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Answer the following questions.

1. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?

Ans: Yes, the Indian princes were short sighted in their approach to the events of 1757 because they had internal rivalries and gave more priorties to settle there. Thus, in irder to do so they took help of Britishers as they were equipped with superior weapons. The Indians princes did not give a second thought on the impact of this help.

2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?

Ans: The east india company was equipped with superior weapons which fascinated Indian pronces to settle their rivalries against each others. Thus, they became dependet on the East india company and got subdued by them.

3. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.

Ans: He said. “cows are of different colours. But of their milk is the same. Different preachers have different opinions but the essence of every religion is the same.”

4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?

Ans: (i) With the help of their superior weapons, they subdued the Indian princes one by one.

(ii) They cut the thumbs of experts artisans and imported British goods without import duty in India.

(iii) They gained profit in private business which is resulted in the death of Indians cottage industries.

(iv) They taught Indians English and made them clerks under British officers.

(v) They employed them in British army but were given pittance and slow promotions as compared to British soldiers.

(vi) They spread dissatisfaction and revolt in the Indians by using the fat of cows and pigs to grease the bullets.

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.)

Ans: (i) Tipu sultan of Mysore.

(ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

(iii) Macaulay.

(iv) Mangal Pandey. Tatya Tope.

6. Mention the following.

(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.

(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.

(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.

(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.

Ans: (i)  Child marriage, sati system, untouchablity.

(ii) (a) The Indians could be sent to jail without trial in a court.

(b) TheBritish prospered on company loot while Indian industries began to die.

(iii) (a) More tax on farmers, led them to abandon their lands.

(b) Britishers cut the thumbs of expert artisians.

(iv) (a) Indians were given pittance and slow promotions.

(b) In the grease of bullet, Britishres mixed fat of pigs and cows.

(c)  They took heavy tax from the peasants which ruined them.

(d) They snatched the kingdom of old rulers.

Comprehension Check

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 1. Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer? Who else do you see in this picture?

Ans: The singer is Lata Mangeshkar.

Ther are Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal bahadur shashtri.

 2. In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons”?

Ans: Company had latest weapons and guns whereas Indians soldiers used to fight with swords.

 3. Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)

Ans: An artisan is the person who is an expert in making various artistic things. He may be a painter, sculpture, handcraft man etc. The thumbs of expert artisans were chopped of so that they could not make good things anymore and thus Indians to buy foreign products.

 4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?

Ans: Picture 7, reveals the first sparks of the fire revolt. Although all the past circumstances led to the revolt but the outburst of sepoy Mangal Pandey led to the revolt.