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Class – V

Subject – Bangladesh and Global Studies

Chapter – 2 (British Rule)

Seen

Short Questions:

1. Write five causes of the Mutiny of 1857.

Ans: Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was the first anti-British freedom fight. Five causes of the Sepoy
Mutiny of 1857 are given below:

i) New muskets which needed cartridges greased with pig and cow fat, which offended
both Muslims and Hindus.
ii) Asking Indian soldier to serve overseas as well as in India after 1856.
iii) Demand for excessive taxation.
iv) The British seizing more land.
v) Christian evangelism by the East India Company.

The Sepoy Mutiny was brutally defeated by the British but the sense of nationality had been
developed in the Bengal after this Mutiny.

2. Write two bad effects and two good effects of British rule.
Ans: Two bad effects and two good effects of British rule are as follows:

Bad effects:

i) The ‘divide and rule’ policy set castes, religion and nationalities against each other.
ii) The local economy was so run down that craftsmen were unemployed, farmers became
poor and suffered from famines, e.g. the Chihhiyattor er Monnontor in 1770.

Good effects:

i) Education was encouraged with new schools, colleges, universities and printing presses.
ii) Transport and communications were improved with better roads, railways and
telegraphs.
3. Who contributed to the Bengali renaissance?
Ans: The combination of education and communication produced the ‘Bengal renaissance’ of the
19th century, when new ideas and culture developed.

Four significant Bengalis, Raja Ram Mohan Ray, Iswarchandra Bidyasagar, Nawab Abdul Latif,
Syed Amir Ali contributed a lot to Bengal renaissance. Besides, the nationalist feeling was fueled
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by the poetry, music and literature of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and the feminist work of Begum Rokeya.

This renaissance inspired the people of Bengal to get freedom from the British.

Broad Questions:

1. What was the result of the Battle of Palashi?

Ans: The British came to Bengal to do trading. But gradually they started to interfere in local
politics to get benefits in their own trades.

Siraj-ud-Daulah became the last independent Nawab of Bengal in 1756, at the age of 22. The
British had many disagreements with him for various reasons. Close people like his aunt Ghaseti
Begum and some influential local merchants were against him. The British and the Nawab’s army
had a battle on the border of Palashi on 23 June, 1757. The Nawab was defeated because his army
chief Mir Zafar betrayed him on the battlefield. The Nawab was later murdered. Bengal lost its
independence and the British rule was introduced in the Bengal.

Afterward, the British ruled the Bengal for almost 200 years from 1757 to 1947.

2. What was Bengal’s role in the Sepoy Mutiny?

Ans: Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was the first anti-British freedom fight. It occurred against the policy
and exploitation of East India Company.

Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was quite successful. It started in Bengal by Mangal Pandey in Barrackpur,
and spread to the rest of India. It was supported by mass people. They got themselves involved in
this mutiny. The British took stern steps against it. Nearly one lac Indians were killed to control
this mutiny. Though it was defeated, the rule by the East India Company was replaced by Queen
Victoria becoming Empress of India. She appointed a Viceroy to govern in India.

Getting inspiration from the Sepoy Mutiny, the people of Bengal finally in 1947 got independence
from the British.

3. How do writers support political resistance?

Ans: Resistance to British rule continued through the 20th century. Poets and writers contributed
a lot to political resistance.

The spirit of nationalism increased due to the spread of education and the renaissance movement.
The British were worried about the power of nationalist feeling. The then writers supported
political resistance and geared up the nationalist movement by their writings. Meanwhile
nationalist feelings were fueled by the poetry, music and literature of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi
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Nazrul Islam, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and the feminist
work of Begum Rokeya. Their writings inspired the Bengal people to be united.

Finally, in 1947 the people of Bengal got independence from the British, and India and Pakistan
were created as two separate states.

Unseen

Fill in the blanks with the correct words:

1. The combination of education and communication produced the Bengal Renaissance in the
19th century.
2. Titumir built a bamboo fort to resist the British soldiers.
3. Siraj-Ud-Daulah became the Nawab of Bengal at the age of 22.
4. Bengali sepoys were executed at Bahadur Shah Park in 1857.
5. In army the post of constables was dominated by the Indians.
6. Due to renaissance, the feeling of nationalism expanded.
7. The horrible famine of Bengal occurred in the Bengali year 1176.
8. The ‘divide and rule’ policy set castes, religions and nationalities against each other in
British Empire.
9. The combination of education and communication produced the Bengal renaissance of the
19th century.
10. Titumir build a bamboo fort near Barasat to resist the British.
11. The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was quite successful.
12. The rule by the East India Company was replaced by Queen Victoria becoming Empress
of India.
13. In 1905 British Empire decided to divide Bengal province.
14. The Nawab was defeated because of Mir Zafar’s betrayal.
15. The East India Company governed Bengal for 100 years.
16. The East India Company governed Bengal from 1757 to 1857.
17. Indian National Congress Party was formed in 1885.
18. The Partition of Bengal took place in 1905.
19. In 1911, the Partition of Bengal was reversed.
20. In 1906, the Indian Muslim League party was formed.

Short Questions:

1. Why did the British come to Bengal?

Ans: The British came to Bengal for trading.

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2. Who was the last independent Nawab of Bengal?

Ans: Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula was the last independent Nawab of Bengal.

3. How many years did the British rule over India?

Ans: Nearly 200 years, the British ruled over India.

4. When was East India Company established?

Ans: In 1600, the East India Company was established.

5. What is Chihhiyattor er Monnontor?

Ans: A great famine took place in Bengal in 1176 of Bangla Calendar (1770 AD) which is known
as Chihhiyattor er Monnontor.

6. When was Indian National Congress Party formed?

Ans: In 1885, the Indian National Congress Party was formed.

7. When was Indian Muslim League Party formed?

Ans: In 1906, the Indian Muslim League Party was formed.

8. Who was the first governor of East India Company?

Ans: Robert Clive was the first governor of East India Company.

9. When did the Sepoy Mutiny occur?

Ans: In 1857, the Sepoy Mutiny occurred.

10. What was the Company Rule?

Ans: East India Company ruled over the Bengal from 1757 to 1857. This period was known as the
Company Rule.

Extra Broad Questions:

1. Why did the Mughals call Bengal “The Paradise of Nations”?

Ans: The Mughals called Bengal “The Paradise of Nations” for its wealth. Europeans also
regarded ancient Bengal as the richest country to trade with. Indigo, saltpeter, spices, opium, sugar,
woolen and silk cloth etc. were exported to Europe from Bengal. Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta also
appreciated our Bengal for its wealth. Bengal was one of the most fertile spots on the planet. The
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flourishment of industry and foreign trade made Mughals pleased. The price of food was extremely
cheap in Bengal. The British had also their eye on gaining Bengal for its wealth.

Due to the above mentioned reasons Bengal was regarded as the Paradise of Nations by the
Mughals.

2. What were the results or importance of the 1857 Mutiny?

Ans: Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was the first anti-British freedom fight. It occurred against the British
East India Company’s policy and exploitation.

Though the revolt had failed, it swept the Indian sky clear of many clouds. It brought far-reaching
changes in political, social and other aspects. As a result of Sepoy Mutiny, the British government
dissolved the British East India Company. The British government then began administering those
areas directly, and Queen Victoria became Empress of India. The Viceroy post was created instead
of the earlier Governor General. Queen promised that the Indians would be appointed according
to their qualifications. All Indian prisoners except those committing serious offences would be
released. Nobody’s personal customs and beliefs would be interfered.

The nationalism among Indian people was flourished as a result of this Mutiny that helped them
to get freedom from the British in 1947.