--- title: "Notes and summary: democracy and social conviction" subject: "Communication English" chapter: 1 key: "semester_5/communication_english:notes-summary-democracy-untouchability" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/notes-summary-democracy-untouchability site: BCT Engineering --- # Notes and summary: democracy and social conviction Communication English · Chapter 1: Intensive Reading - Asked in: 2070 Ashad, 5+5 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/notes-summary-democracy-untouchability - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/communication_english/chapter-1 ## Question Read the following text carefully make notes and write a summary of it. What is a democratic government to do in a country where people are steeped in ignorance and superstition, where there is opposition or resistance to even mild reforms from vested interests in society? [passage of about 280 words on untouchability, social change and the gap between law and popular conviction in India] ... In one word, independence, democracy etc have not shattered the age-old beliefs and conviction. No wonder the blind is leading the blind. ## Short answer Democratic reforms cannot wait for consent in a society steeped in ignorance, but laws fail without public conviction. Despite abolishing feudalism and opening institutions, untouchability and caste beliefs persist, with officials acting like feudal lords. Real change requires transforming people's minds. ## Answer #### Notes **Title: Democracy and social conviction** 1. **Problem** - A democratic government faces ignorance, superstition and resistance from vested interests - Acting only by consent would mean doing nothing (e.g., abolishing untouchability) - Untouchability not truly abolished; old code still operates 2. **Law needs conviction** - No law works fully unless people accept it; acceptance needs conviction 3. **Government's efforts** - Many measures to remove social and economic disparities - Feudalism abolished; universities, legislatures, services opened to all castes - Exploitation of weaker sections reduced 4. **Failure** - People's outlook unchanged - Politicians and administrators act like feudal lords - Corruption, favouritism, nepotism continue; faith in caste intact - Independence and democracy have not shaken old beliefs: "the blind leading the blind" #### Summary A democratic government in a country of ignorance and superstition cannot wait for popular consent before reform, yet laws cannot fully work unless people accept them. India has abolished feudalism, opened institutions to all castes and reduced exploitation, but untouchability and caste beliefs survive. Officials still behave like feudal lords and corruption and nepotism continue. Independence and democracy have not changed old convictions, so real change needs a change in people's minds. *(About 85 words.)* ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the democratic government's dilemma? A. Acting only by consent means doing nothing, yet people resist reform B. Too many laws C. Too few voters D. Too much money Answer: A. For example, abolishing untouchability. (Key point: Dilemma) 2. What does a law need to work fully? A. More police B. People's acceptance based on conviction C. Foreign aid D. Harsher punishment Answer: B. No law works fully without acceptance. (Key point: Law and conviction) 3. Which effort is listed? A. Caste was strengthened B. Universities were closed C. Feudalism was abolished and institutions opened to all castes D. Taxes were ended Answer: C. Exploitation of weaker sections was reduced. (Key point: Government efforts) 4. Why did efforts fail? A. Laws were too strict B. Citizens were too educated C. No laws existed D. People's outlook unchanged; officials acted like feudal lords Answer: D. Independence and democracy have not shaken old beliefs. (Key point: Failure) ## Related in Communication English - [Notes and summary: social presence of women and men](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anotes-summary-womans-presence) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Notes and summary: animal behaviour and earthquakes](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anotes-summary-animal-behaviour-earthquakes) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Notes and summary: plagiarism](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anotes-summary-plagiarism) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Notes and summary: Australian resources and tourism](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anotes-summary-aboriginal-tourism) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Notes and summary: colonising space and gravity](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anotes-summary-colonising-space-gravity) — Communication English, chapter 1 - [Notes and summary: modernization and civilization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Anotes-summary-modernization-civilization) — Communication English, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Community vs society; social change theories](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acommunity-society-social-change) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 1 - [Government support and startup policy in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fentrepreneurship_development%3Astartup-policy-government-support-nepal) — Entrepreneurship Development, chapter 8 - [Technology unmasking old social problems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Atech-unmask-social-problems) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 3× - [Economic, social and political impacts of WWII](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Awwii-impacts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3, asked 2×