The Economic History of India in the Victorian Age: From the Accession of Queen Victoria in 1837 to the Commencement of the Twentieth Century is written by Romesh Chunder Dutt
Open Letters to Lord Curzon on Famines and Land Assessments in IndiaBook by Romesh Chunder Dutt
Poverty and un-British rule in India – by Dadabhai Naoroji
From Prosperity to Decline: Eighteenth Century Bengal – by Sushil Chaudhury
The Economic History of India 1857-1947 – by Tirthankar Roy
The peasantry of Bengal – by Romesh Chunder Dutt
Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India – by Lawrence James
‘Prosperous’ British India – by William Digby
Revenue and Reform: The Indian Problem in British Politics 1757-1773 – by H. V. Bowen
Arthashastra – Chanakya
Perspectives in Social and Economic History of Early India – Ram Sharan Sharma
An Economic History of Early Modern India – Tirthankar Roy
The Cambridge Economic History of India – Tapan Raychaudhuri, Dharma Kumar, Irfan Habib, Meghnad Desai.
Economic History of Medieval India – Irfan Habib
A People’S History Of India 28 : Indian Economy, 1858-1914 – Irfan Habib
The Agrarian System of Mughal India, 1556-1707 – Irfan Habib
History of Ancient Indian Economy – Abdul Sabahuddin and Rajshree Shukla
The temple on Tirumala hills is also known as Tirupathi Balaji. It is the richest Hindu temple in the world.
The temple is in Dravidian Architecture style.
Mahabodhi Temple
Bihar
It is a Buddhist Stupa, discovered in 260 BC situated in Bodhgaya.
The Central Tower Of Mahabodhi is 180 feet tall i.e. 54 metres.
The brickwork depicts the life of Buddha.
Somnath Temple
Gujarat
Also known as Prabhas Patan and Deo Patan.
It is one of the 12 jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
There is no land in between seashores from Somnath temple to Antarctica.
1947 – Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel renovated the temple.
Constructed in Chalukya style
Dwarkadhish Temple
Gujarat
Also known as Jagat Mandir. It is one of the four Hindu pilgrimages (Char Dham).
The original structure was destroyed by Mahmud Brgada in 1472.
Presently, in the Chalukya architecture style.
Vaishno Devi Temple
Jammu & Kashmir
5200 feet above sea level atop Trikuta Hills.
It is a Cave temple.
Amarnath Temple
Jammu & Kashmir
A cave temple situated at an altitude of 3888 metres.
One of the 51 Shakti Peeth and Bhrigu Muni was the first to have discovered Amarnath.
Virupaksha Temple
Karnataka
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hampi, Bellari district.
Built by Lakkana Dandesha, a chieftain under the ruler Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Gomateshwara Temple
Karnataka
The tallest monolithic statue in the world carved out of a single block of granite.
It is a Jain temple that is 57 feet high.
One of the largest free-standing statues in the world depicting the prolonged meditation of Bahubali.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Kerala
Build in the fusion of Chera and Dravidian style of architecture.
Khajuraho Temple
Madhya Pradesh
They are a group of temples built by the rulers of Chandela Dynasty.
There were 85 temples scattered over an area of 9 square miles, of which only 25 temples are remaining.
Famous for nagara style architecture and known for extensive erotic sculptures.
Sanchi Stupa
Madhya Pradesh
Commissioned by emperor Ashoka, it is the finest example of Mauryan sculpture.
It is the oldest stone structure in India.
The famous Ashoka Pillar i.e. four lions like that of Sarnath is found in Sanchi as well and are constructed in a Greco-Buddhist style.
Symbolises Buddha, i.e. a symbol of his final release from the cycle of birth and rebirth called the Parinirvana or ‘Final Dying.
Siddhivinayak Temple
Maharashtra
The richest Temple in India was constructed by Laxman Vithu & Dubai Patil in 1801.
Konark Sun Temple
Odisha
Build in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264) during the Ganga Empire.
It is conceived as a gigantic chariot of the Sun God built in Kalinga architecture.
Jagannath Temple
Odisha
Called Yamanika Tirtha.
This temple in Puri is famous for its annual chariot festival, Ratha Yatra.
The first Jagannath temple was commissioned by King Indradyumna.
Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are a trio of deities worshipped at the temple.
Golden Temple
Punjab
Build in the 15th century the temple is also known as Harmindar Sahib.
Temple was plated in Gold in 1980 from the wealth and material donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Ramanathaswamy Temple
Tamil Nadu
One of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples build in the 12th Century.
It has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
Built in Dravidian Architecture
Creators – Pandyas and Jaffna Kings
There are 64 Tīrthas i.e. holy water bodies in and around the island of Rameswaram.
One of the Char Dhams.
Meenakshi Temple
Tamil Nadu
Built by King Kulasekara Pandya -12-13 Century.
Dravidian Architecture and have over 40 inscriptions.
There are 985 richly carved pillars that depict scenes from the wedding of Meenakshi (Parvati) and Sundareswarar (Shiva).
It is famous for its 3 storied Gopuram at the main entrance.
Ranganathaswamy Temple
Tamil Nadu
One of the most important of 108 (Divya Desam )Vishnu Temple.
Build in Dravidian Style, constructed in Vijayanagar Period.
Located on the island formed by twin river- Cauvery & Coleroon
1st temple to be awarded by the UN Body for protecting and conserving cultural heritage.
Its Gopuram is the biggest Gopuram in Asia.
Brihadeeswara Temple
Tamil Nadu
Also known as Raja Rajeswara Temple located at Thanjavur.
This Dravidian style temple was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I.
One of the tallest temples in India that is completely made of Granite.
It is one of the Great Living Chola Temples, along with Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple.
It is also called Dakshin Meru and is situated on the bank of Cauvery river.
Rajagopalaswamy Temple
Tamil Nadu
Created in Dravidian style, it is also called Dakshina Dwaraka.
It has one of the largest Temple tanks in India called Haridra Nadhi.
Nataraja Temple
Tamil Nadu
The temple wall carvings display all the 108 karanas from the Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni; these postures form the foundation of Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance.
Build in the 10th century when Chidambaram was the capital of the Chola dynasty.
It is one of the oldest surviving active temple complexes in South India
Vishwanath Temple
Uttar Pradesh
The original Vishwanath temple was destroyed by the army of Qutb-Uddin Aibak in 1194 CE when he defeated the Raja of Kannauj.
There is a small well in the temple called the Jnana Vapi also spelt as Gyaan Vapi
In 1669 CE, Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the temple and built the Gyanvapi Mosque in its place.
In 1780, Malhar Rao’s daughter-in-law Ahilyabai Holkar constructed the present temple adjacent to the mosque
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Badrinath Temple
Uttarakhand
Located in Garhwal hill along the banks of Alaknanda River, it is at an elevation of 3,133 metres i.e. 10,279 ft above the mean sea level.
The temple is mentioned in ancient religious texts like Vishnu Purana and Skanda Purana.
Yamunotri Temple
Uttarakhand
Situated at an altitude of 3,291 metres i.e. 10,797 ft.
During the Second World War, Lord Linlithgow had declared India to be at war with Germany without consultation. INC leaders were upset with the British government for having pulled India into a war without the consent of Indians.
France had fallen to the Axis Powers and the Allies were suffering many reverses in the war. The British government were keen to get Indian support for the war. Britain herself was in danger of being occupied by the Nazis and in this light, the INC softened its stand. It said that support for the war would be provided if power was transferred to an interim government in India. Viceroy Linlithgow made a set of proposals called the ‘August offer’ in 1940. For the first time, the right of Indians to frame their own constitution was acknowledged.
The terms of the August Offer
A representative Indian body would be framed after the war to frame a constitution for India. Dominion status was the objective for India.
The Viceroy’s Executive Council would be expanded right away to include for the first time more Indians than whites. However, defence, finance and home portfolios were to remain with the British.
An advisory war council was to be established.
An assurance was given to the minorities that no transfer of power would take place “to any system of government whose authority is directly denied by large and powerful elements in Indian national life.”
Linlithgow also stated that there would be no revision of the Government of India Act. He also said that before any real constitutional reform could be done, the differences between the INC and the Muslim League would have to be resolved.
Result of August Offer
INC rejected this offer at its meeting at Wardha in August 1940. It demanded complete freedom from colonial rule. Jawaharlal Nehru remarked that the dominion status concept was as dead as a doornail.
Muslim League also rejected the offer saying that nothing short of partitioning the country would be acceptable to them.
After this, Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Individual Satyagraha to affirm the right to free speech. The first three satyagrahis were Vinoba Bhave, Nehru and Brahma Datt.
The satyagrahis also started a march towards Delhi which was called the ‘Delhi Chalo Movement’.
After the failure of the August Offer, the British government sent the Cripps Mission to India in a bid to garner Indian support for the war.
Chaolung Sukaphaa (1189 – 1268 AD) - First Ahom King of Assam
Chaolung Sukaphaa, also Siu-Ka-Pha, the first Ahom king in medieval Assam, was the founder of the Ahom kingdom. A Tai prince originally from Mong Mao, the kingdom he established in 1228 existed for nearly six hundred years and in the process unified the indigenous ethnic groups of the region.
According to Ahom tradition, Sukaphaa was a descendant of the god Khunlung, who had come down from the heavens and had ruled Mong-Ri-Mong-Ram. During the reign of Suhungmung, which saw the composition of the first Assamese chronicles. Sukaphaa brings a divine diamond chum-Phra-rung-sheng-mung in a box, a divine tusked elephant, a divine chicken Kaichengmung, a divine embroidered cloth, a divine pair of drums, a divine sword Hengdan.
According to Phukan (1992), Sukaphaa was born to Chao Chang-Nyeu and Nang-Mong Blak-Kham-Sen in the Tai state of Mong Mao, close to present-day Ruili in Yunnan, China. Chao Chang Nyeu was a prince from Mong-Ri Mong-Ram, who had traveled to Mong Mao possibly on an expedition. Mong Mao was then ruled by Chao Tai Pung. Chao Chang Nyeu was later befriended by Pao Meo Pung, the son of the ruler, who gave his sister Blak Kham Sen in marriage. Sukaphaa was born of this union not later than 1189 CE and was brought up by his maternal grandparents. Pao Meo Pung, who eventually ruled Mong Mao, had no male heir and Sukaphaa, his nephew, was nominated to succeed him. A son born late to Pao Meo Pung’s queen ended Sukaphaa’s claim to the throne of Mong Mao.
After his 19 years as crown prince came to an end, Sukaphaa decided to leave Mong Mao. According to tradition, his grandmother advised him thus – “no two tigers live in the same jungle, no two kings sit on the same throne.” Accordingly, Sukaphaa is said to have left Chieng-Sen the capital of Mong Mao in the year 1215 CE.
Migration to Assam
According to most Buranjis, Sukaphaa left Mong Mao in 1215. Some Tai chronicles from outside Assam record the journey of Sukaphaa from Mong-Mit Kupklingdao in 1227 where he was the ruler. Sukaphaa followed an older known route from Yunnan to Assam that passed through Myitkyina, Mogaung and the upper Irrawaddy river valley.
On his way, he stopped at various places and crossed the Khamjang river to reach the Nangyang lake in 1227. Here he subjugated the Nagas very ferociously and established a Mong. He left one Kan-Khrang-Mong there to guard the passage back, and proceeded to cross the Patkai hills at the Pangsau pass and reached Namrup (in the Brahmaputra valley) in December 1228.
He was accompanied by three queens: Ai-Me-Chao-Lo, Nang-Sheng-Chum-Hpa and Yi-Lo-Weng-Ching-Chum-Hpa, two sons and a daughter; chiefs from five other dependent Mongs; members of the priestly class and soldiers—a total contingent of 9,000. Sukaphaa had with him 300 horses fitted with saddles and bridles and two elephants. Heavy arms were transported along a different route.
King of Ahom kingdom
The journey, from Mong Mao to Namrup thus took Sukaphaa about thirteen years and the year he reached Namrup is considered as the year the Ahom kingdom was established.
Even though Sukaphaa treated the people of the Patkai hills very severely on his way to the Brahmaputra valley, his approach to the population in Assam was conciliatory and non-confrontational. He married the daughters of Badaucha, the Matak Chief and Thakumatha, the Barahi chief and established cordial relations with them. As he began establishing his domain, he avoided regions that were heavily populated. He encouraged his soldiers as well as members of the Ahom elite to marry locally.
A process of Ahomization bolstered the process of integration. The Barahi and the Moran, speakers of Tibeto-Burman languages, called Sukaphaa’s people “Ha-Cham”, that later on developed into “Assam”, the name of the kingdom; and “Ahom”, the name of the people.
With the help of local recruits, he established three large farms for sali rice cultivation.
At the time of his death in 1268, his kingdom was bounded by the Brahmaputra River in the west, the Disang River in the north, the Dikhow River in the south and the Naga Hills in the east.
Ahom Capital
Over the next few years, he moved from place to place searching for the right capital, leaving behind his representative at each stage to rule the colonized land.
Having reached Namrup, Sukaphaa bridged the Sessa river, and went upstream along the Burhi Dihing river looking to establish a colony for wet rice cultivation. He did not find the region conducive to cultivation and returned downstream to Tipam.
In 1236, he left Tipam for Abhaypur. A flood made his move again in 1240 down the Brahmaputra to Habung. Another flood and he moved again in 1244, down the Brahmaputra to the Dikhowmukh, and then up the Dikhow river to Ligirigaon. Leaving a detachment at Ligirigaon, he moved again in 1246 to Simaluguri.
In 1253, he abandoned Simaluguri for Charaideo, his final capital, where he finally died in 1268. He built his capital city at Charaideo near present-day Sibsagar town.
The capital of the Ahom kingdom changed many times after this, but Charaideo remained the symbolic center of Ahom rule.
Memorial
Since 1996, December 2 has been celebrated in Assam as the Sukaphaa Day, or Assam Day (Axom Divawkh), to commemorate the advent of the first king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam after his journey over the Patkai Hills
An award is given by State Govt. that day to a prominent personality.
Sukapha Samannay Kshetra – Inaugurated on December 2, 2015, at Mohbondha, Jorhat.
NCERT Books (Download) – History Study Material for APSC Civil Services Exam
We always recommend to start APSC Preparation with NCERT books. The importance of NCERT books in preparation of APSC/ UPSC/ PSCs exams can’t be over emphasized.
“NCERT books can be considered as the Preamble of the whole range of study materials for APSC/ UPSC/ other PSCs Civil Services exams preparation.”
Aspirants should always start their preparation from the NCERT textbooks of Class 6 to 12. It creates a very strong foundation of knowledge base required for clearing these exams. Most of the successful candidates recommends for judicious following of NCERT books for APSC/ UPSC/ other PSCs preparation. Aspirants should focus on the NCERT books for General Studies (GS), History + Art & Culture, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology etc for APSC Prelims and Mains Exams.
Why NCERT Books are BEST?
NCERT books are easily accessible and available for FREE to everyone from rural and urban candidates (“Make Competition Inclusive and Fair”)
NCERT books is simple and lucid language, as these are written for school students, so are very easy to understand topics and concepts.
NCERT books provides important basic information about the subjects/topic and mostly objective, reliable and unbiased.
APSC/ UPSC/ other PSCs and other agency regards NCERT books as authentic source for reference.
Assam & North East India during Govt of India Act, 1935 and India’s Independence
Government of India Act, 1935 in North East India
Under the Government of India Act, 1935, the administrative pattern of the region was bifurcated from April 1937.
The Mizo Hills, Naga Hills, North Cachar hills and North East Frontier tracts were called “excluded areas” i.e. these areas were excluded from ministerial jurisdiction and were guarded by “inner line” which prevented the entry of outsiders without permit.
The Garo Hills, the British Portion of Khasi Jaintia Hills and Mikir Hills were termed “partially excluded” areas.
Two princely states of Manipur and Tripura maintained relationship with the British govt through the agency of the Government of Assam, and an “unadministered Naga tribal area”.
The 1935 Act marked a major beginning in the growth of tribal alliances. Major tribes of the hills and the plains such as the Nagas, Khasis, Bodos, Miris, Kacheris, and Seweris pressed their demands through various organizations such as the Naga club, Seng Khasi club, Khasi Darbar, Tribal League and Ahom League. Many of their leaders like Rup Nath Brahma, Karo Chandra Boley and Jadav Chandra Khaklari were members of the Legislative Assembly.
The Naga Hill District Tribal Council was organized by Charles Pawsy, Deputy Commissioner of the Naga Hills district, in 1945. In April 1946, the organization was renamed the Naga Nationalist Council and the idea of ethnocentric nationalism emerged.
During the first half of 1946 two other prominent organizations (1) Garo National Council and (2) Mizo Union were formed.
Political trends of frontal tribes during India’s Independence
During the period of India’s independence, there were two major political trends among the tribes of North -East India
Groups like Mizo Union, Garo National Council, East Indian Tribal Union and All Party Hill Leaders Conference were in favour of asserting more tribal autonomy within the Indian Union.
Groups like the Naga Nationalist Council, the United Mizo Freedom Organization and the Mizo National Front wanted complete independence for tribal areas.
Social Movement of Tribes in Assam & North East India
Movements of the frontier tribes (North East India)
The North-Eastern tribal region differed substantially from the rest of the tribal India in two basic aspects, (i) tribals formed an overwhelming majority and so were relatively economically and socially secure and (ii) because of their geo-political situation of living in the vicinity of the international border, this region was not completely integrated with the politico-economic system of colonialism and remained somewhat isolated from the main land.
North-Eastern frontier has witnessed tribal movements of considerable proportion. These movements tended to remain aloof from the freedom struggle often incorporating a demand for political autonomy either within the India or as a separate unit. This was also because geo-political isolation from mainland India and their shared ethnic and cultural affinities with tribesmen across the border.
There was hardly any agrarian forest-based movement as the tribals remained in possession of land and surrounding forests except Tripura. The movements in the north-east were by and large revolutionary or revivalist.
Unlike other part of India, Sanskritision did not became popular in this region due to their relative isolation from the Hindu society and spread of Christian missionary activities.
The movements in the North-East tended to be political and secular and were mainly due to tribal’s deep resent of British penetration in their areas, which started during the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26), Annexed the Jaintia hills in 1832, including the earlier 25 khasi states. Each of these events was followed by revolts.
De-Sanskritisation Movement
In Manipur, a ‘De-Sankritisation’ movement was begun among the Meiteis, some of whom rebelled against the corrupt malpractises of the neo-Vaishnavite Brahmins during the rule of the Churchand Maharaj (1891-1941). They felt that a combination of Brahmins, the Maharaja and the British were spoiling their society, and wanted to return to the nativistic Sanmali cult and movement started in 1939.
In 1946, Raj Kumar Bhubansena formed the state Congress. Hajin Irbot formed the Krishak Sena and the Communist Party.
Tribal Revolts in Assam & North East India – PART 2: (APSC Assam History Notes) (Rani Gaidinliu’s Naga Movement, Zeliangsong Movement, Naga Kuki revolt, Lushais and Kharwar rebellion)
Tribal Revolts in Assam & North East India – PART 2
Rani Gaidinliu’s Naga Movement
Rongmei leader Jadonang came to the fore to bring about social unity and to revitalize the age-old religion by abolishing irrational customs. His aimed to establish a Naga Raj but was captured and hanged on August 29, 1931.
After that the movement was carried on by 17-year-old Gaidinliu, she integrated the tribal movement with the Civil Disobedience movement and preached disobedience to oppressive laws and non-payment of house tax.
The movement tried to link with Indian National Congress but it remained weak as Congress could not enter the hills.
Jadonang’s religious ideas crystallized in the Heraka cult led by Gaidinliu. After the movement was finally suppressed in 1932, it was converted into a peaceful movement with the establishment of tribal various organizations.
Zeliangsong Movement
The Zeliangsong movement among the Nagas of Manipur belonging to Zemi, Liangmei, and Rongmei tribes.
Naga Revolt:
The Nagas revolted against the British in 1849, but was suppressed in 1850-51.
Kuki revolt:
The kukis of the Lushai Hills and nearby hilly regions of Manipur and Tripura attacked the British territories repeatedly in 1829, 1844 and 1849.
The Kukis had migrated to Manipur in the 18th century.
The British policy of recruitment for coolie labour during World War – I seriously affected the stability of labour–short Kuki economy in general and their agriculture particularly.
Guerrilla war under their chiefs went on for two years, fuelled also by other grievances like pothang (tribals being made to carry baggages of official without payment) and government efforts to stop shifting cultivation of jhum.
Lushais:
In 1842 the Lushais raided British territory of Arakan, Sylhet and defeated the British forces. In 1844 the Lushais attacked Manipuri villages and reprisals by the British followed. Sukla, the Lushai leader, was arrested and transported for life. In 1860 the Lushai chief raided Tripura and killed 186 British subjects.
Kharwar rebellion:
The Kharwar rebellion took place in 1870 and in 1882, Sambhudan led a revolt of the Kacha Nagas of Cachar to attacked the whites. Sambhuden who claimed that his magic had made his followers immune to bullets.
Some other tribal movements
In 1835 the saflas raided British plains subjects and again they revolted in 182-73.
In 1836 the Mishimis killed a botanist, Griffith and two missionaries.
Between 1839 and 1842 there was a Khampti uprising in Assam when they attacked and killed British Agent Adam White and 80 other officers and soldiers.
Between 1860 and 1862 there was a revolt of Syntengs of Jaintia Hills.
Tribal uprisings in Tripura
Tripura witnessed large-scale and agrarian and forest-based movements. The demographic profile of tribals changed from 64% in 1874 to 36% in 1911 because the Raja of Tripura invited Bengalis to settle in Tripura for economic development of the state.
Parikshit Jamatia led a movement against arbitrary rate of house tax in 1863. Bharti Sangh started revolutionary activities in Tripura in mid-1920s. The Reangs under the leadership of Ratnamani rose an armed rebellion in 1942–1943 in the southern sub-division of Tripura and proclaimed independence.
A Ganga Parishad was formed in 1937 similar to the States People’s Conferences in other Princely States.
Tribal Revolts in Assam & North East India – PART 1
Khasi Uprising (1829-1833)
After the end of the first Anglo-Burmese war, the British occupied the hilly region between Garo and Jaintia hills, and planned to build a road linking the Brahmaputra valley with Sylhet passing through the entire length of the Khasi area.
Conscriptions of labourers for road construction and a British garrison disobeying orders of Khasi king to stop the road construction project, led the Khasis to revolt under the leadership of Tirot Sing Syiem.
The Khasi chiefs number around 30 decided to throw out the British from the region and organized themselves under Bar Manik. The Garos also joined the revolt.
The revolt lasted for four years and was finally suppressed in early 1833 and the British gained supremacy over these hills. Tirot Sing was eventually captured by the British in January 1833 and deported to Dhaka and he died on 17 July 1835.
Ahom Revolt (1828)
To suppress the Moamoria rebels who captured the capital Rangpur, Ahom King Gaurinath Singha sought help of East India Company. In 1792 Thomas Welsh came with 550 well trained and well armed troops and occupied Guwahati and restored Rangpur to Gaurinath Singha, and they returned to Bengal on May 25, 1794.
Again British came to Assam’s rescue in the first Burma War (1824-26). Though they had pledged to withdraw from Assam after the first Burma War (1824-26), but in contrast, they tried to incorporate the Ahom territories into their dominion. This resulted in a rebellion against the British in 1828.
Under the leadership of Ahom prince Gomdhar Konwar, an armed revolt rose against the British, a year after it was annexed by the British from the Ahoms with the signing of the Treaty of Yandabo. He along with Dhanjoy Borgohain and their followers started a revolt to fight against the British and burned the British armoury at Rangpur and fought the British in Mariani.
The British military suppressed this revolt, Konwar fled to the Naga Hills but soon was arrested and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and exiled to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Though the revolt failed in it’s goal against the British, they succeeded to put a sense of independence in the minds of the people. As a result as a conciliatory policy, in the year 1833, the British handed over the entire Upper Assam, except Sadiya and Matak region, to Ahom Prince Purandar Singh on the condition of yearly tribute of 50,000 rupees.
In 1838, Purandar Singh defaulted in payments of revenue; the British formally annexed the kingdom, putting an end to the reign of Ahom Dynasty.
Singhphos rebellion (1830-1839)
While the British were engaged in the long lasting warfare with the Khasis, the Singhphos broke into open rebellion in early 1830, which was suppressed very quickly within 3 months. But the discontentment of the Singhphos remained and again the rose in rebellion in 1839 when they killed the British political agent.
Again in 1843, the Singhphos Chief Nirang Phidu attacked the British garrison and killed several soldiers. In 1849, Khasma Singhphos attacked British village in Assam and was captured in 1855.
How to prepare for History optional for APSC Mains Exam
If you have cleared the APSC CC (Prelims) Exam 2018, a bigger challenge of APSC Mains (Written) Exam awaits you. Either you are taking optional subjects from your academic subjects or any new subject, and irrespective of how good knowledgeable we already have about the subjects, there is always a certain level of uncertainty regarding the preparation of the optional subjects.
1. History as an APSC Mains optional
History is a very popular optional in APSC Mains 2018 Exam and very high proportion of aspirants takes it in both Prelims and Mains Exam. This subject can fetch you very good marks if written appropriately and the additional advantage of this subject is that History is widely covered in General Studies paper as well.
Here, we will try to help you prepare for History optional for APSC Mains 2018 Exam.
Positives of History as an optional subject in APSC Mains
Many topics overlap with GS Paper, so good preparation in History will also help in GS Paper.
All standard books & preparation materials are readily available in market.
Good Scoring subject and easy to comprehend.
2. What to study? The Syllabus
Paper I
Paper I of History optional covers Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India. Most of us have studies almost the whole syllabus in our school, but still you have to study again thoroughly as the exam is more demanding and ask for in-depth knowledge of the topics mentioned in the syllabus. Revise the syllabus as many times as possible, that’s the only way to remember History.
In Paper II, the syllabus covers history of world in three part: (a) History of Great Britain 1485-1945, (b) Modern Europe (1789-1945) and (c) World History 1914-1945. One of the important issue of this part of the syllabus is finding the correct materials to study.
India’s Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947 by Bipan Chandra
India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
History of the World by Arjun Dev
Wikipedia.org ( for Concept Clearance )
IGNOU/NIOS PDF Books
4. Preparation Plan –Time Allotment
“My only enemy is time.” – Charles Chaplin
Either you start your preparation six month before the exam or two year before the exam, you will still find yourself wanting for more time. So, whatever time you are left with, use it judiciously and distribute among all the papers of the APSC Mains, so that you perform nicely not only in one or two paper, but perform fairly in all the papers.
If Mains Exam is going to be in conducted in July 2019, you still have around Four monthstosharpen your axe.
If you see the Mark allotment in various subjects, it looks like:
GS Paper = 300 Marks = 21.5% of Mains (Written) Exam Marks
English Paper = 300 Marks = 21.5% of Mains (Written) Exam Marks
Optional Subject 1 = 400 Marks= 28.5% of Mains (Written) Exam Marks
Optional Subject 2 = 400 Marks= 28.5% of Mains (Written) Exam Marks
So, you can allot your precious limited time in the following proportion:
GS Paper = 30%of preparation time
English Paper = 10% of preparation time [ Less! Most aspirants gives much lesser time to it.]
Optional Subject 1 = 30% of preparation time
Optional Subject 2 = 30% of preparation time
NB: If your any optional subject is Political Science, History, Education, etc, then this subject will also help in preparation of GS Paper.
5. Overview of the Preparation Strategy
Complete whole syllabusonce – Complete the whole syllabus with the limited books/sources as soon as possible.
Before exam, you should have completed the syllabus at least 3-4 times and have done enough Answer writing practice. See a Sample Schedule
Do not leave any part untouched during preparation – As there is always chances that the topic you left out comes in compulsory part of questions. Then in exam if you have options then write only the Questions you know better.
6. Analyse previous years Questions ( It’s MUST ! )
Collect previous years Questions of as many years as possible.
Analyse previous years questionsfor:
Pattern of the Questions.
Finding common topics on which APSC ask questions frequently.
Some Questions may get repeated also
These will give a very good idea of the important topics to be focused upon which preparing for the exam.
7. Answer Writing Practice
No matter how much you prepare for History optional, your result will always depend on the answers you write. Practicing Answer writing is must in History, mainly because of it’s theoretical part.
To be able to write a good answer with good content and under the exam constrains of time and space, it requires a lot of practice and skills. The more you practice for History the better answers you will be able to write.
You can also practice by answering last year questions or by joining some test series. Joining APSC Mains Test Series is a good option to have a self-check of your evaluation.
You can also participate in APSC Mains Answer Writing Practice, where we provide regular questions and aspirants write answers and upload in the Question page of our website assamexam.com.
8. Answer Writing Tips
To help you prepare for writing better answers in History, some writing tips are provided below:
Put most important and most popular points first and the least in the end. Evaluators always search for these most important points.
Time schedule is very important so that you can distribute your allotted time among all the questions and be able to attempt every question. Attempting all questions well always will fetch more marks than writing some questions very nicely and leaving some other questions.
Use historical facts in the answers, but only if you know correctly.
We hope this article provides you with useful information on how to prepare for History optional for APSC Mains Exam 2018. Stay connected for more information regarding APSC Assam Civil Services Exam 2018.
If you have any doubts or queries, post them in the comment section below.
