NCERT Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 12 Framing The Constitution

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Class : 12th

Subject : History

Chapter : 15

Chapter Name : Framing The Constitution

Q1 What are the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?

Answer. The Objectives Resolution was introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent
Assembly on 13 December 1946. It was a momentous resolution that outlined the defining
ideals of the Constitution of independent India.

The ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution were :

→ It proclaimed India to be an "Independent Sovereign Republic".

→ It guaranteed it's citizens justice, equality and freedom, and assured that "adequate
safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and Depressed and
Other Backward Classes.

→ The objective of the Indian Constitution would be to fuse the liberal ideas of democracy with
the socialist ideas of economic justice, and re-adapt and re-work all these ideas within Indian
context.

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Q2 How was the term minority defined by different groups?

Answer. N.G. Ranga said that the real minorities are the masses of the country. These people
are so depressed and oppressed and suppressed that they are not able to take advantage of
the ordinary civil rights. There do not have access to elementary education. These are the real
minorities that need protection.

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Book : Themes of Indian History Part-III Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 15 Social Science History

Q3 What were the arguments in favour of greater power to the provinces?

Answer. The arguments in favour of greater power to the Provinces were:

→ If the centre was overburdened with responsibilities, it could not function effectively. By
relieving it of some of its functions, and transferring them to the states, the centre could be
made stronger.

→ It was felt that proposed allocation of powers would cripple them.

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Q4 Why did Mahatma Gandhi think Hindustani should be the national language?

Answer. Mahatma Gandhi felt that everyone should speak in a language that common people
could easily understand. Hindustani - a blend of Hindi and Urdu was a popular language of large
section of the people of India and it was a composite language enriched by the interaction of
diverse cultures.

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Q5 What historical forces shaped the vision of the Constitution?

Answer. The historical forces that shaped the vision of the Constitution were :

The years immediately preceding the making of the Constitution had been exceptionally
tumultuous, a time of great hope , but also of abject disappointment. Though India had been
made free, but it had also been divided. Fresh in popular memory were the Quit India struggle of
1942 - perhaps the most widespread popular movement against the British Raj.

The Great Calcutta killings of August 1946 began a year of almost continuous rioting across
northern and eastern India. The violence culminated in the massacres that accompanied the
transfer of populations when the partition of India was announced.

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Another problem faced by the new nation was that of the princely states. During the period of
the Raj, approximately one-third of the area of the subcontinent was under the control of
nawabs and maharajas who owed allegiance to the British Crown, but we're otherwise left
mostly free to rule or misrule their territory as they wished. When British left India, the
constitutional status of these princes remained ambiguous. This was the background in which
the Constituent Assembly met.

Q6 Discuss the different arguments made in favour of the oppressed groups.

Answer. The different arguments made in favour of the oppressed groups were :

There was a need create a political framework in which the minorities could live in harmony with
others and the differences between communities could be minimised. This was possible only if
the minorities were well represented within the political system, their voices heard and their
views taken into account. Only separate electorates would ensure that Muslims had a
meaningful voice in the governance of the country.

The poor and downtrodden, the tribals, the Other Backward Classes, the untouchables were
considered as minorities and oppressed groups as they did not have access to the basic rights
and elementary education. It was essential to create conditions where these constitutionally
enshrined right could be effectively enjoyed.

It was also argued that the problem of the 'untouchables' could not be resolved through
safeguards and protection alone. Their disabilities were caused by the social norms and the
moral values of caste society.

Q7 What connection did some of the members of the Constituent Assembly make the political
situation of the time and the need for a strong Centre?

Answer. When India became independent on 15 August 1947, it was not very strong as a nation
due to many reasons. It was under the British rule for so long that almost all its wealth had
already drained and also it had to face the problem of division into two dominions India and

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Pakistan. A reallocation of powers was necessary, to strengthen not only the States but also the
centre.

The argument for greater power of Provinces provoked a strong reaction in the Assembly. The
need for a strong centre has been underlined on numerous occasions since the Constituent
Assembly had begun it's sessions.

Ambedkar had declared that he wanted a strong and United centre, much stronger centre than
that they had created under the Government of India Act of 1935. Reminding the members of
the riots and violence that was ripping the nation apart, many nations had repeatedly stated that
the powers of the centre had to be greatly strengthened to enable it to stop the communal
frenzy.

It was also reasoned by one of the members of United Provinces that only a strong centre could
plan for the well-being of the country, mobilise the available economic resources, establish a
proper administration and defend the country against foreign aggression.

Q8 How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?

Answer. The language of the nation was a very big controversy because language is the only
thing that can connect people with one another and bring in the sense of collective oneness
among the people of the country. But India being such a big country it was next to impossible to
teach all the people a single language as all of them had differences in their roots of origin,
tradition and culture.

Mahatma Gandhi felt that everyone should speak in a language that common people could
easily understand. Hindustani - a blend of Hindi and Urdu was a popular language of large
section of the people of India and it was a composite language enriched by the interaction of
diverse cultures. He thought that it would be the ideal language as it could unify Hindus and
Muslims, and people of North and South.

R. V. Dhulekar, a congressman from the United Provinces, made an aggressive plea that Hindi
be used as the language of constitution-making. When told that not everyone in the Assembly
knew the language. He said that they are not worthy and they better leave.

It was also informed that the opposition in the south was against Hindi was very strong. The
South Indians felt this as a threat to their existence. Later Hindi was declared as official
language and not the National language.

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Book : Themes of Indian History Part-III Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 15 Social Science History

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