Chapter 8 Post Colonial India Second Half Of The 20th Century 1947-1964 Topic A Accession Of Princely States Into The Indian Union
Class 10 History Solution Wbbse
Question 1 Write a note on the problems that were faced by the newly formed Indian Union.
Answer:
The problems that were faced by the newly formed Indian Union:
India gained freedom from British rule on August 15, 1947. Several problems cropped up consequently in this newly independent India.
[1] Communal riots: Communal riots which had already spread throughout India in 1946, took a serious turn in several areas of eastern India, where Hindus and Muslims clashed with each other, and in parts of northwestern India, where Muslims clashed against Hindus and Sikhs. Even after India attained independence, these riots did not die down.
[2] Incorporation of the princely states: Prior to India’s attainment of independence, there existed about 600 princely states within the Indian subcontinent. Among them, some of the major princely states such as Kashmir, Junagadh, Hyderabad, etc., refused to join the Indian Union.
[3] Partition of India and refugee problem: The refugee problem that arose due to the Partition of India posed a serios problem. The refugee problem was particularly severe in and around West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Punjab, etc.
[4] Food shortage: The production of food in India was severely hampered in India due to the Partition. Thus, there was a shortage of food in the newly formed Indian Union.
[5] Economic crisis: As the newly formed Indian Union was also very weak in the economic front, sectors of agriculture, industry, trade and commerce suffered severely.
[6] Problems regarding national unity: Regional and cultural problems became acute in different parts of India. Movements were launched with demands for separate states on the basis of language and culture.
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Question 2 How did the government of India tackle the question of integrating the princely states into the Indian Union?
Answer:
The government of India tackle the question of integrating the princely states into the Indian Union:
After the independence of India, the incorporation of the princely states posed a big problem. At the time of the transfer of power, the British government left these princely states free to join India or Pakistan.
All the states of free India, except Kashmir, Hyderabad, and Junagadh, immediately joined the Indian Union. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel drafted the Instrument of Accession according to which the states were to be given freedom in their internal affairs and the Union Government was to have control over the defense and foreign policy of these states.
Most of the 562 states signed the Instrument of Accession. However, Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir did not agree to join India. The Indian troops invaded and occupied Junagadh.
The Nizam of Hyderabad tried to act like an independent ruler, but Indian police took action against him and Hyderabad was merged with India. The state of Jammu and Kashmir too acceded to India, but Pakistan refused to accept this merger. This led to wars with Pakistan.
Question 3 How did the Kashmir problem originate?
Answer:
The Kashmir problem:
After India’s independence, when the most important princely state, Answer: Kashmir, declared to remain as an independent state, it gave rise to certain problems.
[1] Attempts by Kashmir to maintain its independence: After India attained independence, both India and Pakistan asked Maharaja Hari Singh to accede into their respective nations. The Maharaja refused both offers and declared his wish to remain as an independent state.
[2] Entry of the Pakistan army: The Pakistani government anticipated that the Hindu Maharaja might want to join India at some point of time. Consequently, on October 22, 1947, mercenaries supported by the Kashmir government infiltrated into Kashmir. The Maharaja became helpless and asked for military help from India. India, in this backdrop, agreed to help him only if he agreed to sign the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union.
[3] Signing the Instrument of Accession: The forces sent by Pakistan rapidly spread within Kashmir and moved towards Srinagar. This left Maharaja Hari Singh no choice but to sign the Instrument of Accession, and he signed it on October 26.
[4] Setting up of government: With the aid of the Indian army, the leader of the National Conference party in Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, took the control of the state.
In the meantime, acting against Sheikh Abdullah, the part of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan was named ‘Azad Kashmir’ by the Pakistan government. From here, a number of attacks were launched on the region of Kashmir under Indian control.
[5] Appeal to the United Nations: India took up the Kashmir issue to the United Nations in order to protest against the infiltration by Pakistan.
[6] Ceasefire: In the backdrop of the constant conflicts between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, the United Nations declared a ceasefire on January 01, 1949. Due to this, a part of Kashmir came under the Indian Union, but Azad Kashmir remained a part of Pakistan.
As Pakistan did not get the whole of Kashmir, it has been launching several attacks on the other part of Kashmir ever since. Based on this issue, major wars have taken place between these two nations in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999.
Question 4 What were the provisions of the Indian Independence Act, of 1947?
Answer:
On the basis of the Mountbatten Plan, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in July 1947.
The provisions of the Act were:
[1] India and Pakistan would emerge as independent states on August 15, 1947, and both states would be empowered to guide their domestic and foreign affairs independently.
[2] West Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, the North West Frontier Province, and East Bengal will be included in the newly-formed Pakistan Dominion. The rest of British India, East Punjab and West Bengal became parts of the Indian dominion.
[3] A Boundary Commission would be formed to demarcate the frontier of India, West Bengal, and East Punjab.
[4] India and Pakistan would remain under British dominion till their new Constitutions were framed.
[5] The native rulers would have the choice to accede to any state.
[6] The British Parliament would have no jurisdiction to legislate in the Indian Dominion after August 15, 1947. Thus power was completely handed over to Indian leaders through this Act.
Class 10 History Solution Wbbse
Question 5 Mention the steps prior to the Partition of India in 1947.
Answer:
The steps prior to the Partition of India in 1947:
The Muslim League, under the leadership of Md. Ali Jinnah demanded for a separate state of Pakistan for the Muslims in its Lahore Session. The demand was based on the basis of Two-Nation Theory which came to be known as the ‘Lahore Resolution’ or the ‘Pakistan Resolution’.
Communal tension increased in India after this incident. Prior to the achievement of independence in 1947, some major incidents took place which created conditions for the formation of two nations, namely India and Pakistan.
The incidents are as follows-
[1] Direct Revolution of the Muslim League: Lord Wavell, the then Governor-General, invited the Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru to form an interim Government on August 12, 1946. This infuriated the Muslim League, and the League called for Direct Revolution, which resulted in massive riots, murders and rapes in Calcutta from August 16 for 3 days at a stretch.
[2] Mountbatten Plan: The next Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten planned for the Partition of India on June 3, 1947. This plan is known as the Mountbatten Plan, which announced the partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan.
[3] Indian Independence Act: The Indian Independence Act was passed on June 4, 1947, in the British Parliament. North-West Frontier Province, Sindh, Baluchistan, West Punjab, East Bengal, and certain parts of Assam were integrated together to form Pakistan and the remaining parts of the Indian subcontinent were integrated to form India.
Question 6 What were the problems following the incident of partition of India?
Answer:
The problems following the incident of partition of India:
According to the Indian Independence Act, the Indian subcontinent was divided into India and Pakistan on August 15, 1947. India, as a newly formed nation faced certain problems,
which are as follows-
[1] Massive exodus: Due to the Partition of India, millions of Hindus and Sikhs from the newly created Pakistan migrated to India in search of safety and shelter.
[2] Refugee problem: Millions of Hindus from East Pakistan, and millions of Hindus and Sikhs from West Pakistan, took shelter in India as refugees. It became very hard for the Indian Government to arrange the basic amenities for these people as well as secure a future for them. States like West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and Punjab witnessed the refugee problem at its highest level.
[3] Transfer of wealth: As a result of the partition, a large part of the Indian subcontinent went to Pakistan, which resulted in the transfer of wealth and resources to Pakistan. This made India economically weak.
[4] Lack of cultivable land: A large portion of cultivable land went to Pakistan as a result of the partition. This led to a shortage of cultivable land, which, in turn, led to an acute shortage of food.
[5] Lack of raw materials for industries: Jute and cotton-producing areas went to Pakistan as a result of Partition. This led to a shortage of raw materials for industrial purposes in India.
Question 7 When was India declared Independent, Sovereign Republic? Into how many categories were the Indian states divided at that time?
Answer:
After independence, the Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, and India emerged as an Independent, Sovereign Republic. During this period, the Indian states were divided into four categories.
They were as follows-
[1] ‘A’ category states-States under Governors: Nine states belonged to this category.
These were-
[1] West Bengal,
[2] Assam,
[3] Bihar,
[4] Orissa,
[5] Uttar Pradesh,
[6] Madhya Pradesh,
[7] Bombay,
[8] Madras and
[9] Punjab.
[2] The ‘B’ category states-States under native Princes: This division included eight states.
These were-
[1] Hyderabad,
[2] Central Province,
[3] Mysore,
[4] Patiala and East Punjab State Union (PEPSU),
[5] Jammu and Kashmir,
[6] Rajasthan,
[7] Saurashtra,
[8] Travancore-Cochin.
[3] The ‘C’ category states-States under Commissioners: Ten states fell under this category.
These included-
[1] Ajmer,
[2] Bhopal,
[3] Bilaspur,
[4] Himachal Pradesh,
[5] Kutch,
[6] Coorg,
[7] Delhi,
[8] Manipur,
[9] Tripura and
[10] Vindhya Pradesh.
[4] ‘D’ category states-Union Territories:
This category included two states-
[1] Andaman and
[2] Nicobar islands.
Question 8 What was the approach of the Indian National Congress towards the princely states?
Answer:
The approach of the Indian National Congress towards the princely states:
There were debates and discussions regarding the issue, of whether the princely states of the Indian subcontinent would remain in India or would go to Pakistan after independence. The Indian National Congress voted towards the accession of the princely states into the newly formed nation of India.
[1] Haripura Congress Session: The Indian National Congress in its Haripura Session in the year 1938, declared that the princely states are an inseparable part of India.
[2] Mahatma Gandhi’s Policy: According to Mahatma Gandhi, if any of the princely states wished to separate themselves from India after independence, it would be considered as an act of declaration of war against India.
[3] Jawaharlal Nehru’s policy: Jawaharlal Nehru declared that the princely states within the geographical boundary of India, would not be given the status of a separate state and would be considered as a part of India.
[4] Declaration of Indian National Congress: Th]e Indian National Congress declared on June 15, 1947, that after the independence of India, the princely states would not be given the status of independent states.
Question 9 What were the features of the princely states of India?
Answer:
Prior to the independence of India on August 15, 1947, there were certain princely states in the Indian subcontinent.
The features of the princely states in the Indian subcontinent are as follows-
[1] A large number of princely states: Just before independence, the Indian subcontinent had about 600 princely states. These states were located in different parts of India.
[2] Size of the princely states: Most of the princely states were very small in size. Some of the princely states were as small as Zamindari divisions. Only a minority of the princely states like Hyderabad, Jammu, Kashmir, Mysore, and Baroda were large in size.
[3] Autonomy of the princely states: The rulers of the princely states were very powerful and autonomous. They were not answerable to any law and exercised maximum power within the boundary of their own states.
[4] The miserable condition of the subjects of the princely states: The condition of the subjects of the princely states were really miserable as they had to pay huge tax in cash and be kind to their rulers.
[5] The backwardness of the princely states: Most of the princely states were backward in economic, political, and educational aspects.
Class 10 History Solution Wbbse
Question 10 Discuss the role of Lord Mountbatten in the accession of the princely states into the Indian subcontinent.
Answer:
The role of Lord Mountbatten in the accession of the princely states into the Indian subcontinent:
Lord Mountbatten took an important role in the accession of the princely states into India, right before India achieved independence.
The steps taken by Lord Mountbatten are as follows-
[1] Friendly relation with the rulers of the princely states: Lord Mountbatten had friendly relations with many of the rulers of the princely states. So, the rulers of the princely states thought that if they did not join India, their relationship with Lord Mountbatten would decline, which would lead to huge problems on the part of the princely states.
[2] The policy of the British Government: Lord Mountbatten declared that the British government would not recognize any of the princely states, and neither would it allow the joining of the princely states into the British Commonwealth. It meant that if the princely states would not join any of the two nations of India or Pakistan, they would lose all their connections with the British government.
[3] Economic loss: Lord Mountbatten declared that the two nations of India and Pakistan were united as the Indian subcontinent, and were considered as a distinct economic zone. If the princely states did not join India, the economic relations would suffer which would be a large drawback for the princely states.
[4] Problems of Communalism: Lord Mountbatten informed the rulers of the princely states that if they themselves tried to maintain their independence, it would lead to riots and communal tensions.
[5] Promises made by Mountbatten: Lord Mountbatten promised the rulers of the princely states that he would fulfill all the promises made by the local rulers as he himself would be working in India till 1947.
Question 11 What do you mean by Instrument of Accession?
Answer:
Instrument of Accession:
After the independence of India, the incorporation of princely states posed a big problem. At the time of the transfer of power, the British government left these princely states free to join either India or Pakistan. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of free India, took the responsibility of integrating these princely states with India.
The Instrument of Accession, which was consequently drafted, was a legal document to enable each of the rulers of the princely states under British paramountcy to join one of the new dominions of India or Pakistan, created by the Partition of British India.
The princely states were to be given freedom in their internal affairs and the e Union Government was to have control over the defense and foreign policy of these states.
Question 12 What were the motives behind the annexation of the princely states to the Indian territory?
Answer:
The motives behind the annexation of the princely states to the Indian territory:
About 600 princely states existed within the geographical boundaries of India at the eve of independence. There were a number of reasons behind the annexation of those states into the Indian territory.
They were as follows-
[1] Nationalism: The people of British India as well as princely states had unitedly opposed British rule. The Indian leaders also believed in integrated Indian nationalism. So they could never think of a divided post-independent India.
[2] Tradition crisis: The British Indian states as well as the princely states existing within the geographical boundaries of India had borne the same history and tradition for ages. If these princely states became independent, their history and tradition would also be disrupted.
[3] Movement by the subjects: The subjects in different princely states launched vehement movements on the issues of democracy and independence. This paved the way for the inclusion of these states into the Indian territory.
[4] Backwardness: Most of the princely states were in the clutches of backwardness and superstitions. Autocratic rule and medieval mentality compelled the people to seek liberation from backwardness by becoming a part of the Indian population.”
Class 10 History Solution Wbbse
Question 13 What was the policy of ‘Carrot and Stick’?
Answer:
The policy of ‘Carrot and Stick’:
The Indian Independence Act was passed in July 1947. One of the provisions of this Act was that the native ruler would have to accede to either India or Pakistan.
There were some states who thought that they were entitled to declare their independence. Sardar Patel tackled the situation with extraordinary ability. He followed the policy of ‘Carrot and Stick’,
which was as follows:
[1] He convinced the leaders of the advantages of joining the Indian union. He appealed to the leaders that if they do not cooperate, there will be anarchy and chaos and a common ruin of all, and thus he urged the rulers of the states to enter into relations with the Indian Dominion.
He made it implicitly clear that they may have to face the wrath of the people of the native states for not joining India and he will not be in a position to stop the anger of the people against them.
[2] In cases where his appeal went unheard, he did not hesitate to annex those states by force.
Question 14 How was Junagadh incorporated into the Indian Union?
Answer:
At the time of the transfer of power, the British government left the Indian princely states free to join either India or Pakistan. The Nawab of Junagadh was Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III. He communicated to Pakistan his wish to accede, much to the displeasure of the majority of the people, who were Hindus.
When Pakistan accepted Nawab’s Instrument of Accession, the government of India was outraged. Sardar Patel believed that if Junagadh was permitted to go to Pakistan, it would further increase communal tension. He offered Pakistan time to reverse its acceptance of the accession and to hold a plebiscite in Junagadh.
Eventually, Sardar Patel ordered the forcible annexation of Junagadh. Unable to resist the attack, Nawab fled to Pakistan. A plebiscite was conducted in which 99.95% people chose India over Pakistan.
Question 15 Write a note on the incorporation of the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
Answer:
The policy of ‘Carrot and Stick’:
Hyderabad was the largest princely state when India attained independence in 1947. The ruler of Hyderabad was known as the Nizam.
[1] Distribution of population: When India gained freedom, the Nizam of Hyderabad was Osman Ali Khan. But though the ruler was a Muslim, about 87 per cent of the population of Hyderabad were Hindus.
[2] Anti-India feelings: After the British left India, the Nizam of Hyderabad did not accede either to India or to Pakistan, and tried to maintain his independence. The leader of the Muslims, Qasim Rizvi, led a group known as ‘Razakar’, which carried out acts of terrorism on the Hindus living in the Indian subcontinent at the borders of Hyderabad. These people fled from their homes and took shelter in relief camps in India.
[3] Increasing complexities: The Nizam of Hyderabad instructed the Muslims to declare jihad on the people living in India.. He brought in arms and ammunition from Pakistan and further complicated the issue by appealing against India to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
[4] Operation ‘Polo’: In this ‘backdrop, India sent an ultimatum to Hyderabad, but even that was ignored by the Nizam. Consequently, General J N Choudhury led the Indian army into Hyderabad in a military operation known as Operation Polo on September 13, 1948.
[5] The surrender: The Hyderabad army was easily defeated by the Indian army and they surrendered on September 18. Consequently, Hyderabad acceded to the Indian Union.
[6] Signing the Instrument of Accession: A few days later, the Nizam of Hyderabad signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union and Hyderabad officially became a part of the Indian Union on January 26, 1950.
Question 16 What do you know about the annexation of the princely states of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer?
Answer:
Jodhpur and Jaisalmer were significant princely states on the border of India after independence. The non-Muslim states of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer were finally annexed to India.
[1] The attitude of Hanwant Singh: Hanwant Singh, the ruler of Jodhpur was a staunch opponent of the Congress. He thought that his joining of the Indian territory would not be much profitable. So he signed a treaty with Jinnah along with the king of Jaisalmer.
[2] Jinnah’s initiative: The Pakistani leader Jinnah made an unconditional offer to the rulers of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer to lure them to join Pakistan. Jaisalmer rejected the offer and later on, joined India.
[3] Mountbatten’s effort: When Jodhpur had almost agreed to join Pakistan, Mountbatten was successful in making the ruler of Jodhpur- Hanwant Singh- understand that Pakistan had been created mainly for the Muslims, and Jodhpur, being a Hindu state, would face problems if he acceded to Pakistan.
[4] Hanwant Singh’s decision: Hanwant Singh was influenced by Lord Mountbatten’s arguments, and consequently he joined India almost against his wish.
Class 10 History Solution Wbbse
Question 17 Write a short note on how the French and Portuguese colonies in India became a part of the Indian subcontinent.
Answer:
Besides the princely states, several colonies of France such as Chandannagar, Mahe, Karaikal, Yanam, Pondicherry, etc., and several Portuguese colonies such as Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, etc., remained in India even after the attainment of independence in 1947. It was necessary to annex these regions to the Indian subcontinent.
[1] Annexation of the French colonies: In 1948, a treaty was signed between India and France where it was stated that whether the French colonies in the Indian subcontinent would become a part of India, would be decided through a plebiscite.
[1] As per the treaty, Chandannagar became a part of India in 1949.
[2] In 1954, the people of Yanam and Mahe, who were in support of becoming a part of India, captured power in these places through political uprisings, and consequently these places became parts of the Indian Union.
[3] In October 1954, Pondicherry and Karakol joined the Indian Union by plebiscite.
[2] Annexation of the Portuguese colonies:
[1] In 1954, the Gomantak party revolted and captured power in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Consequently, in 1961, India declared this region to be under its governance.
[2] The movements in Goa that were launched in favor of joining India, were suppressed using strict measures by the Portuguese government. In 1961, under the leadership of General Jayanta Choudhury, the Indian army marched into Goa and forced the government there to sign a treaty, handing Goa over to the Indian Union.
[3] In the same year, Daman and Diu also acceded to India.
Question 18 Discuss how the Portuguese colonies in the Indian subcontinent acceded to India.
Answer:
Even after India attained independence, several Portuguese colonies-Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli-still remained in India. In order to maintain their control over the colonies, the Portuguese annexed several of their colonies around the world in 1951.
[1] Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli: The Gomantak party in Dadra and Nagar Haveli revolted and seized power in 1954. When the Portuguese government tried to recapture this region, the Indian government resisted it. Later, in 1961, India formally declared Dadra and Nagar Haveli to be a part of the Indian Union.
[2] Protest movements in Goa: On August 15, 1955, about 5000 Satyagrahis carried out a peaceful protest against the Portuguese government. However, the Portuguese government took strict measures and about 22 protestors were gunned down. Several leaders of the protest movements were also killed and imprisoned.
[3] Measures taken by India: In protest of the steps taken by the Portuguese in Goa, the Indian government declared an economic blockade against it. Besides, India made several petitions to the Portuguese government to hand over the Goal to the Indian government and even took the matter to the international level.
[4] Annexation of Goa: Under the leadership of General Jayanta Choudhury, the Indian army marched into Goa in December 1961. The Portuguese army was soon defeated and was forced to surrender. As a result, Goa became a part of the Indian Union.
Question 19 Discuss the effects of the partition of India in 1947.
Answer:
The effects of the partition of India in 1947:
On August 15, 1945, India became independent, and simultaneously, it was divided into two independent nations-India and Pakistan. The common people were affected the most due to this partition.
[1] Abandoning the Motherland: Due to the partition of India, people of religious minority communities in East and West Pakistan Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc.- moved to India, and a large number of Muslims migrated to Pakistan from India. These people lost most of their valuables and possessions due to the Partition of India.
[2] Massacre: After the Partition of India, communal riots spread rapidly across the states. A large number of Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists were slaughtered in Pakistan or while fleeing from Pakistan. Similarly, many Muslims were killed in India or while they were trying to move out of India. Besides these, dacoities, burning down of crops, etc., were common events during the partition of India.
[3] The exploitation of women: Women of the minority communities in either of the two countries were probably the worst sufferers. Kidnapping and rapes became commonplace incidents. About 1 lakh women were raped, and consequently, at least 50 thousand illegitimate children were born.
[4] Refugee problem: The refugee problem became a major issue in both India and Pakistan after the partition. A large number of refugees from Pakistan settled in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Punjab, and several other states. Rehabilitating them and providing them with aid put India in a serious economic crisis.
Question 20 What was the reaction of the people of Bengal to the partition of Bengal along with the partition of India in 1947?
Answer:
The reaction of the people of Bengal to the partition of Bengal along with the partition of India in 1947:
After the Partition of India in 1947, the Muslim-majority area of East Bengal and the Hindu-majority area of West Bengal were merged with Pakistan and India respectively. Due to this partition, several reactions were witnessed in Bengal.
The reactions were as follows-
[1] Refugee problem: Millions of people from East Bengal took shelter at different districts of West Bengal as refugees. This led to an increase in the population of West Bengal. The West Bengal government had to undergo many hardships in order to arrange rehabilitation facilities for the refugees.
[2] Lack of raw materials and resources: As a result of the partition of Bengal, the industries came to West Bengal but the cultivable lands for producing raw materials such as cotton, jute, etc., that are required for the working of those industries, went to East Bengal. This led to the downfall of the industries due to a lack of raw materials.
[3] Unemployment: The industries of West Bengal broke down due to a lack of raw materials. This problem was doubled by the huge number of refugees coming to India, thus causing the problem of large-scale unemployment.
[4] The exodus of intellectuals from their respective motherlands: Due to the partition of Bengal, a huge inflow of Hindu intellectuals from East Bengal contributed to the cultural improvement of West Bengal. Similarly, a large number of Muslim intellectuals from West Bengal went to East Bengal and contributed to the cultural development of that country.
Chapter 8 Post Colonial India Second Half Of The 20th Century 1947-1964 Topic B Refugee Problem After 1947
Question 1 Discuss the problems that the Bengali refugees had to go through.
Answer:
The problems that the Bengali refugees had to go through:
After the Partition of India in 1947, the refugees in Bengal had to go through hardships.
[1] Poverty: The central government did not provide any opportunity for the exchange of wealth to the refugees of Bengal. As a result, most of the families had to come empty-handed.
[2] Hurdles on the route: The refugees coming from East Bengal had to undergo numerous hurdles on the way. They had to walk continuously for long stretches. Many died due to hunger and fatigue on the way.
[3] Life on the streets: The poverty-ridden Bengalee refugees were forced to live on the roadsides and railway stations. They went hungry most of the time, or were only half-fed.
[4] Problems of refugee camps: In the refugee camps there was severe scarcity for even the basic needs like food, water, toilets, places to live, etc., and this caused the death of many of the refugees.
[5] Rehabilitation: The arrangements made by the government for the rehabilitation of these refugees in Bengal were grossly insufficient. Besides, the refugees also had to suffer at the hands of local fraud.
[6] Cultural separation: Many of the refugees in Bengal were sent away to distant places. As a result, they were separated from people of their own linguistic and cultural community.
Wbbse History And Environment Class 10 Solutions
Question 2 Write about autobiographies and memoirs as documents in the study of the history of the Partition.
Answer:
The history of Pakistan, and India and the condition of the refugees have been reconstructed with the help of several autobiographies and reminiscences.
Among these autobiographies and reminiscences, mention may be made of ‘Chhere Asa Gram’ (ed) by Dakshinaranjan Basu, ‘Atmakatha’ by Abul Mansoor Ahmed, ‘Deshbhager Dinguli’ by Atin Bandapadhyay, ‘Smritibhare’ by Janardan Chakraborty, ‘Udbritter Itibritta’ by Ajoy Gupta, ‘Kichu Smriti Kichu Katha’ by Saibal Gupta, ‘Smriti Katha’ by Renuka Ray, ‘Jukto Ebong Mukta Bonger Smriti’ by Annadasankar Roy.
Hiranmoy Bandopadhyay, the commissioner for Refugees Rehabilitation, in his reminiscence ‘Udvastu’, gives a vivid picture of the psychological, emotional and social trauma of the people who were separated from their relatives and friends and who looked at it as a holocaust.
Question 3 Discuss the refugee problem after the independence of India in 1947.
Answer:
After the independence of India in 1947, millions of refugees from East and West Pakistan, who were victims of communal violence, came to India.
[1] Problems faced by India: It was very difficult for India, a newly formed nation, to take on the economic as well as other responsibilities of the millions of refugees coming to India. So the refugee problem created a huge drawback in India’s part.
[2] Centers of crisis: The refugee problem was most prevalent in Punjab and West Bengal because these were the two states where most of the refugees took shelter.
[3] Condition of Punjab: Just after the partition of India, millions of people took refuge in Punjab. The Indian government took steps for the rehabilitation of the teeming millions which reduced the problem to a certain level.
[4] Condition of West Bengal: From 1947 to 1971, a large number of refugees took shelter in West Bengal. But the central government could not arrange for adequate rehabilitation facilities for these refugees, and so most of the people had to take shelter on pavements, refugee colonies, railway colonies, etc. Some of the refugees were given lands in faraway places like Andaman, Dandakaranya, etc., to settle down.
Question 4 How did the newly formed Indian government tackle the refugee problem?
Answer:
After the partition in 1947, millions of people came to India as refugees and took shelter in different provinces like Punjab, West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, etc. So the newly formed Indian government had to take several steps for tackling the increasing refugee problem.
The steps taken by the Indian Government were as follows-
[1] Granting of asylum: The refugees coming into West Bengal initially took shelter in various railway stations, pavements or abandoned houses. The newly formed Indian government established several camps for the settlement of the refugees.
[2] Arrangement of aid: The Indian government arranged for food, clothing, medicines, and portable drinking water for the refugees. It also arranged for primary education centres for the children of the refugee camps.
[3] Rehabilitation: The people of the refugee camps were rehabilitated to various areas for resettlement. They were also given monetary aids for constructing houses and reorganising their lives.
[4] Condition of Punjab: The people taking refuge in Punjab were given ample financial and other aids by the central government. Colonies were established in different parts of Punjab for their rehabilitation.
[5] Condition of West Bengal: The West Bengal government could not arrange for enough provisions for the refugees. Some of them were offered lands in faraway places like Andaman, and Dandakaranya and these people got detached from the Bengalee culture.
Question 5 Discuss the debates that took place regarding the steps for the rehabilitation of the refugees that were taken by the Indian government.
Answer:
The teeming millions that came to India after the partition posed a threat to the newly formed Indian government. To cope up with this problem, the Indian government took various steps. But these steps initiated debates from many corners.
The debates that took place are as follows-
[1] India’s grievances against Pakistan: India argued that Pakistan has forced a large number of Hindus and Sikhs to abandon their motherland (Pakistan) and come to India.
[2] Nehru-Liaquat Pact: To tackle the increasing refugee problem, Jawaharlal Nehru the Prime Minister of India, and Liaquat Ali Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, signed a treaty in 1950 known as the ‘Nehru-Liaquat Pact’ or the ‘Delhi Pact’. But even this treaty could not deter the refugees from entering India.
[3] Exchange of property: The central government facilitated the exchange of property and people between the refugees of Punjab and West Pakistan, and there was an exchange of refugees between these two regions. However, no such facilities were given to the refugees of West Bengal, and thus they had to undergo various hardships for a long time.
[4] Aid and rehabilitation: Many historians are of the opinion that the central government was biased even while granting aid to the refugees of West Bengal and Punjab. While the refugees of Punjab received adequate aid, the refugees of West Bengal got insufficient funds and aid for rehabilitation.
[5] Rehabilitation in far-off places: Many Dalit refugees from West Bengal were sent off to distant places for rehabilitation like the Andamans and Dandakaranya, which cut them off from the Bengali language, culture, etc. The leftist parties of Bengal protested vehemently against this policy of rehabilitation by the central government.
Wbbse History And Environment Class 10 Solutions
Question 6 What was the Indian reaction towards the refugee problem? Or, What were the problems that India faced when a large number of refugees migrated from Pakistan to India?
Answer:
It is not possible to determine the exact number of people who migrated from Pakistan to India during the Partition of India. But it is a confirmed fact that most of the refugees settled in and around West Bengal, Punjab, Tripura, Assam, etc. This influx of refugees created an issue of major concern in India.
Some of the issues were-
[1] Communal riots: The religious minorities in Pakistan faced atrocities at the hands of the Muslims residing there and fled to India. As a result of this, Muslims in India became victims of acts of violence as well. Thus, communal riots spread out in many parts of the country.
[2] The assassination of Gandhi: in the backdrop of communal violence and riots, Mahatma Gandhi took the side of the Muslims and undertook a fast for their cause. This angered several Hindu activists, and on January 30, 1948, Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fundamentalist.
[3] The decline of Indo-Pak relations: When several thousands of refugees migrated to India, the Indian government held Pakistan responsible of communal atrocities, which had caused the people of religious minorities to flee from the country. The Pakistani government naturally denied these claims and this resulted in the decline of the relationship between India and Pakistan.
[4] Economic pressure: The rehabilitation of thousands of refugees and providing aid created serious economic pressure on the government of independent India.
[5] Political tension: The refugee problem gave rise to political tension in the country. In order to obtain adequate aid from the government, the refugees resorted to political agitations. In West Bengal, the leftist parties supported these refugees and stood by them.
Question 7 What were the differences between the migration and settlement of refugees in West Bengal and Punjab?
Answer:
After the Partition of India in 1947, a large number of refugees migrated from East Pakistan (East Bengal) to West Bengal, and another large number of refugees migrated from West Pakistan to Punjab. Several differences can be noticed between these two groups of refugees coming in and settling in West Bengal and Punjab.
Some of the differences are as follows-
| Points of difference | Refugees of Bengal | Refugees of Pakistan |
| Time period | Refugees from East Pakistan kept coming in and settling in West Bengal for about three decades after the Partition of India. | The refugees from West Pakistan came in only for a short period of time after the Partition of India. |
| Exchange | The refugees of East Pakistan did not get The refugees coming from West Pakistan chance of exchanging wealth or property with the Muslims of West Bengal. | The refugees coming from West Pakistan were able to exchange wealth and property with the Muslims of Punjab. |
| Abandonment of India by the Muslims | Most of the Muslims of West Bengal did not leave their motherland. Hence the refugees coming to Bengal did not get a chance to rehabilitate in the abandoned houses of the Muslims. | A large number of Muslims left Punjab and migrated to West Pakistan. Therefore, the refugees who came to Punjab got a chance to rehabilitate in the abandoned houses of the Muslims. |
| Aid and rehabilitation | The aids and facilities of rehabilitation provided by the central government for the refugees of West Bengal were inadequate. | The aids and facilities of rehabilitation provided by the central government for the refugees of Punjab were quite sufficient. |
| Linguistic problems | As most of the refugees coming from East Bengal were Bengali-speaking, they were more inclined to settle in and around West Bengal, Assam, and Orissa. | The refugees coming from West Pakistan did not have any linguistic problems, and so, besides Punjab, they were able to settle down in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, etc. |
Question 8 How much do we come to know about the Partition of 1947 from autobiographies and memoirs?
Answer:
The Partition of 1947 is perhaps the most important event in modern Indian history. Many facts about this partition can be obtained from the memoirs and autobiographies written during this period.
[1] Mention of acts of violence: Details of how the religious minorities had to suffer the atrocities of the religious majority groups-riots, murders, rapes-and how they were forced to abandon their motherland, come up vividly through several writings.
[2] Memories of leaving the Motherland: Not just the physical hardships, but the emotional trauma, the pain of leaving behind one’s place of birth, etc., are portrayed clearly in several writings by different authors.
[3] End of relationships: How the partition of 1947 separated friends and family members, and how individuals lost their loved ones forever, have been portrayed in many memoirs and autobiographies.
[4] Love for the Motherland: The deep love for one’s motherland, the fond memories of one’s birthplace, and the longing to return to those places once again can be seen in the writings of many authors.
[5] Some writers: Several writers have written autobiographies, memoirs, novels, research papers, etc., relating to the Partition of India. Some of the significant writers in Bengali include Atin Bandopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Prafulla Roy, Manik Bandyopadhyay, Debesh Roy, Prafulla Chakraborty, Debjyoti Roy, etc.
Significant writers in Hindi include Sadat Hassan Manto, Krishan Chander, Yashpal, Rangeya Raghav, Bhisham Sahni, and several others. Among the ones who wrote in English were Khuswant Singh, and R K Narayan, the ones who wrote in Urdu include Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and the writers in Punjabi were Bhisham Sahni, Kulwant Singh, etc.
Wbbse History And Environment Class 10 Solutions
Question 9 Give a picture of the partition of India. and the sufferings of a refugee as portrayed in a novel/autobiography/memoir.
Answer: The partition of India and the pains of the refugees have been described in many novels, autobiographies, memoirs, etc. A mentionable novel in this context is ‘Surjo Dighol Bari’ by Abu Ishaque.
The topics dealt with in the novel are discussed below-
[1] Dreams of the famine-stricken: ‘Surjo Dighol Bari’ opens with a depiction of the famine of 1943. The people such as Joygun, suffering from the famine, dream that after a few days when the nation would become independent, the price of rice will fall, and they will be able to live happily once again.
[2] The Pakistan of dreams: While the Muslims were eagerly waiting for the formation of Pakistan, Abu Ishaque, in his novel, portrays that the formation of Pakistan might be a nightmare for some, instead of being a dream. He portrays this through a conversation between two people traveling by train, and the Muslim passenger says, “If Pakistan is going to be formed, the Hindu-based names of products need to be changed.”
[3] Shattered dreams: The country became independent finally. But the condition of the Indians before and after independence in Pakistan became pathetic. Thus the dream of a new life for characters like Joygun was shattered.
The author portrays this shattering of illusions in his writing- After the formation of Pakistan, a truckload of people shouting “Pakistan zindabad, Quaid- i-Azam zindabad” was moving forward. While going through a muddy road, the truck splashed mud on a passerby’s clothes, and the words uttered by the helpless man clearly portrayed how the future days of Pakistan were going to be.
[4] Lamentations of Joygun: The religious minorities of East Bengal were in despair when the good days did not come even after independence. This has been clearly portrayed in the book by the lamentations of Joygun in his mother tongue.
Question 10 Give an account of the Partition and the problems of the refugees as portrayed in Bengali literature.
Answer:
In 1947, Bengal was partitioned along with the Partition of India. East Bengal became a part of Pakistan and West Bengal became a part of India. Consequently, the Hindu minority of East Bengal migrated to West Bengal, and the Muslim minority of West Bengal moved to East Bengal.
A vivid description of this partition and the story of individuals leaving their motherland have been written in many pieces of Bengali literature.
[1] Breaking apart of family life: The pain of dreams being shattered, love being lost, and family life being torn apart has been portrayed in the backdrop of the Partition in Raziya Khan’s ‘Bottolar Uponyas’. The love relationship between Sumita and Moin is destroyed due to the Partition.
[2] Riots: Communal riots broke out in East Bengal after the Partition of 1947. In this context, Sahidullah Kaiser, in his novel ‘Sangsaptak, speaks out through the character of Sikandar Master, that religions are made for human beings, not the other way round.
[3] Shattering of dreams: The poor people had dreamt that with freedom, food prices would decrease, and their living conditions would improve. But Abu Ishaque, in his novel ‘Surjo Dighol Bari’, portrays the shattering of this dream through the dialogues of his character- Joygun.
[4] Ruminations: The memories of Partition, leaving one’s motherland, and the events in a refugee’s life can be seen in several novels. Among these, mention might be made of ‘Purbo-Poschim’, ‘Keyapatar Nouka’, ‘Nilkantha Pakhir Khoje’, and several others.
[5] Lives of refugees: The painful stories of the lives of the refugees of West Bengal have been depicted in many Bengali novels, dramas, poems, etc. Examples of this can be cited from Mangalacharan Chattopadhyay’s poem ‘Sukno Mukh Uskokhusko Chul’.
Question 11 Discuss how the partition of India and the sufferings of the refugees have been portrayed in films.
Answer:
After the Partition of India, many films have been made in both East Bengal and West Bengal showing the pictures of the partition, the riots, people leaving their motherland, and the lives and suffering of the refugees. Some of the mentionable films in Bengali include Ritwik Ghatak’s ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’, ‘Subarnarekha’, ‘Nagarik’, ‘Komal Gandhar’, Nimai Ghosh’s, ‘Chinnamul, Satyajit Ray’s ‘Mahanagar’, and several others. Srijit Mukherji’s recent film ‘Rajkahini’ too gives us a detailed picture of the times of Partition.
The topics dealt with in these films are discussed below-
[1] Establishment of colonies: The Partition of Bengal, the influx of a huge number of refugees from East Bengal, setting up of colonies by these refugees after much struggle and hardship, and such other topics have been dealt with in Ritwik Ghatak’s movies.
[2] Pain and sufferings: Many films over time have portrayed the pains and sufferings that were caused during the Partition. The immense sufferings-that the refugees had to go through, the experiences of a helpless child who has lost his mother, their reunion when the child has become a youth and his mother has become old, and such other instances from the lives of the refugees have found place in a lot of films.
[3] Journey to Dandakaranya: The tragic eviction of the Bengali refugees to Dandakaranya has found place in Bengali films as well. In one of his films, Ritwik Ghatak shows a scene of the Dandakaranya bound special train for the refugees being stopped at Dhalbhumgarh station and the dead body of an old lady being brought out from the train.
Chapter 8 Post Colonial India Second Half Of The 20th Century 1947-1964 Topic C Reorganisation Of States In Independent India
Question 1 Write a note on scheduled languages in the Indian constitution (upto 1964).
Answer:
Scheduled languages in the Indian constitution (upto 1964):
The framers of the Indian Constitution, while enacting the constitution, (January 26, 1950) decided to incorporate 14 languages into the constitution. These are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
Till 1964, these languages were recognised by the government. The Eighth schedule and the 21st Amendment provided for the inclusion of Sindhi, Konkani, Maithili and Nepali, thereby increasing the number of official regional languages of India to 18. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, as of December 1, 2007, lists 22 languages.
These are:
[1] Assamese
[2] Bengali
[3] Gujarati
[4] Hindi
[5] Kannada
[6] Kashmiri
[7] Malayalam
[8] Marathi
[9] Oriya
[10] Punjabi
[11] Sanskrit
[12] Tamil
[13] Telugu
[14] Urdu
[15] Sindhi
[16] Konkani
[17] Manipuri
[18] Nepali
[19] Bodo
[20] Dogri
[21] Maithili
[22] Santhali.”
Question 2 Describe the different phases of the reorganization of states on a linguistic basis in post-independent India. Or, Discuss the role of the state reorganization commission (1953) in the reorganization of the states in independent India.
Answer:
The matter of reorganization of states and demarcation of interstate borders became quite important after India got independence in 1947.
[1] Demand for linguistic reorganization: There was no division of state on a linguistic basis, prior to independence. The movement for the reorganization of states on a linguistic basis started in India after independence.
[2] Objection by the government: The Linguistic State Reorganisation Commission opposed the idea of reorganization on a linguistic basis.
[3] Movements: In protest against the government’s stand, movements began in different parts of the country. Potti Sreeramulu went on a fast for 58 days on the demand of a separate state for the Telugu population.
Consequently, in 1953, Andhra Pradesh was formed for the Telugu population, and Madras renamed Tamil Nadu (1963), went to the Tamil population.
[4] State Reorganisation Commission: Jawaharlal Nehru formed the State Reorganisation Commission (1953) to formulate the policy of state reorganization.
[4] State Reorganisation Act: By this Act, 14 states and 6 Union territories were formed on a linguistic basis on November 1, 1956.
Since no separate states were formed for the Marathas and Gujaratis by the State Reorganisation Act, a conflict broke out between the two communities in Bombay and a movement began demanding separate states. The separate states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed by dividing Bombay in 1960.
Class 10 History Wbbse
Question 3 Write a commentary on the recognition of different Indian languages as official languages by the Constitution till 1964.
Answer:
A commentary on the recognition of different Indian languages as official languages by the Constitution till 1964
India has been a multilingual country since ancient times. After independence, the question of determining the official language for united India, became a vital issue.
[1] Controversy: A controversy arose as to which language should be used to maintain communication between the central and state governments as well as for the transaction of central government issues.
The controversy mainly revolved around English and Hindi languages. Finally in 1950, Hindi language was recognised as the official language by the Constitution.
[2] Official Languages Commission (1955): The Official Languages Commission was formed in 1955.
The recommendations in the report of the commission are as follows-
[1] The Hindi language will be the official language of India.
[2] The use of English in official work will continue till January 26, 1965.
[3] After January 26, 1965, Hindi will be the sole official language.
[3] Official Languages Act (1953): The Official Languages Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1963.
This act stipulated that-
[1] English will continue to be used in official work along with Hindi, even after 1965.
[2] The state legislatures will get the right to determine the official language for their respective states.
[4] Official languages in 1964: According to the Official Languages Act 1963, the different state legislatures determined their respective state languages. As a result 14 Indian languages were included as official languages in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
These languages were-
[1] Assamese,
[2] Bengali,
[3] Gujarati,
[4] Hindi,
[5] Kannada,
[6] Kashmiri,
[7] Malayalam,
[8] Marathi,
[9] Oriya,
[10] Punjabi,
[11] Sanskrit,
[12] Tamil,
[13] Telugu and
[14] Urdu.
Question 4 How did Andhra become the first linguistically recognized state?
Answer:
Andhra become the first linguistically recognized state:
Immediately after the independence of India, there was a demand for the reorganization of states on the basis of a long urge. Consequently; the Linguistic Provinces Commission, headed by Justice S.K. Dar, was appointed in 1948.
The Dar Commission advised that the reorganization of states on the basis of language might threaten national unity. But the public was not satisfied and the problem became more acute.
So a committee was appointed in December 1948, consisting of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya to examine the situation. The committee advised against the creation of linguistic states for the time being.
However, the popular movement for the reorganization of states continued. Potti Sreeramalu undertook a fast unto death over the demand for a separate state of Andhra. While on fast for 58 days, Sreeramulu died and the movement took a serious turn.
Finally, the government conceded to the demand and a separate state of Andhra Pradesh was created in 1952. The Telugu-speaking area was separated from the Tamil-speaking area. Simultaneously, Tamil Nadu emerged as a Tamil-speaking state.
