Class:- 8 English (Honeydew) Chapter - 3 Glimpses of the Past Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions

Class:- 8 English 

(Honeydew)

Chapter - 3

Glimpses of the Past

Summary, Word Meanings, NCERT Solutions & Frequently Asked Questions  

-- Summary --

⭐ Summary In English 

The lesson gives us a short and precise description of a few historical events that took place in our country from 1757 to 1857. The first one is of the day India gained freedom and Lata Mangeshkar sang the song “Ae mere watan ke logon”. The second incident is of the year 1757 when the British East India company came to India as traders. Slowly and gradually, they began expanding and extending their dominance in India. The short-sightedness of the Indian princely rulers helped the British East India Company in successfully taking over control from the Indian rulers. The British adopted the “Divide and Rule” policy. The ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan was the odd one out and fought against the British rule.

The third incident narrates the period of British rule in the country. There was rise of widespread myths and taboos like untouchability, child marriage, inferiority of women, etc. The Britishers started looking down upon Indians and initiated brain-washing the rulers against them.

The next event discusses the legendary Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He was of the belief that Indians must not consider themselves inferior or look down upon themselves. He believed that our ancient culture was great and the people were destined for greater achievements. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known for his efforts to abolish the practice of Sati and child marriage.

The fifth incident gives an account of the British oppression, paasing of various laws and regulations which discriminated between the Indians and the British. The Britishers continued to find new ways to bring misery and suffering to Indians.

The next one discusses about the dissatisfaction among the Indians. Indian people had become more worried. Their Kings were now being treated as puppets. They had lost their old jobs and land. Britishers were forcing some of them to change their religion. Indians were tired of talking and wanted to do something. The seventh comic strip tells about the initial sparks for freedom. The ever-increasing taxes levied on the peasants continued to pressurise them and worsen their financial situation. The eighth incident is of the revolt of 1857 which was a mutiny by the sepoys of Meerut. The Sepoys marched and moved to Delhi to support their Emperors like Bahadur Shah. Finally, the freedom struggle began in the year 1857. The initial revolt became strong as Indians from different walks of life – peasants, soldiers, princely rulers and other nationalists, joined the common cause to drive the British out of the country.

⭐ Summary In Hindi 

यह पाठ हमें 1757 से 1857 तक हमारे देश में घटी कुछ ऐतिहासिक घटनाओं का संक्षिप्त और सटीक विवरण देता है।

पहला उस दिन का है जब भारत को आजादी मिली थी और लता मंगेशकर ने “ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगन” गीत गाया था।

दूसरी घटना वर्ष 1757 की है जब ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी व्यापारियों के रूप में भारत आई थी। धीरे-धीरे उन्होंने भारत में अपने प्रभुत्व का विस्तार करना शुरू कर दिया। भारतीय रियासतों की अदूरदर्शिता ने ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी को भारतीय शासकों से सफलतापूर्वक नियंत्रण लेने में मदद की।

अंग्रेजों ने “फूट डालो और राज करो” की नीति अपनाई। मैसूर के शासक, टीपू सुल्तान अजीब थे और उन्होंने ब्रिटिश शासन के खिलाफ लड़ाई लड़ी।

तीसरी घटना देश में ब्रिटिश शासन की अवधि का वर्णन करती है। अस्पृश्यता, बाल विवाह, महिलाओं की हीनता आदि जैसे व्यापक मिथकों और वर्जनाओं का उदय हुआ।

अंग्रेजों ने भारतीयों को नीचा देखना शुरू कर दिया और उनके खिलाफ शासकों का ब्रेनवॉश करना शुरू कर दिया। अगली घटना में प्रसिद्ध राजा राम मोहन राय की चर्चा है। उनका मानना ​​था कि भारतीयों को खुद को कमतर नहीं समझना चाहिए या खुद को नीचा नहीं देखना चाहिए।

उनका मानना ​​​​था कि हमारी प्राचीन संस्कृति महान थी और लोगों को बड़ी उपलब्धियों के लिए नियत किया गया था। राजा राम मोहन राय सती प्रथा और बाल विवाह को समाप्त करने के अपने प्रयासों के लिए जाने जाते हैं।

पांचवीं घटना में ब्रिटिश दमन, विभिन्न कानूनों और विनियमों को पारित करने का विवरण दिया गया है जो भारतीयों और अंग्रेजों के बीच भेदभाव करते थे। अंग्रेजों ने भारतीयों के लिए दुख और पीड़ा लाने के लिए नए तरीके खोजना जारी रखा।

अगला एक भारतीयों के बीच असंतोष के बारे में चर्चा करता है। भारतीय लोग और अधिक चिंतित हो गए थे। उनके राजाओं को अब कठपुतली बनाया जा रहा था। उन्होंने अपनी पुरानी नौकरी और जमीन खो दी थी। अंग्रेज उनमें से कुछ को अपना धर्म बदलने के लिए मजबूर कर रहे थे।

भारतीय बोलते-बोलते थक चुके थे और कुछ करना चाहते थे। सातवीं कॉमिक स्ट्रिप स्वतंत्रता के लिए शुरुआती चिंगारी के बारे में बताती है। किसानों पर लगाए जाने वाले लगातार बढ़ते करों ने उन पर दबाव बनाना जारी रखा और उनकी वित्तीय स्थिति को और खराब कर दिया।

आठवीं घटना 1857 के विद्रोह की है जो मेरठ के सिपाहियों द्वारा किया गया विद्रोह था। सिपाहियों ने मार्च किया और बहादुर शाह जैसे अपने सम्राटों का समर्थन करने के लिए दिल्ली चले गए।

अंत में, स्वतंत्रता संग्राम वर्ष 1857 में शुरू हुआ। प्रारंभिक विद्रोह मजबूत हो गया क्योंकि जीवन के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों के भारतीय – किसान, सैनिक, रियासत शासक और अन्य राष्ट्रवादी, अंग्रेजों को देश से बाहर निकालने के सामान्य कारण में शामिल हो गए।

-- Moral -- 

Unity & self confidence can uproot any power.

-- Word Meanings -- 

• Peasants - किसान 

• Sacrifice - कुर्बानी 

• Martyrs - शहीद 

• Upstart - अंहकारी, घमंडी

• Subdue - बदल देना 

• Dethrone - उखाड़ फेंकना

• Preach - बुलावा भेजना 

• Self-respect - आत्म-सम्मान

• Scorn - इन्कार करना

• Ruin - नष्ट करना, बरबाद करना

• Famine - अकाल 

• Despise - उपेक्षा करना

• Superstition रूढ़िवादी धारणाएं 

• Owe - एहसानमंद होना 

• Oppress - दमन करना 

• Fortune - भाग्य 

• Petty - छोटा मोटा

• Convey - ले जाना

• Massacred - कड़ी पराजय देना 

• Mansion - कोठी, हवेली

• Pittance - आज्ञा देना 

• Revolt - विद्रोह 

• Regiment - सैन्य दल

• Upsurge - लहर 

• Pounce - पंजा मारना

• Battles - लड़ाई, युद्ध 

-- NCERT Solutions -- 

Comprehension Check (Page 45)

Question 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?

Answer:- The opening lines of the Hindi Song are “Aye Mere Waten Ke Logon, Turn Khub Logo Nara: Ye Shubh Din Hai Hum Sab Ka Lehralo Tiranga Pyara, Par Mat Bhulo Seema Par Veron Ne Hain Pran Gawayen.” It was sung by Lata Mangeskar. We see Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri and Mrs. Indira Gandhi in this picture.

Question 2.- In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s ‘superior weapons?

Answer:- The East India Company conquered India by using their superior weapons, the guns and diplomacy.

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

Answer:- An artisan is a craftsman, skilled in some trade. They suffered because the goods that they produced lost demand in the Indian market.

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

Answer:- Picture 7 reveals the first spark of the fire of revolt.

Working With the Text (Page 45)

Answer the following questions.

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

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 2:- How did the East India Company subdue the Indian Princes?

Answer:- The East India company spread their wings in India to promote their trade. They supported one Indian Prince to finish the other. As a result power passed onto their hands.

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

Answer:- The words of Ram Mohan Roy spoken to his wife were: “Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. Different teachers have different opinions but the essence of every religion is the same.”

Question 4:- 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 5:- Name these people.

a) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.

b) The person who wanted to reform the society.

c) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.

d) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (choices may vary.)

Answer:- 

a) Tipu Sultan of Mysore.

b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Bengal.

c) Lord Mecaulay

d) Nana Sahib Peshwa, Kunwar Singh, Begum Hazrat Mahal.

Question 6:- Mention the following.

a) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.

b) Two oppressive policies of the British.

c) Two ways in which common people suffered.

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

Answer:- 

a) Untouchability and child marriage.

b) The British masters allowed imports in India tax free. They ruined Indian cottage industries,

c) The farmers were taxed heavily and the thumbs of skilled workers were cut.

d) 1.- Santhals who lost their land became desparate and they revolted.

2.- The sepoys in the English army were paid much less than the white soldiers. So they were discontented and angry.

3.- The Brahmins were furious when they came to know that the bullets they had to bite, contained cow fat and pig-fat.

4.- Many landlords were sore because the British policies deprived them of their land and estate.

-- Previous Year Questions --

Question 1:- What helped the East India Company to overpower Indian princes?

Answer:- Indian princes were always engaged in fighting with one another. The rivalries paved the way for the East India Company to overpower Indian princes.

Question 2:- Who was Tipu Sultan? What happened to him?

Answer:- Tipu Sultan was a far-seeing ruler of Mysore. He was dead against the British and their policies. He fought them till he died fighting.

Question 3:- Why did Ram Mohan Roy go to England? What did he tell the British there?

Answer:- Ram Mohan Roy went to England to see what made the British so powerful. There he told them that they (Indians) accepted them as rulers and they must accept them (Indians) as subjects. He also reminded them of the responsibility a ruler owed to his subjects.

Question 4:- What was Regulation III?

Answer:- In 1818, the British had passed Regulation III. Under this Regulation, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.

Question 5:- What did Macaulay suggest in 1835?

Answer:- An Englishman Macaulay suggested that Indians should be taught through the English language.

Question 6:- How did the British East India Company eventually become the ruler of India? What tactics did they adopt to expand their empire?

Answer:- The British came to India as traders. Their chief motive was to make a fortune. But they needed political power to carry on their trade. They imposed heavy taxes on the peasants. The Indian goods lost their demand because the market was flooded with imported English goods. These goods didn’t have to pay import duty. The British, in this way, ruined the skilled Indians. They dethroned the Indian rulers and took advantage of their rivalries. Slowly and steadily they spread their empire all over India.

Question 7:- How did the white rulers cripple Indian industries?

Answer:- The white rulers were chiefly traders. Their chief aim was to make profits at all cost. Hence, they began to ruin Indian industries. They imposed heavy taxes on farmers. They destroyed Indian cottage industries in order to sell goods manufactured in England. They exempted all goods imported from England from duties. In this way, their business flourished while the Indian industries died. The British made the Indians weak as well as poor.

Question 8:- How did the resentment against the white man grow leading to armed revolt?

Answer:- The white rulers adopted all the mean and foul tactics to take over the princely states. By 1856, they had conquered the whole of India. The Indian princes became their puppets. The British forced Indians to adopt Christian religion. They paid low wages to Indian soldiers. This created resentment among all sections of society, and the army as well. The so-called 1857 mutiny was, in fact, India’s first War of Independence.

Question 9:- Give a brief account of the role of Raja Rammohan Roy in spreading awareness in the Indian society.

Answer:- Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a learned man, a social reformer and a true nationalist. He was from Bengal. He understood well what was wrong with the Indian society. He called upon the people to fight against social evils of untouchability and child marriage. He also asked the people to throw out superstitions. He asked them to feel proud of their culture and learn English. Then alone they would be able to write to the British Parliament for a fair deal.

-- By Durgesh Pandey

(Eklavya Coaching Institute)

📞 8376976688, 9310533915

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