Chapter 1 – How, When and Where Questions and Answers

Content Structure

A. Exercise questions & answers
B. Additional Questions and Answers
- Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
- Fill in the blanks
- True or false
- Match the following
- Short-type questions & answers
- Long-type questions & answers

A. Exercise questions & answers

A. State whether true or false

(a) James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and Christian.
Ans: False.
Statement: James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and British.
(b) Official documents help us understand what the people of the country think.
Ans: False.
Statement: Official documents show what officials thought, but they do not always reflect what ordinary people felt.
(c) The British thought surveys were important for effective administration.
Ans: True.
Statement: The British believed surveys were important to gather information for effective administration.

B. What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers?
Ans: James Mill’s division of Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and British periods is problematic because

He only focuses on the ruler’s religion and ignores the fact that where many religions existed at the same time.
They also overlook the lives and cultures of ordinary people.
His periodization suggests that progress only came with British rule, which is not true.

C. Why did the British preserve official documents?
Ans: The British preserved official documents because they believed that writing and record-keeping were important for effective administration so they kept records of instructions, policies, agreements, and investigations and they could be used in the future.

D. How will the information historians get from old newspapers be different from that found in police reports?
Ans:

Newspaper Report	Police Report
1. Newspapers show public thoughts, debates, and events from different perspectives.	1. Police reports focus on crimes, law enforcement, and government views.
2. Newspapers recorded the voices of the people,	2. Police record the actions of people and the decisions of authorities.

B. Additional Questions and Answers

Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

1. A History of British India was written by –
(a) Charles Darwin
(b) James Mill
(c) Albert Einstein
(d) Thomas Hardy

Ans: (b) James Mill

2. What is colonization?
(a) Trading goods between countries
(b) One country controlling another for power and wealth
(c) Peaceful coexistence of nations
(d) A country growing its own industries

Ans: (b) One country controlling another for power and wealth

3. Which type of survey helps in studying population size and details?
(a) Land survey
(b) Census survey
(c) Animal survey
(d) Historical survey

Ans: (b) Census survey

4. The National Archives of India came up in the
(a) 1920s
(b) 1930s
(c) 1940s
(d) 1950s

Ans: (a) 1920s

5. What did the British use surveys for in India?
(a) To understand land, population, and resources
(b) To collect stories from local people
(c) To promote Indian industries
(d) To avoid ruling the country

Ans: (a) To understand land, population, and resources

6. The first Governor-General of India was
(a) Lord Dalhousie
(b) Lord Mountbatten
(c) Lord William Bentinck
(d) Warren Hastings

Ans: (d) Warren Hastings

7. In which year did James Mill divide Indian history into different periods?
(a) 1600
(b) 1757
(c) 1817
(d) 1857

Ans: (c) 1817

8. Census operations are held
(a) Every five years
(b) Every seven years
(c) Every ten years
(d) Every twelve years

Ans: (c) Every ten years

9. Who was the last British Viceroy of India?
(a) Lord Curzon
(b) Lord Mountbatten
(c) Lord Dalhousie
(d) Lord Canning

Ans: (b) Lord Mountbatten

10. The word ‘Calligrapher’ means
(a) One who specialises in the art of painting.
(b) One who specialises in the art of music.
(c) One who specialises in the art of beautiful writing.
(d) One who specialises in the art of public speaking.

Ans: (c) One who specialises in the art of beautiful writing.

11. Which source helps historians understand people’s opinions and events during British rule?
(a) Old newspapers
(b) Palm leaf manuscripts
(c) Stone carvings
(d) Police records

Ans: (a) Old newspapers

12. Which of the following was NOT studied in British surveys?
(a) Information about forests
(b) Details of rivers and mountains
(c) People’s traditions and lifestyles
(d) Land revenue and taxation

Ans: (c) People’s traditions and lifestyles

13. Why did the British conduct surveys in India?
(a) To help Indian farmers
(b) To map the country for better control
(c) To promote Indian industries
(d) To record Indian traditions

Ans: (b) To map the country for better control

14. Why did the British encourage food exports from India?
(a) To improve the lives of Indian farmers
(b) To earn profits
(c) To store extra food for India’s future use
(d) To boost local Indian trade and markets

Ans: (b) To earn profits

Fill in the blanks

1. The colonial government gave much importance to the practice of _________________.
2. In 1817, James Mill wrote a book ___________________.
3. When one country controls another country it is called __________________.
4. James Mill divided Indian history into three periods _____________, ________________, and ________________.
5. _____________ recorded the public thoughts.
6. Historians have usually divided Indian history into ancient _____________ and _________________.
7. The British established specialised institutions like _________ and __________ to preserve important documents.
8. Revenue surveys collected information on ___________, __________, __________and __________ for administration.
9. Understand history, we need sources like _________, ___________ and _______________.
10. Most sources were made by __________________ so they ignore ____________ and the _____________________.

Ans:
1. Surveying
2. A History of British India
3. colonization
4. Hindu, Muslim, and British
5. Newspaper
6. Medieval, Modern
7. Archives; Museums
8. Land, soil, crops, taxation
9. Diaries, travel accounts and booklets
10. literate people, workers, poor people

True or false

1. British exports goods like tea, jute, and cinnamon to India.
Ans: False.

2. In 1818, James Mill, a Scottish economist wrote a book ‘A History of British India’.
Ans: False.

3. The British were very particular about preserving official documents.
Ans: True.

4. When one country rules another this process is called colonization.
Ans: True.

5. James Mill believed Asian societies were more advanced than Europe.
Ans: False.

6. Printing began to spread by the middle of the 19th century.
Ans: True.

7. The British carried out detailed surveys by the early 20th century to map the entire country.
Ans: False.

8. Prince Arthur was given the title Duke of Connaught.
Ans: True.

9. A Census in India is held every five years to count the population, caste, religion, and jobs.
Ans: False.

Match the following

Column A	Column B
(a) Colonisation	1. A place where historical documents or records of a government, etc. are kept.
(b) Carrying out surveys	2. The last British Viceroy of India
(c) Museum	3. A building in which objects of historical or scientific interest are kept to show them to the public.
(d) Lord Mountbatten	4. A History of British India,
(e) 1817	5. Subjugation of one country by another
(f) Archives	6. An important taste of the British administration.

Ans:

Column A	Column B
(a) Colonisation	5. Subjugation of one country by another
(b) Carrying out surveys	6. An important task of the British administration
(c) Museum	3. A building in which objects of historical or scientific interest are kept to show them to the public
(d) Lord Mountbatten	2. The last British Viceroy of India
(e) 1817	4. A History of British India
(f) Archives	1. A place where historical documents or records of a government, etc., are kept

Short-type questions & answers

1. What was the main focus of British historians when writing Indian history?
Ans: British historians mainly focused on British rule and achievements, ignoring Indian rulers and cultures, and emphasizing the policies of the British Governors-General.

2. Who was James Mill?
Ans: James Mill was a Scottish economist and political philosopher. He wrote A History of British India in 1817 and divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.

3. What was Mill’s opinion, about Asian societies?
Ans: Mill believed that Asian societies were less developed than Europe.

4. Why do many historians refer to the modern period as colonial?
Ans: Many historians call the modern period colonial because during this time, India was under British rule, and the British controlled politics, economy, and society.

5. What do official records not tell?
Ans: Official records only show the views of the government and officials. They do not reflect the thoughts, emotions, or experiences of ordinary people.

6. What is done under census?
Ans: The Census keeps a record of the population in different parts of India and gathers details about people’s caste, religion, and the types of jobs they do.

7. What is Colonisation?
Ans: Colonisation is when one country takes control over another, changing its political, economic, social, and cultural systems for its benefit.

8. Why survey is important?
Ans: Surveys are important because they help collect information about land, people, resources, and the economy and this information is helpful for planning, administration, and decision-making.

9. What is one important source historians use to study Indian history from the last 230 years?
Ans: British official records, which include government documents, reports, and surveys, help historians understand how India was ruled during British rule.

10. Why do we try and divide history into different periods?
Ans: We divide history into periods to better understand important events, key changes, and main characteristics of different time periods.

11. How did James Mill view India?
Ans: James Mill had a negative view of India. He believed Asian societies were less developed than Europe. He claimed that before British rule, Hindu and Muslim rulers were unfair, and religious intolerance, caste rules, and superstitions dominated society.

12. What did the British do to preserve important officials’ documents?
Ans: The British preserve important documents carefully they set up record rooms in government offices like the tahsildar’s office, collectorate, commissioner’s office, provincial secretariats, law courts, special archives and museums.

13. Why is dividing Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern periods a problem?
Ans: The division of Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern comes from the West, where the modern period means progress in science, democracy, and equality. But in India, British rule brought no freedom, equality, or progress. So, many historians call this time the colonial period instead of the modern period.

Long-type questions & answers

1. How do British official records help historians study the last 250 years of Indian history?
Ans:

One important source for studying Indian history is the official records of the British administration.
The British recorded every instruction, plan, policy, and investigation in detail, creating a system of memos, reports, and notes.
To preserve these documents carefully they set up record rooms in government offices like the tahsildar’s office, collectorate, commissioner’s office, provincial secretariats, law courts, special archives and museums.
Historians can study letters, memos, and reports from the early 19th century in archives.
Beginning of the 19th century all documents were handwritten by calligraphists (experts in beautiful writing). But in the mid-century, all records were printed as official reports.

2. How did surveys become important under the colonial administration?
Or
How did surveys become important during British rule in India?
Ans:

The British used surveys to study India before ruling it properly. By the early 19th century, they made detailed maps of the country.
Revenue surveys in villages collected information on land, soil, plants, animals, local history, and farming for administration.
From the late 19th century, a Census was held every ten years to count the population, caste, religion, and jobs.
Other surveys included –
- Plant surveys – Studied different plants.
- Animal surveys – Studied different animals.
- History surveys – Studied old buildings and sites.
- People surveys – Studied different groups and cultures.
- Forest surveys – Studied trees and forests.
These surveys helped the British collect useful information about India.

3. What information is missing from British official records and survey reports?
Ans: British official records help us to learn about the past, but they only show what British officials thought, what they found important, and what they wanted to keep for the future. These records do not always tell us how ordinary people lived or felt.

To understand history better, we need other sources like diaries, travel accounts, autobiographies, and small booklets sold in markets. Newspapers are allowed in public discussions. Leaders and reformers wrote books to share ideas, while poets and novelists expressed emotions and struggles through their writings.

However, most of these sources were created by literate people, so they do not tell us much about tribals, peasants, mine workers, and the poor. Their stories are difficult to find, but we can still learn about their lives with some effort.