IGNOU BHIM-161 Solved Question Paper PDF Download

IGNOU BHIM-161 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in Hindi

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Q1. Discuss on cultural exchange between Bharat (India) and South-East Asia.

Ans. The cultural exchange between Bharat (India) and South-East Asia has a long and rich history, driven primarily by maritime trade relations dating back to the early centuries of the Common Era. This process, often termed ‘Indianisation’ or the formation of ‘Greater India’, was a peaceful diffusion of culture, marked by adoption and adaptation rather than military conquest. The key areas of cultural exchange were:

• Religion and Philosophy: Hinduism (especially Shaivism and Vaishnavism) and Buddhism (primarily Mahayana) were the most significant cultural exports. South-East Asian rulers adopted the concept of ‘Devaraja’ (God-King) and invited Brahmins to perform court rituals. Grand temple complexes like Angkor Wat in Cambodia (Hindu, later Buddhist) and Borobudur in Indonesia (Buddhist) are monumental testaments to this influence.
• Language and Literature: Sanskrit became the language of the court, religion, and elite expression. Indian scripts, particularly the Pallava script from South India, were adopted and adapted to create local scripts in places like Thailand, Cambodia, and Java. The epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata , were immensely popular and were adapted into local versions, such as the Ramakien in Thailand.
• Art and Architecture: Indian styles heavily influenced temple architecture, sculpture, and iconography. Gupta, Pallava, and Chola art forms inspired local artistic traditions, leading to the creation of unique, syncretic styles.
• Political Systems: The developing states in South-East Asia adopted Indian concepts of kingship ( rajadharma ), administrative structures, and legal codes, often based on texts like the Manusmriti.

In essence, this was not a one-way imposition but a dynamic two-way process. South-East Asian societies actively selected, adopted, and assimilated Indian elements, skillfully blending them with their indigenous traditions to create a unique and vibrant cultural synthesis.

Q2. Write an essay on Buddhist Literature.

Ans. Buddhist literature is a vast and diverse body of texts that has been central to the development and spread of Buddhism over centuries. Initially preserved through oral tradition, the teachings of the Buddha and subsequent philosophical works were later written down in various languages, most notably Pali and Sanskrit. The literature can be broadly categorized as follows: 1. The Pali Canon (Tripitaka): Meaning “Three Baskets,” this is the canonical scripture of Theravada Buddhism.

• Vinaya Pitaka: Contains the rules of monastic discipline for monks and nuns.
• Sutta Pitaka: A collection of the Buddha’s discourses and teachings. It includes famous texts like the Digha Nikaya and Majjhima Nikaya .
• Abhidhamma Pitaka: A collection of texts that provide a systematic philosophical and psychological analysis of Buddhist doctrine.

2. Post-Canonical Pali Literature:

This includes commentaries on the Tripitaka (

Atthakathas

), historical chronicles like the

Mahavamsa

of Sri Lanka, and quasi-canonical works like the

Milinda Panha

(Questions of King Milinda).

3. Sanskrit Buddhist Literature:

This is largely associated with the Mahayana school of Buddhism. It includes profound philosophical works by masters like Nagarjuna (

Madhyamaka Karika

), Asanga, and Vasubandhu. The famous Mahayana Sutras, such as the

Prajnaparamita Sutras

and the

Saddharma Pundarika Sutra

(Lotus Sutra), belong to this category. Biographies like Ashvaghosha’s

Buddhacharita

are also key works.

4. Jataka Tales:

These are a collection of over 500 stories about the previous lives of the Buddha. They were used to teach moral lessons and are a vital part of Buddhist folklore, often depicted in the art of stupas like Sanchi and Bharhut.

This extensive body of literature was not only instrumental in disseminating Buddhist teachings across Asia but also serves as an invaluable source for the social, cultural, and political history of ancient India.

Q3. Discuss the salient features of Harappan Civilization and Vedic culture.

Ans. The Harappan Civilization and the Vedic Culture represent two distinct and significant phases in ancient Indian history, with fundamental differences in their salient features. Salient Features of the Harappan Civilization (c. 2600-1900 BCE):

• Urban Character: It was a highly developed urban civilization . Its hallmarks were well-planned cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, featuring a grid-pattern of streets, fortified citadels, and a sophisticated drainage system.
• Economy: The economy was based on agriculture (wheat, barley), crafts (seals, pottery, beads), and extensive internal and external trade, including with Mesopotamia .
• Society and Religion: Society was likely stratified. Religious practices included the worship of a Mother Goddess, a male deity on a seal (identified as ‘Pashupati’ or proto-Shiva), and nature worship (trees, animals). The Great Bath suggests the importance of ritual bathing. No large temples have been found.
• Script: The Harappans used a pictographic script that remains undeciphered to this day.

Salient Features of Vedic Culture (c. 1500-600 BCE):

• Rural Character: The Early Vedic society was primarily pastoral and rural . People lived in tribal units called ‘jana’. The Later Vedic period saw the rise of agriculture and territorial kingdoms ( janapadas ).
• Economy: The economy was initially based on pastoralism, with cattle being the main measure of wealth. Later, agriculture gained prominence. The barter system was prevalent.
• Society and Religion: Society was organized into tribes headed by a chief or king ( Rajan ), whose powers were limited by tribal assemblies like the Sabha and Samiti . Religion centered on the worship of nature gods like Indra, Agni, and Varuna through complex sacrifices ( yajnas ) and chanting of hymns. There was no idol worship or temple-building in the early phase.
• Language and Literature: The culture was based on an oral tradition, with the four Vedas composed in Sanskrit. There was no script in the early Vedic period.

Conclusion:

In contrast, the Harappan civilization was urban and trade-oriented with a written script, while the Vedic culture was rural, pastoral, and had a strong oral tradition. The differences in their religious practices, social structures, and economic bases are stark.

Q4. Write short notes on any two of the following in 50 words each : (a) Dasharajana War (b) The Noble Eight-fold Path (c) Ajatshatru (d) Greek invasions

Ans. (a) Dasharajana War: The “Battle of Ten Kings” is a historical event mentioned in the seventh mandala of the Rigveda . It was fought on the banks of the river Parushni (modern Ravi) between the Bharata king Sudas and a confederacy of ten other tribes. Sudas emerged victorious, leading to the dominance of the Bharata tribe. (b) The Noble Eight-fold Path: This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering ( Dukkha ) and the achievement of self-awakening in Buddhism. As taught by the Buddha, it is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths and consists of eight interconnected practices: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. (c) Ajatshatru: A powerful king of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha (c. 492–460 BCE). He was the son of King Bimbisara, whom he is said to have imprisoned and killed to usurp the throne. He was a contemporary of both Mahavira and Gautama Buddha and expanded the Magadhan empire by conquering Kosala and the Vajji confederacy. (d) Greek invasions: This primarily refers to two major historical incursions. First, the invasion by Alexander the Great in 326 BCE, who reached the Punjab and fought the Battle of the Hydaspes against King Porus. Second, the later rule of Indo-Greek kingdoms in northwestern India after the Mauryan decline, exemplified by rulers like Menander, who influenced Indian art (Gandhara school) and coinage.

Q5. Describe the achievements of Chandragupta Maurya.

Ans. Chandragupta Maurya (reign c. 322-298 BCE) was the founder of the Mauryan Empire and one of the most significant figures in Indian history. His achievements were transformative and laid the foundation for the first great Indian empire.

• Foundation of the Mauryan Empire: With the strategic guidance of his mentor, Chanakya (Kautilya) , Chandragupta overthrew the unpopular and powerful Nanda dynasty around 322 BCE, establishing his capital at Pataliputra. This marked the beginning of a new era in Indian polity.
• Political Unification of India: Chandragupta accomplished the monumental task of political unification , bringing a vast portion of the Indian subcontinent under a single, centralized rule for the first time. His empire extended from Bengal in the east to Afghanistan in the west, and from the Himalayas in the north to the Deccan plateau in the south.
• Defeat of Seleucus Nicator: Around 305 BCE, he confronted and defeated Seleucus Nicator, a former general of Alexander the Great. In the ensuing peace treaty, Chandragupta gained control over vast territories including parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a matrimonial alliance was formed. This secured his northwestern frontiers.
• Efficient Administration: Based on the principles laid out in Kautilya’s Arthashastra , Chandragupta established a highly organized and efficient centralized administration. The empire was divided into provinces, governed by a vast bureaucracy responsible for revenue collection, justice, and maintaining a large standing army.
• Economic Prosperity: His administration promoted agriculture through irrigation projects, regulated trade and commerce, and established a system of standard weights and measures, leading to significant economic prosperity throughout the empire.

According to Jain tradition, he abdicated his throne, became a Jain ascetic, and ended his life through Sallekhana. Chandragupta’s reign is celebrated for unifying India and establishing a well-administered, powerful empire.

Q6. Critically analyse the reign of Shaka ruler Rudradaman.

Ans. Rudradaman I (c. 130-150 CE) was the most illustrious ruler of the Western Kshatrapas (Shakas) of Ujjain. His reign is primarily known from the Junagadh Rock Inscription , which allows for a critical analysis of his achievements and limitations. Achievements and Positive Aspects:

• Military Prowess: The inscription details his extensive military conquests. He twice defeated the Satavahanas, the major power in the Deccan, though he spared their ruler due to a matrimonial relationship. He also subjugated the proud Yaudheyas and other tribes. His empire covered a vast area including Malwa, Gujarat, Sindh, and parts of Rajasthan, showcasing his military strength.
• Public Welfare: Rudradaman’s most celebrated act was the repair of the Sudarshana Lake , which was originally built during the Mauryan period. Significantly, he undertook this major public works project using his own personal funds, without levying any extra taxes ( pranaya ) or forced labour ( vishti ) on his subjects. This highlights his commitment to good governance and the welfare of his people.
• Patronage of Culture: The Junagadh inscription itself is a landmark. It is the first long inscription composed in chaste, classical Sanskrit . This demonstrates his patronage of Indian culture and language, despite his foreign (Scythian) origin, indicating a successful process of acculturation.

Critical Perspective:

• While Rudradaman was a formidable ruler, the Shaka power was a regional phenomenon constantly challenged by native powers like the Satavahanas. His reign was a high point, but his dynasty could not establish an enduring pan-Indian empire on the scale of the Mauryas or Guptas. The Shaka rule in western India was eventually extinguished by the Guptas in the 4th century CE.
• His title ‘Mahakshatrapa’ (Great Satrap) might suggest an initial, though perhaps nominal, vassalage to the larger Kushan empire.

In conclusion, Rudradaman was an exemplary ruler—a conqueror, an able administrator, and a patron of culture—whose reign represents a successful synthesis of foreign rule with Indian administrative and cultural traditions.

Q7. Describe the campaigns of Chandragupta-II.

Ans. Chandragupta II (reign c. 375-415 CE), who adopted the famous title of Vikramaditya , was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta dynasty. He expanded the empire he inherited from his father, Samudragupta, through a masterful combination of direct military campaigns and strategic matrimonial alliances. Major Campaigns and Alliances: 1. Conquest of the Western Kshatrapas (Shakas): This was his single greatest military achievement. After a protracted war, Chandragupta II decisively defeated the last Shaka ruler, Rudrasimha III, and annexed his territories in western India around 409 CE. This victory ended the nearly four-century-long Shaka rule, giving the Guptas control over the prosperous region of Gujarat and its valuable sea ports like Bharuch. This access to the western coast immensely boosted the empire’s maritime trade. 2. Matrimonial Alliances: Chandragupta II was a shrewd diplomat who used marriage to secure his political aims.

• He himself married Kuberanaga , a princess of the Naga dynasty, a powerful force in central India, thereby neutralizing a potential rival.
• More importantly, he married his daughter, Prabhavatigupta , to Rudrasena II of the Vakataka dynasty in the Deccan. When Rudrasena II died young, Prabhavatigupta ruled as regent for her minor sons, effectively bringing the Vakataka kingdom under Gupta influence. This alliance secured his southern flank for his campaign against the Shakas.

3. Other Campaigns:

The

Mehrauli Iron Pillar

inscription in Delhi refers to the exploits of a powerful king named ‘Chandra’, who is widely identified with Chandragupta II. According to the inscription, he defeated a confederacy of enemies in the ‘Vanga’ countries (Bengal) and crossed the ‘seven mouths of the Indus’ to conquer the Vahlikas (Bactria), indicating campaigns to both the east and the northwest.

Through these successful military and diplomatic endeavours, Chandragupta II expanded the Gupta Empire to its zenith, presiding over a period of great power and prosperity.

Q8. Write short notes on any two of the following in 50 words each : (a) Pahlavas (b) Harshavardhana (c) Pandya Kingdom (d) Aryabhatta

Ans. (a) Pahlavas: Also known as the Indo-Parthians, the Pahlavas ruled over parts of northwestern India during the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE, succeeding the Indo-Scythians (Shakas). The most famous Pahlava king was Gondophares , who is traditionally associated in apocryphal Christian texts with the visit of the apostle St. Thomas. (b) Harshavardhana: The last great emperor of ancient India, Harshavardhana of the Vardhana dynasty ruled over a large empire in northern India from 606 to 647 CE, with his capital at Kannauj. His reign is well-documented in the Harshacharita by his court poet Banabhatta and the detailed accounts of the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) . (c) Pandya Kingdom: The Pandya Kingdom was one of the three ‘crowned kingdoms’ of ancient Tamilakam, located in the southernmost part of the Indian peninsula with its capital at Madurai. Renowned for its pearl fisheries and trade with the Roman Empire, its history is chronicled in Sangam literature and mentioned by foreign writers like Megasthenes. (d) Aryabhatta: A pioneering mathematician and astronomer of India’s classical age (c. 5th century CE), Aryabhatta flourished during the Gupta period. In his seminal work, the Aryabhatiya , he explained the scientific causes of solar and lunar eclipses, proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis, and calculated a remarkably accurate value for pi (π).