UGC NET Paper 2 History Mock Test - 2 - UGC NET MCQ

Key Points

• Statement 1 is correct. The foreign princes patronized and cultivated Sanskrit literature. The earliest specimen of Kavya style is found in the Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman 1 of Kathiawar in about A.D. 150. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman, also known as the Girnar Rock inscription of Rudradaman, is a Sanskrit prose inscribed on a rock by the Western Satraps ruler Rudradaman I. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The earliest specimen of Kavya style is found in the Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman 1 of Kathiawar in about A.D. 150 From onwards inscription began to be composed in Chaste Sanskrit, although the use of Prakrit in composing inscription continued till the 4th A.D. and even later. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• From onwards A.D. 150 inscription began to be composed in Chaste Sanskrit, although the use of Prakrit in composing inscription continued till the 4th A.D. and even later.
• Junagarh inscription is located near Girnar hill near Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The inscription is dated shortly after 150 CE.^[1] The Junagadh rock contains inscriptions of Ashoka (one of fourteen of the Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradaman I, and Skandagupta.

The correct answer is option 1, Shereen Ratnagar

Key Points

• Shereen Ratnagar is an Indian archaeologist and historian known for her work on the Bronze Age city of Harappa, within the Indus Valley Civilization. Her understanding of Harappa, expressed through her research and publications, is multifaceted and nuanced.
• Ratnagar has written several books on the subject, including "Understanding Harappa: Civilization in the Greater Indus Valley," in which she explores several aspects of the Harappan civilization. Her work takes an interdisciplinary approach, employing archaeology, environmental studies, anthropology, and linguistics to provide insight into the complexity of Harappan society.
• Here are a few key points from Shereen Ratnagar's exploration of Harappa:
• Urban Planning & Societal Organization: Ratnagar emphasizes the meticulous city planning and advanced urban infrastructure of the Harappan civilization. The well-planned cities, with their grid-pattern layout, advanced drainage systems, and uniform architectural styles, reflect a society that favored order and regulation. She links this to a centralized authority that could maintain such uniformity.
• Economy: Ratnagar delves into the Harappan economy, discussing the existence of long-distance trade networks based on the distribution of Harappan goods in regions far from the main urban centers.
• Decline of Harappa: Ratnagar takes a multi-causal perspective on the decline of the Harappan civilization, considering several factors including environmental changes, economic decline, and potentially disruptive migrations.
• Harappan Society and its Links to Later Cultures: Ratnagar also explores possible continuities between the Harappan civilization and subsequent cultures in the region. While she identifies certain continuities, such as the tradition of bead-making, she also acknowledges the complex and often ambiguous nature of these links.

L. von Ranke has been credited to have said that the historian's task is "simply to show how it really was".

Important Points

• The relationship between the historian and his facts is sacred and inextricable.
• It involves reciprocity.
• The historian without his facts is rootless and futile and the facts without their historian are dead and meaningless.
• In ancient times the question was not given serious thought and the relation between a historian and his facts was taken for granted.
• In the 19" century, facts got primary over the historian and interpretation.
• The 19th-century historians as the whole agreed with L. von Ranke, who remarked that the task of the historian was 'simply to show how it really was', history had nothing to do with the opinion and interpretation of the historian.
• Three generations of German, British and French historians enthusiastically followed the words of Ranke.
• The positivists' claim for history as a science, supported this cult of Facts.

• 'First, ascertain the all-important facts, then draw your conclusions from them' argued the positivists.

Thus, we can conclude that L. von Ranke has been credited to have said that the historian's task is "simply to show how it really was".

Mahajanapadas

• Mahajanapadas were kingdoms that arose around 6th century BCE.
• The 16 Mahajanapadas were Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assmaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja.
• This period is referred to as the second urbanisation, the first being the Harappan civilization. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• During this period, the centre of political activity shifted from the western to the lower part of the Gangetic plain. Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh make up the eastern half of the Gangetic plain. The fertile soils, better climate, and terrain conditions gifted with rainfall and rivers were the key reasons for this shift. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Mahajanapadas find reference in Buddhist scriptures (Angutara Nikaya), Jaina scriptures, and Later Vedic texts. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Among the mahajanapadas, rajyas were monarchies such as Avanti, Magadha,etc. and ganas were republics, such as Vajji, Mallas and Assaka. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Accordingly, A is correct.

Mahajanpadas

Source: IGNOU

Both 1 and 2 are incorrect.

Key Points

• The Swadeshi movement was a direct consequence of the British Indian government's decision to partition Bengal.
• The two main goals of this movement were the use of Swadeshi goods and the boycott of foreign-made goods.
• A Boycott Resolution was passed in Calcutta City Hall on August 7, 1905, where it was decided to boycott the use of Manchester cloth and salt from Liverpool.
• Vande Mataram became the boycott and Swadeshi movement theme song.
• However, the Indian National Congress under the Presidentship of G.K.Gokhale formally approved the Swadeshi Movement at Banaras session in December 1905. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Objectives:
  • Condemn the partition of Bengal,
  • Condemn the reactionary policies of Curzon, and
  • Support the anti-partition and Swadeshi Movement of Bengal.
• As the Moderate-Extremist disputes were there regarding the attitude towards the Swadeshi Movement, it increased with the pace of the movement, and techniques of struggle reached a deadlock, Hence, to resolve it, Dadabhai Nauroji attempted in the Calcutta Session.
• Calcutta session of INC was held in 1906 under the presidentship of Dadabhai Nauroji. It was declared that the goal of the Indian National Congress is “self-government or swaraj”. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• It demanded governance in line with the United Kingdom or the colonies of Australia or Canada.
• Boycott foreign goods.
• Acceptance of the use of Swadeshi products and services. Eg. Indian-made crafts, promoting local entrepreneurs, etc.
• Framed National Educational Policy for which National Council of Education was set up.

Ain-i-Akbari is a literary source that gives an insight into the Mughal Empire.

Important Points

• The Ain-i Akbari is a 16th century document written by the Mughal Emperor Akbar's court historian and biographer, Abul Fazl.
  • It provides detailed information about the administration, society, and culture of the Mughal Empire during Akbar's reign.
  • The Ain-i Akbari covers topics such as the imperial household, land revenue, the military, the caste system, and the various religions of the empire.
  • It is considered an important historical source for understanding the Mughal Empire and its administration.

Hence, we can conclude that Ain-i-Akbari provides economic conditions of the reign of Akbar.

Dadni was used for the advance money given by the merchants to artisans for the required goods.

• Dadni system was the chief mode of business activities of the European merchants.
• In this system, long before the advent of the season for a particular commodity, the merchants used to reach the actual cultivator or manufacturer through the local small agents or Paikars and advanced money to them so as to obtain right for the purchase of a particular commodity.

Additional Information

• Dadni System Dadni comes from the Persian word dadan or advance.
• One who made an advance as a mark of any business deal was called dadandar.
• The dadni merchant did the job for a fixed commission, which he often shared with middlemen.
• Dadni system was abolished in 1753 on the ground that many dadni merchants failed to deliver goods in time and many even disappeared with the company.
• The company under the circumstances resolved to procure goods through its own factors (chief of kuthi) and gomosthas (native amla).
• The change did not produce expected results.
• Manufacturing classes, particularly weavers were exposed to oppression in the hands of gomosthas, paikars and dalals, whose presence in arongs caused panic, according to contemporary reports, among manufacturers.

The correct answer is 1,2,and3.

Key Points

The Santhals became Settlers:

• Zamindars and Britishers after having failed to subdue the Paharias and transform them into settled cultivators turned to Santhals. The Santhal appeared to be ideal settlers, cleared the forest and ploughed land.
• After land was granted, population of Santhals increased exponentially and their villages also increased in number.
• When the Santhal were settling, the Paharias resisted but were ultimately forced to withdraw deeper into hills. It impoverished the Paharias in the long term. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

The Fifth Report and its Impact on Zamindars:

• It was the fifth of a series of report on administration and activities of East India Company in India.
• It was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• British Parliament forced the company to produce regular report on the administration of India and appointed committees to enquire into the affairs of the company. It became the basis of intense parliamentary debates on the nature of East India Company’s rule in India.
• Fifth report has shaped our conception of what happened in rural Bengal during that period and evidence contained in the 5th report are very important.

The Rise of The Jotedars in Villages:

• The group of prosperous farmers were popularly known as jotedars.
• Jotedars were a class of rich peasants.
• They acquired vast areas of land, controlled trade, money lending and exercise immense- power over the poorer cultivators. Their land was cultivated through share cropper known as adhiyars or bargadars.
• Within village the power of jotedars was more effective than that of Zamindars. They fiercely resisted the efforts of Jama to increase the Jama of village and prevented zamindari official from executing their duties.
• Sometimes they also purchased the auctioned property of zamindar.
• Joiedar played an important role in weakening of zamindari system. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Bengal and the Zamindars:

• Colonial rule was first established in Bengal. In Bengal, East India Company tried to reorder the rural society and establish new land rights and new revenue system.
• There was an auction held at Burdwan in 1797, which was popularly known as Grand Public Event.
• Company fixed the revenue and each zamindar was supposed to pay. This fixing of revenue was done under the Permanent Settlement and it become operational from year 1793.
• The Zamindars who failed to pay the revenue, their estate was auctioned to recover the revenue. But sometimes it was found that the purchasers at auction were servants and agents of the zamindar himself, e.g. auction in Burdwan. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

The correct answer is Only two.

Key Points

The Cholas

• The Cholas who ruled from the ninth century to the thirteenth century CE (850 – 1279 CE) played a very important part in the political and cultural history of South India.
• The core region of their control- Cholamandalam - was the area around Tanjore up to the East Coast, the Coromandal of later times.
• The Cholas, as rulers, are known to have existed from remote antiquity. They are mentioned, for the first time in II and XIII Rock Edicts of Ashoka along with the Pandyas and Cheras.
• The Sangam literature also furnishes much on Chola chiefdoms.
• Karikala Chola was the greatest early Chola king.
  • He is credited with the foundation of the city of Puhar at the mouth of river Cauvery and with the construction of an embankment along that river. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • He also showed much interest in land reclamation and in improving irrigational facilities.
• Vijayalaya (850 - 871 CE): He established his power in the area around Uraiyur, captured Tanjore from the Muttaraiyar chieftains, an ally of the Pandyas and extended his kingdom along the lower Kaveri.
• Aditya I (871-907): The successor of Vijayalaya, achieved significant military successes and expanded the Chola kingdom.
  • He defeated the last Pallava overlord Aparajita in 893. This victory gave him control over Tondamandalam.
• Parantaka I (907 - 953 CE): The first important ruler of the Chola dynasty, Parantaka I, came to power and ruled almost half a century.
  • He was considered the real founder of the Chola empire in south India.
  • He secured the northern frontier of the kingdom by campaigning against the Pandyas and capturing their capital Madurai after which he assumed the title of ‘Maduraikonda’ (Conqueror of Madurai). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Rajaraja I (985 CE – 1014 CE) The Chola power reached its peak during the reign of Arumolivarman, who assumed the title Rajaraja I on his accession to thrown. Few of Raja Raja first military conquest include:
  • The conquest of Northern Sri Lanka. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
  • The defeat of Chehra ruler Bhaskara Ravi Varman in the Naval Battle of Kandalursalai and the destruction of the Cheras Navy.
• Rajendra Chola I, the son of Rajaraja Chola I, the great Chola king of South India, succeeded his father in 1014 C.E. as the Chola emperor.
  • During his reign, he extended the influences of the already vast Chola empire to the banks of the river Ganges in the north and across the ocean.
  • He defeated Mahinda V and annexed the whole of Sri Lanka in 1018 A.D. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
  • He is also popular for building a new capital called Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Important Points

• The stone Nataraj or Natesha murti, in "chatura pose with jatamakuta and trinetra" is a rare depiction of Lord Shiva in the Prathihara style. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The statue is almost four-feet-tall.
• A depiction of Nandi (sacred bull calf) is shown behind the right leg of the Natesa icon.
• It was stolen in February 1998 from Ghateshwar Temple in Baroli, Rajasthan. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The murti was returned to the Archaeological Survey of India.

Additional Information

• Pratihara Style of architecture is associated with the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty around 800-900 AD.
• This dynasty was one of the first four patrilineal clans of the caste group referred to as the Rajputs.
• The Pratiharas added a full-fledged mandapa to the single shrine temple as an extension to the Gupta architecture tradition.
• Gurjara-Pratiharas were known for their open pavilion temples.

All the above mentioned materials formed the principal sources of act. Simon commission recommendations of the abolition of Dyarchy and the establishment of representative government in the provinces and that separate communal electorates provision, be retained were incorporated in the 1935 act.

The Government of India Act 1935 owes much to the Simon Commission report and little, if anything to the Nehru Report, as Nehru report represented nationalist’s demands.

Further two basic principles agreed after three round table conferences 1930-32 were accepted by British government that there be All India Federation, Provinces were to enjoy autonomy.

Dyarchy was introduced as part of Government of India act 1919 also known as Montagu-chelmsford reforms. Under the scheme provincial subjects were divided into reserved and transferred subjects.

In case of reserved subjects Governor of the Province administered with the help of the members of executive council nominated by him. Whereas transferred subjects were administered by Governor acting on the advice of elected ministers.

Second statement is also incorrect as Dyarchy though Abolished at provincial level in 1937 was introduced at Central level in Government of India act 1935.

Statement 1 is correct as Round Table Conference were series of meetings where British government to consider future constitution of India where Government of India Act 1919 was reviewed in 1927 by Simon Commission at London. The outcome of deliberations was the Government of India Act 1935 which establishes provincial autonomy. Statement 2 is correct as Government of India Act 1935 which was passed by British Parliament in August 1935 made a provision for establishing Federation of India which were made of British India along with princely states.

The Pali texts speak of three types of villages.

The first category included the typical village inhabited by various castes and communities. Its number seems to have been the largest, and it was haeded by a village headman called bhojaka.

The second category included the suburban villages which were in the nature of craft villages; for instance a carpenters’ village or chariotmaker’s village lay in the vicinity of Varanasi. Obviously these villages served as markets for the other villages and linked the towns with the countryside.

The third category included the border villages situated on the limits of the countryside which merged into forests. People living in these villages were mainly fowlers and hunters, who mostly lived on food gathering.

Kuru was one of the clans, which fought against Bharat clans during Rigvedic period is not a correct statement among the given statements.

Important Points

• The Vedic hymns divided the universe into the sky, earth and the antariksha.
• The Rig Veda asserts that there are 33 gods associated wih the sky, earth and the antariksha.

Hence, the statement 1 is correct.

• The Jabala Upanishad, also called Jabalopanisad, is a minor Upanishad of Hinduism.
• In Jabala Upanishad, there is a clear reference of four Ashrams i.e. Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa.

Thus, the statement 2 is correct.

• The Puru and the Bharata are the two warring tribes mentioned in the Rig veda.
• Initially they were allies, but later they fought against each other.

Hence, the statement 3 is not correct.

• The first mention of the Varna system was found in Purusha Suktam verse in the 10^th Mandal of the ancient Sanskriti Rig Veda.
• The four varnas were - Brahmanas, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.

Among the given statements regarding Jainism, the statement 'According to the Kalpasutra, at the time when Mahaveer attained Nirvana, the Jain Sadhus outnumbered Jain sadhvies' is not true.

Key Points

• The Digambara Jain sect believes that women cannot achieve liberation without being reborn as men first.
• The Svetambara sect disagrees and believes that women too can attain Moksha during her life span itself.

Hence, the statement 1 is correct.

• Women in Jainism are treated within the same code of ethics as that is prescribed for men.
• However junior a jain sadhu (male saint) may be whenever he arrives, jain sadhavi (female saint) is bound to offer a formal welcome.

Thus, the statement 2 is correct.

• There is a controversy between the Digambara and Svetambara regarding the 19th Teerthankar Mallinath.
• The Svetambaras believed that Lord Mallinath was a female.
• The Digambaras disagree with Svetambaras and perceive that a true mendicant must renounce all property or possessions including clothes to attain moksha.

Hence, the statement 3 is true.

• According to the Kalpasutra, at the time when Mahaveer attained Nirvana, the Jain sadhvies were more in number than the Jain Sadhus.

Therefore, the statement 4 is not correct.

Hence, we can conclude that among the given statements regarding Jainism, the statement 'According to the Kalpasutra, at the time when Mahaveer attained Nirvana, the Jain Sadhus outnumbered Jain sadhvies' is not true.

Hegemonic discourse refers to the dominant way of thinking or speaking within a society that reflects the power structures. Postmodernism argues that historical narratives often reflect the hegemonic discourse of the powerful, silencing marginalized voices.

Key PointsHegemonic discourse plays an important role in postmodern critiques of historical representation:

• Power and Control: Postmodernists argue that historical narratives are not neutral representations of the past. They are constructed by historians who hold certain positions of power within society. These historians, consciously or unconsciously, may use their position to select and interpret evidence in a way that reinforces the existing power structures.
• Marginalization of "Others": The dominant group's perspective becomes the "norm" in the historical narrative, marginalizing the experiences and perspectives of those who don't fit the dominant narrative. For example, a traditional historical narrative of a war might focus on the victors' strategy and achievements, neglecting the experiences of the losers or the civilians caught in the crossfire.
• Silencing Alternative Voices: By privileging the hegemonic discourse, historical narratives may silence or downplay the voices and experiences of those who were marginalized or oppressed in the past. This includes groups like women, minorities, indigenous peoples, or colonized populations.

Additional Information

• Epistemological relativism: While related, this is a broader concept suggesting knowledge is relative to specific contexts. Postmodern critiques in history focus more on how power structures shape representation.
• Dialectical materialism: This is a Marxist concept focused on class struggle and wouldn't be used in a postmodern critique.
• Thematic coherence: This refers to a unified theme within a historical narrative, which contradicts the postmodern critique that challenges a single, dominant narrative.

Key Points

• (a) Border Negotiations: The Panchsheel principles were first codified in the 1954 Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the People's Republic of China and India. This agreement aimed to resolve border issues between India and China's Tibet region.
• (b) Non-Interventionism for New States: The Panchsheel principles, which include mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, resonated with newly independent states seeking space to consolidate their independence and chart their own course in international relations, moving away from dominant power structures.

Additional Information

• (c) Not Strictly Adhered To: While initially promoting peaceful coexistence, the Sino-Indian relationship later deteriorated, culminating in a border war in 1962. This highlights the limitations of Panchsheel in addressing complex geopolitical realities.
• (d) Not Solely Chinese: The principles of Panchsheel drew on existing ideas of peaceful coexistence in Asian traditions and were championed by both India (particularly Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru) and China (Premier Zhou Enlai).

Important PointsPanchsheel: Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence​

The Panchsheel, meaning "five principles" in Hindi, is a set of five principles that emerged as a cornerstone of Sino-Indian relations in the mid-20th century. Here's a breakdown of the concept:

Origin and Significance:

• The Panchsheel principles were first codified in the 1954 Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the People's Republic of China and India. This agreement aimed to address the border dispute between India and China's Tibet region.
• Beyond resolving a specific border issue, the Panchsheel principles resonated with newly independent states in Asia and Africa seeking a framework for peaceful coexistence in the international arena.

The Five Principles:

• Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty: This principle emphasizes respecting each other's borders and internal affairs.
• Mutual non-aggression: This principle prohibits using force or the threat of force against each other.
• Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs: This principle discourages meddling in each other's political systems or domestic policies.
• Equality and mutual benefit: This principle promotes cooperation based on mutual respect and benefit for both countries.
• Peaceful coexistence: This principle emphasizes resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation.

• Important sites are: Regions of Narmada & its tributaries, Navadatoli, Eran, Nagada.
• It was one of the largest Chalcolithic settlements.
• Small round huts used for storing grain were in use.
• The special feature was thick buff surface ware with red or black design over it.
• Daimabad, Inamgaon, Kayatha, Nagda, Vidisha, Eran, Mandsaur, and Navdatoli (near Maheshwar) are the major sites of Malwa Culture.
• A massive fortification wall and a moat have been discovered at Eran.

Govinda III (793 - 814)

• The Rashtrakuta king who defeated the Pratihara ruler Nagabhatta II was Govinda III
• Pala King Dharmapala and his protégé Charayudh sought the help of Govinda III.
• His kingdom spread up to the Vindhyas and Malava in the north and the river Tungabhadra to the south.
• Govind III's northern campaign was not for empire expansion but for fame.
• Govind III defeated Pratihara king Nagabhatta II in 793 - 814 AD.
• Govind III further defeated the Pallava king Dantivarman in 803 at Kanchi.

Key Points

• Nagabhatta I was the first king of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty.
• Nagabhatta I established his capital at Avanti (Ujjain) in Malwa.
• Nagabhatta II (805 - 833 AD) was the son and successor of Vatsaraj.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only

Key Points

Rebels and revolt

• 10th May 1857, the sepoys in the cantonment of Meerut broke out in mutiny. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The sepoys captured the bell of arms where the arms and ammunition were kept and proceeded to attack white people and ransack and burn their bungalows and property.
• Shah Mal mobilised the villagers of pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh; Gonoo, a tribal cultivator of Singhbhum in Chotanagpur became a rebel leader of the Kol tribals of the region
• Gonoo was a leader of the Singhbhum tribal region of the 1857 revolt. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• In 1851 Governor-General Lord Dalhousie described the kingdom of Awadh as “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day”. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
• Five years later, in 1856, the kingdom was formally annexed to the British Empire.

Both Jain and Buddhist monks went from place to place throughout the year for teaching the people.

• Only in the rainy season, they stay in one place.
• Earlier, their followers built a temporary shelter for them, later permanent shelters were constructed which were known as ‘viharas’ i.e. monasteries.
• These ‘viharas’ were made of wood and then of brick.

Thus, we can say that both statements A) and B) are true and B) is not the reason for A).

Confusion Points

• Jains and Buddhists move from one place to another for spreading their religion, not to live in caves or gardens.
• They usually took shelter there to spend time and seasonal differences.
• Thus, statement B is not explaining statement A.

Additional Information

• Jainism and Buddhism share many features, terminology, and ethical principles, but emphasize them differently.[
• Jainism discourages monks and nuns from staying in a single place for a long time, except for 4 months in the rainy season (chaturmas).
• Thus most of the time the Jain monks and nuns keep wandering, staying in a place for just a few days.
• Some Theravada Buddhist monks also observe Vassa rules, but often they stay in one monastery, but they also used to wander and preach in the past.

Ambedkar: A Life is a book about B. R. Ambedkar written by the senior leader of the Indian National Congress, Shashi Tharoor. The book is divided into two parts, first part containing the initial phases of his life and Second part explains his life in Indian politics.

• Ambedkar: A Life is a book about B. R. Ambedkar written by the senior leader of the Indian National Congress, Shashi Tharoor.
• The book is divided into two parts, first part containing the initial phases of his life and Second part explains his life in Indian politics.
• The biography of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is neither the first one nor the last, but Shashi Tharoor’s meticulously-researched work adds a new perspective to one of India’s most revered icons.
• In Tharoor’s own words, “Dr Ambedkar’s greatness cannot be reduced to any one of his accomplishments, because all were equally extraordinary
• Tharoor lucidly provides a panoramic view of Ambedkar’s illustrious life while sharing deep insights and anecdotal references into his multi-faceted personality and life’s turning points – historical decisions, social ostracism and stigmas, political leanings, endless struggles and of course his strong personality which made him stand up for the causes he espoused.

The English Gitanjali is a collection of 103 English poems of Tagore's own English translations of his Bengali poems, first published in November 1912 by the India Society of London. The English Gitanjali became popular in the West and was widely translated.

Chenchu from the Nallamala hills in Andhra Pradesh revolted against British Forest Laws under the leadership of K. Hanumanthu. He organised ‘Palanadu’ which was a Forest Satyagraha against British forest laws.

During the Deccan famine in 1875 A.D, riots broke out in Ahmednagar and Pune districts of Bombay Presidency against the exploitation of Marwari moneylenders. The riots became armed rebellions under the leadership of Vasudev Balwant Phadke who is regarded as ‘father of the Indian armed rebellion’. He provided the inspiration for fellow freedom fighters.

Lord Edward Henry Stanley became the first Secretary of State for India. An agency named Indian Council created in London to monitor the functioning of Viceroy and his staff. This was to be headed by Secretary of State for India. The revolt by the Burchampore Regiment was the first to revolt against Robert Clive. This is also known as ‘White Mutiny’ as most of the Sepoys who revolted were English.

Giak & Kiari are located in Ladakh. They are examples of Neolithic sites.

After the coming of Gandhi on the national political scene, the Bardoli Taluka in Surat district had witnessed intense politicization. In February 1926, Vallabh Bhai Patel was called to lead the movement. The women of Bardoli gave him the title of “Sardar”.

Ajanta caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments. These caves are inspired from Jataka tales. Chinese Buddhist travelers, Fa-hien and Hiuen Tsang, refer to Ajanta in their travelogues to India. Ellora caves are located in Maharastra with 34 caves. These caves presents monuments and artwork of not only Hinduism but also of Buddhism and Jainism.

Indian Nationa Army was actually founded by Capt. Mohan Singh consisting of 20,000 Indian war prisoners captured by Japan. Bose took over the commandership of INA, and changed its name to ‘Azad Hind Fauj’. The INA founded the first provincial government of free India at Singapore. It entered Burma and destroyed Mandalay Jail. From Burma, it came up to Kohima in Assam. As Japan withdrew its forces in the war front, INA was defeated and its commanders were imprisoned in the Red Fort.

A.O.Hume became the general secretary of the Indian National Congress as he came to be known as the Founder Father of Congress. Dadabhai Naroji was the one to suggest the name “Indian National Congress”. W.C. Banerji became the first President.

He was the author of two pamphlets- “A Rising Star in the East” and “Old Man’s Dream”. The “Safety Value Theory” is actually a criticism against Hume attributing his ulterior motives in forming the Congress. Lala Lajpat Rai and Lala Hansraj were the critic of Hume.