Mahatma Gandhi was a notable public figure. His role in social and political reform was instrumental. Above all, he rid the society of these social evils. Hence, many oppressed people felt great relief because of his efforts. Gandhi became a famous international figure because of these efforts. Furthermore, he became the topic of discussion in many international media outlets. Mahatma Gandhi was a great patriotic Indian, if not the greatest. He was a man of an unbelievably great personality.
Bihar Board Class 12
English Book Solutions Chapter 1
Indian Civilization and
Culture
Bihar Board Class 12
English Book Objective Type Questions and Answer
Question 1.
Name the author of the following prose piece,’ ‘Indian
Civilization and Culture”. [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Manohar Malgaonker (b) Mahatma Gandhi (c) Martin Luther King
Jr.
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi
Question 2.
Mahatma Gandhi in his essay deals in [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
(a) customs and traditions (b) Poverty and unemployment
(c) civilization and Culture Ans. (c)
Question 3.
Write ‘True’ or ‘False’
The tendency of Indian civilization is to elevate the moral
being. [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Ans. True
Our distinguishing characteristic of modem civilization is
not an indefinite multiple of humanwants. [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Ans. False
Our civilization, our culture, our swaraj depend upon
multiplying our wants. [Sample Paper2009 (A)]
Ans. False
The tendency of Indian civilizations is to elevate the moral
being. [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Ans. False
Dr. Radhakrishan did not brought to the presidency mental
equipment and a degree oferudition. [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Ans. False
Nanukaka stood in the doorway of a second class carriage.
[Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Ans. True
America has given the Negro people a bad chaque. [Sample
Paper 2009 (A)] Ans. True
(viii)We must allow our creative protest to degenerate into
physical violence. [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Ans. False
Question 1.
Who is the writer of “Indian Civilization and Culture”?
[Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Answer: Mahatma Gandhi
Question 2.
What does Mahatma Gandhi discuss in his essay? [Sample Paper
2009 (A)] Answer:
Civilization and culture.
Question 3.
Why the large cities were a share and a useless encumbrance
and people not happy? [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Answer:
Because of Gangs of thieve, robbers and prostitues.
Question. Complete the following sentences on the basis of
your reading
Aman is not necessarily became he is rich of unhappy because
[Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Large cities were a share and a useless encumbrance and that
people would
In no part of the world and under no civilization [Sample
Paper 2009 (A)]
A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary
but
Our civilization, our culture, our swaraj [Sample Paper 2009
(A)]
A man must arrange his physical and cultural circumstances so
[Sample Paper 2009 (A)] (g) ‘Indian civilization and culture’ has been written
by [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] Answer:
happy, he is poor
not be happy in them
have all men attained perfection
above a certain level it becomes a hindrance instead of help
depend not upon multiplying our wants
that they do not hinder him (g) Mahatma Gandhi.
Bihar Board Class 12 English Textual Questions and Answer
A. Answer the following questions orally Question 1.
What do you know about Gandhiji?
Answer:
I know Gandhiji as Bapu and as Mahatma. He is called Bapu
because he was the father of the nation. He is called Mahatma because he was a
great soul or saint. Gandhiji was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement
against the British rule. He adopted Satyagraha and nonviolence to achieve all
his objectives. In the beginning Gandhiji worked in South Africa where he went
to jail several times for protesting against the ill-treatment to Indians
there. Gandhiji’s struggle was long, hard but peaceful. In 1942 Gandhiji-led
Congress began the Quit India Movement which ultimately paved the way to
India’s independence. The world has recognised the worth of his methods of
Satyagraha and non-violence. He has been declared as the Man of Millennium.
Question 2.
What did Gandhi do for the farmers in Bihar?
Answer:
It was indigo-peasant’s problems that brought Gandhiji to
Champaran in 1917. The British landlords owned large estates in Champaran.
Indigo farming was profitable for them but irksome for their Indian peasants.
The British landlords were exploiting the poor fanners who lived in constant
fear of them. Gandhiji visited Champaran, studied their problems, and fought
for their cause. He started a sort of non-violent movement. The farmers of
Champaran rallied round him.
Gandhi freed them from both exploitation and fear of the
British rulers.
Question 3.
What do you understand by civilization and culture?
Answer:
Civilization is the state of development of a people. Their
social, political, legal organisation are parts of their civilization. Culture
is all the customs, beliefs and ways of living inherited by them.
Civilization and culture, in fact, go hand in hand.
Question 4.
What do you holy scriptures tell us about universal human
values?
Answer:
Our holy scriptures tell us about truth and sacrifice. They
tell us that true happiness lies in spiritual persuits rather than in
materialistic ones.
B. 1.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of what
you have studied (a) India’s glory is that it
The charge aganist India is that
We dare not change what
Our ancestors set a limit to our indulagences because (e) Our
forefathers did not invent machinery because Answer:
(a) is immovable, (b) her people are uncivilized, ignorant
and stolid, (c) we have tested and found hue on the anvil of experience, (d)
more we indulge in our passions, the more lunbridled they become, (e) if we
invented machinery, we would become slaves and lose our moral fibre.
B. 1.2. Answer the following questions briefly Question 1.
How is Indian civilization different from European
civilization?
Answer:
European civilization is guided by the writings of Greece and
Rome, which no longer exist in their former glory. But Indian civilization is
steady. It follows the path that our forefathers tested on the anvil of
experience and found true and durable. Indian civilization needs no external
guide.
Question 2.
Why does Gandhiji say that ‘mind is a restless bird’? What
makes the mind restless?
Answer:
Gandhiji says that mind is a restless bird because it is
never satisfied. The more it gets the more it wants.
Question 3.
Why did out ancestors dissuade us from luxuries and
pleasures? Did they do the right thing?
Answer:
Our ancestors dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures
because they do not lead to happiness. The more one indulges in them, the more
dissatisfied one becomes. Our ancestors did the right thing because we find
that even the rich people are unhappy, and many poor are happy. In fact
happiness is a mental condition. It does not depend on wealth and possessions.
Question 4.
Why according to Gandhi, have we stuck with the same kind of
plough as existed thousands of years ago? Should we do the same thing even
today?
Answer:
According to Gandhiji we stuck to the plough that existed
thousands of years ago because we did not want tp indulge in competition. We
were content with our simple ways of life. Health and happiness come through
the use of our hands and feet. But I don’t think it will be right to do the
same thing today. We cannot feed our one billion population if we used the same
old plough today. Besides, our very existence in the modem world would be
almost impossible.
Question 5.
How did our ancestors view large cities? Why were they
satisfied Answer:
Our ancestors could foresee the vices that are bound to
flourish in big cities. They knew that gangs of thieves and robbers,
prostitution and other vices flourish in big cities, and the rich rob the poor.
They were, therefore, satisfied with small villages.
Question 6.
How did our ancestors enjoy true’Home Rule’?
Answer:
Our ancestors followed their simple occupations and lived
independently. Thus they enjoyed true Home Rule.
B. 2. Answer the following questions briefly Question 1.
What, according to file author, is modem civilization?
Answer:
According to Gandhiji modem civilization is the worship of
materialism and violence and brutality.
Question 2.
What did the author convey to file countrymen about dealing
with modem civilization?
Answer:
Gandhiji points out that the tendency of Indian civilization
is to elevate the moral being, but that of the western civilization is to
propagate immortality. He asked his countrymen to cling to their civilization,
but shun the modem civilization at all costs.
Question 3.
What Is the disinguishing characteristic of modem
civilization?
Answer:
According to Gandhiji indefinite multiplicity of human wants
is the distinguishing characteristic of modem civilization.
Question 4.
The author perceived danger from modem civilization. How?
Answer:
Gandhiji believed that the inventions of modem civilization
were too maddening to resist They could give. If they are not resisted, we
would barter our permanent good for momentary leasure.
Question 5.
What does author prefer to materialism?
Answer:
The author prefers spiritualism to materialism.
Question 6.
What does our civilization depend on ?
Answer:
Our civilization depends not on multiplying our demands; but
on restricting them.
Question 7.
What is civilization in the real sense of the term?
Answer:
In the real sense of the term, civilization means deliberate,
voluntary restriction of wants. C. l. Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Long
Answer Questions
Question 1.
‘I BELIEVE that the civilization India has evolved is not to
be beaten in the world.’ What does Gandhi mean by this statement? Do you
subscribe to his views?
Answer:
Gandhiji is of the firm view that the civilization India has
evolved is founded on firm grounds. Our ancestors tested it on the anvil of
their experience and found it to be true. The civilization of India has
withstood the test of time. Egypt we a great and powerful civilization. It has
lost its glory. It no longer exists. Same is the case with the great Roman and
Greek civilization. They have lost their former glory. Japan has westernised.
The people of Europe are inspired by Greek and Roman writers, and believe that
they will be able to steer clear of the mistakes those people made. But
Gandhiji does not hope that they will be able to do so.
About the Indian civilization, Gandhiji says that people of
the world think that the people of India are not willing to adept themselves to
new ideas. But Gandhiji does not consider it a fault. It is our merit because
our civilization is perfect and lasting. We need nobody’s guidance. I subscribe
to Gandhiji’s viewpoint. The civilization of India is thousands of years old,
and is still going strong. The philosophy of our ancestors propounded is
ingrained in our blood. But, I think, Indian civilization is flexible. It can
easily assimilate ideas from other civilizations, and still can march ahead
with great vigour. That is the beauty and merit of Indian civilization.
Question 2.
‘We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets
the more it wants, and still remains lesson, unsatisfied.’ Pick out other
metaphors used in the How do these metaphors help Gandhiji in persuading the
readers?
Answer:
Besides, the metaphor that ‘the mind is a restless bird’,
Gandhiji has used a few more metaphors.
They have not only embellished the language, but have added
force of persuation also. We can imagine a bird. It feeds and feeds, and still
is dissatisfied. Being a bird, it flies is search of more and more food. Such
is our mind. It flies like a dissatisfied and hungry bird. It craves for more
and more, and is never satisfied. This metaphor makes the subtle idea of human
dissatisfaction so easy to understand. Every reader can imagine and can
understand it. Then Gandhiji has used another metaphor.
‘We have tested and found it true on the anvil of
experience.’ We can imagine a blacksmith hammering a piece on the anvil. If
anything is solid and well formed it will not break. So is our civilization.
How easy it is to understand it. Gandhiji also says that our old and tested
civilization is the sheet anchor of our hope’. This is a beautiful metaphor. A
large ship on the sea is steadied by her sheet anchor in the face of a storm.
Through this metaphor Gandhiji has forcefully conveyed to us that it is only
our civilization that can help us to survive and face all sorts of misfortunes
and troubles.
Gandhiji calls big cities snares. This metaphor too is very
easy to comprehend. As poor animals are caught with snares, so the innocent and
poor people are trapped by vices and cunning people in cities. So we should
avoid big cities.
Question 3.
‘A man is not necessarily happy because he is rich, or
unhappy because he is poor. The rich are often seen to be unhappy, the poor to
be happy.’ What, according to Gandhi, holds key to real happiness? How does
Gandhi define ‘happiness’?
Answer:
According to Gandhiji, happiness is a state of mind. Wealth
and luxuries do not make a man happy. The wealthy are not always happy and the
poor are not always unhappy. Luxuries and comforts often become a burden and
cause physical and mental pain. People who work enjoy better health and
happiness than those who are slaves to machines and others. By multiplying our
desires we become less and less happy. That is why our ancestors put a limit on
our indulgence. Self-restraint is the key to happiness.
Question 4.
Why did our ancestors feel satisfied with small villages? Did
they do the right thing? Will it be wise today to follow our ancestors in this
connection ? Give your own view.
Answer:
Our ancestors believed in simple living and high thinking.
They knew that if we run after materialistic things, we will lose our moral
fiber. I They deliberately did not invent machines. People lived in small
villages, and followed their respective occupations and earned a regular wage.
Life in villages was free from competition. The ancestors knew the evils of
city life. There are vices like gambling and prostitution. There is
exploitation. I rich exploit the poor. There are robbers and thieves. Villages
were free from I these vices arid evils. So they were satisfied with small villages.
I think they did the right thing.
Today we see that more and more people are coming to cities.
There is overcrowding. People get no water to drink, and no proper houses to
live in. Slums are coming up very fast. People live in inhuman conditions. All
the evils and vices that Gandhiji mentioned are there. The people are coming to
cities on account of two things. Firstly, there are fewer opportunities in
villages. People do not get employment. Traditional | occupations are no longer
helpful. Secondly, it is the glamour of city life that brings people there.
They are soon disillusioned but they cannot go back to their villagers. Even
today, we need to correct it. We should develop villages so that people can
earn a respectable living. Then people will not think of flocking to cities.
Question 5.
Discuss the negative features of western civilization.
Answer:
The western civilization laid more stress on materialistic
progress than spiritual enlightenment. They spent their energy on physical
discoveries. t They have tried, and at that successfully, to bring physical
comforts. Indeed their scientific discoveries and inventions are dazzling.
Today the whole
world feels indebated to the west for making their lives
comfortable. But all these discoveries have almost totally ignored the soul of
man. The result is that demand for physical comforts is endless. This is
increasing burden on our “planet. Search for material gain has fuelled man’s
greed. The people in the developed countries have become more and more deperident
on machines. The earth is unable to meet their insatiable demands«.Now the
scientists in the west paint a bleak future of mankind. Pollution, global
warming, depletion of ozone layer, and thousands of other such problems
threaten our planet. The multiplying demands of the western civilization are
responsible for this chaos.
Question 6.
What is the essential difference between the Indian
eivilization and the western civilization? How is our civilization supperior to
the western civilization?
Answer:
The essential difference between the Indian civilization and
western civilization is of a kind and not of degree. The essential difference
is the same as between body and soil., between material and the spirit. The
western civilization is in search of endless pleasure, the Indian civilization
sets a limit to indulgence. The western civilization has made discoveries to
find physical comforts; the Indian civilization has sought to discover the true
nature of the soul and the eternal bliss. Indian philosophers discovered that
soul is more important than body, so their discoveries have found ways to
elevate the mind and the spirit. But western civilization
ignored this aspect altogether. They found comforts and luxuries. Naturally,
our civilization is superior because there is no limit to physical comforts.
Rather, after a certain stage, they are more burdensome than enjoyable. The
more comforts and luxuries we have, the more we crave for. We found no
happiness. But by a voluntary restrain on indulgence in passions, we can find
true happiness.
Question 7.
‘A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is
necessary but above a certain level it becomes a hindrance instead of help.’
Elaborate.
Answer:
Humans have both body and soul. No doubt soul is more important.
It dwells in the body. But without the body, the soul cannot achieve anything.
If we want to elevate our spirit, we need to work hard for it. If we want to
serve humanity, we cannot do so unless our body is strong and has some degree
of comfort. If we are uncomfortable, we cannot make the best use of our
physical energy. So a degree of physical comfort is essential. But to be slave
to comforts and pleasures will degrade us morally. Indeed there should be a
degree of physical harmony and comfort. But indulgence in passions without
restraint will become a burden and hindrance. Man will not be able to do good
to himself or to society.
C. 2. Group Discussion
Discuss the following in groups or pairs; Question 1.
‘Truth and non-violence have been the biggest weapons of
mankind.
Answer:
There have been great wars in which most deadly weapons were
used. Millions of people were killed and cities were destroyed. But those wars
could not achieve anything. They could kill and captivate people, but could not
win a single soul. But there have been some people like the Buddha and Christ.
They used not a single weapon. They killed nobody. They destroyed no homes. But
they have conquered empires and mle over the hearts of millions of people.
Their weapon was the weapon of truth and love. Their empires are still intact.
Gandhiji was a frail man. He was armed with a lathi which he never used even to
threaten anybody. He led armies of unarmed men and stood against the bullets
and lathis of the British police. Still he won. His weapon was the biggest
weapon-truth and non-violence.
Question 2.
High thinking cannot go alongside high living.
Answer:
Exceptions may be found here and there, but it is generally
true that high thinking cannot go alongside high living. Those who are given to
high thinking find that living life of luxury is meaningless. Naturally they
prefer to lead a simple life. Ourrishis and saints who have discovered ultimate
truth led simple lives. But those who live in luxury have little time to think
deeply. All the best literature, thought and philosophy in the world has come
from people who led simple lives. No wealthy man has ever made great
contribution to human throught. We have examples of people who renounced
worldly possessions and led saintly lives. The Buddha gave up his kingdom and
Tolstoy gave away his lands, and enriched the world with their wisdom.
C. 3. Composition
Write a paragraph in about 100 words on each of the following
:
The real dignity of man lies not in what he has but in what
he is. Ans. Many people believethat they would gain greater respect in society
if they had more wealth. But they find it is a fallacy, because
wealth comes in a thousand ways, and most of the ways are not respectable.
Wealth can come through inheritance, through winning a jackpot, through
smuggling, cheating, robbing and many other immoral and illegal ways. All these
ways hardly make a man great. But people of character and wisdom are truly
respected.
India has a long tradition of respecting saints and
sanyasins. Even the richest men bow to them. It is only character and integrity
that make a man great.
The crown and glory of life is character.
Ans. Character is what gives man inner glow. Wealth and
possession do not make a man great. In the hour of crisis, it is not wealth
that can give man courage, but its character that helps a man to face
misfortunes with fortitude. Wealth and possession make a man appear to shine as
the rays of the sun falling on window panes. But when the sun sets, there can
be a glow only if there is light within. Similarly a man may appear to be great
when he has wealth. His true worth is seen when he loses wealth. Indeed
character does not make only a man great, but a nation becomes great if there
are men and women of strong character.
WORD STUDY
D.1. Dictionary use
Ex. 1. Correct the spellings of the following words Answer:
disuaded — dissuaded ocupation — occupation votries — votaries imorality —
immorality unadulterated — unadultrated matarialism — materialism
beleif — belief madning — maddening ‘
definition: What was Gandhiji’s definition of Satyagraha?
pleasure: It was a pleasure to hear classical music, education: Education
should be accessible to all. observation: Newton had a keen power of
observation.
D. 3. Word-meaning
Ex. 1. Find from the lesson words the meanings of which have
been given in column A. The last part of each word is given in column B.
Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with suitable words (gerunds) from
the given list living thinking writing bartering maddening
Pragya’s is not very legible.
The police could not control the crowd.
We are in danger of away the permanent good for a momentary
pleasure. (iv) Gandhi always believed in simple (v) Amandeep’s was quite
logical.
Answer:
(i) writing, (ii) maddening, (iii) bartering, (iv) living,
(v) thinking.
4. Phrases
Ex. 1. Read the lesson carefully and find out the sentences
in which the following phrases have been used. Then use these phrases in
sentences of your own:
satisfy with, be sujited to, believe in, cling to, in vain
Answer:
satisfy with: We are unhappy because we are not satisfied
with what we have. be suited to: The climate of Bihar is not suited to growing
apples. believe in: I believe in God.
Cling to Let’s not cling to outdated customs in vain: He
tried hi vain to persuade him to give up smoking.
Grammar
Ex. 1. Complete the sentences given below by using the
appropriate forms of the verbs given in brackets :
Indian civilization has……..it alive till now. (keep)
I see here ancient India still……….. (live)
We have………… many things from western literature, (borrow)
We have been………… west since long, (copy)
Arya did…………. so, (speak)
Nehru had…………. so many letters to his daughter from jail,
(write) Answer:
(a) kept, (b) living, (c) borrowed, (d) copying, (e) speak,
(f) written.
Ex. 2 Study the following sentence from the lesson
We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets
the more it wants. Mark the use of double comparative in the above sentence.
Form ten sentences of your own choice on this pattern. Answer:
The higher we go, the cooler it is.
The harder he worked, the better he grew.
The more you spend, the less you have.
The louder she cried, the hoarser she became.
The more she earns, the more she spends.
The longer we waited, the darker it became.
The higher the sun rises, the hotter it becdome.
The more he ate, the fatter he became.
The farther he walked, more desperate he became.
The harder you work, the better you achieve.
The more he earned, the less he spent.
F. Activity
Students may do it themselves.
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