Chapter 3: Glimpses of the Past

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Chapter 3: Glimpses of the Past

Class: VIII

Exercise number – 1

Question 1

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?

Answer 1

"Ae mere watan ke logon, Tum khub lagaa lo naraa.." are the opening lines of the song "Ae mere watan ke logon.."
Lata Mangeshkar is the singer of the original song.Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rani Laxmi Bai, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai and Mahatma Gandhi are also seen in the picture.

Question 2

In Picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s "superior weapons"?

Answer 2

Technologically, the East India Company was far more superior to the Indian Princes, who were constantly at war among themselves. Better quality weapons could be obtained from the Englishmen which made the Indian princes to seek their help in the fights. These internal rivalries helped the East India Company get the better off the Indian princes one by one, and finally establish control over whole India.

Question 3

Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (Picture 3)

Answer 3

A skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative is an artisan. The British were extracting very high taxes from the artisans which ruined them economically. Moreover, machine-made goods imported from Britain were sold comprehensively, which ruined the business of hand-made goods of the artisans.

Question 4

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

Answer 4

The picture which reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt is Picture 7 - ‘The Sparks’.

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Question 1

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

Answer 1

Yes, I think that the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757.

Question 2

How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?

Answer 2

The Indian princes were continually at war with one another. They seeked for the help of the English merchants in their fights. There was no sign of peace due of these constant fights. These rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one.

Question 3

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

Answer 3

The words, "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." were used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.

Question 4

In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?

Answer 4

In order to earn quick profits, the British imposed heavy taxes, as a result of which the Indian farmers were forced to abandon their fields. They decided to do away with import duty for goods manufactured in England. This severely damaged the Indian industries. They passed Regulation III in 1818, under which, an Indian could be put into the jail without trial in a court. The British officers in India drew big salaries and also made fortunes in private business. By 1829, Britain was exporting British goods worth 7 crore rupees to India. The Indian industries began to die, while the British prospered on the Company’s loot.

Question 5

Name these people

• The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
• The person who wanted to reform the society.
• The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
• Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)

Answer 5

• Kunwar Singh
• Ram Mohan Roy
• Macaulay
• Maulvi Ahmedulla of Faizabad and Peshwa Nana Saheb

Question 6

Mention the following.

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

Answer 6

• Child-marriage and untouchability
• The British decided to do away with import duty on goods manufactured in England. This severely affected Indian industries. They passed Regulation III in 1818 under which an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.
• They lost their lands and old jobs. They were being converted by the British.
• Discontent was brewing amongst the Indians. They realised that their kings who were supposed to be protecting them were mere puppets in the hands of the British. They lost their lands and old jobs. The taxes continued to ruin the peasants. There was discontent in the East India Company’s army as well. The white soldiers got mansions to live in and servants along with huge pay, 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 got hurt too. The grease on the bullets they had to bite was made from the fat of cows and pigs.

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Question 1

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

• First man: We must educate our brothers.
  Second man: And try to improve their material conditions.
  Third man: For that we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.

The first man said that_________.

The second man added that _________.

The third man suggested that _________.

• First soldier: The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions and servants.

Second soldier: We get a pittance and slow promotions.

Third soldier: Who are the British to abolish our customs?

The first man said that _________.

The second soldier remarked that _________.

The third soldier asked that _________.

Answer 1

• The first man said that they must educate their brothers.

The second man added that they must try to improve their material conditions.

The third man suggested that they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.

• The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.

The second soldier remarked that they got a pittance and slow promotions.

The third soldier asked who the British were to abolish their customs.