In this Page we have given West Bengal Class 8 English Medium History Solution Chapter 6 The Beginning of Nationalism Question and Answer for our Students of West bengal Class 8 English Medium. Hope this following Question Answer will help our Students.
1.) Choose the correct alternatives.
a)The first session of the National Congresswasheld at …… (Bombay/ Goa/ Madras)
Ans: Bombay
b) TheModerates demandedthat the eligible agefor Civil Service examinations ……. (20/23/21) years.
Ans: 23
c) Partition ofBengalwasplanned by …….. (Dufferin/Curzon/Minto)
Ans: Curzon
d) Thenewspaper associated with revolutionary activities in Bengal was …….. (Jugantar/ Hindu Patriot/Somprakash)
Ans: Jugantar
2) Choose which statement is right and which wrong:
a) Umesh Chandra Banerjeewas the first President of Congress.
Ans: Wrong
b) Moderates calledthe activitiesof the Extremists, ‘three day tamasha.’
Ans: Right
c) Economicnationalism wasproposed byAurobindo Ghosh.
Ans: Right
d) Kshudiram Boseand Prafulla Chaki attempted tomurder Kingsford.
Ans: Wrong
3) Answer briefly (30-40 words):
a) What is meant by the age of ‘Sabha samitis?’
Ans: Organizations set up in Madras, Calcutta, Bombay Presidency to express regional interests in protecting group interests through nationalist movements during the span of 1857-85 is known as ‘Sabha Samiti”.’
b) Discuss two main differences between the Moderates and the Extremists.
Ans: Moderates wanted partial autonomy for India within the fold of the British Empire, whereas the ideological position for the extremists was to attain Swaraj.
The Moderate leaders thought of modernising India with the notion of nationalism derived from Western ideas.On the other hand, the Extremists in their general opposition of colonial rule, criticized the Western idea of nationalism.
c) What isthe importance of the Surat session (1907) of the Congress?
Ans: The Surat Session (1907) marked the split of the congress, into moderates and extremists, and therefore, is marked as an important event.
d) Why did secret societies grow up in Bengal in the beginning oftwentiethcentury?
Ans: Many gymnasiums were opened in Bengal, 3 groups in Calcutta, and 1 group in Medinipur was found in 1902, where ‘Anushilan Samiti’ was found by Satish Chandra Basu, New clubs were formed since the anti-Partition movement (1905), the newspaper – ‘Jugantar’ became very famous beyween the revolutionaries.
4) Write in your own words (120-160 words):
a) Make a critical analysis of Hume’srole inthefoundation ofthe Congress.Doyou thinkCongress could havebeen formedwithout Hume? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: Hume has been ascribed a mythical role behind the formation of National Congress.Wedderburn wrote that the Congress was born from the joint initiative of Dufferin and Hume. This is known as the Hume-Dufferin conspiracy theory.Hume was ideally called as amn independent thinker who supported the view of self-governance of India. Hume had a major role in developing the Congress. Out of political generosity, Hume wanted an organization to protect the human interests.
However, without Hume, the Congress could have been formed as the groundwork was already done. The educated Indians took a political initiative in three presidencies, which marked a number of protests during the span of 1867-83. Their target was the taxation policy or the discriminatory income and expenditure of the British. These movements spilled beyond the Presidencies to Lahore, Amritsar, Aligarh, Kanpur and Patna. A new nationalist political consciousnesswas being created, which was Congress.
b) What was the main position of economicnationalism?Do you find any similarity initsstand with that of Boycott and Swadeshi movement. Give reasons.
Ans: The chief aim of economic nationalism was to assess the relation between Indianpoverty and British rule.TheModerates argued that the character of colonial rule in India had changed. India had become a place for Britain’s acquisition ofagricultural raw material. British goods had found a hugemarket in India. Thus the agro-based economy of India was used mainly for Britain’s colonial interests.
No, there are no similarities between the economic nationalism and Boycott and Swadeshi movement, because the Boycott and Swadeshi movements took place from 1905 in response to the partition of Bengal. People opposed to the partition of Bengal by boycotting the British products and encouraging Indian people to buy the Swadeshi good made in India.
c) What was themain proposal ofthe Extremist movement? Do you support theuseof religious symbolsin their movement? Givereasons for your answer.
Ans: The colonial government considered Indians to be unworthy of self-rule and ‘an effeminate race’.The Extremists contradicted that claim and held up various historical and ancientpersonalities as ‘national idols’.Thus, in Maharahstra, Tilak started the Shivaji Festival. Initiative was taken for body building.In various places in Bengal Extremist leaders had opened gymnasiums.In those places, sword and knifefighting, stick fighting andwrestlingwerepracticed.
The ideal proposition for the extremists was to attain Swaraj. Bipin Chandra Pal declared Swaraj as complete independence. Tilak said that Swaraj could be attained by Indianisation of administration. Thus extremists took the call of passive resistance, instead of the policy of prayer and petition.
I do support the use of religious symbols in the extremist movement, because of their desire to completely wipe out the British from India, by evoking the religious sentiments of every individual to fight for their freedom.
d) What was the background ofrevolutionary movement?Why did it largely fail?
Ans: Thetrend ofrevolutionary movement became apparent towards the end of Swadeshi movement. 1908, the Swadeshi movement had weakened socially. In such a situation many wantedto agitate against the colonial administration. Thus therevolutionary movement increasedradically.
Newclubswerebeingformed sincethe anti-Partition movement (I905). Pulinbehari Dasfounded theDhaka Anushilan Samiti in 1906.Anation wide conference of revolutionarieswas organised. The newspaper ‘Jugantar’ became the mouthpiece of the revolutionaries. Swadeshi dacoity to collect wealth andbomb making went on. Abomb factory was set up at Maniktala, Calcutta. Kshudiram Bose and Prafulla Chakraborty made an attempt on 30th April 1908 to assassinate the Magistrate Kingsford of Bengal’s Presidency, but failed. The government then cracked down the revolutionary movement. The police found out the bomb factory. The revolutionary leaders were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment or death. This was the reason why the revolutionary movement failed.
5) Imagine and write (within 200 words):
a) Suppose you are an Extremist leader. You have to organize a movement in different parts of Bengal. Makearough draft ofthe lecture youwant to present to the public.
Ans: “Today, I want to tell all of you that internalclasheswithin theCongressledto therise ofExtremists.Therewas conflict betweenthe leadership regarding regional organization and editing ofnewspapers.
The question arises whether Extremism was a mere reaction to Moderate politics. In amanner of speaking, the disappointment consequent to the inactivepolitics of the Moderates led to the growth of Extremism. The zamindarswho funded the Congress in itsearly years,had stopped makingdonations.Thus, theModeratesinexecuting theirpolitical agenda, lackedmoney.The Congresswas dissociated fromthe larger Indian society.
Today is the day we call ‘Boishak’, which is the day Pratapaditya was anointed. There will be no more lectures in this speech. Rather from all over Kolkata I need boys who is skilled in stick-fighting, sword-fighting, boxing and body building. I will make an exhibition for their skills, and honour the person with medals at the end of the exhibition.”
In case You have missed: Chapter 5 Reaction to Colonial Rule: Co-operation and Revolt Solution
b) Suppose you have joined the Swadeshi movementunder the leadership ofRabindranath Tagore. Narrate your experience on Raksha-bandhan day in a letter to your friend.
Ans:
P-884 Burawali,
Sitnhi more road,
Kolkata: 7002882
7th September, 1907.
Dear Alok,
Hope you and your parents are doing well. Today I will tell you about my day on the special occasion of ‘Raksha-Bandhan’ with Rabindranath Tagore, but I actually call him Robi uncle.
Robi unclesaid one day,wethat we must hold a rakhi binding festival, and tie rachis on everyone’shands. We decided we would tie rakhis on everyone’shands after abath inthe Ganges inthemorning. We went to Jagannath ghat. Rabiuncle said we would not use any transport but walk. We left for the Ganges bath, and on both sides of the street,from the rooftopsto the footpaths,people had gathered -women were showering parched rice, and blowing conch shells -as if was aparade.
It was beautiful experience and I would remember this till the end of my life. I hope you liked the letter. Do send me a letter back and inform me about the Swadeshi movements in your city.
Yours faithfully,
Aryaman