Question 1:
Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and rewrite these correctly
based on what you have read in this chapter.
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the country should be
democratic or not after independence.
(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all provisions of
the
Constitution.
(c) A country that has a Constitution must be a democracy.
(d) Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a country.
Answer:
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement were clear in their mind to have a democratic government
in
their country after independence.
(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held same views on basic principles of the
Constitution.
(c) All countries that are democratic must have a Constitution.
(d) Constitution cannot be amended easily because it is the supreme law of a country. For
making
any amendement in the Constitution, 2/3rd majority of both the houses of the Parliament is
compulsory.
Question 2:
Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making of a democratic constitution in South Africa?
- Between South Africa and its neighbours
- Between men and women
- Between the white majority and the black minority
- Between the coloured minority and the black majority.
Answer:
(d) Between the coloured minority and the black majority
Question 3:
Which of these is a provision that a democratic constitution does not have?
- Powers of the head of the state
- Name of the head of the state
- Powers of the legislature
- Name of the country
Answer:
(b) Name of the head of the state
Question 4:
Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the Constitution:
- Motilal Nehru
- B.R. Ambedkar
- Rajendra Prasad
- Sarojini Naidu
Answer:
1. (d), 2. (c), 3. (a), 4. (b)
Question 5:
Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the
following:
(a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first
sentence?
(b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
(c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from
every eye”. Who was he referring to?
Answer:
(a) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru used the expression “not wholly or in full measure, but very
substantially” to
redeem our pledge to dedicate ourselves to the service of the nation.
(b) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wanted that the makers of the Constitution take the pledge of
dedication to
the service of India and its people and to the still larger cause of humanity.
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
Question 6:
Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their meaning. Match them correctly.
- Sovereign
- Republic
- Fraternity
- Secular
Answer:
1. (b), 2. (c), 3. (d), 4. (a)
Question 7:
Here is an opinion about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to
each of this factor?
Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with
representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
Answer:
Democracy is not a gift of the British rulers. Britishers gradually and slowly gave powers to the elected representatives.
Question 8:
Here is an opinion about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to
each of this factor?
Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to
Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
Answer:
This statement is true because freedom struggle was against the colonial exploitation. Indians were given limited and restricted rights. Thus, it was clear before independence that India will be a democratic country after independence.
Question 9:
Here is an opinion about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to
each of this factor?
We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in
several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.
Answer:
This view is correct. Our leaders were committed to democratic institutions and democratic values. In India, democracy became successful due to great leadership of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Ambedkar, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, etc.
Question 10:
Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are destined thus by God to remain in male protection – of father, husband and son – all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our Constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?
Answer:
The values expressed in the above paragraph are against the constitutional values. In the above para, emphasis has been given on the superiority and dominance of man. But our constitutional values are based on the principle of equality. Under the Constitution, both man and woman are equal, both enjoy equal rights and are equal before the eyes of law. There should be no discrimination on the basis of gender.
Question 11:
Read the following statement about a Constitution. Give reason why each of it is true or not
true.
The authority of the rules of the Constitution is the same as that of any other law.
Answer:
This statement is not true because Constitution is the supreme law of the state.
Question 12:
Read the following statement about a Constitution. Give reason why each of it is true or not
true.
Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed.
Answer:
This statement is true. The structure and functions of different organs of the government i.e. Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are mentioned in the Constitution.
Question 13:
Read the following statement about a Constitution. Give reason why each of it is true or not true. Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the Constitution.
Answer:
This statement is true. Rights of the citizen are mentioned in Part III of the Indian Constitution.
Question 14:
Read the following statement about a Constitution. Give reason why each of it is true or not
true.
A Constitution is about institutions, not about values.
Answer:
This statement is not true. A constitution is not only about institutions, but also about
values.
Our Constitution emphasisis on Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Dignity.
Question 15:
What would have happened in South Africa if the black majority had decided to take revenge on the whites for all their oppressions and exploitation.
Answer:
Blacks were in majority in South Africa. The whites were fortunate that the black did not decide to take revenge on them, it would have been difficult for the whites to exist. They would have been supressed forever in South Africa.
Question 16:
Does the story of South African struggle for freedom remind you of the Indian National
Movement?
Make a list of the similarities and disimilarities between the two on the following
points:
(a) Nature of colonialism
(b) Relationship between different communities
(c) Leadership: Gandhi/Mandela
(d) Party that led the struggle: African National Congress / Indian National Congress
(e) Method of struggle
Answer:
(a) Nature of Colonialism: Both South Africa and India were colonial nations. Both
experienced the
foreign regime for a long time. European trading companies in 17 and 18th centuries occupied
South Africa with the use of force and arms. In the same way, they established their control
over
India. But in comparison to India, a large numbler of white settled in South Africa.
(b) Relationship between different Communities: Multi-cultural communities lived in both
South
Africa and India. There were also great disparities between these communities. Some
communities
were given special privileges whereas some lagged behind.
(c) Leadership: Gandhi/Mandela: Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, led the freedom
struggle
in India. He also led a satyagraha in South Africa. But, it was Nelson Mandela who led the
freedom
struggle in South Africa. Both of these leaders successfully led their countries to achieve
freedom
from the colonial rule.
(d) Party that led the struggle: In South Africa, African National Congress (AFN), headed by
Nelson
Mandela, led the struggle to achieve the freedom. In India, it was the Indian National
Congress
(founded in 1885) through which India gained independence in 1947.
(e) Method of struggle: Both Gandhiji and Mandela were peace-loving individuals. They chose
the
path of non-violence to attain their final ends.
Question 17:
The Assembly had many members who were not with the Congress. Name those members of the Constituent Assembly.
Answer:
Jaipal Singh, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Somnath Lahri
Question 18:
The Assembly represented members from different social groups. Name those social groups.
Answer:
Andhra Mahila Sabha, Adivasi Maha Sabha and Bharatiya Jan Sangha
Question 19:
Members of the Assembly believed in different ideologies. Name those members of the Constituent Assembly.
Answer:
B.R. Ambedkar, Abdul Kalam Azad and G. Durgabhai Deshmukh