Making Modern History interesting

June 2014- Resigned from my job, informed parents about it, packed my bags and in two weeks I was in Delhi. Reason: Two of my colleagues cleared UPSC exams and I felt it’s high time I should give it, something that I have dreamt since my 12^th results.

A month before the exam (2014 Prelims), I had no clue about it and I still thought I could manage. My parents thought the same. However, I realized soon how difficult the journey is going to be, thanks to my roommate, who in the initial stages gave me the much needed reality check. So one day I told her, “I am planning to finish history in the next three days and I feel once it is done, I will be more confident for the exams”.  She was little surprised but of course had no idea how naïve I was until I asked her, “History means only the national movement part right?” After she sat down to explain me the history syllabus, I took the first step towards the decision of giving the exams a miss that year. One should never give this exam without proper preparation. SO let us prepare J

In this section we will only deal with modern history (which of course is much more than National Movement) and in the forthcoming sections we may deal with ancient, medieval and art and culture.

Books to Refer:

Well if you have time, you SHOULD read old NCERT history text books as the new NCERT text books are very truncated, not something that UPSC likes while setting questions. And if you do not get the time for NCERT readings, you can start with Spectrum’s book on Modern History (A brief History on Modern India), a small book that you would fall in love with and trust me, Bipin Chandra or any other big names is not going to help you solve UPSC questions. So you can be away from them, until and unless you really want to read them because you love reading as they are very long  and time-consuming and more like reading a novel.

How to read?

So while reading one should know that details matter a lot.

For instance, if you are reading the struggle of 1857, you are expected to know from where and how it started, the areas it spread and the leaders of those places e.g. Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi or Begum Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow. You may also have to know people who suppressed the revolt in the areas where it had spread. In short the heroes and the villains from India’s perspective.

Next you need to know about the several socio-cultural and religious movements.

We will have to know the origin of the Congress, the important sessions, the techniques used by Moderates and Extremists, entry of Gandhi and the freedom struggle. 

Utmost importance has to be given to all the Acts that has been passed since 1773 till the Independence Act of 1947. The administrative pattern, attitude towards press, economy and education are also important.

Starting from Swadeshi movement, Rowlatt Satyagraha, Non Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement till the final Quit India Movement, every event needs a thorough understanding. The INA and RIN mutiny, Tribal uprisings, Peasants struggle, revolutionary movements are not to be ignored. One should know about all the important personalities who in some way or the other paved the way to freedom.

 WE have to give much importance to all commissions sent by the British government like the Simon Commission, the Cabinet Mission, Wavel's Plan, MountBatten Plan etc. Initiatives from India's side like the Nehru Report, Rajagopalchari formula etc are important too.

All significant days like Purna Swaraj Day, Delhi Declaration, Direct Action Day, Poona Pact, Lucknow Pact etc needs to be studied in details.

The book nicely describes everything you should know about modern history from the exam perspective,  So please buy it. http://www.flipkart.com/brief-history-modern-india-english/p/itmdyzfqtbszden5.

And the more questions you solve, the more familiar u become with the topics, the more details you will master.

Lets us go through some questions asked from modern history this year

With reference to cabinet mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 3
d) None

Solution: a)

Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?
a) Swadeshi Movement
b) Quit India Movement
c) Non-Cooperation Movement
d) Civil Disobedient Movement

Solution: a)

With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’
2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha Gandhiji tried to use the Home Rule League
3. Demonstrations against the Simon Commission coincided with the Rowlatt Satyagraha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:  B

Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?
1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. G. Subramania Iyer
3. R. C. Dutt
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)

With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements:
1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.
2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of proletariat.
3. It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) None

The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined
a) the separation of power between the judiciary and the legislature
b) the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments
c) the powers of the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy
d) None of the above

Solution: b)

Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
a) V.O Chidambaram Pillai
b) C. Rajagopalachari
c) K. Kamaraj
d) Annie Besant

Solution: b)

Consider the following statements :
1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: b)

This is just an overview. I want you to gain an understanding on the subject specifically in relation to the exam. Later we will try to discuss all the sections in details.

Just remember that only reading the book  and understanding the chronology or the events is not enough. You will have to get into details and differentiate it from similar events as that is how you develop clarity on the topic and become prepared to answer indirect questions. You need to know the minor- major changes added with every passing Act. If you are studying Cabinet Mission, you should know how is it different from August Declaration or the Simon Commission or Wavel's Plan. Do not read these events in isolation, it should always be integrated to earlier or later plans. I am sure once you start reading, you will do a good job. Because if I can love history and rightly answer questions, than any body can.

Trust me, now I love history and that perhaps is the biggest gift I can give to my father (Nana) who tried so hard to make me understand Battle of Plassey, Panipat in my school days. But unfortunately due to my school teachers, history was only a source of pain and history exams were a nightmare ALWAYS.  But now, I feel so good that atleast  for the sake of this exam I am far away from my childhood fears, I can discuss history with Nana who loves it and remembers everything he studied in college so clearly. 

Always remember that everything that is typed in the UPSC syllabus will add on to your knowledge and personality. Do not treat it as a burden and try to develop a liking for every subject because it makes you well-informed and competent not only for UPSC, but life in general.

Much love