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Target Prelims Special Material

03-02-2024 1.
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Ancient India

Ashoka Edicts:

Ashoka Edicts – Major Rock Edicts

Major rock edicts deal with Ashoka’s vision of peaceful existence by following the dhamma.
There are about 14 major rock edicts and they are significantly detailed and extensive.
All of the major rock edicts of Ashoka were inscribed on large rocks except for the Kandahar Greek edict of
Ashoka.
These Ashoka edicts were located on the frontiers of the territory controlled by the emperor Ashoka.
Ashoka Rock Edicts Features Inscribed in Edicts
Major Rock Edict I
Prohibits animal slaughter.
Bans festive gatherings.
Major Rock Edict II
Mentions the South Indian kingdoms such as Cholas, Pandya, Satyaputas and Keralaputras.
Deals with social welfare measures.
Major Rock Edict III
Liberty to Brahmanas.
Every five years Yukatas, Pradesikas along with Rajukas visit all the areas of the kingdom to spread
Dhamma.
Major Rock Edict IV
Preference of Dhammaghosa (Sound of peace) over Berighosa (Sound of wandrums).
Impact of Dhamma on society.
Major Rock Edict V
Humane treatment of slaves by their masters.
Mentions about the appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras.
Major Rock Edict VI
Deals with the welfare measures.
King’s wish to know about the condition of the people.

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Major Rock Edict VII
Tolerance towards all religions and sects.
Major Rock Edict VIII
Mentions about Ashoka’s visit to Bodh Gaya and Bodhi tree.
Maintaining contact with rural people via Dharmayatras.
Major Rock Edict IX
Stresses on the moral conduct of people.
Avoiding expensive ceremonies.
Major Rock Edict X
Condemns the desire for fame and glory.
Major Rock Edict XI
Elaborate explanation of Dhamma.
Major Rock Edict XII
Appeal for developing tolerance towards all religious sects.
Major Rock Edict XIII
Explains about Kalinga war and conquest through dhamma.
Major Rock Edict XIV
Deals with the purpose of engraving inscriptions in various parts of the country.

Ashoka Edicts – Minor Rock Edicts

Ashoka Minor rock edicts predate the Major rock edicts.
It deals with the personal history of Ashoka and his summary of his dhamma.
They are mostly located in Maski (Andhra pradesh), Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Sasaram (Bihar), Rupanath
(Madhya Pradesh), Bhabru – Bairat (Rajasthan).
Among all the minor rock edicts of Ashoka, the Maski version plays a very important role in the history. It
confirms the association of the title Devanampiya piyadasi to the emperor Ashoka.

Ashoka Edicts – Major Pillar Edicts

Major pillar edicts of Ashoka refers to those exclusively inscribed on the Pillars of Ashoka.
Major rock edicts and minor rock edicts precedes them chronologically.
These inscriptions were made during the final period of his reign.
Except for two, all the other major pillar edicts are found in Central India.
There are seven Major pillar edicts.
Major Pillar Edicts Features Inscribed in Edicts.
Pillar Edict I Ashoka’s principles relating to protection of his people.
Pillar Edict II Dhamma is defined as the minimum of sins, possession of compassion, liberty, virtues,
purity and truthfulness.
Pillar Edict III Sins such as harshness, anger, cruelty etc., are being abolished.
Pillar Edict IV The duties of Rajukas are mentioned.
Pillar Edict V
A List of animals and plants which should not be killed on certain occasions and a list of animals and plants
which should be never killed.
Describes about release of 25 prisoners by Ashoka.
Pillar Edict VI Policy of Dhamma is explained.
Pillar Edict VII Tolerance towards all religious sects.

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Ashoka Edicts – Minor Pillar Edicts
The minor pillar edicts refer to the 5 minor edicts inscribed on the pillars of Ashoka.
They are preceded by minor rock edicts.
These edicts belong to the initial period of Ashoka’s reign.
Minor Pillar Edicts Features Inscribed in Edicts.
The schism edicts Warning of punishment for dissent in Samgha.
The Queen’s edicts Ashoka announces that gifts of the Queens should be credited.
Nigali Sagar pillar inscriptions Mentions about Ashoka’s dedication to increase the height of
Kanakamuni Buddha.
Rummindei pillar inscriptions Mentions about Ashok’s visit to Lumbini i.e. birthplace of Buddha.

Medieval India

About Dravidian Temple Architecture

Dravidian architecture is an architectural idiom in Hindu temple architecture. It emerged from South India
reaching its final form by the sixteenth century.
It is characterized by:
Its use of granite, its intricate carvings, and its towering gopurams (gateway towers).
The most famous example of Dravidian architecture is the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil
Nadu.
Other notable examples include:
The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu,
Karnataka.
Dravidian architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Features of Dravidian Style of Temple Architecture
Here are the features of the Dravidian style of temple architecture:
The Dravidian temple is typically square or rectangular in plan. The sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) is
located in the center. The sanctum sanctorum is the most sacred part of the temple and houses the image
of the deity.
There will be statues of ferocious dwarapalas defending the temple at the garbhagriha’s entrance.
The vimana is the tower that rises above the sanctum sanctorum. It is typically pyramidal in shape and is
decorated with intricate carvings. The vimana is a symbol of the mountain Meru, which is considered to be
the home of the gods in Hindu mythology.
The gopuram is the gateway tower that leads into the temple complex. It is typically the tallest structure in
the temple. It is decorated with intricate carvings. The gopuram is a symbol of the entrance to the divine
realm.

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The temple complex typically has many pillared halls. These are used for worship and other religious
activities. The pillars are typically carved with intricate designs. They are a beautiful example of Dravidian
architecture.
The temple complex typically has a large open courtyard. This is used for festivals and other religious
activities. The open courtyard is a symbol of the cosmic order. It is a place where people can come
together to worship and celebrate.
The temple complex often has water bodies, such as tanks or ponds. These water bodies are a symbol of purity
and are used for ritual bathing.
Classification of Dravidian Style Temples
In the Dravidian Style of architecture, temples have different shapes and sizes, which can be different at
different locations in South India. There are 5 subtypes of Dravida Architecture temples.
Kuta or Caturasra: Square-shaped
Shala or Ayatasra: Rectangular-shaped
Gaja-prishta or vrittayata or elephant-backed: Elliptical
Vritta: Circular
Ashtasra: Octagonal

Modern India

Warren Hastings

• In 1750, he joined the British East India Company as a clerk, and in 1752, he was promoted and sent to
Kasimbazar, Bengal, which was the company’s major trading post.
• Siraj-ud-Daulah imprisoned Warren Hasting and others at Kasimbazar because he was anti-European.
Soon after, he fled to the island of Fulda, where he joined the Calcutta refugees.
• He later volunteered for Robert Clive’s force.
• In 1758, he became a British resident in Murshidabad and was assigned certain jobs on behalf of Robert
Clive.
• Warren Hastings (1732–1818) was the first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal) in 1772
and the first Governor-General of Bengal in 1774, serving until his resignation in 1785.
• The First Anglo-Maratha war and the Second Anglo-Mysore war were fought during his reign.
• During his presidency, the Regulating Act of 1773 was passed.
• In 1785, he helped Sir William Jones establish the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Tenure at Madras and Calcutta

• During his time at Madras, Hastings instituted a number of trading-related reforms.

• One of the reforms was to eliminate the middlemen, which would benefit both the Company and the
Indian workers.
• Warren Hastings advocated for Robert Clive's vision of unifying the three major British administrations of
Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta.

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• Warren Hastings was appointed as Governor of Calcutta in 1771. During his presidency, the Bengal
Famine occurred, killing 10 million people.
• The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed to bring the administrations of Madras and Bombay under the
control of Bengal.
• It elevated Hastings from Governor to Governor-General. However, his authority was limited as a result
of this promotion.
• It was due to the formation of the five-member Supreme Council of Bengal, one of whom was the
Governor-General.

Significant Events

• The British government enacted the following acts during his tenure:
1) The Regulating Act of 1773
2) Act of Settlement Act, 1781 (Amending Act of 1781)
3) Pitt’s India Act, 1784

The Regulating Act of 1773

This act is of great constitutional importance as,
(a) It was the first step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the affairs of the
East India Company in India.
(b) It recognized, for the first time, the political and administrative functions of the Company, and
(c) It laid the foundations of central administration in India.
Features of the Act
1. It designated the Governor of Bengal as the ‘Governor-General of Bengal’ and created an
Executive Council of four members to assist him. The first such Governor-General was Lord
Warren Hastings.
2. It made the governors of Bombay and Madras presidencies subordinate to the governor-general
of Bengal, unlike earlier, when the three presidencies were independent of one another.
3. It provided for the establishment of a Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774) comprising one chief
justice and three other judges.
4. It prohibited the servants of the Company from engaging in any private trade or accepting
presents or bribes from the ‘natives’.
5. It strengthened the control of the British Government over the Company by requiring the Court
of Directors (governing body of the Company) to report on its revenue, civil, and military affairs
in India.

Pitt’s India Act, 1784

In a bid to rectify the defects of the Regulating Act of 1773, the British Parliament passed the
Amending Act of 1781, also known as the Act of Settlement.
The main purpose of the Act of Settlement 1781 was to establish a system of courts to remove
grievances against the Supreme Courts and mitigate the failure of the Regulating Act’s 1773 aim of
controlling administration through judiciary problems with the Supreme Court.

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Features of the Act
1) It distinguished between the commercial and political functions of the Company.
2) It allowed the Court of Directors to manage the commercial affairs but created a new body called
Board of Control to manage the political affairs. Thus, it established a system of double
government.
3) It empowered the Board of Control to supervise and direct all operations of the civil and military
government or revenues of the British possessions in India.
Thus, the act was significant for two reasons: first, the Company’s territories in India were for
the first time called the ‘British Possessions in India’; and second, the British Government was given
the supreme control over Company’s affairs and its administration in India.
Warren Hastings rejected the Treaty of Wadgaon and captured Ahmedabad, Bassein, and Gwalior during the first
Anglo-Maratha war. Finally, he signed the Treaty of Salbai to end the war.
• During his reign, the Rohilla war of 1774 and the Second Mysore War of 1780-84 occurred.
• In 1779–1784, he led East India Company forces against a coalition of native states and the French. Finally, while
France lost influence in India, the well-organized British side held its own.
Reforms under Warren Hastings
Abolition of Dual System
• Warren Hastings played a key role in the abolishment of the Dual System that had been established by Sir Robert
Clive.
• Under the Dual System, the company had Diwani rights (that is right to collect revenue) and the Indian rulers had
the power over administrative authority.
• Due to this system, the annual allowance of the kings was reduced to 16 Lakhs from 32 Lakhs.
Revenue Reforms
• To collect the revenue a Board of Revenue was set up at Calcutta. Calcutta now became the capital of Bengal in
the year 1772.
• Also, the treasury was transferred from Murshidabad to the new capital.
• For every district, a British collector along with an Accountant General was appointed.
Judicial Reforms
• A lot of Judicial Reforms took place when Warren Hastings was in power.
• First was the abolishment of the judicial powers of Zamindars.
• Two types of Courts were established - Civil and Criminal along with two Appellate courts (One for civil and another
for Criminal cases). All of them were established at Calcutta.
• The criminal court had an Indian judge. Muslims were to be judged according to their law in the Koran and Hindus,
according to Hindu laws.

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Trade and Regulation
• Warren Hastings ended the system of dastans.
• The officials of the company along with the traders highly misused the system of dastaks. Also, private trading by
the officials was restricted.
• To create uniformity in the trade he implemented a uniform tariff of 2.5% for Indian and foreign goods.
Impeachment of Warren Hastings
• Between 1787 and 1795, Warren Hastings was impeached for his misbehavior while in Kolkata (then Calcutta). •
He was charged with managerial incompetence and personal corruption.
• Warren Hastings' impeachment was led by Edmund Burke (MP of the United Kingdom Parliament). • The
Impeachment of Warren Hastings failed in 1788 in the Parliament of Great Britain.
• Hastings was cited for wrongdoing during his tenure in Calcutta. It was related to mismanagement and private
depravity.
• The inquiry happened and it displayed a broad range of debates concerning the position of the East India
Company and expanding the empire of India.
• The trial of Warren Hastings was delayed for seven years. When the eventual verdict was given Hastings was
overwhelmingly acquitted.

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