English Itihas 8th

8 August the resolution British. They tried to take control of
Government offices. In Maharashtra, the
of ‘Quit India’ put young and old struggled with determination
and boundless courage at places like
forth by Jawaharlal Chimur, Ashti, Yavali, Mahad, Gargoti
etc. and made the struggle immortal.
Nehru got passed with

great majority. It was

also decided to start a

nation wide non

violent agitation under Do you know ?

the leadership of Inspirational accounts of brave children :

Mahatma Gandhi. The school students also

Maulana Azad Gandhiji said, “Every contributed in the freedom
one of you should,
movement. At Nandurbar,
from this moment onwards, consider
the school children, under
yourself a free man or woman and behave
the leadership of
like a citizen of free India.... we shall either
Shirishkumar, carried out
free India or die in the attempt.” Gandhiji
procession holding the tri
made an inspirational appeal to the public
colour flag. The slogan of
to be ready to sacrifice with the feeling of
‘Vande Mataram’ was Shirishkumar
‘Do or Die’. given. The police became

Beginning of People’s Movement : furious and opened firing on small children as

The news of arrest of important leaders of well. In this firing Shirishkumar, Laldas,

Indian National Congress spread out all Dhansukhlal, Shashidhar, Ghanashyam, these

over the country. The angry mob took out school children became martyr.

processions at various places. Even though Underground Movement : At the end

police lathi charged and opened firing on of 1942 the public

the public but still people were not afraid. movement got a new

The agitators attacked some places jails, turn. The leadership

police stations, railway stations etc. which of this movement

symbolised the suppressive policy of the went into hands of

Let us know... young socialist

Individual Satyagraha : The British activists. Jayprakash

Government was Narayan, Dr. Ram

constantly neglecting the Manohar Lohia,

demands, hence the Jayprakash Narayan Chhotubhai Puranik,

Indian National Congress Achyutrao Patwardhan, Aruna Asaf Ali,

decided to start anti war Yusuf Meher Ali, Sucheta Kriplani, S.M.

propoganda. For this it Joshi, Shirubhau Limaye, N.G. Gore,

was decided that instead Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil,

of a collective movement, Maganlal Bagdi, Usha Mehta such leaders

every single person were in the forefront. The activist disrupted

should disobey the laws. Acharya Vinobha the transport and communication as well
Bhave
This was known as as the government machinery by causing

‘Individual Satyagraha’. Acharya Vinoba the breakdown of Railway routes, cutting

Bhave was the first satyagrahi of individual of telephone line, blowing up bridges etc.

satyagraha. He was followed by nearly 25,000 The impact of the movement was seen all

satyagrahis who accepted imprisonment for over India. Hemu Kalani, in Sindh province,

their participation.

41

Government. People started accepting the

verdict passed by the People’s Court

appointed by the Parallel Government.

Opposition to money

lenders, prohibition on

liquor, spread of literacy,

opposition to caste

distinctions many such

Aruna Asaf Ali Achyutrao Patwardhan constructive work was

tried to destroy the railway along with his done by this government.
companions when he received the news of
passing of a railway carrying British troops Due to it the Parallel
and supplies. The court punished him to be
hanged to death. Krantisinh Nana Government became a
Patil
Bhai Kotwal’s ‘Azad Dasta’ in Karjat source of inspiration for
taluka of modern day Raigad district, the public.
General Awari’s ‘Lal Sena’ in Nagpur
such groups made the government helpless Importance of Quit India Movement  :
and witless for months. In Mumbai, Vitthal
Zaveri, Usha Mehta and her companions The 1942 movement took up the form of a
established a secret transmission centre
named ‘Azad Radio’. Patriotic songs were nationwide agitation. To fulfill the objectives
sung on it. News of agitations in the
country where broadcasted on it. Patriotic of gaining independence lakhs of Indians
speeches were telecasted. This gave
encouragement to the agitators. Such made unlimited sacrifices. Many sacrificed
transmission centres operated at Kolkata,
Delhi and Pune for some period of time. their lives. The number of people

Establishment of Parallel participating in the struggle was so huge
Government : At some places in the
country, British officers were driven out that even all the prisons in the whole of the
and the ‘People’s Government’ was
established. These are called ‘Parallel country were not enough to contain them.
Government’. Parallel Government where
formed in districts of Midnapore in Bengal, The patriotic songs
Ballia and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh and
Purnia in Bihar. composed by Sane

In Satara district of Maharashtra, in Guruji, Rashtrasant
1942, Krantisinh Nana Patil brought an end
to the British government and established Tukdoji Maharaj and
parallel government. At Kundal, under the
leadership of Krantiagrani G. D. alias Bapu others increased the
Lad, ‘Toofan Sena’ was established. Through
its medium, collection of taxes, maintenance enthusiasm of the
of law and order, punishment to criminals,
such work was done by the Parallel agitators. This

nationwide movement is

also called ‘August Rashtrasant
Kranti’. National Tukdoji Maharaj

Indian

Army (Azad Hind Sena) : Netaji Subhash

Chandra Bose took phenomenal efforts for

gaining independence of India. On the

eastern borders of India, thousands of

Indians stood in readiness to fight against

the British. All these soldiers belonged to

Azad Hind Sena. Netaji Subhash Chandra

Bose was their leader.

Subhash Chandra Bose was an important

leader of Indian National Congress. He

graced the position of President of Congress

twice. As per his opinion, while England was

42

engaged in Second the help of Captain Mohan Singh, formed
a battalion of these Indian Prisoners of War.
World War, the It was named as ‘Indian National Army’
(Azad Hind Sena). Later Netaji Subhash
Indians should take Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army.

advantage of it and In October 1943, Netaji established
Azad Hind Government in Singapore. Shah
make the movement Nawaz Khan, Jagannath Bhosale,
Dr.Laxmi Swaminathan, Gurubuksh Sing
more intense. If Dhillon, Prem Kumar Sehgal etc. were his
chief associates. Captain Laxmi
necessary India Swaminathan was the Commander of Rani
of Jhansi Regiment. Netaji appealed to the
should seek the help Indian people- ‘You give me blood and I
will give you independence’.
of enemies of
Achievements of Indian National
Netaji Subhash England. But there Army : In November 1943, Japan
conquered Andaman and Nicobar islands
Chandra Bose aroused difference of and handed them over to Azad Hind
Government. Netaji renamed them as
opinion between him and other senior leaders ‘Shahid’ and ‘Swarajya’ respectively. In
1944, Indian National Army captured the
of Congress. As a result, Subhash Chandra Aarakan province in Myanmar. Posts on
the eastern border of Assam were captured.
Bose resigned from the position of President. In the same period the campaign of Imphal
remained incomplete because Japan
To place his views in front of the people he stopped helping the Indian National Army.
But in adverse circumstances, soldiers of
founded a party known as ‘Forward Bloc’. Indian National Army were dedicatedly
fighting. But in the same period, Japan
Through his speeches, Netaji appealed accepted defeat. On 18 August 1945
Subhash Chandra Bose died in a plane
to the Indians to revolt against the British accident. On this background the soldiers
of Indian National Army had to lay down
rule. Due to it the Government imprisoned their arms. Thus ended the thrilling phase
of the Indian National Army.
him. Subhash Chandra Bose went on fast
Later, the British Government
unto death in the prison due to which the charged the officers of Indian National
Army with treason. Pandit Jawaharlal
British Government interned him in his Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur
Sapre these expert lawyers defended them.
residence. From there he escaped in But the military tribunal held the officers
guilty and they were sentenced to life
disguise. In April 1941 he reached imprisonment. Therefore there was severe
unrest against the British Government in
Germany. There he founded the ‘Free India the minds of Indian people. Finally the
British Government had to suspend the
Centre’. From the Berlin Radio station in

Germany, he appealed to the Indian people

to join in an armed struggle. During this

period, Rash Behari Bose invited Subhash

Chandra Bose to Japan.

Formation of

the Indian National

Army : Rash Behari

Bose was staying in

Japan since 1915. He

had organised the

Indian patriots living

in countries of South

East Asia and

established the
Rash Behari Bose organisation named

‘Indian Independence League’. In the early

part of 1942, Japan conquered the territiries

in South East Asia which were controlled

by the British. Thousands of Indian soldiers

and officers in British army there, fell into

the hands of Japan. Rash Behari Bose, with

43

punishments given by the military tribunal. To support the uprising of naval
Revolts of Indian Navy and Airforce  : soldiers, the Air force officers from Delhi,
Lahore, Karachi, Ambala, Meerut etc.
The navy and Air force soldiers, with the went on strike. These revolts were a clear
inspiration from Indian National Army, indication that the sentiments of discontent
caused discontent against the British against the rulers had reached a climax. In
Government. It burst out on the British war this way the period between 1942 to 1946
ship ‘Talwar’ in Mumbai on 18 February shook the foundation of British power in
1946. The soldiers unfurled the tri colour India. Through the Quit India Movement
flag on the British warship. They raised the severe discontent of Indian people
slogans against the British Government. against the British was expressed. Army,
The British Government sent army to open Navy and Air Force was the backbone of
fire on the naval soldiers. The rebels also British power. They were also now
made counter attack with firing. The opposing the British. Due to these incidents
workers and common people extended their the British rulers realised that they will not
support to the naval soldiers. Finally with be able to empower India for a long period
the mediation of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, of time.
the naval soldiers laid down their arms.

Exercise

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the 4. Answer the following questions in brief.
appropriate options (1) How do you find the contribution of

(Andaman and Nicobar, August Kranti, Shirishkumar to be inspirational ?
Vinoba Bhave)
(2) Why did the British Prime Minister
(1) .............. was the first stayagrahi of send Sir Stafford Cripps to India ?
Individual satyagraha.
(3) What kind of reaction was seen
(2) The nation wide movement of 1942 during the spread of news of arrest
is also called .............. . of main leaders of the Indian
National Congress ?
(3) In November 1943, Japan conquered
.............. islands and handed them Project
over to Azad Hind Government.
(1) Prepare a timeline of the events of the
2. Explain the following statements with struggle of Indian National Army.
reasons.
(2) With the help of internet collect the
(1) In November 1939, provincial pictures of Quit India Movement of 1942
ministers of Indian National Congress and organise an exhibition on occasion
gave their resignations. of a national day.

(2) The Indian National Army had to
lay down their arms.

(3) The Parallel Government became a
source of inspiration to the people.

3. Complete the following table.

Organisation Founder

Forward Bloc

Indian Independence League

Toofan Sena

44

10. Armed Revolutionary Movement

The agitations against the British Abhinav Bharat : In 1900,
imperialism were carried out in various
ways in India. In this chapter, we shall Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar
get acquainted with it.
Savarkar founded ‘Mitramela’- a secret

organisation of

We have studied the uprisings before revolutionaries in
1857 against the British and the freedom
movement of 1857. In the later period, Nasik. The same
Ramsinh Kuka organised a rebellion
against the Goverment in Punjab. organisation was

renamed as ‘Abhinav

Bharat’ in 1904.

Vasudev Balwant Phadke : In Savarkar went to

Maharashtra, Vasudev England for higher

Balwant Phadke gave education. From there

an armed struggle he began sending Swatantryaveer
revolutionary literature, V. D. Savarkar
against the British. He

assumed that there guns etc. to the members of Abhinav

should be armed Bharat in India. He wrote an inspiring

struggle to fight biography of Joseph Mazzini, the famous

against the British. He Italian revolutionary. He wrote a book

took the training of entitled ‘The 1857 War of Independence’

Vasudev Balwant arms from Vastad wherein he stated that revolt of 1857 was
Phadke
Lahuji Salve. He the first war of independence.

organised the Ramoshis and revolted

against the British. This rebellion became

unsuccessful. The British Government sent Do you know ?

him to Eden jail. There he died in 1883. Swatantryaveer Savarkar was
sentenced to fifty years of rigorous
He built up an armed struggle for imprisonment at Andaman. He was
there for ten years. In his autobiography
independence. ‘Majhi Janmathep’ he wrote down his
experiences of the terrible days in
Chafekar Brothers : In 1897, the Andaman. Later the Government took
Plague Commissioner Rand had resorted him to Ratnagiri and detained there.
to tyranny and force while managing the There Savarkar started many social
epidemic of plague in Pune. As a revenge movements such as removal of caste
the Chafekar brothers, Damodar and differences, removal of untouchability,
Balkrishna, shot him dead on 22 June common dining, purification of language
1897. Damodar, Balkrishna and Vasudev etc. He was a great writer. He was the
these three brothers and their associate President of Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
Mahadev Ranade were hanged to death. at Mumbai in 1938.
From the same house, three brothers
accepted martyrdom for the service of the
country. During the same period Munda
tribe in Bihar under the leadership of
Birsa Munda made great revolt against

the Government.

45

The Government came to know about killed in this attack. Prafulla Chaki shot
the activities of Abhinav Bharat. Therefore himself with a bullet so that he will not
the Government arrested Babarao fall in the hands of British. Khudiram
Savarkar. He was sentenced to life Bose was caught by the police. During
imprisonment. As a revenge to this the investigation the police got information
punishment, a youth named Anant Laxman about the working of Anushilan Samiti.
Kanhere killed Jackson, the Collector of They started arresting the members of this
Nasik. The Government started arresting organisation. Aurobindo Ghosh was also
all those people who were connected with arrested. But the Government was
Abhinav Bharat organisation. The murder unsuccessful in linking him to
of Jackson was linked with Swatantryaveer manufacturing of bombs and hence the
Savarkar by the Government, he was court set him free. Other members were
arrested and put under trial. The court sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
ordered him rigorous punishment for 50
years. Rash Behari Bose and Sachindra
Nath Sanyal spread the network of
Revolutionary Movement in Bengal : revolutionary organisations outside Bengal.
After the partition of Bengal, the outrage The centres of revolutionary work were
against British became more severe. In set up at Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
place of local rebellions comprehensive Rash Behari Bose and his associate made
revolutionary movements started rising at a daring act of throwing bomb at the
national level. In various parts of the Viceroy Lord Hardinge. But he got saved
country the youths inspired by revolutionary from the attack.
thoughts started establishing their secret
organisations. To keep control over British The revolutionary work was carried
officers, to loosen the Government out in Madras Province as well. Vanchhi
machinery, to wipe out the fear in the Iyyer, a revolutionary, killed a British
minds of Indians regarding the British officer named Ash. Later he shot himself
Government, overthrowing the British rule with a bullet and sacrificed his own life.
were some of its main objectives.
India House : The revolutionary
In Bengal a revolutionary organisation work in India received assistance from
called ‘Anushilan Samiti’ was active. The Indian revolutionaries staying abroad.
Anushilan Samiti had more than 500 India House, in London, was an important
branches. Barindrakumar Ghosh, brother centre which provided for such kind of
of Aurobindo Ghosh, was the chief of this assistance. Pandit Shyamji Krishna
organisation. This organisation received Varma, an Indian patriot, had established
counsel and guidance from Aurobindo
Ghosh. The Anushilan Samiti had a bomb Pt.Shyamji Krishna Varma Madam Cama
manufacturing centre at Maniktala near
Kolkata. In 1908, Khudiram Bose and
Prafulla Chaki, members of Anushilan
Samiti planned to kill a judge named
Kingsford. But the vehicle on which they
threw the bomb was not the one carrying
Kingsford. Two English women were

46

India House. Through this organisation persuaded the Indian soldiers in British
Indian youths were given scholarships for army to join in their revolt. It was decided
higher education in England. that Rash Behari Bose and Vishnu Ganesh
Swatantryaveer Savarkar received such Pingle should lead the revolt. But due to
scholarship. Madam Cama raised the treachery, the British traced out the plan.
issue of India’s independence at the Pingle fell into the hands of the police.
World Socialist Conference held at He was hanged to death. But Rash Behari
Stuttgart in Germany. In the same Bose escaped successfuly. He went to
conference she unfurled the flag of India. Japan and continued his revolutionary
Another revolutionary associated with work.
India House was a youth named Madanlal
Dhingra. He killed Curzon Wylie, a The revolutionary movement was
British Officer, due to which Dhingra was active in other countries during the period
hanged to death. of war. In Berlin, Veerendra Nath
Chattopadhyay, Bhupen Dutta and
Gadar Movement : During the period Hardayal prepared anti British plans in
of First World War, the revolutionary cooperation with the German Foreign
work against the British Government got ministry. In 1915, Mahendra Pratap,
a momentum. The revolutionaries felt Barkatullah and Obaidullah Sindhi
that, transfer of power can be brought established Provisional Government of
into India with the help of enemies of the free India in Kabul.
British and in this attempt help of Indian
soldiers can also be taken . To take Kakori Conspiracy : The suppressive
advantage of this opportunity revolutionary
organisations were setup. 'Gadar' is one measures of government could not put an
such important organisation.
end to the revolutionary movement. After
The Indians living in America and
Canada established the Gadar organisation. the suspension of Civil Disobedience
Lala Hardayal, Bhai Parmanand, Dr.
Pandurang Sadashiv Khankhoje etc. these Movement by Mahatma
revolutionaries were the important leaders
of the organisation. The word 'Gadar' Gandhi, many
means 'revolt'. 'Gadar' was the journal of
this organisation that acted as its youngsters got diverted
mouthpiece. Through this journal, effects
of British rule in India were pointed out. to revolutionary ways.
It gave information about the daring
deeds of the revolutionaries. In this way, Chandrashekhar Azad,
love for the nation and armed rebellion
was the message given through the Ram Prasad Bismil,
journal, Gadar, to the Indians.
Yogesh Chatterjee,
The leaders of the Gadar organisation
decided to take advantage of this war Sachindra Nath Sanyal
like situation. They drew out a plan of
revolt in Punjab against the British. They and such other

revolutionaries came Chandrashekhar Azad

together. On 9 August

1925, they looted the Government treasury

that was carried in a train near Kakori

railway station in Uttar Pradesh. This is

known as the ‘Kakori conspiracy’. By

taking immediate action the government

arrested the revolutionaries and put them

into prison. They were put under trial.

Ashfaqulla Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil,

Roshan Singh, Rajendra Lahiri were

47

hanged. But Chandrashekhar Azad Members of this organisation carried

managed to escape. out many revolutionary activities. Bhagat

Hindustan Socialist Republican Singh and Rajguru fired bullets and killed
Association : The young men influenced an officer named Saunders in order to
by socialist ideas decided to set up a avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.

nation wide revolutionary organisation. The Government had introduced two

Prominent among them bills in the Central Legislative Assembly,

were Chandrashekhar curtailing civil rights. To protest it, Bhagat

Azad, Bhagat Singh, Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta threw

Rajguru, Sukhdev etc. bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly.

All these The British Government immediately
revolutionaries were
raided the centres of ‘Hindustan Socialist
secular in their
Republican Army’. Through it the police
thoughts. In 1928 in also obtained clues related to the killing
of Saunders. The government started
Bhagat Singh the meeting held at arresting the revolutionaries. They were
Feroz Shah Kotla ground tried under the charge of sedition. On 23
March 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and
in Delhi, these young men established the Sukhdev were hanged in the Lahore jail.
But till the end Chandrashekhar Azad did
organisation called ‘Hindustan Socialist not fall into the hands of the police. Later
Republican Association’. he died in an encounter with police at
Alfred Park in Allahabad.
The objective behind the establishment

of this organisation was to free India Attack on
from British exploitation. It also wanted
to overthrow the unjust socio-economic Chittagong Armoury
system which exploited the farmers and
workers. Bhagat Singh gave importance

to creation of a society based on social : Surya Sen was the
justice and equality.
chief of the
The work of gathering arms and
revolutionary group
execution of programmes was entrusted to
a seperate wing of the organisation. This at Chittagong in

wing was called ‘Hindustan Socialist Bengal. He had
Republican Army’ and Chandrashekar
Azad was the chief of this wing. gathered around him

revolutionaries like

Anant Singh, Ganesh Surya Sen

Ghosh, Kalpana Dutta, Pritilata Waddedar.

With their assistance, Surya Sen drew up

a plan to attack the armoury at Chittagong.

As per the plan, on 18 April 1930 the

revolutionaries seized the arms from the

two armouries in Chittagong. The

telephone and telegraph lines were broken

and they succeeded in paralysing the

communication system. After that they

gave a thrilling fight to the British army.

Rajguru Sukhdev On 16 February 1933, Surya Sen and

48

Kalpana Dutta Pritilata Waddedar revolutionary movement gained pace.
Shanti Ghosh and Suniti Choudhary, these
some of his associates were captured by two school girls killed the District Judge,
the police. Surya Sen and his 12 associates where as a young girl Bina Das shot
were given death punishment. Kalpana dead the Governor during the convocation
Dutta was sentenced to life imprisonment. ceremony of Kolkata University.
Pritilata Waddedar killed herself without
falling into the hands of the police. Sardar Udham Singh killed Dyer, the
officer responsible for Jallianwala Bagh
Due to the Uprising in Chittagong the massacre, in London in 1940. In the
freedom struggle of India revolutionary
movement made an important contribution.
These revolutionaries displayed daring
and determination while fighting against
the British rule. The love for the nation
and attitude of sacrifice was just
incomparable. Their sacrifice proved to
be an inspiration to the Indians.

Exercise

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the (3) Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta
appropriate options. threw bombs in the Central Legislative
Assembly.
(Pandit Shyamji Krishna Varma,
Mitramela, Ramsingh Kuka) 4. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Write a detail description of the attack
(1) Swatantryaveer Savarkar started a
secret organisation of revolutionaries on Chittagong Armoury.
named .............. . (2) Explain the contribution of

(2) In Punjab, .............. organised an Swatantryaveer Savarkar in the armed
uprising against the Government. revolutionary movement.

(3) .............. founded the India House. Project

2. Complete the following table. (1) Watch a movie or drama based on
the life of revolutionaries and enact
Revolutionary Organisation any of your favourite incident in the
class.
................... Abhinav Bharat
(2) Prepare a manual based on the saga
Barindrakumar .................... of revolutionaries
Ghosh ....................

Chandrashekhar
Azad

3. Explain the following statements with
reasons.

(1) Chafekar brothers killed Rand.
(2) Khudiram Bose was hanged to death.

49

11. Struggle for Equality

In the progress of Modern India, In 1936, with the initiative of Prof.
struggle for political freedom was N.G.Ranga, the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Kisan
important. This struggle was based on Sabha’ was established. Swami
broad philosophy of man’s emancipation. Sahajananda Saraswati was the President
Therefore in the course of this struggle of this organisation.
along with political dependence there was
opposition to things like feudalism, social This Sabha presented a
inequality, economic exploitation. Like declaration of peasants’
freedom the principle of equality is very rights to the Indian
important. From that point of view the
contribution of movements built up by National Congress. The
various social groups such as farmers, session of the Congress
workers, women, dalits etc as well as the was held in the rural
stream of socialism giving importance to
equality, proves to be significant. Without part of Faizpur in
realising its contribution we will not be Maharashtra. Thousands
able to understand the developmental of peasants attended Prof. N.G.Ranga
process of Modern India. Therefore let us this session.
study some of these movements.
In 1938, the crops
Peasant Movement : The Indian
farmers had to suffer due to the ill effects in eastern Khandesh
of British economic policy. The British were destroyed due to
Government used to protect the landlords heavy rains. The
and money lenders. They gave unjust condition of the
treatment to the farmers. On many farmers was miserable.
occasions the farmers rose against this
injustice. The peasants in Bengal formed In order to get the
their union and revolted against the land revenue waived,
compulsion of cultivating indigo. The play Sane Guruji organised
‘Neel Darpan’ written by Deenbandhu
Mitra brought to the notice of the society meetings and
the wretched conditions of the peasants
producing indigo. In 1875, farmers from Sane Guruji processions at many
Maharashtra rose in revolt against the
atrocities of the landlords and money places. He took out marches on the
lenders. The farmers in Uttar Pradesh
formed ‘Kisan Sabha’ in 1918 under the Collector office. The peasants participated
leadership of Baba Ramchandra. The in large numbers in the revolutionary
Mopla peasants rose in a great revolt in period of 1942.
Kerala. But the British government crushed
it down. Do you know ?

Sane Guruji built up unity of the
workers. He tried to create strong
centre of workers union at Dhule-
Ammalner. He was the President of
Mill Workers Union of Ammalner.

He went on fast unto death to open
the doors of Vithal temple at Pandharpur
for the Dalits.

50

Workers Union  : there was rise of worker class in India, and

In the latter half of then a necessity for nation wide worker

19th century, textile union was felt. With this necessity, in 1920,

mills, railway All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)

companies and such was established. N.M.Joshi had a major

industries were role in the working of AITUC. Lala Lajpat

started in India. The Rai was the President of the first session

workers group had of AITUC. He told the workers to actively

not aroused on large participate in the national movement.

Narayan Meghaji scale but in this Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar
Lokhande period efforts were
Ahmed such socialist leaders, by spreading
made to solve the
the socialist ideology among the workers,
problems of the workers. Sashipada
worked to form
Banerjee and Narayan Meghaji Lokhande
militant organisations.
organised the workers at local level.
In 1928, the Mumbai
Lokhande’s contribution to the working
Mill Workers Union
class movement was so valuable that he
went on strike for six
is described as ‘Father of Indian Workers
months. Many such
Movement’.
strikes were made by

the Railway workers,

Do you know ? jute mill workers etc.

The native place of Narayan The government was Shripad Amrut
Meghaji Lokhande was Kanhesar near disturbed to see the Dange
Saswad in Pune district. He formed growing strength of the
the mill workers union known as
‘Bombay Mill Hands Association’ in workers movement. To supress this
1890. This workers union is believed
to be the beginning of organised movement legislations were made. The
movement in India. He was also the
chairman of Mumbai branch of workers struggle proved to be supportive
Satyashodhak Samaj founded by
Mahatma Phule. Due to his efforts, to the national movement.
from 10 June 1890, the workers started
getting weekly holiday on Sunday. Socialist Movement : Many of the

At the same time an agitation was young activists in the Indian National
launched against the wretched condition of
the tea plantation workers in Assam. In Congress felt that for protecting the
1899, the Great Indian Peninsular (GIP)
Railway workers called for a strike for interest of the people it is necessary to
their demands. During the anti partition
movement workers carried out strikes from overthrow the British Government.
time to time in support of Swadeshi. After
the First World War, due to industrialisation, Similarly, they started realising that the

society should be restructured on the

principle of economic and social equality.

Through this realisation, there was rise

and growth of Socialist ideology.

The Socialist youths, while they were

in prison at Nasik, decided to form the

Socialist Party within the Indian National

Congress. According to this decision, in

1934, the Congress Socialist Party was

formed which included leaders like

51

practices, they were

subjected to injustice.

But during the modern

period there was an

awakening against it.

Some of the male

reformers took

initiative in the reform

movement related to
women, in the course Pandita Ramabai
Acharya Narendra Dev Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia of time women leaders started coming

Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayprakash forward. Their independent institutes-

Narayan, Minu Masani, Dr. Ram Manohar organisations came to

Lohia etc. In Quit India movement of be established. Pandita

1942, these young socialists were in the Ramabai established the

forefront. ‘Arya Mahila Samaj’

Indians got introduced to Karl Marx and ‘Sharda Sadan’,
and his Communism. Lokmanya Tilak similarly ‘Seva Sadan’
had already written an article on Marx founded by Ramabai
in 1881. After First World War the Ranade are examples of
influence of Communism was felt in this. ‘Bharat Mahila
India. Manavendranath Roy played active Ramabai Ranade Parishad’ (1904) and
role in the International Communist ‘All India Women's Conference’ (1927)
Movement. were founded as well. Therefore this
institutional work reached at the national
In 1925, the Communist Party was level. For the issues such as right to
formed in India. The work of building inheritance, right to vote etc. women had
militant organisations of workers and to struggle through the medium of these
peasants was done by the young organisations.
Communists. The British Government
started feeling the danger of communist Rakhmabai Janardan Save was the
movement. Shripad Amrut Dange, first practicing woman
Muzaffar Ahmed, Keshav Neelkanth doctor in India. She
Joglekar etc. were arrested. They were delivered series of
charged with planning of a conspiracy to lectures related to
overthrow the British rule. They were health issues of
given different punishments. The trial women. She also
took place at Meerut and is therefore opened a branch of
known as the ‘Meerut Conspiracy Case’. Red Cross Society at
Even after the Meerut trial, the influence
Dr.Rakhmabai Save Rajkot.
of Communist workers movement remained During the 20th century, participation

constant. of women in public life began to increase.

Feminist Movement : In the Indian Women's participation in the national
social system, women were given movement and revolutionary work was
secondary position. Due to many evil significant. After the Act of 1935, women

52

the delusive ideas

Do you know ? regarding dalits in the

Dr. Anandibai Joshi : First Indian minds of the upper
Female Doctor. Her son lived a life of
castes. For this
only ten days and
then died. This sorrow purpose he founded
became responsible
for inspiring her to marathi schools, work
study medicine. She
acquired M.D. degree schools in parts of
in 1886. While
returning to India Parel, Deonar in
Dr.Anandibai Joshi Anandibai contracted
tuberculosis. Later on 16 February Mumbai. He actively
1887 she died in Pune.
took part for the Maharshi Vitthal
were included in the Provincial Ministries Ramji Shinde
as well. After independence, the principle benefit of Dalit class
of equality of men and women has been regarding satyagraha
clearly stated in the constitution of India.
for entry in Parvati temple at Pune,
Dalit Movement : The Indian social
structure was based on inequality. Social Shetkari Parishad of Dalits, federal
reformers like Mahatma Jyotirao Phule,
Narayan Guru brought about awakening electorate etc.
of the people against the unjust treatment
given to Dalits in the society. Following Rajarshi Shahu gave support to the
the teachings of Mahatma Phule, Gopal
Baba Walangkar and Shivram Janba leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Kamble worked for the eradication of
untouchability. In 1888, Gopal Baba During his period, he led the Non Brahmin
Walangkar, in his book ‘Vitaal
Vidhwansan’ condemned untouchability. movement. Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj made
Shivram Janba Kamble started the
magazine ‘Somavanshiya Mitra’ on 1 July revolutionary declaration for reservation in
1908. He raised voice regarding issues of
Muralis and Jogtins. He also took initiative state of Kolhapur.
for marriages of Devadasis. In Tamil
Nadu, Perriyar Ramaswamy started a He made a law for
movement for eradication of untouchability.
free and compulsory
In 1906, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji
Shinde started the ‘Depressed Classes primary education.
Mission’ for the progress of the Dalits.
The important part of their work was to He did substantial
make the Dalits self respectful, well
educated and engaged in work, while the work for abolition
second part of their work was to destroy
of caste

discrimination.

There were three

restrictions put up in

Rajarshi Shahu the caste system.
Maharaj Prohibition of inter
dining with certain

castes (Rotibandi), prohibition of intercaste

marriages (Betibandi), prohibition of

pursuing certain occupation

(Vyavasaybandi). In this regards, during

meetings and conferences Shahu Maharaj

ate food from the hands of Dalit people

and overthrew the restriction on inter

dining. Shahu Maharaj believed that till

the restriction on inter marriage is followed

till then the caste distinction will not be

uprooted. He passed the Act of inter caste

marriage and gave it a legal acceptance

in his State. On 22 February 1918, he

abolished the ‘Balutedari System’ by

53

publishing a declaration in the Government the leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Gazette of the state of Kolhapur. Permission He aimed at establishing a society based
was granted to practice any occupation by on principles of Liberty, Equality and
anyone. By giving freedom of occupation, Fraternity. He was convinced that the
by Shahu Maharaj, the people were freed injustice to the Dalits and inequality would
from a type of social slavery. not end unless the caste system was
completely uprooted. According to him,
The Justice Party did valuable work social equality was the right of the Dalits.
He intended to carry out a movement
for social equality in South India. Mahatma based on self repect. From this point of
view he established the ‘Bahishkrut
Gandhi took up the Hitkarini Sabha’ in July 1924. ‘Be
Educated, Be Organised and Be Agitated’,
issue of eradication was the inspirational message given by
him to his followers.
of untouchability in
Babasaheb Bole got a bill passed
his hands and put it in the Bombay Provincial Assembly for
the public water reservoirs to be opened
up on the platform of to the untouchables. However, in reality,
the water reservoirs were not accessible
Indian National to the Dalits and hence Dr.Babasaheb
Ambedkar and his followers started
Congress. While at Satygraha at Chavdar lake in Mahad. He
also burned the Manusmriti which
Yerwada prison, he advocated inequality. In 1930, he started
Satyagraha for the entry of Dalits in the
debated with the rigid Kalaram temple at Nasik. This Satyagraha

Thakkar Bappa Hindu Pandits stating
that the religious texts

of Hindus do not support untouchability.

He gave inspiration to Harijan Sevak

Sangh. By taking inspiration from him

Amrutlal Vitthaldas Thakkar alias Thakkar

Bappa, Appasaheb Patwardhan etc. these

activists dedicatedly worked for equality.

The struggle of the Dalits began under

Satyagraha at the Chavdar Lake in Mahad
54

was led by Karmaveer Dadasaheb Castes Federation’, to put forth the issues
Gaikwad. of Dalits in an effective manner. Through
the Constitution of India, Dr. Babasaheb
Newspaper was an integral part of Ambedkar made a significant contribution
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s movement. to the creation of a social structure based
To create awakening in the society and on equality in Modern India. In 1956,
to voice out their grief, Dr. Babasaheb along with his innumerable followers, he
Ambedkar started newspapers like embraced Buddhism that advocated
‘Muknayak’, ‘Bahishkrut Bharat’, humanity and equality.
‘Janata’, ‘Samata’ etc.
The struggle for equality has a
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar prominent position in the making of
Modern India.
established the ‘Independent Labour

Party’. He opposed the laws that went

against the interest of the workers. In

1942, he established ‘All India Scheduled

Exercise

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the 4. Answer the following questions in brief.
appropriate options. (1) Why was the struggle for equality

(Lala Lajpat Rai, Sane Guruji, Rakhmabai important in the making of Modern
Janardan Save) India ?
(2) Write about the work of Sane Guruji
(1) ................ founded the Red Cross in eastern Khandesh.
Society at Rajkot. (3) How was the struggle built up by
workers decisive for the national
(2) ................ was the President of mill movement ?
workers union at Ammalner. (4) Discuss the nature of reform
movement related to women.
(3) The President of the first session of
AITUC was ................ . Project

2. Write short notes. (1) Read the biography of Dr. Anandibai
(1) Social work of Vitthal Ramji Shinde Joshi.
(2) Reforms of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj
(2) Read the biography of Rajarshi
in the state of Kolhapur. Shahu Maharaj.

3. Explain the following statements with
reasons.

(1) The Government decided to crush
down the communist movement.

(2) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar started
newspapers like ‘Muknayak’
Bahishkrut Bharat etc.

(3) There aroused a need of nation wide
workers union.

55

12. India gains Independence

During the period of Second World of muslim representatives to the Viceroy's
War, Indian freedom struggle had become Executive Council. But the Congress
more extensive. The demand for opposed it. Therefore the Wavell plan
independence of India was gaining its could not be successful.
strength. The British rulers realised that it
was necessary to take a serious note of Cabinet Mission : After the end of
it. Accordingly, the British government Second World War the British rulers were
started preparing various plans for granting in favour of granting freedom to India. In
Independence to India. the Parliament, British Prime Minister
Attlee clarified the British policy regarding
The Indian National Congress was India. According to it, the right of Indian
founded on the principle of secularism. people to draft their own Constitution was
People of all caste and religion had taken recognised. It was also made clear that
part in the national struggle. To weaken the issue of minorities will not come in
this movement the British adopted the the way of India's Independence. In March
policy of ‘divide and rule’. Its consequence 1946, a delegation of British ministers
was the establishment of ‘Muslim League’. namely Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps
and A.V. Alexander put forth England’s
In 1930, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, a well plan regarding India in front of the Indian
known poet, put forth the thought of an leaders. This is called ‘Cabinet Mission’.
independent Muslim state. Later Chaudhary
Rahmat Ali put up the idea of Pakistan. Some of the provision in the plan were
Barrister Muhammad Ali Jinnah put forth not acceptable to the Congress. Similarly,
the two Nation theory and demanded a there was no provision of independent state
seperate Muslim nation named Pakistan. for the muslims, so the Muslim League
Indian National Congress was only a was unsatisfied. Therefore Cabinet Mission
Hindu organisation, the muslims have no was not fully accepted.
benefit of it; such kind of propaganda was
started by Barrister Jinnah and the Muslim Direct Action Day : Since the demand
League. fo Pakistan was not being fulfilled, the
Muslim League decided for direct action.
Wavell Plan : In June 1945, Lord Accordingly, 16 August 1946, was declared
Wavell, the Viceroy of India drew up a to be observed as ‘Direct Action Day’ by
plan. There were different provisions in the Muslim League. The followers of
this plan. Accordingly some of its provisions Muslim League resorted to violent ways.
were that in central and provincial There were Hindu-Muslim riots in various
legislatures Muslims, Dalits and minorities parts of the country. There were massacres
should be given proper representation and in the Noakhali region in the province of
there will be equal number of Hindu and Bengal. To stop this violence Gandhiji went
Muslim members in Viceroy’s Executive there without giving any thought to his
Council. A meeting of all major political own life. He tried his best to establish
parties in India was organised at Simla to peace there.
consider the Wavell Plan. Barrister Jinnah
insisted that only the Muslim League Establishment of Interim
should have the right to suggest the names Government : While the blaze of violence
had arisen in the country, Viceroy Wavell

56

established the Interim Government. Pandit appointed as Viceroy of India. Mountbatten
Jawaharlal Nehru was the head of this held discussions with prominent leaders of
government. The Muslim League initially India. Thereafter, he prepared a plan of
denied to participate in the Interim creation of India and Pakistan as two
Government, but later, participated in it. independent nations. Indian National
But since the leaders of Muslim League Congress opposed the plan of partition.
adopted the policy of obstruction, hence Unity of the nation, was the basic stand
the Interim Government could not work of Indian National Congress, but the
smoothly. Muslim League remained adamant on the
creation of Pakistan. National Congress
Mountbatten Plan : England's Prime was left with no option but to accept the
Minister Atlee had announced that England decision of partition with complete
would leave its dominion on India before helplessness.
June 1948. On the background of transfer
of power in India, Lord Mountbatten was

57

Indian Independence Act : On 18 August 1947. At the stroke of midnight
July 1947, on the basis of Mountbatten hour, India's dependence came to an end.
Plan, the Indian Independence Act was The Union Jack of Britain was lowered
passed in British Parliament. On 15 August and in its place the Indian tricolour flag
1947, the two independent nations India was unfurled. India attained Independence
and Pakistan will come into existence. from the 150 years of slavery.
Thereafter the British Parliament will not
have any control over them. The British The joy of attainment of freedom was
supremacy over the princely states will not untinted. Indian people were grieved
also come to an end. The Act provided due to the partition of the country and the
them the right to either join India or terrible violence during that period. Instead
Pakistan or remain independent. of joining the celebration of Independence,
Gandhiji was striving hard in Bengal.
India gains Independence : As per Within six months of attainment of
the Indian Independence Act, India was freedom of India, Gandhiji was brutally
granted independence on 15 August 1947. assassinated by Nathuram Godse on 30
A meeting of the Constituent Assembly January 1948. Gandhiji strove day and
was going on in the hall of Parliament night to preserve Hindu Muslim unity and
House in Delhi in the midnight of 14 laid down his life for the same.

Exercise

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the 4. Write the events on the following

appropriate options. timeline.

(1) .............. was the head of the Interim 1945 1946 1947 1948
Government.

(a) Vallabhbhai Patel (b) Mahatma 5. Answer the following questions in brief.
Gandhi (c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Barrister Jinnah

(2) The plan of creation of two independent (1) Why did the British took steps towards
nations, India and Pakistan, was made granting freedom to India ?
by .............. .
(2) Write information about Mountbatten
(a) Lord Wavell (b) Stafford Cripps Plan.
(c) Lord Mountbatten
(d) Pethick Lawrence (3) Why did Muslim League declare to
observe 16 August as Direct Action
2. Answer the following questions in one Day ? What were its effects ?
sentence.
Project

(1) Which demand was advocated by Collect information about the response of
Barrister Jinnah ? common people after gaining independence,
with the help of various reference books
(2) Write the name of the ministers as well as internet.
participating in Cabinet Mission.

3. Explain the following statements with
reasons.

(1) The Indian National Congress approved
the partition.

(2) The working of Interim government
could not run smoothly.

(3) The Wavell Plan could not become
successful.
58

13. Fulfillment of Struggle for Independence

India became independent but the The rulers gave good response to his
struggle for independence was not yet
over. There were many princely states in appeal. All the princely states merged
into India, except the state of Junagad,
India. These princely states had the right Hyderabad and Kashmir. Sardar Patel
to either merge with India or remain
independent. Therefore the Congress dream took a firm stand and solved the issue of
merger of princely states.
of undivided India remained incomplete.
Due to independent princely states, India Merging of Junagad : Junagad was
a princely state in Saurashtra. The people
was going to be fragmented into many there wanted to be merged with India. But
parts. The Portuguese and French powers
had not withdrawn their control over some the Nawab of Junagad was thinking of
joining Pakistan. The people strongly
parts of India, but the country solved these opposed his decision and the Nawab left
problems very firmly. This chapter will
deal with the information on it. for Pakistan. Later in February 1948,
Junagad got merged into India.
Integration of princely states in
India : There were more than six hundred Hyderabad Mukti Sangram :
Hyderabad was the largest princely state
small and big in India. It included Telegu, Kannada and
princely states in
India. Due to the Marathi speaking regions. There was the
autocratic rule of the
influence of non-co- Nizam over these
operation movement,
there was beginning provinces. There was
absence of civil and
of political political rights. To
awakening among
the princely states. secure these rights,
the people formed
Praja Mandals came organisations such as
to be formed in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Andhra Parishad in

princely states. Praja the Telangana region,
Mandal means people’s organisation that Maharashtra Parishad Swami Ramananda
worked for the interest of the people in Tirth
in the Marathwada
the princely states and for securing region, Karnataka Parishad in the
political rights for them. In 1927, such
Praja Mandals came together and formed Karnataka region. In 1938, Swami
Ramananda Tirth formed the Hyderabad
an ‘All India States People’s Conference’. State Congress. The Nizam banned this
Due to it, the movement in princely states
got an impetus. After the independence of organisation. A struggle began for getting
recognition to Hyderabad State Congress
India the then Home Minister Sardar and democratic rights. This struggle was
Vallabhbhai Patel very diplomatically
found out the way of merging the princely led by a militant fighter Swami Ramananda
Tirth. He was assisted by Narayan Reddy
states in India. He took the rulers of the and Siraj-ul-Hasan Tirmiji. P.V.Narsimha
princely states into confidence and
prepared an ‘Instrument of Accession’, Rao and Govindbhai Shroff were the
faithful followers of Swamiji.
acceptable to all.
In July 1947, Hyderabad State
Sardar Patel convinced the princely Congress passed a resolution for merger
rulers the benefit of merging into India.
of Hyderabad state into India. The Nizam

59

however took an anti-India stand. of Hyderabad. Marathwada was not
He started making movements for included in Free India on 15 August 1947.
After the inspiring struggle of the people,
merging of Hyderabad state with Pakistan. this region was included in independent
To reject the demand of people of India in 1948.
Hyderabad to be merged with India,
Kasim Rizvi, an associate of the Nizam, Problem of Kashmir : Hari Singh,
formed an organisation known as the ruler of State of Kashmir, had decided
‘Razakar’. Kasim Rizvi and his associates to remain independent. Pakistan had
not only oppressed the hindus but also the intended to secure the merger of Kashmir
muslims who supported the democratic with Pakistan. Due to this Pakistan started
movement. Due to it, there was putting pressure on Hari Singh. At the
inflammation of public opinion. The instigation of Pakistan, armed intruders
Government of India tried to negotiate attacked Kashmir in October 1947. At
patiently with the Nizam but he refused that time Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument
to respond. At last, the Indian government of Accession’ with India. In this manner,
started the police action against the after merging into India, Indian army was
Nizam on 13 September 1948. It was sent for the defense of Kashmir. The
symbolically named as ‘Operation Polo’. army won back a major portion of
Finally, the Nizam surrendered on 17 Kashmir from the possession of intruders.
September 1948 and the state of Hyderabad But some part of it remained in the
was merged within India. The struggle of possession of Pakistan.
people in the princely state became
successful. There was significant Merger of French Colonies : Even
contribution of ‘Arya Samaj’ in this after the independence of India, the regions
movement. of Chandranagar, Puduchcheri, Karaikal,
Mahe and Yanam were in the possession
Contribution of Marathwada in the of the French. The Indian natives there,
struggle for liberation of Hyderabad : were eager to get merged with India. The
In this struggle Swami Ramananda Tirth, Indian Government demanded that these
Govindbhai Shroff, Anant Bhalerao, territories being a part of India should be
Ashatai Waghmare, Manikchand Pahade handed over to it.
etc. made a valuable contribution.
In 1949 France held a plebiscite in
Through the movement of ‘Vande Chandranagar. The people voted for India.
Chandranagar was handed over to India.
Mataram’, students participated in the Thereafter France handed over the rest of
the territories to the Government of India.
struggle for liberation of Hyderabad.
Struggle for liberation of Goa :
Similarly, in this struggle Ved Prakash, Portugal denied to hand over the territories
under its possession to India. Indians had
Shyamlal, Govind Pansare, Bahirji Shinde, to struggle for securing these territories.
In this struggle, Dr.T.B.Kunha was in the
Shridhar Vartak, Janardan Mama, Shoaib forefront. He worked to bring about an
awakening of the people against the
Ullah Khan etc. embraced martyrdom. Portuguese Government. With the objective
of building struggle against the Portuguese,
Their sacrifice proved to be inspirational he established the Goa Congress

to the Indians. Thus we can understand

that the leaders and the people in

Marathwada had a lion’s share in the

struggle for liberation of Hyderabad.
17 September is celebrated as

‘Marathwada Mukti Din’ in Marathwada
to commemorate the struggle for liberation

60

Committee. Later in in this attack.
In 1954, Goa Mukti Samiti was
1945, Dr. Kunha
formed. The Samiti sent many batches of
founded the satyagrahis from Maharashtra to Goa.
N.G.Gore, Senapati Bapat, Peter Alvares,
organisation ‘Goa Mahadevshastri Joshi and his wife Sudhatai
and many others participated in the
Youth League’ in satyagraha. Mohan Ranade was an
aggressive leader in this struggle for
Mumbai. In 1946, liberation of Goa. The Portuguese rulers
committed unlimited tyranny and atrocities
he went to Goa and on the satygrahis. Due to this the public
opinion became more infuriated.
violated the ban on
The struggle for liberation of Goa took
public speech. For up a fierce form. The Indian Government
was patiently holding negotiations with the
Dr. T. B. Kunha this he was Portuguese Government but they did not
sentenced to eight respond. At the end, the Indian Government
unwillingly took the decision of using
years of imprisonment. In 1946, Dr. Ram military force. In December 1961, the
Indian Army entered Goa. In a short
Manohar Lohiya started a Satyagraha for period of time, the Portuguese army
surrendered. On 19 December 1961, Goa
liberation of Goa. Violating the ban, he was liberated from Portuguese dominion.
Imperialism was completely rooted out
delivered a public speech at Madgaon in from the Indian soil. India’s freedom
struggle was truly fulfilled.
Goa. For this the Portuguese Government

deported him.

During the same period, the ‘Azad
Gomantak Dal’ was founded to liberate
Portuguese colonies of Dadra and Nagar
Haveli in Gujarat. On 2 August 1954,
youths of Azad Gomantak Dal by making
an armed attack liberated the territories
of Dadra and Nagar Haveli from
Portuguese rule. Vishwanath Lavande,
Rajabhau Wakankar, Sudhir Phadke,
Nanasaheb Kajrekar and others took part

Exercise

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the 5. Answer the following questions in brief.
(1) Explain the contribution of Sardar
appropriate options.
Vallabhbhai Patel in the integration of
(1) There were more than six hundred Princely States.
(2) Explain the contribution of Swami
small and big ............. in India. Ramananda Tirth in the struggle for
liberation of Hyderabad.
(a) States (b) Villages
Project
(c) Princely States (d) Cities
Gather information and pictures related to
(2) All the princely states merged with the struggle for liberation of Hyderabad.
Organise a Poster Exhibition based on it
India except the states of Junagad, in the history department.

............. and Kashmir.

(a) Aundh (b) Jhansi

(c) Vadodara (d) Hyderabad

2. Explain the following statements with
reasons.

(1) Junagad merged within India.
(2) The Indian Government started police

action against the Nizam.
(3) Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of

Accession’ with India.

61

14. Formation of State of Maharashtra

After India gained independence, of Constituent Assembly established the
there was demand on large scale for the ‘Dar Commission’ under the chairmanship
reconstruction of states on linguistic basis. of Justice S.K.Dar, for forming linguistic
In Maharashtra also the demand for state provinces. On 10 December 1948, the
of Marathi speaking people led to report of Dar Commission was published
‘Samyukta Maharashtra Movement’ from but the issue remained unsolved.
1946 onwards. Through various changing
circumstances the movement progressed JVP Committee (Three Ministers
and finally on 1 May 1960 the state of
Maharashtra came to be formed. Committee) : To study the conditions of

creating linguistic provinces, the Congress

appointed a committee on 29 December

Background : From the beginning of 1948. It included Jawaharlal Nehru,
20th century, many scholars had begun
to express the thoughts on unification of Vallabhbhai Patel and
Marathi speaking people. In 1911, the
British Government had to suspend the Pattabhisitaramayya. It is known by the
partition of Bengal. On this background,
N.C.Kelkar wrote that ‘the entire Marathi initials of these members as ‘JVP
speaking population should be under one
dominion’. In 1915, Lokmanya Tilak had Committee’. The report suggested that
demanded the reconstruction of a state
based on language. But during that period Congress accepts the concept of linguistic
the issue of independence of India was
more important, hence this issue remained state in principle but the time was not
aside.
proper for it. Severe response was seen

throughout Maharashtra against this report.

During that time Senapati Bapat organised

rallies for awakening of people.

On 12 May 1946, in the Sahitya Acharya Atre got passed the proposal
of Samyukta Maharashtra with Mumbai
Sammelan at Belgaon, an important in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. It
got passed by 50 against 35 votes. Due
resolution regarding Samyukta to it, the desire that Mumbai should be
included in Maharashtra was proven.

Maharashtra was passed. Commission for Reconstruction of
States : Government of India appointed
Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad : a ‘Commission for Reconstruction of
On 28 July, ‘Maharashtra Ekikaran States’ on 29 December 1953, under the
Parishad’ was called at Mumbai. Chairmanship of Justice Fazal Ali. This
Shankarrao Dev was its president. It commission presented their proposal on
passed a resolution that all Marathi 10 October 1955. This proposal advocated
speaking regions should be included in for creation of bilingual Mumbai State.
one state. This should also include
Marathi speaking regions of Mumbai, Nagpur Pact : Marathi people of all
Central provinces as well as Marathwada regions should resolve to make one state
and Gomantak. was the purpose of signing the Nagpur
Pact in 1953. According to this pact,
Dar Commission : On 17 June Samyukta Maharashtra was formed
1947, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President

62

including Western Maharashtra and Minister at that time.
Vidarbha along with Marathwada. In
1956, as per the ammendment of the The government
Constitution, Article 371 (2) was included
in it. According to the Nagpur Pact declared a ban. The
assurance was given regarding equitable
financial provision for developmental police started lathi
work, ample finance for technical and
vocational education, provision of state charge and used tear
government services in particular regions
in accordance with the population and gas. On that evening
Assembly Session once in a year should
be held in Nagpur etc. an open meeting was

The struggle of marathi speaking conducted on Kamgar
people for formation of Maharashtra with
Mumbai had begun. A huge meeting was Maidan with a mob of
held on Kamgar Maidan in Mumbai. At
that time Shankarrao Dev said, ‘We will P.  K.  Atre around 50 thousand.
oppose the seperation of Mumbai from Comrade Dange guided
Maharashtra upto our last breath’. The
emotions and demands of the people took the people. To accelerate the struggle for
the form of public agitation. Women also
spontaneously started participating in it. the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement,
Sumatibai Gore, Ismat Chugtai, Durga
Bhagwat, Tara Reddi, Charusheela Gupte, on 21 November 1955 decision of one
Kamalatai More, Sultana Johari and
many such women took part in the day token strike was taken.
agitation.
Establishment of Samyukta
On 7 November 1955, there was Maharashtra Samiti : The issue of the
meeting of labours. Various Labour demand of the Marathi speaking people
Organisations, Communists, Praja started becoming complicated. Discontent
Socialists, Socialists, Peasants and workers spread throughout the state. On 6
Party, Janasangh etc. all these political February 1956, a meeting was conducted
parties participated in it. Comrade Shripad under the Chairmanship of Keshavrao
Amrut Dange presided over it. Here Jedhe at Tilak Smarak Mandir in Pune.
S.M.Joshi proposed a resolution that The Samiti declared its Executive
Samyukta Maharashtra, with Mumbai Council. Comrade Shripad Amrut Dange
and Vidarbha, should be created. as the President. Dr.T.R.Naravane as
Vice President and S.M.Joshi as General
Beginning of actual conflict : Secretary were selected. G.T.Madkholkar,
Discontent among the Marathi speaking Acharya P.K.Atre, Madhu Dandavate,
people was growing. A grand march led Prabodhankar Keshav Thackeray, Y.K.
by Senapati Bapat was taken to Vidhan Souni played important role in
Sabha. Morarji Desai was the Chief establishing the Samiti. At the same time
Senapati Bapat, Krantisinh Nana Patil,

S.M.Joshi Prabodhankar
Thackeray

63

Do you know ?

Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Shahir Amar Sheikh Shahir D.N.Gavankar

Contribution of Marathi newspapers Maharashtra Movement. Balasaheb
and Shahirs : In this movement the role Thackeray took up the pen name ‘Mavla’
of newspapers was important. Prabodhan, and drew caricatures to make the
Kesari, Sakal, Navakal, Navyug, Prabhat movement comprehensive.
many such newspapers worked for
awakening of the people. Acharya Atre Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe, Shahir
started the ‘Maratha’ newspaper which Amar Sheikh and Shahir D.N.Gavankar
played an important role in Samyukta through their writings aroused public
awakening on a large scale.

Lalji Pendse, Ahilyabai Rangnekar The unveiling of statue of Chhatrapati
contributed immensely to the Samyukta
Maharashtra movement. They spread the Shivaji Maharaj mounted on horse on
movement to rural parts of Maharashtra.
Pratapgad was to be
When it was clear that Mumbai will
not be included in Maharashtra, at that done at the hands of
time there arouse a huge public agitation.
In this movement 106 people became Prime Minister
martyrs in the firing opened by the State
Government. In memory of the 106 sons Pandit Jawaharlal
of Maharashtra who became martyr for
formation of Samyukta Maharashtra, the Nehru on 30
‘Hutatma Smarak’ was erected in
Mumbai near Flora Fountain. November 1957. At

On 1 November 1956, Bilingual that time Samyukta
Mumbai State came into existence. Later
in 1957, Loksabha, Vidhan Sabha and Maharashtra Samiti
Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections
were held. Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti decided to make
got grand success. These results made
it clear that the voters were against Uddhavrao Patil huge demonstration
bilingual state and in favour of Samyukta
Maharashtra. under the leadership

of Bhai Madhavrao Bagal. Leaders like

S.M.Joshi, N.G.Gore, Jayantrao Tilak,

P.K.Atre, Uddhavrao Patil were present.

Severe demonstrations were made at

Pasarni Ghat and Poladpur. The Samiti

succeeded in making Pandit Nehru aware

of the conditions as well as of the

sentiments of the Marathi speaking

people.

The Central Governement favoured

64

the making of Maharashtra due to the At the dawn of 1
agitation led by Samyukta Maharashtra May 1960, in the
Samiti. At this instance, Indira Gandhi , special ceremony at
President of Congress supported the Raj Bhavan, on
Samyukta Maharashtra movement. The occasion of Labour
Central Government consented the two Day, Pandit Nehru
linguistic states- Maharashtra and officially announced
Gujarat. In April 1960, the Parliament the formation of
passed the Mumbai Reorganisation Act. Maharashtra State.
According to this Act, Maharashtra State Yashwantrao Chavan Yashwantrao Chavan
was formed on 1 May 1960.
accepted the responsibility as first Chief
Minister of Maharashtra.

Exercise

1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the (2) The role of newspapers was important
appropriate options. in Samyukta Maharashta Movement.

(1) The State of ............. was formed on 3. Write short notes.
(1) Samyukta Maharashtra Parishad
1 May 1960. (2) Contribution of Samyukta

(a) Goa (b) Karnataka Maharashtra Samiti.

(c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Maharashtra

(2) ............. put forth the proposal of 4. Complete the following diagram.
Samyukta Maharashtra with Mumbai
in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. General President Vice
Secretary President
(a) G.T.Madkholkar
(b) Acharya Atre
(c) D.V.Potdar
(d) Shankarrao Dev

(3) ............. accepted the responsibility as Samyukta
first Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Maharashtra Samiti

(a) Yashvantrao Chavan  Project
(b) Prithviraj Chavan
(c) Shankarrao Chavan Collect information about the personalities
(d) Vilasrao Deshmukh who greatly contributed to the formation
of Maharashtra and prepare a project
2. Explain the following statements with based on it with the help of your
reasons. teachers.

(1) Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti came
to be established.

65

CIVICS

(Parliamentary System)

CONTENTS

No. Topic Page No.

1. Introduction to the Parliamentary System.. 68
2. The Indian Parliament................................ 71
3. The Union Executive.................................. 75
4. The Indian Judicial System........................ 79
5. The State Government................................ 83
6. Bureaucracy................................................ 86

66

Learning Outcomes

Suggested learning process Learning outcome

To give opportunities to study Individually or Students
in the group of two or more and to motivate
the students in undertaking following activities 08.73H.14 Can interpret the social and political
problems in their surrounding in the
To participate in the discussions on the light of/ with reference to Indian
constitution.
concepts such as Constitution, Parliament,
Judiciary, marginalisation 08.73H.15 Distinguish between union

To make oral or written presentation and to government and the government of

prepare posters with sketches, drawings based the constituent states
on themes such as Constitution, Preamble,
Parliamentary system, division of powers and 08.73H.16 Explain/elaborate the election
federalism process of Lok Sabha

To initiate debates on how principles of 08.73H.17 Can find out/determine one’s own
constituency in the map of Lok
liberty, equality and fraternity are implemented Sabha Constituencies of State and
in Classroom, School, home and society Union Territories and can write the
names of local representatives
To observe the maps of Lok Sabha Constituency
08.73H.18 Can describe the process of law
of State and Union Territories making (for example Law for the
protection against domestic violence,
To organise model elections with the model Right to Information Act, Right to
Education Act etc.)
code of conduct and youth parliament
08.73H.19 Can state the important judicial
To prepare the list of registered voters in our decisions and on the basis of it can
explain the working of judicial
neighbourhood and surrounding system.

To organise awareness campaign on importance 08.73H.20 Can demonstrate how to file first
investigation report
of voting in the surrounding area
08.73H.21 Can analyse the causes of why the
To get information about public works weaker sections in our society are
left out and its effects
undertaken by the representatives of people in
our constituency 08.73H.22 They know the role of government
in providing public services such as
To examine and understand First Investigation water, public cleanliness, roads,
electricity etc. and the availability
Report of these services

To give opportunity to express oneself through 08.73H.23 Explain the nature of governmental
machinery in Maharashtra.
detailed and analytical writing on the role of
judges in getting justice to the claimants.

To organise group discussions on the promotion

violation and protection of human rights of
women, scheduled castes and tribes, nomadic
tribes, religious and linguistic minorities,
handicapped, children with special needs and
the other deprived classes.

Perform a role play about child labour, child

rights and the criminal justice system in India.

To give opportunity to share experience with

fellow students on inequality in public
facilities - water, health facilities and electricity

To organise debates on how Government is

responsible for providing public facilities

67

1. Introduction to the Parliamentary System

In this chapter, we will learn the evolved over a period of time. The
machinery or the system of government Parliamentary system of Government
as given in the Indian Constitution. having its roots in ‘Parliament’ is

Have you thought of this ?  considered as a contribution of England.
What is a parliamentary system of India has adopted this Parliamentary
System. We can see some broad similarities
government ? in the Parliamentary system of England
In India we have Prime Minister but and the Parliamentary system of India.
But when looked at an institutional level,
why is there no Prime Minister in the Indian Parliamentary system is
the United States of America ? different in its content.
What is the difference between a
Parliamentary and a Presidential Let us understand the characteristics
system of government ? of the Indian Parliamentary system of
government in India.
These questions would lead us to
conclude that every country has a different The Parliamentary system is a system
form of government. Before we go ahead of governance. The legislature of the
to understand different types of Central government is known as the
Government systems, let us get information Parliament. The Indian Parliament is
about the main branches of government. composed of the President, Lok Sabha
and Rajya Sabha.
The function of the Legislature is to
make laws. The Executive implements the Members of the Lok Sabha are
law and the Judiciary provides justice. directly elected by the people. The
The functions of these organs, their number of members in the House is
jurisdiction and limitations on their power fixed.
and the interrelationship between these
organs are decided by the Constitution. It Elections to the Lok Sabha are held
is the nature of their interrelationship that at regular intervals. All political
determines the system of government parties contest these elections. The
adopted in a particular country. party which gets more than half of
the seats is considered as the majority

There are two main types of party. The majority party forms the

government systems that are followed. government.

(1) Parliamentary System (2) Presidential Sometimes, when no party gets a
System. clear majority, some parties come

Parliamentary System of government together to form a majority and they

The Parliamentary System of can establish the government. This
government developed primarily in kind of a government is known as a
England. In England, the Constitution is coalition government.
an unwritten Constitution. The governance
is carried out in accordance with traditions In this way, candidates directly elected
and customs and conventions. The ‘British by people become members of the
Parliament’ is an institution that has legislature and the party in majority
gets a chance to form the government.

68

The leader of the majority party executive.
becomes the Prime Minister. He/She
selects candidates for ministerial In the Parliamentary form of
positions from among his/her government, the legislature is a supreme
colleagues. institution. Elected representatives of
people express demands and aspirations
The Prime Minister and the Council of common people in the Parliament. The
of Ministers chosen by the Prime Parliament decides upon issues of public
Minister together forms the ‘Executive’ welfare. Since it is the house of
in the Parliamentary system of representatives of people and expresses
government. In Parliamentary system, sovereign authority of the people, it is
the Executive has a dual considered as the supreme body.
responsibility :  (1) As an Executive
they have to implement laws. (2) As Why did India adopt a Parliamentary
they are the members of the legislature, System of government ?
they also have to fulfill responsibilities
of the Legislature. India adopted the parliamentary system
of government for several reasons. The
The Prime Minister and the Council development of parliamentary institutions
of Ministers is responsible to the legislature started during the British rule. The British
for all their actions and policies. It means rulers governed in accordance with this
that the Council of Ministers has to work system. The parliamentary system of
with the legislature. It is for this reason government in India is also in a way a
that the parliamentary system is known product of the freedom movement. Indians
as ‘responsible system of government’. were familiar to this system of government.
Another distinct characteristic of Many discussions took place in the
parliamentary system of government is Constituent Assembly over the system of
collective responsibility. Decision taken government. The framers of the Constitution
by any ministry/department is considered made few changes in the parliamentary
as decision of the government. The entire system to suit the Indian situation.
council of ministers is responsible for the
decision. In the next two chapters, we Discussions and deliberations are an
will see with examples, how the principle integral part of the parliamentary form of
of collective responsibility is brought into government. Questions related to public
practice. welfare are discussed in the legislature.
Members from the opposition party also
In the Parliamentary System, the take part in these discussions. Opposition
Executive is dependent upon the confidence parties may support the government
of the legislature in them. This means wherever appropriate, point out
that the Council of Minister remains in shortcomings in policies and laws, put up
power till it enjoys the support or studied arguments and questions etc. This
confidence of the legislature. If the helps the legislature to make proper laws.
legislature feels that the Executive does
not work in accordance to its wishes, it Presidential system of government
removes the executive from power by
passing a no-confidence motion against Presidential system of government
the executive. No-confidence motion is an can be said to be another important
effective tool of keeping a check over the system of government. This type of system
exists in countries such as United States

69

of America. This system is different from people. The President is the executive
the parliamentary form. The system, in head and has lot of powers including
which the Executive is independent of the power to implement laws.
legislature and as the Head of the State
(the President) is directly elected by In spite of such a structure, the
people, is known as the Presidential legislature and the executive keep a
system of government. Though the three check on each other. This mutual
organs are independent from each other, control over each other can lead to a
there are enough connections between responsible government.
them to work in harmony/coordination.
The United States of America has adopted Apart from the Parliamentary and the
the presidential system of government. Presidential systems of government there
are other forms of government systems
Following are some features of this that are followed in France, Switzerland,
system of government. Germany, etc. Several countries owing to
their unique circumstances have evolved
In a Presidential form of government, different systems of government.
the legislature and the executive are
not directly dependent on each other. In the next chapter, we will study the
The Houses of the Legislature and the structure, working and role of the Indian
President are directly elected by the Parliament.

Exercise

1. Choose the correct option and rewrite 2. Discussion and deliberations are
important in a parliamentary system of
the statements. government.

1. Parliamentary System of government 4. Answer the following in 25 to 30 words.
1. What is a responsible government?
developed in ............. . 2. Enumerate the characteristics of the

(a) England (b) France Presidential system of government.

(c) United States of America (d) Nepal 5. Why is the role of opposition parties
important? Write your opinion.
2. In the Presidential system ............ is the
Project
executive head.
Watch the live telecast proceedings of
(a) The Prime Minister the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the
national channel Doordarshan and write
(b) The Lok Sabha Speaker your observations.

(c) The President (d) The Governor

2. Complete the information in the following
table.

Sr. Name of the Functions
No. Institution

1. Legislature

2. Executive

3. Judiciary

3. Explain the following statements with
reasons.

1. India adopted the parliamentary system
of government.

70

2. The Indian Parliament

The two houses of the

Parliament are called the
Lok Sabha and the Rajya
Sabha.

Lok Sabha : The Lok
Sabha is the lower and the
first house of the Parliament
of India. Lok Sabha is the
House of Representatives
directly elected by the
people. Hence, the Lok

Sabha is called the ‘First’

Parliament House, New Delhi house. The members of Lok
Sabha are elected directly by people from
We have studied that the parliament the ‘territorial constituencies’. The tenure
plays an important role in parliamentary of Lok Sabha is five years. The elections
system of government. In this chapter, we take place after every five years. These
will discuss the Parliament of India.
elections are known as General Elections.

The Constitution of India has created However, there are examples when the
the Parliament of India. The Legislature Lok Sabha was dissolved before the
at the national level, that is the level of completion of five years. Elections held in
the central government, is called the such a case are called mid-term elections.

Parliament. It consists of the President Lok Sabha is the representative body
and the two Houses of Parliament - Lok of the citizen of the country. As per the
Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Though President constitution there can be a maximum of
is an inseparable part of the Parliament, 552 members in the Lok Sabha. To ensure
he/she cannot participate in the discussions representation to all sections of the
in either of the houses of the Parliament. society, some seats are reserved for
members belonging to Scheduled Caste
Can you find out ? and Scheduled Tribes. In case there are
no representatives from the Anglo- Indian
The constituent States in India get community, the President can appoint two
members from this community to the Lok
seats on basis of their population. For the Sabha.

purpose of elections, the State is divided Rajya Sabha : The upper and the
second house of Parliament is the Rajya
into territorial constituencies. The population Sabha. The members of Rajya Sabha are
indirectly elected. The Rajya Sabha gives
of these territorial constituencies is representation to 28 states and 9 Union
territories in India. Thus, members of
approximately equal. Use the Internet to Rajya Sabha work as representatives of
the constituent states.
find out the number of seats each constituent

State has in the Lok Sabha. For example,

Maharashtra : 48 seats

Gujarat :

Madhya Pradesh :

Goa :

71

Do it.

Mary : Can I contest Lok Sabha elections after I pass my tenth standard?

Radhika : No! You can vote after you attain 18 years of age, but you cannot contest elections!

Ranveer : Don’t you know that for contesting Lok Sabha elections one needs to complete 25
years of age?

Shabana : What if a person from neighbouring country decides to contest Lok Sabha election?

Muskaan : How is it possible? Is that person an Indian citizen?

Pranav : If I want to contest elections from Kerala, is that possible?

Radhika : Yes! Because our teacher said that the Lok Sabha election can be contested from
any constituency of any state.

Mrunal : I understood conditions regarding the age and nationality. But who can be considered
as non-qualified for contesting elections?

Mary : Like the criteria for qualification, there are conditions for disqualifications as well.
Let us understand it with the help of our teachers.

The total membership of Rajya Sabha complaints of their constituencies by
is 250 members. Amongst them, 238 raising questions in the Parliament.
members are elected from the constituent Government allocates them funds to carry
states and Union Territories. All the out development work in their respective
constituent states do not get equal constituencies.
representation in the Rajya Sabha. It is
proportionate to the total population of Functions of Parliament : After
each of the state. Remaining 12 members understanding the basics of Lok Sabha
are appointed by the President. These and Rajya Sabha, we will now review
members are usually experienced and their functions.
distinguished personalities from the fields
of literature, arts, science, sports and Formulation of laws : In order to
social work. The members of Rajya achieve welfare of the people and the
Sabha are elected through the system of objectives of the Constitution, the
proportional representation. Parliament has to formulate new laws.
Also, outdated laws are repealed, necessary
Rajya Sabha is never dissolved changes are made in some laws. The
completely hence it is called a permanent process of the formulation of laws has
house. 1/3rd members of total members of been described in the constitution. In
Rajya Sabha who have completed their accordance to the procedures, the
tenure of six years retire after every two Parliament fulfills this primary and
years and equal number of new members important responsibility.
get elected. Because the limited members
of Rajya Sabha retire step by step, Rajya Control over Council of Ministers:
Sabha can function continuously. Any The Prime Minister and the Council of
person contesting for the elections of Rajya Ministers are drawn from the Parliament
Sabha must be an Indian citizen and he
must have completed 30 years of age. Can you tell ?

Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Certain laws which become out-of-
Sabha are known as Member of Parliament date (obsolete) are abolished. Can you
(MPs). MPs try to resolve the queries and give examples of such obsolete laws?
For example, abolition of Privy purses.

72

and Parliament exercises control over amongst themselves. Lok Sabha functions
them. There are multiple ways through under the guidance and control of the
which this control can be exercised. It is speaker.
the responsibility of the Parliament to see
that the Council of Ministers does not Lok Sabha represents the citizen and
disregard the Parliament and functions the Speaker represents the Lok Sabha. After
under its supervision. getting elected as Speaker, he/she has to
conduct the business of the House in an
Amendments to the Constitution : unbiased manner. Lok Sabha members
The Parliament decides whether to make have some rights and privileges as the
any amendment to the Indian Constitution. representatives of the people. These are
The constitution amendment bill is taken care of by the Speaker. Apart from
considered to be an important bill. The this, the Speaker has to maintain the
Parliament discusses why the amendment decorum and dignity of the house as well
is required and decides whether to accept as interpret the rules of daily functioning
it or not. The Constitution mentions of the house and work accordingly.
various ways of amending the Constitution.
They are as follows- (i) Few provisions The Chairman of Rajya Sabha :
in the Indian Constitution are amended by The Chairman exercises a control over
simple majority of the Parliament the functioning of Rajya Sabha. The Vice
(ii) Some provisions require special President of India is the ex-officio
majority (2/3rd) of the Parliament. Chairman of Rajya Sabha. The functions
(iii) Few other provisions are amended by of Rajya Sabha Chairman also include
special majority of the Parliament plus maintaining the discipline in the house,
consent from more than half of the facilitating discussions, giving members a
constituent states. chance to speak etc.

Speaker of Lok Sabha : In the very How does the Parliament make laws?
first meeting after the elections of Lok
Sabha, the members of Lok Sabha elect a In our country, the parliament is
‘Speaker’ and ‘Deputy Speaker’ from empowered to make laws. To formulate
them, a certain system has been adopted.
Understand it. This system is known as the law-making
Both Houses, the Lok Sabha as well as process. A rough draft of the law is
the Rajya Sabha have same set of rights. prepared initially. This draft or outline is
But there are certain rights that are enjoyed known as draft proposal of the law or
by the Lok Sabha and are not available to Bill of law.
the Rajya Sabha. For example, Bills related
to taxes are related to finance. Bills related There are two types of bills that are
to finance are considered as ‘Money Bills’ primarily introduced in House of the
and such bills are introduced and passed in Parliament. (1) Money Bill (2) Ordinary
the Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha has limited Bill.
powers with respect to money bills.
The Rajya Sabha has certain rights In order to be converted into an Act
which are not available to the Lok Sabha. (Law), the Bill undergoes following
For example, If Rajya Sabha feels that as a process.
matter of national interest, the Parliament
should make a law on the subject in the First reading : The minister of the
State List it can pass a resolution to that concerned department/ministry or member
effect. of the parliament presents the bill and
briefly explains its nature while presenting
it. This is called as ‘first reading’.

73

Second reading : There are two majority, then the bill is considered as
stages of second reading. In the first passed by the House.
stage, the objectives of the proposed Bill
are discussed and members in the house The bill undergoes the same procedure
express their opinions on it. The supporters even in the other house. After getting an
of the bill give favourable opinions while approval by both the houses, the bill is
the opponents discuss the defects and further sent for assent by the President.
faults in the bill. After the discussion
within the house, as per the requirement, If there occurs a difference of opinion
the bill is sent to a committee of the between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
House. The committee report consisting over a specific bill, the future of this bill
of instructions and recommendations is is decided in a joint meeting of both the
sent to the House in order to make the houses.
bill flawless.
After the final assent and signature
Now, the second phase of the second of the President, the bill is converted into
reading begins. In this phase, the bill is the law and the law is made.
discussed clause by clause. Members can
suggest changes. After this, voting is Know this too !
taken in the house. Every year in the month of February,
the Finance Minister presents the
Third Reading : The bill is discussed national Budget to the Lok Sabha.
briefly again during the third reading. The State Legislatures also follow the
Voting is taken for approving the Bill. If same procedure of law making as in the
the bill gets an assent by the required Parliament. The Bill passed by the State
Legislature can become a Law only after
it receives the assent of the Governor.

Exercise

1. Complete the following sentences by (2) Lok Sabha is known as the first

choosing the correct option. House.

(1) Candidates to the Lok Sabha are 4. Answer the following in 25 to 30 words.
(1) How are members of the Lok Sabha
elected through .......... .
elected ?
(a) territorial constituencies (2) Explain the functions of the Speaker

(b) religious constituencies. of Lok Sabha.

(c) local bodies 5. Explain the steps involved in the
lawmaking process.
(d) proportional Representation System
Project
(2) India’s ............. is the ex-officio The President nominates 12 members to

Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. the Rajya Sabha. Collect information on
what are the criteria for their selection.
(a) President (b) Vice-President

(c) Prime Minister (d) Chief Justice

2. Find and write.
(1) Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya

Sabha are known as ...................
(2) The responsibility of making laws is

with ................

3. Explain following statements with
reasons.

(1) Rajya Sabha is a permanent House.

74

3. The Union Executive

In the last chapter, we learnt about what are the constitutional provisions
the Union legislature which included the relating to Executive and what is the
structure and functioning of the Parliament. process of policy making for public
In this chapter, we are going to study the welfare.
Union Executive.
India’s Union Executive comprises of
Structure of the Union Government  : the President, Prime Minister and the
The Union government means the Central Council of Ministers.
government. The Union government is
made up of the following constituents. President : According to the provisions
in the Constitution of India, the President
Union Government is the Supreme Head of the State. The
office of the President has the highest
President honour and prestige and it represents the
Republic of India. All executive powers
Legislature Executive of the State are vested in the President
by the Constitution. The Government
Prime Minister and carries out its functions in the name of
Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Council of Ministers the President. However, in reality, the
Prime Minister and the Council of
You know that the legislature, Ministers run the government. Therefore,
executive and judiciary are the three the President is the nominal and
organs of the State and that they work constitutional head whereas the Prime
for the welfare of people. In a Minister is the executive head.
parliamentary system, the executive is
part of the legislature and is responsible Election of the President : The
to the legislature. When we learn about President is indirectly elected by the people
the Executive, it is important for us to of India. The common people do not vote
understand who are included in Executive, in the election of the President. He is
elected by directly elected representatives
Rama : The President is the nominal of the Central and State legislatures. The
head and the Prime Minister is the group of these parliamentarians and
executive head. What type of relationship members of the state legislatures is known
exists between persons holding these as the Electoral College.
posts ?
The tenure of the President is five
Vidya : I think that the Prime Minister years. The person contesting the Presidential
meets the President regularly and informs elections should be an Indian citizen who
him about the conduct of administration. has completed 35 years of age. The person
elected to the position of the President has
Yes ! This is right. The Prime Minister to take an oath while accepting the post.
informs the President about the According to the oath, the President bears
administration of the country and about the responsibility of protecting the
new laws and policies. Rather, the President Constitution and ensuring that the
has a right to seek such information. government runs as per the constitution.
The President governs in accordance with

75

the advice given by the Prime Minister and commute a sentence of a person or in
the Council of Ministers. special circumstances grant pardons or
reprieves on humanitarian grounds.
The responsibility of protecting the
Constitution is shouldered by the President. (7) The President has the power to
But if any act of President violates the declare emergency in case of a crisis
Constitution then the Parliament has the situation arising in the country. There are
authority to remove the President. This three kinds of emergencies mentioned in the
process is known as process of Constitution. (1) National Emergency (2)
Impeachment. Any one House can lay State Emergency (3) Financial Emergency
the charge of violation of the Constitution
and the investigation of the charge is In the absence of the President, his
carried out by the other House. The functions are carried out by the Vice-
resolution has to be passed by special President. The Vice-President is elected by
(2/3rd) majority of both the Houses of members of both the houses of the
Parliament. Parliament.

Powers and Functions of the Do it.
President : The Constitution has entrusted
several powers and functions to the Find out the text of the oath taken
President. A few functions are enumerated by the President. Understand its meaning
as follows: with the help of your teachers.

(1) The President summons the meeting Prime Minister and the Council of
of Parliament, prorogue the session of Ministers : The President is the
Parliament, sends messages to both Houses, constitutional head. However, in reality,
dissolves the Parliament after the tenure is his powers are nominal and the Prime
over or even before the tenure gets over. Minister along with his Council of
Ministers is responsible for the
(2) Bill passed by the Lok Sabha and administration. We will now see the role
Rajya Sabha must be signed by the and functions of the Prime Minister.
President. Without his signature, the Bill
cannot become a law. The party which attains a majority in
elections nominates their leader as the
(3) The President appoints the Prime Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers
Minister and other ministers on the is then formed of trustworthy colleagues
recommendation of Prime Minister. from within the party. The Prime Minister
and the Council of Ministers must be
(4) The President appoints the judges members of the parliament. In case they
of the Supreme Court and the High are not members, they are required to get
Courts. The President also appoints the elected to the Parliament within six
Governors of States, Chief Election months of their appointment. The
Commissioner and other important officers. government in reality is run by the Prime
Minister and the Council of Ministers.
(5) The President is the supreme This means that the real executive powers
commander of the defence forces. are vested with the Prime Minister and
Decisions regarding war and peace are the Council of Ministers.
made by the President.
Functions of the Prime Minister
(6) The President has some judicial
powers too. For instance, the President (1) The foremost task of the Prime
has the power to reduce the punishment,
grant a reduction in punishment or

76

Minister is to form his Council of initiative in the process of Law-making.
Ministers. While doing this, the Prime The scheme, policy plans etc. are drafted
Minister gives priority to trustworthy and discussed and then introduced in the
colleagues while considering their House. The Council of Ministers discusses
administrative experience, governance important questions before making a
skills, efficiency and subject expertise. decision.

(2) After deciding upon the members (2) Education, agriculture, industry,
of the council of ministers, the Prime health, foreign relations are subjects upon
Minister allocates portfolios to them. which the Council of Ministers has to
decide specific policies or direction of
(3) The Prime Minister leads the work. The Parliament needs to be taken
Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister into confidence about the policy decisions
chairs all the meetings of the Council of taken by the government. Therefore, the
Ministers. Ministers of respective departments lay
their policy plans in the Parliament to
(4) After allocation of portfolios, the bring about a discussion on it, and try to
Prime Minister has to maintain get it approved by the Parliament.
coordination in the working of various
departments, facilitate cooperation (3) Implementation of policy is the
amongst the departments, supervise the foremost responsibility of the Council of
working of these departments in order to Ministers. Once the Parliament approves
maintain efficacy and efficiency etc. the policies or draft proposals, the Council
of Ministers implements them.
(5) The Prime Minister also has
various other responsibilities such as to How does the Parliament keep a
raise the image of the country in the check over the Council of Ministers ?
international arena and work towards
achieving a favourable opinion globally, In a parliamentary system of
to develop trust among people and to government the legislature tries to keep
provide strong support to people who are control over the executive i.e. the Council
victims of any disaster etc. of Ministers. The control is exercised in
the lawmaking or policy making process,
Functions of Council of Ministers implementation of policies and even after
that. A few ways of exercising control are:
(1) In a parliamentary form of
government the Council of Ministers takes (1) Discussions and Debates : Debate
and discussion among the members of the
Do you know ? House are an integral part of the law-
making process. These debates and
Have you heard about ‘Jumbo discussions help the members to scrutinise
Ministry’ ? the policy proposals and laws and point
out the shortcomings. These discussions
This refers to huge Council of are essential for creation of flawless laws.
Ministers. There was a trend to keep large
Council of Ministers in our country. Later, (2) Question Hour : During
a constitutional amendment was made to parliamentary sessions, the proceedings of
limit the size of the Council of Ministers. the House begins with questions asked by
As per this amendment, the number of the members of the House. The concerned
ministers in the council should not be ministers are supposed to give satisfactory
more than 15% of the total number of answers to these questions. Question Hour
members in the Lok Sabha.

77

is one of the most effective ways of keeping the support of majority in Lok Sabha. If
a check over the Council of Ministers. the members of Parliament withdraw the
During question hour, members criticise the support, it may lead to loss of majority
government and ask questions on various and the government cannot stay in power.
issues. Sometimes, when a member is not The members of the House can move a
satisfied with the answer of the minister, no-confidence motion by simply expressing
arguments take place. Occasionally, ‘we do not have confidence in the
members walk-out of the House or enter government’. If the motion is passed with
into the well of the House and give slogans majority support then the Council of
to record their protest. Ministers has to resign.

(3) Zero Hour : During the Can you tell ?
parliamentary sessions, the period around
12 noon is called ‘Zero Hour’. During What should the members of the
this period, any question of public Parliament do to participate effectively
importance can be raised and discussed. in debates and discussions?

(4) No-Confidence motion : This is There is an extensive bureaucracy
one of the most effective ways to keep a that works under the executive. We will
check on the Council of Ministers. The study this bureaucracy in the 6th chapter.
government stays in power till it enjoys

Exercise

1. Choose the correct option and rewrite check on the Council of Ministers ?
the statement. 5. Complete the concept picture.

(1) In India, the executive power is vested Functions of
with the …………… . the President

(President, Prime Minister, Speaker) in India

(2) The tenure of the President is of Project
………… years. (1) If you become the Prime Minister

(Three, Four, Five) what works will you prioritise?
Create a priority-wise list and present
(3) The Council of Ministers is led by it in class.
the ………. . (2) Collect pictures and information of
India’s Presidents since independence.
(Party chief, Prime Minister, President)

2. Find and write.
(1) The President, the Prime Minister, the

Council of Minister are called the -
(2) During the parliamentary session the

period around 12 noon is known as - 

3. Write on following concepts in your
own words.

(1) Impeachment procedure (2) No-
confidence motion (3) Jumbo ministry

4. Answer in brief.
(1) Enumerate the functions of the

Council of Ministers.

(2) How does the Parliament keep a

78

4. The Indian Judicial System

Along with the legislature and the democracy.
Executive, the judiciary too is an important
organ of the government. While the The Rule of Law is protected by the
legislature makes the laws and executive Judiciary. The law treats everyone
implements the laws, Judiciary gives equally. Rich, poor, developed -
justice. In this chapter, we will learn, backward, men or women, all are
how Judiciary works to give justice and equal before law and this is expressed
thereby helps in removing injustice in a clearly through judicial decisions.
society and establishes a healthy society.
But before that let us understand why Judiciary helps to protect the rights of
giving justice is necessary. people. Conflicts are resolved in
accordance with law and law prevents
Opinions, thoughts, perspective, emergence of repressive and
beliefs, faith and culture differ from authoritarian groups and individuals.
person to person. If people are tolerant
they can avoid conflicts. But if differences Structure of the Judiciary : India is
of opinion are very sharp they may lead Union of States. The Centre and the
to conflicts. They should be resolved Constituent States have a seperate
impartially and in accordance with the legislature and executive. But there is one
laws. For this purpose an unbiased judicial judicial system for the whole of India.
machinery is required. There is no division of courts between the
Centre and the Constituent States. This
Conflict of interests may arise between means that judiciary in India is an
individuals and the government. A integrated system. The Supreme Court is
decision or law made by the government the apex court under which there are
may seem unfair to people and they High Courts. The High Courts control the
may approach the court for justice. district courts following which there are
lower courts which are at the bottom of
The government tries to implement the this structure.
objectives of social justice and equality
laid down in the Constitution. The Supreme Court : The Chief Justice
judiciary through its decisions in of India (CJI) heads the Supreme Court
certain cases or through active of India. The President appoints the Chief
involvement can support the Justice of India and other Judges of
government. The court can help to Supreme Court. By convention, the
bring the weaker sections of society, senior most judge of the Supreme Court
women, children, differently-abled and is appointed as the Chief Justice.
transgender into the mainstream of the
society. The judiciary should not work under
any kind of pressure. The independence
When the common man benefits from of the judiciary is maintained so as to
the values of freedom, equality, and enable the judges to fearlessly carry out
justice, it leads to the widening and the function of giving justice. For this
deepening of democracy. This is purpose, the Constitution has made the
necessary for the strengthening of following provisions.

79

Supreme Court of India, Delhi Judicial Activism :
Traditionally, the Courts settle
The Constitution lays down the the disputes whenever they are
eligibility criteria for the judges. A approached for that purpose. In
legal expert or one having served as the last few decades, this image
the High Court judge or an experienced of the court has undergone a
advocate is considered eligible. change and they have become
increasingly active. This means
Judges are appointed by the President. that the court now seeks to
This helps to avoid any political fulfill the constitutional goals of
pressure. justice and equality. The court
has tried to provide legal
Judges enjoy security of tenure. They protection to the marginalised sections in
cannot be removed from the post for society, women, tribal, workers, farmers,
trivial reasons or for political motives. and children. Public Interest Litigations
The retirement age of judges of the have played an important role in this
Supreme Court is 65 years, while for regard.
the High Court it is 62 years.
Functions of the Supreme Court
The salaries of judges are drawn from * As a federal court, it has the
the Consolidated Fund of India, no
discussion takes place on this issue in responsibility to settle disputes
the Parliament. between the Union and the states;
between the states and the Union
Personal criticisms cannot be made on and any state on one hand and one
judges for their acts and decisions. or more states on the other hand.
Contempt of Court is considered a * It may also give orders for protection
punishable offense. This not only of the fundamental rights of citizen.
protects the judges from misguided/ * To review decrees and orders of
wrongful criticism but also preserves lower courts and also review its
the independence of the judiciary. own decisions.
* In case the President asks for the
The Parliament cannot discuss the advice of the Court to understand
decisions of the judges. However, it the legal aspects in matters of
has the right to remove the judges public importance, provide the
from their position through the necessary advice.
impeachment procedure.
Can you tell ?

Why does the President seek the
advice of the Supreme Court on any
issue of public importance?

80

Read the paragraph and write. High Court : The Indian Union of
states confers the Parliament with the
Judicial Review : One of the power to establish a High Court in each
most important responsibilities Constituent State in the Union. Currently,
entrusted to the Supreme Court is the there are 24 High Courts in India.
protection of the Constitution. You
are aware that the Constitution is the There is a Chief Justice along with
fundamental law of the Nation. The other judges in the High Court.
Parliament cannot pass any law that
violates the Constitution. Every act All judges of the High Court are
or policy made by the Executive appointed by the President.
should also be consistent with the
Constitution. If any law passed by Do it.
the Legislature or any act of the
Executive violates any provision of The Bombay High Court’s
the Constitution, the said law or act jurisdiction covers the states of
is declared illegal and struck down Maharashtra and Goa, and the Union
by the court. This power of the court Territories of Dadra and Nagar
is known as Judicial Review. Haveli and Daman and Diu.

• Should the Court have such a Find out two other such examples
right ? where the High Court has jurisdiction
over more than one state.

See this example. Functions of the High Court

The Court had asked candidates * To supervise and maintain control
contesting elections to declare their over the lower courts in its
property and income details and jurisdiction.
educational qualifications through an
affidavit. The aim was to ensure that * Authority to give orders to protect
the voters will vote on the basis of fundamental rights.
accurate information about the
candidates. Is this not an attempt to * The Governor seeks the advice of
make our election process more the High Court while appointing
transparent ? judges in the district courts.

Are there any more such orders District and lower courts : These
from the court with respect to this are courts at the district and tehsil (taluka)
subject ? Find out more on this. level. The people generally go to these
courts. Every District Court has one
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) refers district judge.
to litigations filed on issues of public
importance by individual citizens, social The Branches of Law in India :
organisations or Non-Governmental There are two main branches of law:
Organisations on behalf of the all people. (1) Civil law and (2) Criminal law.
The court thinks over the questions raised
and gives its decision. Civil law : This law deals with
conflicts which affect or interfere with the
rights of a person. For example, Conflicts

81

regarding land and property, rent charges are proved, there are provisions
agreement, divorce, etc. After filing a for severe punishment.
petition in the relevant court, the said
court gives a decision. The Indian judiciary has made a
significant contribution in development of
Criminal Law : Serious crimes are the country. Common people have a lot
dealt under criminal law. For example, of respect and trust in the judicial system.
theft, robbery, dowry, murder, etc. In The judiciary in India has protected
these cases, the first step is to file a First individual freedom, the federal system
Information Report (FIR) with the Police. and the Constitution of India. Courts have
The police investigates the matter and played an important role in strengthening
then a petition is filed in the court. If the the democracy in India.

Exercise

1. Choose the correct option and complete 5. Complete the table.
the statements. Organisation of the Judiciary

(1) Laws are made by …………… . High Court
(a) Legislature (b) Council of Ministers
(c) Judiciary (d) Executive Chief Justice District
Judge
(2) The Chief Justice of Supreme Court is
appointed by …………… Project

(a) The Prime Minister (1) Organise a ‘Moot Court’ in your
(b) The President school, prepare and ask questions
(c) The Home Minister related to Public Interest Litigations
(d) The Chief Justice in this Moot Court.

2. Explain the concepts. (2) Visit the nearest police station and
(1) Judicial Review understand the procedure of filing a
(2) Public Interest Litigation First Information Report (FIR) with
the help of your teacher.
3. Write short notes on.
(1) Civil and Criminal Law
(2) Judicial Activism

4. Answer in brief.
(1) Why are laws necessary in society?
(2) Enumerate the functions of the Supreme

Court.
(3) Which are the provisions that preserve

the independence of the judiciary ?

82

5. The State Government

In the last chapters we understood the Members of Legislative Council (MLC).
nature of Union Parliament and Union
Executive. We were also introduced to the Legislature of Maharashtra :
integrated Judicial System in India. In
this chapter we will study the government Legislature of Maharashtra has two
of constituent states or State Government.
Houses, namely - Vidhan Sabha

(Legislative Assembly) and Vidhan

Parishad (Legislative Council).

In the federal system, the government
exists at two levels. Federal that is the
Central Government works at the national
level and the State government works at
the regional or State level.

Background : India has a large Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai
geographic expanse with a multicultural
population. There is diversity in language, Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly)  :
religion, ways of life and regional This is the first House of the Maharashtra
characteristics. It would not have been legislature and comprises of 288 members.
possible to govern from a centralised In case there is inadequate representation
place; therefore the Constitution has of the Anglo-Indian community the
adopted a federal setup for India. It was Governor nominates one member from
decided to form the States on the basis this community in the Vidhan Sabha.
of language. Accordingly, linguistic Some seats are reserved for the Scheduled
reorganisation of states took place. Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Maharashtra
is divided into territorial constituencies for
The nature of government machinery the purpose of elections. One member is
in all states of India is same. However, elected from each of the constituencies.
Jammu and Kashmir is an exception. Let
us now study the nature of governance in Tenure of Vidhan Sabha is 5 years.
states with reference to Maharashtra. However, in exceptional circumstances
elections can be held before the completion
Do you know ? of 5 years. Any citizen residing in
Maharashtra and who has completed 25
India has 28 Constituent States but years of age can contest the elections to
there are 31 Vidhan Sabhas. This is the Vidhan Sabha.
because the Union Territories of Delhi and
Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir both Speaker of Vidhan Sabha : The
have Vidhan Sabhas. proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha are
carried out under the supervision and
State Legislature : Like the guidance of the Speaker. The elected
Parliament at the central level, every members of the newly constituted Vidhan
State has its own legislature. But only
seven states in India have two Houses ie.
Bicameral legislatures. Maharashtra has a
bicameral legislature. The members of
State legislatures are known as Members
of Legislative Assembly (MLA) or

83

Sabha elect the Speaker and Deputy Governor is the nominal head at the state-
Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha from amongst level.
themselves. The Speaker has many
responsibilities which range from the Governor is appointed by the President
power to prepare the order of business, to and holds the office during the pleasure
carry out the proceedings of the House in of the President. The Governor also enjoys
a disciplined manner, or to suspend certain legislative powers. For example,
members for misbehaviour or misconduct. the bills passed by the Vidhan Sabha and
In absence of the Speaker, the responsibility Vidhan Parishad are converted into laws
is taken over by the Deputy Speaker. only after receiving the assent of the
Governor. The Governor has the right to
Maharashtra’s legislature conducts summon the session of the state legislature.
minimum three sessions in a year. The When the legislature is not in session but
budget session and monsoon session is the need arises to make the law, then the
conducted in Mumbai while the winter Governor can issue an Ordinance for the
session is conducted in Nagpur. same.

Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Chief Minister and Council of
Council) : It is the second House of the Ministers : The leader of the majority
Maharashtra legislature and members are party in Legislative Assembly becomes
indirectly elected from various sections of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister
society. There are 78 members in the includes his/her trustworthy colleagues in
Vidhan Parishad of Maharashtra. Of these the Council of Ministers. Like the Prime
some members who are distinguished Minister who is the executive head of the
personalities from the fields of literature, Union, the Chief Minister is the head of
science and social service are nominated the state executive. The government of
by the Governor; remaining representatives the state is run in the name of the
are elected by the members of Vidhan Governor. But in reality, the administration
Sabha, local government institutions, is carried out by the Chief Minister.
teacher-constituencies and graduate
constituencies. Functions of the Chief Minister

The Vidhan Parishad is never fully Creation of the State Executive :
dissolved. A specific number of members After proving the majority, the Chief
retire every 2 years and these vacant Minister forms his/her Council of Ministers.
seats are filled again by conducting fresh This is a challenging task because in order
elections for those seats. The proceedings to make the Council more representative,
of the Vidhan Parishad are conducted various regions and social groups
under the control and guidance of the (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other
Chairman. In absence of the Chairman, Backward Castes, Women, and Minorities
the Deputy Chairman takes over the etc.) have to be accommodated. If no party
responsibility. secures a clear majority, different parties
can come together to form the government.
Executive of Maharashtra : The In such case, the Chief Minister has to
Governor, Chief Minister and the Council perform the difficult task of giving a place
of Ministers together form the executive to all the constituent parties in the alliance.
of Maharashtra.
Distribution of portfolios : After the
Governor : The President is a formation of the Council of Ministers, the
nominal head at the Centre while the

84

Chief Minister has to distribute portfolios Leader of the State : Just as the
among the ministers. While distributing Prime Minister leads the country, the
portfolios, he/she has to consider the Chief Minister leads the state. The Chief
political experience, administrative skills, Minister has to make new policies by
awareness of public opinion, leadership taking note of problems and concerns of
qualities etc. people and work towards the welfare of
the people of the state. The people look
Coordination between Ministries/ at the Chief Minister as a problem solver.
Departments : The Chief Minister along The Chief Minister intervenes in issues
with his Council of Ministers are facing the state and comforts the people.
collectively responsible to the Legislative
Assembly. The Chief Minister bears the Maharashtra is one of the progressive
ultimate responsibility of the efficient States in India. The State leads in sectors
administration. Absence of cooperation like education, industry, service sector,
and coordination between Departments health and social security etc. Terror
can affect the working of the government. attacks and Naxalite (Left-wing extremist)
Therefore, the Chief Minister has to movements active in certain regions are
resolve conflicts between Departments the two major challenges facing the State
and ensure that they work towards the of Maharashtra.
same goal and in the same direction.

Exercise

1. Choose the correct option and complete (2) Functions of the Chief Minister
the statements.
4. Answer the following in brief.
(1) The Winter session of Maharashtra (1) Enumerate the functions of the Speaker
Legislature takes place at ............. .
of the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative
(a) Mumbai (b) Nagpur Assembly).
(c) Pune (d) Aurangabad (2) Why did the Constitution adopt a federal
system for India?
(2) The ............... appoints the Governor. (3) What are the considerations of the Chief
Minister while allocation of portfolios?
(a) Chief Minister (b) Prime Minister
Project
(c) President (d) Chief Justice
Visit official website of the Maharashtra
(3) The right to summon the state legislature Government and collect information of
various ministers and the working of their
lies with the ............... respective departments.

(a) Chief Minister (b) Governor

(c) President (d) Speaker

2. Complete the table.

Sr. Houses Tenure No. of Type of Head
No. Members Election

1. Vidhan
Sabha

2. Vidhan
Parishad

3. Write short notes on.
(1) The Governor

85

6. Bureaucracy

District Collector orders curfew. of internal security is carried out as aid to
civil services. For the second function, an
Municipal Commissioner presents administrative system is developed. We
the budget. call it the ‘civil services’. The system of
civil servants is also known as bureaucracy.

Finance Secretary resigns. In the Parliamentary democracy,
representatives elected by the people and
Divisional Commissioner will review the ministers have the responsibility of
the revenue collection. administration. The functions of
government are discharged by various
In the above box, a few posts like departments. Every department has a
District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, minister who is the political head of that
Finance Secretary, and Divisional department. As a representative of people
Commissioner are mentioned. These are the minister has to carry out the work of
civil servants in the government's the department by giving priority to public
administrative system. You might be welfare. The minister may not be expert
thinking, what are their functions ? in a particular subject but he/she is
conscious of broad public interest. The
In the chapter which explained the Secretary of the department gives expert
role of the Union Executive we learnt advice to the ministers. The secretaries
that the Prime Minister and his Council are appointed from the civil service. The
of Ministers make proposals for new laws aspirations of the people and administrative
and also decide upon policies. expertise are thus put in harmony in the
‘Bureaucracy’ is the administrative system parliamentary system.
which works under the Union Executive
and has the responsibility of actual Characteristics of Bureaucracy
implementation of government’s policies.
In this chapter, we will understand the Permanent mechanism : Tax
importance of bureaucracy. collection, environment protection,
maintenance of law and order, provisions
In any country, the government carries regarding social security are certain
out two fundamental types of functions. important tasks that have to be consistently
undertaken by the bureaucracy. This is
(1) To defend the country from possible because bureaucracy is a
external aggression and internal threats permanent mechanism. The Prime Minister
and to ensure safety of citizen. and their Council of Ministers change
after every election but the bureaucracy
(2) To provide various services to under their control remains constant. It is
citizens and ease their daily lives which permanent in nature.
will enable them to develop themselves
and the society. Political neutrality : The bureaucracy
is politically neutral. This means that
The first function is to ensure security regardless of the political party in power,
of the country. This is carried out by the the bureaucracy is supposed to carry out
service called the defence forces. The role

86

the implementation of their policy decisions the people.
with the same efficiency and commitment.
In this regard, the civil servants should Secondly, it is important to understand
abstain from taking a political stand or that bureaucracy is an important instrument
act according to their political views. If a of social transformation. The laws enacted
political party fails to win elections, it by the government for empowerment of
has to leave government and another party women, child security, plans for the
that wins elections comes to power. The marginalised sections are implemented by
new government may change some policies the bureaucracy. Social change is brought
of the earlier government. Even in such through the implementation of such
case, the bureaucracy is expected to remain policies.
neutral while discharging its duties.
The Bureaucracy also plays an
Anonymity : Anonymity means that important role in the democratisation of
a civil service should not be held directly society. Marginalised sections of society
responsible for any success or failure of have been brought into mainstream by
policy. It is the Minister who is responsible implementing the reservation policy. Their
for the efficient and smooth functioning participation has been increased in the
of the concerned departments. It is the process of decision making.
minister who, as the head of that Democratisation of society not only
department, is accountable for any requires progressive laws and policies it
inefficiency. Civil servants are never also needs the effective participation of
publicly criticised. The Parliament holds bureaucracy.
the Minister responsible for malpractices.
In such case the Minister bears the Types of civil services : In India,
responsibility and protects the bureaucracy. there are three main types of civil services

Significance of Indian bureaucracy All-India Services : They include the
Indian Administrative Service (IAS),
The structure of the Indian bureaucracy Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian
is extensive and complex. Several Forest Service (IFS).
important reforms that were introduced
during the post-independence period have Union or Central Services : They
been effectively implemented by the come under the Union Government. They
bureaucratic structure. Today we see include Indian Foreign Service (IFS),
many positive social changes reaching to Indian Revenue Service (IRS) etc.
common people. These changes have been
brought by the Indian Bureaucracy by State Civil Services : They come
implementing the policies made by the under the State Government. They include
Government. Bureaucracy gives stability Deputy District Collector, Block
to the political system. Water supply, Development Officer, Tehsildar (Executive
transport, electricity, public cleanliness, Magistrate) etc. They are recruited through
health, agricultural reforms, prevention of competitive examinations held at the
pollution and such other services are State-level.
every day needs of the people and need
to be consistently provided to them. This Indian constitution has established
brings stability in the day-to-day life of autonomous institutions like the Public
Service Commissions to ensure that the
civil servants are selected on the basis of
criteria of merit and efficiency. The Union

87

Public Service Commission (UPSC) efficiency of a particular government
conducts examinations for recruitment and department depends upon the inter-
appointment of candidates for All-India relationship between the Minister and
Services and Central Services. The Department Secretaries and Deputy
Maharashtra Public Service Commission Secretaries. The decisions relating to the
(MPSC) selects candidates through department are made by concerned
competitive examinations and recommends minister but necessary information to
them to the government to be recruited in make such decisions is given by the civil
the state administration. servants. Civil servants, meaning
bureaucracy, has complete control over
In order to provide opportunities to information. It is the civil servant who
all sections of society to enter in knows the financial provisions for a
bureaucracy and civil services, there is a particular scheme or plan. Civil servants
provision for reservations for the Scheduled are aware of the history of successes and
Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Other failures of policies. Hence, ministers are
Backward Castes and specially-abled. dependent upon the civil servants. If
This provision ensures that weaker sections ministers maintain a dialogue with civil
of the society are not left out of civil servants and develop mutual trust and
services due to social inequality. transparency, it will help the departments.

Minister and Civil Servants : The

Exercise

1. Identify if the following statements are 4. Complete the Concept picture.
correct or wrong and rewrite the wrong
sentences in their correct form. Types of Civil Services

(1) In a parliamentary democracy, Examples Union Services Block
representatives elected by people and Examples Development
ministers bear the administrative Officer, Tehsildar
responsibility.

(2) Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) recruits candidates for civil
services in Maharashtra.

2. Explain the following statements with 5. Discuss characteristics of bureaucracy.
reasons.
Project
(1) Reservation policy is followed even
in civil services. Prepare a questionnaire and interview a
civil servant in your locality
(2) It is necessary for civil servants to
be politically neutral.

3. Answer the following in 25-30 words.
(1) Explain the role of the ministers

and civil servants in the efficient
administration of the department.
(2) Explain how the bureaucracy provides
stability to the political system.

88