• Time allowed : 3 hours
• Maximum Marks: 70

General Instructions:

(i) All questions are compulsory. Marks are indicated against each question.
(ii) Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part A – Questions no. 1 to 5) should not exceed 30 words each.
(iii) Answers to questions carrying 5 marks (Part B – Section I, II, III – Questions no. 6 to 16) should not exceed 100 words each.
(iv) Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part C – Questions no. 17 to 18) should not exceed 250 words each.
(v) Part D has questions based on three sources.
(vi) Attach the maps with the answer scripts (Part E).

Answer all the questions given below.

1. Mention one of the most challenging episodes in the Mahabharata.
2. Mention any two features about the location of the city of Vijayanagar.
3. What was Jati Panchayat? State any two of its function.
4. Why was the Permanent Settlement of land revenue rarely extended to any region beyond Bengal? Give two reasons.
5. State two reasons of migration of working class to the big cities.

SECTION – 1

Answer any three of the following questions.

6. Describe how artefacts help in identifying social differences during the Harappan period.
7. Describe how Magadha become the most powerful mahajanapada.
8. “The Dharma sutras and Dharama shastras also contained rules about the ideal occupation of the four categories of Varnas.” Critically examine the statement.
9. Describe briefly the teaching of Mahatma Buddha.

SECTION II

Answer any two of the following questions.

10. According to Bernier, “Crown ownership of land had disastrous consequences for the state and the society.” Justify the statement.
11. Describe briefly the relationship between the Mughals and the Ottomans.
12. “ The keeping of exact and detailed records was a major concern of the Mughal administration.” Critically examine the statement.

SECTION – III

13. Explain two strategies devised by the Zamindars of Bengal to survive the Pressures of high revenue demand and auction of their lands.
14. “The dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of an entire social order.” Critically examine the statement.
15. Why did the Congress reject the offer of the Muslim League to form a joint Government? Explain.
16. Explain the ideals introduced by Jawahar Lal Nehru in the ‘Objectives Resolution’ that were to be kept in mind framing the Constitution of India.

17. Explain the significance of Kabir’s poems and the traditions he drew to describe the ultimate reality.

OR

Explain Chisti devotionalism with special reference to ziarat and qawwali.

18. Explain how Gandhiji’s mass appeal was undoubtedly genuine in the context of Indian polities and how it contributed to his success in broadening the basis of nationalism.

OR

Why was the state monopoly in the manufacture and sale of salt unpopular among the masses? Also explain how the Salt March of Mahatma Gandhi was notable.

Read the following extracts (questions no. 19 to 21) carefully and answer the questions that follow.

19. What the king’s officials did?

Here is an excerpt from the account of Metatheses:
Of the great officers of state, some … … superintent the rivers, measure the land, as is done in Egypt, and inspect the sluices by which water is let out from the main canals into their branches, so that every one may have an equal supply of it. The same persons have charge also of the huntsman, and are entrusted with the power of rewarding or punishing them according to their deserts. They collect the taxes, and superintend the occupations connected with land; as those of the woodcutters, the carpenters, the blacksmiths, and the miners.

(i) Explain the duties of the greats officers of state. 3
(ii) Explain the role of sub-committees for coordinating military activities. 3
(iii) What did Ashoka do to hold this empire together? 2

OR

Why were stupas built?
This is an excerpt from the Mahaparinbbana Sutta, part of the Sutta Pitaka:
As the Buddha lay dying, Ananda asked him:
“What are we to do Lord, with the remains of the Tathagata (another name for the Buddha)?”
The Buddha replied: “Hinder not yourselves Ananda by honouring the remains of the Tathagata. Be zealous, be intent on your own good.” But when pressed further,
the Buddha said:
“At the four crossroads they should erect a thupa (Pali for stupa) to the Tathagata. And whosoever shall there place garlands or perfume … or make a salution
there, or become in its presence calm of heart, that shall long be to them for a profit and joy.”

(i) Why were the stupas built ? 2
(ii) What did Ashoka do with the relics of Buddha? 2
(iii) Describe the structure of the stupas. 4

20. How tanks were built?

About a tank constructed by Krishnadeva Raya, Paes wrote:

The king make 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, besides this, water comes to it from more than three leagues (approximately 15 kilometers) by pipes which run along the lower part 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) Where and why were tanks built by Krishnadeva Raya? 2
(ii) Explain how the tanks were constructed. 2
(iii) Describe the most prominent water works among the ruins and who built these water works. 4

OR

On horse and on foot

This is how Ibn Battuta describes the postal system:

In India the postal system is of two kinds. The hourse-post, called uluq, is run by royal horses stationed at a distance of every four miles. The foot-post has three stations per mile; it is called dawa, that is one-third of a mile … Now, at every third of a mile there is a well populated village, outside which are three pavilions in which sit men with girded loins ready to start. Each of them carries a rod, two cubits in lenth, with copper bells at the top. When the courier starts from the city he holds the letter in one hand and the rod with its bells on the other; and he runs as fast as he can. When the men in the pavilion hear the ringing of the bell they get ready. As soon as the courier reaches them. one of them takes the letter from his hand and runs at top speed shaking the rod all the while until he reaches the next dawa. And the same process continues till the letter reaches its destination. This foot-post is quicker than the horse-post; and often it is used to transport the fruits of Khurasan which are much desired in India.

(i) Describe the two kind of the postal system as described by Ibn Battuta. 2
(ii) Give an example to show that the postal system of that period was a unique system of communication. 3
(iii) Do you think that the foot-post system continent? Explain. 3

21. A ryot petitions

This is an example of a petition from a ryot of the village of Mirajgaon, Taluka Karjat, to the Collector, Ahmednagar, Deccan Riots Commission:

The sowkars (sahukars) … have of late begun to oppress us. As we cannot earn enough to defray our household expenses, we are actually forced to beg of them to provide us with money, clothes and grain, which we obtain from them not without great difficulty, nor without their compelling us to enter into hard conditions in the bond.

Moreover the necessary clothes and grain are not sold to us at cash rates. The prices asked us are generally twenty-five or fifty per cent more than demanded from customers making ready money payments … The produce of our fields is also taken by the sowkars, who at the time of removing it assure us that it will be credited to our account, but they do not actually make any mention of it in the accounts. They also refuse to pass us any receipts for the produce so removed by them.

(i) Why were the ryots not given loans by sowkars? 2
(ii) Explain the difficulties, the ryots had to face for getting loan from the sowkars. 4
(iii) Why were the ryots unable to pay inflated demand? Explain. 2

OR

“The British element is gone, But they have left the mischief behind”

Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patal said:

It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates, because it is good for us. We have heard it long enough. We have heard it for years, and as a results 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 e prepared to accept it. Bur in this unfortunate country if this if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country, we obetide the country; it is not worth living in. Therefore, I say, itr is not for my good alone. One day, we may be united … The British element is gove, but they have left the mischief behind. We donot want to perpetuate that ,mischief behind. We do not want to perpetuate that mischeif. (Hear hear). When the British introduce this element they had not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right. But they have left the lagacy behind. Are we to get of it or not?

(i) Why are we now a separate nation? Explain briefly. 2
(ii) Explain the remarks made by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patal after the division of the country. 3
(iii) Why did the demand for separate electorates provoke anger and dismay amongst most nationalists? Explain. 3

22. On the given political outline map of India (on page 17) marks and label the following kingdoms and towns: 5
Satvahans, Cholas, Ujjayini, Rajgir, Mathura.

OR

On the given political outline map of India (on page 17) marks the following centres of national movement and label them:
Amritsar, Dandi, Chauri-Chaura, Bardoli, Bombay.

23. On the given political outline map of India (on page 19), five important places in South India during 14th to 18th centuar have been marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Identify them and write their names on the line drawn near them. 5

Note: The following question are only for the Blind Candidates in lieu of the map questions (Q. No. 22 and 23).

22. Mention Names of any five Mahajanpads and cities during 600 BCE and 600 CE.

OR

Mention names of any five centres of the freedom struggle. 5

23. Mention five names of Mature Harappan sites. 5