Answer The Following Question.
1. State whether true or false:
(a) James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, Christian.
(b) Official documents help us understand what the people of the country think.
(c) The British thought surveys were important for effective administration.
Ans:
(a) False
(b) False
(c) True
2. What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers?
Ans:
The issue with James Mill’s periodisation of Indian history lies in the way it portrays British superiority over Hindus and Muslims. He divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and British – arguing that European culture, laws, and institutions were necessary for India.
James Mill’s perspective has several flaws, as outlined below:
a. He believed all Asian societies were less civilised than Europe.
b. In his version of history, India was ruled by Hindu and Muslim despots before the British arrived.
c. Social life before British rule was marked by religious intolerance, caste restrictions, and superstitions.
3. Why did the British preserve official documents?
Ans:
The British preserved official documents because they believed that writing and recording everything would make it easier to study and discuss matters later. These records, which reflected what they considered right, could serve as evidence of the decisions and policies they implemented in the future.
4. How will the information historians get from old newspapers be different from that found in police reports?
Ans:
The type of information historians gather from old newspapers differs greatly from that in police reports. While police reports are administrative documents limited to official procedures and law enforcement records, newspapers provide broader context and detailed accounts.
Police reports focus on factual record-keeping, often missing details unrelated to law enforcement. On the other hand, newspapers use journalistic methods, offering descriptive narratives and context about events. However, the reliability of both sources depends on proper research, as each may carry inherent biases. To form a balanced view of history, historians analyze various sources while accounting for their perspectives and objectives.