Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Education.

Key Points

• Charles Wood was the President of the Board of Control(Introduced through Pitt’s India Act, 1784) of English East India Company.
• He had also been the Secretary of the state of India.
• In 1854 he sent a despatch to Lord Dalhousie(the Governor-General of India at that time).
• Wood’s despatch suggested that primary schools must Adopt vernacular languages.
• Through the despatch, he also suggested that high schools use anglo-vernacular medium and that English should be the medium for college-level education.
• Hence, Wood’s Despatch is considered as ‘Magna-Carta’ of English Education in India.

The Rigveda is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns.

• It is one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism known as the Vedas.
• The text is a collection of 1,028 hymns and 10,600 verses, organized into ten books called mandalas.
• Samaveda mentions about music.
• It is also called the book of melodies.
• It is a part of four Vedas namely Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharvana Veda.
• It’s Upaveda Gandharva Veda.

The correct answer is Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the .extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such - absolute power was undesirable in one person.

Key Points

• Provisions of Charter Act 1793
  • This Act continued the company’s rule over the British territories in India.
  • It continued the company’s trade monopoly in India for another 20 years.
  • The Act established that “acquisition of sovereignty by the subjects of the Crown is on behalf of the Crown and not in its own right,” which clearly stated that the company’s political functions were on behalf of the British government.
  • The company’s dividends were allowed to be raised to 10%.
  • The Governor-General was given more powers.
  • He could override his council’s decision under certain circumstances.
  • He was also given authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.
  • When the Governor-General was present in Madras or Bombay, he would supersede in authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.

​Additional Information

• In the Governor-General’s absence from Bengal, he could appoint a Vice President from among the civilian members of his Council.
• The composition of the Board of Control changed.
• It was to have a President and two junior members, who were not necessarily members of the Privy Council.
• The salaries of the staff and the Board of Control were also now charged to the company.
• After all expenses, the company had to pay the British government Rs.5 Lakhs from the Indian revenue annually.
• Senior company officials were barred from leaving India without permission.
• If they did so, it would be considered as a resignation.
• The company was granted the authority to grant licenses to individuals and company employees to carry on trade in India.
• This was known as ‘privilege’ or ‘country trade’.
• This led to shipments of opium to China.
• This Act separated the revenue administration and the judiciary functions of the company leading to the disappearance of Maal Adalats (revenue courts).

During the period of crisis and confusion, there emerged saints in the country who strengthened the faith of the people in the cultural ethos of the nation. Various saints appeared all over India as well as in Rajasthan. They offered a liberal approach to Hinduism, which was mainly targeted at the lower castes. They used local language for preaching.

Important Points

Dadu was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 1544 AD.

• He founded the Dadu sect/cult.
• He is also known as 'Kabir of Rajasthan'.
• He travelled extensively in Rajasthan and lived at Sirohi, Kalyanpur, Sambhar, Ajmer, etc.
• His teachings are collected in 'Daduvani', which comprises 5000 verses.
• As Dadu used local language for preaching and because of the thoughts he propagated, he is called 'Kabir of Rajasthan'.

Additional Information  

Lets' look at the other famous saints:

• Meera is called 'Radha of Rajasthan'. She devoted all her attention to Krishna Bhakti.
• Dhannaji was the disciple of Ramanand. He opposed casteism and discrimination based on high and low in society and believed that the guidance of guru necessary to acquire knowledge.
• Jambhoji was the founder of the Bishnoi sect. He criticised hypocrisy, deceit and ostentation that prevailed in the society in the name of dharma and laid stress on purity of conduct and fundamental virtues.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Poona Pact (September 1932):
  • It was an agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
  • Madan Mohan Malviya signed the pact on behalf of Gandhi.
  • According to this pact:
    • Separate electorates were replaced by joint electorates for depressed classes.
    • As against 71 seats announced by MacDonald, this pact reserved 148 seats in the Provincial legislature.
    • About 18% of the total seats were also reserved for the pressed classes in the central legislature.
• August Offer (August 1940)
  • The Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, issued a statement from Shimla on 8 August 1940 known as the August Offer.
  • It was an attempt to secure the cooperation of the Indians in WW II.
  • Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England at the time.
  • Some of the provisions of the August Offer were:
    • Dominion status as the objective for India.
    • The number of Indians in the Viceroy’s Executive council will be increased.
    • A representative “Constitution Making Body” shall be appointed immediately after the war.
  • The Indian National Congress rejected the August Offer as Pt. Nehru said, “Dominion status concept is dead as a doornail”, As well as Mahatama Gandhi said that the declaration had widened the gulf between the nationalists and the British rulers.
• Cripps Mission (1942):
  • In order to get the support of India in world war II, Cripps Mission was sent to India in 1942.
  • Few proposals of this mission are:
    • Dominion status to India after the war.
    • Constitution-making body after the war.
    • Constitution so framed would be acceptable by the British Government only if certain province desires to stay away from the Union of India.
    • Any province which wouldn't accept the new constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with the British.
    • Gandhi called Cripps Mission 'A post-dated cheque drawn on a failing bank' due to the Cripps offer of Dominion Status after the war.
• Wavell plan/Shimla Conference (1945):
  • It was named after the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell.  
  • Few proposals in this plan are:
    • With the exception of the Viceroy and Commander in chief, all the members of the Viceroys executive council will be Indians.
    • A kind of interim government was suggested.
    • Transfer of foreign affairs portfolio from the Governor-General to an Indian member.
    • Congress rejected the Wavell plans because of the actions of the Muslim league.