question_answer

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

A News Paper Report

The following report, tided 'The ryot and the moneylender', appeared in the Native Opinion (6 June, 1876), and was quoted in Report of the Native Newspapers of Bombay:

They (the ryots) first place spies on the boundaries of their villages to see if any Government officers come, and to give timely intimation of their arrival to the offenders. They then assemble in a body and go to the houses of their creditors, and demand from them a surrender of their bonds and other documents, and threaten them in case of refusal with assault and plunder. If any Government officer happens to approach the villages where the above is taking place, the spies give intimation to the offenders and the latter disperse in time.

(i) Describe how ryots took control over the moneylenders?

(ii) Explain the measures taken by the ryots to save themselves.

(iii) Explain why ryots resorted to robbing the moneylenders.

Or

'We are not just going to copy'

We say that it is our firm and solemn resolve to have an independent sovereign republic. India is bound to be sovereign, it is bound to be independent and it is bound to be a republic ... Now, some friends have raised the question: 'Why have you not put in the word 'democratic' here'? Well, I told them that it is conceivable, of course, that a republic may not be democratic but the whole of our past is witness to this fact that we stand for democratic institutions. Obviously we are aiming at democracy and nothing less than a democracy. What form of democracy, what shape it might take is another matter. The democracies of the present day, many of them in Europe and elsewhere, have played a great part in the world's progress. Yet it may be doubtful if those democracies may not have to change their, shape somewhat before long if they have to remain completely democratic.

We are not going just to copy, I hope, a certain democratic procedure or an institution of a so-called democratic country. We may improve upon it. In any event whatever system of government we may establish here must fit in with the temper of our people and be acceptable to them. We stand for democracy. It will be for this House to determine what shape to give to that democracy, the fullest democracy, I hope. The House will notice that in this Resolution, although we have not used the word "democratic" because we thought it.is obvious that the word "republic" contains that word and we did not want to use unnecessary words and redundant words, but we have done something much more than using the word. We have given the content of democracy in this Resolution and not only the content of democracy but the content, if, I may say so, of economic democracy in this Resolution. Others might take objection to this Resolution on the ground that we have not said that it should be a Socialist State. Well, I stand for Socialism and, I hope, India will stand for Socialism and that India will go towards the Constitution of a Socialist State and I do believe that the whole world will have to go that way.

- Constituent Assembly Debates (Cad), Vol. I

(i) Explain why Nehru diet not mention, the word democratic in the resolution.

(ii) Mention the three basic features of the Constitution given in the above passage.

(iii) On what kind of socialism did Nehru give stress to?

 

Answer:

(i) The ryots used to take control over moneylenders by their numerical strength. Since ryots were large in number and demand the moneylenders to surrender the bonds and threatened them of assault and plunder.

(ii) The ryots had their spies deputed at the outskirts of village who would inform the ryots of arrival of any British officials.

In case the officials were to approach the place where the agitation against moneylenders was taking place, the spies would inform them mime hand and the ryots disperse before the coming of officials.

(iii) Ryots resorted to robbing the moneylenders because ryots were under extreme pressure of paying the rents even though the prices of cotton was very low. The ryots could hardly manage and they used to borrow from moneylenders but now seeing the incapai city of ryots to pay back, moneylenders refused to lend them. And even if they lent, the moneylenders charged high interest rates and indulged in fraudulent practices.

Or

(i) Nehruji made it clear, ?the whole of our past is witness to this fact that we stand for democratic institutions. Obviously, we are aiming at democracy and nothing less than democracy.?

(ii) (a) The Constitution should have democratic principles.

(b) It should be written and unambiguous.

(c) The Constitution should give equal rights to all the citizens without any discrimination.

(iii) (a) Nehruji was an ardent supporter of democratic socialism.

(b) He wanted economic democracy.

(c) He opined that India would go towards the Constitution of a socialist India.