Class 8: Chandraprabha Saikiani: Important Questions-Answers

1. Answer the following questions from the lesson to check your comprehension:

(a) Who was Chandraprabha Saikiani?

Ans: Chandraprabha Saikiani was a renowned social reformer from Assam who fought to make formal education available for girls.

(b) What did Chandraprabha do to educate the girls of her village?

Ans: After school, she would gather the girls of the village and teach them what she had learnt during the day.

(c) Which two incidents show us how Chandraprabha fought for the rights of girls?

Ans: In those days, girls were not admitted into the hostel without being converted to Christianity. Chandraprabha Saikiani's strong protest against this system compelled the authorities to allow all girls to avail the hostel facilities.

Chandraprabha Saikiani challenged the prevailing custom of women sitting behind a bamboo screen in public meetings.

(d) On what occasion did Chandraprabha Saikiani inspire women to come out from behind the bamboo screen?

Ans: She delivered a very powerful speech against this system in the Assam Sahitya Sabha Session at Nagaon

(e) What steps did Chandraprabha take to eliminate the caste system?

Ans: She fought for the entry of everyone, irrespective of caste, gender and class, into the famous Hayagriva Madhava Temple at Hajo.

(f) What was Chandraprabha Saikiani's role in the freedom movement of India?

Ans: She met Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 and joined the freedom movement. She spread the message of Khadi, boycott of foreign clothes, removal of untouchability, banning of opium and other social evils. She actively worked for freedom from 1930 onwards. She was also imprisoned thrice.

2. Work in pairs and complete the following sentences with information from the lesson:

(a) At a time when society did not allow young girls to step out of home, she fought to make formal education available for girls.

(b) In those days girls' schools did not exist, so Chandraprabha had to attend a school which only had boys.

(c) Chandraprabha and her sister were awarded a scholarship to study in Nagaon Mission School.

(d) In order to eliminate the evils of the caste system, Chandraprabha fought for the entry of everyone, irrespective of caste, gender and class, into the famous Hayagriva Madhava Temple at Hajo.

(e) Being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Chandraprabha joined the freedom movement.

3. Read the following sentences and find a word from the text to replace the underlined part.

(a) Chandraprabha Saikiani was a famous and respected social worker from Assam.

Ans: Renowned.

(b) She tried to get rid of all the cultural or religious restrictions against women that prevailed during those days.

Ans: Taboos.

(c) Chandraprabha refused to accept and questioned the prevailing custom of women sitting behind bamboo screens in public meetings.

Ans: Challenged.

(d) She was strong in her attitude against society's restriction and her protest against the norms of society was not confined to a particular incident.

Ans: Staunchly

(e) Whenever she saw any injustice, her desire to resist authority rose to the occasion.

Ans: Rebellious spirit.

4. Listen to your teacher read out the first paragraph of the lesson. As you listen, complete the table below with information about Chandraprabha Saikiani:

Ans: 

Chandraprabha Saikiani

A: renowned social reformer from Assam

Birth: 16 March 1901

Father: Ratiram Mazumdar

Mother: Gangapriya

Sister: Rajaniprabha

School: A school which only had boys

5. There are seven paragraphs in the lesson Chandraprabha Saikiani. Choose the appropriate description for each paragraph.

(a) The first paragraph is about: 

(i) Chandraprabha Saikiani's childhood

(ii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's birth as the social reformer

(iii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's career as a school teacher

Ans: (ii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's birth as the social reformer

(b) The second paragraph is about:

(i) Chandraprabha Saikiani's preparation to be a school teacher

(ii) Girl's education vs boy's education

(iii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's efforts to get an education just like the boys of her village

Ans: (ii) Girl's education vs boy's education

(c) The third paragraph is about:

(i) her fight for freedom

(ii) her fight for the rights of girls

(iii) her fight against the British rule

Ans: (ii) her fight for the rights of girls

(d) The fourth paragraph is about:

(i) formation of Assam Pradeshik Mahila Samiti

(ii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's protest against restrictions imposed on women

(iv) Chandraprabha Saikiani's speech at the Assam Sahitya Sabha meeting

Ans: All of the above.

(e) The fifth paragraph is about:

(i) the caste system of India

(ii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's visit to Hajo

(iii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's protest against the caste system

Ans: (iii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's protest against the caste system

(f) The sixth paragraph is about:

(i) Chandraprabha Saikiani's meeting with Mahatma Gandhi

(ii) Chandraprabha Saikiani as the freedom fighter

(iii) the punishment Chandraprabha Saikiani received for being a freedom fighter

Ans: All the above.

(g) The seventh paragraph is about:

(i) Chandraprabha Saikiani's rebellious spirit

(ii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's imprisonment

(iii) Chandraprabha Saikiani's motivation to join the freedom movement

Ans: None of the above.