Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Mehrgarh.

Key Points

• Mehrgarh is an archaeologically important place where evidence related to the oldest agriculture and animal husbandry has been found.
• Mehrgarh is located on the banks of the Bolan River in present-day Balochistan (Pakistan)
• The people here cultivated wheat and barley and reared sheep, goats, and other animals.
• Weaving baskets, tools, and beads have been found in large quantities from Mehrgarh.

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Prabhakara Vardhana

Key Points

• Prabhakara Vardhana defeated the Gurjaras and extended his control over neighbouring states.
• He belonged to the Pushyabhuti family.
• Around 606 CE Harshvardhan ascended the Throne and ruled till 647 CE.

Humayun is NOT correct.

• Mirza Raja Jai Singh did not serve Humayun.

Key Points

• MIrza King Jai Singh-
  • He was the son of Man Singh I.
  • He served three Mughal kings (Jahangir, Sahajahan and Aurangzeb).
  • During the Gandhara campaign, Shah Jahan gave him the title of Mirza King.
  • His first campaign was against Malik Ambar of Ahmed Nagar in 1623 AD.
  • In the Battle of Dharmat (1658 AD), he sided with Darashikoh against Aurangzeb.
  • In 1665 AD, he signed a treaty with Shivaji, known as the Treaty of Purandar.
  • The foreign Manuchi has described this eye-sight treaty.

The correct answer is Vatapi.
Key Points

• The earliest Chalukyas with their capital at Badami (Vatapi) in Karnataka. They ruled from mid-6th They declined after the death of their greatest king, Pulakesin II in 642 AD. They were known as Badami Chalukyas.

Important Points

There were three distinct which were related to Chalukya dynasties - 

• Badami Chalukyas: Capital was Badami (Vatapi) in Karnataka.
• Eastern Chalukyas: Emerged after the death of Pulakesin II in Eastern Deccan with capital at Vengi. They ruled till the 11th century.
• Western Chalukyas: Descendants of the Badami Chalukyas, emerged in the late 10th century and ruled from Kalyani (modern-day Basavakanlyan).

Additional Information

Chalukya Rulers:

• Jayasimha was the first ruler of the Chalukyas.
• Pulakesin I (Reign: 543 AD – 566 AD)
  • Founded the empire with his capital at Vatapi.
  • Performed Ashwamedha.
• Kirtivarman I (Reign: 566 AD – 597 AD)
  • Son of Pulakesin I.
  • Conquered Konkan and northern Kerala.
• Mangalesha (Reign: 597 AD – 609 AD)
  • Brother of Kirtivarman I.
  • Conquered the Kadambas and the Gangas.
  • Was killed by his nephew and son of Kirtivarman, Pulakesin II.
• Pulakesin II (609 AD – 642 AD)
  • The greatest of the Chalukya kings.
  • Extended the Chalukya rule to most parts of the Deccan.
  • His birth name was Eraya. Information about him is obtained from the Aihole inscription dated 634. This poetic inscription was written by his court poet Ravikirti in Sanskrit language using the Kannada script.
  • Xuanzang visited his kingdom. He has praised Pulakesin II as a good and authoritative king.
  • Though a Hindu, he was tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism.
  • He conquered almost entire south-central India.
  • He is famous for stopping Northern king Harsha in his tracks while he was trying to conquer southern parts of the country.
  • He had defeated the Pallava king Mahendravarman I but was defeated and killed by Mahendravarman’s son and successor Narasimhavarman I in a series of battles he had with the Pallavas.

The correct answer is ​Widespread discontentment among peasants against oppressive practices of Zamindars.

Key Points

• The Bengal Tenancy Act 1885 was an enactment of the Bengal British government that defined the rights of zamindars lords and their tenants in response to a widespread peasant revolt.
• It was mainly in response to widespread peasant discontent against oppressive practices of Zamindars emerging from Act X of 1859.
  • The zamindars resorted to enhanced rents beyond legal limits and prevented the tenants from acquiring occupancy rights under Act X of 1859.  
• During the 1870s and 1880s, large parts of Eastern Bengal witnessed agrarian unrest caused by oppressive practices of the zamindars, popularly referred to as Pabna Agrarian Revolt.
• To achieve their ends, the zamindars resorted to forcible evictions, seizure of cattle and crops and prolonged, costly litigation in courts where the poor peasant found himself at a disadvantage.  
• Having had enough of the oppressive regime, the peasants of Yusufshahi Pargana in Patna district formed an agrarian league or combination to resist the demands of the zamindars.  
• The League organised a rent strike where the ryots refused to pay the enhanced rents, challenging the zamindars in the courts.
• Funds were raised by ryots to fight the court cases.
• The struggles spread throughout Patna and to other districts of then East Bengal. 
• The main form of struggle was that of legal resistance; there was very little violence.
• Though the peasant discontent continued to linger on till 1885, most of the cases had been solved, partially through official persuasion and partially because of zamindars' fears.
• Many peasants were able to acquire occupancy rights and resist enhanced rents. The Government also passed the Bengal Tenancy Act in 1885.
• A number of young Indian intellectuals including Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, R.C. Dutt and the Indian Association under Surendranath Banerjee supported the peasants' cause.