Chapter 6 - Beginning of Freedom Movement
1. (A) Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(1) The Servants of India Society was founded by ………….. .
(a) Ganesh Vasudev Joshi
(b) Bhau Daji Lad
(c) M.G.Ranade
(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Ans: Option (d) – Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(2) The first session of Indian National Congress was held at ………….. .
(a) Pune
(b) Mumbai
(c) Kolkata
(d) Lucknow
Ans: Option (b) – Mumbai
(3) ……………. wrote the Geeta Rahasya.
(a) Lokmanya Tilak
(b) Dadabhai Nowrojee
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Bipinchandra Pal
Ans: Option (a) – Lokmanya Tilak
(B) Write the names
(1) Moderate leaders
Ans:
(i) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(ii) Ferozshah Mehta
(2) Extremist leaders
Ans:
(i) Lokmanya Tilak
(ii) Lala Lajpat Rai
2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) In the struggle for independence, a sense of identity was awakened among the Indians.
Ans:
(i) Western education familiarized the educated Indians with modern values such as liberty, equality, democracy, and nationalism.
(ii) The Asiatic Society at Bengal edited and published hundreds of manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian, and other Indian languages.
(iii) The realization that India had a rich ancient heritage aroused a feeling of national pride. This gave Indians a sense of identity.
(2) Two groups were formed in the Indian National Congress.
Ans:
(i) Though at a slow pace, the contribution of the Indian National Congress was consistent in the initial stages. But the extremists felt the need to intensify the freedom struggle.
(ii) Moderates and Extremists were unanimous about the objectives of Congress. But they had differences regarding the methods or ways to achieve it.
(iii) The moderates insisted on constitutional measures, whereas the extremists wanted to adopt severe methods.
(iv) The tension between these groups increased during the Surat session in 1907.
(v) This led to the formation of two groups within the Congress.
(3) Lord Curzon decided to partition Bengal.
Ans:
(i) Bengal was a large province. So, under the pretext of administrative convenience, the province of Bengal was partitioned by Lord Curzon.
(ii) Accordingly, the Muslim-majority East Bengal and the Hindu-Majority West Bengal were created in 1905.
(iii) The real motive was to create a divide between the Hindus and the Muslims and thereby weaken the nationalist movement. The British used the Policy of ‘Divide and Rule’.
3. Write Short Notes.
(1) Objectives of Indian National Congress
Ans: The Indian National Congress was established in 1885 with the following objectives:
(i) To bring together the people of India on a common platform.
(ii) To create a feeling of unity among them, irrespective of religion, race, language, or geographical territory.
(iii) To provide opportunities to understand one another’s problems and views.
(iv) To increase the feeling of unity among the people.
(v) To take measures for the upliftment of the country.
(2) Anti Partition Movement
Ans:
(i) With the motive to create a divide between the Hindus and the Muslims, Lord Curzon divided the province of Bengal into Muslim-majority East Bengal and Hindu-majority West Bengal in 1905.
(ii) The day of partition, October 16th, was observed as National Mourning Day’.
(iii) All over India, protest meetings were organized to condemn the decision of the government.
(iv) Singing of Vande Mataram and Raksha Bandhan programs were arranged to mark the protest.
(v) Government-run schools and colleges were boycotted in large numbers by the students.
(vi) Sensing the intensity and severity of dissatisfaction, the British annulled the Partition of Bengal.
(3) Four point program of Indian National Congress
Ans: In the session of 1906 of the Indian National Congress, the four-point program was unanimously accepted.
(i) Swadeshi: To make use of capital, resources, and manpower in our country so that it becomes self-sufficient.
(ii) Boycott: It was decided to boycott foreign goods as a first step and boycott foreign rule as the next step. It would be an attack on the roots of British imperialism.
(iii) Swaraj: The final objective is to attain freedom.
(iv) National Education: To impart education that will create pride for the nation among the people.
4. Explain the background behind the establishment of Indian National Congress with the help of following points.
- Centralisation of administration
- Economic exploitation
- Western education
- Study of Ancient Indian History
- Role of newspapers
Ans: The background behind the establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885
(1) Centralization of administration:
(i) The uniform policies, identical reforms, and equality before the law brought the nation under one roof.
(ii) The network of roads and railways brought the people of India together.
(iii) It developed a feeling of unity among Indians.
(2) Economic exploitation:
(i) The economic exploitation of India through imperialistic policies led to the drain of Indian wealth to England.
(ii) Industries declined, and the farmers became bankrupt.
(iii) The imposition of taxes on the middle class and the exploitation of the worker class by the capitalists led to the growth of discontent.
(3) Western education:
(i) Western education familiarized the educated Indians with modern values and principles such as liberty, equality, and democracy.
(ii) They accepted principles like rationalism, humanity, and nationalism.
(iii) They realized that they could carry out the work of the country by following them.
(4) Study of Ancient Indian History:
(i) The manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian, and many other languages were examined, and research was published.
(ii) Many Western Scholars started to study Indian culture.
(iii) The realization that India had a rich ancient heritage aroused a feeling of national pride among Indians.
(5) Role of newspapers:
(i) Newspapers in English and vernacular languages carried articles criticizing the policies of the government.
(ii) It led to a social and political awakening.