DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 12 Question Answer – Impact of British Rule on India

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DAV Class 8 SST Ch 12 Question Answer – Impact of British Rule on India

DAV Class 8 SST Ch 12 Solutions – Impact of British Rule on India

Something to Know

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

Question 1.
The main objective of the East India Company was-
(a) to provide education
(b) to civilise the Indian people
(c) to earn profit
(d) to develop India
Answer:
(c) to earn profit

Question 2.
Who initiated the Wardha Education Scheme in 1937?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Swami Vivekanand
Answer:
(a) Mahatma Gandhi

Question 3.
The reformer who fought against the Brahmin dominance and discrimination against the lower
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Shri Narayana Guru
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) E.V. Ramaswamy
Answer:
(b) Shri Narayana Guru

Question 4.
Aiya Samaj was established by-
(a) Dayanand Saraswati
(b) Vivekananda
(c) Periyar Ramaswamy
(d) Jyotiba Phule
Answer:
(a) Dayanand Saraswati

Question 5.
Who is known as the Architect of Indian Constituion?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
(d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Answer:
(d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

B. Fill in the blanks.

1. A number of pathshalas and maktabs provided elementary ________.
Answer:
education

2. Charter Act of 1813 sanctioned one lakh of rupees for ________ in India.
Answer:
education

3. ________ of 1854 gave a plan for a separate department of education.
Answer:
Wood’s Despatch

4. Swami Dayanand wanted to eradicate the ________ from Indian society.
Answer:
evils

5. The ________ played a vital role in mobilising public opinion.
Answer:
Printing Press

C. State whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Orientalists favoured English as a medium of instruction.
Answer:
False

2. Child-marriage was banned in 1891.
Answer:
True

3. Sati was an inhuman practice.
Answer:
True

4. Kochi and Travancore denied governmental positions to lower castes.
Answer:
True

5. Gandhi considered untouchable as Harijans—people of God.
Answer:
True

D. Answer the following questions in brief.

Question 1.
What were the proposals of Wood’s Despatch of 1854?
Answer:
Charles Wood made many important changes in the educational policy of the British.

Wood’s Despatch gave a detailed plan for separate department of education.
Universities were set-up at the presidency towns of Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras.
Institutes for training the teachers were also opened up.
The vernacular schools were given assistance by the British.

Question 2.
Highlight any three social evils of Indian society related to women.
Answer:
Three social evils of Indian Society related to women:
1. Sati: It was an inhuman practice where a window was forced to bum herself on the funeral pyre of her husband. It was abolished in 1829 by the Governor-General, William Bentinck, at the insistence of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a social reformer.

2. Female Infanticide: It means killing of infant girls which was banned by law in 1870.

3. Child-Marriage : Children were married as early as one or three years of age which was banned by law in 1891 and again in 1929. The Sharda Act of 1929, after amendment, fixed the age of marriage at 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. It applied to all people living in British India and not only Hindus.

Question 3.
Describe any three main contribution of Swami Dayanand Saraswati as a social reformer.
Answer:
Swami Dayanand was a great sage, philospher, scholar and a social reformer. His main contributions were:

He established Aiya Samaj Society of Nobles at Bombay and later at Lahore.
He believed in one God and propagated the message of “Back to Vedas’, which are a source of great knowledge.
He started Shuddhi Movement to reconvert Hindus who had been converted to other religions.
He opposed idol worship, child marriage and caste system.
He supported for widow remarriage and women’s education.

Question 4.
Differentiate between the Anglicist and the Orientalist.
Answer:
The Orientlists favoured the ‘traditional’ system with Sanskrit and Persian as the medium of instruction while the Anglicists favoured English as medium of instruction.

Question 5.
Evaluate the efforts made by Indian leaders to improve Indian education.
Answer:

Jyotiba Phule started a special school for the under privileged class.
Veeresalingam, the prophet of modem Andhra Pradesh was a reformer and the first person to write a novel, drama. Veeresalingam started a magazine, titled Vivekavardhini, in which he propagated women’s education, widow remarriage and the rights of women.
Gandhiji initiated the Wardha Education scheme in 1937 in which he purposed a National Education System that would inculate moral like truth, goodness, justice, self respect among Indians.

E. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Do you think that the British system of Education had a negative impact? Write support your answer with suitable arguments.
Answer:
The British system of Education, no doubt, broadened the outlook of many Indians and created awareness among them. But at the same time the system showed several negative points:
(i) The British never glorified Indian past in their textbook which was so rich and varied. Instead, it glorified only the British administration and philosophy.
(ii) The British System of Education was limited to a small number of Indians. This created a division between English educated Indians and the rest of Indians.
(iii) Indigenous literature and thoughts were also ignored.
(iv) Only rich Indians got the benefit of the British system of Education. Those who were poor could never think of getting any benefit from this system.

Question 2.
State the major landmarks in the field of education in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries.
Answer:
(i) The Charter Act of 1813 was passed by the British in which a sum of one lakh rupees was sanctioned for education in India. The Hindu and the Elphinstone colleges were established in Calcutta and Bombay respectively. These institutions produced English educated Indian elite class.

(ii) In the year 1854, Wood’s Despatch came which made major changes in the educations policy of the British. It gave a detailed plan for a separate department of education. Universities were set up at the Presidency towns of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

(iii) In 1882, Hunter Education Commission was made to report the position of primaiy and secondary education in India.

(iv) Indian Universities Act of 1904 was passed to check the growth of higher education in India.

(v) In 1937, Gandhiji started Wardha Education scheme for the welfare of Indians.

(iv) British appointed, in 1943, John Sargent to prepare a National System of Education. It purposed universal compulsory and free education for children between 6-14 years of age. This proposal was also implemented after independence.

Question 3.
Describe the main contributions of any three social reformers to improve the Indian society.
Answer:
(i) Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He was a great reformer. He wanted to eradicate the evils from Indian society. Burning of widows on the funeral pyre of their husbands was one of them which, Ram Mohan Roy felt, needed to be routed out immediately. He began to campaign against this inhuman practice. As he had deep knowledge of Sanskrit, Persian and several other Indian and European languages, he tried to show through his writings that the practice of Sati had no sanction in ancient texts. He got support from the contemporary Governor-General, William Bentinck and finally, this evil practice was abolished in 1829.

(ii) Jyotiba Phule: He was a social reformer of Maharashtra. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj – an organisation that worked for the upliftment of the low and oppressed classes. Phule started a special school for the underpriviliged class. He started the campaign for the removal of untouchability and upliftment of lower castes took the form of an anti-Brahmin movement.

(iii) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy: He was a great nationalist and revolutionist. He questioned the subjugation of Dravidian Race by the Brahmins, who enjoyed the donations and gifts of Dravidians but discriminated against them in social and religious matters. He was strong supporter of Dravidian culture and launched a Self-Respect Movement in 1925. He propogated the principles of nationalism, self-respect, women’s right and eradication of caste system.

Question 4.
State the impact of the reform movements in India.
Answer:
The impact of the reform movements could be seen all over India. These movements influenced all sections of society:
(i) Many social evils were eradicated. The educated Indians revived the past glory and helped in the formation of modern India.
(ii) The reform movements also brought a cultural awakening. India saw a rapid development in the field of literature, science and art.
(iii) There was a remarkable improvement in the status and education of woman. Laws were enforced to curb social evils.
(iv) The reform movements created a middle class of teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists and journalists. This enlightened and educated class played a very crucial and constructive role in the progress of India.
(v) It was during the reform movements that the opposition to the caste system spread thoughout India and among all sections of the society.
(vi) Many English educated Indians learnt Sanskrit and translated books into English. The spirit of national pride instilled patriotism and prepared the ground for the rise of nationalism in India.

Question 5.
‘Although the British and the Indian Parliament brought many laws to end social evils, yet they continue to exist in the Indian society.’ Justify the statement.
Answer:
(i) The evil practice of Dowry System has been banned by law but unfortunately it continues even today in some parts of India.
(ii) Widow remarriage is still a big problem in our society.
(iii) Untouchability has been legally banned, no doubt, but the practice still continues in different parts of the country. The people belonging to low caste lead a very hard life. They are discriminated and are still marginalised.

Value Based Question

‘There is a need go give more importance to women with increased awareness and sensitivity’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his radio address “Mann Ki Baat’.

Question 1.
What type of awareness can lead to empowerment of the Indian women?
Answer:
The awareness about their rights, duties and position and about other, files like art, Literature, science, technology etc. can empower the Indian women.

Question 2.
What is meant by sensitivity? Give any three examples of sensitivity towards the women folk.
Answer:
Here ‘sensitivity’ means aware and able to understand the feelings of others.
(i) We should give girls and women equal opportunities of getting education.
(ii) Women have their own life. They should get the right of decision making for herself.
(iii) Women should be free from every kind of discrimination at every place. Indian women needs to be aware about there rights given by Constitution. They should be able to use all their rights without fear and thought. There are also some protecting laws that can be used if women are deprived of their rights.

Map Skill

On an outline political map of the world, mark the countries to which the following women emancipators belong:
(a) Malala Yousafzai
(b) Kiran Bedi
(c) Michelle Obama
(d) Emma Watson
(e) Beyonce
Answer:
DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 12 Question Answer -1

Something to Do

Question 1.
Prepare a report to highlight the achievements of Raja Ram Mohan Roy—the Father of Modem India.
Answer:
Do it yourself.

Question 2.
Prepare a chart of the teaching of Swami Dayan and.
Answer:
Do it yourself.

Question 3.
Which reformers from other countries have served for the cause of Indian Society? Give a brief description about them.
Answer:
Mother Teresa, known as Saint Teresa in Calcutta, was an Albanian- Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary.
Mother Teresa was a true follower of humanity. Many people considered Mother as the “reincarnated form of Lord Jesus.” Mother Teresa devoted her entire life in serving the needy and abandoned people of the society.
Although her mission started from India, she succeeded in bringing the people of all societies under one roof, i. e. humanity.
Annie Besant, was a British socialist, theosophist, women’s right activist, writer and orator and supported of Irish and Indian self-rule.

In 1898, she helped in establishing the Central Hindu College and in 1922 she helped in establishing the Hyderabad (sind) National collegiate Board in Mumbai, India. In 1902, she established the first overseas Lodge of the International Order of Co-Freemasomy, Le Droit Humain. Over the next few years she established lodges in many parts of the British Empire. In 1907 she became president of the Theosophical Society, whose international headquarters were in Adyar, Madras, (Cheenai).

DAV Class 8 Social Science Chapter 12 Question Answer – Impact of British Rule on India

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

Question 1.
Pathshalas that existed before the beginning of the rule of the East India Company imparted
(a) higher education
(b) elementary education
(c) special education
(d) vocational training
Answer:

Question 2.
The main purpose behind the opening of the English School was to promote
(a) Christianity
(b) English language
(c) Western etiquettes
(d) Hinduism
Answer:

Question 3.
The Hindu college was established in
(a) Calcutta
(b) Bombay
(c) Madras
(d) Delhi
Answer:

Question 4.
Wood’s Despatch came in the year
(a) 1813
(b) 1835
(c) 1854
(d) 1856
Answer:

Question 5.
The Indian Universities Act of 1904 was passed to
(a) impart English education to Indians
(b) check the growth of higher education in India
(c) check universal education in India
(d) check the growth of elementary education in India.
Answer:

Question 6.
Anglo Vedic High School at Lahore was started by
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(c) Shri Narayana Guru
(d) Swami Dayanand
Answer:

Question 7.
Sharda Act was passed in 1929 to fix the age of
(a) marriage
(b) employment
(c) retirement
(d) all the three
Answer:

Question 8.
Widow remarriage was legalised due to the persistent efforts of
(a) Jyotiba Phule
(b) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
(c) B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer:

Question 9.
Who called Congress – ‘a Fort of Brahmins?
(a) Veeresalingam
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
(d) Swami Dayanand
Answer:

Question 10.
Periyar E.V. Ramasamy launched
(a) a Self-Respect Movement
(b) an anti-Brahmin Movement
(c) Shuddhi Movement
(d) Satyagraha Movement
Answer:

B. Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What was the main objective of the East India Company in India?
Answer:
The main objective of the East India Company was to make profit and not to take over the responsibility of educating Indians.

Question 2.
Who initiated the Wardha Scheme of Education of 1937?
Answer:
Gandhiji initiated the Wardha Scheme of Education of 1937.

Question 3.
Why is the British era called the most eventful era in the history of India?
Answer:
The British era brought significant changes in every aspect of the Indian society, for example, education, public institutions, reforms in caste system and the condition of women.

Question 4.
Name the institutions that imparted elementary education before the British rule in India.
Answer:
Pathshalas and Maktabs.

Question 5.
What were the subjects taught under higher education?
Answer:
Subjects like Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, law, logic, medicine and astronomy were taught under higher education.

Question 6.
What controversy arose between the Orientalists and the Anglicists?
Answer:
The controversy arose between the Orientalists and the Anglicists regarding the medium of education.

Question 7.
What did the Orientalists think about the medium of instruction?
Answer:
The Orientalists thought that the medium of instruction should be Sanskrit and Persian.

Question 8.
Why did Lord Macaulay support the Anglicists?
Answer:
He supported the Anglicists as the British wanted a class of Indians who would act as a link between the rulers and ruled and provide cheap manpower for lower levels of the administration.

Question 9.
Why was an Education Commission formed in 1882?
Answer:
In 1882, an Education Commission was formed to look into the system of revenue in education, female education, setting up the schools, colleges and universities.

Question 10.
Why did Lord Curzon, revise the entire system of education?
Answer:
Lord Curzon revised the entire system of education because he believed that educational institutions in India were producing political revolutionaries.

Question 11.
Why were the Indians annoyed at the passing of the Indian Universities Act in 1904?
Answer:
This Act checked the growth of higher education in India. The Indians annoyed because they knew this Act was made for fulfilling the hidden interest of the Britishers.

Question 12.
What did Wardha Scheme of Education propose?
Answer:
Wardha Scheme of Education proposed a National Education System that would inculcate the moral values of truth, goodness and justice among the masses all over India.

Question 13.
What contributions did Arya Samaj make in the field of education?
Answer:
Arya Samaj made a great contribution in the field of education. It opened many gurukuls, schools, colleges and other educational institutions. It started Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School at Lahore in 1885.

Question 14.
What do you mean by female infanticide?
Answer:
Female infanticide means killing infant girls.

Question 15.
What is the minimum marriage age for boys and girls in India now?
Answer:
Now, the minimum marriage age is 21 years for boys and 18 years for girls.

Question 16.
What was the Satya Shadhak Samaj? Who founded it?
Answer:
The Satya Shadhak Samaj was an organisation that worked for the upliftment of the low and oppressed classes. It was founded by Jyotiba Phule.

Question 17.
Why did Jyotiba Phule reject Indian National Congress?
Answer:
Jyotiba Phule rejected Indian National Congress because he felt that the party was only serving the interest of the rich and upper castes.

Question 18.
What is Abhagyopakhyanamu?
Answer:
Abhagyopakhyanamu is a humorous satire written by Veeresalingam on the Andhra society.

Question 19.
Name any two principles propagated by Periyar Ramasamy.
Answer:
The principles of nationalism and self-respect.

Question 20.
Why did Swami Dayanand start Shuddhi Movement?
Answer:
Swami Dayanand started Shuddhi Movement to reconvert Hindus who had been converted to other religions.

Question 21.
What was Ambedkar’s view about justice?
Answer:
He was of the view that justice would not be granted by others. It was something that the sufferers must secure for themselves.

Question 22.
Name the two practices which Mahatma Gandhi opposed.
Answer:
(i) Dowry system
(ii) Purdah system

C. Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Write a note on Shri Narayana Guru of Kerala.
Answer:
Shri Narayana Guru was a great Hindu saint and social reformer. He was born in the Ezhava community of Kerala. He was against the caste system, untouchability, Brahmin dominance and discrimination against the lower castes and campaigned against these evils. He constructed alternate temples and propagated for one god, one caste and one religion. He never liked conversion to other religions.

Question 2.
Mention any three positive impact of the British System of Education.
Answer:
(i) The English language united the people of different regions. People now rose above narrow prejudices and started thinking of India as their motherland.
(ii) A surge of nationalism spread in all parts and all sections of India.
(iii) It created awareness about the ideals of equality, liberty, fraternity and democracy.

Question 3.
‘Kerala had been a victim of a very rigid and oppressive caste system.’ Support the statement with three examples.
Answer:
(i) The social and economic status of a person was determined by his position in the caste hierarchy in Kerala.
(ii) In the princely states of Kochi and Travancore, the governmental positions were denied to lower castes and non-Hindus.
(iii) People, in general, suffered a lot due to the oppressive caste system.

Question 4.
What were the main contributions of Veeresalingam Kandukuri?
Answer:
(i) Veeresalingam did a lot of work to awaken the Andhra Society from their orthodox customs and superstitions.
(ii) He started a magazine named Viuekavardhini, in which he propagated women’s education, widow remarriage and the rights of women.
(iii) He opposed Kanyasulkam meaning price of bride and marriage of old men with young girls.

Question 5.
What was the most comprehensive step taken by the British in the field of education in India in 1854? State any two changes introduced by it. (DAV Board)
Answer:
(i) The Charter Act of 1813 was passed by the British in which a sum of one lakh rupees was sanctioned for education in India. The Hindu and the Elphinstone colleges were established in Calcutta and Bombay respectively. These institutions produced English educated Indian elite class.

(iii) In 1882, Hunter Education Commission was made to report the position of primaiy and secondary education in India.

(iv) Indian Universities Act of 1904 was passed to check the growth of higher education in India.

(v) In 1937, Gandhiji started Wardha Education scheme for the welfare of Indians.

Question 6.
What role did the printing press play in mobilising public opinion during the British rule in India?
Answer:
The printing press played a very crucial role in mobilising public opinion:
(i) It enabled the reformers to spread awareness through their writings. Many English educated Indians learnt Sanskrit and translated books into English.
(ii) The spirit of national pride instilled patriotism and prepared the ground for the rise of nationalism in India.
(iii) People from different castes, communities and regions came in closer contact, which gave a great impetus to the freedom struggle.

D. Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who was the founder of Arya Samaj? Mention his four main contributions towards the upliftment of the Indian society. (DAV Board)
Answer:
Swami Dayanand was a great sage, philospher, scholar and a social reformer. His main contributions were:

He established Aiya Samaj Society of Nobles at Bombay and later at Lahore.
He believed in one God and propagated the message of “Back to Vedas’, which are a source of great knowledge.
He started Shuddhi Movement to reconvert Hindus who had been converted to other religions.
He opposed idol worship, child marriage and caste system.
He supported for widow remarriage and women’s education.

Question 2.
Mention any four evils practised in India. How were they abolished?
Answer:
From centuries Indian society had been a victim of many evils, such as Sati Pratha, female infanticide, child- marriage, untouchability, dowry, poor condition of the widows, etc. All these evils were eradicated one by one by the intense efforts of reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Dayanand, etc.

(i) Sati Pratha: It was an inhuman practice where a widow was forced to burn herself on the funeral pyre of her husband. It was abolished in 1829 by the Governor-General William Bentinck at the insistence of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

(ii) Female infanticide: The Indian government has banned female infanticide.

(iii) Child marriage: It was banned by law in 1891 and again in 1929. Sharda Act of 1929 fixed the age of marriage. Marriage of the boys below 16 years and girls below 14 years was declared illegal. Now, the minimum marriage age in 21 years for boys and 18 years for girls.

(iv) Widow Remarriage Act: This Act was passed by the British government in 1856. It was with the persistent efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar that widow remarriage was legalised.