Examine the strengths and limitations of oral history. How have oral-history techniques furthered our understanding of Partition?
Oral history techniques help historians to write experiences of people during the time of partition. In fact, history of partition has been reconstructed with the help of oral narratives. It is not possible to extract such kind of information from government records. Government would not provide such information which paint them in bad colour. It will also not tell about the daily development of the events during the partition. Moreover, Government was involved in negotiation. Documents of government deal with policy matters and throw light on efforts of major political parties.
But the oral history tells the day to day account. It is told by the people who have actually gone through the trauma and pains of the partition.But the oral data is not free from limitations. Oral data lacks concrete details. It does not have the chronological order. Oral accounts are concerned with tangential issues and that small individual experiences are irrelevant to the unfolding of the larger canvas of history. In oral history people may not talk their personal aspects. They can hide even their fault or fault of their community as a whole. Many people may not remember all events. People tend to forget also. Accuracy of narration can also be questioned.
How did women experience Partition?
How did the Congress come to change its views on Partition?
Why is Partition viewed as an extremely significant marker in South Asian history?
Why was British India partitioned?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
What were Mahatma Gandhi’s arguments against Partition?
How did ordinary people view Partition?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?
On an outline map of India, trace the major rivers and hill ranges. Plot ten cities mentionedin the chapter, including Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, and prepare a brief note on why the importance of any two cities that you have marked (one colonial and one pre-colonial) changed in the nineteenth century.
Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the events of 1857.
Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh? What prompted the peasants, taluqdars and zamindars to join the revolt?
What were the arguments in favour of greater power to the provinces?
What connection did some of the members of the Constituent Assembly make between the political situation of the time and the need for a strong Centre?
In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
Why did the salt laws become an important issue of struggle?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?