Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 8 History Civics Chapter 13 The Indian National Movement 1885 1916

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1: The early nationalists spread political awareness among the people.
Answer: political awareness
These leaders used newspapers and public meetings to explain the impact of British rule on India. This helped common people understand that they were being treated unfairly and needed to unite for their rights.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 'awareness' as waking up the people to the reality of their country's situation.
Exam Tip: Always double-check the spelling of the keywords to ensure you don't lose marks on easy questions.

Question 2: The assertive nationalists believed that British rule in India was not a blessing but a curse.
Answer: blessing, curse
Unlike the early nationalists, this new group felt that the British were only interested in taking India's wealth. They argued that foreign rule was actually stopping India's progress rather than helping it.
Teacher's Tip: Remember that 'Assertive' means being bold and firm in your beliefs.
Exam Tip: When a blank asks for opposites like these, make sure the order makes sense in the sentence.

Question 3: After the partition of Bengal, the assertive nationalists adopted the methods of boycott, swadeshi and national education to achieve the goal of swaraj.
Answer: boycott, swadeshi, national education
These methods were designed to harm the British economy while building up Indian industries and schools. By using only Indian-made goods, the people showed their strength and demand for self-rule.
Teacher's Tip: 'Swadeshi' means 'of one's own country' - remember it as 'Buying Indian'.
Exam Tip: If there are multiple blanks, list them in the correct sequence as they appear in the textbook.

Question 4: Separate electorates meant that the Muslim voters could elect Muslim representatives.
Answer: Muslim, Muslim
This system was created by the British to divide voters based on their religion instead of where they lived. It was a major part of the 'divide and rule' policy that eventually hurt Indian unity.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine a school election where only people with red bags can vote for red bag leaders; that is how separate electorates worked.
Exam Tip: Make sure to capitalize proper nouns like 'Muslim' throughout your answer.

Question 5: The early nationalist leaders expelled the assertive nationalists from the Congress at the Surat session in 1907.
Answer: Surat
This event is known as the 'Surat Split' because the two groups in the Congress could not agree on how to fight for freedom. It was a difficult time for the movement as the two groups went their separate ways.
Teacher's Tip: Use the 'S' connection: Surat Split in 1907.
Exam Tip: Memorize the year 1907 specifically for the Surat session as it is a very common exam question.

B. Match the following:

A
1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. Assertive nationalists
3. Partition of Bengal
4. Muslim League
5. Swadeshi
B
(a) 1905
(b) separate electorates
(c) use of only Indian goods
(d) immediate freedom from British rule
(e) early nationalists
Answer:
1. Dadabhai Naoroji - (e) early nationalists
2. Assertive nationalists - (d) immediate freedom from British rule
3. Partition of Bengal - (a) 1905
4. Muslim League - (b) separate electorates
5. Swadeshi - (c) use of only Indian goods
Matching these terms helps you link famous leaders to their specific ideologies and historical dates. It shows how different groups had different strategies for reaching the same goal of freedom.
Teacher's Tip: Associate Dadabhai Naoroji with 'Early' because he was one of the very first leaders of the Congress.
Exam Tip: For matching questions, rewrite the full correct pairs instead of drawing lines for a neater answer sheet.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: The history of the Indian national movement is broadly categorized into three/four/five
Answer: The history of the Indian national movement is broadly categorized into three phases.
These phases are the Early Nationalists phase, the Assertive Nationalists phase, and finally the Gandhian phase. Each phase used different methods and had different leaders leading the way.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'Three' as the magic number for phases of the movement.
Exam Tip: Write the full sentence with the correct choice underlined to make your answer clear.

Question 2: Bal Gangadhar Tdak/Dadabhai Naoroji/Surendranath Banerjea was an important assertive nationalist leader.
Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an important assertive nationalist leader.
Tilak famously declared that 'Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!' He was known for his brave stance and for using festivals to bring people together for freedom.
Teacher's Tip: The 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio are your main assertive leaders; 'Bal' stands for Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Exam Tip: Notice the typo in the question ('Tdak') and write the correct spelling 'Tilak' in your answer.

Question 3: The British followed the policy of divide and rule by dividing Bengal/Punjab/Gujarat on communal lines.
Answer: The British followed the policy of divide and rule by dividing Bengal on communal lines.
The partition was done in a way that separated the Hindu-majority areas from the Muslim-majority areas in the East. This was done to weaken the nationalist protest by making people focus on religious differences instead.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'B' for Bengal and 'B' for British Divide policy.
Exam Tip: If asked 'Why', always mention 'communal lines' to show you understand the strategy used.

Question 4: The Muslim League was established in 1905/1906/1913.
Answer: The Muslim League was established in 1906.
This organization was formed in Dhaka to protect the rights of Muslims in India. Over time, its goals changed, and it became a major player in Indian politics.
Teacher's Tip: 1905 was Partition, 1906 was the League - they happened one after the other.
Exam Tip: Linking dates to sequential events is the best way to avoid getting confused between 1905 and 1906.

Question 5: Two Home Rule Leagues were formed in 1916/1914/1918.
Answer: Two Home Rule Leagues were formed in 1916.
One was started by Annie Besant and the other by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Their goal was to demand self-government for India within the British Empire.
Teacher's Tip: 1916 is a busy year: Lucknow Pact and Home Rule Leagues both happen now!
Exam Tip: Make sure to mention that there were 'two' separate leagues to show you have read the question properly.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1: The early nationalists believed in the justice and fair play of the British.
Answer: True.
These leaders felt that if they presented their problems logically, the British would eventually do the right thing and fix them. They had a lot of respect for British law and its promised values.
Teacher's Tip: Think of them as 'gentle protesters' who used pens instead of sticks.
Exam Tip: Always provide the word 'True' in full capital letters if possible for clarity.

Question 2: The early nationalists presented their grievances to the British in the form of protests and strikes.
Answer: False.
Correct: The early nationalists presented their grievances to the British in the form of meetings, lectures and the press.
They preferred polite methods like writing petitions and giving speeches to educate the public. Protests and strikes were methods used later by the assertive nationalists and during the Gandhian era.
Teacher's Tip: Early nationalists = Petitions; Assertive nationalists = Protests.
Exam Tip: For false statements, always write the correct version below it as shown in the answer key.

Question 3: The political beliefs, aims and methods of the assertive nationalists were the same as those of the early nationalists.
Answer: False.
Correct: The political beliefs, aims and methods of the assertive nationalists were different as those of the early nationalists.
One group wanted gradual changes and trusted the British, while the other wanted immediate freedom and did not trust them at all. This difference eventually led to the big split in the Congress party.
Teacher's Tip: Differences in 'how to fight' are what separated these two groups.
Exam Tip: Highlighting the word 'different' in your correction helps emphasize your point to the teacher.

Question 4: The assertive nationalists had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists.
Answer: True.
They felt that twenty years of asking politely had gotten India nowhere and that the British only respected strength. They wanted to take more direct action to make the government listen to their demands.
Teacher's Tip: Constitutional methods mean following rules and laws to make changes.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase 'no faith' to explain why the assertive group changed their strategy.

Question 5: Tilak knew that the British would concede to the demand of swaraj easily without any struggle.
Answer: False.
Correct: Tilak knew that the British would never concede to the demand of Swaraj easily without any struggle.
Tilak believed that freedom is something you have to take, not something you are given. He encouraged Indians to be ready to work hard and make sacrifices to win their independence.
Teacher's Tip: Tilak's birthright slogan shows he expected a tough fight for freedom.
Exam Tip: Make sure the word 'never' is included in your correction to flip the meaning of the original sentence correctly.

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

Question 1: Mention two leaders of the early nationalist phase.
Answer: The important leaders of the early nationalist phase were Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjea and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
These men were often highly educated lawyers or scholars who were the first to organize a national-level political party. They were the pioneers who laid the very first stones of the freedom struggle.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'Naoroji' and 'Gokhale' as the two main anchors of the early group.
Exam Tip: If the question asks for two, providing three is safe, but make sure they are from the correct group.

Question 2: Mention two leaders of the assertive nationalist phase.
Answer: The important leaders of the assertive nationalist phase were Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Ghosh.
These leaders were much more radical and encouraged people to use active resistance against British rule. They were extremely popular with the youth of India who wanted faster action for independence.
Teacher's Tip: Just remember 'Lal, Bal, and Pal' for a quick answer!
Exam Tip: Don't forget Aurobindo Ghosh; he was a brilliant philosopher and a powerful leader of this group.

Question 3: Why were the assertive nationalists disillusioned with the leadership of the early nationalists?
Answer: The assertive nationalists had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists. They knew that the British would never concede to the demand for swaraj without a struggle. So they have to adopt a method of active opposition to government Swaraj would have to be achieved through a political, anti-government agitation and with the involvement and support of the masses. The Congress would have to be transformed from a platform for debates among the westernized, Indian intelligentsia into a regiment of freedom fighters-united, determined, confident and willing to make sacrifices.
The younger leaders felt that just talking and debating in meetings was not helping the poor or bringing freedom. They wanted to move from polite requests to powerful, massive protests that involved all Indians.
Teacher's Tip: 'Disillusioned' means being disappointed because something is not as good as you thought it would be.
Exam Tip: Focus on the keyword 'struggle' vs 'petitions' to explain the difference in these two groups' views.

Question 4: When and why was Bengal partitioned?
Answer: The British partitioned Bengal in 1905 in pursuance of their policy of divide and rule.
Bengal was the center of the freedom movement, so the British divided it to create religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. They hoped this division would stop the growing national spirit in the region.
Teacher's Tip: Use '1905' and 'Divide and Rule' as your two main points for this answer.
Exam Tip: Always mention that the reason was 'political' even if the British claimed it was for better management.

Question 5: Where and under whose leadership was the Muslim League established?
Answer: The Muslim League was established in December 1906, under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah Khan in Dacca (now known as Dhaka).
This meeting brought together many Muslim leaders who wanted to make sure their community had a say in India's future. Dacca was a very important center for this new political organization.
Teacher's Tip: Dacca was a major city in the then-partitioned East Bengal.
Exam Tip: Give the full name of the leader, 'Nawab Salimullah Khan', for a high-scoring answer.

Question 6: Mention two objectives of the Muslim League?
Answer: Objectives of Muslim league:
1. To promote among the Muslims a feeling of loyalty towards the British government.
2. To protect and promote the political rights of the Muslims.
3. To prevent feelings of hostility towards other communities.
The League wanted to ensure that Muslims would be treated fairly and have their own representatives in government. Initially, they also tried to maintain a good relationship with the British to achieve these goals.
Teacher's Tip: The objectives were to help Muslims politically while avoiding fights with others.
Exam Tip: Number your points clearly when listing objectives or aims of an organization.

Question 7: Why was the introduction of separate electorates a death blow to national unity?
Answer: Separate electorates refers to the voting population of the country, divided into different electorates based on the factors like religion, caste, occupation etc. For example, it meant that Muslim voters could elect Muslim representatives. The introduction of separate electorates sounded the death knell of national unity. It was the first definite step on the road to the partition of India.
By forcing people to vote only for people of their own religion, the British made sure that different communities would always compete against each other. This stopped Indians from seeing themselves as one big family and started the process of splitting the country.
Teacher's Tip: A 'death knell' is a sign that something is coming to an end; here it refers to the end of unity.
Exam Tip: Use the term 'Partition of India' to explain the long-term impact of this policy.

Question 8: Why did the Indian nationalists support the war effort of the British when the First World War broke out ?
Answer: Initially, there was an outburst of loyalty and the Indian nationalist leaders supported the British government with men and money. More than a million Indian soldiers were sent overseas to join the British army and a hundred million pounds were given to the British government. The British and their allies declared that they were fighting the war to make the world ‘safe for democracy’ and to promote the right of all nations to form self-governments. This led the Indian nationalists to believe that a grateful Britain would reward India’s loyalty and fulfill its demands for self-government.
Indian leaders hoped that by helping the British in their time of need, the British would trust Indians to rule themselves after the war ended. They were inspired by the British promises of democracy for all nations.
Teacher's Tip: Loyalty was offered with the hope of getting 'Swaraj' as a return gift.
Exam Tip: Mention that more than 'a million' soldiers went overseas to show the massive scale of Indian support.

Question 9: What was the main aim of the Home Rule Leagues ?
Answer: The main aim of the Leagues was to achieve self-government within the British empire after the war.
The Home Rule Leagues wanted India to have the same status as countries like Canada or Australia, which could govern their own internal affairs. They used peaceful propaganda to make people aware of this goal.
Teacher's Tip: 'Home Rule' literally means the right to rule your own home (country).
Exam Tip: Be sure to specify 'within the British empire' for the 1916 Home Rule goal.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: With reference to the early nationalists, discuss the following:
(a) Beliefs of the early nationalists
(b) Methods of the early nationalists
(c) Important contributions made by the early nationalists to the national movement?
Answer:
(a) The early nationalists believed that British rule had conferred several benefits on India. They felt that at that stage of history it was in their own interests to remain under the British since they were not yet ready to govern themselves. The early nationalists were convinced that the British could be persuaded to introduce necessary reforms and the government could be transformed to suit the interests of the Indian subjects.
(b) The early nationalists had great faith in the sense of justice and fair play of the British. So they adopted peaceful and constitutional methods. They presented their grievances to the government and waited patiently for the government to pass laws to remove those grievances. They believed that the government would gradually give into their demands. They promoted unity, spread political awareness among the people and built up a strong public opinion through meetings, lectures and the press. They also sent delegations to England to persuade the British government to introduce necessary reforms.
(c) Contribution of the early nationalists:
1. The early nationalists established a solid foundation which served as a base for a more radical approach in later years.
2. They spread political awareness among the people and instilled in them a sense of national unity. The people began to think of themselves as a members of one single nation the Indian nation. The path for a united national struggle was laid.
3. The Congress under the early nationalists trained the Indians in political affairs. They educated them in political matters and familiarized them with ideas of - freedom, government, democracy, secularism nationalism, etc. This knowledge and training in political affairs helped Indian nationalists to organize and raise the national movement to the next stage of development.
Even though they were later criticized for being too slow, these leaders were the ones who first started the national conversation about freedom. They built the organizations and the public awareness that all later leaders relied on.
Teacher's Tip: Think of these leaders as the 'Teachers' of Indian politics.
Exam Tip: Use bullet points for contributions to make them easy for the examiner to read.

Question 2: With reference to the rise of the assertive nationalists within the congress, discuss:
(a) The beliefs of the assertive nationalists
(b) The objectives of the assertive nationalists
(c) How the methods of the assertive nationalists differed from those of the early nationalists?
Answer:
(a) The assertive nationalists had no faith in the British sense of justice and fair play. They believed that the British rule in India was not a blessing but a curse. They were convinced that the British had no honest intentions of introducing reforms for the welfare of the Indians. They realized that the British interests were different and clashed with the Indian interests. India could never grow and progress under British rule.
(b) The goal of the assertive nationalists was not self government in ‘gradual’ stages but immediate freedom (Swaraj) from British rule.
(c) The early nationalists had great faith in the sense of justice and fair play of the British. So they adopted peaceful and constitutional methods. They presented their grievances to the government and waited patiently for the government to pass laws to remove those grievances. They believed that the government would gradually give in to their demands. They promoted unity, spread political awareness among the people and built up a strong public opinion through meetings, lectures and the press. But the assertive nationalists on the other hand, had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists. Twenty years of prayers, petitions, appeals and resolutions and representations hadfailed to yield any concrete results,
The assertive group felt that the British would only listen to action, not just words. They changed the freedom struggle from a polite discussion into a mass protest that demanded total and immediate self-rule.
Teacher's Tip: A blessing vs. a curse - this is the core difference in how they saw British rule.
Exam Tip: Use words like 'immediate' and 'direct action' when describing assertive methods.

Question 3: With reference to the Lucknow Session of the Congress of 1916, answer the following questions:
 

Question (a): What was the Lucknow Pact ?
Answer: The Lucknow Pact was an agreement signed by the Muslim League and the Congress to pave the way for a joint scheme of political reforms in India.
This was a historic moment because it brought together two major groups that had previously been working separately. By signing this pact, they showed they could cooperate for the sake of the country's freedom.
Teacher's Tip: Think of it as a 'Friendship Treaty' between the Congress and the League.
Exam Tip: Always mention that both organizations signed it together.

Question (b): What was the objective of the Lucknow Pact ?
Answer: Under the Lucknow Pact, the League jointly with the Congress put forward the demand for a Dominion Status for India. This was an important step towards Hindu-Muslim unity.
By asking for self-rule together, they made their voice much stronger and harder for the British to ignore. The pact aimed to show that all Indians, regardless of religion, wanted the same political rights.
Teacher's Tip: Dominion Status means internal self-rule while still being connected to Britain.
Exam Tip: Use the keyword 'Hindu-Muslim unity' as it is the most important objective of the pact.

Question (c): What were the results of Lucknow Pact ?
Answer: The unity between the Muslim League and the Congress, on the one hand and the early nationalists and the assertive nationalists, on the other, aroused great political enthusiasm and strengthened the national movement.
The pact temporarily ended the split in the Congress and the distance between the League and the Congress. This united front gave a huge boost to the morale of all Indians fighting for independence.
Teacher's Tip: Result = Unity + Enthusiasm.
Exam Tip: Mention that it also brought the Early and Assertive groups back together.

G Picture study:
 

This is the picture of a national leader
 

Question 1: Identify the person in the picture.
Answer: Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He was a brilliant lawyer who became a central leader in the movement and played a key role in signing the Lucknow Pact. Later, he became the leader of the demand for a separate Pakistan.
Teacher's Tip: He is often seen in a suit and tie in early historical photos.
Exam Tip: Provide the full name for complete credit.

Question 2: Which political organization did he join and when ?
Answer: Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined the Muslim League in 1913.
At this time, he was a member of both the Congress and the League and was working hard for unity between them. He believed that the two groups should work together to get better results from the British.
Teacher's Tip: He joined the League in 1913, just before the Lucknow Pact.
Exam Tip: Make sure to include the year '1913' in your answer.

Question 3: When and by whom was this organization founded ?
Answer: The Muslim League was established in December 1906, under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah Khan in Dacca (now known as Dhaka).
The organization was created to make sure the Muslim voice was heard as the British started making new rules for India. It quickly became the main political voice for the Muslim community.
Teacher's Tip: Found in 1906 in Dhaka - remember this pair!
Exam Tip: Mention 'December 1906' to show detailed knowledge.

Question 4: What were the objectives of this organization ?
Answer: The main objectives of the Muslim League were as follows:
1. To promote among the Muslims a feeling of loyalty towards the British government.
2. To protect and promote the political rights of the Muslims
3. To prevent feelings of hostility towards other communities.
These objectives were meant to help Muslims integrate into the new political system while keeping their identity safe. They wanted to ensure they weren't left behind by any new changes in government.
Teacher's Tip: Objectives include loyalty, protection of rights, and peace with others.
Exam Tip: Refer back to Answer F-4 (c) if you need a detailed explanation of Congress aims, but for League aims, use these specific points.