III VAC PSY A M1U1 Ambedkar

What is the primary focus of Ramachandra Guha's "Makers of Modern India"?

• A detailed biography of Mahatma Gandhi.

• A collection of life stories of 19 influential Indians.

• A compilation of essays and speeches by 19 influential Indians who shaped India's history and modern identity.

• An analysis of India's economic development since independence.

What significant role did B.R. Ambedkar assume after India gained independence?

• He became the leader of the Indian National Congress.

• He was appointed as India's first Minister of Law and Justice.

• He led the movement for a separate Dalit state.

• He served as the first President of India.

What specific group's rights did B.R. Ambedkar work to secure before his resignation in 1951?

• Rights of industrial laborers.

• Rights of agricultural workers.

• Rights of Hindu women.

• Rights of religious minorities.

Answer explanation

B.R. Ambedkar focused on securing the rights of Hindu women, advocating for legal reforms such as the Hindu Code Bill, which aimed to improve their status and rights in society before his resignation in 1951.

How did B.R. Ambedkar explain the similarities found across different modern constitutions?

• He stated that they were a result of blind copying from Western models.

• He argued that fundamental concepts of human rights are universal and naturally shared.

• He believed it was due to a lack of originality in drafting new constitutions.

• He attributed it to the influence of colonial powers on newly independent nations.

What did Ambedkar emphasize as "constitutional morality"?

• Deep respect for rules and lawful behavior to keep democracy safe.

• Blindly copying parts of the Government of India Act 1935 for administrative reasons.

• Allowing people to disagree with the constitution without consequence.

• Prioritizing individual needs over the collective good of the nation.

Why did Ambedkar argue that people should learn to respect the constitution?

• India was still new to democracy.

• The constitution was based on old Indian systems.

• It was safer to leave administrative details to the government.

• Borrowing ideas from other constitutions was wrong.

What was Ambedkar's stance on basing the new constitution on old Indian systems like village panchayats?

• He disagreed, stating modern government needs more than village-level self-rule.

• He strongly supported it as it reflected India's traditional values.

• He believed it would lead to greater administrative efficiency.

• He felt it was necessary to avoid foreign influences.

According to Ambedkar, what should be the fundamental unit of democracy in India?

• The individual citizen.

• The village community.

• The central government.

• The provincial assemblies.

Answer explanation

Ambedkar emphasized that the individual citizen should be the fundamental unit of democracy in India, highlighting the importance of personal rights and participation in governance over collective entities like villages or governments.

What was Ambedkar's primary concern regarding the centralization of power?

• That the central government might become too powerful and collapse under its own weight.

• That the constitution would fail to limit the center's power.

• That modern conditions would naturally weaken central governments.

• That it would lead to an imbalance between peace and war.

Answer explanation

Ambedkar's primary concern was that the central government might become too powerful and collapse under its own weight, leading to instability and potential tyranny, which he sought to prevent through a balanced distribution of power.

What was the primary concern raised during the discussion of the constitution in provincial assemblies?

• Issues related to national unity.

• Objections regarding financial matters.

• Debates over the flexibility of the constitution.

• Concerns about the constitution's workability during war.