Declining a royal

This excerpt from a sufi text describes the proceedings at Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya’s hospice in 1313: I (the author, Amir Hasan Sijzi) had the good fortune of kissing his (Shaikh NizamuddinAuliya’s) feet . . . At this time a local ruler had sent him the deed of ownership to two gardens and much land, along with the provisions and tools for their maintenance. The ruler had also made it clear that he was relinquishing all his rights to both the gardens and land. The master . . . had not accepted that gift. Instead, he had lamented: “What have I to do with gardens and fields and lands? . . . None of . . . our spiritual masters had engaged in such activity. ” Then he told an appropriate story: “. . . Sultan Ghiyasuddin, who at that time was still known as Ulugh Khan, came to visit Shaikh Fariduddin (and) offered some money and ownership deeds for four villages to the Shaikh, the money being for the benefit of the dervishes (sufis), and the land for his use. Smiling, Shaikh al Islam (Fariduddin) said: ‘Give me the money. I will dispense it to the dervishes. But as for those land deeds, keep them. There are many who long for them. Give them away to such persons. ’

(a) Examine the suitability of the gifts given by Ulugh Khan to Sufis?

(b) Demonstrate the ways through which the Sufis dispensed their donations.

(c) Identify the relationship between the state and the Sufi saints.

Describe the role of Gandhiji as people’s leader from 1917-22?

Rules for monks and nuns

(a) Explain any two rules governing the lives of the bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.

(b) Why were the bhikkhus and bhikkhunis expected to share their alms with other members of the sangha?

(c) How Vinaya Pitaka describes the teachings of Buddha.

“Without a shot being fired”

This is what Moon wrote: For over twenty-four hours riotous mobs were allowed to rage through this great commercial city unchallenged and unchecked. The finest bazaars were burnt to the ground without a shot being fired to disperse the incendiaries (i. e. those who stirred up conflict). The . . . District Magistrate marched his (large police) force into the city and marched it out again without making any effective use of it at all . . .

(a) How did Amritsar become a scene of bloodshed in 1947?

(b) Analyse the attitude of the soldiers and policemen in towards the mob?

(c) Interpret the reactions of the British administration to the law and order situation in Amritsar in March 1947.

OR

“A voice in the wilderness”

Mahatma Gandhi knew that his was “a voice in the wilderness” but he nevertheless continued to oppose theidea of Partition:

But what a tragic change we see today. I wish the daymay come again when Hindus and Muslims will donothing without mutual consultation. I am day and night tormented by the question what I can do to hasten the coming of that day. I appeal to the League not to regard any Indian as its enemy . . . Hindus and Muslims are born of the same soil. They have the same blood, eat the same food, drink the same water and speak the same language.

SPEECH AT PRAYER MEETING, 7 SEPTEMBER 1946, CWMG, VOL. 92, P. 13

(a) Highlight the concern of Mahatma Gandhi on the idea of partition.

(b) “Mahatma Gandhi knew that his voice was a voice in the wilderness”. Analyse the reasons behind it.

(c) How did Gandhiji try to restore communal harmony amongst the masses of India?

On the given political outline map of India, locate and label the following with

appropriate symbols:

a) Banawali, the mature Harappan site OR Sanchi stupa

b) Chandragiri OR Vijayanagara