Analyse the areas of Cunningham’s confusion in understanding the significance of Harappa.
Cunningham’s Confusion were:
(i) Cunningham’s main interest was in the archaeology of the Early Historic and later periods. Cunningham tried to place Harappan seals within the time-frame with which he was familiar.
(ii) He used the accounts left by Chinese Buddhist pilgrims who had visited the subcontinent between the fourth and seventh centuries CE to locate early settlement.
(iii) Cunningham also collected, documented and translated inscriptions found during his surveys. When he excavated sites he tended to recover artefacts that he thought had cultural value.
(iv) A site like Harappa which was not part of the itinerary of the Chinese pilgrims, did not fit very neatly within his framework of investigation. Cunningham did not realize how old Harappa artifacts were.
Read the following lines and answer the question that follows:
‘I will build a funeral pyre of sandalwood and aloe;
Light it by your own hand When I am burned away to cinders:
Smear this ash upon your limbs.
... let flame be lost in flame.’
Following the footsteps of Mirabai, the woman of Indian society became independent in her thoughts. She initiated the advancement of the category of woman. Throw light from the values learnt from her life which is the pathway to the modern society.
‘‘Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving people to action.’’ Justify the statement in the context of the Revolt of 1857.
Why did Santhals revolt against zamindars, moneylenders and the colonial state during 18th century ? Explain.
‘‘The Chola rulers proclaimed their connections with the Alvars and Nayanars.’’ Cite two examples
Name the hill station founded during the course of the Gurkha War of 1815 – 16. Why was it developed as a sanitarium ? Give one reason.
