HISTORY's PRELIMS TEST SERIES (PART-1)
1. Consider the following statements:
1. Kshatriya reaction against Brahmanical domination
2. Spread of new agricultural economy
3. Rise of new cities in northeastern India
4. Practicing the doctrine of non-violence
Which of the above is/are the reasons for the origin of Buddhism and Jainism?
Explain:- Supplementary notes:
Causes of Origin of Buddhism and Jainism
Post-Vedic society was clearly divided
into four varnas: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas and Shudras. Each Varna was
assigned well-defined functions which
generated tensions. The Kshatriya
reaction against the domination of
the Brahmanas, who claimed various
privileges, was one of the causes of the
origin of new religions. Vardhamana
Mahavira, who founded Jainism, and
Gautama Buddha, who founded Buddhism,
belonged to the Kshatriya clan, and both
disputed the authority of the Brahmanas.
Spread of a new agricultural economy in
north-eastern India including eastern
U.P. and Bihar also led to rise of new
religions. The agricultural economy based
on the iron ploughshare required the use
of bullocks, and could not flourish without
animal husbandry. However, the Vedic
practice of killing cattle indiscriminately in
sacrifices hampered the progress of the new
agriculture.
Rise of a large number of cities in
northeastern India like Kaushambi,
Kusinagar, Vaishali etc. facilitated trade and
commerce which added to the importance of
Vaishyas. Naturally, they sought a religion
that would improve their position.
Jainism and Buddhism at the initial stage
did not attach any importance to the existing
Varna system.
They preached the gospel of nonviolence, which would put an end
to wars between different kingdoms
and consequently promote trade and
commerce.
The Brahmanical law-books, called the
Dharmasutras, decried lending money at
an interest, and condemned those who lived
on interest. Therefore, the vaishyas, who
lent money because of the growing trade
and commerce, were held in low esteem and
looked for better social status.
Both Jainism and Buddhism propounded
simple, puritan, ascetic living which
appealed to the old-fashioned people who did
not like the use and accumulation of coins,
new dwellings and clothes, new luxurious
systems of transport, war and violence etc.
2. Consider the following statements regarding the India Council:
1. It was created under the Government of India act 1861.
2. Secretary of State was made subordinate to the council of India.
3. No Indian had a voice in the India Council.
Which of the statements above is/are correct?
Explain:- Statement 1 is incorrect: India council was created under the Government of India Act 1858.
Statement 2 is incorrect: India Council was completely subordinated to the Secretary of State who was the head of the council.
Supplementary notes:
India Council
Government of India act 1858 created a new office, Secretary of State for India, vested with complete authority and control over Indian administration. The secretary of state was a member of the British cabinet and was responsible ultimately to the British Parliament.
It also established a 15-member Council of India to assist the secretary of state for India, also known as India council. The council was an advisory body. The secretary of state was made the chairman of the council.
By 1869 the Council was completely subordinated to the Secretary of State. Most of the members of the India Council were retired British Indian officials.
No Indian had a voice in the India Council or the British Cabinet or Parliament. Indians could hardly even approach such their masters who were residing in London.
3. Under which Mughal emperor reign, artist Mir Sayyid Ali was present?
Explain:- Option (b) is correct: Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad were present in the court of Humayun.
Supplementary notes:
Artists in the Mughal Court
Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad were present in the court of Humayun.
They migrated from Iran to Mughal court and accompanied Humayun to Delhi.
4. Consider the following statements regarding
the Imperial Legislative Council:
1. It was seen as an elementary
parliament.
2. Viceroy could disallow any of the acts
made by the Legislative council.
3. Indian nationalist opinion was
represented in the council.
Which of the above statements are
incorrect?
Explain:- Statement 1 is incorrect: The Imperial Legislative Council possessed no real powers and should not be seen as a sort of elementary or weak parliament.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Secretary of State could disallow any of Legislative council Acts.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Indian nationalist opinion was not represented in the imperial legislative council.
Supplementary notes:
Imperial Legislative Council
The Indian Councils Act of 1861 enlarged the Governor-General Council for the purpose of making laws in which capacity it was known as, the Imperial Legislative Council.
The Imperial Legislative Council possessed no real powers and should not be seen as a sort of elementary or weak parliament was merely an advisory body. It could not discuss any important measure, and no financial measures at all, without the previous approval of the government. It had no control over the budget.
It could not discuss the actions of the administration; the members could not even ask a question about them.
In other words, the Legislative Council had no control over the executive.
Secretary of State could disallow any of its Acts. Thus, the only function of the Legislative Council was to ditto official measures and give them the appearance of having been passed by a legislative body.
The non-official Indian members were added to the Council to represent Indian views. The Indian members of the legislative Council were few in number and were not elected by the Indian people but were nominated by the Governor-General whose choice invariably fell on princes and their ministers, big zamindars, big merchants, or retired senior government officials. They were thoroughly unrepresentative of the Indian people or of the growing nationalist opinion.
5. With reference to ‘Badshah-Nama’, consider
the following statements:
1. It was written by Abdul Hamid Lahori.
2. It gives detailed account of reign of
Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explain:- Statement 2 is incorrect: It gives detailed account of the reign of Mughal emperor Shahjahan.
Supplementary notes:
Badshah Nama
Abdul Hamid Lahori is known as the author of the Badshah Nama. Emperor Shahjahan, hearing of his talents, commissioned him to write a history of his reign modelled on the Akbar Nama.
The Badshah Nama is the official history in three volumes (daftars) of ten lunar years each.
Lahori wrote the first and second daftars comprising the first two decades of the emperor’s rule (1627-47); these volumes were later revised by Sadullah Khan, Shah Jahan’s wazir. Infirmities of old age prevented Lahori from proceeding with the third decade which was then chronicled by the historian Waris.
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