KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN

GUWAHATI REGION

STUDY MATERIAL CLASS XII (2020-21)

Subject: HISTORY
CHAPTER WISE QUESTION BANK
 Foreword
Preparation of study material for all the major subjects of class X and XII and presenting the same
on the hands of the students well on time is not anything new for the Kendriya Vidyalayas.
However, this time the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic looming large in front of all and the 9
months of suspended physical classes have given an extra novel meaning and significance to this
endeavor. On all previous occasions, teachers sat together on a designated place face to face to
discuss, to reject, to select & modify and thereby gather together the best material for the students.
This time, they could not do so that way because of the limitations of gatherings in light of the
pandemic. And therefore, this time, there has been the endeavor to craft out a chapter-wise
exhaustive question bank for all the major subjects. The major chunk of the session has already
played out in the most extraordinary way during this most extraordinary time as we have all seen,
with the syllabi having been covered only through online classes with the teachers and the students
never coming face to face inside the classrooms.

Anyway, with our examination system the way it is, the role of intelligent and rigorous study of
question bank has been always enormous for success in all examinations. Having a sound grasp of
probable questions and the most pertinent ones, leads to better negotiation of the course material
on hand especially when the examination comes near.

It is hoped that the teachers of each school will bring the materials home to the needy students
with further necessary guidance from them during this extraordinary academic session and
extraordinary time as a whole.

It has been wonderful for KVS RO Guwahati to be involved in preparation of study material in the
form of chapter wise question banks. The enormous contribution of the Subject teachers and
Principals for making the project successful is highly praiseworthy.

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 INDEX

UNIT NAME PAGE NO.

1 BRICKS, BEADS, AND BONES 1-2

2 KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS 3-8

3 KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS 9-10

4 THINKERS, BELIEFS AND BUILDINGS 11-20

5 BHAKTI AND SUFI TRADITIONS 21-26

6 AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL VIJAYNAGARA 27-32

7 THE KINGS AND CHRONICLES. 33-37

8 COLONIALISM AND COUNTRYSIDE 38-40

9 REBEL AND THE RAJ 41-43

10 MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT 44-55

11 FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION 56-58

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Chapter 1
BRICKS, BEADS, AND BONES –
1. Who was Cunningham?
Ans- Cunningham was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India who
began archaeological excavation in the mid-nineteenth century.
2. Give any two features of Harappan writing.
Ans- Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, which remains un deciphered still today.
Its features are:

It is not alphabetical and has too many signs, somewhere between 375 and 400.The script
is written from right to left.

3. from where have been traces of canals found?

Ans – Shortughai (Afganistan)

4. Where the entire settlement was fortified?

Ans – Lothal, Dholavira (In Gujarat)
5. What were the distinctive objects of Harappa civilisation?
Ans – seals, beads, backed bricks, stone blades, weights
6. From where terracotta models of plough has been found?
Ans – Kalibangan (Rajasthan)
7. Where was the water reservoir in Harappan civilisation?
Ans – Dholavira (Gujarat)
8. How did the Harappan obtain red colour of carnelian?
Ans – By firing the yellowish raw material and beads at various stages of production.
9. What were the four items found in the graves of the Harappan?
Ans – Jewellary of both men and women ornaments consisting of three shell rings, a jasper
bead, and copper mirror.
10. What were the food items available to the people in Harappan civilisation?
Ans – Products taken from plants, Fish and flesh, and Wheat, Millet, Pulses, Rice.
11. Where the citadel was not walled off?
Ans – Lothal
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12. Which strategies are used to find out social or economic differences in Harappan
culture?
Ans – There are two ways – 1. Studying burials 2. Studying artefacts according to luxuries
and utilitarian.
13. For which things were Nageshwar and Balakot specialised?
Ans – Nageshwar (Gujarat) and Balakot (Pakistan) , both settlements were near the
coast,famous for making shell objects including bangles, ladles and inclay. These objects
were taken to other settlements also.
14. from where have been specialised drills found?
Ans – Chanhudaro, Lothal, Dholavira
15. Which sight was exclusively devoted to craft production in Harappan civilisation?
Ans – It was Chanhudaro where Bead making, Shell cutting, Seal making, Metal working
and Weight making were happened.
16. What were the animals of Harappan civilisation?
Ans – Pet animal – Sheep, Goat, Buffalo, Pig

Wild animal – Boar, Deer, Ghariyal.

17. How can you say that there was a break between the early Harappan and the late
Harappan Civilisation?
Ans – There are two reasons – 1. There is evidence of large scale burning at some places or
sites. 2. The abandonment of certain settlements.
18. Which metals were known in Harappan culture?
Ans – Gold, Silver, Copper, Bronze.
19. Which is the most antiquated object of the Indus civilisation?
Ans – Harappan Seals.
20. Where were the rare commodities made from expensive material found?
Ans – Harappa and Mohenjodaro
21. Who was Proto – Shiva ?
Ans – Early form of Shiva or Rudra , found on Harappan seals was called Proto Shiva.
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Chapter 2
KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS

Section
Answer to these question carrying 3 marks should not exceed 100 words each.
1. What do you mean by’ Numismatics?
Ans. Numismatics is the study of coins, including visual elements such as scripts and
images, metallurgical analysis and the contexts in which they have been found.

2. Give a brief description of Megasthenese. What does Megasthenese

tell about the administration of Mauryan Empire?

Ans. Megasthenese was a Greek historian who came to India in the fourth century BC as
an ambassador of Seleucus Nictor. He lived in the court of Chandragupta Mauryan for
about five years.
Megasthenese has written detail about Chandragupta Mauryan’s administration, as
well as Indian society in the Mauryan period. Megasthenese mentioned a committee
with six sub-committees for military coordination activity. These were:
a. One looked after the army
b. Second managed the transport and provisions
c. Third was responsible for foot soldiers
d. Fourth for horses
e. Fifth for chariots
f. Sixth for elephants

3. What are the sources used by historians to reconstruct Mauryan history?

Ans. The sources used by historians reconstruct the Mauryan history:

a) Archaeological finds , especially sculptures
b) Account pf Megasthenese .
c) Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by kautilya or
chanakya.
d) Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic literature asa well as in Sanskrit literary works.
e) The inscriptions of Ashoka inscription on rocks and pillars.

4. Who was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his people on
stone? What are the principles of Dhamma?

Ans. Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his people on stone.
He used the inscriptions to proclaim his principles of Dhamma. This included:
a. Respect to elders
b. Generosity towards Brahmanas and other sects
c. Kindness to slaves and servants
d. Religious tolerance towards other religions
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5. Examine the contribution of James Prinshep in the study of Indian

history.
Ans. One of the most momentous development in the study of Indian history was the
development of epigraphy during 1830s.
a) James prinshep , an officer in the mint of the East Indian Company, deciphered
Brahmi and kharosthi, two scripts used in the inscription and Coins.
b) He found that most of these mentioned a king referred to as Priyadassi- meaning
“pleasant to behold”, there are few inscription which also referred to the kings as
Ashoka one of the most famous rulers known from Buddhist texts.
c) This gave a new direction to investigations into early Indian political history as
European and Indian scholars used inscription and texts composed in a variety of
languages to reconstruct the lineages of major dynasties that had rules the
subcontinent.

6. What are the strategies for increasing agriculture production from

sixth century BCE?

Ans. The period sixth century BCE was marked by the tremendous expansion of
economy in particular of agriculture:
1) Use of iron tipped ploughshare
2) Introduction of transplantation of paddy
3) Irrigation through wells, tanks and canals
4) Hoe agriculture in semi-arid areas of Punjab, Rajasthan, and hilly areas in north -
eastern and central parts.

SECTION B

SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS CARRYING 5MARKS EACH

7. LIFE IN A SMALL VILLAGE

The Harashacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana , the ruler of Kannauj

,composed in Sanskrit by his court poet;Banabhatta this is an expert from the text an
extremely rare representation of life in a settlement of outskirts of a forest int the
Vindhyas.
The outskirts being for the most part forest , many parcels ofm rice-land ,threshing
ground and arable land were being apportioned by small farmers . it was mainly
spade culture….
Owing to difficulty of ploughing the sparsely scattered fields covered with grass with
their few clear spaces, their black soil stiff as black iron….
There were people moving alone with bundles of
bark …Countless sacks of plucked flowers ,loads of falx and hemp bundles
,quantities of honey,peacock tail
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feathers ,wreaths of wax,logs and grass.Village wives hastenes on route for

neighbouring villages, all intent on thoughts of sale and bearing on their heads baskets
filled with various fruits gathered from forests.

1. Who was the author of Harshachatita?

2. Describe the outskirts of forest in the vidhyas?
3. Describe the acitivities of the people of that area.

Ans.
1. Harshacharita was composed by Banabhatta the court poet of Harashavardha

2. The outskirts of a forest in the vindhyas had many parcels of land , threshing
ground and cultivable land owned by small farmers . The field were less with
grass and were difficult to plough .So farmers mostly used spades to cultivable
the stiff black soil.

3. The people of that area were moving along with the bundles of bark ,countless
sacks of plucked flowers ,loads of flax and hemp bundles.T hey were also carrying
quantities of honey , peacock feathers , wreaths of wax , logs and grass

8. IN PRAISE OFSAMUDRAGUPATA
This is an expert from the Prayaga Prashasti:
he was without an antagonist on earth ; he, by the overflowing of the multitude of his
many good qualities adorned by hundreds of good actions , has wiped off the frame of
other kings with the soles of his feet ,purusha (the supreme being) the cause of the
prosperity of the good and the destruction of the bad incomprehensible possessed of
compassing ; the giver of many hundred , thousands of cows mind has received
ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the poor , the forlorn and the
sufferings resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind equal to Kubera, yama

(1) Give the meaning of Prashasti.

(2) ‘Samudra Gupta is compared to gods ‘. justify the comparison,
(3) Name two sources used to reconstruct the history of Gupta rulers.
Ans.
(1) Prashastis were inscriptions composed in praise of kings by eminent poets.

(2) Rulers were composing to gods and given divine status, By adopting high
sounding titles rulers sought to gain legitimacy and exercise control over the subjects .
The prashastis eqated the ruler to kubera, varuna, indra, yama
(3) Two sources are coins and inscription. Some of the most spectacular gold
coins were made by the Gupta rulers. Inscriptions found on stone and copper
plants throw lights about the Gupta rulers.
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9. CAPTURING ELEPHANTS FOR THE ARMY

The Arhashastra lays down minute details of administration and military organisation
. This is what it says about to capture elephants :
Guards of elephants forest ,assisted by the those who rear elephants , those who
enchain the legs of elephants , those who guard the boundaries , those who live in
forest, as well as by those who nurse elephants , trace the whereabouts of herds of
elephants by following the course of urine and dung left by elephants
According to Greek sources , the Mauryan ruler had a standing army of 6000000 foot
soldiers 30000 cavalry and 9000 elephants .Some historians consider these accounts
to be exaggerated.

1. Who composed Arthashastra? Mention any one information that it contains

2. Why were the elephants?
3. Describe the process capturing elephants?
Ans.
1. The Arthashastra was composed by kautilya or chanakya ,who believed to be the
chief minister chandragupta

2. Elephants were captured for military activities and transports

3. The elephants were captured by the captured by the forest guards. The guards
took thehelpof those who raise elephants. Then
some people enchained the legs of elephants was also taken . The elephants were
traced by following the course of their urine anddung.

10.
Saddle querns … are found in considerable numbers… and they seem to have the only
means in use for grinding cereals. As a rule, there were roughly made show signs of
hard usage. As there 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 former type were probably used solely or grains the second type
possible 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.

1. What are the two types of querns?

2. What materials were these querns made of?
3. Why they are described as “curry stones”?
Ans.
1. The two types of querns are:
[a] The first type querns were probably solely used for grains as smaller stones
was pushed or rolled to and fro over the base stone which were usually converse.
[b] The second type of querns was a pounder eventually making a large cavity in
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the neither stones. This type of quern was probably used for pounding herbs and
spices for making curries.

2. The querns were as a rule made of hard,gritty igneous rock or standstone

3. the second type of querns were described as “curry stones” because they were
probably use to pound herbs and spices which were used for making curries . Thus
they were called”curry stones” by the workers who were part of the excavations

11. Much later in 1947, R.E.M Wheeler , the Director General of the ASI , tried to
correlate this archaeological evidence with that of Rigveda , the earliest known text
subcontinent. He wrote:
The Rigveda mentioned Pur meaning rampart fort or stronghold. Indra, the Aryan
war-god is called purandara, the fort -destroyer.
Where are -or-were these citadels? It has in the past been supposed that they were
mythical …The recent excavation of Harappan may be thought to have changed the
pictures. Here we have highly evolved civilization of essentially non Aryan type, now
known to have employed massive fortification.. what destroyed this firmly civilization
?Climatic ,economic or political deterioration may have weakened it, but its ultimate
extinction is more likely to have completed by deliberate and large scale destruction . It
may be no mere chance that at a late period of Mohenjodaro men, women and children
appear to have been massacred there. On circumstantial evidence, indra accused .

1. What did Rigveda mention about “pur”?

2. According to wheeler what did excavation show?
3. Who was REM wheeler?
Ans.
1. Commonly held view that civilisation was destroyed by Aryans but then
Aryans did not come in such larhe large numbers

2. Another view is that the decline was due to natural calamities like
earthquakes, floods drought or epidemics. Others believe increasing salinity
of the soil destroyed
agriculture which formed the backbone of the economy

3.R.E.M wheeler was the former Director General of the Archaeological Survey
of India (A.S.I)

SECTION C

Answer to these question carrying 8 marks each should not exceed 350 words each

12. Discuss briefly coins as a source during sixth century BCE to sixth century CE.

Ans. Study of coins is called numismatics .Excavation at numerous sites have revealed
horders of coins and coin moulds made of burnt clay relating to the period.
i. Exchangers were facilitated by the introduction of coinage
 8

ii. Punch marked coins made of silver and copper were among the earlier to be
minted andused
iii. Coins were issued by kings ,merchants, and town people
iv. The first coin bearing the name and images of ruler were issued by the the
Indo-Greeks.
v. The first were issued in first century CE by the kings.
vi. Hoards of Roman coins have been found in south India .This indicates that there
was a close connection between south India and Roman Empire.

vii. Coins were by tribal republics . for e.g. yaudheyas of Punjab and Haryana issued
thousands of copper coins
viii. The Guptas was issued gold coins .These were remarkable for their
purity .These coins facilitated long distance transactions
ix. From sixth century onwards finds of gold coins were
fewer .Historians divided on these issues, some suggest that there was economic
crisis following the collapse of Western Roman empire. Decline of long distance
trade affected the prosperity of states, communities and regions.
x. Others argue that new towns and networks of trade began to emerge around this
time though finds of coins are fewer.
 9

CHAPTER III:
KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS

Q.1 The Mahabharata was composed in which period?

1
Ans. Between 500 BCE to 500 CE.

Q.2 What is Patriliny?

1
Ans. The system in accession passes to the sons from father.

Q.3 Who prepared the critical edition of Mahabharata?

1
Ans. V S Sukhthankar.

Q.4 Which is the most important book in Dharmasastra?

1
Ans. Manusmriti.

Q.5 Who is the God of war and rain?

1
Ans. Indra.

Q.6 Pannini’s ‘Astadhyayi’ is a work on -----------

1
Ans. Sanskrit Grammar.

Q.7 Sutta Pitaka is a religious texts of-

A. Jains
B. Buddhists 1
C. Hindus
D. Christians
Ans. Buddhists.
Q.8 Examine the duties laid down in Manusmriti for Chandals.
Ans. Cleaning the streets.
3
Disposing the body of dead animals and those who have no relatives.
Served as executioner.

Q.9 State any three elements that historians considered while analysing the
Mahabharata.

Ans. By studying the content.

3
By comparing the content with other sources.
Studying the social condition mentioned in Mahabharata by comparing with
other literal sources.
 10

By studying narrative and didactic content of Mahabharata.

Q.10 What were three strategies adopted by the Brahmins for enforcing social
norms?
Ans. By claiming that varna system was divine in nature.
3
By enforcing the rulers to implement the rules.
They attempted to persuade the people that their status was determined by
birth.

Q.11 How new Jatis were grouped in ancient India?

Ans. Those social groups who performed some specific tasks were grouped in
to a new caste.
Caste was now based on the birth.
People belongin to a particular caste had to perform the duty which was 5
assigned to that caste.
The people of a particular caste could migrate in new area. E.g. the evidence
of mandasore inscription.
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Chapter 4
Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings
1. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
a. The Rigveda was compiled between 500 and 100 BCE.
b. The Rigveda consists of hymns in praise of a variety of deities.
c. The hymns from the Rigveda were chanted when sacrifices were performed.
1. a, b and c
2. a and b
3. b and c
4. a and c
Ans. b and c.
2. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
a. Buddha taught through detailed sermons.
b. The compilation of His teachings is known as Tripitaka.
c. Buddha travelled to regions as far off as Sri Lanka to sermonise.
1. only a
2. only b
3. only c
4. a and b
Ans. a and b.
3. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
a. Buddhist texts mention as many as 64 sects or schools of thought.
b. Debates about the validity of the philosophy or the way these sects understood the
world, took place in the kutagarashalas in villages.
c. Many teachers of these sects such as Mahavira and Buddha questioned the authority
of the Vedas.
1. a, b and c
2. a and b
3. b and c
4. a and c
Ans. a, b and c
4. Which of the following texts chronicles the regional histories of Buddhism?
1. Mahavamsa
2. Abhidhamma Pitaka
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3. Vinaya Pitaka
4. Sutta Pitaka
Ans. Mahavamsa
5. Tirthankaras are those who guide men and women across the river of existence.
Mahavira was preceded by
1. none
2. 10 tirthankaras
3. 13 tirthankaras
4. 23 tirthankaras
Ans. 23 tirthankaras
6. The oldest texts of Buddhism are in which of the following languages?
a. Pali
b. Sanskrit
c. Prakrit
d. Chinese
1. a, b, c and d
2. a, b and c
3. a, b and d
4. a and c
Ans: a and c
7. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
a. Vardhamana came to be known as Mahavira in the sixth century BCE.
b. He belonged to Sakya clan.
c. Jain scholars produced a wealth of literature in Pali and Sanskrit.
1. a, b and c
2. a and b
3. b and c
4. a and c
Ans: a,b and c
Very Short Answer Questions-
1. Which Budhhist text includes rules and regulations for those who joined the sangha?
ANS.-Vinay pitak
2. What are the two branches of Budhhism?
 13

Hinayana and Mahayana

3.Name any two Stupas in India .
Sanchi ,Sarnath and Bharhut .
4. What did the followers of old tradition of Budhhism called themselves?
Theravadins
5.In which year was Sanchi declared a world heritage site ?
1989
Short Answer questions-

1. Mention four places associated with the life of the Buddha.

Ans.1. Lumbini (birthplace of the Buddha)

2. Kapilvastu (the Buddha was brought up here)

3. Bodh Gaya (the Buddha attained enlightenment here)

4. Sarnath- (the Buddha delivered his first religious discourse here).

2. What do you mean by “Dharma Chakra Pravartana”?

Ans. Dharma Chakra Pravartana means ‘sitting in motion the wheel of Dharma’. The first
religious discourse or sermon delivered by Mahatma Buddha after attaining enlightenment
at Mrigdav or Deer Park of Sarnath near Varanasi, is known as ‘Maha chakra Pravartana’.

3 Marks Questions

1. Mention the teachings of Mahatma Buddha?

Ans. According to Buddhist philosophy the world is transient (anicca) and constantly
changing it is also soulless (anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it.

Within this transient world, sorrow is intrinsic to human existence. It is by following the path
of moderation between severe penance and self -indulgence that human beings can rise
above these worldly troubles. The Buddha regarded the social world as the creation of
humans rather than of divine origin. According to Buddhist tradition, his last words to his
followers were: “Be lamps unto yourselves as all of you must work out your own liberation”.
 14

2. How was Buddha’s presence shown through symbols? Give two examples.
Answer: Examples to show Buddha’s presence shown through symbols are:

• The empty seat indicated the meditation of the Buddha.

• The stupas represented the mahaparinibbana of the Buddha

3. Name the two types of sources through which we come to know about Buddha and his
teachings.
Answer: Two sources through which we come to know about Buddha and his teachings are
as follows:

• Various Buddhist texts like Tripitakas or three baskets and the Jataka stories.
• Various pillar inscriptions and rock edicts.

4. Describe the teachings of the Buddha.

or
Describe how Buddha’s teachings have been reconstructed from the stories of Sutta
Pitaka?
or
Write down the eternal truth of Buddhism.
or
Explain briefly the teachings of Buddha.
Answer: The teachings of Buddha are as follows:

• The world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing. It is also soulless as

there is nothing permanent or eternal in it.
• Within this transient world, sorrow (dukkha) is intrinsic to human existence.
• By following the path of moderation between severe penance and self-
indulgence, human beings can use above these worldly pleasures.
• He advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical. Buddha regarded
the social world as the creation of humans rather than of divine origin.
• He emphasised individual agency and righteous action as the means to escape
from the cycle of rebirth and attain self-realisation and nibbana (literally
means the extinguishing of ego and desire).
This ends the cycle of suffering for those who renounced the world.
• The words to his followers were “Be lamps into yourselves as all of you must
work out your own liberation.”

5. “The mid first millennium BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in the
world history.” Justify.
Answer:
The mid first millennium BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in world
history because of the following facts:
 15

• Emergence of Thinkers: It saw the emergence of thinkers such as Zarathustra

in Iran, Kong Zi in China, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Greece and Mahavira
and Gautam Buddha among others in India.
• Understanding of the Mysteries of Existence: Thinkers tried to understand the
mysteries of existence and the relationship between human beings and the
cosmic order.
• Development of New Kingdoms and Cities: It was the time when new
kingdoms and cities were developing.
• Change in Social and Economic Life: Social and economic life were changing in
a variety of ways, e.g. in the Ganga valley growth of town, new crafts and
trade took place.
• New Agricultural Technology: There was extension of agriculture due to
occupation of new lands, application of new techniques and use of iron tools.

Source Based Questions

Question 1
Buddhism in Practice:

This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given by the Buddha to a
wealthy householder named Sigala.
In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees… by assigning them work
according to their strength, by supplying them with food. and wages, by tending them in
sickness; by sharing delicacies with them and by granting leave at times …
In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of Samanas (those who have
renounced the world) and Brahmanas; by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping
open house to them and supplying their worldly needs.
There are similar instructions to Sigala about how to behave with his parents, teacher and
wife.

1. In what ways should a master look after his servants and employees?
or
What advice was given by Buddha to Sigala regarding relationship between a master and
his servants and employees?

Ans. The advice given by Buddha to Sigala regarding relationship between a master and his
servants and employees are:

• A master should look after his servants and employees in five ways.
• He should assign them work according to their strength, by supplying them
with food and wages.
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• A master should tend them in sickness, by sharing delicacies with them and by-
granting leave at times.

2. In what ways should the clansmen look after the needs of Samanas?
or
List the instructions given by Buddha to the clansmen for Samanas and Brahmanas.

Ans. The instructions given by Buddha to the clansmen for Samanas and Brahmanas are:

• The clansmen should look after the needs of Samanas (those who have
renounced the world) and Brahmanas in five ways.
• The clansmen should have affection in act and speech and mind by keeping
open to house.
• The clansmen should also fulfil the worldly needs of Samanas and Brahmanas.

3. Explain the main aspects of Buddhist philosophy.

or
According to you what suggestion Buddha would have advocated regarding parents and
teachers?
Answer. . The suggestions Buddha would have advocated regarding parents and teachers
are similar. According to Buddha, parents and teachers ought to be respected and their
needs should be fulfilled with grace and dignity

Question 2
why were Stupas Built?

This is an excerpt from the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, part of the Sutta Pitaka. As the Buddha
lay, dying Ananda asked him “What are we to do Lord, 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.”

1.Why were the stupas built?

Ans. Stupas were built because the relics of Buddha such as his bodily remains or objects used by
him were buried there. These mounds were called stupas which came to be associated with
Buddhism.

2. What Asoka did with the relics of Buddha?

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Ans. . Asoka distributed portions of Buddha’s relics to every important town and ordered the
construction of stupas over them.

3. Describe the structure of the stupas.

Ans. Structure of stupas is as follows:

• Anda: It is a semi-circular mound of Earth called anda.

• Harmika: Above anda was the harmika, a balcony-like structure that
represented the abode of the Gods.
• Yashti: Arising from harmika was a mast called yashti. It was surmounted by a
chhatri or umbrella.
• Railing: Around the mound was a railing which separated the sacred place
from the secular world.

Question 3.
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

According to these traditions, Siddhartha, as the Buddha was named at birth, was the son of
a chief of the Sakya clan. He has a sheltered upbringing within the palace, insulated from the
harsh realities of life. One day he persuaded his charioteer to take him into the city. His first
journey into the world outside was traumatic. He was deeply anguished when he saw an old
man, a sick man and a corpse. He realised in that moment that the decay and destruction of
the human body was inevitable. He also saw a homeless mendicant, who, it seemed to him,
had come to terms with old age, disease and death, and found peace. Siddhartha decided
that he too would adopt the same path. Soon after, he left the palace and set out in search
of his own truth.

1. Who was Siddhartha?

2. Which truths of life changed the life of Siddhartha?

Answer:
1. Siddhartha, as the Buddha was named at birth, was the son of a chief of the Sakya clan.
He has a sheltered upbringing within the palace, insulated from the harsh realities of life.

2. One day Siddhartha went on to a journey into the city with his charioteer. This journey
changed the life of Siddhartha. He was deeply anguished when he saw an old man, a sick
man and a corpse. He realised in that moment that the decay and destruction of the human
body was inevitable. He also saw a homeless mendicant, who, it seemed to him, had come
to term with old age, disease and death, and found peace. Siddhartha decided that he too
would adopt the same path. Soon after, he left the palace and set out in search of his own
truth.
 18

Map Based Questions

Question 1
In the outline map of India, three places which are major Buddhist sites have been marked
as A, B and C. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them.

Answer:
 19

Question 2.
On the given political map of India, locate and label the following.

1. Bodhgaya.
2. Lumbini.
3. Sanchi.

Answer:

Important Questions for Class 12 History Chapter 4 Value Based Questions

Question 19.
“The principle of ahimsa and renunciation emphasised by Jainism has left its mark.” Support
the statement with Lord Mahavira’s messages.
Answer:
The most important idea of Jainism is that the entire world is animated, even stones, rocks
and water have life. In Jainism, the principle of ahimsa is emphasised. Jainism focuses on
non-injury to living beings especially to humans, plants and insects.

Impacts of Jainism on Indian thinking are:

• The idea of ahimsa left its mark on Indian thinking on the whole especially the
thinking of Buddha and Gandhiji.
 20

• It also influenced Indian thinking in the light of the cycle of birth and rebirth
through karma and renouncing the world to free oneself from the cycle of
karma. In this respect, asceticism and penance are required.
• From the perspective of morality, vows like not to steal, kill, lie or possess
property and observing celibacy were emphasised, which is easily evident in
Indian thinking.
• It has stressed on simple way of life.
• Vegetarianism’has also been derived from this thinking.

Question 20.
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
According to these traditions, Siddhartha, as the Buddha was named at birth, was the son of
a chief of the Sakya clan. He has a sheltered upbringing within the palace, insulated from the
harsh realities of life. One day he persuaded his charioteer to take him into the city. His first
journey into the world outside was traumatic. He was deeply anguished when he saw an old
man, a sick man and a corpse. He realised in that moment that the decay and destruction of
the human body was inevitable. He also saw a homeless mendicant, who, it seemed to him,
had come to terms with old age, disease and death, and found peace. Siddhartha decided
that he too would adopt the same path. Soon after, he left the palace and set out in search
of his own truth.

3. Who was Siddhartha?

4. Which truths of life changed the life of Siddhartha?

Answer:
1. Siddhartha, as the Buddha was named at birth, was the son of a chief of the Sakya clan.
He has a sheltered upbringing within the palace, insulated from the harsh realities of life.

2. One day Siddhartha went on to a journey into the city with his charioteer. This journey
changed the life of Siddhartha. He was deeply anguished when he saw an old man, a sick
man and a corpse. He realised in that moment that the decay and destruction of the human
body was inevitable. He also saw a homeless mendicant, who, it seemed to him, had come
to term with old age, disease and death, and found peace. Siddhartha decided that he too
would adopt the same path. Soon after, he left the palace and set out in search of his own
truth.
 21

Chapter 6

BHAKTI AND SUFI TRADITIONS

MCQ OR VERY SHORT TYPE (1 MARK)

Q1. Identify the following image and write its name.

Ans- A female Nayanar Karaikkal Ammaiyar.

Q2. Identify the following image and its name.

Ans- Lord Jagannatha with his sister Subhadra and his brother Balarama.

Q3. What is the means of term Virashaiva?

Ans- Virashaiva was a movement started by a Brahmana Basavanna in Karnataka.
Q4. Who were Virashaivas or Lingayats?
Ans- Followers of Basavanna or worshipers of Lord Shiva.
Q5. Who was/were Zimmi/Zimmis?
 22

Ans- Who protected by Muslim rulers were called Zimmi/Zimmis.

Q6. What was Zizya?
Ans- Zizya was a religious tax given by Non-Muslims who living under Muslim rulers.
Q7. What is Silsila?
Ans- Silsila means chain which link between master and disciple.
Q8. What is Dargah?
Ans- Dargah is a tomb-shrine of sheikh.
Q9. What was khanqah?
Ans- Khanqah was the centre of social life where Shaikh lived and spread their ideas.
Q10. What is Ziyarat?
Ans- A form of pilgrimage is called Ziyarat.
Q11. What is qawwali.?
Ans- Performance of mystical music known as qawwali.
Q12. Who compiled hymns of Guru Nanak along with Baba Farid, Ravidas and Kabir in the
Adi Granth Sahib?
a) Guru Gobind Singh

b) Guru Tegh Bahadur

c) Guru Arjan Dev

d) Guru Angad Dev

Ans- c) Guru Arjan Dev

Q13. Which one is a birth place of Baba Guru Nanak?
a. Kartarpur

b. Nankana Sahib/Talwandi

c. Nanded

d. Patna

Ans- b) Nankana Sahib/Talwandi

Q14. Who was the founder of the Khalsa Panth (army of the pure)?
a) Guru Nanak

b) Guru Tegh Bahadur

c) Guru Arjan Dev

 23

d) Guru Gobind Singh

Ans- d) Guru Gobind Singh.

Q15. Sufis were a-
a. Group of religious minded people in Islam

b. Group of Alvars in South India

c. Group of Nayanars in South India

d. Group of Jainism in North India

Ans- a. Group of religious minded people in Islam

Q16. A teaching master who controlled Kanqah known as-
a) Sheikh

b) Pir

c) Murshid

d) All of these

Ans- d) All of these

Q17. The Mughal emperor who visited dargah of Khwaja Muinuddin at Ajmer fourteen
times in his life was-
a. Jahangir

b. Akbar

c. Humayun

d. Aurangzeb

Ans- b. Akbar
Q18. Which one is a nirguna poets?
a) Mirabai

b) Surdas

c) Kabir

d) Tulsidas

Ans- c) Kabir

Q19. Consider the following Assertion and Reason.

Assertion (A): Akbar, the Mughal emperor visited dargah at Ajmer fourteen times in his life.
 24

Reason (R): Many of his wishes were soon fulfilled.

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 but R is true
Ans- a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

SHORT TYPE ANSWERS (3 MARKS)

Q1. Who were Alvars and Nayanars? Point out any one similarity and dis-similarity
between Alvars and Nayanars.
OR
Mention two earliest Bhakti movements of Tamil Nadu, giving the main differences
between them.
Ans- Alvars- The saint of south India who were the devotees of lord Vishnu were called
Alvars.
Nayanars- The saint of south India who were the devotees of lord Shiva were called
Nayanars.
Similarity- Both travel from place to place in Tamil Nadu and singing hymns in praise their
gods.
Dis-similarity- Alvars were devotees of lord Vishnu while Nayanars were devotees of lord
Shiva.

Q2. Point out any one similarity and dis-similarity between Lingayats and Nayanars.
Ans- Similarity- Both opposed caste system.
Dis-similarity- Nayanars worshiped Shiva and Lingayats worshiped Linga.

Q3. Point out any one similarity and dis-similarity between philosophy of Kabir and Guru
Nanak.
Ans- Similarity- Both advocated a form of Nirguna bhakti.
Dis-similarity- Both rejected ideal worship and also rejected sacrifices and rituals faiths.

Q4. Name and explain the two broad categories of Bhakti traditions as classified by the
historians.
Ans- Saguana Bhakti- The worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and his avtars and
forms of goddess or Devi.
Nirguna Bhakti- The worship of an abstract form of god.

LONG TYPE ANSWERS (8 MARKS)

Q1. Who were Alvars and Nayanars? Identify the relationship of the Alvars and Nayanars
with the State during 8th to 18th century.
 25

Ans- The saints of south India who were the devotees of lord Vishnu were called Alvars
while the saints of south India who were the devotees of lord Shiva were called Nayanars.
Both travel from place to place and singing hymns in praise their gods.

Q2. Explain the teaching of Kabir’s poems and the traditions, he draw to describe the
ultimate reality/significance of the Kabir’s poems.
Ans-
1) Described the Ultimate Reality including Islam and also Vedic terms.
2) He said that through bhakti or devotion one would come nearer to God.
3) He made no distinction between Hindus and Muslims.
4) He sincerely tried to emphasis the unity Islam and Hinduism.
5) He denounced the caste and discrimination system
6) He did not believe the idol worship.and against the performance of rituals and
superstitions.
7) He advocated the unity of one God.
Q3. Describe the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak and the way they have been
transmitted.
1) His teachings are well reflected in his hymns. These hymns suggest that he advocated a
form of nirguna bhakti.
2) He rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship and the scriptures of Hindus and
Muslims.
3) According to him, the Absolute or ‘rab’ had no gender or form.
4) He expressed his ideas through hymns called “shabad” in Punjabi, the language of the
region and sang with different ragas.
5) He organized his followers into a community. He appointed one of his disciples, Angad, to
succeed him as the preceptor (guru).
6) After his death, his followers consolidated their own practices to form a distinct
community.
7) The fifth guru, Guru Arjun compiled Guru Nanak”s hymns. along with Baba Farid, Ravidas
and Kabir in the Adi Granth Sahib. These hymns called “gurbani” are composed in various
languages.

Q4. Write the role of Mirabai as a women poet within bhakti tradition.
Ans- 1) Mirabai was the best known woman poet within the bhakti tradition.
2) She was a Rajput princess from Merta in Marwar. She was married to a prince of the
Sisodia clan of Mewar against he wishes.
3) She defied her husband and not submit to the traditional role of wife and mother.
4) She recognized Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu as her lover. Her in-laws tried to poison her,
but she escaped and lived as wandering singer composing songs with intense expressions of
emotion.
5) Her most famous preceptor was Raidas; a leather worker. It shows her defiance of the
norms of caste society.
6) Although she did not attract a sect or group of followers, she has been recognized as a
source of inspiration for centuries.
 26

7) We get information about her from the bhajans attributed to her.

Source based question-

Q1. Read the following carefully and answer any three questions :
The saint of south India who were the devotees of lord Vishnu were called Alvars while the
saint of south India who were the devotees of lord Shiva were called Nayanars. Both travel
from place to place in Tamil Nadu and singing hymns in praise their gods.
Chola rulers supported brahmanical and bhakti traditions Royal patronage granted to
Nayanars. Chola rulers made land grants and constructed temples for Vishnu and Shiva, for
exa- Shiva temples at Chidamaram, Thanjaur, Gangaikondacholapuram. They done these to
proclaimed their own power and status. The Chola kings introduced the singing of Tamil
Shaiva hymns under royal patronage, taking the initiative to collect and organize them into a
text called Tevaram. This was also the period when some of the most spectacular
representations of Shiva in bronze sculpture were produced. Chola rulers Prantaka I
constructed metal image of saints Shaivism, for exa- Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar.
Nayanars and Alvars were admired by the peasants, so the ruler tried to win their support as
well.

Q1 Devotees of Vishnu were known as-

A) Alvars B) Shavinvism C) Nayanars D) None of these.
Ans- A) Alvars

Q2. Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram is related to Lord/Goddess-

A) Vishnu B) Laxmi C) Shiva D) Sun
Ans- C) Shiva

Q3 Which one is not a Alwar?

A) Appar B) Sambandar C) Sundarar D) Nammalwar
Ans- D) Nammalwar
 27

Chapter-7
An Imperial Capital Vijaynagara

MCQs (1 Marks)

Q.1. Vijaynagar Empire was founded in which year?

A. 1336 By Harihar B. 1339 By Ramraya
C. 1333 By Bukka D. 1565 By Krishna Dev raya
Ans- A. 1336 By Harihar
Q.2. In which year Hampi was recognised as a site of national importance?
A. 1986 B. 1987 C. 1976 D. 1977

Ans- C. 1976
Q. 3. Which traveller visited India as an Ambassador of Persia?
A. Doming peas B. Nicolo de Conti
C. Afanasii Nikitin D. Abdur Razzak
Ans- D. Abdur Razzak

Q.4. Which is not correct about Krishnadeva Raya.

A. He belong to Suluv dynasty.
B. He wrote the book Amutktmaldaya in Telugu.
C. He was called as the establisher of Yavana kingdom
D. He fought wars against Bijapur in 1520 and Odisha Gajapati rulers in 1514
Ans- A. He belong to Suluv dynasty.
Q.5. Which is not correct about Talikota war.
A. This war was fought in 1565.
B. The combined armies of Bijapur, Ahamad nagar and Golkonda defeated
Vijaynagara army.
C. The army of Vijaynagara led by Ram Raya, ruler of Tuluva dynasty.
D. After this war the Vijaynagar kingdom continued from the capital Penukonda.

Ans- C. The army of Vijaynagara led by Ram Raya, ruler of Tuluva dynasty.

Q. 6. All royal order of the Vijayanagara rulers were signed on the name of which God?
A. Vitthala B. Virupaksha C. Pampa Devi D. Brideshwara
Ans- B. Virupaksha

Q.7. Which was not the water resource of Vijaynagar.

A. Kamlapuram B. Hiriya C. Nagalapuram D. Tungbhdra
Ans- C. Nagalapuram

Q. 8. Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz were the Travelers who came
from_______.
 28

A. Portugal B. France C. Spain D. None of these

Ans- A. Portugal

Q. 9. The Hiriya canal drew water from which river?

A. Godavari B. Krishna C. Tungbhadra D. None of these
Ans- C. Tungbhadra

Q. 10. 'Virupakha', the guardian diety of the kingdom also recognized as form of________.
A. Lord Ganesha B. Lord Shiva C. Lord Vishnu D. Lord Indra
Ans- B. Lord Shiva

Source Based MCQs (3 Marks)

Q. 1. Read the following excerpt from the Fortification of Vijayanagar Capital Town
carefully and answer any three questions:

What was most significant about this fortification is that it enclosed agricultural
tracts. Abdur Razzaq noted that “between the first, second and the third walls there
are cultivated fields, gardens and houses”. And Paes observed: “From this first circuit
until you enter the city there is a great distance, in which are fields in which they sow
rice and have many gardens and much water, in which water comes from two lakes.”
These 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. This tract was serviced by an elaborate canal system drawing water from the
Tungabhadra.

a) The most significant about fortification of Vijaynagar Capital Town was-

(i) Royal center was situated inside the fortified area.
(ii) The Road connected to each part of city
(iii) There was an enclosed agriculture tracts
(iv) Urban core was meant for residence of general people.
b) Cultivated fields, gardens and houses were situated between-
(i) the first, second and the fourth walls
(ii) the first, second and the third walls
(iii) the second, third and the fourth walls
(iv) the first, third and the fourth walls
c) The agricultural tract was situated between-
(i) the sacred centre and the royal centre
(ii) the royal centre and the urban core
(iii) the sacred centre and the urban core
 29

(iv) the hiriya canal and the urban core

d) ________ river was the main source of water for drinking and cultivation

(i) Kaveri
(ii) Krishna
(iii) Vyasa
(iv) Tungbhadra

Ans- a)- iii b)- ii c)- iii d)-iv

SA Types Questons (3 Marks)

Q. 1. How the the battle of Talikota or battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi was responsible in the
decline of Vijayanagara?

Ans- a) In 1565, Rama Raya, the chief minister of Vijayanagara led the army into the battle
at Talikota or Rakkasa-Tangadi.

b) Army of Vijayanagara was defeated by combined forces of Bijapur, Golcunda, and

Ahmadnagar.

c) Victorious armies looted Vijayanagara.

d) In a few years the whole city was abadonded.

e) Now the focus shifted to Penuconda and Chandragiri respectively.

(Any three points)

Q.2. How were the water requirements of Vijaynagar met?

Ans- From the natural basin of the Tungbhadra River.

1. Tungbhadra River surrounded the city fulfilling its requirements.
2. A number of streams flowing down the river also fulfilled the needs.
3. Rulers built embankments to store water.
4. The ‘Kamalapuram Tank’ and The ‘Hiriya’ Canal

Q. 3. What were the advantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of
the city?

Ans- 1. Crops were protected in case of an invasion.

2. Food grains could be securely stored in the fortified area thus saving the residents
inside from starvation in case of an invasion.
3. For the protection of agricultural land.
 30

4. During siege the armies & residents of the Vijaynagar could get food supplies & could
resist the enemy siege for a considerable time.
Q. 4. Write the significance of ‘Virupaksha temple’.

Ans.

(i) It was built in many centuries.

(ii) It had a hall in front of the main shrine which was built by Krishandeva raya to mark
his accession.
(iii)It was decorated with beautifully carved pillars.
(iv) The halls in the temple were used for a variety of purposes. Some were spaces in
which the image of God were placed to witness special programs of music, dance,
drama etc.
(v) Some were used to celebrate the marriages of deities.

LA Type Questions (8 Marks)

Q. 1. “The Amara-Nayaka system was the major innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire”.
Explain the statement.
Ans- The Amara-Nayaka System
(i) The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara
Empire.
(ii) This system was derived from the Iqta system of Delhi Sultanate.
(iii) The amara-nayakas were military commanders. They were given territories to
govern by the Raya.
(iv) Their duty was to collect taxes and other dues from peasants, craftsmen and traders
in the area.
(v) They kept part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated
contingent of horses and elephants.
(vi) Some of the revenue was also used for the maintenance of temples and irrigation
works.
(vii) They sent tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court
with gifts to express their loyalty. Kings asserted their control over them by
transferring them from one place to another.

Q.2. How is the architect of Virupaksha Temple different from the Vitthala Temple?
Explain.

Ans- Difference between architect of Virupaksha and Vitthala Temple-

Virupaksha Temple
1. Temple was built over centuries may be to the 9th-10th centuries as suggested in
the inscription. It was substantially enlarged with the establishment of the
Vijayanagara.
 31

2. It is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the Kingdom, also

recognized as a form of Shiva.
3. The hall in front of the main shrine was built by Krishnadeva Raya to mark his
accession.
4. This was decorated with delicately carved pillars.
5. He is also credited with the construction of the Eastern gopuram.
Vitthala Temple
1. In one of the other important shrine where the principal deity was Vitthala, a form of
Vishnu generally worshiped in Maharashtra.
2. This temple too has several halls and a unique shrine designed as chariot.
3. A characteristic feature of the temple complexes is the chariot streets that extended
from the temple gopuram in a straight line.
4. These streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions in which
merchants set up their shops.
Source Based Questions (5 Marks)

Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Colin Mackenzie

Born in 1754, Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer.
In 1815 he was appointed the first Surveyor General of India, a post he held till his death
in1821. He embarked on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order to
better understand India’s past and make governance of the colony easier. He says that “it
struggled long under the miseries of bad management … before the South came under the
benign influence of the British government”. By studying Vijayanagara, Mackenzie believed
that the East India Company could 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 day”.

(i) Who was the first Surveyor General of India? 1

Ans- Colin Mackenzie was the first Surveyor General of India.

(ii) Why was he famous? 2

Ans- a) He embarked on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order to
better understand India’s past.

b) He discovered Humpi, The Vijayanagar Empire.

(iii) What are the various source material which helped to reconstruct the history of
Vijayanagar? 2

Ans- a) The inscriptions found in Virupaksh temple.

 32

b) Ruins of Hampi.

Map Question (3+2=5 Marks)

Q. No. 1.1. On the given political map of India, locate and label the following with
appropriate symbols
(a) Golconda
(b) Mysure
(c ) Bidar
1.2 On the same outline map, two places have been marked as A, which is famous as
City of Victory and B, which was subdued by Krishnadeva Raya. Identify, them and
write their correct names on the lines drawn near

them.

********
 33

CHAPTER-9.
THE KINGS AND CHRONICLES.

Objective type of questions

1. The power of Mughal dynasty diminished after the death of

A. Jahangir
B. Shah Jahan
C. Aurangzeb
D. Bahadur Shah Zafar II
Ans. Aurangzeb

2. The reign of Akbar was form:

A. 1530-40 AD
B. 1605-27 AD
C. 1556-1605 AD
D. 1628-58 AD
Ans. 1556-1605 AD

3. The mother tongue of Mughal dynasty was

A. Persian
B. Turkish
C. Arabic
D. Greek
Ans. Turkish

4. Akbar shifted his capital from Fathehpur Sikri in 1585 AD to

A. Agra
B. Lahore
C. Sahjahanabad
D. Devagiri
Ans. Lahore

5. Gulbadan Begum was the author of

A. Humayun Nama
B. Sahajahana Nama
C. Alamgir Nama
D. Badshah Nama
Ans. Humayun Nama

6. The first Jesuit mission left the Mughal court at Fatehpur Sikri around
A. 1580 AD
B. 1581 AD
C. 1582 AD
D. 1583 AD
Ans. 1582 AD
 34

7. Gulbadan Begum was aunt of

A. Babur
B. Humayun
C. Akbar
D. Shersah
Ans. Akbar

8. The term ‘Mughal’ was used for Timurid in rulers in 16th century by
A. Europeans
B. Arabs
C. Iranian
D. Portuguese
Ans. Europeans

9. Name the dynasty which ruled India during 1526-1707.

A. Lodi dynasty
B. Mughal dynasty
C. Tughlaq dynasty
D. Maurya dynasty
Ans. Mughal dynasty

10. What is meant by literal term of Kitabkhana?

A. Book of philosophy
B. Book of politics
C. Library
D. None of the above
Ans. Library

11. ……………………………. a pupil of Abul Fazal is known as its author.

A. Abdul Hamid Khan
B. Abdul Hamid Indori
C. Abdul Hamid Lahori
D. Abdul Hamid Jaipuria
Ans. Abdul Hamid Lahori

12. …………………………….. showing the emperor to the public from the palace balcony.
A. Jharokha Darshan
B. AknkhoDarshan
C. DristiDarshan
D. ChasmeDarshan
Ans. Jharokha Darshan

13. On the parental site Mughals were the descendents of …

A. Timur
B. Ghenghiz khan
C. Ghaznavi
 35

D. Bakhtiyar Khilzi
Ans. Ghenghiz khan

14. Mughal court chronicles were written in

A. Turkish
B. Persian
C. Hindavi
D. Arabic
Ans. Persian

2 marks carrying questions

1. Which language was declared by Akbar as his state language?
Ans. Persian
2. Describe in brief the nastaliq style of Calligraphy.
Ans. Calligraphy, the art of handwriting, was considered a skill of great importance.
It was practised using different styles. Akbar’s favourite was the nastaliq, a fluid style with
long horizontal strokes.
It is written using a piece of trimmed reed with a tip of five to 10 mm called qalam, dipped in
carbon ink (siyahi).
3. Write any two achievements of great Mughals.
Ans. Consolidated whole India.
Did excellent work in the field of architecture.
Provided administrative set up.
4. How did Indianisation of Persian took place.
Ans. Chronicles were written in Persian.
Hindu scriptures were translated in to the Persian language.
5. Which work was done by Mir Bakshi and his office?
Ans. The mir bakhshi (paymaster general) stood in open court on the right of the emperor
and presented all candidates for appointment or promotion, while his office prepared orders
bearing his seal and signature as well as those of the emperor.
6. Who started practice of Jharoka darshan? What was his objective behind it?
Ans. Jharoka darshan was introduced by Akbar with the objective of broadening the
acceptance of the imperial authority as part of popular faith.
7. What was Zat and Sawar?
Ans. Zat indicated rank and salary while sawar indicated cavalry to be kept by
Mansabdar.
8. Who built Fatehpur Sikri?
Ans. Akbar.
3 Marks carrying questions
9. What was the leading language of the Mughal court? Explain the term of Sulh-i-kul
and its importance.
Ans. Persian.
 36

Abu’l Fazl describes the ideal of sulh-i kul (absolute peace) as the cornerstone of enlightened
rule.
In sulh-i kul all religions and schools of thought had freedom of expression but on condition
that they did not undermine the authority of the state or fight among themselves.
10. How did the Mughal Empire maintain records and disseminate information?
Ans. The keeping of exact and detailed records was a major concern of the Mughal
administration.
The mir bakhshi supervised the corps of court writers (waqia nawis) who recorded all
applications and documents presented to the court, and all imperial orders (farman).
In addition, agents (wakil ) of nobles and regional rulers recorded the entire proceedings of
the court under the heading “News from the Exalted Court” (Akhbarat-i Darbar-i Mualla)
with the date and time of the court session (paha r ).
The akhbarat contained all kinds of information such as attendance at the court, grant of
offices and titles, diplomatic missions, presents received, or the enquiries made by the
emperor about the health of an officer.
11. Name two important books of the Mughal period. What information do these give
us?
Ans. Akbar Nama and Badshanama.
The Akbar Nama was written to provide a detailed description of Akbar’s reign in the
traditional diachronic sense of recording politically significant events across time, as well as
in the more novel sense of giving a synchronic picture of all aspects of Akbar’s empire –
geographic, social, administrative and cultural – without reference to chronology.
The Badshah Nama is this official history in three volumes (daftars) of ten lunar years each.
Lahori wrote the first and second daftars comprising the first two decades of the emperor’s
rule (1627-47); these volumes were later revised by Sadullah Khan, Shah Jahan’s wazir.
Infirmities of old age prevented Lahori from proceeding with the third decade which was
then chronicled by the
12. Who wrote The “Akbarnama”? Describe its content in brief.
Ans. Abul Fazl.
The Akbar Nama is divided into three books of which the first two are chronicles. The third
book is the Ain-i Akbari. The first volume contains the history of mankind from Adam to one
celestial cycle of Akbar’s life (30 years). The second volume closes in the fortysixth regnal
year (1601) of Akbar.
13. What do you know about the Jesuit preachers who came during the reign of
Akbar?
Ans. The Portuguese king was also interested in the propagation of Christianity with the
help of the missionaries of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). The Christian missions to India
during the sixteenth century were part of this process of trade and empire building.
The first Jesuit mission reached the Mughal court at Fatehpur Sikri in 1580 and stayed for
about two years. The Jesuits spoke to Akbar about Christianity and debated its virtues with
the ulama. Two more missions were sent to the Mughal court at Lahore, in 1591 and 1595.
14. How did Abul Fazl consider the act of painting important? How did he seek to
legitimate the same?
 37

Ans. To Show the divine kingship and welfare rule of Mughals.

15. Name the two chronicles of Mughal Empire.
Ans. Akbar nama, Badshahanama.
8 Marks carrying questions
16. What is meant by Mansabdari system? Discuss it main features.
Ans. All holders of government offices held ranks (mansabs) comprising two numerical
designations: zat which was an indicator of position in the imperial hierarchy and the salary
of the official (mansabdar), and sawar which indicated the number of horsemen he was
required to maintain in service. In the seventeenth century, mansabdars of 1,000 zat or
above ranked as nobles (umara, which is the plural of amir ). Describe the functions of
central government and its chief officers under Akbar.
17. Discuss the development of Mughal painting and its unique features.
Ans. Chronicles narrating the events of a Mughal emperor’s reign contained, alongside the
written text, images that described an event in visual form.
Paintings served not only to enhance the beauty of a book, but were believed to possess
special powers of communicating ideas about the kingdom and the power of kings in ways
that the written medium could not.
calligraphers and painters held a high social standing while others, such as paper makers or
bookbinders, have remained anonymous artisans. What steps did Sher Shah Suri take to
promote trade and commerce?
18. What has Babar recorded in his remnisences?
Ans. In his autobiography in Turkish language known as Tujuke Babari.
19. Describe the growth of architecture under the Mughals.
Ans. During the period of Akbar and Shahjehan. (Explain with the help of
monuments)
20. Discuss the major features of Mughal provincial administration.
Ans. The division of functions established at the centre was replicated in the provinces
(subas) where the ministers had their corresponding subordinates (diwan, bakhshi and sadr).
The head of the provincial administration was the governor (subadar) who reported directly
to the emperor.
The sarkars, into which each suba was divided, often overlapped with the jurisdiction of
faujdars (commandants) who were deployed with contingents of heavy cavalry and
musketeers in districts.
The local administration was looked after at the level of the pargana (sub-district) by three
semi-hereditary officers, the qanungo (keeper of revenue records), the chaudhuri (in charge
of revenue collection) and the qazi.
 38

CHAPTER 10
COLONIALISM AND COUNTRYSIDE
Objective type questions-

1-In which year Mahals of Bardhhaman were auctioned?

Ans- 1797
2-In which year permanent settlement was introduced in India and by whom?

Ans- 1793 by Lord Cornwallis.

3-In which year Fifth report was submitted in British Parliament?

Ans- 1813
4-Who was Francis Buchanan?

Ans- He was physician appointed in Bengal Medical Service. But on the request of company
he undertook detailed survey of the area under British control
5-What was Damin-i-Koh?

Ans- By 1832, on the foothills of Rajmahal hill a large area of land was demarcated as
Damin-i-Koh and it is given to Santhals

6- Identify the person…

Ans- Famous leader of Santhal revolt- Sidhu Manjhi

3 Marks questions

7--Explain reasons for the failure of the Permanent Settlement of the land revenue
introduced by the British in Bengal.
 39

Answer: The reasons for the failure of the Permanent Settlement are as follows:
1. The early revenue demands fixed by the company were very high

2.The price of agricultural produce were depressed during this period. So it became difficult
for the ryots to pay their dues to the zamindars.

3-Revenue was fixed permanently

4-British expected that Zamindar would work for agricultural reform but they ignored.

5-The revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually.

6- The permanent settlement initially limited the power of the Zamindars to collect rent
from the ryot and manage his zamindari.

8- Why did the Santhals revolt against the British rule?

Ans. The Santhals were revolted against the British rule due to following reasons-

(i) The land that Santhals had brought under cultivation was slipping away from their hands.

(ii) The state was levying heavy taxes on the land that the Santhals had cleared, money
lenders (dikus) were charging them high rates of interest.

(iii) Moneylenders were taking over the land from Santhals when debts remained unpaid,
and Zamindars were asserting control over the Damin – i –koh area.

(iv) By the 1850s, the Santhals felt that the time had come to rebel against Zamindars,
money lenders and the colonial state in order to create an ideal world for themselves where
they would rule.

9-“The arguments and evidences offered by the Fifth-report cannot be accepted

uncritically”. Give arguments.
or
Why did the Fifth Report become the basis of intense debate in England?

Answer:
1-The Fifth report exaggerated the collapse of traditional zamindari power

2-The report was biased because it wanted to highlight the maladministration of the East
India Company in India.
 40

3- In Britain many people wanted to end monopoly of Company so could take any step
against company

10- Source based question-

10a- Who was Buchanan?
10b-Why Zamindars did not like Jotdars?
10c- How can you say Jotdars were very
powerful in Bengal?
Ans-
10a- Francis Buchanan was a Physician, who was given
task to survey the area under British control.

10b-Zamindar didn’t like jotdars because they often

misguided the peasents against the Zamindars, and
tried to control over Zamindari.

10c- Jotdars were very powerful because they are in

direct touch with peasents. They provide loan,
different products, work to peasents.
 41

Chapter 11
REBEL AND THE RAJ
Objective questions
Q.1 Match the following:

List I List II

(i) Delhi (a) Birji Qadr

(ii) Kanpur (b)KunwarSingh

(iii) Arrah (c) Bahadur Shah

(iv) Lucknow (d)Nana Sahib

Option

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

A) (b) (c) (a) (d)

B) (c) (d) (b) (a)

C) (a) (b) (c) (d)

D) (a) (b) (c) (a)

Ans. B.

Q.2 .Which part of India was most affected by the revolt of 1857?

(a).Awadh (b).Sindh

(c).Madras (d)Bombay

Ans. A.

Q.3. Who was Mangal Pandey?

(a).a priest (b).a British officer

(c). a rebellion at Delhi

(d) a sepoy in the British army

Ans. D

Q.4. Munity started in Meerut on

(a). 11 May,1857
 42

(b). 10 May,1857

(c). 12 May,1857

(d). 9 May,1857

Ans. B

Q.5. Who introduced the doctrine of lapse

(a).Lord Dalhousie

(b).Henry Lawrence

(c). Lord Caining

(d).John Lawrence

Ans. A.

Q.6. Who was the Nawab of Awadh ?

(a). Wajid Ali Shah

(b).Birjis Qadr

(c).Sirajuddaula

(d).Aliwardi Khan

Ans. A

Source based question

Read the source carefully and answer the questions-

Q.7 Rebels of 1857

Shah Mal

Shah Mal lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a clan of
Jat cultivators whose kinship ties extended over chaurasee des (eighty-four villages). The
lands in the region were irrigated and fertile, with rich dark loam soil. Many of the villagers
were prosperous and saw the British land revenue system as oppressive: the revenue
demand was high and its collection inflexible. Consequently cultivators were losing land to
outsiders, to traders and moneylenders who were coming into the area.

Shah Mal mobilised the headmen and cultivators of chaurasee des, moving at night from
village to village, urging people to rebel against the British. As in many other places, the
 43

revolt against the British turned into a general rebellion against all signs of oppression and
injustice. Cultivators left their fields and plundered the houses of moneylenders and traders.
Displaced proprietors took possession of the lands they had lost. Shah Mal’s men attacked
government buildings, destroyed the bridge over the river, and dug up metalled roads –
partly to prevent government forces from coming into the area, and partly because bridges
and roads were seen as symbols of British rule. They sent supplies to the sepoys who had
mutinied in Delhi and stopped all official communication between British headquarters and
Meerut. Locally acknowledged as the Raja, Shah Mal took over the bungalow of an English
officer, turned it into a “hall of justice”, settling disputes and dispensing judgments. He also
set up an amazingly effective network of intelligence. For a period the people of the area
felt that firangi raj was over, and their raj had come.Shah Mal was killed in battle in July
1857.

7.1- When Shah Mal was killed? 1

7.2- How Shah Mal operated his revolt against the Britishers? 2

7.3-Who was Shah Mal? How his disconnected Britishers communication? 2

Ans.

7.1-1857

7.2-Shah Mal mobilised the headmen and cultivators of chaurasee des, moving at night from
village to village, and urging people to rebel against the British.

7.3- Shah Mal lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a
clan of Jat cultivators.They sent supplies to the sepoys who had mutinied in Delhi and
stopped all official communication between British headquarters and Meerut.
 44

CHAPTER 13
Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement

General Instructions:
• Section A: Questions are objective type, carrying 1 mark and should be answered in
one word or one sentence.
• Section B: Answer to questions carrying 3 marks should not exceed 100 words
each.
• Section C: Answer to questions carrying 8 marks should not exceed 350 words
each.
• Section D: Questions are Source-based, questions carrying 5 marks each.
• Section E: Map question that includes the identification and location of significant
test items. Attach the map with the answer book.

SECTION - A
1. Match the following.
I. Champaran movement A) 1918
II. Ahemdabad movement B) 1917
III. Kheda movement C) 1920
IV. Non-cooperation movement D) 1918
V. khilafat movement E) 1930
VI. Civil Disobedience movement F) 1919
VII. Quit India Movement G) 1942
Answer:- I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C, V-F, VI-E, VII-G
2. Match the following.
I. Rowlatt act A) 1919
II. Chauri-Chura B) 1923
III. Swaraj party C) 1922
IV. Salt march D) 1932
V. Poona pact E) 1930
VI. Gandhi-Irwin pact F) 1931
Answer:- I-A, II-C, III-B, IV-E, V-D, VI-F
Q3. Peasant Satyagraha at Bardoli was hold in?
Answer:- Gujrat 1928
Q4. When Muslim League celebrate Direct Action Day?
Answer:- 16 Aug 1946
 45

Q5. Name the early movements launched for farmers and peasants by Mahatma Gandhi in
India?
Answer. (i) Champaran Satyagraha 1917 for indigo peasants.
(ii) Kheda Peasants movement 1918

Q6. What was the significance of Lahore Session of Congress?

AnswerS:- (i)Declaration of Poorna Swaraj as the main objective of Congress.
(ii)26 January 1930 to be celebrated as Independence Day
Q7. In 1931, congress participated in the-
(i) First Round Table Conference
(ii) Second Round Table Conference
(iii) Third Round Table Conference
(iv) Poona Pact
Answer:- Second Round Table Conference
Q8. The journal Harijan was published by-
(i) Mahatma Gandhi
(ii) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(iii) Sardar Vallabhai Patel
(iv) J. L. Nehru
Answer:- Mahatma Gandhi
Q9. Gandhi returned from South Africa to India in-
(i) 1932
(ii) 1915
(iii) 1911
(iv) 1916
Answer:- 1915
Q10. The Non-Cooperation movement was suspended due to the-
(i) Jallianwala Bagh Masaccre
(ii) Chauri Chaura Incident
(iii) Lahore Conspiracy
(iv) Kakori Conspiracy
Answer:- Chauri Chaura Incident
Q11. Khilafat agitators demanded the restoration of powers of-
(i) Mughal emperor
(ii) Ottoman ruler
(iii) British Monarch
(iv) German Kaiser
 46

Answer:- Ottoman ruler

Q12. The salt march ended when Mahatma Gandhi reached Dandi on-
(i) 25 March 1930
(ii) 6 April 1930
(iii) 8 April 1930
(iv) 12 march 1930
Answer:- 6 April 1930
Q13. Mahatma Gandhi left India for South Africa in-
i) 1893
ii) 1839
iii) 1892
1v) 1885
Answer:- 1893
Q14. In 1916, the annual session of Indian National Congress was held at-
i) Lahore
ii) Lucknow
iii) Surat
iv) Nagpur
Answer:- Lucknow

Q15. What was the significance of Lahore Session of Congress?

i) Declaration of Poorna-swaraj
ii) Support the Khilafat Movement
iii) Oppose Rowlatt Act
iv) Gandhiji postponed Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer:- Declaration of Poorna-swaraj
Q16. Jinnah called for a ……………….to press the League’s demand for Pakistan
i) Rowlatt Day
ii) Quit India Day
iii) Direct Action Day
iv) Civil Disobedience Day
Answer:- Direct Action Day
 47

Q17. After the failure of the Cripps Mission, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch which
movement?
i) Non-Cooperation Movement
ii) Quit India Movement
iii) Khilafat Movement
iv)Civil Disobedience movement
Answer:- Quit India Movement

SECTION – B
IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR 3 MARKS

Q1. Why did Gandhiji start Non-cooperation Movement? Why was it withdrawn?
Answer:- Gandhiji launched the Non-cooperation movement of 1921 because:
First World War added to the misery of the Indian people. Heavy taxes, high prices, famines and
epidemics made people's life miserable. Rowlatt Act invited large scale protests throughout the
country. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and the injustice done to Punjab made Indians angry which
needed to be avenged.
He want to restore the status of the ruler of Turkey and bring Swaraj or Self Rule to
India. Gandhiji want to inculcate a sense of nationalism and promote khadi and to attain Swaraj.
Reason for withdrawal:- Gandhiji decided to withdraw the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ in
February 1922 because of the following reasons :-
i) In 1922, at Chauri-Chaura in Gorakhpur, a peaceful mob turned violent and clashed with
the police resulting in the deaths of several policemen.
ii) Gandhiji felt that the movement was turning violent and Satyagrahis needed proper
training before they were ready for a mass struggle.

SECTION – C
IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR 8 MARKS

Q1. Explain the sources from which we can reconstruct the political career of Mahatma
Gandhi and the history of National Movement of India.
OR
Q. Examine the different kinds of sources from which the political career of Gandhiji
and the history of the National movement could be reconstructed.
Answer – There are many different kinds of sources from which we can reconstruct the
political career of Gandhiji and the history of the nationalist movement.
a) Public voice and private scripts: One important source is the writings and speeches
of Mahatma Gandhi and his contemporaries, including both his associates and his
political adversaries
 48

b) Framing a picture: Autobiographies similarly give us an account of the past that is

often rich in human detail. But here again we have to be careful of the way we read
and interpret autobiographies. We need to remember that they are retrospective
accounts written very often from memory. They tell us what the author could
recollect.
c) From newspaper: One more important source is cotemporary newspapers,
published in English as well as in the different Indian languages, which tracked
Mahatma Gandhi’s movements and reported on his activities, and also represented
what ordinary Indians thought of him.
d) Private :letters:-
Definitely official accounts are prepared by commission or special officers or surveyors
appointed by government with specific aims or objections to submit reports or to
maintain records for a specific purpose and period. Generally these records cannot by
published completely without the written permission of Government.
Generally private letters are published with the permission of an individual. Similarly
autography may be written and published side by side if an individual desires so. The
contents or truthfulness of facts mention in private letters and autobiography totally
depend on individual honesty impartiality and his liking to write all descriptions with
truth.

Q2. “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: Gandhiji informed Lord Irwin of his plan on 2nd March 1930.

• He would lead a group of people from his Ashram at Sabarmati on 12th March
1930 and walk through the villages of Gujarat.
• On reaching the coastal village of Dandi, he would make salt from sea-water thereby
breaking the salt act. Gandhiji started the march as planned with 78 of his followers.
They were given strict instructions not to resort to any kind of violence.
• Thousands of people thronged the path from Sabarmati Ashram to Ahmedabad to
witness the historic event.
• At the end of every day, Gandhiji would address thousands of people and attack the
government in his speeches.
• Gandhiji talked to foreign journalists and wrote articles for newspapers on the way.
This pushed the Indian independence movement into the forefront of world media.
• Sarojini Naidu joined him on the way. Every day more and more people joined him
and on 5th April 1930, they reached Dandi.
• At this time, there were about 50,000 people participating in the march.
• On the morning of 6th April 1930, Gandhiji broke the salt law by making salt.
Thousands of people followed suit.

Significance of Satyagraha

• It pushed Indian freedom struggle into the limelight in western media.

 49

• It brought a lot of people including women and the depressed classes directly in
touch with the freedom movement.
• It showed the power of the non-violent Satyagraha as a tool in fighting imperialism.
• Gandhiji was released from prison in 1931 and he met with Lord Irwin who was keen
to put an end to the civil disobedience movement and the media attention it had
caught.
• As per the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the civil disobedience movement would be ended and
Indians, in return, would be allowed to make salt for domestic use. Lord Irwin also
agreed to release the arrested Indians. Gandhiji attended the Second Round Table
Conference in London as an ‘equal’.
Q3. Describe the role of Gandhiji as people’s leader from 1917-22.
Answer :- The period of 1919-1947 occupies a very important place in the history of the
Indian freedom struggle. It was the third and the final phase of the Indian freedom struggle.
It was during the period that a great personality entered the Indian political scene with
several weapons like Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience, based on truth
and non-violence and soon became the pioneer of the National Movement. This period is
generally known as the ‘Gandhian Era’, Gandhiji transformed the nature of the National
Movement and it became a mass movement.

Role of Gandhiji as people’s leader

1. The general problem raised here is peasant involvement in Afro‐Asian nationalist
movements. As a case study the focus is M. K. Gandhi's attitude to and activities
among Indian peasants from 1917 to 1922 and their response,
2. firstly to his broad span of rural work for social reform and the rectification of
particular peasant grievances, and then to his India‐wide passive resistance
campaigns on continental issues which had no specifically rural appeal.
3. This analysis underlines the fact that ‘India's peasants’ were no monolithic group.
4. They differed from area to area in economic and social position and were further
fragmented by the ties of religion, tribe and caste.
5. Consequently the nature and range of their wider public awareness varied, and their
relationships with Gandhi were diverse and complicated.
6. In certain areas he attracted wide support, even adulation, particularly where he
campaigned on local grievances. But peasant response to his all‐India calls for
passive resistance was geographically restricted, and often dependent on a very
garbled understanding of the issues at stake and the expected pay‐offs of the
movement.
7. Peasant activists were often outside Gandhi's control and this threat to cohesion and
discipline made him very ambivalent towards wide rural participation.
8. His relationship with India's peasantry illustrated the problems any continental
leader or organisation faced in trying to accommodate ‘national’ appeals and tactics
to the diverse and often specifically local needs of rural groups — an
accommodation which was difficult, dangerous yet essential in some degree if
nationalist movements were to be broadly based.
 50

Q4. Examine the causes and contribution of Non-Cooperation Movement to India’s freedom
struggle. Why did Gandhiji couple Non-Cooperation Movement with Khilafat Movement?
Answer: Causes of Non-Cooperation Movement

• Resentment at the British after the war: Indians thought that in return for the
extensive support of manpower and resources they had provided to Britain during
the First World War, they would be rewarded by autonomy at the end of the war.
But the Government of India Act 1919 was dissatisfactory. In addition, the British
also passed repressive acts like the Rowlatt Act which further angered many Indians
who felt betrayed by the rulers despite their wartime support.
• Home Rule Movement: The Home Rule Movement started by Annie Besant and Bal
Gangadhar Tilak set the stage for the non-cooperation movement. The extremists
and the moderates of the INC were united and the Lucknow Pact also saw solidarity
between the Muslim League and the Congress Party. The return of the extremists
gave the INC a militant character.
• Economic hardships due to World War I: India’s participation in the war caused a lot
of economic hardships to the people. Prices of goods began to soar which affected
the common man. Peasants also suffered because the prices of agricultural products
did not increase. All this led to resentment against the government.
• The Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre: The repressive Rawlatt Act and
the brutal massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar had a profound effect on the
Indian leaders and the people. Their faith in the British system of justice was broken
and the whole country rallied behind its leaders who were pitching for a more
aggressive and firm stance against the government.
• The Khilafat Movement: During the First World War, Turkey, which was one of the
Central Powers, had fought against the British. After Turkey’s defeat, the Ottoman
caliphate was proposed to be dissolved. Muslims regarded Sultan of Turkey as their
Caliph (religious head of the Muslims). The Khilafat movement was launched under
the leadership of Ali Brothers (Maulana Mohammed Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali),
Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Hasrat Mohani. It got the support from
Mahatma Gandhi to persuade the British government not to abolish the caliphate.
The leaders of this movement accepted the non-cooperation movement of Gandhiji
and led a joint protest against the British.

Contribution of Non-Cooperation Movement

• However, it was a truly mass movement where lakhs of Indians participated in the
open protest against the government through peaceful means.
• It shook the British government who were stumped by the extent of the movement.
• It saw participation from both Hindus and Muslims thereby showcasing communal
harmony in the country.
• This movement established the popularity of the Congress Party among the people.
• As a result of this movement, people became conscious of their political rights. They
were not afraid of the government.
 51

• The Indian merchants and mill owners enjoyed good profits during this period as a
This movement also established Gandhiji as a leader of the masses.

Gandhiji couple the Non-Cooperation Movement with Khilafat Movement

Gandhiji believed in communal harmony and secularism. He wished to get

cooperation of Muslim community at its maximum. The treatment provided by the
British government to the Caliph of Turkey disturbed Indian Muslims since he was
perceived as their religious head. Resulting from this, they initiated the Khilafat
Movement under leadership of Maulana Azad, the Ali brothers and Hasrat Mohani,
among others. Gandhiji saw Khilafat Movement as one opportunity to attain the
much wanted Hindu-Muslim unity and put efforts to create common cause with the
leaders of the this movement. He hoped that via this coupling, India’s two main
religious communities, including Muslims and Hindus could bring an end to the
colonial rule together.
SECTION – E
Source based questions:-

1. Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

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 being
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-manager 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
likelihood of natural salt being taken away by the people living in the neighborhood areas
for their personal use, salt officers are posted for the sole purpose of carrying on
destruction. Thus valuable national property is destroyed at national expense and salt 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
nation produces in abundance, the destruction itself means more national expenditure, and
fourthly, to crown his folly, and unheard-of takes of more than 1,000 per cent 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 the people.

Q1- Why was salt the symbol of protest? 1 marks

Answer- Salt was the symbol of protest because salt was used by everyone even by the
poorest Indians. In every Indian household salt was indispensable yet people were
 52

forbidden from making salt even for domestic use compelling them to buy it from shops at a
high price.

Q2- Why was salt destroyed by the Colonial Government? 2 marks

Answer- The salt tax had been wickedly designed. In order to prevent the use of salt that
has not paid the tax which was at times even fourteen times its value, the Government
destroyed the salt it could not sell profitably.

Q3- Why did Mahatma Gandhi consider the salt tax more oppressive than other taxes? 2
marks
Answer- Gandhiji considered the salt tax more oppressive than other taxes because salt tax
was wickedly designed by the Government. The salt tax was at times even fourteen times its
values. The Government destroyed the salt it cannot sell profitably. Wherever there was
likelihood of natural salt being taken away by the people salt officers were posted for
destruction.

2. Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

“Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law”

On 5th April, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi, When I left Sabarmati with my
companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we would be
allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a rumour that I might
be arrested. I had thought that the government might perhaps let my party come as far as
Dandi, but not me certainly. If someone says that this betrays imperfect faith on my part, I
shall not deny the charge. That I have reached here is in no small measure due to the power
of peace and non-violence: that power is universally felt. The government may, if it wishes,
congratulate itself on acting as it has done, or it could have arrested every one of us. In
saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we praise it. It felt
ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilised man who feels ashamed to do anything
which his neighbours would disapprove. The government deserves to be congratulated on
not arresting us, even if it desisted only from fear of world opinion. Tomorrow we shall
break the salt tax law. Whether the government will tolerate that is a different question. It
may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulations on the patience and forbearance it has
displayed in regard to this party… What if I and all the eminent leaders in Gujarat and in the
rest of the country are arrested? This movement is based on the faith that when a whole
nation is roused and on the march no leader is necessary.

1. Why did Gandhiji start the Dandi March?

Answer-He started Dandi March to break the salt law. Salt law gave British
government monopoly in manufacture and sale of salt. The state monopoly
was very unpopular and by breaking a salt law Gandhiji hoped to mobilise a
wider discontent against British rule.
 53

2. Why was the salt march notable?

Answer:- It was notable because for first time European and American press
started following Indian National Movement and for the very first time large
number of women participated in the movement.

3. “The power of peace and non-violence are universally felt”. Why did Gandhiji
said so?

Answer - Gandhiji believed that he had come to Dandi along with large
number of fellow Indians to break salt law only because of peace and non-
violence. Otherwise, British government would have arrested him and fellow
follower.
British did not arrested them because it lacked the courage to arrest army of
peace or may be just because of fear of world opinion. Therefore, he said
peace and non-violence is universally felt.

SECTION – F
Q. On the political map of India, mark the important centres of the freedom movement in
India from 1857 to 1947.
1. Champaran movement
2. Ahemdabad movement
3. Kheda movement
4. Dandi or salt-march
5. Chauri-Chaura- The place where Gandhiji called off-Non-cooperation movement.
6. Amritsar- a centre of national movement
 54

Chauri-chaura

Champaran movement

Ahemdabad movement
Dandi march
Kheda movement
55
 56

Chapter 15
Framing the constitution

Q.1 under which scheme the constituent Assembly was formed?

(a) Drafting Committee.
(b)Cabinet mission scheme
(c)Objectives resolution.
(d)All India states people’s conference

Q.2 under which act the elections were held in 1937?

(a)Government of India act of 1919
(b)Government of India act of 1935
© Government of India act of 1942
(d) Government of India act of 1944

Q.3 The first law minister of India was

(a) Dr. Rajendra prasad
(b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
© Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai patel

Q.4 The political group which viewed the Constituent Assembly as a British institution was
(a) Socialists.
(b) Muslim league
© Indian National Congress
(d) Depressed classes
 57

Q.5 The Constituent Assembly member who pleaded for continuing separate electorates
,after independence ,was
(a) Begum Aizaas Rasul
(b) R.V .Dhulekar
© Govind Ballabh pant
(d) B. Pocker Bahadur

Q.6 Which of the following leaders introduced the ‘Objective Resolution’ ?

(a) Dr. B.R .Ambedkar
(b) Vallabh bhai Patel
© Dr. Rajendra prasad
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru

Q.7 Which of the following was the president of the Constituent assembly ?
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

(b) Vallabh bhai patel

© Dr. Rajendra prasad
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answers
Answers- Ans.1 Cabinet mission scheme
Ans.2 Government of India act of 1935
Ans. 3 Dr . B R Ambedkar
Ans.4 Socialists
Ans.5 B. Pocker Bahadur
Ans.6 Jawaharlal Nehru
Ans.7 Dr . Rajendra Prasad
 58

Q.8 what do you understand by ‘Separate Electorate?

Ans.8 Under provision of the government of India act 1909, Separate electorates were
made for the Muslims .Only Muslims could be elected from these constituencies .According
to the British Administrators it was done in order to safe guard the interests of the Muslims
minority.

Q.9 Why was the Objective resolution a historic resolution?

Ans.9 It was a historic resolution as it declared to make India an Independent Sovereign

Democratic Republic ‘It clarified the ideals of the constitution of independent India. It
assured all the citizens of India to grant justice equality and freedom.

Q.10 why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?

Ans.10 Hindustani which was a blend of Hindi and Urdu was a very popular language in
India. It was spoken by a large section of the people.

It was also a composite language enriched by the interaction of diverse cultures.

Mahatma Gandhi was convinced that such a multi -culture language would be the ideal
language of communication between diverse communities.

It would strengthen unity between the Hindus and the Muslims .

It would also bring the people of the north closer to the people of the south .

In other words , Mahatma Gandhi believed in the composite character of Hindustani