Board Examination 2008
HISTORY
PART A
Answer all the questions given below
1. Mention any two reasons why travel
accounts of foreigners are important for studying medieval times. 2
2. Give two reasons why the sixth century
BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in early Indian history.
2
3.Who were Alvars Nayanars? In which
languages did they sing ?
2
4. Who were the 'dubashes' in colonials
cities ? Give one functions they performed ? 2
5. State the significance of Gandhiji's
speech at Banaras Hindu University.
2
SECTION I
Answer any three of the following
questions.
6. How did the concept of 'jati' evolve ?
How was it different from Varna ? 4+1=5
7. "Historians find it particularly a
difficult task to understand a text as complex as the Mahabharata."- Justify
this statement.
5
8. Explain the importance of new questions
and debates that began from the sixth centure BCE regarding Vedic traditions
and practices of sacrifices. 5
9. Explain the basic ideas of Jaina
philosophy.
5
SECTION II
Answer any two of the following questions.
10. Asses the role played by women in the
Mughal imperial household.
5
11. Describe the main features of the
temples in Vijaynagara Empire. 5
12. Explain the role of village artisans in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. 5
SECTION
III
Answer any three of the following questions.
13. "Visual images and literature as
much as the writing of history have helped in keeping alive the memory of the
Revolt of 1857 "- Asses this statement.
4+1=5
14. Describe the position of the 'jotedars'
at the end of the eighteenth century. 5
15. Explain why many leaders demanded a
strong centre during the debates in the Constituent Assembly. How were powers
to legislate finally divided ?
4+1=5
16. Critically examine the importance of
oral history in studying an event such as the Partition of India. 5
PART C
17. Taking the example of Bombay (Mumbai) ,
explain how the imperial vision of British was realized through town
planning.
8
OR
Explain the main events of the Dandi March.
What is its significance in the history of the Indian National Movement ?
18. Explain the importance of the Royal
Centre in Vijayanagara with a special focus on its important structures. 8
OR
Who were the forest dwellers ? Explain how
their lives changed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
2+6=8
21. Excerpt from what Jawaharlal Nehru said
in his famous speech of 13 December 1946 :
"We say that it is our firm and solemn resolve to have an
independent sovereign republic. India is bound to be sovereign, it is bound to
be independent, and it is bound to be a republic.......Now some friends have
raised the question : Why have you not put the word 'democratic' here
?.....Obviously we are aiming for democracy and nothing less than democracy.
What form of democracy, what shape it might take is another matter.......? The
democracies of the present day, many of them in Europe and elsewhere, have
played a great part in the world's progress..... We are not going just to copy,
I hope, a certain democratic procedure or an institution or an institution of a
so called democratic country. We may improve upon it. In any event whatever
system of government we may establish here must fit in with the temper of our people
and acceptable to them....We stand for democracy. It will be for this House to
determine what shape to give to that democracy, the fullest democracy, I
hope......"
(i) What were the three basic features of the
Constitution, Nehru was referring to ?
(ii) Why was he against India copying the
constitutions of other countries ?
(iii) Why did he refer to the past and to
the American and French Revolutions in the earlier part of the speech ?
(iv) Name the documents that Nehru
introduced on 13 December, 1946. Give any one guarantee it gave to the citizens
of India.
OR
"Without a shot being fired"
This is what Moon wrote :
For over twenty-four hours riotous mobs were allowed to rage through
this great commercial city unchallenged and unchecked. The finest bazaars were
burnt to the ground without a shot being fired to disperse the incendiaries
(i.e. those who stirred up conflict). The ... District Magistrate marched his
(large police) force into the city and marched it out again without making any
effective use of it at all ...
(i) To which event does this source refer
to ? Describe what the mobs were doing.
(ii) Why did Amitsar become the scene of
bloodshed later in 1947 ?
(iii) What was the attitude of the soldiers
and policeman towards the mob ?
(iv)
Give one example to show how Gandhiji tried to bring about communal
harmony. 2+3+2+1=8
22. On the given political map of India (on
page 13) mark and name Mysore, Bihar, Goa, Delhi, Ajmer. 5
OR
On the given political map of India (on
page 13) mark and name the following :
(i) The city where the massacre took place
in 1919.
(ii) Two places, one in Bihar and one in
Gujarat, where Gandhiji's earliest movements took place.
(iii) The place where the Salt March ended.
(iv) The city where the Congress passed the
Quit India Resolution.
23. On the given political outline map of
India (on page 15) three major Rock Edicts and two Pillar Inscriptions have
been marked for as 1 to 5 with a line for each. Identify them and write the
places where they were found.
5
Board Paper -HISTORY
2009
PART
A
Answer all the questions given below
1. Mention any two strategies adopted by
Brahmanas for enforcing the norms prescribed for different varnas.
2
2. Mention how the successors of
Krishnadeva Raya were troubled by the rebillious Nayaks and military chiefs
after his death.
2
3. How were the village artisans
compensated by the villagers foe their specialised services ? State two
ways.
2
4. State how did the Santhals reach the
Rajmahal hills.
2
5. How did the introduction of railways in
1853 mean a change in the fortunes of the towns ? Give two examples.
2
PART B
SECTION I
Answer any three of the following questions
6. Describe the transformation of material
culture of the Harappans after 1900 BCE. 5
7. Describe what do we know about
Samudragupta from the Allahabad Pillar inscription composed in Sanskrit by
Harishena. 5
8. "According to the Shastras only
Kshatriyas could be Kings". Do you agree with this or not ? Support your
answer with evidences.
5
9. Explain the reasons for the rapid growth
of Buddhism during the lifetime and after the death of Buddha. 5
SECTION II
Answer any two of the following questions
10. Explain how Bernier and other
contemporary European travellers and writers described the economic and social
condition of Indian woman.
11. Describe the qualities of Abul Fazl
which impressed Akbar to appoint him as his advisor and spokeperson. Mention
his famous book.
4+1=5
12. Explain why granting of titles to 'man
of merit' was an important feature of Mughal polity. Give two examples.
3+2=5
SECTION III
Answer any three of the following
questions.
13. Explain why many groups in Britain
opposed the monopoly of the East India Company over the trade with India and
China.
5
14. "Lord Dalhousie's annexations
created disaffection in all the areas and principalities that were annexed by
him". Justify the statement giving proper evidences with special reference
to Awadh. 5
15. Examine the recomendations of the
Cabinet Mission, 1946 to examine the legalities of the demands of the Indian
National Congress and the demands of the Muslim League. 5
16. Explain the views of N. G. Ranga on
'Objectives Resolution' introduced by Jawahar Lal Nehru. 5
17. Explain the teachings of Guru Nanak.
Did he want to establish a new religion ? What happen after he left for his
heavenly abode ?
4+1+3=8
OR
Explain the popular practices of Islamic
traditions.
8
18. How can we reconstruct the political
career of Gandhiji ? Explain with the help of public voice and private scripts.
OR
Why was salt the symbol of protest
according to Gandhiji ? Explain.
PART D (Source Based
Questions)
Read the following extracts (questions no.
19 to 21) carefully and answer the questions that follow.
19. Life in a small village
The Harshacharita is a
biography of Harshavardhana, the ruler of Kanauj, composed in Sanskrit by his
court poet, Banabhatta (c.seventh century CE). This is an excerpt from the text,
an extremely rare representation of life in a settlement on the outskirts of a
forest in the Vindhyas.
The outskirts being for the most part
forest, many parcels of rice-land, threshing ground and arable land were being
apportioned by small farmers.....it was mainly spade culture.....owing to the
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 along with bundles
of bark...countless sacks of plucked flowers,...loads of flax and hemp bundles,
quantities of honey, peacocks' tail feathers, wreaths of wax, logs, and grass.
Village wives hastened enroute for neighbouring villages, all intent on
thoughts of sale and bearing on their heads baskets filled with various
gathered forest fruits.
(i) Describe the life of the people on the
outskirts of a forest in the Vindhyas.
3
(ii) How did the people of the village earn
their living ?
2
(iii) Describe the information we get from
the inscriptions about land grants. 3
OR
Rules for monks and nuns
These are some of the rules laid down in
the Vinaya Pitaka :
When a new felt (blanket/rug) has been made
by a bhikkhu, it is to be kept for (at least) six years. If after less than six
years he should have another new felt (blanket/rug) made, regardless of whether
or not he has disposed of the first, then - unless he has been authorised by
the bhikkhus - it is to forfeited and confessed.
In case a bhikkhu arriving at a family
residence is presented with cakes or cooked grain-meal, he may accept two or
three bowlfuls if he so desires. If he should accept more than that, it is to
be confessed.
Having accepted the two or three bowlfuls
and having taken them from there, he is to share them among the bhikkhus. This
is the proper course here.
Should any bhikkhu, having set out bedding
in a lodging belonging to the sangha - or having had it set out - and then on
departing neither put it away nor have it put away, or should he go without
taking leave, it is to be confessed.
(i) Dscribe the rulers prescribed for a
bhikkhu when a new blanket was made by him. Was it justified ? 3
(ii) Explain the rules for going to bhiksha
at the door of someone.
3
(iii) Explain the rule for punishing the
bhikkhu going without leave
3
The Bazaar
Paes gives a vivid descriptions of the
bazaar :
Going forward, you have a broad and beautiful
street....In this street live many merchants, and there you will find all soets
of rubies, and diamonds, and emeralds, and pearls, and seed pearls, and cloths,
and every other sort of thing there is on earth and that you may wish to buy.
Then you have there every evening a fair where they sell many common horses and
nags, and also many citrons, and limes, and oranges, and grapes, and every
other kind of garden stuff, and wood; you have all in this street.
More generally, he described the city as
being "the best provided city in the world" with the markets
"stocked with provisions such as rice,wheat, grains, India corn and a
certain amount of barley and beans, moong, pulses and horse-gram" all of
which were cheaply and abundantly available. According to Fernao Nuniz, the
Vijayanagara markets were "overflowing with abundance of fruits, grapes
and oranges, limes, pomegranates, jackfruits, and mangoes and all very
cheap". Meat too was sold in abundance in the marketplaces. Nuniz
describes "mutton,pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves, quail and all
kinds of birds, sparrows, rats and cats and lizards" as being sold in the
market of Bisnaga(Vijayanagara).
(i) Describe the bazaar and beautiful
street and any other such street you have seen.
(ii) How can you grade a city as the best
city? Explain with example.
(iii) Give a brief description of
Vijayanagara markets as observed by Fernao Nuniz.
OR
Declining a royal gift
This excerpt from a sufi text describes the
proceedings at Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya's hospice in 1313
I (the author, Amir Hasan
Sijzi) had the good fortune of kissing his ( Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya's)
feet....At this time a local ruler had sent him the deed of ownership to two
gardens and much land, along with the provisions and tools for their
maintenance. The ruler had also made it clear that he was relinquishing all his
rights to both the gardens and land. The master...had not accepted that gift.
Instead, he had lamented: What have I to do with gardens and fields and lands ?
None of...our spiritual masters had engaged in such activity".
Then he told an
appropriate story: ... Sultan Ghiyasuddin, who at the time was Ulugh Khan, came
to visit Shaikh Fariduddin (and) offered some money and ownership deeds for
four villages to the Shaikh, the money being for the benefits of the dervishes
(sufis),and land for his use. Smiling, Shaikh al Islam (Fariduddin) said: 'Give
me the money. I will dispense it to the dervishes. But as for those land deeds,
keep them. There are many who long for them. Give them away to such persons."
(i) Explain the contents of the deed sent
by the king to thr Rev. Shaikh Nizamuddin auliya.
(ii) Why did the Shaikh Sahib decline to
have the gift ?
(iii) What did the shaikh advise to do with
the gifts ?
21. What should the qualities of a national
language be ?
A few months before his death Mahatma Gandhi reiterated his views on the
language question :
This Hindustani should be
neither Ssanskritised Hindi nor Persianised Urdu, but a happy combination of
both. It should also freely admit words wherever necessary from the diffrent
regional languages and also assimilate words from foreign languages, provided
that they can mix well and easily with our national language. Thus our national
language must develop into a rich and powerful instrument capable of expressing
the whole gamut of human thought and feelings. To confine oneself to Hindi or
Urdu would be a crime against intelligence and the spirit of patriotism.
HARIJANSEVAK,12 October 1947
(i) Examine the views of Gandhiji on the
language issue.
(i) Do you agree with the views of Gandhiji
? Give reasons.
(iii) Explain why Hindi and Urdu started
growing apart,
OR
The problem with separate electorates
At the Round Table Conference Mahatma
Gandhi stated his arguments against separate electorates for the Depressed
Classes :
Separate electorates to the "Untouchables" will ensure them
bondage in perpetuity...Do you want the "Untouchables" to remain
"Untouchables" for ever ? Well, the separate electorates would
perpetuate the stigma. What is needed is destruction of
"Untouchability", and when you have done it, the bar-sinister, which
has been imposed by an insolent "superior" class upon an
"inferior" class will be destroyed. When you have destroyed the
bar-sinister to whom will you give the separate electorates ?
(i)Explain the views of Gandhiji on
separate electorates for depressed classes. 3
(ii) Explain the views of Ambedkar on
separate electorates.
3
(iii) Compare the views of Gandhiji and
Ambedkar and give your opinion with two reasons. 2
PART E
22. On the given political outline map of
India (on page 17) mark and label the following Harappan sites :
Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rangpur,
Banawali.
OR
On the given political outline map of India
(on page 17) mark and label any five centres of Indian National Movement.
On the given political outline map of India
(on page 19) two places under Babur's
reign and three important places of South India during 14th to 18th century
have been marked as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Identify them and write their names on the
lines drawn near each place. 5
Board Paper
HISTORY 2010
PART
A
Answer all the questions given below.
1.Mention how according to Jainism, one can
free oneself from the cycle of karma. 2
2. Where were the forest dweller termed
jungli ? give any two reasons.
2
3. Mention two characteristics features of
the temple complexes in Vijayanagara . 2
4.Mention two fears of Conservatives in
introducing social changes in the new cities built by the British.2
5. Who were Dubashes ? What did they do in
Madras (Chennai) ?
2
PART B
SECTION I
Answer any three of the following questions
6. Describe briefly how the study of
artefacts helps in identifying social differences of the Harappan period. 5
7. What did B.B. Lal note about the houses
in the second phase of the Mahabharata period (c.-twelfth centuries BCE) ?
Explain.
5
8. Critically examine why Sanchi survived
while Amaravati did not. 5
9. "An understanding of the function
of an artefact is often shaped by its resemblance with present day
things." Support your answer with suitablt evidence. 5
SECTION II
Answer any two of the following questions.
10. Explain the observations of Ibn Battuta
about the crisis of India, with special references to Delhi. 5
11."Granting of titles to men of merit
was an important aspect of Muhgal polity." Justify the statement with
suitable evidence.
5
12. Describe the significance of temple
building in the Sacred Centre of Vijayanagara . 5
SECTION III
Answer any three of the following
questions.
13. Describe briefly the chans that came
about in the Indian towns during the 18th century. 5
14. Examine the structure of authority and
administration that the rebels wanted after the collapse of British rule in
India.
5
15. Critically examine the experiences of
injustice felt by ryots on the refusal of extending loans to them after
1830s.
5
16. How did the Congress ministries contributes
to the widening of the rift between the Congress and the Muslim League ?
Explain.
5
PART C
17. Explain the ideas expressed by Gandhiji
in his address at the time of opening of Banaras Hindu University in Februaey
1916. Did he put his precepts into practice ? Give examples. 8
OR
How do autobiographies, Government records
and newspapers help us in knowing about Gandhiji ? Explain.
18. Explain the variety of sources used by
the historians to reconstruct histories of religious traditions.8
OR
Explain how the biography of the saint
poetess Mirabai has been primarily constructed. How did she defy the norms of
society ?
PART D (Source Based Questions)
Read the following extracts (questions no.
19 to 21) carefully and answer the questions that follow.
19. How tanks were built
About a tank constructed by Krishnadeva
Raya, Paes wrote :
The king made a tank...at the mouth of two hills so that all the water
which comes from either one side or the other collects there ; and, beside
this, water comes to it from more than three leagues (approximately 15
kilometres) by pipes which run along the lower parts of the range outside. This
water is brought from a lake which itself overflows into a little river. The
tank has three large pillars handsomely carved with figures ; these connect
above with certain pipes by which they get water when they have to irrigate
their gardens and rice-fields. In oeder to make this tank the said king broke
down a hill...In the tank I saw so many people at work that there must have
been fifteen or twenty thousand men, looking like ants...
(i) Explain briefly where the tank was
constructed.
(ii) Explain briefly the sources of water
for the tanks.
(iii) Explain briefly the advantages of constructing tanks.
OR
Cash or kind ?
The Ain on land revenue collection :
Let him (the amil-guzar) not make it a practice of taking only in cash
but also in kind. The latter is effected in several ways. First, kankut : in
the Hindi language kan signifies grain, and kut, estimates...If any doubts
arise, the crops should be cut and estimated in three lots, the good, the
middling, and the inferior, and the hesitstion removed. Often, too, the land
taken by appraisement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly,batai,
also called bhaoli, the crops are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement
in the presence of the parties. But in this case several intelligent inspectors
are required; otherwise, the evil-minded and false are given to deception.
Thirdly, khet-batai, when they divide the fields after they are sown. Fourthly,
lang batai, after cutting the grain, they form it in heaps and divide it among
themselves, and each takes his share home and turns it to profit.
(i) Explain the term kankut. 2
(ii) Explain the system of batai or bhaoli
system of land revenue collection. 2
(iii)Explain the system of lang batai.
2
(iv) Which system of land revenue
collection, do you think, is better and why ?
2
20. "The real minorities are the
masses of this country"
Welcoming the Objectives Resolution
introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, N.G. Ranga said :
Sir, there is a lot of talk about minorities. Who are the real
minorities ? Not the Hindus in the so called Pakistan provinces, not the Sikhs,
not even the Muslims. No, the real minorities are the masses of this country.
These people are so depressed and oppressed and suppressed till now that they
are not able to take advantage of the ordinary civil rights. What is the
position ? You go to the tribal areas. According to law, their own traditional
law,their tribal law, their lands cannot be alienated. Yet our merchants go
there, and in the so called free market they are able to snatch their lands.
Thus, even though the law goes against this snatching away of their lands,
still the merchants are able to turn the tribal people into veritable slaves by
various kinds of bonds, the ordinary villagers. There goes the money lender
with his money and he is able to get the villagers in his pockets. There is the
landlord himself, the zaminder, and the malguzar and there are the various
other people who are able to exploit these poor villagers. There is no
elementary education even among these people. These are the real minorities
that need protection and assurances of protection. In order to give them the
necessary protection, we will need much more than this Resolution...
(i)How is the notion of minority defined by
N.G. Ranga ?
2
(ii) Do you agree with Ranga ? If not,
mention who are the real minorities according to you and why ? 2
(iii) Explain the conditions of ordinary
villagers ? 2
(iv) Describe the living conditions of yhe
tribals.
2
OR
"I believe separate electorates will
be suicidal to the minorities"
During the debate on 27 August 1947, Govind
Ballabh Pant said :
I believe separate electorates will be
suicidal to the minorities and will do them tremendous harm. If they are
isolated for ever, they can never convert themselves into a majority and
feeling of frustration will cripple them even from the very begining. What is
it that you desire and what is our ultimate objective ? Do the minorities
always want to remain as minorities or do they ever expect to form an integral
part of a great nation and as such to guide and control its destinies ? If they
do, can they ever achieve that aspiration and that ideal if they are isolated
from the rest of the community ? I think it would be extremely dangerous for
them if they were sehregated from the rest of the community and kept aloof in
an air-tight compartment where they would have to rely on others even for the
air they breathe...The minorities if they are returned by separate electorates
can never have any effective voice.
(i) How will separate electorates prove
suicidal to the minorities ? Explain the views of G.B.Pant. 4
(ii) Will the creation of separate
electorates solve the problem of minorities ? If so, how ? 3
(iii) Suggest any one way to solve the
problem of minorities.
1
21. The wealthy Shudra
This story, based on a Buddhist text in
Pali known as the Majjhima Nikaya, is a part of a dialogue between a king named
Avantiputta and a disciple of the Buddha named Kachchana. While it may not be
literally true, it reveals Buddhist attitudes towards varna.
Avantiputta asked Kachchana what he
thought about Brahmanas who held that they were the best caste and that all
other castes were low; that Brahmanas were a fair caste while all other castes
were dark; that only Brahmanas were pure, not non-Brahmanas; that Brahmanas
were sons of Brahma, born of his mouth, born of Brahma, formed by Brahma, heirs
to Brahma.
Kachchana
replied : "What if a shudra were wealthy...would another shudra...or a
Kshatriya or a Brahmana or a Vaishya...speak politely to him ?"
Avantiputta
replied that if a shudra had wealth or corn or gold or silver, he could have as
his obedient srevant another shudra to get up earlier than he, to go to rest
later, to carry out his orders, to speak politely; or he could have even have a
Kshatriya or a Brhmana or a Vaishya as his obedient servant.
Kachchana asked
: "This being so, are not these four varnas exactly the same ?"
Avantiputta
conceded that there was no difference amongst the varnas on this account.
(i) What did
Avantiputta want to know from Kachchana about Brahmanas ?
3 (ii) What was Kachchana's reply ? Explain.
2
(iii) If a
shudra had wealth, would Brahmanas and others speak to him politely ? Give
reasons. 3
OR
A mother's
advice
The Mahabharata
describes how, when war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas became almost
inevitable, Gandhari made one last appeal to her eldest son Duryadhana :
By making peace you honour your father
and me, as well as yuor well-wishers...it is the wise man in control of his senses
who guards his kingdom. Greed and anger drag a man away from his profits; by
defeating these two enimies a king conquers the earth... You will happily enjoy
the truth, my son, along with the and heroic Pandavas...There is no good in a
war, no law (dharma) and profit (artha), let alone hapiness; noe is there
(necessarily) victory in the end - don't set your mind on war...
Duryadhana did
not listen to this advice and fought and lost the war.
(i) Explain
briefly Gandhari's appeal to Duryadhana.
3
(ii) Do you
agree with Gandhari's advice to Duryadhana ?Give two arguments in support of
your answer3
(iii) Why did
Duryadhana not listen to his mother's advice ? Give two possible reasons. 2
PART E
22. On the given
political outline map of India (on page 17) mark and label any five Harappan
sites. 5
OR
On the given
political outline map of India (on page 17) mark and label the following
centres of Revolt of 1857 :
Lucknow,
Azamgarh, Jabalpur, Agra, Delhi
23. On the given
political outline map of India (on page 19) five centres of National Movement
have been marked as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Identify them and write their names on the
line drawn near them. 5
Board paper
HISTORY 2010--11
PART
A
Answer all the
questions given below.
1. Mention two
strategies adopted to identify social differences among the Harappans. 2
2. Mention any
two characteristics of the cities in the Indian sub-continent, as described by
Ibn Battuta 2
3. Give the
meaning of Zimma. Who were Zimmis ?
2
4. Mention two
differences between White towns Black towns during early British period. 2
5. Why was Salt
March notable ? Mention two reasons.
2
PART B
Answer any three
of the following questions.
6. " Early
Buddhist teachings had given great importance to self-effort in achieving
Nibbana." Justify the statement.
5
7. Describe how,
according to Manusmriti, paternal estate was to be divided after the death of
the parents with special reference to rights of women.
5
8. "The
mid-first millennium BCE is often regarded as a turning point in world
history." Justify the statement.
5
9. Describe how
Buddha's teachings have been reconstructed from the stories of Sutta
Pitaka. 5
SECTION II
Answer any two
of the following questions.
10. Describe
briefly how the emperor began his day in the balcony and at Diwan-i-am. 5
11. Name the
author of 'Buddha Nama'. Describe its content.
5
12. "Strain
began to show within the imperial structure following Krishnadeva Raya's death
in 1529." Critically examine the statement.
5
SECTION III
Answer any three
of the following questions.
13. "Amidst
allthe turmoil following March 1947, Gandhiji's valient efforts bore fruit to
bring harmony among the people." Justify the statement.
5
14. Explain the
impact of refusal of money-lenders to extend loans to Ryots, around 1865, under
the colonial rule in India.
5
15. How did the
colonial cities reflect the mercantile culture of the British rulers ?
Explain. 5
16. "The
national movement in the twentieth century drew its inspiration from the events
of 1857." Support this statement with examples.
5
PART C
17. Explain the
sources from which we can reconstruct the political career of Mahatma Gandhi
and the history of National Movement of India.
8
OR
"Wherever
Gandhiji went rumours spread of his miraculous powers." Explain with
examples.
18. Why were
Jati Panchayats formed during 16th and 17th centuries ? Explain their functions
and authority.
8
OR
How was
agriculture organised around two major seasonal cycles during the 16th and 17th
centuries ? Was it only for subsistence or otherwise ? Explain.
PART D (Source Based Questions)
Read the
following extracts (questions no. 19 to 21) carefully and answer the questions
that follow.
19. The child
sati
This is perhaps one of the most poignant
descriptions by Bernier :
At Lahore I saw a most beautiful young
widow sacrificed, who could not, I think, have been more thantwelve years of
age. The poor little creatre appeared more dead than alive when she approached
the dreadful pit; the agony of her mind cannot be described; she trembled and
wept bitterly; but three or four of the Brahmanas, assisted by by an old woman
who held under the arm, forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot,
seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and
in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive. I found it difficult
to repress my feelings and to prevent their bursting forth into clamorous and
unavailing rage...
(i) Describe
what Bernier saw at Lahore.
2
(ii) How had the
agony of the girl been described ?
3
(iii) How and
why was the girl forced towards the fatal spot ?
3
OR
Nuts like a man's
head
The following is
how Ibn Battuta described the coconut :
These trees are
among the most peculiar trees in kind and most astonishing in habit. They look
exactly like date-palms, without any difference between them except that the
one produces nuts as its fruits and the other produces dates. The nut of a
coconut tree resembles a man's head, for in it are what look like two eyes and
a mouth, and the inside of it when it is green looks like the brain, and
attached to it is a fibre which looks like hair. They make from this cords with
which they sew up ships instead of (using) iron nails, and they (also) make it
cables for vessels.
(i) Explain the
uses of the coconut.
3
(ii) Explain the
difference between coconut tree and palm tree ?
1
(iii) How has
the coconut been described similar to man's head ? 2
(iv) Do you
agree or not with the explanation given by Ibn Battuta ? Explain.
2
20. "A
voice in the wilderness"
Mahatma Gandhi knew that his was "a
voice in the wilderness" but he nevertheless continued to
oppose the idea of
Partition :
But
what a tragic change we see today. I wish the day may come again when
Hindus and Muslims will do nothing
without mutual consultation. I am day and night tormented by the question what
I can do to hasten the coming of that day. I appeal to the League not to regard
any Indian as its enemy ... Hindus and Muslims are born of the same soil. They
have the same blood, eat the same food, drink the same water and speak the same
language.
SPEECH
AT PRAYER MEETING, 7 SEPTEMBER 1946,
CWMG, VOL.92, P. 136
But I am firmly convinced that the Pakistan demand as
put forward by the Muslim League is un-Islamic and I have not hesitated to call
it sinful. Islam stands for the unity and brotherhood of mankind, not for
disrupting the oneness of the human family. Therefore, those who want to divide
India into possible warring groups are enemies alike of Islam and India. They
may cut me to pieces but they cannot me subscribe to something which I consider
to be wrong.
(i) Explain what did Gandhiji wish to see again.
3
(ii) Explain how the demand for Pakistan was
un-Islamic.
3
(iii) Why did Mahatma Gandhi say that his voice was a
voice in the wilderness ? Explain. 2
OR
What "recovering" women meant
Here is the experience of a couple, recounted by Prakash Tandon in
his Punjabi Century an autobiographical social history of colonial Punjab :
In one instance, a Sikh youth who had run amuck
during the partition persuaded a massacring crowd to let him take away a young,
beautiful Muslim girl. They got married, and slowly fell in love with each
other. Gradually the memories of her parents, who had been killed, and her
former life faded. They were happy together, and a little boy was born. Soon,
however, social workers and the police, labouring assiduously to recover
abducted women, began to track down the couple. They made inquiries in the
Sikh's home-district of Jalandhar; he got scent of it and the family ran away
to Calcutta. Meanwhile, the couple's friends tried to obtain a stay-order from
the court but the law was taking its ponderous course. From Calcutta the couple
escaped to some obscure Punjab village, hoping that the police would fail to
shadow them. His wife was expecting again and now nearing her time. The Sikh
sent the little boy to his mother and took his wife to a sugar-cane field. He
made her as comfortable as he could in a pit while he lay with a gun, waiting
for the police, determining not to lose her while he was alive. In the pit he
delivered her with his own hands. The next day she ran high fever, and in three
days she was dead. He had not dared to take her to the hospital. He was so
afraid the social workers and the police would take her away.
(i) Describe the tragic experience of the Sikh youth
who persuaded the killers to let him tae the girl with him.
2
(ii) Why did the social worker and police want to
recover the Muslim girl ?
2
(iii) Explain the relations between both, the Musim
girl and the Sikh youth.
2
(iv) How did the girl die ? Explain.
2
21. Life in a small village
The
Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana, the ruler of Kannauj, composed
in Sanskrit by his court poet, Banabhatta (c. seventh century CE). This is an
excerpt form the text, an extremely rare representation of life in a settlement
on the outskirts of a forest in the Vindhyas:
The
outskirts being the most part forest, many parcels of rice-land, threshing
ground and arable land were being apportioned by small farmers ... it was
mainly spade culture ... owing to the 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 along with bundles of bark ... countless sacks of plucked
flowers, ... loads of flax and hemp bundles, quantities of honey, peacock's
tail feathers, wreaths of wax, logs, and grass. Village wives hastened en route
for neighbouring villages, all intent on thoughts of sale and bearing on their
heads baskets filled with various gathered forest fruits.
(i) Who was the author of 'Harshacharita' ?
1
(ii) Describe the outskirts of a forests in the
vindhyas. 3
(iii) Describe the activities of the people of that
area. Mention two main activities of the farmers of that time and of
today.
3
(iv) Mention two activities of the village
women.
1
OR
The anguish of the king
When the king Devanampiya Piyadassi had been ruling for eight years, the
(country of the) Kalingas (present-day coastal Orissa) was conquered by (him). One hundred and fifty thousand men were
deported, a hundred thousand were killed, and many more died.
After that, now that
(the country of) the Kalingas has been taken, Devanampiya (is devoted) to an
itense study of Dhamma, to the love of Dhamma, and to instructing (the people)
in Dhamma. This is the repentance of Devanampiya on account of his conquest of
the (country of the) Kalingas.
For this is considered very painful and deplorable by Devanampiya that,
while one is conquering an unconquered (country) slaughter, death and
deportation of people (take place) there ...
(i) Who was called 'Devanampiya Piyadassi' ? Give his
brief description. 1
(ii) Mention the importance and limitations of
inscriptions.
3
(iii) Explain the effects of war of Kalinga on
Ashoka.
2
(iv) Why did the king repent after the war of Kalinga
?
2
PART E
22. On the given political outline map of India (on
page 17) mark and lagel the following towns :
(3+2=5)
(i) Mathura, Puhar, Kannauj
(ii) Two places of major Buddhist sites : Amaravati,
Sanchi.
OR
On the given political outline map of India (on page 17) mark and label
five important towns of South India during 14th to 18th century.
5
Mysore, Kolar, Golconda, Bidar,
Thanjavur.
23. On the given political outline map of India (on
page 19) five important centres of the revolt of 1857 have been marked as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Identify
them and their names on the line drawn near them.
BOARD PAPER (2012)-HISTORY
PART- A
1. What does the motif of a woman, surrounded by
lotuses and elephants, depict ? Mentions the two opinions.
2
2. What does
the third part of the Ain, 'Mulk Abadi' deal with ?
2
3. Mentions any two ceremonies performed on the
occasion of Mahanavami Dibba. 2
4. How was the separation between town and country
fluid ? State any two reasons. 2
5. Mention two new transport facilities introduced in
the new colonial cities and also one important effect of it.
2
PART- B
SECTION 1
Answer any three of the following questions.
6. Describe briefly how the Mauryan Empire was
regarded as a major landmark in history. 5
7. What did B.B Lal note about the houses in the
second phase of the Mahabharata period (c. twelfth-seventh centuries BCE) ?
Explain.
5
8. "An understanding of the function of an
artefacts is often shaped by its resemblance with presesnt day things."
Support your answer with suitable evidence.
5
9. Critically examine why Sanchi survived while
Amaravati did not.
5
SECTION II
Answer any two questions of the following questions.
10. Explain how the prosperity of towns has been
explained by the historians on the basis of Ibn Battuta's observations.
5
11. Describe the significance of temple building in
the Sacred Centre of Vijaynagara. 5
12. "Granting of tites to men of merit was an
important aspect of Mughal polity." Justify the statement with suitable
evidence.
SECTION III
Answer any three of the following questions.
13. Critically examine the experiences of injustice
felt by ryots on the refusal of extending loans to them after 1830s.
5
14. How do the official accounts present the Revolt
of 1857 ? Explain.
5
15. Describe briefly the changes that came about in
the Indian towns during the 18th century. 5
16. Explain how the migration in Bengal was more
protracted.
5
PART-
C
17. Explain the variety of sources used by the
historians to reconstruct histories of religious traditions. 8
18. Explain the ideas expressed by Gandhiji in his
address at the time of opening of Banaras Hindu University in February 1916.
Did he put precepts into practise ? Give examples. 8
OR
How do autobiographies, Government records and
newspapers help us in knowing about Gandhiji ? Explain.
PART D (Source Based Questions)
Read the following extracts (questions no. 19 to 21)
carefully and answer the questions that follow.
19. How tanks were built
The king made a tank ... at the mouth of the two
hills so that all the water which comes from either one side or the other
collects there; and, besides this, water comes to it from more than three
leagues (approximately 15 ilometres) by pipes which run along the lower parts
of the range outside. This water is brought from a lake which itself overflows
into a little river. The tank has three large pillars handsomely carved with
figures; these connect above with certain pipes by which they get water when
they have to irrigate their gardens and rice-fields. In order to make this tank
the said king broke down a hill ... In the tank I saw so many people at work
that there must have been fifteen or twenty thousand men, looking like ants ...
(i) Explain briefly where the tank was constructed.
2
(ii) Explain briefly the sources of water for the
tanks.
3
(iii) Explain briefly the advantages of constructing
tanks.
3
OR
Cash or kind ?
The Ain on land revenue collection :
Let him
(the amil- guzar) not make it a practise of taking only in cash but also in
kind. The latter i effected in several ways. First, kankut : in the Hindi
language kan signifies grain, and kut, estimates .... If any dobts arise, the
crops should be cut and estimated in three lots, the good, the middling, and
the inferior, and the hesitation removed. Often, too, the land taken by
appraisement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly, batai, also called
bhaoli, the crops are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the
presence of the parties. But in this case
several
intelligent inspectors are required; otherwise, the evil-minded and false are
given to deception. Thirdly, khet-batai, when they divide the fields after they
are sown. Fourthly, lang batai, after cutting the grain, they form it in heaps
and divide it among themselves, and each takes his share home and turns it to
profit.
(i) Explain the term kankut. 2
(ii) Expalin the system of batai or bhaoli system of
land revenue collection.
2
(iii) Explain the system of lang batai.
2
(iv) Which system of land revenue collection, do you
think, is better and why? 2
20.
" The real minorities are the masses of this country"
Welcoming the Objectives Resolution introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, N.G.
Ranga said :
Sir, there is a lot of talk about minorities. Who are the real minorities?
Not the Hindus in the so-called Pakistan provinces, not the Sikhs, not even the
Muslims. No, the real minorities are the masses of this country. These people
are so depressed and oppressed and suppressed till now that they are not able
to take advantage of the ordinary civil rights. What is the position? You go to
the tribal areas. According to law, their own traditional law, their tribal
law, their lands cannot be alienated. Yet our merchants go there, and in the
so-called free market they are able to snatch their lands. Thus, even though
the law goes against this snatching away of their lands, still the merchants
are able to turn the tribal people into veritable slaves by various kinds of
bonds, and make them hereditary bond-slaves. Let us go to the ordinary
villagers. There goes the money-lender with his money and he is able to get the
villagers in his pocket. There is the landlord himself, the zamindar, and the
malguzar and there are the various other people who are able to exploit these
poor villagers. There are the real minorities that need protection and
assurances of protection. In order to give them the necessary protection, we
will need much more than this Resolution ...
(i) How is the notion of minority defined by N. G.
Ranga ? 2
(ii) Do you agree with Ranga ? If not, mention who
are the real minorities according to you and why. 2
(iii) Explain the conditions of ordinary
villagers. 2
(iv) Describe the living conditions of the tribals.
2
OR
" I believe separate electorates will be
suicidal to the minorities"
During the debates on 27th August 1947, Ballabh Pant
said :
I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to
the minorities and will do them tremendous harm. If
they are isolated for ever, they can never convert
themselves into a majority and the feeling of
frustration will cripple them even from the very
begining. What is it that you desire and what is our ultimate objective ? Do
the minorities always want to remain as minorities or do they ever expect to
form an integral part of a great nation and as such to guide and control its
destinies ? If they do, can they ever achieve that aspiration and that ideal if
they are isolated from the rest of the community ? I think it would be
extremely dangerous for them if they were segregated from the rest of the
community and kept aloof in an air-tight compartment where they would have to
rely on others even for the air they breathe...The minorities if they are
returned by separate electorates can never have any effective voice.
(i) How will separate electorates prove suicidal to
the minorities ? Explain the views of G.B. Pant. 4
(ii) Will the creation of separate electorates solve
the problem of minorities ? If so, how ? 3
(iii) Suggest any one way to solve the problem of
minorities.
1
21. The wealthy Shudra
This story, based on a buddhist text in Pali known as
the Majjhima Nikaya, is part of a dialogue between a king named Avantiputta and
a disciple of the Buddha named Kachchana. While it may not be literally true,
it reveals Buddhist attitudes towards varna.
Avantiputta asked Kachchana what he thought about Brahmanas who held
that were the best caste and that all other castes were low; that Brahmanas
were a fair caste while all other castes were dark; that only Brahmanas were
pure, not non-Brahmanas; that Brahmanas were sons of Brahma, born of his mouth,
born of Brahma, formed by Brahma, heirs to Brahma.
Kachchana replied : "What if a Shudra were wealthy... would another
Shudra...or a Kshatrita or a Brahmana or a Vaishya...speak politely to him
?"
Avantiputta replied that if a Shudra had wealth or corn or gold or
silver, he could have as his obedient servant another Shudra to get up earlier
than he, to go to rest later, to carry out his orders, to speak politely; or he
could even have a Kshatriya or a Brahmana or a Vaishya as his obedient servant.
Kachchana asked: "This being so, are not these four varnas exactly
the same ?"
Avantiputta conceded that there was no difference amongst the varnas on
this count.
(i) What did Avantiputta want to know from Kachchana
about Brahmanas ?
3
(ii) What was Kachchana's reply? Explain.
2
(iii) If a Shudra had wealth, would Brahmanas and
others speak to him politely? Give reasons. 3
OR
A mother's advice
The Mahabharata describes how, when war between the
Kauravas and the Pandavas became almost inevitable, Gandhari made one last
appeal to her eldest son Duryodhana:
By making peace you honour your father and me, as
well as your well-wishers ... it is the wise man in control of his senses who
guards his kingdom. Greed and anger drag a man away from his profits; by
defeating these two enemies a king conquers the earth ... You will hppily enjoy
the earth, my son along with the wise and heroic Pandavas ... There is no good
in a war, no law (dharma) and profit (artha), let alone happiness; nor is there
(necessarily) victory in the end- don't set your mind on war...
Duryodhana did not listen to this advise and fought
and lost the war.
(i) Explain breifly Gandhari's appeal to
Duryodhana? 3
(ii) Do you agree with Gandhari's advice to
Duryodhana? Give two arguments in suppport of your answer.
3
(iii) Why did Duryodhana not listen to his mother's
advice? Give two possible reasons. 2
22. On the given political outline map of India (on
page 17) mark and label any five Harappan sites. 5
OR
On the given political outline map of India (on page
17) mark and label the following centres of revolt of 1857:
Lucknow, Azamgarh, Jabalpur, Agra, Delhi.
23. On the given political outline map of India (on
page 19), five centres of National Movements have been marked as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Identify them and write their names on the line drawn near them. 5
(BOARD PAPERS-HISTORY) 2013-14
PART- A
1. How did Magadha become the most powerful
mahajanapada between sixth to fourth century BCE? Give two reasons.
2
2. Who were Alvars and Nayanars? Mention the support
they got from the Chola rulers. 1+1=2
3. How did changes occur in the building pattern of
colonial cities after the revolt of 1857? cite any two examples. 2
PART- B
4. " The drainage system in Harappan
civilisation indicates town planning." Support the statement with
examples.
5
5. Describe the factors that led to the growth of
Puranic Hinduism in India during 6th century BCE.
6. Mention any two features of gotra as per the
Brahmanical practise. What evidences do we get from the Satavahanas
inscriptions regarding the inheritance of gotra? Explain. 2+3=5
SECTION- II
Answer any one of the following questions:
7. "Vijayanagara was characterized by a
distinctive building style." Support this statement with the sacred architectural
examples of Vijayanagara.
5
8. How were the subsistence and commercial production
closely intertwined in an average peasant's holding during the Mughal period in
16th and 17th centuries? Explain. 5
SECTION- III
9. Critically examine the experience of the ryots on
the refusal of moneylenders to extend loans to them after 1830.
5
10. "The
relationship of the sepoys with the superior white officers underwent a
significant change in the years preceding the uprising of 1857." Support
the statement with examples. 5
SECTION- IV
11. (11.1) " The rebel proclamation of 1857
emphasised the values of coexistence amongst different communities under Mughal
Empire." Explain. 3
(11.2) Suggest two ways to bring
peaceful coexistence and fraternity in the contemporary Indian society.
2
12. Explain the role of zamindars in Mughal India
during 16th-17th century. 5+5=10
OR
Explain the chief characterised of provincial
administration of the Mughal Empire. Why has Mughal nobility been considered as
an important pillar of the Mughal state? Explain.
13. Describe the different sources from which we can
reconstruct the political career of Gandhiji and the history of the nationalist
movement.
OR
Describe the strengths and weakness of oral history.
Mention any four sources from which the history of partition has been
constructed.
14. Read the following passage caarefully and answer
the questions that follow:
The Sudarshana (beautiful) Lake in
Gujarat
The Sudarshana lake was an artificial
reservoir. We know about it from a rock inscription (c. second century CE) in
Sanskrit, composed to record the achievements of the Shaka ruler Rudradaman.
The inscription mentions that the lake, with embankments and water channels,
was built by a local governer during the rule of the Mauryas. However, a
terrible storm broke the embankments and water gushed out of the lake.
Rudradaman, who was then ruling in the area, claimed to hhave got the lake
repaired using his own resources, without imposing any tax on his subjects.
Another inscriptions on the same rock (c. fifth century) mentions how
one of the Gupta dynasty got the lake repaired once again.
(14.1) Mention about the irrigation system of the
Mauryan Empire.
(14.2) Explain about the achievements of Rudradaman
during the 2nd century CE.
(14.3) Mention the values demonstrated by Rudradaman
that can be seen from the passage.
OR
Draupadi's
Question
Draupadi is supposed to have asked Yudhisthira whether he had lost
himself before staking her. Two contrary opinions were expressed in response to
this question.
One,
that even if Yudhisthira had lost himself earlier, his wife remained under his
control, so he could stake her.
Two,
that an unfree man (as Yudhisthira was when he had lost himself) could not
stake another person.
The
matter remained unresolved: ultimately, Dhritarashtra restored to the Pandavas and Draupadi their personal freedom.
(14.1) How has Draupadi's status as a wife been shown
in the passage?
(14.2) Explain the contrary opinions expressed.
(14.3) Was the challenge given to Yudhisthira by
Draupadi justified? Support your answer with two reasons.
15. Read the following passage carefully and answer
the questions that follow:
The child sati
This is perhaps one of the most poignant descriptions
by Bernier:
At Lahore I saw a most beautiful young widow sacrifised, who could not,
I think, have been more than twelve years of age. The poor little creature
appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit: the agony
of her mind cannot be described; she trembled and wept bitterly; but three or
four of the Brahmanas, assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm,
forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot lest she should run away, and
in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive. I found it difficult
to repress my feelings and to prevent their bursting forth into clamorous and
unavailing rage ...
(15.1) How has Bernier described the practice of sati?
(15.2) Describe the feelings of Bernier has
highlighted the treatment of women as a crucial marker of difference between
between Western and Eastern societies.
OR
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 in 1821. He embarked
on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order to better
understand India's past and make governance of the 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."
(15.1) Who was the first Surveyor General of India?
what was his mission in India?
(15.2) What was the purpose behind Colin Mackenzie
studying the Vijayanagara Empire? Explain.
(15.3) Explain how Mackenzie has described the
British government as a benign influence on the Vijayanagara Empire.
16. Read the following passage carefully and answer
the questions that follow:
The jotedars of Dinajpur
Buchnan described the ways in which the jotedars of
Dinajpur in North Bengal resisted being disciplined by the zamindar and
undermined his power:
Landlords do not like this class of men , but it is evident that they
are absolutely necessary, unless the landlords themselves would advance money
to their necessitous tenantry ...
The jotedars who cultivated large portions of lands are very refractory,
and know that the zamindars have no power over them. They pay only a few rupees
on account of their revenue and then fall in balance almost every kist
(instalment), they hold more lands then they are entitled to by their pottahs
(deeds of contract). Should the zamindar's officers, in consequence summon them
to the cutcherry, and detained them for one or two hours with a view to
reprimand them, they immediately go and complain at the munsiff's (a judicial
officer at the lower court) cutcherry for being dishonoured and whilst the
causes continue unsettled, they instigate the petty ryots not to pay their
revenue consequently ...
(16.1) Mention the various ways in which the jotedars
of Dinajpur resisted the authority of zamindars.
(16.2) Describe the ways in which the jotedars
undrmine the power of zamindars.
(16.3) Mention how the zamindars reprimanded the
defiant jotedars.
OR
"The British element is gone, but they have left
the mischief behind"
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel said:
It is no use saying that we ask for separate
electorates, because it is good for us . We have it long enough. We have heard
it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate nation
... Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates? If
so, i shall be prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country if this
electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country,
woe betide the country; it is not worth living in. Therefore, I say, it is not
for my good alone, it is for your on good that I say it, forget the past. One
day, we may be united... The British element is gone, but they have left the
mischief behind. We do not want to perpetuate that mischief behind. We do not
want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced
this element they had not expected that they will have to go soon. They wanted
it for their easy administration. That is all right. But yhey have left the
legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not?
(16.1) Explain Sardar Vallav Bhai patel's views on
the issue of separate electorate system.
(16.2) In what ways did Sardar Patel explain that
" The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief
behind"?
(16.3) Mention the reasons behind Sardar Patel urging
the assembly members to get rid of seperate electorate.
