INDIAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE | Bihar board 12 class English chapter 1 Question answer

SUMMARY

Indian civilization and culture is an essay written by Mahatma Gandhi here he talks about the importance of our ancient civilization.

Mahatma Gandhi says that no other Civilization of the world compare with our civilization according to Gandhi ji civilization is that made of conduct which points out to man the path of duty. It refers to good conduct. It is associated with morality. The western Civilization is inferior to Indian civilization because it is based on the worship of the material and the brute in human beings. Gandhi ji says that the mind is restless bird. The more it gets. The more it wants so, the control on one’s mind is necessary.

Gandhi ji says that village life is free from the evil of modern civilization and people take the joy of true home rules.

A.) Answer the following questions orally:-

1. What do you know about Gandhiji?

Ans:- I know Gandhiji as Bapu and as Mahatma. he is called Bapu because he was the father of the nation. He is called Mahatma because he was a great soul or saint. Gandhiji was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against the British rule. He adopted Satyagraha and nonviolence to achieve all his objectives. In the beginning Gandhiji worked in South Africa where he went to jail several times for protesting against the ill-treatment to Indians there. Gandhiji struggle was long, hard but peaceful. In 1942 Gandhiji led congress began the Quit India Movement which ultimately paved the way to India's independence. The world has recognized the worth of his methods of satyagraha and non-violence. He has been declared as the Man of Millennium.

2. What did Gandhi do for the farmers in Bihar?

Ans:- 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 fanners 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. Gandhi freed them both exploitation and fear of the British rules.

3. What do you understand by civilization and culture?

Ans:- Civilization is the state of development of a people. their social, political, legal organization are parts of their civilization. Culture is all the customs, beliefs and ways of living inherited by them. Civilization and culture, in fact, go hand in hand.

4. What do you holy scriptures tell us about universal human values?

Ans:- Our holy scriptures tell us about truth and sacrifice. They tell us that true happiness lies in spiritual pursuits rather than in materialistic ones.

B.) 1.1. Complete the following sentences on the basics of what you have studied.

a) India’s glory is that it – remains immovable.

b) The charge against India is that – her people are so uncivilized, ignorant and stolid.

c) We dare not change what- we have tested and found true on the arrival of experience.

d) Our ancestors set a limit to our indulgences because

- More we indulge in our passion. The more unbridled they become.

e) Our forefathers did not invent machinery because

- if we invented machinery, we would become slaves and lose our moral fibre.

B.) 1.2 Answer the following question briefly.

1. How is Indian civilization different from European civilization?

Ans - 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 does Gandhi say that 'mind is a restless bird' ? What makes the mind restless?

Ans - Gandhi ji says that mind is a restless bird because it is 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?

Ans - our ancestors dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures because they do not lead to happiness. The more one indulges in them, the more dissatisfied one 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 a 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 some thing even today?

Ans - According to Gandhi ji, we stuck to the plough that existed thousands of years ago because we did not want tp 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 can not 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?

Ans - our ancestors could foresee 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'?

Ans - Our ancestors followed their simple occupations and lives independently. Thus they enjoyed true Home Rule.

B.) 2. Answer the fallowing questions briefly.

1. What, according to the author, is modern civilization?

Ans - according to Gandhiji modern civilization is the worship of the materialism and brutality in human being.

2. What did the author convey to the countrymen about dealing with modern civilization?

Ans - 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?

Ans - The distinguishing characteristic of modern civilization is an indefinite multiplicity of human wants.

4. The author perceived danger from modern inventions. How?

Ans - According to Gandhiji, he believed that invention of modern civilization were too maddening to resist. If they are not resisted we would barter our permanent pleasure.

5. what does the author prefer to materialism?

Ans - The author prefers spiritualism to materialism.

6. what does our civilization depend upon ?

Ans - Our civilization depends not on multiplying our demands, but on restricting them.

7. what is civilization in the real sense of the term?

Ans - In the real sense of the term, civilization consist deliberate, voluntary restriction of our wants.