📘 20 Important Words with Meanings (Hindi)

• Inscription – शिलालेख / लिखित अभिलेख
• Edict – शाही आदेश
• Genealogy – वंशावली
• Bakhar – मराठी ऐतिहासिक ग्रंथ
• Epic – महाकाव्य
• Biography – जीवन चरित्र
• Dynasty – राजवंश
• Archaeology – पुरातत्व
• Orientalist – प्राच्यविद
• Colonial – औपनिवेशिक
• Nationalistic – राष्ट्रवादी
• Subaltern – निम्न वर्ग / शोषित
• Feminist – नारीवादी
• Historiography – इतिहास लेखन
• Travelogue – यात्रा वृत्तांत
• Critical – आलोचनात्मक
• Authentic – प्रामाणिक
• Excavation – खुदाई
• Decipher – लिपि पढ़ना / भेदना
• Memoir – आत्मकथा / संस्मरण

📝 Important Notes

• Historiography in India evolved from oral tradition to inscriptions, epics, and biographies.
• Ashoka’s edicts (3rd century BCE) are earliest inscriptions.
• Harshacharita by Banabhatta and Rajtarangini by Kalhana show detailed history writing.
• Barani’s Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi expanded historiography by criticising rulers too.
• Mughal historiography – Babur’s Tuzuk-i-Babari, Abul Fazl’s Akbarnama.
• Marathi Bakhars: Sabhasad Bakhar, Panipatachi Bakhar.
• British historians like James Mill, Grant Duff wrote with colonial bias.
• Orientalist historians (William Jones, Max Muller) respected Indian culture.
• Nationalistic historians (Ranade, Rajwade, Savarkar) restored Indian pride.
• Post-independence, Marxist, Subaltern, Feminist historiography emerged.

🔴 20 One Word Answer Questions

Q1. Who wrote Rajtarangini?Kalhana Q2. Who wrote Harshacharita?Banabhatta Q3. First DG of ASI?Alexander Cunningham Q4. Discovered Harappan Civilisation?John Marshall Q5. Author of The History of British India?James Mill Q6. Who translated Hitopadesh in German?Max Muller Q7. Who wrote A History of the Mahrattas?Grant Duff Q8. Who wrote Akbarnama?Abul Fazl Q9. Whose autobiography is Tuzuk-i-Babari?Babur Q10. Who founded Asiatic Society?Sir William Jones Q11. Who wrote Indian War of Independence, 1857?V.D. Savarkar Q12. Who founded Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal?V.K. Rajwade Q13. Who wrote Rise of Maratha Power?M.G. Ranade Q14. Author of Stri-Purush Tulana?Tarabai Shinde Q15. Author of The High Caste Hindu Woman?Pandita Ramabai Q16. Who wrote Who Were the Shudras?Dr B.R. Ambedkar Q17. Editor of Sacred Books of the East?Max Muller Q18. Who compiled Rigveda in 6 vols?Max Muller Q19. Who is called Riyasatkar?G.S. Sardesai Q20. Pioneer of Subaltern historiography?Ranjit Guha

🟠 20 Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. What is Bakhar?A Marathi historical narrative. Q2. Name 2 epics as sources of history.Ramayana, Mahabharata Q3. Where was Sohagaura plate found?Gorakhpur, UP Q4. Sohagaura plate indicates?Precautions in famine Q5. Script on Sohagaura plate?Brahmi Q6. Biography of King Harsha?Harshacharita Q7. Text on Kashmir’s history?Rajtarangini Q8. Author of Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi?Barani Q9. Barani’s view on historians?Record ruler’s deeds + failings Q10. Two medieval travellers?Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo Q11. Mughal emperor who wrote memoirs?Babur Q12. Author of A History of the Mahrattas?Grant Duff Q13. Who exposed Duff’s bias?Kirtane, Rajwade Q14. Who compiled Sadhane?V.K. Rajwade Q15. Founder of CPI?Comrade S.A. Dange Q16. Book of Phule on Shudras?Gulamgiri Q17. Ambedkar’s caste books?Who Were the Shudras, Untouchables Q18. First feminist book in India?Stri-Purush Tulana Q19. Author of Crossing Thresholds?Meera Kosambi Q20. Who wrote Marathi Riyasat?G.S. Sardesai

🟡 20 Short Answer Questions

Q1. Importance of inscriptions?They provide dates, dynasties, events, administration, climate etc. Q2. What is Harshacharita?Biography of King Harsha describing life in 7th century. Q3. Kalhana’s method?He critically used coins, records, monuments, traditions. Q4. Barani’s contribution?Included criticism of rulers and saints’ influence. Q5. Significance of Akbarnama?Abul Fazl collected authentic documents, unbiased. Q6. What are Bakhars?Marathi records narrating events, dynasties, battles, grievances. Q7. What did John Marshall discover?The Harappan Civilisation. Q8. James Mill’s history?Prejudiced, ridiculed Indian culture. Q9. Grant Duff’s bias?Condemned Indian society, favoured British rule. Q10. What is Orientalist historiography?Respectful study of Sanskrit, Vedas by Europeans. Q11. Asiatic Society founded?By Sir William Jones, 1784. Q12. Max Muller’s work?Edited Sacred Books, translated Rigveda. Q13. Nationalistic historiography?Restored pride, sought golden era, inspired by Chiplunkar. Q14. Rajwade’s insistence?Use authentic sources, write broad history. Q15. Savarkar’s contribution?1857 book inspired nationalistic history. Q16. Marxist history?Studies production, class struggle, economy. Q17. Subaltern history?Focus on oppressed classes, peasants, folklore. Q18. Feminist history?Highlights women’s role, writings, ignored contributions. Q19. Two feminist authors?Tarabai Shinde, Pandita Ramabai. Q20. Sardesai’s work?Marathi Riyasat, landmark regional history.

📚 Textbook Exercises – Answers

Q1(A)(1). First DG of ASI?Alexander Cunningham Q1(A)(2). Translator of Hitopadesh?Friedrich Max Muller Q1(B). Wrong pair?Indian War of Independence, 1857 – Marxist History ❌ (Correct: Nationalistic History) Q2(1). Why regional history gained momentum?Nationalistic historiography inspired regional histories like Sardesai’s Riyasat. Q2(2). Why Bakhar important?Provides details of kings, dynasties, battles, sects in medieval Maharashtra. Q3(1). Marxist history?Focuses on production, economy, class relations; developed in India by Kosambi, Dange, Sharma. Q3(2). V.K. Rajwade’s contribution?Compiled 22 volumes, founded Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal, promoted authentic research. Q4(a). Complete chart: James Mill – The History of British India
James Grant Duff – A History of the Mahrattas
Mountstuart Elphinstone – The History of India
S.A. Dange – Primitive Communism to Slavery Q5. Short notes: Orientalist historiography – Europeans admiring India, Sanskrit studies.
Nationalistic historiography – Indian pride, golden era, independence inspiration.
Subaltern history – Voices of oppressed, peasants, Dalits, folklore.