Bihar Board Rainbow English Book Class 12 SolutionsChapter 1 'Indian Civilization and Culture by Mahatma Gandhi'
Text Book Questions and Answers
B.1.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of what you have studied -
- India’s glory is that it remains immovable remains immovable.
- The charge against India is that her people are so uncivilized, ignorant, and stolid.
- We dare not change what we have tested and found true on the anvil of experience.
- Our ancestors set a limit to our indulgences because saw that happiness was largely a mental condition.
- Our forefathers did not invent machinery because if we set our hearts after such things, we would become slaves and lose our moral fibre.
B.1.2. Answer the following questions briefly -
1. How is Indian civilization different from European Civilization?
Ans: Indian civilization is different from European civilization on many grounds. Indian civilization is based on the higher values of life. It promotes spiritualism and belief in God. Contrary to this the European civilization is based on materialism. It tends to satisfy man’s physical needs which lead to the formation of a godless society.
2.Why does Gandhi say that ‘mind is a restless bird’? What makes the mind restless?
Ans: Gandhi Ji calls the mind a restless bird because the more it gets the more it wants and remains dissatisfied. A man is born with a plethora of desires. He works throughout his life to fulfill his desires. But desires are never-ending. Therefore the mind remains restless all the time.
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 knew that physical needs always remain insatiable. There is no use in running after our luxuries and physical pleasures. Our ancestors did the right thing because they rightly believed that if they ran after such things they would barter away the permanent good for a momentary pleasure.
4. Why, according to Gandhi, have we stuck with the same kind of plough as existed thousands of years ago? Should we do the same thing even today?
Ans: Our ancestors have stuck with the same kind of plough as existed thousands of years ago because they knew the ill-effects of the modern discoveries that make life luxurious. Man has become a slave to these machines. They kept themselves away from the life-corroding competition.
Today India has developed a lot. We have started to use modern machines in every field of our daily life. But we must know where to stop. It will be perilous for us to try to emulate the European life pattern.
5. How did our ancestors view large cities? Why were they satisfied with small villages?
Ans: Our ancestors believed that large cities were a snare and a useless encumbrance. They believed that people would not be happy there. There would be gangs of robbers and thieves and the rich would rob the poor. Village life is simple and honest in comparison to city life. These people are not as selfish and self-centered as those in big cities. This is why our ancestors were satisfied with small villages.
6. How did our ancestors enjoy true ‘Home Rule’?
Ans: During those days our ancestors enjoyed true Home Rule as everyone followed their occupation honestly. There were doctors and lawyers among them but they did not rob people rather they were dependent on them. The common practice was to avoid courts. The common people lived independently and followed their agricultural occupations. They enjoyed the true Home Rule.
B.2. Answer the following questions briefly -
1. What according to the author, is the modern civilization?
Ans: Gandhi Ji states that modern civilization is the worship of the brute in us. It leads us away from spiritual and divine life. It is the devotion to a brazen materialism. He also believes that if we follow it, it will bring nothing disaster and destruction for us.
2. What did the author convey to the countrymen about dealing with modern civilization?
Ans: The author believes that we the Indians should stay away from western civilization at all cost. India is a place knows for its spiritual values. It is therefore not proper for us to follow a civilization based on materialism.
3. What is the distinguished characteristic of modern civilization?
Ans: Modern civilization is based on materialism which thrives on the multiplication of human wants. The worshippers of modern civilization lack in having faith in the divine power. The society based on this model is godless.
4. The author perceived danger for modern inventions. How?
Ans: Modern inventions make our life comfortable. But over-dependence on these inventions leads to a life based on luxury. Modern man has become a slave to these modern inventions and he can’t think about a day of his life without these things. In this way, the human race is at the risk of bartering away the eternal good for fleeting pleasure.
5. What does the author prefer to materialism?
Ans: The author being a devoted lover of Indian civilization and culture prefers spiritualism to materialism. He says that material life is transient while spiritual life leads to divinity and it is permanent.
6. What does our civilization depend upon?
Ans: Our civilization depends on self-denial and not on self-indulgence. Human wants are unlimited. It is hazardous to indulge in its fulfillment. Therefore to attain real happiness, we have to develop contentment.
7. What is civilization in the real sense of the term?
Ans: According to Gandhi Ji civilization in the real sense of the term is the observance of morality and preservation of morality. For this, we have to control our unbridled passion. This can be done by controlling our minds. This is the only way to lead a satisfying life.
C.1. Long Answer Questions -
1. ‘I believe that the civilization India has evolved is not to be beaten in to be in the world.’ What does Gandhi mean by this statement? Do you subscribe to his views?
Ans: Gandhi Ji believes that the Indian civilization cannot be beaten in this world because it stands for the higher values of life. Other civilizations either met their doom or accepted change over time. But India is sound on the foundations laid by our forefathers. And this is the glory of our civilization. Many thrust their advice on India but our country remains steady. The cause of the glory of our civilization is our adherence to the age-old values of our country. While other civilizations have turned into memory and are confined to history, but in our country, one can still see ancient India living. This is because the people in our country have strong religious values. Surely there is something in Indian civilization that has kept it still alive. Here I strongly agree with the writer. He is right in his observance that the civilization India has evolved is not to be beaten in to be in the world.
2. 'We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets the more it wants, and still remains unsatisfied.' Pick out other metaphors used in this lesson. How do these metaphors help Gandhi ji in persuading the readers?
Ans: Gandhi ji has used many metaphors in his illuminating essay Indian Civilization and Culture. Apart from calling the mind a ‘restless bird’, he has used many other metaphors profound in meaning. He has used the ‘Golden Fleece’ to express the idea of something difficult to achieve. He has taken it from Greek mythology. It shows Gandhi Ji’s wide range of reading as well as his mastery of the English Language. Another metaphor he has used in the essay is ‘sheet anchor’ which means security here. In this way, we see that Gandhi ji has used metaphors meticulously to express his thoughts clearly and lucidly.
3. 'A man is not necessarily happy because he is rich or unhappy because he poor. The rich are often seen to be unhappy the poor to be happy.' What according to Gandhi, holds key to real happiness? How does Gandhi define happiness?
Ans: The author believes that being rich is not a condition to be happy or being poor to be unhappy. The real happiness lies in contentment. The rich no stone unturned to fulfill all their desires. But Gandhi ji believes that our desires become more unbridled when we try to satisfy them. Thus despite their best efforts, they can’t satisfy their desires, they fail to achieve them. This leaves them sad. On the other hand, the poor lead a content life and do not multiply their wants. A man can be content only by controlling his mind. In this way, we see that happiness is in the real sense a state of mind.
4. Why did our ancestors feel satisfied with small villages? Did they do the right thing? Will it be wise today to follow our ancestors in this connection? Give your own view.
Ans: Gandhi ji writes that our ancestors were quite content to live in villages and considered towns a place where the poor were robbed by the rich. They thought that town is a place where vices have many faces. The ancient Indian civilization advocates for the village life as it becomes the epitome for “simple living and high thinking.” In this way, Gandhi ji reminds us of the dangers the human race is facing today with the spread of urbanization. Life becomes a slave to luxuries and spiritualism is left far behind. The writer rightly observes that the greatest benefit of village life is that it preserves the Indian civilization and culture in the truest sense. Our ancestors were justly satisfied with life in small villages.
5. Discuss the negative features of western civilization.
Ans: Western civilization stands for material life. Western countries have developed on the material line that leads to a life of luxury. It believes in the multiplication of wants which results in del-indulgence. They have tried their best to fulfill their worldly derides. But in doing so, they developed a distance from religion and god. The west has become has godless society. Such a distance from these higher values of life leads to immorality. The writer seems to be quite content that our country has not progressed on the material line. He is rather happy that it has progressed on a spiritual line because when the world will become a wasteland devoid of religion and god, India will look like an oasis and will be ready to lead the world.
6. What is the essential difference between Indian civilization and Western civilization? How is our civilization superior to the Western civilization?
Ans: The chief difference between Indian civilization and western civilization is that the former stands for spiritualism while the latter stands for materialism. Indian civilization advocates for self-denial and not self-indulgence which is an essential part of western civilization. The writer admits that he does not dislike the west. Rather he is grateful to it for many things he has learned from it. He also accepts that the inventions made by them are dazzling in many ways. But he also holds that his experience says that for the Indians, it would be fatal to imitate the western culture and civilization because it leads to developing a distance from religion and god. The west has become has turned into a godless society. Such a distance from these higher values of life leads to immorality. The writer also claims that the Indian civilization is far superior to the western civilization. The material life offered by the western civilization is transient while spiritual life offered by the Indian civilization leads to divinity and hence it is permanent.
7. A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary but above a certain level it becomes a hindrance instead of help. Elaborate.
Ans: Gandhi Ji believes that comfort and luxury are good to a certain level. But if we are dependent too much on modern inventions that add luxury to our life, they will certainly make us their slaves. Our ancestors dissuaded from indulging in luxury. The more we indulge in them, the more unbridled they become. Our want for luxurious things keeps on multiplying. This multiplication of our unsatisfied desires is a trap that dupes us in false pursuits. We spend too much time on these things and find little time for the service of humanity. In this way, the best way to lead a satisfying life is to curb our desires.
C.3. Composition -
Write a paragraph in about 100 words on each of the following -
a.) The real dignity of man lies not in what he has but in what he is.
Ans: People these days are money-minded. They believe that they would gain greater respect in society if t5hey had more wealth. But they find it as a fallacy because wealth comes in a thousand ways, and most of the ways are not respectable. Wealth can come through inheritance, through winning a jackpot, through smuggling, cheating, robbing, and many other immortal and illegal ways. All these ways hardly make a man great. But people of character and wisdom are truly respected. India has a long tradition of respecting saints. Even the richest men bow to them. It is only character and integrity that makes a man great.
b.) The crown and glory of life is character.
Ans: Character is what gives man an inner glow. Wealth and possession do not make a man great. In the hour of crisis, it is not wealth that can give man courage, but ts character that helps a man to face misfortunes with fortitude. Wealth and possession make a man appear to shine like the rays of the sun on falling on window panes. But when the sun sets, there can be a glow only f there is life within. Similarly, a man may appear to be great when he has wealth but his true form is seen only when he loses wealth. Indeed character does not only make a man great, but a nation becomes great if there are men and women of strong character.
D. Word Study -
D.1. Dictionary Use -
Ex. 1. Correct the spelling of the following words -
- disuaded - dissuaded
- ocupation - occupation
- votries - votaries
- imorality - immorality
- unadulterted- unadulterated
- matarialism - materialism
- beleif - belief
- madning - maddening
- engrev - engrave
- harmoney - harmony
Ex. 2. Lookup a dictionary and write two meaning of the following words - the one which is used in the lesson and the one which is more common -
- reason - rational argument; cause or motive
- thinking - opinion or judgement; the process of thought
- wants - deficiency; desire or need
- ruin - destruction; destroyed or fallen building or monument
- copy - imitation; a single specimen of something
D.2. Word-formation -
Read carefully the following lesson taken from the lesson:
Each followed his own occupation.
In the above sentence the word 'occupation', which is an abstract noun, is derived from the word occupy. Now derive abstract nouns from the words given below and use them in sentences of your own:
1. convert - conversion
What is the formula of conversion of a gram into a kilogram?
2. perform - performance
The band's performance was truly enjoyable.
3. define - definition
What is the definition of friendship?
4. please - pleasure
It was a pleasure meeting you.
5. educate - education
Education is very important for the development of society.
6. observe - observation
The scientists have put the stone in observation.
D. 3. Word-meaning -
Ex 1. Find from the lesson words the meaning of which has been given in column A. The last part of each word is given in column B:
1. someone related who lived long time ago - ancestor
2. of one's homeland - indigenous
3. being a burden to - hindrance
4. to spread ideas, beliefs etc - propagate
5. slow-writted - stolid
6. advice against - dissuade
7. exchange goods, property, etc - barter
Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with suitable words (gerunds) from the given list:
1. Pragya's writing is not very legible.
2. The police could not control the maddening crowd.
3. We are in danger of bartering away the permanent good for a monetary pleasure.
4. Gandhi always believed in simple living.
5. Amandeep's thinking was quite logical.
D.4. Phrases -
Ex.1. Read the lesson carefully and find out the sentences in which the following phrases have been used. Then use the phrases in sentences of your own:
- satisfy with - We are not satisfied with our marks.
- be suited to - The climate of the Himalayas is not suited for growing rice.
- believe in - I believe in myself.
- cling to - The child was clinging to his mother.
- in vain - He tried in vain to stop him from leaving.
E. Grammar -
Ex.1. Complete the sentences given below by using the appropriate forms of verbs given in brackets -
a. Indian civilization has kept it alive till now.
b. I see here ancient India still living.
c. We have borrowed many things from western literature.
d. We have been copying west since long.
e. Arya did speak so.
f. Nehru had written so many letters to his daughter from jail.
Ex. 2. Study the following sentence from the lesson -
We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets the more it wants....Form ten sentences of your choice on this pattern.
- The harder you study, the more you score.
- The more you spend, the less you have.
- The more you run, the more you will get tired.
- The longer you wait, the more you will regret it.
- The more you eat, the fatter you will become.
- The more the sun shines, the hotter it becomes.
- The windier it gets, the more temperature decreases.
- The more you earn, the richer you become.
- The more you sleep, the less tired you will be.
- The higher you go, the more beautiful it looks.
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TQ so much
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