Chapter-1
INDIAN
CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE
-Mahatma
Gandhi
Biography
➤Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 and died in 1948.
➤He is known as Bapu or the Father of the Nation.
➤He was more a spiritual leader than a politician.
➤He used truth and non-violence as the chief weapons
against the British rule.
➤He completely dominated Indian politics from 1915 to
1948.
➤My Experiments with Truth is written by Mahatma Gandhi.
➤My Experiments with Truth is his autobiography.
Summary
This essay “Indian Civilization and Culture”
is written by Mahatma Gandhi who is known as father of nation. He was born on 2nd Oct
1869 at Porbandar in Gujrat. In this essay, Mahatma Gandhi has highlighted the
salient features of Indian Civilization and Culture. He says that the
foundation of Indian civilization is far better than the Western civilization
and our civilization cannot be beaten in the world because we are following the
path that our ancestors made for us.
There
is a charge against us by Western people that we are ignorant and stolid but
Gandhi Jee says this charge is against our merit. We can also do everything but
our civilization does not give us permission to do so.
Gandhi Jee says that our ancestors preferred villages to cities because
they knew cities are full of vices, crimes, robbers and thieves but in villages
people live in peace. Gandhi Jee says that mind is a restless bird the more it
gets the more it wants and remains unsatisfied. So we should not indulge in our
passions.
Objective Question & Answer
1.Simple living and high thinking is the base of ……..
a) Iranian
Civilization
b) Indian Civilization
b) Indian Civilization
c) European Civilization
d) Pakistani Civilization
2.Gandhi Ji was born in……………………
a)
1880
b)1869
c)1948
d)1865
3.Indian Civilization and Culture is written by……………
a)Dr Zakir
Hussain
b)Gandhi ji
c)Martin Luther King
c)Martin Luther King
d)H E Bates
4. The autobiography of Gandhiji is……………
a)The truth and
non-violence
b)My experiment with truth
c)Gandhiji
d)Discovery of India
5.Mahatma Gandhi used………..and……….as a chief weapons against
British.
a)truth, non-violence
b)Danda and khadi
c)gun,
knife
d)None of these
6.Nothing can equal the………sown by our ancestors.
a)believe
b)culture
c)civilization
d)seed
7.Civilization is that mode of conduct which points out to
man the…………
a)moral
b)path of duty
c)good man
d)bad man
8. The Gujarati equivalent for civilization means………….
a)good
person
b)good
character
c)good conduct
d)good habit
9. Our ancestors enjoyed……………..rule.
a)noble
b)city
c)fine
d) home
1
10. With which one of the following journal was Mahatma
Gandhi associated?
a)young India
b)Indian
Mirror
c)New
India
d)None of these
11. The charge against India is that………………
a)her people are uncivilized
b)her people are
ignorant
c)her people are
stolid
d)all
12. Sacrifice is the sole aim of our………………
a)farmers
b)politicians
c)scientists
d)Rishis
13. Pharaohs were rulers of Ancient…………
a) Egypt
b) Russia
c)
India
d)Nepal
14. ………………. Were rulers of Egypt.
a)Sultan
b)Czars
c)Pharaohs
d)Nepal
15. Indian civilization and culture is……………
a)an essay
b)story
c)speech
d)drama
16. Gibbon is associated with…………….
a)Italy
b)Greece
c)Germany
d)India
17. Civilization is the state of development of a ……………….
a)People
b)Animal
c)Bird
d)insects
18. Our forefathers did not invent machinery because…………..
a)These have made up
pride
b)These would have made us lazy
c)These would have made us
smart
D)none of these
19. Indian glory is that it is………………..
a)
Movable
b)Immovable
c)ignorant
d)forgettable
20. ……………….is known as the father of the nation or Bapu.
a)Mahatma Gandhi
b)Sardal Patel
c)Jawahar Lal
Nehru
d)Dr. Zakir Hussain
21. …………….was a spiritual leader than a politician.
a)S.C.
Bose
b)Mahatma Gandhi
c)
Nehru
d)Dr. Zakir Hussain
22. “My experiments with truth” was written by ……………..
a) Abul Kalam
Azad
b)Sardal Patel
c) Mahatma Gandhi
D)Dr. Zakir Hussain
23. The people of Europe learn their lessons from the
writings of the man of …….
a)
Britain
b)Germany
c)India
d)Greece or Rome
24. The mind is a restless ………… the more it gets the more it
wants.
a)Dog
b)Bird
c)Cow
d)dog
25. I am no hater of the………….
a)
North
b)South
c)West
d)East
26. The world famous Attic civilization is in……………..
a)Greece
b)Italy
c)Spain
d)Germany
27. Gandhi dominated Indian politics during……………..
a)1869-1948
b)1919-1948
c)1915-1948
d)1910-1948
28. “Plain living and high thinking” is the motto of a………………
a)Western Philosopher
b) American Philosopher
c) Northern
Philosopher
d)Pakistani Philosopher
29. The values of ……………… are glittering even today.
a)Indian civilization
b)Roman civilization
c)Greek
civilization
d)African Civilization
30. …………….were satisfied with small villages.
a)Romans
b)Germans
c)Our ancestors
d)Western
31. Indian civilization elevates the………….
a)Foundation
b)spiritual
c)moral being
d)manmade
32. ……………led nomadic life.
a)man
b)dog
c)lion
d)horse
33. ………………prefers spiritualism to materialism.
a)Zakir
Hussain
b)Gandhi Ji
c)R.
Prasad
d)Nehru
34. Modern civilization is mainly the worship of ………………
a)Idols
b)material
c)arts
d)None of these
35. Gandhijoi went to champaran in ………..
a)1917
b)1916
c)1918
d)1920
36. The people of Europe inspired by ……………and Roman writers.
a)Greek
b)Indian
c)British
d)African
37. Wealth and luxuries do not make a ………………happy.
a)dog
b)man
c)bird
d)horse
38. The western civilization has the tendency to privilege.
a)
Paternity
b) Morality
c)Materiality
d)None of these
39. European civilization will mean…….for India.
a)want
b)real
c)ruin
d)bad
Short Question & Answer
1. Why does Gandhi Ji say that “mind is a restless bird”? What makes mind
restless?
Ans. Gandhiji says that needs of mind are unending and
indulgence of mind in our passions makes it restless.
2. How did our ancestors enjoy true Home Rule?
Ans. They disliked courts and lawyers. They settled their
disputes without going to courts. In that way they enjoyed true Home Rule.
3. What is civilization in the real sense of the term?
Ans. Civilization, in the real sense of the term is the deliberate and
voluntary restriction of wants. This alone increases and promotes contentment,
real happiness and capacity for service.
4. What do you know about Gandhiji?
Ans. I know Gandhiji as Bapu and as Mahatma. He is
called Bapu because he was the father of nation. He is called Mahatma because
he was a great soul or saint.
5. How did our ancestors view large cities? Why were they satisfied with small
villages?
Ans. They viewed large cities as snares and useless
encumbrances, having gangs of thieves, robbers and prostitutes. Their village
fulfilled all their needs. So they were satisfied with small villages.
6. What is the distinguishing characteristic of modern civilization?
Ans. The distinguishing characteristic of modern
civilization is an indefinite multiplicity of human wants.
7. Why did our ancestors dissuade us from luxuries and pleasures? Did they do
right thing?
Ans. Our ancestors knew that possessions don’t contribute to happiness. The
rich were worried about finding means of increasing their material wealth. On
the other hand, the poor were contented and happy. That why, our ancestors
dissuade us from luxuries and pleasures. And they were right in doing so.
8. What, according to author is modern civilization?
Ans. According to Gandhiji modern civilization is
the worship of materialism and violence and brutality.
Explain the followings
1. “Civilization is that mode
which points out to man
the path of Duty.”
Ans. The given stanza has been taken from “Indian Civilization and Culture”
which is written by Mahatma Gandhi. He was born in 1869. He is known as father
of Nation.
Gandhiji
defines Civilization that it is the mode of conduct that points out to man the
path of Duty. So one can realize of one's duty to perform.
2. “I believe that the civilization India has evolved is not to be
beaten in the world . Nothing can equal the seed sown by our ancestors.”
Ans. The given stanza has been taken from “Indian Civilization and Culture”
which is written by Mahatma Gandhi. He was born in 1869. He is known as father
of Nation.
Gandhiji explains that India civilization is unbeatable when compared to the
othercivilizations of the world. Moral values taught by our ancestors is the
base of our civilization and cannot be equated.
3. “Observing all this our ancestors dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures.”
Ans. The given stanza has been taken from “Indian
Civilization and Culture” which is written by Mahatma Gandhi. He was born in
1869. He is known as father of Nation.
Our ancestors knew that luxuries and pleasures gave momentary satisfaction.
Fresh cravings and desires developed immediately after the accomplishment of
some wants and cycle went on making man its slave.
Hindi Summary
गाँधी जी भारत की प्राचीन सभ्यता की
प्रशंसा करते हैं जो अब भी स्थिर, सुदृढ़, और
अपराजय है। संसार में कई महान सभ्यताएँ हुई हैं परन्तु उनमें से कोई भी अपने
पुराने गौरव के साथ जीवित न रही । रोम और यूनान, मिस्र, और जापान
और चीन में भी प्राचीन सभ्यताएँ समाप्त हो गई है । परन्तु भारत की सभ्यता समय की
कसौटी पर खरी उतरी है । कुछ लोग भारत के लोगों पर आरोप लगाते हैं कि वे इतने
अड़ियल हैं कि कोई भी परिवर्तन अपनाने के लिए तैयार नही हैं । परन्तु गाँधी जी इसे
कोई दोष नहीं मानते । भारतीय सभ्यता इसलिए टिकाऊ रही है क्योंकि हमारे पूर्वजों ने
इसे अपने अनुभव पर परख कर देखा और सही पाया ।
यूरोपियन
व भारतीय सभ्यताएँ
यूरोप
के लोग प्राचीन यूनान व रोम के लेखों से मार्गदर्शन प्राप्त करते हैं जो स्वयं
समाप्त हो चुके हैं । उन्हें आशा है कि वे उन पुराने लोगों की गलतियों से बच
सकेंगे परन्तु गाँधी जी के विचार में वे ऐसा न कर सकेंगे । यूरोपियन और भारतीय
सभ्यता में मूल अन्तर यह है कि पश्चिम के लोग भौतिक उपलब्धियों के पीछे भाग रहे
हैं । वे अधिक से अधिक भौतिक सुविधाएँ व विलास की इच्छा करते हैं । परन्तु हमारे, पूर्वज जानते थे कि भौतिक
आनन्द की कोई सीमा नहीं है । उन्होंने उसकी सीमा निश्चित की । वे मशीनों का
आविष्कार कर सकते थे । परन्तु उन्होंने ऐसा न किया । उन्होंने आत्म-संयम का रास्ता
दिखाया क्योंकि सुख धन पर निर्भर नहीं करता है । हमारे पूर्वज चाहते थे कि हम
स्वस्थ और सुखी रहने के लिए अपने अंगों का उपयोग करें | यदि हम विलास के पीछे भागे तो हम क्षणिक
आनन्द के बदले स्थाई सुख दे बैठेंगे ।
नगर व
गाँव
हमारे
पूर्वज नगरों की बजाए गाँवों को पसन्द करते थे क्योंकि वे जानते थे कि नगर
दुष्कर्म , अपराध, डाकुओं, चोरों और गरीबों के शोषण
से भरपूर होते हैं । गाँव में लोग अपनी जीविका कमाने के लिए अपने व्यवसाय में
शान्ति से जीवन व्यतीत करते थे | पश्चिमी सभ्यता में
अनैतिकता की ओर अग्रसर कराने की प्रवृत्ति है जव कि भारतीय सभ्यता में मनुष्य के
नैतिक चरित्र को उन्नत करने की प्रवृत्ति है ।
भौतिकवाद
का अनुसरण
पश्चिम
में पागल कर देने वाले भौतिक आविष्कार हुए हैं । परन्तु गाँधी जी उनसे प्रभावित
नहीं हुए । उन अविष्कारों से इच्छाएँ बढ़ी हैं । परन्तु मानव मन कभी संतुष्ट नहीं
होता । इसलिए और अधिक प्राप्त करने की अतृप्त इच्छा रहती है । यह सहायक होने की
बजाए बाधा बन जाती है । यह बोझ बन जाती है । गाँधी जी को विश्वास है कि यूरोपीय
लोगों को भी अपने जीवन को नए ढंग से ढालना पड़ेगा । भारत में हमारे पूर्वजों ने उन
बातों की खोज की जिनका सम्बन्ध आत्मा से है । उन्होंने पाया कि सुख संतोष में होता
है । हो सकता है कि पश्चिमी सभ्यता पश्चिम की जलवायु के अनुकूल हो । परन्तु हमारी
सभ्यता हमारे अनुकूल है । गाँधी जी अपने देशवासियों को सलाह देते हैं कि वे अपनी
सभ्यता से चिपटे रहें और पश्चिम की तड़क भड़क के धोखे में न आएँ । इसमें कोई संदेह
नहीं कि कुछ सीमा तक भौतिक सामंजस्य भी आवश्यक परन्तु किसी को अपनी उन्नति और समाज
के लिए उपयोगी होने के लिए उनका गुलाम नहीं बनना चाहिए|
