MSBSHSE Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 11: Struggle for Equality Textbook Questions and Solutions

MSBSHSE Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 11 solutions are considered as the best study material for exam preparation. These solutions will help students to understand the concepts easily. Each and every question provided in the chapter is explained elaborately by our subject matter experts. Using these MSBSHSE Class 8 solutions of Chapter 11, students can practice a wide variety of questions from the chapter. Below we have provided all the solutions of the questions mentioned in Chapter 11: Struggle for Equality.

MSBSHSE Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 11 Objective Questions: Textbook Important Questions and Solutions

MSBSHSE Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 11 Textbook Exercise Questions

Q1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.

(Lala Lajpat Rai, Sane Guruji, Rakhmabai Janardan Save)

(1) ……………. founded the Red Cross Society at Rajkot.

(2) ……………. was the President of mill workers union at Ammalner.

(3) The President of the first session of AITUC was ……………. .

Answer 1: Rakhmabai Janardan Save founded the Red Cross Society at Rajkot.

Answer 2: Sane Guruji was the President of mill workers union at Ammalner.

Answer 3: The President of the first session of AITUC was Lala Lajpat Rai.

Q2. Write short notes.

(1) Social work of Vitthal Ramji Shinde

(2) Reforms of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj in the state of Kolhapur.

Answer 1: In 1906, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde started the ‘Depressed Classes Mission’ for the progress of the Dalits. The important part of their work was to make the Dalits self respectful, well educated and engaged in work, while the second part of their work was to destroy the delusive ideas regarding dalits in the minds of the upper castes. For this purpose he founded marathi schools, work schools in parts of Parel, Deonar in Mumbai. He actively took part for the benefit of Dalit class regarding satyagraha for entry in Parvati temple at Pune, Shetkari Parishad of Dalits, federal electorate etc.

Answer 2: Rajarshi Shahu gave support to the leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. During his period, he led the Non Brahmin movement. Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj made Revolutionary declaration for reservation in the state of Kolhapur. He made a law for free and compulsory primary education. He did substantial work for abolition of caste distinction. There were three restrictions put up in the caste system – inter dining, inter marriage and change of occupation. In this regards, during meetings and conferences Shahu Maharaj ate food from the hands of Dalit people and overthrew the restriction on inter dining. Shahu Maharaj believed that till the restrictions on inter marriage are followed till then the caste distinction will not be uprooted. He passed the Act of inter caste marriage and gave it a legal acceptance in his State. On 22 February 1918, he abolished the ‘Balutedari System’ by publishing a declaration in the Government Gazette of the state of Kolhapur. Permission was granted to practice any occupation by anyone. By giving freedom of occupation, by Shahu Maharaj, the people were freed from a type of social slavery.

Q3. Explain the following statements with reasons.

(1) The Government decided to crush down the communist movement.

(2) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar started newspapers like ‘Muknayak’ Bahishkrut Bharat etc.

(3) There aroused a need of nationwide workers union.

Answer 1: In 1925, the Communist Party was formed in India. The work of building militant organisations of workers and peasants was done by the young Communists. The British Government started feeling the danger of communist movement. Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Keshav Neelkanth Joglekar etc. were arrested. They were charged with planning a conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. They were given different punishments. The trial took place at Meerut and is therefore known as the ‘Meerut Conspiracy Case’. Even after the Meerut trial, the influence of Communist workers movement remained constant.

Answer 2: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar aimed at establishing a society based on principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. He was convinced that the injustice to the Dalits and inequality would not end unless the caste system was completely uprooted. Newspapers were an integral part of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s movement. To create awakening in the society and to voice out their grief, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar started newspapers like ‘Muknayak’, ‘Bahishkrut Bharat’, ‘Janata’, ‘Samata’ etc.

Answer 3: In the latter half of the 19th century, textile mills, railway companies and such industries were started in India. The workers group had not aroused on large scale but in this period efforts were made to solve the problems of the workers. Sashipada Banerjee and Narayan Meghaji Lokhande organised the workers at local level. Lokhande’s contribution to the working class movement was so valuable that he is described as the ‘Father of Indian Workers Movement’.

At the same time an agitation was launched against the wretched condition of the tea plantation workers in Assam. In 1899, the Great Indian Peninsular (GIP) Railway workers called for a strike for their demands. During the anti partition movement, workers carried out strikes from time to time in support of Swadeshi. After the First World War, due to industrialisation, there was a rise of worker class in India, and then a necessity for nationwide worker union was felt. In 1920, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was established. N.M.Joshi had a major role in the working of AITUC. Lala Lajpat Rai was the President of the first session of AITUC. He told the workers to actively participate in the national movement.

In 1928, the Mumbai Mill Workers Union went on strike for six months. Many such strikes were made by the Railway workers, jute mill workers, etc. The government was disturbed to see the growing strength of the workers movement. To suppress this movement, legislation was made. The workers’ struggle proved to be supportive to the national movement.

Q4. Answer the following questions in brief.

(1) Why was the struggle for equality important in the making of Modern India ?

(2) Write about the work of Sane Guruji in eastern Khandesh.

(3) How was the struggle built up by workers decisive for the national movement?

(4) Discuss the nature of the reform movement related to women.

Answer 1: In the progress of Modern India, struggle for political freedom was important. This struggle was based on the broad philosophy of man’s emancipation. Therefore in the course of this struggle along with political dependence there was opposition to things like feudalism, social inequality, economic exploitation. Like freedom the principle of equality is very important. From that point of view the contribution of movements built up by various social groups such as farmers, workers, women, dalits etc as well as the stream of socialism giving importance to equality, proves to be significant. The struggle for equality has a prominent position in the making of Modern India.

Answer 2: In 1938, the crops in eastern Khandesh were destroyed due to heavy rains. The condition of the farmers was miserable. In order to get the land revenue waived, Sane Guruji organised meetings and processions at many places. He took out marches on the Collector office. The peasants participated in large numbers in the revolutionary period of 1942. These are the works of Sane Guruji in eastern Khandesh.

Answer 3: In the latter half of the 19th century, India witnessed the growth of industrialization. In India, textile mills, railway companies and such industries were started and the demand of workers rose. But, with the rise of employment, workers were exploited. The exploitation continued and an agitation was launched against the wretched condition of the tea plantation workers in Assam. In 1899, the Great Indian Peninsular (GIP) Railway workers called for a strike for their demands. During the anti partition movement workers carried out strikes from time to time in support of Swadeshi. In 1920, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was established. N.M.Joshi had a major role in the working of AITUC. Lala Lajpat Rai was the President of the first session of AITUC. He told the workers to actively participate in the national movement.

In 1928, the Mumbai Mill Workers Union went on strike for six months. Many such strikes were made by the Railway workers, jute mill workers etc. The government was disturbed to see the growing strength of the workers movement. To suppress this movement legislations were made. The workers’ struggle proved to be supportive to the national movement.

Answer 4: In the Indian social system, women were given secondary position. Due to many evil practices, they were subjected to injustice.Some of the male reformers took initiative in the reform movement related to women, while in the course of time women leaders started coming forward. Pandita Ramabai established the ‘Arya Mahila Samaj’ and ‘Sharda Sadan’, similarly ‘Seva Sadan’ was founded by Ramabai Ranade. ‘Bharat Mahila Parishad’ (1904) and ‘All India Women’s Conference’ (1927) were founded as well. For the issues such as right to inheritance, right to vote etc. women had to struggle through the medium of these organisations. Rakhmabai Janardan Save was the first practicing woman doctor in India. She delivered a series of lectures related to health issues of women. She also opened a branch of Red Cross Society at Rajkot.

During the 20th century, participation of women in public life began to increase. Women’s participation in the national movement and revolutionary work was significant. After the Act of 1935, women were included in the Provincial Ministries as well. After independence, the principle of equality of men and women has been clearly stated in the constitution of India. This is how women are related to reform movement.