Question 1: Choose the appropriate option.
a) ______ divided Indian history into three periods, namely, Hindu, Muslim and British.
- i) John Stuart Mill
- ii) James Mill
- iii) James Hicky
- iv) Indira Gandhi
- Answer: ii) James Mill
b) The National Archives of India are located in ______.
- i) Mumbai
- ii) Kolkata
- iii) New Delhi
- iv) London
- Answer: iii) New Delhi
c) ______ Kesari in Marathi played a great role in moulding public opinion during the freedom struggle.
- i) Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s
- ii) Mahatma Gandhi’s
- iii) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s
- iv) Indira Gandhi’s
- Answer: i) Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s
d) The India Office Records are administered by the ______.
- i) National Archives of India
- ii) National Library of India
- iii) British Library
- iv) London Office
- Answer: iii) British Library
Question 2: Name the following.
a) The first newspaper in India.
- Answer: The Bengal Gazette (also known as Hicky’s Bengal Gazette)
b) Famous book by Dadabhai Naoraji.
- Answer: Poverty and Un-British Rule in India
c) The city where the first complete census took place in British India.
- Answer: Calcutta (now Kolkata)
d) Monument built to commemorate the royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary.
- Answer: The Gateway of India (in Mumbai)
Question 3: Match the columns.
| Column A | Column B |
| a) The Story of My Experiments with Truth | i) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar |
| b) Toward Freedom | ii) Mahatma Gandhi |
| c) Waiting for a Visa | iii) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru |
| d) A History of British India | iv) James Mill |
| Column A | Column B |
| a) The Story of My Experiments with Truth | ii) Mahatma Gandhi |
| b) Toward Freedom | iii) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru |
| c) Waiting for a Visa | i) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar |
| d) A History of British India | iv) James Mill |
Question 4: Answer the questions in 10 to 20 words.
a) Why was the Gateway of India built?
It was built to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary in Mumbai in 1911.
b) Why did the British carry out detailed surveys and prepare maps?
To understand the geography, control the territory, and effectively administer and collect revenue from India.
c) What does the term ‘colonisation’ mean?
Colonisation means one country establishing control over another land and its people for economic and political exploitation.
d) What information do the walls of India Gate provide?
The walls of India Gate are inscribed with the names of over 13,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I.
e) How can paintings be used as a source of Modern Indian History?
Paintings depict contemporary lifestyles, clothing, architecture, and important events, providing a visual record of the past.
Question 5: Answer the questions in 50 to 70 words.
a) Write a note on periodisation.
Periodisation is the process of categorising history into distinct blocks of time, such as ancient, medieval, and modern, to make it easier to study and understand. Historians use it to identify the central themes and characteristics of a particular era. However, these divisions are often arbitrary and can be based on different criteria, like political rule or social changes, leading to various interpretations of the same historical timeline.
b) Why are administrative records important for the study of Modern Indian History?
Administrative records are crucial because they provide an official and detailed account of the functioning of the colonial government. These include reports, surveys, official letters, and policy documents. They offer insights into the British administration’s policies, economic strategies like land revenue systems, and their impact on Indian society. While they present the rulers’ perspective, they are indispensable for understanding the mechanics of colonial control and its consequences.
c) Describe oral sources.
Oral sources are historical accounts that are spoken rather than written down. They include folk tales, songs, legends, and interviews with people who witnessed or experienced past events. These sources are vital for understanding the history of communities with limited written records and for capturing the personal experiences and perspectives of ordinary people, which are often missing from official documents. However, they must be cross-checked as memories can fade or change over time.
d) How are photographs useful in reconstructing the history of modern India?
Photographs provide a powerful visual record of modern Indian history. They capture moments, people, places, and events with immediacy, offering glimpses of social life, urban development, political gatherings, and the impact of famines or partitions. They help us visualise the past in a way text cannot, showing clothing, architecture, and technological changes. However, they must be analysed critically, as they represent the photographer’s perspective and choice of subject.
e) What information do diaries, autobiographies, and travelogues give us?
These personal accounts offer intimate and subjective insights into history. Diaries and autobiographies reveal the private thoughts, motivations, and challenges of historical figures, providing context to their public actions. Travelogues written by visitors describe the social customs, economy, and daily life of a period from an outsider’s viewpoint. Together, they add a rich, human dimension to historical events, complementing the more impersonal facts found in official records.
Question 6: Give reasons.
a) Population statistics have often been used to draw various policies for the nation.
Population statistics provide crucial data on the size, distribution, age, and composition of a country’s people. Governments use this data for effective planning and resource allocation. For instance, census data helps in determining the number of schools, hospitals, and housing needed, formulating employment schemes, and designing targeted welfare programs for specific age groups or regions, ensuring that policies are based on concrete evidence rather than guesswork.
b) Films provide some insight into the modern period of Indian history.
Films serve as a reflection of the society and times in which they are made. They can offer insights into contemporary fashion, social norms, political sentiments, and public anxieties. Historical films, while often dramatized, can introduce audiences to important events and figures. Furthermore, the themes chosen by filmmakers and the popularity of certain films can indicate the prevailing public mood and cultural trends of a particular era.
c) Photographs, as a source of history, must be used with caution.
While valuable, photographs are not an objective window to the past. They are a product of the photographer’s perspective, choice of subject, and framing. A photograph captures only a single moment, removed from its broader context. It can be staged, cropped, or captioned to convey a specific message or bias. Therefore, historians must critically analyse who took the photo, why it was taken, and what lies outside the frame to avoid misinterpretation.