Indian History Questions

Q:

Consider the following statement :“So much is wrung from the peasants, that even dry bread is scarcely left to fill their stomachs.”

Who among the following European travellers had made the above statement about the condition of peasantry in the Mughal Empire?

A) Francisco Pelsaert B) Francois Bernier
C) Jean-Baptiste Tavemier D) Niccolao Manucci
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) Francisco Pelsaert

Explanation:

But while the average Mughal farmer produced more than in later times, he most probably produced less than in earlier times. On the whole, the Mughal period was marked by agricultural stagnation, if not slump. The per capita yield was declining, and the average man in Mughal India probably had less to eat than before. 'The surplus income left to the peasant was tending to decrease, where it had not already vanished,' says Moreland. 'The provinces,' says Pelsaert, 'are so impoverished that a jagir which is reckoned to be worth 50,000 rupees, may sometimes not yield even 25,000, although so much is wrung from the peasants, that even dry bread is scarcely left to fill their stomachs.'

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Q:

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

 

A) Al-Biruni identifies the Sufidoctrine of divine love as selfannihilation with parallel passages from Bhagavad Gita. B) According to Al-Biruni, Sufitheories of Soul were similar to those in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
C) The Hatha Yogic treatise Amrita Kunda had lasting impact on Sufism. D) Hujwiri’s conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: D) Hujwiri’s conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.

Explanation:

According to al-Biruni, the sufi theories of the soul were similar to those in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. Like the Yoga Sutra, sufi works also stated that ‘the bodies are the snares of the souls for the purpose of acquiring recompense’. Al-Biruni also identifies the sufi doctrine of divine love as self-annihilation with parallel passages from the Bhagavad Gita. There was also much exchange of ideas between the Sufis and Indian yogis. In fact the hatha-yoga treatise Amrita Kunda was translated into Arabic and Persian, So C is right.

Hujwiri was known as Datta Ganj Baksh. Hujwiri comments that before he settled in Lahore some sufis believed in theories that he calls brahmanical. According to Hujwiri they wrongly believed that ‘annihilation (fand’) signifies loss of essence and destruction of the personality, and that subsistence (baqa) indicates the subsistence of God in man.

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Q:

Which of the following statements about the usage of the term ‘barbarian’ is/are correct?

1. It is derived from the Greek word ‘barbaros’ which means anon-Greek.

2. Romans used the term for the Germanic tribes, the Gauls and the Huns.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

The ancient Greek word “bárbaros,” from which it derives, meant “babbler,”.In the Greek ear, speakers of a foreign tongue made unintelligible sounds (“bar bar bar”). Similar words exist in other Indo-European languages, including the Sanskrit “barbara,” which means “stammering.”The word “barbarian” originated in ancient Greece and was initially used to describe all non-Greek-speaking peoples, including Persians, Egyptians, Medes and Phoenicians.

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Q:

Which of the following statements about the Non-Cooperation Movement is/are correct?

1. It was marked by significant participation of peasants from Karnataka.

2. It was marked by non-Brahmin lower caste participation in Madras and Maharashtra.

3. It was marked by the lack of labour unrest in places like Assam, Bengal and Madras.

4. It was badly shaken by the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922 after which Gandhiji decided to continue with the movement on a much smaller scale.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A) 1 only B) 1, 2 and 4
C) 2 and 3 D) 2 only
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: D) 2 only

Explanation:

Non-Brahmin lower caste movement took place in Madras and Maharashtra

Karnataka was not affected by the NCM.

There was labour unrest in Assam, Bengal and Madras

Statement 4 is incorrect as after the Chauri-Chaura incident the movement was completely stopped.

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Q:

In the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda, which one of the following hymns reflects upon the marriage ceremonies?

A) Surya Sukta B) Purusha Sukta
C) Dana Stutis D) Urna Sutra
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: B) Purusha Sukta

Explanation:

surya sukta--a hymn in the praise of the sun god

•dana stuti--these are hymns in the praise of those who donate

•urna sutra--is the dot/mark on the forehead that is put before performing rituals.

•purusha sukta---contains hymns about marriage ceremonies

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Q:

Around twelfth century, Sufi Silsilas began to ciystgdlize in different parts of the Islamic world to signify

1.continuous link between the master and disciple

2. unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammad

3. the transmission of spiritual power and blessings to devotees

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: D) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

Sufi silsilas began to crystallise in different parts of the Islamic world around the twelfth century. The word silsila literally means a chain, signifying a continuouslink between master and disciple, stretching as an unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammad. It was through this channel that spiritual power and blessings were transmitted to devotees. Special rituals of initiation were developed in which initiates took an oath of allegiance, wore a patched garment, and shaved their hair. Thus, all statements are correct.

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Q:

Verses ascribed to poet-saint Kabir have been compiled in which of the following traditions?

1. Bijak in Varanasi

2. Kabir Granthavali in Rajasthan

3. Adi Granth Sahib

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A) 1 and 2 only B) 1, 2 and 3
C) 2 and 3 only D) 3 only
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: B) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

Verses ascribed to Kabir have been compiled in three distinct but overlapping traditions. The Kabir Bijak is preserved by the Kabirpanth (the path or sect of Kabir) in Varanasi and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh, the Kabir Granthavali is associated with the Dadupanth in Rajasthan, and many of his compositions are found in the Adi Granth Sahib.

Bijak is the best known of the compilations of the Kabir, and as such is the holy scripture for followers of the Kabirpanthi religion. The Bijak, an anthology of Kabir’s verses compiled in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and/or Bihar, is one of Kabir’s most influential works.In the case of the Guru Granth Sahib, Kabir’s poems were collected to be sung and are organized in ragas.

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Q:

In October 2017, India sent its first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan as a j part of commitment made by the Government of India to supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat to that country on grant basis. The shipment was sent through

A) Iran B) Pakistan
C) Tajikistan D) China
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) Iran

Explanation:

October 2017: A press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the consignment would be the first to use the new route via Chabahar (Iran) to access Afghanistan, even as India plans similar transfers in the coming months.The shipment of wheat is a landmark moment as it will pave the way for operationalisation of the Chabahar port as an alternative, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan. It will open up new opportunities for trade and transit from and to Afghanistan and enhance trade and commerce between the three countries (India, Iran and Afghanistan) and the wider region.

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