Chapter-15 Towards Freedom

Define the following

1) Revolt– Take violent action against the ruling
government or a king.
2) Starvation– Suffering or death caused by lack of food.
3) Sepoy- An Indian soldier serving in the British army.
4) Indigo- A plant used to make a blue dye.
5) Mutiny- Armed rebellion.
6) Sati- A custom of a widow burning herself on the funeral
pyre of her husband.
Question/Answer
Q1) How was trade with India profitable for the English East
India Company?
Ans) Trade with India was profitable for English East India
Company as-
● They bought Indian goods at very cheap prices and sold
them at very high prices in England and other countries.
● This resulted in huge profit for the company.
Q2) How did the British exploit the farmers?
Ans) The British exploited the farmers by making them pay
very high taxes even in the time of natural disasters.
● They were forced to grow cotton and indigo, which were
bought at very low prices and sold at very high prices in
England and other countries.
● Due to this farmers became very poor and some died due
to starvation.
Q3) Which factor sparked the first war of Independence?
Ans) The factors which sparked the first war of Independence
was the Revolt of 1857.
● The revolt was started by the Indian Soldier, Mangal
Pandey serving in the British Army.
● A new rifle called the Enfield had been introduced in
India.
● A rumour spread that the grease used in the bullets was
made from the fat of cows and pigs.
● This was against the sentiments of both Hindu and
Muslims.
● They refused to use that rifle and revolted.
Q4) What helped the British to suppress the first war of
Independence.
Ans) The following factors helped the British to suppress the
first war of Independence.
● It did not spread to all parts of India.
● Indian soldiers did not have sufficient money and good
weapons.
● The revolt was not organised properly. On the other

hand, the British soldiers were well equipped with

modern weapons and were very well-organised.
Q5) How did modern education lead to the rise of
nationalism in India?
Ans) Modern Education made Indians realize that the British
wanted to keep India poor and backward.
● This realization united them.

● Slowly, the feeling of unity grew stronger among the

Indians.
 ● It led to the rise of nationalism.
Extra Questions.
Q6) Write the names of some leaders who led the Revolt of
1857.
Ans) The leaders who led the Revolt of 1857 were-Bahadur
Shah Zafar, Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope, Nana Sahib, and
Rani Lakshmi Bai and Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Q7) Write a short note on the Indian National Congress.

Ans) An Indian National Congress was formed by an English man

named Allan Octavian Hume in 1885.
· Its first session was held at Bombay attended by 72
delegates.
· The President of the session was Womesh Chandra
Bonnerjee.
· It awakened the spirit of unity among the Indians.