Ideas of History: WBBSE Class 10 History questions and answers

Summary

In history, we examine how things have evolved over time. From prehistoric times to the present, it chronicles humanity’s long and winding journey. The study of history is a great way to gain insight into past events. As a result, the events of the past become more understandable. How things have changed since then is something we are well aware of. Learning about past cultures and lifestyles is one of the benefits of historical research. Modern cultures have their foundations in the cultures of the past.

The field of study known as “historiography” examines the methods used by historians to piece together historical events. The historiography of a topic is a catalogue of the various means, resources, and approaches used by historians to investigate it. Understanding how people’s personalities and cultures have changed over time through the lens of sports history is possible thanks to historical research. The modern forms of many of today’s most popular sports can be traced back to simpler games and pastimes of the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a long history linking sports to national pride and identity, as is the case with many other forms of recreation.

Food is defined as anything eaten for the purpose of maintaining life. People’s dietary habits change as they move up or down the socioeconomic ladder. Food preparation and eating rules can be very different from one culture to the next. Each culture has its own way of life, and this includes the foods that people like to eat. The influence of religious norms on people’s preferences regarding what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and what does not. A person’s spiritual beliefs can affect their eating habits just as much as anything else in their lives.

Historians call the study of the intricate and varied history of clothing “historiography.” We shouldn’t forget that the clothes we wear also have a history to share. While dress codes exist in every culture, some are more strict than others. Because of their significance to the group’s identity, these practises eventually became widely accepted. As culture evolves and people’s perspectives change, so do these concepts. The fashion people wore also changed accordingly. Changes in how people dress have been one of the clearest signs that the modern world has come to a culture.

The development of civilization was aided by the network of roads and telephones. Since India is a river country, numerous ancient Indian civilizations emerged along its waterways. Boats were the obvious mode of transportation due to their proximity to the shore. On land, bullock carts were the most efficient mode of transportation. Bullock carts are still in use today, especially in more rural areas, for the transportation of goods. Transport was also provided by elephants and horses. Around the middle of the 20th century, there was a big change in how transportation systems worked. Earlier, people relied on slower modes of transportation, but now we have trains, buses, planes, and metro rails. The Dak Chowki was the primary mode of communication before the development of railroads and the telegraph. Thanks to tools like the internet, science has gotten to the point where you can learn about the whole world in just a few minutes.

The visual arts enrich our understanding of the past. As a result, it helps bring attention to cultural history and encourages the recording of oral histories. There is no better way to get a complete picture of past events, situations, and people than through paintings and photographs.

Military history is the study of wars and how they have changed politics, culture, and the economy over the course of human history. War’s origins, opposing ideologies’ military tenets, governmental support for armed conflict, the technological, strategic, leadership, and tactical frameworks employed, and their evolution over time, are all central themes in the study of military history. In military history, everything about war is written down, from the beginning to the end.

One of the most pressing issues in academia today is studying women’s history. Women have always been pivotal figures in our culture and our history. The study of women of historical significance, both as individuals and as parts of larger groups, as well as the impact of historical events on these women, are all central to the field of women’s history.

Information about India’s past is primarily gleaned from official government documents. Records kept by British officials, police and intelligence reports, letters and correspondence from government officials, and the accounts of English officers, written in the context of their own experiences, all constitute official government documents.

In an autobiography, the author writes about his or her own life from his or her own unique point of view. A public figure’s memoir is an autobiographical account of that person’s life and times. Bipin Chandra Pal’s autobiography, Sattar Batsar, is a one-of-a-kind work that sheds light on many vague events that took place in his native India. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, women’s rights activist and feminist educator. Her autobiography, “Jibaner Jharapata,” tells us a lot about her and the world right now. Rabindranath’s upbringing is reflected in his autobiography, “Jiban Smriti.” It has done a good job of depicting life in the 1860s and 1870s.

Reconstructing modern Indian history relies heavily on articles published in periodicals and newspapers. The newspapers “Bangadarshan” and “Somprakash,” for example, made the Indian people more aware of politics by pointing out the wrongdoings of the British government.

Textual

Multiple choice questions (MCQs)

1. Who is called the father of history:

(a) Ibn Khalduin
(b) Herodotus
(c) Vincent Smith
(d) Thukydides

Answer: (b) Herodotus

2. The spokesman of history of subaltern groups:

(a) Dr. Ranajit Guha
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) A. L. Rouse
(d) C. M. Joshi

Answer: (a) Dr. Ranajit Guha

3. The poet who wrote the epic Illiad :

(a) Thukyidides
(b) Samanti Laksari
(c) Homer
(d) Jeremy Black

Answer: (c) Homer

4. The newspaper which was edited by Balgangadhar Tilak :

(a) Maratha
(b) Induprakash
(c) Indian Mirror
(d) Bengalee

Answer: (a) Maratha

True or False

(a) ‘Bangadarshan’ was a journal edited by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Answer: True

(b) From the decade of 1970, the history of sports gained papularity at the endevour of the British.

Answer: False

(c) ‘Slavaging the civilized’ was written by Dr. Ramchandra Rangaraj.

Answer: False

(d) The meaning of the term ‘history’ is to search.

Answer: False

Explain properly the statement below

Statement: History is the best medium to understand and know about human civilisation.

Explanation:
(i) The job of history is to enquire about the political, economic, social and cultural advancement of human beings.
(ii) History is related to thoughts, search, observation of analysis.
(iii) History is the tales of bravery of kings.

Statement: Modern studies of History have brought to fore every side of human life.

Answer: (i) The job of history is to enquire about the political, economic, social and cultural advancement of human beings.

Explanation:
(i) History is the main pillar of human progress.
(ii) Nowadays, the main topic of the study of history has become the social history of human civilisation.
(iii) In modern history a new civilisation has taken inceptions on the basis of logical ideology.

Answer: (ii) Nowadays, the main topic of the study of history has become the social history of human civilisation.

1. The word Historia is a _____ word (Greek/Roman/Italian).

Answer: Greek

2. Kumud Nath Mallik is a (historian of the art subject/local historian/subaltern historian.)

Answer: local historian

3. Tuzk-I-Babari is the autobiography of (Babar/ Humayun/ Jehangir)

Answer: Babar

4. The leader of the Nazi regiment was – (Hitler/Mussolini/Geovani gented).

Answer: Hitler

Match the Following

Left pillar	Right pillar
(1) A Book written by Banabhatta	(1) Buddha Charita
(2) A book written by Aswaghosa	(2) Machael Jackson
(3) He book written the book my story	(3) Harsha Chasita
(4) The book moon warm has been written by	(4) Herylene Monsure

Answer:

(1) – (3)
(2) – (1)
(3) – (2)
(4) – (4)

Left column	Right column
(1) Bengal Gazette	(1) Balgangadhar Tilak
(2) Keshari	(2) Lala Lajpat Rai
(3) Hindu Patriot	(3) Janes August us Hicky
(4) ‘Panjab Keshari’	(4) Harish Chandra Mukherjee

Answer:

(1) – (3)
(2) – (1)
(3) – (4)
(4) – (2)

Very short answer-type questions

1. What is science of human society?

Answer: History is the study of man as he lives in society. It is a social science.

2. Write the name of biography book written by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Answer: The book entitled Letters from a Father to His Daughter is a collection of 30 letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, to his daughter Priyadarshini, later Indira Gandhi.

3. Who was the author of the book ‘Tuzk-i-Babara’?

Answer: Tuzk-i-Babari is the autobiography of Babar.

4. Who is the author of the book ‘JibanSmrity’?

Answer: Rabindranath Tagore wrote his first autobiography Jibansmriti around the age of 50.

5. Who has written the book, ‘Jibaner Jharapata’?

Answer: Sarala Devi Chaudhurani wrote the autobiography Jibaner Jharapata (Life’s Fallen Leaves).

6. What are the important materials for writing books on history?

Answer: Source materials are essential for the reconstruction of history. Historians divide the source materials for modern Indian history into primary and secondary sources. Important materials include:

Government documents (regarded as primary sources), such as reports, narratives, diary entries of police, and intelligence reports.
Speeches (considered primary source).
Autobiographies and memoirs (considered secondary sources).
Interpretation and analysis of primary documents (secondary sources).
Letters and correspondences.
Periodicals and newspapers, which are considered authoritative versions of events in modern history.

7. Who is the author of ‘Murshidabad Kahim’?

Answer: Nikhilnath Roy wrote ‘Murshidabad Kahini’.

8. Who is the author of ‘Nadea Kahim’?

Answer: Kumudnath Mallick wrote ‘Nadiya Kahini’.

9. Where is ‘Ajanta’ cave situated.

Answer: The Ajanta Caves are situated in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India.

10. Who was the editor of ‘Banga Darshan Patrika’?

Answer: The Bangadarshan was published under the editorship of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

Short answer-type question

1. Why is History called the source of all knowledge?

Answer: As an account of the past, history or itihasa suggests further that it is one of the prime sources of our knowledge about ourselves. It teaches how to look at life with serious intent.

2. Name a French historian and also the name of one of his books.

Answer: A notable French historian is Fernand Braudel. One of his major works is The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II.

3. When do you understand by social history?

Answer: Social history is the history of entire society from socio-historical point of view. It is a broad branch of history that studies the experiences of ordinary people. The social history incorporates the accounts of the daily life of the people, social and economic relationship between the people of various stratums in society. It also includes state of the class of labourers, religious affairs. Accounts of culture such as music and literature, education and thought in different times are given special importance in socio-historical studies.

4. Mention the names of two famous Indian historians, and name of a book written by each of them.

Answer: Two famous Indian historians and their books are:

(i) Ramchandra Guha, who wrote books such as The Unquiet Wood and Corner of a Foreign Field.
(ii) Niharranjan Roy, who wrote Bangaleer Itihas.

5. What was the name of first Indian printed newspaper?

Answer: The first Indian printed newspaper was Hicky’s Bengal Gazette.

6. Who was its editor?

Answer: Its editor was James Augustus Hicky.

7. Name some of the persons who are presently engaged in the study of environment.

Answer: Scholars such as Mahesh Rangarajan and Ramchandra Guha are presently engaged in environmental studies.

8. Name two autobiographies in India (of Indians).

Answer: Two autobiographies in India are:

Jibansmriti of Rabindranath Tagore.
Sattar Batsar (Seventy Years) of Bipin Chandra Pal.

9. Name to prominent Scientists who are engaged in the writing of history of transport in India.

10. Name to biographies written in Mughal period.

Answer: Two notable biographical works from the Mughal period are:

Baburnama: The autobiography of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire.
Akbarnama: The official biography of Emperor Akbar, written by Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak.

11. Who do you mean by local history?

Answer: Local history may be defined as the study of history in a geographically local context. Often such history concentrates on local community. It seeks to show how varied the study of local community can be. Local history is an important area of socio-historical studies.

Analytical-type questions

1. Write about the importance of government documents and of memoirs as sources of the study of history?

Answer: Government documents are primary sources and constitute important documents and reports published by the Indian Government at the Central and State level. India Office Records (IOR) are considered the best government documents of India under colonial rule. Government documents such as reports, narratives, diary entries of police, intelligence reports, and similar materials are regarded as primary source materials. The interpretation and analysis of these documents constitute secondary sources.

While speeches are considered primary sources, memoirs are secondary sources. A memoir is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events of his or her life. Historically, however, a memoir may be defined as a category of biography or autobiography. In short, while an autobiography tells the story of a life, a memoir often tells a story from life. In the reconstruction of modern Indian history, the autobiographies and memoirs of eminent personalities of contemporary India are of immense value.

2. What do you understand by ‘history’? Write about the special feature of the study of history?

Answer: The English term ‘history’ is derived from the Greek word ‘historia’, which means inquiry. The Sanskrit word ‘itihasa’, derived from ‘iti-ha-asa’, implies the idea of the state of affairs as it prevailed before or earlier. As an account of the past, history or itihasa suggests it is one of the prime sources of our knowledge about ourselves, teaching us how to look at life with serious intent. History is the study of man as he lives in society; it is a social science. It studies man as a social being living in a geographical and natural environment, keeping an account of man’s achievements, how he masters nature, and looks over it. Some view history as a science, conducting inquiries and observing findings in the laboratory of society, though it arrives at no universal laws.

A special feature of the study of history is that it is not merely a set of laws or generalizations; rather, it is the story of man’s progress. It follows the map of man’s rise and fall in politics, religious life, artistic and literary activities, scientific enterprise, etc. Modern historical inquiry is not confined to narrating chronicles of kings and dynasties but presents a vast panorama of human society. While dates and years of political events form the skeleton, history proper is the synoptic view of the people’s comprehensive civilizational progress. This is considered real history.

3. Write about the letters and such other writings as documents in the construction and study of history?

Answer: Correspondences, such as letters, are an important source of information for the reconstruction of contemporary history. For instance, the letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter Indira Gandhi, collected in ‘Letters from a Father to His Daughter’, served not only to bring them closer but also communicated important knowledge. These letters described how human beings adjusted to their surroundings, explained the difference between man and animals, discussed the essence of Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and touched upon complex topics like race, religion, Egyptian mummies, and the beginning of communication. Such letters are a store-house of knowledge and, while not simply explaining facts, leave room for further studies.

Other writings that serve as documents in the construction and study of history include government documents like reports, narratives, diary entries of police, and intelligence reports. Autobiographies and memoirs, which provide personal accounts and reflections on life events, are also valuable. Additionally, periodicals (magazines, journals, newsletters) and newspapers, which publish information on contemporary events and various developments, are considered authoritative sources that historians use in their study.

4. Give a brief accounts of Indian news papers and journals of the early period?

Answer: Periodicals and newspapers are important sources of information for drawing the map of contemporary events and are considered authoritative versions of events in modern history.

Journals, magazines, newsletters, etc., published at regular intervals are classified as ‘periodicals’. Early periodicals like Prabasi, Sabuj-patra, Kallol, and others were very popular among Bengalee readers. Bangadarshan, published from Calcutta in April 1872 under the editorship of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was the first literary journal of its kind in Bengal.

Newspapers are collections of articles about current events, usually published daily, and serve as great sources for local, national, and international news. Hickey’s Gazette, dating back to March 1781, is an early example. During the second half of the eighteenth century, new papers like Somprakash entered the field. Somprakash was a weekly paper published on 15 November 1858, initially edited by Vidyasagar, and later by Dwaraka Nath Vidyabhushan. It attained a foremost position among Bengali newspapers and taught Bengali people interested in journalism a new style. An important aspect of these early printed journals and newspapers was that they addressed social problems of the contemporary period, making people conscious about them, thus providing important sources for writing history.

5. What do you understand by military history. Write about its importance?

Answer: Military history involves paying due attention to the military aspect of a country and her people, acknowledging that war has been fought in the past and continues to be waged. The earliest known references to armies are found in the Vedas and the epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Numerous historians have written on the military history of India from ancient times to the twentieth century. A recent detailed study is found in ‘A Military History of India and South Asia: From the East India Company to the Nuclear Era’ (2008).

The importance of military history lies in understanding this significant aspect of a nation’s past and present. Furthermore, historians of military history also deal with the policy of the government in going for war, and their work thus helps to mould the foreign policy of a country.

6. Write about the contribution in making of history science and technology and medical sciences and its?

Answer: The history of science, technology, and medicine reveals their development and contribution over time. ‘Science’ is an umbrella term covering several domains of inquiry, often involving collective enterprise through institutions like research laboratories and educational bodies.

The story began humbly in Bengal. John Mack’s book on Chemistry in Bengali (1804) was an early event. The foundation of Hindu College (1817) and the School Book Society (1817), which published a mathematical treatise ‘Ganit’, followed. Regular science teaching began in Hindu College in 1824. Calcutta Medical College was founded in 1835, where Madhusudan Gupta pioneered human dissection and translated an anatomy textbook into Sanskrit. In 1843, a Civil Engineering Department opened in Hindu College, and Medical Science began to be taught in Bengali in 1852. Journals like Banga Darshan started featuring science articles from 1872, and Bankim Chandra published ‘Bijnan Rahasya’ in 1875.

The twentieth century saw significant contributions like Jagadish Chandra Bose’s ‘Response in Living and Non-living’ and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy’s ‘History of Hindu Chemistry’. Ramendra Sundar Trivedi became known for his popular science essays. Akshay Kumar Datta propagated a modern scientific outlook through books on Geography, Physics, Astronomy, mathematics, and Geology. U. N. Brahmachari’s research paper ‘Kala-azar: Its Treatment’ (1927) was another important event. After India’s independence in 1947, several institutes were established that helped advance science, technology, and medicine. This historical progression shows the gradual but significant development and contribution of these fields.

Explanatory questions

1. Write about the importance of letters and periodicals as sources of history.

Answer: Correspondences are an important source of information for the reconstruction of contemporary history. Letters can communicate important things, describe how human beings slowly adjusted to their surroundings, explain major differences between man and other animals, and discuss complex topics like the essence behind great Indian epics, race, religion, the beginning of communication, and more, making them a store-house of knowledge. While letters may not simply explain various facts, they leave room for further studies for the readers.

Periodicals and newspapers are also important sources of information that help to draw the map of contemporary events. In modern history, these are considered as authoritative versions of events which historians can use unhesitatingly in their study. Periodicals, such as magazines, journals, and newsletters published at regular intervals, offer advantages like timeliness, providing information more quickly compared to books, and publishing the latest developments in different fields of study. Newspapers, typically published daily, are great sources for local, national, and international news, publishing articles on current events. In the articles, different opinions are also expressed that help to form the personal opinion of the readers. An important aspect of printed journals, newspapers, etc., was that they addressed social problems of the contemporary period and thereby made people conscious about them. Historians find these important sources of information in writing the history of the country.

2. In the study of modern history, elaborate the importance of govt documents and autobiographies.

Answer: In the study of modern history, government documents and autobiographies hold significant importance. Government documents are primary sources, constituting important documents and reports published by the Indian Government at the Central and State level, like the India Office Records (IOR) from the colonial rule. These include reports, narratives, diary entries of police, intelligence reports, and such other things. One of the main features of modern administration is to maintain official records of every instruction given by superior officers to their subordinates, and it is usual practice to keep notes of deliberations in meetings; these records are preserved in Archives (National and State). Photography, encouraged by entities like the East India Company to record archaeological sites, also became a key element in identifying important archaeological evidence, forming part of these records. While the documents themselves are primary source materials, their interpretation and analysis are the secondary sources.

Autobiographies and memoirs are secondary sources crucial for the reconstruction of modern Indian history. A memoir is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events of his or her life, and may historically be defined as a category of biography or autobiography. In short, while an autobiography tells the story of a life, a memoir often tells a story from life. In the reconstruction of modern Indian history, the autobiographies of eminent personalities of contemporary India are of immense value. In this context, the Jibansmriti of Rabindranath Tagore, Atmajibani (or Sattar Batsar) of Bipin Chandra Pal, and My Experiments with Truth of Mahatma Gandhi, etc., are most important.

3. In the study of modern history what is the importance of the study of sports and environments?

Answer: In modern history, the study of sports is important as sports and games are objects of national identity. They can act as boosters for national spirit, as exemplified when the Mohan Bagan Club of Calcutta won the Indian Football Association Shield in 1911 by defeating the British East York’s Regiment; the defeat of the British players was a great booster for the national spirit. Ever since the 1970s, the history of sports has caught on, and histories of sports came to be written. Works like Boria Majumder’s book Twenty-two Yards of Freedom represent a landmark dealing with the social history of cricket. Ramchandra Guha enriched the history of sports through his writings and also suggested the possibility of opening international and political relations through cricket.

The study of the history of environment is important because it tries to explore the interaction between human cultures and the environment. The influence of the environment moulds the thought and dealings in life of the respective people, as seen in the influence of the Lake District on Wordsworth’s poetry or the landscape of Gangetic Bengal on Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry. In the wake of global warming and other environmental hazards, inquiry into the history of environment has become imperative. India’s mountains, rivers, forests, and seas have shaped the lives, thinking, and mode of living of its people. The importance of studying the history of environment lies in the fact that it helps to understand human power in relation to nature. It also helps to realize the human role in conservation of nature and opens our eyes to the scarcity of natural resources and the need for their conservation for the future. Works like Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, emphasizing the detrimental effects of pesticides, and the environmental studies of scholars such as Mahesh Rangarajan and Ramchandra Guha are of particular importance.

4. How did Women play a vital role in the evolution of society and culture? What is meant by government documents?

Answer: Women played a vital role in the evolution of society and culture. For example, anthropologists have accredited women with the discovery of agriculture, the process of generation of plants from the seeds. Although in India, women were often debarred from tilling the ground (not supposed to touch the plough), they participated in other related activities like planting saplings, harvesting, thrashing, and winnowing the crop. Women’s empowerment and universal suffrage have gone hand in hand. Prominent personages like Sarala Devi Chaudhurani played vital roles in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. An instance of her involvement was in the Swadeshi movement through the formation of Lakshmir Bhandar, initiating the sale of indigenous goods. She was in close contact with revolutionaries, gave new life to the ‘Suhrid Samiti’ in 1905, was the first feminist and political leader of modern Bengal, and initiated the pioneering women’s organization, the Bharat Stri Mahamandal (All India Women’s Organization) in 1910. In her autobiography, Jibaner Jharapata, she wrote that the improvement of health and physique of youths was essential to the success of the national movement and introduced the Birashtami Utsab in 1902. Other women also contributed; for instance, Jnanadanandini Debi was passionately devoted to the art of the camera, and Annapurna Datta earned her living through photography between 1930 and 1940.

Government documents may be regarded as primary source materials. They constitute important documents and reports published by the Indian Government at the Central and State level. Government documents include materials such as reports, narratives, diary entries of police, and intelligence reports.

5. What is stated in the autobiography of Rabindranath Tagore? What is the importance of the periodicals as a source of information in studying history of modern India?

Answer: Rabindranath Tagore started writing his first autobiography, Jibansmriti, around the age of 50. He frankly stated in the preamble that it was not the story of his life, but rather a collection of ‘memory pictures’. The Jibansmriti reflects the environment in which he was brought up. He recalled the unfenced roof of the outer apartment at his residence in Jorasanko, Calcutta, associating many moods and thoughts with the roof where he spent days on end. He mentioned it was forbidden for him to leave the house, and even inside, he could not wander freely. Therefore, he saw the unbound nature only from his hiding place, perceiving the ‘outer world’—which was denied to him—through cracks in doors and windows. He lamented that while the world was unbound, he was a captive.

Periodicals and newspapers are important sources of information that help draw the map of contemporary events. In modern history, these are considered authoritative versions of events that historians can use unhesitatingly in their study. Periodicals have advantages over books, such as providing information more quickly and publishing the latest developments in different fields of study.

6. Write what you know about the varieties of Modern Historical studies. What is new Social History? State what you know about History of sports, History of Food Habits.

Answer: Modern historical studies have taken various forms, evolving with new ideas and awareness. Initially focused on political and administrative history (Ranke, Maitland), the field broadened in the twentieth century with historians like Marc Bloch and Braudel incorporating geography, sociology, and folklore. Later, subaltern studies (Ranajit Guha, Gautam Bhadra, Gyanendra Pandey) explored history from the perspective of the common people. Varieties include: New Social History, History of Sports, History of Food Habits, History of Performing and Visual Arts, Architecture, Local and Urban History, Military History, Environmental History, History of Science, Technology and Medicine, and Women’s History.

New Social History studies entire societies with focus on the lives of ordinary people. Gaining prominence in the 1960s–70s, it was developed by British historians like Edward Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm. It explores daily life, social and economic relations, culture, and religion. The Social Science Research Council (England, 1965) and the Annales tradition further advanced its study.

History of Sports treats games as reflections of national identity. Football, cricket, kabaddi, and archery have cultural significance. Mohan Bagan’s 1911 victory over a British team boosted Indian nationalism. Swami Vivekananda’s football metaphor, interpreted by Ashis Nandy, suggested physical activity over scripture reading for Bengali youth. Boria Majumder’s Twenty-two Yards of Freedom, Ramchandra Guha’s Corner of a Foreign Field, and Kaushik Bandyopadhyay’s Khela Jakhon Itihas are key works.

History of Food Habits examines changes in food production and cuisine. It looks at shifting food availability, caste and gender-based dietary patterns, and foreign influences (Portuguese, Mughal). Everyday practices around cooking and consumption, such as serving order, utensil use, and seating arrangements, are also studied.

7. State what you know about Historiography of performing Arts Like Music, Dance, Drama and Cinemas. Write about historioraphy of Clothing.

Answer: Historiography of performing arts like music, dance, drama, and cinema reflects the culture performing them and the ideas they convey.

Music historiography shapes community identity. Rob Wegman saw historical enquiry as creatively expressing identity. Bharata Muni’s Natyasastra (400 BC) classified instruments. The Samaveda’s Sama-gan melodies, still sung in Vedic sacrifices, influenced Indian classical music. India has two styles: Carnatic and Hindusthani. Early Bengali music was shaped by Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda (13th century) and 19th-century Panchali gan ballads.

Dance historiography shows how classical dance forms relate to identity politics. For example, Kuchipudi supports a hegemonic Telugu history. Ancient treatises like Natyasastra, Abhinaya Darpana, and Sangitaratnakara detail regional dance forms and developments. Bengali dance includes folk styles (Chhau Nritya, Gaudiya Nritya) and performances on Tagore and Nazrul songs. Uday Sankar promoted dance among Bengali youth.

Drama historiography examines how theatre history is written. Bhasa and Kalidasa were early Sanskrit dramatists. Kerala’s Kutiyattam, based on Sanskrit plays, was revived by Mani Madhava Chakyar. Tamil Tolkappiyam guided acting/playwriting. Natyasastra is the most detailed ancient treatise on drama. Bengal’s public theatre began in 1852, followed by the National Theatre in 1872, where Girischandra Ghosh played a leading role.

Cinema’s relation with history is contested—cinema can both depict and function as history. Indian cinema, blending Indian and European styles, challenged linear narratives. Though Pundalik (1912) was the first feature, Raja Harishchandra (1913) is often credited as the first Indian feature film. India developed a major film industry under colonialism. Bengali cinema (Tollywood) is noted for its art films by Satyajit Roy, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, Rituporno Ghosh, Gautam Ghosh, Aparna Sen, and Kamaleshwar Mukhopadhyay.

8. Very briefly write about the history of transportation. paintings, photography. Mention about eminent painter Nandalal Bose and Ramkinkar Beij of this period. Also write about photography and its importance in Modern Indian History.

Answer: History of Transportation: India, being riverine, used boats (nauka) as natural transport, especially in Bengal (seen in Charyapadas, Tagore’s works, Manasamangal). Overland transport included bullock carts (still used, mentioned by Buddha), elephants (heavy loads, military), horses (riding, messengers, Sher Shah’s postal system), and palanquins (used by the affluent, mentioned by Sarojini Naidu, Satyendranath Datta). Horse-drawn carriages were common in 19th-century Kolkata before public transport. Modern transport historiography uses interdisciplinary methods.

Paintings: Pala period Buddhist manuscripts (e.g., Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita) survive, some held by the Asiatic Society. Kalighat paintings by patuas were noted by William Archer. Kolkata led the modern painting Renaissance, supported by art schools like Calcutta Art School. E.B. Havell appointed Abanindranath Tagore, starting the Bengal School. Santiniketan, under Nandalal Bose, became another hub; his students included Ramkinkar Beij, also a sculptor. Rabindranath Tagore and Jamini Roy were also prominent.

Photography: The camera arrived in Kolkata (1840). Bourne & Shepherd (est. 1864) served figures like Ramakrishna and Tagore. Institutions like the Calcutta School of Industrial Arts and the Photographic Society of Bengal promoted it. Early writers included Saraccandra Deb and Adisvara Ghatak. Colonel Mahimchandra Thakur urged heritage documentation. Women like Mrs. Wince and Jnanadanandini Debi were active. Photography played a vital role in Modern Indian History through documentation and education.

9. Write about the Modern Architechture of that period. How do you define local history, military history, history of environment, history of science, technology and medicine, refer to the foundation of Hindu college at Calcutta and the achievement of Dr. Madhusudan Gupta at Medical College, Calcutta.

Answer: Modern Indian Architecture: Indian architecture continuously absorbed new ideas. Early examples include Indus Valley’s planned cities/houses and later indigenous treatises (silpasastra). In the modern period, James Fergusson’s ‘History of Indian and Eastern Architecture’ (1876) highlighted Indian art’s originality and variety. Thomas Metcalf’s ‘An Imperial Vision’ (1989) examined British writings on Indian and colonial architecture. Tapati Guha-Thakurta’s ‘The Making of a New Indian Art’ (1992) focused on 20th-century Bengal art. Bengal architecture features distinctive roofing styles (e.g., Bishnupur temples), the Bhanja style, and examples like Dakshineswar Temple. The common ‘bungalow’ style originated in Bengal (meaning ‘house in Bengali style’), typically small rural houses.

Local History is defined as the study of history within a geographically local context, often focusing on a local community to show the varied nature of such study. It’s a key area of socio-historical studies, paying attention to place names to uncover historical episodes.

Military History involves studying the military aspect of a country and its people, given the prevalence of war throughout history. Earliest references are in Vedas and epics. Numerous historians have covered India’s military history. Modern studies like ‘A Military History of India and South Asia…’ (2008) provide detailed accounts. Military historians also analyze government war policies, influencing foreign policy. Before the British, the peasant army/civilian distinction was unclear. The EIC’s ‘sepoy’ army was trained to European standards post-Plassey (1757), initially respecting caste/religion, leading to a high-caste Bengal army. After the 1857 Revolt, recruitment was rethought, and mutinous regiments, including the Bengal army, were disbanded.

History of Environment explores the interaction between human cultures and the environment. The environment shapes thought and life (e.g., Lake District/Wordsworth, Bengal/Tagore). Environmental inquiry is vital due to hazards like global warming. India’s geography shaped its people. Works like Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ (1962) highlighted environmental damage (pesticides). Scholars like Mahesh Rangarajan and Ramchandra Guha contributed significantly. Studying environmental history helps understand human power relative to nature, conservation roles, resource scarcity, and future conservation needs.

History of Science, Technology and Medicine: ‘Science’ encompasses several domains of inquiry. Scientific work is often collective, involving institutions like research labs and educational bodies. Its story in Bengal started humbly and flourished over decades.

Foundation of Hindu College: Hindu College was founded in 1817. Regular science teaching began there in 1824. A Civil Engineering Department opened at Hindu College in 1843.

Achievement of Dr. Madhusudan Gupta: At Calcutta Medical College (founded 1835), Madhusudan Gupta pioneered the dissection of human dead bodies and translated an anatomy textbook into Sanskrit.

10. Mention the achievements of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy during the period. Show that women also did not lack behind at the time. Mention the name of Jadavpore as a base of education during the period.

Answer: In the early twentieth century, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose published his first book, ‘Response in Living and Non-living’, from London. Around the same time, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy published his ‘History of Hindu Chemistry’.

Women did not lack behind during this period. Anthropologists credit women with discovering agriculture. Though later barred from tilling, they participated in harvesting and related activities. Women’s empowerment advanced alongside suffrage movements. Women’s studies emerged as an academic field. Scholars like Sukumari Bhattacharya researched women’s positions, and Geraldine Forbes documented women’s history in modern India. Specific examples include women photographers like Mrs. Wince, Jnanadanandini Debi, and Annapurna Datta. Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was a prominent figure involved in the Swadeshi movement (Lakshmir Bhandar), revolutionary contacts, reviving ‘Suhrid Samiti’, founding the Bharat Stri Mahamandal (1910), and promoting physical culture (Birashtami Utsab). She was considered the first feminist and first woman political leader of modern Bengal.

The University of Jadavpur has a vibrant wing of women’s studies and publishes research in this area, serving as a base of education.

11. How were the sources of Modern Indian History got hold of? Write about the trend of writing of autobiography at the time. Write about the autobiopraphies of Rabindranath Tagore and Bipin Chandra Pal. What was the achievements of Sarala Devi Chowdhurani ?

Answer: Sources for Modern Indian History are essential and varied. Historians categorize them as Primary and Secondary. Primary sources include government documents (reports, publications from Central/State Govts), especially India Office Records (IOR) from the colonial era. Other primary government documents are reports, narratives, police diaries, and intelligence reports. Speeches are also primary sources. Secondary sources include the interpretation and analysis of primary documents, as well as autobiographies and memoirs. Periodicals, newspapers, and correspondences are also important sources.

The trend of writing autobiography at the time showed its significance as a secondary source. Autobiographies of eminent contemporary Indians proved to be of immense value in reconstructing modern Indian history. While an autobiography tells the story of a life, a related genre, the memoir, often tells a story from life.

Autobiography of Rabindranath Tagore (Jibansmriti): He began writing it around age 50, clarifying it was a collection of ‘memory pictures’ reflecting his upbringing, not a full life story. He recalled his confinement to the house and viewing the ‘outer world’ from the roof.

Autobiography of Bipin Chandra Pal (Sattar Batsar / Seventy Years): Known as the ‘father of revolutionary thought’ and a Brahmo activist, his autobiography expressed his egalitarian ideas and detailed pledges made by fellow Brahmos, including pooling resources, though he noted this ideal wasn’t fully realized.

Achievements of Sarala Devi Chowdhurani: She was a prominent figure (late 19th/early 20th C), niece of Rabindranath Tagore. Her memoirs were published as ‘Jibaner Jharapata’. She was active in the Swadeshi movement (Lakshmir Bhandar), connected with revolutionaries, revived the ‘Suhrid Samiti’ (1905), was the first feminist and first woman political leader of modern Bengal, founded the Bharat Stri Mahamandal (1910), and promoted youth fitness through the Birashtami Utsab (1902), urging Bengalis to remember their own heroes alongside Rajput tales.

12. Write about Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Letter from a Father to his daughter”, purporting to be the letters written of Indira Gandhi.

Answer: Correspondences serve as an important source for contemporary history. Jawaharlal Nehru’s book, ‘Letters from a Father to His Daughter’, is a notable example. This collection comprises 30 letters written by Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, to his 10-year-old daughter Priyadarshini (later Indira Gandhi). Written in a very simple style, the letters allowed Nehru, as a father, to connect closely with his daughter and communicate essential knowledge. They fostered a strong bond between them. The letters covered topics such as how humans adapted to their surroundings, the key differences between humans and animals, the essence of the great Indian epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata), complex subjects like race and religion in India, Egyptian mummies, and the origins of communication. These letters are described as a store-house of knowledge that not only explained facts but also left room for further study.

13. Name some of the magazines, journals, newsletters like Prabasi, Sabuj Patra, Kallol which became very popular among the bengalee readers. Mention the name of Bangadarshan in this connections. Write about the literary achievements of Bankim Chandra and Somprakash.

Answer: Magazines, journals, newsletters, etc., published at regular intervals are classified as ‘periodicals’. Among those very popular with Bengalee readers were Prabasi, Sabuj-patra, Kallol, and many others.

In this connection, Bangadarshan should be mentioned. It was published from Calcutta in April 1872, edited by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, and is considered the first literary journal of its kind in Bengal by Dr. Ramesh Chandra Majumder.

Literary achievements of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee: As editor of Bangadarshan, he wrote profusely for it and encouraged contributions on diverse topics like politics, history, and philosophy. His essays revealed his focus on the unlettered masses over the educated few and his concern about the divide between them. He also published ‘Bijnan Rahasya’ in 1875, and Bangadarshan carried science features from its second issue in 1872.

Literary achievements of Somprakash: This weekly paper, launched on November 15, 1858 (first edited by Vidyasagar, then Dwaraka Nath Vidyabhushan), became a leading Bengali newspaper. Its major achievement was teaching Bengalis a new style of journalism. It demonstrated national consciousness by publishing an article in 1881 questioning Indian happiness under British rule and, in 1882, exposing wrongs by British administrators. It addressed contemporary social problems, raising public awareness.

14. Write about the uses and abuses of internet in collecting historical information

Answer: The internet is a tool that connects people globally and provides convenient access to information for various users, including students seeking historical data. It makes vast amounts of information available easily, reducing the need for lengthy library searches. Its popularity stems from its availability and affordability. Therefore, a primary use is the convenient collection of historical information.

However, the internet also has abuses. There is no censorship, making its abuse universal. It can be used for spying. It has led to social changes, restricting people indoors and reducing face-to-face contact in favour of online interactions. Thus, use and abuse occur simultaneously. Crucially, it must be admitted that information obtained through the internet is not always reliable.

Extras

MCQs

1. From which language is the English word “history” derived?

A. Latin
B. Greek
C. Sanskrit
D. Arabic

Answer: B. Greek

2. Who is regarded as the father of history?

A. Thukydides
B. Herodotus
C. Ranke
D. Bloch

Answer: B. Herodotus

3. The Sanskrit term “itihasa” implies which of the following?

A. A legendary myth
B. The state of affairs as it prevailed earlier
C. A future prophecy
D. A written decree

Answer: B. The state of affairs as it prevailed earlier

4. History is primarily the study of what?

A. Man as a social being
B. Natural phenomena
C. Religious rituals
D. Abstract ideas

Answer: A. Man as a social being

5. Which of the following is described as “not history proper” but merely its skeleton?

A. Cultural narratives
B. Political ideologies
C. Chronological dates of events
D. Scientific achievements

Answer: C. Chronological dates of events

6. Which historian remarked that history studies man as a social being living in a geographical and natural environment?

A. A. L. Rowse
B. Bury
C. Ranke
D. Maitland

Answer: A. A. L. Rowse

7. How did historian Bury describe history?

A. A myth
B. A narrative
C. A science
D. A legend

Answer: C. A science

8. Which branch of historical studies emerged during the 1960s by focusing on the experiences of ordinary people?

A. Political history
B. Economic history
C. Social history
D. Diplomatic history

Answer: C. Social history

9. In which city was the earliest photographic institution, established in 1864, located?

A. Delhi
B. Kolkata
C. Mumbai
D. Chennai

Answer: B. Kolkata

10. Which sport is identified as the national game of England?

A. Cricket
B. Rugby
C. Football
D. Kabaddi

Answer: C. Football

11. Which mythological film, directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, is considered the first Indian feature film?

A. Pundalik
B. Raja Harishchandra
C. Chokher Bali
D. Corner of a Foreign Field

Answer: B. Raja Harishchandra

12. In Bengali cuisine, which combination is traditionally regarded as a staple, irrespective of wealth?

A. Rice and curry
B. Rice and fish
C. Rice and lentils
D. Rice and vegetables

Answer: B. Rice and fish

13. Which ancient text provides the earliest account of Indian musical hymns?

A. Natya Shastra
B. Samaveda
C. Gitagovinda
D. Charyapada

Answer: B. Samaveda

14. What are the two distinct styles of Indian classical music ?

A. Hindusthani and Carnatic
B. Western and Eastern
C. Folk and Classical
D. Vedic and Medieval

Answer: A. Hindusthani and Carnatic

15. Which classical dance form is based on the treatise Natyasastra?

A. Kuchipudi
B. Bharatnatyam
C. Chhau
D. Gaudiya Nritya

Answer: B. Bharatnatyam

16. Into how many systems does the treatise Natyasastra classify musical instruments?

A. Three
B. Four
C. Five
D. Seven

Answer: C. Five

17. Evidence of clothing in ancient India is primarily obtained from artifacts of which civilisation?

A. Mesopotamia
B. Indus Valley
C. Egyptian
D. Roman

Answer: B. Indus Valley

18. What largely determines the food habits of a people?

A. Religious beliefs
B. Economic status
C. Climatic and geographical factors
D. Political systems

Answer: C. Climatic and geographical factors

19. What is the common Bengali word used for boats in water transportation?

A. Gondola
B. Nauka
C. Ferry
D. Schooner

Answer: B. Nauka

20. Which mode of overland transport is noted for maintaining its traditional form in rural India?

A. Carriages
B. Bullock carts
C. Automobiles
D. Trains

Answer: B. Bullock carts

21. The temples of Bishnupur are exemplars of which distinctive architectural feature?

A. Gothic arches
B. Domed ceilings
C. A unique roofing style
D. Extensive frescoes

Answer: C. A unique roofing style

22. The origin of the term “bungalow” is traced to which region?

A. Punjab
B. Bengal
C. Gujarat
D. Rajasthan

Answer: B. Bengal

23. Urban history primarily focuses on the study of which of the following?

A. Rural communities
B. City development
C. Tribal settlements
D. Agricultural reforms

Answer: B. City development

24. Which battle in 1757 significantly influenced the urbanisation of Calcutta?

A. Battle of Panipat
B. Battle of Plassey
C. Battle of Buxar
D. Battle of Haldighati

Answer: B. Battle of Plassey

25. The earliest references to armies in Indian texts are found in which writings?

A. Epics
B. Vedas
C. Buddhist scriptures
D. Jain Agamas

Answer: B. Vedas

26. After the British victory in Plassey, which military unit did they train and discipline in Bengal?

A. Infantry
B. Artillery
C. Sepoys
D. Cavalry

Answer: C. Sepoys

27. Which historical event led to the disbandment of the Bengal army?

A. Battle of Buxar
B. Revolt of 1857
C. A plague epidemic
D. Sepoy mutiny

Answer: B. Revolt of 1857

28. Which environmental work highlighted the harmful effects of pesticide use?

A. The Unquiet Wood
B. Silent Spring
C. This Fissured Land
D. Ecology and Equality

Answer: B. Silent Spring

29. Which institution, founded in 1817, played a pivotal role in advancing modern science in Bengal?

A. Hindu College
B. Calcutta University
C. Indian Institute of Science
D. Bengal School of Art

Answer: A. Hindu College

30. Where was the first medical college established where Madhusudan Gupta pioneered dissection?

A. Madras Medical College
B. Calcutta Medical College
C. JIPMER
D. AIIMS

Answer: B. Calcutta Medical College

31. What type of textbook did Madhusudan Gupta translate into Sanskrit?

A. A book on chemistry
B. A textbook on anatomy
C. A mathematical treatise
D. An astronomy manual

Answer: B. A textbook on anatomy

32. In which year was the first book on Bengali chemistry by John Mack published?

A. 1804
B. 1817
C. 1835
D. 1843

Answer: A. 1804

33. Documents such as reports, narratives, and diary entries published by governments are classified as what type of source?

A. Secondary sources
B. Tertiary sources
C. Primary sources
D. Interpretative sources

Answer: C. Primary sources

34. Which of the following is considered a secondary source in historical research?

A. Government documents
B. Autobiographies
C. India Office Records
D. Diary entries

Answer: B. Autobiographies

35. Which autobiography recounts the life of Mahatma Gandhi?

A. Jibansmriti
B. My Experiments with Truth
C. Atmajibani
D. Sattar Batsar

Answer: B. My Experiments with Truth

36. “Letters from a Father to His Daughter” were written by which prominent leader?

A. Rabindranath Tagore
B. Bipin Chandra Pal
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Satyendranath Tagore

Answer: C. Jawaharlal Nehru

37. Which Bengali periodical, first published in 1872, is recognised as a significant literary journal?

A. Sabujpatra
B. Bangadarshan
C. Somprakash
D. Prabasi

Answer: B. Bangadarshan

38. Which newspaper, first edited on 15 November 1858, later had its editorship taken over by Dwaraka Nath Vidyabhushan?

A. Somprakash
B. Sabujpatra
C. Prabasi
D. Bangadarshan

Answer: A. Somprakash

39. In which year did a notable photographic studio open in Kolkata, marking the advent of photography in the city?

A. 1840
B. 1854
C. 1864
D. 1872

Answer: C. 1864

40. The renaissance of modern Indian painting in Kolkata is closely associated with which art form?

A. Sculpture
B. Painting
C. Photography
D. Architecture

Answer: B. Painting

41. Which art institution in Kolkata played a key role in the emergence of the Bengal School of Art by appointing Abanindranath Tagore as Vice-Principal?

A. Santiniketan
B. Calcutta School of Art
C. Government Art College
D. Jubilee Art School

Answer: B. Calcutta School of Art

42. What is regarded as the most elaborate treatise on ancient Indian drama?

A. Tolkappiyam
B. Natyasastra
C. Abhinaya Darpana
D. Madhyama Vyayoga

Answer: B. Natyasastra

43. Which play composed by Kalidasa is celebrated as a masterpiece in Sanskrit literature?

A. Sakuntala
B. Madhyama Vyayoga
C. Kutiyattam
D. Jibansmriti

Answer: A. Sakuntala

44. Which set of records is considered one of the best sources documenting colonial administration in India?

A. National Archives
B. India Office Records
C. British Library Collection
D. Calcutta University Archive

Answer: B. India Office Records

45. Local history studies are primarily focused on which aspect of the past?

A. Global events
B. Rural agriculture
C. A geographically local context
D. National policies

Answer: C. A geographically local context

46. Which field of history examines the interaction between natural resources and human progress?

A. Military history
B. Environmental history
C. Urban history
D. Social history

Answer: B. Environmental history

47. Who is the historian that authored “The Unquiet Wood” in his environmental studies?

A. Mahesh Rangarajan
B. Ramchandra Guha
C. Narayani Gupta
D. A. L. Rowse

Answer: B. Ramchandra Guha

48. What method is used by modern administrative institutions to preserve official instructions and deliberations?

A. Memoirs
B. Government documents
C. Personal diaries
D. Public lectures

Answer: B. Government documents

49. Which society, established in 1856, is noted for promoting photography among Bengali enthusiasts?

A. Calcutta Photo Club
B. Photographic Society of Bengal
C. Kolkata Camera Association
D. Bengal Visual Arts Society

Answer: B. Photographic Society of Bengal

50. Which pioneer in Indian science is recognised for initiating the use of X-ray photography?

A. Jagadish Chandra Bose
B. Nilratan Sarkar
C. Prafulla Chandra Roy
D. Akshay Kumar Datta

Answer: B. Nilratan Sarkar

51. Sarala Devi Chowdhurani is noted for her significant contributions in which field?

A. Autobiographical writing
B. Feminism and political leadership
C. Military strategy
D. Chronological documentation

Answer: B. Feminism and political leadership

52. Which of the following best exemplifies a primary source in historical research?

A. Diary entries of police officers
B. Personal memoirs
C. Autobiographies
D. Interpretative essays

Answer: A. Diary entries of police officers

53. The victory of the Mohan Bagan Club in 1911 is significant for which achievement in sports history?

A. Winning the Cricket World Cup
B. Securing the Indian Football Association Shield
C. Triumph in the National Kabaddi Championship
D. Winning the Rugby League

Answer: B. Securing the Indian Football Association Shield

54. Which factor is utilised in uncovering historical episodes in local history studies?

A. International treaties
B. Place names
C. Global trade routes
D. Economic statistics

Answer: B. Place names

55. What spurred the political participation of Bengali women according to the historical studies?

A. Feminist literature
B. Formation of women’s organisations
C. Military reforms
D. Industrial innovations

Answer: B. Formation of women’s organisations

Questions and answers

1. From which Greek word is the term ‘history’ derived?

Answer: The English term ‘history’ is derived from the Greek word historia.

2. Who is known as the father of history?

Answer: Herodotus, who wrote the Historia, is looked upon as the father of history.

3. What does the Sanskrit word ‘itihasa’ imply?

Answer: Itihasa implies the idea of the state of affairs as it prevailed before or earlier.

4. What is social history?

5. Who is credited with pioneering subaltern history?

Answer: Subaltern people [history] was pioneered by Ranajit Guha, Gautam Bhadra, Gyanendra Pandey and others who favoured looking history from below.

6. Name one historian associated with the Annales tradition.

Answer: Marc Bloch is a historian mentioned as bringing geography, sociology, linguistic, folklore, etc. within historical purview since the 30s of the twentieth century, around the time the Annales tradition influenced historical writing.

7. What is England’s national game?

Answer: Football is England’s national game.

8. In what year did Mohun Bagan win the Indian Football Association Shield?

Answer: The football team of the Mohan Bagan Club of Calcutta won the Indian Football Association Shield in 1911.

9. Who wrote the book Twenty-two Yards of Freedom?

Answer: The sports historian, Boria Majumder’s book entitled Twenty-two Yards of Freedom is a landmark dealing with social history of cricket.

10. What staple food item is associated with Bengal?

Answer: Rice remains the staple food for the people of Bengal.

11. Who authored Indian Food: A Historical Companion?

Answer: The book Indian Food : A Historical Companion was written by K.T. Achaya.

12. Name the two distinct styles of classical music in India.

Answer: Presently there are two distinct styles of music in India, Carnatic and Hindusthani.

13. Which ancient Indian text classifies musical instruments?

Answer: Natyasastra of Bharata Muni, written in Sanskrit, has classified musical instruments into five systems.

14. Who composed the Bengali poetry Gitagovinda?

Answer: The Vaishnava poetry Gitagovinda was composed by Jayadeva during the thirteenth century.

15. What is Kuchipudi?

Answer: Kuchipudi is a classical dance form of the Andhra region.

16. Who is the author of the Sangitaratnakara?

Answer: The author of the treatise Sangitaratnakara is Sharangadeva.

17. Who wrote the Sanskrit play Abhijnana Sakuntala?

Answer: In the Gupta period Kalidasa composed plays like Sakuntala. Abhijnana Sakuntala is said to be the best not only in Sanskrit literature, but also in the literature of the world.

18. Name one ancient Tamil treatise providing guidelines for drama.

Answer: Tolkappiyam is the earliest available work in Tamil written by Tolkappiar in pre-Christian era. The treatise provides guideline for writing and acting out plays.

19. Which was the first Indian feature film?

Answer: Pundalik was the first feature film of India released in May 1912. However, nationalist historians bestow the honour of making the first Indian feature film on Dhundiraj Govind Phalke’s mythological film Raja Harishchandra, which was released in 1913, arguing that Pundalik was a joint venture with a British individual.

20. Who directed the film Raja Harishchandra?

Answer: Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, made the mythological film Raja Harishchandra.

21. Which Bengali film director is known internationally for art films?

Answer: The Bengali film industry’s long tradition of filmmaking has produced famous directors like Satyajit Roy, who earned fame for producing art films.

22. From which civilization is India’s earliest evidence of clothing derived?

Answer: Evidence of India’s history of clothing goes back to the period of Indus Valley Civilization (around 5000 BC). Statues and seals discovered from the Indus Valley sites are the source of knowledge for the clothing used.

23. What does the Bengali term ‘nauka’ refer to?

Answer: The common Bengali word for means of transportation by water, such as boats of different sizes and shapes, has been nauka.

24. Name a medieval Bengali epic mentioning transportation by boat.

Answer: In the medieval Bengali epic like ‘Manasamangal’ there is reference to a wreck of the mercantile fleet of boats Saptadinga Madhukar, belonging to the merchant named Chand Sadagar.

25. When was photography first introduced in Kolkata?

Answer: The camera arrived in Kolkata in 1840.

26. Define history.

Answer: The English term ‘history’ is derived from the Greek word historia, which means inquiry. History is then the study of man as he lives in society. It is a social science. History is not a set of laws or generalizations; rather, it is the story of man’s progress.

27. What is new social history?

Answer: New Social History, also known as Social History, is the history of the entire society from a socio-historical point of view. During the 1960s and 1970s social history caught the imagination of the young historians. A new trend in historical studies appeared during the 60s of the twentieth century. It is a broad branch of history that studies the experiences of ordinary people. The New Social History emerged through the writings of such British historians as Edward Thomson, Eric Hobsbawm, Harold Parkkin, etc. The social history incorporates the accounts of the daily life of the people, the social and economic relationship between the people of various stratums in society. It also includes the state of the class of labourers, religious affairs. Accounts of culture such as music and literature, education and thought in different times are given special importance in socio-historical studies.

28. What role did football play in boosting Indian nationalism?

Answer: The football team of the Mohan Bagan Club of Calcutta won the Indian Football Association Shield in 1911 defeating the British East York’s Regiment. The defeat of the British players in Calcutta was a great booster for the national spirit.

29. Describe briefly the cuisine tradition in Bengal.

Answer: It may be noted that food habits of a people is largely determined by climatic and geographical factors of the area where they live. Rice remains the staple food for the people of Bengal. Again owing to the presence of water bodies in the form of rivers all over the land fish has come to remain an important item of food with rice. Rice and fish go together to make for Bengali food irrespective of whether or not one is rich or poor. Professor Niharranjan Roy has collected accounts of Bengali food habits and cuisine from ancient texts such as Charyapada and the writings of the authors of social codes. However, sources tell that the Bengalee people relished hot rice sprinkled with butter served on plant-leaf. The rich used to have rice pudding boiled in milk. Ordinarily courses of a meal had spinach and vegetable curry. But there is no information about dal as an item of food.

30. What was the contribution of Rabindranath Tagore to Bengali music?

Answer: The dances set on the songs of Tagore are also very popular. Rabindranath Tagore’s poems and songs bear witness to the reverine imagery.

31. Describe briefly the classical Indian dance Bharatnatyam.

Answer: The modern interpretation of the classical Indian dance, Bharatnatyam, is based on the treatise Natyasastra.

32. Name two Bengali dance forms and briefly describe their origin.

Answer: Chhau Nritya and Gaudiya Nritya are special dance forms of Bengal. Coming to Bengal it may be said that the Bengali dance forms have drawn heavily from the folk traditions. Particularly the tribal folk dances as also the broader Indian dance traditions have influence on the Bengali dance.

33. What distinguishes theatre historiography from theatre history?

Answer: Drama or theatre historiography means study of the methodologies (systematic methods of scientific research) that determine how theatre history is written. It has been appropriately said that ‘theatre historiography is to theatre history as physics is to engineering…’.

34. Briefly describe the significance of the drama Kutiyattam.

Answer: One of the oldest surviving theatre traditions of the world is the Kutiyattam of Kerala. It draws on the plays of the eminent Sanskrit dramatists of India. In recent times Kutiyattam has gained the attention of theatre people and scholars from the entire world over. Natyacharya Mani Madhava Chakyar is credited for reviving the age-old drama tradition from extinction.

35. What made the Indian cinema industry unique compared to other colonies?

Answer: It has been pointed out by scholars like Roy Armes that India is a unique case globally as it has the only major indigenous film industry to emerge under colonialism.

36. Explain briefly the significance of the book An Imperial Vision.

Answer: Art historian Thomas Metcalf in his book An Imperial Vision (1989) considered the British scholarly writing on the architecture of India’s past as also on the British colonial architecture.

37. What is local history?

38. Briefly outline the architectural style known as Bhanja style.

Answer: The Bhanja style is another form of architecture practiced in Bengal.

39. How does environment influence human culture and lifestyle?

Answer: History of environment tries to explore the interaction between human cultures and the environment. The influence of environment moulds the thought and dealings in life of the respective people. There is no shred of doubt that India’s mountains, rivers, forests and seas have gone a long way in shaping the lives, thinking and mode of living of the people of India.

40. What did Rachel Carson address in her book Silent Spring?

Answer: Silent Spring written by Rachel Carson (1962) is a well documented book emphasizing the detrimental effects on the environment as a result of the indiscriminate use of pesticide. Carson, the author, accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation and public officials of accepting industry claim.

41. Explain briefly the varieties of modern historical studies.

Answer: Historical studies are as variable as history itself. In the light of new awareness and thought, history assumes newer forms. Modern history appeared in the wake of liberal nationalism of the nineteenth century, where constitutional, administrative, diplomatic and military strategies were considered important ingredients. A decisive turn took place in the early twentieth century, particularly since the 30s, with historians like Marc Bloch and Braudel bringing geography, sociology, linguistic, folklore, etc., within historical purview.
This was followed by the subaltern perspective, pioneered by Ranajit Guha and others, focusing on history from below rather than just the higher strata. New Social History emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, studying the experiences of ordinary people, daily life, social and economic relationships, culture, education, and thought.

Specific varieties include:

History of Sports, examining sports like Football, Cricket, Kabaddi, etc., as objects of national identity and their social history.
History of Food Habits and Cuisine, looking at how food habits are determined by climate and geography, and studying cuisines and food materials.
Historiography of Performing Arts, covering Music, Dance, Drama, and Cinema, relating them to the cultures performing them and exploring their development and connection to identity.
Historiography of Clothing, studying clothing and fashion across different periods, using sources like ancient texts, statues, sculptures, and paintings.
History of Transportation, examining means like boats, bullock carts, elephants, horses, palanquins, and horse-drawn carriages, and later public transport.
History of Visual Arts, including Paintings (from ancient illuminated manuscripts to modern art schools and artists) and Photography (its arrival, institutions, role in documentation and society).
Architecture, studying architectural styles from ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley to specific regional styles like Bengal temple architecture and the ‘bungalow’.
Local History, focusing on history within a geographically local context, often concentrating on the local community and place names.
Urban History, studying the origin, development, and importance of cities like Delhi and Kolkata.
Military History, examining the military aspects of a country, including armies, wars, and government policy related to warfare, from ancient times to the modern era.
History of Environment, exploring the interaction between human cultures and the environment, and the influence of the environment on people’s lives and thoughts.
History of Science, Technology and Medicine, tracing the development of scientific inquiry, institutions, and education in these fields.
Women’s History, studying the role women have played in the evolution of society and culture, including topics like the discovery of agriculture, women’s empowerment, and feminist research.

42. Discuss briefly the significance of the history of sports in shaping national identity.

Answer: Sports and games are objects of national identity. Examples include Football and Cricket for England, Rugby for the USA, Kabaddi and wrestling for rural Northern India, and archery for Bhutan. The history of sports highlights moments that boost national spirit, such as the football team of the Mohan Bagan Club of Calcutta winning the Indian Football Association Shield in 1911 by defeating the British East York’s Regiment. This defeat of the British players in Calcutta was a great booster for the national spirit. Swami Vivekananda’s symbolic statement, as followed by Ashis Nandy, that Bengali youth could get to heaven playing football (a British sport) rather than reading the Gita, also connects sports to cultural and national sentiments.

43. Discuss briefly the development of Bengali music through the centuries.

Answer: Music has been an integral part of India’s culture. Coming to Bengali music, it may be said that the earliest music in Bengal was influenced by the Vaishnava poetry Gitagovinda by Jayadeva during the thirteenth century. Later, during the nineteenth century, Bengali ballad songs, collectively known as Panchali gan, created history.

44. What role does historiography of dance play in understanding cultural identity?

Answer: The historiography of dance exposes the important connections between identity politics and the creation of classical dance. This can be illustrated by the example of the Kuchipudi dance of Andhra region. Through an in-depth study, it has been found that classicism (adherence to classical principles) in Kuchipudi dance creates and supports a hegemonic version of the Telegu history, thereby linking dance historiography to the construction and understanding of regional cultural identity.

45. Briefly discuss the evolution of Indian drama through ancient texts.

Answer: Indian drama has a long history. Bhasa, belonging to the 5th century BC, is one of the earliest and most celebrated Indian playwrights in Sanskrit, whose play Madhyama Vyayoga reveals contemporary social complexities. In the Gupta period, Kalidasa composed famous plays like Sakuntala and Meghadoota. One of the oldest surviving theatre traditions is the Kutiyattam of Kerala, which draws on the plays of eminent Sanskrit dramatists. Tolkappiyam, the earliest available work in Tamil written by Tolkappiar in the pre-Christian era, provides guidelines for writing and acting out plays. Natyasastra in Sanskrit, attributed to Bharata muni (sage) and likely written between 200 BC and 200 AD, is regarded as the most elaborate treatise on ancient plays in the world and is of great significance for Indian poetics, drama, and fine arts.

46. Explain the complexities involved in the historiography of Indian cinema.

Answer: The theoretical debate about the relationship between cinema and history has been ongoing for many years. The hybrid, meaning a mixture of Indian and European, phenomenon of Indian cinema from the very beginning has made it difficult for the historians who seek to write a linear, or stage-wise, narrative of its historical development. Furthermore, the question of Indian cinema in the background of colonialism and nationalism is a very complex one. It has been pointed out by scholars like Roy Armes that India is a unique case globally as it has the only major indigenous film industry to emerge under colonialism. Nationalist historians are also reluctant to bestow Pundalik the honour of being the first Indian film on the ground that the film was a joint venture of P.R. Tipnis and a British, instead bestowing the honour on Dhundiraj Govind Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra.

47. Discuss the influence of geographical factors on the food habits of Bengal.

Answer: It may be noted that the food habits of a people are largely determined by climatic and geographical factors of the area where they live. Rice remains the staple food for the people of Bengal. Again, owing to the presence of water bodies in the form of rivers all over the land, fish has come to remain an important item of food with rice. Rice and fish go together to make for Bengali food irrespective of whether or not one is rich or poor.

48. Describe the historical significance of water transportation in Bengal.

Answer: In keeping with the geo-physical features, India has been described as a country nursed by rivers. In such a riverine country, the natural means of transportation has been boats of different sizes and shapes. The common Bengali word for such means of transportation by water has been nauka. Such watercrafts have been intimately related with the everyday life and existence of people, particularly those of Bengal. Professor Niharranjan Roy in his Bangaleer Itihas (Part I) has quoted passages from the ancient Bengali songs, the Charyapadas, to illustrate this point. In later days, Rabindranath Tagore’s poems and songs bear witness to the reverine imagery. In the medieval Bengali epic like ‘Manasamangal’ there is reference to a wreck of the mercantile fleet of boats Saptadinga Madhukar, belonging to the merchant named Chand Sadagar.

49. Explain the historical importance of photography in documenting events.

Answer: In the early years of the English East India Company, the photographers came to India from Britain. The East India Company’s officials deliberately encouraged photography particularly to record the archeological sites. In fact, photography became a key element in identifying important archeological evidences. In the early years of photography, foreign photographers have left photographs of military activity of the British before and after the Revolt of 1857. Photography thus is an important source that helped to recognize important activity or important event. Colonel Mahimchandra Thakur published his paper in the Bhandar, edited by Rabindranath Tagore, and appealed to the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad to engage amateur photographers to take photographs of temples, houses, ornaments and designs on the saris, and keep them in records.

50. Briefly discuss the architectural features distinct to Bengal.

Answer: As regards the features of the architecture of Bengal, the following may be said: The temple architecture of Bengal has a distinctive roofing style. The temples of Bishnupur in the district of Bankura are examples of such style. The Bhanja style is another form of architecture practiced in Bengal. The origin of the common ‘bungalow’ architectural style has its roots in Bengal. In fact, bungalow means ‘house in Bengali style’. These are usually small houses and are very popular in the rural Bengal.

51. Discuss the concept and importance of social history, highlighting its key features.

Answer: Social history is the history of the entire society from a socio-historical point of view. During the 1960s and 1970s, social history caught the imagination of young historians. A new trend in historical studies appeared during the 60s of the twentieth century, called ‘Social History’, also known as the New Social History. It is a broad branch of history that studies the experiences of ordinary people. The New Social History emerged through the writings of British historians such as Edward Thomson, Eric Hobsbawm, Harold Parkkin, etc.
The key features of social history include incorporating accounts of the daily life of the people and the social and economic relationships between people of various stratums in society. It also includes the state of the class of labourers and religious affairs. Accounts of culture such as music and literature, education, and thought in different times are given special importance in socio-historical studies. The study of social history reached a new height with the foundation of the Social Science Research Council in England in 1965. Around the same time, the Annales tradition gave rise to a school of better historical writing, aiming for a more humane history and devoting study to contemporary societies and economics. Previously, history was conceived as the narrative of people belonging to the higher strata of society, but new history, specifically social history, recounts the story of men and their dealings in everyday life within the bounds of space and time, looking at history from below, as pioneered by subaltern historians like Ranajit Guha, Gautam Bhadra, and Gyanendra Pandey.

52. Explain the historiography of performing arts, covering music, dance, and drama.

Answer: Discussion on the historiography of performing arts like music, dance, and drama relates to the culture or cultures performing these and the thought process they express.
Regarding music, historical enquiry is fundamentally creative and expressive of ‘who we are’. Thus, writing history, including music history, creates community identity and makes it vitally important to adopt an appropriate method. Music has been an integral part of India’s culture. The Natyasastra of Bharata Muni (400 BC), written in Sanskrit, classified musical instruments into five systems. The oldest preserved example of Indian music is found in the Samaveda of the Vedic corpus, whose melodies (Sama-gan) are still sung in certain Vedic sacrifices and represent the earliest account of Indian musical hymns. The Samaveda and other Hindu texts influenced Indian classical musical tradition, which presently has two distinct styles: Carnatic and Hindusthani. In Bengal, the earliest music was influenced by the Vaishnava poetry Gitagovinda by Jayadeva during the thirteenth century. During the nineteenth century, Bengali ballad songs, collectively known as Panchali gan, created history.

The historiography of dance exposes the important connections between identity politics and the creation of classical dance, illustrated by the Kuchipudi dance of Andhra region, where classicism creates and supports a hegemonic version of Telegu history. The Natyasashtra and Abhinaya Darpana are the two most important ancient Sanskrit works on Indian classical dance, with the modern interpretation of Bharatnatyam based on the Natyasastra. The treatise Sangitaratnakara includes a chapter on dance traditions, discussing how dance developed in different parts of the country. Its author, Sharangadeva, noted that while the Natyasastra tradition was followed, deviations and changes were accepted, and he introduced new concepts like style and movements (desipaddhatis). Bengali dance forms draw heavily from folk traditions, tribal folk dances, and broader Indian dance traditions, with Chhau Nritya and Gaudiya Nritya being special forms. Dances set to Tagore and Nazrul Islam songs are also popular. Uday Sankar encouraged middle-class Bengali youths in dance.

Drama or theatre historiography involves the study of methodologies determining how theatre history is written. It’s recently that scholars have focused on how theatre history is written, though Indian drama has a long history alongside music and dance. Bhasa (5th century BC) is an early Sanskrit playwright whose Madhyama Vyayoga reveals contemporary social complexities. Kalidasa composed plays like Sakuntala. The Kutiyattam of Kerala is one of the oldest surviving theatre traditions, drawing on eminent Sanskrit dramatists and revived by Natyacharya Mani Madhava Chakyar. Tolkappiyam is the earliest Tamil work providing guidelines for plays. The Natyasastra in Sanskrit is the most elaborate treatise on ancient plays (attributed to Bharata muni, c. 200 BC – 200 AD), containing 6000 hymns and considered of great significance for Indian poetics, drama, and fine arts. In Bengal, public theatre established in 1852 led to dramas by Jogendra Gupta, Ramnarayan Tarkalankar, etc. The National Theatre was founded in 1872, marking a milestone as the drama movement shifted from aristocracy to professionals under Girischandra Ghosh, whose plays like Anande Raho (1882) and Griha Luxmi (1909) were very popular.

53. Provide an overview of the history of visual arts in Bengal, including notable painters and photographers.

Answer: The history of visual arts in Bengal encompasses paintings and photography.

Paintings, though less durable than other visual arts, have surviving specimens from the Pala kings’ time. The Palas were Buddhists and illuminated Buddhist manuscripts like Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita, Pancaraksha, or Dharani texts, some of which are held by the Asiatic Society of Calcutta. Sarasikumar Saraswati’s Palyuger Chitrakala is notable research in this area. No post-Pala or post-Buddhist illuminated manuscripts are known to have survived. The oldest known painting of Sri Chaitanya survives at Kunjaghata in Murshidabad, dating to the eighteenth century. Famous Kalighat paintings, done by patuas known as Chitrakaras, were highlighted by William Archer. Kolkata became the centre of the Renaissance of modern Indian painting following the foundation of art schools like Calcutta Art School and Jubilee Art School. Graduates like Sashi Kumar excelled as portrait painters. Ernest Binfield Havell, as Principal of Calcutta School of Art, brought fundamental changes and appointed Abanindranath Tagore as Vice-Principal, initiating the Renaissance of modern Indian art and the Bengal School. Another painting centre was established at Santiniketan with Nandalal Bose. His disciples included Ramkinkar Beij (noted for painting and sculpture) and Binode Behari Mukherjee. Rabindranath Tagore himself was a painter of unconventional newness at Santiniketan, acknowledged by artists like Ganesh Pyne. Jamini Roy was another eminent artist who developed his own direction.

Photography arrived in Kolkata in 1840. Messers Bourne & Shepherd established the earliest photographic institution in 1864, with distinguished customers like Ramakrishna Paramhansadeve and Rabindranath Tagore. The Calcutta School of Industrial Arts (est. 1854), later the Government Art College, started imparting photography instruction. The Photographic Society of Bengal (est. 1856) had mixed Indian and English membership, with Rajendralal Mitra as its most distinguished member, attracting Bengali elites. Kanailal Dey and Priyanath Seth were excellent photographers. A Postal Portfolio Club was later founded for enthusiasts outside Kolkata. Photography was encouraged by the East India Company to record archaeological sites and became a key element in identifying archaeological evidence. It also aided acculturation in Bengali society, as seen in Tagore’s novels Chokher Bali and Yogayog. Foreign photographers documented British military activity around the 1857 Revolt. The Indian Academy of Fine Arts (est. 1919) published a quarterly journal from 1920, aiming to equate photography with painting and sculpture. The earliest Bengali book on photography was serialized in Silpapushpanjali (1923-1924) by Saraccandra Deb. Ramendrasundar Trivedi’s essay appeared in Janmabhumi, and Adisvara Ghatak wrote a book on dry plate photography. Colonel Mahimchandra Thakur urged the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad to use amateur photographers to record temples, houses, etc. Women photographers worked professionally in Kolkata, like Mrs. Wince who opened a studio in Manicktola, and Jnanadanandini Debi (wife of Satyendranath Tagore) who was devoted to the art. Annapurna Datta earned her living through photography (1930-1940). Jagadish Chandra Bose was interested in photography and pioneered X-ray photography in India, with the first diagnostic X-ray unit initiated by Dr. Nilratan Sarkar.

54. Describe the history and importance of transportation modes in India, especially Bengal.

Answer: India, being a country nursed by rivers, naturally utilized boats (nauka in Bengali) of different sizes and shapes as a primary means of transportation, especially in riverine regions like Bengal. These watercrafts were intimately related to everyday life, as evidenced in ancient Bengali songs (Charyapadas) quoted by Professor Niharranjan Roy, later poems and songs by Rabindranath Tagore, and medieval epics like ‘Manasamangal’ which mentions the wreck of a merchant fleet.

Overland transport relied heavily on bullock carts, which are still used today in rural India for carrying people and goods, having undergone little change over ages. Gautama Buddha even used the metaphor of the bullock in the Dhammapada. Elephants and horses were important, used both militarily and otherwise. Elephants carried heavy loads, and Greek historians noted the Ganga kingdom’s might included elephant brigades. Horses were used for riding by the wealthy and for messengers; Sher Shah introduced a postal system using horsemen.

Palanquins (palki) served as overland transport for those who could afford bearers, and were mostly privately owned by the rich. They were celebrated in literature by Sarojini Naidu and Satyendranath Datta and were common in nineteenth-century Kolkata. Horse-driven carriages, available for hire or privately owned, were also used for carrying multiple people and were the general means of transport in Kolkata before the public transport system.

Despite transport history’s development, particularly in the 60s and 70s of the twentieth century, the modern historiographical approach incorporates methodological techniques and neighbouring fields. These various modes of transport were crucial for movement, trade, communication, and military purposes throughout Indian history, with specific regional importance like boats in Bengal.

55. Discuss the evolution and characteristics of Indian architecture, highlighting specific regional styles.

Answer: An important feature of Indian architecture has been the continuous absorption of new ideas. The earliest architectural production is to be found in the Indus Valley Civilization, which was characterized by planned cities and houses. In the subsequent period, the indigenous traditions of scholarly writing are embodied in treatises known collectively as silpasastra. In the modern period, James Fergusson’s path-breaking History of Indian and Eastern Architecture (1876) made a detailed analysis of the Indian art, revealing its originality and variety. Art historian Thomas Metcalf, in his book An Imperial Vision (1989), considered the British scholarly writing on the architecture of India’s past as also on the British colonial architecture. Tapati Guha-Thakurta, in her book The Making of a New Indian Art (1992), focused on art chiefly in Bengal around the twentieth century.
As regards the features of the architecture of Bengal, the temple architecture of Bengal has a distinctive roofing style. The temples of Bishnupur in the district of Bankura are examples of such style. The Bhanja style is another form of architecture practiced in Bengal. Dakshineswar Temple of goddess Kali is one example of such style. The origin of the common ‘bungalow’ architectural style has its roots in Bengal. In fact, bungalow means ‘house in Bengali style’. These are usually small houses and are very popular in the rural Bengal.

56. Examine the interaction between human cultures and the environment, citing notable examples.

Answer: The history of environment tries to explore the interaction between human cultures and the environment. The influence of environment moulds the thought and dealings in life of the respective people. For instance, the influence of the Lake District of England on the poetry of Wordsworth is widely acknowledged. Similarly, studies in the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore reveal the influence of the landscape of the Gangetic Bengal (Silaidaha in present Bangladesh).

India’s mountains, rivers, forests and seas have gone a long way in shaping the lives, thinking and mode of living of the people of India. However, in the wake of global warming, people all the world over are facing environmental hazards. Thus, inquiry into the history of environment has become imperative. Silent Spring, written by Rachel Carson (1962), is a well-documented book emphasizing the detrimental effects on the environment as a result of the indiscriminate use of pesticide. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation and public officials of accepting industry claims. Scholars such as Mahesh Rangarajan and Ramchandra Guha’s environmental studies are of particular importance. Rangarajan’s books like ‘Hunting and Shooting’, ‘Facing the Forest’ and others have received notice. Ramchandra Guha, besides authoring work on the history of sports, has his environment study, The Unquiet Wood. His other works include This Fissured Land, Ecology and Equality and others.

The importance of studying the history of environment lies in the fact that it helps to understand human power in relation to the nature. It also helps to realize the human role in conservation of nature. It opens our eyes for the scarcity of natural resources and for their conservation for the future.

57. Discuss the historical development of science, technology, and medicine in Bengal, including contributions by Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Roy.

Answer: The story of science, technology and medicine began in a humble manner in Bengal, but as the decades followed, there were flourishing developments. John Mack’s book on Chemistry in Bengali was published from Serampore Press in 1804. This was followed by the foundation of the Hindu College in 1817. In the same year, the School Book Society was founded and published a mathematical treatise called Ganit. In 1824, regular teaching of science began in Hindu College. Calcutta Medical College was founded in 1835, where Madhusudan Gupta pioneered the dissection of the human dead body and translated a textbook on anatomy into Sanskrit. The year 1843 is notable as the Civil Engineering Department was opened in Hindu College, and Medical Science came to be taught in Bengali language in 1852. The Banga Darshan, published by Bankim Chandra, started carrying features on science from its second number in 1872. In 1875, Bankim Chandra published his Bijnan Rahasya.

The twentieth century began to see Jagadish Chandra Bose publishing his first book ‘Response in Living and Non-living’, from London. Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy’s ‘History of Hindu Chemistry’ was published in about the same time. Another Bengalee writer who seriously worked for the propagation of a modern scientific outlook was Akshay Kumar Datta. He authored books on Geography, Physics, Astronomy, mathematics and Geology. An important event of 1927 was the publication of U. N. Brahmachari’s research paper Kala-azar: Its Treatment. After India became independent in 1947, several institutes came up that helped advancement in science, technology and medicine.

58. Discuss the role and importance of women’s history in understanding societal evolution.

Answer: Studies in feminism branch out in various directions, forming the basis of Women’s History. The role of women in society has been studied by scholars of different branches of study. The protagonists of feminism have undertaken the role women have played in the evolution of society and culture. For example, anthropologists have accredited women with the discovery of agriculture, the process of generation of plants from the seeds. When cultivation was taken over by men, women were debarred from tilling the ground. In India, and for that matter in Bengal, women are not supposed to touch the plough, though they may plant the sapling, but not sow the seed. Women take part in harvesting and other related activities like thrashing and winnowing the crop.

Women’s empowerment and universal suffrage have gone hand in hand. Women’s study was started in America, and many universities there offer courses in the subject. In India, too, women’s history has attracted academic attention, thanks to the globalization. Many significant researches on feminism have come out in the form of books. Aluwalia’s Rethinking Boundaries of Feminism and Internationalism is a significant study. Professor Sukumari Bhattacharya has done a lot of research with regard to the position of women. Geraldine Forbes in her Women in Modern India considered women’s recent history from the nineteenth century under colonial rule, to the twentieth century after Independence. The University of Jadavpur has a vibrant wing of women’s studies, and publishes researches in the area. Understanding women’s history is thus crucial for a complete understanding of societal evolution and culture.

Ron'e Dutta

Ron'e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.

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2 comments

Md Sakil Khan February 24, 2023 at 1:37 pm

Give me

Reply
1. Doyel Gorain April 11, 2024 at 2:22 am
  
  From this chapter i got many reflection of our Indian Past and to my thinking We ,Indian people should not ignore them as common material to revise and learning but those moral learns from this materials have to apply on our life too so progress can be made
  
  One thought is that – Create New but don’t ignore past faults, at first correct those then go ahead with out mistake
  
  Reply