1. (A) Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(1) The Servants of India Society was founded by ……………
(a) Ganesh Vasudev Joshi
(b) Bhau Daji Lad
(c) M. G. Ranade
(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(2) The first session of Indian National Congress was held at ……………
(a) Pune
(b) Mumbai
(c) Kolkata
(d) Lucknow
(3) ……………. wrote the Geeta Rahasya.
(a) Lokmanya Tilak
(b) Dadabhai Nowrojee
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Bipinchandra Pal
(B) Write the names
(1) Moderate leaders – Gopal Krishna Gokhale Ferozshah Mehta Surendranath Banerjee
(2) Extremist leaders – Lala Lajpat Rai Bipin Chandra Pal Bal Gangadhar Tilak
2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) In the struggle for independence, a sense of identity was awakened among the Indians.
Ans. During the struggle for independence, a sense of identity was awakened among the Indians because of the following reasons:
(i) Due to the spread of western education new ideas such as justice, liberty, equality, and democracy were introduced to the Indians. (ii) Principal like rationalism, humanity, scientific attitude, were accepted by the Indians. (iii) The intensive study of ancient Indian culture by the Indian scholars led to the understanding that we are blessed with a glorious ancient tradition.
(2) Two groups were formed in the Indian National Congress.
Ans. (i) There were ideological differences regarding the working system within the Congress. (ii) The Moderates advocated peaceful and constitutional manners whereas the Extremist believed in severe struggle for attainment of freedom. (iii) The moderates were trying to keep aside the resolution of swadeshi and boycott. The extremist trying that this opposition should not be successful. (iv) Moderate leaders blamed that the extremist leaders were trying to capture the Indian National Congress. (v) Since no compromise was reached the Congress was split into two groups.
(3) Lord Curzon decided to partition Bengal.
Ans. (i) The British decided to use the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ to create a rift between Hindu-Muslim community. (ii) Bengal was a very large province and it was difficult to carry out the administrative work of this province. By putting up this reason, in 1905, Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal province. (iii) With this partition, arrangement was made such that majority Muslims will remain in East Bengal and West Bengal for majority of Hindus. (iv) The hidden strategy of the British was, if the Hindu-Muslims were divided, due to partition, then the freedom movement would be weakened.
3. Write Short Notes.
(1) Objectives of Indian National Congress
Ans. Following were the objectives of the Indian National Congress:
(i) To make the people from different parts of India forget the differences in religion, race, caste, language, geographical territories and bring them on a common platform. (ii) To understand each other’s problems and views. (iii) To increase the feeling of oneness among the people. (iv) To take efforts for the development of the country, were the objectives of the Indian National Congress.
(2) Anti Partition Movement
Ans. (i) Viceroy Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 with the hidden strategy that if the Hindu-Muslims were divided the freedom movement will be weakened. (ii) There was public awakening against partition throughout the country. 16 October, the day of partition was observed as National Mourning Day. (iii) All over India there were protest meetings to condemn the Government’s decision. (iv) ‘Vande Mataram’ came to be sung everywhere. As a symbol of unity, ‘Raksha Bandhan’ programmes were held. (v) Students in large number boycotted government schools and colleges and joined the movement. (vi) The extent of Indian National Congress increased due to the anti-partition movement and it became a national movement.
(3) Four-point program of Indian National Congress
Ans. (i) Dadabhai Nowrojee was the President of the 1906 session. (ii) In the same session Swaraj, Swadeshi, National Education and Boycott, this 4 point programme was unanimously accepted by the Indian National Congress. (iii) Dadabhai Nowrojee declared that the goal of the Indian National Congress must be Swaraj or self-rule so that India get a respectable position among developed countries. (iv) The Swadeshi movement will make the country self-sufficient. To follow the path of Swadeshi it was needed to bring together capital, resources, manpower and such other forces so that from this the benefit of the country could be achieved. (v) National education institutions was necessary for creating a generation concerned about own language and tradition. (vi) It was decided to boycott foreign goods in the first step and foreign rule in the next step. By this we will be able to attack the roots of British imperialism.
4. Explain the background behind the establishment of Indian National Congress with the help of following points.
- Centralisation of administration
- Economic exploitation
- Western education
- Study of Ancient Indian History
- Role of newspapers
Ans. Centralisation of administration: (i) Due to British administration, its implementation on India brought the nation under one roof in its true sense. The feeling of nationalism developed among the people due to identical reforms all over the country and equality before law. (ii) The British built network of roads and railways for the convenience of administration and swift movement of the army. But these facilities benefited the Indians as well. (iii) People from different parts of India came in contact with each other, there was an increase in communication and the feeling of nationalism grew.
Economic exploitation: (i) Due to the imperialist policy of England there was the beginning of economic exploitation of India. The Indian wealth was flowing towards England by all means. (ii) Farmers were compelled to take cash crops and burdened by land taxes. (iii) Along with these continuous famines broke down the backbone of Indian agriculture. (iv) Traditional industries declined which led to rise in unemployment. (v)The Capitalists exploited the worker class and various new taxes were imposed on the middle class. This led to growth of discontent among the people.
Western education: (i) Due to the spread of western education, new ideas such as Justice, Liberty, Equality, Democracy, etc., were introduced to the Indians. (ii) The principles of Rationalism, Scientific attitude, humanity, nationalism were accepted by the Indians. Therefore, there inculcated a feeling that we are capable of carrying out the work of the country and its progress is possible by following these principles. (iii) India, a country of diverse languages got a new medium of communication with the introduction of English language.
Study of Ancient Indian History: (i) The ‘Asiatic Society’ was established at Bengal by the British to promote study of Indian culture. (ii) Many Indian and western scholars started study of Indian culture. The manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian and other languages were examined and research was published. (iii) After understanding that we are blessed with glorious ancient tradition, the Indians were awakened with a sense of Identity.
Role of newspapers: (i) English and Vernacular newspapers and periodicals came to be published during this period. Through these newspapers, political and social awakening took place. (ii) Newspapers like Darpan, Prabhakar, Hindu, Amrit Bazar Patrika, Kesari, Maharatta started criticising the government. (iii) The newspapers played an important role in creating a feeling of nationalism amongst the Indians and prompted large-scale cooperation of people in the freedom struggle.