14 August is the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. This is the official document published by the Government of India.

#partition #communalism #modern
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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 16. The Fourteenth Century

Question 8:
Discuss the theory of kingship of Balban and compare it with that of Alauddin Khilji. (15 marks)

PS: Answer Writing is the most crucial thing for scoring well in the optional. Now students can submit their answers here as a comment (either in text or scanned image/PDF). I would personally give feedback to those students who submit their answers before the next question is posted, generally after one day. (Answers of only the latest questions will get a feedback.)

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#Delhisultanate #Political #medieval
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Announcement

Daily answer writing practice is the only key to scoring well. So, if you take efforts to write your answers, it is really worth it. For Q 8, I received a couple of answers in the group and a handful of answers were sent personally. I have replied in detail to all of them.

Students can submit their answers here as a comment (either in text or scanned image/PDF). I would personally give feedback to those students who submit their answers before the next question is posted, generally after one day. (Answers to only the latest questions will get a feedback.)

Also, I request you all to not send the answers personally but to just upload them here in the comment section. It makes things easier for me.

#AnswerWritingPractice
@nikhilhistoryoptional

Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 16. The Fourteenth Century

Question 9:
To what extent the term "Rural Revolution" is justifiable for consequences of the land revenue reforms under Alauddin Khalji? (15 marks)

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#Delhisultanate #Political #medieval
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https://youtu.be/oUmmwpt7tLo

Three great living Historians of our time talking about their views and personal experiences of independence and partition. All of them were young in 1947 and have some memories of their childhood which they are sharing...

Now we have this last decade when the remaining of the pre Independence generation will pass away. These people are our link to our past, fading away very quickly. It's always exhilarating to listen to them who have seen 1940s and 1950s.

We may not agree with all their perspectives and arguments, and yet we can try to listen to their views.

#historian
@nikhilhistoryoptional

Announcement

We have created an associated group for answer submission, asking questions and discussion where all the members can participate.

The link is:
@nikhilhistorydiscussion

Answer Writing Practice
Question 9

For Question no 9, students were quite prepared with both facts and analysis. However, some fine-tuning is still required as far as latest historiography is concerned.

I am attaching a photo from a book for reference which will make the topic amply clear. This paragraph amply makes clear the difference and similarity between the father-son on the issue of Rural Revolution.

Also, I suggest more of you should try answer writing on regular basis. Just waiting for better preparation, more revisions, better notes and then starting to write answers is never going to happen.

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#Delhisultanate #Economy #medieval
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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 17.Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:

Question 10:
Evaluate the conditions of industries in India from 1200 to 1500 CE. [UPSC 2013, 20 marks]

Hint: Don't focus only on names/places of various prevalent industries. Question is less factual and more analytical in nature. So, try to bring out analytical perspective. It takes some efforts. Otherwise, the question would be very easy.

PS: Reply here in the comment section with your answer for evaluation.

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#Delhisultanate #Economy #medieval
@nikhilhistoryoptional

The meaning of the term Subaltern is explained in very lucid language by an eminent historian Prof Partha Chatterjee in 2 mins.

We often read about Subaltern History in Indian history and esp in Modern India but rarely are we told the meaning of the word.

#historian #footage #subaltern
@nikhilhistoryoptional

Answer Writing Practice
Medieval India

Question 10 feedback comments: Students were able to touch the basic facts well. However, some students mistook analysis of industry for survey of industry. Thus, they gave more space to factual details and geographic locations while neglecting the analytical approach. In this question, generally, analysis is to be done with respect to introduction of new technology, state's role in expanding industry, impact of/on trade/urbanization, geographic spread and connection to society (nobility, labour, gender).

Also, I noticed that some students are not effectively able to cite the primary sources or include relevant historiographical approach easily. It takes practice to think in that way and the only solution is to keep writing more and more.
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Question 11: (on a students demand, this question is included)

"The policy of creating heterogeneous nobility by Muhammad Tughlaq started the process of disintegration of Delhi Sultanate". Explain. [UPSC, 2018, 20 Marks]

PS: Reply here in the comment section with your answer for evaluation.

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#Delhisultanate #medieval
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Here are the factual details on MBT's heterogenous nobility

Barani mentions a few names but has not given any complete list of officers after MBT came to the throne, but Yahya Bin Sirhindi has given one. There were 7 parts of the ruling class during Barani's reign -

1. Officials and families who were there since the days of Alauddin Khilji
a. Examples – Wazir Khwaja-i-Jahan Ahmad Ayaz, son of Kotwal of Delhi in the era of AK, now involved in all policies of MBT; Qutlugh Khan (teacher of MBT) who became wazir of Daulatabad but disastrously failed to solve the problem of Deccan; Ain -ul-Mulk was a famous official who combined ruling skills with deep study was a leader of nobles and did a good work as ruler of Awadh.
b. Comment – With the arrival of new nobles, all these old nobles families suffered loss of power in the administration.

2. Recently converted families recently appointed to the high posts (shaikhzada)
a. Azizuddin Khammar (distiller) – Barani has adverse criticism for them as he originally belonged to lower castes. Ibn Battuta saw him as tax collector at Amroha, later he became the ruler of Malwa.
b. Kawanul Mulk –He got the highest post among all the Hindus converted to Islam. He was born in a noble family of Warangal and was extremely efficient at work despite being illiterate. Later he became naib-wazir of the entire empire.
c. Pira Mali (gardener) was given diwan-i-wazirat
d. Comment – Sultan MBT had deep faith in the people converted to Islam and provided them high posts, one of them was even made in charge of drinking water supply of the capital city of Delhi. However, Barani was extremely critical of MBT for appointing people of lower origin (jawahir-i lutrah) being appointed to high posts and given iqta positions. Old Nobility saw the state as the preserver of their high birth privileges and thus remained disgruntled.

3. Religious families or mystics appointed to the high post by MBT
a. MBT introduced a new policy of employing religious families in administrative work. Sultan justified it by saying that it was even done under the Caliph but it is difficult to accept this argument because the time and situation had by then changed a lot. Besides, all the official under the Delhi sultanate had to learn some art of war which was not possible for these families. Consequently, trouble began. (Barani even mentions how they couldn’t even ride horses)
i. Sheikh Muizuddin was sent as the administrator of Gujarat but was killed by rebels at a critical time.
ii. Sheikh Imamuddin died fighting against Bahram Aiba
iii. Sheikh Shibauddin was made chief of revenue and his duty was to collect arrears. It was impossible for a sheikh to do it.
b. Comment – this group remain inefficient and couldn’t exert any influence in the administration.

4. Foreign officials
a. MBT had pity-cum-love for the foreigners and appointed them to very high posts. He used to call them aizza. He gave an order that in the empire, they should be addressed honourably.
b. However, these people didn’t know the local language and therefore they couldn’t be employed in regular offices. They were given generally judicial posts to interpret sharia or in the department of grants to provide to ulemas and madrasas. Battuta says that MBT had appointed them mostly to confidential posts.
c. Example - even Ibn Battuta himself was a foreigner appointed as Qazi
d. Comment – They remained more or less loyal to the Sultan but from the severe criticism of Barani it may be understood that these group of nobles didn’t have much local base/power.

#AnswerWritingPractice #Delhisultanate #MBT
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5. Afghan families
a. A few Afghan families were appointed by MBT in administration. Example – Malik Makh, Shah Lodhi
b. Comment – Hvowever, they couldn’t agree with MBT’s policies and became rebels.

6. Hindu officials
a. Many Hindus were appointed by MBT to high posts.
b. Examples – Saha Raja as wazir, Dhara as naib-wazir of Deccan, ratan as administrator of Shewan, Vishan Rai as administrator of Gulbarga,
c. Comment – Older Muslim nobles used to consider high appointments of Hindu as against their interests. They also felt that their honour and privileges were reduced because of employment of Hindus. However, it should be noted that despite too many revolts against MBT by various nobles, not a single example of Hindu is there.

7. Sadah Amirs
a. Appointed in Deccan
b. Comment – They became hostile to Sultan when he took new administrative projects in Deccan and started appointing wazirs above them. The last few years of Sultan were spent in suppressing the revolts by Amiran-e Sadah who had spread their conspiracy from Cambay to Daulatabad. As a result, the atmosphere of the empire completely changed and this revolt later led to the establishment of the independent kingdom of Bahmanis. (details are given by both Barani and Battuta)

#AnswerWritingPractice #Delhisultanate #MBT
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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: Medieval India

Question 12:
To what extent was the Caliphate the source and sanction to the legal authority of the Sultans of Delhi? [UPSC 2017, 15 marks]

PS: Reply here in the comment section with your answer for evaluation.

#AnswerWritingPractice
#Delhisultanate #Economy #medieval
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https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/explained-manusmriti-ancient-sanskrit-text-controversy-8111255

Manusmriti text helps us understand socisty, economy and also polity in post Mauryan era. It's a normative text.

#literature
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Manusmriti is always a topic relevant for our Mains.

Already one question is asked related to it, on Varnashramadharma.

Other possible dimensions of the question -

1. It is a normative text, to what extent reflects the reality of the era?

2. Social Philosophy ke alawa what are political and economic angles one gets to know from the text ?

3. Gender relationship in ancient era based on the book?

4. Gradual evolution of Hindu law from Vedic Era to early Medieval?

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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: Medieval India

Lets start with 2 questions now.

Question 13:
Describe the idea of the composite culture in India as developed during the era of the Delhi Sultanate. (15 marks)

Question 14:
Identify the different categories of Persian literature which emerged during the Delhi Sultanate. (10 marks, 2021)

PS: Reply here in the comment section with your answer for evaluation.

#AnswerWritingPractice
#Delhisultanate #medieval
@nikhilhistoryoptional

One more topic you should look carefully at. It is anyway an important topic that we have to read, not only because of current relevance.

#world #USSR #Coldwar
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Many aspirants are doing self-preparation and are looking for definite sources of world history. I have also seen that not all Foundation courses cover all aspects of World History comprehensively and focus more on European History than other parts of the syllabus.

Here is one note prepared by me a few years ago which will help identify correct source for every chapter of the World History Syllabus.

#worldhistory #syllabus #sources
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Mikhail Gorbachev
1 Article-1
2 Article-2
3 Article-3
4 Article-4
5 Article-5
6 India and Mikhail Gorbachev

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