NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Elective Book: Kaleidoscope Non-Fiction Chapter 5 - The Argumentative Indian

The NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 5 – The Argumentative Indian are given here for students to study and excel in the board examination. For a better understanding of the concepts, the expert faculty team at BYJU’S have answered the questions in a precise manner for students to understand the concepts at ease. Students can refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English, which is the best reference guide any student can rely on to achieve their goals. Expert tutors have prepared the solutions with utmost care in a unique and simple method where any student can grasp the topics clearly.

Chapter 5 – The Argumentative Indian provides solutions to questions related to each and every topic present in this chapter. The NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English are readily available in PDF format, which can be downloaded by the students easily from the links provided below, and they can start practising offline to score good marks in their board exams.

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Elective Book: Kaleidoscope Non-Fiction Chapter 5 – The Argumentative Indian

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Understanding the Text

1. What is Sen’s interpretation of the positions taken by Krishna and Arjuna in the debate between them? [Note: Sen’s comment: “Arjuna’s contrary arguments are not really vanquished… There remains a powerful case for ‘faring well’ and not just ‘faring forward’.”]

Answer. Sen believes that no matter what the message of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna’s position that ‘everything goes well’ should not be ignored entirely. Krishna believes in the concept of moving forward, regardless of the consequences. Sen said that Arjuna made a more practical choice than ‘faring well’. In the modern world, there exists a world full of war and violence. He cited J.R. Oppenheimer (a physicist from the American group that developed nuclear weapons) as an example to support his argument.

Sen believes that Krishna’s ‘faring forward’ during this period of violence should not be considered because it will lead to negative consequences; on the contrary, today’s best solution is to take appropriate action and evaluate the situation. Therefore, Sen supports Arjuna’s decision of ‘faring well’ and not ‘just forward’.

2. What are the three major issues Sen discusses here in relation to India’s dialogic tradition?

Answer. Sen majorly discusses the issues related to caste, gender and voice and breaks these barriers under India’s argumentative tradition. He also declares that these barriers have previously been removed many times before, as early as the 8th century BC.

3. Sen has sought here to dispel some misconceptions about democracy in India. What are these misconceptions?

Answer. The two biggest misunderstandings about democracy in India that Amartya Sen tried to dispel are

1) The assumption that the western world endowed India with the practice of democracy and simply took over democracy after its independence.

2) That India is particularly suitable for democracy because of its history.

4. How, according to Sen, has the tradition of public discussion and interactive reasoning helped the success of democracy in India?

Answer. Sen believes that public discussion and interactive thinking help shape India’s social world and culture. He said that India’s political traditions have deeply influenced Indian politics and made differences in the natural state of India. Controversy is an integral part of Indian public life. Common opinions are an indispensable part of democracy, and the tradition of public debate and interactive discourse help increase the success rate of democracy in India.

Talking about the Text

1. Does Amartya Sen see argumentation as a positive or a negative value?

Answer.

Sen treats argumentation as a positive value. Argumentation sparked dissent and shaped Indian politics to a large extent. He even claimed that argumentation was an important contribution to the development of democracy in India. Argumentation supports the opinions of ordinary people, which helps maintain democracy in our country. Therefore, Sen believes that argumentation is extremely important for the normal operation of democracy.

2. How is the message of the Gita generally understood and portrayed? What change in interpretation does Sen suggest?

Answer. ‘Bhagavad Gita’ is described as Krishna’s one-sided wisdom, despite the disastrous consequences; however, Sen believes that Arjuna’s consistent and more sensible analysis of ‘faring well’ should also be placed in the context of today’s violent world. Looking back, Sen suggests that the interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita needs to supplement Mahabharata’s broader argumentation wisdom.

Appreciation

This essay is an example of argumentative writing. Supporting statements with evidence is a feature of this kind of writing. For each of the statements given below, state the supportive evidence provided in the essay.

(i) Prolixity is not alien to India.

(ii) The arguments are also, often enough, substantive.

(iii) This admiration for the Gita, and Krishna’s arguments, in particular, has been a lasting phenomenon in parts of European culture.

(iv) There remains a powerful case for ‘faring well’ and not just ‘forward’.

Answer.

The supportive evidence provided in the essay is as follows:

(i) ‘Krishna Menon’s record of the longest speech ever delivered at the United Nations (nine hours non-stop)’.

(ii) ‘The famous Bhagavad Gita, which is one small section of the Mahabharata, presents a struggle between contrary moral positions’.

(iii) ‘It was spectacularly praised in the early nineteenth century by Wilhelm von Humboldt as ‘the most beautiful, perhaps the only true philosophical song existing in any known tongue.’ In a poem in Four Quartets, Eliot summarises Krishna’s view in the form of an admonishment: ‘And do not think of the fruit of action! Fare forward.’ Eliot explains: ‘Not faring well/But faring forward, voyagers.’

(iv) ‘As we reflect on the manifest problems of our global world (from terrorism, wars, and violence to epidemics, insecurity, and gruelling poverty), or on India’s special concerns (such as economic development, nuclear confrontation or regional peace), it is important to take on board Arjuna’s consequential analysis, in addition to considering Krishna’s arguments for doing one’s duty.’

TASK

Examine the noun phrases in these sentences from the text.

• The second woman head of the Indian National Congress, Nellie Sengupta, was elected in 1933.

• This concerns the relation—and the distance—between income and achievement.

• This may be particularly significant in understanding the class basis of the rapid spread of Buddhism, in particular, in India.

Answer.

• In the given sentence, ‘the second woman head’ is the main noun, whereas ‘the Indian National Congress’ further specifies it and additional details such as the name and the year complete the phrase.

• In the given sentence, ‘income and achievement’ is the main noun which is preceded by a relative clause.

• In the given sentence, ‘Buddhism’ is the main noun, preceded by an explanatory clause.

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 5 – The Argumentative Indian

The Chapter “The Argumentative Indian” is a collection of essays by Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen. The first prose, “The Argumentative Indian”, analyses “Argumentative Indian history.” This article conducts an extensive study of modern India (2005) and traces it back to traditional Indian history. The author, Amartya Sen, believes that, in essence, Indians have long been known for their language skills. In support of his claim, he mentions Krishna Menon’s 9-hour speech at the United Nations. He also alludes to Ramayana and Mahabharata to emphasise the importance of discussions and debates that help promote the spirit of democracy. To learn more about the chapter, students can visit BYJU’S website and download the solution module of this chapter for free from the links provided. NCERT Class 12 English is the best study material, which is provided in accordance with the latest CBSE syllabus. Students can use this to prepare for their board exams to excel in their examinations.

Frequently Asked Questions on NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Elective Book: Kaleidoscope Non-Fiction Chapter 5

Q1

Is it necessary to learn all the questions provided in NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Non-Fiction Chapter 5?

Yes, you must learn all the questions provided in NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Non-Fiction Chapter 5. This is because these questions may appear in board exams as well as in class tests. By learning these questions, students will be ready for their upcoming exams. If your aim is to score good marks in this subject, you should answer different types of tricky questions as well. Subject experts have designed the solutions in an easily understandable manner for students to grasp the concepts at ease. Students can quickly refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English at BYJU’S website and download the solutions module for free from the links given.

Q2

What are the three major issues Sen discusses here in relation to India’s dialogic tradition in Chapter 5 of NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Non-Fiction?

Sen majorly discusses caste, gender and voice issues and breaks barriers under India’s argumentative tradition. He also declares that these barriers have previously been removed many times before, as early as the 8th century BC. The solutions are useful resources which can provide students with all the vital information in the most precise form. Students can download them for free and refer to the solutions offline as well.

Q3

How, according to Sen, has the tradition of public discussion and interactive reasoning helped the success of democracy in India in Chapter 5 of NCERT Solutions of Class 12 English Non-Fiction?

Sen believes that public discussion and interactive thinking help shape India’s social world and culture. He said that India’s political traditions have deeply influenced Indian politics and made differences a natural state of India. Dissension is an integral part of Indian public life. Common opinions are an indispensable part of democracy, and the tradition of public debate and interactive discourse help increase the success rate of democracy in India. The solutions are framed in a detailed and accurate manner to help students obtain in-depth knowledge about the chapters. Studying these solutions will ensure that they can easily excel in their final exams.

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