Colonialism and City

NCERT Solution

Question 1: State whether true or false:

In the Western world, modern cities grew with industrialisation.
Surat and Machlipatnam developed in the nineteenth century.
In the twentieth century, the majority of Indians lived in cities.
After 1857 no worship was allowed in the Jama Masjid for five years.
More money was spent on cleaning Old Delhi than New Delhi.

Answer: (a) True, (b) False, (c) False, (d) True, (e) False

Question 2: Fill in the blanks:

The first structure to successfully use the dome was called the _____________.

Answer: Tomb of Balban was the first structure with a dome to be built in India.
Note: This question is not clear.
The two architects who designed New Delhi and Shahjahanabad were _____________ and _____________.

Answer: Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker
The British saw overcrowded spaces as _____________.

Answer: Unhygienic
In 1888 an extension scheme called the _____________ was devised.

Answer: Lahore Gate Improvement Scheme

Question 3: Identify three differences in the city design of New Delhi and Shahjahanabad.

Answer:

New Delhi	Shahjahanbad
Wide roads and streets	Narrow lanes and bylanes
Bungalows set in open spaces	Havelis built in overcrowded areas
Greek architecture with fusion of various elements from India	Mughal architecture

Question 4: Who lived in the “white” areas in cities such as Madras?

Answer: The British

Question 5: What is meant by de-urbanisation?

Answer: The process by which a city declines is called de-urbanisation.

Question 6: Why did the British choose to hold a grand Durbar in Delhi although it was not the capital?

Answer: After the 1857 revolt, the British understood the symbolic importance of Delhi for the Indians. Hence, they choose to hold a grand Durbar in Delhi although it was not the capital.

Question 7: How did the Old City of Delhi change under British rule?

Answer: The famed water canal system of the Old Delhi deteriorated. Growth in population led to further overcrowding. Many havelis were subdivided and sold. The street front of the havelis were turned into shops and warehouses. The drainage system also collapsed.

Question 8: How did the Partition affect life in Delhi?

Answer: Partition resulted in large scale migration of people from both sides of the new border. Most of the Muslims left for Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs came from Pakistan. The occupations of people changed. A predominantly urban culture which was based on Urdu had changed with the arrival of new people. Many settlement colonies developed for the refugees.