Struggles For Equality - Class 7 Civics - Extra Questions

In India, before Independence, only a small minority was allowed to _______.

The British rule had given voting rights only to a few. In India, before independence, only a small minority was allowed to vote. Gandhiji firmly opposed this system and advocated for the universal adult franchise. 


Our Constitution abolished the practice of untouchability and declared it a crime. Do you think it has been fully abolished in practice?

Though our constitution abolished the practice of untouchability, in real there are many instances where untouchability is practiced. Preventing Dalits from entering schools, temples, public places; not allowing inter-caste marriages; caste atrocities upon poor peoples etc are some incidences.


_________ has created one of the major forms of inequality in our country.
Fill in the blanks.

Caste system has created one of the major forms of inequality in our country.


Who are the upper castes in caste system ?

In the caste system, communities/ groups of people were placed in a social order where each caste was either above or below the other. Those who placed themselves at the top of the ladder called themselves upper caste and saw themselves as superior, for example Brahmins.


Discuss the notions of purity and impurity attached with occupations in society.

People are engaged in different kinds of work like teaching, carpentry, pottery, weaving, fishing, farming etc. to earn their livelihood. However, certain kinds of jobs are valued more than the others. Activities like cleaning, washing, cutting hair, picking garbage are seen as tasks that are of less value and people who do this work are seen as dirty or impure.


Who are the untouchables?

The groups who were placed at the bottom of the ladder in caste system were seen as unworthy and were called untouchables.
For example, Dalits.


How can you say that establishment of equality in society is a continuous struggle?

Inspite of several efforts made by the government inequalities still exist in our society. Even today low caste people are being discriminated against and treated unequally. The reason behind it is that people refuse to think of them as equal even though the law requires it. This attitude of the people is so deeply rooted that it can not change all of a sudden. It will take a lot of time. Even though people are aware that discrimination is against the law, they continue to treat others unequally on the basis of caste and religion. People are also discriminated against on the basis of economic status, disability and gender.
Unless people believe that every person deserves to be treated equally and with dignity, the present attitude cannot be rooted out. Changing people's attitude is a very slow process and hence establishment of equality in society is a continuous struggle.


How can your school help in ending caste based inequalities?

In following ways, school can help in ending caste based inequalities :
1. Practicing utmost equality in school affairs, not discriminating among different students, teachers, employees etc.
2. Organising social awareness campaigns in nearby areas.
3. Inter-school initiatives to fight caste-discrimination.
4. Implementation of government policies and laws in equal manner.


When people are treated unequally, their ________ is violated.
Fill in the blanks.

When people are treated unequally, their dignity is violated.


In what ways do you think did the caste system promote inequality among people?

Caste system creates barriers for the lower castes and creates inequalities. Caste rules were set and did not allow the so-called untouchable to take on work other than what they were meant to do. They were not allowed to enter the homes of the upper castes, take water from the village well or enter the temples. Their children could not sit next to the children of other castes in school.


How did people at the station discriminate against Dr Ambedkar and his brothers?

Firstly, station master behaved strangely and he went away to his room.
Secondly, the cart men and not one of them was prepared to suffer being polluted and to demean himself carrying passengers of the untouchable classes.


How caste boundaries are maintained. Explain.

Usually, people of a caste follow some common customs and worship a particular deity. Many people who follow the caste rules marry only within their own caste. Thus, caste system creates some bonds among a particular group of people and separates them from the other groups. In such practices caste boundaries are maintained.


_________ is famous autobiography of Omprakash Valmiki.
Fill in the blanks.

Jhootan is famous autobiography of Omprakash Valmiki.


What works untouchables are supposed to do by caste system ?

Caste rules were set and did not allow the so-called untouchable to take on work other than what they were meant to do. For example, some groups were only allowed to pick garbage and remove dead animals from the village.


Despite the children offering money, the cartmen refused them. Why?

Carmen refused because the child Ambedkar and his brother were from Mahar caste which was an untouchable caste according to the prevalent caste notions.


What is mean by discrimination ?

When some people are not allowed to do what they want to do like get education, or take up jobs of their choice, we can say that they are facing discrimination.


Why do you think Omprakash Valmiki was treated unequally by his classmates and the teachers?

Valmiki was a Dalit or so called untouchable student and thus according to the students and teachers he does not equal right to educate with them. So they treated Valmiki unequally and even discriminated with him.


Caste discrimination only limited to the economic activities. Argue your views.

Caste based discrimination is not only limited to preventing dalits from undertaking certain economic activities but it also denies them the respect and dignity given to others. Discrimination against Dalits denies them their very rights guaranteed by the constitution of India.


Who criticised the varna system and what was their criticism?

As the Varna ideas spread, many people criticised them. Thinkers like Buddha, Mahavira, Ramanuja, Basava, Kabir, Vemana, etc. criticised the idea of some people being superior to others by birth. They felt that all people, irrespective of their birth or profession, can perform good deeds and attain salvation.


How teachers in present day ensures equality in schools?

Today many teachers have been making special efforts to ensure equality of students in the school. They not only encourage dalit students to learn but also ensure their participation in all school activities like welcoming guests, leading prayers, and making speeches in important functions.


How did teachers and students violated Valmiki's dignity?

The dignity of Omprakash Valmiki was violated because of the way in which he was treated. By picking on him and making him sweep the school because of his caste, Valmikis schoolmates and teachers hurt his dignity badly and made him feel as if he was less than equal to all other students in the school.


Give any one example that caste system was not present in that period.

There was a time when there was no caste system. We can saw the lives of hunter gatherers and tribes. They did not have any caste system. They live in community, and have egalitarian interaction between them.


Short note. 
Varna system.

Varna system emerged in the later Vedic period in which there are four major Varnas Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. These varnas are based on the notion of purity and pollution.


The ____________. constituted the depressed classes welfare fund and sanctioned one crore rupees.
Fill in the blanks.

 The Nizam constituted the depressed classes welfare fund and sanctioned one crore rupees.


Enlist the social reformers from Telangana during British period?

During the colonial period in the Telanagana region too, social mobilization emerged. Some of the important people involved in it were P.Venketaswamy, Eshwari Bai, T.N. Sadalakshmi, C.S. Ethirajan, Arigay Ramswamy, M. Venkataswamy, B.S. Venkatarao etc.


Short note on:
 Social reformers during 19th and 20th century.

In the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, several social reformers fought to create a new social system based on freedom, equality, brotherhood, human dignity and economic justice. They include Jyotirao Govindarao Phule, Savitri Bai Phule, Periyar E.V. Ramasami Naickar, Sri. Narayana Guru and Ayyankali.


Short note.
Struggle for equality during the British period.

The struggle for freedom from British rule also included within it the struggle of large groups of people who not only fought against the British but also fought to be treated more equally. Dalits, women, tribals and peasants fought against the inequalities they experienced in their lives.


Short note.
Hyderabad State Depressed Classes Association.

After an influential discussion, at Pune, Venkatrao and others formed Youth League of Ambedkarites, with the objective of getting educated dalit youth to propagate awareness about the exploitation based on caste. This was later renamed as Hyderabad State Depressed Classes Association.


The Nizam honored Venkatrao by awarding the title of __________.
Fill in the blanks

The Nizam honored Venkatrao by awarding the title of Khusru-E-Deccan.


Narrate the recognition received by Venkatrao from Dr. Ambedkar.

B.S. Venkatraos contribution to the dalit upliftment in Hyderabad was recognised by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar who invited him to preside over the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference in 1936 at Bombay. The conference was attended by 10,000 people.


Discuss the early life of B. S. Venkatrao. 

Bathula Venkatrao was born in Ghasmandi, Hyderabad. B.S. Venkatrao studied upto ninth class and was well versed in English, Urdu, Persian and Marathi apart from Telugu. He worked as a sculptor in Pune before joining the Public Works Department of the Nizams Government. He rose to a very high position in the government of the Nizam.


B. S. Venkatrao was popularly known as ________.
Fill in the blanks.

B. S. Venkatrao was popularly known as Rao Saheb.


Discuss the awareness campaign initiated by the Hyderabad State Depressed Classes Association.

The leaders of this organization went from place to place and organized meetings among the people to make them aware of caste oppression, the movements taking place in the country for the emancipation of the dalit castes and the need to organize and defend themselves. Some of them also promoted religious reform so that the dalits were freed of the casteist superstitions.


Short note.
Adi-Dravida Sangham.

Having experienced untouchability and its impact on the suppressed classes, Venkatrao was determined to eradicate it. The Adi-Dravida Sangham was formed with this objective in 1922 with the assistance of people like M. Govindrajulu and M. Venkataswamy. Its main objective, included abolition of the Devadasi system and bringing unity amongst the dalits.


The Adi-Dravida Sangham was formed in ________.
Fill in the blanks.

The Adi-Dravida Sangham was formed in 1922.


Bathula Venkatrao was born in __________.
Fill in the blanks.

 Bathula Venkatrao was born in Ghasmandi, Hyderabad.


Venkatrao was elected to the ___________ by the State Legislative Assembly after 1952.
Fill in the blanks.

 Venkatrao was elected to the Rajya Sabha by the State Legislative Assembly after 1952.


_________ was the first state in India to introduce mid-day meal scheme, and in 2001.
Fill in the blanks.

Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to introduce mid-day meal scheme, and in 2001.


The ___________ constituted the depressed classes welfare fund and sanctioned one crore rupees.
Fill in the blanks

 The Nizam constituted the depressed classes welfare fund and sanctioned one crore rupees.


____________ is a document that laid out the rules by which the nation would function.
Fill in the blanks.

Constitution is a document that laid out the rules by which the nation would function.


What is the mid-day meal scheme?

One of the steps taken by the government to ensure equality in schools includes the mid-day meal scheme. This refers to the programme introduced in all government elementary schools to provide wholesome cooked lunch to all the children.


Short note.
Two ways adopted by the government to implement equality.

The two ways in which the government has tried to implement the equality that is guaranteed in the Constitution is through laws and through government programmes or schemes to help the disadvantaged communities.


Discuss the positive effects of the mid-day meal programme.

Mid-day meal programme has many positive effects. These include the fact that more poor children have begun attending school. Teachers reported that earlier children would often go home for lunch and then not return to school. But now with the midday meal being provided in school, their attendance has improved. Their mothers, whose work ways interrupted to feed their children at home during the day, now no longer need, to do so.


Can you list three benefits of the mid-day meal programme?

Three benefits of the mid-day meal programme :
1. Reduction in hunger of poor children.
2. Reduction in caste prejudices in the school.
3. Increase in the school attendance by students.


Give any one reason for the persistence of caste prejudices.

One of the main reasons for caste discrimination or prejudice is that attitudes change very slowly. Even though people are aware that discrimination is against the law, they continue to treat people unequally on the basis of their caste.


What is the one way forward to reduce caste prejudices ?

It is only when people begin to believe that no one is inferior, and that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, the present attitudes can change.


Class 7 Civics Extra Questions