General Instructions: (i) Answer all the questions. Some questions have choice. Marks are indicated against each question. (ii) Answer to questions no. 1 to 3 carrying 2 marks should not exceed 30 words each. (iii) Answer to questions no. 4 to 9 carrying 4 marks, should not exceed 100 words each. Students should attempt any 5 questions in this section. (iv) Question no. 10 (for 4 marks) is a value based question and compulsory. (v) Answer to questions no. 11 to 14 carrying 8 marks each should not exceed 350 words each. Students should attempt only three questions in this section. (vi) Questions no. 15 to 17 are source based questions and have no internal choice. (vii) Map Question 18 includes identification and significance test items. Attach the map with the answer book. PART A Q 1. Why did Buddha lay emphasis on righteous conduct and values? Buddha laid emphasis on righteous conduct and values because: (i) The world is transient and constantly changing, it is also soulless as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it. It is by following the path of moderation between severe penance and self-indulgence that human beings can rise above these worldly troubles. (ii) The righteous actions is the mean to escape from the cycle of rebirth and attain selfrealisation and nibbana, literally the extinguishing of the ego and desire-and thus end the cycle of suffering for those who renounced the world. Q 2. Who was Ab ul Fazal? What is his major contribution? Ab ul Fazal was the author of the Akbar Nama, an adviser and a spokesperson for Akbar Policies. Page 1 of 11
In his role as court historian, Ab ul Fazal both shaped and articulated the ideas associated with the reign of Akbar. Q 3. Why was Pakistan resolution of 1940 considered ambiguous? Give any two reasons. The reasons: (i) This ambiguous resolution never mentioned partition or Pakistan. (ii) In fact Sikandar Hayat Khan, Punjab Premier and leader of the Unionist Party, who had drafted the resolution was himself opposed to a Pakistan. PART B SECTION I Q 4. Describe the agricultural technologies followed by the Harappan. The agricultural technologies followed by the Harappans were: (i) Representations on seals and terracotta sculpture indicate that the bull was known, and archaeologists extrapolate from this that oxen were used for ploughing. (ii) Terracota models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan and at Bannawali. (iii) The fields had two sets of furrow at right angles to each other, suggesting that two different crops were grown together. (iv) Water reservoirs found in Dholavira may have been used to store for agriculture. Q 5. Explain the growth of Puranic Hinduism from 600 BCE to 600 CE. The growth of Puranic Hinduism: (i) It included Vaishavism and Shaivism in which there was growing emphasis on the worship of a chosen deity. (ii) In such worship the bond between the devotee and the god was visualized as one of love and devotion, or bhakti. Page 2 of 11
(iii) In the case of Vaishnavism, cults developed around the various avatars of incarnations of the deity. Ten avatars were recognised within the tradition. (iv) Some of these forms were represented in sculptures, as were other deities. Shiva, for instance, was symbolised by the linga, although he was occasionally represented in human form too. Q 6. Land revenue was the economic mainstay of the Mughal Empire. Examine the statement. Revenue from the land was the economic mainstay of the Mughal Empire: (i) It was therefore vital for the vital to create an administrative apparatus to ensure control over the agriculture agricultural production. Revenue officials and record keepers penetrated the agricultural domain and became a decisive agent in shaping agrarian relations. (ii) The Mughal state tried to first acquire specific information about the extent of agricultural lands in the empire and what these lands produced before fixing the burden of taxes on people. (iii) The land revenue arrangements consisted of two stages- first, assessment and then actual collection. The jama was the amount assessed, as opposed to hasil, the amount collected. (iv) While fixing revenue, the attempt of the state was to maximise its claims. Both cultivated and cultivable lands were measured in each province. Q 7. The ideal of Sulh-i-kul was the corner stone of enlightened rule. In the light of the above statement, make an assessment of the Akbar s policy of Sulh-i-kul. Abu l Fazl described the ideal of Sulh-i-kul as the corner stone of enlightened rule: (i) 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 flight among themselves. (ii) The ideal of sulh-i kul was implemented through state policies-the nobility under the Mughals was a composite one comprising iranis, Turanis, Afghans, Rajputs, Deccanis-all of whom were given positions and awards purely on the basis of their service and loyalty to the king. (iii) Akbar abolished the tax on pilgrimage in 1563 and Jizya in 1564 as the two were based on religious discrimination. Page 3 of 11
(iv) All Mughal emperors gave grants to support the building and maintenance of places of worship. Q 8. Some people think that partition of India was a very sudden. Justify the statement. The reasons: (i) There was a very short time-just seven years-between the first formal articulation of the demand for a measure of autonomy for the Muslim-majority areas of the subcontinent and Partition. (ii) Many who migrated from their homelands in 1947 thought they would return as soon as peace prevailed again. (iii) Initially even Muslim leaders did not seriously raise the demand for Pakistan as a sovereign state. (iv) No one knew what the creation of Pakistan meant, and how it might shape people s lives in the future. Q 9. Examine the views of Mahatma Gandhi on the question of a National Language for the country. The views of Mahatma Gandhi on the question of a National Language : (i) Mahatma Gandhi felt that everyone should speak in a language that common people should speak in a language that common people could easily understand. (ii) Hindustani-a blend of Hindi and Urdu- was a popular language of a large section of the people of India. (iii) It was a composite language enriched by the interaction of diverse cultures. (iv) This multi-cultural language, Gandhi thought, would be the ideal language of communication between diverse communities: it could unify Hindus and Muslims, and people of the north and the south. SECTION II Q 10. The most important idea in Jainism is that the entire world is animated: even stones, rocks and water have life. Non-injury to living beings, especially to humans, animals, plants Page 4 of 1 1
and insects is crucial to Jaina Philosophy. In the light of the above statement, explain the moral values of Jainism. According to Jainism: (i) The cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma. (ii) Asceticism and Penance are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma. (iii) This can be achieved only by renouncing the world. (iv) Therefore, monastic existence is a necessary condition of salvation. Q 11. Describe the ideal of patriarchy and rules of marriage in the early societies from 600 BCE to 600 CE. The ideal of patriarchy: (i) While patriarchy had existed prior to the composition of the epic, the central story of the Mahabharata reinforced the idea that it was valuable. (ii) Most ruling dynasties claimed to follow this system, although there were variations in practice. (iii) The concern with patriarchy was not unique to ruling families. It is evident in mantras in ritual texts such as the Rigveda. (iv) It is possible that these attitudes were shared by wealthy men and those claimed high status, including Brahmanas. Rules of marriage: (i) While sons were important for the continuity of the patrilineage, daughters were viewed rather differently within this frame work. They had no claims to the resources of the household. (ii) At the same time, marrying them into families outside the kin was considered desirable. (iii) The belief of Kanyadan, the gift of a daughter in marriage was an important religious duty of the father. (iv) The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastra recognised as many as eight forms of marriage. Of these, the first four were considered as good while the remaining were condemned. Page 5 of 11
Q 12. Explain how Krishnadeva Raya was able to expand and consolidate his empire of Vijayanagara? Explain the causes of the decline of Vijayanagara after his death. Krishnadeva Raya s rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation. (i) This was the time when the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers was acquired, the rulers of Orissa were subdued and severe defeats were inflicted on the sultan of Bijapur. (ii) Although the kingdom remained in a constant state of military preparedness, it flourished under conditions of un-paralleled peace and prosperity. (iii) Krishnadeva Raya is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive gopurams to many important south Indian temples. (iv) He also founded a suburban township near Vijayanagara called Nagalapuram after his mother. The causes of the decline of Vijayanagara were: (i) His successors were troubled by rebellious nayakas or military chiefs. (ii) In 1565, Rama Raya, the chief ministers of Vijayanagara, led the army in to battle at Rakshai-Tangadi, where his forces were routed by the combined armies of Bijapur, Ahmadanagar and Golconda. (iii) The victorious armies sacked the city of Vijayanagara. The city was totally abandoned within a few years. (iv) It was the adventurous policy of Rama Raya who tried to play off Sultan against another that led the Sultans to combine together and decisively defeat him. Q 13. Why did Zamindars of Bengal fail to pay regular revenue to the company during 18th century? How did this enhance the power of Jotedars? Explain. The reasons for this failure were various: (i) The initial demands were very high, this was because it was felt that if the demand was fixed for all time to come. (ii) The high demand was imposed in the 1790s, a time when the prices of agricultural produce were depressed. (iii) The revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually. Page 6 of 11
(iv) The Permanent Settlement initially limited the power of Zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his Zamindari. The rise of the Jotedars: (i) Jotedars had acquired vast areas of land-sometimes as much as several thousand acres. They controlled local trade as well as moneylending, exercising immense power over the poorer cultivators of the region. (ii) Unlike Zamindars, Jotedars were located in the villages and exercised direct control over a considerable section of poor villagers. (iii) In fact, when the estates of the zamindars were auctioned for failure to make revenue payments, Jotedars were often amongst the purchasers. (iv) They fiercely resisted efforts by zamindars to increase the jama of the village, prevented zamindari officials from executing their duties. Q 14. What measures were taken to keep the unity among the rebels during 1857? How did the British try to suppress the rebellion? Explain. The measures taken to keep the unity among the rebels during 1857 were: (i) Many of the proclamations were issued by Muslim princes or in their names but even these took care to address the sentiments of Hindus. (ii) The rebellion was seen as a war in which both Hindus and Muslims had equally to lose or gain. (iii) The ishtahars harked back to the pre-british Hindu-Muslim past and glorified the coexistence of different communities under the Mughal Empire. (iv) The proclamation that was issued under the name of Bahadur shah appealed to the people to join the fight under the standards of both Muhammad and Mahavir. The British tried to suppress the rebellion by: (i) Passing number of Acts, which not only had put the whole of North India under martial law but military officers and even ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish Indians suspected of rebellion. (ii) The ordinary processes of law and trial were suspended and it was put out that rebellion would have only one punishment-death. (iii) Reinforcements were brought in from Britain and the British mounted a two-pronged attack. Page 7 of 11
(iv) The British used military on a gigantic scale. Rebel landholders were dispossessed and the loyal rewarded. PART D Q 15. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow: This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti: In Praise of Samudragupta 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 fame of other kings with the soles of (his) feet; (he is) Purusha (the Supreme Being), being the cause of the prosperity of the good and the destruction of the bad (he is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose tender heart can be captured only by devotion and humility; (he is) possessed of compassion ; (he is) the giver of many hundred thousands of cows; (his) mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the poor, the forlorn and the suffering; (he is) resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind; (he is) equal to (the gods) Kubera (the god of wealth), Varuna (the god of the ocean), Indra (the god of rains) and Yama (the god of death). (15.1) Give the meaning of Prashasti. (15.2) Samudragupta is compared to gods. Justify the comparison. (15.3) Name two sources used to reconstruct the history of Gupta rulers. (15.1) Prashasti is a composition in praise of kings in particular, and patrons in general, by poets. (15.2) Samudragupta is compared to gods as: (i) He was without an antagonist on earth. (ii) He was adorned by Hundreds for multitude of overflowing good qualities. (iii) He being the cause of the prosperity of the good and destruction of the bad. (iv) He was resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind. (15.3) The two sources used to reconstruct the history of Gupta rulers are (i) literature (ii) coins Q 16. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow: Page 8 of 11
The Pilgrimage of the Mughal Princess Jahanara, 1643 The following is an excerpt from Jahanara s biography of Shaikh Muinuddin Chisti, titled Munis Al Arwah (The Confident of Spirits): After praising the one God. this lowly faqira (humble soul) Jahanara went from the capital Agra in the company of my great father (Emperor Shah Jahan) towards the pure region of incomparable Ajmer I was committed to this idea that every day in every station I would perform two cycles of optional prayer For several days. I did not sleep on a leopard skin at night, I did not extent my feet in the direction of the blessed sanctuary of the revered saving master, and I did not turn my back towards him. I passed the days beneath the trees. On Thursday, the fourth of the blessed month of Ramzan, I attained the happiness of pilgrimage to the illuminated and the perfumed tomb With an hour of daylight remaining, I went to the holy sanctuary and rubbed my pale face with the dust of that threshold. From the doorway to the blessed tomb I went barefoot, kissing the ground. Having entered the dome, I went around the light-filled tomb of my master seven times.finally, with my own hand I put the finest quality of itar on the perfumed tomb of the revered one, and having taken off the rose scarf that I had on my head, I placed it on the top of the blessed tomb. (16.1) Give the meaning of Ziyarat. (16.2) How did Jahanara show her devotion to Shaikh Muinuddin Chisti? Give examples. (16.3) Why was dargah of Khawaja Muinuddin popular amongst devotees? (16.1) Ziyarat means Pilgrimage. (16.2) Jahanara devotions: (i) She did not sleep on a leopard skin at night (ii) She did not extend her feet in the direction of the blessed sanctuary (iii) She did not turn her back towards him (iv) She rubbed her pale face with the dust of that holy sanctuary threshold (16.3) It was popular because of the austerity and piety of its Shaikh, the greatness of his spiritual successors, and the patronage of royal visitors. Q 17. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow: Page 9 of 11
The Miraculous and the Unbelievable Local newspapers in the United Provinces recorded many of the rumours that circulated at that time. There were rumours that every person who wanted to test the power of the Mahatma had been surprised. 1. Sikandar Sahu from a village in Basti said on 15th February that he would believe in the Mahatmaji when the karah (boiling pan) full of sugarcane juice in his karkhana (where gur was produced) split into two. Immediately the karah actually split into two from the middle. 2. A cultivator in Azamgarh said that he would believe in the Mahatmaji s authenticity if sesamum sprouted on his field planted with wheat. Next day all the wheat in that field became sesamum. (17.1) Why did Gandhiji appear as saviour to the Indian peasants? (17.2) Assess the role of local Newspapers in the spreading of rumours. (17.3) How did the test of Sikandar Sahu prove Mahatma Gandhiji s miraculous power? (17.1) Gandhiji appear as saviour to the Indian peasants because they thought that he would rescue them from high taxes and oppressive officials and restore dignity and autonomy of their lives. (17.1) Local Newspaper recorded and circulated the rumours of Gandhi miraculous powers. (17.3) Sikandar Sahu s karah, full of sugar cane juice in his karkhana had split into two. PART E Q 18.1 On the given political outline map of India locate and label the following with appropriate symbols: (A) Azamgarh the centre of revolt of 1857 (B) Surat a town under British control in 1857 18.2 On the same map three places of Mature Harappan sites are marked as 1, 2 and 3. Identify them and write their names on the lines drawn near them. Note: The following questions are for the visually impaired candidates in lieu of Q. No. 18. (18.1) Name any one centre of the revolt of 1857 in Uttar Pradesh. Page 10 of 11
(18.2) Name an important town in Gujarat which was under British control in 1857. (18.3) Name any three places of Mature Harappan sites. (18.1) Meerut (18.2) Surat (18.3) Lothal, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro Page 11 of 11