CBSE Class 10 Social Civics Democracy and Diversity VBQ
Q.1. What moral values you have learnt from the action of Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Peter Norman ?
Ans. (i) We should raise voice against social or caste discrimination.
(ii) We should not discriminate people on the basis of caste, colour, religion etc.
(iii) We should demonstrate peacefully against any kind of social injustice.
Q.2. “Assertion of social diversities in a country need not be seen as a source of danger”. Explain.
Ans. In a democracy, political expression of social divisions is very normal and can be healthy. This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these. Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one another out and thus reducing their intensity. This leads to strengthening of a democracy.
Q.3. “Every social difference does not lead to social division.” Explain the statement. Suggest any two ways so that social differences do not lead to social divisions.
Ans. (i) People belonging to different social groups share differences and similarities cutting across the boundaries of their groups. Carlos and Smith were similar in one way (both were African- American) and thus different from Norman who was white. But they were also all similar in other ways- they were all athletes who stood against racial discrimination.
(ii) Cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate. For example, Catholics and Protestants had no conflict in Netherland through the people were divided.
(iii) In Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut-cross each other. Catholics and Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich. The result is that Catholics and Protestants have had conflicts.
Suggestions:
(i) Principle of power sharing should be followed.
(ii) Reservation of seats in the legislature, executive and judiciary for the depressed classes.
Q.4. When does a social difference become a social division? Suggest any two ways to check it.
Ans. A social difference means the difference in a group of people due to their race, religion, language or culture. It becomes a social division when some social differences are joined by another set of social differences. In other words, when two or more social differences join together, it turns into a social division. For example, the difference in the Blacks and the Whites in America is due to their different races which is a social difference.
It becomes a social division when, say, the income factor is also seen. The Blacks tend to be poor, homeless and the Whites tend to be rich and educated. This creates a division in the people making them feel that they belong to different communities.
Suggestions:
(i) Celebrating national festivals together.
(ii) Providing economic opportunities to all the people without any discrimination.
Q.5. How are social divisions reflected in a democratic country ? Explain.
Ans. (i) Political Parties : In a democracy political parties are formed on different ideologies.
(ii) Pressure Groups and Sectional Interest Groups : In a democratic nation along with political parties, Pressure and Sectional Interest Groups also works.
(iii) Communalism : Most of the democracies are divided into different communities.
Q.6. How do marginalised and deprived people react to social injustice ? Explain. [CBSE 2013]
Ans. (i) People who feel marginalized, deprived and discriminated, have a to fight against the injustices.
(ii) Such a fight often takes democratic path, voicing their demands in a peaceful manner and seeking a fair position through elections.
(iii) Sometimes, social differences can take the form of unacceptable level of social inequality and injustices. The struggle against such inequalities, sometimes, takes the path of violence and defiance of state power.
