Looking for complete, textbook-verified solutions for SEBA Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 2 (Growth of Indian Nationalism / ভাৰতীয় জাতীয়তাবাদৰ বিকাশ) for the 2026–27 academic session? Access step-by-step solutions to all official textbook exercises—including Very Short Answer (VSA), Short Answer (SA), and Long Answer (LA) questions. Master high-scoring answers covering the fundamental causes for the rise of national consciousness in India; the far-reaching political consequences of the Revolt of 1857 and the end of company rule under the Government of India Act 1858; the impact of Western education, administrative centralisation, and modern communication networks (railways and telegraphs); socio-religious reform movements initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj), Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Arya Samaj), Swami Vivekananda (Ramakrishna Mission), and the Theosophical Society; the awakening sparked by the Indian press and vernacular literature; the reactionary governance of Lord Lytton (Vernacular Press Act and Arms Act 1878); the racial controversy surrounding the Ilbert Bill (1883); early political organisations; and the founding of the Indian National Congress (INC) in Bombay in December 1885 under A.O. Hume and W.C. Bonnerjee, prepared strictly according to the Assam Board (SEBA) examination pattern.
Q.1. What was the main factor responsible for the growth of Indian Nationalism?
Ans: The influence of western education was a potent and main factor for the birth of Indian nationalism, as it opened the floodgates of new ideas like liberty, equality, and democracy to the newly educated Indians.
Q.2. Who was the writer of Anandamath?
Ans: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Q.3. Who composed the song ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’?
Ans: The lyrics of the song were written by the Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal.
Q.4. When and where was the first railway line in India constructed?
Ans: The first railway line of 21 miles connecting Bombay and Thana was inaugurated in 1853.
Q.5. When and where was the first telegraph line in India constructed?
Ans: In 1839, a private telegraph line was laid between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour. Later, in 1854, the first government electric telegraph line of 800 miles was erected from Calcutta to Agra.
Q.6. When and where was the first Printing Press established in India?
Ans: The Europeans introduced the printing press in India, with the first newspaper Bengal Gazette published by James Augustus Hicky in 1780. Additionally, the Christian missionaries established a printing press at Sreerampore Mission in 1797.
Q.7. When was the Calcutta Presidency College established? By what name was it known earlier?
Ans: It was established in 1817 as the Hindu College and was later renamed Presidency College in 1855 (and upgraded to Presidency University in 2010).
Q.8. Mention two important social reforms of Lord William Bentinck.
Ans: With the support of Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Lord William Bentinck permanently abolished the practice of Sati (1828–1835). He also brought about administrative and social liberal reforms.
Q.9. Name the first newspaper published in India.
Ans: Bengal Gazette (or the Calcutta General Advertiser), published by James Augustus Hicky in 1780.
SEBA Class 9 History Chapter 2 Solutions
Long Answer Questions
Q.1. Write briefly how the Revolt of 1857 led to the growth of Indian nationalism?
Ans: The Revolt of 1857 was a major bid by the Indians for political freedom to drive away the British and make Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah II their actual ruler. Although the revolt failed, its results were far-reaching because it marked the beginning of national awakening in India, inspiring the people to rise against foreign rule.
Q.2. Write the main objectives of ‘Wood’s Despatch’?
Ans: Presented in 1854 by Sir Charles Wood, the main objectives and recommendations of the Despatch included:
- Presenting the first comprehensive plan for a systematic educational hierarchy from primary school through high school, college, and university.
- Encouraging vernacular languages at the school level and English at the university level.
- Providing government scholarships to meritorious students and establishing a system of grants-in-aid to support educational institutions.
- Recommending the establishment of an Education Department in all provinces.
Q.3. Write about six important reasons for the growth of Indian nationalism.
Ans: The six major factors that led to the growth of Indian nationalism are:
- Influence of Western Education: It introduced Indians to liberal ideas, rational thinking, and political thinkers like Rousseau and Locke.
- Development of Means of Transport and Communication: Roads, railways, and telegraphs broke regional isolation and connected distant parts of the country.
- Socio-Religious Reform Movements: Movements led by leaders like Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and others fought social evils and instilled national pride.
- Role of the Press: Vernacular newspapers voiced native sufferings, exposed imperialist exploitation, and carried nationalist ideas to the common masses.
- Growth of Political Associations: Organizations and agitations (such as the Indian Association and the ICS age agitation) united public opinion on a national scale.
- Birth of the Indian National Congress (1885): It provided a formal, centralized all-India platform to organize and voice Indian political demands.
Q.4. Write at least four effects of the introduction of western education in India.
Ans:
- Reason replaced blind faith, and a progressive change in outlook took place among Indians.
- Indians acquired the capability to judge and understand the exploitative nature of foreign rule.
- It developed in Indians a sense of responsibility toward their society, race, and country.
- It exposed educated Indians to radical thoughts of political thinkers, inspiring them with ideals of democracy, liberty, and self-government.
Q.5. Discuss the impact of western education towards the growth of Indian nationalism.
Ans: Western education acted as a potent catalyst for Indian nationalism. By coming into contact with liberal thoughts of western thinkers and heroic stories of events like the French Revolution and the American War of Independence, educated Indians became eager to work for national unity and country liberation. They effectively conveyed ideas of liberty and equality to the masses through patriotic poems, writings, and slogans, building a strong base for national consciousness.
Growth of Indian Nationalism Textual Questions SEBA 2026-27
Q.6. How did the development of transport and communication lead to the growth of nationalism in India?
Ans: Prompted by administrative, military, and commercial needs (such as dumping manufactured goods and sourcing raw materials), the British constructed roads like the Grand Trunk Road, laid a network of railways starting in 1853, and established telegraph lines. These modern means of transport and communication broke geographical isolation, forged physical links between people living in distant areas, and enabled leaders from different parts of the country to unite and organize a cohesive national movement.
Q.7. Discuss the contribution of Raja Ram Mohun Roy in the growth of Indian nationalism?
Ans: Raja Ram Mohun Roy, known as the father of modern India, laid the foundation for social, religious, and political movements in the country. He founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828) to purge Hinduism of polytheism, idol worship, and blind superstitions. He fought vigorously against social evils like casteism, child marriage, purdah, and polygamy, and played a pivotal role in supporting Lord William Bentinck to abolish Sati. Furthermore, he advocated for administrative reforms, freedom of the press, and women’s education, inspiring future generations of reformers and nationalists.
Q.8. Discuss the contribution of Dayanand Saraswati in the growth of Indian nationalism?
Ans: Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in Punjab in 1875. He promoted monotheism, denounced polytheism and idol worship, and criticized social ills like child marriage and casteism. He strongly advocated for gender equality, widow remarriage, and women’s education. By giving the inspiring slogan “Go back to the Vedas” and initiating the Shuddhi movement to preserve cultural identity, the Arya Samaj and its branches significantly fostered national pride and unity.
Q.9. Discuss the contribution of Keshav Chandra Sen in the growth of Indian nationalism?
Ans: Keshab Chandra Sen started the Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra in 1869 on the model of the Brahmo Samaj. The Prarthana Samaj, through dedicated reformers like Justice M.G. Ranade, focused heavily on social reforms such as supporting widow remarriage, establishing cottage industries for women’s employment, opening orphanages, and running night schools for the underprivileged. These extensive social welfare activities promoted the spirit of nationalism and upliftment across western and southern India.
Q.10. Discuss the contribution of Ramkrishna Paramhansa in the growth of Indian nationalism?
Ans: Ramkrishna Paramhansa was a pious and simple saint whose profound spiritual teachings and universal message attracted a large following. Although he did not directly engage in political nationalism, his life and teachings formed the philosophical bedrock for his chief disciple, Swami Vivekananda. Vivekananda founded the Ramkrishna Mission in 1897 to spread Paramhansa’s true message, infuse self-confidence, inspire love for the motherland among the youth, and revive pride in India’s glorious spiritual heritage, which prepared Indians to face imperialist challenges.
Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 2 Question Answer Assam Board
Q.11. Discuss the contribution of Anne Besant in the growth of Indian nationalism?
Ans: Mrs. Anne Besant, an Irish lady who settled in India in 1893, reorganized and popularized the Theosophical Society to revive Indian self-respect and pride in ancient philosophy and culture. She founded the Central Hindu School in Banaras in 1898 (which became Banaras Hindu University in 1916). She instilled a deep national sentiment among educated Indians, launched the Home Rule League in 1916 to campaign for self-rule, and historicially became the first lady president of the Indian National Congress in 1917.
Q.12. What is Aligarh Movement? To what extent did it infuse modern outlook and thinking among the Indian Muslims?
Ans: The spread of modern western education and the development of nationalism among Indian Muslims centered around Aligarh came to be known as the Aligarh Movement, spearheaded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. He established an English medium school in Ghazipur (1864), a Science Society, and the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh (1875). The movement infused a modern outlook by introducing western literature, science, and culture to Indian Muslims, raising their political consciousness, helping them remove social abuses within their community, and laying the groundwork for the Aligarh Muslim University.
Q.13. How did the printing press in India lead to the growth of Indian nationalism? Discuss.
Ans: The rapid growth of vernacular newspapers in the latter half of the nineteenth century—such as Amrita Bazar Patrika, Bangadarshan, Kesari, and Hindu—served as a powerful instrument of mass communication. These papers voiced native sufferings, exposed the exploitative policies and relief failures of British imperialism (such as under Lord Lytton), and built strong public opinion. Because of the vernacular press, nationalism did not remain confined to the intelligentsia but reached the common people across the country, prompting oppressive legislative measures like the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 which further exposed the true nature of colonial rule.
Q.14. Discuss briefly the factors that led to the birth of Indian National Congress.
Ans: The birth of the Indian National Congress in 1885 was the culmination of several factors:
- The rise of political consciousness fostered by western education and the growth of regional political associations.
- The unified reaction against reactionary British policies, such as Lord Lytton’s Vernacular Press Act, Arms Act, and the reduction of the ICS exam age limit, alongside the controversy surrounding the Ilbert Bill.
- The direct initiative taken by a retired English civil servant, Allan Octavian Hume, who appealed to university graduates to organize a permanent national body to serve the motherland.
- The convening of the first conference of the Indian National Union (subsequently named the Indian National Congress) in Bombay on December 28, 1885, under the presidency of Womesh Chandra Banerjee.
Assam Board Class 9 History Chapter 2 Solved Textbook Solutions PDF
Q.15. Give a brief account of the working of the Indian National Congress during the early years of its formation.
Ans: During its early years, the Indian National Congress adopted a moderate policy of working through prayers, petitions, and maintaining friendly relations with the government. Their primary aim was to secure greater Indian representation in the administrative machinery and civil services through constitutional methods (such as sending an Indian team to England in 1890 under S.N. Banerjee). However, when the Indian Councils Act of 1892 failed to provide meaningful concessions, a section of leaders began losing faith in these moderate tactics and pushed for more active, extreme paths and goals like Swadeshi and Swaraj.
📜 Class 9 Social Science Solutions Notice: This page features the complete SEBA Class 9 Social Science (History Section) Chapter 2: Growth of Indian Nationalism Official Textual Questions and Answers updated for the 2026–27 academic session. Formatted strictly in line with the Assam Board evaluation marking scheme, every core historical topic—from the structural aftershocks of the Revolt of 1857 and 19th-century socio-religious reform movements to the role of the vernacular press, the Ilbert Bill controversy (1883), and the establishment of the Indian National Congress (1885)—is presented with point-wise clarity, chronological accuracy, and structured subheadings to help you secure full marks in your school assessments, half-yearly, and annual examinations.
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