History Optional Paper I (2018): Section A [Ancient India]

Q.1 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.

(i) Megalithic burial site

(ii) Chalcolithic site

(iii) Cave paintings

(iv) Paleolithic site

(v) Political and Cultural centre

(vi) Terracotta centre

(vii) Harappan site

(viii) Vaishnava cultural site

(ix) Painted Grey Ware site

(x) Chalcolithic site

(xi) Early agricultural centre

(xii) Early Harappan site

(xiii) An ancient temple

(xiv) Political and Cultural centre

(xv) An ancient sea port

(xvi) Buddhist centre

(xvii) Inscriptional site

(xviii) An ancient capital

(xix) A Jaina centre

(xx) An ancient capital

Q.2 (a) How did early Indian historical tradition, as reflected in Itihasa-Purana, emerge? What are the distinctive features of this genre? [20 Marks]

Q.2 (b) “Archaeological evidence does not give direct access to the possible social and political dimensions of the decline of the Harappan civilization. What it does indicate very clearly is that the Harappan culture underwent a gradual process of de-urbanization”? [15 Marks]

Q.2 (c) Give an account of gana-sanghas (non-monarchical state systems) ? Why did they decline? [15 Marks]

Q.3 (a) Do you agree with the popular view that Mauryas established a unitary and highly centralized if not monolithic state system? [20 Marks]

Q.3 (b) The concept of Shramanic religions, with particular reference to Buddhism, had their roots in Upanisadic ideas. Discuss. [15 Marks]

Q.3 (c) “Doubtless it was not a free state; it was any rate a state” (K A N Sastri). Reflect upon the nature of local self government institutions in the Chola country. [15 Marks]

Q.4 (a) What was the impact of trans-regional and trans-continental trade in the post Mauryan period on social and cultural life of India ? [20 Marks]

Q.4 (b) “Utpanna dravide bhaktih, Karnate vriddhimagata I

               Sthita kinchit maharashtre gurjare jirnatam gata II”

                                                                                         – Padmapurana

              Account for the emergence of bhakti in Dravida desa. [15 Marks]

Q.4 (c) Discuss the experimentations with art and architecture during the Gupta-Vakataka period.  [15 Marks]

Note: All questions are directly/indirectly from our test series and solved questions answers.