Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 1 Sources of History PDF Download

Sources Of History

We have studied the sources of ancient and mediaeval Indian history. This year we are going to study the sources of Modern Indian History. Historical sources include material, written and oral sources. Similarly sources based on modern technology such as audio, video and audio-visual are included.

Material Sources

Various objects, monuments, places, coins, sculptures etc. can be included in the material sources of history.

Buildings And Places

The period of Modern Indian History is believed as period of European, especially the British rulers, and governance of Princely States. In this period various buildings, bridges, roads, water supply system, fountains etc. were built. These buildings include government offices, residences of officers, leaders and revolutionaries; palaces of rulers of princely states, forts, prisons etc. Among these monuments many buildings are intact even today. Some are declared as national monument, where as some are converted into museum. For eg. Cellular Jail in Andaman.

While visiting these sites we get information about contemporary history, architecture, nature of the monument and also the economic condition of that particular period. Just as during the visit to Cellular jail in Andaman we get information about the revolutionary work of V.D.Savarkar; by visiting Manibhavan in Mumbai or Sevagram Ashram at Wardha we get information about the history of Gandhian era.

Teacher's Note

When you visit old buildings in your city, you can learn about the past. For example, visiting old forts or government buildings in Delhi tells us about how people lived during British time.

Exam Trick

Remember: Buildings are like history books made of stone and bricks. Just like you read books, you can read buildings too!

Points To Remember

Material sources are old objects and buildings.
Monuments tell us about the past and old times.
Museums keep old things safe for us to see and learn.
When we visit these places, we learn about history easily.

Museums And History

For the study of History various objects, paintings, photographs and such other things are preserved in a museum. At the Aga Khan Palace in Pune, we can see different objects, documents giving information about the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

Statues And Memorials

During the Pre Independence and Post Independence period, memorials of many personalities were erected in the form of statues. These statues are also important for the study of modern Indian history. The various statues provide information about the contemporary rulers and eminent personalities. The display plaque on the statues gives us information about the full name of the concerned person, birth and death details, brief information about their contribution and a biographical sketch of the person. Just as the statues, of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Lokmanya Tilak, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, there are memorials which are erected in the memory of various events which give information about the concerned event, period, people related to the event etc. For e.g. Hutatma Smarak at various places.

Teacher's Note

Statues are like frozen pictures of great leaders. In your town or city, there are statues of freedom fighters that tell us about their brave deeds.

Exam Trick

Remember: Statues = Stone pictures of leaders. The plaques below them are like their mini biographies written on stone!

Points To Remember

Statues are made to remember great leaders.
Plaques on statues tell us who they were and what they did.
Memorials help us remember important events in history.
Statues teach us about past heroes and their work.

Written Sources

The following aspects are included in the written sources of Modern Indian History.

Newspapers And Periodicals

Newspapers provide us information about the contemporary events. Along with it, detail analysis of a particular event, views of eminent people, editorials are also published. We get information about the political, social, economic and cultural happenings of that period. In the pre independence period, newspapers like Dnyanoday, Dnyanprakash, Amrit Bazaar Patrika, Deenbandhu, Kesari acted as important source of awakening the minds of the people. Through the newspapers we can study the British policies regarding India and their effects on India. During the British period, newspapers were not only the source of political events but also acted as a source of social reformation. The Nibandhmala by Vishnushastri Chiplunkar and Shatapatre written by Lokahitawadi alias Gopal Hari Deshmukh in the weekly Prabhakar comments on various social and cultural issues.

Teacher's Note

Old newspapers are like time machines. When you read a newspaper from 100 years ago, you see exactly what people were thinking and doing at that time, just like reading your grandfather's diary!

Exam Trick

Remember: Newspapers = Daily history book. What is printed today becomes history tomorrow!

Points To Remember

Newspapers tell us what was happening at that time.
Old newspapers show us the thoughts and views of people.
Newspapers helped people learn about freedom and new ideas.
Reading old newspapers is like reading a real diary of that period.

Maps And Drawings

Map is also regarded as an important source of history. The changing nature of a city or a particular location can be traced through maps. The Survey of India was an independent department established during the British period. Through scientific methods of survey, they have created maps of India, various provinces of India, cities etc. Similarly, the plans designed by the architects prove important from the view of study of architecture of a building as well as phases of development process of a particular area. For example, the Department of Mumbai Port Trust has the original plan of the Bombay Port Information about development of Bombay city can be understood through the plans drafted by architects and engineers.

Teacher's Note

Maps are like photographs of the land. Old maps show us how cities looked before and help us see how cities have changed over time.

Exam Trick

Remember: Maps = Bird's eye view of history. They show how cities grew and changed shape over the years!

Points To Remember

Maps show us how places looked in the past.
Old maps help us understand city growth and changes.
Architects' plans tell us about buildings and their design.
Maps are drawn using scientific methods and are very accurate.

Oral Sources

The following sources are included in the oral sources of Modern Indian history.

Inspirational Songs

During the period of freedom movement various inspirational songs were composed. At present some of these songs are available in written form, but there are many other unpublished inspirational songs memorised by freedom fighters. Through these inspirational song we can get information about the conditions during pre independence period and also the spirit behind the freedom struggle could be understood.

Powada

Powada is a source for getting information about a historical event or the work of a person. There are various Powadas composed on freedom struggle of 1857, valour of revolutionaries during British rule etc. These Powadas were used to create motivation and spirit among the people. Apart from freedom movement, the Powadas were composed based on the work of Satyashodhak Samaj for awakening among the oppressed classes, the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and such other events.

Teacher's Note

Powadas are like history songs that tell stories of brave fighters. In Maharashtra, people still sing these songs to remember their heroes.

Exam Trick

Remember: Powadas = Songs that teach history. They are like rap songs of old times that tell stories of brave people!

Points To Remember

Inspirational songs tell us about the freedom movement.
Powadas are traditional songs that share history through music.
Many freedom fighters memorised these songs to remember them.
These songs show the spirit and feelings of that time period.

Video, Audio And Audio-Visual Sources

During the modern period, due to the development of Technology there was a development in the art of photography, recording, Films etc. Obviously, these photographs, records or films can be used as a source of history.

Photographs

Photograph are visual source of modern Indian history. With the discovery of art of photography, photograph of various persons, events, objects, structure, places were clicked. Through these photographs we get information of the person or an event in a visual format. In case of mediaeval period there are paintings available that depict the physical features of a person or visual description of a particular event, but the authenticity of these paintings is doubtful. Comparatively photographs are considered to be more reliable. The photograph of a person gives information about the physical features, dressing style etc. Photograph of an event give a visual image of the event whereas photograph of an object or a structure helps in understanding its nature.

Recordings

The discovery of technique of recording was also as important as photography. Recording is a form of audio source of history. During modern period, the speeches of leaders or important personalities, songs etc are available in the form of recordings. They can be used as a source of history. For example. National anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' sung by Rabindranath Tagore himself or the speeches of Subhash Chandra Bose can be used as an audio source for the study of history of Modern India.

Films

Films are considered as a unique discovery of modern technology. In the 20th century, there was a great development in the technique of filmmaking. Dada Saheb Phalke, in the year 1913, laid the foundation of Indian film industry. Audio visual recording of Dandi Yatra, Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement and such other historical incidents are available. Through these films the events could be seen in reality.

Teacher's Note

Photographs and videos are like time capsules. When we see old photos of freedom fighters or videos of historical events, we feel like we are there watching it happen!

Exam Trick

Remember: Photos and videos = True history. Unlike paintings, photos cannot be changed or made up. What you see in photos really happened!

Points To Remember

Photographs are more reliable than old paintings.
Recordings capture the real voices of important leaders.
Films help us see historical events as they actually happened.
Audio and video sources are modern technology for learning history.

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