Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past Important Questions Class 8 Honeydew English
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Answer
Ram Mohan Roy said, “Cows are of different colours but the colour of their milk is the same”. Similarity different religious preachers may sound different but the real meaning and lesson from them are always same.
Question 2. What was the significance of sending chapattis and lotus flowers?
Answer
Sepoys revolted against the tyranny and discrimination of officials. So they decided to unite themselves to revolt against exploitation by sending secret messages as chappatis and lotus flowers.
Question 3. Why did Ram Mohan Ray visit England?
Answer
Ram Mohan Roy had a great respect for every religion. He was attracted by science and modernity. He felt that knowledge should be practical and scientific.
Question 4. What was the supremacy of East India company in war?
Answer
East India company intruded with powerful weapons and thus defeated the Indian princely states easily.
Question 5. 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.)
Answer
(i) Tipu Sultan of Mysore.
(ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Bengal.
(iii) Lord Mecaulay
(iv) Nana Sahib Peshwa, Kunwar Singh, Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Question 6. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1857?
Answer
Yes, the Indian Princes were short-sighted in their approach. They fought against each other with the help of the British. Thus the British became the virtual rulers.
Question 7. What was Macaulay’s proposal for Indian education system?
Answer
Before 1835, education in India was in Persian and Sanskrit. Macaulay proposed to educate the students in English language so as to make them understand English and to work as clerks in their offices.
Question 8. How did the common folk react to the British conquests?
Answer
The common folk wanted to lead peaceful lives. So they were happy to have a stable rule. However people also realized that the king and princes were of their own motherland.
Question 9. What was the resentment of common people?
Answer
Common people were tired of wars, loots by thugs and tyranny of princely states.
Question 10. Why were the Britishers termed as ‘oppressors’?
Answer
Britishers turned apathetic towards Indians. They passed regulation III in 1818 where they could put Indians to jail without trial in a court. Any British official was paid off beyond measures. Indian industries were dying because of the heavy imports of British goods.
Question 11. What brought various rulers to fight together?
Answer
Various rulers came under one flag. The patriots pounced upon the British and fought pitched battles all over North India.
Question 12. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Answer
The British rulers passed a resolution under which an Indian could be sent to jail without trial in a court. The goods manufactured in England were exempted from custom duty. The officers prospered on the company’s loot and their private business flourished.
Question 13. How did the East India company subdue the Indian princes?
Answer
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.
Question 14. What forces worked as ‘sparks’ before the Revolt in 1857?
Answer
Heavy taxes were levied on the farmers. They were loosing their lands. Industries were dying as expert bulk was cheaper. Discrimination in British and Indian armed forces brought discontentment amongst Indian forces.
Question 15. What were the social and religious malpractices that prevailed during British rule?
Answer
Religious leaders preached ideas like untouchability, child marriage and against women folk. Social and religious degradation had started pushing women inside their homes.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Tell us about Sepoy Mangal Pandey. How Mangal Pandey was a spark for the mutiny?
Answer
Sepoy Mangal Pandey was an Indian soldier who fought bravely against the British and played a significant role in the First Indian War of Independence held in the year of 1857. He attacked the adjutant of his regiment on March 29, 1857 and later was executed.
After Mangal Pandey was executed, it led to widespread fire amongst the peoples. Revolt spread almost everywhere. Thus, by this way the spark of mutiny started in India and later turned out to be the First war of Independence.
Question 2. How did Lord Macaulay plan to destroy the Education of India and to make Indians low-profile?
Answer
Earlier Education System in India was done in Sanskrit and Persian language. Lord Macaulay suggested teaching the Indians the English language. It would be easier to communicate with the peoples who would be working under them. Actually, the main motive was not to teach them rather to destroy the education system.
Question 3. How did Raja Ram Mohan Roy understand what was wrong with the country? What did he tell his wife Uma?
Answer
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a learned person from Bengal understood what was wrong with the country. He believed that our ancient culture was great. He understood that superstitions should be eradicated as it was ruining the society.
He told his wife Uma that Cows were of different colours but the colour of its milk was same. In the same way, different teachers had different opinions but the essence of religion was the same.
Question 4. How did the British subdue Indian princes?
Answer
The Indian princes fought amongst each other. They had no unity. One of them took help from the British and defeated the other princes. But they did not realise the future consequences. With the help of the rivalries, the East India Company subdued the Indian princes one by one.
Question 5. What did Begum Hazrat Mahal and Ahmedulla say against the British?
Answer
Begum Hazrat Mahal was the former ruler of Lucknow. She told that her kingdomwas being taken away by the British. On the other hand, Maulvi Ahemedulla raised power against British. He influenced people to join the movement. Hesaid, “Rise, brothers, rise!” He told the English people were ruining their lands.
Question 6. How did British East India Company extend its power in India?
Answer
The Indians were not united. The Indian princes were short-sighted. They fought amongst each other. In order to defeat the other Kings, they called The British and ultimately defeated them.
Question 7. How did India turn socially superstitious? Discuss untouchability and child marriage?
Answer
The religious leaders preached ideas like untouchability and child marriage. They spread false information. According to them, anyone who crossed the seas would lose his religion. Not only that, they believed that the misery that happened at that time was only because of the women.
Untouchability and child marriage were the social stigma that was prevalent at that time. Untouchability is an act which discriminates among people on the basis of their caste. Child marriage is a practice in which the marriage is done at a very young age.
Question 8. Tell us about Regulation III. How were the British officers making profit?
Answer
The Regulation III was implemented by the British. The British implemented this policy to oppress Indians. According to this act, the Indians could be jailed without a trial in the court. The British officers drew big salaries and also made fortunes in private business.
Question 9. In what ways there had been grudge among Indians against the British?
Answer
The British didn’t care for the Indians at all. They used unfair means against Indians. The Indians understood their real motive. They discussed about their problems. The kings had turned into puppet rulers. The common people had lost their jobs and lands. They were even converting their religions which created a feeling of grudge amongst them.
Question 10. What was the meaning of chapatti and Lotus in the fight?
Answer
The meaning of chapatti was that it was sent to other villages and was symbolised as support and the Emperor might ask for their services. Similarly, Lotus was being circulated as a symbol of unity and support.
Question 11. How were the Indian princes short-sighted?
Answer
The Indians were not united at that time. The Indian princes fought among each other. There was no peace due to constant fights. They called the British to defeat the other Kings but were not aware of the future consequences. Tipu Sultan who was far-seeing ruler fought bravely against the British and fought till death. The British defeated the other kings and later dethroned them also. This shows that the Indian princes were short-sighted.
Question 12. How did the British destroy the farmers and businessmen?
Answer
The British implemented various laws in order to make more profits. They imposed heavy taxes on the peasants which forced farmers to abandon their lands. The British were taking their crops and if anyone dared not to pay them, then the British would send them to jail. Not only the farmers, but the businessmen in India were affected too. The British East India Company decided that the good that were manufactured in England should not have any import duty when it was being brought to India. Thus, this destroyed the Indian industries. This ruined the artisans and lead to famine which happened in between 1822 and 1836.
Question 13. How did the British destroy the cotton weavers of India?
Answer
The Indian cotton textiles were the leading cotton producers at that time. But after the British took its hold over the country, they ruined the industry so badly. They didn’t pay the textile workers properly. Moreover, they imposed high taxes on imports of Indian textile products to England. On the other hand, very low taxes were imposed on the Britain textiles and these were then imported to India. The British textiles were handmade as well as cheaper than that of the Indian textiles as a result of which its demand decreased drastically.
Question 14. Why did the Santhals go rebellion against the British?
Answer
The Santhals lost their lands in Bengal after the implementation of the new laws. They became quite desperate. In the year of 1885, they rose in rebellion and massacred Europeans and their supporters alike.
Question 15. Discuss the outbreak of the mutiny. Refer Bahadur Shah and others who joined the fight.
Answer
As the British East India Company imposed heavy taxes and forced people to leave their lands. The Santhals in Bengal became desperate. In the year of1855, the Santhals revolted and massacred the Europeans and their supporters alike. After the execution of Sepoy Mangal Pandey, there was a violent outbreak at Meerut. Emperors like Bahadur Shah joined too and it was a widespread movement.
Question 16. What were the different opinions of the Indians about the British rule in India?
Answer
The peoples of India had different opinions about the British. Some of them were happy as they thought that the British brought peace. They considered them to be sent from God, while others were not happy. They were disappointed that their kings were dethroned and they became the slaves of the foreigners.
Question 17. What attracted Raja Ram Mohan Roy? What did he tell the British in England? Why did he go to England?
Answer
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was attracted by science and technology. His knowledge was modern and modern.
He told the British that he would accept them as rulers and in the same way, they should accept the Indians to be subjects and they must remember their duties and responsibilities towards the subjects. He went to England to see what made the British so powerful.
Question 18. How did Indians take the Western education as opportunity?
Answer
Some of the Indians took the Western education as an opportunity and a new group of intellectuals was being produced. As they were educated so they decided to educate others and worked for the country. They tried to improve the material conditions. They even decided to convey their grievances to the British Parliament.
Question 19. How did the British cheat Hindus and Muslims with new rifle?
Answer
The British were quite clever. They didn’t try to understand the Indian customs. The new Enfield rifle needed to be loaded before using it. The problem that prevailed was that the person who was using it needed to bite off the cartilage. But the cartilage was made from the grease of pigs and cows. This created a religious sentiment among the Hindus and the Muslims in India. By this way, the British cheated Hindus and Muslims in India.
Question 20. Discuss the role of Tatiya Tope, Nana Saheb and Kunwar Singh in the mutiny?
Answer
Tatiya Tope played a significant role in the First Indian War of Independence. He was an important ruler of Cawnpore. He decided to make Peshwa Nana Saheb as his leader in the war of independence. Kunwar Singh, who was eighty years old fought bravely and he was being shot a bullet on his wrist. He said to mother Ganga that it was his last offering to her.
Extract Based Questions
The rivalries helped the but India Company and it could easily subdue Indian princes one by one. A far-seeing ruler like the brave Tipu of Mysore fought the British till he died fighting! Thank God, there is peace in the country now! No more wars and no looting by thugs! It is God who sent the British! Our destiny is linked with them! How did Indians react to these conquests? The white man has killed or dethroned our kings. Some kings were not good, but after all, they were of this land. Now we have become slaves of foreigners!
Questions
(i) What was the fact about the defeat of Indian prince?
(ii) What was the reaction of the commoners?
(iii) Who were Britishers to the common folk?
(iv) What was the regret the villagers have for Indian princes?
(v) Find suitable word phrases which means ‘visionary’.
Answer
(i) The rivalries helped the East India Company to win over Indian princess.
(ii) The commoners were satisfied as there were no wars and loots.
(iii) Britishers were apostles of good as there was peace around.
(iv) The villagers were concerned about king as some of them were good and above all they were of the motherland.
(v) Far-seeing.