Resources — Social Studies STD 8 — Question

How did the British use the policy of “Divide and Rule” in India?

Why do we use the term ‘image’ rather than common terms like ‘idol’ or ‘icon’? The latter two terms are considered pejorative in the context of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, whose orthodox sects condemn ‘idolatry’ or the worship of ‘idols’ or ‘icons’.
India’s classical texts used words like murti, vigraha, pratima, rupa, etc., to designate images, often statues, used for worship in temples or homes. In English, ‘image’ is a neutral term.

Name two fibre crops.

Imagine that you are a Company representative sending a report back to England about the conditions in rural areas under Company rule. What would you write?

What is the significance of industries?

What do you think would happen if the government withdraws from the task of supplying water?

What does immigration refers to?

Imagine you are a Jhum cultivator living in a forest village in the 19th century. You have just been told that the land you were born on no longer belongs to you. In a meeting with British officials, you try to explain the kinds of problems you face. What would you say?

What is the general trend of international migrations? Why?

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:“We first tie them down to the pile”
Rammohun Roy published many pamphlets to spread his ideas. Some of these were written as a dialogue between the advocate and critic of a traditional practice. Here is one such dialogue on sati:
Advocate of sati:
Women are by nature of inferior understanding, without resolution, unworthy of trust … Many of them, on the death of their husbands, become desirous of accompanying them; but to remove every chance of their trying to escape from the blazing fire, in burning them we first tie them down to the pile.
Opponent of sati:
When did you ever afford them a fair opportunity of exhibiting their natural capacity? How then can you accuse them of want of understanding? If, after instruction in knowledge and wisdom, a person cannot comprehend or retain what has been taught him, we may consider him as deficient; but if you do not educate women how can you see them as inferior.
Questions:

1. What notions did the society have in favour of the practice of sati?
2. What arguments did the reformers put against the practice of sati?