UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2021: GS1 History | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Evaluate the nature of Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture. [Ancient History and Art & Culture]
Ans: The Bhakti Literature originated in South India during the 9th century with Shankaracharya, spreading across the entire country by the 16th century. It became a powerful spiritual force, especially after the influence of Kabir, Nanak, and Shri Chaitanya.

Nature of Bhakti Literature:

• Bhakti and Sufi movements complemented each other, with recitations of Sufi saints finding a place in Sikh religious canons.
• The Bhakti cult spread widely due to the adoption of vernacular languages, making it accessible to the masses.
• Bhakti literature advocated for the removal of sectarianism and casteism, calling for the inclusion of all castes and outcastes.

Contribution of Bhakti Literature:

• Bhakti literature fostered the growth of vernacular languages across the country.
• Chaitanya and poet Chandidas used Bengali extensively to express the love of Radha and Krishna.
• Shankaradeva popularized Assamese in the Brahmaputra valley in the 15th century.
• Marathi reached its zenith through saints like Eknath and Tukaram.
• Saints like Kabir, Nanak, and Tulsidas made significant contributions to regional literature and language.
• The Bhakti and Sufi influence led to the emergence of new cultural traditions and sects like Sikhism and Kabir panth.
• Post-Vedanta ideas were explored by Madhvacharya and Ramanujacharya through their philosophical concepts.
• As a literary movement, Bhakti liberated poetry from royal praises, introducing spiritual themes and simple, accessible styles in various languages.
• The ideas of the Bhakti Movement continued to shape the cultural ethos, promoting tolerance and preventing conflicts.

Q2: Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. [Ancient History and Art & Culture]
Ans: When the British arrived in India, they introduced the English language and Western ideas, giving rise to a new Indian middle-class intelligentsia. Figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar, and Dayanand Saraswati advocated for ideals such as liberty, social and economic equality, democracy, and justice.

Brahmo Samaj and Raja Ram Mohan Roy:

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy, recognized as the father of Modern India's Renaissance, was a dedicated social reformer who initiated the era of enlightenment and liberal reformist modernization in India.
• In 1828, he established Brahmo Sabha, aiming for the worship of the eternal God while opposing priesthood, rituals, and sacrifices.
• A significant social reform accomplishment was the abolition of Sati in 1829.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated against polygamy, supported women's education, and sought their right to inherit property.
• This fostered rationalism and enlightenment in India, indirectly contributing to the nationalist movement.
• Brahmo Sabha served as the precursor to various social, religious, and political movements in modern India.

Young Bengal and Henry Lui Vivian Derozio:

• Derozio, a teacher at the Hindu College of Calcutta, propagated radical ideas by organizing debates and discussions on literature, philosophy, history, and science.
• He encouraged his followers and students to question authority, and together they formed the Young Bengal, a group of fervent patriots.
• Embracing the ideals of the French Revolution (1789) and British liberal thinking, they challenged social evils like bigotry, superstition, untouchability, purdah system, sati, child marriage, social inequalities, and illiteracy.
• These social and religious reform movements also addressed the racism perpetuated by colonial rule, fostering the development of nationalism against the British Government.

Q3: Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. [Post Independent India]
Ans: The monarchical states subordinate to British India were referred to as Princely States. The term 'princely' was intentionally retained during British rule to signify the rulers' subordination to the British Crown.

Administrative issues:

• Lapse of British Paramountcy: The Indian Independence Act of 1947, based on the Mountbatten Plan, specified the end of the British Crown's paramountcy over the Indian states. Many rulers saw the departure of the British as an opportune moment to declare autonomy and assert their independent statehood.
• Signing of Instruments of Accession: Rulers executed instruments of accession, facilitating their states' accession to the Dominion of India (or Pakistan) on subjects of defence, external affairs, and communications.
• Power and Prestige: Princely states were hesitant to relinquish their power and prestige. States like Jodhpur, Bhopal, and Travancore posed challenges before independence, while Junagarh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir posed issues post-independence.
• Availability of Natural Resources: Some Princely States, possessing substantial natural resources, believed they could sustain independence and hence sought to remain autonomous.
• People Resentment: The Maharaja of Manipur, under public pressure, conducted elections in June 1948. Despite the popularly elected Legislative Assembly's objection, the Maharaja signed a Merger Agreement with the Indian government in September 1949.
• Connectivity and Agrarian Support: A Rajput princely state, despite having a Hindu king and a large Hindu population, leaned towards Pakistan due to Jinnah's offer of free access to the Karachi port, arms manufacturing, military support, and agrarian aid.

Socio-cultural challenges:

• Kashmir: A princely state ruled by a Hindu king over a mainly Muslim population, which hesitated to join either of the two dominions.
• Hyderabad: The largest and wealthiest princely state, covering a significant portion of the Deccan plateau, governed by Nizam Mir Usman Ali over a predominantly Hindu population.
• Peasant Protest: The Telangana Rebellion of 1946–51, a communist-led uprising of peasants against the autocratic rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad, highlighted the struggles of the peasantry and their sacrifices.

The rulers of most states signed the 'Instrument of Accession,' indicating their state's agreement to become part of the Union of India. However, the accession of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir, and Manipur proved more challenging.

Q4: To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment. [Modern History]
Ans: The initial phase of the Congress, known as the moderate phase (1885-1905), was marked by a focus on limited objectives and organizational development. Leaders like Dadabhai Nauroji, P.N. Mehta, D.E. Wacha, W.C. Banerji, S.N. Banerji, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale were prominent figures in this phase and were labeled as moderates due to their commitment to liberalism and moderate politics.

The primary goal of the Moderates was to attain self-government within the British Empire. They advocated patience, reconciliation, and constitutional methods rather than violence, relying on peaceful means to achieve their objectives. Annual sessions were organized, gathering delegates from across the country. Resolutions adopted after discussions were forwarded to the Government for consideration and appropriate action.

Success/Contributions of Moderates:

• Representing progressive forces of the time, they fostered a national awakening, emphasizing common interests and the need for unity against a common enemy.
• Training people in political work and promoting modern ideas.
• Exposing the exploitative character of colonial rule, undermining its moral foundations.
• Emphasizing the basic political truth that India should be ruled in the interest of Indians.
• Establishing a foundation for a more robust, militant, and mass-based national movement in subsequent years.

Early nationalists aimed to awaken national sentiment, educate people in modern politics, and create united public opinion on political matters. Critics accused them of relying on methods like prayers and petitions, deemed as begging. However, their prudent use of constitutional and peaceful methods prevented immediate suppression by the British and laid the groundwork for a more dynamic national movement in the future.

Q5: Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. [Modern History]
Ans: Gandhi's comprehensive plan for national regeneration, termed the constructive programme, aimed at establishing a social order based on truth and non-violence. He believed that foreign domination in India persisted due to the nation's negligence towards fundamental duties. The collective fulfillment of these duties was referred to as the constructive programme.

Constructive Programme during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement:

• Communal Unity: Gandhi emphasized communal unity as an unbreakable unity of hearts, not just political unity. This was exemplified in the Lucknow Pact of 1916 when the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League united against British rule.
• Removal of Untouchability: Gandhi considered untouchability a blot and curse on Indian society. Efforts were made to abolish this evil, leading to the founding of the 'Harijan Sevak Sangh' in 1932 after the Poona Pact.
• Khadi Making: Gandhi promoted Khadi as a symbol of nationalism, economic freedom, equality, and self-reliance. Khadi played a central role in uplifting the village economy, ultimately contributing to the attainment of Gram Swaraj.
• New or Basic Education: Gandhi's concept of new education emphasized nature, society, and crafts as significant mediums. True education, according to him, should draw out and stimulate the spiritual, intellectual, and physical faculties of children, serving as a form of insurance against unemployment.
• Upliftment of Women: In Gandhi's mission of Swaraj, the cooperation of women, farmers, laborers, and students was essential. Due to Gandhi's efforts, women participated in the Indian political struggle for the first time in history.

The integration of Indian society posed a significant challenge in nation-building, potentially leading to conflicts between groups and classes. In this context, the constructive role played by Gandhi was crucial in the nation-building process.

Q6: “There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. [World History]
Ans: The interwar period, though short, witnessed significant global changes in social, political, and economic realms. Politically, it saw the emergence of communism, initiated by the October Revolution and Russian Civil War in Russia following World War I.

Challenges to the Democratic System:

• The economic hardships of the Great Depression fueled social unrest worldwide, resulting in the rise of fascism and, in numerous instances, the collapse of democratic governments.
• In the 1930s, the League of Nations' breakdown and the ascent of aggressive dictatorships posed a serious threat to global democracy.
• Under Nazi rule, the Jewish community faced increasing persecution, including being barred from professional jobs in 1936, restricting their participation in education, politics, higher education, and industry.
• The Spanish Civil War (1936–39) emerged as a military revolt against Spain's Republican government, supported by conservative factions, leading to a devastating civil war.
• The "Greenshirts," a far-right movement and political party in Romania from 1927 into World War II, were ultra-nationalist, anti-Semitic, anti-communist, anti-capitalist, and endorsed the Orthodox Christian faith.
• Fascism extended its influence beyond Europe, notably in East Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Wang Jingwei's Reorganization faction of China's Nationalist Party supported Nazism in the late 1930s.
• The League of Nations' efforts to maintain peace post-World War I proved futile. Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 compelled Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the commencement of World War II.