Chapter 5 – Alternative ideas & initiatives: Characteristics and Observations

WBBSE Class 10 History Alternative Ideas and Initiatives Questions and Answers

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Very short-type questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Analytical questions and answers
5. Explanatory questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs) [1 mark each]

1. Who is known as the pioneer of the Indian press?
a) Raja Rammohan Roy
b) James Augustus Hicky
c) Charles Wilkins
d) William Carey

Ans: b) James Augustus Hicky

2. The first printing press in India was established at:
a) Calcutta
b) Bombay
c) Goa
d) Madras

Ans: c) Goa

3. ‘Hicky’s Bengal Gazette’ was published in which year?
a) 1770
b) 1780
c) 1790
d) 1800

Ans: b) 1780

4. The Serampore Mission Press was established in:
a) 1790
b) 1800
c) 1818
d) 1820

Ans: b) 1800

5. Who established the Bengali Gazette press?
a) Rammohan Roy
b) Gangakishore Bhattacharya
c) Vidyasagar
d) Hicky

Ans: b) Gangakishore Bhattacharya

6. The first Bengali weekly newspaper was:
a) Bengal Gazette
b) Samachar Darpan
c) Amrita Bazar Patrika
d) Sambad Kaumudi

Ans: b) Samachar Darpan

7. Bengal Technical Institute was founded in:
a) 1905
b) 1906
c) 1907
d) 1908

Ans: b) 1906

8. Who developed Bengali typefaces for printing?
a) Charles Wilkins
b) Lord Curzon
c) Tagore
d) Raman

Ans: a) Charles Wilkins

9. Panchanan Karmakar is associated with:
a) Journalism
b) Bengali type design
c) Education
d) Science

Ans: b) Bengali type design

10. Visva-Bharati was established in:
a) 1901
b) 1915
c) 1921
d) 1930

Ans: c) 1921

11. Who established Fort William College?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Wellesley
c) William Carey
d) Hastings

Ans: b) Lord Wellesley

12. The University Act was passed in:
a) 1901
b) 1902
c) 1904
d) 1905

Ans: c) 1904

13. C. V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in:
a) 1928
b) 1929
c) 1930
d) 1931

Ans: c) 1930

14. Who passed the University Act of 1904?
a) Lord Wellesley
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Hastings

Ans: b) Lord Curzon

15. Fort William College was established in:
a) 1780
b) 1790
c) 1800
d) 1810

Ans: c) 1800

16. The full form of IACS is:
a) Indian Academy of Cultural Studies
b) Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
c) Institute of Advanced Chemical Science
d) Indian Association of Civil Studies

Ans: b) Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science

17. Jagadish Chandra Bose is associated with:
a) Chemistry
b) Physics and wireless
c) Biology only
d) Astronomy

Ans: b) Physics and wireless

18. Who founded Visva-Bharati?
a) Vivekananda
b) Rabindranath Tagore
c) Vidyasagar
d) Bose

Ans: b) Rabindranath Tagore

19. Who founded the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science?
a) Jagadish Chandra Bose
b) C. V. Raman
c) Mahendralal Sircar
d) Prafulla Chandra Ray

Ans: c) Mahendralal Sircar

20. Bengal Chemicals was established by:
a) J. C. Bose
b) P. C. Ray
c) Raman
d) Sircar

Ans: b) P. C. Ray

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks [1 mark each]

1. The first printing press in India was established at __________. (Goa)
2. The founder of IACS was __________. (Mahendralal Sircar)
3. The Serampore Mission Press was established in the year __________. (1800)
4. The Bengal Technical Institute was established in __________. (1906)
5. The first Bengali weekly newspaper was __________. (Samachar Darpan)
6. Fort William College was founded by __________. (Lord Wellesley)
7. The University Act was passed in __________. (1904)
8. Fort William College was established in __________. (1800)
9. The first newspaper in India was __________. (Hicky’s Bengal Gazette)
10. The Vernacular Press Act was passed in __________. (1878)

2B. True or false [1 mark each]

1. The first printing press in India was established in Calcutta. (False)
2. The Vernacular Press Act encouraged freedom of press. (False)
3. Hicky’s Bengal Gazette was the first newspaper in India. (True)
4. Mahendralal Sircar founded IACS. (True)
5. Rabindranath Tagore founded Visva-Bharati. (True)
6. The Serampore Mission Press played no role in education. (False)
7. Panchanan Karmakar contributed to Bengali printing. (True)
8. Sriniketan was established for rural development. (True)
9. Fort William College was established by Lord Curzon. (False)
10. The Bengal Technical Institute was founded in 1906. (True)

2C. Very short-type questions and answers [1 mark each]

1. Who established the first printing press in Hooghly?
Ans: The first printing press in Hooghly was established by the Portuguese missionaries.

2. When and by whom was printing press introduced in Chinsurah?
Ans: The printing press was introduced in Chinsurah by the Dutch in the 18th century.

3. Who established the Hindusthani press in Calcutta?
Ans: The Hindusthani Press in Calcutta was established by John Gilchrist.

4. Which was the first Bengali weekly published from Serampore Mission Press?
Ans: The first Bengali weekly published from Serampore Mission Press was Samachar Darpan.

5. In which year was the Hindusthani press in Calcutta established?
Ans: The Hindusthani Press in Calcutta was established in 1800.

6. Where was the first printing press established in Bengali?
Ans: The first printing press for Bengali language was established at Serampore in Bengal.

7. Who wrote ‘Brahman Roman Catholic Sambad’?
Ans: ‘Brahman Roman Catholic Sambad’ was written by Raja Rammohan Roy.

8. Why were some Indian papers of the mid-nineteenth century charged before the Supreme Court?
Ans: Some Indian newspapers were charged before the Supreme Court because they criticised the British government and were accused of defamation.

9. Who wrote ‘Raja Pratapaditya Charitra’?
Ans: ‘Raja Pratapaditya Charitra’ was written by Ramram Basu.

10. Name some of the papers published in Bengal at the end of the 18th century.
Ans: Some newspapers published in Bengal at that time were Bengal Gazette, India Gazette, and Calcutta Gazette.

11. Who was Charles Wilkins?
Ans: Charles Wilkins was a British scholar and printer who developed Bengali typefaces and contributed to early printing in India.

12. Who is known as the pioneer of the Indian press?
Ans: James Augustus Hicky is known as the pioneer of the Indian press.

13. Who set up the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science?
Ans: The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science was set up by Mahendralal Sircar.

14. Write the name of the first illustrated book published in Bengali.
Ans: The first illustrated Bengali book was Chheleder Ramayan.

15. Who was the first Bengali publisher and bookseller?
Ans: Gangakishore Bhattacharya was the first Bengali publisher and bookseller.

16. Where was Upendrakishore Raychowdhury born?
Ans: Upendrakishore Raychowdhury was born in Mymensingh, which is now in Bangladesh.

17. Why is Panchanan Karmakar famous?
Ans: Panchanan Karmakar is famous for developing Bengali typefaces and improving printing technology.

18. Name the first book published by U. Ray & Sons.
Ans: The first book published by U. Ray & Sons was Chheleder Ramayan.

19. Who established Calcutta Science College?
Ans: Calcutta Science College was established by Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee.

20. Why were the efforts of the missionaries of Serampore in publishing books not fully successful?
Ans: The efforts were not fully successful because the books were often too religious in nature and did not attract a wide readership among common people.

21. What is the full form of SPTE?
Ans: The full form of SPTE is Society for the Promotion of Technical Education.

22. In which year was ‘Varna Parichay’ published?
Ans: ‘Varna Parichay’ was published in 1855.

23. In which year was Serampore Mission Press established?
Ans: The Serampore Mission Press was established in 1800.

24. Who passed the University Act of 1904?
Ans: The University Act of 1904 was passed by Lord Curzon.

25. Who wrote ‘Varna Parichay’?
Ans: ‘Varna Parichay’ was written by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

3. Short-type questions and answers [2 marks each]

1. When and where was the first printing press of the Portuguese started?
Ans: The first printing press of the Portuguese in India was started in 1556 at Goa. It was established by Christian missionaries to print religious texts and spread Christianity.

2. In which year was the Fort William College established and by whom? Which languages were taught there?
Ans: Fort William College was established in 1800 by Lord Wellesley in Calcutta. Languages like Bengali, Sanskrit, Persian, and Hindi were taught there to train British officials.

3. Who was Baboo Ram?
Ans: Baboo Ram was an Indian entrepreneur associated with early printing activities in Bengal. He contributed to the growth of indigenous printing and publication.

4. In which year and by whom was Persian press established?
Ans: The Persian press was established in 1779 by Nathaniel Brassey Halhed in Calcutta. It was mainly used for printing Persian language texts for administrative purposes.

5. Who published the ‘Bengal Gazette’ and when?
Ans: The Bengal Gazette was published by James Augustus Hicky in 1780 in Calcutta. It was the first printed newspaper in India.

6. Why was ‘Hicky’s Bengal Gazette’ important?
Ans: Hicky’s Bengal Gazette was important because it was the first newspaper in India and marked the beginning of journalism. It also criticised British authorities and promoted freedom of expression.

7. Who set up Sanskrit Press and Depository? What was their objective?
Ans: The Sanskrit Press and Depository was set up by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Its objective was to print and distribute affordable textbooks and promote education among the masses.

8. What was the impact of the development of printing press on the cultural life of Bengal?
Ans: The development of the printing press greatly enriched the cultural life of Bengal by promoting literature, newspapers, and intellectual discussions. It helped in spreading modern ideas and awakening social consciousness.

9. What role did the hawkers of Battala play in the Bengali press business?
Ans: The hawkers of Battala played a significant role in distributing cheap printed books and pamphlets among common people. They helped in popularising reading habits and expanding the reach of Bengali publications.

10. Who wrote ‘Kripa Sastrer Arthaved’ and in which language?
Ans: ‘Kripa Sastrer Arthaved’ was written by Raja Rammohan Roy in Bengali. It was composed to spread religious and social ideas among common people.

11. What was the role of Panchanan Karmakar in the development of Bengali Press?
Ans: Panchanan Karmakar played a crucial role in developing Bengali typography by designing and casting Bengali typefaces. His work made printing in Bengali more efficient and standardised.

12. Who established the Bengali Gazette press and when?
Ans: The Bengali Gazette press was established by Gangakishore Bhattacharya in 1818. It was one of the earliest presses to publish newspapers in the Bengali language.

13. What is the importance of the introduction of linotype printing in Bengali?
Ans: The introduction of linotype printing in Bengali increased the speed and efficiency of printing. It made large-scale publication easier and contributed to the expansion of newspapers and books.

14. Why was the colonial system of education defective?
Ans: The colonial system of education was defective because it was mainly designed to serve British administrative needs. It neglected Indian culture, practical knowledge, and the overall development of students.

15. Who was Charles Wilkins?
Ans: Charles Wilkins was a British scholar and printer who played an important role in developing Bengali printing. He also translated the Bhagavad Gita into English.

4. Analytical questions and answers [4 marks each]

1. Why was the Vernacular Press Act introduced? What were its provisions?
Ans: The Vernacular Press Act was introduced in 1878 by the British government to control the growing influence of the Indian language press, which often criticised colonial policies. The Act imposed strict restrictions on vernacular newspapers and allowed the government to censor and confiscate publications without trial. It aimed to suppress nationalist sentiments and limit the freedom of expression among Indians.

2. Who was James Augustus Hicky? Why were several prosecutions instituted against him?
Ans: James Augustus Hicky was the founder of the first printed newspaper in India, Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, published in 1780. He was known for his bold and critical writings against the British officials and the East India Company. Several prosecutions were instituted against him because he openly criticised the authorities and exposed corruption. His writings were considered defamatory, which led to legal actions and ultimately the closure of his newspaper.

3. Discuss the foundation and development of modern printing press in Bengal.
Ans: The foundation of the modern printing press in Bengal was laid by European missionaries and British officials in the late 18th century. The establishment of presses like the Serampore Press marked the beginning of organised printing. Over time, printing technology improved with the development of Bengali typefaces and advanced techniques. The growth of newspapers, books, and journals further strengthened the printing industry, making Bengal a centre of intellectual and literary activity.

4. Explain the relation between printed books and the spread of education.
Ans: Printed books played a crucial role in the spread of education by making knowledge widely accessible and affordable. They enabled the mass production of educational materials, which could reach a large number of people. Printed books helped in standardising knowledge and supporting formal education in schools and colleges. As a result, they contributed significantly to increasing literacy and intellectual awareness in society.

5. What was the role of Serampore Mission Press in the spread of mass education in Bengal?
Ans: The Serampore Mission Press played an important role in spreading mass education by printing a large number of textbooks and educational materials in vernacular languages. It made books affordable and easily available to common people. The press also published religious and moral texts, which helped in educating society. Its efforts contributed to increasing literacy and promoting modern education among the masses in Bengal.

6. What was the role of printing press in imparting education in Bengal during the British rule?
Ans: During British rule, the printing press played a vital role in imparting education by producing textbooks, reference books, and newspapers. It helped in spreading modern knowledge and ideas among the people. The availability of printed materials made learning easier and more widespread. It also supported the growth of schools and colleges by providing necessary educational resources, thereby contributing to the expansion of education in Bengal.

7. How did Serampore Mission Press become pioneer in printing press?
Ans: The Serampore Mission Press became a pioneer in printing in Bengal due to the dedicated efforts of missionaries like William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and William Ward. It printed a large number of books in various Indian languages, especially Bengali, making literature widely accessible. The press also introduced improved printing techniques and developed vernacular typefaces. By publishing religious texts, textbooks, and newspapers, it played a crucial role in spreading knowledge and laid the foundation of modern printing in Bengal.

8. Discuss the development of modern Bengali script in printing work.
Ans: The development of modern Bengali script in printing work was an important step in the growth of Bengali literature and education. Early printing faced difficulties due to the lack of standardised Bengali typefaces. Gradually, scholars and printers developed improved and uniform Bengali fonts, making printing easier and clearer. This advancement helped in producing books, newspapers, and journals in Bengali, which promoted literacy and cultural development.

9. Write a short note on the Fort William College.
Ans: Fort William College was established in Calcutta in 1800 by Lord Wellesley to train British civil servants in Indian languages and administration. It became an important centre for the development of Indian literature and languages. Many scholars were engaged in translating and composing books in Bengali and other languages. The college contributed significantly to the growth of modern Bengali prose and the spread of education.

5. Explanatory questions and answers [8 marks each]

1. How did printing press flourish in Bengal?
Ans: The printing press in Bengal developed rapidly due to the combined efforts of missionaries, intellectuals, and the growing demand for education and literature.

Introduction by European Missionaries: The printing press was first introduced in Bengal by European missionaries, which laid the initial foundation for printing activities.
Establishment of Serampore Press: The Serampore Press, founded by missionaries like William Carey, became a major centre for large-scale printing.
Growth of English Education: The spread of English education created a rising demand for printed books, textbooks, and reading materials.
Influence of Reform Movements: Social and religious reform movements encouraged the publication of pamphlets, tracts, and journals to spread new ideas.
Participation of Bengali Intellectuals: Educated Bengalis actively engaged in publishing newspapers and literary works in the Bengali language.
Development of Bengali Typefaces: The creation and improvement of Bengali printing types made vernacular printing easier and more widespread.
Rise of Newspapers and Periodicals: The publication of newspapers like Samachar Darpan increased public awareness and readership.
Role in Spreading Knowledge: The printing press became an effective medium for spreading education, modern ideas, and public opinion, leading to its rapid expansion.

2. What is the contribution of William Carey and Serampore Mission to the spread of education?
Ans: William Carey and the Serampore Mission played a crucial role in spreading modern and vernacular education in Bengal.

Establishment of Serampore Mission: William Carey and his associates set up the Serampore Mission, which became a centre of educational development.
Foundation of Educational Institutions: They established schools for both boys and girls, promoting mass education.
Promotion of Vernacular Education: Carey emphasised teaching in Bengali and other local languages, making education accessible to common people.
Establishment of Serampore College: The founding of Serampore College in 1818 provided higher education in various subjects.
Translation of Important Texts: They translated religious and educational books into Indian languages to widen knowledge.
Publication of Textbooks: The mission printed textbooks and learning materials for students.
Introduction of Modern Subjects: Subjects like science, history, and geography were introduced into the curriculum.
Contribution to Literacy Growth: Their efforts significantly increased literacy and spread modern education in Bengal.

3. What do you know about the inventions and introduction of printing press?
Ans: The invention and spread of the printing press brought a revolutionary change in communication, education, and the dissemination of knowledge.

Invention by Johannes Gutenberg: The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century in Germany.
Use of Movable Metal Type: His innovation of movable type printing revolutionised the process of book production.
Condition Before Printing Press: Before its invention, books were handwritten, making them rare and expensive.
Increase in Book Production: The printing press enabled faster, cheaper, and mass production of books.
Spread of Knowledge and Ideas: It played a crucial role in spreading education, literacy, and new ideas across Europe.
Introduction in India by Portuguese: The printing press was introduced in India by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century.
Development in Bengal: In Bengal, printing developed later with the efforts of British officials and missionaries.
Impact on Society: It contributed greatly to the growth of education, journalism, and the formation of public opinion.

4. What was the role of Upendrakishore Raychowdhury in the establishment of printing industry in Bengal?
Ans: Upendrakishore Raychowdhury made significant contributions to modernising and improving the quality of printing in Bengal.

Pioneer of Modern Printing Technology: Upendrakishore Raychowdhury was a leading figure in modernising printing techniques in Bengal.
Introduction of Advanced Techniques: He introduced scientific methods like block-making and half-tone printing.
Establishment of Printing Firm: He founded the well-known printing press U. Ray & Sons in Calcutta.
Improvement in Print Quality: He enhanced the quality of illustrations and printing in books and magazines.
Publication of Children’s Literature: He published the famous children’s magazine Sandesh, which gained wide popularity.
Contribution to Scientific Printing Methods: His work reflected a blend of science and printing technology.
Encouragement of Creative Printing: He promoted artistic and high-quality printing standards.
Foundation of Printing Industry Growth: His contributions helped establish a strong and modern printing industry in Bengal.

5. Give a brief description of the development of technical education in Bengal.
Ans: Technical education in Bengal developed gradually under British rule to meet administrative, industrial, and scientific needs.

Beginning under British Rule: Technical education in Bengal began during the British period to support administrative and industrial needs.
Establishment of Medical Institutions: Institutions like Calcutta Medical College (1835) promoted scientific and medical education.
Growth of Engineering Education: Engineering education developed with the establishment of Bengal Engineering College at Shibpur.
Government Support for Technical Training: The British government encouraged technical education for practical purposes.
Introduction of Scientific Subjects: Subjects such as engineering, medicine, and applied sciences were gradually introduced.
Role of Indian Reformers: Indian leaders supported technical education as a means of national progress.
Industrial Demand for Skilled Workers: The growth of industries increased the need for technically skilled labour.
Impact on Modernisation: Technical education contributed to scientific advancement and modernisation of society.