HistoryModern India: Framing the Constitution

T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar argued that the fears of people about Hindi…

T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar argued that the fears of people about Hindi had to be allayed even if they were unjustified. What did he say would happen otherwise?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Bitter feelings would be left behind among the people

Option (1) The princely states would refuse to join the Indian Union — Incorrect. The joining of the princely states was a different matter. His warning was about feelings among language groups.

Option (2) The southern provinces would ask for their own Constituent Assembly — Incorrect. He did not speak of a separate Assembly. His concern was ill will between people who had to live together.

Option (3) Bitter feelings would be left behind among the people — Correct. Chettiar warned that unless fears were calmed <strong>there will be bitter feelings left behind</strong>. A united nation needed mutual adjustment, not force.

Option (4) The Congress would lose the support of the Muslim League — Incorrect. The Muslim League has no place in his argument. He spoke of the people of different language areas.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.2 The fear of domination …
As the discussion became acrimonious, many members appealed for a spirit of accommodation. A member from Bombay, Shri Shankarrao Deo stated that as a Congressman and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi he had accepted Hindustani as a language of the nation, but he warned: “if you want my wholehearted support (for Hindi) you must not do now anything which may raise my suspicions and which will strengthen my fears.” T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar from Madras emphasised that whatever was done had to be done with caution; the cause of Hindi would not be helped if it was pushed too aggressively. The fears of the people, even if they were unjustified, had to be allayed, or else “there will be bitter feelings left behind”. “When we want to live together and form a united nation,” he said, “there should be mutual adjustment and no question of forcing things on people ...””

T. A. Ramalingam Chettiar argued that the fears of people about Hindi had to be allayed even if they were unjustified. What did he say would happen otherwise?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Bitter feelings would be left behind among the people

Option (4) The Congress would lose the support of the Muslim League — Incorrect. The Muslim League has no place in his argument. He spoke of the people of different language areas.