I Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
- The last Governor General of the British India was _______.
Answer: Lord Mountbatten
- The first Home Minister of India was ______________.
Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- The first President of India was _____________.
Answer: Babu Rajendra Prasad
- Pondicherry joined India as a Union Territory in _________.
Answer: 1954
- The linguistic organization of India took place in __________.
Answer: 1953
II Discuss the following in groups and answer them:
6. What were the problems faced by India after Independence?
Answer: The declaration of the British government on the 3rd of June 1947, based on the report of Lord Mountbatten, formed the basis for the creation of two independent countries called India and Pakistan. August 15th 1947 was a day of joy and sorrow for Indians. Although Indians were not in favour of separate countries for Hindus and Muslims, it became inevitable due to the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy of the British. Many problems cropped up along with independence. Many questions like rehabilitation of refugees, communal riots, formation of government, integration of various provinces, production of food, development of agriculture, growth of industries etc. had to be dealt with.
7. How did the country deal with the problem of refugees?
Answer: The problem of refugees was one of the worst problems resulting from the partition of India. Due to the division, people had to migrate from Pakistan to India leaving their homes,familiar environment, property etc., and go to a new place. The burden of providing shelter, employment, land, education, health care, conducive social environment to these refugees fell on the government. Many efforts went into this process of rehabilitation.
8. Describe the manner in which Pondicherry was liberated from the French.
Answer: The French colonies had continued their hold on Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Chandranagar in post-independence India. As a result of the struggle by the Congress, the Communists and other organizations urging that it should be a part of India, in 1954, these provinces joined India. Pondicherry was declared a Union territory in 1962. Pondicherry was renamed as puducherry in 2006.
9. How was Goa liberated from the Portuguese?
Answer: An endless struggle took place demanding the inclusion of Goa which was under the imperialist rule of Portugal, with India. Though they were ordered to give up Goa, the Portuguese brought in additional troops from Africa and Europe, and tried to strengthen their hold by suppressing the movement. In 1955, satyagrahis from different parts of India gathered at Goa and began a liberation movement demanding that the imperialists quit Goa. In 1961, the Indian army intervened and took Goa under its control. Goa which remained a Union Territory till 1987, became a state later on.
10. Why was the state re-organisation commission formed by the government of India in 1953?
Answer; The administration was not effective during the times of the British and the princely kingdoms because the language used for administration was different from the language of the common man. In this backdrop, the desire for linguistic formation of states was intense. After Potty Sriramulu, under the aegis of the Andhra Mahasabha, went on a fast-unto- death satyagraha for 58 days and then died in 1952 demanding the formation of Vishalandhra state, this demand became much more severe. In 1953 the government formed Justice Fazal Ali Commission in which Fazal Ali was the Chairman, K.M.Panickker and H.N.Kunjru were the members. In 1953 Andhra Pradesh became the first state to be formed based on language. As per the report of the Commission, the State Reorganisation Act came into force in 1956. Accordingly, 14 States and 6 Union Territories were formed in the country.
IV Projects:
I . Make a list of the capitals and administrative languages of the states in India.
- Karnataka: Capital: Bengaluru, Official language: Kannada
- Kerala: Capital: Trivandrum, Official language: Malayalam
- Madhya Pradesh: Capital: Bhopal, Official language: Hindi
- Maharashtra: Capital: Mumbai, Official language: Marathi
- Andhra Pradesh: Capital: Amaravati, Official language: Telugu
- Arunachal Pradesh: Capital: Itanagar, Official language: English
- Assam: Capital: Dispur, Official language: Assamese
- Bihar: Capital: Patna, Official language: Hindi
- Chhattisgarh: Capital: Raipur, Official language: Chhattisgarhi
- Goa: Capital: Panaji, Official language: Konkani
- Gujarat: Capital: Gandhinagar, Official language: Gujarati
- Haryana: Capital: Chandigarh, Official language: Haryanvi
- Himachal Pradesh: Capital: Shimla, Official language: Hindi
- Jammu and Kashmir: Capital: Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter), Official language: Urdu
- Jharkhand: Capital: Ranchi, Official language: Hindi
- Manipur: Capital: Imphal, Official language: Manipuri
- Meghalaya: Capital: Shillong, Official language: English
- Mizoram: Capital: Aizawl, Official language: Mizo
- Nagaland: Capital: Kohima, Official language: English
- Odisha: Capital: Bhubaneswar, Official language: Oriya
- Punjab: Capital – Chandigarh, Language – Punjabi
- Rajastan: Capital – Jaipur, Language – Hindi
- Sikkim: Capital – Gangtok, Language – Nepali
- Tamil Nadu: Capital – Chennai, Language – Tamil
- Telangana: Capital – Hyderabad, Language – Telugu
- Tripura: Capital – Agartala, Language – Bengali and Kokborok
- Uttar Pradesh: Capital – Lucknow, Language – Hindi
- Uttarakhand: Capital – Dehradun, Language – Hindi
- West Bengal: Capital – Kolkata, Language – Bengali
II. With the help of your teacher, learn about the cultural significance of our neighbouring states.
The cultural significance of our neighbouring states.
Karnataka: Karnataka is known as the cradle of temple architecture, with the Southern Vimana and Northern Rekhaprasada styles evolving in the Malaprabha valley. Karnataka has a rich musical heritage, including the Karnatic music school and Gamaka. The Mysore school of painting is known for its simplicity and intricate detailing. Tribal art is another indigenous art form. Karnataka has distinctive styles of sculpture, including Chalukya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara.
Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh is famous for its classical dance forms, including Kuchipudi, Vilasini Natyam, Bhamakalapam, and Butta Bommalu (stick puppetry). The region is home to many architectural marvels, including the ancient city of Amaravati, and the temples of Tirupati, Srisailam, and Simhachalam. Karnatak (South Indian) music has derived much from Andhra roots. The state is known for its traditional handloom products like Pochampally and Mangalgiri sarees, as well as Kalamkari fabric. Kondapalli toys, made from softwood and beautifully painted, are also popular souvenirs.
Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu’s architecture is characterized by Dravidian style, which includes grand temples with intricate gopurams. The state also has rock-cut caves and monolithic temples, such as the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu’s cuisine is known for dishes like idli, dosa, rasam, sambar, and pongal. Rice is a staple food, and is often served with sambar and coconut chutney. Tamil Nadu has many festivals, including Pongal, Tamil New Year, Thaipusam, Karthikai Deepam, Aadi Perukku, Panguni Uthiram, and Vaikasi Visakam. Tamil Nadu has a rich literary heritage that includes the Sangam literature, Tirukkural, and the contributions of authors during the Tamil Renaissance. Women often wear colorful silk saris, especially on special occasions, while men traditionally wear dhotis. Tamil Nadu is known for its Tanjore paintings, brass and bronze work, and Kanchipuram silk sarees.
Kerala: Kerala is known for its music forms, including Sopanam and Opana, and is home to legendary music maestros like K.J. Yesudas and Raveendran. Kerala is known for its art forms, including Kathakali, a classical dance-drama that combines opera, ballet, masque, and pantomime. Other art forms include Mohiniyattam, a dance known for its graceful movements and expressive gestures. Kerala is also known for its handicrafts, such as wood carvings, metalwork, and pottery. Kerala’s architecture is marked by intricately carved temples and traditional wooden homes. Kerala is known for its martial art form, Kalaripayattu, which is believed to be one of the oldest martial arts in the world. Kerala’s festivals include Onam, Vishu, Eid, and Thrissur Pooram. The Navarathna ring, featuring nine precious gemstones, is a highly auspicious piece of jewelry traditionally worn in Kerala. Kerala was once home to Nagaradhana, or snake worship, which was practiced by nearly every Hindu community in the state.
Maharashtra: Maharashtra is known for its colorful festivals, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Naag Panchmi, and Gudi Padwa. Maharashtra has spicy regional cuisines, and traditional dinner items are arranged in a circular way. Men wear dhotis, which are long cloths wrapped around the legs, and women wear saris, which are colorful cloths wrapped around the body. Popular traditional forms of dance and music include Koli, Powada, and Lavani. Maharashtra has many heritage sites, including the Gateway of India, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, and Raigad Fort.
