Glimpse of the Past class 8 NCERT Solutions

Glimpse of the Past class 8 NCERT Solutions: Glimpse of the Past is the lesson three from the class 8 NCERT, English text-book Honeydew. Here you'll get Glimpse of the Past class 8 NCERT Solutions.

Glimpse of the Past class 8 Summary in English

The chapter Glimpse of the Past provides a glimpse of how the British East India Company expanded its power in India and exploited Indians. The Indian princes were constantly at war with each other. They supported one Indian Prince to finish the other. In 1818 the British rulers passed a resolution under which an Indian could be sent to jail without trial in a court. To earn quick profits, the British imposed heavy taxes, thereby forcing the Indian farmers to abandon their fields. The goods manufactured in England were exempted from custom duty. The officers prospered on the company’s loot and their private business flourished while the Indian industries began to die. How the British East India Company robbed Indian landlords and farmers of their land, created situations that led to famines and pushed patriots to launch widespread massacres. And how Indian freedom fighters fought selflessly without breaking to make our motherland free from the British East India Company.

Glimpse of the Past class 8 Summary in Hindi

Glimpse of the Past इस बात की झलक प्रदान करती है कि कैसे ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी ने भारत में अपनी शक्ति का विस्तार किया और भारतीयों का शोषण किया।  भारतीय राजकुमार लगातार एक दूसरे के साथ युद्ध में थे।  उन्होंने दूसरे को खत्म करने के लिए एक भारतीय राजकुमार का समर्थन किया।  1818 में ब्रिटिश शासकों ने एक प्रस्ताव पारित किया जिसके तहत एक भारतीय को अदालत में बिना मुकदमे के जेल भेजा जा सकता था।  शीघ्र लाभ अर्जित करने के लिए, अंग्रेजों ने भारी कर लगाया, जिससे भारतीय किसानों को अपने खेतों को छोड़ने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ा।  इंग्लैंड में निर्मित वस्तुओं को सीमा शुल्क से छूट दी गई थी।  अधिकारी कंपनी की लूट से समृद्ध हुए और उनका निजी व्यवसाय फला-फूला जबकि भारतीय उद्योग मरने लगे।  कैसे ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी ने भारतीय जमींदारों और किसानों को उनकी जमीन से लूटा, ऐसी स्थितियाँ पैदा कीं जिससे अकाल पड़ा और देशभक्तों को व्यापक नरसंहार करने के लिए प्रेरित किया।  और कैसे भारतीय स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों ने हमारी मातृभूमि को ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी से मुक्त करने के लिए बिना टूटे निस्वार्थ भाव से लड़ाई लड़ी।

NCERT solutions of Glimpse of the Past class 8

Comprehension Check

1. Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer ? Who else do you see in this picture ?

Ans: The opening lines of the Hindi Song are “Aye Mere Waten Ke Logon.” It was sung by Lata Mangeskar. We can see Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Laxmi Bai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi are also seen in the picture.

2. In picture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons” ?

Ans: The East India Company conquered India by using their superior weapons, the guns and diplomacy.

3. Who is an artisan ? Why do you think the artisans suffered ? (picture 3)

Ans: An artisan is a craftsman, skilled in some trade. They suffered because the goods that they produced lost demand in the Indian market.

4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt ?

Ans: On picture 7 ‘The Sparks’ reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.

NCERT solutions for Glimpse of the Past class 8

Working with the text

Answer the following questions.

1. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757 ?

Ans: Yes, I think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757 as they fought against each other with the help of the British.

2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes ?

Ans: The Indian princes were constantly at war with each other. They called the English merchants to help them in their fights. The people had no peace due to such constant fights. They supported one Indian Prince to finish the other. The rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one.

3. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.

Ans: The words of Ram Mohan Roy spoken to his wife were, “Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. Different teachers have different opinions, but the essence of every religion is the same.”

4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians ?

Ans: In 1818 the British rulers passed a resolution under which an Indian could be sent to jail without trial in a court. To earn quick profits, the British imposed heavy taxes, thereby forcing the Indian farmers to abandon their fields. The goods manufactured in England were exempted from custom duty. The officers prospered on the company’s loot and their private business flourished while the Indian industries began to die.

5. Name these people.

(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.

(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society.

(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.

(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)

Ans: (i) Kunwar Singh / Tipu Sultan

      (ii) Ram Mohan Roy

      (iii) Macaulay

      (iv) Peshwa Nana Saheb and Maulvi Ahmedulla of Faizabad 

6. Mention the following.

(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.

(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.

(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.

(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War Of Independence.

Ans: 

(i)Untouchability and child marriage.

(ii) The British masters allowed imports in India tax free. They ruined Indian cottage industries,

(iiiThe farmers were taxed heavily and the thumbs of skilled workers were cut.

(iv) The four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence are,

(a) Santhals who lost their land became desparate and they revolted.

(b) The sepoys in the English army were paid much less than the white soldiers. So they were discontented and angry.

(c) The Brahmins were furious when they came to know that the bullets they had to bite, contained cow fat and pig-fat.

(d) Many landlords were sore because the British policies deprived them of their land and estate.

Glimpse of the Past class 8 Questions Answers

Working with language

In comics what the characters speak is put in bubbles. This is direct narration. When we report what the characters speak, we use the method of indirect narration.Study these examples.

First farmer: Why are your men taking away the entire crop ?

Second farmer: Your men have taken away everything.

Officer: You are still in arrears. If you don’t pay tax next week, I’ll send you to jail.

z The first farmer asked the officer why his men were taking away the entire crop.

z The second farmer said that their men had taken away everything.

z The officer replied that they were still in arrears and warned them that if they did not pay tax the following week, he (the officer) would send them (the farmers) to jail.

1. Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

(i) First man: We must educate our brothers.

     Second man: And try to improve their material conditions.

     Third man: For that we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.

The first man said that ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

The second man added that _______________________________________

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The third man suggested that ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Ans: (i) The first man said that they must educate their brothers.

The second man added that they must try to improve their material conditions.

The third man suggested that they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.

(ii) First soldier: The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions and servants.

Second soldier: We get a pittance and slow promotions.

Third soldier: Who are the British to abolish our customs ?

The first soldier said that ___________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

The second soldier remarked that __________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

The third soldier asked __________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Ans: 

(ii) The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions and servants.

The second soldier remarked that they got a pittance and slow promotions.

The third soldier asked who the British were to abolish their customs.