History: 2015: CBSE: [All India]: Set – I
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Q1
How have the Prashastis drawn the factual information about the Gupta rulers?
Marks:2View AnswerAnswer:
- History of Gupta rulers is known from many sources, including inscriptions (Prashastis), composed in praise of Kings.
- Historians attempt to draw facts from these compositions, although their authors treasured them as poetical works, instead of literally true accounts.
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Q2
The Lingayats disapproved certain practices of the Dharmashastras. Cite any two such practices.
Marks:2View AnswerAnswer:
- The Lingayats did not practice funerary rites like cremation, as prescribed in Dharmashastras, but buried their dead.
- The Lingayats challenged the ideas of ‘Caste’ and ‘pollution’.
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Q3
Name the region where the Lottery Committee initiated town planning during the 18th century. Mention any one feature of it.
Marks:2View AnswerAnswer:
- The Lottery Committee initiated town planning in areas in and around Calcutta.
- Clearing the river bank of “encroachments” was a major feature of their planning.
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Q4
Why were the water resources of the Vijayanagara Empire developed? Give reasons.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- As Vijayanagara was located in one of the most arid zones of the peninsula, elaborate water arrangements were made to store rain water and conduct it to the city.
- Embankments were built along the streams to create reservoirs of various sizes.
- The most important such tank, built in early fifteenth century, now called Kamalapuram tank, provided water to irrigate nearby fields. It also flowed, through a channel, to the “Royal Centre”.
- Another prominent waterwork, the Hiriya Canal, drew water from a dam across Tungabhadra, which irrigated the cultivated valley, separating “Sacred Centre” from “Urban Core”.
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Q5
Examine the policies adopted by the British towards the Paharias during early 18th century in Bengal.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- During early 18th century, the British adopted a brutal policy of extermination, hunting down and killing the Paharias.
- Then, Augustus Cleveland, the Collector of Bhagalpur, proposed a pacification policy, under which Paharia chiefs were given an annual allowance and made responsible for their people’s proper conduct.
- They were expected to maintain law and order in their localities and discipline their own men.
- Many Paharia chiefs refused the allowances. Those who accepted them lost authority within the community.
- As payees of the colonial government, they were perceived as subordinate employees or as stipendiary chiefs.
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Q6
Explain the strategies for procuring materials by the Harappans for craft production.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- The Harappans procured materials for craft production in many ways. They established settlements, like Nageshwar and Balakot, in areas where shell was available.
- Other such sites were Shortughai, in Afghanistan, near the best source of lapis lazuli, a blue stone that was apparently very highly valued, and Lothal which was near sources of carnelian (Bharuch in Gujarat), steatite (South Rajasthan and North Gujarat) and metal (Rajasthan).
- Another strategy for procuring raw materials may have been to send expeditions to areas like Khetri region of Rajasthan (for copper) and South India (for gold).
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Q7
Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of Mauryan Empire. State any four such sources.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- Various sources have been used by historians to reconstruct Mauryan history, including archaeological finds, especially sculptures.
- Also valuable are contemporary works, like the account of Megasthenes (Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya’s court), which survives in fragments. Another source that is often used is the Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Chanakya, traditionally believed to be Chandragupta’s minister.
- The Mauryas are also mentioned in later Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic literature, as well as in Sanskrit literary works.
- While these are useful, Asokan inscriptions, on rocks and pillars, are often considered the most valuable sources on Mauryas.
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Q8
Identify the distinctive features of the imperial household of the Mughal Empire.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- Mughal household comprised Emperor’s wives and concubines, near and distant relatives – mother, step and foster-mothers, sisters, daughters, daughters-in-law, aunts, children, etc. – female servants and slaves.
- In the Mughal household, distinction was maintained between wives of royal origin (begums), and wives (aghas) not of noble birth.
- Begums, married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr), received higher status, than aghas.
- Concubines (aghacha or lesser agha) occupied lowest position in hierarchy of females intimately related to royalty.
- Mughal household also had male and female slaves who performed tasks of varying natures.
- Slave eunuchs (khwajasara) served household as guards, servants and as commercial agents for women of Mughal harem.
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Q9
Critically examine Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation in Awadh.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- In 1856, Awadh was annexed into the British Empire under Lord Dalhousie.
- Simultaneously, the Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, who was widely popular among the masses of Awadh, was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta, on the pretext of misgovernance. Dalhousie’s reason for annexing Awadh was wrong.
- The Nawab’s dethronement led to dissolution of the court and culture of Awadh, leading to a loss of livelihood for several people, including the taluqdars.
- High revenue demands of British oppressed Awadh peasantry deeply.
- Hence, British policy of annexation of Awadh led to wrong results as it faced revolt from people of all classes in Awadh.
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Q10
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Dr. Khushdeva Singh describes his work as “humble efforts I made to discharge my duty as a human being to fellow human beings.”
“Love is stronger than hate.” How true is this value which was proved at the time of the partition of India? What are the values one needs to instill and nurture to avoid hatred? Explain.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- “Love is stronger than hate” was proved by Dr. Khushdeva Singh’s service to humanity. Khushdeva Singh was a Sikh doctor specialising in the treatment of tuberculosis, posted at Dharampur in present-day Himachal Pradesh.
- He dedicated his life for the service of all communities – Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
- He provided the rare healing touch, food, shelter, love and security to numerous migrants.
- The values one needs to instill and nurture to avoid hatred are:
