Chapter 5 – Understanding Marginalisation Questions and Answers

Content Structure

A. Exercise questions & answers
B. Additional Questions & Answers
- Multiple Choice questions & answers(MCQs)
- Fill in the blanks
- True or False
- Match the following
- Short-type questions & answers
- Long-type questions & answers

A. Exercise questions & answers

1. Write in your own words two or more sentences of what you understand by the word ‘marginalisation’.
Ans: Marginalisation means treating some people unfairly or keeping them away from opportunities because of their skin colour, gender, poverty, disability, or other reasons. This can make it harder for them to go to school, get jobs, or be treated respectfully.

2. List two reasons why Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalised.
Ans:
Loss of Land and Forests – Adivasis are losing their land and forests due to mining, factories, industries, dams, and government rules.
Poverty and Unfair Treatment – Many Adivasis do not get good schools, jobs, or healthcare which makes life hard for them and difficult to improve.

3. Write one reason why you think the Constitution’s safeguards to protect minority communities are very important.
Ans:
Protecting Their Rights – The Constitution’s safeguards are important because they ensure that minority communities are treated fairly and that their land, culture, and rights are protected, preventing discrimination and exclusion.

4. Re-read the section on Minorities and Marginalisation. What do you understand by the term minority?
Ans: The term minority refers to a smaller group of people within a larger population. This group may be different based on religion, language, culture, or ethnicity. Minorities often have less power or resources compared to the majority. The Indian Constitution protects minorities to ensure they are treated fairly and have equal rights.

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.
Ans:
A. Education and Jobs – Many Muslim children do not get a good education, and jobs. They didn’t know how to read and write compared to other groups
B. Social Discrimination – Muslim children (7-16 years) spend a few years in school where they face social and economic problems because of their customs, like wearing a burqa or fez.

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.
Ans: Three things about the lives of Adivasis in India:
A. They speak their own languages, like Santhali.
B. They like wearing colourful clothes.
C. They live close to nature and love the forests.

7. In the storyboard you read about how Helen hopes to make a movie on the Adivasi story. Can you help her by developing a short story on Adivasis?
Ans: Adivasis lived happily in the forest, relying on nature for food and work. They celebrated festivals with music and dance. But when companies cut down trees, they lost their homes. With no choice, they moved to cities to work in factories and construction for low wages. Life became hard, and they missed their village, traditions, and freedom.

8. Would you agree with the statement that economic marginalisation and social marginalisation are interlinked? Why?
Ans: Yes, I agree because money and social status are connected. People who are poor often face unfair treatment and have fewer chances to get good jobs, education, and a better life. At the same time, if a group is not accepted by society, they struggle to earn money. This shows that economic and social marginalization are linked.

B. Additional Questions & Answers

Multiple Choice questions & answers(MCQs)

1. Tribals in India are commonly referred to as
(a) Adivasis
(b) Muslims
(c) Dalits
(d) Untouchables

Ans: (a) Adivasis

2. As per recent data, the literacy rate among Muslims in India is approximately
(a) 67%
(b) 59%
(c) 50%
(d) 63%

Ans: (b) 59%

3. Adivasis predominantly live in ___________________ areas.
(a) Buildings
(b) Forests
(c) Mountains
(d) Deserts

Ans: (b) Forests

4. Approximately __________________of Muslim children attend Madrasas.-
(a) 4%
(b) 6%
(c) 0%
(d) 1%

Ans: (a) 4%

5. Adivasi primarily worship –
(a) Temple
(b) Ancestors
(c) Jesus
(d) Muslim

Ans: (b) Ancestors

6. The Adivasi language which has the largest number of speakers is-
(a) Khasi
(b) Manipuri
(c) Santhali
(d) Gondi

Ans: (c) Santhali

7. Adivasis make up_____________of India’s population.-
(a) 10%
(b) 5%
(c) 11%
(d) 8%

Ans: (d) 8%

8. Niyamgiri Hill located in the Kalahandi district of Odisha is inhabited by this Adivasis community-
(a) Bhills
(b) Dongaria Konds
(c) Kolis
(d) Gonds

Ans: (b) Dongaria Konds

9. Adivasis are known for their vibrant traditional attire –
(a) Wearing colourful clothes, special headgear
(b) Wearing only a white colour dress
(c) Wearing only a black colour dress
(d) Wearing only formal dress

Ans: (a) Wearing colourful clothes, special headgear

10. People who do not get the same opportunities as others are called:
(a) Nourished
(b) Well-nourished
(c) Marginalised
(d) Educated

Ans: (c) Marginalised

11. India has ________________ national parks as of recent data.
(a) 103
(b) 109
(c) 106
(d) 110

Ans: (c) 106

12. Which factors can lead to marginalization?
(a) Different skin colour
(b) Different language
(c) Different religions
(d) All of these

Ans: (d) All of these

13. Trespassers mean?
(a) People who follow rules
(b) People who enter without permission
(c) People who build houses
(d) People who travel

Ans: (b) People who enter without permission

14. How many wildlife sanctuaries are there in India as of recent data?
(a) 573
(b) 572
(c) 574
(d) 570

Ans: (a) 573

15. Who are considered minorities in a country?
(a) Rich People
(b) People in big groups everywhere
(c) People who follow all rules
(d) People in smaller numbers in a country

Ans: (d) People in smaller numbers in a country

16. Niyamgiri Hill is located in which state?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Odisha
(d) Arunachal Pradesh

Ans: (c) Odisha

17. Metal, herbs primarily come from –
(a) Forest
(b) Mountain
(c) Hill
(d) Soil

Ans: (a) Forest

18. How do some people wrongly perceive Adivasis?
(a) They are different and unusual
(b) Old-fashioned
(c) Not modern
(d) All of these

Ans: (d) All of these

19. What is another name for tribals?
(a) Adivasis
(b) City people
(c) Only farmers
(d) Rich people

Ans: (a) Adivasis

20. Who are called Scheduled Tribes?
(a) City people
(b) Adivasis recognized by the government
(c) Only farmers
(d) Rich people

Ans: (b) Adivasis recognized by the government

Fill in the blanks

1. _________________ are an important part of the women’s movement in India.
2. One of the major Adivasi languages is __________________.
3. The Muslim group has a literacy rate of _________________.
4. In the northeast, the lands of Adivasis remain highly ________________ and war-torn.
5. Adivasis predominantly live in states like _____________ and _____________________.
6. Adivasis face _______________ because they lose their land and rights.
7. Muslims are _____________ of India’s population.
8. ___________ of tribal groups in rural areas and ________ in urban areas live below the poverty line.
9. India has _________ national parks and ______________ wildlife sanctuaries.
10. Adivasis practise a range of tribal religions that are different from Islam ________ and ________.

Ans:
1. Muslim women
2. Santhali
3. 59%
4. Militarised
5. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
6. Marginalization
7. 14.2%
8. 45%, 35%
9. 106, 573
10. Hinduism, Christianity

True or False

1. Marginalisation means all people get the same opportunities as others.
Ans: False.

2. Many Muslim communities face challenges in accessing basic services.
Ans: True.

3. Minorities live in only villages.
Ans: False.

4. Adivasis traditionally live in only forested areas.
Ans: False

5. The actual literacy rate is higher, than 55%–70%.
Ans: True.

6. Many Adivasis don’t face socio-economic challenges and are considered marginalized.
Ans: False.

7. Malnutrition among Adivasi children is a significant issue.
Ans: True.

8. Muslim customs can differ from dominant cultural norms in India.
Ans: True.

9. Adivasis have historically lived on tribal lands for generations.
Ans: True.

10. Adivasis make up about 8% of India’s population, not 40%.
Ans: True.

Match the following

Column A	Column B
1. Adivasis	a. Tradition in Bengal and Assam
2. Minorities	b. Adivasi language
3. Odisha	c. forest in India
4. Important mining and Industrial centres	d. Percentage of Adivasi population in India
5. The Sachar Commitee	e. Court where the public can attend hearings
6. Madras	f. First High Court in India
7. Open Court	g. Examined Social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India
8. National Park	h. Home to more than 60 different tribe groups
9. Santhali	i.Scheduled Tribes
10. Shakti tradition	j. Located in Adivasi areas
11. 8%	k. Safeguards are needed to protect them

Ans:

Column A	Column B
1. Adivasis	i. Scheduled Tribes
2. Minorities	k. Safeguards are needed to protect them
3. Odisha	h. Home to more than 60 different tribe groups
4. Important mining and Industrial centres	j. Located in Adivasi areas
5. The Sachar Commitee	g. Examined the social, economic, and educational status of the Muslim community in India
6. Madras	f. First High Court in India
7. Open Court	e. Court where the public can attend hearings
8. National Park	c. Wildlife forest in India
9. Santhali	b. Adivasi language
10. Shakti tradition	`a.` Tradition in Bengal and Assam
11. 8%	`d.` Percentage of Adivasi population in India

Short-type questions & answers

1. Define Marginalisation.
Ans: Marginalisation means treating some people unfairly or keeping them away from opportunities because of their skin colour, gender, poverty, disability, or other reasons. This can make it harder for them to go to school, get jobs, or be treated with respect.

2. Who is Adivasi?
Ans: The term Adivasis means ‘original inhabitants’. They are the tribal people of India who have traditionally lived in forests and hilly areas, they follow their own cultures, languages, and traditions.

3. Name any 4 states where Adivasis live.
Ans: The four states where Adivasis live are Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

4. How are Adivasis usually portrayed?
Ans: Adivasis are often portrayed in common beliefs such as wearing colourful clothes, headgear, and dancing in traditional forms.

5. How many different Adivasi groups are there in India?
Ans: There are over 500 different recognised Adivasi groups in India.

6. India has how many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries?
Ans: India has 106 national parks and 573 wildlife sanctuaries.

7. What is Tribal land?
Ans: Tribal land is the land where tribal communities have lived for generations. It is vital to their culture, traditions, and way of life.

8. Who are Trespassers?
Ans: Trespassers are people who enter someone’s land or property without permission.

9. What reality is brought to light by the Sachar Committee?
Ans: 25 per cent of Muslim children in the 6-14 year age group have either never been enrolled in school or have dropped out. This percentage is much higher than that of any other socio-religious community.

10. What is commonly believed about the Muslims?
Ans: It is commonly believed that Muslims prefer to send their children to Madrasas, although the Sachar Committee showed that most attend regular schools.

11. How is Niyamgiri viewed by Dongarria Konds?
Ans: The Dongaria Konds, an Adivasi community, consider Niyamgiri Mountain sacred and worship it.

12. Who are minorities?
Ans: Minorities are smaller groups of people within a society who may differ by race, religion, language, or culture. They sometimes face discrimination or fewer opportunities.

13. Which factor leads to the ghettoisation of the Muslim community?
Ans: The social marginalisation of Muslims leads to the ghettoisation of this community.

14. What did the Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee find out?
Ans: The Sachar Committee found that Muslims in India face challenges such as poor education, fewer job opportunities, and limited access to essential services. It recommended steps to improve their conditions.

15. How does marginalization affect a community?
Ans: Marginalization pushes certain groups to the edge of society, making them feel excluded. It leads to fewer opportunities for education, employment, and social equality, increasing poverty and discrimination.

Long-type questions & answers

1. Write a short note about Adivasi and Muslim Community.
Ans:
Adivasi Community: Adivasis are groups of people who live in different parts of India, including forests about 8% of India’s population is Adivasi. They mostly live in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and the Northeastern states. They are different from other Indian communities that follow the caste system. Adivasis have their own languages, different from Sanskrit. These languages have influenced Indian languages like Bengali. Santhali, an Adivasi language is spoken by most people and has books, magazines, and online publications.

Muslim Community: Muslims in India are often seen as a marginalized community because they have been left out of social and economic development compared to others. Many Muslims lack basic needs like water and electricity. They often live in weak, poorly built houses and have limited access to education and government jobs. Their customs, like wearing a burqa, having a long beard, or wearing a fez, make them stand out. This sometimes leads to unfair treatment and discrimination against them.

2. Who are minorities?
Ans: The term minority means smaller communities compared to the larger population, but it’s also about power, resources, and culture. The Indian Constitution protects smaller communities from being treated unfairly or ignored by the majority and ensures equality and justice for all. Smaller communities may feel unsafe if their relationship with the majority is not good. Courts help protect their rights, and anyone can go to court if their rights are violated.

3. What happened to Adivasis when they lost access to their traditional homelands?
Ans: Adivasi losing their lands and forests means they lost their main way of earning, traditions, and costumes and struggled to find food and work. So they moved to cities for work, where they got very little money in industries or at construction sites. 45% of rural Adivasis and 35% of cities live in poverty. This causes many problems. Many tribal children don’t get enough food, and many Adivasis can’t read or write.