Question : “Jawaharlal Nehru, though a declared socialist, was pragmatist enough to focus on providing building blocks to the making of new India.” Examine.
(2015)
Answer : Long before independence, the Congress Party had been deeply aware of the many problems that needed attention for improving the quality of life of ordinary Indians. Nehru in particular had a clear understanding of the challenges confronting the nation in its early years.
As far back as 1936, in his presidential address to the Lucknow session, he had stated his views, outlining his policy for ensuring social justice and the welfare of the masses.
Nehru was steadfast ....
Question : “Though Sri Ramakrishna became the prophet of neo-Hinduism, he never claimed to have founded any new religion.” Elaborate.
(2014)
Answer : The term Neo-Hinduism has been increasingly used in scholarly writing since the 1950s. The label ‘Neo-Hindu’, however, was in circulation in India at least by the last decade of the nineteenth century and had pejorative overtones. For example, in 1893 critics of Swami Vivekananda questioned his fidelity to earlier Hindu tradition by placing him with ‘Neo-Hindus’, those attempting to reform Hinduism on the basis of criteria adopted from European and specifically Christian criticisms. In recent ....
Question : “Dalit Movements for empowerment in independent India have essentially been for carving out political space through electoral politics.” Discuss.
(2014)
Answer : Dalits’ movement for empowerment started way back during second half of the nineteenth century with reformatory efforts to uplift the backward groups of Indian society, especially ‘Dalits’. Later on, it turned into seeking state intervention and generating the idea of paying special attention to Dalits/untouchables. Dalits/Untouchables have been described as “The oppressed of the oppressed and lowest of the low”, who have not been benefited from the opening up of modern economic, social, political and ....
Question : “The first point to note is the continuing importance of religion and philosophy as vital ingredients in the modem Indian Renaissance. Indeed, there is as much reason for regarding it as a reformation as there is for treating it as a Renaissance.” Critically examine.
(2013)
Answer : What distinguishes the intellectual, cultural and social regeneration during the early phase of colonialism in India, generally described as “renaissance”, from the movements of reform in the pre-colonial period were the linkages the former had with modernity. The attempt to reform prevalent socio-religious practices is quite common in all civilisations; it is a part of the reformers’ efforts to refine and refurbish the inner resources of their civilisations. It is through such processes of renewal ....
Question : The reorganization resulted in rationalizing the political map of India without seriously weakening its-unity. If anything, its result has been functional, in as much as it removed what had been a major source of discord, and created homogeneous political units which could be administered through a medium that the vast majority of the population understood. Indeed, it can be said with the benefit of hindsight that language, rather than being a force for division, has proved a cementing and integrating influence.” Examine.
(2013)
Answer : Soon after Independence, the nation-building exercise of the new state had to be based on a more robust, democratic and participative pattern. The newly established federal democratic political structure needed to reconcile the balance of power between a relatively strong Centre and weaker States. The States, however, needed to be reconstructed and reconstituted in this long process of political consolidation and formation of the Indian nation. Attaining independence along with the partition of the country ....
Question : “The Chipko became famous as the first major environmental movement in post-colonial India and gave rise to the understanding that environmental issues are often women’s issues because women suffer most from its deterioration’’ Explain.
(2012)
Answer : The Chipko Movement in the Uttarakhand region of the Himalayas is often treated as a women’s movement to protect the forest ecology from the axes of the contractors. But the reasons behind women’s participation are mere economic and ecological interest. In Uttarakhand these two are so inter woven that itis difficult to promote one without promoting other.
The Chipko Movement began in 1971 as a movement by local people under the leadership of Dashauli Swarajya Sangh ....
Question : “Orientalism produced a knowledge of the past to service the needs of the Colonial State.” Elucidate.
(2011)
Answer : Orientalism means European academic and popular discourse about the Orient. The Orient has been significant for the fact, that the company have had its richest and oldest colony here. The Orient has also been Europe’s cultural contestant owing to its large legacy it left to the world. British orientalism was a unique phenonenon in British Indian history that was inspired by the needs of the East India Company to train a class of British Administrators ....
Question : “The vernacular press in nineteenth century India served not just as newspapers but more importantly as views-papers.” Comment.
(2011)
Answer : The press in India was largely an English institution. The first newpaper that appeared was weekly ‘Bengal Gazette’ in 1780. Almost from the beginning of the 19th century, the politically conscious Indians had been attracted to the press and they started publishing newspapers, journals and magazines not just in english but in vernacular languages too. Some of the important vernacular newspapers and magzines were Samachar Darpan, Sudhovani, Bangadarshan, Jnanodya, Vichar Lahiri, The Madras Courier, The ....
Question : The educated middle class in the 19th century often found the domain of reason to be oppressive, as it implied the historical necessity of civilising colonial rule.
(2010)
Answer : Indian society during those days was characterised by social obscurantism and religious superstition. It gave an impression of a decadent society. Social condition were depressing. Much evil existed and there was ignorance of truth. The plight of women was horrible. Evils like sati, infanticide, child marriage, polygamy, purdha, were prevalent in society. Caste was a dominant feature of entire social structure and there was a distinct concept of privileges prevailed. Caste discremination was rampant and ....
Question : Discuss the factors that led to growth of Dalit consciousness and mention major movements aimed at their empowerment.
(2010)
Answer : Dalit movements were expression of growth of larger national and human consciousness of Indian people. They were expression of democratic awakening of lower caste.
The introduction of new system of education, new political and economic forces which rested on principles of individual liberty, equity, and democratic spirit percolated among Indian masses.
Dalit movement were fundamentally the movement to achieve mobility on part of the groups which has logged behind. They were a reaction against the social, cultural ....
Question : “Of the evils which corroded Indian society in the nineteenth century were probably those stunted its womanhood”.
(2007)
Answer : Of the several evils cording the Indian society in the nineteenth century, the most growing with the stunting the women. For countless centwise, women in India had been subordinated to men and severally opposed. The various religions practiced in India as well as the personal laws based on them cognized women to a status inferior to that of men. The condition of upper class women was in this regard worse than that of peasant women. ....
Question : “So long as the million live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.”
(2006)
Answer : Among the string of the socio-religious reformers, the name of Swami Vivekanand stands tallest. He besides raising the status of Indian culture in international arena also boosted the self assurance and self confidence of Indians and contributed powerful to the emergence of nationalism in India. His teachings played an important role in awakening the Indian masses from slumber.
Foremost Vivekananda was a humanist. He was deeply pained by the plight of majority of Indian masses. He ....
Question : “The National Democratic Awakening of the Indian people found expression also in the religious sphere”.
(2005)
Answer : Immense intellectual and cultural stirrings characterized the 19th century India. The impact of the western empire and consciousness of defeat by a foreign power gave birth to a new awakening. There was awareness that a vast country like India had been colonized by foreigners because of internal weakness of Indian social structure and culture. Thoughtful Indians began to look for the strengths and the weaknesses of their society and means of removing the weaknesses. This ....
