Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
‘‘The 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 long enough. 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 shall 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 in. 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 the mischief behind. 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 ? CAD, Vol. V
(15.1) With reference to the extract, identify the reasons for the introduction of ‘Separate Electorate System’ by the Britishers.
(15.2) ‘‘The British element is gone, but they have left the mischief behind.’’ Analyse the statement of Sardar Patel
(15.3) Interpret the plea of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel for united India.
OR
Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
‘‘The real minorities are the masses of this country’’
Welcoming the Objectives Resolution introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, N.G. Ranga said :
Sir, there is a lot of talk about minorities. Who are the real minorities ? Not the Hindus in the so-called Pakistan provinces, not the Sikhs, not even the Muslims. No, the real minorities are the masses of this country. These people are so depressed and oppressed and suppressed till now that they are not able to take advantage of the ordinary civil rights. What is the position ? 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 money-lender with his money and he is able to get the villagers in his pocket. There is the landlord himself, the zamindar, and the malguzar and there are the 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 ...
CAD, Vol. II
(15.1) Can we call N.G. Ranga as a ‘socialist’ after reading this extract ? Give suitable arguments to support your answer.
(15.2) How did N.G. Ranga relate his plea with the ‘Objectives Resolution’ of Jawaharlal Nehru ?
(15.3) ‘‘The real minorities are the masses of this country.’’ Analyse this statement of N.G. Ranga.
