Class 8 Lesson 3 NCERT English Honeydew book Solutions

Class 8 Lesson 3 Glimpses of the Past NCERT English Honeydew book answers

Glimpses of the Past

Comprehension Check (Page 45)

Question 1: Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer? Who else do you see in this picture?

Answer:

The opening lines of the original song in Hindi are:

“Aye mere watan ke logon, tum khub laga lo naara

yeh shubh din hai ham sab ka, lehralo tiranga pyaara

par mat bhulo seema par, veeron ne hai praan ganvaaye

kuchh yaad unhe bhee kar lo – (2)

jo laut ke ghar naa aaye – (2)

This beautiful heart-touching track was sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Question 2: I picture 2, what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons”?

Answer: The “superior weapons” of the East India Company refer not only to their advanced arms and ammunition, like guns and cannons, but also to the British rulers’ strategic wit, strict enforcement of rules and regulations, and skilled diplomacy.

Question 3: Who is an artisan? Why do you think the suffered? (Picture 3)

Answer : An artisan is a skilled craft worker who creates decorative or functional items by hand. The artisans suffered under British rule due to heavy taxation, leading to financial losses on their products. Additionally, the British imported machine-made goods from England and sold them on a large scale, which devastated the market for handmade items crafted by artisans.

Question 4: Which picture according to you, reveals of the fire of revolt?

Answer: The Sparks (1855-57) reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.

working with the text (Page 45)

Answer the following questions.

Question 1: Do you think the Indian princess were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?

Answer: Yes, the Indian princes were short-sighted in their response to the events of 1757, as they failed to recognize the British rulers’ malicious intentions. The British gradually established themselves as de facto rulers, using a strategy of gaining the princes’ trust and assisting them in winning small battles against rival local princes, ultimately aiming to take control of the entire country.

Question 2: How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princess?

Answer: The East India Company expanded its business by importing machine-made goods from England and selling them widely. Meanwhile, the Indian princes were frequently in conflict with one another. As a result, they sought the assistance of English merchants to battle their rivals. These ongoing disputes disrupted the peace for ordinary people. These rivalries indirectly allowed the East India Company to overpower the Indian princes one by one, gradually gaining full control over the population.

Question 3: Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same participles.

Answer: Ram Mohan Roy said to his wife Uma, “Cows may be of different colors, but their milk is the same. Likewise, different teachers may have varying views, but the core essence of every religion remains the same.”

Question 4: In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?

Answer: The British exploited Indians in several ways. They imposed high taxes on the peasants, reduced the import duty on goods manufactured in England and imported those to India and cut the thumbs of expert artisans and ruined their business.

Question 5:

Name these people.

(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.

(ii) The person who wanted to reform society.

(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.

(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)

Answer:

1. Tipu Sultan of Mysore valiantly fought fierce battles against the British and sacrificed his life in combat.
2. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a scholar from Bengal, sought to bring about social reforms.
3. The Englishman Macaulay advocated for the introduction of English education in India.
4. Maulvi Ahmedulla of Faizabad and Peshwa Nana Saheb were two prominent leaders who led the revolt.

Question 6: Mention the following

(i)Two examples of social practices prevailing then.

(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.

(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.

(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.

1. Child marriage and untouchability.

2. Firstly, the British did not impose any import duty on goods manufactured in England and this
crippled the Indian cottage industries. Secondly, the British continued to oppress Indians in 1818 by
passing the Regulation III, under which an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.

3. The farmers were heavily taxed by the British, and the thumbs of the skilled artisans were cut to ruin
their business.

4. Given below are the four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence:

5. In Bengal, the Santhals lost their lands under new British land rules, and they became desperate
and rose in rebellion and massacred Europeans in 1855.

6. The Indian sepoys of the British army were discontent and angry as the white soldiers were getting
huge pay, and mansions to live in along with servants.

7. The Brahmin soldiers were furious when they came to know that the grease on the bullet that they
were biting was made from the fat of cows and pigs.

8. Many landlords were sore because they had lost their lands and estates due to the harsh British
policies.

Working with language (Page 46)

Question 1:

Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

(i) First man: We must educate into indirect speech.

Second man: And try to improve their material conditions.

Third man: For that, we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.

a) The first man said that

b) The second ,man added that

c) The third man suggested that

(ii) First soldier. The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions and servants.

Second soldier, We get a pittance and show promotions.

Third soldier Who are the British to abolish our customs?

a) The first soldier said

b) The second soldier remarked that

c) The third soldier asked

Answer:

(i)

(a) The first man said that they must educate their brothers.

(b) The second man added that they must try to improve their material conditions.

(c) The third man suggested that they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.

(ii)

(a) The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.

(b) The second soldier remarked that they got a pittance and slow promotions.

(c) The third soldier asked who the British were to abolish their customs.