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Class 12 History Chapter 13 Indian Cities in the Colonial Period
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each–1)
1. Write the name of an ancient city of India.
Ans: Varanasi.
2. Write the name of a capital city during the Mughal period.
Ans: Delhi.
3. In a monarchy, who was generally the patron of cities?
Ans: The king.
4. From which century did the system of collecting municipal tax begin in India?
Ans: From the latter part of the nineteenth century.
5. In which year was the first all-India census conducted?
Ans: In 1872.
6. After how many years is the census generally conducted?
Ans: After every ten years.
7. In which year did railway construction first begin in India? H. S.’16
Ans: In 1853.
Note: The first railway line in India was opened in 1853 between Bombay and Thane. Construction activities had begun earlier in the early 1850s.
8. In which metropolitan city was Fort George constructed? H. S.’18
Ans: Madras (now Chennai).
9. ‘Gateway of India’ is an example of which architectural style?
Ans: It is an example of the traditional Gujarati architectural style.
10. The Bombay Victoria Terminus is an example of which architectural style?
Ans: It is an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
11. What was Gangadhar Nehru, the grandfather of Jawaharlal Nehru?
Ans: Gangadhar Nehru, the grandfather of Jawaharlal Nehru, was the Kotwal of Delhi before 1857.
12. What were the duties of a Kotwal?
Ans: To maintain law and order.
13. From the end of the eighteenth century, on what basis did cities develop?
Ans: On the basis of sea-based trade and commerce.
14. Write the names of three cities famous as railway towns.
Ans: Jamshedpur, Waltair, Bareilly.
15. On what basis did Kanpur develop as a city?
Ans: On the basis of industries such as leather, wool, and cotton textiles.
16. When was the city of Simla established?
Ans: During the Gorkha War of 1815–16.
17. Where was the summer capital of the British Viceroys in India?
Ans: In Simla.
18. During the British period, where was the capital of Assam?
Ans: In Shillong.
19. During the British period in India, by whom was the middle class formed?
Ans: By clerks, lawyers, teachers, doctors, engineers, and other professional persons.
20. By what local name was the city of Madras known?
Ans: Chennapattanam.
21. What is the meaning of the word ‘Slum’?
Ans: An unhealthy and dirty urban area.
22. What is the meaning of the word ‘Bangla’?
Ans: The word ‘Bangla’ is a Bengali word. It means a thatched house.
23. In which year did the British shift the capital from Calcutta to Delhi?
Ans: In 1911.
24. In which year did the Battle of Plassey take place?
Ans: In 1757.
25. In which year was the Regulating Act passed in India?
Ans: In 1773.
26. What is meant by ‘White Town’? H. S. ’16
Ans: The part of the city where the Europeans lived was called the ‘WhiteTown’.
27. What is meant by ‘Black Town’? H. S. ’16
Ans: The part of the city where the Indians lived was called the ‘BlackTown’.
28. Which three villages together formed present-day Calcutta?
Ans: Calcutta, Sutanuti, and Govindpur.
29. In which year was the Lottery Committee formed?
Ans: In 1817.
30. In which year was the Supreme Court of Calcutta established?
Ans: In 1773.
31. What is meant by ‘Pet’?
Ans: The word ‘Pet’ is a Tamil word. It means a settlement or locality.
B. Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each 2/4)
1. What is the definition of a city? Describe the differences between a city and a village.
Ans: A region which is a centre of trade and commerce, advanced in industry, well-developed in roads and communication, having a large number of educated and salaried people, and densely populated is called a city. There are economic as well as ideological differences between a city and a village, such as:
(a) Urban areas are advanced in industry and trade, whereas rural areas are advanced in agriculture and animal husbandry.
(b) In urban areas there are more offices, courts, and educational institutions. On the other hand, rural areas are comparatively backward in education and facilities.
(c) Population density is high in cities, whereas it is sparse in villages.
(d) The number of wealthy people is higher in cities, whereas villagers are generally poorer.
2. Present a picture of urban life during the Mughal period.
Ans: During the Mughal period, cities developed mainly around administrative centres such as Delhi, Agra, Shahjahanabad, and Lahore. The patrons of cities were the emperor and administrative officials. Under imperial patronage, large palaces, temples, and mosques were constructed. Mainly, the elite and aristocratic classes lived in cities. Living in urban areas was considered a matter of prestige at that time.
3. Discuss the plan for the development of Madras city.
Ans: After the defeat of the French by the British in the Anglo-French War in 1761, British supremacy was established in Madras. Gradually, it developed into a commercial city. The British constructed a fort named Fort George in Madras, where British officials resided. The fort was built with high walls and several bastions. The area of the fort was called the ‘WhiteTown’. The area outside the White Town where Indians lived was called the‘Black Town’. Gradually, the British undertook measures for the development of Madras city. Separate residential areas were developed for Indians working in different occupations. The middle class resided in these areas. Thus, Madras gradually developed not only as a political centre but also as a commercial city.
4. Discuss the plan for the development of Calcutta city.
Ans: After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the British established their main administrative centre in Calcutta, and from that time the foundation of themetropolis began. The present city of Calcutta was originally a combination of three villages—Sutanuti, Calcutta, and Govindpur. From two large areas of Govindpur, the Company displaced local traders and weavers and constructed a strong fort named Fort William.
Open space was kept around the fort. Gradually, wide roads were constructed in the area. Governor-General Lord Wellesley built a grand Government House for himself. He cleared the surrounding jungles and began the expansion of the city. Canals and drains were constructed to keep the city clean. He also formed a committee for the development of the city. This committee established many markets, ghats, public places, and leather factories away from the main city.
After Wellesley, urban planning work was carried out through a committee called the ‘Lottery Committee’. In order to keep the areas inhabited by Indians clean, the committee demolished the huts of poor labourers and forced them to move to the outskirts of Calcutta. In this way, modern Calcutta developed.
C. Long Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each–4/6)
1. Describe the history of Pondicherry (present Puducherry).
Ans: In 1673, the French established their trading centre at present-day Puducherry. They obtained the place from a person named Sher Khan Lodi through the efforts of François Martin. The French were the chief rivals of the British in establishing colonies in India. In order to strengthen their position, the French adopted plans for the development of the settlement. For that purpose, Martin, the first French Governor of Puducherry, constructed a fort named Fort Louis and transformed the place into the principal French trading centre in India. However, from 1693 to 1697, the Dutch established their authority over Pondicherry. In 1697, through a treaty, French authority over Pondicherry was restored. From then onward, the modernization of Pondicherry began, and this process continued as long as the French remained in India.
2. What considerations influenced British urban planning in India in the nineteenth century? H. S. ’18
Ans: From the nineteenth century, the modern trend of urbanization began in India, and the British initiated this process. Unlike the Mughal period, when cities developed mainly around administrative centres, during the British period, cities developed largely for commercial reasons. The British first initiated urban development in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, and later it expanded to other regions. Another objective of British urbanization was to safeguard their interests and ensure security. Therefore, their urban planning was systematic and well-organized. According to this plan, they conducted regular surveys of cities, prepared maps, and formulated schemes for commercial development.
After the defeat of the French by the British in the Anglo-French War in 1761, British supremacy was established in Madras. Gradually, it developed into a commercial city. The British constructed a fort named Fort George in Madras, where British officials resided. The fort was built with high walls and numerous bastions. The area of the fort was called the ‘White Town’. The area outside the White Town where Indians lived was called the ‘Black Town’. Gradually, the British undertook measures for the development of Madras city. Separate residential areas were developed for Indians engaged in different occupations. The middle class resided in these areas. Thus, Madras gradually developed not only as a political centre but also as a commercial city.
