OUR PAST-III

PEOPLE AND SOCIETY

THE MODERN PERIOD
CLASS VIII
 information

Gandhi Smriti

1885

colonial power.

Morley-Minto
1. - c, 2. - e, 3. - d, 4.- b, 5 - a
Answer the following questions:
1. What type of information do we get from the official records?
Ans:- The official records include information of tribes, castes and land revenue
settlements. They tell us about the condition of the people as well as administration
of that time.
_______________________________________________________________
2. How do letters, writings and speeches provide information? Give
examples.
Ans:- They provide information about the developments that take place during a
particular period. For example, the collection of writings of Gandhiji at the Gandhi
Smriti near Rajghat.
_______________________________________________________________
3. Mention any five major events related to the freedom struggle of India.
Ans:- The Revolt of 1857, Partition of Bengal, Formation of Muslim League, Home
Rule League, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Establishment of Indian National
Congress in 1885 and Series of reforms.
4. Explain any five major sources of information about modern Indian History.
Ans.1.British Documents – The British ruled over India for almost 200 years. The records of
reforms like Minto Reforms (1909), Report of the Simon Commission (1929), the Government of
India Act (1935) etc., are important source if information of that time. They tell us about the condition
of the people as well as administration of that time.
2. Books - They are an important source of information of the modern period .The poetry, prose,
drama, stories, Autobiographies, biographies written in this duration give us an insight into the
condition of that time. Most of the books like Anandmath by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, My
Experiments With Truth by Mahatma Gandhi, Unhappy Indian by Lala Lajpat Rai., etc. are
available now and have been reprinted from time to time.
3.Newspapers - The London Times, Bombay Times and the Vernacular papers like Bal
Gangadhar Tilak’s Kesari in Marathi, Amrita Bazar Patrika in Bengali are important sources of the
history of modern period.
4.Administrative reports of the Government: The basic objective behind the surveys and reports
of the British government was to learn about India before it could be administrated effectively. For
example, report on survey & settlement operations in the District of Champaran(1913-19) in
Bihar.
5.Internet or Databases: Internet or databases like Digital South Asia Library & the British
Library’s oriental & Indian Office Collections provide us a lot of information.
6. Enumerate the steps taken by the East India Company to establish its rule in India?
How did the rule of East India Company come to an end?
Ans:
• The East India Company was established as a trading company. But it took advantage of the
political instability in India and took over the control of a large part of India.
• The Company adopted various measures to extend and consolidate its control over India like
military action, introduction of railways, postal service, passing different Acts, etc.,
• They exploited India politically, socially, economically and culturally.
India was able to end the Company Rule and gain independence 1947 under the
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and many other national leaders.
____________________________________________________________________________
THANK
YOU…