MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 7 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Key Points

Treaty of Purandar:

• The treaty of Purandar was signed between the Rajput ruler Jai Singh I, who was commander of the Mughal Empire, and Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaje Maharaj.
• Seeing the increasing power of Sivaji, Aurangzeb posted Raja Jai Singh of Amber against him.
• Jai Singh was a great commander and he was honoured several times in the regime of Shahjahan for his brilliant successes.
• After the treaty of Purandar was signed the fort of Purandar was surrendered to the Mughals emperor.
• Terms of the Treaty:

1. Out of his thirty-five forts, Shivaji handed over twenty-three forts to the Mughals which had an annual income of 40 lakh Huns.
2. On the condition of being faithful to the Mughal empire, Shivaji was allowed to maintain his influence over the remaining twelve forts.
3. Shivaji would send his eight-year-old son Shambhaji in the Mughal court in his place where he would be given a mansab of 500 and a post of pride on th recommendations of Raja Jai Singh.
4. Shivaji would present himself in the royal army at the time of need and on the royal command. Shivaji’s proposal of having his control over the province of Konkan and Balaghat – Bijapur’s province –was also accepted which fetched an income of 4 lakh Huns and 5 lakh Huns respectively. He also promised to pay 40 lakh Huns to the Mughal emperor in 13 instalments provided he was assured that these provinces would remain under his control in spite of their impending victory by the Mughals.

• Jahandar Shah was the ninth Mughal Emperor.
• He was the son of Bahadur Shah and the grandson of Alamgir.
• Jahandar Shah ruled for only eleven months before being deposed.

​Muhammad Shah:

• Muammad Shah, was the twelfth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1719 until 1748.
• At the age of 17, he gained the kingdom with the support of the Sayyid brothers.
• Muhammad Shah was a huge supporter of the arts, particularly musical, artistic, and administrative advancements.
• Sada Rangila was his pen name, and he was known as "Muhammad Shah Rangila," as well as "Bahadur Shah Rangila," after his grandfather Bahadur Shah I.
• Muhammad Shah's reign was distinguished by the Mughal Empire's swift and permanent fall, notwithstanding his patronage of the arts.
• The Mughal Empire was already in decline, but Nader Shah of Persia's invasion and subsequent devastation of Delhi, the Mughal capital, hastened the process.

Muhammad Tughlaq separated the posts of Wali and Amir.

Important Points

• Muhammad Tughlaq was the ruler of Delhi Sultanate from 1325 to 1351 AD.
• Before the rule of Muhammad Tughlaq, Iqtas (the provinces) of Delhi Sultanate were initially under the dominion of the nobles.
• Muqtis or Walis or Amir was the name given to the governors of the provinces and were responsible for maintaining law and order and collecting the land revenue.
• The provinces were further divided into Shiqs, which was under the control of the Shiqdar.
• The Shiqs were further divided into Pargana, comprising a number of villages and was headed by the Amil.
• The village remained the basic unit of administration and its headman was called Chaudhri or Muqaddam.
• However during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq, the posts of Wali and Amir was separated.
• Amir was the name given to the governors of the provinces.

• Wali or Muqtis were responsible for maintaining law and order and collection of taxes in their iqtas.

Thus, we can conclude that the posts of Wali and Amir were separated by Muhammad Tughlaq.

Bhagwati sutra is the fifth of the 12 Jain Agamas said to be promulgated by Mahavira. The Bhagwati sutra is said to have been composed by Sudharmaswami by the Śvētāmbara school of Jainism.

Among the given statements, only A and C are correct.

Important Points

• King Anandpal was the Hindushahi ruler of India at the time of the invasion of Mahmud Ghaznavi.
• He succeeded his father Jaipala on the throne of Waihind in 1002 CE. Hence, statement (A) is correct.
• The ever-increasing frequency of Mahmud’s invasions made Anandpal, the Hindushahi ruler, extremely anxious about the safety of his state.
• Hindushahi was the only Hindu state which tried to resist the foreign invaders with the help of other Hindu states.
• In 1009 CE, Anandapala sought support from other Hindu states, collected a large army and proceeded towards Peshawar to challenge Mahmud Ghaznavi.
• Mahmud fought against him in the Second battle of Waihind and defeated him. Thus, statement (B) is not correct.
• Anandapala’s defeat reduced the strength and the territories of Hindushahi kingdom.
• Anandapala was forced to accept a treaty with Mahmud who firmly established his power in Sindh and West Punjab.
• Anandapala shifted his capital to Nandana in the salt range and tried to build up his lost strength but failed. Therefore, statement (C) is correct.

• Fa-Hien (399 AD) was a traveller from China. He travelled from China-Gobi-Central Asia to India. His account is the only literary source specifically talking about the Gupta age society. The account says the following things:

• Buddhists and Brahmins were 2 popular religions that were living in peace.
• High wealth creation during the period.
• Law-abiding people. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Land revenue tax was there.
• Vegetarian people. Nonveg was banned. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• The existence of Caste but harmony was well established.
• Treatment of untouchables was very bad. It proves equality was not there. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• No state interference with individual life.
• Punishments were not severe.
• More freedom was given to people.
• No spy system.

• Accordingly, option C is correct.

​

Fa-Hien

All the statements are correct.

Mahalwari system was a modified version of the zamindari settlement.

I. It was introduced in the Ganga valley, the North-West Provices, parts of Central India, and the Punjab.

II. The revenue settlement was to be made village by village or estate (mahal) by estate with landlords or heads of families who collectively claimed to be the landlords of the village or the estate.

III. In Punjab a modified Mahalwari system known as the village system was introduced. In Mahalwari areas also, the land revenue was periodically revised.

• Muhammad Bin Tughlaq is known for his active interest in experimenting with the coinage.
• According to Barani, the Sultan introduced token currency because the treasury was empty while he needed money to fulfill his schemes of conquest
• According to Barani, the Sultan issued copper coins while Ferishta says that these were of brass or bronze.
• Probably, the Sultan issued coins of both metals.
• Also, the token coin also had inscriptions of its legends in Persian also.
• Muhammad Tughluq introduced beautiful and various types of coins during his reign and fixed up their relative values.
• However, the notable feature of his coinage system was the introduction of token currency and issue of copper and brass coins.
• The Sultan made these token coins legal tenders and kept their value at par with gold and silver coins
• Previously, the copper coin was Jital (Paisa). Now, the Sultan issued Tanka (rupee), a silver coin, also that of copper.

Therefore, we see options (A), (B), and (C) are correct.

Additional Information

• The Sultan for the failure of the scheme. They say that it was a blunder on the part of the Sultan that he did not take proper precaution to check imitation of coins issued by royal mints.
• Those coins, therefore, could be imitated by moderately skilled artisans. Therefore, the citizens began to mint token coins in their houses. In fact, both the Sultan and his subjects were responsible for the failure of this scheme.
• According to Barani, “The house of every Hindu became a mint.”

The correct answer is option 2.Key PointsThe attack of the Mongols:

• The first Mongol invasion of India took place in the reign of Sultan Shams-ud-din lltutmish in 1220-21, under the leadership of Chengez Khan. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Mongols attacks on the Delhi Sultanate increased during the reign of Alauddin Khalji and in the early years of Muhammad Tughluq’s rule-forced the two rulers to mobilise a large standing army in Delhi which posed a huge administrative challenge.

During Khalij Dynasty:

• In 1299, against advice, Delhi sultan Alauddin Khilji attacked the Mongols.
• The advance guard of the Indian army was led by Zafar Khan himself. He defeated the Mongols and pursued them as they withdrew.
• The Mongols took a long time to rally from this setback. Then they attacked at the worst time possible for Alauddin Khilji – when he was busy laying siege to Chittor.
• The Mongols plundered Punjab and burnt everything along the way.
• Alauddin Khilji sent a strong army led by two of his toughest generals: Ghazi Malik and the famous Malik Kafur to engage the invaders. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• They surprised the Mongols on their way back to Central Asia with their plunder.
• Kubak and other Mongol generals were captured and brought back to Siri, along with other prisoners.

During Tughlaq Dynasty:

• The next major Mongol invasion took place after the Khiljis had been replaced by the Tughlaq dynasty in the Sultanate.
• In 1327 the Chagatai Mongols under Tarmashirin, who had sent envoys to Delhi to negotiate peace the previous year, sacked the frontier towns of Lamghan and Multan and besieged Delhi. The Tughlaq ruler paid a large ransom to spare his Sultanate from further ravages.
• Muhammad bin Tughluq asked the Ilkhan Abu Sa'id to form an alliance against Tarmashirin, who had invaded Khorasan, but an attack didn't materialize. Tarmashirin was a Buddhist who later converted to Islam.
• Religious tensions in the Chagatai Khanate were a divisive factor among the Mongols. No more large-scale invasions or even raids took place in India; by this time the Mongol attempt to conquer India had finally ended in failure.
• The raising of taxes and famine in the Ganga-Yamuna belt led to widespread rebellion during Muhammad Tughluq. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Additional Information Administrative challenges during Alauddin Khalij and Muhammad Tughlaq:

Permanent Settlement was introduced in Bengal and Bihar in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis.

1) The man who planned the system was John Shore, who succeeded Cornwallis as Governor-General.

2) The zamindars were not only to act as agents of the government in collecting land revenue from the ryots but also to become the owners of the entire land in their zamindaris.

3) Their right of ownership was transferable but hereditary.

Magadha was a region and one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, 'Great Kingdoms' of the Second Urbanization (600–200 BCE) in what is now south Bihar (before expansion) at the eastern Ganges Plain.

• Magadha played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism.

Important Points

1. Magadha became the most important mahajanapada in about two hundred years. Many rivers such as the Ganga and Son flowed through Magadha.
2. This was important for transport, and water supplies making the land fertile.
3. Parts of Magadha were forested. Elephants, which lived in the forest, could be captured and trained for the army. Forests also provided wood for building houses, carts, and chariots.
4. Besides, there were iron ore mines in the region that could be tapped to make strong tools and weapons.

Hence, Magadha becomes the most powerful mahajanpada in 200 years because it has Various rivers and forest areas. It has also the Iron ore mines.

Some major deities of the Vedic tradition include Indra, Surya, Agni, Ushas, Vayu, Varuna, Vishnu, Mitra, Aditi, Yama, Soma, Sarasvati, Prithvi, and Rudra. Among all Indra is the most important god.

A new technique called Pietra dura (inlaid mosaic work) was introduced for the first time under Jahangir. It was used in Itamad-ud-Daul’s tomb for the first time. It was also the basis for Taj Mahal. Jahangir also constructed the tomb of his father at Sikandra near Agra.

The correct answer is Maheshwar.

Key Points

Navdatoli

• Navdatoli refers to both a modern-day village and a chalcolithic era settlement located on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh in central India.
• The ancient village was inhabited through four stages each defined by distinctly different types of pottery.
• The site was excavated between 1957 and 1959 over two seasons. Both the village and the site are located roughly a mile south of the modern-day town of Maheshwar.
• Maheshwar and Navdatoli are situated in one of the fertile alluvial stretches and on the opposite banks of the Narmada river.
• The sites were jointly excavated by H.D. Sankalia, S.B. Deo and Z.D. Ansari, first in 1952-53 and further horizontal excavations were undertaken in 1957-59.

Additional Information

Chalcolithic Age

• It starts from 4000 to 1200 BC.
• It began after the Neolithic Age.
• It is also called the Copper Stone Age.
• At this age, metal began to use for making tools.
• Copper was the first metal used by human beings.

Main Chalcolithic sites in Madhya Pradesh

• Kaytha
• Nagda
• Maheshwar
• Navdatoli
• Eran
• Aavra
• Besnagar

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.

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.

Chhath is an extraordinary festival of Bihar. It is the only Vedic festival which is dedicated to the Sun God of the Hindus and to Chhathi maiya (ancient Vedic Goddess Usha).

• The policy of commercialization of agriculture by the British encouraged market-oriented produc­tion of cash crops such as opium, tea, coffee, sugar, jute and indigo.
• Indian peasants were forced to grow these cash crops that spoiled the fertility of the land and no other crop could be grown on it.
• Trade and money relations existed in the countryside even during the Mughal reign.
• As soon as the EIC desperately began to acquire more and more territories it insisted land tax be paid in cash.
• The British rule introduced cash assessments in the system of land revenue.
• Gradually, the former system of payment of land revenue in kind went out of fashion.
• This compelled the cultivator to sell a part of his produce.
• This was, however, not the whole problem.
• A new merchant class appeared in rural India who took advantage of the abysmal indebtedness of the peasantry.
• Secondly, the effect of monetization could not go far until internal means of transport were improved.
• The railway lines were built by the British rulers.
• The agricultural crops reached the parts of the then Madras, Calcutta, Bombay or Karachi from self-sufficient villages with the expansion of the railway lines
• The basic motive behind the tremendous spurt in the construction of the railway lines was to subserve the interests of the British industrialists in England.
• Colonial commerce brought the industrial revolution there.
• The raw material of the British cotton industry was almost entirely colonial, if not purely Indian.
• With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, transhipment costs of agricultural crops per cubic ton were reduced by roughly 30 p.c. Indian products, as a result, were sold at cheaper rates in Europe.
• Thus market—mainly for cotton—widened. As transport costs declined with the expansion of the means of transport, other agricultural crops, like rice and wheat, were added to the export list.

The major vocal forms or styles associated with Hindustani classical music are Dhrupad, Khayal and Tarana.

Other forms include dhamar, trivat, chaiti, kajari, tappa, ashtapadis, thumri, dadra, ghazal and bhajan. These are folk or semi-classical or light classical styles, as they often do not adhere to the rigorous rules of classical music.

All forms of music and their themes are correctly matched.

Treaty of Bassein was a pact signed in 1802 between the British East India Company and Baji Rao II, the Maratha Peshwa of Pune. In 1803, Raghoji II Bhonsle of Nagpur signed the Treaty of Deogaon with British. Treaty of Surji Anjangaon was signed on December 30, 1803 between the British and Daulat Rao Sindhia.

The Somavamsis dynasty is credited with the construction of the Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar, which is one of the most celebrated temples in Odisha, showcasing the architectural brilliance of the era.

Key Points

• The Lingaraja Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the largest and most prominent temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, India.
• This temple is a splendid example of Odisha (formerly known as Kalinga) architecture and represents the architectural prowess of the Somavamshi dynasty, which is credited with its construction

Additional Information

Somavamshi Dynasty and Their Contribution:

• The Somavamshis, also known as the Somavamsis, held sway over the Odisha region from around the late 9th century to the 11th century. They were great patrons of religion and the arts, under whose reign the region saw a significant transformation in its cultural and religious landscape. The Somavamshis were ardent devotees of Hinduism, particularly Shaivism (worship of Lord Shiva), and their rule marked a period of extensive temple building.

Architectural Significance of the Lingaraja Temple:

• The Lingaraja Temple stands as a testament to the peak of Kalinga architectural achievement, which is characterized by its grand structure, intricate carvings, and the towering spire (rekha deula) that dominates the Bhubaneswar skyline. Constructed in the 11th century, this architectural marvel showcases the development of temple architecture under the Somavamshis.
• The temple complex encompasses a vast area with the main deity being Harihara, a form of Shiva. It artfully combines elements that are symbolic of Shiva and Vishnu, reflecting a synthesis of Shaivite and Vaishnavite traditions. The Lingaraja Temple's construction is significant not just for its religious implications but also for its role in the evolution of regional art and architecture. Its style influenced the construction of later temples in Odisha and is celebrated for its aesthetic and spiritual importance.
• The construction of the Lingaraja Temple under the Somavamshis is emblematic of the dynasty's dedication to promoting and preserving Hindu practices, alongside their investment in creating monumental works that would bear lasting cultural significance. Their patronage extended beyond the religious to the cultural and educational realms, helping to cultivate a rich heritage that would influence succeeding generations.

The correct answer is option

• Jahandar Shah (1712-1713 AD):
  • He gave the title of 'Mirza Raja' to Jai Singh of Malwa and 'Maharaja' to Ajit Singh of Marwar.
  • Encouraged Ijara System(the revenue farming/contract farming and abolished Jazia).
  • First Mughal ruler who killed by Sayyid Brothers in captivity.
  • Sayyid Brothers: Abdullah Khan and Hussain Ali.
• Muhammad Shah(1719-1748 AD):
  • His name was Roshan Akhtar.
  • Also called Rangila.
  • Maratha under Baji Rao for the first in Mughal history raided in Delhi.
  • Nadir Shah of Persia invaded with the help of Sadat Khan who defeated Mughal army at the Battle of Karnal.

In 1806, there was a mutiny at Vellore by the sepoys due to the replacement of the turban they wore, by a leather cockade.

Key Points

• The sepoys realised that their service conditions, at times impinged upon their religious beliefs.
• At Vellore in 1806, there was a mutiny by the sepoys due to the replacement of the turban they wore, by a leather cockade.
• The Vellore Mutiny predated the Indian Revolt of 1857 by about 50 years.
• It erupted on 10th July 1806 in Vellore, present-day Tamil Nadu, and lasted only for a day, but it was brutal and shook the British East India Company.

• It was the first major mutiny by the Indian sepoys in the East India Company.

Hence, we can conclude that in 1806, there was a mutiny at Vellore by the sepoys due to the replacement of the turban they wore, by a leather cockade.

Ellora  is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated in Maharashtra , India.

All Ellora monuments were built by Hindu dynasties, such as the Rashtrakuta dynasty, who built some of the Hindu and Buddhist group of caves, and Yadav dynasty who built some of the Jain group of caves. These caves belong to 6th to 10th century A.D. The site presents monuments and artwork of Buddhism ,Hinduism and Jainism.  

Out of 34 caves carved out of Charanandari Caves, 12 are Buddhist caves, 17 are Hindu caves and 5 are Jain caves.

Cave 16 of Ellora features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, i.e., the Kailasha temple , a chariot shaped monument dedicated to Shiva.

King Charles II of England handed over Bombay Island to the company in 1661 on an annual payment of 10 pounds.

Pandyas:

• The kingdom belongs to the Sangam Period. (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.)
• The first time it was mentioned by Megasthenes (not Fa-Hien). Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Pandyas were celebrated for pearls.
• Some evidence of Matriarchal Influence in the Pandya society. Megesthenes described the Pandya queen at the time, Pandaria as the daughter of Herakles.
• The territory occupied the Southernmost and Southeastern portions of the Indian Peninsula.
• It had its capital at Madurai.
• Sangam literature refers to the Pandyan rulers but it doesn’t give any connected account.
• The Pandyan Kings profited from trade with the Roman empire and sent embassies to the Roman emperor Augustus. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Brahmins enjoyed considerable influence, and the Pandyas king performed Vedic sacrifices in the early centuries of the Christian era.
• Accordingly, option B is correct.

Regency of Bairam Khan (1556-1560 AD)

• At Humayun's death, Akbar was only thirteen years old. It was his tutor and Humayun's confidant, Bairam Khan. who served as the regent from 1556-1560.
• In the first phase of the reign, the second battle of Panipat (1556) was fought between Akbar’s forces and Afghan forces under Hem Chandra Vikramaditya (Hemu). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The nobles wanted to share power and influence with Bairam Khan. Bairam Khan, on the other hand, was determined to exercise power rigidly. He began the process of eliminating all those nobles who would challenge him. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Accordingly, option (a) is correct.

Sarojini Naidu was first Indian woman to become President of INC; first woman was Annie Besant. Thus, first statement is incorrect. Second is correct. Third is incorrect because she was awarded by British “Kaiser-i-Hind medal” for her work during the plague epidemic in India.

The correct answer is 2 only.
Key-Points

• Congress captured 57 out of 102 seats in the Central Assembly. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Muslim league got 86.6 percent of the Muslim votes. It captured the 30 reserved seats in the Central Assembly. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• In the provincial elections, it got a majority in Bengal and Sindh only. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Additional Information

Elections of 1945-46

• Performance of Congress
  • It got 91 percent of non-Muslim votes.
  • It captured 57 out of 102 seats in the Central Assembly.
  • In the provincial elections, it got a majority in most provinces except in Bengal, Sindh, and Punjab.
  • The Congress majority provinces included the NWFP and Assam which were being claimed for Pakistan.
• Performance of Muslim League
  • It got 86.6 percent of the Muslim votes.
  • It captured the 30 reserved seats in the Central Assembly.
  • In the provincial elections, it got a majority in Bengal and Sindh.
  • Unlike in 1937, now the League clearly established itself as the dominant party among Muslims.

Indian National Army (INA)

• In 1939, Subash Chandra Bose resigned from the congress and organized Forward Bloc for a more vigorous national struggle.
• The government first imprisoned him, and thereafter kept him confined to his house under close watch. In 1941, Subash Chandra Bose escaped from India to the Soviet Union for help.
• Later the Soviet Union joined hands with its allies. This made Bose escape to Germany. In 1943 he reached Japan and organize an armed struggle against British rule with Japanese help.
• In 1942 Capitan Mohan Singh formed INA comprising the captured Indian soldiers along with the Indian Independence league of Rash Bihari Bose.
• This first INA collapsed and was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership (Mohan Singh) and the Japanese military over its role in Japan’s war in Asia.
• It was revived under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943.
• In July, at a meeting in Singapore, Rash Behari Bose handed over control of the organization to Subhas Chandra Bose.
• In 1944 the INA tried to invade India through Imphal and Kohima but the campaign failed. The INA members were imprisoned and tried. People across the country, from all walks of life, participated in the movement against the INA trials.

Rebellion by Naval Ratings

• On February 18, 1946, some 1100 Royal Indian Navy (RIN) ratings of HMIS Talwar went on a strike to protest against
  • racial discrimination (demanding equal pay for Indian and white soldiers)
  • unpalatable food
  • abuse by superior officers
  • the arrest of a rating for scrawling ‘Quit India’ on HMIS Talwar
  • INA trials
  • use of Indian troops in Indonesia, demanding their withdrawal.
• The rebellious ratings hoisted the tricolor, crescent, and the hammer and sickle flags on the mast of the rebel fleet. Other ratings soon joined and they went around Bombay in lorries holding Congress flags threatening Europeans and policemen. Crowds brought food to the ratings and shop- keepers invited them to take whatever they needed.
• Patel and Jinnah persuaded the ratings to surrender on February 23 with an assurance that national parties would prevent any victimization.

The correct matching of the ruler with the related inscription is: (a) - i, (b) - ii, (c) - iii, (d) - iv

Key Points

• Dharmapal:
  • ​Dharmapala (770–810 CE) was the second emperor of the Pala Empire of Bengal and Bihar.
  • He renovated the Nalanda university, built the Vikramasila university and Somapura Mahavihara, all of them were Buddhist academic centres.
  • The copper plate inscription of Dharmapal found in Khalimpur village of West Bengal gives an account of Dharmapal's great power and influence.
• Devpal:
  • Devapala was a great ruler who ruled the Pala Empire of Bengal in the Indian Subcontinent from 810 to 850 CE.
  • He succeeded his father, Dharamapala (ruled 770–810 CE), as the third king of the dynasty.
  • Earlier historians considered Devapala as a nephew of Dharmapala, but the discovery of the Munger (Monghyr) copper inscription changed this view.
  • This particular inscription clearly describes Devapala as the son of Dharmapala.
• Narayanpal:
  • ​Narayanapala was the seventh emperor of the Pala dynasty.
  • The Bhagalpur copper-plate grant dated in his 17th regnal year provide information about his reign.
• Mahipal-I:
  • ​Mahipala was the 9th Pala king and his reign continued for 50 years.
  • He was successful in restoring the older glory of the Pala dynasty and gave it a new lease of life.
  • He was the son of Vigrahapala II and succeeded him to the throne.
  • After assuming the throne, he immediately began the process of restoring Bengal to its former glory.

  • According to the Sarnath inscription, he gave orders for the construction of sacred structures throughout Bihar.

Therefore, the correct matching of the ruler with the related inscription is:

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

The All India Kisan Congress/Sabha:

• It is a peasant front working for the rights of the farmers and the anti-feudal movement in India.
• It was founded in April 1936 at the Indian National Congress (INC) Lucknow Session as the All India Kisan Congress.
• The All India Kisan Sabha was founded by Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as president and N.G. Ranga as general secretary. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• After the split of the Communist Party of India in 1964, the front was also divided into two — All India Kisan Sabha (CPI) and All India Kisan Sabha (CPI-M; Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha).
• All India Kisan Sabha is also known as ‘Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha.’ Hence statement 3 is correct.
• The motives of the All India Kisan Sabha were:
  • To abolish the Zamindari system,
  • To reduce land revenue,
  • To institutionalize credit.
• A Kisan manifesto was issued, and a periodical under Indulal Yagnik started.
• The AIKS and the Congress held their sessions in Faizpur in 1936.
• The AIKS agenda strongly influenced the Congress manifesto (especially the agrarian policy) for the 1937 provincial elections. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The All India Kisan Sabha has been a famous peasant struggle that started in the 20th Century against the Zamindari System.