West Bengal Board Class 10 History Question Paper 2020

Practicing with West Bengal Board Class 10 History Book Solutions and West Bengal Board Class 10 History Question Paper 2020 alongside detailed explanations can lead to a deeper understanding of the subject.

WBBSE Class 10 History Question Paper 2020

Group A:

1. Choose the correct option :

Question 1.
World Environment Day is observed on :
a. 8th January
b. 24th February
c. 8th March
d. 5th June
Answer:
d. 5th June

Question 2.
Indians learnt about the use of potato from :
a. Portuguese
b. The English
c. The Mughals
d. The Dutch
Answer:
a. Portuguese

Question 3.
The first official Education Commission Hunter Commission was formed in :
a. 1872 AD
b. 1878 AD
c. 1882 AD
d. 1890 AD
Answer:
c. 1882 AD

Question 4.
Debendranath Tagore joined the Brahmo Samaj in :
a. 1830 AD
b. 1833 AD
c. 1843 AD
d. 1850 AD
Answer:
d. 1843 AD

Question 5.
The Renaissance in Bengal was :
a. Individual centric
b. Institution centric
c. Calcutta based
d. Village based
Answer:
a. Calcutta based

Question 6.
The beneficiaries of the Second Forest Law 1878 were :
a. Tribal communities
b. The British Government
c. The merchant class
d. Both the British Government and the tribal communities
Answer:
b. The British Government

Question 7.
The word ‘hool’ denoted :
a. God
b. Freedom
c. Weapons
d. Revolt
Answer:
d. Revolt

Question 8.
The main objective of the Queen’s Proclamation 1858 was :
a. To gain obedience of the Indian people
b. To give the British the right of monopoly of trade in India
c. To grant the right of self-determination to the Indian subjects
d. To release the Indian prisoners of the Great Revolt of 1857
Answer:
a. To gain obedience of the Indian people

Question 9.
The President of the Landholders’ Society was :
a. Raja Radhakanta Dev
b. Prasanta Kumar Tagore
c. Raja Rammohan Roy
d. Dwaraka Nath Tagore
Answer:
d. Dwaraka Nath Tagore

Question 10.
The Secretary of the Hindu Mela was :
a. Nabagopal Mitra
b. Ganendranath Tagore
c. Rajnarain Bose
d. Ganendranath Tagore
Answer:
b. Ganendranath Tagore

Question 11.
The year in which the first Bengali book was printed was :
a. 1556 AD
b. 1778 AD
c. 1785 AD
d. 1800
Answer:
b. 1778 AD

Question 12.
The first Principal of the Bengal Technical Institute was :
a. Aurobindo Ghosh
b. Satish Chandra Bose
c. Jogesh Chandra Ghosh
d. Pramathanath Bose
Answer:
a. Aurobindo Ghosh

Question 13.
The person known as ‘Deshapran’ was :
a. Satish Chandra Samanta
b. Aswini Kumar Dutta
c. Birendranath Sasmal
d. Jatindra Mohan Sengupta
Answer:
c. Birendranath Sasmal

Question 14.
The Moplah Revolt 1921. took place in :
a. The Malabal Coast
b. The Konkan Coast
c. The Godavari Basin
d. The Telengana region
Answer:
a. The Malabar Coast

Question 15.
The Meerut Conspiracy Case 1929 was instituted against :
a. The Indian National Congress
b. The revolutionaries
c. The Trade union leaders
d. The Peasant leaders
Answer:
c. The Trade Union leaders

Question 16.
The Nari Satyagraha Samiti was founded during :
a. The Anti-Partition Movement in Bengal
b. The Non-Cooperation Movement
c. The Civil Disobedience Movement
d. The Quit India Movement
Answer:
c. The Civil Disobedience Movement

Question 17.
The person known as ‘Master-da’ was
a. Beni Madhav Das
b. Surya Sen
c. Krishna Kumar Mitra
d. Hem Chandra Ghosh
Answer:
b. Surya Sen

Question 18.
The Self-Respect Movement in Mmadras was started by :
a. Ramaswami Naicker
b. Narayan Guru
c. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
d. Gandhiji
Answer:
a. Ramaswami Naicker

Question 19.
The largest Princely State in India on the eve of Independence was :
a. Kashmir
b. Junagarh
c. Hyderabad
d. Jaipur
Answer:
c. Hyderabad

Question 20.
The reorganized State of Kerala is situated in :
a. The Godavari Basin
b. Southern Orissa
c. The Kathiawad peninsula
d. The Malabar Coast
Answer:
d. The Malabar Coast

Question 21.
The person known as ‘Deshapran’ was :
a. Satish Chandra Samanta
b. Aswini Kumar Dutta
c. Birendranath Sasmal
d. Jatindra Mohan Sengupta
Answer:
c. Birendranath Sasmal

Group B:

2. Answer the following questions (attempt one question from each sub-group. In all Answer 16 Questions): 16×1=16

Answer in one sentence :

Question 1.
What is the name of the autobiography of Bipin Chandra Pal?
Answer:
Sattar Batsar Seventy Years.

Question 2.
Who was the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University
Answer:
Gooroodas Banerjee was the first Indian to be appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.

Question 3.
In which year was the Indigo Commission formed?
Answer:
In 1860 31 March. the British Government of India formed the Indigo Commission.

Question 4.
Who wrote the ‘Barna Parichay’?
Answer:
I swarchandra Vidyasagar

State whether ‘True’ or ‘False’ :

1. The book ‘Nadiya Kahini’ belongs to Urban History.
Answer: False [The book belongs to the category of Local History]

2. Baba Ramchandra was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj.
Answer: False [Baba Ramchandra was a peasant leader]

3. Subhas Chandra Bose founded the Forward Block…….
Answer: True

4. ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ was founded by Basanti Devi
Answer:
False [Lakshmir Bhadar was formed by Sarala Devi Choudhurani in 1903]

Match Column ‘A’ with Column ‘B’: 1×4= 4

Column A	Column B
1. Thomas Babington Macaulay	a. Landholders’ Society
2. Keshab Chandra Sen	b. Bartaman Bharat
3. Raja Radhakanta Deb	c. Western education
4. Swami Vivekananda	d. Nababidhan

Answer:
1-c,  2-d,  3-a,  4-b

On the given outline map of India, locate and label the following places: 1×4=4

1. A centre of Wahabi Movement in Bengal – Barasat
2. A centre of the Indigo Revolt – Jessore, Nadia
3. One of the centres of the Great Revolt of 1857 – Meerut
4. The reorganized State of Maharashtra
Answer:
See the attached Map of India where the four places have been located

OR
(Only For The Visually-Challenged Students)

Fill in the blanks :

1. A leader of the Sannyasi Revolt was —–
Answer: Bhwani Pathak

2. A centre of the Indigo Rebellion was —–
Answer: Nadia

3. The Governor-General of India at the time of Great Revolt (1857) was —–
Answer: Nadia

4. The Princely State of Hyderabad was incorporated into the Indian Union in —– AD
Answer: 1949

Select the correct interpretation of the following statements: 1×4=4

1. Statement: Halhed wrote his Bengali Grammar to teach the Bengali language to the British officials.

Explanation 1: As the British officials in India liked Bengali language and literature.
Explanation 2: As knowledge of Bengali language was essential for their promotion.
Explanation 3: As it was essential for the British officials to know the Bengali language in order to carry out commerce and administration in this country.
Answer:
Explanation 3: As it was essential for the British officials to know the Bengali language in order to carry out commerce and administration in this country.

2. Statement: The Bardoli Satyagraha was instituted in 1928 AD.

Explanation 1: It was a movement of the landless agricultural labourers against the exploitation of rich landed peasantry.
Explanation 2: It was a movement against the increased revenue demand of the Government by the rich landed peasantry.
Explanation 3: It was a joint movement of both the rich landed peasantry and the landless agricultural labourers against the revenue hike by the Government.
Answer:
Explanation 3: It was a joint movement of both the rich landed peasantry and the landless agricultural labourers against the revenue hike by the Government.

3. Statement : Bhogeshwari Phukonani was killed in Police firing during the Quit India Movement (1942).

Explanation 1: Bhogeswari Phukonani was killed in an armed encounter with the Police.
Explanation 2: The fugitive Bhogeswari Phukonani was shot dead by the Police when she refused to surrender.
Explanation 3: Bhogeswari Phukonani was shot dead by the Police while trying to hoist national flag at the Police station in the Nowgong District of Assam.
Answer:
Explanation 3: Bhogeswari Phukonani was shot dead by the Police while trying to hoist national flag at the Police station in Nowgong District of Assam.

4. Statement: Gandhiji began a fast unto death in protest against the Provision of separate electorate for the Depressed Classes Granted in the Communal Award (1932)

Explanation 1: Gandhiji was opposed to the electoral rights of the Depressed Classes.
Explanation 2: Gandhiji began his fast to oppose the attempt to create a division within the Hindu community.
Explanation 3: Gandhiji believed in the synthesis of classes as against class struggle
Answer:
Explanation 3: Gandhiji believed in the synthesis of classes as against class struggle

Group C:

3. Answer the following questions in two or three sentences only (any eleven) 2×11=22

Question 1.
What are the limitations of government document as sources of modern Indian history?
Answer:
Government documents, particularly those belonging to the colonial government suffer from certain limitations. For example, genuine public grievances were viewed as riots or as breach of law and order. In such a situation it is necessary to view the government records objectively.

Question 2.
What is meant by Autobiography and Memoir?
Answer:
Autobiography tells the story of a life. In the reconstruction of history the autobiographies of eminent personalities are of immense value. Memoir often tells a story from life. Memoir may also be described as a historical event written from personal knowledge.

Question 3.
What was the principal objective of the Christian missionaries in introducing Western education in India?
Answer:
The Christian missionaries were like torch-bearers of Western education in India. In charity schools where they taught English language they preached Christianity. Their principal objective was to spread Christianity in India.

Question 4.
What is meant by ‘Navavidhan’?
Answer:
On 25 January 1880 Keshabchandra Sen announced his Navavidhan or New Dispensation. Through this he declared ‘Harmony of Religions’. Two cardinal principles of Navavidhhan were – All religions are true, and Pilgrimage to the prophets and saints (Sadhusangam) are essential.

Question 5.
What was the significance of the Chuar Revolt (1798-1799)?
Answer:
Significance of the Chuar Revolt was that the Chuar tribals of Bankura and Medinipur burst into rebellion against the oppressions of the British rulers and their agents like the money-lenders, contractors, etc. Another significance of the Revolt was that the small zaminders of Bankura and Medinipur also aligned themselves with the Chuar rebels. Further, the Revolt forced the British to stop immediately the take-over of the rent-free Paikan land.

Question 6.
Was the Feraizi Rebellion simply a religious movement?
Answer:
Under Haji Shhariatullah, the founder of the Feraizi brotherhood, the Rebellion remained strictly confined to a religious movement. Later on, under the leadership of Dudumiyan the movement assumed the character of a peasant revolt. Of course even under Dudumiyan the Ferazis could not completely come out of the influence of religion.

Question 7.
With what objective was the Landholders’ Society founded?
Answer:
As the name suggests the Landholders’ Society was an organization of the landholders or zamindars and advocated for their interests only, not of cultivators or tenants. Another object of the Society was to set up branch societies across the British Indian Empire so that regular communication could be made with people connected with the object of the Society.

Question 8.
What was the contribution of the novel ‘Anandamath’ to the rise of national awakening in the nineteenth century?
Answer:
Written (in 1882) in the background of the Sannyasi Rebellion the Anandamath of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee has significant contributions to inspire the youth. The novel also contained the Bande Mataram which was the inspirational song for youths in the freedom movement of the country. Anandamath encouraged an idea and principle of nationalism in the late eighteenth century.

Question 9.
What was the impact of the development of printing press on the cultural life of Bengal?
Answer:
The print media has useful contribution to the development of culture. Starting from the standardization of Bengali language to the fashion designing the newspapers, books, etc. played a key role in contemporary Bengal. Moreover, the articles published on the contemporary social abuses also made people conscious about these and helped to create a mindset for their eradication.

Question 10.
Why was the colonial system of education defective?
Answer:
The colonial system of education in India was defective on many a count.

• As a result of giving too much importance to English learning the native language were neglected.
• Under the system of education, it remained confined to some privileged class of people. It cloud not reach the people near the soil of native villages.
• It created class distinction in the field of education which was a barrier to national solidarity. Hence the colonial system of education was defective.

Question 11.
What were the causes of the Moplah Revolt (1921)?
Answer:
The Moplah peasants had various grievences which forced them to raise the banner of rebellion. They complained against the hike in revenue demand. Their very existence was at stake as the landlords could evict them any time they liked. All this forced the Moplahs to burst out in rebellion.

Question 12.
With what objective was the Congress Socialist Party founded?
Answer:
In the 30s of the 20th century, some Congressmen having faith in the socialist ideal formed the Congress Socialist Party in 1934. Their objective was to establish socialism in India. But, in their opinion, the immediate task was to free the country from foreign rule.

Question 13.
Why did the women of Bengal observe Arandhan (non-cooking) on 16th October 1905?
Answer:
16 October 1905 was the Partition Day as determined by the British Government. On the suggestion of Ramendrasundar Trivedi, the day was observed as Arandhan (non-cooking). The call to women not to light the home fires for the day as a protest against the proposed Partition of Bengal.

Question 14.
Why is Nanibala Devi remembered?
Answer:
Nanibala Devi (1888-1967) was a freedom fighter. At an age of 15 she was widowed. She took shelter with her nephew Amarendranath Chattopadhyay. Nanibala joined the Jugantar party and acted as the housekeeper of the revolutionaries. Occassionally she posed as the wife of a revolutionary to smuggle letters to him in jail. For all such activities Nanibala is remembered as a freedom fighter.

Question 15.
Why is Sardar Patel called the ‘Iron Man of India’?
Answer:
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is called the ‘Iron Man of India’ on many a count. But primarily his strong determination and the manner in which he integrated 565 Princely States into the Indian Union that he is called the Iron Man of India.

Question 16.
Under what circumstances was the States Reorganization Commission (1953) constituted?
Answer:
After the reorganization of Andhra as a linguistic state the demand was raised for similar linguistic states. Agitation for reorganization of boundaries of the States on linguistic basis became rampant. Under the circumstances Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India appointed the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) in August 1953.

Group-D.

4. Answer any six questions in seven or eight sentences each taking at least one from each sub-group :

Question 1.
Why is Wood’s Despatch (1854) called the Magna Carta of the spread of education in India?
Answer:
The ‘Magna Carta’ is acknowledged as the ancient origin of Parliament in Britain. Since then in the English language it is understood as the law guaranteeing the rights and liberties. In a similar manner the Wood’s Despatch is considered the beginning of systemetic education in India under the Government initiative.

In fact, a comprehensive plan for improvement of education system in India was recommended by Charles Wood in his Despatch of 1854. In the despatch a systemetic plan was suggested from the lowest to the highest stage. Emphasis was laid on the need of mass education, women’s education and patronage of vernaculars. For higher education the recommendation was for setting up of University in each Presidency town of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras on the model of the University of London.

Question 2.
Explain Sri Ramakrishna’s ideas of Sarva Dharma Sammanwaya (religious harmony).
Answer:
Ramakrishna Paramahansadeva of the temple of goddess Kali at Dakshineswar (near Kolkata) is a spiritual miracle. He had no formal education, but his spiritual realizations were stupendous.

• Ramakrishna recognized differences among religion. But at the same time he was convinced that all religions lead to the same goal. Thus he concluded that all the religions are valid and true.
• Regarding the religious harmony or sarva dharma samannay Ramakrishna had to say that he had practiced all religions – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity – as also the different paths of the Hindu sects. After the exercise he found that it was the same god towards whom all were directing their steps.
• Thus the message of religious harmony or Sarva Dharma Samammay of Ramakrishna is first of all the recognition of differences among religions. At the same time the differences are to be overcome and harmony of religions established.

Question 3.
What was the attitude of the educated Bengali society towards the Great Revolt ?
Answer:
The Bengali intelligentsia was apathetic to the Revolt of 1857. This is such a ticklish problem that none has been able to offer any satisfactory explanation.

i. One thing that may be relevant to note that the Bengali intellectuals, in the mid-eighteenth century, were very much conscious of their own interest. As such it will not be fair to say that they merely echoed the sentiments of the British rulers in taking a negative attitude towards the rebels of 1857. In any case their hostile attitude towards the Revolt of 1857 needs an explanation.

ii. In Bengal Barrackpore, near Calcutta, was the centre of the initial spark of the Revolt of 1857. The revolt broke out over the religious question that there was a conspiracy to destroy religions of the sepoys (over the Enfield Rifle issue).

This was in tune with the cry of the orthodox Hindus of the city of Calcutta who had long suspected that the British were bent on destroying their religion and caste and converting them into Christianity. The intellectuals of Bengal, who were against orthodoxy and fanaticism, considered the rebel sepoys as the allies of social reaction. Under the circumstances the Bengali intelligentsia had no option but oppose the rebellion.

iii. There were also socio-economic reasons for which the Bengali intelligentsia opposed the Revolt of 1857.

Question 4.
Analyse the role of Surendranath Banerjee in the foundation and development of the Indian Association.
Answer:
The Indian Association was organized on the 26 July, 1876. In the inaugural meeting Kalicharan Banerjee, the best speaker of the time, opposed the proposal of forming the Association. His argument was that only a month before a similar body named the Indian League had come into existence.

Surendranath gave a fitting reply to the objection, and the Resolution creating the Indian Association was passed. Sometime later when protest meeting against lowering of the age of the candidates for ICS examination was being held Surendranath wanted to make it an occasion for carrying on an agitation all over India. Surendranath’s propaganda tour was the first of its kind. His tour on behalf of the Indian Association prepared the ground for a unifying movement which culminated in the formation of the Indian National Congress.

Question 5.
What was the attitude of the Indian National Congress towards the Bardoli Satyagraha?
Answer:
The no-tax movement that was launched at Bardoli of Surat, in Gujarat in 1928 was the Bardoli Satyagraha. This was in a sense the child of the Non-Cooperation movement. For in 1922 Bardoli had been selected by Gandhiji as the place to launch his civil disobedience. But the plan never took off due to the events at Chauri Chaura.

However, after the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Congressmen of Bardoli busied themselves in intense constructive work. They worked for the uplift of the tribals. All this did much to lift Bardoli from demoralization that had set in after 1922.

Question 6.
What was the role of the working class during the Anti-Partition Movement of Bengal ?
Answer:
Swadeshi and Boycott, the two weapons of the anti-partition movement were together a landmark in the history of labour movement.

• Contemporary official survey has described the ‘industrial unrest’ during the period as a marked feature.
• The number of strikes broke out sharply.
• Many of the leaders of the Swadeshi encouraged the labourers to unite and organize themselves into unions.
• With the growth of the labour force a section of the nationalist leaders felt the need to talk with the British authorities and to urge upon them taking measures for the protection of labourers’ interest against the exploitation of the capitalists. Aswinikumar Banerjee, Premtosh Bose, Apurba Kumar Ghosh, etc. were some of the labour leaders of the Swadeshi movement who were active in a large number of strikes.

Question 7.
How was the State of Junagadh integrated into the Indian Union ?
Answer:
Situated on the coast of Saurashtra and surrounded by Indian territory Junagadh created some problem in its accession to India. Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III, the ruling Nawab of Junagadh, despite the wishes of the people declared the accession of the state to Pakistan. As a protest against this the people of Junagadh launched a movement. Unable to resist this Nawab fled to Pakistan.

In November 1947 the Government of India took over the administration at the express desire of the people of Junagadh. Later on Junagadh was merged into Saurashtra according to the desire of the people. However, Muhammad Muhabat Khanji III was the last Nawab of the princely state of Junagadh.

Question 8.
What steps did the government of India take to solve the refugee problem ?
Answer:
The Government of India’s initiative in rehabilitating the refugees was not beyond controversy. In fact, the sincere efforts the government had taken in settling and rehabilitating the refugees from West Pakistan was found missing in case of the refugees who had to leave their homeland in East Pakistan.

The Hindu and Sikh refugees moving from West Pakistan occupied deserted houses or fallow land in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab itself, about two hundred camps or tenements were raised for rehabilitating the refugees. Besides, as many as nineteen suburban towns were built for rehabilitation of the refugees. But in the case of rehabilitating the refugees in West Bengal a step motherly attitude of the Government of India was noticeable.

The refugees were shifted from the platforms of Sealdah station to hastily improvised government camps. The only difference between the migration in Punjab and that of West Bengal was that the former was a one-time affair while the influx of refugees from East Pakistan continued in waves for several years.

Group-E.

5. Answer any one question in fifteen or sixteen sentences: 1×8=8

Question 1.
Give an idea of the various protests against the practice of Sati in the first half of the 19th century. How did Rammohan Roy achieve success in the movement against Sati ?
Answer:
i. Introduction: It was Raja Rammohan Roy who launched a strong movement against the practice of Sati. On the authority of the Hindu shastras Rammohan proved that there is no religious sanction for the evil practice of Sati. He organized a fiery campaign against the practice through signature campaign. He also sent a petition to the British Parliament.

ii. Attitude of the Orthodox People: When the anti-Sati Movement was gathering momentum the orthodox section of Bengalee people did not sit quiet. Some newspapers also lent support to the orthodox view regarding the practice of Sati. Samachar Chandrika, for example, came out openly in support of the practice of Sati and favoured its continuance. Evidently, the Bengali public opinion came to be sharply divided into two opposing groups.

iii. Arguments of Rammohan: Rammohan Roy, however, was not in favour of abolishing the practice in one go. Rather he advocated imposing checks on it and use of police. This caused misgivings because Rammohan was the leader of the agitation for the abolition of the practice and in the same breadth he opposed its immediate abolition. It is highly probable, as pointed out by Professor Bose that Rammohan opposed immediate abolition on the ground that it would violate the British government’s professed policy of religious neutrality.

iv. The Act Passed: Lord Bentinck, however, went ahead with his plan and the practice of Sati was declared ‘illegal and punishable by the criminal courts’ by the Regulation XVII.

Question 2.
Give a brief description of Rabindranath Tagore’s ideas on education and Santiniketan.
Answer:
a. Rabindranath’s Ideas on Education: Elaborating his own ideas about the aims of education Rabindranath said that the fundamental purpose of education was not “… merely to enrich ourselves through the fullness of knowledge…”. Rather he believed that the purpose also was to establish bond of love and friendship between man and man.

Thus it may be said that Rabindranath’s approach to education was humanistic. He believed in an inner harmony amongst man, nature and god. In Rabindranath’s idea of education teachers had to be imaginative. The teachers should understand the child, and help the child to develop curiosity in them.

Tagore further felt that the creative learning could be encouraged only within natural environment. Living in harmony with nature, children would be able to cultivate their natural creativity

b. Rabindranath and Santiniketan: Rabindranath founded his own school based on his ideas of education at Santiniketan in 1901. The school was established following the model of the ancient (Vedic period) forest schools in India. The idea that impelled him to start the school has been wonderfully expressed in a letter written by Rabindranath to Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose.

He wrote that the school that he was trying to start would be conducted just on the lines of residential institutions of ancient times. Further, he expressed that “There shall not be the least trace of luxury. We should not be able to become true Hindu if we do not learn rigid Brahmacharya (italics mine).

Frivolity and luxury are degenerating to us. Wants of all descriptions are over-powering as only because we are failing to accept poverty with equanimity” (Sabuj Patra Vol. II : p30). Santiniketan school, called Brahmacharyasram was inaugurated on 22 December 1901. It was started on a small scale. The aims were :

• To ensure that the students are taught the importance of Indian heritage.
• To give it a universal humanist outlook.
• To provide all round development of the students.

The students had no fixed curriculum. They were expected to grow through their own experiences. The goal of education was to ‘synthesize knowledge and feeling’.

Question 3.
Give a brief description of the Namashudra Movement in Bengal.
Answer:
i. Introduction: An important feature of the Bengalee Hindu caste system was the two broad divisions of society, namely, Brahmanas and Sudras. The Sudras were, again, sub-divided into three categories of which the third one was the Adhama Sankara. The Chandalas (or untouchables) belonged to the Adhama Sankara. In Bengal the Chandalas and Namasudras are synonymous.

The word Namasudra, however, is not mentioned in any of the pre-nineteenth Bengali literature. Yet the Namasudras constituted the second largest Hindu caste group in Bengal under the British rule. They lived in the rural areas of the districts of Faridpur, Bakherganj, Jessore, Khulna, etc. (all these are now under the territorial limits of Bangladesh), and Nadia, North 24-Parganas, etc. of West Bengal.

ii. Devoid of Social Dignity: In the Bengali Hindu society the Namasudras were looked down upon. They had no social dignity nor did they have any religious rights. As untouchables they had no right even to enter religious places. Also they were not allowed to live in a village that had a Brahmin majority. Thus the Namasudras were exploited and suffered from all sorts of social disabilities. It was in this context that a movement was launched in 1872 by Harichand Thakur.

iii. Influence of the Bhakti Movement: What inspired the Namasudras to hold their heads high was the influence of the Bhakti movement. The movement had been started in Bengal by Sri Chaitanya and his disciples during the 15-16th centuries. The avowed goal was the social and spiritual uplift of the down trodden. Another major influence on the Namasudras was that of a sect that developed around Sahlal Pir in rural East Bengal. The Sahlal sect challenged the hierarchy of caste. All these profoundly impacted the Namasudras.

iv. Harichand Thakur: Harichand Thakur tried to unite the Namasudras in the struggle against the exploitation of the Brahmin priests as also the Brahmin zamindars. Harichand also introduced the Mathua religion through which the Namasudras emerged as a united power. Behind the movement’s superficial religiosity the emphasis was essentially secular. The primary aims of the movement were :

• Attainment of perfect peace of mind
• Eradication of social inequality, and
• To uplift the downtrodden. Harichand also gave as many as twelve instructions to his followers. After the death of Harichand the leadership of the Mathuas passed on to his son, Guruchand Thakur.

v. Guruchand Thakur: Under the leadership of Guruchand Thakur the Mathua Movement progressed a lot. It was he who was responsible for the spread of educational institutions for the Namasudras. Besides, Uttaloni Sabha (uplift meeting) and Harisabhas were organized for social uplift of the Namasudras.

According to Professor Debi Chatterjee, Guruchand Thakur may well be regarded as the ‘father of the Namasudra renaissance’. He was able to inspire among the Namasudras a sense of urgency regarding the spread of education. In 1907 under the leadership of Guruchand Thakur a delegation met the Governor of Bengal and Assam and appraised him about the plight of the Namasudras.

vi. The Namasudra or Mathua movement did not ultimately remain confined to social uplift and educational progress of the community. During the early period of the twentieth century the movement acquired political dimension as well.

6. Answer the following in a single sentence (any four) 4×1=4

Question 1.
Who was the Editor of the Somprakash Weekly paper?
Answer:
First editor was Vidyasaggar followed by Dwarakanath Vidyabhusan.

Question 2.
Who translated the drama Neel Darpan into English ?
Answer:
It was Michael Madhusudan Dutta who translated Neel Darpan into English.

Question 3.
In which year was the Asiatic Society founded ?
Answer:
The Asiatic Society was founded in Calcutta in 1784.

Question 4.
Who was the first Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University ?
Answer:
The First Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati was Rathindranath Tagore.

Question 5.
Who was the founder of ‘Dipali Sangha’?
Answer:
Founder of Dipali Sangha was Lila Nag.

Question 6.
Between whom was the Poona Pact (1932) signed ?
Answer:
Poona Pact was signed between the Caste Hindu represented by Rajendra Prasad and Bhim Rao Ambedkar on behalf of the Hindu Depressed Classes.

Answer the following questions in two or three sentences (any three)

Question 1.
What is Macaulay’s Minute ?
Answer:
Macaulay’s Minute was the enunciation of educational policy of the East India Company’s Government in India. The Minute stated that the object of the Government ought to be the promotion of Europan literature and science amongst the natives of India and all funds be spent on English education alone.

Question 2.
Why is Titumr remembered ?
Answer:
Titumir of North 24-Parganas of West Bengal is remembered as he organized an armed rebellion against the oppressive zamindars. As the Company’s government employed military to suppress Titumir the latter with his followers hurriedly constructed a fortress with bamboo and mud, famous by the name Banser Kella at Narkelberia, near Baduria (in North 24-Parganas). The resistance Titumir with his followers offered to the British troops from the bamboo fortress is famous in history as the ‘Barasat Uprising’ of 1831 AD

Question 3.
Who was Panchanan Karmakar?
Answer:
Panchanan Karmakar was a printing technician and an inventor of Bengali type. The invention was occasioned by the printing of Brassey Halhed’s A Grammar of the Bengali Language. Father Andrews who set up a printing press at Hooghly felt the need for Bengali type as it was in his press that Halhed’s book was being printed. However, apart from invention of the Bengali type Parchanan Karmakar also invented types in as many as fourteen languages.

Question 4.
What is the importance of the picture Bharatmata?
Answer:
Abanindranath Tagore portrayed Bharatmata during the Swadeshi movement. The image was an icon to create nationalist feeling amongst the Indians during the freedom movement. Sister Nivedita pointed out that Bharatmata standing on green earth and blue sky behind her, feet with four lotuses, four arms meaning divine power and gifts of Siksha-Diksha-Anna-Bastra of motherland to her children.

Question 5.
Why was ‘Nehru-Liaqat Ali Pact’ signed ?
Answer:
Nehru-Liaqat Ali Pact was signed in 1950 between Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and Liaqat Ali, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Pact was signed in order to guarantee the rights of minorities in both the countries afer the Partition of India. The Pact signed also to avoid another spell of war between the two countries.