Q 1.The chief architect of the Indian Constitution is:
(a) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(d) Mahatma Gandhi

Ans: (c) Dr B. R Ambedkar

Q 2.State one feature of community identity.

Ans:
Community identity is based on birth and "belonging" rather than on qualifications or "accomplishment". These kinds of identities are called "ascriptive" – that is, they are determined by the accidents of birth and do not involve any choice on the part of the individuals concerned.

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Q 3.A state is "a body that successfully claims a monopoly of legitimate force in a particular territory", according to
(a) Karl Marx
(b) August Comte
(c) Max Weber
(d) Jacques Rousseau

Ans: (c) Max Weber

Q 4.The chief architect of the Indian Constitution is:
(a) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(d) Mahatma Gandhi

Ans: (c) Dr B. R Ambedkar

Q 5.What do you understand by Regionalism?

Ans:

• Regionalism in India is rooted in India’s diversity of languages, cultures, tribes, and religions.
• It is also encouraged by the geographical concentration of these identity markers in particular regions, and fuelled by a sense of regional deprivation.
• Indian federalism has been a means of accommodating these regional sentiments.

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Q 6.State the basic objectives laid down in Indian Constitution which are generally agreed as good.

Ans:
(1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.
(2) No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or received out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.

Q 7.Explain the importance of community identity.

Ans:

• Community provides us the language (our mother tongue) and the cultural values through which we comprehend the world. It also anchors our self-identity.
• Community identity is based on birth and "belonging" rather than on some form of acquired qualifications or "accomplishment". It is what we "are" rather than what we have "become".
• Expanding and overlapping circles of community ties (family, kinship, caste, ethnicity, language, region or religion) give meaning to our world and give us a sense of identity, of who we are. That is why people often react emotionally or even violently whenever there is a perceived threat to their community identity.

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Q 8. Analyse the importance of safeguarding minority rights.

Ans:

• For a strong and democratic nation, special constitutional provisions are required to ensure the rights of all groups and those of minority groups in particular.
• Privileged minorities such as extremely wealthy people are not usually referred to as minorities; and they fall in the category of "privileged minority".
• When minority is used without qualification, it generally implies a relatively small but also disadvantaged group.
• The sociological sense of minority also implies that the members of the minority form a collectivity – that is, they have a strong sense of group solidarity, a feeling of togetherness and belonging.
• It is possible to have anomalous instances where a minority group is disadvantaged in one sense but not in another. Thus, for example, religious minorities like the Parsis or Sikhs may be relatively well-off economically. But they may still be disadvantaged in a cultural sense because of their small numbers relative to the overwhelming majority of Hindus.
• Religious or cultural minorities need special protection because of the demographic dominance of the majority.

Q 9. Write a note on the nature of communalism in India.

Ans:

• Communalism is an aggressive political ideology linked to religion.
• It is important to emphasise that communalism is about politics, not about religion.
• A communalist may or may not be a devout person, and devout believers may or may not be communalists. However, all communalists do believe in a political identity based on religion.
• Communalists cultivate an aggressive political identity, and are prepared to condemn or attack everyone who does not share their identity.
• One of the characteristic features of communalism is its claim that religious identity overrides everything else.
• Communalism is an especially important issue in India because it has been a recurrent source of tension and violence.

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Q 10.Write a note on Communalism in India.

Ans:

• Communalism is said to be an aggressive political ideology linked to religion.
• In the English language, “communal” means something related to a community or collectivity as different from an individual.
• All communalists do believe in a political identity based on religion.
• Communalists cultivate an aggressive political identity, and are prepared to condemn or attack everyone who does not share their identity.
• One of the characteristic features of communalism is its claim that religious identity overrides everything else. Whether one is poor or rich, whatever one’s occupation, caste or political beliefs, it is religion alone that counts.
• Communalism is an especially important issue in India because it has been a recurrent source of tension and violence.
• During communal riots, people become faceless members of their respective communities. They are willing to kill, rape, and loot members of other communities in order to redeem their pride, to protect their home turf.

Q 11.Examine how cultural diversity presents tough challenges.

Ans:

• Cultural identities are very powerful – they can arouse intense passions and are often able to mobilize large numbers of people.
• Cultural differences are accompanied by economic and social inequalities, and this further complicates things.
• Measures to address the inequalities or injustices suffered by one community can provoke opposition from other communities.
• The situation is made worse when scarce resources – like river waters, jobs or government funds – have to be shared.s