PPT-GR-VIII-HIS-How, When & Where

Objectives:
How?
History
 Understand the heading of the When?
chapter:
Where?
 Introduction to History [Modern Indian History]
 The features of the chapter:
 Dates to events {Shift}
 Which are the dates considered important in history
 Method of periodisation [James Mill]
 What is Colonial??
 Sources of History? & Issues related to it.
How Important are Dates??
 A time when History was synonymous with dates
 History was all about comparison [“Before” and “After”]

You too
 Everything has a history [ Tea, Railway, Paper have a
etc]
HISTORY
But, it is actually incorrect to fix precise dates to processes.

 Then everything must have a time period
There can be no clear date for the process.
E.g, People in India did not drink begin drinking tea one fine day
 Then why do we associate history with a string of dates???

How Important are Dates??
 The reason for associating dates with history
This is a method of
 Earlier, there was a time when history was an account
recording history
of battles and big events [The DATECENTRIC method of recording history]
 E.g. When was the king Crowned, married, died etc
 The other method of recording history was based on events, hence it was not
datecentric.
• E.g., How people earned their livelihood
• What they produced, how they produced!!
Which Dates?
 History is not only all about dates, but dates do play a very important role.
Which
dates
Dates
depends
Example on events
If we change our focus of

events and issues
subsequently the dates
will also change
en by British historians, would consider rule of Governor General as important.
stings to Mount Batten]
cation will revolve around the British Governor Generals. Indians and their generals will not have
e write History from Indian perspective a new set of dates will become more important for us to k
Personalities
The first Governor General of

The last Viceroy of India
India in 1773
History books narrated deeds of Governor Generals, biographies glorified them as
persons, and paintings projected them as powerful figures
How do we periodise?
Periodisatio What?
 n Why?
We can show significant changes between

different time period.
 In 1817, James Mill, a Scottish economist and political philosopher.
 The History of British

Publish India [book]
ed  Divided Indian History
into three periods
 At that time this periodisation was widely accepted.
 Hindu, Muslim and British
 James Mill’s idea of history[British rule as the forces to progress and civilization]
 All Asian societies are at a lower level of civilization than Europeans.
 But, there was a problem in the periodisation that James Mill offered.
Problems in the periodization of James Mill
Hindu, Muslim,
 James Mill divided history on religious ground
British[Christians]
• Is it right to characterise an age(period) based on

only the religion of the rulers of the time.
• Does the life, religion and practices of the others
do not matter?
cause variety of faith existed simultaneously
g. when Delhi was ruled by Muslim rulersHence,
in this periodisation is not true and justified
outh there were rulers of other faith also
 Due to the limitations of periodisation offered by James Mill, moving away from British
classification, historians have divided Indian history into :
“Anci “Mediev “Mod
ent” al” ern”
Primitive [old Transition period] [Associated with the growth of

society] neither ancient modern forces]
nor modern E.g. Science, reason, democracy,
libertyWas
and it true in the case
equality
of India???
Therefore, Many historians referred this modern
period as “Colonial Period”.
What is Colonial
British came to Conquered local Nawabs
India and Rajas
Establishe
d their rule
• They Started subjugating the locals

• Established control over economy
• They brought the changes in values
and tastes, customs and practices
Therefore, we can say that they colonised India.
“The subjugation of one country by another leading to the political,

economical, social and cultural changes, this process is known as
Colonization”.
Administration Produces Records!!!
 How do we know about the last 250 years of Indian History?
 Official records of the British administration
• Every instruction, plan, policy, decision, agreement investigation had to be clearly

written up.
• All important documents and letters were carefully preserved.
• Record rooms were attached to all administrative institutions, specialised institutions
like archives and museums were also established to preserve important records.
• Letters and memos of various branches were also preserves [Reports and Instructions]
 These documents were copied and beautifully written by Calligraphist.
 With the spread of printing multiple copies of these records were printed.
Surveys become important
Surveys
 Another important source of writing history was
Reading or examining of a particular area, subject etc.

 Britishers believed that a country had to be properly known before it could be effectively
administered.
Therefore, Detailed surveys were being carried out.

[Revenue surveys , surveys to know the topography, soil quality, flora, fauna, the local history, cropping
pattern were carried out]
 Census Operation– Collection of census data began to be held after every 10 years
Produced the record of the people such as their number, caste, religion and occupation
 There were many other surveys too `like the botanical, zoological, anthropological and forest surveys.
What Official Records do no tell?
 Let’s understand the heading
 History written according to the perspective ofAbsence of Governors

the British Indian Perspective
 Official record tell us what the officers thought, what they were interested in and what they wished
to preserve for posterity. [ Reality may be different]
 History must be looked from other perspective also
HOW??
 Diaries of people, accounts of pilgrims & travellers, autobiographies, of important personalities,

ideas of Leaders and Reformers, poets and novelists.
NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
Newspapers
Yet, the history lacks the
provide perspective
accounts of peasants, in
of movements workers and parts
different tribals,ofgetting
the to know their lives
was amore
country. difficult
Here task recorded by HINDUSTAN TIMES on March 22,
a report
1946, reveal what one of the 2000 policemen in Delhi had to say:
“ the food supplied to us from the police lines kitchen is not fit for
consumption. Even cattle would not eat the chappattis and dal which we
have to eat”.
Let us Summarize:-
• Introduction
• How important are
dates?
• Which dates?
• How do we periodise
• Problems in periodization
by James Mill
• What is colonial?
• Administration produces
records
• Surveys became
important
• What official records do
not tell

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Objectives:

 History was all about comparison [“Before” and “After”]

But, it is actually incorrect to fix precise dates to processes.

 Then why do we associate history with a string of dates???

 E.g. When was the king Crowned, married, died etc

If we change our focus of

The first Governor General of

We can show significant changes between

 In 1817, James Mill, a Scottish economist and political philosopher.

 The History of British

• Is it right to characterise an age(period) based on

Primitive [old Transition period] [Associated with the growth of

• They Started subjugating the locals

Therefore, we can say that they colonised India.

“The subjugation of one country by another leading to the political,

• Every instruction, plan, policy, decision, agreement investigation had to be clearly

Reading or examining of a particular area, subject etc.

Therefore, Detailed surveys were being carried out.

 Let’s understand the heading

 History written according to the perspective ofAbsence of Governors

 Diaries of people, accounts of pilgrims & travellers, autobiographies, of important personalities,

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