📘 Class 8 – History | Chapter 1: Sources of History
Maharashtra State Board
✨ Chapter Overview
History helps us understand our past through different sources. These sources tell us how people lived, thought, ruled, and progressed. In this chapter, we study written, material, oral, and audio‑visual sources, with special focus on modern Indian history.
📝 Question 1: Choose the Correct Option
1️⃣ Among the historical sources, __________ sources are based on modern technology.
- a) Written
- b) Oral
- c) Material
- d) Audio‑visual ✔️
Answer: (d) Audio‑visual
2️⃣ The __________ is a museum in Pune which gives information about the life and history of Mahatma Gandhi.
- a) Aga Khan Palace ✔️
- b) Sabarmati Ashram
- c) Cellular Jail
- d) Lakshmi Vilas Palace
Answer: (a) Aga Khan Palace
3️⃣ A unique discovery of modern technology in the 20th century is __________.
- a) Powada
- b) Photograph
- c) Interviews
- d) Films ✔️
Answer: (d) Films
🧠 Question 2: Explain the Following with Reasons
📌 1) During the British period, newspapers also acted as a source of social reformation.
✔️ During the pre‑independence period, newspapers like Dnyanoday, Dnyanprakash, Amrit Bazaar Patrika, Deenbandhu, and Kesari played an important role in awakening society.
✔️ ‘Nibandhmala’ by Vishnushastri Chiplunkar and ‘Shatapatre’ by Lokhitawadi published in Prabhakar commented on social and cultural issues.
✔️ Newspapers opposed British imperialism and educated people about their rights and duties.
✔️ In April 1927, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar started Bahishkrut Bharat, which worked for social equality and unity among the oppressed classes.
✔️ Newspapers highlighted social evils like sati, child marriage, ban on widow remarriage, and encouraged reforms.
✔️ They informed people about British policies and their effects on India.
➡️ Thus, newspapers were not only political sources but also powerful tools of social reformation.
📌 2) Audio‑visual recordings are considered the most trustworthy source for the study of Modern Indian History.
✔️ Audio‑visual sources allow us to see and hear historical events as they actually happened.
✔️ Recordings of the Dandi March, Quit India Movement, and Salt Satyagraha are available.
✔️ Films also reflect social issues, traditions, beliefs, and political conditions of the time.
✔️ They help us understand history in a realistic and engaging manner.
➡️ Therefore, audio‑visual recordings are a unique and reliable discovery of the 20th century.
✍️ Question 3: Short Notes
📸 1) Photographs
📷 Photographs provide visual information about people, events, objects, and structures.
📷 Before photography, paintings were used, but their authenticity was often doubtful.
📷 Photographs are more reliable because the camera lens captures reality as it is.
📷 From photographs, we learn about physical features, clothing, lifestyle, and surroundings.
➡️ Hence, photographs are an important visual source of modern Indian history.
🏛️ 2) Museums and History
🏺 Museums preserve and display historical objects like tools, coins, paintings, clothes, and manuscripts.
🏺 Artefacts help us understand the economic, social, political, and religious life of earlier times.
🏺 Coins provide information about trade, economy, metals used, and ruling dynasties.
🏺 Museums show progress in art, sculpture, metallurgy, and tool‑making.
➡️ Thus, museums are an important source for writing and studying history.
🔊 3) Audio Sources
🎙️ Audio recordings are an important historical source.
🎙️ The invention of recording technology was a major milestone.
🎙️ Akashvani (All India Radio) and audio tapes preserve valuable historical content.
🎙️ National songs like ‘Jana Gana Mana’, speeches of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, and other leaders are preserved through audio sources.
🎙️ These sources help us understand the social, cultural, intellectual, and educational history of a period.
➡️ Audio sources bring history to life through sound and speech.