Chapter 19 class 5

Class V

Chapter 19

STRUGGLE TOWARDS FREEDOM

Study Material

Oral Questions:

1.       What was India earlier known as?

Ans. India was earlier known as the Golden Bird.

2.       Who started the Indian National Congress?

Ans. An Englishman named Allan Octavian Hume founded Indian National Congress in 1885.

Write Short Note on the following:

1.      Indian National Congress:

Ans. Indian National Congress was started by an Englishman named AO Hume in 1885. Its first meeting was held at Bombay (Now Mumbai).It was attended by 72 Delegates from all over India. WC Banerjee was its first president.   

2.       Mangal Pandey:

Ans. He was a soldier in British army in India. On 29^th March 1857, He attacked a British Officer near Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was hanged on 18^th April 1857.

3.      The Result of the Sepoy Mutiny:

Ans. The British Government decided to end the rule of East India Company and control India. A Viceroy was appointed to rule over India on behalf of the Crown. The people of India were promised freedom to follow their customs.

Answer the following questions:

1.       Why was India known as the Golden Bird in ancient times?

Ans. India was known as Golden Bird in the ancient time because of its wealth and prosperity. India was rich in textiles, Spices, precious and semi-precious stones, jewels of all kinds and pearls. Indian goods were very popular in the whole world.

2.       How did the British exploit the farmers of India and why?

Ans. The British forced the farmers to grow crops that would be used as raw materials in English factories. The farmers were not allowed to grow food crops. As a result, they starved.

3.       Where and why did the Revolt of 1857 start? Why did it fail?

Ans. The Revolt of 1857 started in Meerut and spread towards Delhi, and then to other parts of India. The soldiers were asked to use Lee Enfield rifles. It was greased with fat of cows and pigs. The soldiers had to bite it to open. This angered and hurt the Hindi-Muslim religious feelings. They refused to obey their officers and revolted.

4.       Name two social reformers of India and the social evils the wanted to remove.

Ans. Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar were to social reformer of India.

The social evils they wanted to remove were:

Caste system, killing of female infants, child marriage and satipratha.

       High order thinking:

1.      Do you think India could have ousted the British from the country in 1857? How?

Ans.  India could have ousted the British in 1857, if the Indians had not stayed away from the revolt or supported the British. Moreover the British were better organized and crushed the revolt successfully.

    Value Based Question:

1.       Unity in diversity- India conveys it very beautifully. Do you agree? Why / why not?

Ans. India is a country of many religions, languages and cultures.  We are basically united people to help each other. We go out of our way to make each other comfortable.