A Great Leader Of The Oppressed And The Downtrodden

Chapter Name: A great leader of the oppressed and the downtrodden.

Subject: Modern English

Lesson: 4

Class: 7

Board: Board Of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM/BSEM)

Contents: Chapter Summary, Questions and Answers

Class 7 English Chapter 5: Chapter Summary

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a remarkable leader of India. This is a story of his dedication to the lower-class people of the country. Ambedkar wanted justice and equality for the untouchables and aimed to end the evil practice of casteism. He was strongly against the wrongful division between individuals based on caste. He faced many humiliating incidents in his life. 

One such example was when he could not join his classmates to drink water from the well because he was untouchable. Another instance was when Bhim and his brother were forced to get off a cart on their way to Goregaon to meet their father after the cart driver discovered they were untouchables. The driver even threw down their luggage.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s first name came from his mother, Bhima, and his second name from his father, Ramji Sankpal. He was a diligent and serious student in class. A teacher lent him his surname, Ambedkar, to protect him from the cruelties of casteism. Ambedkar was strongly opposed to the evils of casteism.

The Maharaja of Baroda sent Bhim abroad for higher studies. He earned his M.A., LL.M., and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University in America. He became a law teacher and practised very successfully at the Bombay High Court. He strongly demanded a separate electorate for the untouchables.

When he became the Law Minister of free India, he led the drafting of the Constitution of India, earning him the title “the father of the Indian Constitution.” To liberate the oppressed from the tyranny of casteism, Ambedkar and two lakhs of his followers embraced Buddhism. Nowadays, his followers have rejected the derogatory term ‘Sudra’ and call themselves Dalits.

BOSEM Solutions for class 7 English Chapter 4

1. Answer the following questions in one sentence each

Q1. Why was the teacher shaking the hand fan vigorously?

Ans: The teacher shook the hand fan vigorously because it was very hot.

Q2. What did the boys do when they felt thirsty?

Ans: The boys went to a nearby well to get water.

Q3. Why did Bim’s family went place to place?

Ans: Bhim’s family went from place to place because of the various transfers their father had.

Q4. Why did the teacher lend his surname to Bhim?

Ans: The teacher lends his surname to Bhim to save him from the cruelties of casteism.

Q5. What did he demand at the Second Round Table conference in London?

Ans: He demanded a separate electorate for the untouchables.

Q6. What do his followers call themselves today?

Ans: They called themselves as Dalits.

2. Answer the following questions in about 20-25 words each

Q1. Why did Bhim wait for his friends to bring water for him?

Ans: Bhim has to wait for his friend to bring water for him because he cannot go near the well or fetch water from it as he belongs to the untouchables.

Q2. Mention two humiliating incidents in the life of B.R. Ambedkar.

Ans: The two humiliating incidents incidents were:

i. He could not fetch water from the well and a friend had to pour water to his mouth from above when he felt thirsty.

ii. He and his brother were forced to get off a cart, and their luggage was thrown out when they went to see their father at Goregaon because they belonged to the untouchables.

3. Answer the following questions in about 50-60 words

Q1. Write on Ambedkar’s struggle against casteism.

Ans: Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar faced numerous humiliating incidents in his life because of the caste he belonged to. For instance, he could not even drink water freely when he was thirsty and had to rely on his friends for help. During his school days, a teacher lent him the surname “Ambedkar” to protect him from the cruelties of casteism.

Ambedkar was vehemently opposed to the evils of casteism. He tirelessly struggled against it and demanded a separate electorate for the untouchables. To further his cause and liberate the untouchables from the tyranny of casteism, he embraced Buddhism.

📗Tyranny: Harsh and Unfair Treatment

📗Vehemently: “Vehemently” means showing strong and intense feelings or passion. It describes an action done with a lot of energy, force, or emotion

Q2. How were the Dalits oppressed in India?

Answer: Dalits, initially known as the Sudras in India, were treated as untouchables, which was very humiliating for them. They were divided and oppressed by the caste system, placing them at the lowest level. Under the leadership of Babasaheb Ambedkar, they struggled against this oppression, protested against untouchability, and created a separate identity for themselves.

4. True or False

i). Bhm drank water from the well like the other boys (False)

ii). Bhim and his brother were forced to get down from the cart (True)

iii). The teacher lent his surname to embarrass the boy (False)

iv). Ambedkar fought strongly against casteism (True)

v). Ambedkar supports the division between man and man (False)

vi). Pandit Nehru admired Ambedkar (True).

vii). He is known as the father of the Indian Constitution (True).

VOCABULARY

An Antonym is a word opposite in meaning to another word.

Q. Try to find the antonyms of the following words.

Ans: