Given below is a speech by Sardar Patel, one of the prominent figures of India’s freedom struggle. This is one of the convocation speeches delivered by him. Read the speech and answer the questions that follow. Sardar Patel’s Call to Youth to build Character and be Disciplined I must thank you for the affectionate and warm welcome which you have extended to me and for the love and regard which you have shown me by conferring this honour to me. Gifts are of many kinds those achieved by one’s own endeavour are good and deserved, but no gift should be conferred on one whose worthiness has not been tested. By selecting me without assuring yourself of my fitness for the gift, you have laid me under a heavy debt and, by your injunctions that I should continue to prove worthy of it throughout my life, you have imposed on me a very difficult obligation. At present, I cannot say anything because I am bound by your love and affection; and, therefore, with your blessing and God’s grace, I pray that I may prove worthy of it. Should I fail, the blame for my failure will be shared by you as well. On this occasion, I wish to place before you a few thoughts which occur to my mind as incidental to our hard-won freedom. We have now won our freedom. But just as I am doubtful, if I deserved the honour that you have done me, you have also to think whether you have done everything to deserve freedom that you have attained after such a bitter and sustained struggle. There are people who think that having won freedom, there is nothing more to do about it. Freedom has come to us through sacrifices. Those who made sacrifices tasted the fruit of their efforts and self-denials, but it is for those who are now enjoying freedom to taste its fruit. After the last World War, there is an all-round deterioration in human standards. People have become self-centered. They have forgotten or ignored the wider interests of the country. The essential and noteworthy features of our struggle were: sacrifice, truth, and non-violence. The weapons of the World War were: violence, brute force, political and military moves, and counter moves. As a result of the churning of the ocean, the world has emitted poison. That poison is spreading all over and there is none to swallow it. The countries which were free have managed to digest it somewhat, but we, who have just attained our freedom, it is hard to do the same. Therefore, those who think that having attained freedom they have attained everything have really attained nothing! The freedom that we have won is yet to be consolidated. The foundations of freedom have to be well and truly laid! This one-year old child has to be nursed and nourished, instructed and strengthened. It is for us to do it and we must do it. In India today, there is no time for useless controversies and unnecessary debates and disputes. One can indulge in these pastimes when one has time and leisure. At present, we have to occupy ourselves with the all absorbing task of making the foundation of our freedom strong and unassailable.
Answers
Explanation:
Q.1. The occasion of the speech of Sardar Patel here is (b) a convocation address at a university. Q.2. Patel feels that future generations will heap curses on us if (a) we fail to protect our freedom. Q.3. The first and foremost thing Patel stressed to be done is (a) to make the country strong and united. Q.4. One major characteristic of university education, as Sardar Patel believes, is (a) character. Q.5. What did Patel not mean when he said, “You have to realise that India has to attain its rightful place in the comity of nations”? Tick the right answer. (b) Group of nations which wage war against other. Q.6. ‘India abounds in the resources of nature and manpower’ means (b) India’s natural resources and population are a great resource. Q.7. What is the greatest danger for India as Patel believes in his speech? (a) India has a vibrant economy. Q.8. Complete the following statement based on your understanding of Patel’s speech. The first and foremost duty of the young nation is to build character.
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