English Itihaas 10th

4. Social and Political Movements

Read out the news in a local newspaper. labourers, businessmen, women, youth,
and senior citizens.
Movement against child marriage
has been successful to a great extent Why movements ?
and the extent of child marriages have
reduced by 50%. The workers in this All the people in the society cannot
movement worked very consciously. participate in political parties and
contribute to social welfare. Some people
Workers from the movement focus on a particular issue and persue it.
against dowry also helped them. Now They organise people and try to pressurise
there is a need to start a drive against the government to resolve that issue. They
malnutrition, because poverty and constantly follow up on the issue, build
malnutrition are two important public opinion about it and thereby put a
problems to be taken on priority basis. pressure on political parties and the
government. This type of organised
In the above newspaper item different activity is called a movement. Organised
movements are included. Can you activity is the essence of any movement.
explain their meaning  ?
Such movements are very important
This news deals with different subjects. in a democracy. Different social problems
Are movements related to only one come under discussion through these
issue ? movements. The government then has to
pay attention to such problems. Leaders
If different movements cooperate with and activists of the movement provide
each other will they be more effective ? necessary information about those issues
to the government. This information is
In the last chapter we got information very useful for the government while
about the national and regional parties. making policies.
Political parties compete for political
power. They win elections and try to Some movements aim at opposing a
resolve the problems of the common men. particular decision or policy of the
Political parties generally adopt a government. The right to protest is
comprehensive perspective. They cannot considered an important right in
concentrate on just one particular issue. democracy. However this right needs to
From public cleanliness to space research, be used patiently and responsibly.
they have to take into consideration all
matters from national perspective and Can you tell ?
take decisions. Political parties are
expected to have a programme for the Which movements in India are
problems of all sections of the society. actively working for rehabilitation of
Political parties adopt policies taking into the displaced and to secure their
consideration the interests of all - farmers, livelihood  ?

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What is a movement ? Without an organisation, it becomes
difficult to follow up the issues. For eg.
A Movement is a collective action. Farmer’s organisation works for farmer’s
People’s active participation is expected movement.
in the movement.
Any movement requires public
A Movement can be formed when support. People should feel connected to
people come together in the interest of a the issue that is undertaken by the
particular issue, for eg. Pollution can be movement. Movements have a programme
a single issue for which a movement can of action which help them to shape public
be created. opinion.

A movement has a particular social Discuss.
objective or a focussed problem. For eg.
Movement against corruption aims at Generally the movements are
ending corruption. devoted to one particular issue but
have an ideology behind them. For
Movements have a leadership. example movements against child
Leadership keeps the movement active. marriage, dowry believe in values of
Objectives of the movement, programme democracy, women empowerment
of action, strategy of agitation are decided and social equality. Sometimes some
by its leaders. A strong leadership makes movements gradually get transformed
movement effective. into political parties.

Movements have organisations.

Read the following dialogue and write a paragraph on it.

But the problems in We can get an ehxeiissaBdtselertausnhimtnpyicyMssreoheitdoncesoervdpmsafmeieect.mimrdaociotceoodsdrnvrayu.tetssroiBmictnfewuegmtenrttihense
experience of
developing countries are of It’s true. Otherwise movement here itself.
we would not have Can we start a
different nature. Different said – ‘save girls’ movement to make the
school surrounding
social, economic and cultural safe for girls?

If the human rights conditions may give rise to

movement becomes different movements.

influential worldwide, there

is no need for other

movements.

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Can you find out ? Important movements in India

Which movement in India led to the Tribal movement : In the
filing of Public Interest Litigation
(PIL) and the Judiciary had to give pre-independence period, the British
a decision regarding PIL ?
Name the movements started by government deprived tribal people of their
Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma Phule,
Sant Gadge Maharaj, and right to livelihood on
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
forest resources.
Discuss.
On which issues does the ‘Son of There was a Tribal
uprising in Kolam
the soil’ movements in India insists? from Chota Nagpur,
Gond from Orissa,
Do this. Koli, Bhilla and

Collect the news in the newspapers Ramoshi from
about the movements such as
Andhashraddha Nirmulan Movement, Maharashtra, Santhal
movement to stop the pollution of Birsa Munda and Munda from
rivers, movement against female
foeticide, Not in My Name, etc. Bihar. The tribal struggle has continued

Do you know ? since those years. Tribals in India face

Civic problems need not originate several problems. One major problem is
only in the social sphere. They can
emerge from any section of the that they are denied right over forests.
society. In India, especially in
Maharashtra, many social reform The main demand of the tribal movement
movements were started and society is to accept their right over forests. They
started getting modernised. should be allowed to collect products of
forests and also should have a right to
Our struggle for independence was cultivate on forest land.
also a social movement.
Farmers movement in India :
The issues like protecting rights of Farmers movement in India is an important
the citizens, right to vote, minimum
wages, and economic security are movement. During the British period,
the focus of political and economic farmers started getting organised due to
movements. Swadeshi movement anti-agriculture policies of the British
is an important economic movement. colonial government. You must be aware
of farmers movements in Bardoli,

Champaranya and movements against
revenue collection. The farmers movements

were inspired by the thoughts of Mahatma
Phule, Justice Ranade and Mahatma
Gandhi.

Due to some reforms in agriculture
(tenancy laws, laws relating to tilting of

the land etc) the farmers movement
slowed down. After the Green Revolution,

the farmers movement became more
active and effective. Though Green
Revolution aimed at increasing agricultural
production and achieving self-sufficiency

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in food grains, it did not benefit the poor effectively. In 1960s and 1970s labour
farmers. The farmers were now divided movement organised several agitations.
into rich farmers and poor farmers. But from 1980s labour movement started
Dissatisfaction among the poor farmers getting disintegrated. Globalisation has
led to the beginning of farmer’s movement. affected the labour movement to a great
extent.
Appropriate price for agricultural
products, agriculture to be treated as an In India, workers are facing different
industry, implementation of the problems. Unstable employment conditions,
recommendations of the Swaminathan contract labour, financial insecurity,
Commission, debt relief, debt cancellation, absence of legal protection for workers,
national policy for agriculture are some unlimited working hours, insecurity at the
of the demands of the farmers movement. workplace, health hazards are some of
the problems.
Shetkari Sanghatana, Bharatiya Kisan
Union, All India Kisan Sabha are some Women’s movement : In the pre-
of the important farmers organisations in
India. independence period, progressive men in

Do this. India initiated the

Name the policies started by the women’s movement. The
government for the welfare of farmers
and landless labourers. women’s movement

Labour Movement : Labour aimed at eliminating
movement in India emerged in the
background of industrialisation. Textile injustice against women
industry, railway companies were
established in India in the latter half of and ending their
the nineteenth century. In 1899 railway
workers went on strike for their demands. exploitation, help them
However, the first organisation for
resolving the issues of workers was to lead a respectful life
established in 1920. This organisation is
known as All India Trade Union Congress. Savitribai Phule and participate actively
in social life.
In the post-independence period labour
movement started working more Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Raja

Do this. Rammohan Roy, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule,

Collect the information about acts Savitribai Phule, Maharshee Dhondo
related to workers passed in post
independence times with the help of Keshav Karve, Pandita Ramabai, Ramabai
internet.
Ranade took initiative

in ending the practice

of Sati and child

marriages. Reforms

such as widow

remarriage, women

education and right to

vote to women were Ramabai Ranade
possible due to the

work of these reformists. After

independence, the Constitution gave equal

rights to women in all fields. In spite of

this women were not treated equally in

several fields. During this period women’s

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movement aimed at freedom of women. Environment Security
The movement demanded that the women
should be treated as human beings. challenge of equal education for women
and giving women a status and prestige
In the latter period, women participated as human beings.
to a great extent in the movements against
corruption, caste discrimination and Environment movements : We are
religious extremism which made them aware that environmental degradation is
aware of injustice against their own a serious problem at national and
selves. Women started taking initiative in international level. At the international
Organising against injustice. In India level several movements are working to
women’s movement is not homogeneous stop the deterioration of the environment.
in nature. However women’s movements We see a significant international
at various levels are taking up the issues cooperation in this field.
like women’s health, social security,
financial independence, and empowerment. In India many movements are working
Today women’s movement face the on differenet aspects of enviornment. The
environment movements are taking up
Dr Rajendra Singh also known as issues like protection of bio-diversity,
protecting different
‘Waterman of India’ has brought sources of water,
protection of forests,
Water revolution in Rajasthan. He green belt, pollution
of rivers, use of
became famous because of building chemicals and their
ill effects etc.
thousands of
Consumer movement : Consumer
‘Johad’ in movement emerged in India after the
Consumer Protection Act came into
Rajasthan. He existence in 1986. This movement has a
broad objective. The movement believes
revived rivers that each member of the society is a
consumer. Due to the changing nature of
in the desert of social and economic system consumers
face different problems. Adulteration,
Rajasthan. He increased cost of items, frauds in weight

formed an

organisation –

‘Tarun Bharat

Dr Rajendra Singh Sangh’ which
worked for

building eleven thousand Johad in

hundreds of villages. All over India

he started a campaign for water

conservation, revival of rivers, forest

conservation, and wild life

conservation. His social movement

is active for last 31 years. He won

the Stockholm Water Prize, an award

known as the ‘Nobel Prize for

water’.

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and measures are some of the problems. different from the earlier movements.
The consumer movement works to protect These movements are issue-based. It
consumers from such type of frauds. means they try to organise issue based
mass movements.
The movements increase the
participation of people in public life. The In the next chapter we will study
post 1980 movements are called neo- challenges before democracy.
social movements as their nature is

Exercise

1. Choose the correct option from the given 4. State wheather the following statements
options and complete the sentences. are true or false. Give reasons for your
answer.
(1) ............ is the main demand of farmers
movement. (1) Movements are important in a
democracy.
(a) Right to cultivate on the forest land
(b) To get the right price for agricultural (2) Movements do not need a strong
leadership.
product
(c) Protection of consumers (3) Consumer movement came into
existence.
(d) Building of dams
Project
(2) To increase agricultural production and
become self-sufficient with regard to (1) Collect the news in the newspapers
food grains ............ was initiated. about various activities of social
movements.
(a) Water revolution
(b) Green revolution (2) Write a report on movements in your
(c) Industrial revolution area which are working to resolve
(d) White revolution general problems.

2. Explain the concepts. (3) Prepare a format of a complaint you
(1) Tribal movement will submit under consumer protection
(2) Labour movement act if you are cheated in purchase of
vegetables or grains.
3. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Explain the activities/role/functions of

environmental movement.
(2) Explain the nature of farmers movement

in India.
(3) For which reforms were the women’s

movement in the pre-independence
period fighting ?

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5. Challenges faced by Indian Democracy

As we have said earlier, democracy inclusion of all social components,
is a continuous living process. Mere autonomy to social institutions,
adoption of democracy does not bring empowerment of citizens, protection of
democracy into practice. Alert and human values need to be adopted for real
conscious efforts are required to sustain cultivation of democracy.
democracy. It is necessary to understand
threats to democracy in time and deal Can you tell ?
with them in a democratic manner. In this
chapter we will primarily focus on In democracy, to get power, political
challenges before democracy in India. But parties contest elections. But do political
before that let us have a look at challenges parties organise internal elections ? It is
before democracy at the global level. necessary that political parties should
hold elections at the organisational
Today every nation in the world level. Are such elections held ?
claims to be democratic. But in reality
very few nations in the world have Questions in my mind
democracy that protects the rights and China adopted economic reforms
freedom of people and gives priority to
the welfare of people. Many democracies and also became a member of the
are facing the challenge of military take World Trade Organisation. But China
over. Spread of democratic values at the continues to have a one party system.
global level and adoption of true Is China a democratic nation ?
democracy by all nations is a major
challenge at global level. Another challenge before democratic
nations is to ensure that democracy
Which democratic institutions need becomes deep rooted. Freedom, equality,
to be established for transformation fraternity and justice, peace, development
from non-democratic system to a and humanitarianism are the values that
democratic system ? should be practiced at all levels of the
society. The mass support for this purpose
Democratic values are found to be can be gathered only through democratic
very weak even in those nations where means.
democracy appears to be deep-rooted. In
nations like India, democracy appears in Challenges before Indian Democracy
the form of voting, elections, governmental
structure, judiciary etc. However this is To make democracy more meaningful
only a political form of democracy. To the government of India decentralised
become a way of life democracy must be power and adopted the policy of
practiced in each and every aspect of reservation for women and weaker sections
social life. Several measures such as of the society. But we should think
whether such measures really gave power
in the hands of citizens?

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Communalism and terrorism : process is another serious problem for
Religious conflict and the resultant democratic systems. Sometimes political
terrorism is one of the major challenges parties give candidature to people having
before Indian democracy. Social stability a criminal background, facing criminal
gets hampered due to increasing religious allegations and allegations of corruption.
hostility. People’s participation in This increases the role of money and
democratic process reduces to a great muscle power in politics. This may also
extent due to terrorism. lead to violence during elections.

Left extremists - Naxalism : Naxalism Social challenges : Apart from the
is a major problem in India. Naxalism challenges mentioned above, Indian
began as a movement to remove injustice democracy faces other social challenges.
against aggressive landless farmers and The problems like unemployment, unequal
tribal people. But today Naxalism has distribution of resources, increasing gap
become a violent struggle. In the Naxalite between rich and poor, caste based issues,
movement the importance of the problems need to be resolved.
of farmers and tribal people has reduced.
Instead, violent measures to oppose the What steps should be taken to make
government policies, attacking the police Indian Democracy successful?
forces and such other tactics are used by
the Naxalite groups. (1) Majority opinion has a lot of
importance in Democracy. In a democracy,
Corruption : In India the extent of Political party getting majority of votes
corruption is said to be very high in the comes to power. Parliament takes all
public sector. Government’s working decisions by majority. Democracy aims at
capacity is reduced due to corruption at the welfare of majority of people. When
the political and administrative levels. the importance is given to majority it is
People develop distrust and dissatisfaction possible that injustice may be done to
about the entire governmental system due those who are marginal and who are in
to delay in governmental work, poor public minority. Though democracy is a
services and facilities and different government by majority, minorities should
financial blunders. Corruption in the also be included in the process of decision-
electoral process, bogus voting, bribing the making. It is the duty of government to
voters, abducting the voters and such other take into consideration the interests of
things reduces people’s confidence in the minorities. In short, in democratic
democratic process. government everyone’s opinion should be
considered important. Similarly majority
What do you think ? government should not be the government
of majority community. All religious,
Family monopoly in politics is a major linguistic, ethnic and caste groups should
problem before democracy in India. get equal opportunity to participate in the
Monopoly of just one family in politics decision-making process.
reduces democratic space. Common people
cannot participate in the public sector. (2) Judiciary in India is seen to be
making conscious efforts to make political
Criminalisation of politics : Increased process transparent. To prevent
participation of criminals in political criminalisation of politics, judiciary has
adopted measures like strict punishment

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to criminals and prohibiting criminals (4) To make Indian democracy truly
from participating in political process. successful, it is essential to increase
participation of people at all levels. If
(3) To make democracy successful in such participation increases especially at
India, it is not just sufficient to make the level of the government it will help
efforts at the level of government, in changing public policies. Public polices
administration and judiciary. Everyone at are made through interaction with the
social and individual level should make people. Interaction with those who are not
conscious efforts towards it. Sarva Shiksha in power is also important for the success
Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Gram of democracy.
Samruddhi Yojana, Self-help Groups,
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural The values of equality, liberty, social
Employment Guarantee Scheme and such justice, secularism should be respected
other projects are undertaken at the level and implemented even in our personal
of Government and Administration. To life. For the success of democracy,
increase political participation of women, everyone should keep in mind that we are
50% seats are kept reserved in local self- responsible citizens of the nation.
governing institutions.

Exercise

1. Choose the correct option from the given (3) People may lose confidence in the
options and complete the sentences. democratic process due to corruption
during elections.
(1) In a democracy ............ participate in
elections and get political power. 3. Explain the concept.
(1) Left-extremism (2) Corruption
(a) political parties (b) courts
(c) social organisations 4. Answer the following questions in brief.
(d) none of the above (3) Which factors are required for the

(2) The major challenge faced by all success of democracy in India ?
democratic nations in the world is (2) What are the effects of criminalisation
............ .
of politics ?
(a) Religious conflicts (3) What efforts are undertaken to bring
(b) Naxal activities
(c) Deepening the roots of democracy transparency in political process ?
(d) Importance to muscle power
Project

2. State whether following statements are (1) What measures will you suggest to
true or false. Give reasons for your control corruption? Make a list of it.
answer.
(2) Organise a group discussion in your
(1) Alertness is required to sustain class on the problem of terrorism in
democracy. India.

(2) Importance of the problems of farmers (3) Present a street play on ‘how to get
and tribals has increased in the left rid of addiction ?’.
extremist movement.

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Studying Political Science...

Every citizen in India, whether he lives in village, district or in
city has to face numerous social and political problems every day.
Whom to approach to get domicile certificate, caste certificate, Aadhar
Card ? Whom should we meet ? R  egarding water problems, public
cleanliness ? From where can we get documents about our house,
etc.  ?

We can get to know about all such things from the study of
Civics and Political Science. This study helps us to become a good
citizen and to be aware of our rights and duties as a citizen of this
country. This subject also helps us to get information of India and
also the outside world.

The subject of Political Science will also help you when you plan
for your future after finishing your school education. The subject of
Indian government and politics is included in the syllabus of the
examination for Union Public Service Commission, Maharashtra
Public Service Commission and recruitment in banking services.
Political science is the basis of any field you choose as a profession.
Similarly we cannot study international politics, public administration,
peace and conflict without studying political science. Many employment
opportunities are available in the above fields. Opportunities are
available not only in the field of teaching and research but
opportunities are also available in the fields of information technology,
policy analysis and advisory bodies of political leaders.

Globalisation has created many opportunities for the practical use
of political science. Political parties, pressure groups, non-governmental
organisations, voluntary organisations need researchers and mediators
who have the knowledge of government and politics. In today’s world
people having knowledge of the political process and complexities of
bureaucracy and special knowledge skills are essential.

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