CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History Set 5 with Solutions

Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History with Solutions Set 5 are designed as per the revised syllabus.

CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History Set 5 with Solutions

Time Allowed: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:

Question paper comprises five Sections – A, B, C, D, and E. There are 34 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory.

Section A – Question 1 to 21 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
Section B – Question no. 22 to 27 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 60-80 words.
Section C – Question no 28 to 30 are Long Answer Type Questions, carrying 8 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 300-350 words
Section D – Question no.31 to 33 are Source based questions with three sub-questions and are of 4 marks each
Section E – Question no. 34 is Map based, carrying 5 marks that include the identification and location of significant test items. Attach the map with the answer book.

Section- A (21 Marks)

Question 1.
What was Damien-i-Koh? [1]
(A) Demarcated land under the authority of the British
(B) Demarcated land under the authority of the Santhals
(C) Demarcated land under the authority of the Oraons
(D) Demarcated land under the authority of the Collector
Answer:
(B) Demarcated land under the authority of the Santhals

Explanation: Damin-i-Koh was the demarcated land that was under the authority of the Santhals.

Question 2.
Identify the following image and write its name. [1]

$C:\Users\USER1\Desktop\CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History Set 5 with Solutions 2.png$

(A) Silver rupia issued by Aurangzeb
(B) Silver rupia issued by Babur
(C) Silver rupya issued by Humayun
(D) Silver rupia issued by Sher Shah
Answer:
(A) Silver rupia issued by Aurangzeb

Explanation: The given image was the silver rupya that was issued during the reign of Aurangzeb.

Question 3.
Consider the following statements about Ibn Battuta’s account of Delhi:
(i) The city had crowded streets.
(ii) The bazaars were places of economic transactions.
(iii) The bazaars had mosques and temples.
(iv) Space was marked for public performance by singers.
State which of the above statements is correct: [1]
(A) Only (i)
(B) (i) and (ii)
(C) (i), (ii), and (iv)
(D) All of these
Answer:
(D) All of these

Question 4.
In which city have the archaeologists found evidence of bead making industry in South India in the first century CE? [1]
(A) Kodumanal
(B) Madurai
(C) Uraiyur
(D) Puhar
Answer:
(A) is correct.

Explanation: The art of bead making was famous in the city of Kodumanal.

Question 5.
Study the following statement carefully :
“I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the minorities and will do them tremendous harm. If they are isolated forever, they can never convert themselves into a majority and the feeling of frustration will cripple them even from the very beginning.”
Who among the following made the above statement? [1]
(A) Dr. Ambedkar
(B) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Govind Ballabh Pant
(D) Sardar Patel
Answer:
(C) Govind Ballabh Pant

Question 6.
Consider the following ancient dynasties: [1]
(i) Magadha
(ii) Pandyas
(iii) Kushanas
(iv) Guptas
The correct chronological order for the rule of these dynasties is:
(A) (iv), (i), (ii), (iii)
B) (ii), (iii), (i), (iv)
(C) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
(D) (i), (iv), (iii), (iv)
Answer:
(D) (i), (iv), (iii), (iv)

Question 7.
What do you understand by the term “Manuscripts”? [1]
(A) Printed books
(B) Handwritten books
(C) Old books
(D) Perished Books
Answer:
(B) Handwritten books

Explanation: Manuscripts were handwritten books and were famous during the ancient and medieval periods.

Question 8.
How long it took to complete the critical edition of the Mahabharata? [1]
(A) 40 years
(B) 57 years
(C) 29 years
(D) 47 years
Answer:
(D) 47 years

Explanation: The critical edition of the Mahabharata took almost 47 years to get completed

Question 9.
Which of the following individual requested Gandhiji to come to Champaran? [1]
(A) Raj Kumar Shukla
(B) Ambalal Sarabhai
(C) G.D.Birla
(D) Sardar Patel
Answer:
(A) Raj Kumar Shukla

Explanation: Gandhiji came to the Champaran at the request of Raj Kumar Shukla to see the problems of the indigo peasants.

Question 10.
Choose the odd one out from the following list of items; [1]
(A) Swadeshi Movement: 1905-1907
(B) Gandhiji returned to India: in 1915
(C) First Round Table Conference: 1930
(D) Gandhi Irwin Pact- 1942
Answer:
(D) Gandhi Irwin Pact- 1942

Explanation: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed in 1931 and not in the year 1942

Question 11.
Greek named the Red Sea as_______ [1]
(A) Aegean Sea
(B) Erythrean Sea
(C) Caspian Sea
(D) Shallow Sea
Answer:
(B) Erythrean Sea

Explanation: The Greeks named the Red Sea the Erythrean Sea.

Question 12.
Which of the following movements was launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission? [1]
(A) Quit India Movement
(B) Civil Disobedience Movement
(C) Non- Cooperation Movement
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(A) Quit India Movement

Explanation: The failure of the Cripps Mission paved the way for the beginning of the Quit India movement in the year 1942.

Question 13.
Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Kharosthi script was written from left to right.
Reason (R): The coins of Indo-Greek kings who ruled in the northwest helped in deciphering the script. [1]
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true but R is false.
(D) A is false but R is true.
Answer:
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Explanation: The famous Kharoshti script was written from left to right as per the experts who have deciphered it.

Question 14.
Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Buddhism was adopted by a large number of people belonging to the castes at the lower level of the social hierarchy.
Reason (R): Buddhism denied the status of an individual based on birth. [1]
Choose the right option.
(A) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are correct and R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is correct, but R is incorrect.
(D) A is incorrect, but R is correct.
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A

Explanation: The faith of Buddhism was adopted by large sections of society who were marginalized as it did not pay any emphasis on birth-based privileges.

Question 15.
Who among the following Gupta rulers was the most powerful and popular ruler? [1]
(A) Chandra Gupta
(B) Samudra Gupta
(C) Kumara Gupta
(D) Sikandra Gupta
Answer:
(B) Samudra Gupta

Explanation: The most powerful ruler of the Gupta Dynasty was Samudragupta. His military achievements earned him the title of “The Indian Napoleon”.

Question 16.
The eldest son of Gandhari was [1]
(A) Arjun
(B) Dushasana
(C) Duryodhana
(D) Kaurava
Answer:
(C) Duryodhana

Explanation: Duryodhana was the eldest son of Gandhari out of her 100 sons.

Question 17.
Which one of the following books were written by Chanakya? [1]
(A) Patanjali
(B) Raj Tringali
(C) Arthashastra
(D) Harshcharita
Answer:
(C) Arthashastra

Explanation: Arthashastra, a singularly significant Indian manual on the art of politics, economics, military strategy, the function of the state, and social organization and is attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), who reportedly was the chief minister to the emperor Chandragupta (c. 300 BCE), the founder of the Mauryan dynasty.

Question 18.
Which of the following is NOT considered a possible reason for the end of the Harappan Civilization? [1]
(A) Floods
(B) Climatic changes
(C) Afforestation
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(C) Afforestation

Question 19.
Article 14, 16, 17 refers to_______ [1]
(A) Freedom of Religion
(B) Cultural and Educational Rights
(C) Right to Equality
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(C) Right to Equality

Question 20.
Which of the following personalities compared the martyrdom of Gandhiji with that of Abraham Lincoln? [1]
(A) George Orwell
(B) Albert Einstein
(C) Louis Fischer
(D) C.F. Andrews
Answer:
(B) Albert Einstein

Explanation: The famous scientist Albert Einstein compared the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi to that of Abraham Lincoln.

Question 21.
The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced in Awadh in_______ [1]
(A) 1800
(B) 1801
(C) 1805
(D) 1820
Answer:
(B) 1801

Explanation: The famous Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by the British in Awadh in the year 1801.

Section- B (18 Marks)

Question 22.
Examine how the Amara-Nayaka System was a political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
OR
Describe the main features of the Virupaksha Temple of the Vijayanagara Empire. [3]
Answer:
The Amara-Nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to be governed by the Raya. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, traders, and craft persons. They retained some revenues for personal use and for the maintenance of their horses, elephants, and temples. They sent tribute to the king annually and personally, appeared in the Royal Court with gifts to show their loyalty. Kings transferred them from one place to another.

The Virupaksha temple was built over centuries and substantially enlarged during the Vijayanagara period. Its main deity was Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva and the chief guardian god of the kingdom. The hall in front of the main shrine was built by Krishnadeva Raya to mark his accession and was decorated with carved pillars.

He also constructed the Eastern gopuram. The halls in the temple were used for many purposes like a marriage of deities; swinging in special images and also witnessing special programs of music, dance, and drama.

Question 23.
Explain the ideal occupation as laid down in Dharmashastras and Dharmasutras for the four Vamas and one strategy evolved by the Brahmanas to enforce these norms. [3]
Answer:
The term caste refers to a set of hierarchically ordered social categories that were laid down in the dharma shastras and Dharmasutras. Brahmanas were ranked first while Shudras at the bottom. Brahmanas asserted that it was the divine order in which they are ranked first. Positions within the order were determined by birth. The Dharmashastras and Dharmasutras also contained rules about the ideal occupations of the four Vamas.

(1) Brahmanas were supposed to study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices and get sacrifices performed, and give and receive gifts.
(2) Kshatriyas were to engage in warfare, protect people and administer justice, study the Vedas, get sacrifices performed, and make gifts.
(3) Vaishyas were expected to engage in agriculture, pastoralism, and trade, in addition, to studying Vedas making gifts, and getting sacrifices performed.
(4) Shudra’s occupation was of serving the other three higher Vamas.

Question 24.
Critically examine “the Fifth Report” of the late eighteenth century. [3]
Answer:
The Fifth Report was the report on the administration and activities of the East India Company in India. From the time, the Company established its rule in Bengal in the mid-1760s, its activities were widely watched and debated in England. The report ran up to 1002 pages.

There were many in England who opposed the monopoly that the East India Company had over trade with India and China, who wanted a revocation of the Royal Charter that gave the Company this monopoly. Moreover, the private traders wanted a share in the Indian trade and the British industries were keen to open up the Indian market for British manufacturers.

Many political groups argued that the conquest of Bengal was benefiting only the East India Company but not the British National. Information about the Company’s misrule and maladministration was hotly debated in Britain and incidents of the greed and corruption of Company officials were widely publicized in the press.

The British Parliament passed a series of Acts in the late 18th century to regulate the rulers of the Company in India. The Acts forced the Company to produce regular reports on the administration of India and appointed committees to inquire into the affairs of the Company. The Fifth Report was one such report produced by a selected committee. Thus, it became the basis of intense Parliamentary affairs on the nature of the East India Company’s rule in India.

Question 25.
Krishnadeva Raya’s rule was characterized by expansion and consolidation”. Justify the statement on the basis of evidence. [3]
Answer:
Expansion and consolidation of the Vijayanagara empire under Krishnadeva Raya:

Krishnadeva Raya’s reign is marked by peace, prosperity, and military preparedness.
Foreign travelers speak of his efficient administration and the prosperity of the empire.
Agriculture flourished and to increase production the Raya undertook wise irrigation policies like the construction of the Kamalapuram tank.
There was flourishing inland, coastal and overseas trade which was an important source of general prosperity.
Krishnadeva Raya was also a great builder.
He is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive gopurams to many temples.
He built a new town near Vijayanagara named Nagalapuram after his mother.

Question 26.
Explain the changes that were observed after 1900 BCE in the Harappan civilization. What could have brought these changes? [3]
Answer:
In the few Harappan sites that continued to be occupied after 1900 BCE, there exists a transformation of material culture, marked by the disappearance of the distinctive artifacts of the civilization – weights, seals, special beads, writing, long-distance trade, and craft specialization. House construction techniques deteriorated and large public structures were no longer produced.

The reasons range from climatic change, deforestation, excessive floods, the shifting and/ or drying up of rivers, to overuse of the landscape. Some of these “causes” may hold for certain settlements, but they do not explain the collapse of the entire civilization. It appears that a strong unifying element, perhaps the Harappan state, came to an end.

Question 27.
Critically examine the proposals of the Cabinet Mission of 1946.
OR
Explain the outcome of the provincial elections of 1937 and explain the role of Congress Ministries and the Muslim League in it. [3]
Answer:
The Cabinet Mission recommended that India should be a Union or Federation of British provinces and Indian states having control over foreign affairs, defense, and communication. All subjects other than central subjects would be vested in the provinces.

The British provinces would be divided into three groups. Group A consists of provinces having a Hindu majority, Group B with a Muslim majority, and Group C with mixed population. Each group could draft its own Constitution. A Constituent Assembly would be settled up to frame the constitution of free India.

Till the Constitution was framed and a new government formed, an interim government would carry out the administration. The Cabinet Mission sought to make a compromise between the conflicting claims of the Congress and the Muslim League in order to maintain the unity of India, but the Muslim League criticized the plan because it rejected the idea of Pakistan.

In 1937, elections to the provincial legislatures were held for the first time and only 10-12% of the population enjoyed the right to vote. Congress won the elections forming government in 7out of11 of them. The League failed to win a single seat. In the United Provinces, the Muslim League wanted to form the government with Congress but it was rejected.

It made them realize that if India is to be united, they will be a minority, and also would be difficult to gain political power. The Congress ministers also contributed to the widening rift. Congress rejected the Muslim League’s proposal for a coalition government because the League supported landlordism, while Congress wanted to abolish it.

Secondly, the Congress leaders insisted on secularism, it was not shared by the party hierarchy. Maulana Azad, an important Congress leader, mentioned in 1937 that Congress members were not allowed to join the League, but Congressmen were active in the Hindu Mahasabha, in Central Provinces (Madhya Pradesh). So, in December 1938, Congress announced that its members could not be a member of Mahasabha.

This was also a period that the Hindu Mahasabha and the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS) were gaining strength. The latter spread from Nagpur to the United Provinces, Punjab, and later to other parts of the country in 1939. The RSS had trained disciplined cadres who pledged to an ideology of Hindu nationalism, convinced that India was a land of the Hindus.

Section- C (24 Marks)

Question 28.
Explain the strategies for procuring material by the Harappans for craft production. [8]
OR
“There were indications of complex decisions being taken and implemented in the Harappan society.” In light of this statement, explain whether there may have been rulers to rule over the Harappan society.
Answer:
Harappans procured the raw material for craft production in the following ways:
(1) Within the sub-continent trade
(2) Beyond the sub-continent
Harappans had trade relations among themselves. They procured:

Lapiz Lazuli: A form of rock used to make ornaments was procured from Gujarat.
Camelina: A yellowish rock used for craft making was procured from Gujarat.
They procured metal, mainly copper from the Khetri region of Rajasthan.
The Harappans went on expeditions and made an agreement with the Khetri locals for trading copper. Khetri follows Gyaneshwar and Jodhpur cultures as per the historians.
They got shells from Dholavira, Lothal, and Balakot which were located in the Coastal region.

Beyond the subcontinent trade:

Harappans had trade relations with Magan, Dilmun, and Mesopotamia as this was mentioned in the Mesopotamian text.
A copper of Oman (that was Magan) had nickel content and was found in Mesopotamian and Meluhha in the Harappan region.
Black-day pot of the Harappan region was found in Mesopotamia.
Seals belonging to the Harappan region were found in Mesopotamia and vice versa.
Mesopotamian texts mentioned the HarappansMeluhhans as seafarers.
Pottery, seals, ornaments, etc. were traded by Harappans. So, through this, we can say that copper came to Harappa from Oman.

There were indications of complex decisions being taken and implemented in Harappan society:
(1) A large building found at Mohenjodaro was labeled as a palace by archaeologists but no spectacular finds were associated with it.
(2) A stone statue was labeled and continued to be known as the “priest-king”.
(3) Some archaeologists stated that Harappan society had no rulers, and everybody enjoyed equal status.
(4) Others feel that there was no single ruler but many rulers. Mohenjodaro had a separate ruler, Harappa another, and so forth.
(5) Historians argue that there was a single state, given the similarity in artifacts – such as pottery seals, weights, and bricks, the evidence for planned settlements such as the standardized ratio of brick size, and the establishment of settlements near sources of raw material.
(6) According to some scholars, the last theory seems most plausible, as it was unlikely that entire communities could have collectively made and implemented such complex decisions.
(7) There was an extraordinary uniformity among Harappanartefacts.
(8) The bricks, though obviously not produced in any single center, were of a uniform ratio throughout the region, from Jammu to Gujarat.
(9) Settlements were strategically set up in specific locations for various reasons.
(10) Labour was mobilized for making bricks and for the construction of massive walls and platforms. A planned urban center with well laid-out drainage system.

Question 29.
‘Kabir was and is to the present a source of inspiration for those who questioned entrenched social institutions and ideas in their search for the divine. Explain.
OR
Write a note on the growth of Sufism and its spread in India. [8]
Answer:
(1) He believed in the Nirguna Bhakti.
(2) He also used terms drawn from Vedantic traditions, lakh (the unseen), Miramar (formless), Brahman, Atman etc.
(3) The range of traditions Kabir drew on to describe the Ultimate Reality indude Islam: Allah, Khuda, Hazrat, and Pir.
(4) Verses ascribed to Kabir have been compiled in the KabirBijak, KabirGranthavali, and AdiGrantha Sahib.
(5) The terms with mystical connotations such as Shabad (sound) or shunyata (emptiness) were drawn from yogic traditions.
(6) He questioned entrenched religious and social institutions, ideas, and practices in their search for the Divine.
(7) He probably crystallized through dialogue and debate with the traditions of Sufis and Yogis.
(8) He believed in divinity rather than any particular religion.

In the early cultures of Islam, a group of religious-minded people called Sufis turned to asceticism and mysticism in protest against the growing materialism of the Caliphate as a religious and political institution. They laid emphasis on seeking Salvahai through intense devotion and love to God by following his commands. The Sufis sought an interpretation of the Quran through personal experiences.

Some mystic men started movements on the basis of Sufi ideas and these mystics were scarved. The Khanqah took to mendicancy and observed celibacy. They ignored rituals and followed asceticism. They were known by different names like Qalandars, Malang, Madaris, Haidaris, etc. The Christians were the most influential out of all Sufi groups that migrated to India in the late 12th century.

They adopted the features of Indian devotional traditions and local environments. Khanqah was the center of social ideas. ShaikhNizamuddin appointed a few spiritual successors and sent them to different parts of the subcontinent to set up khanqahs. In this way, the fame of Chisti spread around rapidly and a number of pilgrims began to flow to his shrine and his spiritual ancestors. Ziyaratto the tomb of Sufi saints is prevalent all over the Islamic world.

This practice is to seek the blessing of the Sufi saints and for the past 700 years, people of all castes, creeds, and back grounds have shown their devotion to the Dargahsof the five great Chisti Saints. The use of music and dance are part of the Ziyarat which includes mystical chants performed by musicians and qawwals to develop divine ecstasy. The Sufis meditated with God by reciting the zikr (the divine names) or evoking his presence through sama (audition).

Christians adopted the local language in sama and the people of Delhi associated with Chisti silsila spoke Hindavi, the language of the common man. Sufism spread in the Deccan via the region of Bijapur (Karnataka), where Sufi poems were written in Dakhani, a variant of Urdu composed by Chisti saints living there around the 17th and 18th centuries. Islam gained a place in the villages of the Deccan due to the above-mentioned efforts.

Question 30.
Examine why were the religious divisions between Hindus and Muslims hardly noticeable during the uprising of 1857.
OR
Through proclamations, the rebels of 1857 completely rejected everything associated with British rule or firangi raj. Cite any three aspects to support this statement. [8]
Answer:
The Rebel Proclamation in 1857 repeatedly appealed to all sections of the people, irrespective of their caste and creed. They thought that bullets coated with fat of pigs and cows would hint the sentiments of Hindu and Muslims. Most of the proclamations were issued by Muslim princes or in their names but the sentiments of the Hindus were also taken care of.

The rebellion was seen as a war in which both the Hindus and the Muslims had equally to lose or gain. Many pamphlets and notifications were issued that glorified the coexistence of different communities under the Mughal Empire. The proclamation that was issued under the name of Bahadur Shah appealed to the people to join the revolt under the name of both Muhammad and Mahavir.

It was noted worth mentioning that during the uprising, religious divisions between the Hindus and the Muslims were hardly noticeable despite British attempts to create the divisions, which failed. There was a fear that the British were trying to convert them to Christianity. Rebels rejected everything of British Rule in India as they had no trust in the British.

(1) The proclamations condemned the British for the annexations they had carried out and the treaties they had broken.
(2) Condemned British land revenue settlements had dispossessed landholders, both big and small, and foreign commerce had ruined the weavers’ and artisans’ business
(3) Every aspect of British rule was attacked and the firangi were accused of destroying a way of life that was familiar and cherished. The rebels wanted to restore that world.
(4) The proclamations expressed the widespread fear that the British were bent on destroying the caste and religions of Hindus and Muslims and converting them to Christianity
(5) People were urged to come together and fight to save their livelihood, faith, honour, and identity a fight which was for the greater public good.
(6) The proclamations sought to unify all social groups in the fight against British Rule.
(7) Azamgarh proclamation

Section – D (12 marks)

Question 31.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]

The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana, the ruler of Kanauj (see Map 3), 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 for rice land, threshing ground and arable land were being apportioned by small farmers. it was mainly spaded culture owing to the sparsely scattered fields covered with grass, with their few clear spaces, their black soil stiff as black iron.
(i) Who was the author of Harshacharita?
(ii) Describe the outskirts of a forest in the Vindhyas.
(iii) Describe the activities of the people of that area.
Answer:
(i) Harshacharita was composed by Banabhatta, the Court Poet of Harshavardhana.
(ii) The outskirts of a forest in the Vindhyas had many parcels of rice land, threshing ground and cultivable land owned by small farmers. The field were less covered with grass and were difficult to plough. So the farmers mostly used spades to cultivate the stiff black soil.
(iii) The people of that area were moving along with the bundles of bark, countless sacks of plucked flowers, loads of flax and hemp bundles. They were also carrying quantities of honey, peacock feathers, wreaths of wax, logs and grass.

Question 32.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
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 the 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”.
(i) Who was Colin Mackenzie?
(ii) How did Mackenzie try to rediscover the Vijayanagara Empire?
(iii) How was the study of the Vijayanagara Empire useful for the East India Company?
Answer:
(i) Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and a cartographer. He was an employee of the East India Company. He prepared the first survey of the Hampi. His source of information about the city was based on memories of the Priests of Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi.

(ii) He recorded the tales of local histories and surveyed sites to get a better understanding of the past. It helped to make the governance of the colony easier.

(iii) He felt the East India Company could gain useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs which still influenced the various tribes of natives formed. These natives from the general mass of the population. It could help East India Company to rule the country better.

Question 33.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
“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 ordinary civil rights.

What is the position? You go to the tribal areas. According to law, their own traditional law, their tribal law, and 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
(i) On which aspect did N. G. Ranga draw attention?
(ii) What type of problems did the ordinary villagers face?
(iii) What kind of protection was needed for the real minorities?
Answer:
(i) N. G. Ranga had drawn attention to minorities in economic terms who were poor and downtrodden. He felt that these people were so depressed and suppressed that they were not able to take advantage of their civil rights even. The tribal people were considered real minorities, so, they needed protection and assurances.

(ii) The ordinary villagers had problems with the merchants and moneylenders who took away their lands. The merchants were able to turn the tribal people into veritable slaves and compelled them to sign various kinds of bonds, making them hereditary bond slaves. The zamindars, malguzars and others exploited these minorities and they had no elementary educational facilities.

(iii) Protection and assurance were needed for the real minorities. Minorities needed elementary education, and legal protection, granting them special rights over their lands and by giving them the advantage of civil rights.

Section – E (5 Marks)

Question 34.
(i) On the given political outline map of India, locate and label the following appropriately :
(a) Meerut- a Principal Center of Revolt of 1857.
(b) Chandragiri- an important town of South India during14th to 16th century,
(c) Tamil Nadu- Resign of the European Colonia.
OR
Mathura: a place where Lord Krishna resided
(ii) On the same political outline map of India, two places which are important towns from 600 BCE to 600 CE have been marked as A and B. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. [5]

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Answer:

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