Chapter 11 - Struggle for Equality
1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(Lala Lajpat Rai, Sane Guruji, Rakhmabai Janardan Save)
(1) ……………. founded the Red Cross Society at Rajkot.
Ans: Rakhmabai Janardan Save
(2) ……………. was the President of mill workers union at Ammalner.
Ans: Sane Guruji
(3) The President of the first session of AITUC was ……………. .
Ans: Lala Lajpat Rai
2. Write short notes.
(1) Social work of Vitthal Ramji Shinde
Ans:
(i) The goal of Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde was to make the Dalits self-respecting, well educated, and engaged in work.
(ii) He worked to destroy the delusive ideas regarding Dalits in the minds of the upper caste.
(iii) He founded the ‘Depressed Classes Mission’ for the progress of Dalits in 1906.
(iv) To achieve this, he started Marathi schools and work schools in parts of Parel and Deonar in Mumbai.
(v) He actively took part in various movements that were related to the welfare of the Dalits, like the Satyagraha for entry into Parvati temple at Pune, the Shetkari Parishad of Dalits, and the Federal Electorate.
(2) Reforms of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj in the state of Kolhapur.
Ans:
(i) Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj worked for the abolishment of caste discrimination.
(ii) He made a revolutionary declaration for reservation in the state of Kolhapur.
(iii) He made a law for free and compulsory primary education.
(iv) He worked to remove restrictions on intermarried life, intermarriage, and change of occupation in the caste system.
(v) He passed the Inter-Caste Marriage Act and made it legal in the state.
(vi) He abolished ‘Balutedari System’, by publishing a declaration in the Government Gazette of the state of Kolhapur on 22 February, 1918.
(vii) This allowed people to practice any occupation and freed them from type of social slavery.
3. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) The Government decided to crush down the communist movement.
Ans:
(i) The Communist Party was formed in India in 1925.
(ii) The young communist leaders started building militant organisations of workers and peasants.
(iii) The British government started feeling the danger of the Communist movement and decided to crush it.
(2) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar started newspapers like ‘Muknayak’ Bahishkrut Bharat etc.
Ans:
(i) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to establish a society based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
(ii) He intended to carry out a movement to establish self-respect and social equality for Dalits.
(iii) It was necessary to create an awakening in society in this respect and to voice their grief.
(iv) The newspaper was an integral part of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s movement.
(v) Hence, he started many newspapers so that his ideas and thoughts would reach the society.
(3) There aroused a need of nation wide workers union.
Ans:
(i) In the later half of the 19th century, textile mills, railroad companies, and other industries were started in India.
(ii) The workers’ group was not aroused on a large scale.
(iii) As there were no unions, the workers were not organised.
(iv) After the First World War, there was a rise of the worker class in India due to industrialization.
4. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Why was the struggle for equality important in the making of Modern India?
Ans:
(i) India achieved freedom because of the freedom struggle.
(ii) The scope of this struggle was not limited to achieving political freedom but the emancipation of man from all types of bonds.
(iii) Therefore, in the course of this struggle, there was opposition to feudalism, social inequality, and economic exploitation.
(iv) The principle of equality was given equal importance.
(v) Various groups, such as farmers, workers, women, and Dalits, came forward and started movements in order to get justice and bring about reforms.
(vi) This proves that the struggle for equality has great significance in the making of modern India.
(2) Write about the work of Sane Guruji in eastern Khandesh.
Ans:
(i) In 1938, due to heavy rains, crops were destroyed in eastern Khandesh.
(ii) He organised the farmers, who were in a miserable state.
(iii) Sane Guruji organised meetings and processions at many places in eastern Khandesh to have land revenue waived for the farmers.
(iv) He took out marches on the Collector office.
(v) He tried to create a strong centre of the workers’ union at Dhule-Ammalner.
(3) How was the struggle built up by workers decisive for the national movement ?
Ans:
(i) The beginning of the 19th century witnessed the emergence of the working class due to industrialization. They made efforts to solve their problems.
(ii) During the anti-partition movement, workers carried out strikes from time to time to pressurise the British government.
(iii) The tea plantation workers in Assam launched an agitation against their wretched condition.
(iv) During the anti-partition movement, workers carried out strikes from time to time in support of Swadeshi.
(v) In 1928, the Mill Workers’ Union went on strike for six months. Many such strikes were organised by the railroad workers, jute mill workers, etc.
(4) Discuss the nature of reform movement related to women.
Ans:
(i) Women had a secondary position in the Indian social system.
(ii) They were subjected to many injustices because of evil practices.
(iii) In the 20th century, many reforms were initiated for the betterment of women.
(iv) The reform movement was led by women, and institutions were formed by them.
(v) They fought for issues such as the right to inheritance and the right to vote through the medium of these institutions.
(vi) The involvement of women went on increasing. They played an active role in the national movement and in the revolutionary movement.
(vii) Due to the reform movement, women were included in the Provincial Ministries.