Chapter-1 How, When, and Where

1. State whether true or false:

(a) James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and Christian.

(b) Official documents help us understand what the people of the country think.

(c) The British thought surveys were important for effective administration.

Explanation:

(a) James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and Christian are false.

EXPLANATION: Indian history was divided into Hindu, Muslim, and Christian eras by James Mill. This periodization is founded on the idea that there was a time when Hindus reigned and other people were under their control. Then the Muslim or Christian period began (i.e., Britishers).

(b) Official documents help us understand what the people of the country think is false

EXPLANATION: Because these sources were created by literate people—British people—and only reveal the thoughts of officials, official records do not often assist us to comprehend what other people in the country believe. We won't be able to imagine the lives of the tribal people and peasants without these documents or records.

(c) The British thought surveys were important for effective administration is true.

EXPLANATION: It is important to note that the following information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. In order to map the entire nation, they conducted thorough surveys by the early 19th century.


2. What is the problem with the periodization of Indian history that James Mill offers?

Explanation:

The British supremacy over Muslims and Hindus is the issue with James Mill's periodization of Indian history. James Mill separated Indian history into the Hindu, Muslim, and British eras, contending that it was essential to bring European customs, institutions, and laws to India.

James Mill's opinions include the following flaws:

A. He believed that, in comparison to European cultures, all Asian societies were at a lesser stage of civilization.

b. In his version of events, Hindu and Muslim despots controlled India before to the arrival of the British.

c. When the British arrived in India, religious intolerance, caste taboos, and superstitious rituals controlled society


3. Why did the British preserve official documents?

Explanation:

The Brits kept all official records because they believed that by writing and recording everything, it would be simpler for them to research and discuss it in the future. They maintained formal records of what they believed to be correct in order for those documents to one day serve as evidence of all the judgments they had made.


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

Explanation:

Old newspapers and police records can provide historians with whole different kind of information. A historian often gathers data from many different sources, including both official and unofficial papers. The police report is written from an administrative perspective, therefore the kinds of information we may get from them are frequently limited.

A police report carefully adheres to the rules and is more concerned with preserving records than developing a story. A distinct approach is taken by journalism and reporting tools, which may highlight more specifics of an event or incident. Typically, material that is not directly related to law enforcement may be overlooked or ignored in police reports.

Newspapers offer greater background, context, and detailed descriptions since they are mass media. But, it is only after thorough inquiry and examination that it is possible to assess the relative qualities and veracity of a piece of information from any source. Historians frequently examine as many sources as they can while keeping in mind the potential biases and interests that may be at play in order to obtain a fair and clearer picture of a historical period.


5. Can you think of examples of surveys in your world today? Think about how toy companies get information about what young people enjoy playing with or how the government finds out about the number of young people in school. What can a historian derive from such surveys?

Explanation:

There are now many instances of surveys around the world. At the end of the school day, a variety of people speak with us about our future goals for college, the stream we want to pursue, and other topics. The toy producers use internet surveys or customer feedback to learn what games young people want to play. In this way, they are able to learn about the needs of the people by asking the young people about their past experiences as well as what they would want to see in the future.

The records of each school are used by the government to determine the number of children enrolled in school. The government gathers information from each school, and after consolidating the data, it may determine the total number of pupils enrolled, their ages, etc. in the institution.

Such surveys are a crucial and useful source of knowledge for historians. By examining these statistics, they may determine the general level of education in the various parts of the nation. In comparison to other regions, those with higher student enrollment tend to have higher levels of literacy and technical sophistication.


6. What are the sources that Historians rely on?

Explanation:

One of the most significant sources utilised by historians is administrative records. The British government at the time maintained the records. Appropriate record rooms were established in the offices of commissioners, tahsildars, and other officials. Calligraphers also kept and copied important papers. According to the chapter, museums and archives were also established in order to preserve significant old texts and papers.