History and Art and Culture Revision Strategy Prelims 2020

  • September 29, 2020
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: Prelims
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How to revise history and Art and culture for Prelims 2020 in the last 10 days By Santosh Sir

History is feared by many UPSC aspirants. Many are scared because of the vast syllabus, particularly ancient and medieval history. If you don’t have a good revision strategy, you will waste a lot of time in the last few days to cover history. Your anxiety level will increase if you start reading new things in art and culture. What to do and what to avoid is the purpose of this article.

I have come out with an optimal revision plan for history.

Brace yourself up as here we go!!

My Strategy:

I would recommend first you should try to revise modern India. The reason is that it is easy and most of the candidates have a comfort level with this part of the syllabus.

Start with European conquest and consolidation of British Rule. In this portion focus upon the chronology of entry of Europeans and the various important battle fought. Then, you should revise the British economic and political policies like Land revenue, Education policy, and legal reforms. Here, you should focus on the names of governor-general who have introduced these policies.

Then you should move to protest against British Rule. Start with tribal and peasant movements. This is important this year as the Moplah Rebellion has been in news. There is various farmers’ protest going on which makes peasant movement very important for this year.

Then you should cover the 1857 revolt.

Moving forward, you should revise social reform movements. In this chapter, you should focus on Sri Narayan Guru and Periyar. The anti-Brahmin movement and Temple entry movement (Vaikom Satyagraha) is important this year. Other reform movements like Arya Samaj and Aligarh movement are also relevant this year.

Coming to the National movement, revise all the pre-congress organizations. Here focus must be on Dada Bhai Naroji led organizations. The formation of INC is an evergreen topic for prelims.

Next, you should prepare the Swadeshi Movement very deeply this year. The call for Aatamanirbhar Bharat makes it relevant. Personalities like LAL, BAL, PAL, Aurobindo, and PC Ray are very relevant.

The next important topics which come to my mind are the Ghadar movement, Rawlatt Satyagraha, Jallianwala episode, and the Non-cooperation movement. Khilafat Movement may be also asked as Turkey was in news.

Prepare Non –Cooperation movement in-depth, I am expecting at least one question from this.

Going ahead, Revolutionary movement like HSRA and personalities associated with it is important.

Next, events leading to Subhas Chandra Bose exit from INC and the response of INC to the Second World War is very important this year. Please prepare this period well.

Then come various events culminating into India’s freedom and partition like the August offer, Cripps mission, and Cabinet Plan. Kindly prepare these events with exact chronology and the respective Governor-General that time.

One of the most probable topic this year is INA and events associated with it. Kindly revise it properly.

Because of the NRC and CAA issue, Nehru Liaqat Pact is also relevant this year.

The complete list of Important topics of MODERN HISTORY are as follows:-

  1. Mahatma Gandhi – 150th birth anniversary
  2. Sardar Patel
  3. World War1 – National War memorial
  4. INA – the 75th Anniversary & focus on Subhash Bose
  5. Subhash Bose – Present Government & controversy regarding some files related to him and the official secrets act.
  6. Jallianwala Bagh massacre- 100th anniversary & Jallianwala bagh national Memorial Act,2018
  7. Treaty of Sagauli -India Nepal border dispute regarding Kalapani
  8. Anglo-Maratha war- Bhima-Koregaon incident.
  9. Educational developments in the colonial period, Macaulay’sminutes, education commissions – focus on National education policy & issues surrounding three language formula
  10. Colonial laws – Arms act recently amended & Issues surrounding the Sedition clause, official secrets act, police activity, etc.
  11. Cellular Jail at Andaman relevance:- Names changed recently.
  12. Vivekananda – Focus of Present government
  13. Swadeshi and Boycott movement – concepts such as Atmanirbhar and Atmasakti have their roots in the S&B movement.
  14. Non-cooperation movement -100th anniversary.
  15. political history and administration system of Marathas – Recently Tanha Ji movie was launched and the rise of shiv sena in Maharashtra politics
  16. Poona Pact and Ambedkar – Discussions regarding reservation and Rise of Ambedkarite movements.
  17. Ghadr movement, Freedom movements outside India – Canadian P.M apologized. A question on the same was asked four years before so there are high chances, it can get asked this time too.
  18. History of state reorganization – Related topics are Greater Nagalim movements and unrest in the north east. Post independent history asked last year also.
  19. The Nehru-Liaqat pact, AssamAccord, Bangladesh liberation war with recent CAA and NRC issues.
  20. Post independent political developments such as Rise of Jana Sangh.
  21. Malabar rebellion – Malabar rebellion is going to be commemorated after 100 years.
  22. Lal-Bal-Pal – To mark the death centenary of Tilak, Pune-based NGO is planning to launch a series of literary and cultural programs to strengthen connections between Maharashtra and West Bengal to revive the Independence-era spirit of the ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’
  23. Dada Bhai Naroji – DadabhaiNaroji is commemorated on his death anniversary.
  24. Quit India Movement – The 78th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, famously known as the August Revolution in the history of India’s freedom movement, falls on August 9.
  25. Cellular jail – Ministry of Tourism organizes Independence Day themed webinar titled “Cellular Jail: Letters, Memoirs & Memories” under the DekhoApnaDesh webinar series
  26. Polygars – Lesser-known stories of India’s struggle against the British”
  27. Aurobindo Ghosh
  28. Periyar
  29. Vaikom Satyagraha
  30. Anti Brahmin Movement

Once you are done with modern India, you can start with Ancient History. I recommend preparing ancient history along with art and culture.

This year many developments happened in ancient history. In Ancient History, Indus valley civilization sites and trade relations are very relevant this year because a national maritime heritage complex is being planned.

In Indus valley civilizations, Professor Shinde studied a distinct genetic lineage of Indus valley settlers. An international discussion on the genetics and origin of Aryans is being discussed internationally. On the other side, Scientist Nishant malik researched the fall of the Indus valley civilization.

In Union Budget 2020-2021, Government has also proposed to develop four archaeological sites in Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Shivsagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat), and Adichanallur in (Tamil Nadu) with on sites museums.

Sangam age is very relevant this year because of the recent keeladi excavation. This has led to studies regarding a new Vaigai civilization in south India, the origins of urbanization, relation with Harappa civilization, and correlation with Sangam literature.

List of the few most important topics related to Ancient history is as follows:-

  1. Indian ancient languages and literature – A recent UNESCO report highlighted the extinction of indigenous languages. There is also a rising demand for classical language status for Marathi. In previous years, Similar questions on Apabramsha/Classical languages have already been asked.
  2. Brihadeshwara temple – Recently ‘Kumbh’ organized after 23 years
  3. Ancient Indian universities – More studies about Teladhaka university and Nalanda university was in news. Recently, the Government is focussing more on traditional knowledge and cultural exchange. The government has also unveiled a new education policy.

Once you revise Modern India & Ancient History, You must move to Medieval History now.

In 2019, Guru Nanak Jayanti was widely celebrated as It marked the 550th anniversary of Sikhism founder. This made Sikhism as a religion an important topic to be asked.

Recently birth anniversary of Kabir das Ji was celebrated who is a renowned poet, saint, and social reformer who lived in the 15th century.

Who was ChaolungSukapha and what was his role in Assam? This must be a hot topic for UPSC as recently political commentator Garga Chatterjee faces arrest for her remarks.

New Education policy is launched this year so earlier developments related to Indian education can find a place in UPSC prelims 2020.

More Important topics of Medieval History are as follows –

  1. Guru Nanak, Sikhism, and Bhakti – 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev & Opening of Kartarpur Corridor.
  2. Shankardeva – Question on Chaitanya already asked in Mains 2018 and Bhaona, an art form developed by him was performed at Abudhabi in English. It is mentioned in the NCERT book also.
  3. Kabir – 500th birth anniversary and Relevance of Kabirpreachings in the 21st century.
  4. Medieval literature – Padmavati as UPSC has begun to ask questions from medieval India since last year.
  5. Bhakti Saints – The second-largest sitting statue of Ramanuja is being constructed at Hyderabad and the Statue of Adinath
  6. Markhandeshwara temple at Gadchiroli, Maharashtra – ASI restored it recently. Also, Gadchoroli was in news for Naxalism.
  7. Vedantadeshikan – 750th birth anniversary. Vaishnava tradition and New stamp released
  8. Chebrolu inscription, Famous inscriptions in India – Chebrolu inscription is the earliest Sanskrit inscription in south India.
  9. Port cities in India – Digital reconstruction of Puhar is being done. Kerala Muziris Biennale exhibition. A similar port-related question was asked in 2017.
  10. Scientific contributions of Ancient India and famous Scientific literature – Controversy surrounding Indian Science Congress and Emphasis on Ayushand such traditional knowledge. This kind of question has not been asked for a while so chances are high this time.
  11. Indian colleges and universities – Seramporecollege, the first modern college in India, completed 200 years in 2018. New national education policy.
  12. Paika rebellion – 1200 years and was in news as the ‘first war of Indian independence’.Also, the President laid the foundation stone for its memorial.
  13. Stupa art and architecture – Recently, Chaukhandi stupa declared as a site of national importance by ASI.
  14. Ahom kingdom – Assam state government has ordered the arrest of a political commentator who had described ChaolungSukapha as a “Chinese invader”
  15. Guru kaLangar – In Delhi, since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, one lakh meals have been served to poor and migrant laborers through the community kitchen of Sikhs.
  16. DaraSikhon
  17. Mughal Chronicles

Moving to our last topic of Art and Culture.

In religion, You should prepare Buddhism and Jainism properly. Every year one question is expected from this section. I believe, this year Buddhism can come.

If we go further Thirukkuzhal and Thiruvalluvar are important ones as a statue of Thiruvalluvar was vandalized recently. Similarly, Mallapuram and Pallava architecture was in news.

Navroz, the Iranian New Year, Persian New Year was celebrated on March 20 this year. While the festival is a holy festival for the Zorastian, some Muslim and Iranian communities, it is celebrated by several faiths across the world.

Recently, Bandish Bandits, a new Amazon Prime web series has opened up conversations around the tradition and discipline of Hindustani classical music. It makes this topic highly debatable.

Now the Complete List of Important topics of Art and culture are –

  1. Raja Parba – Prime minister greeted the people of Odisha for the Raja Parba celebration.
  2. Kodumanal excavation – The Kodumanal excavation in Tamil Nadu of 10 pots and bowls, instead of the usual three or four pots, placed outside three-chambered burial cists and inside the cairn-circle, threw light on burial rituals and the concept of the afterlife in megalithic culture.
  3. Zardozi – Zardozi workers have been left with joblessness due to lockdown.
  4. Mongolian Kanjur Manuscripts – The first set of five volumes of Mongolian Kanjur published under the National Mission for Manuscripts was presented to the President of India on the occasion of Guru Purnima, also known as Dharma Chakra Day, on 4th July 2020
  5. Gothic architecture
  6. Warli painting
  7. Navroz festival
  8. Saint Ravidasa
  9. Indian theatre – Theatre director EbrahimAlkazi, who revolutionized Indian theatre and was the longest-serving director of the National School of Drama, passed away.
  10. Indian philosophy
  11. Indian traditional medicine
  12. Scientific development in medicine
  13. Classical music and Gharana

You might be thinking today the list and Blog are very long but trust me I have listed only recent and important developments for your last touchup.

I have to make sure, you do not miss any topic related to History this year. We all know how one mark can make a difference in UPSC Prelims.

If you have your basics strong + You remember the recent happenings or current events, trust me no one can stop you to crack this exam.

My all endeavors are only to get you to succeed.

Wishing you lots of success.

Have a great exam ahead.