Question Discussion & Solution

Option 3 is the correct answer: The ancient Harappan town of Lothal is situated in the state of Gujarat.

• Lothal is a coastal site in the state of Gujarat and was as an important trading centre during the Harappan period.
• The artificial dockyard (the most striking feature) in Lothal signifies its importance as a trading centre.
• The site was discovered by SR Rao in 1964.
• It is situated on the banks of Bhogava river, a tributary of Sabarmati River.
• It is the only site belonging to Harappan culture where the evidence of rice has been found.
• From here a doubtful terracotta figurine representing horse has been found.
• Other striking excavations made from here are:
  • Terracotta ship
  • Ship on a seal
  • double burial (male and female)
  • chess-like game
  • instruments for measuring angles

The correct answer is Stuttgart.

Key Points

• Madam Cama hoisted the first tricolor flag in 1907 at Stuttgart.
• Madam Cama:
  • Bhikaiji Rustom Cama was a prominent figure in the Indian Independence Struggle.
  • She is famous for hosting the precursor to the Indian National Flag on foreign soil.
  • For this act, she came to be known as the ‘Mother of the Indian Revolution.
  • During her visit to London, Bhikaiji Cama came into contact with Shyamji Krishna Varma, an Indian nationalist known for the speeches he gave in Hyde Park.
  • She met Dadabhai Naoroji, the president of the British committee of the Indian National Congress (founded on December 28, 1885). 

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.

Achar Sudharini Sabha is NOT correct.

• Achar Sudharini Sabha was established by Yamuna Prasad Verma in 1910 AD. 

Key Points

•  Asparshyata Nivaran Sangh, Valmiki Sangh, Adiwasi Sangh were established by Pandit Hari Narayan Sharma.
  • These Sangh did work for the social and political empowerment of the tribe class.
• Pandit Hari Narayan Sharma established Alwar Prajamandal in 1938 AD with help of Kunj Bihari Modi.

Additional Information

• Yamuna Prasad Verma was related to Dholpur Prajamandal.
  • He established Achar Sudharini Sabha in 1910 AD.
  • He established Arya Samaj in 1911 AD.

The Correct Answer is Option (3) i.e C -

• The most significant feature of Indus Valley civilization was the buildings made of the bricks.
• Indus Valley Civilization is also known as Harappan Civilization, which flourished around 2500 BC in Pakistan and Western India.
• Some of the important Harappan sites are - Harappa (Pakistan), Mohenjodaro (Pakistan), Sutkagendor (Pakistan), Chanhudaro (Pakistan), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal and Surkotada (Gujarat), Banawali (Haryana), Dholavira (Gujarat), etc
• In 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of Archaeological Society of India (ASI), announced the discovery of a new civilization in the Indus Valley to the World.
• Indus Valley Civilization was the largest of the ancient urban civilization of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.
• ASI was founded by Alexander Cunningham in the year 1861.

Additional Information 

• The Indus Valley Civilization was spread from present-day North-East Afghanistan to Pakistan and North-West India. This civilization flourished in the river basins of the Ghaggar-Hakra river and the Indus. Indus valley civilization is one of the four oldest civilizations in the world. It is also known as Harappan Civilization and is well-known for its organized planning based on the grid system. Important facts to be remembered 
• John Marshall was the first researcher to use the term, ‘Indus Valley Civilization’.
• Indus Valley Civilization spread from the year 2500 – 1750 BC according to radio-carbon dating.
• The most distinctive feature of the Harappan Civilization was its urbanization.
• Moreover, sheep and goats, dogs, humped cattle buffalo, and elephants were domesticated in the Indus Valley Civilization.
• The capital cities are Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
• The port cities are Sutkagendor, Balakot, Lothal, Allahdino, and Kuntasi.
• The Indus valley people were well-acquainted with the use of both cotton and wool.
• Name of the major cities are given below:
  • Mohenjodaro (Sind)-It is located on the right bank of the Indus.
  • Kalibangan (Rajasthan)-It was on the banks of the river Ghaggar river
  • Chanhudaro-It lies on the left bank of the Indus in the south of Mohenjodaro.
  • Lothal- It is located at the head of the Gulf of Cambay.
  • Surkotada (Gujarat)-It is at the head of the Rann of Kutch.
  • Banawali (Haryana)-It was situated on the banks of the now-extinct Sarasvati
  • Dholavira (Gujarat)-It excavated is in the Kutch district