RBSE Class 9 Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
RBSE Class 9 Social Science Solutions Civics Chapter 1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
RBSE Class 9 Social Science What is Democracy? Why Democracy? InText Questions and Answers
Page No. 1
Question 1.
Let us take Lyngdoh Madam seriously and try to write down the exact definition of some of the simple words that we use all the time: pen, rain and love. For example, is there a way of defining a pen that distinguishes it clearly from a pencil, a brush, a chalk or crayon.
Answer:
Pen is a device which includes ink and nib or ball and is used for writing generally on paper while others do not contain the same tools for the same purpose.
Question 2.
What have you learnt from this attempt?
Answer:
Each and everything has some specific features on the basis of which we can define that thing.
Question 3.
What does it teach us about understanding the meaning of democracy?
Answer:
With the help of this example we have learnt that there are various types of democracy. But all have a common basic feature that the ruler is elected by the people of land.
Question 4.
I Have heard a different version. Democracy is off the people, far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. Why don’t we accept that?
Answer:
We don’t accept the above version of the democracy because democracy is of the people not off, for the people not far and by the people not buy. These cases are exceptions and not the rule, which will be removed with the passage of time.
In the above version it is said that democracy is not of the people, but always away from the people and it buys the people.
Check Your Progress
Page No. 2
Question 5.
Ribiang went back home and collected some more famous quotations on democracy. This time she did not mention the names of the people who said or wrote these. She wants you to read these and comment on how good or useful these thoughts are :
- Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
- Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they’ve told you what you think it is you want to hear.
- Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.
- Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than ‘ we deserve.
- All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.
Answer:
Comments :
- The first and second thoughts are about those forms of government in which the people have the right to elect their ruler without having options. It means they have to elect the candidate only from the ruling party.
- In the third thought, if a man accepts justice, democracy is possible. But when the man follows injustice, the democracy is necessary there to give justice.
- In fourth thought, there is a balance between the form of government and our need.
- (iv) In the last thought, there is a scope for changing the features and activities of democracy with the change of time and as per need of the people to make the democracy more delivering.
Page No. 3
Read the Cartoon
This cartoon was drawn when elections were held in Iraq with the presence of US and other foreign powers.
Question 6.
What do you think this cartoon is saying?
Answer:
This cartoon depicts that democracy was established or we can say it was forcefully implemented on Iraq by US military and foreign powers.
Question 7.
Why is ‘‘democracy’ written the way it is?
Answer:
The word democracy is written in this way because it shows that it is not real democracy. It was planned by US to clear their path in Iraq.
Page No. 4
Read the Cartoon
Syria is a small west Asian country. The ruling Ba’ath Party and some of its small allies are the only parties allowed in that country. Do you think this cartoon could apply to China or Mexico? What does the crown of leaves on democracy signify? Answer:
cartoon signifies that however in many countries democracy has won but it is still not accepted by all.
Page No. 5
Read the Cartoon
This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America.
Question 8.
Do you think it applies to the Pakistani situation as well?
Answer:
The symbol of the cartoon indicates the booth capturing with gun. It is also applicable in Pakistan where General Musharraf with the help of army officials controlled the . elected representatives.
Question 9.
Think of other countries where this could apply?
Answer:
This could be applied in Iraq, China, etc.
Question 10.
Does this happen sometimes in our country as well?
Answer: Booth capturing by the enemy of democracy happens sometimes in our country too.
Question 11.
All this is so remote for me.
(i) Is democracy all about rulers and governments?
Answer:
No, democracy is not only about rulers and government. Democracy means decision taken by the majority on the basis of election for the benefit and to fulfil the needs of all.
(ii) Can we talk about a democratic classroom? Or a democratic family?
Answer:
Yes, we can have a democratic classroom and a democratic family where all the decisions can be taken by majority of its member for the benefit of all.
Page No. 6
Read the Cartoon
This cartoon was titled ‘Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American publication.
Question 12.
What do moneybags signify here?
Answer:
- Money bags signify that making of democracy is very costly.
- During election the government spend a lot of money to conduct free and fair election.
- At the same time political parties and the individual candidates invest money beyond the limit set by the Election Commission to win the election.
Question 13.
Could this cartoon be applied to India?
Answer:
Yes, this cartoon could be applied to India.
Page No. 7
Read the Cartoon
This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussain’s regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars.
Question 14.
What is the cartoonist saying here?
Answer:
(i) In one picture’s quotation, the cartoonist tell us about the equality of the right to vote and equal value of each man’s vote.
(ii) In other picture’s quotation, the cartoonist says about the dictator that he (dictator) liked most when he was the only man to decide any matter by his only vote.
(iii) However, the voting right came to the people of Iraq in the end. It means the triumph of democracy over dictatorship on the basis of right to equality at last was achieved.
Question 15.
Compare the message of this cartoon with the first cartoon in this chapter.
Answer:
The cartoon shown in the chapter gave the message of elevating and founding the
democracy. But in this cartoon, the message is about the complete democracy.
Question 16.
Why talk about Zimbabwe? I read similar reports from many parts of our own country. Why don’t we discuss that?
Answer:
Yes, there are similar reports as that of Zimbabwe from many parts of our own country.We discuss some of them as follows :
India is a democratic country. Therefore, elections are held in free and fair manner. But sometimes use of money and muscle power can be heard. Parties and candidates use this unfair method to win election but these incidents are decreasing now a days iii our country.
Page No. 8
Read the Cartoon
Chinese government blocked free flow of information on the internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo.The image of tanks and an unarmed student reminds the reader of another major event in recent Chinese history.
Question 17.
Find out about that event.
Answer:
The event was :
Massacre in Tiananmen Square in 1989
- In this event several hundred civilians were shot dead by the Chinese army during a bloody military operation.
- The operation was to crush a democratic uprising in Peking’s (Beijing) Tiananmen Square.
- Tanks moved into the Square for the several directions randomly.
Check Your Progress
Question 18.
Read these five examples of working or denial of democracy. Match each of these with the relevant feature of democracy discussed above.
Page No. 9
| Example | Feature |
| (i) King of Bhutan has declared that in future he will he guided by the advice given to him by elected representatives. | (a) Rule of law |
| (ii) Many Tamil workers who migrated from India, were not given the right to vote in Sri Lanka. | (b) Respect for Rights |
| (iii) The king of Nepal imposed a ban on political gatherings, demonstrations and rallies. | (c) One person one vote one value. |
| (iv) The Indian Supreme Court held that dissolution of Bihar assembly was unconstitutional. | (d) Free and Fair electoral competition. |
| (v) Political parties in Bangladesh have agreed that a neutral government should rule the country at the time of elections. | (e) Major decisions by elected leaders. |
Answer:
| Example | Feature |
| (i) King of Bhutan has declared that in future he will he guided by the advice given to him by elected representatives. | (e) Major decisions by elected leaders. |
| (ii) Many Tamil workers who migrated from India, were not given the right to vote in Sri Lanka. | (c) One person one vote one value. |
| (iii) The king of Nepal imposed a ban on political gatherings, demonstrations and rallies. | (b) Respect for Rights |
| (iv) The Indian Supreme Court held that dissolution of Bihar assembly was unconstitutional. | (a) Rule of law |
| (v) Political parties in Bangladesh have agreed that a neutral government should rule the country at the time of elections. | (d) Free and Fair electoral competition. |
Question 19.
I want to be in Lyngdoh Madam’s class ! That Sounds like a democratic classroom. Doesn’t it ?
Answer: Yes, Lyngdoh Madam’s classroom sounds like a democratic classroom. Here everybody can speak his own mind. The students are giving their own arguments passionately.
Page No. 10
Read the Cartoon
This cartoon is from Brazil, a country that has long experience of dictatorship. It is entitled “The Hidden Side of Dictatorship”
Question 20.
Which hidden sides does this cartoon depict?
Answer:
This cartoon depicts the brutal side of the dictator. He rules according to his own wish. Such as Hitler did. It shows evil face of dictator.
Question 21.
Is it necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side?
Answer:
No, it is not necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side. Because, if the dictator really wants to work for the betterment of the people, he does not need to have a hidden side.
Question 22.
If possible, find this out about the dictators including Pinochet in Chile, Jaruzelski in Poland, Sani Abacha in Nigeria and Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines.
Answer:
(i) (a) General Augusto Pinochet, an army general in Chile, led the coup on 11 September, 1973.
(b) The Defence Minister was arrested and President Salvador Allende was warned to resign but he refused.
(c) Then the military surrounded and started bombing on his house. In this bombing the president died.
(d) General A. Pinochet put even Bashelet’s wife and daughter in prison and tortured when they opposed him and talked for democracy to be restored.
(ii) (a) Abacha in Nigeria had committed many wrongs.
(b) He hanged the famous poet and social activist, Ken Saro wiwa.
(c) He didn’t allow democratic process like elections in the country.
(iii) (a) Ferdinand Marcos was the president of Philippines.
(b) He implemented many programmes of infrastructure development and economic reforms. However in 2004, Global transparency Report, Marcos appeared in the list of the world’s corrupt leaders.
Page No. 11
Question 23.
What would have happened if India was not a democracy?
Answer:
If India was not a democracy, dictatorship would have been the form of government here.
Question 24.
Could we have stayed together as a single nation?
Answer:
We could not have stayed as a single nation. There would have been a fragmentation of the country into different states and nations.
Page No. 12
Read the Cartoon
This cartoon was published in Canada just before its parliamentary elections of 2004. Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal party to win once again. When the results came, the Liberal Party lost the elections.
Question 25.
Is this cartoon an argument against democracy or for democracy?
Answer:
(i) This cartoon is an argument for democracy. Because in democracy, the voters decide in favour of or against the ruling party.
(ii) In the cartoon shown, voters were angry with the ruling Liberal Party, so they voted against the Liberal Party. Consequently, the Liberal Party lost the election.Check Your Progress Rajesh and Muzaffar read an article. It showed that no democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy. Wars take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic. The article said that this was a great merit of democracy. After reading the essay, Rajesh and Muzaffar had different reactions. Rajesh said that this was not a good argument for democracy. It was just a matter of chance. It is possible that in future democracies may have wars. Muzaffar said that it could not he a matter of chance.Democracies take decisions in such a way that it reduces the chances of war.
Question 26.
Which of the two positions do you agree with and why?
Answer:
(i) Muzaffar is more justified in favouring the argument but it is not absolute because some wars was fought between two democracies like India and Pakistan e.g. Kargil war was fought when both countries were democratic.
(ii) But in democracy the decision is taken after discussion and keeping in views the welfare of the people so that the chances of war are minimised.
Page No. 13
Read the Cartoon
This famous cartoon by R K Laxman comments on the celebrations of the fifty
years of independence.
Question 27.
How many images on the wall do you recognise?
Answer:
The images on the wall are of former Prime Minister of India. The images recognised are as follows :
Pt. J. Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri, Gulzari Lai Nanda, Moraiji Desai Ch. Charan Singh, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narasimha Rao, Devegowda and A.B. Vajpayee.
Question 28.
Do many common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does?
Answer:
Yes, the common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does. After many glorious years of Independence, the condition of the common man has changed very little. The claim and promises of the politicians became meaningless to the common man, so he fell asleep by hearing these again and again. It is a true picture of our democracy.
Page No. 14
Question 29.
In my village the Gram Sabha never meets. Is that democratic?
Answer:
No, that is not democratic. This is because, in democracy meeting after a regular intervals is necessary.
RBSE Class 9 Social Science What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Textbook Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries. Write democratic undemocratic or not sure against each of these.
(a) Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote.
(b) Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
(c) Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
(d)Country D: There is no independent election commission.
Answer:
(a) Undemocratic
(b) Not sure
(c) Democratic
(d) Undemocratic
Question 2.
Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries. Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or 1101 sure’ against each of these.
(a) Country P: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army.
(b)Country Q: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.
(c) Country R: The country’s leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighbouring country.
(d) Country S: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the central bank which the ministers cannot change.
Answer:
(a) Undemocratic
(b) Democratic
(c) Undemocratic
(d) Undemocratic
Question 3.
Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?
(a) People feel free and equal in a democracy.
(b) Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others.
(d) Democratic government is more accountable to the people.
(d) Democracies are more prosperous than others.
Answer:
(d) Democracies are more prosperous than others.This is not a good argument as the prosperity of a country cannot be determined through its form of government but through its economic condition. For example, a democratic country like India is still a developing country, while a country following monarchy rule is economically strong.
Question 4.
Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement.
(a) A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
(b) The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large-scale rigging was reported.
(c) Women’s representation in the parliament has barely reached 10 per cent. This led women’s organisations to demand one-third seats for women.
Answer:
(a) Democratic : Passing of the laws by the Parliament.
Undemocratic : Conforming to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation.
(b) Democratic: The order to re-poll by the Election Commission.
Undemocratic : Large scale rigging was reported.
(c) Democratic : Demand by Women’s Organisation to reserve one-third seats for women.
Undemocratic : Women’s representation in the parliament is less than 10 per cent.
Question 5.
Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?
(a) Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.
(b) Free press can report suffering from famine in different parts of the country.
(c) Government fears its defeat in the next elections.
(d) People are free to believe in and practise any religion.
Answer:
(d) People are free to believe in and practise any religion.
Question 6.
There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?
(a) Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
(b) Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
(c) Organising public meetings against government’s policies.
(d) Paying money to government officials to get water.
Answer:
(d) Paying money to government officials to get water is an undemocratic method.
Question 7.
Write a response to the following arguments against democracy.
(a) Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.
(b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.
(c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.
Answer:
(a) The army is for the defense of the country. Army should not rule the country inspite of being disciplined and corruption free because it does not represent the will of the people and it may be dictator rule.
(b) Such a thing would be against the principle of the Universal Adult Franchise, wherein every person above the age of 18 years, in our country irrespective of religion, caste, sex, socio-economic background etc. has the right to vote. Everyone has the right to participate equally in the formation of the government.Therefore, ignoring some sections of the society would be unfair. Moreover, wise men need not be necessarily good administrators.
(c) Those who say that the country should be ruled by religious leaders are making a very risky statement. Because in a multi-religious country bringing religion into politics can cause serious conflict among the people. Moreover, religious leaders can bring trouble to the country due to their mutual conflicts of ideologies.
Question 8.
Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
(a) Father to daughter: I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.
(b) Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
(c) Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.
Answer:
(a) The statement made is an undemocratic statement as the girl is being denied an opportunity to voice her opinion and choose her partner. As per our Constitution, every citizen who is 18 or above has the right to marry according to his/her choice.
(b) The statement made is undemocratic as the student is being denied the right to ask questions/clear his doubts. The best the teacher can do is to ask the student to ask his query at the end of the lecture; however, stopping him from doing so is incorrect.
(c) The statement made is a democratic statement because here the employees are asking for their fundamental right. Within the norms of the company, the employees are always entitled to ask or request their employer for something.
Question9.
Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
(a)All the citizens of the country have right to vote Elections are held regularly.
(b) The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
(c) People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of that country.
(d) Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nationwide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
(e) The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.
Answer:
(a) It is a democratic country.It fulfils the basic conditions necessary for democracy.
(b) The country is non-democratic because a democratic country does not reduce welfare expenses. No one can order any democratic to reduce welfare expenses.
(c) It is not a democartic country. In a multi-lingual country people should enjoy to have education in their own language.
(d) It is a non-democratic country because in democracy people are free to express their views about the government policies. But here leaders are arrested.
(e) The country is undemocratic as it curtails the freedom of expression and media should be free from the control of government in a democratic country.
Question 10.
In 2004, a report published in USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income reflected in the participation of people in democracy. It also shaped their abilities to influence the decisions taken by the government. The report highlighted that:
- If an average Black family earns $100 then the income of average white family is $ 162. A White family has twelve times more wealth than the average Black family.
- In a President’s election ‘nearly 9 out of 10 individuals in families with income over $ 75,000 have voted These people are the top 20% of the population in terms of their income. On the other hand, only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 15,000 have voted They are the bottom 20% of the population in terms of their income.
- About 95% contribution to the political parties comes from the rich. This gives them opportunity to express their opinions and concerns, which is not available to most citizens.
- As poor sections participate less in politics, the government does not listen to their concerns coming out of poverty, getting job, education, health care and housing for them. Politicians hear most regularly about the concerns of business persons and the rich.
Write an essay on ‘Democracy and poverty’ using the information given in this report but using examples from India.
Answer:
Democracy and poverty have been inextricably linked in India ever since her birth. Political independence of our country had been achieved through mass participation of the rural poor in the national movement. However, and unfortunately, since then this rural poor mass of the Indian population has seen its influence shrink in national politics. As decade by decade, India has cultivated its resources and added to its national financial wealth, the rich have grown richer, and the poor have grown abysmally poorer.
We have the distinction of being the largest democracy in the world, but we are also one of the world’s poorest countries, with gaping economic cleavages within our society. The inequality of income is a concern that gets reflected directly in the operation of the democratic process of our republic. Research has firmly established the fact that though the majority of Indian voters come from the rural Indian hinterland, their influence on their elected representatives and on the whole, on the process of national policy making is shrinking With each passing year.
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