How did the scientists and philosophers in the 18th century Europe find it easier to reach out to people ? Explain.
OR
In what way did the colonisers and nationalists use novels as an effective instrument for the attainment of their goals ?
CBSE Class X Social Science LA (5 Marks)
Answers
(i) Periodicals, journals and newspapers in the early 18th century combined information from various fields.
(ii) That's how the ideas of scientists and philosophers became more accessible to the common people.
(iii) Ancient and medieval scientific texts were compiled and published maps and scientific diagrams were printed.
(iv) Scientists such as Issac Newton could influence a large number of people in scientific area, by publishing their discoveries.
(v) Thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau were also widely read.
(vi) Ideas about science reason and rationality found its way into popular literature.
OR
(i) Colonial administrators found 'Vernacular novels' a valuable source of information on native life and customs, i.e., :
(a) how people were dressed
(b) their religious worship
(c) beliefs and practices
(d) about domestic life
Such information was valuable to them in order to govern the Indian society which had a wide cultural variety. The novels had the domestic life well-described which helped the British administrators to understand the beliefs and practices.
(ii) The nationalists used novels as a powerful medium to criticize the defects of the society and suggested remedies. Many novels established links with the past. Glorified account of the past created a sense of material pride. Novels created a feeling of collective belongingness among the people from different walks of life speaking the same language.
Example : Virasalingam.