CHAPTER- 1 INTRODUCTION: HOW, WHEN AND WHERE
NOTES
1. History– In common understanding, history was considered synonymous with dates. History is all about the changes that occur at different times.
- It is related to how things were in the past and what changes occurred in them.
2. In 1817, Scottish economist and political philosopher James Mill wrote a book titled A History of British India in three extensive volumes. In this book, he divided Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and British.
3. Mill believed that before the arrival of the British in India, the country was ruled only by Hindu and Muslim despots. According to him, society was dominated by religious conflicts, caste restrictions, and superstitions.
- In Mill's opinion, British rule could lead India on the path of civilization.
- Mill suggested that the British should take control of the entire Indian territory to provide knowledge and a prosperous life to the Indian people. He believed that India could not progress without British assistance.
- Under British rule, people did not have equality, freedom, or liberation. Nor was it a period of economic development and progress. Many historians refer to this era as the colonial period.
4. What is Colonial- The British conquered our country and suppressed local nawabs and kings to establish their rule. They took control over the economy and society, collecting revenue to cover all their expenses. Due to British rule, changes occurred in the values, beliefs, preferences, customs, and traditions of the people.
- When political, economic, social, and cultural changes occur in a country due to the dominance of another country, this process is called colonization.
5. The official records prepared by the British administration are an important source for historians.
- The British believed that writing things down was very important. For them, it was essential to clearly document every order, plan, policy decision, agreement, and investigation.
- Therefore, they established record rooms in all government institutions. Offices of the tehsil, collectorate, commissioner, provincial secretariat, and courts all had their own record rooms.
- Institutions like archives and museums were established to preserve important documents.
6. Calligraphy or Calligraphers– People who write things in a very beautiful manner.
7. Importance of Surveys– During colonial rule, the practice of conducting surveys became increasingly important.
- By the beginning of the 19th century, large-scale surveys were conducted to map the entire country. These surveys examined the earth's surface, soil quality, local flora and fauna, as well as regional histories and crops.
- Census– Through the census, information was collected about the population of all provinces in India, including their caste, region, and occupation.
- In addition, various other surveys were conducted, such as botanical surveys, zoological surveys, archaeological surveys, anthropological surveys, and forest surveys.
8. What Official Records Do Not Reveal- These are all government records. They tell us what government officials thought, what interested them, and what they wanted to preserve. However, these records do not always help us understand what the common people of the country felt and what motivated their actions.
- As printing technology spread, newspapers began to be published, and public debates on various issues started. Leaders and reformers wrote to spread their ideas, while poets and novelists wrote to express their emotions.
- All these sources were created by people who were literate. They do not help us understand the experiences of tribals, farmers, laborers working in mines, or the poor living on the streets.
