Short Answer Type‘‘The Salt March of 1930 was the first event that brought Mahatma Gandhi to world attention.’’ Explain the significance of this movement for Swaraj.
The significance Salt March for Swaraj:
(i) On 12th March 1930- Gandhiji began the march from his ashram at Sabarmati towards the ocean where he reached after three weeks, making a fistful of salt and thereby breaking colonial salt law.
(ii) Parallel salt marches and protests were also conducted in other parts of the country. Peasants breached the hated colonial forest laws, factory workers went on strike, lawyers boycotted British courts and students refused to attend goverment run educational institutions. Gandhi’s call had encouraged Indians of all classes to make manifest their own discontent with colonial rule.
(iii) During the March Gandhiji told the upper castes that if they want Swaraj they must serve untouchables. For Swaraj, Hindus , Muslims , Parsis and Sikhs have to unite
(iv) The progress of the salt March can also be traced from another source: the American news magazine, Time. Time magazine was deeply sceptical of the salt march reaching its destination. But within a week it had changed its mind and saluted Gandhi as a ‘saint ‘ and statesman. Time’s writing had made the British rulers “ desperately anxious”.
(v) Salt March was notable for at least three reasons. First, it was this event that brought Gandhiji to world attention. The march was widely covered by the European and American Press.
(vi) Second, it was the first nationalist activity in which women participated in large numbers. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the socialist activist had persuaded Gandhiji not to restrict the protest to men alone . She herself was one of numerous women who courted arrest by breaking salt and Liquor Laws.
(vii) Third, and perhaps most significant, it was the Salt March which forced upon the British the realization that their Raj would not last forever , and they would have to devolve some power to the Indians.
(viii) To that end British Government convened a series of Round Table Conferences in London. First meeting was held in Nov 1930 without any pre-eminent political leader in India, thus rendering it an exercise in futility. When Gandhiji was released from jail in Jan 1931,many meetings were held with the Viceroy and it culminated in the ‘Gandhi Irwin Pact’ by which civil disobedience would be called off and all prisoners released and salt manufacture allowed along the coast. Gandhiji represented the congress at Second Round Table Conference at London. The conference in London was inconclusive, so Gandhi returned to India and resumed civil disobedience.
Long Answer TypeHow did Sutta-Pitaka reconstruct the philosophy of Buddhism ? Mention about Buddhist Tipitaka.
Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
‘‘Proper’’ social roles
Here is a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata :
Once Drona, a Brahmana who taught archery to the Kuru princes, was approached by Ekalavya, a forest-dwelling nishada (a hunting community). When Drona, who knew the dharma, refused to have him as his pupil, Ekalavya returned to the forest, prepared an image of Drona out of clay, and treating it as his teacher, began to practise on his own. In due course, he acquired great skill in archery. One day, the Kuru princes went hunting and their dog, wandering in the woods, came upon Ekalavya. When the dog smelt the dark nishada wrapped in black deer skin, his body caked with dirt, it began to bark. Annoyed, Ekalavya shot seven arrows into its mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery. They tracked down Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of Drona.
Drona had once told his favourite student Arjuna, that he would be unrivalled amongst his pupils. Arjuna now reminded Drona about this. Drona approached Ekalavya, who immediately acknowledged and honoured him as his teacher. When Drona demanded his right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before. Thus, Drona kept his word : no one was better than Arjuna.
(15.1) Why did Drona refuse to have Ekalavya as his pupil ?
(15.2) How did Ekalavya react to the demand of his Guru ?
(15.3) Mention two versions of Guru-Shishya Parampara mentioned in the given extract.
Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
The child sati
This is perhaps one of the most poignant descriptions by Bernier :
At Lahore, I saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, I think, have been more than twelve years of age. The poor little creature appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit: the agony of her mind cannot be described; she trembled and wept bitterly; but three or four of the Brahmanas, assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive. I found it difficult to repress my feelings and to prevent their bursting forth into clamorous and unavailing rage ...
(16.1) Why did Bernier consider this treatment as a crucial marker of the difference between western and eastern societies ?
(16.2) What role did the Indian patriarchal society play towards this social evil ?
(16.3) Compare the condition of the women of the era mentioned above to that of today.
‘‘The architecture in colonial Bombay represented ideas of imperial power, nationalism and religious glory.’’ Support the statement with examples.
Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
‘‘British element is gone but they have left the mischief behind’’
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel said :
It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates, because it is good for us. We have heard it long enough. We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation we are now a separate nation ... Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates ? If so, I shall be prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country, woe betide the country; it is not worth living in. Therefore, I say, it is not for my good alone, it is for your own good that I say it, forget the past. One day, we may be united ... The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind. We do not want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced this element they had not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right. But they have left the legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not ? CAD, VOL.V
(17.1)Why are separate electorates considered as a mischief ?
(17.2)State the arguments given by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel for building political unity and forging a nation.
(17.3)How did the philosophy of separate electorates result in a separate nation ?
(18.1) On the given political outline map of India, locate and label the following with appropriate symbols :
(a) Dholavira
(b) Agra – the capital city of Mughals
(18.2) On the same outline map of India, three centres related to the Revolt of 1857 have been marked as A, B and C. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them.
Note : The following questions are for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q. No. 18 :
(18.1) Mention any two capital cities of the Mughal Empire.
(18.2) Mention any three important places related with the Revolt of 1857.
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