In the sentence "It opened (or reopened) India to the world and the world to India", Class 8

In the sentence "It opened (or reopened) India to the world and the world to India", Class 8

Question 1.

In the sentence "It opened (or reopened) India to the world and the world to India", why do you think we added 'reopened'? (Page 112) Class 8

Answer:

The word re-opened was used as India was already connected with the world through trade, its cultural heritage and philosophy long before colonialism. Here's a snapshot of its global exposure - India was a key player in trade through the Silk Route and had well-established seaports and trade systems, exporting goods like spices, gems, cotton, indigo, and so much more. Buddhism and Hinduism were widely spread across the world even before the British. So British didn't connect India with the world because it was already connected.

Question 2.

Some argue that stolen cultural heritage has been better preserved abroad than it would have been in India. What is your view on its repatriation? Discuss in groups. Class 8

Answer:

Some say stolen Indian art is safe in foreign museums, but many feel these stolen items belong to India and should be returned. They are a part of our history, identity, and pride. Keeping them in foreign museums ignores the injustice of how they were taken. India is now capable of preserving them properly and sharing them with its people.

They should be brought back home where they truly belong. If the Indian art and heritage had not been looted by the Britishers, they would have been kept safely in temples, mathas, or under royal palaces and guarded by the regional kings. They would have continued to inspire local artists, scholars, and devotees. Today, they could have been on display in Indian museums, serving as symbols of our rich history and cultural identity, rather than being scattered across foreign countries.