Question 1

Question 1(a) Identify the person in the given picture. Name the organisation formed by him. State any two beliefs of this organisation with regard to upliftment of women.(b) Mention his contribution to the growth of Indian National movement.(c) How did the socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century act as pioneers of Indian Nationalism?

Accepted Answer

(a) The person in the given picture is Jyotiba Phule. In 1873, he founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj.Two beliefs of this organisation with regard to upliftment of women were —Jyotiba Phule and his organisation considered women superior to men and to maintain it he wanted to provide education to women.Jyotiba Phule and his organisation pioneered the widow remarriage movement in Maharashtra and started a private orphanage for the widows.(b) The contributions of Jyotiba Phule to the growth of Indian National movement were:He worked for the upliftment of women. To provide them education, he along with his wife Savitribai Phule started one of the first girls school in Pune.'He pioneered widow remarriage and started a private orphanage for the widows.He considered the caste system prevalent in India as an epitome of slavery. In his famous book, 'Ghulamgiri', he described the hardships and distress felt by the lower castes.In 1873, he founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj with the aim of securing social justice for the weaker sections of society.(c) The socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century were great pioneers of Indian nationalism in the following ways:The impact of Western education, which led to a rational, humanitarian and scientific approach to life, made the educated Indians realise the need to reform their religion and society.The reformers condemned untouchability and the caste system. The ideas of brotherhood and equality attracted the so called lower castes.The reformers taught people not to ignore the importance of women, who could participate in the national movement.In the social sphere, these movements worked for the abolition of caste system, child marriage, dowry system, purdah system, sati and infanticide.In the religious sphere, these reform movements combated religious superstitions, attacked idolatry, polytheism and hereditary priesthood.The reform movements created a consciousness of a new society devoid of privileges based on caste, creed or religion.They protested against the British domination of India. Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda proclaimed the superiority of Indian culture and civilisation. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was the first to use the word 'Swaraj' and to raise the slogan 'India for the Indians'.

Question 2

Question 5Name any two prominent newspapers of the 19th century which played a significant role in arousing national sentiment among the Indians.

Accepted Answer

Two prominent newspapers of the 19th century which played a significant role in arousing national sentiment among the Indians are-Samwad KaumudiAmrit Bazar Patrika

Question 3

Question 6State any two issues that the socio-religious reform movements worked for.

Accepted Answer

Two issues that the socio-religious reform movements worked for are-Sati prathaChild marriage

Question 4

Question 7Name any two socio-religious reformers who prepared the ground for national movement.

Accepted Answer

Two socio-religious reformers who prepared the ground for national movement are-Raja Rammohan RoyJyotiba Phule

Question 5

Question 8Write a short note on Raja Rammohan Roy's approach to religion.

Accepted Answer

Raja Rammohan Roy was a great humanist, who stressed the unity of all religions. As a young man, he studied Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy, the Quran, the Bible as well as Persian and Arabic literature.In 1809, he wrote in Persian, Gift of Monotheists in which he put forth his views against beliefs in many Gods and for the worship of a single God. He strongly held the view that all the principal ancient texts of the Hindus preached monotheism.In 1814, he started the Atmiya Sabha and carried on a persistent struggle against worship of idols and meaningless religious rituals. In 1828, he founded Brahmo Samaj. It believed in monotheism, condemned idol worship and laid emphasis on prayer, meditation, charity, morality and strengthening the bonds of unity between men of all religions and creeds.

Question 6

Question 9Name the organisation founded by Raja Rammohan Roy. Why did he establish this organisation?

Accepted Answer

In 1828, Raja Rammohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj.This organisation was established to reform Hindu religion — promote monotheism, condemn idol worship, lay emphasis on prayer, meditation, charity, morality and strengthen the bonds of unity between men of all religions and creeds.

Question 7

Question 10Read the excerpt, from a British newspaper, given below and answer the question that follows:What does the Viceroy propose doing? It is, in a few words, to bind, for the first time in history, the European British subjects of Her Majesty in the interior of India to submit to be tried on criminal charges by a native of the country, provided he belong to the covenanted Civil Service and get the power from Government. Europeans criminally accused have hitherto been able to claim a trial by one of their own countrymen. The right of making this claim is to be taken away.Which bill is being proposed by the Viceroy to in the above excerpt? What was its implication on the Indian judicial system?

Accepted Answer

The bill being proposed by the Viceroy in the above excerpt is Ilbert Bill (1883).This bill challenged the racial superiority of Europeans in India by proposing to provide for the trial of British or European persons by Indians. By this Act, the British tried to introduce equality between British and Indian judges in India.

Question 8

Question 11Mention two main objectives of the Indian Association.

Accepted Answer

Two main objectives of the Indian Association are-Creation of a strong body of public opinion.Integration of Indian people on the basis of common political interests.

Question 9

Question 12Mention the regional association that each nationalist was associated with:(a) Surendranath Banerjee(b) Dadabhai Naoroji

Accepted Answer

(a) Surendranath Banerjee headed the Indian Association in 1876.(b) Dadabhai Naoroji founded the East India Association in London in 1866.

Question 10

Question 2Read the excerpt given below and answer the question that follows:"From the mid-18th century, it was a European corporation, the East India Company - run from the City of London by merchants and accountants, with their ledgers and careful accounting - that ran amok and seized and subjugated a fragmented and divided India in what was probably the supreme act of corporate violence in history."—William Dalrymple(a) What term is used to describe the East India Company's act of running India's trade and finance from the city of London? How did it work?(b) What was its impact on the artisans and craftsmen?(c) The author has described the East India Company's act as 'Corporate violence'. What term was used by Dadabhai Naoroji for such an act? Describe how it worked.

Accepted Answer

(a) The term used is "Corporate violence".The British exploited India economically to promote their own interests at the cost of welfare of Indians. The government took away a large part of the peasants' produce in the form of land revenue and other taxes. India became a source of raw material for the industries of Britain and a market for its finished products. The Working Class were exploited by the factory owners, and for educated Indians, the chance to get government service was bleak due to high competition.(b) The English East India Company used its political power to destroy Indian handicrafts and industry. Hence, India became a source of raw materials for the industries of Britain and a market for its finished products. This policy crippled the artisans and the craftsmen as they were devoid of their sources of livelihood. Declining income, coupled with heavy taxation, pushed them into debt and extreme poverty.(c) Dadabhai Naoroji used the term "Drain Theory" to describe "Corporate violence" of East India Company.In his book "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India", he explained his famous 'Drain Theory' outlining the various ways in which India's wealth was being 'drained' to England. He came to the conclusion that the root cause for the economic ills of India was the exploitation of India by the British.

Question 11

Question 3With reference to Nationalism and the birth of the Indian National Congress, explain each of the following:(a) Vernacular Press Act, 1878.(b) State any three objectives of the Indian National Congress.(c) Role of Dadabhai Naoroji.

Accepted Answer

(a) Vernacular Press Act, 1878:Lord Lytton introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1878The Vernacular Press Act forbade vernacular papers to publish any material that might excite feelings of dissatisfaction against the British Government.This Act was not applicable to English newspapers.(b) Three objectives of the Indian National Congress were-To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different parts of the country.To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province.To formulate popular demands and present them before the government.(c) Dadabhai Naoroji played a significant role in the rise of Nationalism and the birth of the Indian National Congress.The East India Association was founded in London in 1866 by Dadabhai Naoroji.The Association provided information on all Indian subjects to British citizens and Members of Parliament.It voiced the grievances of Indians and suggested remedial measures.Dadabhai Naoroji, the Grand Old Man of India, was of the opinion that the British were basically just and good.He wanted to place the true state of affairs in India before the people of England so that the problems of the Indians may be resolved.The association had its branches in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.Later, he supported the formation of Indian National Congress.The second session of the Congress was held at Kolkata in 1886, under the Presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji.

Question 12

Question 4The establishment of the Indian National Congress was a significant event in the development of national movement in India. In this context:(a) What was the name of the Indian National Congress before it got this name? Who gave it its present name? Where was it established and who was its founder?(b) Why did Lord Dufferin favour the formation of the Indian National Congress?(c) What was the nature of the political associations formed before the Indian National Congress was established? Name any two associations which acted as the forerunners of the Indian National Congress.

Accepted Answer

(a) At the time of its foundation, Indian National Congress was called Indian National Union. On the suggestion of Dadabhai Naoroji the name of the Union was changed to the Indian National Congress.In 1884, A.O. Hume, in consultation with the Indian leaders, laid the foundation of Indian National Congress at Mumbai on December 28, 1885.(b) The Viceroy, Lord Dufferin, favoured the formation of the Indian National Congress because he wanted it to act as a 'safety-valve' for popular discontent, thereby, safeguarding the British interest in India.(c) By the second half of the 19th century, there emerged a consciousness among the Indians that the British were exercising control over the resources of India and the lives of its people and until this control was ended, India could not be a sovereign nation. This consciousness led to the formation of a number of political associations led by English-educated professionals.Though many of these associations were formed in specific parts of the country, they had common goals for all the people of India.They did not work for any one religion, community or class.The first political association to be started in India was the 'Landholders' Society in Kolkata in 1838.Many public associations were started in different parts of India like Bengal British India Society, British Indian Association, East India Association, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, London Indian Society and Indian Association. These associations served as a base for the formation of the Congress — an all India political organisation.

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