them are as follows:
- By Floods It is speculated that a sudden flood might have submerged the various town and buried
them under the thick layer of mud.
-Due to the change in the course of Indus River
- Climate change - It is also possible that there was climate change and drought took place due to
deforesation
- earthquakes- it is also probable that the nature itself turned the whole land upside down.
- Aryan invasion- some scholars say that Aryans were responsible .
Source based questions
Q1-The most ancient system yet discovered
About the drains , Mackay noted; “it is certainly the most complete ancient system as yet discovered ’’
every house was connected to the street drains. The main channels were made of bricks set in the
mortar and were covered with loose bricks that could we removed for cleaning . in some cases ,
limestone was used for the covers .house drains first emptied into a sump or cesspit into which solid
matter settled while waste water flowed our into the street drains . very long drainage channels were
provided at intervals with sump for cleaning . it is a wonder of archaeology that “little heaps of
material , mostly sand , have frequently been found lying alongside drainage channels , which shows
…that the debris was not always carted away when the drain was cleared ’’
From Ernest Mackay , Early Indus Civilization ,1948.
Drainage systems were not unique to the larger cities , but were found in smaller settlements as well .
at lothal for example , while houses were built for mud bricks , drains were made of burnt bricks .
Questions ;
(1) Explain the ancient drainage system of the Harappans .
A. Drains were made on both sides of roads with baked bricks and were covered with limestone .
(2) Explain the domestic architecture of the houses of Mohen-jo-daro.
A. House were mostly 2 storied with courtyard at the centre and entrance did not give direct view of
the interiors of the house
(3) What are the advantages of covered drains ? explain .
A.To maintain cleanliness and hygiene , to control spread of diseases .
HOW ARTEFACTS ARE IDENTIFIED
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Processing of food required grinding equipment as well as vessels for mixing , blending and cooking .
these were made of stone , metal and terracotta . this an excerpt from one of the earliest reports on
excavations at Mohenjodaro , the best known Harappan site;
saddle querns …are found in considerable numbers …and they
seem to have been the only means in use for grinding cereals . as a rule , they were roughly made of
hard ,gritty igneous rock or sandstone and mostly show signs of hard usage .as their bases are
usually convex , they must have been set in the earth or in mud to prevent their rocking . two main
types have been found ; those on which another smaller stone was pushed or rolled to and fro , and
others with which a second stone was used as a pounder , eventually making a large cavity in the
neither stone . querns of the farmer type were probably used solely for grain ; the second type
possibly only for pounding herbs and spices for making curries . in fact, stones of this latter type are
dubbed “ curry stones ’’ by our workmen and our cook asked for the loan of one from the museum for
use in the kitchen .
From Earnest Mackay , Further Excavations at Mohenjodaro 1937.
Questions;
(1) What are the two types of querns?
A. Those on which another smaller stone was pushed or rolled to and fro , and others with which a
second stone was used as a pounder , eventually making a large cavity in the neither stone . querns
of the farmer type were probably used solely for grain ; the second type possibly only for pounding
herbs and spices for making curries .
(2) What materials were these querns made of ?
A. They were made of hard ,gritty igneous rock or sandstone
(3) Why are they described as “ curry stones ’’?
A. Those used for pounding herbs and spices for making curries
(4) Explain any two ways in which the archaeologists classify finds and way they determine the
function.
A. On the basis of purpose the thing served or on the basis of place where it was found or the
material of which it was made.
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Ch. 2- kings farmer and towns
Q- 1 Megasthenese was the Ambassador of:
(a) Selucus Nikator (b) Alexander
(c) Darius (d) The Persians
Q- 2 “The indica ’’ was written by:
(a) kautilya (b) Patanjali
(c) Megasthanes (d) Panini
Q- 3 Mauryan Dynasty was founded by:
(a) Ashoka (b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Pushyamitra (d) Ajatasatru
Q- 4 Megasthanese was a Greek Ambassador sent to the court of:
(a) Ashoka (b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Kanishka (d) Porus
Q- 5 What are big rock kept on the burial in central and south India called ?
(a) Northern Black Polished ware (b) Pillars
(c) Boulders (d) Megaliths
Q- 6 Who were Dhamma Mahamatta ?
(a) Special revenue officers appointed by Asoka for tax collection
(b) Special officers appointed by Asoka for maintaining law and order in the Mouryan Kingdom
(c) Special officers appointed by Askoa to spread the message of dhamma
(d) Special officer appointed by Asoka to stop spread dhamma
Q- 7 Who composed the Prayag prashasti in praise of Samudragupta ?
(a) Prabhavati Gupta (b) Harisena

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(c) Kautilya (d) Banabhatta
Q- 8 What were the guilds of the merchants and craftsmen called?
(a) Shrenis (b) Ur
(c) Adimal (d) Uzhavar
Q- 9 Who issued the first coins bearing the names of rulers ?
(a) Mauryas (b) Guptas
(c) Indo-Greeks (d) Satavahans
Q- 10 Asoka is mentioned by which titles in his inscriptions ?
(a) Asoka, Piyadassi
(b) Masattuvan, Asoka
(c) Devanampiya, Piyadassi
(d) Devaputra, Piyadassi
Q- 11 Name the languages in which the Asoka inscriptions were written.
(a) Pali, Prakrit and Greek
(b) Pali, Sanskrit and Aramaic
(c) Prakrit, Aramaic and Greek
(d) Pali, Sanskrit and Greek
Short answer questions(3 Marks)
Q1. Why is six century B.C.E often considered as a major turning point in Indian History?
Ans: • Emergence of early states, cities growing use of iron.
- Use of coin.
• New Religion- Mainly Buddhism, Jainism.
Q2. Who were Dhamma Mahamatra?
Ans: - Special Officer appointed by Ashoka
• Appointed to spread the message of Dhamma.
Description by foreigners - e.g.Fahiyan.

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- By Prashastis - Harisen prashastis in Prayag.
- With the help of coins issued by various Kings.
- With the help of Inscriptions.
Q.3. What were Mahajanapadas? Name a few important Mahajanapadas?
Ans: • Hints- (i) Big states in 600 B.C in Northern India (ii) Important Mahajanapadas - (a) Magadha
(b) Koshala (c) Avanti (d) Panchal (e) Vajji (1) Gandhar
Q.4.List some of the problems faced by epigraphists?
Ans: - Epigraphists - persons who study inscription
- Sometimes the words are engraved very lightly, so it is very hard to describe them.
- The inscriptions reflect the views of those who write them. So it may be biased
Q 5.Describe briefly the sources for reconstructing the history of the Gupta rulers?
Ans: - Literary sources e.g. - Arthashastra by Kautilya.
Description by foreigners e.g.Fahiyan.
By Prashastis Harisen prashastis in Prayag.
With the help of coins issued by various Kings With the help of Inscriptions
Q.6 What is the significance of the inscription of Ashoka in the Indian History?
Ans: - It helps to determine the extent of Ashoka's Empire.
- It tells about his religion and his thought It
-tells us about his policy
- This inscription throws light on the work done by Ashoka .
--These are the beautiful specimen of Mauryan Art
Q.7. James Prinsep provided a new direction to Indian political history how?
Ans: . He deciphered two scripts - Brahmi, Kharosthi.
- These inscriptions were used earliest inscriptions and coins
• He throws light on Mauryan ruler Ashoka .
The research of James Prinsep gave a new direction to Indian political history
- Scholars - (both Indian and Europeans) used the inscription and coins to draw information about
the major dynasty.
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Q8. What method did the Kushanas adopt to attain upper social status?
Ans: • They represented themselves as a divine figure (Explanation).
- They prefixed the title Devputra before their name which means the son of God.
• They show themselves as Divine Kings.
-They constructed their vast statues.
Q.9. Why did the Kings or Powerful people donate land?
Ans: -It was an expansion policy of Agriculture in new fields.
• Kings donated land to find new supporters.
- To spread their power and glory by donating land.
Q-10 What factors were responsible for the Growth of Magadha from Mahajanapadas to powerful
Empire?
Ans • Powerful ruler - Bimbisara and Ajatasattu, Mahapadma Nanda.
• Availability of Iron
Fertile soil
-Availability of elephants in forest.
- Role of River - Ganga . Son, Punpun,
Q-11 Describe any five features of Mahajanapadas?
Ans:Ruled by Kings, some were ruled by Ganas or Sanghas.
- Fortified Capital
-Permanent Army
- Functions of King to collect taxes and Tributes from people
-Dharmasutras laid down norms for Kings and other People.
Q-12 How do inscription help in reconstruction of history?
Ans: - Knowledge about the rulers and their achievement ( By prashasti)
- Script and language of that time

- Land grant and economic condition - Extent of the empire
- Social and Religious conditions of Kingdom.
Long answer Questions (8 marks)
Q1- What were the main features of Mauryan administration
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Ans-Central administration-King had control over legislative, executive and judiciary.
Provincial administration-The empire was divided into many provinces governed by governor.
Local government-Committee of 3 members to maintain rules and regulations
Existence of cabinet to give advice .
Five major political centres in empire
Organized army.
To spread Dhamm Mahamatra
Strict law and order system.
Institution of spies was very strong and working effectively.
In praise of Samudragupta
This is an excerpt from the Prayaga prashasti ;
He was without an antagonist one earth ; he by the overflowing of the multitude of his many good
qualities adorned by hundreds of good actions , has wiped off the fame of other kings with the soles
of (his) feet ; (he is) purusha ( the supreme being ), being the cause of the prosperity of the good and
the destruction of the bad (he is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose tender heart can be captured
only by devotion and humility ;(he is) possessed of compassion ; (he is) the giver of many hundred –
thousand of cows ; (his) mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable , the
poor , the forlorn and the suffering ; (he is) resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind ; (he is )
equal to (the gods) kubera (the god of wealth) ,varuna (the god of the ocean ), indra (the god of rains
) and yama (the god of death )…
Question
(1) Who wrote the above prashasti ? state the importance of prashasti .
A. Harisena wrote prashasti in praise of Samudragupta as the courtpoets were commissioned to write
about the achievements of their king.
(2) Mention any three qualities of the ruler according to this prashasti .
A. Kind , Just and helpful.
(3) How far are those values shown by the rulers , relevant in the contemporary society explain .
A. Rulers are replaced by democratic leaders in the contemporary society who may or may not work
for public welfare .
What the king’s official did
Here is an excerpt from the account of Megasthenes;
Of the great officers of state ,some …superintend the rivers ,measures the land ,as is done in Egypt ,
and inspect the sluices by which water is let out from the main canals into their branches ,so that
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every one may have an equal supply of it . the same persons have charge also of the huntsmen , and
are entrusted with the power of rewarding or punishing them according to there deserts . they collect
the taxes , and superintend the occupations connected with lands ; as those of the woodcutters ,the
carpenters ,the blacksmiths and the miners .
Question :
(1) Explain the duties of great officers of state .
A. superintend the rivers ,measures the land
(2) What similarity does Megasthense tell us about the official of Egypt and this empire ?
A. Of the great officers of state ,some …superintend the rivers ,measures the land ,as is done in
Egypt.
(3) what was the role of sub- committees for coordinating military activities ?
A. Transport and supply committee took care of carrying food, fodder and weapons to the battlefield .
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Ch.3- kinship, caste and class early societies
Q- 1 The epic Mahabharata was written by:
(a) Valmiki (b) Maharishi Vyas
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of the above
Q- 2 What is ‘ Patriliny’ ?
(a) Tracing decent from father to mother
(b) Tracing decent from mother to daughter
(C) Tracing decent from father to son, grandson and so on
(d) Tracing decent father to daughter
Q- 3 ‘ Exogamy’ means:
(a) Marrying outside gotra (b) Marrying inside gotra
(c) Marrying at right time (d) None of the above
Q- 4 In which type of marriage does a woman have several husbands?
(a) Endogamy (b) Exogamy
(c) Polygamy (d) Polyandry
Q- 5 What was the object of the team of VS Sukthankar?
(a) Prepared critical editions of Mahabharata
(b) Translate Mahabharata in English language
(c) Prepare critical editions of Manusmriti
(d) translate Manusmriti in Tamil
Q-6 When was Manusmriti compiled?
(a)200 BCE to 200CE(b)100BCE to 100CE(c)300BCE to 300CE(d)None of these
Q7-The earliest inscriptions were written on which material?

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(a) Paper (b) Metal (c)Stones (d) Wood
Q8-Which of the fallowing was one of the Occupations of Kshatriyas?
(a)Perform sacrifices and give gifts.
(b)To teach Vedas.
(c)Trade
(d) Agriculture
Q9-Who were the Chandals
(a)Brahmans (b)Vaishyas (C)Kshatriyas (D)Untouchables.
Q10- Which of the given statement is correct?
i-Mahabharata is a story of Kinship relation
ii-It describes feud over land and power between two groups of cousins.
(a.)i only( b)ii only(c)both(d) None of them.
Short Answer questions (3 marks)
Q.1 What do you understand by "The critical edition of the Mahabharata

? Ans. • One of the most ambitious projects of scholarship began in 1919
-Under the leadership of a noted Indian Sanskritist V.S.Sukthankar.
-A team initiated the task of preparing a critical edition of the Mahabharata.
Q.2 What were the terms of gotras? What were the rules of gotras?
Ans.- Each gotra was named after a Vedic Seer and all those who belonged to the same gotra.
-Two Rules about gotra were particularly very important. Women were expected to give their father's
gotra and adopt that of their husband's gotra after Marriage.
Q3 What do you understand by stridhana (Woman's wealth)?
Ans: According to Manusmriti women were allowed to retain the gift they received on the occasion of
their marriage as stridhana.
- This could be inherited by their children.
Q4-. How is Mahabharata a Dynamic text?
Ans: -Versions of the epic were written in a variety of languages. •Several stories that originated in
specific regions.
. At the same time the central story of the epic was often retold in different ways.
Q.5 What was Jati? How are they related to Varnas?
Ans. - Jati in Brahmanical theory.
- Varna was based on Birth. –
Number of varnas were four.
-There was no restriction on the number of Jati.
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-Jatis which shared a common occupation or profession were sometimes organized in shrenis or
guilds.
Q6- Who was V.S. Sukthankar? What was his contribution in understanding the Mahabharata.
Ans. . V.S. Sukthankar was a most famous Sanskritist.
-Under him a team prepared a critical edition of the Mahabharata.
-Collecting Sanskrit Manuscripts of the text. Written in a variety of scripts.
-Ultimately they selected the verses that were common to most versions. .
- And published these in several volumes.
Long Answer Questions (8 Marks)
0.1 Discuss whether the Mahabharata could have been the work of a single author.
Ans. .- Probably composed by charioteer bards . From the fifth century BCE Brahmana's took over
the story and began to commit it to writing
-Also possible that the upheavals that often accompanied the establishment of these states.
-Where old social values were often replaced by new norms.
--Another Phase in the composition of the text between C 200 BCE and 200 C.E.
• Between 200 BCE and 400 BCE Large didactic sections were included the manusmriti.
Eight forms of marriage
Here are the first , fourth ,fifth and sixth forms of marriage from the manusmriti :
First : the gift of a daughter , after dressing her in costly clothes and honouring her with presents of
jewels , to a man learned in the veda whom the father himself invites . fourth : the gift of a daughter
by the father after he has addressed the couple with the text , “ may both of you perform your duties
together ” and has shown honour to the bridegroom. Fifth : when the bridegroom receives a maiden ,
after having given as much wealth as he can afford to the kinsmen and to the bride herself ,
according to his own will . sixth :the voluntary union of a maiden and her lover … which springs from
desire …
Question :
(1) When was Manusmriti compiled ?
A. Between 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE.

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(2) What did the passage narrate about ?
A. Eight forms of marriages.
(3) How dharamsutra and dharamshastra have classified the marriage ?
A. On the basis of parents and societal consent or otherwise.
A divine order?
To justify their claims , brahmanas often cited a verse from a hymn in the rigveda known as the
purusha sukta , describing the sacrifice of purusha , the primeval man . all the elements of the
universe , including the four social categories ,were supposed to have emanated from his body :
The brahmana was his mouth , of his arms was made the kshatriya . his thighs become the vaishya ,
of his feet the shudra was born .
Question :
(1) Which order was termed as a divine order by brahamans ?
A. The social hierarchy or caste system .
(2) Name four varnas . Which varna occupied the highest rank in social hierarchy ?
The brahmana ,the kshatriya . the vaishya , the shudra. The highest rank in social hierarchy was
given to Brahmanas.
(3) According to text of this excerpt how did four varnas originate ?
A. The four varnas were supposed to have emanated from the body of Primeval man . The brahmana
was his mouth , of his arms was made the kshatriya . his thighs become the vaishya , of his feet the
shudra was born .
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CH.4-Thinkers beliefs and buildings cultural developments
Q- 1 Where was Mahavira born
(a) Sravasti (b) Vaishali
(c) Rajagriha (d) Patilputra
Q- 2 The language adopted for preaching in Mahayana Buddhism was
(a) Pali (b) Brahmi
(c ) Sanskrit (d) Prakrit
Q- 3 Where did Buddha attain enlightenment ?
(a) Lumbini (b) Sakya
(c) Gwalior (d) Bodh Gaya
Q- 4 What is the meaning of ‘three baskets’ ?
(a) Tirthankara (b) Triratna
(c) Tripitaka (d) Trishula
Q- 5 The sangha was an association of whom?
(a) Bhikkus (b) merchants
(c) traders (d) dancers
Q- 6 Who provided money for the preservations of the Sanchi Stupa?
(a) John Marshal
(b) Begums of Bhopal
(c) None of the above
(d)Cunningham.
Q7-How many Tirthankaras are recorded in the History of Jainism
(a)21(b)22(c)23(d)24
Q8- In Which structure is the term Harmika is associated

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(a)Chaitya (b)Vihara(c)Stupa(d)None of the above
Q9- In which section Buddhas teaching are included?
(a)Sutta pitaka (b)Abhidhamm Pitaka(c) Vinay Pitaka (d)All the above
Q10-Hagiography is the biography of
(a) Saints(b)Kings(c)Priests(d)None of the above.
Short Answer Questions (3 marks)
Q1- What were the main Principles of Jainism?
Ans. . -The entire world is animated

• The cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.
Q2- What is Tripitaka?
Ans. • After Buddha's Death his teachings were compiled by his disciples at a council of elders
or senior monks at Vaishali . -These compilations were known as Tripitaka
Q.3- How do we know about the Buddha's Teachings?
Ans. . -These have been reconstructed by carefully editing, translating and analysing the
Buddha's texts mentioned earlier.
• Historians have also tried to reconstruct details of his life from hagiographies.
Q.4- Describe Hinayana and Mahayana
Ans- Mahayan: by the first century C.E. there is evidence of changes in Buddhist way of
thinking was called Mahayana. Idol of Buddha was worshipped.
-Hinayana: Those who adopted the older tradition were known as Hinayana.
Q.5 Write Causes for the popularity of Buddhism.

Ans. - Many people dissatisfied with existing religious practices and confused by the rapid social
changes taking place around them.
-The importance to conduct and values rather than claims of superiority bases on Birth.
-Younger and weaker than one self were ideas that men and women to Buddhism were trained.
Q.6 Discuss the Role of the begums of Bhopal in preserving the stupa of Sanchi.
Ans, -Sahajahan Begum and Sultan Jahan Begum provided money for the preservation of the
ancient side.
-Sultan Jahan Begum funded the museum that was built
-Guest house was provided where John Marshall wRote the volume.
-She also funded the publication of the volumes.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS [8 MARKS]

Q.I Describe the factors that led to the growth of Puranic Hinduism in India During 6th century
BCE.
Ans.
-Savior was not to Buddhism we find similar Ideas being developed in Hinduism.
-These included Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
21
-In such worship the bond between the devotee and the god was visualized as one of love and
devation or bhakti.
- Vaishnavism cults developed around the various avatars. Recognizing each of these local
deities as a form of Vishnu.
• Shiva for instance was symbolized by the linga.
-To understand the meanings of sculptures. Historians have to be familiar with the stories.
-Women and shudras who did not have access in Vedic learning.
- Much of what is contained in the puranas evolved through interaction.
Sourced based questions
A prayer to Agni
Here are two verse from the Rigveda invoking agni , the god of fire , often identified with the sacrificial
fire , into which offerings were made so as to reach the other deities :
Bring , o strong one , this sacrifice of ours to the gods , o wise one , as a liberal giver . bestow on us ,
o priest , abundant food , agni , obtain , by sacrificing , mighty wealth for us .
Procure , o Agni , for ever to him who prays to you ( the gift of ) nourishment , the wonderful cow ,
may a son be ours , offspring that continuous our line …
Verse such as these were composed in a special kind of Sanskrit , known as vedic Sanskrit , they
were taught orally to men belonging to priestly families .
Questions :
(1) What is the source of this verse ? who has been invoked in it ?
A. Rig veda invoking Agni , the god of fire.
(2) When was Rigveda compiled ?
A.1500 BCE
(3) When were these hymns recited ?
A. During performance of sacrifices when offerings were made to God.
(4) What has the god of Agni been prayed for ?
A. For the gift of nourishment , the wonderful cow , son that continuous their lineage.
Why were stupas built
This is an excerpt from the Mahaparinibbana sutta , part of the sutta , part of the sutta pitaka :
As the Buddha lay dying Ananda asked him :

22
“ what are we to do lard, with the remains of the Tathagata ( another name for the Buddha ) ? ’’
The Buddha replied “ hinder not yourselves Ananda by honouring the remains of the Tathagata . be
zealous , be intent on your own good .’’
But when pressed further , the Buddha said :
“ at the four crossroads they should erect a thupa ( pali for stupa ) to the tathagata . and whosoever
shall there place garlands or perfume … or make a salutation there , or become in its presence calm
of heart , that shall long be to them for a profit and joy . Questions:
(1) From where this excerpt has been taken ?
A. Mahaparinibbana sutta
(2) What are the stupas?
A. A place where remains of Lord Buddha were kept and preserved so that his devotees could pray
him and offer salutation.
(3) Who preserved stupa of Sanchi?
A. Begums of Bhopal - Shahjahan Begum and Sultanjahan Begum
(4) How did the begums of Bhopal play a significant role in the preserving the sanchi stupa?
A. They did not let Europeans to take away the original remains , got a museum and guest house
made for John Marshal to study the stupa and got his research papers published
.===================================================
23
CH. 5 Through the eyes of travellers
Q. 1.Which of these French travellers came to during 17th century?

(a) Al-Biruni
(b) Ibn-Battuta
(c) Abul Fail
(d) Francois Bernier
Q. 2.Who among the following belonged to Morocco?

(a) Ibn Battuta
(b) Al-Biruni
(c) Francois Bernier
(d) Abdul Samarandi
Q. 3.Who Wrote ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’?

(a) Colin Mcenzie
(b) Al-Biruni
(c) Abdul Samad Lahori
(d) lbn-Battuta
Q. 4.Islamic Law is known as ________

(a) Shariya
(b) Samr
(c) Ulema
(d) All of these
Q. 5.Ibn Battuta remained in India for ________

years.
(a) 12
(b) 14
(e) 16
(d) 18
Q. 6.Which of the following cities, according to Ibn-Batuta a, was the largest?

(a) Surat
(b) Delhi
(c) Daulatabad
(d) Agra
24
Q. 7.Who wrote the book, “Travels In The Mughal Empire”?
(a) Francois Bernier
(b) John Marshall
(c) Collin Mackenzie
(d) James Princep
Q. 8.Which among the following was the book written by Al-Biruni?

(a) Rihla
(b) Kitab-ul-Hind
(c) Discovery of India
(d) Arthashastra
Q. 9.Choose the correct option:

Who found Delhi as a city full of exciting opportunities?
(a) Ibn-Battuta
(b) Al-Biruni
(c) Francois Bernier
(d) Karl Marx
Q. 10.Choose the correct option:

(a) Ibn-Battuta travelled extensively in China.
(b) Al-Biruni found the Indian cities quite populated.
(c) Al-Biruni was greatly influenced by the Indian postal system.
(d) According to Ibn-Battuta, crown ownership of land was quite disastrous for farmers.
Q. 11.Consider the following statements.

1. Montesquieu used Bernier’s accounts to develop his idea of oriental despotism.
2. Bernier gave a detailed report on rural society.
3. According to Bernier, crown ownership of land was good for peasants.
4. Bernier considered Indian King was the king of beggars.
Which of the given statement is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 1, 2, 3
(c) 1, 2, 4
(d) 2, 3, 4
25
Q. 12.Consider the following:
1. Al-Biruni i. Rihla
2. Ibn-Battuta ii. Kitab-ul-Hind
3. Francois Bernier iii. Travels in Mughal Empire
Correctly match them.

(a) 1 – (ii), 2 – (i), 3 – (iii)
(b) 1 – (i), 2 – (ii), 3 – (iii)
(c) I – (iii), 2 – (i), 3 – (iii)
(ci) 1 – (ii), 2 – (iii), 3 – (i)
1 Name the travellers who came to India during the medieval period (11th to 17th C)?
Ans. 1. Al Biruni (11th Century) from Uzbekistan
2. Ibn-Battuta (14th Century ) from North western Africa, Morocco.
3. Francois Bernier (17th Century) from France
Q.2 What was the Al-Biruni’s objective to come to India?
Ans. (1) To help those who want to discuss religious questions with them.
(2) As a repertory of information to those who want to associate with them.
(3) he wrote for people living along the frontiers of the subcontinents
Q.3 Do you think Al-Biruni depended only on Sanskrit texts for his information and
understanding of Indian society?
Ans. Yes, Al-Biruni depended almost exclusively on the work of Brahmanas, often citing passages
from the Vedas the Purana, the Bhagavad Gita the works of Patanjali the Manusmriti etc., to provide
an understanding of Indian society.
26
Q.4 Name the Plants found in India which amazed Ibn-Battuta.
Ans. Coconut – He wrote that the coconut resembles a man’s head.
Paan – He wrote about Paan that the betel has no fruit and is grown only for the sake of its
leaves.
Q5. What was the more complex social reality which Bernier noticed in the Mughal Empire?
Ans. (i) He felt that artisans did not get any incentive to improve the quality of their manufacture
because profits were appropriated by the state. Thus production was on the verge of decline.
(ii) At the same time, he conceded that vast quantities of the world’s precious metals (gold &
silver) flowed into India in exporting manufactures.
Q.6 What were the “barriers” discussed by Al-Biruni that obstructed him in understanding India?
Ans. Following were the barriers he faced in understanding India –
1. Problems of Language – According to him, Sanskrit was so different from Arabic and Persian
that ideas and concept could not be easily translated from one language.
2. Difference of religious beliefs and practices – He was Muslim and his religious beliefs and
practices were quiet different from India.
3. Self-absorption and insularity of the local population - According to him the third barrier was
the isolation policy of the Indians.
Q7. According to Bernier, What were the ill-effects of the crown ownership of land?
Ans. (1) Absence of ownership of land, landholders could not pass on their land to their children.
Thus they didn’t take any interest in increasing production.
(2) It prevented the emergence of the “improving” landlords.
(3) It led to the ruination of agriculture.
(4) It brought a continuous decline in the living standard of all sections of society.
(5) It led to the excessive oppression of the peasantry.
27
Q8. What did Bernier write about the Sati system?
Ans. (i) It was a cruel practice in which the widow was made to sit on the pyre of her husband alive.
(ii) She was forced to be sati.
(iii) The people had no sympathy even for the child widows.
(iv) The cries of the women going to be a sati did not move anyone.
(v) The Brahmans and the elderly women of the house participated in this practice.
Q9. Who wrote ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’? Throw light on its main features?
Ans. The book ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’ was written by Al-Biruni.
Its main features are –
1. It is written in Arabic.
2. Its language is simple and lucid.
3. It is written on the subject such as regional, philosophy, astronomy, social life, laws etc.
4. It is divided into 80 chapters.
5. Each chapter begins with a question and then description have given based in sanskritic
traditions.
Long Answer Questions (8 marks)
Q10. Analyze the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn-Battuta. 8
Ans. According to Ibn-Battuta –
1. Slaves like any other commodity, were openly sold in the markets.
2. They were also regularly exchanged as gifts.
3. When Ibn-Battuta reached Sindh, he purchased horses, camels and slaves. He wanted
to offer them as gifts to sultan Muhammad Bin Tuglak.
4. The sultan employed female slaves in his service and also to keep a watch on his
nobles.
5. The slaves were also engaged for domestic work. But they were given low wages.
6. Ibn-Battuta found their services particularly indispensable for carrying women and men
on palanquins or dola.
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7. It appears from Ibn-Battuta’s account that there was considerable differentiations
among slaves.
8. Some female slaves in the service of the sultan were experts in music and dance.
Source based Questions
THE SYSTEM OF VARNAS
This is Al-Biruni’s account of the system of varnas :
The highest caste are the Brahmana, of whom the books of the Hindus tell us that they
were created from the head of Brahman. And as the Brahman is only another name for the force
called nature, and the head is the highest part of the ……body, the Brahmana are the choice part of
the whole genus. Therefore, the Hindus consider them as the very best of mankind.
The next caste are the Kshatriya who were created, as they say, from the shoulders and hands of
Brahman.
Their degree is not much below that of the Brahmana. After them follow the Vaishya, who were
created from the thigh of Brahman. The Sudra who were created from his feet.
Between the latter two classes there is no very great distance. Much, however, as these classes
differ from each other, they live together in the same towns and villages, mixed together in the same
houses and lodgings.
1. Explain Al-Biruni’s account of the system of varnas.

2. Do you consider this type of division justified? Explain with reasons.
3. How was the system not quiet rigid in the real life? Explain.
Ans. (i) According to Al-Biruni, the higher caste are the Brahmana who were created from the
head of brahaman. Hindus consider them as the very best of mankind. The second
caste are the Kshatriya who were created from the shoulders and hands of Brahman.
They are followed by the vaishya, who are created from the thigh of Brahman. Last
caste was the Shudra who were created from his feet.
(ii) No, such type of division is not justified because no one is high or low by birth. Men
became high or low by his own karma.
29
(iii) It is right that this system was not quite rigid in the real life because these castes live
together in the same towns and villages, mixed together in the same house and
lodgings.
Source based Questions
ON HORSE AND ON FOOT
This is how Ibn Battuta described the postal system :
In India the postal system is of two kinds: The horse-post called ‘Uluq’ is run by royal horses
stationed at distance of every four miles. The foot-post has three stations permit. It is called ‘dawa’,
that is, one third of a mile ….. Now, at every third of a mile there is well populated village, outside
which are three pavilions in which sit men with girded loins ready to start. Each of them carries a rod,
two cubits in length with copper bells at the top. When the courier starts from the city, he holds the
letter in one hand and the rod with its bells on the other; and he runs as fast as he can. When the
men in the pavilion hear the ringing of bell they get ready. As soon as the courier reaches them one
of them takes the letter from his and runs at the top speed shaking the rod all the while until he
reaches the next dawa. And the same process continues till the letter reaches its destination. This
foot-person is quicker than the horse-post; and often it is used to transport the fruit of Khurasan which
are much desired in India.
(i) Name the two kinds of postal System.

(ii) Explain how the foot post worked.
(iii) Why does Ibn-Battua think that the postal system in India was efficient?
(iv) How did the State encourage merchants in the 14th century?
Ans. (i) There were two kinds of postal system – the horse postal system and the postal system on
foot.
(ii) In the postal service on foot, there were three stages. They were called the Dawa. It was
one-third part of a mile. There was a village with dense population at a distance of every three
mile. There were three centres outside it. The people used to sit in these centres to start their
work. Each one of them had a long rod having copper bells at its top. Whenever a messenger
started his journey, he held the letter in one land and this rod with copper bells in the other
hand. He would run very fast. The people sitting in the camps at once got ready when they
heard the sound of the bell. As soon as the messenger reached the camp, one of the people
30
would take the letter and run away at full speed shaking the rod. This process continued till the
letter reached its destination.
(iii) According to Ibn Battuta, The journey from Sindh to Delhi was completed in fifty days. On
the other hand, all the information’s given by the detectives reached the king within five days;
Ibn Battuta was quite amazed at their efficiency of the detectives reached the king within five
days.
(iv) In the 14th century, the state took special steps to encourage the traders. For example,
all the trade routes had serais and rest houses.
===============================================
31
THEME – 6 BHAKTI-SUFI TRADITIONS
CHANGES IN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND DEVOTIONAL TEXTS
(08TH TO 18TH CENTURY)
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark)
1. Manikkavachakar, a devotee of… … … . who composed beautiful devotional songs in Tamil.

(Page 140)
(A) Shiva (B) Vishnu
( C) Durga (D) Vitthala

2- Lord Jagannath image made of…………by the local tribal specialists. Page(142)
(A) Metal (B) Stone पत्थर
( C) Wood (D) Clay
3- Worship of the goddess, often simply in the form of a stone smeared with……….was evidently
widespread. Page(142)
(A) Ochre (B) Blue colour
( C) Yellow colour (D) Gulal

4-Sculpture of the Buddhist goddess……………. (c.tenth century, Bihar) is an example of the process
of integration of different religious beliefs and practices. Page(142)
(A) Laxmi (B) Durga
( C) Jwala Devi (D) Marichi
5- Often associated with the goddess were forms of worship that were classified as …………
page(142)
(A) Tantric (B) Virashaiva

( C) Vaishnavism (D) Shaivism
6- The term great and little traditions were coined by ……………...? Page(141)
(A) Robert Redfield (B) Robert Johnson
(C)Williams Jones (D) Max Muller
7- The literal meaning of Jagannath is……………………….? Page(141)
(A) The Lord of universe (B) The Lord Of India
( C) The Lord of world (D)The Lord of heaven
8-At Puri, Orissa where the principal deity was identified by the twelfth century as ……….? Page(141)
32
(A) Vishnu (B) Jagannath
( C) Rudra (D) Krishna
9-The principal deities of Vedic pantheon,.....,........ And ………. become marginal figure and rarely
visible in textual or visual representations. Page(142)
(A) Agni, Indra, and soma
(B) Marichi, Laxmi and Durga
( C) Yama,Varuna and Moon
(D) Brahma,Vishnu and Mahesh
10- ………...bhakti on the other hand was worship of an abstract form of god. Page(143)
(A) Nirguna (B) Saguna
( C) Lingayats (D) Virashaivism
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS [3 MARKS]
Q.1 What does Bhakti movement mean ? 3
Ans. A series of hindu saints& reformers started religious reform movements which adopted the
method of devotion ( Bhakti ) to achieve salvation. Their method of expression of devotion
ranged from the routine worship of deities within temple & singing & chanting of devotional
composition.
Q.2 Who were Alvars and Nayanars ?
Ans. In southern India, the devotees of Vishnu were called Alvars.
The devotees of Shiva were called nayanars
Q.3 Give the name of any four well known reformers of Bhakti movement ?
Ans. Ramanand swami, Kabir, Guru nanak dev, Mira Bai.
Q.4 What do you mean by Sufism?
Ans. The sufis were muslim saints who worshiped allah in a simple manner and left a great impact
on the Indian society .Sufism originated in Persia.
Q.-5 What is the importance of Murshid in Sufi ideology?

33
Ans. According to Sufism, an individual must have a religious guide (Murshid) through
whom he can communicate with god. The pir is a ladder which enables a man to reach the goal
of life Devotion to the Murshid is the worship of god.
Q. 6 Describe the causes of the rise of Bhakti movement?
Ans. 1. Influence of Vaishnavism
2. Evil practices of the Hindus
3. Fear of sprit of Islam
4. Influence of sufi sects
5. Emergence of great reformers.
Q. 7 Describe the main Principal of Bhakti movement ?
Ans. 1. Faith in god
2. Good deeds
3. Universal Brotherhood
4. Emotional worship
5. Condemned idol worship
6. Opposed to the rigidity of caste system
7. Guru Bhakti
Q.-8 Discuss the influences & importance of Bhakti movement?
Ans. RELIGIOUS EFFECTS
1. Saved Hinduism
2. Lowered the prestige of the Brahmins
3. Checked the propagation of Islam
4. Emergence of Sikhism
5. Setback to Buddhism
SOCIAL & CULTURAL IMPACT
34
(a) Improvement in the social relation between the Hindus & Muslims
(b) Uplift of lower class
(c) Promoted the spirit of social service
(d) Development of composite art in the society
(e) Enrichment of Literature.
Q.9 What were the main Principle of Sufism?
Ans. 1. Worship of God
2. Renunciation of wordly pleasure
3. Non violence
4. Love of mankind
5. Importance of Murshid
6. Principle of Morality
7. Importance of singing & Dancing in worship of Allah
08 MARK QUESTIONS
Q.-1 Describe the teaching of Kabir?
Ans. (a) To achieve inward spiritual bliss
(b) Condemnation of empty ritual
(c) To foster harmony between Hinduism & Islam
(d) He believed in one formless God
(e) Rejected both Vedas & Quran & the supremacy of the Brahmins & Mullas
(f) He opposed the caste system & image worship
(g) He taught the unity of god & the path of love & devotion
Q.-2 What were Attitude of the Nayanars & Alvars sects towards the caste? 8
Ans. Some historians are of the view that Alvars & Nayanaras started a movement of Protest
against the caste system & the dominance of Brahmans are at least made effort to reform them.
35
This view is supported by the fact, that these Bhakti reformers came from diverse social background
some of the belonged to lower classes such as Cultivators, artisans & untouchable some of them
Brahman background. The Alvars & Nayanars claimed that their compositions were as important as
the Vedas. The tamil song of the Alvars are marked by such depth of feeling & true piety that they
are looked upon as vaishnava . The nayanaras composed their devotional songs with the highest
spiritual sentiments & set up shaivism on a strong footing. these songs are still popular in south India.
SOURCE BASED QUESTION AND ANSWER
Q9. Carefully read the following excerpts and answer the following questions :
A Church in Khambat
This is an excerpt from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598.
Whereas it reached our eminent and holy notice that the padres (father) of the holy society. Of Jesus
wish to build a house of prayer ( church) in the city of Kambayat (Khambat in Gujrat) therefore an
exalted mandate….. is being issued …. That the dignitaries of the city of Kambayat should in no case
stand in their way but should allow them to build a church, so that they may engage themselves in
their own worship it is necessary that the order of the emperor should be obeyed in every way.
Q1. From where has this excerpt been taken?
Ans. This excerpt has been taken from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598
Q2. What message did Akbar conveyed to the people of Gujarat through this order.
Ans. Through this farman Akbar ordered to the people of Gujarat to allow the construction of a
Church by the padries (fathers) of the holy society of Jesus.
Q3. which aspect of the religious nature of Akbar does this order indicate?
Ans. This order indicates Akbar’s policy of religious toleration. We come to know
that Akbar use to give equal respect to all the religions.
Q4. Who were the people from whom Akbar anticipated opposition to his order?
Ans. Akbar anticipated opposition to his order from non-Christians.
==================================================
36
THEME – 7
AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL : VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE
Q.1 Vijayanagar Empire was founded in which year and by whom?
A. 1336 By Harihar and Bukka
B. 1333 By Bukka and Harihar
C. 1339 By Ramraya and Raja
D. 1565 By Krishna Dev raya
Q.2 Worship of which God and goddess is often associated with Vijaynagar?
A. Vitthala and Virupaksha)
B. Virupaksha and Pampa devi
C. Brihadeshwara and Meenakshi
D. Balabhadra and Subhadra
Q.3 Krishnadev Raya ruled over Vijaynagar in which time period?
A. 1506-1527
B. 1519-1536
C. 1509-1529
D. 1513- 1533
Q.4 Which one is correct order of ruling dynasty of Vijayanagar?
A. Sangam, Saluvas, Tuluvas, Aravidu
B. Sangam,, Tuluvas, Aravidu, Saluvas
C. Sangam, Tuluvas, SaluvasAravidu
D. Saluvas, Sangam, Tuluvas, Aravidu
Q.5 Which one is not correct term for Vijaynagar rulers –
A. Raya
B. Narpati
37
C. Hindu Surtaran
D. KudariaChettis
Q.6 The vijayanagra empire have which three important Zones?
A. Lotus Mahal, Mahanavamidibba, Sacred Centre
B. Urban core, sacred centre, Royal centre
C. Urban core, Temple zone, Royal centre
D. Council chamber, Elephant stable, Royal centre
Q.7.Which is not correct about Hazara Rama Temple.
A. The walls of this temple has many sculptures related to Ramayan.

B. It is part of Royal centre ,not of sacred centre.
C. The main deity of this temple was found in good position.
D. It is believed that it was temple for rulers to worship
Q.8.In which year Hampi was recognize as a site of national importance?
A. 1976
B. 1986
C. 1966
D. 1996
Q.9.Which were the two major parts of Kings Palace?
A. Council of chamber and Audience hall
B. Lotus Mahal and Elephant stables
C.Council of chamber and MahanavamiDibba
D. Audience hall and Mahanavami Dibba
Q.10 Which was not the water resource of Vijayanagar ?
A. Kamlapuram tank
B. Hiriya canal
C. Tungbhadra river
D. Naglapuram
38
Q.1 :- Who was Colin Mackenzie ? Mention his importance in Indian history ?
Ans. Colin Mackenzie used to work in British East India Company. He is a famous engineer,
surveyor and humanist. He became the first Surveyor General of British India in
1815.He began to survey in the traditional culture and historical places of India in order
to run administration of Colonial India more smoothly and effectively.
Q.2 :- Mention the salient features of the temples of Hampi.
Ans.. Magnificent structure Raya Gopurams and Mandapas
with gallery surrounded with delicately carved pillars
are main features of the temples. The main temples of Hampi are Virupaksha,Vitthal and
Hazararam.
Q.3 :- How did the water requirements problems solved in Vijayanagar empire ?
Ans. The natural reservoir are providing water for Vijayanagar is Tunghabhadra river.
This river was situated in the north-east direction of the kingdom. Many rivers from
nearby mountain range get merged into this river. Dams were built in almost all
tributaries of rivers. Hauz were built in order to cope with the drastic climate in
draught situation. This was stored in the beginning of the 15th century. This place was called
Kamalapuram water reservoir.
Long Answer Questions (8 marks)
Q:-1 What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of enclosing
agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?
Ans. There are many advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within
the fortified area of the Vijayanagara empire.
 Abdur Razzaq noted that "between the first, second and third walls there are cultivated fields,
gardens and houses.
39
 The detailed statements have been corroborated by present day archaeologists, who have
also found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core.
 We knew different sources that in Vijayanagara empire and other southern kingdom
agricultural tracts were incorporated within the fortified areas. Often, the objective of medieval
sieges was to starve the defenders into submission. These sieges could last for several
months and sometimes even years.
 Normally rulers tried to be prepared for adverse situations or natural calamities by building
large granaries within fortified areas. The rulers of Vijayanagara adopted a more expensive
and elaborate strategy of protecting the agricultural belt itself.
 Whenever, Kingdom was attacked by the enemies at the time of reaping harvest they could
easily brunt the dry crops of the farmers. But these fields was safe in ordinary situation from
wild animals.
Q:-2 What do you think was the significance of the ritual's associated with the Mahanavami
dibba ?
Ans. The importance of the rituals associated with the Mahanavami dibba.
Located on one of the highest points in the city, the "Mahanavami dibba" is a massive platform
rising from a base of about 11000 sq.ft. to a height of 40 feet. Rituals associated with the
structure probably coincided with Mahanavami (Literally the great ninth day) of the ten-day
Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October, known variously as
Dushehra (northern India), Durga Puja (in Bengal) and Navaratri or Mahanavami (in
Peninsular India). The Vijayanagara kings displayed their prestige, power and
suzerainty on this occasion.
 The ceremonies performed on the occasion included worship of the image, worship of the
state horse, and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
 Dancer, wrestling matches, and processions of caparisoned horses, elephants and chariots
and soldiers, as well as ritual presentations before the king and his guests by the chief
nayakas and subordinate kings marked the occasion.
 These ceremonies were imbued with deep symbolic meanings on the last day of the festival
the king inspected his army and the armies of the nayakas in a grand ceremony in an open
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field. On this occasion the nayakas brought rich gifts for the king as well as the stipulated
tribute.
Q3:- What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara ?
Ans. Ordinary people of this empire scope different languages and followed different religious
tradition.
 There were small traders and local merchant use to live in cities, trade centre, port town and
villages.
 Peasants, workers, slaves etc. were including in ordinary people. These were ordinary
Brahmans, trader and women also.
 In the society there were a few low class people, who were non-influential. They were Dombar,
Mana, Jogi, Paraiyan, Boi, Kallar etc. Some low caste people were coverted to christianity due
to the influence of the Portugeuses. The evils of caste system and untouchability were
practiced in the society.
 The ordinary people of the Vijayanagar empire lived in ordinary houses. This is how the
sixteenth century portuguese traveller Barbosa described the houses of ordinary people
existed in the society. The men were sold and purchased. There were some special rules for
the slaves.
Q.4:- Evaluate the importance of Amar Nayaka System in emergence of Vijayanagara Empire.
Ans. The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
It is likely that many features of this system were derived from the Iqta system of the Delhi
Sultanate.
There is a important role of this sytem to emerging the Vijayanagara empire. That shows in the
following points:
 The amara-nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the
raya. The collected taxes and other dues from peasants.
 The amar nayak retained part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated
contingent of horses and elephants.
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 These contingents provided the Vijayanagara Kings with an effective fighting force with which
they brought the entire southern peninsula under their control. Some of the revenue was also
used for the maintenance of temples and irrigation works.
 The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the King annually and personally appeared in the royal
court with gifts to express their loyalty.
 Kings occasionally asserted their control over them by transferring them from one place to
another.
Passage based Question:-

Q. 1 Colin Meckenzie
Born in 1754, Colin Meckenzie became a famous engineer, surveyer and cartographer. In 1815 he
was appointed the first surveyor General of India. A post he held till his death in 1821. he embarked
on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order to better understand India’s past and
make governance of the of the colony easier. He says that “ It struggled long under the miseries of
dead management…. Before the south came under the benign in influence of the British
government”. By standing Vijayanagar, Meckenzie believed that the east India company would gain “
much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still
prevails. Among the various tribes of natives forming the general mass of the population to this date.
(i) Who was Colin Meckenzie ?

Ans. Colin Mackenzie used to work in British East India Company. He took birth
in 1754. He is a famous engineer, surveyor and humanist.
(ii) Which ancient city was founded by Colin Meckenzie ?

Ans. Hampi
(iii) Why did he start the surveys?

Ans. He started the surveys in order to better understand India’s past and make governance
of the colony easier.
(iv) In which stages Colin Meckenzie completed his work?

Ans. First of all he prepared the maps. He collected the information’s about the local
traditions from the priest of Virupaksha and Pampadevi temple.
============================================================
42
THEME – 8 PEASANT, ZAMINDARS AND STATE
1. The jizya was
A custom tax
B silk products tax
C .religious tax
D salt tax
2. Under the mughals the jizya collected from

A Hindus
B Foreigns visitors
C persians
D muslims
3. Mansabdars in mughal court were
A land lords and zamindars
B officials of the state
C revenue collectors
D revenue planners
4 Landless peasants were known as_
A. Khud kashta
B. Pahi kashta
C. Asami
D rank
5. Ahoms were the tribes of the
A. Bengal
B. Jharkhand
C. Assam
D. Orissa
6. Safavids were the ruler of
A. Afghanistan
B. Turkey
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C. Iran
D. Iraq
7. What was Parganas?
A. Village
B. Districts
C. Provincial States
8. Who introduced Mansabdari system?
A. Shershah suri
B. Akbar
C. Jahangir
D. Babur
9. What do mean by Parauti?
A. Land cultivated every year
B. Land left barren for 1 or 2 years
C. Land left barren for 3 or 4 years
D. Land left barren for 5 or more years
10. Ming was the ruler of_
A. Magnolia
B. Turkey
C. Japan
D. China
11. Who is not peasant in the given options?
A. Raiyat
B. Musarian
C. Asami
D. Mansabdar
Q1. Who were Raiyat? How many types of Raiyat were there ?
Ans. They were peasants. There are two types of Raiyat - Khud-khasta and Pahi-khasta. Khud-
khasta – They were residents of the village in which they held their land.
Pahi-khasta – They were non-resident cultivators who belonged to some other village, but
cultivated lands were else were on a contractual basis.
44
Q2. How many seasons of agriculture according to Ain?
Ans. According to Ain-i-Akbari, agriculture was organized around the two major seasonal cycles –
The kharif and the rabi.
Kharif – rice and jawar. Rabi – wheat and gram
Q3. What was Jins-i-Kamil?
Ans. Literally perfect crops. Example - cotton and sugarcane. These were cash crops which helped
in earning profit .
Q4. Describe the functions of panchayat?
Ans. 1. Community welfare – Construction of bund or digging the cannel which peasants usually
could not afford to do on their own.
2. Arrangements against natural calamities, like floods, famine, Droughts etc.
3. Regulate rural societies, like marriage and caste.
4. To ensure that caste boundaries among the various communities
5. Punishment – Example - to levy fines and inflict from the community.
Q5. Describe Ain-i-Akbari?
Ans. 1. Vision of Akbar’s empire.
2. Strong ruling class.
3. The organization of the court, administration and the army.
4. Included detailed revenue, records – with the help of Todarmal tried to reorganized the
whole revenue system.
5. Useful description of agrarian society.
Q6. What were the role played by women in agrarian society?
Ans. 1. Women worked shoulder to shoulder with men in fields.
2. Women sowed, weeded, threshed and winnowed the harvest.
45
3. Craft production – such as spinning yarn, sifting and kneading clay for pottery and
embroidery.
4.Some restriction during some days of month – women were not allowed
to touch the plough or the potter’s wheel in western India.
5. Give birth to children and look after them.
Q7. How land revenue was fixed?
Ans. 1. It consisted of two stages - Jama and Hasil. Jama was the amount assessed and
Hasil the amount collected.
2. Both cultivated and cultivable land measured in each province.
3. Prepared annual record of the number of cultivators in each village
4. Officials were appointed to measure land revenue.
5. The Dewan, who was responsible for supervising the fiscal system of the empire.
Q8. Explain the salient features of zabti system?
1. Ans. Measurement of land was compulsory.
2. Classification of land:- Polaj, Parauti, Chachar, Banjar.

3. Calculation of the average products.
4. Fixation of state share.
5. Commutation into cash.
6. Collection of land revenue.
Long Answer Questions (08 marks each)
Q1. Who were zamindars? What were their functions?
Ans. Zamindars were the part of rural society, who lived on agricultural production had
milkiyat belongs to upper caste. New Zamindars emerged from lower caste.
Functions of Zamindars :
1. Collect revenue.
46
2. Mediate between king and peasant.
3. Maintain military.
4. Developed agricultural land.
5. Give money to farmers for agriculture.
Passage Based Question:-
CASH OR KIND
The Ain on land revenue collection: Let him (the amil-guzar) not make it a practice of taking only in
cash but also in kind. The latter is effected in several ways. First, kankut: in the Hindi language Kan
signifies grain, and kut, estimate. If any doubts arise, the crops should be cut and estimated in three
lots, the good, the middling and the inferior and the hesitation removed. Often, too the land taken by
appraisement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly, batai, also called bhaoli, the crops are
reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the presence of the parties. But in the case several
intelligent inspectors are required; otherwise, the evil-minded and false are given to deception.
Thirdly, khet-batai when they divided the fields after they are sown. Fourthly, lang batai; after cutting
the grain, they form it in heaps and divide it among themselves, and each takes his share home and
turns it to profit.
Q1. Explain the term Kankut?
Ans. In the Hindi language Kan signifies grain and kut means estimate.
Q2. Explain the system of batai or bhaoli system of land revenue collection?
Ans. The crop are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the parties. But in this cash
several intelligent inspectors are required, otherwise, the evil minded and false are given to
deception.
Q3. Explain the system of lang batai?
Ans. After cutting the grain they form it in heaps and divide it among themselves, and each takes his
share home and turns it to profit.
Q4. Which system of revenue collection, do you think, is better and why?
Ans. Lang Batai, because they divided equal among themselves and get profit.
==================================================================
47
10.Colonialism and Countryside
Multiple choice Questions (1 mark)
Q. 1. Identify the economist whose ideas were operated by the British officials in Maharashtra in
1820’s.
(A) David Ricardo (B) Thames Robert
(C) John Stuart Mill (D) Walter Bagehot
Q. 2. Consider the following statements regarding the establishment of British East India Company in
Bengal:
(i) The Permanent Settlement had come into operation in 1793.
(ii) In 1797 there was an auction in Burdwan, during which a number of mahals (estates) held by the
Raja of Burdwan were being sold.
(iii) The estates of those who failed to pay were to be auctioned to recover the revenue.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
(A) Only I (B) i and ii
(C) i and iii (D) i, ii and iii
Q. 3. Who was the commander of the British forces during the American War of Independence?
(a) John Simon (b) Warren Hastings
(c) Lord Irwin (d) Charles Cornwallis
Q. 4. When was Fifth Report introduced in the British Parliament?
(A) 1770 (B) 1858
(C) 1813 (D) 1795
Q. 5. Which of the statement(s) are correct about the duties of the Zamindars under permanent
settlements?
(1) Zamindars had several (sometimes as many as 400) villages under them.
(2) The Company fixed the total demand over the entire estate whose revenue the zamindar
contracted to pay.
(3) The zamindar collected rent from the different villages, paid the revenue to the Company, and
retained the difference as his income
(4) He was expected to pay the Company regularly, failing which his estate could be
auctioned.
(A) 1, 2, 4 (B) 1, 3, 4
(C) 3, 2, 4 (D) All of the above
Q. 6. In Permanent Settlement, sometimes zamindars failed to pay the revenue demand and unpaid
balances accumulated.
Which of the statement(s) are correct regarding zamindars failed to pay the revenue demand?
(1) The initial demands were very high. The Company pegged the revenue demand high, arguing that
the burden on zamindars would gradually decline as agricultural production expanded and prices
rose.
(2) High demand was imposed in the 1790s when the prices of agricultural produce were contented.
48
(3) The zamindar collected rent from the different villages, paid the revenue to the Company, and
retained the difference as his income.
(4) He was expected to pay the Company regularly, failing which his estate could be
auctioned.
(A) 1, 2, 4 (B) 1, 3, 4
(C) 3, 2, 4 (D) All of the above.
Q. 7. A physician who came to India and served in the Bengal Medical Service was-
(A) Edward Balfour (B) Francis Buchanan
(C) Mehtab Chand (D) William Griffith
Q. 8. Who were Talukdars under British Raj in India?
(A) The one who holds territorial units.
(B) Government Officials who were responsible for territorial units.
(C) Head of the pageants.
(D) Rich peasants.
Q. 9. Zamindars were responsible for
(A) Indigo trades with British
(B) Excretion from minerals from hills
(C) Maintaining records for lands and territories
(D) Paying revenue to the East India Company
Q. 10. Which of the following statement is incorrect related to Santhals?
(A) They had moved into this area around 1800, displaced the hill folk who lived on these lower
slopes, cleared the forests, and settled the Rajmahal ranges.
(B) By 1832 a large area of land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh. This was declared to be the land
of the Santhals.
(C) They cleaned the forest and plough the land.
(D) They practiced shifting cultivation.
Q. 11. Who among the following was the leader of the Santhal Rebellion?
(A) Sidhu Manjhi
(B) Birsa Munda
(C) Kanu Manjhi
(D) Shibu Murmu
Q. 12. Arrange the following events in chronological order:
(1) Santhal Rebellion
(2) American Civil war
(3) Permanent Settlement
(4) First revenue settlement in Bombay Deccan area.
Choose the correct options:
(A) 4, 3, 1, 2 (B) 4, 1, 2, 3
(C) 3, 4, 1, 2 (D) 1, 2, 3, 4
BASED MCQs (1 Mark each)\
Q. 13. Assertion (A): The East India Company realised that there was a need to fix the revenue
amount for regular flow of income.
49
Reason (R): British officials felt that agriculture, trade and the revenue resources of the state could all
be developed by encouraging investment in agriculture.
(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 of A.
(C) A is true but R is false.
(D) A is false and R is true.
Q. 14. Assertion (A): With their base in the hills, the Paharias regularly raided the plains where
settled agriculturists lived.
Reason (R): These raids were necessary for their survival, particularly in years of scarcity.
Q. 15. Assertion (A): The British turned to the Santhals and they were given land and persuaded to
settle in the foothills of Rajmahal.
Reason (R): Having failed to subdue the Paharis and transform them into settled agriculturists, the
British turned to the Santhals.
Q. 16.Identify the image:
(A) Sidhu Manjhi

(B) A Paharia chief
(C) A zamindar
(D) None of these
CASE-BASED MCQShort Answer Questions (3 marks)
Q.1: Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
50
Ans: Jotedars were rich peasants in Bengal. They owned big plots of land sometimes running into
thousands of acres of land. They controlled local trade and commerce including the money lending
business. They had great influence on the local village population. They were regarded more
powerful than the Zamindars even.
Following are the main reasons for the high status of Jotedars.
1. The Jotedars controlled trade and commerce including money lending business at the local level.
2.1n order to weaken the Zamindars, Jotedars would mobilise ryots not to pay or delay payment
towards land revenue.
3. The Jotedars opposed the moves of Zamindars to increase the Jama of a village.
4. The Jotedars lived in villages only. Hence they were in a better position to interact with and
influence the peasants.
5. Jotedars were rich and owned big areas of land under cultivation. Many a time they would buy
estates of Zamindar. That would be auctioned due to failure to pay up land revenue.
Q.2: How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Ans: When zamindars were in bad times, they often resorted to various tactics to maintain control
over their zamindari. These were in fact their survival tactics. Following are the important ones.
1. Zamindars created fictitious sales during auction. Their own men would make highest bid and later
refused to pay up. After repeating this exercise for couple of occasions, the government would be
tired and sell it back to zamindar at lesser rate.
2. A part of Estate was often transferred to female members of the family, and that part of property
could not be taken by the government any more.
3. Zamindars put hurdle in purchase and occupation of the estate by others by use of sheer muscle
power.
4. Sometimes even peasants under the influence of zamindars opposed auction of estate.
Q.3: How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
Ans: Paharias live in the hills of Rajmahal. The British people began to interact with them and later
Santhals began to settle down there. The response of the Paharias was as follows:
1. Paharias resisted the settlement of Santhals initially but had to accommodate them in course of
time.
2. The Paharias shifted to deeper areas into the hills.
3. They were confined to more barren and rocky areas of the hills in course of time.
4. The paharias did shifting cultivation. Now shifting cultivation was becoming more and more difficult
as proper and stable settlements.
5. As forest began to be cleared, the paharis could not depend on it for livelihood Thus, the lifestyle
and living of Paharias underwent change due to coming of outsiders.
Q.4: Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?
Ans: By 1832 the Santhals had settled in Damin-i-Koh area. Their settlement expanded rapidly.
Forests were cleared to accommodate them. The Company also benefited as it got more and more
land revenue. However, the Santhals too got dissatisfied; they rebelled against the British rule.
Following are the main causes for their rebellion-
1 Santhals were not happy with the tax regime of the company. They thought that the land revenue
rates were high and exploitative
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2 The Zamindars began to exercise greater control on the areas brought under cultivation by
Santhals, apparently it was a part of the British Policy. But Santhals resented that.
3. Moneylenders in the rural areas were seen as villain and agent of Company rule by the Santhals.
Moneylenders could auction the land of Santhals in case of defaulter. All this was not liked by the
Santhals. The British took steps to placate the Santhals later on. A separate district of Santhal
Pargana was carved out and law was enacted to protect the santhals.
Q.5: What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
Ans: The main reasons for the anger of Ryots against moneylenders are as follows:
1. ln rural India it was traditional rule that the interest will always remain less than the principal
amount However, in many cases interest payable was more than the principal itself. In one case the
interest was Rs 2000 against principal amount of Rs 100.
2. No receipt was paid in case of payment of loan partly or fully. This opened the scope of
manipulation by the moneylenders.
3. Ryots complained about forging of documents and other fraudulent activity by the moneylenders.
4. Ryots believed that moneylenders were insensitive to them and made an arrogant and exploitative.
MCQLong Answer Questions (8 marks)
1. What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
Ans:-
(i) By 1830s prices of agricultural products fell sharply.
(ii)Decline in peasant’s income revenue could rarely be paid without a loan from money lenders.
(iii)Ryots found difficult to pay it back, debt mounted.
(iv)Ryots needed more loan to buy their everyday needs.
(v) Sahukar’s export merchants in Maharashtra stopped long term credit and started demanding
repayment of debt.
(vi) Petition after petition, Ryots complained of the injustice of insensitiveness and the violation of
custom.
(vii)The Ryots came to see the money lenders as devious and deceitful.
(viii) Limitation law was passed to check the accumulation of interest overtime.
(ix)Deeds and bonds appeared as symbols of the new oppressive system.
2. In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
Ans:
The livelihood of the Paharias was different from that of the Santhals in the following way:
Paharias Santhals
(i) They came into Bengal around the
(i) They lived around the Rajmahal hills.
1780s
(ii) They subsisted on forest produce and
(ii) They cleared forest, cut down timber
practised shifting cultivation. They did not
and ploughed the land for cultivation. They
cut forests. They grew a variety of pulses
grew rice and cotton.
and millets for consumption.
(iii) They scratched the ground lightly with
(iii) They used plough for cultivation.
hoes.
52
(iv) The Paharias were hunters, shifting cul-
tivators, food gatherers, charcoal (iv) The Santhals gave up their earlier life of
producers, silkworm rearers. They were mobility and settled down, cultivating a
intimately connected to the forest. They range of commercial crops for the market,
resisted the intrusion of the outsiders. They and dealing with traders and moneylenders.
did not take to plough agriculture.
3. How did the American Civil War affect the lives of the ryots in India?
Ans:
American Civil War that began in 1860 had a huge impact on the ryots of Deccan region in India.
Following events explains how the impact took shape:
1. Britain was the country where large cotton mills were operational. These cotton mills depended
on cotton imported from North America.
2. When the USA was reeling under civil war, it was naturally very difficult to import cotton from
there.
3. The cotton mills were forced to look for alternative suppliers of cotton apart from US. India made
a good option.
4. The farmers in Deccan were encouraged to grow cotton. One way was the easy access of credit.
The moneylenders would give credit of Rs 100 for every acre of land under cotton cultivation.
5. The farmers benefitted out of this demand for cotton. But the real beneficiaries were the big
farmers and traders.
6. However, things changed as normalcy returned to US. Now the demand of cotton in India
declined and so declined the easy availability of credit. The ryots fell back to old days of penury
and rose in rebellion in many places.
Passage Based Question

From the Fifth Report
Referring to the condition of zamindars and the auction of lands, the Fifth Report stated:
The revenue was not realised with punctuality, and lands to a considerable extent were periodically
exposed to sale by auction. In the native year 1203, corresponding with 1796-97, the land advertised
for sale comprehended a Jumma or assessment of sicca rupees 28,70,061 the extent of land actually
sold bore a Jumma or assessment of 14,18,756, and the amount of purchase money sicca rupees
17,90,416. In 1204, corresponding with 1797-98, the land advertised was for sicca rupees 26, 66,191,
the quantity sold was for sicca rupees 22, 74,076, and the purchase money sicca rupees 21, 47,580.
Among the defaulters were some of the oldest families of the country.
Such were the rajahs of Nuddea, Rajeshaye, Bishenpore (all districts of Bengal), … and others, the
dismemberment of whose estates at the end of each succeeding year, threatened them with poverty
and ruin, and in some instances presented difficulties to the revenue officers, in their efforts to
preserve undiminished the amount of public assessment.
Q.1. What was the Fifth Report?
Answer: The Fifth Report was presented in the British Parliament in 1813. It was called so because it
53
was a fifth in the series of reports submitted about the working and administration of East India
Company in India.
Q.2. What did it say about the auction of land?
Answer: It stated that the revenue was not collected in time. So the lands were auctioned from time to
time.
Q.3. According to the Report, what was the condition of the Zamindars?
Answer :(a) The condition of zamindars was deteriorating. Their lands were being auctioned.
(b) They faced poverty and collapse of the zamindari system.
(c) They were sometimes unable to pay the revenue.

Q.4. Give one point in criticism of this Report.
Answer :(a) It criticised the maladministration of the East India Company.
(b) It exaggerated the collapse of traditional zamindari system.
Deeds of Hire
When debts mounted the peasant was unable to pay back the loan to the moneylender. He had no
option but to give over all his possessions -land, carts, and animals – to the moneylender. But without
animals, he could not continue to cultivate. So he took to land on rent and animals on hire. He now
had to pay for the animals which had originally belonged to him. He had to sign a deed of hire stating
very clearly that these animals and carts did not belong to him. In cases of conflict, these deeds could
be enforced through the court.
The following is the text of a deed that a peasant signed in November 1873, from the records of the
Deccan Riots Commission:
I have sold to you, on account of the debt due to you, my two carriages having iron axles, with their
appurtenances and four bullocks … I have taken from you on hire under (this) deed the very same
two carriages and four bullocks. I shall pay every month the hire thereof at Rupees four a month, and
obtain a receipt in your own handwriting. In the absence of a receipt, I shall not contend that the hire
had been paid.
Q.1. Why was the farmer compelled to sell everything?
Answer: The peasant had taken a lot of debts. When the debts mounted, he failed to pay the loan. So
he sold all his land, carts and animals to a moneylender.
Q.2. Why had he to hire land and animals? What was the irony in this regard?
Answer: The farmer was unable to cultivate without animals. So he took to land on rent and animals
on hire. The irony lies in the fact that he paid for the animals which were actually his own. He had
signed a deed that the animals and carts did not belong to him.
Q.3. Who had signed the given document? From where has it been taken?
Answer: It has been taken from the records of the Deccan Riots Commission. It was signed by a
peasant in November 1873.
54
Q.4. What kind of relationship between the moneylender and farmer does this document indicate?
Answer: It is an indication of the exploitation of peasants by the moneylenders.
The Jotedars of Dinajpur
Buchanan described the ways in which the Jotedars of Dinajpur in North Bengal resisted being
disciplined by the zamindar and undermined his power:
Landlords do not like this class of men, but it is evident that they are absolutely necessary, unless the
landlords themselves would advance money to their necessitous tenantry …
The Jotedars who cultivate large portions of lands are very refractory and know that the zamindars
have no power over them. They pay only a few rupees on account of their revenue and then fall in
balance almost every kist (instalment), they hold more lands than they are entitled to by their potash
(deeds of contract). Should the zamindar’s officers, in consequence, summon them to the cutcherry,
and detain them for one or two hours with a view to reprimand them, they immediately go and
complain at the Fouzdarry Thanna (police station) for imprisonment and at the pontiff s (a judicial
officer at the lower court) cutcherry for being dishonoured and whilst the causes continue unsettled,
they instigate the petty ryots not to pay their revenue consequently.
Q.1. Who were the Jotedars?
Answer: The Jotedars were the rich peasants of the north Bengal. They lent money to the needy
peasants. They controlled vast areas of land. Sometimes they controlled even several thousand
acres of land.
Q.2. Describe the ways in which the tears resisted the authority of the zamindars.
Answer: (a) They resisted all the efforts of zamindars to increase the JAMA of the village.
(b) They prevented zamindari officials from executing their duties.
(c) They deliberately delayed payments of revenue to the zamindars.
Q.3. Why were they more powerful than the zamindars?

Answer: The tears were more powerful and effective than the zamindars on account of the following:
(a) They held more lands than they were entitled to by the deeds of contract.
(b) As they lived in the villages, they exercised direct control over a large number of poor villagers.
(c) They controlled local trade and also lent money to the needy.
(d) They often purchased the estates of the zamindars when they were auctioned for non-payment of
revenue.
Q.4. By which names were jotedars called?

Answer: Jotedars were called by the names of holders, ganders or manuals.
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11. REBELS AND RAJ
Multiple choice Questions (1 mark)
Q. 1. Which one of the following statements was not a justified reason for the annexation of Awadh by
British in 1857?
(A) Wajid Ali Shah was unpopular ruler.
(B) Subsidiary Alliance System was accepted by Wajid Ali Shah at ease.
(C) Mangal Pandey initiated the revolt from Awadh.
(D) Material benefits were given to the taluqdars by the British.
Q. 2. In which year was the system of Sati abolished?
(A) 1829 (B) 1857
(C) 1856 (D) 1833
Q. 3. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?
(A) Peshwa Baji Rao II
(B) Rani Laxmi Bai
(C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(D) Nana SahibBELS AND THE RAJ 9THEME Term-II
Q. 4. Match the following: E
List-I List-II
(i) Delhi (a) Birjis Qadr
(ii) Kanpur (b) Kunwar Singh
(iii) Arrah (c) Bahadur Shah
(iv) Lucknow (d) Nana Sahib
Options:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
(A) (b) (c) (a) (d)
(B) (c) (d) (b) (a)
(C) (a) (b) (c) (d)
(D) (d) (b) (c) (a)
Q. 5. With which fruit did Lord Dalhousie compare the kingdom of Awadh with?
(A) Apple (B) Pineapple
(C) Cherry (D) Strawberry
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Q. 6. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct regarding the Revolt of 1857?
(i) In the afternoon of 10 May 1857, the sepoys in the cantonment of Meerut broke out in
mutiny, which began in the lines of the native infantry, spread very swiftly to the cavalry
and then to the city.
(ii) The ordinary people of the town and surrounding villages joined the sepoys.
(iii) The sepoys captured the bell of arms and proceeded to attack white people. They
ransack and burn their bungalows and property.
(iv) The sepoys arrived at the gates of the Red Fort early in the morning on 11 May.
(A) Only (i) (B) (i) and (ii)
(C) (iii) and (iv) (D) All of the above
Q. 6. Which one of the following is not correctly match?
(A) Mutiny: A collective disobedience of rules and regulations within the armed forces
(B) Revolt: A rebellion of people against established authority and power. The
terms ‘revolt’ and ‘rebellion’ can be used synonymously.
(C) Firangi: A term of Turkish origin, is used in Urdu and Hindi, often in a derogatory sense,to
designate foreigners.
(D) Bell of arms: A storeroom in which weapons are kept
Q. 7. Which of the following statement(s) is /are incorrect about Nawab Wajid Ali Shah?
(i) Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the plea that the region was being
misgoverned.
(ii) Wajid Ali Shah was an unpopular ruler.
(iii) When he left his beloved Lucknow, there were many who followed him all the way to Kanpur
singing songs of lament.
(iv) The removal of the Nawab led to the unification of the court and its culture.
Identify the incorrect options.
(A) Only (i) (B) (i) and (ii)
(C) (iii) and (iv) (D) (ii) and (iv)
Q. 8. Awadh and Satara were captured under ................. .
(A) Doctrine of Lapse
(B) Subsidiary Alliance
(C) Issue of Misgovernance
(D) Mahalwari System
Q. 9. Which of these was the reason for Nana Saheb’s joining in the revolt of 1857?
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(A) The British refused him the pension of Peshwa Baji Rao II.
(B) The British captured Awadh
(C) The British captured Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse
(D) Nana Saheb refused to accept Subsidiary Alliance.
Q. 10. Who was the prominent leader in Jagdishpur,Bihar during the Revolt of 1857?
(A) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(B) Rani Laxmi Bai
(C) Kunwar Singh
(D) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Q. 11. The famous painting ‘Relief of Lucknow’ commemorating the British heroes who repressed the
Rebels was painted by ................. .
(A) Henry Lawrence
(B) Thomas Jones Barker
(C) Joseph Patron
(D) Francie Grant
Q. 12. “In Memoriam” was dedicated by the artist to the Christian heroism of “British Ladies in India
during the Mutiny of 1857. Who was the artist of this famous art?
(A) Henry Lawrence
(B) Thomas Jones Barker
(C) Joseph Noel Paton
(D) Francie Grant
Q. 13. Assertion (A): There were similarities in the pattern of the revolt in different places.
Reason (R): Sepoys lived in lines and shared a common lifestyle and that many of them came from
the same caste.
(C) A is correct but R is wrong.
(D) A is wrong and R is correct.
Q. 14. Assertion (A): To fight the British, leadership and organisation were required
Reason (R): Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving people to action.
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Q. 15. Assertion (A): Awadh was, in fact, called the “Nursery of the Bengal Army’’.
Reason (R): The large majority of the sepoys of the Bengal Army were recruited from the villages of
Awadh and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Many of them were Brahmins or from the “upper” castes.
(A) In Memoriam
(B) Relief of Lucknow
(C) Revenge
(D) None of these
Short Answer Questions (3 marks )
Q.1 Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the
revolt?
Ans. (1) Native rulers were natural leader of the people.
(2) They believed that Hindu Muslim unity is compulsory.
(3) They wanted to restore the pre-British world.
(4) Delhi was capital city in Mughal India and last Mughal emperor was there so rebels requested him
for the leadership.
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(5) Mostly, kings had experience of leadership and organization.
Q.2. What were the measures taken to ensure unity among the rebels?
Ans. (1) Both Hindus and Muslims requested Bahadur Shah for leadership.
(2) The proclamation issued during the revolt, appealed to all sections equally.
(3) The sentiments of both communities were respected and cared.
(4) The posters glorified the pre-British unity.
(5) Hindus and Muslims were equally member of the military commanding committee.
Q.3. What steps did the British took to quell the uprising?
Ans. (1) Marshall Law was clamped throughout the north India.
(2) All Englishmen were empowered to punish Indians.
(3) The common process of law and trial was brought to an end.
(4) British army assisted from many sides.
(5) Many native states assisted against rebels.
(6) Rebels were cruelly punished.
Q.4. Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the revolt of 1857.
Ans. (1) Common Indian people did not like new education system without any discrimination.
(2) Study of Bible was compulsory in missionary schools.
(3) Christianity was common in Jails.
(4) A law was passed which enabled converted Christian to inherit his ancestral property.
(5) Under general service Enlistment act every new service undertook to serve anywhere in India.
(6) The government decided to replace the old guns by the new rifles.
(7) Abolition of sati and other social reforms.
Q.5. Discuss the evidences that indicated planning and coordination on the part of rebels.
Ans.(1) Mostly cantonments soldiers were revolting.
(2) The rebels after revolting in Meerut set out for Delhi immediately. They wanted support of the
Mughal emperor.
(3) The messengers were working for transmitting news from one place to another.
(4) Native officers' panchayats were convened at night and collective decisions were taken.
(5) To send chapattis from one place to another place was common.
(6) New administration was established.
Q.6. What were strengths and weaknesses of the revolt of 1857?
Ans. Strengths-
(1) Complete cooperation between Hindus and Muslims,
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(2) Common people were also revolting,
(3) All rebels wanted freedom.
Weakness-
(1) The revolt failed to spread to all areas,
(2) All communities did not support,
(3) Many rulers were supporter of British,
(4) The rebel leaders were suspicious and jealous of each other,
(5) The rebel soldiers were not well equipped.
Q.7. What was Subsidiary Alliance System?
Ans. (i) It was a system devised by Lord Wellesley in 1798.
(ii) According to its terms, the British would be responsible for protecting their ally from external and
internal threats to their power.
(iii) In the territory of the ally, a British armed contingent would be stationed, whose expenditure would
be borne by the ally.
Q.8. Why is the Mutiny of 1857 called a struggle for independence?
Ans. (i) People from all sections came together to fight against the British rule.
(ii) Every thing and everybody connected with the white men was targeted by the people.
(iii) The rebel proclamations in 1857 repeatedly appealed to all sections of the population irrespective
of their caste and religion.
Q.9. Rumours and prophecies played an important part in moving people to action before the Revolt
of 1857.Explain.
Ans. (i) There spread a rumour that the British had mixed bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour
which was sold in the market.
(ii) A prophecy was made that on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey on 23rd June 1857, the
British rule would come to an end.
(iii) The proclamations expressed the widespread fear that the British were bent on destroying the
caste and religion of Hindus and Muslims and converting them to Christianity.
Long Answer Questions (8 marks )
Q.1. Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh? What prompted the peasants,Taluqdars
and Zamindars to join the revolt?
Ans. (1) All people of the Awadh did not like exploitative system of British.
(2) Wajid Ali Shah was a popular ruler and he had many sons but British dethroned him.
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(3) All people of the Awadh wanted to restore rule of the Nawab.
(4) Begum Hazrat Mahal was leader of the rebels.
(5) Many great rebel leaders were also working in Awadh all people were dissatisfied.
(6) Taluqdars’ troops were disbanded and forts were destroyed. The Taluqdars of Awadh badly
suffered by Summary Settlement of land revenue.
(7) Zamindars’ zamindaris were snatched by British. The zamindars did not like activities of the
British.
(8) Peasants did not like 50% land revenue, to deposit land revenue was compulsory so farmers were
selling their properties.
Q.2. What did the rebels want? To what extent did the vision of different social groups differ?
Ans. (1) The rebels wanted to root out the British authority from India and restore pre-British world.
(2) Interests of all classes of Indian society were hurt. It led to general resentment against the British
among them.
(3) The rulers and jagirdars wanted to reoccupy their respective kingdoms and jagirs.
(4) Indian merchants wanted concessions in trade. They did not like interference in their accounts and
transactions.
(5) The peasants wanted liberal land revenue with liberal means of realization. They also wanted to
abolish exploitation by Zamindars and Sahukars.
(6) The government servants wanted good respect, salary, power and dignity.
(7) Indian artisans and craftsmen wanted good vocational conditions.
(8) Pandits, Fakirs and other learned persons wanted to protect Indian culture and religion.
Q.3 What do visual representation tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these
representations?
Ans. (1) The British artist presents the Britishers as heroes.
(2) As saviours the relief of Lucknow painted by Thomas Jones Barker is remarkable in this regard.
(3) Collin Campbell and Jones Outram captured Lucknow defeating the rebels. Recapturing of
Lucknow has been described by the British as a symbol of survival, heroic resistance and ultimate
triumph of British power.
(4) In Memoriam was famous painting of Joseph Noel. He expressed helplessness of English ladies
and children.
(5) Miss Wheeler has been depicted as an example of defending heroic lady.
(6) The heroic image of Laxmibai inspired Indian for struggle.
(7) Cruel images of British were the symbol of revenge.
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(8) Brutal images of Indian soldiers were the symbols of strangeness against British.
(9) Indian artist persuaded nationalism and patriotism in Indians.
Q.4. what were the causes for the discontent among the soldiers before the mutiny of 1857.
Ans. (i) Fear of new cartridges.
(ii) Grievance about leave and promotions.
(iii) Low salary compared to European soldiers at the same rank.
(iv) Fear of loss of their religions.
(v) Anger against misbehaviour.
(vi) Feeling of racial supremacy among the British.
(vii) Nexus between soldiers and villagers, i.e., impact of new land revenue settlements.
Q.5. What were the reasons behind the failure of the mutiny of 1857?
Ans. (i) Lack of good and effective leadership.
(ii) The mutiny was not centralized.
(iii) Lack of resourses.
(iv) The revolt was poorly organized.
(v) The rebels had no common ideals.
(vi) Lack of co-ordination.
(vii) Some sections of people did not support the mutiny.
(viii) Breaking out before of the fixed date.
Q6. What were the social, economical religious and military causes of 1857 revolt?
Ans. Economic Causes: - (a) Drain of wealth
(b) Destruction of Indian industries, trade & commerce.
(c) Exorbitant rate of land revenue.
(d) Resumption of Inami or rent-free lands.
(e) Unemployment and poverty among the masses.
Social Causes :- (a) Maltreatment of the Indians.
(b) Interference in the social life of Indians.
(c) Spread of Western Education.
(d) Propagation of Christianity.
Military Causes :-(a) Unrest among the Indian soldiers.

(b) Increase ratio of Indian soldiers.
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(c) faulty distribution of troops.
(d) General Service Enlistment Act.
(e) Greased cartridges.
Q.7. What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
ANS:-1. By 1830s prices of agricultural products fell sharply.
2.Decline in peasants income revenue could rarely be paid without a loan from money lenders.
3.Ryots found difficult to pay it back, debt mounted. 4.Ryots needed more loan to buy their everyday
needs.
5. Sahukar’s export merchants in Maharashtra stopped long term credit and started demanding
repayment of debt.
6. Petition after petition, Ryots complained of the injustice of insensitiveness and the violation of
custom.
7. The Ryots came to see the money lenders as devious and deceitful.
8. Limitation law was passed to check the accumulation of interest overtime.
9. Deeds and bonds appeared as symbols of the new oppressive system.
SOURCE BASED QUESTION
Azamgarh Proclamation
Read the following passage and answer the following questions given below:
We get significant information from Azamgarh proclmattion. 25 Aug, 1857 as to what the rebels
wanted. Regarding Public servants
It is not a secret things, that under the British Government, native employed in the civil and military
service have little respect, low pay and no manner of influence; and all he post of dignity and
emolument in both the departments are exclusively bestowed on Englishmen …. Therefore, all the
native in the British service ought to be alive to their religion and interest, and adjuring their loyalty to
the English side with the Badshahi Government and obtain salaries of 200 and 300
rupees for the present, and be entitled to high post in the future…… Section IV – Regarding Artisans.
It is entitled that the Europeans, by the introduction of English articles into India, have thrown the
weavers, the cotton dressers, the carpenters, the blacksmiths, and the shoemakers, etc., out of
employ, and have engrossed their occupations, so that every description of native artisan has been
reduced to beggary. But under the Badshahi Government the native artisans will exclusively be
employed in the service of the kings, the rajas, and the rich; and this will no doubt ensure their
prosperity therefore, these artisans ought to renounce the English Service.
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Q1. How did the introduction of English affect the artisans?
Ans. The Artisans were deprived of their employment. The cheap machine-made goods of Britain
captured the Indian markets. Consequently, the every description of native artisan was reduced to
beggary.
Q2. How would the condition of the artisan improve under the Badshahi
Government? Ans. Under the Badshahi Government, the native artisans will exclusively be employed
in the service of the kings, the rajas and the rich.
Q3. Why were the public servants dissatisfied with the British Government?
Ans. Under the British government, natives employed in the civil and military service had no respect.
Their salaries were low and they had no power or influence.
Q4. What did the rebel proclamation repeatedly appeal for?
Ans. The rebel proclamation repeatedly appealed that the Indians should take care of their religion
and interests and they should take care of their religion and interests and they should side with the
Badshahi.
Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times
What happened in the cities during the months of the revolt? How did people live through those
months of tumult? How was normal life affected? Reports from different cities tell us about the
breakdown in routine activities. Read these reports from the Delhi Urdu Akhbar, 14 June 1857:
The same thing is true for vegetables and saag (spinach). People have been found to complain that
even kaddu (pumpkin) and baingan (brinjal) cannot be found in the bazaars. Potatoes and arvi (yam)
when available is of stale and rotten variety, stored from before by farsighted kunjras (vegetable
growers). From the insides of the garden the city, some produce does reach a few places but the
poor and the middle class can only lick their lips and watch them (as they are earmarked for the
select).
There is something else that needs attention which is causing a lot of damage to the people which is
that the water-carriers have stopped filling water. Poor Surface (gentility) are seen carrying water in
pails on their shoulders and only then the necessary household tasks such as cooking, etc. can take
place. The halalkhors (righteous) have become haramkhors (corrupt), many mohallas have not been
able to earn for several days and if this situation continues then decay, death and disease will
combine together to spoil the city’s air and an epidemic will spread all over the city and even to areas
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adjacent and around.
Q.1. From where has this report been taken?
Answer: This report has been taken from the Delhi Urdu Akhbar dated 14 June 1857.
Q.2. How was the normal life of the cities affected?

Answer: Because of the Revolt of 1857, the normal life of the cities was affected. There was a
complete breakdown of routine activities.
Q.3. What was the position of vegetable supply in the cities?

Answer: The supply of vegetable was disrupted. The people complained about the non-availability of
even pumpkin and brinjal. If potatoes and; jam were available, they were stale and rotten. No doubt,
some people brought vegetable from the gardens that existed in the cities. But these vegetables were
very costly. Only the rich and the middle classes could afford it.
Q.4.What does the second report tell us?

Answer: According to the second report, the water- carriers had stopped filling water. Many people
carried water in pails on their shoulders. It was used mostly for cooking.
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66
CH- 13 MAHATMA GANDHI AND NATIONALIST MOVEMENT
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark )
Q. 1. Where did Mahatma Gandhi originally start the Satyagraha movement?

(A) Champaran (B) South Africa
(C) Banaras (D) Gujarat
Q. 2. Mahatma Gandhi illustrated his tactical wisdom by picking on Salt Monopoly. Which of the
following statement(s) is/are correct to prove this?
1. State Monopoly over salt was deeply unpopular.
2. People were forbidden from making salt for even domestic use.
3. Salt was not an essential item.
Choose the correct option:
(A) (1) and (2) only (B) (2) and (3) only
(C) (1), (2) and (3) (D) (2) only
Q. 3. When did Gandhiji started Dandi March from Sabarmati?
(A) July 15, 1942
(B) March 12, 1930
(C) December 13, 1887
(D) January 1, 1912
Q. 4. Consider the following events.
1. Cabinet Mission 2. Cripps Mission
3. Khilafat Movement 4. Pakistan Resolution
The correct chronological order of these events is:
(A) 4, 3, 2, 1 (B) 4, 3, 1, 2
(C) 3, 4, 1, 2 (D) 3, 4, 2, 1
Q. 5. Which of these sources can be used to reconstruct the political career of Gandhiji?
(A) Writings and speeches of Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Government records
(C) Contemporary newspapers
(D) All of the above
Q. 6. A series of non-violence campaigns of the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by the
Indian National Congress under the leadership of.................
(A) Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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(B) Sri Aurabindo
(C) Motilal Nehru
(D) Mahatma Gandhi
Q. 6. An All-India Khilafat Conference was held at............... on 23 November, 1919, with Gandhi as
its president.
(A) Calcutta (B) Punjab
(C) Gujarat (D) Delhi
Q. 7. On Gokhale’s advice, Gandhijee spent a year travelling around British India, getting to know the
land and its peoples. In the year 1916, he made his first major public appearance at the opening of
the............... University.
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Calcutta
(C) Banaras Hindu
(D) Delhi
Q. 8. Which country during the First World War, joined the central powers against Britain?
(A) America
(B) Bangladesh
(C) France
(D) Turkey
Q. 9. Indicate which of the following options is not correct:
(A) Muslim League demanded Pakistan in 1946.
(B) Gandhiji started Quit India Mission in 1942.
(C) Cripps Mission failed to achieve its objective.
(D) Cabinet Mission arrived in India in 1946.
Q. 10. Which incident(s) prompted Gandhijee to call off the non-corporation movements?
(A) Chauri Chaura
(B) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
(C) A labor dispute in Ahmadabad
(D) Peasants agitation at Champaran
Q. 11. According to Gandhi’s service of the poor is the:
(A) Service of society
(B) Service of humanity
(C) Service of God
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(D) Service of disabled
Q. 12. Who wrote Mahatma Gandhi’s biography?
(A) C.R.Das
(B) Krishna Pillai
(C) J.M Sengupta
(D) D.G. Tendulkar
Q. 13. Assertion (A): Gandhijee hoped that by coupling non- cooperation with Khilafat, India’s two
major religious communities, Hindus and Muslims could collectively bring an end to the colonial rule.
Reason (R): As a consequence of the Non-Cooperation Movement the British Raj was shaken to its
foundations for the first time since the Revolt of 1857.
Q. 14. Assertion (A): In 1918, Gandhijee was involved in two campaigns in his home state of Gujarat.
First, in Ahmadabad, then in Kheda.
Reason (R): First, he intervened in a labour dispute in Ahmadabad, demanding better working
conditions for the textile mill workers. Then he joined peasants in Kheda in asking the state for the
remission of taxes following the failure of their harvest.
Q. 15. Assertion (A): The Salt March was highly successful.

Reason (R): It was the Salt March which forced the British to realise that their Raj would not last
forever and that they have to devolve same powers to the Indians
(A) Gandhi on Dandi March
(B) Gandhi in Noakhali
(C) A scene from Non Cooperation movement
(D) None of these
Q.1. How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
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Ans. Mahatma Gandhi seeked to identify himself with the common people of India. For this -
a. He began to live in a very simple life style. He wore simple clothes which a poor Indian would wear.
b. He spoke the language of local people.
c. Mahatma Gandhi opposed the caste system and attacked untouchability personally lived with the
Harijan
Q.2. Why did the salt laws become an important issue of struggle?
Ans. Poorest of poor Indian consume food that has salt as one of its prime ingredient. British
government brought tax on salt and making salt indigenously was forbidden. It was to become a big
burden on the poor people of India. Some important points regarding salt law are as follows.
1. Salt law was to lead to monopoly of salt production and distribution. It was to fuel prices, and
added to this was the tax levied by the government.
2. People were denied access to natural salt and tons of the same were destroyed.
3. Salt law was an attack on the local industry in the villages too. Hence salt law was extremely
unpopular and it became an important issue of the struggle.
Q.3 Why was the charkha chosen as a symbol of nationalism?
Ans. Gandhi ji used to work on charkha. He made it a symbol of our freedom movement. Following
are the reasons for making it the symbol of our freedom struggle.
a. Charkha symbolized manual labour.
b. Gandhi ji wanted to attach respect to manual labour. On charkha people worked with their own
hand.
c. Charkha was a low investment product hence anyone can afford it. It was a boost to the small
scale industries.
d. Charkha as it dignified manual labour. It also promoted the culture of doing my own work. It would
also strike at the root of caste system.
e. Charkha was used as tool to keep British imported clothes.
Q.4 How was non-cooperation a form of protest?
Ans. Gandhijee believed that British Empire in India could survive as long as the local people were
cooperating with the foreign rule. Non-cooperating with the British government was to weaken it and
also to protest against the same. Following points explain how it was a protest: 1. Non-cooperation
movement came along with the Khilaphate movement; The British has not seen Hindu Muslim unity
of this level ever in history. The protest of the people was unified cutting across communities and at
great scale.
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2. People boycotted the pillars and symbols of British rule, courts, colleges and government offices.
Lawyers stopped going to courts and students stayed away from colleges. At many places alternate
arrangements were done to solve litigations out of court. Further many education institutions were
established by the leaders of freedom struggle where students can study. One of them is Jamia Millia
University in Delhi which exist today as one of the most reputed seats of higher education in India.
3. People boycotted tax collection also and they refused to pay taxes.
Q.5 Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?
a. The First Round Table Conference took place in November, 1930. The Conference failed as the
most important stake holder of Indian Freedom Movement, the Indian National Congress was absent
in the conference. The leaders of the Congress were behind bars due to civil disobedience
movement.
b. The Second Table Conference took place in February 1931. One month earlier Mahatma Gandhi
was released from the jail. Hence, he participated in the conference. Gandhi Irwin pact was signed
and the British government agreed to withdraw salt law partly. But the agreement came under
criticism as it did not talk about complete independence of India.
c. Third and the most important Round Table Conference took place in the later part of 1931. The
new constitutional developments were not agreed upon. The main reason was that the other
participants of the conference described Congress as representative of small group of Indians and
not the entire population.
The major voice of dissent were, the Moslem League that claimed itself the sole representative of the
Moslems in India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar claimed himself the sole representative of the low castes in
India and the native rulers also claimed they would deal with the British independently and Congress
could not have any say in that.
Q.1 ‘Non Cooperation Movement of 1920 was training for Self-rule’. Explain.
OR
. ‘‘Non-Cooperation Movement became the name of an epoch in the life of India and of Gandhijee.’’
Explain this statement of American biographer Louis Fischer.
OR
Gandhi ji encouraged the communication of the nationalist message in the mother tongue than in the
language of the ruler. Examine how he knitted the non co operation movement with his philosophy.
Answer:
(i) Gandhiji led the people to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
(ii) He used the mother tongue and not English in communicating
Nationalist messages.
(iii) He took up the Khilafat issue in the Non –Cooperation Movement and demanded Swaraj.
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(iv) He became people’s leader through self discipline and renunciation.
(v) He also promoted the concept of self rule through the charkha.
(vi) Gandhijee displayed a concern for the laboring poor of India, as he believed that salvation for
India could come only through the farmers and workers who constituted the majority of the Indian
population.
(vii) He wanted Indian nationalism, from being an elite phenomenon- a creation of lawyers doctors
and landlords, to nationalism more suitably representative of the Indian people as a whole.
(viii) He emphasized on Satyagraha and Ahimsa,.
(ix) Non-Cooperation-a much wider and popular Movement in terms of participation from all sections,
widespread over India, participation by both Hindus and Muslims-Khilafat & Non Cooperation, a
united
Challenge to British imperialism like never before under his leadership.
(x) He gave emphasis on Swadeshi & Boycott.
(xi) His language, dressing style and simplicity helped him connect with the masses.
(xii) Stressed on Hindu Muslim unity, eradication of untouchability, revival of indigenous industries
through the symbol of charkha and elevation of the status of women.
Q.2. ‘‘The Salt March of 1930 was the first event that brought Mahatma Gandhi to world attention.’’
Explain the significance of this movement for Swaraj.
Answer:
i. On 12th March 1930- Gandhijee began the march from Sabarmati and broke the salt Law by
making salt at Dandi and broke the monopoly of the salt.
ii. Parallel salt marches and protests were also conducted in other parts of the country. Peasants,
factory workers, lawyers, students and local officials joined the march.
iii. During the March Gandhijee told the upper castes that if they want Swaraj they must serve
untouchables. Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs have to unite and these are the steps towards
Swaraj.
iv. The salt march of Gandhijee was reported in the American news magazine, Time. In its 1st report
on the march the magazine was deeply sceptical of the salt march reaching its destination. But
shortly it changed its view and saluted Gandhi as a ‘saint ‘and statesman.
v. Salt March was notable for three reasons:
Firstly this event brought Gandhijee to world attention. It was widely covered by the European and
American Press.
vi. Secondly it was the 1st nationalist activity in which women participated in large numbers.
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay the socialist activist persuaded Gandhijee not to restrict the protest to
men alone. She herself courted arrest by breaking salt and Liquor Laws.
vii. Thirdly the most significant aspect of the Salt March was that it forced the British the realization
that their Raj would not last forever, and they would have to devolve some power to the Indians.
viii. To that end British Government convened a series of Round Table Conferences in London. First
meeting was held in Nov 1930 without any pre-eminent political Indian leader and was futile. When
Gandhijee was released from jail in Jan 1931, many meetings were held with the Viceroy and it
culminated in the ‘Gandhi Irwin Pact’ by which civil disobedience would be called off and all prisoners
72
released and salt manufacture allowed along the coast. Gandhijee represented the congress at
Second Round Table Conference at London.
Q.3 ‘Many scholars have written of the months after Indian independence as being Gandhiji’s ‘‘finest
hours’’.’ Explain.
Answer:
i. Mahatma Gandhi was not present at the festivities in the capital on 15 August 1947
ii. He “appealed to the Sikhs, the Hindus and the Muslims to live in peace.
iii. He worked to bring peace to Bengal.
iv. He visited riot torn areas of Punjab and Calcutta.
v. He was equally concerned for their sufferings.
vi. He appealed for equality for all classes without any majority -minority domination.
vii. He tried to raise the feeling of fraternity.
viii. He urged for mutual respect and trust.
ix. He spoke in the prayer meeting for peace.
x. He tried to redress Muslims in Delhi.
xi. He described his best for mutual cooperation between Hindus and Muslims.
Source Based Question:
Charkha
Mahatma Gandhi was profoundly critical of the modern age in which machines enslaved humans and
displaced labour. He saw the charkha as a symbol of human society that would not glorify machines
and technology. The spinning wheel, moreover, could provide the poor with supplementary income
and make them self-reliant.
What I object to, is the craze for machinery as such. The craze is for what they call labour-saving
machinery. Men go on “saving labour”, till thousands are without work and thrown on the open streets
to die of starvation. I want to save time and labour, not for a fraction of mankind, but for all; I want the
concentration of wealth, not in the hands of few, but in the hands of all. Young India, 13 November
1924 Khaddar does not seek to destroy all machinery but it does regulate its cause and check its
weedy growth. It uses machinery for the service of the poorest in their own cottages. The wheel is
itself an exquisite piece of machinery.
Young India, 17 March 1927

Q.1. Why was Mahatma Gandhi critical of machines?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi was critical of the machines because they enslaved human-beings and displaced
labour.
Q.2. Why did Mahatma Gandhi give so much importance to Charkha (spinning wheel)?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi gave much importance to Charkha (spinning wheel). He considered Charkha as a
73
symbol of a self-reliant society. According to Gandhiji, Charkha diminished the glory of machines and
technology. It signified manual labour. It also provided the poor with supplementary income.
Q.3. In the views of Gandhiji, what would be the impact on the poor if the machines saved labour?
How it will benefit the rich (capitalist)? Why was this solution not acceptable to Gandhiji?
Answer:
Gandhiji was against the craze for machinery. He did not consider machines justified on the plea that
they saved labour. He was critical of machines because they left thousands of people without work.
They made many people die of starvation. Not only this, the machines will lead to the concentration of
wealth in the hands of a few capitalists. In fact, Gandhi wanted that wealth should go into the hands
of all. So the introduction of machines and technology was not acceptable to Gandhiji.
Q.4. According to Gandhijee, what is the relation between Khaddar and machinery.
Answer:
According to Gandhijee, Khaddar does not destroy any machinery. On the other hand, it regulates
the use of machinery. It checks the weedy growth of machines. It encourages cottage industry. In
other words, Gandhiji considered Charkha as a beautiful piece of machinery.
Why the Salt Satyagraha?
Why was salt the symbol of protest? This is what Mahatma Gandhi wrote:
The volume of information being gained daily shows how wickedly the salt tax has been designed. In
order to prevent the use of salt that has not paid the tax which is at times even fourteen times its
value, the Government destroys the salt it cannot sell profitably. Thus it taxes the nation’s vital
necessity; it prevents the public from manufacturing it and destroys what nature manufactures without
effort.
No adjective is strong enough for characterizing this wicked dog-in-the-manger policy. From various
sources, I hear tales of such wanton destruction of the nation’s property in all parts of India. Maunds if
not tons of salt are said to be destroyed on the Konkan coast. The same tale comes from Dandi.
Wherever there is the likelihood of natural salt being taken away by the people living in the
neighborhood of such areas for their personal use, salt officers are posted for the sole purpose of
carrying on destruction. Thus valuable national property is destroyed at the national expense and salt
is taken out of the mouths of the people.
The salt monopoly is thus a fourfold curse. It deprives the people of a valuable easy village industry,
involves wanton destruction of property that nature produces in abundance, the destruction itself
means more national expenditure, and fourthly, to crown this folly, an unheard-of tax or more than
1,000 percent is exacted from a starving people.
This tax has remained so long because of the apathy of the general public. Now that it is sufficiently
roused, the tax has to go. How soon it will be abolished depends upon the strength of the people.
Q.1. Why did the British Government destroy salt?
Answer:
74
The tax on salt was fourteen times its real value. So the British Government destroyed that salt which
it could not sell profitably. So it prevented the people from manufacturing salt. On the other hand, it
destroyed that salt that nature had manufactured without any effort.
Q.2.Why did Gandhiji consider it as an unjust policy?

Answer:
According to Gandhiji, salt was the gift of nature to man. But the British Government did not allow
people to manufacture salt. As salt was indispensable for domestic use, the people were compelled
to buy it from shops at a high price. It was an unjust policy.
Q.3. By which four arguments, Gandhiji proved that the salt monopoly was a fourfold curse?
Answer:
According to Gandhiji, the salt monopoly was a four-fold curse because of the following:
(a) It would lead to an extinction of village industry in India.
(b) It destroyed what nature produced without any effort.
(c) It would incur more national expenditure.
(d) It imposed a 1000% tax on the starving people.
=================================================
75
15. Framing the Constitution
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark )
Q. 1. Which of the following statements are true regarding the composition of the Constituent
Assembly?
(A) The representatives were to be elected from the four constituents – Hindu, Muslim, Sikh &
Christian.
(B) The total strength of the Constituent Assembly was 389.
(C) The chairman of the Union Constituent Committee was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
(D) The Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar consisted of eight
members.
Q. 2. The constitution of India was framed by the constituent Assembly under:
(A) August Offer of 1940
(B) Cripps proposal of 1942
(C) The Cabinet mission Plan of 1946
(D) The Shimla Conference of 1945
Q. 3. The constitution of India came into effect on:
(A) 26th January 1947
(B) 26th January 1950
(C) 26th January 1952
(D) 26th January 1949
Q. 4. The group who initially refused to join the Constituent Assembly because they believed that it
was a creation of the British, and therefore incapable of being autonomous were
(A) Muslim League (B) Tribals
(C) Socialists (D) Harijans
Q. 5. Which member of the drafting committee among the followings worked behind the scenes
playing a significant role in the drafting of several reports and working to reconcile opposing points of
view:
(A) Vallabh Bhai Patel (B) Nehru
(C) Rajendra Prasad (D) B.R. Ambedkar
Q. 6. Which member of the drafting committee among the followings was the Chief Draughtsman, and
could put complex proposals in clear legal language?
(A) K.M. Munshi (B) S. N. Mukherjee
(C) B. N. Rau (D) Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar
Q. 7. Who moved the crucial ‘objectives of the constitution?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru (B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Vallabh Bhai Patel (D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Q. 8. Which leader among the following felt that the Constituent Assembly was made according to the
British plans as the British would like it?
(A) Somnath Lahiri (B) Subhas Chandra Bose
(C) S. N. Mukherjee (D) B. N. Rau
76
Q. 9. Who among the followings declared that separate electorate act as a poison that will enter the
politics of our country.
(A) Subhas Chandra Bose (B) Vallabh Bhai Patel
(C) Mahatma Gandhi (D) S. N. Mukherjee
Q. 10. Who among the followings wanted the term ‘minority, to be interpreted as the economic term?
(A) N.G Ranga (B) Jaipal Singh
(C) B.N Rao (D) S. N. Mukherjee
Q. 11. Which of the following leader felt that the use of Hindi language as the language of
Constitution?
(A) R.V. Dhulekar (B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Jaipal Singh (D) B. Pocker Bahadur
Q. 12. Assertion (A): The discussions within the Constituent Assembly were influenced by the
opinions expressed by the public.
Reason (R): Congress swept the general seats in the provincial elections, and the Muslim League
captured most of the reserved Muslim seats.
Q. 13. Assertion (A): 82 percent of the members of the Constituent Assembly were also members of
Congress.
Reason (R): The Constituent Assembly that came into being was dominated by one party: the
Congress.
Q. 14. Assertion (A): The objective Resolution proclaimed India to be the Independent Sovereign
Republic.
Reason (R): Citizens were to be guaranteed Justice, Equality, and Liberty. Citizens would not be
discriminated against on grounds of religion, caste,
or sex. All will be equal before the law and have equal opportunities to progress.
Q.15. Article 356 of Indian Constitution deals with:
(A) National Emergency
(B) President Rule in states
(C) Financial Emergency
(D) None of these

77
Q.16.Identify the image:
(A) Meeting of Cabinet
(B) Constituent assembly in session
(C) Round Table Conference
(D) None of these
Q.1.What were the limitations of the Constitutional reforms during the colonial period?
Answer:
The Constitutional reforms, during the colonial period, were in the response to the increasing demand
of representative government. But Indians had no direct role in the passing of these different Acts
(1909, 1919 and 1935). They were also enforced by the colonial government.
There was definitely an expansion of the electorate that elected the provincial bodies. But even in
1935, this right remained limited to 10-15% of the adult population. Till then, there was no
arrangement of Universal Adult Franchise. The legislatures which were elected under the Act of 1933
were operating within the framework of colonial rule. They were responsible to the Governor
appointed by the British.
Q.2.In the Constituent Assembly, Congress itself was a broad front. Elucidate.
Answer:
About 82% of members of the Constituent Assembly were from the Indian National Congress. These
members had diverse views such as:
78
1. The Congress had many members who lacked identical views. It had atheists who did not
believe in the existence of God. It also had secular members who gave equal respect to all
religions. There were also many members who were technically Congressmen but spiritually
associated with Hindu Mahasabha and R.S.S.
2. Viewed economically, a few members of the Constituent Assembly were socialists in their
economic philosophy. Contrary to it, there were also members who supported landlords and
Zamindars.
3. The Congress also had many independent members. These members were drawn from different
castes and religious groups.
4. There were also many members who represented the women.
5. There were also members who were experts in the law.
Thus, Congress seemed like a broad front. All its members held a wide range of views and had the
diversity of opinions.
Q.3.Explain how the Constituent Assembly reflected the diversity of the people of India and their
opinions.
Answer:
The election of the members of the Constituent Assembly was held in 1946 on the basis of provincial
elections. The Constituent Assembly included members from the British provinces besides
representatives from Princely states. They were included because many of the Princely states had,
one by one, become a part of the Indian Union. The Muslim League, prior to the independence of
India, boycotted the meetings of the Constituent Assembly. So at that time, the Constituent Assembly
was dominated by only one political party that is the Indian National Congress. 82% members of the
Constituent Assembly were Congress-men. Congress in itself was a very big and extensive force. Its
members held different views about different issues. Many of them were either atheists or seculars. A
few members of the Constituent Assembly belonged to R.S.S. or Hindu Mahasabha. Economically
speaking, a few members had socialist leanings and the others favoured the big landlords and
zamindars.
Q.4.Why did several members in the Constituent Assembly support the cause of the depressed
classes? What did the Assembly finally recommend for them?
Answer:
During the freedom struggle, Dr Ambedkar demanded separate constituencies for the backward
classes. Mahatma Gandhi opposed it by saying that it will segregate them from the mainstream of
society. The issue was much debated in the Constituent Assembly.
1. The members of the backward classes stated that society made use of their labour and services
but kept them away from the social mainstream. The people of upper castes avoided to meet them.
They neither eat with them nor allow the people belonging backward classes to visit temples.
79
2. Nagappa stated that numerically the backward class people were not a minority. They constitute 20
to 25% of the total population. But they have been kept away from society. They have neither
education nor participation in administration.
3. Sh. K. J. Khandelkar, addressing the Constituent Assembly dominated by members of upper

castes, stated: “We have been crushed for centuries. We have been so crushed that our brain and
body do not work. Our heart has become feeling less. Now we are not able to move ahead. This is
our plight.”At last, the Constituent Assembly suggested the following:
1. Untouchability will be eradicated.

2. The Hindu temples will be opened to people belonging to all castes.
3. Seats will be reserved for backward classes in the Assemblies and Educational Institutions.
Q.5.How were the discussions within the Constituent Assembly influenced by the opinions expressed
by the people? Explain.
Answer:
The discussions within the Constituent Assembly were also influenced by public opinions. The
arguments of different sections were published in newspapers and there was a public debate on all
the proposals. In this way, criticism and counter-criticism in the process had a great impact on the
consensus that was ultimately reached on specific issues. The public was also asked for submissions
to create a sense of collective participation. Hundreds of responses came. Religious minorities asked
for special safeguards as well.
Q.1.The problem of separate electorates was an intricate problem that confronted the Constituent
Assembly. Discuss the debate held in the Assembly over this issue.
Answer:
Arguments in favour of Separate Electorates
1. It is a political framework in which minorities can live in harmony with people who are in majority.
2. It is an arrangement which can minimise differences between different communities.
3. It can provide good representation to the minorities in the political system of the country.
4. It enables others to hear the voice of the minority and take into account its views and opinions.
5. Only the minority people can choose their true representative.
Arguments against Separate Electorates
1. It was a measure deliberately introduced by the foreign rulers to divide the people.
2. It can lead to riots, violence and civil war.
3. It is a poison in any political system.
4. It divides the nation and causes bloodshed as one community turns against the other.
5. It is a mischief left behind by the British.
6. It is harmful not only to the nation but also to the minorities. It is rather suicidal to the minorities.
80
7. It is self-destructive as it isolates the minorities from the majority.
8. It divides the loyalty of the citizens towards their nation.
Q.2.How was the Constituent Assembly organised? This Assembly represented the whole country,
then why had it become a group of one party?
Answer:
The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected on the basis of provincial elections held in
1946. It included members not only from the British provinces but also from princely states of India.
The members of princely states were inducted in the Assembly because most of the princely states
had already merged with India.
1. The Constituent Assembly included popular leaders from all over the country. Pt. Jawaharlal
Nehru, Dr Rajinder Prasad, Sardar Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were members of the
Indian National Congress. The members who were from other political parties included Dr B.R.
Ambedkar, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji and Frank Anthony. There were also a few women
members such as Sarojini Naidu and Vijay Laxmi Pandit.
2. Thus, the Constituent Assembly basically represented the whole country but the Muslim
League boycotted its early meetings. Because of the absence of the members of the Muslim
League, the Constituent Assembly had mainly members from the Congress party. 82% of
members of the Constituent Assembly were Congress-men. Thus, it is right to say that though the
Constituent Assembly represented the whole country, yet it had mostly members belonging to the
Congress party.
Q.3. Examine any four major issues that went into the making of the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
The making of the Indian Constitution was greatly influenced by many subjects or issues. These
issues were such without which the establishment of real democracy was not possible. Out of these
important issues, the main was as follows:
1. Political equality and socio-economic justice

The right to Universal Adult Franchise was the symbol of political equality. However, this political
equality was incomplete without social and economic justice. So, it was essential to abolish social and
economic discrimination.
2. Issues concerning the Dalits and the untouchables. It was essential to give special patronage for
the upliftment of the Dalits and the Untouchables. The same was needed for the scheduled tribes.
3. Centralised federation:
A federal government with a strong centre was set up to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.
This federation was a symbol of unity amidst diversity.
81
4. Separate electorate:
The Dalits and minority communities were demanding separate electorate so that they may be able to
get their representatives elected in the legislature. But it could endanger one’s loyalty towards the
state. t So this view was rejected and to remove this apprehension or misgiving, seats were reserved
for the Dalits. The reservation of seats for the Dalits in the Legislature was a solution to the demand
for a separate electorate.
Passage based Question

“We are not going just to copy”
This is what Jawaharlal Nehru said in his famous speech of 13 December 1946:
My mind goes back to the various Constituent Assemblies that have gone before and of what took
place at the making of the great American nation when the fathers of that nation met and fashioned
out a Constitution which has stood the test of so many years, more than a century and a half, and of
the great nation which has resulted, which has been built upon the basis of that Constitution. My mind
goes back to that mighty revolution which took place also over 150 years ago and to the Constituent
Assembly that met in that gracious and lovely city of Paris which has fought so many battles for
freedom, to the difficulties that Constituent Assembly had and to how the King and other authorities
came in its way, and still, it continued.
The House will remember that when these difficulties came and even the room for a meeting was
denied to the then Constituent Assembly, they betook themselves to an open tennis court and met
there and took the oath, which is called the Oath of the Tennis Court, that they continued meeting in
spite of Kings, in spite of the others, and did not disperse till they had finished the task they had
undertaken. Well, I trust that it is in that solemn spirit that we too are meeting here and that we, too,
whether we meet in this chamber or other chambers, or in the fields or in the market-place, will go on
meeting and continue our work till we have finished it.
Q.1.How was the American Constitution finalised and explain its results?
Answer:
There were certain problems in the making of American Constitution-keeping in mind the interests of
all the constituent states and making proper provisions for the strength of the federal system. There
was another problem that to what extent voters could be limited. Even then the Nation-builders
formed such a Constitution which is standing high even today and which has become base of
formation of a great nation.
Q.2.What does Nehru’s determination to pass The Constitution Show? Explain any two such
difficulties that were faced by the Constituent Assembly. Answer:
Nehru believed that the work of framing the Constitution which the Constituent Assembly has taken in
its hands, will definitely be completed. Following problems were there in its way—
(a) To solve the problem of separate electorate.
(b) To solve the language problem and to determine the national language.
82
“That is very good, Sir – bold words, noble words”
Somnath Lahiri said:

Well, Sir, I must congratulate Pandit Nehru for the fine expression he gave to the spirit of the Indian
people when he said that no imposition from the British will be accepted by the Indian people.
Imposition would be resented and objected to, he said, and he added that if need be we will walk the
valley of struggle. That is very good, Sir – bold words, noble words.But the point is to see when and
how are you going to apply that challenge. Well, Sir, the point is that the imposition is here right now.
Not only has the British Plan made any futureConstitution dependent on a treaty satisfactory to the
British but it suggests that for every little difference you will have to run to the Federal Court or dance
attendance there in England or to call on the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee or someone else.
Not only is it a fact that this Constituent Assembly, whatever plans we may be hatching, but we are
also under the shadow of British guns, British Army, their economic and financial stranglehold-which
means that the final power is still in the British hands and the question of power has not yet been
finally decided, which means the future is not yet completely in our hands.Not only that, but the
statements made by Attlee and others recently have made it clear that if need be, they will even
threaten you with division entirely. This means, Sir, there is no freedom in this country. As Sardar
Vallabh Bhai Patel put it some days ago, we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is the
only freedom we have got… Therefore, our humble suggestion is that is it not a question of getting
something by working out this Plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the
Interim Government, call upon the people of India, to stop fratricidal warfare and lookout against its
enemy which still has the whip hand, the British Imperialist and go
together to fight it and then resolve our claims afterwards when we will be free.
Q.1.Why did Somnath Lahiri congratulate Pandit Nehru? Explain.
Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru said that no imposition from the British will be accepted fly the Indian people. Any
imposition would be resented and objected to. If any need arises then we will walk the valley of
struggle. That is why Somnath Lahiri congratulated Pandit Nehru.
Q.2.Explain the intentions of the British in not framing the Constitution beforehand. What did they
want?
Answer:
British wanted to divide the country by dividing the people. They wanted to keep India as its slave
indirectly even after independence and it should remain under their shadow. That is why the British
were not framing the Constitution in hand. If they could have done then the country’s constitutional
problem could have solved earlier which they did not want to do so.
Q.3.Explain the views of Sardar Patel on the issue.

Answer:
Sardar Patel said that we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is the only freedom we
have got. Therefore, our humble suggestion is that it is not a question of getting something by
working out this plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the interim
83
government and Indian people to stop fratricidal warfare and lookout against its enemy which still has
the whip in hand, the British imperialism and go together to fight it and then resolve our claim
afterwards when we will be free:
“The British element is gone, but they have Left the mischief behind”
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said:

It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates because it is good for us. We have heard it
long enough. We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate
nation … Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates? If so, I shall be
prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country, if this separate electorate is going to be
persisted in, even after the division of the country, woe betide the country; it is not worth living in.
Therefore, I say, it is not for my good alone, it is for your own good that I say it, forget the past. One
day, we may be united … The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind. We do
not want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced this element they had
not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all
right. But they have left the legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not?
Q.1.What did Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel say in opposition to the provision of separate electorates?
Answer:
Sardar Patel stated that there was no provision of separate electorates in any free country of the
world.
Q.2.What were the evil-effects of the separate electorates?

Answer:
The provision of separate electorates was not good for the country. It has led to the partition of the
country. It has brought woes to the people.
Q.3.What did he say while making an appeal to abolish separate electorates?

Answer:
According to Sardar Patel, the provision of separate electorates was like a poison in the political
system. It had turned one community against another. It had divided the nation and caused
bloodshed.
Q.4.According to Patel, whose mischief it was to provide for separate electorates? Why had they
done so?
Answer:
According to Sardar Patel, the provision of separate electorates was the mischief of the British. They
have gone but left their mischief behind. They deliberately introduced it to divide the people.
*********************************************************
84

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STUDENT SUPPORT MATERIAL

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN

MRS. SONA SETH

VICE PRINCIPAL IIT POWAI

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [1 MARK]

(a) Megalithic (b) Paleolithic

(c) Neolithic (d) Chalcolithic

(a) Mesopotamia (b) Egyptian

(c) Sumerian (d) Chinese

(a) Sir John Marshall (b) R. D. Banerji

(c) A. Cunningham (d) Daya Ram Sahani

Q- 4 Match the location of the following Harappan sites :

A. Ropar (1) Uttar Pradesh

(a) (2) (1) (4) (3) (5)

(b) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

(c) (2) (1) (3) (4) (5)

(d) (2) (3) (1) (5) (4)

(a) Safety From robbers (b) Protection against cattle raiders

(c) Protection against floods (d) All the above

Q- 6 The Harappan civilization declined as a result of ……… .

(a) Aryan invasion (b) decline in foreign trade

(c) Ecological factors (d) Not definitely known factors

(a) Unihorn bull (b) Cow

(c) Bull (d) tiger

(a) Pottery and ornaments

(b) Iron hand axe

(d) Copper mirrors

Q- 9 Harappa is located on the banks of which river?

(a) Indus (b) Chenab

(c) Ravi (d) Jhelum

(a) Mohanjodaro (b) Harappa

(c) Lothal (d) Rangpur

Q- 11 Which town in Indus Valley Civilisation had no citadel ?

(a) Mohanjodaro (b) Harappa

(c) Chanhudaro (d) Lothal

Q- 12 What was the main feature of the Harappa Civilisation ?

(a) Town planning

(b) Art and architecture

Q- 13 Where were large granaries found ?

(a) Lothal and dholavira

(d) Harappa and Mohenjodaro

(a) The Harappan script was pictographic and not alphabetical.

(b) It has been deciphered by James Princep.

(d) The script was written from right to left.

Short answer questions(3 Marks)

- Dependency on only archaeological sources i.e. Buildings, seal, beads etc.

Ans - Stone -like carnelian, jasper, crystal quartz, and steatite.

-Metal - like- copper, bronze, gold.

- Shell, faience and terracotta

Method of procuring material for craft production

Q.4 What were the features of settlement of pre- Harappa period?

Ans:-- They had no large buildings.

-There was a prevalence of agriculture and cattle rearing

- Some people were also engaged in sculpture.

There was no well-planned network of roads and drainage system.

.- By classifying artifacts into useful and luxurious things.

Ans:-On the basis of residential buildings & special structures.

- There were no windows in the wall along the ground level.

-The sign of this script were of the period 375 to 400.

•- The script has been found on a variety of objects.

Q.8 Write a note on the agriculture technology of Harappans?

-Two different crops were grown together.

- The roads were straight and wide.

• Existence of public buildings.