NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 The Colonial Era in India

For centuries before the 16th century, India, along with China, was one of the two largest economies in the world. Its share of global GDP was estimated to be at least 25%.

The Portuguese used their naval dominance to force all ships sailing in the Arabian Sea to buy permits, or a cartaz, from them. Ships without these permits were captured and seized.

The Inquisition was a tribunal set up by the Roman Catholic Church. In Goa, it was used to persecute non-Christians and even Christian converts suspected of practicing their original faiths, often with great severity.

In this battle, the forces of the Travancore kingdom, under King Marthanda Varma, defeated the Dutch. This victory was unusual as it showed that European colonial armies could be successfully repelled by Indian forces.

Dupleix developed key colonial strategies, such as creating a disciplined infantry of Indian soldiers (sepoys) and interfering in local politics to install rulers who would support French interests.

The British were skilled at identifying and worsening existing tensions, such as rivalries between kingdoms or religious groups. By taking sides, they inserted themselves into conflicts and emerged as the main power brokers.

Clive conspired with Mir Jafar, promising to make him the new Nawab of Bengal. In return, Mir Jafar’s large section of the army did not fight, leading to the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah.

This doctrine was a tool for territorial expansion. It ignored the traditional Hindu right of adopting an heir, allowing the British to take direct control of many states, like Jhansi, after their ruler’s death.

This system appeared to protect Indian rulers but effectively stripped them of their sovereignty. They had to fund their own subjugation by maintaining British troops and lost control over their foreign policy.

After gaining the right to collect revenue, the Company imposed very high cash taxes on farmers. They continued to enforce these taxes rigidly even when crops failed, leading to widespread starvation and a devastating famine.

Despite millions dying of hunger, the administration prioritized profit and its “free market” policy. It allowed the export of about one million tonnes of rice annually and organized an extravagant durbar, showing disregard for the crisis.

Dadabhai Naoroji was a key figure who systematically compiled data from British reports to argue that Britain was draining India’s wealth. His work was foundational in creating the ‘drain theory’.

The painting uses symbolism to convey a message of power. Britannia’s elevated position, compared to the lower and bent posture of the figures representing the colonies, was meant to show Britain’s dominant status.

The British implemented protectionist policies that made it expensive for Indian textiles to be sold in Britain. Simultaneously, they flooded the Indian market with cheap, machine-made goods, destroying the livelihood of generations of skilled artisans.

This powerful statement was a metaphor for the immense suffering and death faced by India’s skilled cotton weavers. Their traditional craft was destroyed by British policies, leaving them destitute.

Metcalfe observed that these village communities were self-governing and self-sufficient entities. He noted their remarkable ability to survive and remain stable even when empires and dynasties fell around them.

Macaulay’s policy aimed to create a class of Indians who, despite their ethnicity, would adopt British culture and values. This group would serve as intermediaries and help administer the colony for the British.

While the railways had other effects, their design was primarily strategic and commercial. The routes were planned to facilitate the extraction of raw materials for British industries and to allow for rapid military deployment to quell rebellions.

Indian taxpayers paid for the construction of infrastructure like the railways. This meant that Indians were essentially funding projects that were designed to serve British colonial interests and strengthen their own subjugation.

The Sannyasi-Fakir Rebellion, one of the earliest organized movements against the British in Bengal, later became the thematic basis for this famous novel. The song ‘Vande Mataram’ became a rallying cry during India’s freedom struggle.

The Santhal people rose up against the exploitation by moneylenders and landlords who were supported by the British. The rebellion was led by two brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, who declared their own government.

Peasants were trapped in a cycle of debt because European planters forced them to grow indigo, a cash crop in high demand in Europe, while paying them so little that they couldn’t survive. This exploitation led to a widespread uprising.

While there were many long-term grievances, the spark was the introduction of new rifle cartridges. Rumours spread that they were greased with animal fat, which was offensive to the religious beliefs of both Hindu and Muslim sepoys.

In a symbolic move to challenge British authority, the rebellious sepoys declared the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, as their leader, even though his actual power was limited to a small area in Delhi.

After her kingdom was annexed, Begum Hazrat Mahal played a key role in the rebellion. She led the defense of Lucknow against the British and issued a counter-proclamation challenging Queen Victoria’s promises.

The British commander Hugh Rose noted that her personal qualities of intelligence, determination, and leadership, combined with her royal status, made her the “best and bravest” and therefore the most formidable opponent they faced.

The rebellion was a massive shock to the British. To consolidate their power and prevent future uprisings, the British government ended the rule of the East India Company and began to govern India directly through the Crown.

The idea of a ‘civilising mission’ was a pretext. India had a rich and ancient civilization. The colonial rule was, in reality, a process of economic exploitation, political subjugation, and brutal repression of the Indian people.

While motivations were mixed, the translation and study of Indian texts had a profound impact on European thought. Philosophers and writers were greatly influenced by the “discovery” of this ancient literature, causing a reverse flow of cultural influence.

The term ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ suggests the rebellion was limited to a group of soldiers unhappy with their officers. Indian historians prefer terms like ‘Great Rebellion’ to reflect that it was a much larger, widespread uprising involving various sections of society against foreign rule.