Question 1:
Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer? Who else do you see in this picture?
Answer:
The original song is “Ae mere watan ke logon….” The singer is Lata Mangeshkar.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Laxmi Bai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi are also seen in the picture.
Question 2:
In Picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons”?
Answer:
Technologically, the East India Company was far superior to the Indian princes, who were constantly at war with each other. The Englishmen had access to better quality weapons. This prompted the Indian princes to seek their help in their fights. These internal rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one, and finally gain control over the whole of India.
Question 3:
Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)
Answer:
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative. The artisans suffered because the British were extracting very high taxes from them, which ruined them economically. Moreover, machine-manufactured goods imported from Britain were sold extensively, which ruined the business of the artisans’ hand-made goods.
Question 4:
Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?
Answer:
Picture 7 ‘The Sparks’ reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.
Working With the Text (Page 45)
Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?
Answer:
Yes, the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757.
Question 2:
How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Answer:
The Indian princes were constantly at war with each other. They called the English merchants to help them in their fights. The people had no peace due to such constant fights. The rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one.
Question 3:
Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Answer:
According to Ram Mohan Roy, “Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. Different teachers have different opinions, but the essence of every religion is the same.”
Question 4:
In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Answer:
To earn quick profits, the British imposed heavy taxes, thereby forcing the Indian farmers to abandon their fields. They decided to do away with import duty for goods manufactured in England. This crippled the Indian industries. In 1818, they passed Regulation III. Under it, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court. All the time British officers in India drew big salaries and also made fortunes in private business. By 1829, Britain was exporting British goods worth seven crore rupees to India. The British prospered on the Company’s loot, while the Indian industries began to die.
Question 5:
Name these people
(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society.
(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)
Answer:
(i) Kunwar Singh
(ii) Ram Mohan Roy
(iii) Macaulay
(iv) Maulvi Ahmedulla of Faizabad and Peshwa Nana Saheb
Question 6:
Mention the following.
(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.
(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.
(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.
Answer:
(i) Untouchability and child marriage
(ii) The British decided to do away with import duty on goods manufactured in England. This severely affected Indian industries.
In 1818, they passed Regulation III. Under it, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.
(iii) They lost their old jobs and lands. They were being converted by the British.
(iv) Discontent was brewing amongst the Indians. They felt that their kings who were supposed to be their protectors were mere puppets in the hands of the British. They lost their old jobs and lands. Taxes continued to ruin the peasants. There was discontent in the East India Company’s army too. The white soldier got huge pay, mansions to live in and servants, while the Indian soldiers got a pittance and slow promotions. Few Englishmen had cared to understand Indian customs or the people’s mind. The religious sentiments of both Hindus and Muslims were also hurt. The grease on the bullets they had to bite was made from the fat of cows and pigs.
Working With Language (Page 45)
In comics what the characters speak is put in bubbles. This is direct narration. When we report what the characters speak, we use the method of indirect narration.Study these examples:First farmer: Why are your men taking away the entire crop?Second farmer: Your men have taken away everything.Officer: You are still in arrears. If you don’t pay tax next week, I’ll send you to jail.
- The first farmer asked the officer why his men were taking away the entire crop.
- The second farmer said that their men had taken away everything.
- The officer replied that they were still in arrears and warned them that if they did not pay tax the following week, he (the officer) would send them (the farmers) to jail.
1.Change the following sentences into indirect speech.
(i) First man: We must educate our brothers.Second man: And try to improve their material conditions.Third man: For that we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.The first man said that________________ a__________________________________The second man added that they _____b______________________________________The third man suggested that___________ c__________________________________(ii) First soldier: The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions and servants.Second soldier: We get a pittance and slow promotions.Third soldier: Who are the British to abolish our customs?The first soldier said that______________ a___________________________________The second soldier remarked that_____ b ______________________________________The third soldier asked___________________ c________________________________
Answer:
(i)(a) they must educate their brothers.(b) should try to improve their material conditions,(c) they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.(ii)(a) the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.(b) they got a pittance and slow, promotions.(c) who the British were to abolish their customs.
