Class 9th

Solution:- chapter-2 (Constitutional design)

1. Here are some false statements. Identify the mistake in each case and
rewrite these correctly based on what you have read in this chapter.
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about whether the
country should be democratic or not after independence.
(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly of India held the same views on all
provisions of the Constitution.
(c) A country that has a constitution must be a democracy.
(d) Constitution cannot be amended because it is the supreme law of a
country.
Answer:
(a) Leaders of the freedom movement had an open mind about the country
being democratic after independence.

(b) Members of the Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open, and

consensual manner to resolve differences among them.

(c) It is not necessary that a country having a constitution must be a

democracy. The constitution of a country can even make provisions for
dictatorship or monarchy. Examples: the Soviet Union and Pakistan.

(d) A Constitution can be amended to keep up with the changes in aspirations

of the society. It can also be changed keeping in mind the social, political, and
economic conditions of the country.

2. Which of these was the most salient underlying conflict in the making
of a democratic constitution in South Africa?
(a) Between South Africa and its neighbours
(b) Between men and women
(c) Between the white majority and the black minority
(d) Between the coloured minority and the black majority
Answer:
(c) Between the white majority and the black minority

3. Which of these is a provision that a democratic constitution does not

have?
(a) Powers of the head of the state
(b) Name of the head of the state
(c) Powers of the legislature
(d) Name of the country
Answer:
(b) Name of the head of the state
4. Match the following leaders with their roles in the making of the
Constitution:

(a) Motilal Nehru (i) President of the Constituent Assembly

(b) Β.R. Ambedkar (ii) Member of the Constituent Assembly

(c) Rajendra Prasad (iii) Chairman of the Drafting Committee

(d) Sarojini Naidu (iv) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928

Answer:

(a) Motilal Nehru (iv) Prepared a Constitution for India in 1928

(b) B.R. Ambedkar (iii) Chairman of the Drafting Committee

(c) Rajendra Prasad (i) President of the Constituent Assembly

(d) Sarojini Naidu (ii) Member of the Constituent Assembly

5. Read again the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and
answer the following:
(a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the
first sentence?
(b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
(c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe
every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?
Answer:
(a) The expression ‘not wholly or in full measure’ in the first sentence was
used by Nehru because he thought that the task they had undertaken was
incomplete and it wasn’t possible to fulfill the pledges all at once but would be
gradually fulfilled.

(b) The pledge that he wanted the makers of the Indian Constitution to take
was to dedicate their lives to the service of India, Indians, and humanity at
large.
(c) He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi.

6. Here are some of the guiding values of the Constitution and their
meaning. Rewrite them by matching them correctly.

(a) Sovereign (i) Government will not favour any religion.

(b) Republic (ii) People have the supreme right to make decisions.

(c) Fraternity (iii) Head of the state is an elected person.

(d) Secular (iv) People should live like brothers and sisters.

Answer:

(a) Sovereign (ii) People have the supreme right to make decisions.

(b) Republic (iii) Head of the state is an elected person.

(c) Fraternity (iv) People should live like brothers and sisters.

(d) Secular (i) Government will not favour any religion.

8. Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How
much importance would you give to each of these factors?
(a) Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to
work with representative legislative institutions under British rule.
(b) Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of
different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
(c) We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The
denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the
important role of these leaders.
Answer:
(a) Though I would acknowledge many good things were learned from the
British rulers and democracy being one of them,I wouldn’t say that democracy
was a gift given by them. Indians had to struggle a lot and make many
sacrifices to attain freedom from British rule. These circumstances helped
people to gain experience and training in the working of the legislative
institutions.
(b) Yes, Free India could not be anything but democratic because the people
had already suffered a lot under British rule. This made them realise that for
people to have a say in ruling the country, it was necessary to make India a
democratic country.

(c) It is indeed true that we were lucky to have leaders who had deep
democratic values. It is because of these ideals that India’s freedom struggle
can be considered as the only example of a bloodless freedom struggle in
contemporary history. Therefore, absence of such ideals has made many
countries undemocratic.

9. Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’,
published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile
both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They
are destined thus by God to remain in male protection – of the father,
husband, and son – all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair,
but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of
men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values
underlying our constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional
values?
Answer:
The given paragraph does not reflect the underlying value in our Constitution.
It refers to the patriarchal views and endorses the thought of inequality in
genders.

It goes against the constitutional values because in the paragraph women are
shown as inferior, unequal as weak and fragile who should serve men.
However, the Constitution has provided equal rights to women. They enjoy the
right to vote, can take up any job, and are paid equal wages for the same
work.

10. Read the following statements about a constitution. Give reasons

why each of these is true or not true.
(a) The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any
other law.
(b) Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be
formed.
(c) Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down
in the constitution.
(d) A constitution is about institutions, not about values.
Answer:
(a) Not true. An ordinary law is passed by the Parliament and can be changed
by it on its own will. On the other hand, the rules of the Constitution have
greater authority and the Parliament has to abide by them. For amending
these rules, a special procedure has to be adopted.
(b) True. The Constitution has laid down the framework for government
formation. It has put in place the structure, power, and functions of the three
organs of the government, i.e. executive, legislative, and the judiciary.

(c) True. The rights of the citizens are laid down in the Constitution as
fundamental rights, which are enforceable by law. The powers and functions
of the government are divided into the executive, legislative, and judiciary. It is
done to keep each organ under check by the other organs to ensure the
power functioning of the government.

(d) Not True. The Constitution is the supreme law of the country. It lays down
the composition powers and functions of the various institutions of
government. The Constitution is guided by values which are found in the form
of Preamble. Principles and values such as equality, liberty, fraternity,
brotherhood, secularism, and justice are included in the Preamble of the
Constitution.

Question 1.
The official policy of racial separation of ill treatment of blacks followed by the
government of South Africa was called _______ .
Answer:
Apartheid

Question 2.
An assembly of people’s representatives that writes a constitution for a
country is _______ .
Answer:
Constituent assembly

Question 3.
What do you know about ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’?
Answer:
It is an autobiography of Nelson Mandela.

Question 4.
An introductory statement in a constitution which states the reasons and
guiding values of the constitution is _______ .
Answer:
Preamble

Question 5.
When did South Africa become a democratic country?
Answer:
26 April, 1994
Question 6.
Leaders of the freedom movement were clear that their country should be
_______ .
Answer:
Democratic

Question 7.
One of the guiding values of the constitution is sovereignty which means
_______ .
Answer:
People have the supreme right to make decisions

Question 8.
‘Republic’ in consent to our constitution means _______ .
Answer:
Head of the state is an elected person

Question 9.
All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family. No one
should treat a fellow citizen as inferior. This defines a word given in Preamble
of our Constitution which is _______ .
Answer:
Fraternity

Question 10.
The famous speech given by Pt. Nehru on the eve of Independence Day is
known as _______ .
Answer:
Tryst with Destiny

Question 11.
In 1928, who along with eight other congress leaders?
Answer:
Motilal Nehru

Question 12.
The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it came
into effect on 26 January _______ .
Answer:
1950

Question 13.
Who was the Chairmen of the drafting committee of Indian Constitution, social
revolutionary, thinker and agitator against caste divisions?
Answer:
Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
Question 14.
In Indian Constitution, the Secular means _______ .
Answer:
Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion

Question 15.
There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in India, in what way
they think, how they wish to express their thoughts. This means they enjoy
_______ .
Answer:
Liberty

Question 16.
What was apartheid?
Answer:
Racial discrimination

Question 17.
What is the full form of ANC?
Answer:
The African National Congress

Question 18.
Where did Nelson Mandela spend his prison term?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela spent 28 years in South Africa’s most dreaded prison,
Robben Island.

Question 19.
Who was the first president of the newly born democracy in South Africa?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela

Question 20.
Name the umbrella organisation that led the struggle against the policies , of
segregation in South Africa.
Answer:
The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organisation that led
the struggle against the policies of segregation in South Africa.

Question 21.
What determines the rights of citizens and the powers of the government?
Answer:
As the supreme law of the country, the Constitution determines the rights of
citizens, the powers of the government and how the government should
function.
Question 22.
Who played a key role in the making of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
Dr. B.R. Amdedkar played a key role in the making of the Indian Constitution.

Question 23.
When did the process of the Making of the Indian Constitution begin?
Answer:
In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution
for India which marked the beginning of this process.

Question 24.
Who was Rajendra Prasad?
Answer:
Rajendra Prasad was bom in Bihar. He was the President of the Constituent
Assembly. He was also the first President of India.

Question 25.
What does the phrase ‘Service of India’ mean?
Answer:
The phrase ‘Service of India’ means the service of the millions who suffer. It
means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of
opportunity.

Question 26.
What is meant by ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’?
Answer:
The members deliberated for 114 days spread over three years. Every
document presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly has
been recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly
Debates’.

Question 27.
What do you understand by the term ‘the Preamble to the Constitution’?
Answer:
The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. This is
called the Preamble to the Constitution.

Question 28.
What do you mean by the term ‘sovereign’?
Answer:
It means people have supreme right to make decisions on internal as well as
external matters. No external power can dictate the government of India.

Question 29.
What do you mean by the term ‘secular’?
Answer:
It means citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion, but there is no
official religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal
respect.

Question 30.
Why is the Preamble called the soul of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
Because it contains the philosophy on which the entire constitution has been
built. It provides a standard to examine and evaluate any law and action of
government, to find out whether it is good or bad. It is the soul of the Indian
Constitution.

Question 31.
What is the significance of the phrase ‘We the people of India’ in the
Preamble?
Answer:
The preamble is an introductory part of the Constitution. It is called the key of
the Constitution. “We the people of India” means the Constitution has been
drawn up and enacted by the people through their representatives, and not
handed down to them by a king or any outside powers.

Constitutional Design Class 9 Extra Questions Short

Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What is meant by apartheid? How was it oppressive for the blacks?
Answer:
Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimination unique to South
Africa. The white Europeans imposed this system on South Africa. The
system of apartheid divided the people and labelled them according to their
skin colour.

Many ‘whites’ had settled in South Africa and became the local rulers. The
system of public toilets, were all separate for the whites and blacks. This, was
called segregation. They could not even visit the churches where the whites
worshipped. Blacks could not form associations or protest the terrible
treatment.

Question 2.
What do you mean by ‘Constitution’?
Answer:
The constitution of a country is a set of written rules that are accepted by all
people living together in a country. Constitution is the supreme law that
determines the relationship among people living in a territory (called citizens)
and also the relationship between the people and government.
Question 3.
What were the steps involved in the framing of the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
The drafting of the document called the constitution was done by an assembly
of elected representatives called the Constituent Assembly. Elections to the
Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946. Its first meeting was held in
December 1946. Soon after, the country was divided into India and Pakistan.
The Constituent Assembly was also divided into the Constituent Assembly of
India and that of Pakistan. The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian
Constitution had 299 members. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26
November, 1949 and it came into force on 26 January, 1950.

Question 4.
What are the four main ideals enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian
Constitution?
Answer:
The ideals written in the Preamble of the Constitution are as under :

● Justice: Every citizen of India will have social, economic and political
justice.
● Liberty: Every citizen will have the liberty of thought, expression, belief,
faith and worship.
● Equality: Every citizen will be provided with the equality of status and
opportunity.
● fraternity: All the citizens of India have been assured about the dignity of
individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

Question 5.
How did the Constituent Assembly work to prepare the Constitution for India?
Answer:
The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual
manner. First, some basic principles were decided and agreed upon. Then, a
Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a draft
constitution for discussion. Several rounds of thorough discussion took place,
clause by clause. More than 2000 amendments were considered. The
members deliberated for 114 days spread over 3 years. Every document
presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly was recorded
and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’.

Question 6.
What are constitutional amendments? Or constitution is not merely a
document of value and philoshoy justify
Answer:
A constitution is not merely a statement of values and philosophy. A
constitution is mainly about embodying these values into institutional
arrangements. Indian Constitution is a very long and detailed document.
Therefore, it needs to be amended quite regularly to keep it updated. Those
who crafted the Indian Constitution felt that it must be in accordance with
people’s aspirations and changes in society. They did not see it as a sacred,
static and unalterable law. So, they made provisions to incorporate changes
from time to time. These changes are called constitutional amendments.

Question 7.
On what terms did the blacks agreed upon while making a Constitution for
South Africa?
Answer:
After two years of discussion and debate, they came out with one of the finest
constitutions the world has ever had. This constitution gave to its citizens the
most extensive rights available in any country. Together, they decided that in
the search for a solution to the problems, nobody should be excluded, no one
should be treated as a demon. They agreed that everybody should become
part of the solution, whatever they might have done or represented in the past.

Question 8.
What was the reaction of the government towards the protest movement
against the apartheid in South Africa?
Answer:
In South Africa, the white racist government continued to rule by detaining,
torturing and killing thousands of black and coloured people. As protests and
struggles against apartheid had increased, the government realised that they
could no longer keep the blacks under their rule through repression. The white
regime changed its policies. Discriminatory laws were repealed. Ban on
political parties and restrictions on the media were lifted. After 28 years of
imprisonment, Nelson Mandela walked out of the jail as a free man.

Question 9.
Why did the South African people need a Constitution?
Answer:
The people of South Africa, need a constitution because :

● The oppressor and the oppressed in this new democracy were planning
to live together as equals. It was not going to be easy for them to trust
each other. They had their fears.
● They wanted to safeguard their interests. The black majority was keen to
ensure that the democratic principle of majority rule was not
compromised.
● They wanted substantial social and economic rights.

Question 10.
What was the philosophy behind the Constitution?
Answer:

● The values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle and were, in
turn, nurtured by it, formed the foundation for India’s democracy. These
values are embedded in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
 ● They guide all the articles of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution
begins with a short statement of its basic values. This is called the
Preamble to the constitution.
● Taking inspiration from American model, most countries in the
contemporary world have chosen to begin their constitutions with a
preamble.

Question 11.
What compromises did the blacks and white make?
Answer:
It was not an easy task for the two divergent people of South Africa—the
White oppressors and the Black Oppressed one—to draw up a common
Constitution for the country when it became free in 1994. After long
negotiations both parties agreed to a compromises.

● The whites agreed to the principle of majority rule that of one person one
vote.
● They also agreed to some basic rights for the poor and the workers.
● The blacks agreed that majority rule would not be absolute.
● They also agreed that the majority would not take away the property of
the white minority. (Any three)

Question 12.
What was the composition of the Constituent Assembly?
Answer:
The Constituent Assembly was elected mainly by the members of the existing
Provincial Legislatures. This ensured a fair geographical share of members
from all the regions of the country. The Assembly was dominated by the
Indian National Congress, the party that led India’s freedom struggle. But, the
Congress itself included a variety of political groups and opinions. The
Assembly had many members who did not agree with the Congress. In social
terms too, the Assembly represented members from different language
groups, castes, classes, religions and occupations.

Question 13.
What did Ambedkar mean by ‘contradictions’ in his concluding speech to the
Constituent Assembly? 4]Q8I
Answer:
Dr. Ambedkar, who played a key role in the making of the Constitution, but he
had a different understanding of how inequalities could be removed. In his
concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Ambedkar said that India
was entering a life of ‘contradictions’ on 26th January, 1950. According to him
in politics, Indians would have equality but in social and economic life, there
would be inequality. The politics should be based on the principle of one man
one vote and one vote one value. In social and economic life, by reason of
social and economic structure one must continue to deny the principle of one
man one value.
Question 14.
What are the various functions of a Constitution?
Answer:
A Constitution performs several functions such as :

● It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for

different kind of people to live together.
● It specifies how the government will be constituted, and who will have
power of taking which decisions.
● It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the
rights of the citizens are.
● It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
(Any three)

Question 15.
How does the Indian Constitution describes the institutional arrangements?
Answer:
The Constitution describes the institutional arrangements in a very legal
language.

● The Indian Constitution lays down a procedure for choosing persons to

govern the country.
● It defines who will have how much power to take which decisions.
● It puts limits to what the government can do by providing some rights to
the citizen that cannot be violated.

Constitutional Design Class 9 Extra Questions Long

Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Why was the making of the Indian Constitution not an easy affair?
Answer:
Like South Africa, India’s Constitution was also drawn up under very difficult
circumstances.

● The making of the constitution for a huge and diverse country like India
was not an easy affair. At that time the people of India were emerging
from the status of subjects to that of citizens. The country was born
through a partition on the basis of religious differences.
● This was a traumatic experience for the people of India and Pakistan.
Atleast ten lakh people were killed on both sides of the border in
partition related violence.
● The British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide
whether they wanted to merge with India or with Pakistan or remain
independent.
 ● The merger of these princely states was a difficult and uncertain task.
When the Constitution was being written, the future of the country did
not look as secure as it does today.
● The makers of the Constitution had anxieties about the present and the
future of the country.

Question 2.
Why should we accept the Constitution made by the Assembly more than fifty
years ago?
Answer:
The Constitution does not reflect the views of its members alone. It expresses
a broad consensus of its time. Many countries of the world have had to rewrite
their Constitution afresh because the basic rules were not accepted to all
major social groups or political parties.

Over the last half a century, several groups have questioned some provisions
of the Constitution. But no large social group or political party has ever
questioned the legitimacy of the Constitution itself. This is an unusual
achievement for any constitution. The second reason for accepting the
Constitution is that the Constituent Assembly represented the people of India.
There was no universal adult franchise at that time. So, the Constituent
Assembly could not have been chosen directly by all the people of India.

The way in which the Constituent Assembly worked gives sanctity to the
Constitution. The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and
consensual manner. First some basic principles were decided and agreed
upon. Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a
draft constitution for discussion. Several rounds of thorough discussion took
place on the Draft Constitution, clause by clause. More than two thousand
amendments were considered.

Every document presented, and every word spoken in the Constituent

Assembly has been recorded and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent
Assembly Debates’. These debates provide the rationale behind every
provision of the Constitution. These are used to interpret the meaning of the
Constitution.

Question 3.
Explain the different key words used in the Preamble of the Indian
Constitution.
Answer:
Several key words have been used in the Preamble of the Indian
Constitution :

(i) WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA: The constitution has been drawn up and
enacted by the people through their representatives, and not handed down to
them by a king or any outside powers.
(ii) SOVEREIGN: People have supreme right to make decisions on internal as
well as external matters. No external power can dictate the government of
India.

(iii) SOCIALIST: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by

society. Government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to
reduce socio-economic inequalities.

(iv) SECULAR: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But
there is no official religion. Government treats all religious beliefs and
practices with equal respect.

(v) DEMOCRATIC: A form of government where people enjoy equal political

rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable. The government is run
according to some basic rules.

(vi) REPUBLIC: The head of the stats is an elected person and not a
hereditary . position.

(vii) JUSTICE: Citizens cannot be discriminated on the grounds of caste,

religion and gender. Social inequalities must be reduced. Government should
work for the welfare of all, especially of the disadvantaged groups.

(viii) LIBERTY: There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what

they think, how they wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish to
follow up their thoughts in action.

(ix) EQUALITY: All are equal before the law. The traditional social inequalities
must be ended. The government should ensure equal opportunity for all.

(x) FRATERNITY: All of us should behave as if we are members of the same

family. No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior.

Question 4.
“The South African Constitution inspires democrats all over the world”
Comment.
Answer:
The South African constitution inspires democrats all over the world in the
following ways.

● A state denounced by the entire world till recently as the most

undemocratic one is now seen as a model of democracy.
● What made this change possible was the determination of the South
African people to work together, to transform bitter experience into the
binding glue of a rainbow nation.
 ● The people of South Africa have of agreed that everybody should
become a part of the solution, whatever they might have done or
represented in the past.
● It is also a charter for the transformation of our country into one which is
truly shared by all its people. It is a country in which the fullest sense
belongs to all blacks and whites, women and men.”
● The Preamble to the South African Constitution sums up the spirit.

Constitutional Design Class 9 NCERT Extra

Questions
Question 1.
Write a short note on Nelson Mandela.
Solution:
Nelson Mandela fought against white domination in South Africa. He
cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live
together in harmony and with equal opportunities.

The South African government tried him for treason and imprisoned him for
daring to oppose the apartheid regime in his country. Mandela spent 28 years
in South Africa’s most dreaded prison, Robben Island.

After 28 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela was released. On 26th April

1994, the new national flag of the Republic of South Africa was unfurled
marking the newly born democracy in the world. Nelson Mandela was made
the first President of this new democracy.

Question 2.
What is a Constitution?
Solution:
Unlike a monarchy, in a democracy the rulers are not free to do what they like.
Certain basic rules have to be followed by the citizens and the government.
These rules put together are called the Constitution. As the supreme law of
the country, the constitution determines the rights of citizens, the powers of
the government and how the government should function.

Question 3.
What was basis of the apartheid regime in South Africa?
Solution:
The apartheid regime differentiated people on the basis of their skin colour.
The native people of South Africa who were black skinned were called
‘blacks’. They made up about three fourth of the population. People of mixed
races who were called ‘coloured’. The White Europeans were called ‘Whites’.
The white rulers treated all non whites as inferior.
Question 4.
How were the non whites discriminated?
Solution:
The non whites did not have any voting rights. The apartheid regime was
particularly oppressive for the ‘blacks’ and the ‘coloured’. They were forbidden
from living in white areas. They could work in white areas only if they had a
permit.

There were separate trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and
colleges, libraries, cinema halls, theatres, beaches, swimming pools and
public toilets, for the whites and blacks. The blacks were not allowed into the
Churches frequented by the whites. There were not allowed to form any
association to represent their problems. This system of racial discrimination,
unique to South Africa, was called Apartheid.

Question 5.
Which was the first organisation that led the first against Apartheid?
Solution:
The African National Congress (ANC) was the first organisation that led the
struggle against Apartheid.

Question 6.
Why is South Africa called a ‘rainbow nation’ today?
Solution:
There is no social or any discrimination based on skin colour in free south
Africa, today. Blacks, whites and coloured people, men and women, live as
free citizens, in total harmony. This is why they call South Africa a ‘rainbow
nation’.

Question 7.
What was the situation at the time India achieved independence?
Solution:
At that time of independence, the people of India were emerging from the
status of subjects to that of citizens. India and Pakistan were born through a
partition on the basis of religious differences. This was a traumatic experience
for the people of India and Pakistan. Lakhs of people were killed on both sides
of the border in partition related violence. The British had left it to the rulers of
the princely states to decide whether they wanted to merge with India or with
Pakistan or remain independent. This created a lot of turmoil.

Question 8.
Write a short note on the first Constituent assembly.
Solution:
Elections to the first Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946. The
elected members drafted the document called the Constitution. The
Constituent Assembly held its first meeting in November 1946. Soon after the
country was divided into India and Pakistan. The Constituent Assembly was
also divided into the Constituent Assembly of India and that of Pakistan. The
Indian Constituent assembly had 299 members. The Assembly adopted the
Constitution on 26 November 1949. The constitution only came into effect on
January 26, 1950. So Republic Day is celebrated on the 26th of January ,
every year.

Question 9.
How is the South African Constitution looked upon today?
Solution:
The South African constitution inspires democrats all over the world. South
Africa was a State which was looked down upon by many during the
Apartheid regime. Today the determination of the people of South Africa to
work together, without bearing any grudges against the white regime in looked
upon with great respect.
The South African Constitution sees people of all skin colours as equal. Men
and women are treated equally.

Question 10.
What is a Preamble? Quote the Preamble of our constitution.
Solution:
A Preamble is an introductory statement in a constitution which states the
reasons and guiding values of the constitution.

” We, the people of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into
SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and secure
to all its citizens justice, social, economic and political. Liberty of thought,
expression, belief, faith and worship. Equality of statue and of opportunity and
to promote among them all fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and
the unity and integrity of the nation, in our constitutional assembly, this
26th day of November.1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this
constitution.”

Question 11.
Who constituted the Constituent assembly?
Solution:
The Assembly was dominated by the Indian National Congress, which led
India’s freedom struggle. The Indian National Congress included a variety of
political groups . these different groups had different opinions.

The Assembly also had many members who did not agree with the Congress.
On the social platform, the Assembly was represented by members from
different language groups, castes, classes, religions and occupations.

Question 12.
What is secularism?
Solution:
When a Government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal
respect it called a secular government. There is no official religion. Citizens
have complete freedom to follow any religion.

Question 13.
Define ‘ Democratic Republic’.
Solution:
‘ Democratic Republic’ is a form of government where people enjoy equal
political rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable. The government
is run according to some basic rules. The head of the state is an elected
person and not a hereditary ruler.

Question 14.
Write a brief note on the following personalities.
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Sarojini Naidu
(c) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Solution:
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru was born in the year 1889 and died in the year 1964. He
was born in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was a lawyer by profession. He
was the Prime Minister of the interim government. As a Congress leader he
advocated socialism, democracy and anti imperialism. Later he was appointed
the First Prime Minister of India.

(b) Sarojini Naidu was born in the year 1879 and died in the year 1949. She
was born in Andhra Pradesh. She was a poet, writer and political activist. She
was among the foremost women leaders in the Congress. Later she was
appointed the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

(c) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in the year 1891 and died in the year
1956. He was born in Maharashtra. He was the Chairman of the Drafting
Committee of the Constitution. He was a Social revolutionary thinker and
agitated against caste divisions and caste based inequalities. He was made
the Law minister in the first cabinet of post independence India.

Question 15.
Was Mahatma Gandhi a member of the Constituent Assembly?
Solution:
No, Mahatma Gandhi was not a member of the Constituent Assembly.