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Kings And Chronicles : The Mughal Courts
Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Escaping to the countryside
This is how the famous poet Mirza Ghalib described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857:
Smiting the enemy and driving him before them, the victors (i.e., the British) overran the city in all directions. All whom they found in the street they cut down … For two to three days every road in the city, from the Kashmiri Gate to Chandni Chowk, was a battlefield. Three gates - the Ajmeri, the Turcoman and the Delhi – were still held by the rebels … At the naked spectacle of this vengeful wrath and malevolent hatred the colour fled from men’s faces, and a vast concourse of men and women … took to precipitate flight through these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, they drew breath to wait until such time as might favour their return.
(16.1) Who was Mirza Ghalib? What did he describe?
(16.2) Why did British attack Delhi? Give two reasons.
(16.3) How did the people escape from Delhi and where did they take shelter?
(16.1) Mirza Galib and his description:
(i) Mirza Galib was a famous poet.
(ii)He described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857.
(iii)The British over ran the city in all directions.
(iv)Every road in the city from the Kashmiri gate to Chandni Chowk was a battle field.
(v)The rebels held three gates – the Ajmeri , the Turcoman and the Delhi.
(vi) It was the naked spectacles of hatred.
(ANT TWO)
(16.2) Reasons of British attack on Delhi:
(i) Rebels recognized the symbolic value of Delhi.
(ii)To establish the British control over the rebels.
(iii)To uproot the parallel govt. setup by the rebels.
(iv)To suppress the revolt of 1857.
(ANT TWO)
(16.3) The people escaped from Delhi and took their shelter:
(i)They took to precipitate flight through these three gates.
(ii)They took shelter in little villages outside the city.
(iii)They took shelter in shrines outside the city.
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To what extent do you think the visual material presented in this chapter corresponds with Abu’l Fazl’s description of the taswir (Source 1)?
What were the distinctive features of the Mughal nobility? How was their relationship with the emperor shaped?
Identify the elements that went into the making of the Mughal ideal of kingship.
Find out more about any one Mughal chronicle. Prepare a report describing the author, and the language, style and content of the text. Describe at
least two visuals used to illustrate the chronicle of your choice, focusing on the symbols used to indicate the power of the emperor.
Prepare a report comparing the present-day system of government with the Mughal court and administration, focusing on ideals of rulership, court rituals, and means of recruitment into the imperial service, highlighting the similarities and differences that you notice.
Why did Akbar abolish the pilgrimage tax? Give two reasons.
Mention the significance of Sijda in the Mughal court.
What was the form of greeting an ambassador was expected to offer while being presented before the Mughal emperor?
Mention the main objective of Akbar behind Jharokc Darshan.
Who is considered as the Great Mughal? Describe his two achievements.
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