English - Prose Chapter 1: Indian Civilization and Culture Long Answer Questions

Long Answer Types Question

Q1.What did Gandhi do for the farmers in Bihar?

Answer: It was indigo-peasant’s problems that brought Gandhi 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 around him. Gandhi freed them from both exploitation and fear of British rule.

Q2. ‘A man is not necessarily happy because he is rich, or unhappy because he is poor. The rich are often seen to be unhappy, the poor to be happy.’ What, according to Gandhi, holds the key to real happiness? How does Gandhi define ‘happiness’?

Answer: According to Gandhiji, happiness is a state of mind. Wealth and luxuries do not make a man happy. The wealthy are not always happy and the poor are not always unhappy. Luxuries and comforts often become a burden and cause physical and mental pain. People who work enjoy better health and happiness than those who are slaves to machines and others. By multiplying our desires we become less and less happy. That is why our ancestors put a limit on our indulgence. Self-restraint is the key to happiness.

Q3. ‘A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary but above a certain level it becomes a hindrance instead of help.’ Elaborate.

Answer:- Humans have both body and soul. No doubt the soul is more important. It dwells in the body. But without the body, the soul cannot achieve anything. If we want to elevate our spirit, we need to work hard for it. If we want to serve humanity, we cannot do so unless our body is strong and has some degree of comfort. If we are uncomfortable, we cannot make the best use of our physical energy. So a degree of physical comfort is essential. But to be a slave to comforts and pleasures will degrade us morally. Indeed there should be a degree of physical harmony and comfort. But indulgence in passions without restraint will become a burden and hindrance. Man will not be able to do good to himself or to society.

Q4. ‘Truth and non-violence have been the biggest weapons of mankind’.

Answer:- There have been great wars in which most deadly weapons were used. Millions of people were killed and cities were destroyed. But those wars could not achieve anything. They could kill and captivate people, but could not win a single soul. But there have been some people like the Buddha and Christ. They used not a single weapon. They killed nobody. They destroyed no homes. But they have conquered empires and mle over the hearts of millions of people. Their weapon was the weapon of truth and love. Their empires are still intact. Gandhiji was a frail man. He was armed with a lathi which he never used even to threaten anybody. He led armies of unarmed men and stood against the bullets and lathis of the British police. Still he won. His weapon was the biggest weapon-truth and non-violence.

Q5  What is the essential difference between the Indian civilization and the western civilization? How is our civilization superior to the western civilization?

Answer:- The essential difference between the Indian civilization and western civilization is of a kind and not of degree. The essential difference is the same as between body and soil., between material and the spirit. The western civilization is in search of endless pleasure, the Indian civilization sets a limit to indulgence. The western civilization has made discoveries to find physical comforts; the Indian civilization has sought to discover the true nature of the soul and eternal bliss. Indian philosophers discovered that soul is more important than body, so their discoveries have found ways to elevate the mind and the spirit. 

But western civilization ignored this aspect altogether. They found comforts and luxuries. Naturally, our civilization is superior because there is no limit to physical comforts. Rather, after a certain stage, they are more burdensome than enjoyable. The more comforts and luxuries we have, the more we crave for. We found no happiness. But by a voluntary restraint on indulgence in passions, we can find true happiness.