Maharashtra Board Class 12 History Chapter 7 Decolonisation to Political Integration of India Exercise Solutions

1a. Choose The Correct Alternative And Rewrite The Statement.

Question 1. In 1946, under the leadership of the movement of ____________ ‘Civil Disobedience’ was launched in Goa.
(a) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
(b) Dr. T.B. Kunha
(c) Dr. P.P. Shirodkar
(d) Dr. Ram Hegde
Answer: (a) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
In simple words: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was a famous leader who encouraged the people of Goa to stand up against Portuguese rule through peaceful protest in 1946.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that although the British left India in 1947, the Portuguese and French stayed longer in their colonies, requiring further struggle.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the year 1946 and the name Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia together, as they are frequently asked in relation to the Goa Civil Disobedience movement.

Question 2. Hyderabad’s struggle of freedom was led skillfully by ____________
(a) King Hari Singh
(b) Swami Ramanand Tirth
(c) Pandit Mahadevshastri Joshi
(d) Keshavrao Jedhe
Answer: (b) Swami Ramanand Tirth
In simple words: Swami Ramanand Tirth was the main leader who united people from different regions to fight for Hyderabad's freedom from the Nizam's rule.

📝 Teacher's Note: Use the analogy of a bridge to explain how Swami Ramanand Tirth united the Marathi, Telugu, and Kannada speaking regions of the Hyderabad state.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing about the Hyderabad freedom struggle, Swami Ramanand Tirth is the most important personality to mention for full marks.

Question 3. The princely states in India were merged in India mainly through the efforts of ____________
(a) Jayantrao Tilak
(b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Dr. T.B. Kunha
Answer: (b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
In simple words: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is known as the "Iron Man of India" because he successfully convinced hundreds of small kingdoms to join together and form the single country of India.

📝 Teacher's Note: Discuss the concept of "unification" and why it was difficult to bring over 500 different princely states under one government.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use keywords like "Iron Man of India" and "unification of princely states" when discussing Sardar Patel's role.

1b. Find The Incorrect Pair From Group ‘B’ And Write The Corrected One.

Question 1.

Answer: The merger of the princely state of Kashmir - King Hari Singh (Instrument of Accession)
In simple words: While Shaikh Abdullah was a leader in Kashmir, it was King Hari Singh who officially signed the document to make Kashmir part of India.

📝 Teacher's Note: Clarify the difference between the political leaders of the people (like Shaikh Abdullah) and the official rulers (like King Hari Singh) who held the legal power to sign treaties.

🎯 Exam Tip: For "Incorrect Pair" questions, always write the full corrected pair clearly to ensure you get the mark.

2. Write The Names Of Historical Places/Persons/Events.

Question 1. The President of Goa Congress Committee -
Answer: Dr. T.B. Kunha
In simple words: Dr. T.B. Kunha was the first leader to organize a political committee in Goa to fight for its independence from the Portuguese.

📝 Teacher's Note: Mention that Dr. T.B. Kunha is often called the "Father of Goan Nationalism."

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the spelling of "Kunha" as it is a specific Goan/Portuguese surname.

Question 2. The princely states that did not merge in India immediately after its independence -
Answer: Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Dadra and Haveli, Goa and Puducherry
In simple words: When India became free in 1947, these specific regions stayed separate for a few years because their rulers or foreign colonizers didn't want to join India right away.

📝 Teacher's Note: Help students distinguish between princely states (ruled by Indian kings) and colonial enclaves (ruled by the French or Portuguese).

🎯 Exam Tip: List at least three of these places to provide a comprehensive answer.

3. Observe The Map On Textbook Page 61 And Answer The Questions Based On It.

Question 1. Name the countries located at the northwest border of India.
Answer: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In simple words: These are the two neighboring countries situated on the upper-left side of India's map.

📝 Teacher's Note: Use a physical map in class to show the shared boundaries and mountain passes in the northwest.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always mention both countries to get full marks for the "northwest" region.

Question 2. Which places in India were the centers of Portuguese rule?
Answer: Goa, Dadra and Nagar haveli, Diu and Daman.
In simple words: These coastal towns and territories remained under Portuguese control long after the British left the rest of India.

📝 Teacher's Note: Show these locations on a map to explain why they were strategically important for sea trade.

🎯 Exam Tip: Group these as "Daman, Diu, and Goa" as they are the primary former Portuguese territories.

Question 3. Which place on the eastern coast of India were the centers of French rule?
Answer: Puducherry, Yanam and Karaikal.
In simple words: These are the specific towns on the right side of India's coast that were governed by the French.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that French colonies were smaller and more scattered than British or Portuguese ones.

🎯 Exam Tip: Do not confuse eastern coast French centers with western coast ones like Mahe.

Question 4. Which nation is located at the southern tip of India?
Answer: Sri Lanka
In simple words: This is the island country located just below the southernmost point of the Indian mainland.

📝 Teacher's Note: Point out the Palk Strait which separates India and Sri Lanka.

🎯 Exam Tip: This is a simple geography question; ensure you spell "Sri Lanka" correctly.

5. Explain The Following Statements With Reasons.

Question 1. Ultimately the princely state of Hyderabad was merged in India.
Answer:

• Hyderabad was under Nizam rule, it was the largest amongst princely states along with Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi regional sections.
• The various organisation was formed to fight against Nizam’s policies for his people.
• Swami Ramanand Tirth alongside loyal workers were leading this organisation to gain freedom from the Nizam.
• Hyderabad State Congress passed a resolution that Hyderabad will merge in India and this was not liked by Nizam, he was willing to join Pakistan.
• The people of Hyderabad wanted to merge in India.
• Kasim Razvi formed a ‘Razakar’ organisation against people.
• In the end, the Indian Government launched a police campaign against Nizam, under the name ‘Operation Polo’.
• In 1948 Nizam surrendered and Hyderabad merged in India.

In simple words: The ruler of Hyderabad didn't want to join India, but the people protested, and eventually, the Indian government sent the police (Operation Polo) to make it part of the country in 1948.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain the term "Police Action" and why it was used instead of a full-scale military war.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mentioning "Operation Polo" and the year "1948" is crucial for scoring high marks in this answer.

Question 2. Puducherry was declared as a Union territory.
Answer:

• Puducherry was under the French colony. India was under the impression that the British and Portuguese will send a message to the French to leave India, however, this did not happen.
• Puducherry, Mahe, Yanam, and Chandranagar in West Bengal were under French control.
• The people of Puducherry got united under Subbayya, a communist politician and leader.
• The government noticed it as serious and strongly demanded that French governments should return all the regions held by them.
• In 1948, a bilateral agreement was signed by both governments. In 1949, Chandranagar was merged.
• In 1954, all French colonies were merged in India. In 1962, the French Parliament approved the bilateral agreement and in 1963, Puducherry became the ‘Union Territory’ of India.

In simple words: After the French agreed to leave their Indian colonies, Puducherry and nearby areas were brought together and officially named a Union Territory in 1963.

📝 Teacher's Note: Explain that unlike some other regions, the transfer of French territories was mostly handled through diplomatic talks and agreements.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the timeline: transition in 1954, final approval in 1962, and Union Territory status in 1963.

6. State Your Opinion.

Question 1. Andhra, Karnataka, Maharashtra Councils (Parishad) were found in the princely state of Hyderabad.
Answer:

• Hyderabad was the largest amongst princely states in India. It comprised Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi regional sections. It was ruled by Nizam.
• Nizam of Hyderabad had put many restrictions on the Civil and Political rights of his subjects to a great extent.
• To fight against such restrictions in the state, people had formed organizations like ‘Andhra Parishad’ in Telangana, ‘Maharashtra Parishad’ in Marathwada, and ‘Karnataka Parishad’ in Karnataka.

In simple words: Since Hyderabad was huge and had people speaking different languages, they formed these groups to fight for their rights against the strict rules of the Nizam.

📝 Teacher's Note: Discuss how language can be a unifying force for political movements within a diverse state.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify which linguistic group belonged to which 'Parishad' (e.g., Maharashtra Parishad - Marathwada).

Question 2. The Portuguese rule in Goa remained untouched till 1961.
Answer:

• Goa was under Portuguese control. There prevailed a general notion among Indians that the departure of the British from India would send a signal to the Portuguese and the French to leave India on their own.
• However, this did not happen and many freedom fighters like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Dr. Kunha, and many more have contributed to the struggle against the Portuguese.
• At last, the Indian govt has sent the army, under Operation Vijay, to make Goa free from Portuguese control and became a part of India on 19th December 1961.

In simple words: Even after the British left, the Portuguese refused to leave Goa. It took a long struggle and finally the Indian Army (Operation Vijay) to free Goa in 1961.

📝 Teacher's Note: Point out that Goa's independence came 14 years after India's independence, showing how stubborn colonial powers could be.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Operation Vijay" and "19th December 1961" are the most important facts for this answer.

Class 12 History Chapter 7 Decolonisation To Political Integration Of India Intext Questions And Answers

Try To Do This (Textbook Page No. 58)

Question. Try to collect information about the newspapers published during ‘Hyderabad Freedom Struggle’ with the help of the internet.
Answer: Students should do it on their own.
In simple words: You need to look online to find the names of the old newspapers that people used to read while they were fighting for Hyderabad's freedom.

📝 Teacher's Note: Suggest students look for papers like 'Imroze' or the role of the press in the State Congress movement.

🎯 Exam Tip: This is an activity question, but knowing names like 'Imroze' can help you add extra detail to regular answers.

Try To Do This (Textbook Page No. 60)

Question. Collect information about the fort of Panaji and make a poster about the fort.
Answer: Students should do it on their own.
In simple words: Find some facts and pictures of the old fort in Panaji (Goa) and create a creative poster using that information.

📝 Teacher's Note: Discuss the Portuguese architecture of the Adil Shah palace/fort in Panaji and its historical significance.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the visual history of the fort for your poster project.

Project (Textbook Page No. 62)

Question. Collect information about the ‘Gorta Massacre’ a very important instance in the struggle for liberating Hyderabad. To get more information about it visit the following website: www.bhausahebumate.com
Answer:
(i) As we know Qasim Razvi, had founded the Razakar organisation (Nizam’s private military) to help Nizam to suppress the voice of people against Nizam of Hyderabad. Gorta was the name of a village (Karnataka) and people were massacred by Razakars of Hyderabad in 1948. Gorta Village is also known as Jaliyanwala Bag of Karanataka, it was a mass killing on May 9th and 10th 1948. Though a plaque kept in front of the village gives fight date May 5th, and it continued for two weeks. It is said that around 200 people were killed by Razakars and property destruction was worth Rs. 70 lakhs.
(ii) A folk song called ‘Bhulai pada’ sung by village women in bitter memory of the massacre. There is demand from village people in front of the Government for the construction of the memorial at Gorta. Local people and local political parties had collected Rs. 27 lakh for a 35-foot memorial and laid the foundation on September 17th, 2014.
In simple words: The Gorta Massacre was a terrible event where many innocent villagers were killed by the Nizam's private army. It is remembered today through local songs and a special memorial being built by the people.

📝 Teacher's Note: Compare this to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to help students understand the gravity and tragedy of the event.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the comparison to "Jaliyanwala Bag of Karanataka" as it is a powerful descriptive term often used in exams.