Bihar Board Solution for Class 12 English - Rainbow, Chapter 1
A. Answer the following questions orally:
1. What do you know about Gandhiji ?
Answer :
I know Gandhiji as Bapu and as a Mahatma. He is called Bapu because he is the father of nation. He is called Mahatma because he was great soul. Gandhiji was the leader of the Indian Nationalist movement against the British rule. He adopted Satyagrah and non-violence to achieve all his objectives. In the begining , 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 and hard, but it was 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.
2. What did Gandhiji 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 farmers 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. Gandhiji freed them from both exploitation and fear of the British rulers.
3. What do you understand by civilization and culture ?
Answer :
Civilization is the state of development of people. Their social, political, legal organisation are parts of their civilization. On the other hand, culture is all about customs, beliefs and way of living inherited by them.
4. What do our 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 ......................
b) The charge against India is that ..................
c) We dare not change what ...................
d) Our ancestors set a limit to our indulgences because .................
e) Our forefathers did not invent machinery because .....................
Answers :
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 :
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.
2) Why did Gandhi say that 'mind is a restless bird'? What makes the mind restless ?
Answer :
Gandhiji says that mind is a restless bird because it never satisfied. The more it gets the more it wants.
3) Why did our 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 led to happiness. The more we indulges in them, the more dissatisfied we 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 mental condition. It does not depend on wealth and possessions.
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 to 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 modern world would be almost impossible.
5) How did our ancestors view large cities ? Why were they satisfied with small villages ?
Answer :
Our ancestors could forsee 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.
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
1) What, according to the author, is modern civilization ?
Answer :
According to the author, modern civilization is the worship of materialism , violence and brutality.
2) What did the author convey to the countrymen about dealing with modern civilization ?
Answer :
Author 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 modern civilization at all costs.
3) What is the distinguished characteristic of modern civilization ?
Answer :
According to Gandhiji indefinite multiplicity of human wants is the distingushing characteristic of modern civilization.
4) The author perceived danger from modern inventions. How ?
Answer :
Gandhiji believed that the inventions of modern civilization were too maddening to resist they could give. If they are not resisted, we would barter our permanent good for momentary leasure.
5) What does the author prefer to materialism ?
Answer :
The author prefer spritualism to materialism.
6) What does our civilization depend upon ?
Answer :
Our civilization depends not on multiplying our demands, but on restricting them.
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.1. Long Answer Questions
1. 'I BELIEVE that the civilization India has evolved is not 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 found on firm grounds. Our ancestors tested it on the anvil of their experience and found it be true. The civilization of India has withstood the test of time. Egypt with a great and powerful civilization has lost its glory. It no longer exists. And same case with the great Roman and Greek civilization. They have lost their former glory. Japan has waternished. 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 doesn't 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 doesn't consider it a fault. It is our merit because our civilization is perfect and lasting. We need nobody's guidance. I subscribe Gandhiji's view point. 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.
2. 'We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets the more it wants, and still remains unsatisfied.' Pick out other metaphors used in the lesson. How do these metaphors help Gandhiji in persuading the readers ?
Answer :
Gandhi ji has used many metaphors in his illuminating essay Indian Civilization and Culture. Apart from calling mind a ‘restless bird’, he has used many other metaphors profound in meaning. He has used the ‘Golden Fleece’ to express the idea of a something which is difficult to achieve. He has taken it from Greek mythology. It shows the Gandhi Ji’s wide range of reading as well as his mastery over English Language. Another metaphor he has used in the essay is ‘sheet anchor’ which means security here. In this way we see that Gandhi ji has used metaphors meticulously in order to express his thoughts in a clear and lucid way.
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 :
The author is of the opinion that being rich is not a condition to be happy or being poor to be unhappy. The real happiness lies in contentment. The rich no stone unturned in order to fulfill all their desires. But Gandhi ji believes that our desires become more unbridled when we try to satisfy them. Thus despite their best efforts they can’t satisfy their desires, they fail to achieve it. This leaves them sad. On the other hand, the poor lead a content life and do not multiply their wants. A man can be content by only by controlling his mind. In this way we see that happiness is in the real sense a state of mind.
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 the connection ? Give your own view.
Answer :
Gandhi ji writes that our ancestors were quite content to live in villages and considered towns a place where the poor were robbed by the rich. They were of the opinion that town is a place where vices have many faces. The ancient Indian civilization advocates for the village life as it becomes the epitome for “simple living and high thinking.” In this way Gandhi ji reminds us of the dangers human race is facing today with the spread of urbanization. Life becomes of slave to luxuries and spiritualism is left far behind. The writer rightly observes that the greatest benefit of village life is that it preserves the Indian civilization and culture in the truest sense. Our ancestors were justly satisfied with life in small villages.
5. Discuss the negative features of western civilization.
Answer :
Western civilization stands for material life. Western countries have developed on the material line that leads to a life of luxury. It believes in the multiplication of wants which results on indulgence. They have tried their best to fulfill their worldly derides. But in doing so, they developed a distance from the religion and god. The west has become has godless society. Such a distance for these higher values of life leads to immorality. The writer seems to be quite content that our country has not progress on material line. He is rather happy that it has progressed on spiritual line because when the world will become a wasteland devoid of religion and god, India will look like an oasis and will be ready to lead the world.
6. What is the essential difference between the Indian civilization and the Western civilization ? How is our civilization superior to the Western civilization ?
Answer :
The chief difference between Indian civilization and western civilization is that the former stands for spiritualism while the latter stands for materialism. Indian civilization advocates for self-denial and not self-indulgence which is an essential part of the western civilization. The writer admits that he does not dislike the west. Rather he is grateful to it for many things he has learnt from it. He also accepts that the inventions made by them are dazzling in many ways. But he also holds that his experience says that for the Indians, it would be fatal to imitate the western culture and civilization because it leads to develop a distance from religion and god. The west has become has turned into a godless society. Such a distance for these higher values of life leads to immorality. The writer also claims that Indian civilization is far superior to the western civilization. The material life offered by the western civilization is transient while spiritual life offered by the Indian civilization leads to divinity and hence it is permanent.
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 :
Gandhi Ji is of the opinion that comfort and luxury is good to a certain level. But if we dependent too much on modern inventions that add luxury in our life, they will certainly make us their slaves. Our ancestors dissuaded from indulging in luxury. The more we indulge in them, the more unbridle they become. Our want for luxurious things keep on multiplying. This multiplication of our unsatisfied desires is a trap which dupes us in false pursuits. We spend too much time in these things and find little time for the service of humanity. In this way the best way to lead a satisfied life is to curb our desires.