Q. Describe the Mughal Rule in Hindustan?

[4]

Mughal dynasty, Mughal also spelled Mogul, Persian Mughūl (“Mongol”), Muslim dynasty of Turkic-Mongol origin
that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid-18th century. After that time, it continued to exist
as a considerably reduced and increasingly powerless entity until the mid-19th century. Started with Baber and
ended with Bhadur Shah Zafar II 1858.

Q. Who was Aurangzeb Alamgir? [4]

Aurangzeb was the son of emperor Shah Jahan. His title was Alamgir. He became the king in 1658 after defeating
his three brothers. Soon he had to fight with Rajput, Sikhs, Jats, Pathans but his worst enemy was Shivaji the
Maratha leader whom he had to fight for 23 years. He extended his empire from Kashmir to Karnatak and Ghazni
to Bengal. He was a pious Muslim and banned all non-Muslim activities in the Mughal court. He died at the age of
89 in 1707. After him his son Price Muazzam became the king.

Q. How successful was Aurangzeb as the emperor of Hindustan? Explain with arguments. [10]

Aurangzeb is known for being the emperor of India from 1658 to 1707. He was the last great Mughal emperors.
Successful Areas
 Pious and orthodox
 Extended the empire to its maximum
 Appointed Muhtasibs: as keeper of public morals
 Removed many taxes including taxes over travellers and traders
 Introduced Islamic calendar
 Banned singing, dancing alcohol and suttee
 Appropriate length of beard was ensured
 Appointed Hindu advisors
 Granted donations to Hindu temples
 Fatwa-e-Alamgiri: a book over Islamic laws
 Five-decade rule: Kashmir to Karnatak and from Ghazni to Chittagong
Unsuccessful Areas
 Cold and hard; incapable of tolerating any opposition
 Imposed Jizya: tax on Non-Muslims-led to the use of Hindu card by the extremists- Hindus to rebel
 Large, inefficient and unmanageable empire
 No governors: directly managed by Aurangzeb by his agents
 Heavy taxes to generate funds for warfare
 continuous wars and expansion took his maximum time and efforts: mainly against Marathas (25 years)
 being away from the throne, mismanagement, corruption, inefficiency along controversial policies proved
fatal
Conclusion: in the light of the above it can be concluded that under Aurangzeb Alamgir the Mughal Empire
reached its greatest extent, although his policies helped lead to its dissolution.

So…….……………………………. …………

Why…………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………?
Q. Why did the ‘Mughal Empire’ decline?
Internal Factors of Decline

 Aurangzeb’s Policies
 Jizya
 Ban of Suttee
 Etc.
 Successors Disputes
 High Military Cost
 Declining Military Expertise
 Weak Control
 Pleasure Seeking decadence; Extravagant
 Administrative Weakness
 Uprising Sikhs and Rajput

External Factors of Decline

 Invasions
 Afghans – Ahmed Shah Abdali 1738
 Persians – Nadir Shah 1739
 Marathas – Marathas defeated the Mughals in Delhi and Bhopal, and extended their empire till
Peshawar by 1758
 Arrival of the British
 Weak administration was one important cause of the downfall of Mughals. Until the reign of Aurangzeb,
Mughal Empire had extended to a vast area. After Aurangzeb, the Empire became weak and provinces
went out of control of the Mughal kings. Communication with different parts of the Empire was not an
easy job and the rebellions used to break out often. The government was to spend huge amount of
income to overcome these problems. This financial burden further increased due to succession wars
between the Mughal princes. The succession wars took place due to the lack of succession law and also
due to the greed of the princes. These resulted in the disintegration and disunity of Mughals and a huge
financial loss.
 Unlimited power and wealth made the Mughals lazy and pleasure seeking. They used to spend huge
amounts on their clothes, food, jewellery and other expenditures. They broke the Islamic principles of
simple life and involved in immoral activities. The Mughals thought that they were invincible. They fought
with the outdated weapons and old war techniques. Due to this, they had to suffer in their wars against
Marathas, Nadir Shah, Ahmed Shah and the British. The power and wealth made the nobility so strong
that they went out of the control of the Emperor. They stopped giving income to the Emperor. The attacks
of Marathas, Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah made the Mughals virtually bankrupt.
 The strength of the British was another cause of the downfall of Mughals. Until 1750, The East India
Company did not involve in active politics and concentrated on making more wealth and more power.
They defeated their European rivals the French. Within hundred years, the entire India was in their
control. The British were organized and disciplined. They had national spirit. Due to industrial revolution,
they were producing best weapons in large quantity. EIC was supported by the rich British Government.
The British understood the weaknesses of Indians. They bribed them and played the game of diplomacy.
On the other hand, Mughals were lacking these qualities and they could not resist the British.
Q. What was Jizya? [4]
It was an Islamic Tax charged from non-Muslim for their protection by Muslim rulers, Mughals also charged it in
their Empire later abolished by Emperor Akbar but Aurangzeb introduced it again in India, Mughals lost loyalty of
non-Muslim population due to Jizya collection, later abandoned by Shah Alam 1
Q. What was Suttee?
Suttee was an old Hindu tradition often practiced by Rajput, widows were burnt alive with dead body of their
husband, at funeral, Aurangzeb tried to ban it and faced a lot of criticism later British banned it in Bengal in 1829.
Q Who was Shivaji?
Shivaji Raje Bhosle with title of Shivaji Maharaja founded Maratha empire. He successfully fought with Mughals
and remained challenge for Aurangzeb. He was crowned as King in 1674. He was skilled in guerrilla warfare. He re-
established Hindu rule in region ruled by Muslim for several hundred years
Q What was Mansabdari system?
It was a generic term for military type of grading of all imperial officers of Mughals. Mansabdar governed the
empire and commanded its armies in emperor name. Though they were usually aristocrats. They did not form a
feudal aristocracy. Mansabdari means rank holder. Later with the weakness of the Mughals they proclaimed their
own rule in their respective areas.
Q Who was Marathas?

Marathas lived in Deccan, were known for their skills as guerrilla fighters. Marathas organized themselves under
the leadership of Shivaji. Aurangzeb failed to crush their power. In 1737 they defeated Mughal army. In 1760 they
occupied Delhi. In third battle of Panipat in 1761 Persian king Ahmed Shah Abdali crushed their power. The British
did not become the dominant power in India until the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, which took
place between 1817 and 1818. It was only after that the settlement of 1818 that British ascendancy in India truly
began.

(c) Were the policies of Aurangzeb the main reason for the decline of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer.
[14] May-June 2020 Q2(c)
Q. Who were religious reformers? [4]

History witnessed that whenever the enemies of Islam have created problems to crush it, God sends his pious
persons to defend Islam. Religious reformers are also one of these Pious people who supported Muslims and their
believes in the subcontinent in a very critical situation. They not only reformed the religious, economic, political
and social conditions of Muslims but also prevented them from Sikh suppression, Marathan threat and cruel Hindu
zamindars.

Q. Why there was need to revive Islam? OR Why were there attempts to revive Islam during the 18 th and 19th
centuries? [7]

 Islam was degenerating -Malpractices prevailed

 Sectarianism (divisions - ‫)فرقہ‬- weakened the Muslims – disunited
 Mughal Empire was declining – Muslim rule under threat – became an opportunity for others
During the 18th and 19th century attempts were made to revive Islam because The Muslims in India were illiterate,
under the rule of non-Muslims and had forgotten the strength of Muslims in India under the Mughals. Many poor
Muslims were tortured. Others were criticized or forced into slavery. Thus the revival of Islam was necessary,
because of which many Muslims remained steadfast in their aims.
The Muslims of the sub-continent were not united. Being the members of different sects, many Muslims disagreed
on most things. They were cold towards the Muslims of other sects so easily over-powered. Disunity was the main
reason for the over-throw of Muslim Empire in India. Thus a revival of the Islam was necessary to bridge the divide.
Most Muslims in sub-continent had no idea of the true beliefs of Islam, could not understand the Holy Quran, and
considered the practices of their ancestors or elder ones as the righteous ones. This resulted in an attempt to
make people realize the true beliefs in Islam, understand the Holy Quran and remain united. Also the revival od
Islam helped Muslims to stand-up against the non-Muslims.

Q. Who was Shah Waliullah? [4]

Shah Waliullah was born on February 21, 1703 at Delhi, Shah Waliullah received his academic and spiritual
education from his father. He left for Arabia in 1730 for higher education. By the time he returned to Delhi in July
1732, the decline in Mughal fortunes had started. The social, political, economic and religious conditions of the
Muslims were very poor. On his return to India, he not only identified the causes for the decline of the Muslims,
but also pointed out the remedies. He translated the Quran to Persian, the main and common language of the
people at that time. He also tried to reduce the various differences of many a sectarian group prevailing at that
time. Wrote 51 books.

Q. Why did Shah Waliullah translate Quran into Persian? [7]

 Shah Waliullah believed that many of the problems the Muslims faced were due to ignoring the principles
of Islam. He felt that an emphasis on Quranic teachings would improve their knowledge and reduce
sectarianism differences and create a feeling of solidarity.

 As Arabic was not widely understood by the Muslims of subcontinent he translated Quran into Persian. By
this the teachings of Quran were more accessible to Muslims.

 Shah Waliullah recognized that the tenets of Islam could not be followed properly unless the Holy Quran
itself was understood. In order to spread the teachings of Islam he translated the Holy Quran into Persian
the main language of educated Muslims at that time in the Sub-Continent.
Q. Why Shah Waliullah wish to revive Islam in the subcontinent? [7]

 Reason # 1: The social and political condition of the subcontinent was disturbed due to the growing power
of disruptive forces.

 Reason # 2: Muslims were moving far away from Islam and they were ignoring Islam and teachings of the
Quran because they were unaware of Arabic so they were unable to understand the Quranic teachings.

 Reason # 3: The Muslims were getting the influence of non-Muslims cultures (Hindus and Christian).

 Reason # 4: Disintegration of Mughal Empire had set in and the Muslims were split-up among themselves
and Marathas, Jats and Sikhs were threatening Delhi.

 Reason # 5: There was no religious freedom. Muslims were not allowed to practice Islamic duties and
divided into sects

Q: Why did Syed Ahmad Barelvi wish to revive Islam in the Sub-Continent? [7]

 Syed Ahmad Barelvi was a man of action.

 He was an ideal person to act as leader to work against the British power in India and to try to ensure that
the Muslims were ruled by fellow Muslims. He believed that the freedom of the Muslims could only come
as a result of armed struggle against the foreign and non-Muslim forces which were oppressing them. So,
to free the Muslims, he started the Jihad Movement.

 Syed Ahmad believed that there was a need to end the evils that had corrupted Islamic society.
Consequently, even when he served as an army officer he surrounded himself with the men of great piety
who were prepared to reject worldly wealth and work for improving the moral and intellectual lives of
Muslims. The British had ensured that the Mughal emperors had little real power and the Sikhs were
dominant in the Punjab. So, he founded the Jihad Movement, which called for armed struggle to
overthrow non-Muslim oppression and restore Muslim power.

 He believed that once this was done Islam could be rejuvenated and rescued from beliefs and customs
contrary to Islamic beliefs which had crept into everyday life. So, to regenerate Islam and Islamic practices
among the Muslims in the sub-continent he started Jihad Movement.

Q: Why did Haji Shariatullah wish to revive Islam in the Sub-Continent? [7]

 Haji Shariatullah started the Faraizi movement in Bengal.

 He believed that the country was now Dar-ul-Harb where non-Muslims ruled. In such places it was
difficult for the Muslims to practice Islam in its true spirit and keeping themselves away from the sins and
impurities. So to restore the pride of the Muslims, he started Faraizi movement/wanted to revive Islam.

 Moreover, believing that the Muslims had moved away from true Islamic practice. He worked hard to
remove Hindu practices in worship, emphasis on praying for past sins, promising to lead a righteous life in
future. To him this would not only improve the faith but would also strengthen the Muslims of the sub-
continent, so he started the Faraizi movement/ wanted to revive Islam in the sub-continent.

 Furthermore, he believed that without the arm struggle the suppression cannot be removed for that he
supported the idea of Jihad, thus encouraged the Muslims for the same. To him this would bring a
spiritual revival. It also had much economic impact. The Bengal peasants became united in opposition to
the British and became aware of their rights and unity became to grow between them and they realized
their rights that should have been given. So, for Muslims to lead a righteous life in future he started the
Faraizi movement/wanted to revive Islam in the sub-continent.
Q. What was Jihad Movement?

The Jihad Movement, a campaign or organization founded by Syed Ahmed Barelvi with the aim to encourage
Muslims to stand up to the Sikh rulers of that time and also to return to the rightful teachings, involved several
battles. Syed Ahmed Barelvi recruited followers from NWFP and upper Punjab and stood up against the Sikh ruler
Ranjit Singh. Many battles, treacheries and other wrong acts followed during which countless lives were lost. The
Jihad Movement finally collapsed after the battle of Balakot, where Muslims heavily outnumbered were utterly
defeated and Syed Ahmed martyred.

Q. What was the Faraizi Movement?

The Faraizi Movement was based on the proper observation of Islamic duties called Faraiz. It supported the idea of
Jihad against non-Muslims. The movement mainly supported the peasants who were oppressed by non-Muslims.
Shariatullah started Faraizi movement to restore the pride of Muslims. Emphasis was placed on praying for past
sins. Shariatullah described India as Dar-ul-Harb. Success of this movement led to the exile of Haji Shariatullah.

Q. Who was Mohsinuddin? [4]

 Also known as Dodhu Mian was the only son and child of Haji Shariatullah's. After his death, the Faraizi
Movement was led by Dudu Miyan. He divided East Bengal in circles and appointed Khalifas for social
welfare. He organized farm workers against high taxes charged by Hindu and British land lords. The British
arrested him and put him in prison. After his death in 1860, the Faraizi Movement declined.

Q. Why were the Marathas defeated after the decline of the Mughal Empire? [7]

 The Marathas controlled vast lands that had been part of the Mughal Empire, but they found it difficult to
control and administer. This led to problems in fighting off threats from other armies confirming that the
empire was now too big for them to protect or defend.

 Maratha families began to show more loyalty to local rulers rather than the Maratha leaders in the capital
city of Pune. As a result, cracks began to show in Maratha unity and control. Their grip on the empire was
weakened.

 The invading Afghans defeated the Maratha army at Panipat in 1761, thousands of soldiers and important
administrators were killed, ending Maratha control.

Q Who were the mujahedeen?

Muslims who fight on behalf of the faith or the Muslim community. The term did not gain popular currency as
a collective or plural noun referring to “holy warriors” until the 18th century in India, where it became associated
with Islamic revivalism. During this period, modernist Muslim thinkers such as Shāh Walī Allāh attributed the
decline of the Mughal Empire to the decadence of its contemporary society. Though his primary concern was the
revival of Islamic society, he considered Muslim rule necessary for that revival to prosper. Thus, in
revivalist rhetoric, Muslims who resisted the expansion of the Maratha, Jats, and Sikh armies into Muslim areas
could be considered defenders of Islam and, therefore, mujahidin. In the 19th century the term became
increasingly identified with the militant revivalist movement of Sayyid Aḥmad Baralawī (Brelvi), whose self-
styled mujahidin fought both Sikh expansion and British paramountcy in India.

Q Who was Yar Muhammad?

YAR MUHAMMAD KHAN (d. 1829), the Barakzai ruler of Peshawar. In November 1818, Ranjit Singh seized the city
from him and placed it in the charge of Jahandad Khan another of the Barakzai brothers, but no sooner did Ranjit
Singh return to Lahore than Yar Muhammad Khan emerged from his hiding, expelled Jahandad Khan and resumed
control of Peshawar. In June 1822, Yar Muhammad Khan agreed to become a tributary of Ranjit Singh, but soon
thereafter Muhammad Azim Khan, the Kabul Wazir, expelled him from Peshawar. Ranjit Singh defeated the Kabul
Wazir in the battle of Naushehra on 14 March 1823, and installed Yar Muhammad Khan, governor of Peshawar.
Shortly afterwards, Sayyid Ahmad Barelvi proclaimed a holy war against the Sikhs, Yar Muhammad Khan joining
hands with him.

Q) What happened at the Battle of Balakot 1831?

The Battle of Balakot was fought between the forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Syed Ahmad
Barelvi in Balakot, Mansehra District on 6 May 1831. Barelvi declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a
camp in Balakot. Along with Shah Ismail Dehlvi and his tribesmen, he attacked the Sikhs at dawn. The battle lasted
all day. The Sikh soldiers eventually beheaded Syed Ahmad Barelvi, and hundreds of his followers were killed.
What was the East India Company? [4]

The EIC was an organization or company, mainly associated with trade. At first the company was private but later
interference grew as the government of Britain strived to take control or back up the company. EIC was
established in 1600 when the Queen Elizabeth I granted permission to a group of merchants. The EIC was given the
monopoly in trade between the Britain and areas east of Africa. Later EIC turned to India and landed first at Surat
in 1608.

Why was EIC interested in India? [7]

The EIC got interested in India because of many reasons. There were accounts written by the travelers of the
immense wealth of the Mughals. The extravagant lifestyle of Indians lords and their glorious way of life greatly
impressed the Europeans. They realized that in India there were fortunes to be made as many things and eatables
were available here that couldn’t be grown in Britain because of climate.

Because of the fact that many spices could be grown in India, the Europeans realized that enormous fortunes could
be made. Merchants bought spices from India at a cheap cost and then sold them at enormous high prices in
Britain. In the coming years, Indian clothes became very popular back at Britain. Indian cotton particularly was
considered highly luxurious. Indian spices could be sold to an 80% profit in Europe.

Side by side, the British EIC not only wanted to trade but also to gain influence in areas of politics. They initially had
colonies in many areas and now saw India as an opportunity to gain power. They were willing to enhance the
political influence back at India. This was the main reason why the British helped EIC to defeat trade rivals and also
to go to war against the local Indian rulers.

Why was the EIC welcomed in India? [7]

The EIC was greatly welcomed in India. One reason being that the Indian Government was highly benefited from
the trade. EIC was paying heavy taxes which really made the government happy. The money coming in was
immense and stabilizing the economy because of which EIC was welcomed.

The local traders were benefiting too. The raw materials were bought by the EIC in great amount and the traders
were getting huge profits. Silver boats were sent from Britain as payment. Traders getting rich through trade was a
reason for the welcome of the EIC.

The Indians got fond of the items the British brought with them. The Indians previously didn’t even know about the
existence of these items and got excited when saw them and welcomed the British in India.

Why did the British government take control over India? [7]

The British government took control over India for 3 main reasons. Firstly, the huge profits that they were earning
from trade in India compelled them. This money was making 1/10th of the total British revenue and was very
important due to which they took control to make all the money earned to be there.

Secondly, an important reason was the exploitation of Bengal. The British were embarrassed at this work and
greed of the EIC as it was against the orders of British Government. Because of the EIC there was a famine in
Bengal, one of the richest province of India. To stop such a scene of anarchy in Bengal the British Government took
control over India.

Thirdly they wanted to spread their western culture. The British considered the Indians as uncivilized people, who
needed masters to control them. The British thought themselves as the masters, thus considering it their duty to
civilize them and do their work. To spread their superior western culture was a reason why the British took control.
Why British wanted to involve in the affairs of India? [7]

There were 3 main reasons why British wanted to get involved in Indian affairs. First of all, they were earning huge
profits from their trade in India. This money was not only making EIC officials rich, the British government realized
its importance as it was earning 1/10th of the total British revenue due to which they were quick to get involved.

Secondly, they wanted to defeat other European trading companies in India. Like the British, French, Dutch and
Portuguese were trading in India. The British wanted to get rid of these Europeans from Indian monopoly and
therefore they got involved.

Thirdly the British realized that they were too over powered. When the British arrived in India they saw the weak
position of the Mughals. After Aurangzeb, they were weak and got into pleasure seeking. They also saw the
declining military expertise of the Mughals which ensured them that they could easily and gradually take control of
India, so they got involved in the affairs if India.

What role did EIC play in the decline of Mughal Empire? [4]

The Mughal empire was already in a serious decline during the end of the 18th century. EIC gained wealth from
India through trade until the time of Jahangir. EIC was controlled by Britain, a very powerful country, with
industries manufacturing goods for the whole world. This much wealth was enough to afford the military strength
for the fight which they put against the Mughals. Slowly and gradually the Mughals lost power and the British
gained it. The final end of the Mughal empire can as a result of the war of independence in 1857.

Who was Robert Clive? [4]

Robert Clive was a British general, who helped the EIC to defeat the French and take advantage of India’s unsettled
conditions to increase British influence and control. After winning the Battle of Plassey, Robert Clive was made the
Governor of Bengal but his opponents in Britain carried an investigation into his behavior in India. Although he was
not found guilty of the charge of plundering India. The disgrace coupled with his addiction to opium and caused
him to take his own life in 1773.

What happened at Plassey in 1757? [4]

In 1756 the French encouraged the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah to attack the EIC Base at Calcutta. He
Captured the city, but was unable to keep control of it. In 1757 Clive arrived with a force of EIC Soldiers and
Defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah troops in the Battle of Plassey. The Nawab’s body was founded in a river after the Battle.
Clive’s Victory was made easy by the Treachery of Siraj-ud-Daulah’s general, Mir Jafir. The EIC rewarded him by
making him Nawab of Bengal.

What happened at the Battle of Bauxer? [4]

The historic battle fought between the British and the Indian forces resulted in victory for the British. The three
combined army forces of Mir Qasim (Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II met
with a crushing defeat under the hands of Major Munro.

Who was Sirajuddaulah? [4]

Siraj-ud-Daulah was an Indian Nawab who started ruling Bengal when he was 19 years old. He attacked the British
at Fort William and they were not ready for the attack which resulted in panic, chaos and after all defeat. He
fought Robert Clive at the battle of Plassey with the aid of French. During the battle Siraj’s ammunition got wet so
the battle was lost. Siraj escaped and returned to his capital, bundled his belongings and disappeared. Later, he
was caught and humiliated.
Who was Mir Jafar? [4]

Mir Jafar was the first Nawab of Bengal under British influence. An Arab by birth, he rose to power in the Nawab’s
army and in the battle of Plassey (1756) he conspired with the British to depose Siraj-ud-Dulah to become the
Nawab himself.

What was the Pitts India Act? [4]

Pitt's India Act 1784 or the East India Company Act 1784 was passed in the British Parliament to rectify the
defects of the Regulating Act 1773. It resulted in dual control or joint government in India by Crown in Great
Britain and the British East India Company, with crown having ultimate authority.

Who was Titu Mir? [4]

Titu Mir was a great Bengali freedom fighter who led the people against the oppression of zamindars and the
British colonial system. In 1822, he went on a pilgrimage, returning in 1827, he was determined to free Bengal
from un-Islamic practices and British rule. He raised an army of 15000 followers, built a bamboo fort and defeated
British forces sent to destroy it. Next, British sent an army including cavalry and cannon. Titu Mir’s forces could not
withstand the power of British modern weapons. Many soldiers along with Titu Mir were killed after few days of
fierce fighting

How did the British take over the province of Sindh? [4]

The British were fearful of the Russian expansion into Afghanistan so much that the British agreed with the ruler of
Punjab Ranjit Sindh that Afghanistan should remain independent. The British hoped the Ranjit would help them
establish a Pro-British rule in Kabul but that did not Happen. So British went ahead of their own and the rebellion
resulted in all British troops in country being killed. British felt that their pride was hurt so they decided to annex
Sindh. In 1843 British General, Sir Napier provoked the Amir so much that they attacked the British Residency, and
the British defeated them and annexed Sindh.

Describe the annexation of the Punjab. [4]

Ranjit Singh had signed a treaty of perpetual friendship in 1809 but, after his death in 1839, rival chief argued
amongst themselves over who should be the king. The Sikhs were worried that the British would invade the Punjab
and so launched an attack on the British. The British defeated the Sikhs at the Battle of Aliwal in January 1846 and
forced them to sign the Treaty of Lahore. The Sikhs had to cede land to the British and pay a huge indemnity.

What was the Doctrine of Lapse? [4]

The Doctrine of lapse was used by or applied by Lord Dalhousie to extend British control even further. Whenever a
ruler died without a natural heir the British would annex his land, because of this the policy grew unpopular and
caused much resentment. Especially in 1856 Nawab of Oudh died and his land were seized by British who declared
that the Nawab governed his people badly. Moreover, this showed that the British were now dominant in India.

Why were the British able to conquer India? OR

Why was Britain able to expand its control of the sub-continent in the period of 1750-1850? [7]

The Mughal empire was already in decline when the British began to expand their influence in India. At that time
there was no strong uniting force in India. It was a collection of disunited territories with a variety of different
rulers with different religions and cultures. They fought with each other and they often saw the British as possible
allies in their arguments with their neighbors, rather than political enemies. It was also true that many rulers were
wealthy feudal lords living on their past history and allowing their states to decline through neglect rather than
aiming to reform and reinvigorate them.
The Industrial Revolution in Britain resulted in it being technologically much more advanced than India. It had
superior weapons, means of communication and the confidence that went with these technological advantages.
They did not doubt that it was their right, if not their duty, to spread their superior culture across the globe. They
saw India as a country in stagnation and decline. There were great opportunities for profitable trade and for
imposing efficient British administrative systems on the sprawling giant of a country.

Who was Tipu Sultan? [4]

Tipu Sultan was the ruler of Mysore and he also proved himself to be a formidable enemy for the British. British
called him The Monster of Mysore, but to his followers he was known as the Lion of Mysore. British disliked the
way Tipu stood up against them. Tipu believed that to defeat British he had to match their weapons. He had 50
cannons, 100000 cannon balls and 10 muskets as well as rockets and handguns. The British knowing that his army
was strong, showed people that Tipu was a cruel tyrant who had to be overthrown.

What was the Charter Act of 1833? [4]

In 1833 British tried to give Indian a more important part in running their own country. The charter act of 1833 said
that Indians could be part of the civil administering India. But in practice there was little change. The Indian civil
service employed about 1000 administrators. They were chosen by open public examination, but those exams
were taken in England, in English. So in reality India was governed by an able, but entirely British group of officials.

Who was Rangit Singh? [4]

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder of the Sikh Empire, which came to
power in the Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. The empire, based in the Punjab region,
existed from 1799 to 1849. Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son, Kharak Singh.

 Question No.1: How successful was Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of Lands in the
Sub Continent? Explain your answer. [14] June 2002 Q.1c

 Question No.2: Why did the British government take control of the affairs of the East India Company in
the early 19th century? [7] June 2004Q.1b

 Question No. 3: Why were the British able to replace the Mughals as the dominant force in the sub-
continent by 1850? [7] November 2004 Q.1b

 Question No. 4: Why was Britain so successful in expanding its control of the sub-continent between 1750
and 1850? [7] November 2006 Q.1 b

 Question No. 5: Why did the Indian Sub-Continent attract European traders in the late 16 th and early
17th centuries? [7] June 2007, Q.1 b

 Question No.6: Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of lands in the S.C was totally
unsuccessful. Do you agree? Give reasons for your
answer. [14] June 2008, Q.2 c

 Question No.7: why was Britain successful in increasing its control of some parts of the S.C in the years
1750 to 1850? [7] June 2009, Q.2

 Question No.8: how successful were the British attempts to take control of lands in the S.C between 1750
and 1856? [14] November 2010 Q.1 c

 The British were almost completely successful in taking control of lands in the S.C between 1750 and
1856. The British had come to India for trade and to increase and ensure their trade they found it
necessary to have political control of lands in the sub-continent. The first opportunity came in 1757 when
 battle of Plassey took place. In this battle the forces of the East India Company under Robert Clive met
the army of Siraj-ud-Doula, the Nawab’s of Bengal. Clive had 800 Europeans and 2200 Indians whereas
Siraj-ud-doula in his entrenched camp at Plassey was said to have about 50,000 men with a train of heavy
artillery. Unfortunately, Mir Jafar, met with Clive, and the greater number of the Nawab’s soldiers were
bribed to throw away their weapons, surrender prematurely, and even turn their arms against their own
army. Siraj-ud-Doula was defeated. Battle of Plassey marked the first major military success for British
East India Company.

 It was followed by battle of Buxar. Mir Kasim the Nawab of Bengal took help from Nawab Shuja-ud–
daulah and the Emperor Shah Alam II. But the English under the General Major Hector Munro at Buxar
defeated the combined army on 22 October, 1764. Mir Kasim fled and died in 1777. After winning the
Battle of Buxar, the British had earned the right to collect land revenue in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. This
development set the foundations of British political rule in India. After the victory of

 the English in Buxar, Robert Clive was appointed the governor and commander in chief of the English
army in Bengal in 1765. He is claimed as the founder of the British political dominion in India. Robert Clive
also brought reforms in the administration of the company and the organization of the army.

 The British wanted full control of south India to ensure their spice trade. Lord Wellesley became the
Governor General of India in 1798. Tipu Sultan tried to secure an alliance with the French against the
English in India. Wellesley questioned Tipu’s relationship with the French and attacked Mysore in 1799.
The fourth Anglo-Mysore War was of short duration and decisive and ended with Tipu’s death on May 4,
1799 who was killed fighting to save his capital.

 Besides that Marathas were also defeated and Maratha power destroyed by British in several wars during
1817- 1818. Holkar’s forces were routed at Mahidpur December 21, 1817 and Baji Rao II, who was trying
to consolidate Marathas, finally surrendered in June 1818. British abolished the position of Peshwa and
Marathas were limited to the small kingdom of Satara. This ended the mighty Maratha power.

 British wanted to make sure that Afghanistan didn’t fall into Russian hands. British agreed with Ranjit
Singh (ruler of Punjab) that Afghanistan should remain independent. A rebellion broke out in Afghanistan
in 1841 in which British troops were killed. British felt that their pride had been hurt in Afghanistan and
decided to turn in Sindh. Sindh was ruled by collection of Amirs who had signed a treaty with British in
1809.British General Sir Charles Napier provoked the Amirs of Sindh so much that they attacked British
residency in 1843.Amirs were defeated and Sindh was annexed by British.

 Punjab was the next target. Ranjit Singh had signed a perpetual friendship in 1809 but after his death in
1839, the rival chiefs argued themselves over who should be a king. Army attacked British possessions
south of River Sutlej and provoked the British to invade Punjab. War began but British remained
victorious. Gulab Singh Dogra, a chief who helped the British and was given Kashmir as a reward. In 1849,
after a revolt against British, Punjab, NWFP were annexed and became part of British Empire on 30 March
1849.Hyderabad, Deccan, Oudh and the local Nawabs had been forced to sign treaties with EIC; this gave
their external affairs to Britain.

Possible 14 marks answer on last two slides.

What was the grease cartridge incident? [4]

In January 1857, the British announced that they were introducing a new rifle with a paper cartridge covered in
grease to keep the powder dry. Before the cartridges could be loaded, the end had to be bitten off. However, it
was rumored that the grease on the cartridge was made from the fat of both, cow and pig. The sepoys got angry
and refused to use the cartridges. Later sepoys in Meerut refused to even touch them, because of this the British
imprisoned many sepoys.

Who was mangal panday? [4]

Mangal Pandey was an Indian soldier under the British who is associated with the Revolt of 1857. His attack on
British officers on March 29, 1857, marked the beginning of the Revolt. During his service in the Bengal Infantry at
Barrackpore, The British had introduced new 'Enfield Rifle' in the army.

Who was tatya topee? [4]

Tantia Tope defeated the Indian troops of the East India Company at Kanpur in May 1857. He led the Indians in the
1857 Rebellion and was noted for his guerilla tactics, which terrified the British. General Windham was forced to
leave the city of Gwalior by him.

Who was Nana Sahib? [4]

Nana Sahib, born as Dhondu Pant, was an Indian Peshwa of the Maratha empire, aristocrat and fighter, who led
the rebellion in Kanpur during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. As the adopted son of the exiled Maratha Peshwa Baji
Rao II, Nana Sahib believed that he was entitled to a pension from the East India Company, but the underlying
contractual issues are rather murky. The Company's refusal to continue the pension after his father's death, as well
as what he perceived as high-handed policies, led him to join the rebellion. He forced the British garrison in Kanpur
to surrender, then murdered the survivors, gaining control of Kanpur for a few days. He later disappeared, after his
forces were defeated by a British force that recaptured Kanpur. He went to the Nepal Hills in 1859, where he is
thought to have died.

Who was Rani of Jhansi? [4]

Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi was the Maharani consort of the Maratha princely state of Jhansi from 1843 to
1853 as the wife of Maharaja Gangadha Rao. She was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of
1857 and became a symbol of resistance to the British Raj for Indian nationalists. She died in the Rebellion,
wounded and killed in a battle on 18 June 1858. The Rebellion was suppressed by November that year.

What was the proclamation of 1858? [4]

The Government of India Act 1858 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on 2 August 1858.
Its provisions called for the liquidation of the British East India Company (who had up to this point been
ruling British India under the auspices of Parliament) and the transference of its functions to the British
Crown. Lord Palmerston, then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, introduced a bill for the transfer of control of
the Government of India from the East India Company to the Crown, referring to the grave defects in the existing
system of the government of India. However, before this bill was to be passed, Palmerston was forced to resign on
another issue. Later Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby (who would later become the first Secretary of State for
India, introduced another bill which was originally titled as "An Act for the Better Governance of India" and it was
passed on 2 August 1858. This act provided that India was to be governed directly and in the name of the Crown.
What was effect of the war on the muslim community in india? [4]

Except the betrayers all the Muslims were ruthlessly looted and killed. The aim was to divest the Muslim
community of their political rights. The Muslims in repulsion also utterly disgusted the British and rejected not only
the White people but also all the new things that were introduced by them.

What happened at the battle of Kanpur? [4]

At Kanpur, Indian troops led by Nana Sahib rose up against the British and kept their forces trapped for three
weeks. Being promised safe passage out of the city the British surrendered. However, Nana Sahib’s forces turned
on them and the British force plus 500-women and children were massacred when British regained control they
carried out even worst atrocities in revenge.

What was the vernacular act 1878? [4]

In British India, the Vernacular Press Act (1878) was enacted to curtail the freedom of the Indian press and prevent
the expression of criticism toward British policies—notably, the opposition that had grown with the outset of
the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80). The Act was proposed by Lord Lytton, then Viceroy of India, and was
unanimously passed by the Viceroy's Council on 14 March 1878. The act excluded English-language publications as
it was meant to control seditious writing in 'publications in Oriental languages' everywhere in the country, except
for the South. Thus the British totally discriminated against the (non-English language) Indian Press.

The act empowered the government to impose restrictions on the press in the following ways:

1. Modelled on the Irish press act, this act provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports and
editorials in the Vernacular press.

2. From now on the government kept regular track of Vernacular newspapers.

3. When a report published in the newspaper was judged as seditious, the newspaper was warned.

Why did the British take tough measures against Muslims after war of independence? [7]

British took tough measures against the Muslims after the war of independence as they wanted to bring an end to
the Mughal empire and detested the culture and the qualities of Muslims. They knew that they would not be able
to fully control the sub-continent unless they overcome the problems they faced from Muslims alone. The British
government stopped funding to Muslims schools, leading to an increase in illiteracy among Muslims. Another
reason was that the Mughals posed a constant threat to them because after the revolt they killed the heirs of
Mughals emperor and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Most importantly the British knew Muslims were more than capable enough to rule the sub-continent and ensure
peace amongst all. Therefore, they either found a way to increase the illiteracy or they took over Muslim
territories by force and introduced western culture and education which, being disliked by a majority in Muslims,
led to a dramatic increase in illiteracy. Next, the British always gave Muslims ordinary jobs with minor power. By
doing this, they considered that they would be able to stop Muslims from rebelling against them. Overall, the
British knew that in fact, Muslims were superior to them by means of culture, prestige, former glory, planning,
education and through religion itself.

Moreover, the Muslims had from the start defied the British and did not take advantage of the western education
introduced by the British. Because of this and the resentment towards the British and their education, funding to
Madrassahs were stopped. It was mostly the Muslim rulers whom the British had defeated in order to gain control
and they knew Muslims to be capable of uniting and overthrowing the British if they were literate or experienced
enough.
Why the war of independence was initiated? [7]

The War of Independence was initiated due to certain activities of British, like the imposing of foreign religion i.e.
Christianity. Some changes also led to unrest like the abolishment of Purdah and Sutte. The concept of re-marriage
of widows was introduced. Arabic and Persian no longer remained official languages. Introduction of Western style
education and schools, led to the Muslims groups being formed to get rid of the British. These various social and
religious changes were a part of the War of Independence.

Accordingly, some new policies of the British led to unrest in the whole of sub-continent. For example, the
introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie and the expansion policy of the British enraged the
Indians. In fact, the British went so far as to abolish all titles and pensions and annex the princely states.

Because of these acts the Indians were already angry, they only needed a match was applied by the grease
cartridge incident and the long imprisonment of sepoys who refused to use these cartridges because of religious
reasons. The seizure of Awadh also played an important part in sparking off the start of war.

Was the introduction of Doctrine of Lapse the greatest reason for the causing of the War of Independence? [14]

There were many reasons for the causes of the War of Independence. The most important of them were the
military reasons. The war started over the introduction of a new type of rifle which had a cartridge to be pulled out
of the sepoys mouth, in order to use the rifle. A rumor spread that the cartridges were greased with cows and pigs
fat. The British Army consisted of mostly the Hindus and the Muslims therefore they were really offended. The
introduction of a new rifle with greased cartridge was a reason for the cause of war of Independence as the
Muslims and Hindus saw the use of cows and pig’s fat to grease the cartridge as a disrespect towards their religion.

Moreover, the Indian soldiers were being forcibly sent to fight in Afghanistan. As the British Army consisted of
mostly Hindus and the Muslim, they were reluctant to fight their fellow Muslim. Indian soldiers being forcibly sent
to fight in Afghanistan was a reason for the cause of the war of Independence as it created a feeling of disloyalty
among the Indian Army which they did not like.

The armies of the annexed states were being disbanded. When the British annexing different states, they did not
accept the small armies of those states which created resentment. Dis banding the armies of the annexed states
was another reason for the cause of war of Independence as it led to large scale unemployment of sepoys.

Like political, there were other reasons for the war of Independence too. Doctrine of Lapse was a very important
political reason for the cause of the war of Independence. In 1852 Lord Dalhousie passed this doctrine which
meant that if a Nawab/Nazim dies without a natural heir, his land will be annexed. So soon states like Satara,
Nagpur and Jhansi fell under the British hands. The Doctrine of Lapse was a reason for the cause of the war of
Independence as the Indians realized that the British were just greedy land grabbers.

Another political reason for the cause of the war of independence was English being made the language of
administration and education. The Indians were furious when they come to know that Persian has been replaced
by the English. Most of the Indians did not even knew how to speak and write English. English being made the
language of administration was a reason for the cause of the war of Independence as the Indians feared the
amount of power joined by the British in India that now it was changing policies.

Finally, there were some of the reasons to like economic and religious reasons too. The new Agrarian policy
introduced by the British was a very important economic reason for the cause of the war of Independence. This
policy basically said that landowners have to give prove by showing some document that they are the legal owners
of that land and if they failed to do so then lands will be confiscated. The agrarian was a reason for the cause of the
war of Independence as it left many landlords landless and shook the economy.
Propagation of Christianity was a very strong reason for the cause of the war. Christians Missionaries came to India
and started spreading Christianity These Missionaries even setup schools which taught about Christianity.
Propagation of Christianity was the reason for the cause of the war of Independence as the Indians felt threatened
and feared for their religion.

Q) Was the lack of unity between the Indian army the greatest reason for the failure of war of independence?
[14]

Although the Indian revolt was a great uprising against the British, it failed due to several reasons. One of them
was that the British army was well equipped. Britain was very powerful country and was among the first countries
to experience industrial revolution due to which their army had better and modern weapons. British army being
well equipped was a reason for the failure of the war of independence as it was a matter of time until the highly
powerful machine guns restored order.

The British army was more skilled and experienced than the Indian army. The soldiers in the British army were
highly trained and were skilled autocrats. They were known for their discipline during the battles. The British army
being more skilled and experience than the Indian army was a reason for the failure of the war of independence as
the Indians army could not coup up with the British war tactics.

If British strength is put aside the Indian weakness was a great reason for the failure in the war. There was a lack of
coordination between the Indians. The fought like rebels in different groups. Even the rulers fought individually.
The lack of coordination between the Indians was a reason for the failure of the war of independence as it resulted
in Indians fighting in far spread areas with a small number of army which was easily countered by the British.

Next, the various Indians had different aims for the war. Most of them were fighting to throw the British out of
India while some rulers were fighting to restore their own regional authority and to protect their rights. Indians
having different aims for the war on Independence was a reason why it failed as it created disunity amongst them.

Moreover, Rulers of many states co-operated with the British during the war. Many of the prominent states like
Hyderabad, Kashmir and Nepal remained loyal to the British government during the uprising. Rulers of many states
co-operating with British was a reason for the failure of the war of Independence as this meant that the British got
more overpowered and the Indians got further weakened.

Furthermore, the Muslim forces were led by incompetent and unwilling Mughal Princes. Apart from Lakshmi Bai
(Rani of Jhansi) and Nana Sahib, there was no capable leader to lead in Indian Army. The last Mughal King was too
old and weak and was not fit to be the leader of the Indian Army. Indian forces led by incompetent and unwilling
leaders was a reason for the failure of the War of Independence as due to the lack of leadership the Indian Army
fought without a general plan to defeat the British.

Finally, the work of the traitors played a major role in the failure of the Indian Revolt. The British succeeded in
bribing certain freedom fighters in the Indian Camp. These traitors betrayed their own men and sided with the
British troops. The work of the traitors was a great reason for the failure of the war of Independence as every step
of the Indian Army was exposed to British.

Q. Who was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan? [4]

He was born in October 1817 at Delhi. His family has a long history of serving the Mughal Empire. He was very
intrigued by the Muslim culture and history. In 1838, after the death of his father, responsibilities fell on his
shoulders and he accepted a Job in court as Sarishtedar. He is considered as the greatest statement, reformer, a
thinker and Muslim writer of the nineteenth century.

Q. Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan establish the Aligarh Movement? [7]

Sir Syed had 3 central aims of the Aligarh Movement. The 1st aim was to improve relations between the British &
Muslim community. Since, the Muslims were highly blamed for the War of Independence, the British stopped
trusting them. On the other hand, Muslims also didn't accept British as rulers I said that they are foreign invaders
because of which the relations between the Muslims & British increased. SSAK thought of solving this problem by
removing British doubts about Muslim loyalty & Muslim doubts about British intension.

The 2nd aim was to improve the social & economic positions of the Muslims by encouraging them to receive
western education & take up posts in the civil service & army. Since Muslims weren't accepting western education,
their education went into decline & Muslims were mostly illiterate so, they didn't get much jobs either. To solve
this problem, encouraging them to wards western education became very important.

The 3rd aim was to increase the political awareness of the Muslim community in order to make them aware of the
threat to their position from the Hindu policy of cooperation with the British. It was very important to make
Muslims aware about the Hindus as, the Hindus were playing it smartly & were trying to gain control over India &
though many of their works seemed to be good, there was something about it that was supporting the Hindus.

Q. Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan write the causes of the Indian Revolt? [7]

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wrote the causes of the Indian revolt to convince the British that they were wrong to put the
full blame for the events of 1857 on the Muslims. In spite of no real evidence, the British had blamed Muslims for
rebelling and this led to the increased lack of co-operation between the two.

Thus, by writing the causes of the Indian revolts, Sir Syed highlighted the fact that the Indians rebelled due to the
British policies. To make the British realize the truth, Sir Syed had listed measures taken by them which had
created resentment amongst the Muslim community. Through his work Sir Syed blamed the rebellion on British for
they failed to understand the feelings of the Indian people.

Another major reason why he wrote this pamphlet was to improve relations between the British and Muslims. Sir
Syed wanted Muslims to co-operate with the British which would bring good and improve Muslim status in the
society. Another reason was to prove to the British that most of the Muslims were loyal to British and wanted
British to appreciate Muslims and respect their culture and beliefs.

Q. Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan write Tabyin-ul-Kalam? [7]

One of the reason why Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wrote Tabyin-ul-Kalam was to make Muslims realize the fact that
Christianity and Islam shared some similarities, so that Muslims may have a positive approach towards the British,
which would lead to better relations and an increase in opportunities for the Muslims. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
wanted Muslims to realize that they were better off now than under the Hindus, who would almost certainly be
the ones governing Sub-continent in absence of the British.

Another reason why Sir Syed wrote Tabyin-ul-Kalam was to heal the divide between the British, since the days of
the violent events of 1857, Sir Syed had worked to convince the British that they were wrong to put the full blame
on the Muslims. His tireless work, writings and the example he set were to convince the British that Muslims were
not disloyal.
Perhaps one of the most important reason was that he wanted to change the Muslims minds by removing doubts
about British intentions. He did this by convincing the Muslims that British did not want to usurp their position.

Q. What was Hindi-Urdu controversy? [4]

Urdu was the language used in North-Western India during the Muslim rule. It was declared the official language
and all record-keeping was also done it. In 1867, Hindus in Banaras demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi.
The Hindus also wanted to replace the Persian script with Deva Nagri. The main reason for Hindus hatred towards
the Urdu language is, it follows Persian script that is like Arabic – the language of the Holy Quran. The movement
to replace Urdu, gain momentum among the Hindus and they formed a headquarter at Allahabad. This enraged
the Muslims and they came out to protect the language as they considered it a unified force. Sir Syed also
supported Urdu and it became base for the ‘Two Nation Theory’. The Hindu-Urdu controversy made Sir Syed saw
things in a different light. Before it, Sir Syed believed in Hindu-Muslim harmony.

OR

The Urdu language was threatened when in 1867, the Hindus called for Hindi to be made the next official
language. After the death of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, it was made the second language. Urdu had a unique place in
the hearts of Muslims, but was opposed by the Hindus.

Q. What was the Two Nation Theory? [4]

The Two Nation Theory stated that the Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations, that they could not live
together as each resented the other. This theory was put forward by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for the British to treat
them separately. He wanted the British to realize that Hindus and Muslims were two different groups who could
not work together and lived separately.

Q. Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan develop his ‘Two Nation Theory’? [7]
Urdu was the national language for many years. But Hindus opposed it in Urdu Controversy. This provoked Sir Syed
to make his Two Nation Theory to tell that Urdu had place in hearts of Muslims and was supported by them and
can’t be replaced by Hindu which was the language of the Hindus. It was important because Sir Syed had realized
that Muslims and Hindu couldn’t work together as the Hindus were not with the Muslims.

Another reason was that the parliamentary system was not supported by Sir Syed was Hindus were in more
number so they always outnumbered the Muslims and due to this Sir Syed opposed it. Sir Syed realized that
separate electorate was the possible solution to this so in view of his Two Nations Theory. He made this decision of
separate electorate demand for elections for the good of the Muslims.

Another reason it was important was that congress spoke of competitive examinations for jobs and good posts
while Muslims were always not given good education so they were also not able to take good posts as Hindu won
all the seats and passed the examinations always. According to Two Nation Theory Sir Syed suggested it as two
separate groups of Muslims and Hindus were not working for the Muslims at that time so Two Nation Theory was
important here as well.

Q.Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wish to improve relations between the Muslims and the British? [7]

Q: Do you agree that Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s most important contribution to Muslim community was his support
for education? Give reasons for your answer? [14]
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a reformer who contributed much to Muslim cause. He worked to improve conditions of
Muslims after the war of Independence. He established schools and a college and worked tirelessly for Muslim
British co-operation.
Sir Syed worked mainly for three aspects, which he believed had led to a decline in Muslim fortunes and
opportunities. His promoting the western education by extremely influential methods. Working towards a
reconciliation between Muslims and the British, and lastly increasing the political awareness of Muslims to make
them aware of the threat Hindus posed to their position.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan set up schools and a college with the aim of educating the Muslim community. However, the
Muslims were intolerant towards western education. Sir Syed made the Muslims realize that education was
extremely necessary for the Muslims to improve their status in the society. Sir Syed convinced them that if they did
not change their attitude towards western education, then it would be the Hindus who would benefit, with their
more co-operative approach. He believed the poor standard and low ranked employment was the reason of lack of
interest towards education. This also led to poor relations with the British.
Secondly, Sir Syed believed that Muslims could improve their social and economic status if they had friendly
relations with the British. The war of Independence in particular had damaged the relations of the two people. Sir
Syed wrote many pamphlets and books, established many organizations to try to restore the relations. He pointed
out faults on both sides and persuaded both the people to adopt a positive approach towards others. An example
of this was the Loyal Mohammadans of India, through which he defended the Muslims from the British accusation
that they were disloyal. Similarly, he wrote Tabyin-ul-Kalam to show Muslims that Christianity and Islam shared
similarities and that Muslims were better off under British than Hindus.
Another important cause for which Sir Syed worked was to increase the political awareness of Muslims. The Two
Nation Theory highlighted the fact that in absence of the British, Muslims and Hindus would not be able to live
together and would lead to unrest and violence. Sir Syed organized alliances to convince Muslims to withhold their
political representations, by linking it to receiving western education and working in favor of the British. The
formation of the Congress was encouraged by the British. However, the Muslims saw that the Congress consisted
of mainly nationalist Hindus who wanted to establish Hindu supremacy.
Thus in the light of the above argument it can be concluded that the most important service of Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan for Muslim cause was the promotion of western education. His commitment to this aim and the
establishment of many centers of education lead to the conclusion that Sir Syed believed that education was the
most important factor that could uplift Muslim status.
Q Why did Pakistan choose Urdu as its national language in 1947? [7]
One of the reason why Urdu became the national language in Pakistan is its long history. It was widely used in
Mughal period and dates as far as the sultans of Delhi. In its early stages it was used by the Muslim armies and
became widely spoken and understood in many parts of the sub-continent. It was natural that
such well known and established language would be chosen.
Another reason for Urdu being chosen was its high status. Some of the finest early poets, such as Amir khusrau
wrote in Urdu and Sir Syed Ahmed khan’s school at Aligarh became a center for Urdu study. Many religious books,
including the Quran, were translated into Urdu. So it was considered as important language
with a rich literary tradition.
Perhaps another reason for Urdu being chosen was the fact that it was so closely associated with the Pakistani
movement. Sir Syed Ahmed khan supported it and the Muslim league was formed not only to defend Muslim
interests but also to protect Urdu. The Quaid-e-Azam was particularly keen to promote Urdu as he saw it as a
unifying force. Since Pakistan was a new country it was only appropriate to pick a language which had played a
part in unifying Muslims.

Q What steps to poster the growth of Urdu has a government taken?

Urdu is the medium of instructions in many educational institutes in Pakistan. A dictionary of office terms in Urdu
has been published and steps have been taken to replace English with it at the administrative language. It is the
medium for radio and television programs.

Q Has the promotion of Urdu successful than that of any other regional language of Pakistan between1947-
1988? Explain.
In Pakistan many different languages are spoken and the four major regional and provincial languages are Sindhi,
Punjabi, Pashto and Balochi. Great effort has been made to promote these languages by the government of
Pakistan.
One of the language spoken in Pakistan is Punjabi spoken mainly in Punjab. Punjabi has been influenced by many
languages and its literature consists of folk talks. Poets like baba farid gaunjshakar and sultan bahu wrote their
famous works in Punjabi. Later, novels, short stories and dramas were published and book on law, medicine,
history and philosophy were also written in Punjabi. Poetry introduced new medium like ghazal and nazam. Holy
Quran had also been translated to this language, which had increased its religious importance. Punjabi
literature is also being taught at M.A level at Punjab University.
The other major provincial language is Sindhi spoken in Sindh. It has been influenced by Arabic and Persian and is a
very old language even as early as the twelfth century it was spoken in the same way as it is done today. Poets and
writers have contributed to the development of Sindhi for example makhdum nuh of hala and qari qazan of thatta
are famous writers. The poetry of sachal sarmast and shah abul latif bhatai is particularly famous. In order to
promote Sindhi, the Sindhi literacy board was set up and academics like sarmast academy has promoted Sindhi.
Bazm-e-talib-ul-maula was set up to promote Sindhi. A sindhiology department has been set up at Sindh university
jamshoro by the government.
Balochi is the language spoken in Baluchistan. It was brought into the region by the people of Iran. They were
mostly nomadic people and kept moving which explain why its literature hasn’t been developed and why it has
remained oral language. Radio Pakistan broadcasts in Balochi to promote its use and a literary association has
been set up. Poets and writers like Atta shad and gul khan Nasir have contributed to its development and use.

Pashto is the regional language spoken in KPK and Baluchistan. It has been heavily influenced by Arabic, Persian
and Greek. First Pashto poet was Amir Khan. Later others like bayazid Ansari, sadaat and Ali khan contributed to its
development. Pashto literature also played an important role in opposition against the British.
In the light of the above discussion it can be concluded that Sindhi is the language which has been promoted the
most by the government than any other language because steps have been taken to preserve Sindhi literature and
other works.
Q Why regional languages have been promoted by the Pakistan government? [7]
It is the responsibility of all the political powers to transmit to future generation their history, language or all
traditions, writing system and literature. Promotion of regional language had been done to keep them alive and
preserve their literature and components.

The regional languages are promoted because they have been used for centuries followed by development of
written text. If the languages were lost, the knowledge it contained and its work would be lost. Therefore, steps
were necessary to be taken by the government to promote and preserve the regional languages.

Certain languages are spoken in certain areas the people are attached to their own language, thus the survival of
the tribes and people is directly linked to language. So it is the duty of the government to protect languages from
declining and eventually dying out.