SELF STUDY HISTORY

Q. “The relations of the Native States, however conducted are essentially relations with the British Crown and not with the Indian Government.” Comment. [UPSC- 1991] Ans: The statement sums up the view of the Indian States Committee (Butler Committee, 1928–29), chaired by Sir Harcourt Butler. The princes’ counsel, Sir Leslie Scott, argued the same case […]

Q. “The tensions between cultural revivalism and modernization shaped the trajectory of the socio-religious reform movements in 19th century India.” Discuss. [UPSC- 2025] Ans: The 19th-century socio-religious reform movements were Indian responses to colonial rule, Western education, Christian missionary criticism and the Orientalist rediscovery of India’s past. Two impulses pulled at them. The modernising impulse […]

Q. The historical significance of tribal and peasant uprisings in India ‘lies in that they established strong and valuable traditions of resistance to British rule’. Discuss. [UPSC- 2023] Ans: The quotation comes from Bipan Chandra (India’s Struggle for Independence). He describes the civil, tribal and peasant uprisings of the late 18th and 19th centuries as […]

Q. Tribal movements should be viewed as‚ ‘History from below‛. Discuss the objects and nature of the movements in 19th century India. [UPSC- 1997] Ans: In the 19th century, tribal communities in central and eastern India, the Western Ghats, the Deccan hills and the North-East repeatedly rose against colonial rule and the outsiders (dikus) it […]

Q. Discuss the origins and character of major peasant and tribal uprisings in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Were these protest movements backwards-looking? [UPSC- 1992] Ans: Between the late 18th and late 19th centuries, as British rule took hold, India saw hundreds of peasant, tribal and “civil” rebellions. “Civil” rebellions were those led by […]

Q. In what ways did the tribal and peasant uprisings of the 19th century contribute to the rise and growth of nationalism in India? Examine. [UPSC- 2025] Ans: In the 19th century, the expansion of colonial rule brought new land revenue systems, forest laws, zamindars, moneylenders, planters and courts into India’s villages and hills. In […]

Q. “The Sufis fostered an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among people of diverse sects and religions.” Discuss. [15 Marks]] Ans: Sufism, the mystical tradition within Islam, reached India from the 11th century, beginning with figures such as Ali Hujwiri (Data Ganj Bakhsh) of Lahore, author of Kashf-ul-Mahjub. From the late 12th century, […]

Q. “The Sufis fostered an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among people of diverse sects and religions.” Discuss. [15 Marks]] NOTE: All those enrolled can send their answers for evaluation in PDF format after scanning (you can use any app) on selfstudyhistory@gmail.com Name your file as your name and day. For example, if […]

Q. Critically assess the major theories concerning the origin of the Rajputs. How does indigenous evidence challenge the interpretations advanced by European scholars? [15 Marks] Ans: The Rajputs emerged as the dominant ruling groups of north and western India from about the 7th–8th centuries, and by the 10th–12th centuries clans such as the Pratiharas, Chahamanas […]

Q. Critically assess the major theories concerning the origin of the Rajputs. How does indigenous evidence challenge the interpretations advanced by European scholars? [15 Marks] NOTE: All those enrolled can send their answers for evaluation in PDF format after scanning (you can use any app) on selfstudyhistory@gmail.com Name your file as your name and day. […]