Class 8
ENGLISH HONEYDEW
Glimpses of the Past
Working with the text
1. Do you think the Indian Princes were short sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?
Answer: Indeed, the Indian princes were short sighted in their approach to the events of 1757. The Indian princes were guided by their own interest to occupy a wider area of state and to fight even a small battle they took the help of the British. The British in return started subduing Indian princes.
2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Answer: The Indian princes were very short sighted. Even to settle a small battle they sought help from the British. The British took the advantage of such rivalries to subdue the Indian princes.
3. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Answer: Ram Mohan Roy quoted that cows are of different colors but the color of their milk is the same. He metaphorically used to say that different teachers have different opinions but the essence of every religion is the same.
4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Answer: The British introduced exploitative tax policies to loot the Indian farmers. In 1818 they passed Regulation III under which an Indian could be jailed without a trial in the court. The British officers drew big salaries and also established private business. The British’s import policies ruined the Indian Industries and small artisans.
5. Name these people:
i. The ruler who fought pitched battles against British and died.
Answer: The ruler who fought pitched battles against British and died fighting was Tipu of Mysore.
ii. The person who wanted to reform the society.
Answer: The person who wanted to reform the society was Ram Mohan Roy.
iii. The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
Answer: The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India was Macaulay.
iv. Two popular leaders who led the revolt.
Answer: Two popular leaders who led the revolt were Begum Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow and Maulvi Ahmedulla of Faizabad.
6. Mention the following:
i. Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
Answer: Then India’s societies were abandoned with superstition and many other evil practices. Examples of such practices were child marriage, untouchability.
ii. Two oppressive policies of the British.
Answer: The British introduced many oppressive policies to ruin the Indian society. Two such policies were tax policies for the farmers, tax free import policy from England to India.
iii. Two ways in which common people suffered.
Answer: In the British era, Indian people suffered a lot. The farmers and the landlords lost their lands due to the British policies. The Brahmin, and many other social classes lost their jobs in the British period.
iv. Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 war of Independence.
Answer: The discontent that led to the 1857 war of Independence:
a. The British adopted ruining tax policies and import duty free imports from England which led discontent amongst the farmers and local artisans.
b. The various social class of people lost their jobs who were enjoying good position under the Indian kings.
c. The Indian soldiers were getting slow promotions and minimum salaries as compared to the British soldiers. So discontent was brewing in the East Indian army too.
d. The former Indian rulers were dethroned and were discontent. So they also joined the upsurge against the British.