HISTORY
Answer: (a) Voltaire
Answer: (a) Kushana period
Answer: (d) Indian Museum
(ii) Karl Marx — ‘Das Capital’
(iii) Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel — ‘Reason in History’
(iv) Leopold von Ranke — ‘The Histories’
(Note: ‘The Histories’ was written by Herodotus. Ranke wrote ‘The Theory and Practice of History’.)
(ii) Todoba — Rock-cut Caves
(iii) Kolhapur — Pilgrim Centre
(iv) Ajanta — World Heritage
(Note: Tadoba is a Tiger Reserve/National Park. Ajanta/Ellora are Rock-cut caves.)
(ii) Water Polo — Water sport
(iii) Skating — Adventurous ice sport
(iv) Chess — Outdoor game
(Note: Chess is an indoor game.)
| Points | Bhajan | Bharud |
|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Singing songs in praise of God; Use of instruments like Chipli, Tal, Mridangam. | Spiritual and ethical teaching through drama and songs; Often acts like 'Vasudev'. |
| Examples | Saint Namdev, Saint Tukaram, Tulsidas. | Saint Eknath's Bharuds. |
- Visual Arts (Drik Kala): Examples include painting and sculpture.
- Performing Arts (Lalit Kala): Examples include music, dance, and drama.
- Art is also classified into Folk Art (passed down generations) and Classical Art (based on strict rules).
- Awareness: They created social and political awareness among the masses.
- Criticism: Newspapers like Kesari and Maratha criticized the suppressive policies of the British Government.
- Reform: They acted as a medium for social reformation and propagated ideas of liberty and equality (e.g., Darpan, Prabhakar).
- Unity: They helped unite people against colonial rule.
- Purpose: To enhance vocabulary and make knowledge accessible.
- Types:
- Shabdakosh (Dictionary of words/meanings).
- Vishwakosh (Encyclopedias).
- Koshsadrush (Encyclopedic literature).
- Samanarthak Shabdakosh (Thesaurus).
- They are important historical documents as they reflect the language and culture of a specific period.
- Bakhar is a form of historical narrative written in medieval Marathi.
- It contains eulogies of heroes and stories of historic events, battles, and lives of great men.
- It provides valuable information about the political happenings, linguistic transactions, cultural life, and social conditions of that period (e.g., Sabhasad Bakhar).
- Therefore, despite some exaggerations, Bakhars are vital sources for writing medieval History.
- Technology is the key to human progress. Man's journey from stone tools to the industrial revolution involves technological evolution.
- To understand the changes in agricultural production, architecture, and engineering, we must understand the history of technology.
- Technological advancements influence social and cultural changes.
- Hence, to understand the development of civilization, studying the history of technology is essential.
- Newspapers often publish columns like "50 Years Ago" or "100 Years Ago," which require historical records.
- While writing about current events (e.g., relations between countries), editors need to trace the historical background to provide context.
- Reviews of books, movies, or cultural events in newspapers require a historical perspective.
- Thus, history provides the foundation for in-depth journalism.
- Institutes like libraries, museums, and archives preserve precious historical heritage, which requires highly specialized handling of artifacts and manuscripts.
- The process involves complex tasks such as collecting sources, creating scientific indexes, and applying chemical treatments to prevent decay.
- An untrained person might not understand the historical value of a fragment (e.g., a torn page) and might accidentally discard or damage it.
- Therefore, to ensure accuracy, reduce errors, and maintain the integrity of historical sources, only qualified professionals with specific skills should perform this work.
(Passage on Hemadpanti Temples)
The outer walls of Hemadpanti temples are built in a star shape with a zigzag design.
Examples include the Ambreshwar temple at Ambarnath (near Mumbai), Gondeshwar temple at Sinnar (near Nashik), and Aundha Nagnath temple in Hingoli district.
The main characteristics are:
- Star-shaped Plan: The outer walls have a zigzag pattern that creates an interesting effect of alternating light and shadow.
- Dry Masonry: The walls are built without using lime or mortar. The stones are locked together using the technique of tenon and mortise joints.
- History is not about abstract ideas but about living people.
- Human relationships are shaped by the fundamental needs of people and the ownership of the means of production to meet these needs.
- The accessibility of these means is not equal for all sections of society. This inequality causes a division of society into two classes: the 'Haves' (those who own means of production) and the 'Have-nots'.
- This leads to Class Struggle. The class that owns the means of production exploits the rest of the classes.
- Marx presented this view in his famous book ‘Das Capital’.
- Solving Current Issues: Knowledge of history helps in analyzing and finding solutions to contemporary social and political problems.
- Social Planning: By studying past trends, we can plan better for social development.
- Heritage Management: Applied History helps in preserving our cultural and natural heritage, creating opportunities for tourism and employment.
- Identity: It helps society understand its roots, fostering a sense of identity and pride.
- Historical Record: One needs to resort to history to understand the origin and evolution of various sports (e.g., Olympics in Ancient Greece).
- Review and Research: Writing articles, encyclopedias, or making documentaries about sports requires deep historical research.
- Commentary: Sports commentators need knowledge of the history of the game, previous records, and eminent players to make their commentary interesting.
- Biography: Studying the lives of legendary players helps inspire future generations.
- Origins: Dadasaheb Phalke, the 'Father of Indian Cinema', released the first full-length Indian movie, Raja Harishchandra, in Mumbai in 1913.
- Development: The subsequent growth of the industry, including silent movies and talkies, was centered in Maharashtra.
- Talent & Infrastructure: Maharashtra provided the necessary artists, technicians, and studios (e.g., Prabhat Film Company in Pune).
- Cultural Hub: Mumbai became the hub of Bollywood, attracting talent from all over India, making Maharashtra the nurturing ground for Indian cinema.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Answer: (a) President
Answer: (b) Green revolution
Reason: The Constitution is dynamic and not static. It can be amended by the Parliament to suit the changing needs and conditions of the society. This flexibility allows it to adapt and survive, making it a "living document."
Reason: To ensure free and fair elections, the Election Commission enforces a Code of Conduct. It outlines the rules to be followed by the government, political parties, and candidates before and during the elections to prevent malpractice.
Reason: Strong leadership is the backbone of any movement. Leaders define the objectives, plan the strategy, and mobilize the masses. Without strong leadership, movements become directionless and often fail to achieve their goals.
- Enfranchisement: It gave the right to vote to millions of youth, increasing the number of voters significantly.
- Largest Democracy: It made India the largest democracy in the world in terms of the electorate.
- Youth Participation: It encouraged the youth to participate in the political process, making the democracy more representative and dynamic.
- Ethics: Politics loses its ethical basis and moral standards.
- Violence: The use of money and muscle power increases, leading to violence during elections.
- Governance: When criminals enter the legislature, the quality of governance suffers, and corruption increases.
- Trust: Common people lose faith in the democratic process.