Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 8 History Civics Chapter 12 Rise Of Indian Nationalism

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks:

1. Modem Indian nationalism arose to meet the challenge of Foreign domination.
Answer: Foreign domination.
This means that Indians began to feel a sense of unity because they all wanted to end the rule of a foreign power. It was a shared struggle to regain control over their own country and resources.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'Nationalism' as 'Love for Nation' which grew because of outside interference.
Exam Tip: Always write the complete sentence while answering fill-in-the-blanks in the exam for better presentation.

2. Exploitation of India by the British was direct and harsh before 1857; after 1857 it became subtle and systematic.
Answer: subtle and systematic.
While the early British rule was openly violent, the later period used complex laws and economic policies to take wealth from India. This made it harder for ordinary people to immediately see how they were being cheated.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'Subtle' starts with 'S' just like 'Systematic' to describe the post-1857 change.
Exam Tip: Ensure you spell 'subtle' correctly as the 'b' is silent and often missed by students.

3. The Kukas Rebellion was an armed rebellion of the Sikhs against the British policy of divide and rule.
Answer: Sikhs.
The Kukas were a group of brave Sikh followers who fought against the British attempts to create conflict between different religious groups. They used weapons to protect their culture and stand up for Indian unity.
Teacher's Tip: Link 'Kukas' with 'Sikhs' as they both have a strong 'k' sound.
Exam Tip: Mention the specific group 'Sikhs' rather than just 'people' to get full marks.

4. The English language acted as a link language among the educated Indians.
Answer: link.
Since India has many different languages, educated people from different regions used English to talk to each other. This communication helped them share ideas about freedom and work together against the British.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine a 'Link' as a bridge that connects two different sides.
Exam Tip: Always check if the blank requires a noun, verb, or adjective to fit grammatically.

5. A.O. Hume laid the foundation of the Indian National Congress in December 1885.
Answer: Indian National Congress.
A.O. Hume was a retired British officer who helped bring Indian leaders together to form this political group. This organization eventually led the fight for India's complete independence.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the year 1885 as the birth year of India's most famous political party.
Exam Tip: Capitalize the first letter of each word in 'Indian National Congress' as it is a proper noun.

B. Match the following:

A
1. Kukas
2. Santhal uprising
3. William Jones
4. ‘Vande Mataram’
5. Lord Ripon
B
(a) rediscovered India’s glorious past
(b) followers of Guru Ram Singh
(c) Ilbert Bill controversy
(d) Bihar
(e) evoked patriotic emotions
Answer:
1. Kukas - (b) followers of Guru Ram Singh
2. Santhal uprising - (d) Bihar
3. William Jones - (a) rediscovered India’s glorious past
4. ‘Vande Mataram’ - (e) evoked patriotic emotions
5. Lord Ripon - (c) Ilbert Bill controversy
These matches show how different people and events contributed to the rising spirit of nationalism. Every point connects a specific leader or action to the impact it had on the Indian society.
Teacher's Tip: Use the first letter to connect Ripon with the Ilbert Bill.
Exam Tip: To score full marks, rewrite the correct matching pairs side-by-side instead of drawing cross lines.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: ‘Vande Mata ram’ was written by Swami Vivekananda/Raja Ram Mohan Roy/Bankim Chander Chattopadhyaya.
Answer: ‘Vande Mataram’ was written by Bankim Chander Chattopadhyaya.
This song became a powerful anthem for freedom fighters because it praised India as a motherland. It inspired millions of people to join the struggle for independence.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'Bankim' and 'Vande' both have a strong 'B/V' sound connection.
Exam Tip: Pick the name carefully; Bankim Chandra is the author, while others like Tagore set it to music later.

Question 2: Lord Ripon/Lord Lytton/Lord Dalhousie approved the Ilbert Bill.
Answer: Lord Ripon approved the Ilbert Bill.
Lord Ripon was a more liberal Governor-General who believed that Indian judges should be equal to British judges. His support for the Ilbert Bill showed that he wanted to reduce racial discrimination in the legal system.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'Ripon' as 'Righteous' because he tried to do the right thing for Indian judges.
Exam Tip: Do not confuse Ripon with Lytton; Lytton was the one who passed discriminatory laws.

Question 3: The Indian National Congress was established in 1883/1885/ 1890.
Answer: The Indian National Congress was established in 1885.
The first meeting was held in Mumbai and attended by leaders from all over the country. This marked the beginning of organized political effort by Indians to share their demands with the British government.
Teacher's Tip: 1885 is exactly 15 years before the end of the 19th century.
Exam Tip: Memorize the full date: December 28, 1885, for extra points in long answers.

Question 4: The first session of the Indian National Congress was attended by 62/72/82
Answer: The first session of the Indian National Congress was attended by 72 delegates.
These 72 people represented different parts of India and various professions like law and journalism. Even though the number was small, it was a very important start for national unity.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the number '7' and '2' - it is a small number for such a big country.
Exam Tip: Make sure to mention the word 'delegates' when writing the answer in a sentence.

Question 5: The first session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by C. Bannerjee/Surendranath Banerjea/A.O. Hume.
Answer: The first session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by W.C. Bannerjee.
Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was a famous lawyer who was chosen to lead the very first official gathering of the Congress. His leadership helped set a professional and serious tone for the organization's work.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'W.C.' as the 'Wise Chairman' of the first meeting.
Exam Tip: Be careful with the initials; it is W.C. Bonnerjee, not Surendranath Banerjea.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1: The Revolt of 1857 had failed to rid India of foreign rule.
Answer: True.
Although the soldiers and leaders fought very bravely, the British were able to regain control after some time. However, the revolt did change the way the British governed India from then on.
Teacher's Tip: 'True' because the British stayed in power until 1947.
Exam Tip: For 'True' or 'False' questions, always write the full word for clarity.

Question 2: Western education and modern ideas could not bring the Indians together.
Answer: False.
Correct: Western education and modem ideas bring the Indians together.
Actually, Western education gave Indians a common language and introduced them to ideas like democracy and liberty. These shared concepts helped them unite despite being from different regions.
Teacher's Tip: Education is a 'bridge', not a wall.
Exam Tip: When a statement is false, always write the 'Correct' version to show you understand the facts.

Question 3: Racial arrogance and racial discrimination by the British caused great resentment among Indian intellectuals.
Answer: True.
The British often treated Indians as inferior, even those who were highly educated and held important jobs. This unfair treatment made Indian thinkers very angry and motivated them to fight for equality.
Teacher's Tip: Resentment means a feeling of deep anger due to unfair treatment.
Exam Tip: Use keywords like 'discrimination' and 'resentment' in your descriptive answers too.

Question 4: The Ilbert Bill had to be amended as the European reacted violently to it.
Answer: True.
The British people living in India were so upset about being judged by Indians that they forced the government to change the bill. This showed Indians that the British would never treat them as equals under their rule.
Teacher's Tip: 'Amended' means 'changed' or 'modified'.
Exam Tip: Remember that the failure of this bill was a major reason why Indians felt they needed their own political party.

Question 5: A.O. Hume was not supported by nationalist Indian leaders.
Answer: False.
Correct: A. O. Hume was supported by nationalist Indian leaders.
Indian leaders welcomed Hume's help because his involvement made it easier to form a national organization without the British government stopping them immediately. He worked closely with top Indian thinkers of the time.
Teacher's Tip: Hume was an 'Ally' to the early Indian nationalists.
Exam Tip: Check the names mentioned in 'True/False' carefully as one small word like 'not' can change the entire meaning.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1: Define nationalism.
Answer: Nationalism may be defined as a devotion and loyalty to one’s own nation, patriotism. It is also the policy or doctrine of asserting the interest of one’s own nation viewed as separate from the interests of others nations or common interest of all nation.
Essentially, it is the feeling of pride and belonging that people have for their country. It drives them to work together for the country's progress and independence from outside control.
Teacher's Tip: Think of nationalism as 'Team Spirit' but for an entire country.
Exam Tip: Define nationalism using terms like 'loyalty' and 'patriotism' for a complete answer.

Question 2: Name any two Western scholars who researched the Indian past and rediscovered its rich heritage.
Answer: European scholars like William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, James Prinsep and other Indologists, who researched India’s historical past and revealed its rich heritage.
These scholars studied ancient Indian texts and ruins to show the world that India had a very advanced civilization long ago. This discovery made Indians feel proud of their history and culture.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'William Jones' as the one who started the study of Sanskrit by Europeans.
Exam Tip: If the question asks for two names, pick the ones you can spell most accurately.

Question 3: How did the British economic policies in India transform India into an agricultural colony.
Answer: British economic policies in India had deliberately transformed India into an agricultural colony. India had become a supplier of British raw materials and a market for British manufactured products.
The British forced India to grow crops they needed for their factories and then made Indians buy the finished goods back at high prices. This destroyed local Indian industries and made the country poor.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'Raw Materials Out' and 'Finished Goods In' to understand this policy.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase 'Agricultural Colony' to describe the shift from a manufacturing to a farming-only economy.

Question 4: Why was the Ilbert Bill introduced and by whom?
Answer: Lord Ripon, who followed Lord Lytton, wanted to change some of the discriminatory policies of the government. He approved the Ilbert Bill which proposed that Indian judges be allowed to try Europeans (whites) accused of crimes.
The bill was meant to remove the unfair rule that Indian judges could not preside over cases involving British people. It was a step toward making the legal system equal for everyone in India.
Teacher's Tip: Link 'Ilbert Bill' with 'Equality in Courts'.
Exam Tip: Ensure you mention both the purpose (equality) and the person (Lord Ripon).

Question 5: When and where was the first session of the Indian National Congress held?
Answer: The first session of the Congress was held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in December 1885.
This historic meeting took place at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College with 72 delegates from across the nation. It was the first time leaders from different regions sat together to talk about India's future.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the place 'Mumbai' and the cold month 'December'.
Exam Tip: Always provide both the month and the year to answer a 'When' question precisely.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: There were many factors that led to the rise of nationalism in India. In the light of this statement, answer the following questions:
(a) In what way did the Revolt of 1857 impact the rise of nationalism in India?
(b) What changes did Western education bring about in the traditional Indian outlook?
(c) The English language acted as a link language among the Indians. Explain.
Answer:
(a) Exploitation after Revolt of 1857, was subtle and systematic. The impact of exploitation was felt by almost all sections of Indian society, but it took several decades to comprehend the true nature of British rule and establish the link between British polices and India’s growing poverty. Several armed revolts took place after 1857. The Kuka rebellion was one such revolt. It was a protest against the deliberate policy of the British to create a rift between the Hindus and the Muslims.
(b) The British had introduced Western Education in India to create a class of loyal clerks and Anglicized buyers of British goods. Western education did that and much more. It opened the floodgates of modem knowledge and rational thinking. New ideas of humanism, nationalism and democracy transformed the traditional outlook of the people. A new class arose-English-educated Indians-small in number but who in course of time, would produce, leaders and organizers of a national movement.
(c) The English language acted as a link language between the educated Indians and various parts of the country. Thus, it played a very significant role in fostering feelings of unity among educated Indians from different provinces and linguistic regions of the country. The barriers of language now broke down as the English language became the common medium of communication. Educated middle class Indians who spoke different language could now express their views and exchange ideas among themselves in English. A common language fostered a sense of oneness and understanding of their Indian identity.
These points explain how various developments, even those intended by the British for their own gain, ended up helping Indians unite. The shift in thinking and communication was essential for building a nationwide movement for freedom.
Teacher's Tip: Think of these three points as 'Awareness', 'Ideas', and 'Communication'.
Exam Tip: For a brief answer, divide your explanation into clear sub-headings (a), (b), and (c) as asked.

Question 2: In the context of the causes of the rise of Indian nationalism, answer the following questions:
(a) How did the British administrative system indirectly create conditions favourable for the growth of Indian nationalism.
(b) Examine the role of modern transport and communication in fostering unity and nationalism among the people.
(c) How did the rediscovery of India’s glorious past prepare the ground for the growth of the national spirit among the Indians.
Answer:
(a) The British transformed a fragmented India into a united whole under their rule. They introduced a uniform and modern system of government throughout the British provinces. Uniform laws were applied to all British subjects. People from different provinces and from different communities and castes now followed the same laws and regulations. They gradually realized that they all belonged to the same country and shared a common national identity as Indians.
(b) This growing sense of unity and nationalism was further strengthened when the British introduced a new network of roads, railways and the post and telegraph system. Social mobility and interaction increased. Caste barriers broke down. People from different parts of the country grew closer to each other. They realized that they shared common problems, common aspirations and common goals. They belonged to one nation.
(c) The rediscovery of a past was great and glorious. It was a past that could boast of the intellectual richness of Vedic philosophy, the political unity and administrative wisdom of the Mauryas, the Golden Age of the Guptas and the cultural brilliance of the Mughals.
These discoveries were made by European scholars like William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, James Princep and other Indologists, who researched India’s historical past and revealed its rich heritage. These revelations instilled in the Indians feelings of national pride and self-confidence and inspired them to dream of a new resurgent India.
By bringing all of India under one set of rules and connecting the land physically, the British unintentionally made it easier for Indians to organize against them. Knowing about their historical greatness also gave Indians the confidence that they could rule themselves successfully again.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the phrase 'Unintentional Unity' to summarize British impact.
Exam Tip: Mention the names of ancient empires like Mauryas and Guptas when talking about the glorious past.

Question 3: With reference to the rise of Indian nationalism, answer the following questions:
(a) What was the role of vernacular press and literature in the rise of Indian nationalism?
(b) How did the British economic policies lead to the growth of Indian nationalism?
(c) Mention the discriminatory policies that were greatly resented by the Indian intellectuals.
Answer:
(a) The vernacular press played a vital role in spreading modem ideas and creating national awareness. Nationalist leaders, the best among the educated middle-class intellectuals, used the press to criticize British policies and expose the evils of foreign rule. The ideas of democracy and responsible government were popularized through the press. Indians were asked to unite and work for the welfare of the nation.
National literature also inspired the spirit of nationalism among the people. Novels, essays and patriotic poems written by well-known authors and poets fired the imagination of the common people and gave rise to powerful patriotic feelings. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya’s ‘Vande Mataram’ continues to evoke strong patriotic emotions among Indians even to this day.
(b) The drain of India’s wealth to Britain, the impoverishment of the masses, industrial decay, grinding poverty, frequent famines, and the indifference and apathy of the British government produced a nationalistic reaction. The educated Indians realized the gravity of the situation and the need to have some control over economic policies.
(c) Discriminatory policies adopted by the British:
1. Indians were debarred from using parks, clubs, hospitals, libraries and railway coaches reserved exclusively for the British.
2. All important positions in the administration were also reserved for the British. (Surendranath Banerjee was ” dismissed from the Indian Civil Service on flimsy grounds) Nominated Indian members in the Legislative Councils were not given any powers.
3. British economic policies sacrificed Indian interests to those of the British. Lord Lytton‘s discriminatory policies caused great resentment among the educated Indians.
These factors show that people's anger wasn't just about political power, but also about their daily dignity and their ability to survive economically. The combination of reading about freedom in newspapers and feeling the pain of poverty led to a strong national movement.
Teacher's Tip: Vernacular means 'local language' - remember that local news reached everyone.
Exam Tip: When listing discriminatory policies, use specific examples like the exclusion from clubs and parks for full marks.

Question 4: In the context of the Indian National Congress, answer the following questions:
(a) Briefly discuss the Ilbert Bill controversy and show how it hastened the establishment of the Indian National Congress.
(b) What role did A. O. Hume play in the establishment of the Indian National Congress?
(c) Mention the main aims of the Congress.
Answer:
(a) Lord Ripon, who followed Lord Lytton, wanted to change some of the discriminatory policies of the government. He approved the Ilbert Bill which allowed Indian judges to try Europeans (whites) accused of crimes. The violent reaction of the Europeans and Anglo-Indians to this proposal shocked the Indian nationalists.
The Bill had to be amended. This incident blew the lid off the racial arrogance of the Europeans. It served as an eye-opener and drove home the urgent need to form an organized national body to protect the interest and dignity of the Indians. In 1883, Surendranath Banerjee held the Indian National Conference, and within 2 years, the Indian National Congress was formed.
(b) A.O. Hume was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, a political party that was later lead to Indian Independence Movement. Hume took the initiative and it was in March 1885, when the first notice was issued convening the First Indian National union to meet at Poona in December.
Founded in 1885 with the objective of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, Indian National Congress was initially not opposed to British rule. The Congress met once a year during December. A. O. Hume is known for prominent figure of Indian Independence Movement activism and reorganizing and leading the Indian National Army in World War II.
(c) The main aims of the Congress were:
1. To promote friendly relations among nationalist workers in different parts of the country.
2. To develop and strengthen feelings of national unity throughout the country.
3. To formulate popular demands and to place them before the government.
4. To train and organize public opinion in the country.
The Ilbert Bill controversy was a turning point because it made Indians realize that they needed a strong, organized voice to be heard. A.O. Hume provided the platform that allowed Indian leaders to start this organized journey toward self-rule.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the year 1883 for the Conference and 1885 for the Congress.
Exam Tip: List the aims of the Congress clearly using points to show the organization's goals.

G. Picture study:

This is the picture of a person who was dismissed from the Indian Civil Service by the British on flimsy grounds.

Question 1: Identify the person in the picture.
Answer: Surendranath Banerjee.
He was a brilliant and dedicated leader who faced unfair treatment from the British government early in his career. This experience motivated him to become one of the most important voices in the Indian freedom struggle.
Teacher's Tip: Recognize him on the stamp by his glasses and white beard.
Exam Tip: Ensure you spell 'Banerjee' correctly as it is the name of a historical figure.

Question 2: Name the conference that he held in 1883.
Answer: Indian National Conference.
This conference was a predecessor to the Indian National Congress and helped test the waters for a national organization. It brought together educated Indians to discuss shared political goals for the first time.
Teacher's Tip: Don't confuse 'Conference' (1883) with 'Congress' (1885).
Exam Tip: Mention the year 1883 specifically to show historical accuracy.

Question 3: What was the outcome of the conference?
Answer: Indian National Congress was established in 1885, as a result of the conference in 1883.
The success of the conference showed that a larger, permanent body was needed to represent all of India. This directly led to the formation of the Indian National Congress just two years later.
Teacher's Tip: See the conference as the 'Practice Run' for the actual Congress.
Exam Tip: Explain how one event led to the other for a more complete answer.

Question 4: What were the main aims of the Indian National Congress?
Answer: Refer Ans. F-4 (c) above.
The aims were focused on creating a sense of one nation among all Indians and expressing their needs to the British. They also wanted to educate people about their rights and the importance of participating in government.
Teacher's Tip: Use keywords like 'Unity', 'Demands', and 'Public Opinion'.
Exam Tip: Always check if you need to rewrite the full answer or just refer to a previous section in your notes.