Glimpses Of The Past

Question 1

Look at picture one and recall the opening lines of the original song in hindi. Who is the singer? What else do you see in this picture?

Answer 1

The opening lines of the original song in hindi are:
“Aye mere watan ke logo, tum khoob lagalo nara,
Yeh shub din hai hum sab ka, lehralo tiranga pyara,
Par mat bhoolo seema paar veeron ne hai praan ganvaaye,
Kuch yaad unhein bhi kar lo (-2)
jo laut ke ghar na aaye. (-2)

This beautiful, heart-touching track was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. In the picture, we see great leaders of India, namely Lal Bahadur Shastri, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Question 2

In picture 2, what do you understand about the company’s “superior weapons”?

Answer 2

The East India Company’s superior weapons refer to the arms and ammunition, such as muskets and cannons, with strict rules and regulations and diplomacy of the British rulers.

Question 3

Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered?

Answer 3

An artisan is a skilled craft worker who manually creates decorative, functional items. The artisans suffered as the British were extracting high taxes from them, causing economic loss on their products. Moreover, the British were importing machine-manufactured items from England and selling them on a large scale, thereby ruining the existing market for handmade products made by the artisans.

Question 4

What picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of Revolt?

Answer 4

Picture-7 The Sparks [1856-1857] reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.

Question 5

Do you think that the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?

Answer 5

Yes, the Indian princes were definitely short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757, as they failed to see and understand the bad intentions of the British rulers. The British slowly became virtual rulers by winning the confidence of the princes and helping them win small battles against other princes, ultimately aiming to capture the whole country.

Question 6

How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?

Answer 6

The East India Company expanded its business by importing machine-manufactured items from England and selling them. The Indian princes, who were constantly at loggerheads and fighting with each other, sought the help of English merchants to defeat their rivals. This constant conflict disrupted the peace for ordinary people. These rivalries indirectly aided the East India Company in subduing the Indian princes one by one, ultimately allowing them to slowly gain complete control over the masses.

Question 7

Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.

Answer 7

The words of Raja Ram Mohan Roy spoken to his wife were, “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 8

In what ways, did the british officers exploit Indians?

Answer 8

The British officers exploited Indians in many ways. They imposed heavy taxes on Indian farmers and reduced import duties on goods manufactured in England and imported to India. They even went as far as cutting off the thumbs of expert artisans, effectively ruining their businesses.

Question 9

Name these people:
1. The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
2. The person who wanted to reform the society.
3. The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
4. Two popular leaders who led the revolt.

Answer 9

1. Tipu Sultan of Mysore fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
2. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a learned man from Bengal, wanted to reform society.
3. Macaulay, an Englishman, recommended the introduction of English education in India.
4. Two popular leaders who led the revolt were Maulvi Ahmadullah of Faizabad and Peshwa Nana Sahib.

Question 10

Mention the following
1. Two examples of social practices prevailing then
2. Two oppressive policies of the British
3. Two ways in which common people suffered
4. Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence

Answer 10

1. Child marriage and untouchability
2. Firstly, the British didn’t impose any import duty on goods manufactured in England, and this imposed the Indians’ cottage industries. Secondly, the British continued to oppress Indians in 1818 by passing the Regulation III, under which an Indian could be jailed without a trial in court.
3. The farmers were heavily taxed by the British, and the thumbs of skilled artisans were cut to ruin their business.
4. Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence are:

• In Bengal, the Santhals lost their land under new British land rules, leading to desperation and rebellion, during which they massacred Europeans in 1855.
• Indian sepoys of the British army were discontented and angry because white soldiers received much higher pay, mansions, and servants.
• Brahmin soldiers were furious when they discovered that the grease used on the bullets they had to bite was made from the fat of cows and pigs.
• Many landlords were sued and lost their land and estates due to harsh British policies.