New Getting Ahead In Social Studies Class 8 Solutions - History Chapter -10 Challenging the Caste System | Solved Question and Answers

Part I: History

Chapter – 10

Challenging the Caste System

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      I.            Fill in the blanks.

1.     Kshatriya

2.     Mahavir and Buddha

3.     Jotirao Phule

4.     Anti Untouchability

5.     Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

 

   II.            True or False.

1.     True

2.     False

3.     True

4.     False

5.     True

 

III.            Answer in brief:

 1.     Name the four major castes that existed in Vedic Times.

Ans: The four major causes did existed in Vedic times were - Brahmana (priests), Kshatriya (Warriors) and Vaishya (traders and farmers) and Shudra (labourers).

 

2.     Who were the poor outside the caste system? What were their occupations?

Ans: The untouchables were the people outside the caste system.

The untouchables did the work that was seen as polluting, such as cleaning toilets, washing clothes, burying or cremating the death, sweeping the streets and skinning dead animals.

 

3.     How was the caste system hindrance to individual progress?

Ans: The Curse system was a hindrance to individual progress because it did not recognise the individual talent.

 

4.     Name any four reformers who fought against the caste system in Modern Times.

Ans: The four reformers where Mahatma Jotirao Phule (Maharashtra)   Sree Narayana Guru (Kerala)  Kandukuri Veeresalingam (Andhra Pradesh) and Periyar E V  Ramasami (Tamil Nadu).

 

5.     Describe in brief the work of Jotirao Phule in Maharashtra.

Ans: Jyotirao Phule was one of the most committed social reformers of the 19th Century. He worked tirelessly for the uplift of the lower castes, and disapproved of the supremacy of the priestly class. His work earned him  the title of 'Mahatma'. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873 in Maharashtra.

 

6.     What is affirmative action?

Ans: A set of actions taken to remove existing discrimination and to remedy the effects of past discrimination, was taken by the government.

 

 

IV.            Answer in details.

 1.     Describe the origin and establishment of the caste system.

Ans: The caste system originated in the early Vedic period based on occupations.  There were four varnas or castes - Brahmana (priests), Kshatriya (Warriors) and Vaishya (traders and farmers) and Shudra (labourers).By the Later Vedic Period, the caste system became more rigid. Caste became something permanent a person was born into.

 

2.     What are the ill effects of the caste system?

Ans: The ill effects of the caste system are;

a.      The 'privileged' castes ill-treated the 'oppressed' caste as the latter did not have any rights.

b.      With several sub caste arising in time. India society became fragmented. People identified first with their caste and only then with the nation.

c.      Caste Divisions were a hindrance to individual progress; they did not recognise individual talent.

 

3.     Explain in details the work of three social formers in South India to uplift the downtrodden.

Ans:   i) Sree Narayana Guru(1827-1890):  In Kerala Sree Narayana Guru was one of the first to fight against the evils of the caste system. He helped found the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam(SNDP) in 1903 to Reform society. He established the Aruvipuram temple where people of all castes were allowed entry. He established a number of educational institutions, primarily for the education of the oppressed classes.

 

ii.) Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848-1919): Kandukuri Veeresalingam took the work of the Brahmo Samaj in Andhra Pradesh. He fought for the right of women and raised his voice against untouchability and superstitious religious beliefs. He started the Hitakarini Samajam in 1906 to take up reforms in society. He started a school for girls in Dowlaiswaram, and conducted widow remarriage.

 

iii.)  Periyar Ramasami(1879-1973): E V Ramasami, fondly called Periyar by his followers, was a crusader for the cause of the downtrodden in Tamil Nadu. He believed that all women and men should be given equal opportunities to develop. He was against the superiority of the priestley class, and other privilege classes. He started the Self- Respect Movement and was a prominent leader of the justice party.

 

4.     Describe the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi to eradicate the evils of the caste system.

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi is mainly remember for his role in the freedom struggle of India, his contributions to the social uplift of the people is equally noteworthy. Gandhi knew that there could be no true freedom for India as long as millions of Indian suffered from the scourge  of untouchability. Gandhiji fought for their entry into temples.  He also started the Anti untouchability League.

 

5.     Describe briefly the life of Doctor Ambedkar and his struggles against the caste system.

Ans:  Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is the father of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar spent his life fighting to give the Dalits their rights, and to ensure that they could lead a life of dignity. He fought for their right to enter temples, and to draw water from public wells. He asked the Dalit to cast aside the religious and superstitious that they had bound to them to servitude.

 

6.     What are the steps taken by the government after independence for the abolition of the caste system, and to uplift the people belonging to the oppressed castes?

 

Ans:  The steps taken by the government are- 

  i) The Constitution of India guarantees equality to everyone.

ii) The constitution assured all its people equality, and freedom from any form of discrimination.

iii) Untouchability became punishable by law.

 iv) People who suffer operation due to the caste system were given reservations in job and education.

v) The Indian government scheduled the Dalits and the tribal people for affirmative action by including them in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

 

 

 

MCQ

 

1.     d)

2.     d)

3.     b)

4.     a)

5.     c)

6.     d)

7.     b)

8.     a)