History Optional Paper I Section A by Rashid Yasin
- Category
Optional - Test Date
28-06-2022 07:00 AM
To participate in answer writing program, Register yourself for the test. Copies will be evaluated only for the registered students. Registration will be closed after the scheduled date.
48 Hrs. Answer Writing, Copy Evaluation and Marks Improvement Cycle
- Step 1 (Answer Writing): Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at 7:00 AM. You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on the UPSC pattern. Mention your name on the 1st page and page number on each page. After writing the answer, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload in the comment section of the same question. Answers should be uploaded before 7:00 PM on the same day.
- Step 2 In Next 48 Hrs (Copy Evaluation & Discussion): After evaluation, the first 50 copies will be uploaded on the same comment box and will be sent to you. In the evening 8:00 PM marks improvement sessions for the test with respective faculty in a group will be conducted online. So that students can get a wider perspective of the topics. Here you can discuss your evaluated copies also with the faculty.
Instruction:
- Attempt both questions
- The test carries 30 marks.
- Write Each answer in 150 words.
- Any page left blank in the answer-book must be crossed out clearly.
- Evaluated Copy will be re-uploaded on the same thread after 2 days of uploading the copy.
- Discussion of the question and one to one answer improvement session of evaluated copies will be conducted through Google Meet with concerned faculty. You will be informed via mail or SMS for the discussion.
Question #1. How far is it correct to say that the Indians of the ancient period indulged only in metaphysical things and not in the development of pure sciences?
(Examiner will pay special attention to the candidate's grasp of his/her material, its relevance to the subject chosen, and to his/ her ability to think constructively and to present his/her ideas concisely, logically and effectively).
Model Answer
Question #1. How far is it correct to say that the Indians of the ancient period indulged only in metaphysical things and not in the development of pure sciences?
The colonial writers are of the view that the ancient Indian people were involved in metaphysical things and were not civilized; and proclaimed that Indians did not have any scientific temperament.
Though this view on a very large scale has been declined by the historians as there are a number of monumental works which clearly signify the development of pure sciences during the ancient phase of Indian history. Their views are based on the following developments:
The biggest reference of pure sciences anywhere in the world comes from Aryabhatta and his work Aryabhatiyam. In this book, he has given a reference to the Helio-Centric Theory of movement of the earth around the sun and even the shape of the earth. Along with it, he has written about the calculation of Pi and the area of a triangle through Heron's Formula.
Mathematicians like Varahamihira propounded "Shunya" which led to the beginning of the Decimal System.
Bhaskaracharya in his work Lilavati mentions about the astronomical and mathematical works which are found correct.
The corpus of literature termed as Adbhut Sagar by Ballala Sena and Lakshmanasena, also focuses on the scientific temperament of astronomy.
Even historians like AL-Beruni, mention about the scientific Indian growth in his work Kitab-Ul-Hind.
In the field of medical sciences, Indians like Charaka and Sushruta who wrote Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita respectively mention Ayurveda and diseases like jaundice, cataract and even trauma. Sushruta is considered as the Father of Surgery'
Even the sculptural work or science of iconography can be found in Abhilashatirtha Chintamani of Someshvara III in which he mentions about a scientific technique called Cire-Perdue technique
Hence, all these developments in the field of science clearly indicate that early Indians had a scientific temperament and so the criticism of British historians is not justified.
The Pallavas were the first well known dynasty that came into power in the South after the fall of Andhras. For about 200 years from 550-750 AD, the Pallavas remained as a dominant power in the South.
The Aryanisation of South India was completed during Pallavas. Their grants show that the Aryan structure of society had gained a firm hold in the South. Pallavas are most noted for their patronage to art and architecture. The Pallavas were instrumental in the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. A number of rock cut cave temples bear the inscription of Pallava kings, Mahendravarman I and Narsimhavarman II.
Among the accomplishments of Pallava art are temples, sculptures, dance, music and paintings.
The rock cut temples at Mamallapuram and monolithic shrines known as Ratha Temples are fine examples of artistic trend along with the Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram and Shore Temple that are quite famous.
In the field of sculpture making, beautiful sculptures are found on the walls of Pallava temples, depicting scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. The "Open Art Gallery" at Mamallapuram presents a classical example of sculpture. Music, dance and painting were developed during the Pallava period too. Alvars and Nayanars composed beautiful songs and also danced on these songs, which became a tradition there.
The Kudumiyanmalai Inscription also refers to musical notes and instruments. While in the field of painting, the "Sittanvasal Paintings" speak about the interest of Pallavas in this sphere.
In the field of administration, the Pallavas created a centralized bureaucratic system in which the monarchs played a major decisive role. They resorted to payment of salaries to officers and ministers rather than land grants.
Also, land grants were given for the maintenance of temples which was a new innovation in the field of administration.
They also gave due emphasis on military administration and recruitment of soldiers, elephants, which was done on a large scale.
They also laid emphasis on local administration and classified two different types of villages whereby 'Ur' was a general village comprising common masses whereas Sabha was a group, comprising Brahmins. The cities were termed as Nagarams, where trade flourished.
Hence, Pallavas hold huge respect for their contribution to the field of art and administration of South India,
Procedure of Answer Writing:
To participate in the answer writing program, Register yourself for the test. Copies will be evaluated only for the registered students. Registration will be closed after the scheduled date.
Answer Writing, Copy Evaluation, and Marks Improvement Cycle:
Step 1 (Theme, Details & Its Topics):
- Every round of Answer writing initiative will be around a theme related to the Subject/Topic.
- Please read the theme and its description, and try to cover the topics given within the theme before writing the answer along with the sources.
Step 2 (Answer Writing):
- Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at 7:00 AM.
- You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on the UPSC pattern.
- Mention your name, email id, location, and phone number on the 1st page in the top right corner and the page number on each page.
- After writing the answers, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload them in the upload section of the same question.
- Kindly submit your written answers before 7:00 PM. Only the first 100 copies will be considered for evaluation. No request for late submission or evaluation will be entertained once the 100 mark is reached.
Note: Answer sheets without the proper guidelines given above will not be accepted for evaluation.
Step 3 (Copy Evaluation): Copies will be evaluated in the next 72 hours of the test date. After evaluation, copies will be uploaded into your account. During the copy evaluation period, doubt clearing and discussion about the theme or topic of the test with respective mentors of the test will be done in the telegram group.
Step 4 (Mentorship): Evaluated copies will be sent to you via mail and also uploaded into your account on the website. After that a mentorship session for the marks improvement with respective faculty will be conducted on the Google Meet, so that students can get a wider perspective of the topics. Here you can discuss your evaluated copies also with the faculty. Top 5 copies of every test will be shared in the telegram group for reference.
Note: Aspirants who have not written the test can also participate in the mentorship session.
For Updates and Mentorship of the session, you will be notified through SMS or Telegram Group.
Note: You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on UPSC pattern. Mention Your Name on 1st page and Page Number on each page. After writing the answer, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload in the Your Answer Copy section of the same question.
Copy submission is closed now for this test.
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