CLASS VIII GLIMPSES OF THE PAST

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Q1. 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?

Ans. 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.


Q2. In Picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons”?
Ans. The company’s superior weapons mean all their wits, strength, rules and regulations.

Q3. Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)
Ans. 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.

Q4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?

Ans. Picture 7 ‘The Sparks’ reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.

Answer the following questions:

Q1. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?
Ans. Yes, the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757. They couldn't see through the real intention behind the arrival of the Britishers to the Indian soil. The Britishers who came in the garb of traders turned the tables on the Indian Princes by taking advantage of their enmity with each other.

Q2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Ans. 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.

Q3. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Ans. 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.”

Q4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?

Ans. 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.

Q5.
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.)
Ans.
(i) Kunwar Singh
(ii) Ram Mohan Roy
(iii) Macaulay
(iv) Maulvi Ahmedulla of Faizabad and Peshwa Nana Saheb

Q6.
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.
Ans.
(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.


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