Passage Based Questions: Framing the constitution | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

Direction: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
We have never asked for privileges. Hansa Mehta of Bombay demanded justice for women and not reserved seats or separate electorates: We have never asked for privileges. What we have asked for is social justice, economic justice, and political justice. We have asked for that equality which alone can be the basis of mutual respect and understanding, without which real cooperation is not possible between man and woman. 

Q1: Why did Hansa Mehta choose not to demand reserved seats for women?
Ans: Hansa Mehta did not demand reserved seats for women because:

• It would be divisive in nature.
• It could lead to resentment.
• She didn’t want privileges for women but rather opportunities for empowerment. 

Q2: What could be the foundation for mutual respect between men and women?

Ans: The basis for mutual respect between men and women includes:

• Appreciation of each other’s contributions and roles.
• Equality and cooperation between genders.
• Treating women on par with men.

Q3: How can women be empowered economically?
Ans: Women can be empowered economically by:

• Equal rights in property.
• Access to education.
• Necessary job training.
• Equal pay for equal work.

Passage - 2

Direction: Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:
“There cannot be any divided loyalty,” Govind Ballabh Pant argued that in order to become loyal citizens, people had to stop focusing only on the community and the self.

For the success of democracy, one must train himself in the art of self-discipline. In democracies, one should care less for himself and more for others. There cannot be any divided loyalty. All loyalties must exclusively be centered around the State. If in a democracy, you create rival loyalties, or you create a system in which any individual or group, instead of suppressing his extravagance, does not care for larger or other interests, then democracy is doomed.

Q1: Why did Govind Ballabh Pant emphasize the importance of self-discipline?
Ans: Govind Ballabh Pant emphasized self-discipline because, without democratic discipline, the ideals and values of democracy cannot be upheld.

Q2: What was seen as essential for the success of democracy?
Ans: For the success of democracy, loyalty to the state is essential. There should be no divided loyalties, and all citizens must be committed to national unity and integrity.

Q3: Discuss your thoughts on the idea that "In democracies, one should care less for himself and more for others."
Ans: In a democracy, prioritizing the welfare of others over oneself is crucial for upholding democratic values. Self-discipline and the absence of divided loyalties are necessary for the success of democracy.

Passage - 3

Direction: Read the following paragraph carefully and answer the questions that follow:
“The real minorities are the masses of this country.” Accepting the Objectives Resolution introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, N.G. Ranga said:

Sir, there is a lot to talk about minorities. Who are the real minorities? Not the Hindus in the so-called Pakistan provinces. These people are so depressed, oppressed, and suppressed that they are not able to take advantage of the ordinary civil rights. What is the use of such rights? You go to the tribal areas. According to law, their own traditional law, their tribal law, their lands cannot be alienated. Yet our merchants go there, and in the so-called free market, they are able to snatch their lands. Thus, even though the law goes against this snatching away of their lands, still the merchants are able to turn the tribal people into veritable slaves by various kinds of bonds and make them hereditary bond slaves. Let us go to the ordinary villagers. There goes the moneylender with his money, and he is able to get the villagers in his pocket. There is the landlord himself, the zamindar, and the malguzar. There are various other people who are able to exploit these poor villagers. There is no elementary education even among these people. These are the real minorities that need protection and assurances of protection. In order to give them the necessary protection, we will need much more than this Resolution.

Q1: What issue did N.G. Ranga highlight?
Ans: N.G. Ranga highlighted the plight of minorities in economic terms, particularly the poor and downtrodden. He pointed out that these people were so depressed and suppressed that they could not take advantage of their civil rights. The tribal people were considered the real minorities, needing protection and assurances.

Q2: What challenges did ordinary villagers face according to N.G. Ranga?
Ans: The ordinary villagers faced challenges from merchants and moneylenders who took away their lands. Merchants turned tribal people into veritable slaves through various bonds, making them hereditary bond-slaves. The zamindars, malguzars, and others exploited these minorities, who also lacked elementary educational facilities.

Q3: What kind of protection was necessary for the real minorities?
Ans: The real minorities needed protection and assurances, including elementary education, legal protection, special rights over their lands, and the benefits of civil rights.

Passage - 4

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
“British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind,” Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel said:

It is no use saying that we ask for separate electorates because it is good for us. We have heard it for years, and as a result of this agitation, we are now a separate nation. Can you show me one free country where there are separate electorates? If so, I will be prepared to accept it. But in this unfortunate country, if this separate electorate is going to be persisted in, even after the division of the country, woe betide the country; it is not worth living. Therefore, I say, it is not for my good alone, it is for your own good that I say it, forget the past. One day, we may be united. The British element is gone, but they have left behind the mischief. We do not want to perpetuate that mischief. (Hear, hear). When the British introduced this element, they had not expected that they will have to go so soon. They wanted it for their easy administration. That is all right. But they have left the legacy behind. Are we to get out of it or not?

Q1: Why did Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel refer to separate electorates as mischief?
Ans: Separate electorates were considered mischief because:
(a) It was like a poison that had entered politics.
(b) The demand had turned one community against another.
(c) It caused bloodshed, civil war, and riots.
(d) It divided the nation.

Q2: What reasoning did Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel give for fostering political unity and building a nation?
Ans: Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel emphasized political unity and nation-building by:
(a) Considering separate electorates as a poison.
(b) Stating that for the country's good, separate electorates should not be followed.
(c) Highlighting the necessity of abandoning this system to maintain peace.
(d) Stressing that a strong nation requires every individual to be molded as a citizen and assimilated within the nation.
(e) Arguing that political unity necessitates assimilation, while separatist feelings are harmful.

Q3: How did the concept of separate electorates contribute to the formation of a separate nation?
Ans: The philosophy of separate electorates led to:
(a) Turning one community against another, resulting in significant bloodshed.
(b) The British cultivating separatist feelings for their selfish ends.
(c) Communal hatred, which ultimately led to the tragic partition.
(d) The isolation of minorities and eventual partition. 

Passage - 5

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
“We are not going just to copy,” This is what Jawaharlal Nehru said in his famous speech of 13 December 1946:

My mind goes back to the various Constituent Assemblies that have gone before and of what took place at the making of the great American nation when the fathers of that nation met and fashioned out a Constitution which has stood the test of so many years, more than a century and a half, and of the great nation which has resulted, which has been built upon the basis of that Constitution. My mind goes back to that mighty revolution which took place also over 150 years ago and to the Constituent Assembly that met in that gracious and lovely city of Paris which has fought so many battles for freedom, to the difficulties that Constituent Assembly had and to how the King and other authorities came in its way, and still, it continued. The House will remember that when these difficulties came and even the room for a meeting was denied to the then Constituent Assembly, they betook themselves to an open tennis court and met there and took the oath, which is called the Oath of the Tennis Court, that they continued meeting in spite of Kings, in spite of the others, and did not disperse till they had finished the task they had undertaken. Well, I trust that it is in that solemn spirit that we too are meeting here and that we, too, whether we meet in this chamber or other chambers, or in the fields or in the marketplace, will go on meeting and continue our work till we have finished it.

Q1: How was the American Constitution crafted, and what were its outcomes?
Ans: The American Constitution faced challenges, including balancing the interests of all constituent states and strengthening the federal system. Another issue was determining the extent of voter eligibility. Despite these challenges, the Nation-builders crafted a Constitution that stands strong even today and serves as the foundation for a great nation.

Q2: What does Nehru’s resolve to pass the Constitution indicate? Mention two challenges faced by the Constituent Assembly.
Ans: Nehru Ji believed that the Constituent Assembly would successfully complete the task of framing the Constitution. The challenges faced included:
(a) Resolving the issue of separate electorates.
(b) Addressing the language problem and determining the national language.

Q3: Besides the American Revolution, which other revolution is mentioned in the passage?
Ans: The French Revolution.

Passage - 6

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
“That is very good, Sir – bold words, noble words,” Somnath Lahiri said:

Well, Sir, I must congratulate Pandit Nehru for the fine expression he gave to the spirit of the Indian people when he said that no imposition from the British will be accepted by the Indian people. Imposition would be resented and objected to, he said, and he added that, if need be, we will walk the valley of struggle. That is very good, Sir – bold words, noble words. But the point is to see when and how are you going to apply that challenge. Well, Sir, the point is that the imposition is here right now. Not only has the British Plan made any future Constitution dependent on a treaty satisfactory to the Britisher but it suggests that for every little difference you will have to run to the Federal Court or dance attendance there in England or to call on the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee or someone else. Not only is it a fact that this Constituent Assembly, whatever plans we may be hatching, but we are also under the shadow of British guns, British Army, their economic and financial stranglehold, which means that the final power is still in the British hands and the question of power has not yet been finally decided, which means the future is not yet completely in our hands. Not only that, but the statements made by Attlee and others recently have made it clear that, if need be, they will even threaten you with division entirely. This means, Sir, there is no freedom in this country. As Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel put it some days ago, we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is the only freedom we have got… Therefore, our humble suggestion is that is it not a question of getting something by working out this Plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the Interim Government, call upon the people of India, to stop fratricidal warfare and lookout against its enemy which still has the whip hand, the British Imperialist and go together to fight it and then resolve our claims afterwards when we will be free.

Q1: Why did Somnath Lahiri commend Pandit Nehru? Explain.
Ans: Somnath Lahiri commended Pandit Nehru for expressing the spirit of the Indian people by asserting that any imposition from the British would be met with resentment and objection by the Indian people.

Q2: What were the British intentions in delaying the framing of the Constitution? What were they aiming to achieve?
Ans: Somnath Lahiri felt that the absence of a Constitution would keep India dependent on the British because:
(a) Indians would have to approach the Federal Court in England for every small issue.
(b) India would remain under the economic and military control of the British.

Q3: How did Somnath Lahiri perceive that ultimate power was still held by the British?
Ans: He perceived that the final power was still in the hands of the British because:
(a) The Indian Constituent Assembly was a creation of the British.
(b) India was still under British rule.