Comprehension
Direction for Reading Comprehension: The passages given here are followed by some questions that have four answer choices; read the passage carefully and pick the option whose answer best aligns with the passage.
I have elaborated . . . a framework for analyzing the contradictory pulls on [Indian] nationalist ideology in its struggle against the dominance of colonialism and the resolution it offered to those contradictions. Briefly, this resolution was built around a separation of the domain of culture into two spheres—the material and the spiritual. It was in the material sphere that the claims of Western civilization were the most powerful. Science, technology, rational forms of economic organization, modern methods of statecraft—these had given the European countries the strength to subjugate the non-European people . . . To overcome this domination, the colonized people had to learn those superior techniques of organizing material life and incorporate them within their own cultures. . . . But this could not mean the imitation of the West in every aspect of life, for then the very distinction between the West and the East would vanish—the self-identity of national culture would itself be threatened. . . . The discourse of nationalism shows that the material/spiritual distinction was condensed into an analogous, but ideologically far more powerful, dichotomy: that between the outer and the inner. . . . Applying the inner/outer distinction to the matter of concrete day-to-day living separates the social space into ghar and bāhir, the home and the world. The world is the external, the domain of the material; the home represents one’s inner spiritual self, one’s true identity. The world is a treacherous terrain of the pursuit of material interests, where practical considerations reign supreme. It is also typically the domain of the male. The home in its essence must remain unaffected by the profane activities of the material world—and woman is its representation. And so one gets an identification of social roles by gender to correspond with the separation of the social space into ghar and bāhir. . . .
The colonial situation, and the ideological response of nationalism to the critique of Indian tradition, introduced an entirely new substance to [these dichotomies] and effected their transformation. The material/spiritual dichotomy, to which the terms world and home corresponded, had acquired . . . a very special significance in the nationalist mind. The world was where the European power had challenged the non-European peoples and, by virtue of its superior material culture, had subjugated them. But, the nationalists asserted, it had failed to colonize the inner, essential, identity of the East which lay in its distinctive, and superior, spiritual culture. . . . [I]n the entire phase of the national struggle, the crucial need was to protect, preserve and strengthen the inner core of the national culture, its spiritual essence. . .
Once we match this new meaning of the home/world dichotomy with the identification of social roles by gender, we get the ideological framework within which nationalism answered the women’s question. It would be a grave error to see in this, as liberals are apt to in their despair at the many marks of social conservatism in nationalist practice, a total rejection of the West. Quite the contrary: the nationalist paradigm in fact supplied an ideological principle of selection.
Question: 1

Which one of the following explains the “contradictory pulls” on Indian nationalism?

Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
  • Despite its scientific and technological inferiority, Indian nationalism had to fight against colonial domination.
  • Despite its fight against colonial domination, Indian nationalism had to borrow from the coloniser in the material sphere.
  • Despite its fight against colonial domination, Indian nationalism had to borrow from the coloniser in the spiritual sphere.
  • Despite its spiritual superiority, Indian nationalism had to fight against colonial domination.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The question seeks to identify the "contradictory pulls" on Indian nationalism as described in the provided comprehension passage. The passage elaborates on the dichotomy between material and spiritual spheres within Indian nationalist ideology during the colonial period. The essential point is that while fighting against colonial rule, Indian nationalism felt compelled to adopt certain Western practices, particularly in the material realm such as science and technology. However, it aimed to retain its own spiritual identity distinct from Western influence. This dynamic illustrates the "contradictory pull"—borrowing from the colonizer materially while maintaining spiritual independence.

Correct Option:

Despite its fight against colonial domination, Indian nationalism had to borrow from the coloniser in the material sphere.

This option accurately captures the need to adopt Western methods in the material domain while resisting cultural assimilation, as emphasized in the passage.

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Question: 2

Which one of the following best describes the liberal perception of Indian nationalism?

Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
  • Indian nationalism’s sophistication resided in its distinction of the material from the spiritual spheres.
  • Indian nationalist discourses provided an ideological principle of selection.
  • Indian nationalist discourses reaffirmed traditional gender roles for Indian women.
  • Indian nationalism embraced the changes brought about by colonialism in Indian women’s traditional gender roles.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The liberal perception of Indian nationalism, as highlighted in the comprehension passage, emphasizes its interaction with colonialism and the resultant ideological framework. Indian nationalism aimed to strengthen its cultural core by distinguishing between the material and spiritual spheres. The passage details how nationalism preserved traditional cultural aspects, particularly in the context of gender roles within Indian society.
The critical examination of the text reveals that the correct interpretation of the liberal perception focuses on the reaffirmation of traditional gender roles for Indian women. This understanding aligns with the separation of social spaces into 'ghar' (home) and 'bāhir' (world), where women were seen as the custodians of the inner, spiritual sphere of home, unaffected by the external material world. This reinforces the notion that, despite colonial influences, Indian nationalist discourse maintained traditional gender roles.
Therefore, among the answer choices provided, the statement that "Indian nationalist discourses reaffirmed traditional gender roles for Indian women." best reflects the liberal understanding of Indian nationalism as depicted in the reading comprehension passage.
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Question: 3

Which one of the following, if true, would weaken the author’s claims in the passage?

Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
  • The colonial period saw the hybridisation of Indian culture in all realms as it came in contact with British/European culture.
  • Indian nationalists rejected the cause of English education for women during the colonial period.
  • The Industrial Revolution played a crucial role in shaping the economic prowess of Britain 'in the eighteenth century.
  • Forces of colonial modernity played an important role in shaping anti-colonial Indiannationalism.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The passage describes the Indian nationalist movement's framework for addressing the influence of colonialism. It discusses the material/spiritual and outer/inner dichotomies, where the material/outer world represents British/European superiority in science, technology, and statecraft. Indians acknowledged the need to adopt these material aspects but aimed to preserve their spiritual 'inner' identity. Nationalists believed the East had a superior spiritual culture that colonial powers failed to dominate, and preserving this identity was crucial during the national struggle.

Weaken the Author's Claims

The correct choice to weaken the author's claims, which talk about maintaining a distinction between Western materiality and Eastern spirituality, is the option stating:

"The colonial period saw the hybridisation of Indian culture in all realms as it came in contact with British/European culture."

If true, this statement suggests that the distinction between Eastern and Western cultures wasn't maintained; instead, there was hybridization, contradicting the notion of a clear separation and a preserved spiritual identity during colonial times.

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Question: 4

On the basis of the information in the passage, all of the following are true about thespiritual/material dichotomy of Indian nationalism EXCEPT that it:

Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
  • constituted the premise of the ghar/bāhir dichotomy.
  • represented a continuation of age-old oppositions in Indian culture.
  • helped in safeguarding the identity of Indian nationalism.
  • was not as ideologically powerful as the inner/outer dichotomy.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

To determine which statement about the spiritual/material dichotomy of Indian nationalism is NOT true based on the passage, we need to analyze the details provided in the passage. The passage describes how Indian nationalism included a division of culture into material and spiritual spheres. This separation was used to resist colonial dominance while adopting certain Western techniques without losing cultural identity.

Evaluation of the Options:

  • Constituted the premise of the ghar/bāhir dichotomy.

This is true, as the passage explains that the material/spiritual distinction condensed into the ghar (home) and bāhir (world) dichotomy, with spiritual aspects aligning with home and material with the world.

  • Represented a continuation of age-old oppositions in Indian culture.

This is the correct answer. The passage does not discuss the spiritual/material dichotomy as a continuation of traditional cultural oppositions. Instead, it introduces this dichotomy as an extension of nationalist thought to counter colonial influence, particularly emphasizing a 'new substance' to these existing categories.

  • Helped in safeguarding the identity of Indian nationalism.

This statement is supported by the passage, as it describes the dichotomy as essential for protecting and strengthening the inner spiritual identity against colonial material dominance.

  • Was not as ideologically powerful as the inner/outer dichotomy.

The passage claims the inner/outer dichotomy (home/world) was ideologically more powerful, showing this statement is true.

Conclusion:

The correct option is the statement about the spiritual/material dichotomy representing a continuation of age-old oppositions in Indian culture. The passage emphasizes the dichotomy's new ideological substance introduced during nationalist movements, making this the incorrect statement.

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