• Project/Presentation/website: Ask the students to complete the activity on page
133.
• Collage: Ask the students to complete the activity on page 133.
• Peer and self-assessment: Use the Fill in the blanks, True or False and MCQs on pages
133 and 134 for peer and self-assessment.
HOTS
The HOTS question can be discussed in class.
Life skills
Ask the students to learn more on the topic.
Value-based question
Ask the students to discuss the answers for the value-based question.
Follow-up
• Listen to Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech on India’s tryst with destiny spoken on August 15,
1947. You can listen to it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wUcw8Ufx_Y.
• Or read the full text of his speech at http://www.svc.ac.in/files/TRYST%20WITH%20
DESTINY.pdf
• Learn it and say it in class.
Answer key for the exercises in the lesson
Exercises for Summative Assessment
I. Fill in the blanks.
1. Vallabhai Patel is called the Iron Man of
India.
2. The Nawab of Junagadh wanted to join
Pakistan.
3. The last king of Kashmir was Hari Singh.
4. India became a democracy in the year 1947.
5. In 1956, India and China signed the
Panchsheel agreement.
6. In 1950, the Indian states were reorganised
on the basis of language.
II. True or False?
1. Hyderabad state wanted to be independent.
(T)
2. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948.
(T)
3. India won the war against China in 1962. (F)
4. The Simla Agreement was signed between
India and Bangladesh. (F)
5. Russia is one of the countries formed after
the USSR was dissolved. (T)
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III. Answer in brief.
1. What were the two major challenges
that India faced immediately after
independence?
The two major challenges that India faced
immediately after independence were the
refugee crisis, and keeping the country
together and not allow it to break into
independent fragments.
2. How was Junagadh annexed to India?
Junagadh was a small seaport state in
Kathiawad. The Nawab of Junagadh wanted
to join Pakistan, while the people of the state
wanted to join India. The Indian army was
sent to take over the state. The Nawab fled
to Pakistan, and Junagadh became part of
India.
3. How was Hyderabad annexed to India?
Hyderabad enjoyed a special position as the
largest princely state of India. The nizam
declared Hyderabad to be independent. The
Indian leaders felt that the future of India as
a unified nation would face grave danger if
this was allowed to happen. Indian troops
were sent to Hyderabad. The government of
India announced that it was not a war but a
‘police action’ and Hyderabad was annexed
to India.
4. Why did the ruler of Kashmir join India?
Kashmir had a Hindu ruler, Maharaja Hari
Singh, ruling over a majority of Muslim
people. Its territory touched both India and
Pakistan and hence, it could join either of
the two. But Hari Singh had secret hopes
of remaining independent. At this time,
Kashmir was invaded by Pathan tribes from
Pakistan. Hari Singh appealed to India for
help and in return, he agreed to join India.
5. What are the Five-Year Plans? Which prime
minister introduced them?
As a result of colonial exploitation, the Indian
democracy faced poverty, illiteracy, social
injustice, unemployment and agricultural
ruin. One of the most urgent tasks facing
the leaders was to bring about all-round
economic development. In 1950, Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru established the
Planning Commission to prepare a plan for
the ‘most effective and balanced utilisation
of the county’s resources.’ The result was
a succession of Five-Year Plans for national
development modelled on the Five-Year
Plans of the Soviet Union. Through these
plans India made great development in areas
like industry, agriculture, irrigation, transport
and communication, and social services.
6. List all the countries that neighbour India.
Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Bhutan,
Myanmar and Sri Lanka are the countries
that neighbour India.
7. Explain the policy of non-alignment.
When India became independent, there
were two super powers in the world, the
USA and the USSR. India took the stand of
positive neutrality by not aligning itself with
either of them, and adhered to a policy of
non-alignment.
IV. Answer in detail.
1. Describe the significant features of the
constitution of India.
India was declared to be a sovereign
democratic republic. The new constitution
ensured equality, justice and liberty for all
Indian citizens. All Indians above the age of 21
were given the right to vote. (The minimum
age has now been reduced to18.) The main
architect of the Indian constitution was Dr
BR Ambedkar. He was greatly influenced
by Buddhist literature, and the Buddhist
concept of the sangha, which was based on
the principles of democracy and equality. The
Indian Constitution also drew heavily from
the western constitutions like those of the
USA, the UK, Ireland and Canada. India was
a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multilingual country. So the leaders felt the need
for a common language. Hindi became the
national language with English continuing
to be used for official purposes. The states
were reorganised on the basis of language.
2. Give an account of the wars and armed
conflicts between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan as a nation was created in 1947.
India and Pakistan have shared a strained
relationship ever since the accession of
Jammu and Kashmir to India. Pakistan
tried to liberate Kashmir, and it ended in
armed conflict between the two countries.
The UN ordered a cease-fire in1948 and
Pakistan had to withdraw its troops from
Indian land. However, Pakistan continues
to hold part of Jammu and Kashmir which
is called Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
Two more Indo-Pakistan wars took place,
one in 1965 and the other in 1971 (over the
liberation of Bangladesh). Both wars were
won by India. In July 1972, the Simla Accord
was signed between India and Pakistan.
Both countries agreed to settle differences
peacefully through negotiation, and trade
and diplomatic relations were re-established
between the two nations. But there were
constant border skirmishes. In May 1999,
armed intruders and Pakistani soldiers
entered Kashmir and took control of the high
ridges of Kargil. India won the Kargil conflict.
Since then efforts are being made by both
India and Pakistan to make their relationship
more cordial.
3. Give a brief account of the ups and downs in
the relationships between India and China.
India and China have enjoyed cultural and
economic ties for more than 2000 years.
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However, with the passage of time the old
friendship also changed. India was one of
the first countries to recognise the new
communist Chinese government formed in
1949. In 1954, India and China signed the
Panchsheel Agreement and both accepted
the five principles of friendly co-existence.
But trouble soon arose with China publishing
a map which included over one lakh
square kilometres of Indian territory in the
Himalayas. In 1959, China invaded Tibet and
Tibet’s spiritual head, the Dalai Lama, fled to
India. Chinese forces attacked India in 1962
and defeated the Indian army. Relations
with China worsened in the 1960’s and
1970’s. However, since then there has been
126
a conscious effort on both sides to improve
relations.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. a&d
6. a
2. b
7. a
3. b
8. a
4. d
9. b
5. c
10. c
Value-based question
•
•
•
•
Being hardworking and industrious
Having the courage to start life afresh
Being enterprising and resourceful
Showing perseverance and the determination
to face challenges
Question bank
I. Name the following.
1. The body established by Nehru in 1950 to
prepare the Five Year Plans
2. The agreement signed between India and
China in 1954
3. The Indian prime minister who visited
Myanmar in 1987
4. The separatist movement in Sri Lanka, which
wanted to establish a separate state for the
ethnic Tamils
5. The peace treaty signed between India and
Pakistan in 1972
II. Answer in brief.
1. What created the refugee crisis in India after
independence?
2. Name the three princely states, which did
not agree to become a part of the Indian
Union immediately after independence?
3. Why were the Five Year Plans introduced in
India?
4. What does the Non-Aligned Movement
mean to India?
5. Why is the English language being used for
official purposes?
III. Answer in detail.
1. Explain the salient features of the Indian
Constitution.
2. Describe the relationship between India and
China.
3. Write brief notes on the relationship
between: a)India and the USA b) India and
the USSR
Answer key for the worksheet
I. 1. Rehabilitation
2. Vallabhbhai Patel
3. Sarvodaya Day 4. Sheikh Mujibur Rehman
5. Bokaro and Bhilai
II. 1. False 2. False 3. True 4. False 5. False
III. 1. a 2. b
3. c 4. c and d
5. a
IV. 1. Junagadh was ruled by a Nawab who wanted
to join Pakistan. Whereas the people of
Junagadh wanted to join India. The Indian
army was sent to take over the state. The
Nawab fled to Pakistan and Junagadh
became a part of India.
2. Dr B R Ambedkar was greatly influenced
by Buddhist literature and the Buddhist
concept of Sangha which were based on the
principles of equality and democracy.
3. The people of East Pakistan were
predominantly Bengali Muslims who felt that
they were exploited like a colony by West
Pakistan. They were discontented when Urdu
was introduced as their official language.
Moreover, in 1970 Sheikh Mujibur Rehman
won the elections but was not allowed to
form a government by West Pakistan.
4. In 1959, when China invaded Tibet, the
spiritual head of the Tibetans, the Dalai
Lama, fled to India.
5. The Simla Accord was signed by India and
Pakistan in 1972. The two countries agreed to
settle their differences through negotiation
and trade and not by warfare. Diplomatic
ties were resumed after the Accord was
signed but continue to be fragile even today.
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