Short Answer TypeExamine the views of Mahatma Gandhi on the question of a ‘National Language’ for the country.
Long Answer TypeRead the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow:
In Praise of Samudragupta
This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti:
He was without an antagonist on earth; he, by the overflowing of the multitude of (his) many good qualities adorned by hundreds of good actions, has wiped off the 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 hundredthousands 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.
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.
On the same map three places of Mature Harappan sites are marked as 1, 2 and3. Identify them and write their names on the lines drawn near them.
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.
Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow:
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 Khwaja Muinuddin popular amongst devotees ?
What measures were taken to keep the unity among the rebels during 1857? How did the British try to suppress the rebellion? Explain.
Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow:
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.
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