Chapter 1: Sources of History Class 9 • Maharashtra Board
🖋️ Written • 🧱 Material • 🗣️ Oral • 📺 Audio-Visual
📚 Introduction
For the post-independence era, historians use diverse sources at regional, state, national and international levels. Key categories are written, material, oral and audio-visual sources. Together, they help us reconstruct the history of modern India.
🧭 Big Picture: Types of Sources
| Category | Examples | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Written | Newspapers, gazettes, periodicals, archives, diaries, correspondence, reference books, encyclopedias, postage stamps | Provide documented evidence and timelines of events |
| Material (Physical) | Coins, currency designs, seals, clothing, ornaments, tools, places of worship, museums, modern architecture | Reflect economic, social, and cultural realities |
| Oral | Folktales, folksongs, proverbs, ballads, owis, powadas | Capture popular memory and movements |
| Audio-Visual | TV, films, documentaries, newsreels, internet | Offer moving images/sound & quick dissemination |
🖋️ Written Sources
Modern history relies heavily on the print media and official publications alongside archival documents.
📰 Newspapers & Periodicals
- Cover national/international events, politics, art, sports, literature, society.
- Regional editions and year-end supplements summarise key events.
- Party dailies/weeklies, movement newsletters add perspectives.
💡 Press Trust of India (PTI): Since 1953, PTI has supplied reports, photos and articles; switched to satellite broadcast in the 1990s and now provides online services.
📚 Reference Books & Gazettes
- Government publications are authentic and comprehensive.
- Example: INDIA 2000 (Publications Division) covers polity, defence, education, culture, S&T, environment, health, welfare, economy, agriculture, energy, transport, labour, laws, youth & sports.
🌐 Publications Division: Annuals and reference books provide consolidated data useful for writing history.
✉️ Postage Stamps (Philately)
- Themes: leaders, flora-fauna, events, jubilees/centenaries—reflect changing times via design, size, and colour.
- Historians interpret stamps as miniature documents of culture and policy.
💡 Jal Cooper (Stamp, 1977): Internationally acclaimed Indian philatelist; edited India’s Stamp Journal, founded philatelic bodies, wrote extensively—helped elevate Indian philately worldwide.
🏛️ Archives: Places where historical documents are preserved. The National Archives of India (New Delhi) is the largest in Asia.
🧱 Material (Physical) Sources
🪙 Coins & Currency
- RBI (HQ: Mumbai) issues currency; coin metals, shapes, and motifs mirror national priorities.
- Examples: coins promoting agriculture, farmers, and population control.
🏛️ Museums & Collections
- State museums (e.g., Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai) showcase cultural/social heritage.
- Private museums on coins, notes, lamps, nutcrackers, sports gear, etc., offer specialised insights.
- Other items: royal seals, clothing, ornaments, tools, places of worship, and modern architecture—each adds context to everyday life and power structures.
🗣️ Oral Sources
Oral traditions capture the voices of the people and the spirit of movements.
- Folktales, folksongs, proverbs, ballads, owis (Marathi oral verse).
- Powadas by Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe and Shahir Amar Sheikh inspired the Sanyukta Maharashtra Movement.
📝 Try this: Read Kusumagraj’s poem “Āvahān” (Sino-Indian war backdrop) to see how literature reflects contemporary events.
📺 Audio-Visual Sources
📡 Television & Film
- Domestic & international channels (e.g., history/science) document events and culture.
- FTII, Pune (1960): Set up for public education in film/TV.
- Indian News Review: Produced newsreels on politics, society, art, sports, culture; documentaries on leaders and important places—vital for modern history.
🌐 Internet & Digital
- Vast information resource—verify authenticity before use.
- Tech note: The pager briefly appeared as a contact device but faded quickly.
💡 Tip: Cross-check digital content with archival records, official publications, and reputable print media for accuracy.
🔍 Comparing Source Types
| Source | Strength | Limitations | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written | Detailed, date-stamped, citable | May reflect editorial/political bias | Timelines, policies, official data |
| Material | Tangible, showcases everyday life | Needs careful interpretation/context | Culture, economy, technology |
| Oral | Voices of common people | Memory lapses, embellishment | Social movements, local histories |
| Audio-Visual | Immersive, wide reach | Editing bias; verification required | Events, personalities, public mood |
🗓️ Milestones & Institutions
| Year | Institution / Development | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | PTI grows as national wire agency | Primary feed for news & images |
| 1960 | FTII, Pune established | Film/TV education; documentaries/newsreels |
| 1977 | Jal Cooper stamp issued | Honours Indian philately scholarship |
| — | National Archives of India (New Delhi) | Asia’s largest archives—key to primary sources |
✅ Conclusion
By combining written, material, oral and audio-visual sources—and verifying them carefully—we can write reliable histories of modern India. Preservation at every level ensures these sources remain available for future study.
🧠 Quick Revision (Exam-Ready)
| Topic | Essentials | One-Line Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Written Sources | Newspapers, PTI, government annuals, archives, stamps | Provide dated, documented evidence |
| Material Sources | Coins/currency, museums, seals, clothing, architecture | Tangible proof of culture & economy |
| Oral Sources | Folklore, powadas, owis, ballads | Preserve people’s perspectives |
| Audio-Visual | TV/films, FTII, newsreels, internet | Visual narratives—verify authenticity |
📘 Exercises with Answers – Chapter 1: Sources of History
📝 (A) Choose the correct option
- The National Archives of India is situated at …………
✅ Answer: (b) New Delhi - The …………… is included among the Audio-Visual media.
✅ Answer: (b) Television - ……….. is not included in physical sources.
✅ Answer: (d) Proverbs
🖊️ (B) Identify and write the wrong pair
| Person | Specialty | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jal Cooper | Philatelist | ✅ Correct |
| Kusumagraj | Poet | ✅ Correct |
| Anna Bhau Sathe | A people’s bard | ✅ Correct |
| Amar Shaikh | Art collector | ❌ Wrong → He was a People’s Bard / Shahir |
✍️ Short Notes
1) Written Sources
- Include newspapers, periodicals, government gazettes, diaries, correspondence, archives, encyclopedias, etc.
- Provide documented evidence of political, social, cultural, and economic life.
- Help historians cross-check events with authenticity.
2) Press Trust of India (PTI)
- Established in 1953, PTI became India’s main news agency.
- Supplied reports, photographs, and articles on politics, economy, science to newspapers.
- In the 1990s, adopted satellite broadcast technology; now provides online news services.
- Considered a primary source for writing modern Indian history.
🔍 Explain with Reasons
1) The postal department tries to preserve the heritage and integrity of Indian culture through postage stamps.
Reason: Postage stamps are issued on diverse themes—political leaders, cultural icons, flora, fauna, historic events, jubilees. They act as miniature documents of heritage, reflecting India’s identity, culture, and progress. Thus, stamps preserve the cultural integrity of the nation.
2) Audio-visual media are an important source for writing the history of modern India.
Reason: Audio-visual media like television, films, documentaries, and internet provide moving images, sound, and real-time coverage of events. Institutions like FTII Pune and Indian News Review produced documentaries/newsreels on leaders, social issues, and events. These are vivid, authentic records essential for writing modern history.
🧠 Quick Recap (Exam-Ready)
- National Archives: New Delhi
- Audio-Visual source: Television
- Not a physical source: Proverbs
- Wrong Pair: Amar Shaikh – Art collector
- Written Sources = Printed, documented records
- PTI = Main national news agency since 1953
- Postal Department = Culture through stamps
- Audio-Visual = Modern, vivid historical records