प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
Class - 12
English Elective
5. The Argumentative Indian - Amartya Sen
Q1. What is Sen's interpretation of the positions taken by
Krishna and Arjuna in the debate between them?
[Note Sen's comment: 'Arjuna's contrary arguments are not really
vanquished... There remains a powerful case for "faring well' and not just
'faring forward'.]
Ans-
The author says that the Bhagvad Gita portrays the message of faring forward
inspite of all the challenges. Krishna advocates that one should fare forward
without thinking about the consequences. But Sen feels the contemporary world
is quite different. It is full of terrorism, insecurity, wars and violence. So
in his opinion, the message of Arjuna 'faring well" is more appropriate.
Arjuna's
contrary remarks should not be ignored. To support his statement, he takes the
example of J. R. Oppenheimer, the physicist who developed the nuclear weapons.
Sen firmly believes that simply 'faring forward" is not judicious in this
era of violence. The best solution will be to judge the situation sensibly and
then take the appropriate actions. Therefore, he supports Arjuna's decision of
'faring well' and not just forward.
Q2. What are the three major issues Sen discusses here in
relation to India's dialogic tradition?
Ans-
The three issues that Sen discusses in relation to India's dialogic tradition
are the issues of gender, caste and voice. There was a time when arguments and
disputations were confined to some elite groups. It is also true that the
contribution of some women scholars can't be ignored. Gargi, Maitreyi and
Draupadi actively participated in argumentation. Sarojini Naidu and Nellie Sen
Gupta are famous for their argumentative politics. Some poets like Kabir,
Ravidas, Dadu, Mira Bai protested against the social barriers and inequality
though they belonged to the weaker section of society. Thus, class, caste,
gender, voice are no barriers in relation to India's dialogic tradition. He
also states that these barriers have been broken on numerous occasions, even at
times as early as 8th century BCE.
Q3. Sen has sought here to dispel some misconceptions about
democracy in India. What are these misconceptions?
Ans-
According to the writer, democracy in India is a subject of persistent
arguments which are very helpful for the development of democracy. But it is
also true that two major misconceptions about democracy in India have crept in.
These misconceptions are-
(1)
That the concept of democracy was a gift to India from the western world and
India simply adopted and implemented democracy after its independence.
(2)
That democracy is the most suitable form of Government in India because of its
history. So it is necessary that India should avoid both these misconceptions.
Q4. How, according to Sen, has the tradition of public
discussion and interactive reasoning helped the success of democracy in India?
Ans-
Sen is of the opinion that democracy is closely and intimately related to
public discussion and interactive reasoning which helped in the success of
democracy in India. He has a firm belief that persistent arguments are an
inherent part of public life in India. In India, there is no imposition of any
singular perspective because it is an outcome of reasoning which introduces
multiple perspectives.
Common
people of every section of society participated in this democratic system so
their opinion is an inherent structure of democracy. He also states that
persistent arguments are an important part of the public life in India. Thus,
the tradition of public discussion and interactive reasoning helped the success
of democracy in India.
Q5. Sen quotes Eliot's lines: 'Not fare well/But fare forward
voyagers'. Distinguish between 'faring forward'
(Krishna's position in the Gita) and 'faring well" (the
position that Sen advocates).
Ans-
According to the author, Krishna has exhorted in the Gita, that Arjuna should
not think of the fruit of action whatever it may be. But he should just fare
forward and do his duty, which is to fight on the battlefield without thinking
about the consequences of the battle.
But
the author is of the opinion that a person should "fare well" not
just "forward". He says so because in modern times, the circumstances
have completely changed so we should be aware of the doubts and destructive
consequences of our actions. So we should take any action after complete
discussion.
Q6. Sen draws a parallel between the moral dilemma in the
Krishna Arjuna dialogue and J. R. Oppenheimer's response to the nuclear
explosion in 1945. What is the basis for this?
Ans-
There is a close resemblance between the Krishna- Arjuna dialogue and J. R.:
Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer invented the weapons for mass murder which were used
in Second World War of 1945. He was a great follower of Krishna. He was
responsible for killing so many people. He did not repent for his action but
the modern world is quite different.
In
the contemporary world, we can't be blind to the consequences of our actions.
Today we are facing different types of global problems. The most serious
problem is terrorism which is a serious threat for security. Apart from that,
growing poverty, confrontation, financial crisis, regional problems and nuclear
power are some of the other threats. This is the reason why we can't neglect
Arjuna's consequential doubts and follow Krishna's arguments of action.
Q7. Maitreyi's remark 'what should I do with that by which I do
not become immortal' is a rhetorical questions cited to illustrate both the
nature of the human predicament and the limitations of the material world. What
is the connection that Sen draws between this and his concept of economic
development?
Ans-
According to the writer, Yajnavalkya, the scholar and teacher, told Maitreyi,
his wife, that wealth is not powerful enough to help a person to achieve
immortality. The author's concept regarding economic development is somewhat
different. According to him, this issue concerns between income and
achievement, between commodities we can buy and the actual capabilities we can
enjoy and between our economic wealth and our ability to live as we would like.
While
there is a connection between economic oppulence and our ability to achieve
what we value. He says that wealth or economic luxury is not as important as
life and death. So we should ponder over it for a free and satisfied life.
Q8. It is important to see that the Indian argumentative
tradition has frequently crossed the barriers of gender, caste, class and
community. List the examples cited by Sen to highlight this.
Ans-
Amartya Sen is an eminent scholar who has put a number of examples to show that
people of lower social strata worked hard to maintain the argumentative
tradition of India. In Mahabharata, we find that it was Draupadi who was the
motivating factor of the Battle of Mahabharata who made Yudhisthira ready to
fight the war. She did so by her eloquent mocking dialogues. The dialogues of
Bhrigu and Bhardavaja in the Mahabharata are on the heights of argumentative
nature. Apart from it, the poets of the Hindu Bhakti Movement rose against the
prevailing social barriers with their sharp arguments.
They
were from the weakest section of society. Some of them were Kabir, Dadu,
Ravidas, Sena and Meera Bai. Along with it, the argumentative tradition was
given an eminent place by women scholars also. These women scholars contributed
a lot to maintain the tradition. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman President
of Indian National Congress who was elected in 1925 while Nellie Sen Gupta was
second who was elected in 1933. Krishna Menon set a record of nine hours non-
stop speech at the UNO. In our scriptures especially in the Upanishads, Gargi
and Maitreyi participated in the arguing combat. They asked a lot of questions
also. Rani Laxmi Bai, the queen of Jhansi, challenged British rule. Thus, it is
evident that argumentative tradition has been continuing since long without any
barrier of castle, creed, gender, class or community.
Q 9. Does Amartya Sen see argumentation as a positive or a
negative value?
Ans-
Amartya Sen is an eminent scholar. He always sees argumentation as a positive
perspective. Arguments develop intellectual standards. Argumentation helped to
put heterodoxy in Indian politics. It is also helpful to remove all the
barriers of inequality from our society. Through argumentation, the opinion of
the masses is put into action which helps in maintaining democracy in our country.
Argumentation is a fence to protect our country on the international stage. In
this way, we can say that Sen firmly believes the importance of argumentation
for proper functioning of democracy in India.
Q 10. How is the message of the Gita generally understood and
portrayed? What change in interpretation does Sen suggest?
Ans-
Gita is considered to be portrayed in a sense that we should do our duty
without thinking about the results. It is an exhortation given by Krishna of
faring forward. But Sen thinks something different. He suggests that along with
Krishna's faring forward, Arjuna's faring well should also be considered in the
present scenario. In the present time the world is quite different. It is full
of violence, wars and terrorism. So he says that our attitude can't be
indifferent to the consequences. Thus, Sen suggests that while putting our
action, we should keep Arjuna's arguments in our mind.
Q 11. What are the twin pitfalls that should be avoided?
Ans-
According to the author, there are twin pitfalls and we have to avoid them.
(1)
People of India should think that democracy is not just a gift of the Western
world and India simply accepted it when it became independent.
(2)
People shouldn't assume that there is something unique in Indian history that
makes the country completely suitable for democracy. We'll have to ponder over
whether democracy is intimately connected with public discussion and
interactive reasoning. And it is also true that tradition of public discussion
exists across the world, not just in the west. And if this tradition is
maintained and continued, democracy becomes easier to implement in the country
and then it can be presented easily.
Q 12. What does Draupadi say in the sixth century version of
'Kiratarjuniya' by Bharvi?
Ans-
In the sixth century version of 'Kiratarjuniya' by Bharvi, Draupadi says that
it is not good for a woman to advise a king. In fact it is an insult of the
king. But she is compelled to do so because of her own troubles. That's why she
is ready to take such a step that is not good for a woman.
She
further addresses the king and says that a king like him who is as brave as
Indra himself and who has ruled the earth uninterruptedly for a long time but
now he has thrown away the entire kingdom as an elephant who tears off the
garland with his own trunk. She goes on saying that if he does not want to do
heroic deeds and wants to live peacefully, she should throw away his royal
dress and become a hermit and make offerings in the sacred fire.
Q13. What is the importance of arguments according to the
author?
Ans-
According to the author, there was a time when people developed themselves
through arguments. Even our women folk were also so strong that they could
defeat men. Even today, the argumentative heritage of India is needed to peep
into the impact of different influences
that
have shaped India and its traditions. No doubt, the argumentative spirit helped
in the development of democracy, intellectual and social history of India.
The
author has presented positive notes praising the importance of arguments. The
essay not only presents the list of the riches of India but challenges the
world countries also who are dependent on the third world countries. It is also
true that India is not the same as before. The argument seems to become extinct
and acceptance has taken its place in the modern time.
Q 14. Who translated Gita into English? What was its effect?
Ans-
Christopher Isherwood was extremely influenced with the Gita and he translated
the Gita into English. This admiration for Gita and for Krishna's arguments in
particular has been a lasting phenomenon in parts of European culture. It was
widely praised by Wilhelm von Humboldt as the most beautiful perhaps the only
true philosophical song existing in any known tongue'.
Q 15. What do you mean by secularism in India?
Ans-
Secularism in India is peculiar. It is "no man should be interfered with
on account of religion and anyone is free to a religion that pleases him."
Thus, secularism in India gives place for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Jews,
Christians, Muslims, Parsees, Sikhs and other communities. The origin of all
these religions may be discussed from history.
Q 16. How can you say that democracy as public reasoning is not
practiced in India?
Ans-
The author says that Indian democracy is formed by the impact of the British.
But it is also true that the definition of democracy is 'government by
discussion' but unfortunately it was never practiced in India. People in India
have lost their argumentative tradition and they accept all policies without
questioning it because the privileged upper elite male community occupied the
place of Britishers in Independent India and ruled it according to their
desire.
Q 17. What is the importance of dialogue in the essay?
Ans-
The author says that from the epics, the argumentative tradition is traced out
from the argument of Krishna and Arjuna that is put into Bhagavad Gita. Both
sides of the argument are given equal importance. The dialogues of Krishna and
Arjuna are borrowed by European culture and certain famous personalities like
J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Q 18. How does Sen explore the other side of women?
Ans-
It is true that Sen has explored the unexplored side of women and presents them
as critical, questioning the men and showing their intellectual side which is
often neglected by scholars. He refers to Gargi questioning Yajnavalkya and
Maitreyi questioning Yajnavalkya, her husband, on immortality through wealth
acquisition. He also refers to Draupadi who instigates Yudhisthira to fight a
battle against Kaurvas.
Q 19. What is the substantiality in arguments of Indians?
Ans-
The writer refers to the dilemma when he quotes the names of Krishna and
Arjuna. He says that Krishna's message on following the duty and Arjuna's
message on considering the aftermath are put in the Bhagavad Gita. These are
the scholars that bring the debate to discussion to show the extent to which
those ethical issues are relevant even today though a long time has passed
since then.
Q 20. What do you know about the loquaciousness of the Indians?
Ans-
According to the writer, the magnificence of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata
is displayed openly as the arguments and counter arguments that are found
everywhere from that very time or period to the record of the conquest speech
at the UN. It is an evidence of the loquaciousness of the Indians and their
ability to speak and argue since time immemorial. Krishna Menon made a record
of delivering the longest speech at the U.N half a century ago. It was a
non-stop speech of nine hours.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Who is the author of the essay The Argumentative Indian'?
a.
Mark Twain
b.
G.B.Shaw
c. Amartya Sen
d.
D.H.Lawrence
2. When did Amartya Sen receive the Nobel Prize?
a. 1998
b.
1978
c.
1990
d.
1970
3. For which subject was Amartya Sen awarded the Noble Prize?
a.
English
b. Economics
c.
Peace
d.
Physics
4. Who has made the record of the longest speech ever delivered
at the United Nations?
a. Krishna Menon
b.
Antonia Fraser
c.
Amartya Sen
d.
J.Robert Oppenheimer
5. How long was Menon's non stop speech?
a.
ten hours
b. nine hours
c.
eight hours
d.
seven hours
6. Sen talks about Indians' loquaciousness. What does
loquaciousness mean?
a.
eating a lot
b.
sleeping a lot
c. talking a lot
d.
reading a lot
7. The ............ alone is about seven times as long as
the Iliad and Odyssey put together.
a.
Gita
b.
Puranas
c.
Upanishads
d. Mahabharata
8. The famous ...... Is one small section of the Mahabharata?
a. Bhagavad Gita
b.
Puranas
c.
Upanishads
d.
Ramayana
9. The famous debate between Krishna and Arjuna occurs on the
eve of the.......... that is the central event in the Mahabharata.
a.
new year
b.
independence day
c. great war
d.
Gandharava marriage
10. Who was Arjuna's charioteer?
a. Krishna
b.
Rama
c.
Bhima
d.
Nakula
11. Bhagavad Gita focuses particularly on the removal of..........
Doubts.
a.
Krishna's
b. Arjuna's
c.
Pandavas'
d.
Kauravas'
12. Who translated Bhagavad Gita into English?
a.
T.S.Eliot
b. Christopher Isherwood
c.
Amartya Sen
d.
J.Robert Oppenheimer
13. Eliot explains:"Not fare well/But fare …….. voyagers'.
a.
Upward
b.
sideward
c.
backward
d. forward
14. Who had developed the ultimate 'weapon of mass destruction'
during the second world war?
a.
Antonio Fraser
b.
Christopher Isherwood
c.
T.S.Eliot
d. J.Robert Oppenheimer
15. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
a.
Nellie Sengupta
b. Sarojini Naidu
c.
Margaret Thatcher
d.
Indira Gandhi
16. Which women scholar does does Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
mention?
a.
Draupadi
b.
Maitreyi
c. Gargi
d.
Menaka
17. Who was Yajnavalkya's wife?
a. Maitreyi
b.
Gargi
c.
Lakshmi
d.
Kunti
18. Maitreyi remarks that wealth is useless as it cannot ……..
a.
buy happiness
b.
enlighten us
c. make us immortal
d.
give us good health
19. When ........... orthodoxy became intolerable, Buddhism
emerged as a new religion.
a.
Roman Catholic
b.
Aristocratic
c. Brahminical
d.
Upper caste
20. Bhrigu says that caste division relates to differences in
physical attributes of different human beings reflected in .............
a.
hair colour
b. skin colour
c.
height
d.
race
21. According to Bhavisya Purana, 'Since members of all four
castes are children of God, they all belong to the same..........
a.
race
b.
tribe
c.
genes
d. caste
22. Kabir, the greatest of working class poets was a ……..
a.
barber
b. Weaver
c.
shoe-maker
d.
cotton-carder
23. Ravi-das was a-
a.
Weaver
b.
barber
c.
cotton-carder
d. shoe-maker
24. Sen warns people of India to avoid taking democracy as
...... of the Britishers.
a.
Symbol
b.
token
c. gift
d.
none of the above
25. Democracy is connected with:
a.
public discussion
b.
interactive reasoning
c. both (a) and (b)
d. neither (a) nor (b)
JCERT/JAC English Elective प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
English Elective Contents
Short Stories | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
Poetry | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
Non-Fiction | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
Drama | |
1. | |
2. | |
Novel | |
1. | |
2. | |
