PRELIMS : Conventional Papers Free Samples

PRELIMS : Conventional Papers Free Samples - By crackias.com

GEOGRAPHY

THE GIFT OF THE NILE - THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
• Egypt is a part of Great Sahara Desert. Large part of country is Desert because of scanty rainfall.
• River NILE - Only river of Egypt. Longest River of the world. Source lies in Lake Victoria (located in equatorial region). The Blue Nile and White Nile meet at Khartoum in Sudan. It finally reaches Mediterranean Sea. Nile and Zaire not used for shipping.
• Mineral oil is the most important wealth of Egypt, found in SINAI and along Red Sea.
• AL QANIRA (CAIRO) - Capital City. Largest city of Africa. On river Nile. Famous Pyramids and Sphinx located near it.
• ALEXANDERIA: Chief Sea Port and second largest city of Egypt. On the mouth of river Nile. Important cotton exporting port of Egypt.
• EL-GIZA: Important city of Egypt located on Nile. Famous pyramids and sphinx located here.
• PORT SAID - A port on Mediterranean Sea, at the entrance of Suez Canal in Egypt, important for export trade.
• Cotton is most important cash crop of Egypt. Needs fertile soil, high temp and abundant sunshine. (Rain, fog, dust and pests can damage it).
• Dates are important product grown especially in oasis.
• Suez Canal - In 1869, this canal was cut across Isthmus which separates Africa and Asia. It now links Mediterranean Sea with Red Sea, 173 km long. Ferdinand Lesseps built suez canal.
• KHAMSIN - Hot, dry and sand laden winds blow from south during early summer ie April - May.
• FELLAH - Egyptian Farmer.
LAND OF GOLD AND DIAMONDS - SOUTH AFRICA
• The first European settlers in South Africa were the Portuguese and Dutch. The early colonists came to be known as "Afrikaners".
• APARTHEID - Policy of segregation of people on the basis of their race or colour of skin. In 1994 - Non white got voting rights. Dr. Nelson Mandela was first Black President.
• The Drakensberg Mountains in East form the Edge of this plateau.
• The Orange and Vaal rivers flow from Drakensberg mountain westward to Atlantic Ocean.
• The plateau region is covered with grasses. It is called Veld.
• It is the most industrialized country of Africa.
• Mining is the most important activity.
• JOHANNESBURG - Largest city of South Africa. World famous for Gold-Mining.
• Kimber Lay : Center of Diamond Mining in South Africa.
• TSHWANE(earlier name PRETORIA) - Administrative Capital of South Africa.
• CAPE TOWN - Seat of Legislature (legal capital) and Largest Port of South Africa. On Cape of Good Hope.
• BLOEMFONTEIN: Judicial Capital.
• Durban: Important Port of South Africa located on East Coast.
• Port Elizabeth: Important Port of South Africa located in South. On Algoa Bay.
• Maize is most important crop.
• MERINO SHEEP - Famous for fine wool (South Africa).



DESERTS
• SAHARA: A hot tropical desert, Largest in the world, situated in Northern Africa.
• LIBYA: A hot dry desert which huge petroleum deposits, situated in Northern Africa.
• NUBIAN: A hot tropical desert, situated in Sudan along Red Sea.
• ARABIAN: A hot tropical desert with rich petroleum deposits, situated in Egypt. (EASTERN)
• KALAHARI: Lying along the Tropic of Capricorn in S W Africa, inhabited by the 'Bushman.'
• NAMIB: A hot desert in Namibia drained by Cold Benguela current, with diamond deposits.
• SINAI: Desert Peninsula of Egypt, to the east of Suez canal, with rich petroleum deposits.
• KARU: A temperate desert with stepped topography in South Africa.
AGRICULTURE & FORESTS
• Food Crops - Root Crops such as Yam, Cassava. Maize is an important cereal.
• Cash Crops - Cocoa, Palm oil, Coconut, Coffee, Cotton, Sisal
COCONUT PALM OIL PALM DATE PALM
Found in tropical Islands Zanzibar & Pemba, Tanzania Nigeria exports a good deal of it Grows in oases in drier regions
Egypt exports it.
Food for local people

• CASSAVA - Important plant of tropical region. The roots of plants are eaten as food.
• CACAO - Grow well in equatorial lowlands. Ghana& Nigeria export it.
• CACAO and KOLA trees provide beverages.
• KOLA - Cola drinks & Chewing gum.
• SISAL -Fiber used for making ropes and sacks. Africa is World's largest producer. TANZANIA - Exporter of Sisal (Poor, sandy soil).
• MEDITERRANEAN region important for olives, apples, peaches and grapes.
• ZANZIBAR AND PEMBA ISLANDS - Biggest producer and exporters of Cloves in the world. Also famous for Coconuts.
• Ostrich in Kalahari Desert (fast running bird)

LAND OF FORESTS - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE)
• CONGO was ruled by Belgium and became independent in 1960.
• ZAIRE RIVER - Drains most of the parts of Dem. Rep. of Congo. Known as Congo in later part. Discharges water into Atlantic Ocean. Carries greatest volume of water among all rivers of Africa. Not used for shipping.
• The Congo basin is saucer shaped depression surrounded by plateaus.
• Congo lies in equatorial region. (High temperature, Heavy rainfall).
• Land is covered by Tropical Rain Forests (evergreen).
• Agriculture and mining are two important Economic activities of people, as it is rich in several natural resources.
• KANANGA - One of the largest producers of Copper and Industrial Diamond in world.
• LIKAZI (Jodotville): Famous for processing Agriculture & Minerals.
• LUBUMBASI (Elizabethville) - Commercial and industrial centre of Democratic Republic of Congo, rich in mineral resources.
• MATADI: Chief Riverine port of Dem. Rep. Of Congo. On river Congo.
• KINSHASA: Largest city. Located on river Zaire.
• KISHANGANI: Important Industrial city of Dem. Rep. Of Congo. On river Congo, near equator.

LAND OF PALM OIL - NIGERIA
• Nigeria is world's Largest exporter of Palm Kernels, Palm Oil and Groundnuts. Second largest producer of Cocoa.
• Animal Rearing - Important in Northern grasslands.
• Tiber and Plywood are important exports.
• Country of lowlands and plateau.
• It is one of largest mineral oil producing countries of Africa.
• Plateau of Jos: Located in the North. Many Industrial Centers located over it. Four hydel power stations located here. Here woodlands gradually give place to grasslands.
• Kano/Kaduna : Important Industrial Centers. Located on the plateau of Jos.
• Lagos: Largest city and Industrial Center of Nigeria. Located on Gulf of Guinea. Earlier the capital of Nigeria. New Capital is Abuja.
• Ibadan: Largest city of Nigeria.
• Port Harcourt: Principal Port city and Industrial Center of Nigeria. Located on Gulf of Guinea. On mouth of River Niger.
• Port Harcourt - City in Niger Delta, leading port and major industrial centre.
• Ibadan - City in Nigeria, has airport and railroad link and acts as centre of trade for the farming area.
• NIGER RIVER - Country is named after it. It drains greater part of Nigeria before it falls into GULF OF GUINEA.
• KAINJI Dam on River Niger.
• Rivers of North Eastern part of country flow into Lake Chad. Forming an Inland Drainage System.
• HARMATTAN - Hot and dust-laden winds often blow from the northeast during this season.
Important Note: Geography is one subject which needs high command over the maps. We suggest you to keep Orient Longman Atlas with you while you go through this material. Without doing that, it would be nothing else than wasting time on this content.
• African continent is separated from Europe by Mediterranean Sea and from Asia by Red Sea.
• It touches Eurasia at 3 pts: -
Strait of Gibralter in North-West.
Suez Canal in North-East.
Strait of Bab-el-Mandab in East.
• Africa consist of several plateaus, plateau is higher in South and East.
• RIFT VALLEY - One of special physical features of Africa. A Rift Valley is a long and deep valley formed due to cracks or rifts in the land. Running from south of Lake Malawi northward to Red Sea and then through Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqfuaba to DeadSea
• Kilimanjaro Mt.: Highest peak of Africa. Situated in Tanzania.
• Pemba / Zanzibar: Tiny Island situated off the Coast of Tanzania. Biggest producer and exporters of cloves in the world.
• Arranged from west to east, the Atlantic Coasts of South West Africa are Grain coast, Ivory coast, Gold coast and Slave coast (GIGS).
• SWAHILI - A language understood by many people.
• ANIMISM - Religion followed by many tribes (love and respect of Nature).
• Prime Meridian (Greenwich Line) pass through Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana arranged from North to South. It also cuts Togo, Lake Volta and River Niger.
• Both Tropic of Cancer and Prime Meridian cross each other at ALGERIA
• Equator and Greenwich meet at "South Atlantic Ocean".


HISTORY

CHISTI SAINTS
Khwaja Muin-ud-din-Chisti: established Chisti Silsila in India.
• Made Ajmer his Headquarters. One of his disciple Hamidudin Nagori established his Khanqah in Nagaur (Rajasthan). Became non-vegeterian and live the life of simple peaseant
• Khwaja's other disciple Qutub-din-Baktiyar Kaki established Chisti Silsila in Delhi. Qutub Minar is named after him.
• Kaki's disciple Baba Farid Ganj-e-shakar based himself in Ajodhan. Known as founder of Punjabi language and his verses are found in Guru Granth Sahib.
• His famous diciple was Nizamudin Auliya in Delhi. Also known as Mehboob-e-Illahi.
• Amir Khusaro was diciple of auliya.
• Auliya conversed with Nathpanti Sadhu's and was venerated by people of all religions. He was given title SIDH by Nathpantis.
• Last important Chisti suffi of Delhi was Nasserudin Chirag-e- Delhi.
• Burhanuddin Gharib was taken to Daultabad by Mohd Bin Tughlaq. Thus Chisti silsila reached Deccan. Gesu Daraz was important sufi saint of Deccan.

SUHRAWARDI SILSILA
• Popular in Multan, Lahore and Sindh.
• Considered as more orthodox then Chisti.
• Baha-ud-din Zakaria greatest saint of this silsila.
• Accepted royal patronage and donations.
• Hated sama and other practices of Chisti's like shaving of head etc.
• Baha-ud-din Zakaria invited Iltutmish to attack Qubacha in Multan and was given title of Shaikh-ul-Islam by Iltutmish.
• Another great Surhavardi saint was Rukn-ud-din Abul Fath.

NAQSHBANDI SILSILA
• POPULARIZED BY BABUR
• Khwaja Baqu Billah came to India to oppose Akbar's liberal policies [1563-1603]
• His disciple Sheikh Ahmed Sarhindi called himself Mujaddin (renovator of I millennium of Islam.)
• Opposed both Shias and Hindus
• Orthodox in outlook
• Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi propounded the concept of Wahadid-ul-Shujud and was imprisoned by Jahangir
• Aurangzeb was initiated into Naqshbandiya order.

QADARIYA SILSILA
• MIYA MIR or MIR MOHD. was important saint of the silsila
• He was associated with Guru Ramdas in laying the foundation of the Golden Temple at Amritsar
• Dara Shukoh and Jahanara joined Qadariya silsila under the influence of Mullan Shah Badakshi.
• Dara Shukoh (elder son of Shahjahan) was of liberal nature and wrote Majma-ul-Bahrain.
• Khwaja Sarmad (teacher of Dara) was executed by Aurengjeb.

OTHER ISLAMIC SECTS AND THEIR LEADERS
• Firdausi Silsila - Sheikh Yahya Munyari. Popular in Bihar.
• Sattariya Silsila - Sheikh Mohd. Ghaus - a teacher of tansen.
• Kubrawiya Silsila introduced by Mir Sayed Ali Hamdani in Kashmir.
• Rishi movement: Sheikh Nurudin began the rishi movement in Kashmir which was synthesis of Kashmiri Shaivism and Islamic thought.
• Roshaniya movement- founded by Bayazid Ansari - influenced tribal communities of North West frontiers and instigated their rebellious activities which created trouble for Mughal rulers from Akbar to Aurangjeb
• Mahadi movement- founded by Sheikh Mohd. Mahadi of Jaunpur during Sikander Lodhi's time

LITERARY ACTIVITIES OF SUFIS
• Sufis preached in the language of the common people. This led to development of vernacular languages such as Punjabi, Hindawi etc.
• Baba Farid is known as father of Punjabi.
• Amir Khusro is considered as father of Hindawi.
• Mulla Daud wrote Chandayan in Hindawi.
• Zia Nakshabi, a sufi was first to translate Sanskrit text into Persian called Tutinama.
• Malik Mohd Jaisi wrote the famous Padmavat.

MODERN INDIA

Revolutionary Terrorism Ph. II (1924-1932)
Withdrawl of non-cooperation movement led to disillusionment and frustration among politically conscious youth.
Many of them took up arms to challenge the might of British Empire.
This phase was different from earlier one in its emphases on secularism, socialism and participation of woman.
IMPORTANT EVENTS
• Gopinath Saha tried to assassinate police commissioner Tegart of Calcutta. (1924)
• Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) formed in 1924
• Founder members
Sachin Sanyal
Chandrasekhar Azad
Ramprasad Bismil
• In Kakori conspiracy case (1925), members of HRA were arrested, 4 of whom where hanged.
Ramprasad Bismill
Ashfaqulla Khan
Roshan Lall
Rajendra Lahiri
• Chandershekhar Azad reorganized the group and under influence of Bhagat Singh it got socialist orientation and hence new name Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.
• Bhagat Singh had earlier formed Punjab Naujawan Sabha (1926) and also wrote "why I am an atheist" (1930)
• Enraged by fatal attack on Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Azad and Rajguru assassinated Sounders, the officer who led the attack on 17 Dec. 1928.
• Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw a harmless bomb in central legislative assembly in 1929 against public safety bill and trade disputes bill.
• Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev arrested in Lahore conspiracy case in 1929 and hanged in 1931 March.
• Jatin Das, member of HSRA, died after 64 day hunger strike in jail.
• Chandershekhar Azad killed in police firing at Alfred Park in Lucknow in 1931.

Revolutionary Movement in Bengal.
• Led by Surya Sen of IRA (Indian Republican Army), also known as Masterda.
• Carried out an attack on Chittagang armoury in 1930 and formed provisional government.
• Women revolutionaries like Preetilata Wadedwar and Kalpana Dutt participated in Chittagang armoury raid.
• In Bengal, participation of women in revolutionary movement was very important.
• Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Chaudhary killed District Magistrate of Tippera
• Bina Das fired at Bengal Governor
• By 1932 revolutionary movement receded due to brutal suppression by colonial authorities


BOOKS AND REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT PHASE - II
AUTHORBOOKSIGNIFICANCE
Sachin Sanyal Bandi Jiwan Known as Bible of revolutionaries
Sarat Chandra Chatterjee Pather Dabi Banned by government for its radical undertones.
B.C. Vohra, C.Azad etc. Philosophy of Bomb Expounds aims objectives of revolutionary movement.
Bhagat Singh Why I am an atheist Bhagat Singh's political ideas.



MEDIEVAL INDIA

SUFISM
• Sufism is a mystical movement in Islam. It emphasized on devotion to god and universal brotherhood.
• Earliest Sufi saint in India was DATTA GANJ BAKSH.
• ABUL FAZL IN HIS AKBARNAMA GIVES - 14 SUFI SILSILAS(ORDERS)
• Most of the orders remained in fold of Islam.
• They are divided into
Be-Shara - deviated from Shariat
Ba-Shara - followed Shariat.
• Headquarters of Sufis are known as KHANQAHS or Hospices but some like Qalandars didn't live in settled Khanqahs called DARVESH.

CHISTI SILSILA
• Most influential in India. They were active in and around Delhi including Rajasthan, parts of Punjab and Western U.P.
• They belived in Wahadat-ul-Wajud [unity of being].
• They engaged in Music and Dance called SAMA
• Doctrine of Wajud was near to that of Vedanta
• A Chisti saint was known - Pir
• His disciple saint was known - Murid
• His successor - Wali (or deputy for spiritual work)
• Chistis often came in conflict with rulers but identified with common people. According to a Sufi legend , Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq came in conflict with Chisti saint Nizam-ud-din Auliya. Tughlaq wanted to punish Auliya but the saint declared fearlessly "HUNOZ DILLI DOOR AST" (Delhi is far away) and sultan died accidentally on his way to Delhi.
Courtesy : cracking ias .com