The Class 8 is an important year in a student’s life and Maharashtra State Board Social Science History is one of the subjects that require dedication, hard work, and practice. It’s a subject where you can score well if you are well-versed with the concepts, remember the important formulas and solving methods, and have done an ample amount of practice. Worry not! Home Revise is here to make your Class 8 journey even easier. It’s essential for students to have the right study material and notes to prepare for their board examinations, and through Home Revise, you can cover all the fundamental topics in the subject and the complete Maharashtra State Board Class 8 Social Science History Book syllabus.
Q1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options.
(1) There were more than six hundred small and big …………. in India.
(a) States
(b) Villages
(c) Princely States
(d) Cities
(2) All the princely states merged with India except the states of Junagad, …………. and Kashmir.
(a) Aundh
(b) Jhansi
(c) Vadodara
(d) Hyderabad
Answer 1: There were more than six hundred small and big princely states in India.
Answer 2: All the princely states merged with India except the states of Junagad, Hyderabad and Kashmir.
Q2. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) Junagad merged within India.
(2) The Indian Government started police action against the Nizam.
(3) Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ with India.
Answer 1: Junagad was a princely state in Saurashtra. The people there wanted to be merged with India. But the Nawab of Junagad was thinking of joining Pakistan. The people strongly opposed his decision and the Nawab left for Pakistan. Later in February 1948, Junagad got merged into India.
Answer 2: In July 1947, Hyderabad State Congress passed a resolution for merger of Hyderabad state into India. The Nizam however took an anti-India stand. He started making movements for merging Hyderabad state with Pakistan. To reject the demand of people of Hyderabad to be merged with India, Kasim Rizvi, an associate of the Nizam, formed an organisation known as ‘Razakar’. Kasim Rizvi and his associates not only oppressed the Hindus but also the Muslims who supported the democratic movement. Due to it, there was inflammation of public opinion. The Government of India tried to negotiate patiently with the Nizam but he refused to respond. At last, the Indian government started the police action against the Nizam on 13 September 1948. It was symbolically named as ‘Operation Polo’.
Answer 3: Hari Singh, the ruler of State of Kashmir, had decided to remain independent. Pakistan had intended to secure the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. Due to this, Pakistan started putting pressure on Hari Singh. At the instigation of Pakistan, armed intruders attacked Kashmir in October 1947. At that time Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ with India. In this manner, after merging into India, the Indian army was sent for the defense of Kashmir. The army won back a major portion of Kashmir from the possession of intruders. But some part of it remained in the possession of Pakistan.
Q3. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Explain the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the integration of Princely States.
(2) Explain the contribution of Swami Ramananda Tirth in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad.
Answer 1: After the independence of India the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel very diplomatically found out the way of merging the princely states in India. He took the rulers of the princely states into confidence and prepared an ‘Instrument of Accession’, acceptable to all.The rulers gave good response to his appeal. All the princely states merged into India, except the state of Junagad, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Sardar Patel took a firm stand and solved the issue of merger of princely states.
Answer 2: In this struggle Swami Ramananda Tirth, Govindbhai Shroff, Anant Bhalerao, Ashatai Waghmare etc. made a valuable contribution. Through the movement of ‘Vande Mataram’, students participated in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad. Similarly, in this struggle Ved Prakash, Shyamlal, Govind Pansare, Bahirji Shinde, Shridhar Vartak, Janardan Mama, Shoaib Ullah Khan etc. embraced martyrdom. Their sacrifice proved to be inspirational to the Indians. Thus, we can understand that the leaders and the people in Marathwada had a lion’s share in the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad. In Marathwada, 17 September is celebrated as ‘Marathwada Mukti Din’ to commemorate the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad. Marathwada was not included in Free India on 15 August 1947. After the inspiring struggle of the people, this region was included in independent India in 1948.
Q4. Write short notes on Merger of French Colonies
Answer:
Even after the independence of India, the regions of Chandranagar, Puduchcheri, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam were in the possession of the French. The Indian natives there were eager to get merged with India. The Indian Government demanded that these territories being a part of India should be handed over to it. In 1949 France held a plebiscite in Chandranagar. The people voted for India. Chandranagar was handed over to India. Thereafter, France handed over the rest of the territories to the Government of India.