Which statement is most suitable for source criticism in the context of the Bastar rebellion?

Correct answer: Official records should be read with local oral memories

The direct answer is A: official records should be read with local oral memories. Source criticism means comparing evidence rather than accepting one record as complete truth. An official report may record government actions, arrests or punishments, but it may minimize suffering or describe resistance from the ruler’s viewpoint. Oral memories may preserve community experiences, meanings and consequences, although they too should be checked for time, memory and perspective. A is correct because comparing different kinds of evidence gives a fuller and more balanced history. B is wrong because official records can be biased. C is wrong because local memories are valuable evidence, not automatically useless. D is wrong because a punishment list shows only one narrow aspect. Memory cue: one source gives one angle; comparison gives context.