What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
Jawahar Lai Nehru presented the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly on 13 December, 1946 . It gave a brief account of the ideals and objectives of the Constitution. These are following:
•India was declared an independent sovereign republic .
•Justice, equality and fraternity were assured to all the citizens of India.
•Adequate safeguards were provided to minorities. It also referred to the well-being of the backward and depressed classes.
•It was made an objective that India would combine the liberal ideas of democracy with the socialist idea of economic justice.
•India would adopt that form of government which would be acceptable to its people. No imposition from the British would be acceptable by the people of India.
•India would work for peace and human welfare
What historical forces shaped the vision of the Constitution?
What were the arguments in favour of greater power to the provinces?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?
Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?
Discuss the different arguments made in favour of protection of the oppressed groups.
What connection did some of the members of the Constituent Assembly make between the political situation of the time and the need for a strong Centre?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
Why are newspapers an important source for the study of the national movement?
Find out about the route of the Dandi March. On a map of Gujarat plot the line of the march and mark the major towns and villages that it passed along the route.Find out about the route of the Dandi March. On a map of Gujarat plot the line of the march and mark the major towns and villages that it passed along the route.
How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
How were urban centres transformed during the eighteenth century?
In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
On an outline map of India, trace the major rivers and hill ranges. Plot ten cities mentionedin the chapter, including Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, and prepare a brief note on why the importance of any two cities that you have marked (one colonial and one pre-colonial) changed in the nineteenth century.
What steps did the British take to quell the uprising?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
On an outline map of the subcontinent, mark out the areas described in this chapter. Find out whether there were other areas where the Permanent Settlement and the ryotwari system were prevalent and plot these on the map as well.
What do visual representations tell us about the revolt of 1857? How do historians analyse these representations?