Day-575 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | HISTORY

Answer: B
Explanation:
The Naalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Alvars. It was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th–10th centuries.
Alvars
• Alvars were devoted to Lord Vishnu and his avatars
• Although modern scholars consider the Alvars to be active between the 5th and 10th Century AD, they are believed to have lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE
• The hymns of the Alvars were made into a consolidated volume known as Divya Prabandham.
• The Bhakti literature that sprang from Alvars had contributed to the establishment and sustenance of a culture of devotion as the path for salvation.
• Some of the Alvar saints are:
o Sri Andal
o Thirumazhisai Alvar
o Thiruppaan Alvar
o Nammalwar
o Kulasekara Alwar
Additional information:
Features of Bhakti:
• Unity of God or one God though known by different names.
• Condemnation of rituals, ceremonies and blind faith.
• Rejection of idol worship.
• Surrender of oneself to God.
• Emphasized both Nirguna and Saguna bhakti.
• Salvation through Bhakti.
• Open-mindedness about religious matters.
• Rejected castes distinctions & believed in equality of all humans.
• Rebelled against the upper caste’s domination and the Sanskrit language.
• Use of local or regional languages for Preaching.
• Creation of literature in local language.

Answer: A
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Sher Shah Suri introduced copper coins called “Dam”.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Sultan Iltutmish introduced Silver Tanka and Copper Jital.
Statement 3 is correct: Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced token currency of copper coins.
Additional information:
Punch-marked coins
• The most conventional system of coinage emerged with the circulation of punch-marked coins, that were mostly made of silver, and sometimes even copper. They were sometimes square, or round but mostly rectangular in shape.
• The symbols on these were hammered using punches and dies. That is why we know them as punch-marked coins.
Coinage by the Indo-Greeks
• The next prominent range of coins that were issued belongs to 2nd/1st century BCE by the Indo-Greeks. The Indo-Greek system of coinage becomes significant because the minting was executed in a more refined manner.
• The coins were mostly made of silver, usually round, with exceptions to few rectangular or circular) bore the name of the issuing ruler along with depicting legends.
• For example, the coins of Menander and Strabo I show them passing through different stages of life, suggesting their long reigns.
Coinage by the Imperial Guptas
• The Imperial Guptas issued well-minted and well-executed gold coins, die struck with various impressive legends in Sanskrit. These coins, also known as dinaras, were mostly found in North India.
• The obverse has the kings in various poses, mostly in martial mood, but sometimes even in artistic calibre.
• Coins have also shown rulers like Samudragupta and Kumaragupta playing Vina.
• The Gupta coins were issued in gold in large numbers and have been credited to their fine aesthetic appeal. However, the purity of gold saw a decline during the later Guptas.
Turkish and Delhi Sultanate Coins
• The inscriptions on the coins were in the form of the king’s name, title, and the Hijri calendar date. Because idolatry was prohibited in Islam, the coins did not feature any images of the issuing king.
• The mint’s name was also inscribed on the coins for the first time.
• Gold, silver, copper, and billon coins were issued by the Sultans of Delhi.
• Alauddin Khilji altered the original design by removing the Khalifa’s name and replacing it with self-congratulatory titles.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq created bronze and copper coins, as well as a token paper currency that failed miserably.
• Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545) established two weight standards: one for silver coins of 178 grains and one for copper coins of 330 grains. These were given the names rupee and dam, respectively.

Answer: A
Explanation:
Deoband Movement was a revivalist movement founded by Muhammad Qasim Wanotavi and Rashid Ahamad Gangohi in Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh. It focused on uplifting the Muslim community through religious education.
Twin objectives were:
i) To propagate among the Muslims the pure teachings of the Koran and the Hadis
ii) To keep alive the spirit of jihad against the foreign rulers
Additional information:
Wahabi Movement
• It was introduced in India by Syed Ahmed of Rae Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Wahabi movement aimed at the purification of Islam and to return to the simplicity of religion.
• In India the Wahibis did not restrict to religious reforms only. Rather, they aimed at the replacement of the British rule by the rule of the true believers & it took the nature of the political revolt.
Farazis Movement
• It arose among the peasants of early 19th century Bengal, it advocated return to pure Islam.
• They followed the teachings of Shah Walliullah of Delhi (1703-63) who had, a century earlier, talked about regaining purity of Islam and objected to infiltration of non-Islamic customs among Muslims.
• Founding leader of the Farazis, Shariat Ullah (1781-1839) preached religious purification and advocated return to the faraiz, i.e. obligatory duties of Islam. He also preached tawhid or monotheism.
• Another movement which arose among Muslims of Bengal was the Tariqah-i-Muhammadiyah under the leadership of Titu Mir who was initiated by Sayyid Ahmad Barelwi . This movement also talked about return to past purity.
• Delhi School of Islamic Thought was derived from the Delhi College (currently Zakir Husain College) which had begun imparting a parallel education – Islamic as well as English.
• Beginning 1830s, the college helped to foster a modern consciousness in the Muslim community.
• The revolt of 1857 and consequent crackdown by the British forces ended this intellectual excitement. However, the urge for modernization could easily be felt among a section of Muslims.
Ahmadiya Movement
• It was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahamad of Qadiyan (1839-1908) in 1889, who began his work as a defender of Islam against the polemics of the Arya Samaj and the Christian missionaries.
• In 1889, he claimed to be Masih and Mahdi and later also to be an incarnation of the Hindu god Krishna and Jesus, returned to earth.
• The Ahmadiya movement based itself, like the Brahmo Samaj, on the principles of at universal religion of all humanity.
• Ghulam Ahmad was greatly influenced by western liberalism theosophy, and the religious reform movements of the Hindus .
• The Ahmadiyas opposed Jihad or sacred war against non-Muslims and stressed fraternal relations among all people.
• The movement spread western liberal education among Indian Muslims and started a network of schools and colleges for that purpose.

Answer: D
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Kol rebellion was a planned insurgency of tribals during 1831-32. While, the Khilafat Movement happened during 1919-1924, was a pan-Islamic, political protest campaign launched by Muslims in British India.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Kol uprising was a revolt of the Adivasi Kol people of Chhota Nagpur region, as a reaction to British Policies.
Additional information:
• The Kol uprising of 1831- 32 was born out of frustration and anger of Tribal people, against the new system of British Government and laws.
• These people have their own cultures, customs and traditions which is very different from the mainstream. They learn to survive in most hostile environment but stay united.
• The uprising was a reaction to the appointment of a Political Agent to the Government in South Bihar, and ceded districts nearby around 1819.
• This resulted in many people moving into these areas which were the lands of numerous Adivasi tribes.
• Until the British arrived, these tribes had no rulers and their lands were divided according to families that were bound by “parhas” or conferences.
• With the application of new land laws, the Kols were exploited by outsiders moving into the area and taking up agriculture and commercial activities that were alien to tribal culture.
• Also, many of the lands of the locals were taken away as securities for un-returned loans.
• Another irritation was the taxation on the movement of products, such as salt that were formerly freely moved. Corrupt official practices and lawlessness followed.
• As a result of above reasons, in 1831, the Kol tribesmen of Chhota Nagpur, who were upset over exploitation by agents of the East India Company (EIC), rose in revolt against the EIC.
• The rebel kols were under the leadership of Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, Jhindrai Manki, Madara Mahato and others.
• The Kol insurrection started in 1831, when the farm of two Sikh thikadar (contractors) was plundered and burnt. In 1832, there were clashes between the armed forces and the tribals Kols rebels.
British Reaction
• Despite putting up a very brave fight, the Kols were defeated in the end.
• Thousands of tribal men, women and children were killed and rebellion was suppressed. But the sacrifice of Buddhu Bhagat and other tribesman didn`t go in vain. However, this rebellion inspired many other followers.

Answer: C
Explanation:
Lord William Bentinck reformed the military by banning flogging as a punishment in the British Indian army and did a commendable job of controlling organised Thuggee. He tried to suppress many superstitious practices prevalent then like Sati and practice of widow burning.
Additional information:
Lord Warren Hastings
• He served the position of the inaugural Governor of the Fort William Presidency (Bengal).
• He was the head of the Supreme Council of Bengal and effectively the first Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785.
• He and Robert Clive were recognised for establishing the foundations of the British Empire in India.
Lord Arthur Wellesley
• During his tenure, the fourth and final Anglo-Mysore war took place, resulting in the death of Tipu.
• Also, the Second Anglo-Maratha War occurred, leading to the defeat of Bhonsle, Scindia, and Holkar.
• Wellesley implemented the “subsidiary alliance” policy, which was accepted by various rulers.
• His time as Governor-General also saw the passing of the Censorship of the Press Act in 1799 and the establishment of Fort William College in 1800, aimed at training civil servants.
Lord Amherst
• He played a significant role in the First Anglo-Burmese War, which concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
• During his tenure, the Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824 occurred, which arose due to British interference with Indian social taboos.
• In 1824, under his leadership, the Sanskrit College was established in Calcutta, aimed at promoting Sanskrit education and scholarship.