Is history for you...?

Why History ??

If the prelim’s is to be compared with one day match, mains could be described as test match. The temperament and technique to play it is different than prelims.
Prelim is mainly factual study, many times without knowing how or why. On the other hand main’s is analytical study, knowing the essence of the story.
With introduction of variety in marking like 15,20,25 marks questions, instead of regular 60 marks, you are suppose to know the essence of many more stories.

Who can take history?

Student from any discipline can choose and master this subject with systematic efforts. Apart from that it enables candidate to write their essay paper with a historical perspective.

History is the only subject that can be lived. It is full of plots and counter plots, desires and detachments, kaleidoscope of shifting locations. Studying history is as good as sitting into time machine and visiting our ‘wonderful’ past. But all this is true only if you are ‘interested’ in the subject. Without interest, proper understanding of the subject can’t be developed. In that case history will seem like subject with vast syllabus, full of unrelated events and mere description of dead past. But interest either natural or created will make your past talk with you. Indeed in the words of E.H.Carr “history is a continuous dialogue between past and present”

As it is rightly said that, ‘history is not a study of facts, but interpretation of facts’. Facts are just raw material with which interpretation is done. Answers in the main’s are about your interpretation of History. The angle of focus on history has constantly shifted. From Political to Cultural to Economic to now subaltern.

Candidates are exempted if facts go wrong, but analysis is correct, but other way round will not do. Unlike other humanities subject, history does not have a theory part, all the 4 part’s i.e. Ancient, Medieval, Modern and World are applied.

With only one optional retained now in mains, history becomes more attractive since it’s a tried and tested subject, which is fairly stable in marks and launches candidates in the orbit of success regularly.

How much scoring history is?

History is one of the most popular option is U.P.S.C. examination for obvious reasons. It has synergy with General studies. In prelim history occupies frontline (16 (Ant-9, Med-1, Mod-6) questions out of 100 in prelim 2013) In mains its important component in GS paper I 140 marks questions of history and culture get covered by optional history (As per mains 2013G.S. paper) With GS for mains expanded considerably now, importance of history has gone up in new syllabus, from culture of India to world history to post independence developments. Now those who are going to have history as optional subject will get natural advantage and edge over others.

It is also useful in writing essay. (In new format marks for essay have gone up from 200 to 250) Since at least one socio-cultural issues comes as a topic, historic vision gives depth to the arguments. (for e.g. related to History, “Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)” is asked in mains 2013) History is highly subjective subject. Suppose the question was given ‘Evaluate the Gandhi’, then all candidates will write different answers. Which of them is right or wrong? None. It depends on how arguments are pushed. This makes the subject safe. Generally it is not possible that you don’t know anything about the answer. Ultimately you fetch some minimum marks in each question. That way no body goes below 180 in history.

But going by same logic history also does not give very high marks. There is nothing called perfect answer. Because of this phenomenon marks do not go above 300. But then to get into IAS one need to get 45-50% marks in the subject and that makes this subject an attractive proposition.

History is scoring subject. One of my student Sonal Sonkavde made a fortune with 396 markes. Shrikesh B. Lathkar who scored 365 in history in 2010 mains in his second attempt to get the 57th rank says, "History (365) has done it for me sir. Biggest thanks to you."

History is the scientific subject and can be studied scientifically. It is as scientific as physics or mathematics, only since it is from humanities side, things are open ended.

Resource material

The compulsory map question should be solved first and prepared first. Twenty sites are given & you have to mark them all on the given map and describe its importance in four lines. In 2012 & 2013 mains the question was turned inside out, sites are already pointed in the given map, a hint is given about the era to which the site belong, and then candidates have to identify and describe the site. (for e.g. Site related to a famous Indian philosopher, historical rock cut caves etc) For tackling it, you can in the end make a list of sites according to era like Vedic sites, Megalithic sites etc. By daily practice this question can turn into scoring one.

Sites from Ancient and medieval India are asked. Especially focus is now a day shifted to chalcolithic, megalithic sites, which are recently excavated. Spectrum has published the book about Ancient Indian places. The website of Indian Archeological department www.asi.nic.in is also useful for updating recent excavations.

To get understanding of Ancient India one can start from small book Outline of Ancient India by D.N.Zha. For medieval India Satishchandra who wrote in two volumes is a good choice.

In paper II world history is to be targeted. On modern India now so much research is available that there is no end of interpretation. Comparatively world history is straight and neutral. There are controversies in France about how the fall of Napoleon took place, but there are no such controversies in India. As it is, if world history questions are difficult you can switch to modern India at the last moment but reverse is not true. For e.g. most strait questions in 2013 mains are asked on world history part. World History is also most compact of the four parts.

Modern India could be covered from A Look at Modern Indian History by Grower & Grower, for post independence developments ‘India since Independence’ by Bipinchandra can serve the purpose.
IGNOU books will be useful, since most of the syllabus is taken directly from them. Brilliant Tutorials has published the material on mains history which is time saving since presented according to the syllabus.
Some internet sites are rich in content and photography in history For e.g. www.indhistory.com, www.historywiz.com/India.htm Wikipedia can prove a magic wand for getting answers.
Publication division has done grand job of publishing material which prove very helpful for the mains. They are
1) India – Art & Architecture in Ancient & Medieval Period
2) India – Early History
3) India – Government & Economic life in Ancient and Medieval periods

For World History good work is done by Jain & Mathur. It has covered our syllabus topic wise, but it is also true that it is not edited properly. Krishna Reddy has written book named ‘Modern World’ overcomes this issue. It has avoided the bulkiness and is updated with recent changes in syllabus. World History by L.Mukherjee is lucid and will make answers readable. It can be used as complementary with Jain & Mathur or Krishna Reddy.

Tracking syllabus is a fruitful exercise, for mains. The vast syllabus cannot be covered without the pointers. What is interesting is that syllabus of mains is clearly defined and examiners largely remain stick to it. (For e.g. in 2013 mains question were asked word to word from syllabus, Evaluate the ownership of land in ancient India (15) Evaluate the condition of industries in India from 1200 to 1500 CE (20) “The European Union is the new sick man of Europe.”(25)

Ancient India

Topic	Sub-topic	Brief Description	15 M	20 M	30 Marks	60 Marks
1		Sources
	i)	Archeological sources	2013			2003
	ii)	Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments		2011		2007/09
2		Pre-history and Proto-history	2013		2010
3		Indus Valley Civilization		2013	2012	2002
4		Megalithic Cultures		2011	2012	2008
5		Aryans and Vedic Period	2013		2009/10/11	2004
6		Period of Mahajanapadas
	i)	Economic growth; Introduction of coinage				2003/11
	ii)	Spread of Jainism and Buddhism			2011	2007
	iii)	Rise of Magadha and Nandas				2001
7		Mauryan Empire
	i)	Polity, Administration			2012	2005
	ii)	Religion; Spread of religion; Literature				2004
8		Post - Mauryan Period		2013	2010/12	2008
9		Early State & Soc in Eastern, Deccan and South India			2010	2008
10		Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas
	i)	Polity and administration, Economy	2013		2009	2006/05
	ii)	Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women	2013	2013		2005/07/10
	iii)	Education and educational institutions	2013		2012	2003
11		Regional States during Gupta Era
	i)	Chalukyas of Badami
	ii)	Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas			2012
12		Themes in Early Indian Cultural History
	i)	major stages in the evolution of art and architecture		2011		2004/09
	ii)	ideas in Science and Mathematics				2001

Medieval India

Topic	Brief Description	10M	12M	15M	20 Marks	30 Marks	60 Marks
13	Early Medieval India, 750-1200
	The Cholas: administration, village economy and society					2009/11/12	2004/07
	“Indian Feudalism”				2005/09	2010/12	2011
14	Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200
	Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta				2001		2008
	Growth of Bhakti				2002	2010
	Sufism				2003
	Kalhan’s Rajtarangini		2012		2003	2009
	Alberuni’s India				2007		2003
15	The Thirteenth Century	2013
	Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban				2004/08/11	2009/12
16	The Fourteenth Century					2012
	“The Khalji Revolution”				2006/11
	Alauddin Khalji						2001
	Muhammad Tughluq				2003/04/09
17	Society, Culture in the 13th&14th Centuries			2013	2010/11	2012
	Sufi movement	2013			2006
	Economy			2013	2013/13	2009/10
18	The 15th & Early 16th Century – Political Developments and Economy	2013		2013
	Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun				2001	2010
	The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration					2012	2006
	Bhakti and Sufi Movements		2012		2005		2001/03/04/05/07
	Portuguese Colonial Enterprise				2008
19	The 15th & Early 16th Century – Society and Culture	2013
	Literary traditions				2002/10
20	Akbar
	Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems				2002	2011
	Rajput policy			2013			2003/07
	Evolution of religious and social outlook			2013	2004/06/09		2002
21	Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century
	Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb						2004
	Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb				2006/13	2009
	Ahom Kingdom				2008
22	Economy and Society in the 16th & 17th  Centuries
	Agriculture & craft				2010		2008
	Towns, commerce with Europe	2013	2012		2009/10		2006
	Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems						2005
	Evolution of Khalasa				2008
23	Culture in the Mughal Empire
	Hindi and other religious literature						2006
	Mughal architecture				2001		2002
	Mughal painting		2012		2005/07	2011
	Science and technology				2001	2009/10
24	The Eighteenth Century					2011
	Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire						2005
	Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas		2012				2001
	The Maratha fiscal and financial system				2003/04/07	2010
	Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761				2002		2008

Modern India

Topic	Sub-topic	Brief Description	10M	12 M	20 Marks	25M	30 Marks	60 Marks
1		European Penetration into India	2013	2012	2002/6		2009	2002
2		British Expansion in India			2001/4/5/10		2009	2006
3		Early Structure of the British Raj			2004/11		2012	2005
	1	English Utilitarian			2008/11
4		Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule	2013		2001/3/4/5/6/9/10	2013		2001/3/4/6/7
	1	Famine and poverty in the rural interior			2003		2010	2002/5/8
	2	Drain of wealth		2012			2010/1/2	2008
5		Social and Cultural Developments		2012	2008/11			2004
6		Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas	2013		2005/7/9	2013	2009/12
7		Indian Response to British Rule			2001		2011/12
	1	The Great Revolt of 1857			2005/7/9/10		2011
8		Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism		2012	2010/11		2010	2001
	1	National Congress			2002	2013	2009
	2	the Moderates and Extremists			2006			2003
9		Rise of Gandhi	2013		2002
	1	the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement	2013		2008			2007
	2	beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement						2005
	3	Quit India Movement;			2001/3		2009
	4	The Cabinet Mission			2004
10		Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India			2007	2013
11		Other strands of the National Movement			2010
	1	The Revolutionaries			2008			2003
	2	The Left			2011	2013		2002/6
	3	Subhas Chandra Bose			2002
12		Politics of Separatism			2006/09/10		2009
13		Consolidation as a Nation				2013	2011
	1	Integration of Princely States						2007
	2	Nehru’s Foreign Policy		2012			2011	2001/04
14		Caste and Ethnicity after 1947			2008		2010/12
15		Economic development and political change					2012

World History

Topic	Sub-topic	Brief Description	10 M	12 M	20 Marks	25 M	30 Marks	60 Marks
16		Enlightenment and Modern ideas		2012
	(i)	Major Ideas of Enlightenment	2013		2004/10			2008
	(ii)	Spread of Enlightenment
	(iii)	Rise of socialist ideas			2001/08
17		Origins of Modern Politics
	(i)	European States System
	(ii)	American Revolution and the Constitution.		2012	2006/10			2005
	(iii)	French revolution and after math, 1789-1815.		2012	2002/3/4/5/6/7/10		2009/12	2001
	(iv)	American Civil War	2013
	(v)	British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850;			2005/11	2013		2004
18		Industrialization			2011
	(i)	English Industrial Revolution:
	(ii)	Industrialization in other countries:		2012			2009
	(iii)	Industrialization and Globalization.			2009
19		Nation-State System
	(i)	Rise of Nationalism in 19th century
	(ii)	Nationalism : state-building			2001/4/5		2012	2002/03
	(iii)	Disintegration of Empires			2001/6
20		Imperialism and Colonialism	2013		2010
	(i)	South and South-East Asia					2010/11
	(ii)	Latin America and South Africa			2009			2001
	(iii)	Australia
	(iv)	Imperialism and free trade:			2007	2013
21		Revolution and Counter-Revolution :
	(i)	19th Century European revolutions			2008
	(ii)	The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921			2005		2009/12	2003
	(iii)	Fascist Counter-Revolution			2005			2004/07
	(iv)	The Chinese Revolution of 1949	2013		2010		2012	2002/5/6
22		World Wars
	(i)	1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars:			2007
	(ii)	World War I : Causes and Consequences			2001/3/4/6/11		2010/12
	(iii)	World War II : Causes and consequence			2002/8/9		2010/11
23		The World after World War II:
	(i)	Emergence of two power blocs			2008			2005
	(ii)	Emergence of Third World and Non-Alignment					2010/11
	(iii)	UNO and the global disputes			2003	2013	2009
24		Liberation from Colonial Rule:
	(i)	Latin America-Bolivar
	(ii)	Arab World-Egypt			2009		2012	2001
	(iii)	Africa-Apartheid to Democracy				2013		2006
	(iv)	South-East Asia-Vietnam					2009
25		Decolonization and Underdevelopment	2013
	(i)	Factors constraining Development :					2009
26		Unification of Europe
	(i)	Post War Foundations :			2003/7
	(ii)	Consolidation of European Community
	(iii)	European Union.				2013	2011
27		Disintegration of Soviet Union
	(i)	Collapse of Soviet communism			2010	2013		2002/4/7
	(ii)	Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001						2008
	(iii)	End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy		2012				2003/08

Above is the analysis of past papers from 2001 onwards. You will be surprised to find that most of the questions are repeated from the last ten year papers for e.g. Indian Feudalism, Bhakti & Sufi Movement. Economic impact of British rule on India is asked record no of times. So that’s the hint.

For preparing mains one has to be focused on relevant areas. Guesswork has to be done to what will come and what will not. (And be mentally prepared to face anything in paper). If you make notes in question-answer format then nothing like that. If you get ready with say 150-200 questions with outline of answers then you can stuck a jackpot. Chronicle Publication has published the book in such format and will prove useful for reference.

It may sound absurd, but NCERT books on History (Class XI & XII), both old and new versions are useful in writing the mains answers. They present the clue about direction and the structure of the answer.

It is very common to say that one has to do writing practice. I repeat it is necessary. Candidates dream that as soon as study is over they will give tests. That’s ideal, seldom has this happened. Studies may never get over. Just make a timetable of tests, follow it strictly, and get it checked from competent authority and discuss them out. Handwriting, speed, fluency and structure of answer play a main role in marks.

One should give full attention to the direction of the question like Discuss, Explain, Evaluate, Describe, Compare etc. Each of them connotes different meaning.
Where ever possible the answer should be substantiated with tables, diagrams and flowcharts.

Group study can do wonders in study of history. Every member in the group can give different insight into the subject. You can shoot questions to each other and comprehend the facts. But make sure that group is no larger than 3-4 friends and all damn serious.

So take a long breath and strings tight in your hand. Now with full vision of future turn your eyes towards past. May goddess of history bless you with success.

Twist in the story continues

The questions are asked in 15,15,20 marks pattern for one question of 50 marks. This way more points could be covered from syllabus and everyone has to cover syllabus in full, or get trapped by being blank in 1 or 2 sub-questions you choose to write.

In modern India long sentences are given to confuse the candidates, many a time it a simple question presented in round format.

Overall we can see that they are targeting a peripheral areas in the history, which are hitherto not asked. For e.g Evaluate the Malfuzat texts sources of media history (10, 2013) Since changing pattern has become pattern of UPSC now, if they do not change it that will be a surprise hereafter. So be mentally ready for the changes.

With regard
Bhushan Deshmukh