NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 6 Civilising the Native, Educating the Nation contain solutions to the exercises given in the History book Our Pasts -III. These answers have been explained in a manner that you will easily understand all the concepts and get your doubts cleared without even seeking anyone’s assistance.
Class 8 History Civilising the Native, Educating the Nation Questions and Answers
Question 1: Match the following:
| William jones | Promotion of English education |
| Rabindranath Tagore | Respect for ancient cultures |
| Thomas Macaulay | gurus |
| Mahatma Gandhi | Learning in a natural environment |
| Pathshalas | Critical of English education |
Answer:
| William jones | Respect for ancient cultures |
| Rabindranath Tagore | Learning in a natural environment |
| Thomas Macaulay | Promotion of English education |
| Mahatma Gandhi | Critical of English education |
| Pathshalas | gurus |
Question 2: State whether true or false:
(a) James Mill was a severe critic of the Orientalists.
Answer: True
(b) The 1854 Despatch on education was in favour of English being introduced as a medium of higher education in India.
Answer: True
(c) Mahatma Gandhi thought that promotion of literacy was the most important aim of education.
Answer: False
(d) Rabindranath Tagore felt that children ought to be subjected to strict discipline.
Answer: False
Question 3: Why did William Jones feel the need to study Indian history, philosophy and law?
Answer: William Jones felt the need to study Indian history, philosophy and law as this would not only help the British learn from Indian culture but it would also help Indians to rediscover their heritage and understand the lost glories of their past. This would establish the British as guardians of Indian culture and gain total control.
Question 4: Why did James Mill and Thomas Macaulay think that European education was essential in India?
Answer: Both Mill and Macaulay shared a common belief in the superiority of Western science, literature, and moral values over Eastern traditions and knowledge. They thought that introducing European education in India would not only civilize and modernize the Indian population but also create a class of people who could assist in administering the country according to British values and interests.
Question 5: Why did Mahatma Gandhi want to teach children handicrafts?
Solution: Gandhi wanted kids to learn crafts because he thought it would develop their minds, bodies and soul. He believed that along with reading and writing education should emphasise practical skills. By learning a useful craft, children could become productive from a young age, making education more meaningful.
Question 6: Why did Mahatma Gandhi think that English education had enslaved Indians?
Solution: Mahatma Gandhi believed that English education enslaved Indians because it created a sense of inferiority in their minds. It made them see Western civilisation as superior to their own culture and civilization. Gandhi saw this education as “poison” and “sinful,” as it enslaved Indians and cast an evil spell on them. He advocated for education in Indian languages and emphasized learning through practical knowledge and handicrafts.