History

. In the wake of inconclusive Round Table Talks, British government had declared that, if a  consensus was not reached on separate representation of minorities, a unilateral communal award will  be made. Government kept its promise in form of Communal Award of 1932. The Communal Award was by the British Prime Minister Ramsay McDonald on … Read more DMPQ- Give a brief description of communal award (1932) and puna pact.

. The Congress had boycotted the first Round Table Conference (1930) which was actively  attended by princely states, Ambedkar and other non-Congress parties. Ambedkar also raised the issue  of separate electorate for Dalits and Jinnah demanded more safeguards for the Muslims (these two demands were reflected in Communal Award of 1932). After Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Gandhi … Read more DMPQ- Discuss the conditions in which second round table conference was conducted. Also mention the objectives of the conference.

. The Gandhi-Irwin pact was criticised by radical nationalists, for Gandhiji was unable to  obtain from the Viceroy a commitment to political independence for Indians; he could obtain merely an  assurance of talks towards that possible end. It was organised even as many Congress leaders opposed  the Gandhi-Irwin pact, for the government had not accepted … Read more DMPQ- Discuss the significance of Karachi session of congress in India’s freedom struggle.

. Just after independence Justice Dhar Commission or Linguistic Provinces Commission of 1948 and another committee JVP Committee in the same year headed by Jawahar Lal, Vallabhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya advised against creation of states on linguistic lines and instead they recommended creation of states on the basis of administrative convenience for unity, security … Read more DMPQ- Explain how linguistic issues became a huge challenge during consolidation of India

. After non-action of government over Nehru Report and failure of government to agree  upon any demand for even dominion status, Gandhiji was looking for a new plan amidst growing  restlessness among the Congress and nation as a whole. Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. On 31 January … Read more DMPQ- . Discuss Gandhi’s 11 points and explain how they became background for civil disobedience movement.

Communalism in India was largely a result of divide and rule policy of the British and it was later strengthened by the two nation theory of Pakistan and hatred bred by it for all non-Muslims. It later gave birth to a counter force in terms of ideas of a potential Hindu State. Partition triggered off … Read more DMPQ- India was poised by communal tension on the eve of Independence.” Elucidate.

. The noncooperation movement spread from cities to rural areas and included  peasants tribal areas as well. In Awadh, peasants were led by ‘Baba Ramchandra’ – a sanyasi who had earlier been to  Fiji as an indentured labourer. The movement here was against talukdars and landlords  who demanded from peasants exorbitantly high rents and a … Read more DMPQ- “Different regions of India had different interpretation of non-cooperation movement.” Explain.

. Expansion under Wellesley was perhaps one of  the largest British expansions. He took over India at a time when France was engaged in a bitter  war with Britain all over the world. He used many tactics for expansion from outright war to  usurping the throne of erstwhile subsidiaries. Subsidiary Alliance was one such tool … Read more DMPQ- Discuss how Lord Wellesley’s Subsdiary Alliance policy helped the cause of expansion of British empire.

. The Indians in South Africa consisted of three categories—one, the indentured Indian labour, mainly from south India, who had migrated to South Africa after 1890 to work on sugar plantations; two, the merchants—mostly Meman Muslims who had followed the labourers; and three, the ex-indentured labourers who had settled down with their children in South … Read more DMPQ- . Discuss the Gandhi’s struggle in South Africa for the rights of Indian workers.

. Presently, all the three art forms i.e. dance, music and drama are flourishing in the country. Several music institution like Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and Prayag Sangeet Samiiti have been imparting training in classical music and dance for more than fifty years. A number of schools, colleges and universities in India have adopted these art forms … Read more DMPQ- Give a brief description of contemporary state of India’s performing arts.

. The reforms had many drawbacks: Franchise was very limited. The electorate was extended to some one-and-a-half million for the central legislature, while the population of India was around 260 million, as per one estimate. At the centre, the legislature had no control over the viceroy and his executive council. Division of subjects was not … Read more DMPQ- Trace the drawbacks of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and Government of India Act, 1919.

Indigeneous tradition as well as modern research trace the origin of Indian drama to the Vedas. In the Ramayana we hear of drama troupes of women while Kautilyas Arthshastra mentions musicians, dancers and dramatic shows. Drama is a performing art, which has also been practised since times immemorial. Drama could spring from a child’s play. … Read more DMPQ- . Trace the origin of Drama in India. Also mention the regional versions of Dram in India.

Post-War Economic Hardships India contributed in men and money towards the British war efforts. Thousands of Indian men died in the war on various fronts. The food supplies and ammunition and the army’s keep came from the money raised by taxing Indians. When the war ended, all sections of the Indian population were experiencing hardships … Read more DMPQ- . Point out the reasons for the resurgence of nationalism in India after first world war.

. It is difficult to say at what point of time dance originated, but it is obvious that dance came into existence as an effort to express joy. Gradually dances came to be divided as folk and classical. The classical form of dance was performed in temples as well as in royal courts. The dance … Read more DMPQ- Trace the origin of different forms of classical dance in India.

 The importance of Komagata Maru Incident lies in the fact that it created an explosive situation in the Punjab. Komagata Maru was the name of a ship which was carrying 370 passengers, mainly Sikh and Punjabi Muslim would-be immigrants, from Singapore to Vancouver. They were turned back by Canadian authorities after two months of privation … Read more DMPQ- “Komagata Maru Incident and the publication of Ghadar paper were evidences of expension of Indian nationalism outside of the country.” Elucidate.

Hindustani classical music may be traced back to the period of the Delhi Sultanate and to Amir Khusrau (AD 1253-1325) who encouraged the practice of musical performance with particular instruments. He is believed to have invented the sitar and the tabla and is said to have introduced new ragas. Most of the Hindustani musicians trace … Read more DMPQ- Bring out the differences between Hindustani classical music and Carnatic classical music.

. The reforms of 1909 afforded no answer to the Indian political problem. Lord Morley made it clear that colonial self-government (as demanded by the Congress) was not suitable for India, and he was against the introduction of parliamentary or responsible government in India. He said, “If it could be said that this chapter of … Read more DMPQ- Evaluate critically the impact of Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.

. The literal meaning of Kalamkari is a painting done by kalam (pen). This art got enriched as it came down from one generation to another. These paintings are made in Andhra Pradesh. It is hand painted as well as block printing with vegetable dyes applied on cloth. Vegetable dyes are used for colour in … Read more DMPQ- Discuss the important features of Kalamkari painting.

. The British government in India had been hostile to the Congress from the beginning. Even after the Moderates, who dominated the Congress from the beginning, began distancing themselves from the militant nationalist trend which had become visible during the last decade of the nineteenth century itself, government hostility did not stop. This was because, … Read more DMPQ- Describe the British reaction against national movement after the introduction of swadesi movement and increasing influence of extremist leaders.

. Mithila painting also known as Madhubani folk art is the traditional art of the Mithila region of Bihar. They are produced by village women who make three dimensional images using vegetable colour with few earthen colours and finished in black lines on cow dung treated paper. These pictures tell tales especially about Sita’s exile, … Read more DMPQ- Describe the salient features of Mithila school of paintings.

. The moderate political activity involved constitutional agitation within the confines of law and showed a slow but orderly political progress. The Moderates believed that the British basically wanted to be just to the Indians but were not aware of the real conditions. Therefore, if public opinion could be created in the country and public … Read more DMPQ- Critically evaluate the strategies adopted by moderate congress leaders in the initial phase of nationalist movement against British imperialism.

. Meiji Restoration was the political revolution in 1868 that brought about the final demise of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government)—thus ending the Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603–1867)—and, at least nominally, returned control of the country to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito (the emperor Meiji). In a wider context, however, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 came … Read more DMPQ- Explain how Meiji restoration paved the way for Japanese fascism.

. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries paintings comprised semi westernised local styles which were patronised by British residents and visitors. Themes were generally drawn from Indian social life, popular festivals, and Mughal monuments. These reflected the improvised Mughal traditions. Shaikh Zia-ud-Din’s bird studies for Lady Impey and the portrait paintings of Ghulam … Read more DMPQ- . “Bengal became the centre of painting in modern India.” Explain.

. The introduction of a modern system of education afforded opportunities for assimilation of modern Western ideas. This, in turn, gave a new direction to Indian political thinking, although the English system of education had been conceived by the rulers in the self-interest of efficient administration. The liberal and radical thought of European writers like … Read more DMPQ- Evaluate critically that western thoughts and education played important role in the rise of modern nationalism in India.

Originally a revolutionary league working for the overthrow of the Chinese monarchy, the Nationalists became a political party in the first year of the Chinese republic (1912). The party participated in the first Chinese parliament, which was soon dissolved by a coup d’état (1913). This defeat moved its leader, Sun Yat-sen, to organize it more … Read more DMPQ- . How did Kuomintang and Sun Yat Sen’s politics effect China’s history?

. During the period of Delhi Sultanate, mural painting has been reported from the royal palaces and royal bed-chambers and mosques. These chiefly depict flowers, leaves and plants. During the time of Iltutmish (1210-36) we have references of paintings. During the time of Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) we have mural painting, miniature painting (of illustrated manuscripts) … Read more DMPQ- “Painting reached new heights during medieval India.” Elucidate.

. Syed Ahmed Khan, born in a respectable Muslim family, was a loyalist member of the judicial service of the British government. After retirement in 1876, he became a member of the Imperial Legislative Council in 1878. Syed Ahmed Khan argued that Muslims should first concentrate on education and jobs and try to catch up … Read more DMPQ- . “The Aligarh Movement emerged as a liberal, modern trend among the Muslim intelligentsia.” Critically evaluate the statement.

. Boxer Rebellion, officially supported peasant uprising of 1900 that attempted to drive all foreigners from China. “Boxers” was a name that foreigners gave to a Chinese secret society known as the Yihequan (“Righteous and Harmonious Fists”). The group practiced certain boxing and calisthenic rituals in the belief that this made them invulnerable. It was … Read more DMPQ- . “The Boxer Rebellion was an uprising against foreigners in China.”Elucidate.

. Painting as an art form has flourished in India from very early times as is evident from the remains that have been discovered in the caves, and the literary sources. The history of art and painting in India begins with the pre-historic rock painting at Bhimbetka caves (Madhya pradesh) where we have drawings and … Read more DMPQ- Trace the origin of painting as a form of an Art in ancient India.

The SNDP movement was an example of a regional movement born out of conflict between the depressed classes and upper castes. It was started by Sree Narayana Guru Swamy (1856- 1928) among the Ezhavas of Kerala, who were a backward caste of toddy-tappers and were considered to be untouchables, denied education and entry into temples. … Read more DMPQ- Write an essay on Sree Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Movement.

Opium Wars, two armed conflicts in China in the mid-19th century between the forces of Western countries and of the Qing dynasty, which ruled China from 1644 to 1911/12. The first Opium War (1839–42) was fought between China and Britain, and the second Opium War (1856–60), also known as the Arrow War or the Anglo-French … Read more DMPQ- Discuss the causes of Opium wars in China.

The importance of the Bhakti and Sufi saints lies in the new atmosphere created by them, which continued to affect the social, religious and political life of India even in later centuries. Akbar’s liberal ideas were a product of this atmosphere in which he was born and brought up. The preaching of Guru Nanak were … Read more DMPQ- Evaluate the significance of Bhakti and sufi movement in medieval culture.