CBSE Class 8 Social Science Chapter 1: How, When and Where NCERT Solutions

Here are the answers to the true or false statements:

1. False. James Mill divided Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and British.
2. False. Official documents primarily record the perspectives and decisions of the administration. They do not typically reflect the thoughts and opinions of the general population of the country. To understand people's thoughts, other sources like diaries, personal accounts, or newspapers are more useful.
3. True. The British considered surveys to be very important for effective administration. They conducted detailed surveys to map the entire country, understand its geography, soil, flora, fauna, and local customs, which helped them in planning and governance.

The periodisation of Indian history offered by James Mill, which divides it into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods, presents several problems:

• Oversimplification of Diversity: It is difficult to label any historical period solely as 'Hindu' or 'Muslim' because a variety of faiths and religious practices existed simultaneously throughout these periods. Many rulers and subjects followed different faiths.
• Focus on Rulers' Religion: Characterising an entire age based on the religion of its rulers is not justified. This approach tends to ignore the lives, beliefs, and practices of the majority of the population whose religious identity might differ from that of the ruler.
• Neglect of Other Aspects: This periodisation implies that the lives and practices of people who did not follow the dominant religion of the rulers do not matter, which is a biased historical perspective.
• Eurocentric Bias: Mill's division reflects a colonial mindset, viewing Indian history through a lens that prioritises religious categories and overlooks the complexities and continuities in Indian society and culture.

Therefore, historians find Mill's periodisation inadequate and biased.

The British preserved official documents for several key administrative and historical reasons:

• Reference and Continuity: They believed that preserving official documents, such as notes, reports, and minutes of meetings, would make it easier for them and future administrators to understand past decisions, policies, and administrative procedures.
• Learning from the Past: These documents served as a record of past actions and their outcomes, allowing administrators to learn from previous experiences and avoid repeating mistakes.
• Evidence and Accountability: Official records provided evidence of actions taken and decisions made, which could be used for accountability and justification.
• Administrative Efficiency: Having access to past records facilitated smoother governance by providing a basis for current policies and actions. Copies could be prepared and used whenever needed.

The British established specialised institutions like archives and museums to systematically store and manage these valuable records.

The information historians gather from old newspapers and police reports differs significantly in perspective and reliability:

• Newspapers: Information in newspapers is often influenced by the views, opinions, and biases of the reporters, editors, and the newspaper's owners. They might sensationalise events, focus on specific angles, or reflect particular political leanings. While they offer insights into public discourse and contemporary reactions, they may not always be objective accounts.
• Police Reports: Police reports, on the other hand, are typically official records of events, investigations, and findings. While they can also have their own biases or limitations based on the perspective of the reporting officer or the nature of the investigation, they are generally intended to be factual and realistic accounts of incidents. They often focus on evidence and official procedures.

Historians use both sources, but they must critically analyse the context, purpose, and potential biases of each to draw accurate conclusions about the past.

Yes, surveys are ubiquitous in our modern world. Here are some examples:

• Market Research: Toy companies, food manufacturers, and technology firms regularly conduct surveys to understand consumer preferences, gather feedback on products, and identify market trends. For instance, they might survey children and parents about favourite toys, games, or features.
• Government Data Collection: Governments conduct various surveys, such as the census (which counts the population and gathers demographic data like age, gender, occupation, and education levels), health surveys, and economic surveys. For example, a government might survey schools to determine student enrollment numbers, teacher-student ratios, and resource availability.
• Social Science Research: Academics and researchers use surveys to study social phenomena, public opinion, health behaviours, and political attitudes.

What a historian can derive from such surveys:

From modern surveys, a historian can derive insights into:

• Societal Priorities: What aspects of life (e.g., education, health, economy, entertainment) are considered important enough to be measured and studied by society or its governing bodies.
• Demographic Trends: Information about population size, distribution, age structure, and migration patterns.
• Economic Conditions: Data on employment, income levels, and consumption patterns.
• Social Attitudes and Behaviours: Insights into public opinions, lifestyle choices, and cultural preferences.
• Administrative Practices: Understanding how modern states collect data for planning, policy-making, and governance, which can be compared with historical administrative methods like those used by the British.

By analysing the types of questions asked, the methodologies used, and the data collected in contemporary surveys, a historian can better understand the concerns, values, and priorities of the society that conducted them.

Here are the correct options for each question:

1. (b) James Mill
2. (d) Warren Hastings (Note: While Lord William Bentinck is also a significant Governor-General, Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Fort William in Bengal, which later became the Presidency of Bengal and then India.)
3. (a) 1920s (The National Archives of India was established in 1920 in New Delhi.)
4. (c) One who is specialised in the art of beautiful writing.
5. (c) every ten years (Census operations are typically conducted every ten years to gather demographic data.)

Here are the completed sentences:

1. (i) The colonial government gave much importance to the practice of surveying.
2. (ii) Historians have usually divided Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern.
3. (iii) A History of British India is a three-volume work.
4. (iv) Mill thought that all Asian societies were at a lower level of civilisation than Europe.
5. (v) The British established specialised institutions like archives and museums to preserve important documents.

Here are the answers to the true or false statements:

1. True. The British administration placed significant importance on record-keeping and preserving official documents for administrative continuity and reference.
2. False. Printing technology began to spread much earlier, significantly impacting the dissemination of information and ideas well before the middle of the 20th century, particularly from the 15th century onwards in Europe and later in India.
3. False. While historians today critically analyse and often reject James Mill's periodisation, it was influential in shaping British colonial policy and historical writing during the colonial era. It was not entirely unaccepted, though its validity is now widely questioned.
4. True. The British conducted extensive surveys from the early 19th century onwards, including revenue surveys and topographical surveys, to map the country and understand its resources for administrative and economic purposes.
5. False. James Mill's book 'A History of British India' is known for its critical and often negative portrayal of Indian society, culture, and history, reflecting a colonial perspective rather than glorification.

Since Column A and Column B items were not provided in the source text, this question cannot be answered. Please provide the columns for matching.