MAH

M.A. HISTORY
SECOND YEAR COURSES

(MAH)

Assignments
For July 2024 and January 2025 Sessions
(For M.A. History 2nd Year Courses)

MHI-03: Historiography
MHI-06: Evolution of Social Structures in India
Through the Ages
MHI-08: History of Ecology and Environment: India
MHI-09: Indian National Movement
MHI-10: Urbanisation in India
MPSE-003: Western Political Thought (From Plato to
Marx)
MPSE-004: Social and Political Thought in Modern India

Faculty of History
School of Social Sciences
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068
 M.A. History - 2nd Year Assignments
July 2024 and January 2025 Sessions

Dear Student,

You have to do one assignment in each course of 8 and 4 credits. The assignments are compulsory.
The assignment will cover the whole course.

It is important that you write the answers to all the assignment questions in your own words. Your
answers should be within the approximate range of the word-limit set for a particular question.

The assignments should be submitted to the Coordinator of your Study Centre. You must obtain a
receipt from the Study Centre for the assignments submitted and retain it. If possible, keep a
photocopy of the submitted assignment with you.

The Study Centre will have to return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist on
this. The Study Centre in turn will send the marks to the Student Evaluation Division at IGNOU,
New Delhi. These will be entered in your grade card.

Submission of Assignments

You should note that the submission of assignments is compulsory before taking up Term-end
Examination. It is therefore suggested that you do them within time. In M.A. second year you will
have to do a total of 4 assignments. However, in case you have opted for MPSE-003 and MPSE-004
then you will have to do 5 assignments. We have given you a lot of time to do the assignments but we
advise you to do them one by one along with your study of the particular course and submit them so
that you may get back the marks and comments of the Counsellor with evaluated assignment. With a
proper planning you will be able to do them within the stipulated period. Please do not wait for the
last date to submit all the assignments because it would be difficult to do all of them in one go.

Last Date of Submission of Assignment

July 2024 Session Students 31st March, 2025

January 2025 Session Students 30th September 2025

Where to submit the assignments The Coordinator of your Study

Centre
Before attempting the assignments please read the detailed instructions provided in the Programme
Guide sent to you separately

Now read the following guidelines carefully before answering the questions:

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENTS

The assignments have two types of questions:

1) Essay Type Questions which you have to answer in about 500 words each carry 20 marks
each.
2) Short notes which you have to answer in about 250 words each carry 10 marks each.

You will find it useful to keep the following points in mind:

a) Planning: Read the assignments carefully. Go through the units on which they are based.
Make some points regarding each question and then re-arrange these in a logical order.

b) Organisation: Be a little more selective and analytical before drawing up a rough outline of
your answer. In an essay-type question, give adequate attention to your introduction and
conclusion. The introduction must offer your brief interpretation of the question and how you
propose to develop it. The conclusion must summarize your response to the question.

Make sure that your answer:

 is logical and coherent;
 has clear connections between sentences and paragraphs;
 is written correctly giving adequate consideration to your expression, style and
presentation;
 does not exceed the number of words indicated in your question.

c) Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answers, you can write down the final version
for submission, writing each answer neatly and underlining the points you wish to emphasize.

d) Interpretation: Interpretation is a constant process in history writing. It is already reflected in

your planning and selection. Explanatory comments with phrases like may be, because, could
be, etc., immediately introduce an element of interpretation in writing itself. Here you have to
be careful that these comments can be supportedby the material you have in the answer.
 MHI-03 HISTORIOGRAPHY
Course Code: MHI-03
Assignment Code: MHI-03/AST/TMA/2024-25
Total Marks: 100

Note: Attempt any five questions. The assignment is divided into two Sections ‘A’ and ‘B’.
You have to attempt at least two questions from each section in about 500 words each.
All questions carry equal marks.

Section-1

1. What is objectivity? What role does the interpretation play in history-writing? 20

2. What do you understand by ‘microhistory’? Describe the historians and their works related to
this tradition of history-writing. 20

3. Discuss the distinctive features of Greco-Roman historiography. 20

4. Who are considered to be the founders of the Annales School of historiography? Discuss their
works. 20

5. Describe the important features of Indo-Persian tradition of history-writing during the Sultanate
period 20

Section-2

6. Write a note on the Marxist historiography in the West after Second World War. 20

7. Compare the colonial historiography in India with the nationalist historiography. 20

8. What do you understand by the term ‘History from Below’? Discuss with particular reference to
Indian historiography. 20

9. Write a note on the feminist historiography in India. 20

10. Write short notes in about 250 words each on any two of the
following: 10+10

a) Generalisation
b) Different Views on Indian Renaissance
c) Early Indian history-writing
d) Postmodernism and History-writing.
 MHI-06: EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL STRUCTURES
IN INDIA THROUGH THE AGES

Course Code: MHI-06

Assignment Code: MHI-06/AST/TMA/2024-25
Total Marks: 100

Note: Attempt any five questions. The assignment is divided into two Sections ‘A’ and ‘B’.
You have to attempt at least two questions from each section in about 500 words each.
All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION- A

1. What are the historical tools used for writing the history of ancient India? Discuss. 20

2. Comment on the nature of the society in the paleolithic period. 20

3. What do rituals reveal about the nature of society in the Vedic period? Elaborate. 20

4. Comment on the socio-religious and intellectual ferment that marked the rise of
Buddhism and Jainism. 20

5. Discuss what is meant by the early medieval society? 20

SECTION- B

6. Comment on the nature of rural society in the peninsular India ? 20

7. Discuss the origin and rise of the Rajputs with reference to the researches of B. D.
Chattopadhyaya and N. Zeigler? 20

8. Comment on the nature of overseas migration during the colonial period.

20

9. Did colonialism shape the perceptions of caste? Discuss. 20

10. Comment on the participation of women in the national movement. 20

 MHI-08: HISTORY OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT: INDIA

Course Code: MHI-08

Assignment Code: MHI-08/AST/TMA/2024-25
Total Marks: 100

Note: Attempt any five questions. The assignment is divided into two Sections ‘A’ and ‘B’.
You have to attempt at least two questions from each section in about 500 words each.
All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION-A

1. Do you agree that nature of landscape influences the pattern of human settlements?
Elaborate with reference to Indian subcontinent. 20

2. Write a note on the human-natural resources use practices of pre-agricultural societies. 20

3. Ecological impacts of Colonial interventions on Indian natural resources have been the
prime concerns of environmental historians. 20

4. Discuss the pattern of agrarian expansion in the Indian subcontinent. 20

5. Discuss the introduction of bronze in Indian history and examine the significance of this
process. 20
SECTION-B

6. Write a note on the significance of conservation of Environment. 20

7. How did the Industrial revolution and its spread shaped the colonial power’s perception of
environment? 20

8. Pre-Colonial water management system was very different from the colonial water
management systems. Elaborate. 20

9. Is there an inevitable contradictions between ‘environment’ and ‘development”? Discuss. 20

10. Discuss the salient feature of Gandhi’s non-industrial model of development. 20

 MHI-09: INDIAL NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Course Code: MHI-09
Assignment Code: MHI-09/AST/TMA/2024-25
Total Marks: 100
Note: Attempt any five questions. The assignment is divided into two Sections 'A' and 'B'.
You have to attempt at least two questions from each section in about 500 words each.
All questions carry equal marks.

Section-I
1. Compare the views of the Marxist and Subaltern Studies historians on Indian nationalism.
20
2. Write a note on economic nationalism with special reference to Indian thinkers. 20
3. Discuss the ideologies and activities of the revolutionary nationalists during the 1920s and 1930s.
20
4. Write a note on the Non-cooperation movement. 20
5. Write short notes in about 250 words each on any two of the following: 10+10
a) Modernist theories on nationalism
b) Swadeshi movement
c) Political Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi
d) Political mobilisation in the Princely States.

Section-II
6. Describe the various forms which the popular protests took between 1945 and 1947. 20
7. Discuss the views of various historians regarding the relationship between nationalism and
peasantry. 20
8. Write a note on the relationship between the nationalist movement and the Dalits. 20
9. Analyse the Gandhian strategy to fight against the colonial state in India. 20
10. Write short notes in about 250 words each on any two of the following: 10+10 a)
Reasons for Congress’ Acceptance of Partition
b) The Attitude of the Indian Capitalists towards the Congress
c) The Relations between Congress and Muslims from 1885 to 1914
d) Salient Features of the Indian Constitution.
 MHI-10: URBANISATION IN INDIA

Course Code: MHI-10

Assignment Code: MHI-10/AST/ TMA/2024-25
Total Marks: 100

Note: Attempt any five questions. The assignment is divided into two Sections 'A' and 'B'. You
have to attempt at least two questions from each section in about 500 words each. All
questions carry equal marks.

SECTION-A

1. What are the markers of urban centres? Examine with reference to the historiography
of urbanism. 20

2. Discuss the main features of the city of Mohenjodaro. 20

3. Critically examine the characteristics of early historic urban centres in the Deccan. 20

4. Do you agree with the ‘theory of deurbanisation’ during post Gupta period in India?
Discuss. 20

5. Write short notes on any two of the following. Answer in about 250 words each.
10+10
i) City States
ii) Mohenjodaro: Public Architecture
iii) Mandu
iv) Social change and urban growth during early medieval India

SECTION-B

6. Cities of Delhi Sultanate were primarily garrison towns. Critically examine. 20

7. How did the city layout and courtly culture of Vijayanagara reflect the dominance of
Imperial control? 20

8. Discuss the rise and decline of Surat. 20

9. How did the concept of urban planning change during the Colonial period? 20

10. Write short notes on any two of the following. Answer in about 250 words each.
10+10
i) Gardens in Mughal Cities
ii) The City as the Site of Spectacle
iii) Health and Sanitation in the divided city
iv) New Risks and Contemporary Urbanism
 MPSE-003: WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT (From Plato to Marx)

Course Code: MPSE-003

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2024-25
Marks: 100

Note: Answer any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions from
each section. Each question carries 20 marks.

SECTION –I

1. How is Political thought distinguished from political theory and political philosophy?
Explain.

2. Discuss St. Thomas Aquina’s understanding of the relationship between the Church and the
State.

3. Comment on the following statement of J.S. Mill: “It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied
than a fool satisfied.”

4. What has been St. Augustine’s influence on western political thought? Examine.

5. Elaborate upon Machiavelli’s classification of governments.

SECTION –II

Write a short note on each part of the following questions in about 250 words.

6. a) Thomas Hobbes on the rights and duties of sovereign

b) Bentham’s political philosophy

7. a) J.S. Mill on Representative Government

b) Edmund Burke’s views on Religion and Toleration

8. a) Immanuel Kant’s transcendental–idealist view of human nature

b) Alexis de Tocqueville on religion

9. a) Plato’s methodology
b) Hegel’s theory of state

10. a) Marx’s Historical Materialism

b) John Locke on social contract and civil society
 MPSE-004: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN MODERN INDIA

Course Code: MPSE-004

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2024-25
Marks: 100

Note: Answer any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions from
each section. Each question carries 20 marks.

SECTION –I

1. Discuss the inter-relationship between religion and polity in pre-modern Indian Political
Thought.

2. Examine Sri Aurbindo’s critique of political moderates in Indian National Movements.

3. Examine the arrival of nationalism in early 19th century India.

4. Examine M.S. Golwalkar’s views on negative and positive Hindutva.

5. Discuss Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s views on caste system and its annihilation.

SECTION –II

Write a short note on each part of the following questions in about 250 words.

6. a) Swami Vivekananda on Nationalism

b) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s socialist thought

7. a) Role of Muslims in anti-imperialist movement in Colonial India

b) Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of secularism

8. a) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan on Hindu–Muslim unity

b) E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker on Dravidian Mobilisation

9. a) Philosophical Foundations of Gandhi’s political perspective

b) Jawaharlal Nehru’s Scientific Humanism

10. a) M.N. Roy’s Radical Humanism

b) Rabindranath Tagore’s critique of nationalism