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प्रश्न
Many popular and powerful leaders have been assassinated in the past and in recent times. Can you name some of them?
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उत्तर
Possible reason for Assassination
Mahatma Gandhi
- Systematic brainwashing by the people who are staunch racists. As in the case of Gandhiji, hardcore Hindus were against him thinking him to be responsible for creating Pakistan, a separate country.
Indira Gandhi
- Resistance against authority
- Arranging the military attack on Harmandir Sahib during Operation Blue Star.
Abraham Lincoln
- Opposition to his legacy – abolition of slavery in the United States.
- feeling of insecurity among supporters of slavery.
Martin Luther King Jr.
- Political motives, i.e. enemies seeking revenge .
- Deep-seated racial prejudice and jealousy
Rajiv Gandhi
- Feeling of insecurity among LTTE leaders.
- To prevent him from coming to power and disarm LTTE.
- Security lapses
- Rajiv Gandhi was warned about the possibility of an attack and a threat to his life.
- Meeting with LTTE delegation, made Rajiv complacent about his security.
(students may form groups and discuss the above points in detail.)
In my opinion, assassination is not the end to a problem. One must try to sort out the matter by the means of discussion and looking at the problem with a different outlook.
Points for discussion in the context of present and past assassinations
If we look at history, we will find the instances of a large number of politicians assassinated under different circumstances. These are ‘targeted killings’ undertaken for various reasons ranging from political and ideological differences, to attract media attention, etc. Earlier, there was a high demand to kill rulers who impose their rules on the population. In a country like India with many ethnicities and religions and differentTnte’rests, it is very difficult for a ruler or leader to satisfy their preferences and is more likely to attract attacks.
Sometimes an assassination aims at creating chaos, irrespective of the leaders policies. The dominant position of the American President Kennedy, made him an attractive target.
These political murders can be avoided by minimising political oppression.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
Now let it work. Mischief thou art afoot.
Take thou what course thou wilt!
Antony seeks justice by getting the mob to kill the conspirators. But to correct a wrong, one cannot commit another wrong. Write a speech for the school assembly on – The ends do not justify the means. (120–150 words)
"They that have done this deed are honorable: What private grief’s they have, alas, I know not, That made them do it"……………….
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) What deed have 'they' done?
(c) What does the word, 'grief’s' mean?
How does Decius Brutus persuade Caesar to accompany him to the senate house?
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia I am ashamed. I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
(a) Why was Calpurnia afraid?
(b) Where did Caesar decide to go?
(c) What does the word 'yield' mean?
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him : then burst his mighty heart;
(a) Who speaks these words?
(b) Whose ingratitude was he referring to?
(c) Why did it break Caesar's heart?
Answer the following question briefly.
Why does Cassius object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral? How does Brutus overcome this objection?
In the play 'Julius Caesar', we meet the Roman mob. We find that as Brutus and Antony speak, the mob displays certain qualities and characteristics.
Given below are some characteristics of the mob. Complete the table by quoting the lines wherein these are revealed.
| Words/ actions of the mob | Characteristics |
| 1. | Foolish |
| 2. | Does not understand the ideals of democracy |
| 3. | Emotional |
| 4. | Greedy |
| 5. | Fickle |
| 6. | Violent |
Antony employs a number of devices to produce the desired effect on the mob. These devices maybe described as rhetorical devices. He first speaks in such a manner that it seems to the mob that he is in full agreement with Brutus about Caesar. Then step by step he moves away from Brutus' position, depicting Brutus as a villain and Caesar as a wronged man. Copy and complete the following table by showing how Antony builds the argument in Caesar's favour.
| Antony's words | Argument |
| 1. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. | Does not wish to eulogise Caesar |
| 2. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. | Seemingly agrees with Brutus |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
Given below are some questions based on reading of the play 'Julius Caesar'. These
questions are not for testing in the Exam. These are for a deeper understanding of the
play and the characters.
a) Why was the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar hatched?
b) Was Caesar really ambitious? Find evidence from the play to support your answer.
c) What was Cassius' motive for murdering Julius Caesar?
d) Why was it essential for the conspirators to include Brutus in the conspiracy?
e) What were the mistakes made by Brutus that led to the failure of the conspiracy?
f) Comment on Caesar's friendship with Antony.
g) Write a brief character sketch of Antony.
h) What is the role of Julius Caesar's ghost in the play, Julius Caesar?
i) Why does Antony call Brutus 'the noblest Roman of them all'?
j) How do Brutus and Cassius meet their end?
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
And say you do it by our permission;
……. ……. ……. …….
(a) Identify the speaker.
(b) Who is being granted permission?
(c) What is the speaker afraid of?
(d) What opinion do you form of the speaker?
