Lesson-3 Glimpses of the Past

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Glimpses of the Past – Summary

Summary of “Glimpses of the Past”

This chapter uses a comic-strip format to depict the causes and events that led to the First War of Independence in 1857. It highlights the political, social, and economic conditions in India from 1757 to 1857.

Key Points:

  1. British Conquests (1757-1849): The British East India Company used superior weapons and exploited the rivalries between short-sighted Indian princes to expand their power.
  2. Impact of British Rule (1765-1836): British policies like heavy taxes led to widespread poverty and famines. Their laws crippled Indian industries, and they held Indians in contempt.
  3. Social Evils & Reformers: Indian society was plagued by superstitions and social evils. Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy urged Indians to regain self-respect, reform society, and embrace modern scientific knowledge.
  4. Growing Discontent (1835-1856): The introduction of English education created a new class of intellectuals aware of their rights. The British annexation of states and disrespect for Indian religious sentiments (like the grease on cartridges made from cow and pig fat) angered the people and the sepoys.
  5. The Revolt of 1857: The discontent erupted into a massive rebellion. Sepoys, peasants, former rulers like Begum Hazrat Mahal and Nana Saheb, and leaders like Maulvi Ahmedulla and Mangal Pandey rose against the British. The revolt spread across North India, with people fighting pitched battles to drive out the foreign rule.

हिंदी अनुवाद (Hindi Translation)

“अतीत की एक झलक” का सारांश

यह अध्याय 1857 में हुए प्रथम स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के कारणों और घटनाओं को चित्र-श्रृंखला (कॉमिक स्ट्रिप) के माध्यम से दर्शाता है। यह 1757 से 1857 तक भारत की राजनीतिक, सामाजिक और आर्थिक स्थितियों पर प्रकाश डालता है।

मुख्य बिंदु:

  1. ब्रिटिश विजय (1757-1849): ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी ने बेहतर हथियारों का इस्तेमाल किया और दूरदर्शिता से हीन भारतीय राजाओं के बीच की प्रतिद्वंद्विता का फायदा उठाकर अपनी शक्ति का विस्तार किया।
  2. ब्रिटिश शासन का प्रभाव (1765-1836): भारी करों जैसी ब्रिटिश नीतियों के कारण व्यापक गरीबी और अकाल पड़े। उनके कानूनों ने भारतीय उद्योगों को नष्ट कर दिया, और वे भारतीयों को तुच्छ समझते थे।
  3. सामाजिक कुरीतियाँ और सुधारक: भारतीय समाज अंधविश्वास और सामाजिक बुराइयों से ग्रस्त था। राजा राम मोहन राय जैसे सुधारकों ने भारतीयों से आत्म-सम्मान वापस पाने, समाज में सुधार लाने और आधुनिक वैज्ञानिक ज्ञान को अपनाने का आग्रह किया।
  4. बढ़ता असंतोष (1835-1856): अंग्रेजी शिक्षा के परिचय से बुद्धिजीवियों का एक नया वर्ग बना जो अपने अधिकारों के प्रति जागरूक था। ब्रिटिशों द्वारा राज्यों का हड़पना और भारतीय धार्मिक भावनाओं के प्रति अनादर (जैसे गाय और सूअर की चर्बी से बने कारतूस) ने लोगों और सिपाहियों को क्रोधित कर दिया।
  5. 1857 का विद्रोह: यह असंतोष एक बड़े विद्रोह में फूट पड़ा। सिपाहियों, किसानों, पूर्व शासकों जैसे बेगम हज़रत महल और नाना साहेब,以及 और मौलवी अहमदुल्ला及 मंगल पांडे जैसे नेताओं ने अंग्रेजों के खिलाफ बगावत की। यह विद्रोह उत्तरी भारत में फैल गया, जहाँ लोगों ने विदेशी शासन को खदेड़ने के लिए जमकर लड़ाई लड़ी।

Comprehension Check (Page 10)

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 are “ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगो…” (Ae mere watan ke logo). The singer is Lata Mangeshkar. In the picture we also see Jawaharlal Nehru and many sad people listening.

2. In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons”?

  • Answer: It means the British had better guns and cannons than Indian rulers.

3. Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)

  • Answer: An artisan is a skilled worker like a weaver, potter, or carpenter. They suffered because British goods were cheap and machine-made, so people stopped buying handmade Indian goods.

4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?

  • Answer: Picture 7 (“The Sparks”) shows the first sparks of the revolt. It shows angry sepoys and Santhal people after the greased cartridges issue.

Working with the Text (Page 10-11)

1. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?

  • Answer: Yes. They kept fighting each other for small power and called the British for help. This gave the British a chance to defeat all of them one by one.

2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?

  • Answer:
    1. They had better weapons.
    2. They used “Divide and Rule” – supported one prince against another.
    3. Later, they controlled all the princes easily.

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

  • Answer: He said, “Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. Different teachers have different opinions but the essence of every religion is the same.”

4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?

  • Answer:
    • They forced farmers to pay heavy taxes.
    • They took away lands.
    • They jailed people without trial.
    • They earned huge money while Indians became poor.

5. Name these people.

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

  • Answer: Tipu Sultan.

(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society.

  • Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

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

  • Answer: Lord Macaulay.

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

  • Answer: Nana Saheb and Maulvi Ahmedulla.

6. Mention the following.

(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.

  • Answer: Untouchability and child marriage.

(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.

  • Answer:
  1. Heavy taxes on farmers.
  2. Law to jail Indians without trial (Regulation III).

(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.

  • Answer:
  1. Famines killed many.
  2. Farmers and weavers lost their land and jobs.

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

  • Answer:
  1. Greased cartridges hurt religious feelings.
  2. Indian industries destroyed by British laws.
  3. Kings and landlords lost their power and lands.
  4. Indian sepoys got low pay and bad treatment.

Working with Language (Page 11)

1. Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

(i)

  • The first man said that they must educate their brothers.
  • The second man added that they must improve their material conditions.
  • The third man suggested that they must tell their problems to the British Parliament.

(ii)

  • The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.
  • The second soldier remarked that they got very little pay and slow promotions.
  • The third soldier asked who the British were to end their customs.

Speaking and Writing (Page 11-12)

1. Playact the role of farmers who have grievances against the policies of the government. Rewrite their ‘speech bubbles’ in dialogue form first.

  • Answer (Sample Dialogue):
    • Farmer 1: “The tax collector took my whole crop. Now my family has nothing to eat!”
    • Farmer 2: “Same here. I can’t sell anything in the market.”
    • Farmer 1: “He still says we must pay more, or we will go to jail!”
    • Farmer 2: “This is unfair. We work all day but get nothing.”

2. (i) Ask one another questions about the pictures.

  • Q: Where is the fox? A: At the bottom of a well.
  • Q: Who comes to the well? A: A goat.
  • Q: What does the goat think? A: That the water is sweet.

(ii) Write the story in your own words. Give it a title.

  • Title: The Fox and the Goat.
  • Story: A fox fell into a well. A goat came to drink water. The fox said the water was very sweet and asked the goat to jump in. The goat jumped and got stuck. The fox climbed on the goat’s back and came out. The goat remained trapped. Moral: Think before you act.

3. Based on the news item (“History becomes fun at this school”), write a paragraph on what you think about this new method of teaching history.

  • Answer: This new method is very good. Comics make history fun and easy. Students understand better when they read pictures and dialogues. It is not boring like only reading from a textbook.

4. Find the chapters in your history book…

  • Answer: Look for chapters like: “British Expansion in India,” “Social Reformers,” and “The Revolt of 1857.”

5. Create a comic of your own using this story.

  • Answer (Plan for Comic):
    • Panel 1: The Sun and Wind argue, “I am stronger!” “No, I am!”
    • Panel 2: They see a man with a cloak.
    • Panel 3: The Wind blows hard, but the man holds his cloak tightly.
    • Panel 4: The Sun shines bright, the man feels hot, and removes his cloak.
    • Panel 5: The Sun says, “Kindness is stronger than force.”

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