Page 1
international union of pro-Bolshevik
socialist parties. Some received
education in the USSR’s Communist
University of the Workers of the East.
(iv) Socialism became popular by the
time of the outbreak of the Second
World War.
By the end of the twentieth century,
the international reputation of the
USSR as a socialist country had
declined though it was recognised
that socialist ideals still enjoyed
respect among its people. But in each
country the ideas of socialism were
rethought in a number of ways.
V. Source-based Questions
Q1. Read the following extract (Source E)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 45
and answer the questions that follow:
This is a letter written by a peasant who
did not want to join the collective farm.
To the newspaper Krestianskaia Gazeta
(Peasant Newspaper):
“... I am a natural working peasant born
in 1879 ...there are 6 members in my
family, my wife was born in 1881, my
son is 16, two daughters 19, all three
go to school, my sister is 71. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1935, local authorities have increased
the taxes on me... and I was unable
to handle them and all my property
was registered: my horse, cow, calf,
sheep with lambs, all my implements,
furniture and my reserve of wood for
repair of buildings and they sold the
lot for the taxes. In 1936, they sold two
of my buildings... the kolkhoz bought
them. In 1937, of two huts I had, one
was sold and one was confiscated...”
Afanasii Dedorovich Frebenev, an
independent cultivator.
From: V. Sokolov (ed), Obshchestvo I
Vlast, v 1930-ye gody.
(i) Why did the peasant not want to
join the collective farm?
(ii) What were the reasons that made the
conditions of the Russian peasants
so deplorable?
Ans. (i) The peasant did not want to
join the collective farm because all
of his land and implements would
be transferred to the ownership of
collective farms.
(ii) Stalin forced the peasants of Russia
to cultivate in collective farms known
as Kolkhoz. The bulk of land and
implements were transferred to
the ownership of collective farms.
Peasants worked on the land, and
the Kolkhoz profit was shared. Some
peasants tried to resist but they
could not get success. As a result,
their condition became deplorable.
Q2. Read the following extract (Source G)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 47
and answer the questions that follow:
Rabindranath Tagore wrote from
Russia in 1930
‘Moscow appears much less clean than
the other European capitals. None
of those hurrying along the streets
look smart. The whole place belongs
to the workers … Here the masses
have not in the least been put in the
shade by the gentlemen … those who
lived in the background for ages have
come forward in the open today … I
thought of the peasants and workers
in my own country. It all seemed like
the work of the Genii in the Arabian
Nights. [here] only a decade ago they
were as illiterate, helpless and hungry
as our own masses … Who could be
more astonished than an unfortunate
Indian like myself to see how they had
removed the mountain of ignorance
and helplessness in these few years’.
(i) How does the author of the above
passage portray Moscow?
(ii) What is the condition of the mass
there?
Page 2
international union of pro-Bolshevik
socialist parties. Some received
education in the USSR’s Communist
University of the Workers of the East.
(iv) Socialism became popular by the
time of the outbreak of the Second
World War.
By the end of the twentieth century,
the international reputation of the
USSR as a socialist country had
declined though it was recognised
that socialist ideals still enjoyed
respect among its people. But in each
country the ideas of socialism were
rethought in a number of ways.
V. Source-based Questions
Q1. Read the following extract (Source E)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 45
and answer the questions that follow:
This is a letter written by a peasant who
did not want to join the collective farm.
To the newspaper Krestianskaia Gazeta
(Peasant Newspaper):
“... I am a natural working peasant born
in 1879 ...there are 6 members in my
family, my wife was born in 1881, my
son is 16, two daughters 19, all three
go to school, my sister is 71. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1935, local authorities have increased
the taxes on me... and I was unable
to handle them and all my property
was registered: my horse, cow, calf,
sheep with lambs, all my implements,
furniture and my reserve of wood for
repair of buildings and they sold the
lot for the taxes. In 1936, they sold two
of my buildings... the kolkhoz bought
them. In 1937, of two huts I had, one
was sold and one was confiscated...”
Afanasii Dedorovich Frebenev, an
independent cultivator.
From: V. Sokolov (ed), Obshchestvo I
Vlast, v 1930-ye gody.
(i) Why did the peasant not want to
join the collective farm?
(ii) What were the reasons that made the
conditions of the Russian peasants
so deplorable?
Ans. (i) The peasant did not want to
join the collective farm because all
of his land and implements would
be transferred to the ownership of
collective farms.
(ii) Stalin forced the peasants of Russia
to cultivate in collective farms known
as Kolkhoz. The bulk of land and
implements were transferred to
the ownership of collective farms.
Peasants worked on the land, and
the Kolkhoz profit was shared. Some
peasants tried to resist but they
could not get success. As a result,
their condition became deplorable.
Q2. Read the following extract (Source G)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 47
and answer the questions that follow:
Rabindranath Tagore wrote from
Russia in 1930
‘Moscow appears much less clean than
the other European capitals. None
of those hurrying along the streets
look smart. The whole place belongs
to the workers … Here the masses
have not in the least been put in the
shade by the gentlemen … those who
lived in the background for ages have
come forward in the open today … I
thought of the peasants and workers
in my own country. It all seemed like
the work of the Genii in the Arabian
Nights. [here] only a decade ago they
were as illiterate, helpless and hungry
as our own masses … Who could be
more astonished than an unfortunate
Indian like myself to see how they had
removed the mountain of ignorance
and helplessness in these few years’.
(i) How does the author of the above
passage portray Moscow?
(ii) What is the condition of the mass
there?
(iii) Why does the author call himself
unfortunate?
Ans. (i) Moscow, as the author describes, is
much less clean than other European
capitals. The whole place belongs to
the workers.
(ii) The mass now look smart and
enlightened.
(iii) The author calls so for being a citizen
of the country which had long been
under the influence of illiteracy and
poverty and it took a long time to
remove them.
VI. Picture-based Question
Observe the picture given below taken
from NCERT Textbook, page 37 carefully
and answer the following questions
The above picture is of pro-Bolshevik
demonstration on 17th July which
get fired upon by the army.
(i) Who were Bolsheviks and who was
their leader?
(ii) Why and by whom was the popular
demonstration by the Bolsheviks in
July 1917 harshly repressed?
Ans. (i) Bolsheviks were the majority group
of the workers of Russia and their
leader was Lenin.
(ii) The popular demonstration by the
Bolsheviks was harshly repressed by
the Provisional Government because
Bolshevik influence was growing
fast and the government was afraid
that it might give rise to another
revolution.
VII. Value-based Questions
Q1. People in the early nineteenth century
Europe wanted transformation of
society. But not all of them wanted
a complete transformation. Some
thought that some change was
necessary but wished for a gradual
shift. Some wanted to restructure
society radically. Thus, some were
conservatives, others were liberals or
radicals.
Which values are associated with
these three terms?
Ans. Conservatives: They accepted
that some change was inevitable
but believed that the past had to
be respected and change had to
be brought about through a slow
process. Thus, conservatives believed
in a gradual shift.
Radicals: They wanted a nation in
which government was based on the
majority of a country’s population.
They were against the concentration
of property in the hands of a few.
Liberals: They opposed the
uncontrolled power of dynastic
rulers. They wanted a nation which
tolerated all religions.
Q2. The Imperial Russian Army came
to be known as the ‘Russian steam
roller’. It was the largest armed force
in the world. When this army shifted
its loyalty and began supporting
the revolutionaries, Tsarist power
collapsed.
Which values can be reflected from
this shift of loyalty? Mention four
values.
Ans.(i) Patriotism: By shifting its loyalty
to the revolutionaries, the Imperial
Russian army did a great work. It
showed that the welfare of the nation
was of prime importance.
Page 3
international union of pro-Bolshevik
socialist parties. Some received
education in the USSR’s Communist
University of the Workers of the East.
(iv) Socialism became popular by the
time of the outbreak of the Second
World War.
By the end of the twentieth century,
the international reputation of the
USSR as a socialist country had
declined though it was recognised
that socialist ideals still enjoyed
respect among its people. But in each
country the ideas of socialism were
rethought in a number of ways.
V. Source-based Questions
Q1. Read the following extract (Source E)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 45
and answer the questions that follow:
This is a letter written by a peasant who
did not want to join the collective farm.
To the newspaper Krestianskaia Gazeta
(Peasant Newspaper):
“... I am a natural working peasant born
in 1879 ...there are 6 members in my
family, my wife was born in 1881, my
son is 16, two daughters 19, all three
go to school, my sister is 71. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1935, local authorities have increased
the taxes on me... and I was unable
to handle them and all my property
was registered: my horse, cow, calf,
sheep with lambs, all my implements,
furniture and my reserve of wood for
repair of buildings and they sold the
lot for the taxes. In 1936, they sold two
of my buildings... the kolkhoz bought
them. In 1937, of two huts I had, one
was sold and one was confiscated...”
Afanasii Dedorovich Frebenev, an
independent cultivator.
From: V. Sokolov (ed), Obshchestvo I
Vlast, v 1930-ye gody.
(i) Why did the peasant not want to
join the collective farm?
(ii) What were the reasons that made the
conditions of the Russian peasants
so deplorable?
Ans. (i) The peasant did not want to
join the collective farm because all
of his land and implements would
be transferred to the ownership of
collective farms.
(ii) Stalin forced the peasants of Russia
to cultivate in collective farms known
as Kolkhoz. The bulk of land and
implements were transferred to
the ownership of collective farms.
Peasants worked on the land, and
the Kolkhoz profit was shared. Some
peasants tried to resist but they
could not get success. As a result,
their condition became deplorable.
Q2. Read the following extract (Source G)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 47
and answer the questions that follow:
Rabindranath Tagore wrote from
Russia in 1930
‘Moscow appears much less clean than
the other European capitals. None
of those hurrying along the streets
look smart. The whole place belongs
to the workers … Here the masses
have not in the least been put in the
shade by the gentlemen … those who
lived in the background for ages have
come forward in the open today … I
thought of the peasants and workers
in my own country. It all seemed like
the work of the Genii in the Arabian
Nights. [here] only a decade ago they
were as illiterate, helpless and hungry
as our own masses … Who could be
more astonished than an unfortunate
Indian like myself to see how they had
removed the mountain of ignorance
and helplessness in these few years’.
(i) How does the author of the above
passage portray Moscow?
(ii) What is the condition of the mass
there?
(iii) Why does the author call himself
unfortunate?
Ans. (i) Moscow, as the author describes, is
much less clean than other European
capitals. The whole place belongs to
the workers.
(ii) The mass now look smart and
enlightened.
(iii) The author calls so for being a citizen
of the country which had long been
under the influence of illiteracy and
poverty and it took a long time to
remove them.
VI. Picture-based Question
Observe the picture given below taken
from NCERT Textbook, page 37 carefully
and answer the following questions
The above picture is of pro-Bolshevik
demonstration on 17th July which
get fired upon by the army.
(i) Who were Bolsheviks and who was
their leader?
(ii) Why and by whom was the popular
demonstration by the Bolsheviks in
July 1917 harshly repressed?
Ans. (i) Bolsheviks were the majority group
of the workers of Russia and their
leader was Lenin.
(ii) The popular demonstration by the
Bolsheviks was harshly repressed by
the Provisional Government because
Bolshevik influence was growing
fast and the government was afraid
that it might give rise to another
revolution.
VII. Value-based Questions
Q1. People in the early nineteenth century
Europe wanted transformation of
society. But not all of them wanted
a complete transformation. Some
thought that some change was
necessary but wished for a gradual
shift. Some wanted to restructure
society radically. Thus, some were
conservatives, others were liberals or
radicals.
Which values are associated with
these three terms?
Ans. Conservatives: They accepted
that some change was inevitable
but believed that the past had to
be respected and change had to
be brought about through a slow
process. Thus, conservatives believed
in a gradual shift.
Radicals: They wanted a nation in
which government was based on the
majority of a country’s population.
They were against the concentration
of property in the hands of a few.
Liberals: They opposed the
uncontrolled power of dynastic
rulers. They wanted a nation which
tolerated all religions.
Q2. The Imperial Russian Army came
to be known as the ‘Russian steam
roller’. It was the largest armed force
in the world. When this army shifted
its loyalty and began supporting
the revolutionaries, Tsarist power
collapsed.
Which values can be reflected from
this shift of loyalty? Mention four
values.
Ans.(i) Patriotism: By shifting its loyalty
to the revolutionaries, the Imperial
Russian army did a great work. It
showed that the welfare of the nation
was of prime importance.
(ii) National integration: The Russian army’s action encouraged national integration.
(iii) Unity: The Russian soldiers were united and they began to support the
revolutionaries unitedly.
(iv) Team work: Their action was based on team work.
Q3. Which values are associated with Stalin’s collectivisation programme? Mention
three values.
Ans.(i) Promotion of State — controlled large farms to increase production.
(ii) Elimination of Kulaks, well-to-do peasants of Russia.
(iii) Transfer of land and implements to the ownership of collective farms.
VIII. Map Skills
Q1. On an outline map of the world, show the Russian Empire and the European
countries at war during the First World War.
Ans.
Q2. On an outline map of the world, locate and label the following major countries of the
First World War: (as per the CBSE Map List 2017-18)
Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey (Ottoman Empire)
Allied Powers – France, England, Russia, America
Page 4
international union of pro-Bolshevik
socialist parties. Some received
education in the USSR’s Communist
University of the Workers of the East.
(iv) Socialism became popular by the
time of the outbreak of the Second
World War.
By the end of the twentieth century,
the international reputation of the
USSR as a socialist country had
declined though it was recognised
that socialist ideals still enjoyed
respect among its people. But in each
country the ideas of socialism were
rethought in a number of ways.
V. Source-based Questions
Q1. Read the following extract (Source E)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 45
and answer the questions that follow:
This is a letter written by a peasant who
did not want to join the collective farm.
To the newspaper Krestianskaia Gazeta
(Peasant Newspaper):
“... I am a natural working peasant born
in 1879 ...there are 6 members in my
family, my wife was born in 1881, my
son is 16, two daughters 19, all three
go to school, my sister is 71. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1932, heavy taxes have been levied on
me that I have found impossible. From
1935, local authorities have increased
the taxes on me... and I was unable
to handle them and all my property
was registered: my horse, cow, calf,
sheep with lambs, all my implements,
furniture and my reserve of wood for
repair of buildings and they sold the
lot for the taxes. In 1936, they sold two
of my buildings... the kolkhoz bought
them. In 1937, of two huts I had, one
was sold and one was confiscated...”
Afanasii Dedorovich Frebenev, an
independent cultivator.
From: V. Sokolov (ed), Obshchestvo I
Vlast, v 1930-ye gody.
(i) Why did the peasant not want to
join the collective farm?
(ii) What were the reasons that made the
conditions of the Russian peasants
so deplorable?
Ans. (i) The peasant did not want to
join the collective farm because all
of his land and implements would
be transferred to the ownership of
collective farms.
(ii) Stalin forced the peasants of Russia
to cultivate in collective farms known
as Kolkhoz. The bulk of land and
implements were transferred to
the ownership of collective farms.
Peasants worked on the land, and
the Kolkhoz profit was shared. Some
peasants tried to resist but they
could not get success. As a result,
their condition became deplorable.
Q2. Read the following extract (Source G)
taken from NCERT Textbook, page 47
and answer the questions that follow:
Rabindranath Tagore wrote from
Russia in 1930
‘Moscow appears much less clean than
the other European capitals. None
of those hurrying along the streets
look smart. The whole place belongs
to the workers … Here the masses
have not in the least been put in the
shade by the gentlemen … those who
lived in the background for ages have
come forward in the open today … I
thought of the peasants and workers
in my own country. It all seemed like
the work of the Genii in the Arabian
Nights. [here] only a decade ago they
were as illiterate, helpless and hungry
as our own masses … Who could be
more astonished than an unfortunate
Indian like myself to see how they had
removed the mountain of ignorance
and helplessness in these few years’.
(i) How does the author of the above
passage portray Moscow?
(ii) What is the condition of the mass
there?
(iii) Why does the author call himself
unfortunate?
Ans. (i) Moscow, as the author describes, is
much less clean than other European
capitals. The whole place belongs to
the workers.
(ii) The mass now look smart and
enlightened.
(iii) The author calls so for being a citizen
of the country which had long been
under the influence of illiteracy and
poverty and it took a long time to
remove them.
VI. Picture-based Question
Observe the picture given below taken
from NCERT Textbook, page 37 carefully
and answer the following questions
The above picture is of pro-Bolshevik
demonstration on 17th July which
get fired upon by the army.
(i) Who were Bolsheviks and who was
their leader?
(ii) Why and by whom was the popular
demonstration by the Bolsheviks in
July 1917 harshly repressed?
Ans. (i) Bolsheviks were the majority group
of the workers of Russia and their
leader was Lenin.
(ii) The popular demonstration by the
Bolsheviks was harshly repressed by
the Provisional Government because
Bolshevik influence was growing
fast and the government was afraid
that it might give rise to another
revolution.
VII. Value-based Questions
Q1. People in the early nineteenth century
Europe wanted transformation of
society. But not all of them wanted
a complete transformation. Some
thought that some change was
necessary but wished for a gradual
shift. Some wanted to restructure
society radically. Thus, some were
conservatives, others were liberals or
radicals.
Which values are associated with
these three terms?
Ans. Conservatives: They accepted
that some change was inevitable
but believed that the past had to
be respected and change had to
be brought about through a slow
process. Thus, conservatives believed
in a gradual shift.
Radicals: They wanted a nation in
which government was based on the
majority of a country’s population.
They were against the concentration
of property in the hands of a few.
Liberals: They opposed the
uncontrolled power of dynastic
rulers. They wanted a nation which
tolerated all religions.
Q2. The Imperial Russian Army came
to be known as the ‘Russian steam
roller’. It was the largest armed force
in the world. When this army shifted
its loyalty and began supporting
the revolutionaries, Tsarist power
collapsed.
Which values can be reflected from
this shift of loyalty? Mention four
values.
Ans.(i) Patriotism: By shifting its loyalty
to the revolutionaries, the Imperial
Russian army did a great work. It
showed that the welfare of the nation
was of prime importance.
(ii) National integration: The Russian army’s action encouraged national integration.
(iii) Unity: The Russian soldiers were united and they began to support the
revolutionaries unitedly.
(iv) Team work: Their action was based on team work.
Q3. Which values are associated with Stalin’s collectivisation programme? Mention
three values.
Ans.(i) Promotion of State — controlled large farms to increase production.
(ii) Elimination of Kulaks, well-to-do peasants of Russia.
(iii) Transfer of land and implements to the ownership of collective farms.
VIII. Map Skills
Q1. On an outline map of the world, show the Russian Empire and the European
countries at war during the First World War.
Ans.
Q2. On an outline map of the world, locate and label the following major countries of the
First World War: (as per the CBSE Map List 2017-18)
Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey (Ottoman Empire)
Allied Powers – France, England, Russia, America
TEST YOUR SKILLS
1. Which incident triggered the Russian Revolution?
2. Give a brief description of the civil war that broke out in Russia.
3. “By the 1870s, socialist ideas spread through Europe.” Explain.
4. What were the main features of the centralised planning that was introduced in Russia by the Bolsheviks?
5. Give a brief account of the political condition of Russia before 1905.
???
Ans.
Read More