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Class 12 History Chapter 15 The Partition of India Oral Sources
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. Till 1857, in favour of which community did the British rule India?
Ans: The Hindu community.
2. What policy did the British adopt to rule India by keeping it weak?
Ans: They adopted the policy of “Divide and Rule” between the Hindus and the Muslims.
3. Who first prepared the Pakistan scheme?
Ans: Choudhry Rahmat Ali (while studying at Cambridge University).
4. In which year and on what date was the proposal for Direct Action taken?
Ans: On 16 August 1946.
5. Which Prime Minister of England declared that Britain would leave India even if it meant partition?
Ans: The Prime Minister from the Labour Party of England, Clement Attlee.
6. What was the name of present-day Bangladesh at the time of Partition?
Ans: East Bengal.
7. Write the name of a novel based on the experiences of Partition.
Ans: Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh.
8. Write the name of the doctor from Himachal Pradesh who, inspired by Gandhiji’s ideals, helped the refugees in every possible way.
Ans: Khushad Singh.
9. Mention some oral sources of the history of the Partition of India.
Ans: Diaries, memoirs, oral literature, written notes, genealogies, etc.
10. Why did the Sikhs want the Partition of India?
Ans: The Sikhs thought that in Punjab the Muslims would eventually become the majority and politically weaken the Sikhs.
11. On the basis of the Act of 1935, when were the Legislative Council elections held for the first time?
Ans: In 1937.
12. When was the Hindu Mahasabha formed?
Ans: In 1915.
13. When did the Cabinet Mission come to India?
Ans: In 1946.
14. When did British Prime Minister Attlee announce that Britain would leave India even if it meant partition?
Ans: On 3 June 1947.
15. During Partition, in which place of East Bengal did communal violence take a severe turn?
Ans: In Noakhali.
16. Who compared Gandhiji’s visit to Delhi to a soothing shower of rain after the scorching summer heat?
Ans: Ahmed Dehlavi of Delhi.
17. Write the name of a novel written by Attia Hussain based on the Partition of India.
Ans: Sunlight on the Broken Column by Attia Hosain.
18. What did some women of Rawalpindi do during the communal riots at the time of Partition to protect their honour?
Ans: Ninety women jumped into a well and committed suicide.
19. In which year did the British Government introduce separate electorates?
Ans: In 1909.
20. What is meant by the Shuddhi Movement?
Ans: The movement carried out by the Arya Samaj during the 1920s and 1930s to reconvert Hindus who had embraced Islam was called the Shuddhi Movement.
21. What is meant by ‘Communalism’? H. S. ’17
Ans: Communalism means a kind of politics in which one religious community unites in opposition to another religious community on the basis of religion.
22. State two reasons why discarded objects are considered useful sources for reconstructing history. H. S. ’16
Ans: Two reasons of considering useful sources for reconstructing history are.
(a) Many events of the past can be known from them.
(b) They help us to understand the civilization and culture of past societies.
B. Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 2)
1. Arrange the main events of the Partition of India in chronological order.
Ans: In 1906, to safeguard the interests of Muslims living in India, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Shaukat Ali and others formed the All-India Muslim League. The main objective of the League was to create a separate state for Muslims. In 1919, the Muslim League strengthened its position through the Khilafat Movement. In 1933, while studying at Cambridge University, Rahmat Ali prepared the scheme for a Muslim state named Pakistan. In 1937, in the Legislative Council elections, the Muslim League participated and won several seats. On 29 July 1946, the Muslim League observed Direct Action Day in support of Pakistan. Finally, on 14 August 1947, Pakistan and on 15 August 1947, India emerged as two independent states.
2. To what extent was the British Government responsible for the Partition of India?
Ans: The British Government was largely responsible for the Partition ofIndia. Until 1857, the British ruled India largely in favour of the Hindus. However, during the Revolt of 1857, observing Hindu-Muslim unity, they became concerned. Thereafter, they adopted policies favouring Muslims and allegedly encouraged certain Muslim leaders to demand a separate state. Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali Jinnah propounded the Two-Nation Theory. In 1940, the demand for Pakistan took formal shape. Finally, on 14 and 15 August 1947, under British patronage, Pakistan and India were created as two independent states.
3. What did the Muslim League demand in the Resolution of 1940?
Ans: In the Resolution of 1940, the Muslim League formally demanded separate Muslim state called Pakistan. It stated that the only solution to future constitutional problems was the partition of India.
Note: The Cripps Mission of 1942 did not directly endorse the demand for Pakistan; it proposed dominion status and allowed provinces the option to opt out.
C. Long Answer Questions: (Marks – 4 or 6)
1. How do oral sources help in writing the history of the partition of India? H. S. ’17
Ans: Oral sources help in writing the history of the Partition of India because official documents may not always contain impartial opinions or complete information. The real sufferings and experiences of the people of India and Pakistan during Partition can be authentically known from the victims themselves. Ordinary people’s words and actions are often direct and simple. However, oral sources must be carefully examined, as memories may sometimes contain exaggerations or omissions. Some people may also hide personal or shameful experiences. Therefore, if oral sources are critically compared with other evidence and accepted objectively, historians can successfully reconstruct an accurate history.
2. What were the decisions of the Cabinet Mission?
Ans: In 1946, the British Parliament sent the Cabinet Mission to India. Its main objective was to discuss with Indian political parties and find a solution to India’s political problems. When discussions with the Congress and the Muslim League failed, the Mission proposed its own plan. The main features were—
(a) India would remain a united federation and would not be partitioned.
(b) There would be a federal government handling defence, foreign affairs, and communications.
(c) Provinces would be divided into three groups: Group A consisting of Hindu-majority provinces, Group B of Muslim-majority provinces, and Group C comprising Bengal and Assam.
(d) An interim government would be formed in place of the Governor General’s Executive Council.
3. Discuss the reasons for the deterioration of law and order in the country before independence.
Ans: Before India attained independence, especially from August 1946onwards, law and order deteriorated. The reasons were—
(a) Administrative weakness of the British Government, which had become indifferent as it prepared to leave India.
(b) In Punjab, particularly in Amritsar, administration collapsed, and communal violence intensified.
(c) Except Mahatma Gandhi, many leaders were preoccupied with negotiations regarding transfer of power.
(d) Sections of the army acted on communal lines, assisting members of their own community.
(e) Leaders of the Muslim League also contributed to communal tensions by emphasizing separateness between Hindus and Muslims.
4. How did historians divide the narrative of the Mahabharata? H.S. ’16
Ans: Historians divided the narrative of the Mahabharata mainly into two parts: descriptive and dramatic. The descriptive portion covers various aspects of society, while the dramatic portion portrays the lives, philosophies, and characters of the epic’s protagonists. In the Shanti Parva, the dialogue betweenKrishna and Arjuna reflects core Hindu philosophy. The main purpose of such a division was to uncover historical truths and reconstruct a reliable account of the past. Scholars reportedly worked for about 47 years on this critical compilation.
5. What is communalism? Mention the causes of the growth of communalism in India. H. S. ’17
Ans: Communalism refers to ideological, religious or cultural conflict between linguistic or religious groups. In India, communalism developed during British rule. The causes were—
(1) The British policy of Divide and Rule, which fostered distrust among communities.
(2) Formation of communal organizations that spread hatred.
(3) Governmental failure at times to control communal violence.
(4) Appeasement politics by political parties for electoral gains.
(5) Use of strong religious symbols in nationalist movements, sometimes emphasizing Hindu cultural elements.
6. How did the American Civil War affect the lives of Indian ryots? H. S. ’18
Ans: The American Civil War (1861–65), fought mainly over slavery, affected trade and commerce. The import of cotton from America to Britain declined. To meet demand, cotton cultivation increased in India. British traders encouraged Indian peasants to grow cotton and provided advances. Consequently, cotton production increased and was exported to England. However, only a few wealthy peasants benefited. After the war ended in 1865, cotton production resumed in America, and exports increased. As a result, Indian cotton exports declined. Indian peasants could not find markets for their produce, stopped cultivation, failed to repay loans, and fell into distress. The American Civil War significantly affected the lives of Indianryots.
