History Optional by Piyush Kumar

Model Answer

Question #1. Do you agree that Ancient Buddhist texts are better sources for Indian history writing than the Ancient Brahminical texts?  (15 Marks)

APPROACH

• Importance of sources in history writing
• Problems/lacunas with Brahminical sources
• Positive aspects of Buddhist Texts, especially with respect to the problems with the Brahminical texts
• At the end there should be a balance between these two (Juxtaposition)

Introduction

Religious Literature of India is too vast and are the great source of history. It includes the Vedas, the Upanishads, the great epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Puranas, religious writings of the Jainas and the Buddhists. Apart from Brahmanical literature, the Buddhist literature, which is also substantial from the historical point of view. There are three branches of Buddhist literature-Jatak, Pitaka and Nikaya. The most vital of Buddhist literature is known as Tripatika, comprising three divisions-Vinaya, Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Problems in using the Brahminic text as historical sources

• An ancient Brahmanical text does not necessarily offer a simple or direct reflection of the society of its time. It constitutes a complex representation of that society and a refracted image of the past. Information has to be teased out with care, skill, and ingenuity to make historical inferences.
• Moreover, Brahmanical text also suffer from Problem with dating and chronology. For example, A major problem in using the Vedas as a source of history is the problem of dating the Rig Veda. The dates that have been suggested for the composition of this text range from 6000 BCE to 1000BCE.
• The Brahmanical text suffer from the suffer from problem of extrapolation.
• The religious ideas in Brahmanical text overshadow the historical facts. References to possible historical events are few.Moreover, even within religions many extra-worldly things are mentioned.
• The Sanskrit Brahmanical corpus was not a popular literature and therefore does not necessarily represent popular ideas or practices.
• Brahmanical corpus also suffer from problem in co-relating the evidences with archaeology. There are very few adequate archaeological evidences to substantiate the literary sources

Buddhist Text as better source of History

• There is hardly any problem of authorship in Buddhist text except the Tripitaka.
• Buddhist text do not suffer from problem of dating as much as Brahmanical text suffer. In fact, Buddhist text helps a lot in reconstruction of dating in History. For example, dating of various event during the reign of Ashoka
• Buddhist text do not suffer from the problem of extrapolation as the Brahmanical text did.
• Buddhist text is mostly written in Pali language therefore represent popular belief, ideas & practice
• Most of things written in Buddhist text were corroborated by archaeology in comparison with Brahmanical text

Importance of Brahmanical text as source of History

• As a source of history, these texts are used for information about life and geographical information in parts of north-western and northern India. e.g., name of rivers, mountains etc.
• Purana reflect strong sense of history, entire life is divided into 5 phases- sarga, pratisarga, vamsa, vamsanucharita, and Manavantars and also contain chronological history of different dynasties.
• VayuPurana, BrahmanaPurana, MatsyaPurana and VishnuPurana giving ancient royal genealogies from the historical point of view
• Dana stuti of vedas recorded the exploits of clan chief therefore, give important political insight of vedic period

Therefore, Buddhist source along with Brahmanical text and corroborated by archaeological source will helps in better reconstruction of History.

Question # 2. Harappan urbanisation was based upon the diversity of its subsistence.  Critically analyse.  (15 Marks)

APPROACH

• Important prerequisites for urbanisation
• A brief discussion on “Migration theory”
• Diversity in the economy of Harappan civilisation
• It should be gleaned in a broader perspective; even contemporary examples can be used.

Introduction

The Harappan civilization covered an enormous area within which there was great ecological variety—alluvial plains, mountains, plateaux, and sea coasts. The resource potential was rich enough to generate the food surpluses that are an important aspect of urbanization. Moreover, diversity of the subsistence base may also have been an important sustaining factor—if one food resource failed, people could turn to others.

Prerequisites for urbanisation

According to sociologist Gideon Sjoberg (1965), there are three prerequisites for the development of an urbanisation:

1. First, good environment with fresh water and a favourable climate;
2. Second, advanced technology, which will produce a food surplus to support non-farmers and non-agricultural activities; and
3. Third, strong social organization to ensure social stability and a stable economy

Harappan had a favourable climate, advanced technology and social stability which led to the diversity of subsistence which is hallmark of Harappan Urbanisation.

Subsistence Diversity in Harappan civilisation

• Agriculture: Due towas great ecological variety, Harappans produced large number of agricultural crops. Wheat has been found at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa; barley at Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Kalibangan; Rice occurs at Harappa, Kalibangan, Lothal, and Rangpur; Millets have been identified at Harappa, Surkotada, and Shortughai. Apart from the wide range of cereals, pulses, vegetables, and fruits grown by the Harappans, another striking point is the similarity of the past and present plant economies in the various regions
• Plough: Ploughing was required for exploitation of moisture & fertility of different soil profile. Discovery and usage of a ploughed field at early Harappan levels at Kalibangan. The continuing use of the plough into the mature Harappan phase can be inferred from Terracotta models of ploughs at Bahawalpur and Banawali.
• Animal husbandry: Apart from agriculture, Harrapans also used animal &animal product for their subsistence needs. Bones of wild animals have been found at Harappan sites. These include many varieties of deer, pig, boar, sheep, goat, ass, and pig. Rhinoceros bones occur only at Amri, although this animal is depicted on numerous seals and in terracotta figurines.
• Domesticated animals: Cattle and buffaloes were the most important domesticated animals. Harappan sites have also yielded remains of domesticated animals such as humped and hump less cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goat. They would have been used for meat, milk, and also as drought animals
• Riverine and marine resources: Due to great ecological variety (sea-coasts),Bones of tortoise and fish have also been found in different Harrapan site. The discovery of marine catfish bones at Harappa suggests that coastal communities may have traded in dried fish in inland cities.
• Food Gathering: Food Gathering evidence comes from Surkotda where seeds of wild nuts, grasses & weeds have been found.

Therefore, Harappan urbanisation was based upon the diversity of its subsistence but during the mature phase of Harrapan civilisation, rising population led to exploitation of ecological resources thereby creating ecological imbalance. The latter affected the diversity of Harrapan subsistence leading to its decline.