Glimpses of the Past Summary In English
1757-1849
In India of 1757, the East India Company was in a strong position. Compared to the Indian Princes, they had superior weapons. Besides Indian Princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of the time. Indian princes were fighting with each other. They often sought the help of the Company to defeat other princes. This worked in favour of the Company. It could easily subdue these princes one after the other. However, the brave Tipu Sultan of Mysore fought with the British. He died in the battle-field fighting with the English.
The general reaction to the British rule was not the same everywhere in India. There were some who thanked British for ushering in an era of peace. Others bemoaned that the country was subjected to foreign rule.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past
Comprehension Check (Page 45)
Questions:
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?
In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s ‘superior weapons?
Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (Picture 3)
Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?
Answers:
The opening lines of the Hindi Song are “Aye Mere Waten Ke Logon, Tum Khub Lagao Nara: Ye Shubh Din Hai Hum Sab Ka Lehralo Tiranga Pyara, Par Mat Bhulo Seema Par Viron Ne Hain Pran Ganwayen.” It was sung by Lata Mangeskar. We see Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri and Mrs. Indira Gandhi in this picture.
The East India Company conquered India by using their superior weapons, the guns and diplomacy.
An artisan is a craftsman, skilled in some trade. They suffered because the goods that they produced lost demand in the Indian market.
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 Princes 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.
The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
The person who wanted to reform the society.
The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
Two popular leaders who led the revolt (choices may vary.)
Answer:
Tipu Sultan of Mysore.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Bengal.
Lord Mecaulay
Nana Sahib Peshwa, Kunwar Singh, Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Question 6:
Mention the following.
Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
Two oppressive policies of the British.
Two ways in which common people suffered.
Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.
Answer:
Untouchability and child marriage.
The British masters allowed imports in India tax free. They ruined Indian cottage industries,
The farmers were taxed heavily and the thumbs of skilled workers were cut.
(a) Santhals who lost their land became desparate and they revolted.
(b) The sepoys in the English army were paid much less than the white soldiers. So they were discontented and angry.
(c) The Brahmins were furious when they came to know that the bullets they had to bite, contained cow fat and pig-fat.
(d) Many landlords were sore because the British policies deprived them of their land and estate.
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