NCERT Solutions Class 8 English (Honeydew)
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 8 English (Honeydew) Chapter – 3 Glimpses of the Past has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English (Honeydew)
- Chapter – 1 : The Best Christmas Present in the World
- Chapter – 2 : The Tsunami
- Chapter – 4 : Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory
- Chapter – 5 : The Summit Within
- Chapter – 6 : This is Jody’s Fawn
- Chapter – 7 : A Visit to Cambridge
- Chapter – 8 : A Short Monsoon Diary
- Chapter – 9 : The Great Stone Face 1
- Chapter – 10 : The Great Stone Face 2
Chapter – 3 (Glimpses of the Past)
Comprehension Check
1. 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?
Answer – The original song is “Ae mere watan ke logon….” The singer is Lata Mangeshkar. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Laxmi Bai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi are also seen in the picture.
2. In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s“superior weapons”?
Answer – The East India Company was far superior to the Indian princes, who were constantly at war with each other. The Englishmen had access to better quality weapons. This prompted the Indian princes to seek their help in their fights. These internal rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one, and finally gain control over the whole of India.
3. Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)
Answer – An artisan is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative. The artisans suffered because the British were extracting very high taxes from them, which ruined them economically. Moreover, machine manufactured goods imported from Britain were sold extensively, which ruined the business of the artisans’ hand made goods.
4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?
Answer – Picture 7 ‘The Sparks’ reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.
Working with the text
Answer the following questions.
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.
2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Answer – The Indian princes were constantly at war with each other. They called the English merchants to help them in their fights. The people had no peace due to such constant fights. The rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one.
3. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Answer – According to Ram Mohan Roy, “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.”
4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Answer – The British officers imposed heavy taxes on Indian farmers. They made British goods free of import duty. They also cut the thumbs of Indian artisans. They also exploited Indians in many other ways.
5. Name these people.
(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
(ii) The person who wanted to reform society.
(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)
Answer –
(i) Tipu Sultan
(ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(iii) Lord Macaulay
(iv) Tantya Tope and Vir Kunwar Singh.
6. Mention the following.
(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
Answer – Child marriage and untouchability.
(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.
Answer – (a) The British passed a resolution under which an Indian could be jailed with-out trial in a court.
(b) The British supported the British industry. To do so they made imports to India tax-free. Consequently Indian industry began to die.
(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.
Answer – (a) The British did not care about the needs of Indians.
(b) The farmers were heavily taxed and the thumbs of the artisans were cut.
(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.
Answer – (a) Santhals had lost their lands. They became desperate. They revolted and killed the British and their supporters alike.
(b) The white soldiers got huge pay. The Indian soldier was lowly paid. This created discontentment among the soldiers.
(c) Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow was bitter. She had lost her kingdom.
(d) Many landlords were sore. They had lost their lands because of the Britishers’ policies.
Working with language
In comics what the characters speak is put in bubbles. This is direct narration. When we report what the characters speak, we use the method of indirect narration.
Study these examples.
First farmer : Why are your men taking away the entire crop ?
Second farmer : Your men have taken away everything.
Officer : You are still in arrears. If you don’t pay tax next week. I’ll send you to jail.
- The first farmer asked the officer why his men were taking away the entire crop.
- The second farmer said that their men had taken away everything.
- The officer replied that they were still in arrears and warned them that if they did not pay tax the following week, he (the officer) would send them (the farmers) to jail.
1. Change the following sentences into indirect speech.
(i) First man: We must educate our brothers.
Second man: And try to improve their material conditions.
Third man: For that, we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.
The first man said that ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
The second man added that _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
The third man suggested that ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Answer –
The first man said that they must educate their brothers.
The second man added that they must try to improve their material conditions.
The third man suggested that they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.
(ii) First soldier: The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions and servants.
Second soldier: We get a pittance and slow promotions.
Third soldier: Who are the British to abolish our customs?
The first soldier said that _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
The second soldier remarked that _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
The third soldier asked ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Answer –
The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.
The second soldier remarked that they got a pittance and slow promotions.
The third soldier asked who the British were to abolish their customs.
