History Optional Question Paper – 2020 : Paper -1

SECTION – A

Q1. Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim.

  1. Paleolithic site is no
  2. Paleolithic Factory site
  3. Neolithic site
  4. Early and Mature Harappan site
  5. Chalcolithic site
  6. Site of Coin and Seal Moulds
  7. Ancient Administration Centre
  8. Ancient Political Headquarter
  9. Ancient Temple site
  10. Pre and Proto Historic sites
  11. Ancient Capital City
  12. Place of Shaiva Temple
  13. World Heritage Centre of Temple complex
  14. An Inscriptional site
  15. Place of Jain Temple
  16. Largest Buddhist Monastery
  17. Ancient Temple Complex
  18. Place of oldest Mosque
  19. Temple Complex dedicated to Shiva
  20. Ancient Education Centre
History 2020

Q2.(a) Puranas were the innovative genre of literature to popularise and revive Vedic religion. Elaborate with examples.
2.(b) Discuss the factors that played an important role in the process of urbanisation : after the Later-Vedic period.
2.(c) Throw light on the nature of religion and classification of gods mentioned in the Rigveda.

Q3.(a) Evaluate the significant political features of the Post Mauryan Northern India. What are the main sources of it?
3.(b) A number of scholars considered Alexander as ‘The Great’, although long term impacts of Alexander’s invasion on India need to be re-evaluated. Comment. 15.
3.(c) Discuss the salient features of cultural traditions of South India as reflected in Sangam Literature.

Q4.(a) Sanskrit literature of classical Gupta Age set standards for the early medieval India. Evaluate the statement with representative examples.
4.(b) Trace and identify the changing pattern of Tantrism in Ancient India with examples.
4.(c) Describe the evolution and development of regional temple architecture of South India with special reference to Pallavas.

SECTION -B

Q5.Answer the following questions in about 150 words each :
5.(a) Critically evaluate the Muslim Nobility during the period of Tughlaq dynasty.
5.(b) Describe in detail about the foreign travellers’ accounts which gave information of Vijayanagar kingdom.
5.(c) How did international trade support urbanisation in North India during the 13-14th century CE. 5.(d) Evaluate the aim and impact of the translation of Sanskrit scriptures into Persian language during Mughal period.
5.(e) Examine the sources of the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji with special reference to Shivabharat and Sabhasad Bakhar.

Q6.(a) Assess the causes of the defeat of Northern Indian States against the Turkish invasion.
6.(b) Amuktamalyada dwells much upon the relationship of (fort, Brahmanas) and dispersed tribal groups. Comment.
6.(c) Elaborate upon the agrarian reforms of Alauddin Khilji.

Q7.(a) Describe village polity and economy of medieval Deccan.
7.(b) Some new crafts production were introduced by the Turks. Comment.
7.(c) The mission of Kabir was to preach a religion of love which would unite all castes and creeds. Explain.

Q8.(a) Evaluate the contribution of Sher Shah towards trade and commerce, administration and agricultural reforms.
8.(b) Make an estimate of the development of paintings under Mughal reference to colours, technique, themes and influences on them. paintings under Mughal rulers with special
8.(c) Critically evaluate history of the Eighteenth century India with reference to culture and economy.


History Optional Question Paper – 2020: Paper-2

(SECTION – A)

Q1. Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(a) “Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839. His death was the signal for an outburst of anarchy all over the Punjab.”
(b) “In the initial stages, when Indian nationalism was immature, just sprouting, it found expression in many liberal religio-reform movements.”
(c) “In the early twentieth century, there came into existence a number of women’s organisations, which operated more actively in the public arena and focused more directly on women’s political and legal rights.”
(d) “The Trade Union Movement in India not only supported the call for national struggle at critical junctures, but also impacted its course and character in several ways.”
(e) “Based on his discussion with Indian leaders, as well as his own perception, Lord Mountbatten soon came to the conclusion that partition was the only practicable and feasible solution.”

Q2.(a) It was Dupleix who had first showed the way of intervening of the Indian rulers and thereby acquiring political control over vast territories — a technique which was later perfec India Company.” Elaborate.
(b) For long, the Revolt of 1857. has been mistaken to be a mere mutiny of me Indian sepoys in the Bengal army. However, its causes need to be searched for not only in the dissatisfaction of the army but in a long arawn process of fundamental Social and economic change that upset the peasant communities./Discuss.
(c) Do you feel that the Santhal Hool (rebellion) 1855-56, was the most effective tribal movement in pre-1857 India ?
Q3.(a) In its political behaviour the Indian National Congress in its early career was never a radical organisation, besides the founders of the Congress involved A.O. Hume in their project. Do these facts verify that the Congress was founded as a ‘Safety valve’ ? Explain.
(b). Do you agree with the fact that the virtual failure of the Non-Cooperation Movement and the gloom that descended on the nationalist scene, created conditions for revolutionary activities ? Discuss.,,
(c). Planning was seen as a powerful instrument that could be used to remove regional inequality. Examine.

Q4. (a) “In the divided and contestable space of Indian politics, Gandhiji could claim for himself a centrist position because he alienated neither and tactically combined the goal of the moderates with the means of the extremists.” Discuss.
(b) “After Indian Independence India-China relations started on a high note, but during the course of the coming years India had to face a bitter experience due to the Chinese aggression.” Elaborate.
(c) “The Reorganisation of the States on the basis of language was a major aspect of national consolidation and integration.” Comment.

SECTION – B

Q5. Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(a) “The principles of Enlightenment were in some ways a continuation of the discoveries and theories of the Scientific Revolution.”
(b) “The causes of the French Revolution of 1789 included both long term and structural factors, as well as more immediate events.”
(c) “Industrial Revolution had far reaching social and political consequences with the advent of assembly line factories, urbanization and rise of the urban working class.”
(d) “The multitude of newly independent countries came to be known as the “Third World’, belonging neither to the First World of capitalist democracies, nor the Communist Second World.”
(e) “The British were slated to withdraw from Palestine in May 1948, and both sides prepared for that day. Violence between Arabs and Jews, a already endemic, escalated.”

Q6. (a). “Napoleon was not a revolutionary but he solidified many of the revolutionary changes of 1789 – 1791 and he himself supported most of the ideas and proposals of Enlightenment philosophers.”.Substantiate.,
(b) “Lincoln’s main thesis was that the Slavery issue had to be decided one way or the other and could no longer be evaded by compromise.” Comment in the light of his role in the American Civil War.
(c) “The 1848 revolutions frightened the crowned heads of Europe and caused several to abdicate. Those who remained were cognizant of the threats posed by liberalism, nationalism and socialism.” Comment. 10


Q7 (a) “From Bismarck’s ‘Blood and Iron’ speech and his forceful actions to achieve German unification, Bismarck came to be known as the Iron Chancellor.” Critically examine.

(b) Do you agree with the statement that the Second World War was history’s most destructive war ? Elaborate.
(c) Discuss the circumstances leading to the French exit from Algeria in 1962.

Q8.(a) How did Stalin build on Lenin’s legacy of Bolshevik Revolution and introduce new elements of totalitarianism to transform USSR as a superpower?
(b) A new configuration of power emerged in world politics after the end of the cold war. Analyse how USA managed to become the sole superpower. 20
(c) Critically examine whether it was true that after a century of dependency on Europeans, Africans were ill prepared for the task of nation-building.


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