NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science Social And Political Life III Chapter 7 Understanding Marginalisation

Question :1. Write in your own words two or more sentences of what you understand by the word ‘marginalisation’.

Answer :
The word ‘marginalisation’ simply means exclusion from the mainstream. Marginalisation of any community or a person can be because of many reasons like –

(i) Speaking a different language,

(ii)Following different customs,

(iii) Belonging to different religious group from the majority community etc.

Marginalisation is linked to experiencing disadvantage, prejudice, poverty and powerlessness. It is a complex phenomenon which results into a low social status, not having equal access to education and other resources.

Question :2. List two reasons why Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalised.

Answer :
Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalized because firstly, they follow a different culture, language and traditions from mainstream Indian society which leads us to wrongfully classify them as exotic, primitive and backward. Secondly, they are used to a way of life close to nature and with the cutting down of forests they are being forced to migrate to urban areas where they feel out of place and not in sync with a lifestyle so vastly different from their countryside background.

Question :3. Write one reason why you think the Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important?

Answer :
The Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important because they ensure that India’s cultural diversity is protected from becoming largely unitary and they also help to promote equality and justice to all.

Question :4. Re-read the section on Minorities and Marginalisation. What do you understand by the term minority?

Answer :
Minority is the term which means the communities which are small in number in comparison to the communities which are more in number. For example, Muslims are in minority in comparison to Hindus.

Question :5. You are participating in a debate where you have to provide reasons to support the following statement: ‘Muslims are a marginalised community’. Using the data provided in this chapter, list two reasons that you would give.

Answer :
Two reasons in support of the statement “Muslims are a marginalized community”:

(i) The Muslim community has not been able to gain from the country’s socio-economic development as statistics on basic amenities, literacy rate and public employment show. 63.6% Muslims live in kutcha houses as compared to only 55.2% Hindus also the literacy rate amongst Muslims was the lowest at 59% in a 2001 survey.

(ii) Their customs are distinct from other religious communities, so much so that they are identified as separate from the “rest of us” leading to unfair treatment and discrimination against Muslims.

Question :6. Imagine that you are watching the Republic Day parade on TV with a friend and she remarks, “Look at these tribals. They look so exotic. And they seem to be dancing all the time”. List three things that you would tell her about the lives of Adivasis in India.

Answer :
The three things I would tell a friend about the Adivasis in India would be:

(i) Lives of Adivasis are actually very rich but people seem to know very little about the realties of their lives.

(ii) They are usually shown in sympathetically in colourful costumes, headgear and dancing.

(iii) Often people wrongly believe that Adivasis are exotic, primitive, backward and immune to development.