MCQs:

1. Where were cheap small books commonly sold to poor people in 19th-century Madras?

   – A) Royal libraries

   – B) Temples

   – C) Crossroads and markets

   – D) Universities

2. Who was the Maratha reformer who wrote Gulamgiri against caste discrimination?

   – A) B.R. Ambedkar

   – B) Jyotiba Phule

   – C) Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy

   – D) Ram Mohan Roy

3. What role did libraries set up in the early 20th century play for poor communities?

   – A) Exclusive access for the elite

   – B) Centers for cultural performances

   – C) Expanded access to books and literacy

   – D) Only archives for historical documents

4. What did Kashibaba’s Chhote Aur Bade Ka Sawal highlight?

   – A) Art and literature

   – B) Connections between caste and class exploitation

   – C) Agricultural practices

   – D) British economic policies

Answers and Explanations:

1. C) Crossroads and markets – Cheap books were accessible to the poor at public places like crossroads.

2. B) Jyotiba Phule – He was a prominent social reformer who criticized caste discrimination through his writings.

3. C) Expanded access to books and literacy – Public libraries helped increase literacy rates among poor communities.

4. B) Connections between caste and class exploitation – Kashibaba’s work linked social hierarchies with economic exploitation.