Exam Kit in Social Science VI 9789352745890, 9352745892

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CBSE CBSE in in

SOCIAL SCIENCE

2021

CBSE

2021 in

SOCIAL SCIENCE The Ultimate Exam Preparation Kit Strictly based on CBSE Latest Syllabus  Basic Concepts  In a Nutshell  Keywords with explaina on  Date Line  NCERT Textbook Exercises  Objec ve Type Ques ons  Mul ple Choice Ques ons  Addi onal Ques ons  Self-Assessment Test 

2021

6

ISBN 978-93-5274-589-0

9 789352 745890

LAXMI PUBLICATIONS (P) LTD (An ISO 9001:2015 Company)

9789352745890- 0299

M.R.P. ` 299.00 X06-9005-299-EXAM KIT IN SOC SC VI

6

CBSE 2020 in

SOCIAL SCIENCE 11 VI

CBSE 2020 in

SOCIAL SCIENCE

By Bina Viswas

11 VI

Exam-Kit in Social Science–VI © by Laxmi Publications (P) Ltd. All rights reserved including those of translation into other languages. In accordance with the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. Any such act or scanning, uploading, and or electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the copyright holder’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers.

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Contents Preface

vii

Part A: History (Our Pasts—I)

1. What, Where, How and When

...

1



2. From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

...

12



3. In the Earliest Cities

...

30



4. What Books and Burials Tell Us

...

41



5. Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic

...

53



6. New Questions and Ideas

...

65



7. Ashoka, the Emperor Who Gave Up War

...

75



8. Vital Villages, Thriving Towns

...

86



9. Traders, Kings and Pilgrims

...

97

10. New Empires and Kingdoms

...

109

11. Buildings, Paintings and Books

...

119

Part B: Geography (The Earth: Our Habitat )

1. The Earth in the Solar System

...

127



2. Globe: Latitudes and Longitudes

...

136



3. Motions of the Earth

...

145



4. Maps

...

154



5. Major Domains of the Earth

...

164



6. Major Landforms of the Earth

...

177



7. Our Country—India

...

191



8. India: Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife

...

202

(v)

(vi) Part C: Social and Political Life–I UNIT I: DIVERSITY



1. Understanding Diversity

...

214



2. Diversity and Discrimination

...

226

UNIT II: GOVERNMENT



3. What is Government?

...

239



4. Key Elements of a Democratic Government

...

250

UNIT III: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION



5. Panchayati Raj

...

259



6. Rural Administration

...

269



7. Urban Administration

...

280

UNIT IV: LIVELIHOODS



8. Rural Livelihoods

...

290



9. Urban Livelihood

...

301

Sample Paper–1

... 314

Sample Paper–2 Sample Paper–3

... 318 ... 322

Preface The latest series of Exam Kit in Social Science Class VI to VIII has been designed to cater to the needs of young learners as per the latest syllabus and guidelines provided by NCERT. The aim of the series is to provide a thorough solution to all the learning needs of the respective students. The latest changes have duly been incorporated. Each book of the series is complete in all respects and provides a comprehensive and complete explanation of each topic. The series will help both, the learners and educators, to have an in-depth knowledge of all the avenues of learning. Though the utmost care has been taken to provide error-free contents, there is always a scope for improvement. So any suggestion for the improvement will be duly considered in the latest editions and acknowledged with gratitude. Author

(vii)

PART A: HISTORY (OUR PASTS–I )

1 Chapter

What, Where, How and When

I. BASIC CONCEPTS How do We know about Our Present? • We can find out about the recent past from different modes of media like radio, newspaper, television or even the web.

How can We know about Our Past? • However, to find out what happened long, long ago we need to look at inscriptions, manuscripts, paintings and sculptures, artefacts, coins and the remains of old buildings.

Where did People live?

• People lived near river valleys. • Rivers provided them water for all purposes. • Traces of life near Sulaiman and Kirtar hills in northwest. • Mahajanapadas and Magadha, Kash, Vigi, etc, flourished 2500 Years ago.

Why should We study History? • History ⇒ tells us about the past ⇒ gives us better understanding ⇒ tells us about our ancient and culture and lifestyle

How did We derive the Names ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’? • Our country is called India and Bharat. • India has derived its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Sindhu’ or river Indus. Around 2500 years ago, the Iranians and the Greeks by mistake referred to river Indus as Hindos or the Indos. • The name Bharata was used for a group of people living Sanskrit composition Rigveda in the northwest.

1

2

Social Science—VI (History)

What are some important sources of ancient history? • Some other sources of ancient history are literary (written records like manuscripts) and archaeological (inscriptions, coins and remains of caves, buildings, cities, man-made objects). • Manuscripts and inscriptions are two important sources of ancient history. Manuscripts are handwritten documents on papyrus or parchment whereas an inscription is text carved on a hard surface.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• History is the study of past. The knowledge gained from the study of History is important to understand both the past and present. •• Early men lived a nomadic life by hunting (or fishing) and gathering edible items. Once the food source in one region was exhausted, they would move to another place. •• With the discovery of cultivation of crops and to domestication of animals, man began to settle down in one place to look after their animals and crops. •• People settled near rivers due to easy access to water needed for crops, animals and humans and also because of availability of food supply. •• People lived in the banks of the River Narmada for several hundred thousand years. They were skilled hunters and gatherers. •• People living near Sulaiman and Kirthar hills started growing crops, e.g. wheat and barley. They also began rearing animals, e. g. sheep, goat, etc. •• Gradually, surplus produce let to exchange of goods and services. •• Rivers acted as waterways for transporting surplus goods and even services across regions. •• As the villages close to rivers grew in size and density, towns emerged. •• People travelled far and wide for earning a livelihood, exchanging goods and services, spreading their religion or just discovering new lands. •• We count the years to describe a date from the date generally agreed to be the birth of Jesus Christ. Any date before the birth of Christ is called Before Christ or (BC).

III. KEYWORDS •• Gatherers: Early people who used to gather their food, like, roots, fruits, and other forest produce. •• Hunters: Early people who used to hunt animals for food. •• Sindhu: India was known as Sindhu in the past. The word originated from the word ‘Indus’ which is called Sindhu in Sanskrit. •• Travelling: Nomads travelled form one place to another in search of food. This is a very useful exercise to cover distance, for interactions and to get more knowledge about new areas and persons.

What, Where, How and When

3

•• Manuscript: Originated from the Latin word ‘manu’ which means hand. Manuscripts mean scripts written by hand on palm leaf or bark of trees. •• Inscriptions: Writings on hard surfaces, like stones, walls, etc. •• Archaeologists: Those who study the objects remains of building, made of stone, brickes, painting and sculptures, made and used in the past. •• Excavate: To dig under the surface of the earth. •• Historians: Scholars and researchers who study the past. •• Decipherment: Analysis of documents written in ancient languages which is different to read. •• Source: The word Source refers to different types of evidences, drawn from manuscript, inscriptions, coins and archacology. Once source are found learning about three past becomes an adventure, as we reconstruct it bit by bits.

IV. DATE LINE •• The earliest composition is Sanskrit—about 3500 years ago. •• An old inscription, found in Kandahar (Present day Afghanistan) —about 2250 years ago. •• Manuscript was written—about a thousand years ago pols were used—about 4700 years ago •• Coins were in use—about 2500 years ago.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 9-10) Imagine You have to interview an archaeologist. Prepare a list of five questions that you would like to ask her/him. Ans. If I have to interview an archaeologist, I would have liked to ask her/him the following five questions: 1. Which excavation sites are you currently working on? Ans. I’m now working on new sites excavated at Lothal, the great port of the Harappan Civilisation. 2. What path-breaking discovery have you made? Ans. Lothal has thick (12-21 meter) peripheral walls designed to resist the repeated tidal floods in the Gulf of Khambat. 3. Did Lothal have a citadel? Ans. The citadel or the upper town is located in the south eastern corner. It is separated from the lower town by mud-brick platforms 4 meters high. There is no fortification of wall. 4. What special features have you unearthed in the lower town? Ans. We have discovered the remains of a bakery in the lower town.

Social Science—VI (History)

4

5. Was the port functional? Ans. Yes. We have discovered stone anchors, marine shells and seals from the Persian Gulf to prove that there was full time naval trade. Let’s Recall 1. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Narmada Valley

2.

Magadha

(ii)

3.

Garo hills

(iii)

Cities about 2500 years ago

4.

Indus and its tributaries

(iv)

Early agriculture

5.

Ganga Valley

1. (ii)

2. (i)

(i)

(v) ANSWERS 3. (iv) 4. (v)

The first big kingdom Hunting and gathering

The first cities

5. (iii)

2. List one major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions. Ans. Manuscripts

Inscriptions

They were usually hand-written on They are carvings or writings palm leaf, or on the specially prepared especially on hard surfaces like bark of a tree known as the birch, stone or metal. growing in the Himalayas. Let’s Discuss 3. Return to Rasheeda’s question. Can you think of some answers to it? [Rasheeda’s question: Rasheeda sat reading the newspaper. Suddenly her eyes fell on a small headline: “One Hundred Years Ago.” How, she wondered, could anyone know what had happened so many years ago?] Ans. Tracing the history of a hundred years or so is not that difficult. •• Modern history is well documented and thus can be easily written. •• There are numerous pictures, documents and other evidences that can be recorded and stored. •• In the modern age video recordings of important events can also be made and therefore we can actually visualize the events that may have occurred a hundred years ago. 4. Make a list of all the objects that archaeologists may find. Which of these could be made of stone?

What, Where, How and When

5

Ans. The list of objects that archaeologists may find are: •• Ancient written material in the form of manuscripts or handwritten documents on palm leaves or on the barks of birch trees. •• Inscriptions on hard stone surfaces or metal. •• The remains of buildings in stone or brick, paintings and objects of sculpture. •• Tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments and coins made of stone or metal. •• Bones of animals, birds and fish to study the food habits of ancient people. Among all items excavated by archaeologists, tools, weapons, inscriptions and buildings could be made up of stone. 5. Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep the records of what they did? Ans. Records were normally commissioned by kings as a proof of their deeds and achievements. Kings and emperors would employ court poets and inscribers to record their laws or victories in the war. The lives of common people were normally enwrapped in livelihood pursuits and, they were either unaware or unbothered in what was happening on a larger scale within the kingdom. Additionally, in the earlier times common people were illiterate and were not aware of scripts and writing skills. 6. Describe at least two ways in which the lives of kings would be different from those of farmers. Ans. The lives of kings used to differ from the lives of farmers in the following ways: 1. The lives of kings would be that of luxury while those of farmers would be tough. The kings used to live in palaces or forts with lots of personal attendants fulfilling their needs. The farmers, on the other hand, used to live in villages in their small huts, and had to go through hardships to earn their bread. 2. The kings were wrapped up in administrative work while the farmers were busy growing crops. The farmers were the tax payer while the king imposed and received the taxes. Let’s Do 7. Find the word crafts persons on page 1. List at least five different crafts that you know about today. Are the crafts persons — (a) men (b) women (c) both men and women? Ans. 1.

Weavers

(i)

2.

Ironsmith

3.

Potters

(iii)

both men and women

4.

Painters

(iv)

both men and women

5.

Carpenters

(ii)

(v)

both men and women men

men

Social Science—VI (History)

6

8. What were the subjects on which books were written in the past? Which of these would you like to read? Ans. The subjects of writing were religious beliefs and practices, lives of kings, medicine and scientific and astronomical theories. Books were also written on administration, grammar and logic. Epics and poems were also composed. Commissioned biographers wrote on the lives and times of the kings. Dramas and plays formed important parts of ancient literature. The Arthashastra by Kautilya would be a most interesting to read as a valuable source of the society, politics and economics of the Mauryan Empire.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Match the columns: 1.

Settlement near river Narmada

(i)

Rice was first grown in this region.

2.

Sulaiman and Kirthar hills to the northwest

(ii)

Early hunter gatherers settled here due to proximity to the rich forest.

3.

Garo hills to the north-east (iii)

About 4700 years ago some of the earliest cities flourished here.

4.

Banks of River Indus and (iv) its tributaries

About 8000 years ago people began to grow crops such as wheat and barley and rear animals like sheep, goat and cattle.

5.

Vindhyas in central India

(v)

About 2500 years ago cities emerged south of this river and its tributary

6.

River Ganga and its tributary, Son

(vi)

Agricultural community emerged here too.

1. (ii)

2. (iv)

ANSWERS 3. (vi) 4. (iii)

5. (i)

6. (v)

II. Answer in one or two words: 1. What is the other name of our country India? 2. From where did the Iranians and Greeks enter India? 3. Where is the word ‘India’ derived from? 4. Name the earliest composition in Sanskrit that dates back to about 3500 years ago. 5. What is the Latin word for ‘hand’? Ans. 1. Bharat, 2. Through northwest, 3. Indus, 4. Rigveda, 5. Manu

What, Where, How and When

7

III. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Manuscripts were written in ____________, ____________ and ____________. 2. The Sanskrit name for ‘Indus’ is ____________. 3. The term ______________ is used to refer to the method of discovering the meaning of texts written in ancient/obscure languages/scripts. 4. Manuscripts were written on ______________, which is the bark of a tree growing in the Himalayas. 5. Manuscripts can be found in ____________ and ____________. Ans. 1. Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil, 2. Sindhu, 3. decipherment, 4. birch, 5. temples, monasteries IV. Are the following statements True or False? 1. Sources refer to the information found by archaeologists from manuscripts, inscriptions and old relics. 2. The town of Rosetta is situated on the south coast of Greek. 3. Decipherment refers to decryption of text or discovering the meaning of texts written in ancient/obscure languages/scripts. 4. Magadha was a medieval Indian kingdom built on the bank of river Narmada. 5. The only sources of information for archaeologists are manuscripts, and inscriptions. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. False

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Huntergatherers used to live along the banks of _______ River for several hundred thousand years. (a) Narmada (b) Godavar (c) Ganga (d) Indus 2. Men and women first began to grow crops near Sulaiman and Kirthar Hills around ________ years ago. (a) 10000 (b) 5000 (c) 8000 (d) 4000 3. The Iranians and Greeks used to call our country __________ around 2500 years ago. (a) Bharat (b) Hindustan (c) India (d) Hindos 4. The writings on the stone or metal are known as (a) inscriptions (b) manuscripts (c) notices (d) carvings

8

Social Science—VI (History)

5. The process by which the scholars understand the inscriptions written in ancient languages is called (a) decoding (b) decipherment (c) excavation (d) unearthing ANSWERS

1. (a)

2. (c)

3. (d)

4. (a)

5. (b)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. How can we know about the past? Ans. We can know about the past by studying History. 2. Name any two animals which the people of the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills reared. Ans. Sheep and goats. 3. What do you mean by the term ‘tributaries’? Ans. Tributaries are rivers that join a large river. 4. Name the tributary of the River Ganga. Ans. Son. 5. Where did the early people live? Ans. Early people lived along the banks of River Narmada. 6. Define in brief the word ‘Epigraphy’? Ans. Study of inscription is called epigraphy. 7. What were used in the ancient times to write manuscript? Ans. Palm leaf or the bark of the birth tree. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. How did India get its name? Ans. When the Iranians and the Greeks came to India about 2500 years ago, they were aware of Indus River. So, they called it the Hindos or the Indos. Thus, the land to the east of the river came to be known as India. 2. What is the role of archaeologists? Ans. Archaeologists excavate under the ground to study the remains of buildings and man-made objects of historical or cultural interest such as paintings and sculpture, tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments and coins made of varied materials such as bricks, stones, metals, bones or even baked clay. 3. Why are the historians and archaeologists often called ‘detectives’? Ans. Historians and archaeologists often uncover the sources or evidence during excavations.

What, Where, How and When

9

They study these ‘sources’ to find out who lived in the past and how, when, where things happened. Based on these sources or ‘clues’ they reconstruct the past bit by bit. Like detectives they search for evidence and analyze clues to reach a conclusion. 4. Why did early hunter-gatherers settled in the banks of River Narmada? Ans. Some of the early people, settled near the banks of River Narmada because there was easy availability of plants and wild animals in the adjacent forests. These people developed their skills in gathering food and hunting wild animals for survival. 5. How did ‘India’ get the name Bharata? Ans. The name Bharata was given to a group of people living in the northwest part of India. This was also referred to in the Rigveda, the earliest composition in Sanskrit (dated to about 3500 years ago). Later the term was used for the country. 6. What do you know about one of the earliest kingdoms in ancient India? Ans. In ancient times, the area to the south of river Ganga and its tributary Son came to be known as Magadha. The rulers of this kingdom were strong and managed to build a dominant kingdom. 7. What can we know about the past? Ans. The past can tell us about the lifestyle of people, their religion, customs and traditions, the varied professions, the type of art and architecture, cultural developments, the food they ate, the dresses people wore or the houses they lived in. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write short notes on: Manuscripts and Inscriptions. Ans. Manuscripts: Manuscripts are handwritten books. The word ‘manuscript’ has derived its name from the Latin word ‘manu’ meaning hands. These books were written long ago either on palm leaf or on the specially prepared bark of a tree known as the birch, which grows in the Himalayas. These manuscripts were written as epics, poems, plays, and dealt with subjects such as religious beliefs and practices, the lives of kings, medicine and science. Manuscripts were written in Sanskrit, Prakit, and Tamil. Those that survived the ravages of time, were mostly preserved in temples and monasteries and currently in museums and national/state libraries. Inscriptions: Inscriptions are writings/carvings on comparatively hard surfaces such as stones or metals. For example: the kings' decree would be often inscribed for subjects to see, read and obey. Other kinds of inscriptions record the life of kings and queens. For example: kings often used inscriptions to keep records of their victories in battles. All inscriptions contained both scripts and languages, which may have changed over time. Scholars could decipher or understand what was written as they specialise in these ancient languages and scripts.

10

Social Science—VI (History)

2. The past differed for different groups of people, in different parts of the world at different times. Explain. Ans. The lifestyle of people living in different parts or even in different groups vary considerably. For example, today people living in Indian cities depend on food supply from other places whereas those living in villages get their own food by farming, fishing, hunting or even collecting forest produce. Even in the past, different groups of people had different lifestyles at the same time. For example: The lives of herders or farmers were considerably different from that of kings and queens. Again, the lives of traders differed from both artisans and farmers as well as royalty. Even the customs and religious practices must have been noticeably different from their counterparts living in other parts of the world. 3. Describe the transition from the hunter-gatherers to development of towns. Ans. Some of the earliest people lived near the banks of river Narmada because of the easy availability of food, forest products and wildlife in the forest adjacent to the river. They were skilled in gathering food and hunting wild animals for survival. At about 8000 years back, people started setting near Sulaiman and Kirthar hills to the northwest. They began to grow crops such as wheat and barley and rear animals like sheep, goat and cattle. They began to form villages. Early farming community emerged in Garo hills to the northeast and the Vindhyas in central India. In fact, rice was first grown in Vindhyas in central India. The earliest cities emerged on the banks of River Indus and its tributaries around 4700 years ago. Similarly, the area close to river Ganga and its tributaries and along the seacoasts also saw the development of cities around 2500 years ago. 5. What led to discover new and exciting places and exchange of ideas? Ans. People have been crossing boundaries since ancient times for varied reasons. Some of the reasons are: (i) In ancient times, people travelled across boundaries to avoid natural disasters like floods or droughts or even in search of food. (ii) Some men who joined the armies, travelled to different kingdoms to defend their kingdoms or to conquer to new realms. (iii) Merchants travelled to find new markets and sell their goods on their caravans or ships. (iv) Religious people moved across kingdoms to spread their religion whereas adventurous people like explorers journeyed to discover new land.

What, Where, How and When

11

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Who are the earliest hunter-gatherers in India? 2. Differentiate between manuscripts and inscriptions. 3. Fill in the blanks: (i) People who study old buildings or relics and man-made objects for cultural or historical interest are known as . (ii) Scholars who could read Greek figured out that the names of kings and queens were enclosed in a little frame, called a . 4. Answer in one or two words: (i) What is the term used to mean digging the surface of the earth carefully, in order to find the buried remains? (ii) Name the famous inscription about Egyptian kings and queens that include three different languages and scripts—Greek, and two forms of Egyptian.

2 Chapter

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Stone Age Stone Age has been divided by archaeologists into three broad periods: Palaeolithic/Early 2 million years to • The earliest stone tools were found Stone Age 12,000 years ago during this era. • This is the longest period in an cient history that covers 99% of human history. • It can be further subdivided into 3: lower, middle and upper Palaeolithic period. Mesolithic/Middle 12,000 years ago • Stone tools found during this time, Stone Age to 10,000 years ago were tiny and called microliths. • Climate change led to domestica tion of animals and eventually farming. • Neolithic/New 10,000 years ago Advanced stone tools were made Stone Age during this period.

Hunter-Gatherers: Required Skills

Stone Tools used by HunterGatherers

• Hunters needed to run fast, be alert and swift, have good presence of mind and know the weapons and their use. • Gatherers needed to know the right seasonable plants, identify the edible parts and differentiate between poisonous and nonpoisonous plants.

• Stone tools were made of stone, wood or bones. • Tools were used to scrape barks from tree or animal skin, cut meat and bone, chop trees and hunt animals. • Some tools were attached to bone or wood handles and used as spears or arrows.

12

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

13

Early Herding Community • Herding began when people began to follow and observe some animals closely. → Learnt about their food habits and their breeding seasons. → Observed how animals could be controlled by leaving food for them near their shelters. • The wild ancestors of dogs were the first animals to be tamed. • Later, animals that ate grass such as sheep, goat, cattle and even pigs were allowed to live in herds near human settlement. • Early men protected them from wild animals, gave them food and shelter. Pottery • As food was produced in excess, the need to store surplus food grew. Moreover, utensils were needed for cooking rice, wheat or lentils. • Men started making earthen pots and decorating the same for cooking and storing. Weaving • Once men learnt to grow cotton plants, they gradually learnt how to weave clothes. • Probably early men had observed how other animals or insects built their habitats: birds weaving their nest or spider created their webs. • Initially, they may have built walls and roofs of their huts by twining and knotting bendable materials such as grass, twigs and strings together. • Later, they must have learnt to twist cotton fibres together to make materials.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Hunter-gatherers were the earliest people who lived in the Palaeolithic period or Early Stone Age. •• They survived by hunting animals and birds, fishing and gathering forest products. •• Hunter gatherers moved from one place to another because of the following reasons: → when their current food supply or water source exhausted → when animals moved around in search of their prey or new pasture land, they had to follow them → to gather seasonal fruits → to areas that had collection of good quality stones

14

Social Science—VI (History)

•• Places buried under the surface of earth or even water, where the remains of things such as tools, pots, buildings, weapons and so on found are known as sites. •• Some Palaeolithic sites in India are Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), Hunsgi (Karnataka) and Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh). •• Hunter-gatherer community settled mostly close to river banks or water bodies. •• Early people lived near places where early people could get plenty of stones for making tools. •• Traces of ash discovered close to Kurnool caves proves men knew the use of fire during those days. •• Fire could have been used for many things such as generating light and heat, for cooking food, scaring animals away, clearing land and even making tools. •• As the climate became warmer about 12000 years ago, more grasslands began to emerge. The number of animals increased. Hunters started following them and gradually they started domesticating animals. •• Around the same time, grains like wheat, barley and rice began to grow naturally at different sites. People began to observe the harvest pattern and soon learnt to grow the grains themselves. •• Early men depicted their lives and activities such as hunting, fishing, collecting honey, and religious practices on the walls of caves and rocks using with bright colours. •• These colours were made from rocks and naturally available minerals such as ochre/iron ore and charcoal. •• These paintings were drawn with great accuracy and skill. •• Many such paintings have been found in Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh. •• Different crops are available in different regions because growth of crops depends on the soil, availability of water, humidity, temperature and soil. •• Similarly, different types of animals are found in different region depending upon climatic conditions, availability of food, air and water. •• As people learnt to domesticate animals and plants, they gradually started settling in one place for long time so that they could look after the plants and animals. •• Crops produced for used as food, seeds and for gifting. The surplus produce was stored in clay pots, woven baskets or pits. •• Animals were “domesticated” or bred as they provided milk or meat whenever needed. •• Pit-houses have been found in Burzahom in present-day Kashmir. These houses, dug into the ground with steps leading to them, kept people protected from changing climate and wildlife. •• The houses also had cooking hearths both inside and outside. This suggests that early people cooked both inside and outside of the house depending on the weather.

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

15

•• Some stone tools found from Neolithic sites were like those found in Palaeolithic sites whereas many tools were found they were completely new. •• Some tools were also made of bones. •• These new tools were more polished with a fine cutting edge. •• Mortars and pestles found during this time were used to grind grains and other produce. •• Some men continued to live as hunter-gatherers, while others fished or learnt to farm, herd animals, make tools, pots or weave. •• One of the earliest known villages of Neolithic Age is found in Mehrgarh. It is located in the fertile plains, near the Bolan Pass. •• Traces of crops such as barley and wheat and animals like sheep and goat have been found here. •• Excavations done here revealed animal bones in three layers. •• Remains of houses and burials have been found at this site. → Each house is divided into four or more square or rectangular compartments, some of which could have been used for storage. → In one of the burial sites at Mehrgarh, a dead person was buried along with goats. •• It is located in present-day Tripura, near the Brahmaputra Valley, close to routes leading into China and Myanmar. •• Flint from Syria, cowries from the Red Sea, shells from the Mediterranean Sea were found in Catal Huyuk, a Neolithic site in Turkey. This shows that people travelled to trade.

III. KEYWORDS •• Gatherers: Early people who used to gather their food, like, roots, fruits, and other forest produce. •• Hunters: Early people who used to hunt animals for food. •• Sindhu: India was known as Sindhu in the past. The word originated from the word ‘Indus’ which is called Sindhu in Sanskrit. •• Travelling: Nomads travelled form one place to another in search of food. This is a very useful exercise to cover distance, for interactions and to get more knowledge about new areas and persons. •• Manuscript: Originated from the Latin word ‘manu’ which means hand. Manuscripts mean scripts written by hand on palm leaf or bark of trees. •• Inscriptions: Writings on hard surfaces, like stones, walls, etc. •• Archaeologists: Those who study the objects remain of building, made of stone, brickes, painting and sculptures, made and used in the past. •• Excavate: To dig under the surface of the earth. •• Historians: Scholars and researchers who study the past. •• Decipherment: Analysis of documents written in ancient languages which is different to read. •• Source: The word Source refers to different types of evidences, drawn from manuscript, inscriptions, coins and archacology.

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Social Science—VI (History)

•• Once source are found learning about three past bils. Becomes and adventure, as we reconstruct it bit by bits. •• Domestication: The process in which people grow plants and look after animals. Origin – Latin ‘domesticus’ means to tame.

IV. DATE LINE •• The earliest composition is Sanskrit as about 3500 years ago. •• An old inscription, found in Kandahar (Present day Afghanistan) – about 2250 years ago. •• Manuscript was written – about a thousand years ago pols were used – about 4700 years ago. •• Coins were in use – about 2500 years ago. •• About 12,000 years ago – beginning of Domestication of plants and animals. •• About 10,000 years ago – beginning of Neolithic Age. •• About 8,000 years ago – beginning of Sattlement of Mehrgarh.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 20-21, 31) Let’s Recall 1. Complete the sentences: (a) Hunter-gatherers chose to live in caves and rock shelters because _________. (b) Grasslands developed around ______ years ago. Ans. (a) caves and rock shelters provided protection from wild animals and inclement weathers. (b) 12000. 2. Why do people who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time? Ans. People who grew crops had to stay in the same place for a long time as they had to look after the crops till the seeds ripened and they could yield the harvest. They had to water the plants and also protect them from animals and birds. 3. Why do archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later? Ans. Archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters initially and later herding became more important due to different levels of excavations unearthed by them. • In the earlier levels of the excavation sites, bones of wild animals such as the deer and pig were found but at later levels more bones of sheep, goat and cattle were found. • The earlier layers show bones of wild animals that were probably hunted whereas the remains from upper levels show bones of domesticated animals. • This shows that hunters later on became herders.

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

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Let’s Discuss 4. Why did the hunter-gatherers travel from place to place? In what ways are these similar to/different from the reasons for which we travel today? Ans. The hunter-gatherers travelled from place to place for various reasons such as: •• They did not know cultivation. So, staying at the same place for a long time would have finished the plant or animal resources. Thus, they had to move from place to place frequently. •• When the animals that were to be hunted moved from one place to another, the hunter-gatherers also followed them in their pursuit. •• In search of seasonal fruits and vegetables, the hunter-gatherers ravelled from place to place. •• Water was a necessity even then. Thus, they wanted to stay close to the source of water. •• Nowadays we travel mainly for official reasons, for academic reasons, or to explore new places as tourists. We generally travel for food. However, sometimes we also migrate from one place to another to join a job or for livelihood. This in the broad sense can be classified as travelling in search of food.

5. List three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire. Would you use fire for any of these purposes today? Ans. The three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire are: 1. To cook food 2. As a source of light 3. To scare away animals • We still use fire to cook food. • In some places, where electricity has not reached, people use fire as a source of light. • Sometimes, people use fire to scare animals too, particularly the people who stay near a forest. 6. List three ways in which the lives of farmers and herders would have been different from that of hunter-gatherers. Ans. The lives of farmers and herders would have been different from huntersgatherers in many ways. Nomadic Lifestyle: Hunters-gatherers kept moving from place to place in search of food while farmers and herders had to stay in one place to look after their crops and domesticate their animals. Homes: Hunter-gatherers mostly lived in caves and did not build any permanent houses as they had to keep moving. However, farmers and herders built huts and houses and established settlements as they lived at one place for longer duration. Food Supply: Hunt-gatherers killed wild animals and kept them away from their food whereas farmers and herders domesticated animals and looked after their plants. They protected their supply of food.

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Let’s Do 7. List two tasks that are performed by both men and women at present. List another two that are performed only by women, and two that are performed only by men. Compare your list with that of any two of your classmates. Do you notice any similarities/differences in your lists? Ans. The tasks that are performed by both men and women are: teaching, treating patients. Tasks performed only by women are: house-keeping, nursing. Tasks performed only by men: labour-intensive tasks, such as porters, security guard, etc. 8. List the cereals that you eat. Do you grow the cereals you have listed in Answer No. 7? If yes, draw a chart to show the stages in growing them. If not, draw a chart to show how these cereals reach you from the farmers who grow them. Ans. We usually eat wheat, rice, maize, barley, bajra and so on. Nowadays, we don’t grow these cereals. In fact, the cereals we eat at home, are usually bought from stores. The cereals reach the store from the farmers through following process. Agriculturalists → Middleman → Wholesaler → Retailer → Buyers

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS 1. Answer in one or two words: 1. During which phase of Stone Age did major climatic changes take place around 12000 years ago? 2. Name the natural ingredients that were used to make bright colours for ancient cave paintings. 3. What is the longest span of time that covers 99% of human history called? 4. Name the older, wild form of cattle that was painted in the walls of caves in ancient France. 5. Where are natural caves and rock shelters belonging to the Stone Age found in India? 6. Name 2 animals that were found in greater abundance with climatic change in the Mesolithic age. 7. Where have archaeologists found pit-houses used by early farmers and herders in present-day Kashmir? 8. Name the tool used for grinding grains and other plant products by the people living in the Neolithic Age. 9. Name the place that is considered to be one of the earliest villages that we know about and one of the most important routes into Iran. Ans. 1. Mesolithic, 2. Ochre, iron ore and charcoal, 3. Palaeolithic, 4. Aurochs, 5. Vindhyas, the Deccan plateaus, close to the Narmada valley, 6. Deer, sheep, 7. Burzaham, 8. Mortar and pestle, 9. Mehrgarh

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

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2. Fill in the Blanks: 1. The word ‘Mesolithic’ means _______ _______. 2. The word Palaeolithic is derived from the words ‘palaeo’ meaning _______ and ‘lithos’ meaning _______. 3. The third stage called the _______ stage begins from 10,000 years ago. 4. Traces of ash have been discovered close to _______ caves. 5. ____________ and ____________ can survive more easily than cattle in dry, hilly environments. 6. ____________ is the process by which people grow plants and look after animals. Ans. 1. Middle stone, 2. Old stone, 3. Neolithic, 4. Kurnool, 5. Sheep, goat, 6. Domestication 3. Are the statements True or False? 1. The word ‘Palaeolithic’ is derived from 2 Greek words. 2. Traces of ash discovered close to Kurnool caves prove that men knew the use of coal during those days. 3. After Palaeolithic age, the Neolithic age begins from 10,000 years ago. 4. Hunter-gatherers lived in caves and rock shelters to protect themselves from rain, heat and wind. 5. Early human history has been divided into three broad periods by archaeologists. 6. Cattle were the first animals to be tamed and domesticated by early men. 7. Early men first learnt to make clay pots followed by the use of fire. 8. People discovered spoken language during Neolithic age. 9. Men living in the Neolithic Age had learnt division of labour. 10. Catal Huyuk is one of the most famous Neolithic sites situated in Iran. ns. 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. True, 5. True, 6. False, 7. False, 8. True, 9. True, A 10. False

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Tracks of ash in the Kurnool caves indicate (a) use of fire (b) use of stone tools (c) rearing of animals (d) use of water. 2. Stone tools were used to (a) dig the ground (b) cut meat and stone (c) shop fruits and bone (d) All of these 3. Grassland led to an increase in (a) birds (b) human beings (c) animals that survive on grass (d) animals that lived in water

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Social Science—VI (History)

4. When were the ruins used first? (a) 250 years ago (b) 150 years ago (c) 200 years ago (d) 300 years ago 5. What did the finding of ash indicate? (a) Ice (b) Water (c) Fire (d) All of these 6. In which state were the eggs of Ostrich found? (a) Delhi (b) Maharashtra (c) Noida (d) Madhya Pradesh 7. What are the Mesolithic period? (a) 12,000–10,000 years ago (b) 6000–7000 years ago (c) 8000–9000 years ago (d) 7,000 – 8000 years ago 8. What type of food we get from plants. (a) Milk (b) Fruits, vegetables and grains (c) Meat (d) None of these.

9. Select the animal for domestication. (a) Dog (b) Lion (c) Bear (d) Elephant 10. Greins like wheat and barley have been found in (a) Hallur (b) Koldihwa (c) Mehrgrah (d) Mahagara 11. Who have found the evidence of ancient farmers and herders? (a) Historian (b) Biologists (c) Astrologists (d) Archaeologists 12. When did the domestication of animals begin? (a) About 6000 year ago (b) About 4000 years ago (c) About 12,000 years ago (d) About 8,000 years ago. 13. Pit houses are made in (a) Mehrgarh (c) Burzahom

(b) Hallur (d) Mehagara

14. Which was not a way of storing grains in the early days. (a) Clay pots (b) Pits in the ground (c) Boxes (d) Wove Baskets ANSWERS 1. (a)

2. (d)

3. (c)

4. (b)

5. (c)

6. (b)

7. (a)

8. (b)

9. (d)

10. (d)

11. (d)

12. (c)

13. (c)

14. (c)

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

21

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Write the name given to pre-historic age. ns. Stone age. A

2. What do people need while hunting animals or catching fish and birds? Ans. People need to be alert, quick and have also lets of presence of mind. 3. What do you mean by ‘Neolithic Age’? Ans. The word new means neo and lithic means stone. So, ‘Neolithic age’ is New stone age. 4. How wood was used in past? Ans. It was used as firewood. It was also used to make hunts and tools. 5. What is tint? Ans. It is a hard grey stone that can produce a spark, when it is rubbed. 6. Why did earlier people use fire? Ans. Earlier people used fire to make light, to cook meat and to frighten animals. 7. Mention importance historical events against the following dates: (a) 12,000 – 10,000 years ago (b) 10,000 years ago Ans. (a) 12,000 – 10,000 years ago — The Mesolithic period (b) 10,000 years ago – The beginning of the Neolithic Age. 8. Why do farmers grow some crops in some areas and not in other areas? Ans. Because different plants grow in different conditions. 9. Which was the first animal to be tamed? Ans. Most probably the first animal to be tamed was ‘dog’ by the early man. 10. What was the favourite food of Neinuo Yano? Ans. The favourite food of Neiuno Yano was rice, pumpkins, squash, pumpkins, bears and boiled meat. 11. Write names of five ways in which grain was used. Ans. 1. As seed 2. As food 3. As gifts 4. As means of exchange 5. Stored for food. 12. Name two sites found in Andhra Pradesh. Ans. 1. Hallur 2. Paiyampalli 13. Name two Neolithic tools which are used to grind grain even today. Ans. Mortars and Pestles. These tools are used even today of for grinding grain. 14. Write the important historical events against the following periods: (a) About 12,000 years ago (b) About 8000 years ago. Ans. (a) About 12,000 years ago – Beginning of domestication of plants and animals. (b) About 8,000 years ago – Beginning of settlement of Mehrgarh.

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B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why did hunter-gatherers use tools? Ans. Hunter-gatherers used tools for the following reasons: •• For digging the ground •• To cut meat and bone •• To scrape the barks of trees and animal skins or hides •• To cut fruits and roots •• For stitching clothes 2. Describe the tools and weapons used by hunter-gatherers. Ans. The tools and weapons used by hunter-gatherers were made of stone, bones or even wood. Some of these were attached to the handles made up of wither wood or bones to make spears, arrows, woodcutters. These spears and arrows were used for hunting. Some tools helped them chop wood from trees for firewood. 3. List the uses of fire by men living in Kurnool caves. Ans. Fire could have been used for many things by hunter-gatherers living in Kurnool caves, a Palaeolithic site in ancient India, for example: •• generating light and heat •• for cooking food •• for scaring animals away •• for clearing land •• for making tools 4. Write a short note on Palaeolithic Stage. Ans. Palaeolithic period is the earliest stage and dates from two million to 12000 years back. The name—derived from two Greek words ‘palaeo’ (old) and ‘lithos’ (stone)—suggests the importance of stone tools. This period is further divided into the 3 stages: Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. 5. Write a short note on Bhimbetka rock shelters. Ans. The earliest hints of human life in India is found in Bhimbetka rock shelters currently located in Madhya Pradesh. The Stone Age rock paintings found there, date back to about approximately 9,000 years ago. These rock paintings help us understand more about the life and activities of the people living in those days. Early people probably lived to protect themselves from the rain, heat and wind. 6. Who and how were the first animals domesticated? Ans. The wild ancestors of dogs were the first animals to be domesticated by Palaeolithic men. Early people observed how animals like dogs could be controlled by leaving food for them near their shelters. Gradually, they began to tame and train these animals and breed them too. 7. How did the first farming community use the crops they produced? Ans. The first farming community used the crops they produced as seed, food and even as gifts. The extra grains were stored for future use.

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

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8. Where did early men store their surplus food? Ans. Early men began to store their surplus food in large clay pots, hand woven baskets and pits that were dug into the ground. 9. Describe the pit-houses found in present-day Kashmir. Ans. Remains of pit-houses dug deep into the grounds, have been found in presentday Kashmir. These houses had steps leading into them and cooking hearths both inside and outside the houses. The houses kept people safe from heat, cold, rain and storm. 10. What do cooking hearths found both inside and outside the pit-houses in present-day Kashmir suggest? Ans. Cooking hearths found both inside and outside the pit-houses in present-day Kashmir suggests that early people cooked either inside or outside the house depending on the weather. 11. How do you think early men learnt to weave? Ans. Early men used to build walls and roofs of their huts by twining and knotting bendable materials such as grass, twigs and strings together. Probably, they had observed other animals or insects building their habitats: birds weaving their nest or spider creating their webs. 12. Why were goats buried with dead people in burial grounds in Mehrgarh? Ans. Archaeologists believe that goats were buried with dead people in burial grounds in Mehrgarh sites to serve as food in the next world after death. 13. What was the importance of Bolan Pass in the Neolithic age? Ans. The Bolan Pass is situated in the Sulaiman Range of Himalayas. It connects the Indian subcontinent with Iran. This pass was used by traders and the invaders to reach India. Mehrgarh, one of the most famous Neolithic site is located in the fertile plains near this pass. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. What were some of the skills and knowledge that hunter gatherers needed to have? Ans. Hunter-gatherers were nomadic people who mainly depended on hunting (or fishing) and collecting food for survival. Normally, they would hunt wild animals or birds, fish and gather plant products such as roots and stems, leaves, fruits, nuts and seeds. The hunter-gatherers should have the following skills: •• Have the ability to run fast in order to catch animals •• Be quick and alert to locate and catch the animals •• Be resourceful and have good presence of mind to trap and hunt animals •• Possess skills and know-how of making weapons to hunt animals •• Know the effective use of weapons to kill animals •• Distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous plants •• Recognise the edible parts of the plants and collect wild edible plants •• Learn the seasonal fruits and vegetables available in a particular area

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Social Science—VI (History)

The children of hunter-gatherers could learn these skills through imitation and practice since childhood. 2. Why did hunter-gatherers live a nomadic life? Ans. Hunter-gatherers moved from one place to another and lived a nomadic life because of several reasons. •• They often had to change their location to find food. Once they exhausted their current source of sustenance—hunted all animal and collected all plants available in that area, they would move to a new location in search of food. •• Secondly, all living things need water for survival. When there was a drought or during dry seasons, water in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers dried up. They would move to newer location in search of new water sources. •• Thirdly, hunter-gatherers survived by hunting animals. So when animals moved to a new place in search of water or food—smaller preys or new pasture lands for grass and leaves, the hunter-gatherers followed these animals. •• Lastly, hunter-gatherers also survived by collecting plant products. Since plants are seasonal, they moved to different locations in search of different types of plants. 3. What led to the origin of early farmers? Ans. As the climate became warmer, the availability of plants across different regions increased. People initially began to observe the pattern of farming. Early men observed the following: •• They found out the places where edible plants grow. •• They saw how new plants sprouted from the seeds that had fallen off from stalks on the ground. •• They noticed the agricultural cycle and found out when the crops ripened. •• They also observed how plants need to be protected from birds and animals. When early men began to grow crops, they had to wait for the crops to ripen. In the meantime, they had to water and weed the plants and guard them from wild animals and birds. This meant that they had to stay at the same place for a long time. As they settled at one place to grow and look after their crops, the first farming community emerged. 4. How did herding come into emergence? Ans. When the climate started becoming warmer, some animals were found in greater abundance. Hunter-gatherers began to follow them initially for killing. Soon they began to observe some of these animals closely. •• They learnt about their food habits and their breeding seasons. •• They observed how animals could be controlled by leaving food for them near their shelters. Gradually, they tamed the animals that ate grass such as sheep, goat, cattle and even pig and allowed them to live in herds close to their habitats. They protected them from wild animals, gave them food and shelter. This led to the emergence of the first herding community.

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

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5. What kinds of plants and animals were selected for domestication by early men? Ans. The plants that were selected for domestication by early men were: •• not poisonous or prone to disease •• yielded large-sized grain •• had strong stalks •• were capable of bearing the weight of the ripe grain Seeds from similar plants were conserved and harvested later to ensure that new plants had similar qualities. The animals that were selected for domestication by early men were relatively gentle and could be trained for breeding. These animals had teeth that were less sharp like dogs and smaller horns like sheep. 6. Why is the Neolithic site of Mehrgarh popular? Ans. Mehrgarh is located near the Bolan Pass, an important route into Iran situated in present-day Pakistan. This fertile land is probably one of the earliest known villages of Stone Age. Traces of crops such as barley and wheat and animals like sheep and goat have been found here. Thus, people living in this site had learnt to domesticate animals and plantation. Excavations done here revealed animal bones in three layers. Level three shows the earliest level which is older than the middle and first layer. Level one is from a later time than what is found from the lower layers of the mound. 7. Describe the images of houses and burial sites found in Mehrgarh. Ans.

Remains of houses and burials have been found at this site. Each house is divided into four or more square or rectangular compartments, some of which could have been used for storage.

In one burial site at Mehrgarh, a dead person was buried along with goats. This could mean that they served meat as food for the dead to eat in the next world.

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Social Science—VI (History)

Things to Identify (a) Identify the task performed by different kinds of stone tools. Look at the stone tools used by the huntergathere

Identify the purpose of using this stone tool

Answers

Digging the ground to collect edible roots.

Stitching clothes made out of animal skin.

(b)  Identify, these tools were made by early men. State the use of these tools.

When were these Palaeolithic Period/ Neolithic Period/ tools made? Old Stone Age New Stone Age What was the Used to cut/scrape or Used to grind grains and purpose of using hammer other objects other plant produce these tools?

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

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Map Skills     Mark the following places in the map of ancient India and label the places. MAP : 2 Some Important Archaeological Sites

Burzahom

Mehrgarh

Chirand Koldihwa Ganga R. BHIMBETKA Mahagara Narmada R.

Daojali Hading

Kolkata

Tapti R.

Mumbai

Godav

ari R.

Inamgaon

Bay of Bengal

Krishn

a R.

HUNSGI

Arabian Sea

Hallur Ka

ve

KURNOOL CAVES Brahmagiri Paiyampalli

ri

R.

Adichanallur Lakshadweep

INDEX Palaeolithic Sites Neolithic Sites Megalithic Sites Early Village Modern Cities

Palaeolithic

Neolithic

Megalithic

Early

Modern

sites

sites

sites

villages

cites

• Bhimbekta

• Burzahom

• Brahmagiri

• Hungsi

• Mehrgarh

• Adichanallur

• Kurnool caves

• Mahagara • Bhimbekta • Koldihwa • Chirand • Daojali Hading • Hallu • Paiyampalli

• Inamgaon • Kolkata • Mumbai

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Social Science—VI (History)

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Who are the earliest hunter-gatherers in India? 2. Fill in the blanks: (i) People who study old buildings or relics and man-made objects for cultural or historical interest are known as . (ii) Burial site, a place where people are kept so that their family and friends can pay them respect. 3. Answer in one or two words: (i) What is the term used to mean digging the surface of the earth carefully, in order to find buried remains? (ii) Why were large clay pots made? (iii) Cave paintings of wild animals made by early men are found in states of _______________ and southern _________________. 4. Images of stone tools used by hunter-gatherers A.

B.

C.

D.

Number them in sequence of their creation

From Hunting–Gathering to Growing Food

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5. Are the statements True or False? (i) Microliths are large standing stones found in the Deccan region, northeast India and Kashmir. (ii) Stone holes were used for entering burial places. (iii) Historians like archaeologists, find out about the past from material remains. (iv) Less than 200 years ago, the Rigveda was first written. 6. What is fossil wood? In which Neolithic site in India has fossil wood been found?

3 Chapter

In the Earliest Cities I. BASIC CONCEPTS

• The earliest cities in the Indian subcontinent emerged around 4,700 years in the region drained by Indus and its tributaries in the northwest. • The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest cities in the world situated in the present-day Pakistan and India. • It was discovered about 150 years back by the British who found a mound while building railways. They informed the archaeologists! • The city of Harappa was discovered and gained fame also for its marvellous architecture and art about 80 years back.

• The Harappan ate common food items like wheat and barley. • Animal bones found at Harappa indicates the people also reared or ate sheep, goat, pig, and so on.

Art and Ornaments • Seals, bricks and pots of fine clay were made. Many kilns have been found for baking bricks. • Both men and women were fond of ornaments such as necklaces, armlets, finger rings and bangles.

Trade • Trading thrived in Harappa and there are evidence of longdistance trading too. • Goods coming from outside, include copper from Rajasthan, gold from Karnataka and precious stones from Iran and Afghanistan. • Seals of Mesopotamia have been found in Indus and seals of Indus Valley have been found in Mesopotamia.

Importance of Metals • Man’s lifestyle changed significantly after he learnt the art of using metals. • Copper, then bronze were the first metals to be used by man. • Bronze was made by mixing tin and copper. • Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. • Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.

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In the Earliest Cities

31

II. IN A NUTSHELL



•• Dholavira and Lothal, two famous cities of the Harappan civilisation are located in Gujarat. •• Dholavira was full of traces of fresh water and fertile soil. •• Lothal was situated near raw materials sites and hence became famous for making objects out of stone, shell and metal. A dockyard was found at Lothal probably used to trade with distant lands. •• Cities were well-planned with an effective drainage system. •• The houses were of good quality, built of burnt bricks, laid in an interlocking pattern. •• The most imposing construction of Indus valley was the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro. •• The Harappan settlements were divided into two or even more parts. → Usually, the part to the west was smaller but higher. This smaller part came to be known as citadels. → The part towards the east was larger but lower and known as the lower town. •• Structures were built in the citadels for special public purposes. •• The largest building excavated at Harappa was the Great Granary

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation •• The reasons that mark the decline of Indus Valley Civilisation around 3900 years ago are the following: → People stopped living in many of the cities. → Writing, seals and weights were no longer used. → Raw materials brought from long distances became rare. → In Mohenjo-Daro, it was found that: ♦ garbage piled up on the streets ♦ the drainage system broke down ♦ new, less impressive houses were built, even over the streets •• Some of the probable cause of the decline of Indus Valley Civilisation. The probable causes of decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation were: → destruction by earthquakes or foods → change in the course of the Indus → invasion of Aryans → rivers dried up → deforestation led to absence of fuel needed for baking bricks and for smelting copper ores → destruction of pasture lands by grazing by large herds of cattle, sheep and goat Egypt •• Around 5000 years ago, kings ruled over Egypt, in African continent. It was a dry desert region, except for the lands along the river Nile.

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Social Science—VI (History)

•• These kings sent armies to distant lands to get gold, silver, ivory, timber, and precious stones. •• The bodies of dead kings were buried and preserved in huge tombs called pyramids, •• These carefully preserved bodies are known as ‘mummies’. •• A large number of objects—food and drink, clothes, ornaments, utensils, musical instruments, weapons and animals—were also buried with them. •• Sometimes even serving men and women were buried with the rulers.

III. KEYWORDS •• Scribe: A person who makes copies of manuscripts or writes down various important documents. •• Citadel: Central fortified area of a town or a city, may be a fortress. •• Faience: Delicate tin-glazed pottery on a delicate earthenware body. Origin – French fajãs. •• Terracotta: Glazed or unglazed clay-like earthenware ceramic. Origin – Latin terra cocta. •• Specialist: A person who is trained to do only one kind of work. •• Raw Material: Naturally found substances which are used or processed to form a finished product. For example, wood, cotton, metal ores, etc. are raw materials. •• Plough: A tool which is used to dig the earth or to turn the soil before sowing seeds. •• Irrigation: The process of watering crops from rivers or reservoirs. •• Seal: Seals are the stamps made of clay or lac which were placed on a closed letter or bag by the sender. If the receiver receives the package with the seal intact, that means the privacy of the contents is maintained.

IV. DATE LINE

• • • •

7000 years ago – Cotton cultivation started at Mehrgarh. 4700 years ago – Beginning of cities. 3900 years ago – Beginning of end of the cities. 2500 years ago – Emergence of other cities.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK IN-TEXT QUESTIONS (Page 42) 1. How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation? Ans. Archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation because: • They have found spindles whorls, made of terracotta and faience from the excavation sites. Spindles were used to spin and twist fibres and cotton into yarn. • Archaeologists have also found cloth attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro.

In the Earliest Cities

33

• Thus, the presence of cloth and spindles show that people in the Harappan Civilisation used cloth and knew how to make them. 2. Match the columns. Minerals

Places

1.

Copper

(i)

Gujarat

2.

Gold

(ii)

3.

Tin

(iii)

Rajasthan

4.

Precious stones

(iv)

Karnataka

Afghanistan

Ans. 1. (iii), 2. (iv), 3. (ii), 4. (i) 3. Why were metals, writing, the wheel, and the plough important for the Harappans? Ans. Things

Importance

Metals

Metals were used for making tools, weapons, ornaments, seals and vessels.

Writing

Writing was important for maintaining records related to trade and various other events.

Wheels

Wheels were used as means of transport to ferry people and goods and also for pottery.

Ploughing

Plough was used for tilling the land so that farming could be done.

Let’s Discuss 4. Make a list of all the terracotta toys shown in the lesson. Which do you think children would have enjoyed playing with the most? Ans. The terracotta toys shown in this lesson are: •• Animal figures •• Wheeled vehicles or model carts •• Toy plough Children, however, probably enjoyed playing with the wheeled vehicles or model carts. Even today, children enjoy playing more with toy cars. 5. Make a list of what the Harappans ate and put a tick mark against the things you eat today. Ans. The Harappans ate various kinds of grains such as rice, wheat, barley, pulses, mustard, peas and so on. They also ate fish, meat, milk and fruits. These things are eaten by us even today.

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Social Science—VI (History)

6. Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in Chapter 3? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. In Chapter 3, we read about the lives of early farmers and herders who hunted and farmed only for regular food supply and their personal use. However, the farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities, probably were a larger group. They farmed and domesticated animals in a more organised way. As a result, they had extra food. This surplus was used for trade. They sold or exchanged the surplus to meet their other demands such as clothes. 7. Describe three important buildings in your city or village. Are they located in a special part of the settlement (e.g. the centre)? What are the activities that take place in these buildings? Ans. Take the help of your teacher to prepare answer. 8. Are there any old buildings in your locality? Find out how old they are and who looks after them. Ans. The answer depends on the locality you live in. Take the help of your teacher to prepare answer.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Answer in one word or two: 1. Where in cities like Kalibangan were sacrifices performed? 2. Name 3 cities where elaborate store houses are found in the Harappan civilisation. 3. These people are trained to do only one kind of work and have mastered the work. For example, cutting stone or polishing beads or carving seals. 4. Unlike other Harappan cities, this city was located near fresh water and fertile soil. Name this city located in present-day India. 5. Where was the city of Dholvira located? 6. On the banks of the tributary of which river is the city of Lothal situated? . Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa and Lothal, 3. Specialist, Ans. 1. Fire altars, 2 4. Dholvira, 5 . Khadir Beyt, in the Rann of Kutch, 6. Sabarmati II. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Fire altars were found in Kalibangan and _______________. 2. ____________ is a kind of stone used to make stone weights for weighing precious stones or metals. 3. ___________ and bronze were used to make weapons and vessels. 4. Many beads were made out of _______________, a beautiful red stone.

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35

5. As this region in the Harappan civilisation does not receive heavy rainfall, some form of _______________may have been used. 6. The city of Dholavira is located on _______________ in the _______________. Ans. 1. Lothal, 2. Chert, 3. Copper, 4. carnelian, 5. irrigation, 6. Khadir Beyt, Rann of Kutch III. Are the statements True or False? 1. In the Harappan cities, all three—houses, drains and streets—were probably planned and built at the same time. 2. Cotton was cultivated at Mehrgarh at about 17000 years ago. 3. Gold and silver were used to make tools and weapons. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. False

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The great Both has been discovered in (a) Mohenjodaro (b) Harappa (c) Kalibangan (d) Lothol 2. The alloy of tin and is called bronze. (a) Copper (b) Gold (c) Zinc (d) Platinum 3. The city of lothal was situated beside a river which was a tributary of (a) Kaveri (b) Narmada (c) Sabarmati (d) Ganga 4. Which metal were the most of things found by the archaeologists made of? (a) Silver (b) Copper and gold (c) Stone (d) All of these 5. From where were the Harappans got copper? (a) Kerala (b) Delhi (c) Rajasthan (d) Mumbai 6. How did the Harappans irrigate their fields and grow plants? (a) Streams (b) Rainfall (c) Rivers (d) Stored water 7. From where did the boats and ships come into the sea and rivers? (a) Ports (b) Dockyard (c) Both (a) and (d) (d) None of these

1. (a) 7. (b)

2. (a)

ANSWERS 3. (c) 4. (d)

5. (c)

6. (a)

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Social Science—VI (History)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Write important historical events against the following dates: (a) About 7000 years ago (b) About 4700 years ago (c) About 2500 years ago Ans. (a) About 7000 years ago – Cotton cultivation at Mehrgarh (c) The emergence of other phases of cities in Indian Subcontinent. 2. Write any five cities related with the earliest civilisation of the Indian Subcontinent. Ans. 1. Mohanjodaro, 2. Harappa, 3. Rakhigarhi, 4. Dholavira, 5. Kalibangan 3. When did the earliest cities of the Harappan civilisation built? Ans. It was built about 4700 years ago. 4. What was the width of the main road of Mohanjodaro? Ans. It was 10 metres. 5. Name two cities which had fire altars. Ans. Lothal and Kalibangan. 6. Name the two means of transport generally used by the Harappans. Ans. 1. Cart and 2. Boat. 7. Name some foreign countries from where raw materials were imported. Ans. Raw materials were imported from Oman, Afghanistan, Iran, etc. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Name some of the cities identified as sites of Harappan civilisation. Ans. The Harappans were found in the Punjab and Sind in Pakistan and in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and the Punjab in India. 2. How do Archaeologists identify some cities as ancient sites of Harappan culture? Ans. Archaeologists have found a set of unique objects in almost all Harappan cities made of stone, shell, metal, including copper, bronze, gold and silver. Some of these objects are: red pottery painted with designs in black, stone weights, seals, special beads, copper tools, and long stone blades. 3. Describe the brick houses of the Harappan cities. Ans. The brick houses of the Harappan cities were made of good quality burnt bricks, laid in an interlocking pattern to make them strong. Houses were mostly either one or two storeyed, with a separate bathing area and wells to supply. Rooms were built round a courtyard. 4. Describe the drainage system of the Harappan cities. Ans. The Harappan cities had a very advanced drainage system. Many of these cities had covered drains, with pipelines laid out in straight lines and inspection holes at intervals for regular cleaning. The smaller drains were connected to bigger ones and finally to those on the main streets. In fact, each drain had a gentle slope to enable water to flow through smoothly.

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37

5. What do you think was the role of the rulers in the Harappan cities? Ans. The rulers were probably the one who planned the construction of special buildings in the Harappan cities. They may have sent people to faraway lands in search of precious stones, metals and other things that they needed for the construction. The most valuable objects such as ornaments of gold and silver or beautiful beads may have been kept for the rulers themselves. The rest may have been used for decorating the special buildings. 6. How were beads made of carnelian? Ans. Beads made of red stones like carnelian. The stones were cut, then shaped and polished. Finally, a hole was made through the centre so let the string passed through it. 7. How is Faience made? What is it used for? Ans. Faience, usually blue or sea green in colour, is an artificially material produced by shaping sand or powdered quartz into an object using a gum. The objects were then glazed giving it a shiny and glassy look. Faience was used to make jewellery like beads, bangles, earrings and tiny vessels. 8. Why did herders travel in summer? Ans. As the countryside in the Harappan civilisation, did not receive heavy rainfall, water and pastures around their settlements became scanty. So, in the dry summer months, herders probably took their large groups of animals to greater distances in search of grass and water. 9. What kind of building was found at Lothal? How do you know that? Ans. A building found at Lothal was probably a workshop used to make beads. Archaeologists have found pieces of stone, half made beads, tools that were used for making beads and even finished beads. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Like Jaspal and Harpreet, people often wonder why anybody would be interested in the old, run down house. Why do you think people would be interested in old buildings? Ans. Old beautiful buildings need to be preserved as they show the rich heritage and culture of a bygone era. They teach about the architectural style of the era, the materials used and lifestyle of the people. The designs also tell us about the quality of craftsmanship as well as the hard work that had put in long before technology or software made it easier. 2. Describe the Great Bath. Ans. A special building was constructed on the citadel in Mohenjo-Daro. This was a very big tank, which has been termed by archaeologists the Great Bath. The brick tank was coated with plaster and a layer of natural tar made it water-tight. There were several rooms on all sides while steps led down to it from both sides.

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Social Science—VI (History)

The tank was filled with water probably from a well and drained out after use. It is assumed that important people took a bath in this tank on special occasions. 3. What are raw materials? Describe some of the raw materials produced by the Harappan people. Ans. Raw materials are materials that can be found naturally such as wood, or ores of metals or produced by either farmers or herders. These are then processed to make finished goods. For example, Harappan farmers produced cotton, which acted as a raw material to make cloth. Although Harappans did use some of locally available raw materials that also used many raw materials brought from distant lands such as copper, tin, gold, silver and precious stones. 4. Write short note on the city of Dholavira. Ans. Dholavira, located on Khadir Beyt in the Rann of Kutch, was a fertile land with access to fresh water. Unlike most other Harappan cities, Dholavira was divided into three parts. Each part was enclosed with massive stone walls and entrances were through gateways. Public ceremonies were probably held in the large open area found in the settlement. A unique find of this site, are the large letters of the Harappan script carved out of white stone and perhaps inlaid in wood. 5. Write short note on the city of Lothal. Ans. The city of Lothal, situated on the banks of tributary of the Sabarmati, in Gujarat, close to the Gulf of Khambat, was close to sites where raw materials such as semi-precious stones were easily found. As a result, this became an important site for making objects out of stone, shell and metal. Many storehouses, along with seals and sealing (the impression of seals on clay) were found in this city. A dockyard was found at Lothal, probably used to load and unload goods traded from distant lands. 6. Identify the objects and write short notes on each. Ans. This is a seal with the image of a boat used by the Harappan people probably to visit distant lands to trade. This is toy cart or a wheeled vehicles used by the Harappan people. This is a model of a wheeled vehicle, used by children as toys to play with.

In the Earliest Cities

39

This is a model of plough usually used by Harappans to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds. While real ploughs, probably made of wood, did not survive, toy models (As in this image) have been found. Nowadays, mostly men in different farming communities use plough. However, we do not know whether only men farmed using ploughs in the Harappan cities. This is a stone statue of an important man found from Mohenjo-Daro. The statue shows him wearing an embroidered garment.

This is a terracotta toy of animal figures. Children probably played with them. This is a picture of a dockyard at Lothal, where probably used to load and unload goods here. Boats and ships came from the sea, through the river channel. This is a seal. It is rectangular in shape with an animal carved on it. On the top of the seal are signs that are a part of a script. This is an example of one of the earliest forms of writing known in the subcontinent. Scholars have tried but are yet to decode the signs. So, we do not know what the signs exactly mean. 7. Match the columns. 1. Match substances with their functions or utility. Substances

Utility

1.

Metals

(i)

Used to spin, twist fibres and cotton into yarn

2.

Writing

(ii)

Used to make various tools, utensils, jewelry and seals.

3.

Wheel

(iii)

An artifically produced substance, used for making beads, jewellry, and tiny vessels.

Social Science—VI (History)

40 4.

Plough

(iv)

Used to maintain records of trade and for various and other purposes

5.

Terrocotta Toys

(iv)

Used to till soil for farming

6.

Spindle

(iv)

Used to make carts to ferry people and goods and pottery

7.

Faience

(iv)

Used as toys by children

Ans. 1. (ii), 2. (iv), 3. (vi), 4. (v), 5. (vii), 6. (i), 7. (iii).

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Match the important dates with certain important events. Periods

Events

1.

About 7000 years ago

(i)

2.

About 4700 years ago

(ii)

3.

About 3900 years ago

(iii)

Cotton cultivation at Mehrgarh

4.

About 2500 years ago

(iv)

Beginning of cities

Beginning of the end of these cities The emergence of other cities

2. What were seal and sealing used for? 3. What were some of the occupations of people living in the Harappan cities? 4. List the reasons that mark the decline of Indus Valley Civilisation around 3900 years ago. 5. Write true or false: (i) Herders collected fruits like ber and hunted wild animals like the antelope. (ii) Mummies are carefully buried and preserved bodies of Egyptian kinds in pyramids. (iii) The Harappan Civilisation declined around 2700 years ago.

4 Chapter

What Books and Burials Tell Us I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Vedas • Veda, meaning knowledge, is the earliest form of Indian scriptures. • It comprises the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.

Important Dates • 3500 years ago: Composition of Vedas began • 3000 years ago: Building of megaliths began • Between 3600 and 2700 years ago: Settlement at Inamgaon • 2000 years ago: Charaka

Megaliths • About 3000 years ago, people starting erecting megaliths or big stone boulders to mark burial sites. • This became a common practice in the Deccan region, south India, in north-east India and Kashmir. • Some megalithic burials have a single large stone or a circle of stone boulders marking burials underground. • Sometimes, megaliths have more than one skeleton. It indicates that people belonging to the same family were buried at same place though at different times.

Rigveda • The Rigveda, is the oldest of the four, dating back to about 3500 years ago. • Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, it includes over a thousand hymns, called ‘sukta’ (‘well-said’). • Hymns were written and sang in praise of various gods and goddesses. • The three most popular gods were Agni, (god of fire), Indra (warrior god) and Soma (a plant from which a special drink was prepared). • Sages (rishis) composed the hymns. Most composers were men, some were women too. • The priests taught students to recite and memorise them as it was meant to be heard rather than read. • It was written down later and printed less than 200 years ago.

41

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Social Science—VI (History)

Sanskrit and Other Languages • Family of languages refer to a group of languages that originally have words in common. ã Indo-European family of languages: Sanskrit ♦ Indian languages: Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri and Sindhi ♦ European languages: English, French, German, Greek, Italian and Spanish ã Tibeto-Burman family: languages spoken in north-east India ã Dravidian family: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam ã Austro-Asiatic family: languages spoken in Jharkhand and parts of central India

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Both historian and archaeologist study past, but while archaeologists study physical evidences in the form of artifacts and ruins, historians study written sources. •• Historians studied the hymns in the Rigveda, some of which were written in the form of dialogues, draw conclusions. ã Hymns were mostly prayers for children, cattle, horses and battles. ã Composers ignored gods and godesses to keep the people safe from natural calamities. ã Yajnas or sacrifices were conducted to appease gods and goddess. ã Ghee, grains and rare animals were sacrificed in the fire. ã Chariots and carts were means of transport for kings and common people respectively. ã Horses were yoked to chariots and used in battles. ã Battles were fought to conquer other land, water, people and cattle. ã Wealth accumulated in battles were kept by was distributed between the rulers, priests and common people. •• The Vedas also tell us about the political and socio-economic life of people during this age. ã Raja: The head of state was called Raja, probably the bravest and strongest warrior, selected by the people in assemblies. They did not have a capital, palaces, armies or even the right to collect taxes. ã Priests, also called Brahmins, performed various rituals and chanted the Vedas and helped children memorise the Vedas. •• While the Aryans composed Vedas, another group of people called the Dasas or Dasyus worked as slaves. •• Jana or a region formed by a group of community came into existence in the later Vedic period. •• The word ‘vish’ from where we get the word ‘vaishya’ meaning the four varnas of the Hindu social order.

What Books and Burials Tell Us



43

•• Megaliths are stone that have more than one skelton. It indicates that people belonging to the same family were buried at same place though at different times. •• Inamgaon, situated on the river Ghod, a tributary of the Bhima, (present-day Maharashtra) was occupied between 3600 and 2700 years ago. •• Some burials were within the houses. Vessels containing food and water for the dead were found buried too. •• In one such burials, the dead man was placed in a cross-legged position inside a four legged clay jar. The jar was placed in the courtyard of a big, five-roomed house, situated right in the middle of Inamgaon settlement. •• Occupations at Inamgaon Crops wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas and sesame Fruits ber, amla, jamun, dates and a variety of berries Animal cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, horse, ass, pig, sambhar, spotted deer, Food blackbuck, antelope, hare, and mongoose, besides birds, crocodile, turtle, crab and fish

China •• The first evidence of writings on animal or ‘oracle’ bones were found in China around 3500 years ago. •• Scribes, on the command of kings, wrote questions on bones, which were then put into the fire till they cracked due to the heat. •• Fortune tellers or soothsayers would study these cracks to predict the future. Often their interpretation were incorrect. •• However, the kings were not aware of the use of iron.

III. KEYWORDS •• Veda: Ancient Indian text composed in Sanskrit. The four vedas are – Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Origin – Sanskrit ‘ved’. •• Language: The method of human communication either spoken or written. •• Hymn: Religious song or poem in praise of god. Origin – Greek ‘hymnos’ means song of praise. •• Chariot: Carriage driven by a charioteer usually carried by horse or other animals. •• Yajna: The ritual of sacrificing or offering something (ghee or grain or animals, etc.) to gods or goddesses with a specific objective. Origin – Sanskrit ‘Yajña’ means worship or sacrifice. •• Raja: The head of state was called Raja, probably the bravest and strongest warrior, selected by the people in assemblies. They did not have a capital, palaces, armies or even the right to collect taxes. •• Slave: Slaves or dasa (feminine dasi) were men or women captured in war. They were treated as properties and were bound to do any work ordered by their owners.

Social Science—VI (History)

44

•• Megalith: Big stones used to mark burial sites. The practice began around 3000 years ago. •• Burial: The practice of burying a dead body. •• Skeletal: The study of skeleton is known as skeletal studies. •• Iron: A widely used metal.

IV. DATE LINE

• Less than 200 years ago (in the 19th century AD) – Printing of the Rigveda for first time took place. • About 2000 years ago – Charaka Wrote Charaka Sainhite • Around 2700 years ago – End of Settlement at Inamgaon. • About 3000 years ago – Beginning of the building of megaliths. • About 3500 years ago – Beginning of the composition of Rigveda. • About 3600 years ago – Beginning of Settlement of Inamgaon.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 52-53) 1. Match the columns: Column A 1.

Sukta

2.

Chariots

3.

Column B (i)

Stone boulder

(ii)

Sacrifice

Yajna

(iii)

Well-said

4.

Dasa

(iv)

Used in battles

5.

Megalith

(v)

Slave

Ans. 1. (iii), 2. (iv), 3. (ii), 4. (v), 5. (i) 2. Complete the sentences: (a) Slaves were used for _____________. (b) Megaliths are found in ____________. (c) Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to ________. (d) Pot-holes were used _________________. (e) People at Inamgaon ate ____________. Ans. (a) doing whatever manual work their masters wanted. (b) burial sites in the Deccan, south India, in the North-east and Kashmir. (c) serve as signposts to show the exact location of the burials. (d) for entering the burial places. (e) barley, wheat, peas, pulses, rice, millets, fruits, sesame and also animal flesh.

What Books and Burials Tell Us

45

Let’s Discuss 3. In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda? Ans. The Rigveda is different from the books we read today. • Rigveda was written in old or Vedic Sanskrit, which was recited and heard by people rather than being read. However, the books we have today are written in English or contemporary modern languages and read. • Students used to listen and memorise them. In fact, Vedas were passed onto from one generation to the next by speaking, listening and memorising. Today’s books are not necessarily memorised. • Rigveda contained hymns in praise of gods and goddesses, modern books are on diverse subjects. 4. What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried? Ans. The variety of belongings buried with dead people and the size of the burial grounds, have acted as evidence for archaeologists to understand the social status of the buried. • Archaeologists have found in Brahmagiri, a skeleton buried with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles and one couch shell. These are burials of rich and affluent people. • Some skeletons even have just a few pots. These are burials of commoners. This is how archaeologists have found out the social differences amongst those who were buried. 5. In what ways do you think that the life of a ‘‘Raja’’ was different from that of a dasa or dasi? Ans. The life of ‘‘Raja’’ was different from that of a ‘dasa’ or ‘dasi’ in following ways: • The position of a ‘Raja’ was one of the highest political positions as they were the kings of the community. A ‘Dasa’ or ‘Dasi’ was a slave, probably captured at war and treated as owners’ personal belonging. • A ‘Raja’ was a free man while ‘dasa’ and ‘dasi’ had to do whatever was told to them by their masters. • A ‘Raja’ commanded respect from all due to his position of power. However, ‘dasa’ and ‘dasi’ were ridiculed and often disrespected. • A ‘Raja’ could perform sacrifices while ‘dasa’ and ‘dasi’ could not. Let’s Do 6. Find out whether your school library has a collection of books on religion, and list the names of five books from this collection. (i) The Mahabharata (ii) The Ramayana (iii) The Bhagwad Gita (iv) The Bible (v) The Quran 7. Write down a short poem or song that you have memorised. Did you hear or read the poem or song? How did you learn it by heart? Ans. Students do with the help of your teacher.

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Social Science—VI (History)

8. In the Rigveda, people were described in terms of the work they did and the languages they spoke. In the table below, fill in the names of six people you know, choosing three men and three women. For each of them, mention the work they do and the language they speak. Would you like to add anything else to the description? Name

Work

Language

Anything else

Ans. Students attempt themselves.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. ____________ was the oldest of all the four Vedas. 2. The word sukta means ________________. 3. _____________ is a plant from which a special drink was prepared. 4. A hymn in the Rigveda is in the form of dialogue between Vishvamitra and two rivers ______________ and ___________that were worshipped as goddesses. 5. A page from a manuscript of the Rigveda, written on ___________ bark was found in _________________. 6. The Ghoda is a tributary of River ____________. Ans. 1. Rigveda, 2. well-said, 3. Soma, 4. Beas, Sutlej, 5. birch, Kashmir, 6. Bhima II. Answer in one word or two: 1. Name the four Vedas. Ans. Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda 2. Languages spoken in Jharkhand and parts of central India belong to this family of languages. Ans. Austro-Asiatic family

What Books and Burials Tell Us

47

3. List 6 rivers mentioned in the Rigveda. Ans. Beas, Sutlej, Indus, Saraswati, Ganga, Yamuna 4. Name the book written by Charaka. Ans. Charaka Samhita 5. The first evidence of writings in China was found on this material. Name it. Ans. Oracle bones 6. Name the large distinctive pots that were used at the megalithic burial sites. Ans. Black and Red Ware 7. What mode of transport was used by rulers to fight battles? Ans. Horse-driven chariots 8. What were the opponents of the Aryas called? Ans. Dasas or Dasyus 9. Look at the pictures and identify each of the objects given below. Ans.

Horse equipment

Axes

A dagger

III. Are the statements True or False? 1. Rigveda is in contemporary Sanskrit. 2. Microliths are large standing stones found in the Deccan region, north-east India and Kashmir. 3. Sanskrit is a part of Indo-Dravidian languages. 4. Sons of Rajas succeeded their fathers in the Vedic age. 5. Stone holes were used for entering burial places. 6. The Rigveda is composed in form of hymns. Ans. 1. False, 2. False, 3. False, 4. False 5. False 6. True

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Who were owned by their masters and made to do all kinds of manual work? (a) Labours (b) Slaves (c) Farmers (d) Craftsmen (e) Scribes

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Social Science—VI (History)

2. Large standing stones in the form of circles found in the Deccan region, northeast India and Kashmir are used: (a) to mark burial sites (b) port holes (c) brick houses (d) all the options are correct 3. Where is Inamgaon located? (a) Karnataka (b) Maharashtra (c) Kerala (d) Gujarat 4. Where was this skeleton buried with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles and one conch shell? (a) Inamgaon (b) Brahmagiri (c) China (d) Kashmir 5. Which of the following statements are correct about priests in the Vedic age. Select all the correct options. (a) fought in wars (b) taught students to recite and memorise (c) performed various rituals taught (d) compose hymns ANSWERS 1. (b)

2. (a)

3. (b)

4. (b)

5. (c)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. How did the priest teach the Vedic hymns to students? Ans. The priests taught the students to memorise and recite Vedic hymns very slowly. The students learnt each syllable, word and sentence with great care over time. 2. How do you know that iron was used in the megalithic sites? Ans. We know that people in the Vedic age knew the use of iron as iron equipment have been found from megalithic burial sites. 3. With the help of an example show how Sanskrit, Hindi and English belong to the same family of languages. Ans. Sanskrit, Hindi and English belong to the same family of Indo-European languages. For example: ‘Mother’ is an English. The Sanskrit word for mother is ‘matr’ and Hindi is ‘ma’. 4. Why did the rulers fight battles? Ans. Battles were fought to capture cattle, for water or land needed for pasture and to or even to capture people. 5. What were Yajnas? Ans. Yajnas or sacrifices were offerings made into the fire to appease gods and goddesses.

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49

6. What offerings were made in the Yajnas? Ans. Offerings made in the Yajnas included ghee, grains and sometimes even animals. 7. Who became rulers? Ans. Brave and skilful warriors where selected by men in assemblies to lead them in battles. These men by virtue of their strength and valour became rulers or rajas. 8. Name three janas or vishs mentioned in Vedic literary sources. Ans. The Vedic literary sources mention several janas or vishs. These are Puru, Bharata and Yadu janas or vishs. 9. How did archaeologists know there were burials underground? Ans. Archaeologists knew there were burials underground when they saw a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone standing on the ground. 10. Was iron used in the Harappan cities? Ans. Iron equipment have been found in megalithic burial sites such as horse equipment, axes and a dagger made of iron. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1- Differentiate between Aryas and Dasas. Ans. Aryas

Dasas or Dasyus

•

They wrote hymns.

•

They didn’t write hymns. They were slaves, who later came to be known dasa (and the feminine dasi).

•

They performed yajnas and sacrifices.

•

They did not perform or participate in yajnas.

•

They spoke different languages.

2. What do you mean by ‘Vedic warriors’? Ans. Most men during the Vedic times, took part in these wars. However, there was no regular army. Gatherings or assemblies were conducted where men met to discuss warfare. In this gatherings, the brave and skillful fighters were chosen as leaders. 3. Who was Charaka? Ans. About 2000 years ago, Charaka, a famous physician, wrote Charaka Samhita, a book on medicine where he stated that the human body has 360 bones based on his count of teeth, joints and cartilage. However, today we know that an adult human body comprises 206 bones. 4. Write two important conclusions reached by historians on examining the dialogue between Vishwamitra, and two rivers, Beas and Sutlej found in the Rigveda.

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Ans. Historians examined the dialogue between Vishwamitra, and two rivers, Beas and Sutlej found in the Rigveda and concluded that: • the hymn was composed in the area where these rivers flow • it was written in a society where horses and cows were valued animals as rivers were compared to horses and cows 5. Describe the burials found at Vedic sites. Ans. The dead in the Vedic age were buried with distinctive pots which are called Black and Red Ware. Various things have been found at the burials such as tools and weapons made of iron, ornaments made of stone and gold. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. List three differences between Archaeologists and Historians. Ans. Archaeologist

Historian

Archeologists study history through Historians study history physical evidence. documented evidence.

through

They are involved in field work: They study and analyze the past based digging and excavation of sites and the on written records of the past. analysis of artifacts and other physical remains/ruins. Archaeologists have more practical knowledge.

Historians have more theoretical knowledge. They study and write about the past and are regarded as authority on

2. How do scientists know whether the skeletons belonged to a man or woman? Ans. Scientists often decided whether the skeletons belonged to a man or woman based on jewellery found with the skeleton. However, since both men and women wore jewellery, the conclusions were not always correct. So, a more modern approach of determining the gender of skeletons found, is to see the hip or the pelvic area of women since it is generally larger to enable child bearing. 3. What are megaliths? Ans. About 3000 years ago, people started erecting megaliths. These were big stone boulders, carefully arranged by people to mark burial sites. This became a common practice in the Deccan region, south India, in north-east India and Kashmir. S ome megalithic burials have a single large stone or a circle of stone boulders marking burials underground. Sometimes, megaliths have more than one skeleton. It indicates that people belonging to the same family were buried at same place though at different times.

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4. Where was Inamgaon situated? Describe the burials found in Inamgaon. Ans. Inamgaon, situated on the river Ghod, a tributary of the Bhima, was occupied between 3600 and 2700 years ago. Several burials were found in this site. Adults were usually buried in the ground. They were made to lay out straight, with their heads facing the north. Some burials were within the houses. Vessels containing food and water for the dead were found buried too. In one such burials, the dead man was placed in a cross-legged position inside a four legged clay jar. The jar was placed in the courtyard of a big, five-roomed house, situated right in the middle of Inamgaon settlement. 5. Why were writings on animal bones found in China called oracle bones? Ans. Scribes, on the command of kings, wrote questions on animal bones such as: whether the kings would win battles, whether the harvest would be good or whether they would have sons. After this, the bones would be put into the fire. Once they cracked due to the heat, fortunetellers or soothsayers would study these cracks to predict the future. Often their interpretations were incorrect. Due to this, these writings came to be known as ‘oracle bones’.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Fill in the blanks: (i) About _____________ years ago, a famous physician named Charaka, wrote a book on medicine. (ii) Inamgaon was occupied between ___________ and __________ years ago. (iii) Around __________ years ago, the first evidence of writing on animal bones in China was found. (iv) Some megaliths can be seen on the_____________________, other megalithic burials are often __________________________. 2. Multiple choice questions: (i) Which of the following animals was held in high esteem in the Vedic Age. (a) dog

(b) goat

(c) cow

(d) tiger

(ii) When did the practice of erecting megaliths begin? (a) 2700 years ago

(b) 2900 years ago

(c) 3000 years ago

(d) 3500 years ago

(iii) How many types of Vedas are there? (a) 1 (c) 3

(b) 2 (d) 4

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3. Are the following statements true or false? (i) Historians like archaeologists, find out about the past from material remains. (ii) Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam belong to the Indo-European family of languages. (iii) Rajas and dasis could both perform sacrifices. (iv) Less than 200 years ago, the Rigveda was first written. 4. Match the columns. Column A

Column B

1.

Veda

(i)

2.

Agni

(ii)

3.

Indra

(iii)

god of fire

4.

Rishis

(iv)

Knowledge

5.

matr

(v)

warrior god Mother

sages

5 Chapter

Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic I. BASIC CONCEPTS

• Today the government of our nation is elected by the citizens. • Voting is an important right for our citizens in the current society as it impacts every aspect of our lives. • Prior to this, some of the rajas were perhaps chosen by the jana, the people. • However, 3000 years ago, some men became rajas by performing very big sacrifices.

Ajatasatru and the Vajjis • Digha Nikaya, a Buddhist book written about 2300 years ago contains speeches of the Buddha and an account of the Vajjis. • Ajatasatru sent Vassakara, his minister to Buddha, as he wanted advice on his decision to attack the Vajjis. • When Buddha realised Vajjis met frequently in full assemblies he said that the Vajjis would continue to prosper.

Varnas • The priests divided the society into four groups or varnas based on birth • Brahmins or priests: to study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices and receive gifts. • Rulers or Kshatriyas: to fight battles and protect people. • Vish or the Vaishyas: farmers, herders and traders. • Shudras: serve the other three groups and could not perform any rituals. • Both the kshatriyas and the vaishyas could perform sacrifices but both women and shudras were not allowed to study the Vedas or perform sacrifices. • Many people opposed the Brahmin’s varna system.

Alexander • Over 2300 years ago, Alexander, a world conqueror from Macedonia in Europe, conquered parts of Egypt and West Asia. • When he came to the banks of the Beas and wanted to march further eastwards, his soldiers refused. They were scared since Indian rulers were supposed to have vast armies of foot soldiers, chariots and elephants.

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Elsewhere/Athens, Greece • Around 2500 years ago, the people of Athens set up a democratic government. • Free men, over the age of 30, were full citizens. • All citizens attended an assembly, at least 40 times a year, to decide on important matters. • Citizens were expected to serve in the army and the navy. • However, women were not considered citizens.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Men performed ashvamedha or horse sacrifice to become kings. •• During the ritual, a horse is set loose to wander freely but guarded closely by a small part of the raja’s army. •• Some kings would accept the raja as the supreme leader by allowing the horse to pass through their territory. •• However, some kings who tried to prevent the horse from entering their territory, were forced to fight a war with the raja who originally did the sacrifice. •• After a year the horse would return to the raja, who would then perform rituals to proclaim his position as an unchallenged raja by priests, who performed the ritual and sprinkled sacred water on the king and in return received gifts. •• Shudras were excluded from many rituals. •• The raja being the central figure, sat on a throne or tiger skin. •• His charioteer narrated the tales of the raja’s exploits in the battlefield and sang his praises. •• Vedic Literature composed post-Rigveda period, in the region denied by the Ganga and the Yamuna is termed Later Vedic Literature. •• Later Vedic Literature includes Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda, etc. •• These were composed by priests who described how rituals were to be performed and listed the rules about society. •• There were different occupations like priests, warriors, farmers, herders, traders, craft persons, labourers, fishermen and forest people. Janapadas •• The rajas of janapadas (the land where the jana set its foot and settled down) were the ones who performed the big sacrifices. •• Archaeologists have excavated a number of settlements in these janapadas where people lived in huts, and kept cattle as well as other animals. •• They also grew a variety of crops — rice, wheat, barley, pulses, sugarcane, sesame and mustard. •• Painted Grey Ware, a special kind of pottery was found here. The grey pots had painted designs, usually simple lines and geometric patterns.

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Mahajanapadas •• Mahajanapadas emerged about 2500 years ago, when some janapadas became more important than others. •• There were 16 mahajanapadas: Anga, Assaka, Avanti, Chedi, Gandhara, Kamboja, Kashi, Kosala, Kuru, Magadha, Malla, Matsya, Panchala, Surasena, Vajji and Vatsa or Vamsa. •• Most mahajanapadas had a well-planned, fortified capital city, surrounded by walls made of wood, brick or stone by labourers comprising men, women and even children. •• The new rajas now began maintaining armies; soldiers were paid regular salaries year round. •• Punch marked coins was a mode of payments. •• The rulers of the mahajanapadas needed revenue for building huge forts and maintaining big armies. •• Farmers paid one-sixth of their produce as tax of what was produced. This was known as bhaga or a share. •• Craft people paid taxes too perhaps in kind, for example work for a day each month for the king. •• Herders paid taxes in the form of animals and animal produce, while huntergatherers in the form of forest produce. •• Traders paid taxes on goods that were bought and sold. •• The growing use of iron ploughshares and transplant of paddy helped to improve farming and yielded more produce. •• Using iron ploughshares, heavy, clayey soil could be turned over better than with a wooden ploughshare. •• People began transplanting paddy that is, grow saplings separately and then planted them in the fields instead of scattering seed on the ground. Magadha •• Magadha, emerged as the most important mahajanapada in about 200 years due to several reasons. → Rivers like Ganga and Sone flowing through this region, helped in transportation and in supplying water to the fertile land. → Forests too helped in development of this region. Elephants were captured from the forest region and trained for the army. Wood was collected from the forest for building houses, carts and chariots. → Iron ore mines in the region helped in the making of strong tools and weapons. •• Another important ruler, Mahapadma Nanda conquered up to the north-west part of the subcontinent. •• The capital of Magadha was shifted from Rajagriha (present-day Rajgir) in Bihar to Pataliputra (present-day Patna).

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Vajji •• Vajji became a powerful kingdom with its capital at Vaishali (Bihar). •• It had a different form of government, known as gana or sangha, where there were many rulers or rajas who performed rituals together. •• They met in assemblies, discussed and debated to decide what had to be done and how. •• Both the Buddha and Mahavira belonged to ganas or sanghas. •• Buddhists literature describes these sanghas elaborately.

III. KEYWORDS •• Ashvamedha: The ritual of horse sacrifice followed in Vedic religion. Ancient Indian kings proved their imperial sovereignty. •• Varna: Different groups in society on the basis of occupation. There were four varnas: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. •• Janapada: The land where the jana (people) set its foot and settled down. •• Mahajanapada: The more flourished, developed and powerful janapadas with fortifications are called Mahajanapada. •• Gana: A group with many members. •• Sangha: An organization or association •• Fortification: Defensive wall or reinforcement built to strengthen a city or capital of a kingdom. •• Army: Trained fighting force which mainly fights on land. •• Tax: Mandatory financial charge imposed by rulers or government upon a taxpayer. •• Transplantation: Transplantation of plants means growing seedlings from seed on a seedbed and then transferring the saplings to fields. •• Democracy: A form of government by the people who elects its representatives or government.

IV. DATE LINE

• • • •

About 3000 years ago – New Kinds of rojus (or rulers) About 2500 years ago – Mahajanapadas came into form About 2000 years ago – Alexander the great’s vision, composition About 1500 year ago – End of the Ganas or Sanghas.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 63-64) Let’s Recall 1. State whether True or False: (a) Rajas who let the ashvamedha horse pass through their lands were invited to the sacrifice.

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57

(b) The charioteer sprinkled sacred water on the king. (c) Archaeologists have found palaces in the settlements of the janapadas. (d) Pots to store grain were made out of Painted Grey Ware. (e) Many cities in mahajanapadas were fortified. Ans. (a) True, (b) False, (c) False, (d) True, (e) False. 2. Fill in the chart given below with the terms: hunter-gatherers, farmers, traders, craft persons, herders. Hunter gatherers, farmers, traders, craft-persons and herders—all paid taxes.

Recreated

3. Which were the groups that could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas? Ans. People who were not allowed to participate in the assemblies of ganas or sanghas were women, dasas and kammakaras. Let’s Discuss 4. Why did the rajas of mahajanapadas build forts? Ans. Rajas built forts for several reasons for example: • Forts were symbols of power, displaying the grandeur and the might of the raja. So, rajas built tall, powerful walls round their cities. • Forts made the cities secured from external attacks and protected the kingdom and its people. • It was easier to manage the land and people of fortified cities. 5. In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas? Ans. Today, in a democratic system of government, leaders are elected by the citizens, who have the ‘right to vote’. However, rulers in janapadas were not just chosen but became so by displaying their supremacy over other rulers. The rajas who performed big sacrices such as ashvamedha or horse sacrifice were considered to be more powerful than all the rulers in the mahajanapadas who allowed or were forced to allow the raja’s horse to cross their territory.

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Let’s Do 6. Find the state in which you live in the political map on page 136. Were there any janapadas in your state? If yes, name them. If not, name the janapadas that would have been the closest to your state, and mention whether they were to the east, west, north or south. Ans. The janapadas in the present-day Uttar Pradesh are in Panchala and Kosala. Purana Qila is another janapada in present-day Delhi. 7. Find out whether any of the groups mentioned in answer 2 pay taxes today. Ans. Farmers, traders and craft persons, mentioned in answer 2, pay taxes even today. 8. Find out whether the groups mentioned in answer 3 have voting rights at present. Ans. Voting rights are no longer decided by gender, profession or caste system. In fact, caste system and slavery have been abolished. Like every other citizen of a democratic nation, women, karmmakaras and dasas are entitled to vote after a specific age, as we follow the principle of universal adult franchise.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. _________________ is the present-day name of the city Rajagriha. 2. Farmers had to pay a tax to rulers that comprised one-sixth of their total produce. This was termed _______________. 3. Two religious leaders belonging to the sanghas or ganas in the later Vedic period were ____________ and _______________. 4. The capital of Vajji was the city of ______________________. 5. __________________, the Macedonian king wanted to conqueror the world. 6. There were _____________ mahanjanapadas. 7. _________________ and _________________ rivers that flew through contributed to its development as a mahajanapadas. Ans. 1. Rajgir, 2. bhagga, 3. Mahavira, Buddha, 4. Vaishali, 5. Alexander, 6. 16 7. Ganga, Sone II. Answer in one word or two: 1. Another name for horse sacrifice ritual. 2. A term to refer to a group that has many members. 3. A term used to refer to an organisation or association. 4. What is the name of present-day name of Patiliputra? 5. Name the special type of pottery found at janapadas. 6. Rajagriha is located in which contemporary Indian state?

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7. Name the new tool which was used to dig earth. 8. What work was done by the kammakaras? 9. Ajatasattu sent messenger to Buddha as he wanted to attack this kingdom. Name the kingdom. Ans. 1. Ashvamedha, 2. Gana, 3. Sangha, 4. Patna, 5. Painted Grey Ware, 6. Bihar, 7. Iron plough, 8. Transplantation of paddy, 9. Vajji III. Are the statements True or False? 1. Janapadas could be republics or monarchy. 2. When some janapadas gained control over large areas, they became mahajanapada. 3. Painted Grey Wares were used on by common people on a daily basis. 4. The army in the mahajanapadas were paid salary on a regular basis. 5. Books written after Samaveda were termed as Later Vedic Literature. Ans. 1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. During Ashvamedha, who sang the tales of the raja’s exploitations in the battlefield? (a) Priest (b) Vaishya (c) Charioteer (d) Other kings of the mahajanapadas 2. Who composed later Vedic literature? (a) Rajas (b) Priests (c) Kshatriyas (d) Vishs 3. Who studied and taught the Vedas, performed sacrifices and received gifts? (a) Rajas (b) Brahmins (c) Kshatriyas (d) Vishs 4. Who according to the Brahmins were responsible for fighting battles and protecting people? (a) Rajas (b) Brahmins (c) Vishs (d) Kshatriyas 5. Which section is not a part of the varna system? (a) Rajas (b) Brahmins (c) Kshatriyas (d) Vishs ANSWERS 1. (c)

2. (b)

3. (b)

4. (d)

5. (a)

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Social Science—VI (History)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why is the ashvamedha ritual important? Ans. The ashvamedha ritual helped in choosing a ruler. The ritual acted as a symbol of power and a process of acknowledging a king. 2. Who was the charioteer and what role did he play? Ans. The charioteer was the raja’s companion in the battlefield. He witnessed the raja’s exploits during battles and later chanted the tales of the raja’s accomplishments during ashvamedha. 3. In which area, later Vedic literature was composed? Ans. In the areas drained by the rivers Ganga and the Yamuna, later Vedic literature was composed. 4. Name the Vedas that constitute later Vedic literature. Ans. Later Vedic literature includes the Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda as well as other books too. 5. What privileges were enjoyed by wise saints? Or How were wise saints treated? Ans. Wise saints who followed different beliefs were respected and allowed to enter and leave the country freely. 6. What is the meaning of the word janapada? Ans. The word ‘janapada’ means the land where the ‘jana’ sets its foot and settles down. 7. Why did the rajas of mahajanapadas need to collect taxes? Ans. The rulers of the mahajanapadas needed to collect taxes as they were building huge forts and maintaining big armies. 8. What were the major changes in agriculture around this time? Ans. The growing use of iron ploughshares and transplant of paddy helped to improve farming and yield more produce. 9. Explain the concept of ‘transplanting paddy’. Ans. Transplanting paddy means growing saplings separately and then planting them in the fields instead of scattering seed on the ground from which plants grew. 10. Who was Alexander? Ans. Alexander, a Macedonian ruler from Europe, wanted to conquer the whole world. But he managed to conquer only parts of Egypt, West Asia and some parts of the South Asia. 11. Name 3 settlements in the janapadas excavated by archaeologists, the presentday cities and states they are located in.

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Ans. Settlements sites in the Janapadas

Cities

States

Purana Qila

Delhi

Hastinapur

Meerut

Uttar Pradesh

Atranjikhera

Etah

Uttar Pradesh

B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. How were the fortified city capitals of the mahajanapadas built? Ans. The rajas built tall, powerful well-planned walls to strengthen their kingdoms. These walls were made of bricks, stones and woods. Thousands, even lakhs of bricks or stones had be gathered and built by a huge number of labourers including men, women and children. 2. What were the sources of revenue for the rajas of mahajanapadas? Ans. The rajas of mahajanapadas had the following sources of revenue: •• occasional gifts brought by people or rajas of smaller kingdoms •• taxes collected from people on crops, from craft persons, herders, huntergatherers and traders. 3. In what ways were these armies in the later Vedic period different from those described in the Rigveda? Ans. During Rigveda period, there were no regular armies. Most men took part in the war whenever their kingdom needed to be defended. In the later period kings maintained and trained vast armies throughout the year, comprising foot soldiers, elephants and horse driven chariots. 4. Why is the Buddhist book Digha Nikaya famous? Ans. Digha Nikaya, a Buddhist book, gives a detailed account of the Vajjis and glimpses of life in the sanghas. The book also contains some of the speeches of the Buddha. The book had been written down about 2300 years ago. 5. Name crops which were grown by the Harappan people. Name any crop that was not grown by the Harappan people but was grown by people in the later Vedic age. Ans. Harappan people grew wheat, rice, barley, pulses, peas, sesame, mustard and linseed. In the later Vedic period, people grew rice, barley, pulses, sugarcane, sesame and mustard. 6. Can you think why kings would encourage the use of iron plough share and transplantation of paddy? Ans. The rulers would have encouraged the use of iron plough share and transplantation of paddy because these two activities led to increase in agriculture produce which meant more taxes for the rulers. Ruler needed revenue for maintaining large army.

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7. Name three important rulers of Magadha. Why were they famous? Ans. Bimbisara, Ajatasatru and Mahapadma Nanda were three famous rulers of Magadha. Bimbisara and Ajatasatru conquered other janapadas to strengthen and expand their kingdoms. Mahapadma Nanda extended his kingdom to the north-west part of the Indian subcontinent. He established the capital of Magadha in Rajagriha in Bihar which was later shifted to Patliputra. 8. Describe the earthen pots used by the people in janapadas. Ans. Grey or red coloured earthen pots of clay were made and used by the people living in janapadas. Painted Grey Ware was a special type of pottery found at these sites. These grey pots had simple lines and geometric patterns painted on them. C. Long Answers Type Questions 1. Describe ashvamedhas conducted by men to become kings. Ans. Men performed ashvamedha or horse sacrifice to become kings. •• During the ritual, a horse is set loose to wander freely but guarded closely by a small part of the raja’s army. Some kings would accept the raja as the supreme leader by allowing the horse to pass through their territory. •• However, some kings who tried to prevent the horse from entering their territory, were forced to fight a war with the raja who originally did the sacrifice. •• After a year the horse would return to the raja, who would then perform rituals to proclaim his position as an unchallenged raja by priests, who performed the ritual and sprinkled sacred water on the king and in return received gifts. •• Shudras were excluded from many rituals. These kings were invited to the ritual along with vish or Vaishya, all of whom brought gifts for the raja. •• The raja being the central figure, sat on a throne or tiger skin. His charioteer narrated the tales of the raja’s exploitations in the battlefield and sang his praises. His relatives, especially his wives and sons, had to attend the ceremony and even perform a variety of minor rituals. 2. Why did people oppose the system of varnas? Ans. Many people opposed the varna system laid down by the Brahmins due to the following reasons. •• Some kings thought they were superior to the Brahmins. •• Some believed that birth could not be a determinant for deciding the varna of a person. •• Others refused to differentiate among people based on occupation. •• Some believed that everyone should enjoy the right to perform rituals. •• Some even condemned the practice of untouchability. •• In some regions of the subcontinent such as the north-east, social and economic differences were minimal and so was the influence of the priests.

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3. How did Magadha become a powerful kingdom in the north? Ans. Magadha became a powerful kingdom in the north because of the natural features like rivers, forests and mineral resources that favoured development. (a) Many rivers like Ganga and Sone flowed through the region making the soil fertile and fit for agriculture. Also, these rivers were important for transport and water supplies. (b) Elephants found in the forest region of Magadha kingdom, were captured and trained for the army. The forests also provided wood that helped to build houses, carts and chariots. (c) Rajas who fought wars for several reasons, needed powerful weapons. Strong tools were also needed for agriculture and to clear forests. Magadha was rich in iron ore mines. Iron was thus used to make strong tools and weapons. 4. Explain the varna system. Ans. The priests divided people into four groups called varnas, each having its specific set of functions. •• Brahmins studied and taught the Vedas, performed sacrifices and received gifts. •• Kshatriyas were the warrior class who fought battles and protected their people. •• Vish or the vaishyas were farmers, herders, and traders. •• The shudras served the other three groups and were not allowed to perform any rituals. Like shudras, women were also not allowed to study the Vedas. 5. Describe the taxation system in the mahajanapadas in the later Vedic age. Ans. Taxes were collected by the rulers of the mahajanapadas as they needed revenue for building huge forts and maintaining big armies. Revenue comprised the occasional gifts brought by people, collection from other rajas of the janas and from taxes levied on farmers, herders, hunter-gatherers, craft people and traders. •• Farmers paid bhaga or a one-sixth of their share or produce as tax of what was produced. •• Craft people paid taxes too perhaps in kind, for example work for a day each month for the king. •• Herders paid taxes in the form of animals and animal produce, while hunter-gatherers in form of forest produce. •• Traders paid taxes on goods that were bought and sold.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Fill in the blanks: (i) The first evidence of democratic form of government was seen in ancient _________________. (ii) Most of the revenues for a mahajanapada came from ___________________.

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(iii) In the kingdom of ______________________, elephants were captured and trained for warfare. 2. Multiple Choice Questions: (i) To which of the varnas did Buddha and Mahavira belong to? (a) Rajas (b) Brahmins (c) Kshatriyas (d) Vishs (ii) Where did Alexander live? (a) Magadha (b) Macedonia (c) Vajji (d) Egypt (iii) At the banks of which river was Alexander forced to stop because of his troops? (a) Ganga (b) Beas (c) Narmada (d) Indus 3. Name the famous Buddhist book containing some of Buddha’s speeches. 4. Are the following statements true or false? (i) The shudras only served the rajas. (ii) Bimbisara and Ajatasatru were rulers of Vajji. (iii) Patliputra was the capital of Magadha. (iv) Farmers paid one-sixth of their produce as tax to their kings in the mahajanapadas. (v) The city of Vaishali is situated in present-day Uttar Pradesh. 5. Identify the different occupations prevalent during the later Vedic age and their social strata. 6. Describe the earthen pots used by the people in Janapadas.

6 Chapter

New Questions and Ideas I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Buddha/Gautama •• Siddhartha was born around 2500 years ago, in the Sakya gana, and was a Kshatriya. •• After meeting and holding discussions with other thinkers, he finally decided to meditate under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where he attained enlightenment. Since then he was known as the Buddha, the Wise One. •• He first preached at Sarnath, near Varanasi. Thereafter, he travelled on foot from place to place, teaching people, until he passed away at Kusinara. •• The Buddha taught that life is full of suffering and unhappiness due to thirst or ‘tanha’ meaning our unfulfilled cravings and desire for more. Moderation in everything can remove this ‘tanha’. He also taught people to be kind and respectful to living things. •• He believed that our actions or ‘karma’ impacted our lives on earth and the next. •• The Buddha taught in the language of the ordinary people, Prakrit, so that everybody could understand his message. Mahavira •• Vardhamana Mahavira, the most famous thinker of the Jainas, spread his message around 2500 years ago. •• He was a Kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was part of the Vajji sangha. •• He taught some simple doctrines. ♦ Men and women should leave their homes in search of the truth. ♦ They must adhere strictly to the rules of ahimsa, which means not hurting or killing the living beings. ♦ He encouraged people to be honest and not to lie or steal. ♦ He asked people to observe celibacy and give up everything including their clothes.

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•• Like Buddha, he preached in Prakrit to reach out to the masses. •• Jainism was supported mainly by traders. It spread to north India, and to Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. •• Initially, for several years, it spread through word of mouth. Only 1500 years ago, the teachings were written down. The written version is found in Valabhi, Gujarat. Panini, the Sanskrit grammarian arranged the vowels and consonants in a special order to create 3000 formulae like those found in Algebra.

The Story of Kisagotami After losing her only son, Kisagotami desperately roamed through the streets asking people to help her save her son. A man took pity on her and took her to the Buddha. Buddha explained everything that is born must eventually die. Acceptance of death alone can bring happiness.

Prakrit was the languages of the masses. There were several forms of Prakrit used in different regions, for example, the Prakrit spoken in Magadha was known as Magadhi. The Wise Beggar In Chhandogya Upanishad, Shaunaka and Abhipratarin, two sages worshipped the universal soul, came across a beggar, and refused to give him food. The beggar explained that since the universal soul fills the entire world and he was a part of the world, the universal soul filled him too. By denying him food, the sages were actually refusing food to the universal soul. The sages acknowledged the truth of this statement and agreed to share their food with him.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• The Upanishads (literally means approaching and sitting near) were part of the later Vedic texts, comprising simple dialogues between teachers and students. The Upanishad thinkers wanted to know about life after death. •• They questioned the need of performing sacrifices. They believed that the ‘atman’ (the individual soul) was permanent in the universe and would last even after death. •• Few woman thinkers, such as Gargi were famous. She participated in debates held in royal courts. •• Poor people seldom took part in these discussions in the Upanishads except Satyakama Jabala, who was named after Jabali, his slave mother. He learnt about reality from his Brahmin teacher named Gautama, one of the bestknown thinkers of his time.

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•• Shankaracharya, a famous thinker, later developed many of the ideas in the Upanishads. The Sangha •• Both the Mahavira and the Buddha felt that leaving one’s home was necessary to gain true knowledge. So, they arranged for people to stay together in associations called sanghas. •• Brahmins, Kshatriyas, merchants, labourers, barbers, courtesans and slaves joined the sanghas. •• Many wrote down the teachings of the Buddha while some even composed beautiful poems, describing their life in the sangha. Monasteries •• Both Jaina and Buddhist monks travelled from place to place throughout the year except monsoon, to teach people. •• Hence, during monsoon, they lived either in natural caves in hilly areas or temporary shelters built by their supporters in gardens. •• With time, the need for more permanent shelters was felt by many including the monks and nuns. Hence, monasteries or viharas were built. •• These permanent shelters were initially made of wood and then of bricks. Some viharas were even in caves that were dug out in hills, especially in western India. The System of Ashramas •• Around the time when Jainism and Buddhism were becoming popular, Brahmins developed the ashramas system to allow men to spend some part of their lives in meditation. •• The word ashrama does not mean a place where people live and meditate but refers to the four stages of life as recognized by the Brahmins. •• All three varnas—Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya—were expected to follow the four ashrama: brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and samnyasa. •• As women were not allowed to study the Vedas, they followed the ashramas chosen by their husbands. Elsewhere •• Zoroaster, an Iranian prophet, laid emphasis on “Good thoughts, Good words and Good deeds.” •• The book ‘Avesta’, comprising his teachings, shows the similarity of languages and practices with those of later Vedic age. •• In a verse from the ‘Zend Avesta’, Zoroaster prays to God for strength. Guided by truth and goodness, one will be able to attain peace and tranquility. •• Zoroastrianism was a major religion in Iran for over a thousand years. Later, some Zoroastrians migrated to the coastal towns of Gujarat and Maharashtra and are called Parsis.

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III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Tanha: An intense desire for life. Origin – Pali ‘taņhã’ meaning thirst. Prakrit: Ancient Indo-Aryan language or dialect other than Sanskrit. Upanishad: A class of philosophical Vedic treatises. Atman: The supreme individual self in Hinduism. Brahman: The supreme universal soul. Ahimsa: Refraining from harming any living being in according to Hindu and Buddhist doctrines. Jaina: An adherent of Jainism Sangha: A Buddhist or Jain religious or monastic community. Bhikkhu: A Hindu or Buddhist monk or religious mendicant. Vihara: A Buddhist monastery or temple. Monastery: An establishment for monks. A house for persons under religious vows. Ashrama: Any one of the four stages of the Brahmanic scheme of life – Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa.

IV. DATE LINE

• Around 2500 years ago – Upanishadic thinkers, the Jain teacher Mahavira and the Buddha lived and preached. • About 1500 years ago – Writing down of Jaina Texts.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 73-74) Let’s Recall 1. Describe the ways in which the Buddha tried to spread his message to the people. Ans. The Buddha tried to spread his message to the people by teaching in Prakrit. • Since it was the ordinary language of the commoners, everybody could understand it. • He travelled across different places on foot, teaching people. • He encouraged them to think for themselves and see things in a new light rather than simply following him or accepting what he said. 2. Write whether True or False: (a) The Buddha encouraged animal sacrifices. (b) Sarnath is important because it was the place where the Buddha taught for the first time. (c) The Buddha taught that karma has no effect on our lives. (d) The Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. (e) Upanishadic thinkers believed that the atman and Brahman were ultimately one. Ans. (a) False, (b) True, (c) False, (d) True, (e) True

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3. What were the questions that Upanishadic thinkers wanted to be answered? Ans. The Upanishadic thinkers wanted answer to several questions. • They wanted to know about life after death. • They questioned the need of performing sacrifices. • They believed that the ‘atman’ or individual soul was something permanent in the universe that would last even after death. They believed that ultimately both the atman and the Brahman were one. 4. What were the main teachings of the Mahavira? Ans. Some of the main teachings of the Mahavira were as follows: •• Men and women who wished to know the truth must leave their homes. •• They must follow very strictly the rules of ahimsa and not hurt or kill living beings. •• They were expected to: ♦ lead simple lives ♦ beg for food ♦ be absolutely honest ♦ had to observe celibacy Let’s Discuss 5. Why do you think Anagha’s mother wanted her to know the story of the Buddha? Ans. Anagha’s mother wanted her to know the story of the Buddha because she was visiting Varanasi from her school. Sarnath near Varanasi was the place where the Buddha taught people for the first time. So, she wanted Anagha to know the story of the founder of Buddhism and one of the greatest teachers of ancient times. His stories are inspirational. 6. Do you think it would have been easy for slaves to join the sangha? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. In order to join the sangha, people needed the permission of their parents or their masters. •• Slaves were owned by their masters and worked for them without wages. •• They were seen as inferiors. So, the masters in all probability, wouldn’t have given them the permission to do so. •• Since Buddhism didn’t encourage a social divisions and treated everyone with respect, slaves would not have been allowed by their masters to join the sangha. Let’s Do 7. Make a list of at least five ideas and questions mentioned in this lesson. Choose three from the list and discuss why you think they are important even today. Ans. Here are a list of five ideas and questions mentioned in the lesson that are important even today. •• Life is full of sufferings due to our unfulilled desires. People today are dissatisfied with what their material possession and life in general. Greed motivates them to attain what they wish for by unfair means. However, it is still believed that our actions 'Karma' will impact out current and next life.

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•• Upanishadic thinkers felt that something was permanent in the universe and it lasted even after death. Death is a part of life and acceptance can make one happy. •• People should be kind to each other and respect all lives. One should not hurt or kill other living beings. Every living thing desires to live and has a right to live. Even now animal sacrifice is questionable. •• People should be taught in their own language and lead simple lives. 8. Find out more about men and women who renounce the world today. Where do they live, what kinds of clothes do they wear and what kind of food do they eat? Why do they renounce the world? Ans. Mother Teresa had given up worldly pleasures at a very early age and served humanity. She wore a white cotton saree with a blue border and ate the simple food like commoners. The sufferings of the people, especially the people affected by leprosy and children without families, made her serve humanity. She started many homes to look after the sick, old, infants and orphans.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. The Buddha meditated under a tree at ________________ in _______________ where he attained enlightenment. 2. The Buddha first taught in __________________ in ________________. 3. Siddhartha was born in the ______________________ gana. 4. Most Upanishadic thinkers were men, especially _____________ and _______________. 5. __________________ were later Vedic texts containing conversations between teachers and students. Often, ideas were presented through simple dialogues. 6. ______________ and _______________ were two sages who worshipped the universal soul. 7. In a dialogue from the __________________ Upanishad, two sages met with a beggar while they were eating. The beggar changed their attitude. 8. ________________ Mahavira, the most famous thinker of the Jainas, spread his message around _________ years ago. Ans. 1. Bodh Gaya, Bihar, 2. Sarnath, Varanasi, 3. Sakya, 4. Brahmins, Rajas, 5. Upanishads, 6. Shaunaka, 7. Chhandogya, 8. Vardhamana, 2500 II. Answer in one word or two: 1. What was the language used to compose the Vedas? 2. In which language did Buddha teach? 3. What is the meaning of term ‘Buddha’? 4. What are two other names of the Buddha? 5. In which state is Varanasi situated in present-day India?

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6. Name the sorrowing mother who was taken to the Buddha. 7. Who wrote the 3000 rules of a language in short formulae? 8. What were the followers of Mahavira called? 9. What is the term used to mean not hurting or killing living beings? 10. Vardhamana belonged to which sangha? 11. What is the Prakrit word for beggars? 12. What is the last stage of ashrama known as? Ans. 1. Sanskrit, 2. Prakrit, 3. Wise One, 4.Gautama, Siddhartha, 5. Uttar Pradesh, 6. Kisagotami, 7. Panni, 8. Jainas, 9. Ahimsa, 10. Vajji sangha, 11. Bhikkhus/ Bhikkhunis, 12.Samnyasin III. Are the statements True or False? 1. The term ‘atman’ means the universal soul. 2. Shaunaka and Abhipratarin were two sages who worshipped atman. 3. The term ‘atman’ means the universal soul. 4. The Buddha mediated under a mango tree for several years to attain enlightenment. 5. Shaunaka and Abhipratarin were two sages who worshipped atman. 6. The word ‘tanha’ is used in Buddhist teachings to refer to unfulfilled human desires. 7. The Buddha is a kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis. 8. Jainas had to observe celibacy and give up everything including their homes and clothes in search of truth and knowledge. 9. Jainism spread to north India, and to Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. 10. In a verse from the ‘Zend Avesta’, Mahavira prays to God for strength; goodness and truth to help one find peace and tranquility. 11. Both Jaina and Buddhist monks travelled to different places to teach people throughout the year except monsoon. 12. The word ashrama means a place where people live and meditate. Ans. 1. False, 2. False, 3. False, 4. False, 5. False, 6. True, 7. False, 8. True, 9. True, 10. False, 11. True, 12. False

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. What is the meaning of ‘tanha’? (a) Our actions (b) Thirst (c) After life (d) Wise one 2. Where did the Buddha pass away? (a) Gaya (b) Kapilavastu (c) Kusinara (d) Sarnath

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3. To which of the four varnas did the Buddha belong to? (a) Brahmin (b) Kshatriya (c) Vaishya (d) Shudra 4. The Vinaya Pitaka is a sacred text of. _____________________. (a) Jainas (b) Jews (c) Sikhs (d) Buddhists 5. What was Satyakama’s mother’s name? (a) Jabali (b) Jabala (c) Gargi (d) Gautami 6. In which language did Panni write a book? (a) Prakrit (b) Devanagari (c) Sanskrit (d) Persian 7. Who was Satyakama’s teacher? (a) Siddhartha (b) Mahavira (c) The Buddha (d) Gautama 8. After how many years did Mahavira attain enlightenment? (a) 10 years (b) 12 years (c) 14 years (d) 15 years 9. Where is Zoroaster? (a) Egypt (b) Persia (c) Iraq (d) Iran 10. Who built the ashrama system? (a) Rajas (b) Brahmins (c) Kshatriya (d) Vaishya

1. (b) 7. (d)

2. (c) 8. (b)

ANSWERS 3. (b) 4. (b) 9. (d) 10. (b)

5. (a)

6. (c)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why did the Buddha leave home at the early age? Ans. The Buddha left the comforts of his home in search of knowledge. 2. Differentiate between atman and brahman. Ans. The term ‘atman’ means the individual soul whereas brahman means the universal soul. 3. Why did Buddha teach in Prakrit? Ans. Buddha taught in Prakrit because it was the language of the ordinary people. He wanted people to understand his message.

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4. Who was Gargi? Ans. Gargi was a famous Upanishadic thinker who participated in debates held in royal courts. 5. What does the term ‘Upanishad’ mean? Ans. The word ‘Upanishad’ literally means ‘approaching and sitting near’. 6. Who was Shankaracharya? Ans. Shankaracharya, a famous thinker, later developed many of the ideas in the Upanishads. 7. Describe the lifestyle of the Jainas. Ans. The Jainas are expected to lead a very simple life and beg for food. 8. How was the grammar for Sanskrit prepared? Ans. Vowels and the consonants were arranged in a special order and 3000 formulas created like those found in Algebra. These became the grammatical rules for Sanskrit. B. Short Answers Type Questions 1. Mention three important things taught by Buddha? Ans. Buddha taught life is full of suffering and unhappiness due to thirst or ‘tanha’ our unfulfilled craving and desire for more: Moderation in everything can remove this ‘tanha’. He also taught people to be kind and respectful to living things. He believed our actions on ‘karma’ effect our life on earth and the next. 2. What was Buddha trying to teach sorrowing mother? Ans. Buddha was trying to teach the sorrowing mother Kisagotami that death is a part of life and acceptance of it can only bring peace and acceptance. If we are scared of death and live in fear of the moment of death, either ours or our loved ones, we can never be happy. So, it is better to accept death when we know it is coming rather than fight this inescapable truth of life. 3. Who was Satyakama Jabala? Ans. Satyakama Jabala, was a poor person who took part in Upanishadic discussions. He was named after Jabali, his slave mother. He learnt about reality from Gautama, a Brahmin teacher and one of the best-known thinkers of the time. 4. Who needed whose permission to join the sanghas? Ans. Apart from men most people needed permission to join the sangha: slaves needed the permission of their masters, children of their parents, debtors of creditors, women of their husbands and those who worked for the king had to take his permission. 5. Why is the Vinaya Pitaka important? Ans. The Vinaya Pitaka comprises the rules of Buddhism and gives us of the picture of their lifestyle. Brahmins, kshatriyas, merchants, labourers, barbers, courtesans and slaves joined the sanghas and enjoyed equal status irrespective of their caste. There were separate branches for men and women. All men could join the sanghas but children, women, slaves, debtors and men who worked for king needed permission.

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6. How were the Buddhist sanghas different from other sanghas? Ans. The Buddhist Sanghas were groups formed by Buddhist nuns and monks from different walks of life who detached themselves from day-to-day issues of life and devoted their time to the quest of truth. They followed a simple life. Other sanghas were political groups who gathered together to decide on policy matters and issues of day to day management. 7. What is the difference between Buddhism and Jainism? Ans. The differences between Buddhism and Jainism are: •• Buddha was the founder of Buddhism whereas Jainism existed before Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankar. Mahavira reformed the practice of Jainism and made it simpler. •• Buddhism is centred on the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha, whereas Jainism is centred on the life and teachings of Mahavira. •• Buddhism primarily aims at gaining enlightenment whereas Jainism aims at non-violence and liberation the soul. •• One can become a Jina (liberated soul) by following the teachings of 24 Tirthankars.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Match the columns. Column A

Column A

(i)

1.

Brahmacharya

2.

Grihastha

3.

Vanaprastha

(iii)

Marry and live as householders

4.

Samnyasins

(iv)

Lead simple lives and study the vedas.

(ii)

Live in the forest and meditate Give up everything material

2. Fill in the blanks: (i) The written text of Jain teaching composed 1500 years ago is found in _________ in the state of ____________________. (ii) The word ____________________ means not hurting or killing other living beings. (iii) Another name for monasteries built for Jainas and Buddhists is _____________. (iv) Since women were not allowed to study the Vedas, they followed the ______________chosen by their husbands. 3. Why did farmers find it difficult to follow Jain rules? 4. Who joined the sanghas? 5. Who were allowed to join the sanghas without permission? 6. Who are Parsis?

7 Chapter

Ashoka, the Emperor Who Gave Up War I. BASIC CONCEPTS

• Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known in history. His empire was founded by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya. • After Kalinga ‘War’ he was horrified to see the bloodshed and violence. He gave up conquest after winning the Kalinga War. • He felt it is his duty to instruct his subjects just as a father does to his children. • Ashoka’s messages to his subjects were inscribed on stone pillars.

Tribute • Taxes were collected on a regular basis. • Tribute was collected whenever it was possible for some people to provide a variety of things, preferably willingly. • People lived independently in the forest region but were expected to supply elephants, timber, honey and wax for the Mauryan Army.

• Unlike kings, emperors needed more resources as empires were larger than kingdoms. So they needed big armies for protection. • Again, revenue was needed to fund these armies. A larger number of officials were thus employed to collect taxes.

Dynasty • When the members from one family inherited the throne by birth for generations, the family is often called a dynasty. • The Mauryas dynasty comprised three important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s son, Ashoka. • Pataliputra, the capital, was a large and beautiful city surrounded by a massive wall that had 570 towers and 64 gates. • The two and three storeyed houses were built of wood and mud brick. • The king’s palace was made of wood and decorated with stone carvings. There were gardens and enclosures for birds around the palace.

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• About 2400 years ago, before the Mauryan rule, emperors in China began building the Great Wall to protect the northern frontier of the empire from pastoral people. • Later, additions were made over a period of 2000 years to the wall as the frontiers of the empire kept shifting. • Several thousand people worked to build the wall. • This stone and brick wall is about 6400 km long and has a road along the top. • Watch towers had been built along the wall, at a distance of about 100 to 200 meter.

II. IN A NUTSHELL



•• Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire more than 2300 years ago with the support and guidance of a wise man named Chanakya or Kautilya or Vishnugupta. •• Some of Chanakya’s ideas on administration, economic system and military strategy in Sanskrit are found in a book called the Arthashastra. •• Patliputra was the capital of the empire. •• Other important Mauryan cities included Taxila, which was the gateway to the northwest and Central Asia, and Ujjain lay on the route from north to south. •• Farming and herding were the main occupations in the villages. In the forest regions people depended on forest produce and hunting for food. •• Merchants, officials and craft persons worked in cities. •• Even language spoken by people differed in different region. The probably ate different kinds of food, and wore different kinds of clothes as well. •• The different parts of the large empire were ruled differently. •• The Emperor controlled the capital directly and appointed officials, messengers and spies. He also supervised them with the help of members of the royal family, and senior ministers. •• Some of officials were paid salaries. These officials were responsible for: → Collecting taxes from farmers, herders, craft persons and traders living in villages and towns in this region. → Punishing those who disobeyed the emperor’s orders. •• The other areas or provinces were ruled from the provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain, with some amount of control from the capital. •• Royal princes were often sent as governors in these provinces. •• The Mauryas tried to control the vast areas between these centres, including roads and rivers to collect resources as tax and tribute and manage the transport. •• Megasthenes, an ambassador, was sent by Seleucus Nicator, the Greek ruler of West Asia, to Chandragupta’s court. Megasthenes recorded what he saw in his book. He wrote:

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•• During grand royal processions, an Emperor’s public appearance was celebrated with grandeur. He was carried on a golden palanquin by his guards. The guards rode elephants decorated with gold and silver. On such special occasions, the guards carried trees with live birds and a flock of trained parrots circling the head of the emperor. •• The Emperor would be surrounded by armed women to protect him. •• Even special servants were made to taste the food before the Emperor ate. •• The Emperor would never sleep in the same bedroom for two consecutive nights. •• Ashoka was the most famous Mauryan ruler who tried to reach out to the people through inscriptions. •• Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit written in the Brahmi script. •• In fact, most modern Indian scripts have developed from the Brahmi script over hundreds of years. •• Like a father trying to teach his children, a ruler had the responsibility of instructing his subjects. •• Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems: → People in the empire followed different religions leading to conflict. → Animals were sacrificed. → Slaves and servants were ill-treated. → People in families quarreled with each other and their neighbours. •• Inspired by the teachings of Buddha, he appointed officials or dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. •• His messages were also inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves. •• Ashoka also sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka. •• He built roads, dug wells, and built rest houses. Besides, he arranged for medical treatment for both human beings and animals.

III. KEYWORDS •• Empire: A large group of states or countries ruled by a single king or a number of kings, or a sovereign state. •• Capital: A city which functions as the administrative centre of a country or a state. •• Province: An administrative division of a country or an empire. •• Dhamma: Another term for ‘dharma’ (Sanskrit, meaning decree or custom). Essential quality or character. •• Messenger: A person who carries and/or conveys a message. •• Official: The activities and responsibilities of an authority or public body.

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IV. DATE LINE

• Around 2300 years ago – Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire • 269 BC – Ashoka Came on throne 273 BC – Ashoka’s reign began • 260 BC – War of Kalinga took Place 232 BC – Ashoka’s death • 185 BC – The end of Maurayan empire

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 82-83) Let’s Recall 1. Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan Empire. Ans. The main occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan Empire were farming, herding, hunting-gathering, handicrafts and trading. 2. Complete the following sentences: (a) Officials collected ____ from the area under the direct control of the ruler. (b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as _______. (c) The Mauryan rulers tried to control ________ and ______ which were important for transport. (d) People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with ___________. Ans. (a) tax; (b) governors; (c) rivers, roads; (d) elephants, timber, honey, and wax. 3. State whether true or false: (a) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west. (c) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra. (d) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal. (e) Most Ashoka’s inscriptions are in the Brahmi script. Ans. (a) False, (c) False, (d) False, (e) True Let’s Discuss 4. What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma? Ans. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems. •• People in the empire followed different religions leading to conflict. •• Animals were sacrificed. •• Slaves and servants were ill-treated. •• People in families quarrelled with each other and their neighbours 5. What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma? Ans. Ashoka adopted to spread the message of dhamma by employing the following means: •• He appointed dhamma mahamatta or officials who were expected to travel from place to place, teaching people about dhamma. •• He also got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars. •• He instructed his officials to read the inscriptions to those who could not read it themselves.

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•• His inscriptions were written in Prakrit, the language of the common people as he wanted to reach out to the masses. •• He also sent his messengers to distant lands such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka to teach people about the basic ideas of dhamma. 6. Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the Emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. The slaves and servants were mostly prisoners of wars, owned by their masters, with no freedom to follow their interests. They were mostly not given wages and had to do the menial work assigned to them by their master. Thus, with no power or law to safeguard their interest, they were ill-treated. Hence, an order froms the head of the state, the Emperor would have improved their living conditions. The Emperor could either have freed the slaves or punished their masters for ill-treating their slaves or servants. Let’s Do 7. Write a short paragraph explaining to Roshan why the lions are shown on our currency notes. List at least one other object on which you see them. Ans. The lions on Indian currency and coins represent the stone lions made and placed on top of the massive stone pillar at Sarnath by Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor, with inscriptions carved on it. The Ashoka’s pillar at Sarnath has 4 lions sitting back to back. The lions represent Buddha, who himself symbolized a lion and the four core spiritual philosophies of Buddha. It also signifies constant watchfulness over all four directions. It is also believed to symbolize Ashoka’s rule in four directions. Like all other Buddhist followers, Ashoka wanted to spread the message of peace and friendship. Post-independence, India wanted to spread the same message. So the emblem of 4 lions is seen on Indian currency and coins, cars of Indian dignitaries like the President and Prime Minister of India. 8. Suppose you had the power to inscribe your orders, what four commands would you like to issue? Ans. (Encourage students to be creative) The four orders could be: •• Respecting elders, all religions and the laws of the country. •• Treating all people as equal and not discriminating against each other. •• Ensuring everyone had the right to education including boys and girls. •• Settling differences and disputes amicably, through discussion and not resorting to violence.

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VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Chanakya was also known as _____________ and ________________. 2. The Mauryan Empire was ruled both from the capital and the ____________. 3. A large number of officials were appointed to collect __________________. 4. North-west India was important for ________________ in the Mauryan era. 5. Resources were collected as_________________ from different regions. 6. The Emperor sent his sons to provinces as ______________. 7. The forest region in the Mauryan Empire provided the Emperor with _________________, ______________, _______________ and _____________. 8. During grand royal processions, the Emperor was carried in a golden ____________. 9. Ashoka appointed officials ______________ who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. 10. The city of _______________ is located on the route from north to south. Ans. 1. Kautilya, Vishnugupta, 2. Provinces, 3. Taxes, 4. Blankets, 5. Tribute, 6. Governors, 7 . Elephant, timber, honey and wax, 8. Palanquin, 9. Mahamatta, 10. Ujjain II. Answer in one word or two: 1. Who were appointed by the Emperor to keep a watch on the officials? 2. What were collected from south India during Mauryan era? 3. Who were sent to take charge of provinces? 4. Name the Greek ruler from West Asia who sent Megasthenes to the Mauryan Empire. 5. What is Ashoka’s code of conduct called in Prakrit? 6. Whose teachings inspired Emperor Ashoka? 7. After which war did Ashoka choose the path of non-violence? 8. Name a prosperous kingdom that lay between the rivers Godavari and Mahanadi. 9. After how many years of the Kalinga War, Ashoka inscribed his message on the Sarnath Pillar? 10. What is the ancient name of coastal Orissa? Ans. 1. Spies, 2. Gold and precious stones, 3. Royal Princes, 4. Seleucus Nicator, 5. Dhamma, 6. Buddha, 7. Kalinga War, 8. Kalinga 9. Two, 10. Kalinga III. Are the statements True or False? 1. Ashoka was Chandragupta Maurya’s son. 2. Ashoka believed that rituals like sacrifices made for family and friends were useful.

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3. Arthashastra was written by Kautilya. 4. Craftsperson lived in villages in the Mauryan Empire. 5. People living in different parts of the Mauryan Empire spoke different languages. 6. Dhamma is the Sanskrit word for the Prakrit term ‘Dharma’. 7. Ashoka’s dhamma involved worship of an idol and performance of a sacrifice. 8. Ashoka arranged for medical treatment for both humans and animals in his empire. 9. The gateway to the north-west, including the Central Asia is Ujjain. 10. The Prakrit language gave birth to the Pali language. Ans. 1. False, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True, 6. False, 7. False, 8. True, 9. False, 10. True

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Who supported Chandragupta Maurya during his reign? (a) Kautilya (b) Bimbisara (c) Ajatashatru (d) Nanda 2. Name of capital of Mauryan Empire. (a) Kalinga (b) Pataliputra (c) Taxila (c) Ujjain 3. Where is Pataliputra situated in present-day India? (a) Pune (b) Puducherry (c) Panaji (d) Patna 4. After how many years of becoming Emperor did Ashoka conquer Kalinga? (a) 4 years (b) 6 years (c) 8 years (d) 10 years 5. How many towers were there on wall surrounding the capital of Mauryan Empire? (a) 564 (b) 570 (c) 576 (d) 764 6. Which of the following use Brahmi script? (Select all the correct options.) (a) Urdu (b) Devanagari (c) Prakit (d) Santali 7. At what distance were the watch towers along the Great Wall of China built? (a) 50 to 100 m (b) 50 to 100 km (c) 100 to 200 m (d) 150 to 250 m 8. When did the Emperors in China begin building the Great Wall of China? (a) 1800 years ago (b) 2000 years ago (c) 2400 years ago (d) 2800 years ago 9. When were additions to the Great Wall of China made? (a) 1800 years ago (b) 2000 years ago (c) 2400 years ago (d) 2800 years ago

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2. (b) 8. (c)

ANSWERS 3. (d) 4. (c) 9. (b)

5. (b)

6. (b) and (c)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Write an important historical event which took place more than 2300 years ago. Ans. Chandragupta Maurya founded an empire more than 2300 years ago. 2. Who supported Chandragupta? Ans. A wiseman named Chanakya (or Kautilya) 3. Make a list of important cities of the Mauryan Empire. Ans. 1. Pataliputra (The Capital town) 2. Texile 3. Ujjain. 4. Why was the Mauryan Empire ruled from different parts? Ans. The Mauryan Empire was so large that different parts of the Empire had to be ruled from different parts. 5. Name the countries where Ashoka’s inscriptions have been found. Which Indian states were outside the empire? Ans. Ashoka’s inscriptions have been found in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 6. What happens when a land is conquered? Ans. When a land is conquered, thousands of people die and many are taken prisoners. 7. Why are watch towers built along forts? Ans. A watch tower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world on an elevated and safe point from where guards can observe the surrounding area. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What do you learn from Arthashastra? Ans. Chanakya wrote the book Arthashastra in Sanskrit during the Mauryan period. We learn from the book that: •• north-west was important for blankets •• south India for its gold and precious stones •• the Mauryan administration, economic system and military strategy 2. How were empires different from kingdoms? Ans. Unlike Kings, Emperors needed more resources as empires were larger than kingdoms. So they needed big armies for protection. Again, revenue was needed to fund these armies. A larger number of officials were thus employed to collect taxes.

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3. Write a short note on Rampurwa Bull. Ans. The Rampurwa bull is a finely polished stone sculpture. It is a part of a Mauryan pillar found in Rampurwa in the present-day Bihar. It has now been placed in Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is an example of the skill of the sculptors of the time. 4. What is the difference between tribute and tax? Ans. During the Mauryan rule, the appointed officials were in charge of collecting taxes on a regular basis. It was compulsory for the people to pay them and punishable if people failed to pay it. Tribute however, was collected not on regular basis. Tributes were more like gifts that were given to the rulers by people more or less willingly. 5. Give reasons to prove that Ashoka was a unique ruler. Ans. Ashoka was considered to be a unique ruler because he was the only king in the world history who gave up conquest after winning a war. He tried to spread his message to the masses through inscriptions. Inspired by Buddhism, he came up with the policy of dhamma, a system of beliefs created out of different religious faiths and propagated it but not by condemning other religions. 6. Describe the city of Pataliputra as stated by Megasthenes in his book. Ans. The large and beautiful capital city of Pataliputra of the Mauryan Empire was surrounded by a massive wall that had 570 towers and 64 gates. The two and three storeyed houses were built of wood and mud brick. The king’s palace was made of wood and decorated with stone carvings. There were gardens and enclosures for birds around the palace. 7. What were the main occupations of the people in the Mauryan Empire? Ans. The occupations of the people in the Mauryan Empire differed in different areas. People in the villages were mainly farmers and herders. In the forest regions of central India people depended on forest produce and hunting for food. Merchants, officials and craft persons worked in cities and towns. Officials were appointed by the emperor to collect taxes and spies to keep an eye on the officials. Salaried armed forced were present to protect and defend the empire. 8. Describe the Great Wall of China. Ans. The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest wonders of the world, listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. The wall is made of stone and brick wall and is about 6400 km long. It has a road along the top. Watch towers had been built along the wall, at a distance of about 100 to 200 meters. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Describe the administration of the Mauryan Empire. Ans. The different parts of the large Mauryan Empire were ruled differently. •• The Emperor controlled the capital directly and appointed officials who supervised them with the help of members of the royal family and senior ministers.

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•• Some of officials were paid salaries. These officials were responsible for collecting taxes from farmers, herders, craft persons and traders living in villages and towns in this region and punishing those who disobeyed the emperor’s orders. •• Messengers and spies were appointed to keep an eye on the officials. •• The other areas or provinces were ruled from the provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain, with some amount of control from the capital. Royal princes were often sent as governors in these provinces. •• Local customs and rules were probably followed. The Mauryas tried to control the vast areas between these centres, including roads and rivers to collect such resources as tax and tribute and manage the transport. 2. What was Ashoka’s dhamma? Ans. Ashoka’s dhamma did not encourage the worship of a god or any form of sacrifice. Like a father trying to teach his children, a ruler had the responsibility of instructing his subjects. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve the following problems. •• People in the empire followed different religions leading to conflict. •• Animals were sacrificed. •• Slaves and servants were ill-treated. •• People in families quarrelled with each other and their neighbours. Inspired by the teachings of the Buddha, he appointed officials or dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. His messages were also inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves. Ashoka also sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka. He built roads, dug wells, and built rest houses. Besides, he arranged for medical treatment for both human beings and animals. 3. What was Ashoka’s message to his subjects? ns. People performed different rituals for the welfare of their loved ones and A themselves. Ashoka believed that instead of performing these rituals, people should observe fruitful practices like: •• being gentle with slaves and servants •• respecting one’s elders •• treating all creatures with compassion •• giving gifts to brahmins and monks He believed that it was wrong to praise one’s own religion or criticise others. One should try to understand the main ideas of another’s religion and respect it.

4. Describe Ashoka’s inscription including the Kalinga War in your own words. Ans. Ashoka’s inscription states that after 8 years of becoming an Emperor, he conquered Kalinga. Here he had captured about one and a half lakh people and killed more than a lakh. But this massacre had filled him with immense sorrow.

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Whenever an independent land is conquered, many people die while others are held captive. Brahmins and monks also die. People who are kind die. Loved ones die. This was why Ashoka decided to follow Buddhism and teach dhamma, to win people with love and not by force. In fact, he even wanted his successors not to think about war but to spread dhamma.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Name some of the countries where Ashoka sent his officials to spread Dhamma. 2. Which area was under the direct control of the emperor? 3. Who was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru? 4. What did Jawaharlal Nehru think about the inscriptions of Ashoka? 5. Why was the Great Wall of China built? 6. Why were additions to the Great Wall of China made?

8 Chapter

Vital Villages, Thriving Towns I. BASIC CONCEPTS • Sangam literature—composed and compiled at around 2300 years ago in assemblies or sangams of poets in Madurai— is considered to be the earliest Tamil compositions • Jatakas were stories, probably composed by ordinary people, and then written down and preserved by Buddhist monks.

Iron Tools and Agriculture • Around 3000 years ago, the use of iron started in the subcontinent. Evidences of this have been found in the megalithic burial sites. • However, the use of iron tools such as axes for clearing forests and the iron ploughshare to increase agricultural production increased since around 2500 years ago.

The Story of Barygaza • The port of Bharuch at the mouth of the river Narmada in Gujarat in western India was an important town during this time. • Experienced local fishermen, employed by the king, could only navigate through the narrow gulf at Barygaza. • Wine, copper, tin, lead, coral, topaz, cloth, gold and silver coins were imported into Barygaza. • Himalayan plants, ivory, agate, carnelian, cotton, silk and perfumes were exported from Barygaza.

Coins • Several thousands of coins belonging to this era have been found by archaeologists. • The earliest dating back to 500 years were punchmarked coins, with designs punched on the silver or copper. Other Means of Exchange • A poem from the Sangam collection states how salt merchants exchanged salt for white paddy. • They travelled through long roads and deserts on their carts in moonlit nights.

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Women Employment • Widows, differently abled young women, nuns, mothers of courtesans, retired women servants of the king or those who were in service in temples processed wool, bark, cotton, hemp and flax in exchange of payment depending on the quality and quantity of work they did. • Maidservants of women who could not leave their homes, would collect the material from the superintendent and return the completed product to them. • Women who were allowed to go to the workshops, had to reach the dawn to submit their work and receive their wages. Enough light was needed to scrutinize their work. • Superintendent were punished if they tried to engage women in anything other than their work. • Women paid fine for incomplete work. At times even their thumbs could be cutoff.

II. IN A NUTSHELL



•• The increase in agricultural produce was because of advanced iron tools and the system of transplantation.The prosperous villages paid more taxes to the kings and kingdoms. Similarly, the kings sponsored the irrigation system that included canals, wells, tanks and artificial lakes. •• The stages in the construction of irrigation works are as follows: 1. Kings need money for armies, palaces and forts. 2. They demand taxes from farmers. 3. Farmers have to increase production to pay taxes. 4. This is possible with irrigation. 5. Kings provide money and plan irrigation work. 6. Labour is provided by the people. 7. Production increases. 8. So does revenue. 9. Farmers also benefit because crop production is more certain. •• Different kinds of people lived in a village in the southern (Tamil) and northern parts of the subcontinent. •• In the northern part of the country, the headman or the grama bhojaka—a hereditary position usually held by the largest landowner—acted as the judge and a policeman for the villagers. •• The headman usually had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land. •• If the headman was powerful, the king would collect taxes from the village. •• Sculptures (a site with stupas in Sanchi in present-day Madhya Pradesh) have been found depicting peoples’ lives in cities, towns, villages and forests were used to decorate railings, pillars and gateways of buildings. •• Many of these fortified cities, developed about 2500 years ago, were capitals of the mahajanapadas.

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•• There are very few remains of palaces, markets or of homes of ordinary people. Perhaps those made of wood, mud brick and thatch have not survived the ravages of time. •• Some cities like Mathura, which are more than 2500 years old, are significant for several reasons. It was located at the intersection of two major routes of travel and trade — from the northwest to the east and from north to south. The fortified city had several shrines. •• Farmers and herders from surrounding areas supplied food to the city. •• Men and sometimes women offered gifts to these religious places. These have been inscribed on stone surfaces. Even statues gifted by people living in cities—kings and queens, officers, merchants, and craft persons—have been found in Mathura. The short inscriptions make reference to blacksmiths, goldsmiths, basket makers, garland makers, weavers and even perfumers. •• Archaeological evidence of Northern Black Polished Ware have been found in the northern subcontinent. This extremely fine pottery was usually found black in colour, with a fine sheen. •• Texts show the importance of manufacturer of cloth in centres like Varanasi in the north and Madurai in the south, where both men and women worked. •• Many craft persons and merchants formed groups/associations called shrenis that helped in providing training, procuring raw material, distributing the finished product and organising the trade. •• They also served as banks, where rich people deposited money, which was invested. •• A part of the interest was either returned or given to religious institutions like monasteries. •• Chanakya’s Arthashastra describes how the weavers would spin and weave in the workshops under the supervision of special officials appointed by the emperor. •• Around 1900 to 2200 years ago, Arikamedu coastal settlement in Pondicherry became an important port where goods from distant lands were unloaded. •• A massive brick structure, probably a warehouse, was found at the site. •• Other things that were found in this region included: → Amphorae, which was a pottery from the Mediterranean region. It was a tall double-handled jars used to store liquids such as wine or oil. → Stamped red-glazed pottery called Arretine Ware, named after a city in Italy, was also found here. This was made by pressing wet clay into a stamped mould. → Local pottery imitating Roman designs have been found. → Lamps, glassware and gems from Rome have also been found. •• Small tanks have been found that were probably dyeing vats, used to dye cloth. •• There is plenty of evidence for the making of beads from semi-precious stones and glass.

Elsewhere •• Rome was of one of the oldest European cities and the capital of one of the largest empires stretching across Europe to West Asia and North Africa.

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•• It emerged about the same time as the cities in the Ganga valley. •• Augustus, an important emperor who ruled about 2000 years ago, was considered to be the founder of the city. •• He and his successors transformed the city of bricks to the city of marble comprising temples, palaces, huge amphitheatres and public baths. •• Amphitheatres were pen grounds surrounded by tiers of seats. Citizens gathered here to watch all kinds of shows. Men and women met at amphitheatres and baths to relax and socialize. •• Huge aqueducts (channels to supply water) were built to bring water to the city, including the baths, fountains and toilets.

III. KEYWORDS •• Village: A settlement generally larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. •• Irrigation: To supply water to an area of land through pipes so that crops will grow. •• Vallalar: By land owners in the Tamil region. •• Kadaissizar: handless labourers in the Tamil region. •• Admiai: Scaves in the Tamil regions. •• Gramabhojaka: Village headman in the northern region. •• Monkbteries: Building in which monk live together. •• Satrapes: The military commanders under Sakas. •• Iron: Metal Principally used for making tools and machines. •• Vots: A large the such as in used for making urine of for tanning. •• Port: A town containing a harbour where loading and unloading of goods are done. •• Ring Well: Rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one above another seemed to be used as toilets or garbage dumps. •• City: A settlement larger and more crowded than a town. •• Shreni: A group of merchants who provided training, procured raw material, and distributed finished products. •• Sangam: Some of the earliest works in Tamil composed around 2300 years ago. They were composed and compiled in assemblies.

IV. DATE LINE •• About 3000 years ago – New kinds of rajas. Beginning of the use or iron in the subcontinent. •• About 2500 years ago – For metion of Mahajanapadas. Increase in the use of iron, cities puch marked coins. •• About 2000 years ago – Beginning of the composition of sangam literature. •• Between 2000 and 1900 years ago – Settlement in Arikamedu. •• About 1500 years ago – end of the Genas or Sanghesh.

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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 97-98) Let’s Recall 1. Fill in the blanks: (a) ———————— was a word used for large landowners in Tamil. (b) The grama bhojaka often got his land cultivated by the ————————. (c) Ploughmen were known as ———————— in Tamil. (d) Most grihapatis were ———————— landowners. Ans. (a) Vellalars, (b) slaves and hired workers, (c) uzhavar, (d) small 2. Describe the functions of the grama bhojaka. Why do you think he was powerful? Ans. The position of village headman or the grama bhojaka in northern India was a hereditary position usually held by the largest landowner. He performed the following functions: •• acted as the judge for the villagers •• played the role of a policeman in his village •• used slaves or hired workers to cultivate his land •• collected taxes for the king, if he was powerful 3. List the craft persons who would have been present in both villages and cities. Ans. The craft persons who would have been present in both villages and cities were the blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenter, basket or garland makers and even perfumers. 4. Choose the correct answer: (a) Ring wells were used for: (i) bathing (ii) washing clothes (iii) irrigation (iv) drainage (b) Punch marked coins were made of: (i) silver (ii) gold (iii) tin (iv) ivory (c) Mathura was an important: (i) village (ii) port (iii) religious centre (iv) forested area (d) Shrenis were associations of: (i) rulers (ii) crafts persons (iii) farmers (iv) herders Ans. (a) (iv) drainage, (b) (i) silver, (c) (iii) religious centre, (d) (ii) crafts persons Let’s Discuss 5. Which of the iron tools shown on page 87 would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for? Ans. The sickle was an important tool used for cultivation. The axe was used to chop wood and clear forests. The tongs were used to hold objects by the ironsmiths.

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6. Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice? Ans. Today we have underground drainage system with covered drains linking our kitchens, bathrooms and toilets to the main sewerage system outside through pipelines. In early cities, they had ring wells in individual houses where rows of pots or ceramic rings were arranged one on top of the other. These were either used as toilets or as drains and garbage dumps. Let’s Do 7. If you have seen craft persons at work, describe in a short paragraph what they do. (Hint: how do they get the rawmaterials, what kind of equipment they use, how do they work, what happens to the finished product). Ans. Craftsmen like weavers, goldsmith and blacksmith are seen both in villages and towns. Weavers mostly work in villages. Traditional weavers use handlooms to interlace at right angles two or more yarns to form a fabric or cloth. Blacksmiths heat and beat metal rods into shape. 8. List the functions performed by men and women who live in your city or village. In what ways are these similar to those performed by people who lived in Mathura? In what ways are they different? Ans. Men and women living in cities work hard to earn their livelihood like people living in the early city of Mathura. People still work as weavers, carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenter, basket or garlandmakers and even perfumers. However, men and women living in cities work in offices, banks, educational institutions and enjoy more freedom than those living in the early city of Mathura.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. _________________ works that were built during 2500 years ago included canals, wells, tanks, and artificial lakes. 2. Sangam literature was composed around _________________ years ago. 3. Stories from Jataka were preserved and written down by ______________ monks. 4. Many of the fortified cities that emerged around 2500 years ago were capitals of the _________________. 5. In many fortified cities, __________ rings, arranged one on top of the other, have been found, usually in individual houses. 6. Metallic, punched marked coins circulated around 2500 years ago, were in use for about ________________ years. Ans. 1. Irrigation, 2. 2300, 3. Buddhist, 4. Mahajanapada, 5. ceramic, 6. 500

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II. Answer in one word or two: 1. What is an assembly of gathering of literacy persons called? 2. What were landless labourers called? 3. Where was Sangam literature composed? 4. Name the material used to make a farm tool that helped increase agricultural produce around 2500 years ago. 5. What is the meaning of the term ‘Jataka’? 6. Coins were made of which material? 7. What was the Greek name of Port of Bharuch? 8. What is the Tamil word for a slave? 9. What is the capital city of Emperor Augustus Caesar? 10. Sanchi is located in which present-day state of India? Ans. 1. Sangam, 2. Kadaisiyars, 3. Madurai, 4. Iron, 5. Stories, 6. Copper and Silver, 7. Barygza, 8. Adimai, 9 . Rome, 10. Madhya Pradesh III. Are the statements True or False? 1. The use of iron ploughshare gained popularity around 3000 years ago. 2. Mathura became the second capital of the Gupta dynasty. 3. Some of the earliest works in Tamil is known as the Sangam Literature. 4. Northern Black Polished Wares were called so as they were exclusively designed in the northern part of the subcontinent. 5. Irrigation is the process of watering crops using canals, wells, tanks and dams. 6. Pottery from desert region of Sahara has been found in Arikamedu. 7. Alexander transformed the city of Rome from bricks to marble. 8. The Port of Barygaza was described by the Greek sailor as one that had a narrow gulf. 9. The young, clever poor man of the Jataka story took up four different occupations. 10. The largest collection of iron tools and weapons has been found in Megalithic burial sites. Ans. 1. False, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5 . True, 6. False, 7. False, 8. True, 9. False, 10. True

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. What are independent farmers called? (a) Grama bhojakas (b) Grihapatis (c) Griha bhojakas (d) Dasa kamakaras 2. In which city is Arikamedu located in present-day? (a) Pondicherry (b) Trivandrum (c) Mumbai (d) Chennai 3. What were the different roles performed by grama bhojaka? (Select all the correct options.) (a) Policeman (b) Potter (c) Judge (d) Tax collector

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4. Who worked in the fields owned by others? (a) Grama bhojakas (b) Grihapatis (c) Griha bhojakas (d) Dasa kamakaras 5. When did the use of iron start in the subcontinent? (a) 3000 years ago (b) 3300 years ago (c) 2300 years ago (d) 2000 years ago 6. Arretine Ware is named after a city in which European country? (a) Portugal (b) Britain (c) France (d) Italy 7. Which of the following group of people didn’t belong to the shrenis? (a) headmen (b) blacksmith (c) potter (d) carpenter 8. Why were canals, lakes, artificial tanks and wells built? (a) For beautification of cities (b) To encourage trade (c) For irrigation (d) For transport across cities and towns 9. Iron was used to make which of the following tools? (a) Axe (b) Sickle (c) Tongs (d) All the options are correct (e) None of the options are correct 10. What led to the construction of irrigation work? (Select all the correct options) (a) Farmers had to increase production to pay taxes. (b) Everybody had to provide labour for irrigation work. (c) Kings needed money for armies, palaces and forts. (d) Craftsmen volunteered to construction irrigation system in villages.

1. (b) 7. (a)

2. (a) 8. (c)

ANSWERS 3. (a), (c), (d) 4. (d) 9. (d) 10. (a), (c)

5. (a)

6. (a)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Write a short note on Jatakas. Ans. Jatakas were the stories composed by ordinary people and then written down and preserved by the Buddhist monks. 2. What kinds of special gift were brought by merchants for the king in Barygaza? Ans. The merchants brought vessels of silver, singing boys, beautiful women, fine wines and clothes for the king in Barygaza. 3. Write a short note on Arretine Ware. Ans. Arretine Ware was a stamped red-glazed pottery found in Arikamedu, named after an Italian city. The pottery was made by pressing wet clay into a stamped mould.

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4. What are amphitheatres and why were they built? Ans. Amphitheatres were stadiums surrounded by tiers of seats. Citizens met here to relax and watch different kinds of shows. 5. What was the function of small tanks found in Arikamedu? Ans. Small have been found in Arikamedu. They were perhaps used as dyeing vats. People used these to dye clothes. 6. Write a short note on Sangam Literature. Ans. Sangam literature is one of the earliest works in Tamil composed around 2300 years ago. They were composed and compiled in ‘sangam’ or assemblies of poets that were held in Madurai. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Who were employed by superintendents? Ans. Widows, differently abled young women, nuns, mothers of courtesans, retired woman servants of the king or were in service in temples were employed by superintendents. Also, maidservants of women who could not leave their homes or women who were allowed to go out of their houses worked for the superintendents from their households. 2. Why was the city of Mathura famous? Ans. The city of Mathura was at the intersection of two major routes of travel and trade. This made the city prosperous. It was the capital of the Kushanas and also known for its fine sculpture. It was also a religious site, known as the place for the worship of Lord Krishna. It has housed many Buddhist monasteries and Jain shrines. 3. What is the importance of the port of Arikamedu? Ans. It was around 1900 to 2200 years ago, Arikamedu a coastal settlement in Pondicherry, became an important port where goods from distant lands were unload. Different types of pottery like the amphorae, Arretine Ware, local pottery imitating Roman designs and lamps, glassware and gems from Roman Empire show that this trade centre was connected to the wider world like Rome and the Mediterranean region. 4. Write three things that were done to improve the economic condition of villages. Ans. The kings and kingdoms could only prosper if they supported the villages to prosper as they were sources for tax collection. So new tools like (i) iron ploughshare and (ii) system of transplantation was introduced. Apart from these, (iii) the system of irrigation built during this time including canals, wells, tanks and artificial lakes, helped to increase agricultural productivity and hence revenue. 5. Write a short note on ring wells found in Delhi. Ans. Archaeologists have found ‘ring wells’ in Delhi. This were found usually in individual houses. The ‘ring wells’ were made of rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other. They were used either as toilets or as drains and garbage dumps. 6. What was the contribution of Shrenis? Ans. Around 2500-2000 years ago, craftsmen and merchants formed associations

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known as shrenis. The shrenis of craftsmen were responsible for providing training, procuring material and even distributing the finished product. Then the shrenis of merchants arranged for the trade. Shrenis also functioned as banks where rich people deposited their money. Part of the interest earned were returned to the rich people and a part went to religious institutions. 7. How can you find out about early cities in the Indian subcontinent? Ans. One can find out about life of people in the early cities of the Indian subcontinent from books like Sangam literature, Jataka tales, accounts told by sailors and travellers like the Greek traveller from Augustus’ kingdom, sculptures like the stupas found in Sanchi and archaeological finding like the ring wells in Delhi and inscriptions and artifacts. 8. Why do you think they are hardly any remains of palaces, markets or homes of early cities? Ans. There are hardly any remains of palaces, markets or homes probably because they were made of wood, mud brick and thatch. Perhaps some buildings of early cities are yet to be discovered by archaeologists. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. What led to the development of irrigation and how did it impact the farmers? Ans. Kings needed money to build and maintain palaces, fortified cities and armed forces. Hence, they demanded taxes from all including farmers. Farmers could manage to pay the taxes only if they could increase production. This was possible with advanced irrigation facilities which were expensive to install. So, kings had to provide the money to build the irrigation system that included canals, lakes, artificial tanks and wells. The kings even got experienced people to plan the irrigation work. Labour was provided by the common people. Better irrigation facilities led to the increase in production. This, on one hand helped to increase revenue and on the other hand, farmers benefitted too because crop production was more certain. This meant that there was enough and surplus food for the people in villages, towns and cities. This made the kingdoms prosperous. 2. What kind of people lived in villages in the northern and southern parts of the subcontinent? Ans. Different kinds of people lived in villages in the southern and northern parts of the subcontinent. •• In the southern region, people living in villages included large landowners or vellalars, ordinary ploughmen or uzhavar, landless labourers or kadaisiyar and slaves or adimai. •• In the northern part of the country, the headman or the grama bhojaka, acted as the judge, policeman and tax collector. This hereditary position was usually held by the largest landowner who hired slaves and workers to cultivate his land. •• Other people living in the villages were independent or smaller landowners/ farmers or grihapatis, landless men and women or dasa karmakara who

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worked in the fields owned by others and craftsmen like the blacksmith, potter, carpenter and weaver. 3. Why has Mathura been an important settlement for more than 2500 years? Ans. Mathura was located at the intersection of two major routes of travel and trade that connected the northwest to the east and the north to the south. •• The city was fortified and hence people living there were protected and sheltered. Farmers and herders from the surrounding areas supplied food to the city whereas craftsmen and traders prospered too. •• It became the second capital of the Kushanas around 2000 years ago. The city had several Jain shrines and Buddhist monasteries. •• It was also a place for the worship of Lord Krishna. It was also the centre of fine sculpture. Men and sometimes even women made gifts to these religious places. Statues have been gifted by people living in the cities like the kings and queens, officers, merchants, and crafts persons. •• These have been inscribed on stone surfaces and gives us a glimpse of prosperous life in Mathura. The short inscriptions referred to as blacksmiths, goldsmiths, basket makers, garland makers, weavers and even perfumers. 4. Write a note on the city of Arikamedu. Ans. It was around 1900 to 2200 years ago, Arikamedu a coastal settlement in Pondicherry, became an important port where goods from distant lands were unloaded. A massive brick structure, probably a warehouse, was found at the site. Other things that were found in this region include local pottery imitating Roman designs and lamps, glassware and gems from Roman Empire, small tanks for dyeing cloth, beads made of from semi-precious stones and glass. Amphorae, a pottery from the Mediterranean region, has been found here. It is a tall double-handled jar used to store liquids such as wine or oil a pottery. Stamped red-glazed pottery called Arretine Ware, named after a city in Italy, was found in this region too. It is made by pressing wet clay into a stamped mould.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Fill in the blanks: (i) Cloth was manufactured by both men and women in _______________ north India. (ii) ______________ acted as banks where rich people deposited their money and earned interest. (iii) Kautilya’s ___________________ describes the rules of spinning and weaving done in workshops under the supervision of a special official. (iv) Double aged jar containing liquids such as wine or oil was called ______________. 2. What is the significance of sculptures found in early cities? 3. How were women paid for their jobs by the superintendent? 4. Around 2500 years ago, what kind of iron tools started to be used in abundance? 5. Why were aqueducts built in Rome?

9 Chapter

Traders, Kings and Pilgrims I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Trade and Traders • Archaeological evidence of Northern Black Polished Ware have been usually found in the northern subcontinent. • Traders carried these from the places where they were made and sold them elsewhere, in ships across the sea (Arabian Sea/Bay of Bengal to via Red Sea) and by land in caravans (via Asia Minor and the Middle East). • Traders bought gold, pepper, spices, and precious stones from south and cotton, ivory, silk, sandalwood, even peacocks from other parts of India and sold them either within the subcontinent or outside including Rome. • In return, India obtained coral, wine, olive oil and metals like gold, silver and copper. • Evidence of Roman gold coins have been found in south India. • The Iron Age popularly known as the Sangam Age marked the glorious reign of kings of south India and saw the flourishing of trade with distant lands like Cambodia and Rome.

Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas–Muvendar • Around 2300 years ago, chiefs and kings like the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas who controlled the river valleys and the coasts, became rich and powerful in South India. • Sangam poems mention them as muvendar, Tamil for three chiefs. • Each of them had two centres of power: inland, and one on the coast. • Of the six cities, two were very important: Puhar or Kaveripattinam, the port of the Cholas, and Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas.

Satavahana Dynasty • Around 200 years later, the Satavahana Dynasty became powerful in western India. • Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni was the most important ruler of this dynasty, who sent his army to the eastern, western and southern coasts.

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• The inscription composed by his mother, Gautami Balashri tells us about him. • Satavahana rulers, also known as the lords of the dakshinapatha (route leading to the south). This name was also used for referring to the entire southern region. Kushans • Kushan kings ruled over central Asia and north-west India around 2000 years ago. • Peshawar and Mathura were two major centres of power. Taxila was a part of their kingdom. • At this time, a branch of the Silk Route extended from Central Asia down to the seaports at the mouth of the river Indus. • Silk was shipped to the Roman Empire from here. • The Kushanas gained control over this part of the Silk Route. • They were one of the first rulers to issue gold coins, which were used by traders along the Silk Route.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Silk is a priced fabric with a glossy and smooth texture. Popular throughout history, this rich coloured, light weight fabric is used mainly for clothing and furnishing. •• Making silk is complicated process, first invented in China around 7000 years ago. •• Chinese traders and pilgrims from China travelled to distant lands, carrying silk with them. They travelled on foot or in caravans or on horsebacks or camels. •• The Silk Road was the network of terrestrial and the maritime trade routes connecting the East that is Asia with the West comprising southern Europe and even Middle East. The trade route let to cultural interaction between the regions for many centuries. •• The kings tried to gain control over the trade routes so that they get taxes, tributes and gifts from traders passing through route. In return, they protected the traders, passing through kingdoms, from robbers. •• Gradually, the knowledge of silk spread further west. About 2000 years ago, wearing silk became fashionable among the rich in Rome. •• The kings tried to gain control over the trade routes so that they get taxes, tributes and gifts from traders passing through route. In return, they protected the traders, passing through kingdoms, from robbers. •• Pilgrims joined traders in their journey to distant lands in caravans and ships to offer their prayers. Chinese Buddhist pilgrims came to visit places

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associated with the life of the Buddha and famous monasteries. They left an account of their journeys, descriptions of the places they visited and dangers they encountered during their travels. → Fa Xian, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim came to India about 1600 years ago → Xuan Zang (who came around 1400 years ago) → I-Qing, who came about 50 years after Xuan Zang.

The Spread of Buddhism •• Kanishka, the most famous Kushana ruler, was around 1900 years ago. •• Ashvaghosha, who composed ‘Buddhacharita’, a biography of the Buddha, lived in his court. Ashvaghosha and other Buddhist scholars now began writing in Sanskrit. •• Mahayana Buddhism, a new form of Buddhism that emerged around this time. •• Monks started living in caves, hollowed out in the hills in the Western Ghats under royal patronage or that of merchants and farmers. •• The caves in the Western Ghats were connected by roads to prosperous ports and cities in the Deccan to promote visits from traders and others. How Fa Xian Returned to China •• Fa Xian boarded from Bengal on a merchant ship and within two days his boat was caught in a storm that lasted for 13 days. •• To lighten the road and prevent the ship from capsizing, the merchants threw their merchandise overboard. •• Fa Xian threw away his insufficient personal belongings but clung to his books and the statues of the Buddha. •• It reached Java in 90 days where they stayed for five months before setting sail on another merchant ship to China. Xuan Zang •• Xuan Zang carried statues of the Buddha made of gold, silver and sandalwood and more than 600 manuscripts to China. •• He rode back to China through the north-west, and Central Asia with a group of twenty horses. •• While crossing River Indus, his boat capsised and he lost over 50 manuscripts. •• He spent the rest of his life translating the remaining manuscripts from Sanskrit into Chinese. Nalanda – A Unique Centre of Buddhist Learning •• Nalanda, (Bihar) was a most famous Buddhist monastery of this period. •• Xuan Zang, and other pilgrims studied the teachings of the Buddha here. Xuan Zang gives an account of his stay there. → New entrants had to answer difficult questions asked by the gatekeeper to gain entrance or face rejection. Seven to eight out of every ten were unable to answer. → Learned people from different cities came here to settle their doubts. Discussions were held throughout the day.

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→ The talented and learned teachers, sincerely taught the preaching of Buddha. → Everyone had to follow the strict rules of the monastery. Both old and the young help each other.

The Beginning of Bhakti •• Worship of certain deities like Shiva, Vishnu, and Durga gained importance. Images of these deities were sometimes placed within special homes called temples.These deities were worshipped through Bhakti or devotion. •• The devotee had to worship the chosen deity with a pure heart. The deity will appear before the devotee in any desired form—human being, lion, tree or any other form. •• The Bhagavad Gita—the sacred book of the Hindus, included in the Mahabharata —presents the idea of Bhakti. Lord Krishna had his devotee Arjuna to abandon all dharmas and take refuge in him to attain freedom from all evil. •• Expressions of Bhakti were seen in art — sculpture, poetry and architecture. Artists made beautiful images of these deities. •• Bhakti is derived from the Sanskrit word bhaj meaning ‘to divide or share’. •• It implies an intimate, two-way relationship between the deity and the devotee. Hindu •• The word ‘Hindu’ like ‘India’ is derived from the river Indus. •• Arabs and Iranians referred to people who lived towards the east of the river as Hindus. The term incorporated their cultural practices and religious beliefs. Elsewhere •• Around 2000 years ago, Christianity emerged in West Asia. •• Jesus Christ—the Saviour of the world—was born in Bethlehem, in the Roman Empire. •• Christ’s teachings appealed to ordinary people. He taught:

→ Those who love and trust others, will be loved or treated.



→ Those who follow the path of righteousness will prosper.



→ Those who are merciful, shall be forgiven.



→ Those who are pure at heart, will see God.



→ Those who are peacemakers will be known as sons of God. •• A hundred years of Christ’s death, the first Christian preachers came to the west coast of India from West Asia. •• Syrian Christians or the Christians of Kerala probably came from West Asia. They are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.

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III. KEYWORDS •• Trader: People who transports goods of economic value from the place of manufacture to the place of sell. •• Muvendar: Tamil word referring the heads of three ruling families: the Cholas, the Cheras, and the Pandyas. •• Route: The way or course taken to get from a starting point to the destination. •• Silk: Highly valued soft, strong and lustrous fabric produced from the fibres obtained from the cocoon of silkworms. •• Silk Route: The path through which the traders carried milk. •• Kushanas: Central-Asian or Iranian dynasty which invaded India around 2000 years ago. •• Mahayana Buddhism: One of the two major traditions of Buddhism mainly practised in China, Tibet, Japan, and Korea. They worship the statues of Buddha, and they believe in Bodhisattvas. •• Dakshinapatha: Literally it means the route leading to the south. •• Bhaga: Good fortune or share. •• Theravada Buddhism: The more conservative of the major two traditions in Buddhism. This developed from Hinayana Buddhism. It is practised mainly in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. •• Bodhisattva: A person who is able to reach nirvana, but delayed doing so through compassion for suffering beings. •• Digambara and Shvetambara: Tow prominent fects of Jainism. •• Pilgrim: A person who has undertaken journeys to sacred places for religious reasons. •• Bhakti: Devotion for gods and goddesses. •• Fa. Xian: A Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India about 1600 years ago. •• Pliny: A Roman historian, who wrote Natural History of Latin. •• Colonies: Areas or territories occupied by a ruler or a country, generally for exploitation.

IV. DATE LINE



• About 7000 years ago – Discovery of silk making • Around 2300 years ago – The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas became powerful in south India. • About 2000 years ago – Growing demand for silk in the Roman empire • About 1900 years ago – Kanishka, the Kushans ruler ruled • About 1600 years ago – Fa-Xian, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim came to India



• About 1400 years ago – Xuan Zang another Chinese Buddhist pilgrim came



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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK IN-TEXT QUESTIONS (Pages 109-110) Let’s Recall 1. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Muvendar

(i)

2.

Lords of the Dakshinapatha

3.

Ashvaghosha

(iii)

Satavahana rulers

4.

Bodhisattvas

(iv)

Chinese pilgrim

5.

Xuan Zang

(ii)

(v)

Mahayana Buddhism Buddhacharita

Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas

Ans. 1. (v), 2. (iii), 3. (ii), 4. (i), 5. (iv) 2. Why did kings want to control the Silk Route? Ans. The kings wanted to control the silk route because, they thought that once they have control over Silk Route, they would get more taxes, tributes and gifts from the traders passing along the route through their kingdom. 3. What kinds of evidence do historians use to find out about trade and trade routes? Ans. Historians have found out about trade and trade routes from literary works of traders and pilgrims, sangam poems and Sangam literature. South India was famous for gold, precious stones spices and mostly for pepper. This were exported to other places like Rome by ships, across the sea, and by land in caravans. Many Roman gold coins have been found in south India which proved the trade relations between ancient India and Rome. So artifacts like coins, pottery, bowls and plates, found from several archaeological sites are studied by historians and archaeologists. 4. What were the main features of Bhakti? Ans. The main features of Bhakti movement were: •• It emphasized on devotion and individual worship of chosen deity, rather than elaborate sacrifices. •• When a devotee worships the chosen deity with a pure heart, the deity appears before the devotee in any form desired by him/her. •• The special images of deities were placed within special homes called temples and worshipped there. Let’s Discuss 5. Discuss the reasons why the Chinese pilgrims came to India. Ans. The Chinese pilgrims such as Fa Xian, Xuan Zang, I-Qing visited India to see all the places related with the life and teachings of Buddha and also to see, live and learn in the famous monasteries. Xuan Zang studied in Nalanda, a most famous Buddhist monastery of that period.

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6. Why do you think ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti? Ans. Ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti movement as they allowed everybody to become a bhakt irrespective of social, religious or economic status or gender.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Answer in one word or two: 1. Name the wind that sailors took advantage of crossing Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. 2. Why Name the sacred book of the Hindus. 3. Name the two Buddhist sects. 4. What is the term used to describe single minded devotion to one God irrespective of gender or status. 5. Name Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni’s mother. 6. What does the word Sangam mean? 7. Who composed Buddhacharita? 8. What was the term used to describe the Satavahana rulers? 9. Name the mode of transport used to trade prancing horses across kingdoms. 10. Name the deity that shelters who Ganga in his long hair. Ans. 1. South west monsoon winds, 2. Bahgvad Gita,3. Mahayanas and Hinayanas, 4. Bhakti, 5. Gautami Balashri, 6 . Assembly, 7. Ashvaghosha, 8. Lord of the Dakshinapatha, 9. Ships, 1 0. Lord Shiva II. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Bales of black pepper were traded in during the Sangam age. 2. Buddhism, a new form of Buddhism that emerged around 1900 years ago. 3. The term ‘Bodhisattvas’ means the . 4. The Tamil word for three chiefs is . 5. Archaeological evidence of have been usually found in the northern subcontinent. 6. Making silk was first invented in around years ago. 7. The was a network of land and the maritime trade routes connecting the East to the West. 8. Another name for Mahayana Buddhism is . 9. came to the Indian subcontinent about 50 years after Xuan Zang. 10. Around 2000 years ago, Christianity emerged in . Ans. 1. Carts, 2. Mahayana, 3. Enlightenment, 4. muvendar, 5. Northern Black Polished Ware, 6. China, 7000, 7 . Silk route, 8. Theravada Buddhism, 9. I – Qing, 10. West Asia

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III. Are the statements True or False? 1. Puhar was the capital of the Cholas. 2. Some Chinese rulers sent gifts of silk to rulers in Iran and west Asia. 3. Around 100 years after the muvendars, the Satavahanas became powerful in eastern India. 4. Within Indian subcontinent, Buddhism spread to western and southern India, where caves were made in the hills for monks to live in. 5. India exported coral, wine and olive oil from distant lands. 6. The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas had two centres of power: inland, and one on the coast. 7. Xuan Zang, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim came to India about 1600 years ago. 8. Under Mahayana, Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment was shown by sculptures of the peepal tree. 9. Nalanda is a famous Buddhist monastery of the Sangam period, located in present-day Madhya Pradesh. 10. Fa Xian visited the Indian subcontinent before I-Qing. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False, 6. True, 7. False, 8. False, 9. False , 10. True

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Rulers belonging to which kingdom issued gold coins that were used to trade along the Silk Route? (a) Cheras (b) Kushans (c) Satavahanas (d) Mauryas 2. Romans named this product exported from the Indian subcontinent as Black Gold. (a) Black Salt (b) Black Silk (c) Black Gemstone (d) Black Pepper 3. Madurai was the capital of which of the following kingdoms? (a) Cholas (b) Pandyas (c) Cheras (d) Mauryas 4. In which part of India have archaeologists found Romans coins in abundance? (a) West India (b) North India (c) East India (d) South India 5. Name the 3 chieftains who formed the muvendar. (Tick all the correct options) (a) Pandyas (b) Pallavas (c) Cholas (d) Cheras 6. This was an important settlement in the Chola kingdom. (a) Kaveripattinam (b) Maduria (c) Kanchipuram (d) Magadha 7. Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni was an important ruler of which dynasty? (a) Pallavas (b) Satavahanas (c) Mauryas (d) Kushans

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8. When did use of silk as a fabric become popular in Rome? (a) 3000 years back (b) 2500 years back (c) 2000 years back (d) 1500 years back 9. All the following places were major cities of the Kushana Empire except: (a) Peshawar (b) Thanjavur (c) Mathura (d) Taxila 10. Ashvaghosha lived in the court of which Indian ruler of the Sangam perios? (a) Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni (b) Rajendra Chola (c) Kanishka (d) Nedunjeliyan

1. (b) 6. (a)

2. (d) 7. (b)

ANSWERS 3. (b) 4. (d) 8. (c) 9. (b)

5. (a), (c), (d) 10. (c)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Who are traders? Ans. Traders are people who buy things from places where they are made and sell them in other places. 2. Who do you think silk was a popular trade item? Ans. Silk is a priced fabric with a glossy and smooth texture. Popular throughout history, this rich coloured, lightweight fabric is used mainly for clothing and furnishing. 3. Why did pilgrims travel with traders? Ans. Pilgrims, both men and women, often travelled with traders in their journey to distant lands in ships or by caravans to offer their prayers. 4. Who are pilgrims? Ans. Pilgrims are men and women who travel to holy places to offer their prayers. 5. Write a short note on Syrian Christians. Ans. Syrian Christians or the Christians of Kerala probably came from West Asia. They are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. 6. Why did Buddhism spread other parts of Asia? Ans. Buddhism spread other parts of Asia because Buddhist monks travelled to these parts with merchants and traders. 7. Describe the process of making silk. Ans. Raw silk first extracted from the cocoons of silk worms. Then it is then spun into thread and finally woven into cloth.

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8. What gifts did the chiefs give to the poets? Ans. The chiefs gave the poets gold, precious stones, elephants, horses, chariots and even fine cloth. 9. Why were the Satavahanas called the lords of the dakshinapatha? Ans. The Satavahana rulers were called the lords of dakshinapatha as they became rich and powerful in western India and controlled trade routes leading to the south. 10. Describe the landscape of the southern half of the Indian sub-continent. Ans. The southern half of the Indian sub-continent is characterized by a long coastline on both east and west, hills, plateaus and river valleys, of which Kaveri being the most fertile. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why do you think Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni wanted to control the coasts? Ans. Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni sent his army to conquer the eastern, western and southern coasts. He wanted to control the coastal region so that he could dominate the trade routes and could get taxes, tributes and gifts that were brought by traders travelling along the routes. Chiefs and kings who controlled the coastal region or fertile plains became rich and powerful. 2. Why do you think it would have been difficult to use carts along the Silk Route? Ans. It was difficult to travel on foot, on horsebacks or camels or even in carts or caravans along the Silk Route as it was dangerous. The Silk Route lay through mountains, deserts and other kingdoms. People living along the route, like the kings or even robbers, often demanded payments for allowing traders to pass through or raided the traders. 3. Silk was also sent from China by sea. What do you think would have been the advantages and problems in transporting silk by sea? Ans. The sea route was shorter than the land route. So traders would save time. Moreover, traders didn’t have to pass through other kingdoms. So kings could not demand payments for allowing traders to pass through. As traders didn’t have to pass through mountains and deserts, chances of getting robbed were less. However, there were other perils of sea voyages, ships could be attacked by pirates or face turbulent weather. 4. What does Appar regard as more valuable, social status or devotion? Ans. Appar, a Tamil vellala and devotee of Shiva, who lived about 1400 years ago wrote in a poem that he worshipped any devotee of Shiva even if he was a leper with rotting limbs or one disregarded by Brahmins or even scavengers. Such devotees were more valuable than rich people who enjoyed certain social status. A close relationship with the deity can be attained only through devotion and not through riches, learning and high status. 5. Why do you think Fa Xian did not want to throw away his books and statues? Ans. When the ship bound for China, was caught in a storm and about to capsize, Fa-Xian threw away his limited personal belongings but did not want to throw

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the books and statues of Buddha because he wanted to take them China and translate them. He wanted his countrymen to read the books and see the statues of Buddha. These were valuable to him. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Can you think of how and why the Roman coins reached India? Ans. Evidences of Roman gold coins have been found in southern India. These coins probably reached India through either the overland caravan routes via Asia Minor and the Middle East or in ships through Arabian Sea/Bay of Bengal to Red Sea. Sailors took advantage of the south-west monsoon winds to reach the western coast of the subcontinent from East Africa or Arabia in sturdy ships built for long journeys. Traders probably got the Roman coins by selling Indian gold, pepper, spices, gemstones from southern India and silk, cotton, ivory, sandalwood, even peacocks from other parts of India. 2. Differentiate between the two sects of Buddhism—Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Ans. Hinayana/Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

They believed that the Buddha was an ordinary human.

They believed that Buddha was a God.

Buddha’s presence was earlier represented in signs, as seen in sculptures. For example, his attainment of enlightenment was shown by sculptures of the peepal tree.

Statues of Buddha were made mainly in Mathura and Taxila.

On attaining enlightenment, they had to live in complete isolation to meditate peacefully.

On attaining enlightenment, they could remain in the world and teach and help others.

Theravada Buddhism spread south eastwards, to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia including Indonesia.

The worship of Bodhisattvas gained popularity and spread throughout Central Asia, China, and later to Korea and Japan and spread to western and southern India.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Write a short note on the image. 2. Write a short note on the term ‘Bhakti’. 3. Write a short note on the Bhagavad Gita. 4. Write a short note on the teaching of Jesus Christ. 5. From where has the word ‘Hindu’ originated? 6. Match the columns to show from where each of the items in Column A were traded. Column A

Column B

(i)

Western hills

1.

Gems and gold

2.

Sandalwood

3.

Pearls

(iii)

Himalayas

4.

Corals

(iv)

Myanmar

5.

Yields and the crops

(v)

Sri lanka

6.

Foodstuffs

7.

Pottery

(ii)

(vi) (vii)

Eastern oceans

Southern seas Ganga and Kaveri

10 Chapter

New Empires and Kingdoms I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Samudragupta’s Prashasti – The Warrior • Harishena, of Samudragupta’s court, composed a poem in Sanskrit about 1700 years ago. This was inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad.

• Harishena described Samudragupta’s policies towards four different kinds of rulers. • The kingdom of the nine rulers of Aryavarta were uprooted and their kingdoms were made a part of Samudragupta’s Empire. • The twelve rulers of Dakshinapatha surrendered to Samudragupta after being defeated and later were allowed them to rule again. • The kingdoms of the neighbouring states like Assam, coastal Bengal, Nepal, and a number of gana sanghas brought tribute, followed his orders and attended his court. • The rulers of the outlying areas—probably the descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas and the rulers of Sri Lanka—submitted to him and offered their daughters in marriage. Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita • Banabhatta, Harshavardhana’s court poet mentions about his reign in his biography Harshacharita, written in Sanskrit. • Xuan Zang, the Chinese pilgrim who spent a lot of time at Harsha’s court, recorded details of his reign in his account. • Harshavardhana ruled about 1400 years ago, was one such ruler. After Harsha’s elder father and elder brother died, he became the king of Thanesar. • He took over Kanauj, when his brother-in-law was killed by the ruler of Bengal. • He also defeated the ruler of Bengal and conquered Magadha too. • However, when he tried to cross river Narmada and enter Deccan, Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty prevented him from doing so.

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The Pallavas and Chalukyas and Pulakeshin’s Prashasti • The kingdom of the Pallavas extended from their capital, Kanchipuram to the Kaveri delta • The kingdom of Chalukyas was around the Raichur Doab, extending between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. Aihole was their capital, an important trading and religious centre, with a number of temples. The best-known Chalukya ruler was Pulakeshin II. His court poet Ravikirti’s prashasti, tells us about his genealogy ancestors. • Pulakeshin got the kingdom from his uncle and led expeditions to the west and the east coasts. • He stopped Harsha from entering Deccan and attacked the Pallava king, who hid in Kanchipuram.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Village remained the basic unit of administration and land revenue remained important source of revenue. •• Kings also sought the support of powerful people—economically, socially, politically or and military strength. •• Sometimes, one person could hold many offices. For example: Harishena was also a kumar-amatya (an important minister) and a sandhi-vigrahika (minister of war and peace). •• Important men were involved in local administration. These included the nagara-shreshthi or chief banker/merchant of the city, the sarthavaha or leader of the merchant caravans, the prathama-kulika or the chief craftsman, and the head of the kayasthas or scribes. •• Some of these powerful men grew strong and set up their independent kingdoms. •• Like earlier rulers, some kings had a well-organised army, which included elephants, chariots, cavalry and foot soldiers. •• Additionally, kings were provided with troops by military leaders, at times of emergency. •• Instead of regular salaries, the military leaders or samantas received gifts in the form of land. •• They collected revenue from the land was used to maintain the army. Assemblies in the Southern Kingdoms •• As per the inscriptions of the Pallavas, local assemblies (sabhas) were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants. → Sabhas of Brahmin land owners acted as sub-committees, in-charge of agricultural activities like irrigation, making roads, local temples, and so on. → In areas, where landowners were not Brahmins, there a village assembly was formed. → An organization of merchants was termed nagaram.

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Ordinary People in the Kingdoms •• Books, plays and accounts give us a glimpse of the lives of ordinary people during this time. •• Kalidasa wrote plays where kings and most Brahmins are shown as speaking Sanskrit, while ordinary people speak in Prakrit. •• The play, ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’ about and Shakuntala, describes the difficulties of a poor fisherman. Elsewhere •• Arabia, a desert region of western Asia, was at the center of communications and play an important role in trade between India and Europe. •• Bedouins, a pastoral tribe living in Arabia, dependent mainly on camels as they could survive in the desert. •• Around 1400 years ago, a new religion was introduced in Arabia. Prophet Muhammad was the founder of Islam. •• Like Christianity, Islam propagated the equality and unity of all before Allah, the one supreme God, who forgives and rewards His true and devout followers. •• Soon, Islam spread to North Africa, Spain, Iran and India. •• Arab sailors brought new religion to the coastal regions of the subcontinent. •• Around 1300 years ago, Arab soldiers conquered Sind, located in present-day Pakistan.

III. KEYWORDS •• Prashasti: A Sanskrit word, meaning ‘in praise of’—is a long inscription written in praise of kings. •• Aryavarta: The northern part of the Indian sub-continent. •• Dakshinapatha: The southern part of the Indian sub-continent. •• Gana Sanghas: Different form of government. •• Genealogy: A line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. •• Maharaj-adhiraja: A title adopted by Chandragupta Maha-danda-nayaka Chief Judicial officer. •• Hereditary Officer: The persons who hold the same offices generation after generations. •• Samanta: Millitary officers who supply armies to king during war. They don’t get salaries, rather they receive the grants of land and collect revenue from the land. •• Assembly: A group of people gathered together for a common purpose. •• Or : A village assembly in the areas where land owners were not brahmins. •• Nagaram: An organization of merchants. •• Javadip: Java (nowadays part of Indonesia).

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IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 120-121) Let’s Recall 1. State whether true or false: (a) Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni. (b) The rulers of Aryavarta brought tribute for Samudragupta. (c) There were twelve rulers in Dakshinapatha. (d) Taxila and Madurai were important centres under the control of the Gupta rulers. (e) Aihole was the capital of the Pallavas. (f) Local assemblies functioned for several centuries in south India. Ans. (a) False, (b) False, (c) True, (d) False, (e) False, (f) True 2. Mention three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana. Ans. Three authors who wrote about Harshavardhanan were Banabhatta, Xuan Zang and Ravikirti. 3. What changes do you find in the army at this time? Ans. There was no single ruler who had total control over the Indian subcontinent. Kings usually made shared power with local people like military leaders or samantas. This was a major change seen in the army. They provided the king with troops whenever at times of emergency. Instead of regular salaries, the military leaders or samantas received gifts in the form of land. The revenue collected from the land was used to maintain the army. If the ruler was weak, the samantas often tried to become independent. 4. What were the new administrative arrangements during this period? Ans. There was no single ruler to have total control over the Indian subcontinent. Kings usually made shared power with local people like military leaders or samantas. During this period, some important administrative posts were made hereditary. Sometimes, one person could hold more than one position or office. For instance, besides being a maha-danda-nayaka, Harishena was also a kumar-amatya, (minister) and a sandhi-vigrahika, (minister of war and peace). Important men were involved in local administration. These included the nagara-shreshthi (chief banker/merchant of the city) the sarthavaha (leader of the merchant caravans) the parathama-kulika (the chief craftsman) and the head of the Kayasthas or scribes. Let’s Discuss 5. What do you think Arvind would have to do if he was acting as Samudragupta? Ans. Arvind needed to be brave and develop a keen interest in music and painting. 6. Do you think ordinary people would have read and understood the prashastis? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. Prashastis were written in Sanskrit. However, ordinary people did not speak in Sanskrit. Hence, they could not read or understand the prashastis.

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V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. The kingdoms of the nine rulers of were uprooted and their kingdoms were made a part of Samudragupta’s Empire. 2. Whenever the Samantas found the ruler weak and inefficient, they tried to become . 3. was Samudragupta's mother. 4. , a Chinese pilgrim, spent a lot of time at Harsha’s court. 5. Harshavardhana’s success was checked by , a Chalukya ruler. 6. The two important ruling dynasties in south India during this period were the and the . 7. The kingdom of the the Chalukyas centred round Raichur Doab, situated between the rivers and . 8. The and dynasties replaced the Pallavas and the Chalukyas. 9. When Pulakeshin II attacked the Pallava king, he took refuge behind the walls of . 10. Harshavardhana was successful in the east as he conquered both and . Ans. 1. Aryavarta, 2. Ruler, 3. Kumara Devi, 4. Xuan Zang, 5. Pulakeshin II, 6. Pallavas, Chalukyas, 7. Krishna, Tungabhadra, 8. Rashtrakuta, Chola, 9. Kanchipuram, 1 0. Magadha, Bengal II. Answer in one word or two: 1. Name a court poet of Samudragupta. 2. Name the king who would to sit and play a veena, and recite poetry. 3. Name a court poet of Harshavardhana. 4. Name the greatest king of the Chalukya dynasty. 5. Which dynasty's reign is termed the Golden Age of Indian history? 6. To which gana did Samudragupta’s mother belong? 7. Name the capital of the Chalukya’s, which was also an important trading centre. 8. Name the capital of the Pallavas. 9. Name Harsha’s kingdom before his elder brother died. 10. Name the dynasty defeated by Samudragupta during his expedition to western India. 11. Name an Indian astronomer and mathematician of the fifth century A.D. Ans. 1. Banabhatta, 2. Samudragupta, 3. Harisena, 4. Pulakeshin II, 5. Gupta Dynasty, 6. Lichchhavi, 7. Aihole, 8. Kanchipuram, 9. Thanesar, 10. Shakas, 11. Aryabhata

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III. Are the statements True or False? 1. The untouchables during this period were treated badly and were expected to live in the city. 2. Samantas were military leaders who provided the king with troops whenever he needed them. 3. Samudragupta was a maha-danda-nayaka, kumar-amatya and sandhivigrahika. 4. The nine rulers of Aryavarta were uprooted by Samudragupta. 5. During Samudragupta’s reign, the rulers of the outlying areas included descendants of the Pallavas and Cholas and the ruler of Sri Lanka. 6. Harisena composed the Prashasti of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II. 7. Most kings adopted the titles of maharaja and maharajadhiraja to show their influence and power. 8. Harshavardhana performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice several times. 9. Kalidasa in his plays, showed most men and women speaking using Sanskrit. 10. Abhijnana Shakuntalam, is the story about the relationship of King Dushyanta with Shakuntala. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False, 6. False, 7. True, 8. True, 9. False, 10. True

VI. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Who was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty that adopted the grand title of maharaj- adhiraja? (a) Samudragupta (b) Chandragupta I (c) Skandhagupta (d) Chandragupta II 2. From where do we learn about Gupta rulers? (a) Inscriptions (b) Prashastis (c) Coins (d) None of the 3 options are correct (e) All the 3 options are correct 3. Harsha’s brother-in-law was the ruler of which kingdom? (a) Thanesar (b) Kanauj (c) Bengal (d) Magadha 4. To which dynasty did Pulakeshin II belong to? (a) Chalukya dynasty (b) Pallava dynasty (c) Gupta dynasty (d) Chola dynasty 5. What was the leader of the merchant caravans called? (a) Nagara-shreshthi (b) Prathama-kulika (c) Sarthavaha (d) Scribe 6. When did Harshavardhana, rule in the Indian subcontinent? (a) Less than 1000 years ago (b) Nearly 1400 years ago (c) About 1800 years ago (d) More than 2000 years ago

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7. In which language was ‘Harshacharita’ written? (a) Prakrit (b) Chinese (c) Tamil (d) Sanskrit 8. What were the pastoral tribes living in Arabia around 1400 years called? (a) Bedouins (b) Arabians (c) Iranians (d) Israelites 9. Sabha was an assembly of ________________. (a) Brahmin landless small farmers (b) Non-Brahmin, rich landowners (c) Rich merchants (d) Brahmin landowners 10. How many rulers were with Dakshinapatha? (a) 9 rulers (b) 10 rulers (c) 11 rulers (d) 12 rulers

1. (b) 7. (d)

2. (e) 8. (a)

ANSWERS 3. (b) 4. (a) 9. (d) 10. (c)

5. (c)

6. (b)

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Who is the king who would sit and play a veena and recite poetry? Ans. Samudragupta issued several types of gold coins. In some gold coins he is shown playing veena. 2. Name some of the weapons used by Gupta kings to fight battles. Ans. The Gupta kings used battle-axes, arrows, spikes, spears, barbed darts, swords, iron clubs, javelins, barbed arrows, long arrows and many other weapons to win battles. 3. How do we learn about the Gupta rulers from their inscriptions and coins? Ans. We learn about Gupta rulers from coins issued by them and inscriptions like that of Harishena from Samudragupta’s court who composed a poem in Sanskrit about 1700 years ago. 4. Why did the kings collect revenue? Ans. The kings collected revenue from land and used it to maintain soldiers, horses and also to provide equipment for warfare. 5. Why is the Gupta reign termed the Golden Age of Indian history? Ans. During the reign of the Gupta dynasty, there was prosperity in the Indian and notable developments in the field of science, arts and literature. 6. What is a prashasti? What was the purpose of writing a prashasti? Ans. Prashasti is a piece written in praise of someone, usually that of a king. 7. How did sabhas function? Ans. Sabhas were the assemblies of Brahmin landowners, who worked through

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subcommittees that were in-charge of agricultural operations including irrigation, road construction and local temples. 8. State the most important teaching in the Islamic faith? Ans. Islamic faith teaches equality and unity of all before Allah, the one and only supreme God. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Describe the story about the fisherman as narrated by Kalidasa in ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’. Ans. A poor fisherman accidentally found the ring given to Shakuntala by King Dushyanta inside a fish. When he tried to return the gift, the police officer and the gatemen harassed him. But the king, on seeing the ring was reminded of his wife and eventually reunited with her. He rewarded the fisherman. However, the police officer and the gatemen took the fisherman for a drink hoping to get a reward. 2. What did the king travel with? Who accompanied the king and his army? Ans. The king and his army carried lots of equipment like weapons and things of daily use. These included pots, pans, furniture, golden footstools, food, including animals such as goat, deer, rabbits, vegetables, and spices. They loaded the luggage on carts or pulled by camels and elephants. Musicians beating drums or playing horns and trumpets accompanied the king and his army. 3. What kind of relationship did the king share with the villages while passing through with his army? Ans. The king and his army were welcomed by the villagers on their way. They gave gifts to king such as curds, gur, flowers and fodder for the animals. They also tried to meet the king, and share their complaints and petitions with him. However, the elephants in the army often trampled down the village settlements. This commotion scared the oxen yoked to the caravans of merchants and they ran helter-skelter. 4. According to Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian’s, how were the untouchables treated? Ans. The Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian wrote in his account about the plight of the ‘untouchables’ by the ‘higher classes’. The ‘untouchables’ were forced to live on the outskirts of the city. In fact if an untouchable entered the town or a market place, he had to strike a piece of wood to ensure others could hear him and keep their distance from him. They would make themselves be able to avoid touching him or brushing against him. 5. According to Banabhatta, ‘the whole world was swallowed up in dust’. Explain the statement. Ans. According to Banabhatta, ‘the whole world was swallowed up in dust’ because the king’s army passed through villages leaving behind a trail of destruction. The elephants in the army often trampled down the village settlements. Scared by the commotion, the oxen yoked to the caravans of merchants ran away.

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C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write a short note on Samudragupta’s policies towards four different kinds of rulers. Ans. Harishena described Samudragupta’s policies towards four different kinds of rulers. •• The kingdom of the nine rulers of Aryavarta were uprooted and their kingdoms were made a part of Samudragupta’s Empire. •• The twelve rulers of Dakshinapatha surrendered to Samudragupta after being defeated and later were allowed to rule again. •• The kingdoms of the neighbouring states like Assam, coastal Bengal, Nepal, and a number of gana sanghas brought tribute to Samudragupta, followed his orders and attended his court. •• The rulers of the outlying areas who were probably the descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas and the ruler of Sri Lanka, submitted to Samudragupta and offered their daughters in marriage. 2. Describe the reign of the Chalukyas in the 7th century. Ans. Chalukyas was one of the two dominant south Indian dynasties that invaded each other especially the prosperous cities, and towns including the capitals. •• The kingdom of Chalukyas was located around the Raichur Doab, extending between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. Aihole was their capital, an important trading and religious centre, with a number of temples. •• The best-known Chalukya ruler was Pulakeshin II, who got the kingdom from his uncle and led expeditions to the west and the east coasts. •• He prevented Harsha from entering Deccan and attacked the Pallava king, who was forced to hide in Kanchipuram. •• His court poet Ravikirti’s prashasti, tells us about his genealogy ancestors.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Write a short note on prashastis. 2. Write a short note on Banabhatta. 3. Who were the four different kinds of rulers described by Harishena in his prashasti? 4. Match the columns. Column A

Column B

(i)

An important minister

1.

Sabhas

2.

Ur

3.

Nagaram

(iii)

Banker/merchant of the city

4.

Mahadand-nayaka

(iv)

Chief craftsman and head of the then kayasthas or scribes

(ii)

Organization of rich merchants

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(v)

5.

Kumar-amatya

6.

Sandhi-vigrahika

(vi)

7.

Nagara-shreshthi

(vii)

8.

Sarthavaha

9.

Prathama-kulika

(viii) (ix)

Assemblies formed by rich Brahmin land owners Chief Judicial Officer Leader of the merchant caravans Minister of War and Peace Village assembly formed by rich, but non-Brahmin landowners

5. List the reasons that mark the decline of Indus Valley Civilisation around 3900 years ago.

11 Chapter

Buildings, Paintings and Books I. BASIC CONCEPTS

The Iron Pillar • The iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, was built probably by Chandragupta II about 1500 years ago (based on an inscription on the pillar mentioning a ruler named Chandra). • It is currently standing in the Qutub complex. • It shows the grandeur of skilled Indian craftsmen. • It is made of iron, which has not rusted till date. It is 7.2 metres high and weighs over 3 tonnes.

Painting • Several caves were hollowed out of hills to build monasteries for Buddhist monks. • Some of these were very elaborately decorated with sculptures and paintings made with torch light. • The artists who made did cave paintings remain unknown. However, their colourful and attractive paintings on the walls of the cave made in torch light with natural colours from plants and minerals, remain to be seen even today.

II. IN A NUTSHELL How were Stupas and Temples built? •• Temples carved from single piece of rock were made by stone cutters. •• Building these temples was thus expensive as it needed skilled labours, time and the right kind and quality of raw material. •• They also donated gifts to temples some of which were used for decoration. Example: The Gateway of Sanchi Stupa was made by ivory workers. •• The steps to build stupas were as follows: → First, a place was chosen for building the stupa. → Then good quality stone was found, quarried, and transported to the sites. → The rough blocks of stone were shaped and carved into pillars, panels for walls, floors and ceilings. → Then they were placed in precisely the right position.

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The World of Books •• Some of the best-known epics were written during this period. •• Epics are grand, long compositions, which narrate the feats of heroic men and women and stories of gods and goddesses. → Llango composed the famous Tamil epic Silappadikaram around 1800 years ago. → Sattanar’s Manimekalai is a Tamil epic composed around 1400 years ago. → Kalidasa wrote in Sanskrit, Meghaduta one of his famous works. •• Hindu religious stories—like the Puranas (old), the Mahabharata and the Ramayana that were in circulation earlier—were written down around the same time. → Ved Vyasa wrote the Puranas and the Mahabharata around 1500 years ago and Valmiki wrote the Ramayana. •• Ordinary people also told stories, composed poems and songs, sang, danced, and performed plays, some of which have been preserved in collections of stories like the Jatakas and the Panchatantra. •• Some of these were written down around this time. •• Stories from the Jatakas were often shown on the railings of stupas and in paintings in places such as Ajanta. Writing Books on Science •• This was also the time when Aryabhata, a mathematician and astronomer, wrote Aryabhatiyam in Sanskrit. He stated the following: •• Day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis. •• A scientific explanation for eclipses as well. •• A way to calculate the circumference of a circle. Zero •• Unlike the Romans, the Indian mathematicians invented a special symbol for zero. •• This system of counting was adopted by the Arabs and then spread to Europe. Elsewhere •• Cai Lun invented paper in China about 1900 years ago •• The technique of making paper was a closely guarded for centuries till it reached Korea about 1400 years ago, then Japan followed by Baghdad about 1800 years ago. From Baghdad it spread to Europe, Africa, and other parts of Asia including the subcontinent. •• Plant fibres, cloth, rope and the bark of trees were beaten by him. The pulp was soaked in water, pressed, drained and dried to create paper.

III. KEYWORDS •• Stupa: A hemispherical or mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics. •• Temple: A building devoted to the worship of a gods or godesses. •• Ralic Lasket: A small box placed at the centre of the stupa which contains bodily remains.

Buildings, Paintings and Books

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

121

Shikara: Tower built on top of the garbhagriha. Mandapa: Hall in the temple where people could assemble. Smiritis: Hindu law books. Painting: The skill of using paint or pigment either in a picture or as a decoration. Epic: A long poem, typically derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the adventures of legendary figures. Two epics (Written in Sanskrit): 1. The Mahabharata, 2. The Ramayana Story: An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment. Purana: Sacred writings on Hindu mythology and folklore. Science: The systematic study of the physical and natural world thorugh observations and experimentations. Mathematics: The study of number, quantities and space either as abstract concepts or as applied to other disciplines. Panchatantra: Collection of stories for children with useful moral conclusions.

IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 132-133) Let’s Recall 1. Match the following. Column A

Column B

1.

Stupa

(i)

2.

Shikhara

(ii)

3.

Mandapa

(iii)

Circular path around the stupa

4.

Garbhagriha

(iv)

Place in temples where people could assemble

5.

Pradakshina patha

(v)

Place where the image of the deity is installed Mound

Tower

Ans. 1. (ii), 2. (v), 3. (iv), 4. (i), 5. (iii) 2. Fill in the blanks: (a) was a great astronomer. (b) Stories about gods and goddesses are found in the (c) is recognised as the author of the Sanskrit Ramayana. (d) and are two Tamil epics. Ans. (a) Aryabhatta (b) Puranas (c) Valmiki (d) Silappadikaram, Manimekalai Let’s Discuss 3. Make a list of the chapters in which you find the mention of metal working. What are the metal objects mentioned or shown in those chapters? Ans. Some of the chapters mention metal working such as various metal tools like ploughshare, sickle, axe and sword. Ploughshare and sickle were used

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4. Ans.

5. Ans.

Social Science—VI (History)

in farming. Axe was used for chopping wood. Sword was used in battle. Here is a list of chapters that mention metal working: • In the chapter ‘In the Earliest Cities’, copper used to make tools, gold and silver to make ornaments. • In the chapter ‘What Books and Burials Tell Us’ there is the mention of iron tools and weapons, ornaments of gold. • Iron ore mines are discussed in the chapter ‘Kingdoms, Kings and Early Republic’. • In the chapter ‘Vital villages and Thriving Town’ there is the mention of iron tools. • In the chapter ‘Traders, Kings and Pilgrims’, there is a mention of gold given as a gift. • The chapter ‘Buildings, Paintings and Books’, there is mention of iron pillar and gold jewellery. Read the story on page 130. In what ways is the monkey king similar to or different from the kings you read about in Chapters 6 and 11? In the story of the monkey king in the Jataka tales, the king is similar to the kings mentioned in chapters 6 and 11 in many ways. Both have a huge army. The kings are wise, diplomatic and brave. When the monkey king saw the attack on his community by the king's men, he quickly came up with a plan to save his army. Like a true king he allows all his subjects to cross the river. However, in the process he gets tired and exhausted, he falls down and is dead. Like other kings, the monkey king readily sacrificed his life to protect his kingdom and subjects. Find out more and tell a story from one of the epics. In the Ramayana, Ravana’s son Indrajit hit Lakshmana with a special weapon called ‘Shakti’. Lakshman was senseless and very near to death. Lord Hanumana went to the Himalayas and brought Sanjivani. Jambuvana gave Lakshmana Sanjivani and Lakshmana was saved.

V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. The were recited in temples by priests and people came to listen to them. 2. Both the and the are supposed to have been composed by Vyasa. 3. developed a scientific explanation for eclipses. 4. abducted Sita. 5. There are several cave monasteries, hollowed out of hills in . 6. There are several types of , round and tall, big and small. Ans. stupas 7. Bharhut is situated in India. 8. Aryabhata wrote the book .

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9. The usually decided to build stupas and temples during this time. Ans. 1. Vedas, 2. Puranas, Mahabharata , 3. Aryabhatta, 4. Ravana, 5. Ajanta, 6. Stupas, 7. Central, 8. Aryabhatiyam, 9. Kings II. Answer in one word or two: 1. What is the meaning of the word ‘stupa’? 2. Name the capital of the ancient Kosala kingdom in the Ramayana. 3. What is the weight of the iron pillar in Qutub Minar complex? 4. Who is believed to have constructed the iron pillar in Qutub Minar complex? 5. ‘Sattanar’ is the story of whose daughter? 6. Who wrote Meghaduta? 7. Who were not allowed to study the Vedas? 8. Name the two cousins who fought in Mahabharata. 9. Name the capital of the Kurus. 10. Name the compilations that preserve the stories of common people. Ans. 1. Mound, 2. Ayodhya, 3. Tonnes, 4. Chandragupta II, 5. Kovalan and Madhavi, 6. Kalidasa, 7. Women and Shudras, 8. Kauravas and Pandavas, 9. Hastinapur, 10. Jatakas and Panchatantra III. Are the statements True or False? 1. Devotees walked around the stupa, in an anticlockwise direction as a mark of devotion. 2. The dome like structure of a stupa was sometimes covered with carved stone slabs. 3. At Aihole a magnificent stupa with stone carvings was built about 1900 years ago. 4. A small box placed at the centre of the stupa contained the bodily remains Mahavira and his followers. 5. Kovalan was married to Madhavi and fell in love with Kannagi. 6. Stories from the Jatakas were often shown on the railings of stupas and in paintings in Ajanta. 7. The story of the monkey king is shown in a sculpture found from a stupa in a stupa at Bharhut. 8. Banabhatta stated that day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis. 9. The system of counting using zero was invented in India, adopted by the Arabs and gradually spread across the world. 10. Paper was first invented in China about 900 years ago by Fa Hein. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. False , 5. False, 6. True, 7. True, 8. False, 9. True, 10. False

VI. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The Bhagavad-Gita is a part of which of the following epics? (a) The Ramayana (b) The Mahabharata (c) The Silappadikaram (d) The Manimekalai

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2. Where is the Iron Pillar situated? (a) Bhitargaon (b) Aihole (c) Mehrauli (d) Mahabalipuram 3. What was the height of the Iron Pillar? (a) 6.2 m (b) 7.2 m (c) 8 m (d) 8.2 m 4. Name the small box placed at the centre of the stupa. (a) trunk (b) relic box (c) relic casket (d) relic box 5. Where was the Durga Temple built 1400 years ago? (a) Bhitargaon (b) Aihole (c) Mehrauli (d) Mahabalipuram 6. Many monolithic temples are found here. (a) Bhitargaon (b) Sanchi (c) Mehrauli (d) Mahabalipuram 7. What is the most important part of the temple where the image of the chief deity kept? (a) Shikhara (b) Garbhagriha (c) Mandapa (d) Stupa 8. Which of the following is related to 1600 years ago? (a) Erection of iron pillar (b) Construction of the temple at Bhitargaon (c) Paintings at Ajanta (d) Composition by Kalidasa 1. (b) 7. (b)

2. (c) 8. (d)

ANSWERS 3. (b) 4. (c)

5. (b)

6. (d)

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why did Marutasami visit Mehrauli? Describe the path taken by him. Ans. Marutasami visited Mehrauli to see the Iron Pillar in the Qutub Minar compound. His brother pushed his wheelchair along the dusty, stony path, past the towering Qutub Minar, and up the metal ramp. 2. Write a short note on Amravati Stupa. Ans. The magnificent Amravati Stupa that existed two thousand years ago, in present-day Maharashtra a stupa that once existed had many stone carvings for decorating the stupa. 3. What is a shikhara? Ans. A shikhara is a tower built on the top of the garbhagriha to mark it as a sacred place. There is one such temple at Bhitargaon. Building shikharas required careful planning. 4. Write a short note on Manimekalai. Ans. Sattanar’s Manimekalai is a Tamil epic composed around 1400 years ago, describing the story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi. This beautiful composition was rediscovered around a hundred years ago.

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B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Describe the iron pillar at Mehrauli. Ans. The iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi—a kirti stambha or column of fame or victory column—was built probably by Chandragupta II about 1500 years ago. This can be said based on an inscription on the pillar mentioning a ruler named Chandra. It is currently standing in the Qutb complex. It shows the grandeur of skilled Indian craftsmen. It is made of iron, which has not rusted till date. It is 7.2 metres high and weighs over 3 tonnes. 2. Write a short note on Amravati Stupa. Ans. The magnificent Amravati Stupa that existed two thousand years ago, in present-day Maharashtra a stupa that once existed had many stone carvings for decorating the stupa. Other buildings were hollowed out of rock to make artificial caves. Some of these were very elaborately decorated with sculptures and painted walls. 3. Write short note on the epic Ramayana. Ans. An old Sanskrit epic, later written down by Valmiki, the Ramayana is about Kosalan prince Rama. The prince was sent on exile for 14 years with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, where his wife was abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka. Rama fought with him to get her back and returned to Kosalan capital city, Ayodhya. 4. Write short notes bases on the images. Ans. This is the Great Stupa at Sanchi located in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Stupas like this one were built over several centuries. While the brick mound probably dates to the time of Emperor Ashoka, the railings and gateways were added during the time of later rulers.

This temple was built about 1500 years ago. It is made up of baked bricks and stones. This early temple is located at Bhitargaon, in present-day Uttar Pradesh. This is an image of a monolithic temple at Mahabalipuram. Each of these was carved out of a huge, single piece of stone. However, the brick structures are built up by adding layers of bricks from the bottom upwards. Hence, the stone cutters had to work from top downwards.

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This is an image of a Jaina monastery from Orissa in a two storeyed building, carved out of the rock surface. The Jaina monks lived and meditated in these rooms. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Narrate the story of Kovalan. Ans. A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango, around 1800 years ago. The epic is about Kovalan, a merchant living in Puhar. He was married to Madurai but fell in love with a courtesan named Madhavi and neglected his wife Kannagi. Later, he and his wife went to Madurai where he was falsely accused of stealing by the court jeweller of the Pandya king. The king sentenced Kovalan to death. Aggrieved, helpless and abandoned to despair, Kannagi, out of grief and anger at this injustice and the murder of an innocent stranger, destroyed the entire city of Madurai. 2. Write short note on Puranas. Ans. The Puranas contain stories about gods and goddesses such as Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati and details on how they were to be worshipped. Besides, there are accounts about the creation of the world and about kings. The word ‘Puranas’ literally means old; they were stories that were in circulation earlier, were written down around the same time. The Puranas were written in simple Sanskrit verses as they were meant to be heard by all. Although women and Shudras were not allowed to study the Vedas, they were allowed to listen to the verses being recited probably in temples by priests. People came from all parts of the society to listen to them.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Write a short note on Meghaduta. 2. How is paper made? 3. Look at the images and write briefly about each.

A

B

4. Write short note on the epic Mahabharata. 5. Complete the timeline.

C

D

PART B: GEOGRAPHY (THE EARTH: OUR HABITAT )

1 Chapter

The Earth in the Solar System

I. BASIC CONCEPTS What are the Celestial Bodies? A cloudless night sky is filled up with bright, tiny objects, some of which twinkle, while others do not. These bright objects along with sun and moon are called celestial bodies. Celestial bodies include stars, planets, constellations, satellites, asteroids, etc. Constellations: Sometimes groups of stars may appear to form patterns, such as animals or objects. These groups of stars are known as constellations. For example, Ursa Major or Big Bear, Orion, Saptarishi, etc. are the constellations visible in the sky during different seasons. Universe: The universe contains millions of galaxies of different shapes and sizes. We still do not know how big the universe is. Satellite: Satellites are the comparatively smaller heavenly bodies which revolve around a planet. For example, the Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.

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Stars: The celestial bodies that have their own heat and light which they emit are called stars. Stars are actually huge ball of gases which have tremendous amount of heat and emit light. Sun is a star.

Pole Star: The Pole Star or North Star is always visible in the north direction. In the earlier times, the sailors and travellers used to determine direction with the help of the Pole Star. Galaxy: A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars, planets, satellites, interstellar gases and dark matters. Our solar system is a part of the Milky Way galaxy or Akash Ganga (in Hindi). Planets: Planets are the celestial bodies which do not have light of their own and are lit by the light of the stars. They generally revolve around a star. Our earth is a planet. Earth gets light from the nearest star Sun.

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II. IN A NUTSHELL

[Source: Wikipedia]

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•• The Solar System: The sun, its eight planets, their satellites, asteroids, meteoroids and other heavenly bodies constitute the Solar System. The Sun is at the centre of the Solar System and its eight planets revolve around it in their specific paths or orbits. •• The Sun: The Sun is in the centre of the Solar System. It is the only star of the system. It is a huge ball of very hot gases. The Sun’s pulling force binds the solar system and the planets or the satellites maintain specific distance from the sun. The sun is about 150 million km away from the earth. Sun’s rays take about 8 minutes to reach earth’s surface. •• Planets of the Solar System: There are eight planets in the solar system which revolve around the sun in their respective fixed paths or orbits. The names of the planets in the order of increasing distances from the sun are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Mercury is nearest to the sun and it takes about 88 days to complete a revolution, while the farthest planet Neptune takes about 164 years to complete a revolution.

•• The Earth: The earth is the third planet from the sun. It is the only living planet in the solar system due to the presence of atmosphere, water and moderate temperature. From the outer space the earth appears blue due to the presence of the oceans which cover 2/3rd surface of the earth. The shape of the earth is not a complete sphere, rather slightly flattened at the poles. This shape is called Geoid. [The image of earth taken from Apollo 17. Source: Wikipedia] •• The earth has two motions – rotation or spinning motion and revolution. Earth takes 24 hours to complete a rotation and 365 days to complete a revolution. •• The Moon: There is only one natural satellite of earth, the Moon. Moon revolves around the earth and takes about 27 days to complete a revolution. The moon does not have atmosphere, and thus does not support life. There are mountains and craters present on the surface of the moon.

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Lunar crater Dedalus on the surface of the Moon. [Source: Wikipedia]

•• Asteroids: There are numerous irregular shaped bodies present in the solar system that also revolve around the sun. They are present between mars and Jupiter. Scientists are of opinion that once these asteroids were a planet that exploded due to some reasons. •• Meteoroids: Meteoroids are the small piece of rocks of irregular shapes which revolve around the sun. When these meteoroids come close to earth, the earth’s gravitational force pulls them towards it and they crash on earth’s surface. When crossing the atmosphere, they heat up due to the friction with atmospheric gases and start burning. These are called meteors or shooting stars which we sometimes see in the night sky giving a flash of light. Generally the meteors completely burn in the atmosphere and do not reach earth’s surface, but sometimes they hot the surface causing a crater on the surface.

III. KEYWORDS •• Celestrial Bodies: All objects that we see in the sky like sun, moon, earth, stars, etc. are temed as celerias bodies. •• Stars: The celestrial body which have their own heat and light. •• Galaxy: A huge system of millions of heavenly bodies and stars like Milky way from a galaxy. •• Universe: Thosand of Galaxies together form universe. •• Full Moon Night: A night when the moon is visible from the earth as a full sphere. It occurs once in a month. •• Constellation: A design of stars is called a constellation such as Saptrishi. •• Planets: Planets are those heavenly bodies which revolve around the sun and do not have their own heat and light. •• Solar: Related to the Sun. Origin – Roman ‘Sol’ means the Sungod. •• Geology: The study of physical structure and substance of the earth. Origin – Greek ‘ge’ means earth, and Greek ‘logia’ means ‘to speak’. •• Geometry: The branch of mathematics dealing with points, lines, shapes, solids, etc. Origin – Greek ‘ge’ means ‘the earth’, and Greek ‘metres’ means ‘the measurer’.

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•• Geoid: The shape resembling that of the earth. Origin – Greek ‘ge’ means ‘the earth’, and ‘aides’ means ‘form’. •• Satellites: A celestial body which revolves around a planet in a particular orbit. The moon is a satellite of the earth. •• Orbit: The particular and definite elliptical path in which a planet (or satellite) always remains.

IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 7-9) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) How does a planet differ from a star? Ans. Planet

Star

1.

Planets revolve around a star.

1.

Stars do not revolve around another star.

2.

Planets do not have their own light.

2.

Stars have their own heat and light.

3.

Planets are smaller celestial bodies in comparison to starts

3.

Stars are huge in size.

(b) What is meant by the ‘Solar System’? Ans. The sun, its eight planets, their satellites, asteroids, meteoroids and other heavenly bodies constitute the Solar System. The Sun is at the centre of the Solar System and its eight planets revolve around it in their specific paths or orbits. (c) Name all the planets according to their distance from the sun. Ans. The names of the planets according to their increasing distance from the sun are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. (d) Why is the Earth called a unique planet? Ans. The Earth is a unique planet in the Solar System. This is because: (i) Only earth has the protective covering of atmosphere. Atmosphere prevents the earth surface from getting too much heated up during daytime and getting too cold during night. (ii) The atmosphere contains oxygen gas which is essential for all living organisms. (iii) Only earth has water in liquid form which is essential to support life. (iv) Earth is the only living planet in the Solar System. No other planet supports life. (e) Why do we see only one side of the moon always? Ans. The Moon has two motions – rotational motion on its own axis, and revolution around the earth. The moon completes both motions at the same time, in 27 days. That is why we can always see only one face of moon.

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(f) What is the Universe? Ans. The Universe is a vast collection of millions of galaxies of different shapes and sizes. We still do not know how big the Universe is, or what is there beyond the Universe. 2. Tick the correct answer: (a) The planet known as the “Earth’s Twin” is (i) Jupiter (ii) Saturn (iii) Venus (b) Which is the third nearest planet to the sun? (i) Venus (ii) Earth (iii) Mercury (c) All the planets move around the sun in a (i) Circular path (ii) Rectangular path (iii) Elongated path (d) The Pole Star indicates the direction to the (i) South (ii) North (iii) East (e) Asteroids are found between the orbits of (i) Saturn and Jupiter (ii) Mars and Jupiter (iii) The Earth and Mars Ans. (a) (iii) Venus, (b) (ii) Earth, (c) (iii) Elongated path, (d) (ii) North (e) (ii) Mars and Jupiter, 3. Fill in the blanks. (a) A group of ________ forming various patterns is called a ________. (b) A huge system of stars is called _________. (c) _________ is the closest celestial body to our earth. (d) _________ is the third nearest planet to the sun. (e) Planets do not have their own __________ and ___________. Ans. (a) stars, constellation, (b) a galaxy, (c) The moon, (d) The earth, (e) heat and light.

V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Name the following: 1. The hottest planet in solar system. 2. The smallest planet in solar system. 3. The biggest planet in solar system. 4. Twin planet of earth. 5. A dwarf planet in the solar system. 6. Only natural satellite of Earth. 7. The planet which is farthest from the sun. 8. The planet nearest to the sun. 9. The nearest star to the Earth. 10. The celestial bodies that cause flash of light in the sky. Ans. 1. Venus 2. Mercury 4. Venus 5. Pluto 7. Neptune 8. Mercury 10. Meteors

3. Jupiter 6. Moon 9. Sun

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II. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Mercury takes about ____ days to complete a revolution around the sun. 2. The other name of the Pole Star is ________. 3. The word ‘planets’ is derived from the Greek word ________ which means _________. 4. A human-made satellite is carried to its orbit by a _______. 5. A _________ consists of millions of galaxies. Ans. 1. 88, 2. North star, 3. Planetai, 4. Rocket, 5. universe III. Write whether the following sentences are True or False: 1. The stars are made up of water. 2. The planets have their own heat and light. 3. Sun is located at the centre of the Solar System. 4. Pluto is considered to be a dwarf planet. 5. The Solar System is the only star system in the Milky Way galaxy. Ans. 1. False, 2. False, 3. True, 4. True, 5. False

VI. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. What does ‘Sol’ mean in Roman mythology? (a) God of the seas (b) God of thunder (c) The Sungod (d) The Moon 2. What is the speed of light? (a) 100,000 km/sec (b) 200,000 km/sec (c) 300,000 km/sec (d) 400,000 km/sec 3. What is the time taken by the Moon to spin on its axis? (a) 88 days (b) 24 hours (c) 365 days (d) 27 days 4. The Milky Way is a (a) Constellation (b) Galaxy (c) Star (d) Universe 5. Which of the following planets does not have a ring around it? (a) Mars (b) Uranus (c) Jupiter (d) Saturn 6. The small rock particles which when enter the earth’s atmosphere make a flash of light are called (a) Asteroids (b) Meteroids (c) Meteorites (d) Meteors 7. The Orion is an example of (a) Galaxy (b) Constellation (c) Star (d) Universe

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8. Which of the following is an example of a planet? (a) Earth (b) Moon (c) Sun (d) Milky Way

1. (c) 7. (b)

2. (c) 8. (a)

ANSWERS 3. (d) 4. (b)

5. (a)

6. (d)

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. How do you recognize a New Moon night? Ans. The Moon is the brightest object on a night sky. On a clear and cloudless night if we cannot see the moon that means it is a New Moon night or Amavasya. 2. Name three planets in the Solar System which have rings around them. Ans. Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus have rings of small rocks, dust particles and ice crystals around them. 3. Name two dwarf planets. Ans. Pluto and Ceres are two of the dwarf planets. 4. Why is it said that the earth is not a sphere? Ans. The shape of the Earth is not like a perfect sphere. The poles are slightly flattened, while the equatorial region of the earth is slightly bulged out. This particular shape is known as “Geoid” or ‘Earth-like shape’. 5. Why there is no life in the Moon? Ans. The Moon does not have air and water. Also, the day temperature of moon is very high, while the night temperature is extremely cold. These conditions are not favourable for supporting life. 6. Name the galaxy which the solar system belongs to. Ans. The solar system belongs to the Milky Way or Akaash Ganga galaxy. 7. Who was the first man to set foot on Moon? Ans. Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the surface of the Moon. 8. Name a famous astronomer from ancient India. Ans. Aryabhatta was a famous astronomer of ancient India. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is Full Moon? Ans. When the Moon appears to be bright and a perfect circle, it is called Full Moon. Full Moon appears once every 27 days. 2. Why do the stars twinkle? Ans. Stars are located many thousands or million light years away from us. When there light reach atmosphere the rays bend to different directions (refraction) and thus they appear to twinkle to us.

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3. If planets do not have their own light, how do we see them? Ans. The planets do not have their own light, but they reflect the light from the nearest star. That is how we see them. 4. Name the inner planets of the Solar System. Ans. The planets which are located near the sun are called the inner planets, such as, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These planets are made of rocks. 5. What are the outer planets? Ans. The planets which are located far away from the sun are called the outer planets. These are very big in size and are made of gases or liquids. Jupiter, Saturn. Uranus, and Neptune are the outer planets. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. What are constellations? Give some examples. Ans. Sometimes in the night sky, groups of stars may appear to form patterns, such as animals or objects. These groups of stars are known as constellation. For example, Ursa Major or Big Bear, Orion, Saptarishi, etc. are the constellation visible in the sky during different seasons. Saptarishi or Small Bear is easily recognizable in the night sky. Although we see the constellations as groups of stars, we have to keep in mind that these stars are located at different distances or may be several thousand light years away from each other. 2. Why do you think the life exist in the Earth only? Ans. The Earth has several conditions that are necessary to support life. These are: (i) The Earth has the protective layer of atmosphere around it. In one hand, the atmosphere keeps the temperature of the earth’s surface moderate, and on the other hand it saves earth from the extra-terrestrial meteoroids. The meteoroids mostly burn to ashes before reaching the earth’s surface. (ii) The atmosphere contains oxygen gas which all living organisms need for respiration. (iii) Presence of water is also an important factor as life is thought to have appeared in water first. 3. What is the difference between meteoroids, meteors and meteorites? Ans. Meteoroids are pieces of rocks or metals moving freely in space. When the meteoroids enter the earth’s atmosphere, they start to burn due to the friction with atmospheric gases. These burning piece with its trail of dust and fire are called meteors or shooting stars. All meteors are not able to reach the earth’s surface. Most of them burn to ashes in the atmosphere. Sometimes meteors do not get burned completely in the atmosphere and reach the earth’s surface. After reaching the earth’s surface, the rock or the meteors are called meteorites.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Name the star which was used by ancient people to determine direction and why? 2. What is an artificial satellite? 3. Why is the Earth called “Blue Planet”? 4. How did the asteroid belt form? 5. Fill in the names of the planets of the Solar System.

2 Chapter

Globe: Latitudes and Longitudes I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Axis: The imaginary straight line which joins the North and South Poles passing through the centre of the Earth is called its axis. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. The axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5° with the horizontal plane.

Globe: A globe is a spherical true model of earth. Globes can be of varying shapes, very big or pocketsize. A globe shows the countries, continents, oceans etc. in their correct sizes. To determine the location of a place on Earth’s surface, it has been divided into a grid of various imaginary lines – some of which are horizontal, while others are vertical.

Equator: The equator is an imaginary circular line which runs on the surface of the Earth dividing it into Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Hemispheres are equal halves of the Earth. The Equator is a very important imaginary reference line to locate places on earth.

Standard Time: We have seen that the time differs from place to place depending on the difference in the longitude. However, a country has several longitudes running through it. So, there will be difficulty in preparing a time table for a country. For example, India lies between 68°E and 97°E longitudes. Thus, the time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh will be [(97 – 68) × 4] minutes = 116 minutes or about 2 hours. To overcome this difficulty, the meridian running through the middle of the country (82.5°E) is taken as the standard meridian and the local time at this meridian is taken as the Indian Standard Time (IST).

Time and Longitude: We set our time according to sunrise and sunset. As the Earth rotates from west to east, the sun rises at different times at different places. The places lying east to the Prime Meridian have sunrise before Greenwich. Similarly, the places lying west to the Prime Meridian have sunrise after Greenwich. A day has 24 hours and there are 360 meridians on earth. Thus, 1° variation in meridian result in [(24 × 60/360)] minutes = 4 minutes time difference.

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II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Latitudes: The latitudes or parallels are imaginary circular lines on the surface of the Earth running parallel to the equator in both Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. Equator is also a latitude, in fact, it is the starting latitude and is also known as 0° latitude. The characteristics of latitudes: → There are 90 latitudes in [Source: By Peter Mercaton–own work.] each hemisphere. So, the total number of latitudes are 181 including the equator. → All latitudes are parallel to each other. They never intersect. → The latitudes are measured as degree of angle they make with the centre of the earth. The lines lying on the north side of the Equator are called °N, and the lines lying at south are denoted as °S. → The Equator is the longest latitude, the size of the latitudes get smaller as we move away from the equator with the poles are the smallest latitude. Actually, the poles are the points. North Pole is 90°N, and the South Pole is 90°S latitudes. The major latitudes are: → Tropic of Cancer: 23.5°N latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. → Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5°S latitude in the Southern Hemisphere. → Arctic Circle: 66.5°N latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. → Antarctic Circle: 66.5°S in the Southern Hemisphere. → North Pole: 90°N latitude → South Pole: 90°S latitude → Equator: 0° latitude. •• Longitudes: Longitudes or Meridians are the imaginary semi-circular lines that run from North Pole to South Pole and are perpendicular on the parallels. The longitude that runs through Greenwich, England is taken as the Prime Meridian or 0° longitude. The longitudes have the following characteristics: â All longitudes are semi-circular in shape.

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→ All longitudes are of same length. → They are not parallel to each other, but all meet together at both North and South Poles. → The distance between two meridians is maximum at the equator. → There are total 360 longitudes on earth. → The longitudes lying at the east of the Prime Meridian are denoted as °E, and lying west to the Prime Meridian are denoted as °W. 180°E and 180°W are the same line. → The Prime Meridian and the 180° meridian together divide the Earth into two equal Eastern and Western Hemispheres. → A day has 24 hours and there are 360 meridians on earth. Thus, 1° variation in meridian results in [(24 × 60) / 360] minutes = 4 minutes time difference. •• Heat Zones: On the basis of the amount of sunlight received, the earth can be divided into three major heat zones. They are: → Torrid Zone: The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn falls under direct sunlight overhead at least once a year. This area receives maximum heat from sunlight. Hence, this area is called the Torrid Zone.

Major heat zones on earth.

→ Temperate Zone: The north of Tropic of Cancer and the south of Tropic of Capricorn never have sun directly overhead. The sunrays are always tilted at an angle and the tilt as we move northwards in northern hemisphere and southward in southern hemisphere. The areas between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern hemisphere; and the Antarctic Circle and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere have moderate temperature and are called Temperate Zones. → Frigid Zones: The areas lying north of the Arctic Circle to the North Pole; and south of Antarctic Circle to the South Pole are very cold. They never receive direct sunlight and sun never rises much above the horizon. These areas fall under the Frigid Zone.

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III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• ••

Globe: Three dimensional model of the earth. Axis: The imaginary line about which the earth rotates once in 24 hours. Poles: The two extreme points on the axis. Equator: 0° parallel of latitude is termed as equator.

•• Tropic of Cancer: Parallel of latitude of 23 1° north of equator. 2 •• Greenwich Mean Time: The local time of the Prime Meridian. •• Rotation: Movement of a heavenly body on its axis. •• Standard Time: The local time of the Standard Meridian of a country. It is used only for convenience.

IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 16-17) 1. Answer the following questions briefly: (a) What is the true shape of the earth? Ans. The Earth is not a true sphere. The poles of the earth are a little flattened. The true shape of the earth is called Geoid. (b) What is a globe? Ans. A globe is a true model of earth. The continents, oceans, etc. are proportionally represented on a globe. The axis of the globe is also tilted just like the earth. (c) What is the latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer? Ans. The latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer is 23.5°N. (d) What are the three heat zones of the Earth? Ans. The three heat zones of the Earth are: 1. Torrid Zone: The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area receives maximum sunlight and heat. The temperature is always warm. 2. Temperate Zone: The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere. The midday sun is never directly above head. The temperature of temperate zone is moderate, not too hot, and not too cold. 3. Frigid Zone: The areas from the Arctic Circle to the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Antarctic Circle to the South Pole in the Southern Hemisphere are very cold. Sun is always tilted very much and near the horizon. (e) What are parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude? Ans. Parallels of Latitude: The imaginary parallel circular lines on the surface of the earth from the equator to the poles are called the parallels of latitudes. Meridians of Longitude: The imaginary semi-circular lines on the earth’s surface from the North Pole to the South Pole are called the meridians of longitude.

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(f) Why does the Torrid Zone receive maximum amount of sunlight? Ans. The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn falls under torrid zone. At least once a year the midday sun is directly above head in this area. This zone receives maximum heat and sunlight. (g) Why is it 5:30 pm in India and 12:00 noon in London? Ans. The Indian Standard Meridian is 82.5°E and that of London is 0°. Thus, the difference of meridian between India and London is 82.5°. Now, the difference of 1° results in 4 min time difference. Hence, a difference of 82.5° will result in (82.5 × 4) minutes = 330 minutes = 5 hours 30 minutes. Since India is located at the east of London, and so, India is ahead in time. Hence, when it is 5:30 pm in India, it is 12:00 noon in London. 2. Tick the correct answers. (a) The value of the prime meridian is (i) 90° (ii) 0° (iii) 60° (b) The frigid zone lies near (i) the Poles (ii) the Equator (iii) the Tropic of Cancer (c) The total number of longitudes are (i) 360 (ii) 180 (iii) 90 (d) The Antarctic Circle is located in (i) the Northern hemisphere (ii) the Southern hemisphere (iii) the Eastern hemisphere (e) Grid is a network of (i) parallels of latitudes and meridians of longitudes (ii) the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (iii) the North Pole and the South pole Ans. (a) (ii) 0°, (b) (i) the Poles, (c) (i) 360, (d) (ii) the Southern hemisphere, (e) (i) parallels of latitudes and meridians of longitudes 3. Fill in the blanks. (a) The Tropic of Capricorn is located at . (b) The Standard Meridian of India is . (c) The 0° Meridian is also known as . (d) The distance between the longitudes decreases towards . (e) The Arctic Circle is located in the hemisphere. Ans. (a) 23.1/2° South of equator, (b) 82 ½°E, (c) Prime Meridian or Greenwich line, (d) the poles, (e) Northern

V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Fill in the Blanks: 1. The Tropic of Capricorn is located at located at . 2. The Indian Standard Time is based on

and the Arctic Circle is meridian.

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3. The

divide the earth into three major heat zones, and the divide the earth into 24 time zones. 4. The globe is a of earth, but differs from the earth in . 5. The sun rises in the countries which are located at east of India. Ans. 1. 23.5°S, 66.5°N, 2. 82.5°E, 3. latitudes, longitudes, 4. model, size, 5. earlier II. Answer in one word or two: 1. Name the 0° latitude. Ans. Equator. 2. Name the heat zone on earth which has moderate temperature. Ans. Temperate zone. 3. Name the semicircular imaginary lines which run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Ans. Longitudes. 4. Which longitude is treated as the Indian Standard Meridian? Ans. The 82°30’E longitude. 5. How much is the time difference between 1° difference in meridian? Ans. Four minutes. III. State whether the following statements are ‘True’ or ‘False’: 1. The imaginary line that divides the earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres is the Prime Meridian. 2. All parallei circles from the equator to the poles are called latitudes. 3. The Arctic and Antarctic circles border the torrid zone. 4. The grid of parallels and meridians help us to locate a place. 5. India is 5 hours and 30 minutes behind GMT. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False

VI. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Which line divides the earth into northern and southern hemispheres? (i) The Equator (ii) The Tropic of Cancer (iii) The Prime Meridian (iv) The 180° Meridian 2. What is the shape of the 90°S parallel? (i) Semi-circle (ii) Circle (iii) Point (iv) Oval 3. The Earth rotates on its (i) Equator (ii) Axis (iii) Poles (iv) 180° meridian 4. The difference between GMT ans IST is (i) 5 hours (ii) 4 hours 30 minutes (iii) 6 hours (iv) 5 hours 30 minutes 5. The sun never rises much above the horizon in (i) the Equator (ii) the Prime Meridian (iii) the frigid zone (iv) the torrid zone

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2. (iii)

ANSWERS 3. (ii) 4. (iv)

5. (iii)

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is the axis of the earth? Ans. The axis of the earth is the imaginary straight line which joins the north and the south poles running through the centre of the earth. 2. How many time zones are there on earth? Ans. There are 24 time zones on the earth. 3. Why is the meridian running through Greenwich taken as 0°? Ans. The British Royal Observatory is located in Greenwich and that is why the meridian running through it is considered as 0° meridian. 4. What is the full form of IST? Ans. The full form of IST is Indian Standard Time. 5. How many heat zones are there on earth? Ans. There are three major heat zones on earth. 6. How can you calculate the latitude of a place with the help of the Pole Star? Ans. The angle of the Pole Star from a place is the measure of the latitude of that place. 7. How much time difference is noticed by 1° difference of meridians? Ans. 1° difference in meridians leads to 4 minutes of time difference. 8. Where is the distance between two meridians the maximum? Ans. The distance between two meridians is the maximum at the equator. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is Equator? Ans. The Equator is a circular imaginary circular line on the earth that divides the earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres. The equator is the largest latitude and its value is 0°. 2. Name the important latitudes. Ans. The important latitudes on earth are: 1. The Equator 2. The Tropic of Cancer 3. The Tropic of Capricorn 4. The Arctic Circle 5. The Antarctic Circle 6. The North Pole 7. The South Pole 3. Where does the torrid zone lie? Ans. The torrid zone lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. 4. Why are the 180°W and 180°E meridians the same line. Ans. The 180° meridian lies just at the opposite side of the 0° meridian. Starting from 0°, there are 180 meridians at east and 180 at west at each degree. Since there are a total of 360° in a circle, 180°E and 180°W are the same line.

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5. What is the name of the area lying at the north of the Arctic Circle? Why is that name given? Ans. The area lying at the north of Arctic Circle is known as the frigid zone. This area is very cold all the year round and sunlight never rises much above the horizon. Thus, this area does not receive much heat from the sun. Hence, the name is frigid zone. 6. Why are both latitudes and longitudes required to specify the location of a place? Ans. Only latitude or only longitude cannot specifically determine the location of a place. For example, Tonga Islands in the Pacific Ocean and Mauritius Islands in the Indian Ocean are located on the same 20°S latitude. Thus, to precisely locate a place a grid of both horizontal and vertical lines are needed. Hence, both latitudes and longitudes are required to specify the location of a place. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write the differences between latitudes and longitudes. Ans. Latitudes

Longitudes

1.

Latitudes are parallel, never cross each other.

(i)

Longitudes are not parallel, they meet at the poles.

2.

Latitudes are circular in shape.

(ii)

Longitudes are semi-circular in shape.

3.

Latitudes vary in size. The equator is the largest latitude, while the poles are the smallest latitudes.

(iii)

All longitudes have same length.

4.

Latitudes are horizontal lines.

(iv)

Longitudes are vertical lines.

5.

There are 181 latitudes.

6.

The latitudes divide the earth in different heat zones.

(v) (vi)

There are 360 longitudes. The longitudes divide the earth in different time zones.

2. What is the difference between local time and standard time? Ans. Local time is determined on the basis of the meridian which passes over the place. From the North Pole to the South Pole all places lying on the same meridian will have same time. Standard time of a country is based on a specific meridian that generally passes through the midpoint of the country. The whole country follows the same time according to the standard meridian. For example, Indian Standard Meridian is 82.5°E.

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3. Calculate the local time of Intanagar (93.5° E) when it is 11 a.m. in Mumbai (73°E) according to local time. Ans. The local meridian of Mumbai is 73° E, and that of Itanagar is 93.5° E. Thus, the difference in longitudes is (93.5 – 73) = 20.5°. Each degree of difference leads to 4 minutes of time difference. Thus, 20.5° difference in longitudes will lead to a time difference of (4 × 20.5) minutes = 82 minutes = 1 hour 22 minutes. Itanagar is at the east of Mumbai, and hence, will be ahead in time in comparison of Mumbai. Thus, when it is 11 am in Mumbai, the local time of Itanagar will be (11 + 1h 22 min) = 12.22 p.m. 4. What are the features of the meridians? Ans. The features of the meridians are: → All meridians are semi-circular in shape. → All meridians are of same length. → They are not parallel to each other, but all meet together at both North and South Poles. → The distance between two meridians is maximum at the equator. → There are total 360 meridians on earth. → The meridians lying at the east of the Prime Meridian are denoted as °E, and lying west to the Prime Meridian are denoted as °W. 180°E and 180°W are the same line. → The Prime Meridian and the 180° meridian together divide the Earth into two equal Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Write the name of the following parallels and meridians: (a) 23°30’ N (b) 23°30’ S (c) 66°30’ N (d) 66°30’ S (e) 82°30’ E 2. Why do you think the places east of Greenwich are ahead of Greenwich time? 3. What is the significance of the standard time of a country? 4. Where do the meridians meet together? 5. Where do the latitudes meet?

3 Chapter

Motions of the Earth

I. BASIC CONCEPTS Rotation: The earth spins on its own axis from west to east in about 24 hours. This movement of earth is called rotation.

Revolution: The movement of earth around the sun in a fixed elliptical path or orbit in 365 days and 6 hours is called revolution.

On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun (see the above figure) and the Tropic of Cancer receives direct sunlight. The northern hemisphere experiences longest day and shortest night on 21st June, and this day is known as the Summer Solstice.

On 22nd December, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun (see the above figure) and the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct sunlight. The southern hemisphere experiences longest day and shortest night on 22nd December, and this day is known as the Winter Solstice in northern hemisphere.

On 21st March and 23rd September, The Equator receives direct sunlight. The whole earth experiences 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night on these two days. These two days are known as Equinox.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• The Earth has two types of motions: (i) Rotation, and (ii) Revolution. •• The earth’s axis is tilted on its orbital plane (the plane formed by the orbit) and makes an angle of 66½°. •• Due to the spherical shape of the earth, only half of its surface is exposed to the sun at a time, while the other half remains in shadow. The illuminated portion is known as Circle of illumination and this part experiences day, while the part away from the sun experiences night. •• The earth takes about 24 hours to complete a rotation, and this duration is known as the earthday.

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•• If the earth did not have rotational motion, the face of the earth facing the sun would have faced the sun always and the opposite half would have night always. The half facing the sun would have heat and warmth, while the other half would have been freezing cold. •• The Earth’s other motion is revolution. It takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete a revolution.



The earth’s revolution

[Source: Wikipedia]

•• The extra 6 hours we ignore and consider 365 days as one year. Every fourth year, the saved 6 hours of each year make one extra day which we add to the month of February. Such years are know as leap year and on these years February has 29 days instead of 28 days. •• The earth has mainly four seasons: Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. The change of seasons occurs due to earth’s revolution. •• As the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, during this time the north of the Arctic Circle experiences continuous day for 6 months. The Northern Hemisphere experiences summer as it receives a great deal of sunlight. •• The South Pole is away from the sunlight, there is continuous night for a period of 6 months in places south of the Antarctic Circle. The Southern Hemisphere experiences winter during this time. •• As the South Pole is tilted towards the sun, during this time the north of the Antarctic Circle experiences continuous day for 6 months. The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer as it receives a great deal of sunlight. Thus, in Australia, New X+Zealand, etc. the Christmas is celebrated during summer! •• The North Pole is away from the sunlight, there is continuous night for a period of 6 months in places south of the Arctic Circle. The Northern Hemisphere experiences winter during this time. •• It is autumn in northern hemisphere and spring in southern hemisphere

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September. Similarly, on 21st March, it is autumn in southern hemisphere and spring in northern hemisphere.

III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Rotation: Movement of the earth on its axis. Revolution: Movement/motion of the earth around the sun in 365 ¼ days. Orbital Plane: Plane form by the orbit. Circle of Illumination: Circle that separates the day from night on the globe. Leap Year: The year (every four year) with 366 days instead of 365 days. Summer Solstice: Position of the Earth on 21st June. Winter Solstice: Position of the Earth on 22nd December. Equinox: In the position of the earth on March 21 and Sept. 23, both hemispheres experience equal days and nights.

IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 21-23) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) What is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane? Ans. The angle of inclination of the earth’s axis with its orbital plane is 66½°. (b) Define rotation and revolution. Ans. Rotation: Rotation is the movement of the earth on its axis, which takes about 24 hours to complete. The day and night occur due to the rotational movement of the earth. Revolution: The earth moves around the sun in its fixed elliptical orbit once in every 365 days and 6 hours. This movement is known as revolution. The change of seasons occur due to revolution of earth. (c) What is a leap year? Ans. The earth takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete a revolution. However, we consider a year consisting of 365 days. The extra 6 hours from each year gets accumulated and every fourth year this makes a complete day. This extra day is added to February month which has 29 days on such a year. Such a year is known as a leap year, which consists of 366 days. (d) Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice. Ans. Summer solstice

Winter solstice

1.

Occurs on 21st June.

2.

The Tropic of Cancer receives direct sunlight.

(ii)

The Tropic of Capricorn receives direct sunlight.

3.

Summer in northern hemisphere and winter in southern hemisphere.

(iii)

Summer in southern hemisphere and winter in northern hemisphere.

(i)

Occurs on 22nd December.

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4.

The North Pole continuously facing the sun.

(iv)

The South Pole continuously away from the sun.

5.

Longest day and shortest night in northern hemisphere, and shortest day and longest night in southern hemisphere.

(v)

Longest day and shortest night in southern hemisphere, and shortest day and longest night in northern hemisphere.

(e) What is an equinox? Ans. On 21st March and 23rd September, The Equator receives direct sunlight. The whole earth experiences 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night on these two days. These two days are known as Equinox. It is autumn in norther hemisphere and spring in southern hemisphere on 23rd September. Similarly, on 21st March, it is autumn in southern hemisphere and spring in northern hemisphere. (f) Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice in different times than that of the Northern Hemisphere? Ans. Due to the inclination of the earth’s axis on the orbital plane, the northern and southern hemispheres experience winter and summer solstice at different times. • On 21st June, the Tropic of Cancer is under direct sunlight and northern hemisphere receives maximum heat and light from the sun. Thus, it is the Summer Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, the conditions are totally opposite. The South Pole is totally away from the sun. The Southern Hemisphere experiences longest night and shortest day and it is the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. • Similarly, on 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn is under direct sunlight and southern hemisphere receives maximum heat and light from the sun. Thus, it is the Summer Solstice for the Southern Hemisphere. However, in the Northern Hemisphere, the conditions are totally opposite. The North Pole is totally away from the sun. The Northern Hemisphere experiences longest night and shortest day and it is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. (g) Why do poles experience about six month’s day and six months night? Ans. The inclination of the axis of the earth on its orbital plane is such that, when one pole faces the sun, the other pole is totally away from the sun. Between 21st March and 23rd September, the Arctic Circle faces the sun always, and it experiences 6 months of continuous daylight. However, during this time, the Antarctic Circle never faces the sun. Thus, it goes through six months of night continuously. On the other hand, between 23rd September and 21st March, the Antarctic Circle faces the sun always, and it experiences 6 months of continuous daylight. However, during this time, the Arctic Circle never faces the sun. Thus, it goes through six months of night continuously.

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2. Tick the correct answers. (a) The movement of the earth around the sun is known as (i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Inclination (b) Direct rays of the sun fall on the equator on (i) 21 March (ii) 21 June (iii) 22 December (c) Christmas is celebrated in summer in (i) Japan (ii) India (iii) Australia (d) Cycle of the seasons is caused due to (i) Rotation (ii) Revolution (iii) Gravitation Ans. (a) (ii) Revolution, (b) (i) 21 march, (c) (iii) Australia, (d) (ii) Revolution 3. Fill in the blanks. (a) A leap year has _______ number of days. (b) The daily motion of the earth is _______. (c) The earth travels around the sun in ___________ orbit. (d) The sun’s rays fall vertically on the Tropic of ________ on 21st June. (e) Days are shorter during _______ season. Ans. (a) 366, (b) rotation, (c) elliptical, (d) Cancer, (e) winter

V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Match the following: Dates

Direct of sunlight falls on

1.

21st March

(i)

2.

21st June

(ii)

3.

23rd September

(iii)

Tropic of Cancer

4.

22nd December

(iv)

Equator

Equator Tropic of Capricorn

Ans. 1. (i), 2. (iii), 3. (iv), 4. (ii) II. State whether the following statements are True or False: 1. The Earth’s revolution is responsible for the change of seasons. 2. On 21st June the durations of day and night are same all over the world. 3. On 22nd December it is Winter Solstice all over the world. 4. The inclination of the axis on the orbital plane is responsible for 6 months of night and day in the poles. 5. The revolution is the movement of earth around the moon. 6. If the Axis made 90° angle with the orbital plane, we would have equal length of day and night all over the world. 7. The earth changes its path of revolution twice a year. 8. When there is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, there is autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. 9. The circle of illumination moves with the rotational movement of the earth.

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10. There are six main seasons on earth. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False, 6. True, 7. False, 8. True, 9. True, 10. False III.  Things to Do 1. Make a drawing to show the inclination of the earth. Ans. The Figure given below shows the inclination of the earth. Thevertical line from the earth’s orbita plane

23½

Tro p

°

ic o

Equ

fC

anc

er

ato

ic o

Sou

66

r

Tro p

North Pole

fC

½°

apr

The Plane of the earth’s orbit

ico

rn

th P

ole

2. Record the timings of sunrise and sunset at your place taking help from your local newspaper on the 21st of each month and answer the following. (a) In which month are the days the shortest? (b) In which months are the days and nights nearly equal? Ans. Student attempt themselves

VI. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Motion of the earth on its axis in about 24 hours is called (a) rotation (b) revolution (c) both (a) & (b) (d) none of these 2. Motion of the earth around the sun is known as (a) rotation (b) revolution (c) both (a) & (b) (d) none of these 3. The axis of the earth is (a) a straight line (b) an imaginary line (c) real line (d) curved line 4. The earth receives light from the (a) Sun (b) Moon (c) Stars (d) Meteors 5. The time taken by the earth to complete one rotation around its axis is (a) 12 hours (b) 36 hours (c) 24 hours (d) 18 hours

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151

6. The earth completes one rotation in (a) 366 ¼ days (b) 370 days (c) 365 ¼ days (d) 366 days 7. A year with 366 days is called (a) normal year (b) leap year (c) both (a) & (b) (d) none of these 1. (a) 7. (b)

2. (b)

ANSWERS 3. (b) 4. (a)

5. (c)

6. (c)

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Name the motion of earth which causes day and night. Ans. The Earth’s rotation causes day and night. 2. Why is the Circle of Illumination moves as the day progresses? Ans. The Circle of Illumination is actually the portion on the surface of the earth which receives sunlight at a given point of time. As the earth rotates on its axis from west to east, the Circle of Illumination also moves from east to west. 3. On which day does the Tropic of Capricorn receive direct sunlight? Ans. On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct sunlight. 4. What is the angle between the axis of the earth and the orbital plane? Ans. The angle between the axis of the earth and the orbital plane is 66½°. 5. What is the season in Australia on 21st March? Ans. It is autumn season in Australia on 21st March. 6. What is the total number of days in a leap year? Ans. In a leap year, the total number of days is 366. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What do you think would happen if the earth stops revolving around the sun? Ans. If the earth stops revolving the sun, there will not be the change of seasons. There will be summer always in the hemisphere which faces the sun and there will be constant winter in the other hemisphere. 2. Differentiate between orbit and axis. Ans. The orbit is the elliptical fixed path along which the earth moves around the sun. The axis is the imaginary straight line which joins the north and the south poles passing through the centre of the earth. 3. Differentiate between rotation and revolution. Ans.

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Rotation

Revolution

1.

It is the movement of the earth on its own axis.

(i)

It is the movement of the earth around the sun in affixed orbit.

2.

The earth takes about 24 hours to complete a rotation.

(ii)

The earth takes 365 days 6 hours to complete a revolution.

3.

Day and night occur due to this rotation.

(iii)

Seasons occur due to this movement.

4. What is the Circle of Illumination? Ans. Due to the spherical shape of the earth, only a half of it gets illuminated by the sunlight at a given time. This illuminated portion is called the Circle of illumination. 5. What do you mean by equinox? Ans. The days on which the Equator receives direct sunlight are called equinox. It is so called because on these days the days and nights are of equal duration all over the earth. The two days of equinox on earth are 21st March and 23rd September. 6. Why do we have a leap year? Ans. The earth does not complete a revolution exactly in 365 days, it takes 6 more hours to complete a revolution. However, for convenience, we do not take this 6 hour into account and the extra 6 hours get accumulated each year. On every fourth year, it makes an extra whole day. If we still continue to ignore this extra day, it will keep on accumulating and will create problems later in the calculation of days and months. Hence, we have a leap year every fourth year when we include the extra day in the month of February. 7. Why do the Australians celebrate Christmas in summer? Ans. The Christmas is celebrated on 25th December all over the year. During this time, the southern hemisphere has summer season. This is because during the month of December, the Southern Hemisphere faces the sun and the Tropic of Capricorn receives almost direct sunlight. Hence, it is summer season in Australia during the Christmas. 8. Why do the area near the poles have continuous day for six months? Ans. From 21st March to 23rd September, the Northern Hemisphere faces the sun. During these six months, the sun never sets around North Pole, and never rises around the South Pole. Hence, during these six months it is continuous day in the northern region of the Arctic Circle and continuous night in the southern region of the Antarctic Circle. The opposite happens from 23rd September to 21st March, when it is continuous day in south of Antarctic Circle and north of Arctic Circle. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Discuss how the seasons are changed on earth. Ans. Due to earth’s revolution and the inclination of earth’s axis on the orbital plane in a fixed direction, the change of seasons is observed on earth.

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153

• The Northern Hemisphere faces the sun during May to mid-July and the Southern Hemisphere is away from the sun during this time. These months, there is summer in Northern Hemisphere and winter in Southern Hemisphere. On 21st June, the north of equator experiences the longest day, while the south of equator experiences the shortest day. • During August to mid-October, both the hemispheres have almost equal share of sun’s rays. It is autumn in northern hemisphere, while spring in southern hemisphere. On 23rd September, the sun’s rays fall directly on the equator, and the whole world experiences equal length of day and night. • From November to mid-February, the southern hemisphere faces the sun while the northern hemisphere is away from the sun resulting in summer in south and winter in north. On 22nd December, the sun’s rays directly fall on the Tropic of Capricorn, and it is the longest day in southern hemisphere and the shortest day in Northern Hemisphere. • During February end to April, again both hemispheres receive equal share of sunlight. It is spring in north of equator and autumn in south of equator. On 21st March, it is 12 hour day and 12 hour night all the over the world. 2. How does the rotational movement of earth cause day and night? Ans. The earth rotates on its axis from west to east, and completes one rotation in about 24 hours. Since the earth has a spherical shape, only one half of it faces the sun. The half which faces the sun comes under the circle of illumination experiences daytime, while the half which is in the shadow experiences night. Due to rotation, the circle of illumination constantly moves from east to west, thus dawn, midday, dusk and night come one after another.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Match the columns: Column A

Column B

1.

Time taken to complete one rotation

(i)

366 days

2.

Time taken to complete one revolution

(ii)

12 hours

3.

Duration of day in North Pole

(iii)

About 24 hours

4.

Number of days in a leap year

(iv)

About 6 months

5.

Length of day during Equinox

(v)

365 days 6 hours

2. On which date it is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere? 3. Name the main seasons on earth. 4. On which date(s) both North and South Pole receive sunlight? 5. When does the month of February have 29 days?

4

Maps

Chapter

I. BASIC CONCEPTS A map is a graphical representation of the surface of the earth or a part of it according to a suitable scale on a flat surface. The Advantages of Maps over Globe:

• The globe is actual representation of earth and are more accurate. • The curved surface of the earth is truly represented by a globe.

The Advantages of Maps over Globe:

• A map is easily portable, can be folded. • A map can show a small area with great detail. • Map can show various different features, like landforms, weather, crop production, mineral resources, etc.

II. IN A NUTSHELL



•• Atlas is a book of maps. •• Different types of maps are there. Some of them are: → Physical Maps: The maps which show the physical features, such as, mountains, deserts, rivers, oceans, etc. are called physical maps or relief maps. → Political Maps: The maps which show, cities, towns, boundaries of states and countries, etc. are called political maps. → Thematic Maps: The maps which show some specific features of an area, such as, rainfall, temperature, distribution of forests, mineral mines, etc. are called thematic maps.

154

Maps

155

Jammu & Kashmir Himanchal Pradesh Punjab Haryana

Uttaranchal Sikkim

Delhi Uttar Pradesh

Jharkhand

Chh

attis

Madhya Pradesh

Maharastra

Odisha

Goa Karnataka Kerala

Meghalaya

West Bengal

Andhra Pradesh

Tamil Nadu

Assam

Bihar

garh

Rajasthan

Gujarat

Arunachal Pradesh

Pondicherry

Nagaland Manipur

Mizoram Tripura

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Social Science—VI (Geography)

Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Average Annual Min Temperature Temperature (F) Zone Below -50 -45 to -50 -40 to -45 -35 to -40 -30 to -35 -25 to -30 -20 to -25 -15 to -20 -10 to -15 -5 to -10 0 to -5 5 to 0 10 to 5 15 to 10 20 to 15 25 to 20 30 to 25 35 to 30 40 to 35 40 +





1 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 8a 8b 7a 7b 9a 9b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11

[Political map of India, physical map world, and climate map of the USA (thematic map).]

•• The maps mainly have three components. These are: → Distance: The maps are the miniscule drawings of the whole or a portion of the earth. Thus, the original distance between two points on earth has to be reduced proportionately in a map. The scale of a map is the ratio between the original distance on the earth surface and on the map. In a large scale map the above ratio is small, and thus a greater detail can be shown. In a small scale map a large amount of area is represented in very small part. Thus, too many features cannot be represented. → Direction: A map has to show the directions clearly in a corner. Generally, an upright arrow is drawn at the right corner of a map depicting north. → Symbols: It is not possible to draw buildings, bridges, factories, etc. on a

Maps

157

map. So, certain symbols of letters, or colours, or lines, are used to represent those features. There are conventional symbols which are used universally.

•• The main four directions, such as, north, south, east and west are called cardinal points. The other directions, such as, north-east, south-west, southeast, north-west, etc. are called intermediate directions. •• Compass is an instrument which helps us to find direction. Compass has a magnetic needle which always points towards north direction. •• Sketch is rough drawing based on memory, and may not be to the scale. •• Plan is a drawing of a small area in large scale. A plan is a very detailed map of a small area.

N

S

Compass

III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Cardinal Points: Four main points of the compass. Symbols: To represent buildings, roads; bridges, etc. on the map. Conventional Symbols: Internationally accepted symbols. Atlas: Collection of maps. Compass: An instrument which indicates the directions. Sketch: A rough drawing without scale. Plan: Drawing of a small area on a large scale.

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Social Science—VI (Geography)

IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 21-23) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) What are the three components of map? Ans. The three components of a map are distance, direction, and symbol. (b) What are the four cardinal directions? Ans. The four cardinal directions are North, South, East and West. (c) What do you mean by the term ‘the scale of the map’? Ans. The scale of the map means the ratio of the original distance between two points on earth surface to the distance between those points in the map. For example, the distance between two cities actually can be 500 km, which on the map is shown as 5 cm. (d) How are maps more helpful than a globe? Ans. The advantages of maps over globe: → A map is easily portable, can be folded. → A map can show a small area with great detail. → Map can show various different features, like, landforms, weather, crop production, mineral resources, etc. (e) Distinguish between a map and a plan. Ans. • A map is graphical representation of whole or a part of the earth’s surface, while a plan is a graphical representation of a small area in large scale. • Generally, a map is drawn on small scale, while a plan is drawn on large scale. • Small scale map does not contain detailed information, but a plan contains detailed information about a particular area. (f) Which map provides detailed information? Ans. Large scale maps and plans provide detailed information. (g) How do symbols help in reading maps? Ans. Symbols help in reading maps in the following as: • Since symbols do not take much space, they provide a lot of information. • The symbols are decided universally, and hence, can be understood by all. • It is not possible to write all the features a map wants to represent. Thus, with the help of symbols one can read a map and the features it shows. 2. Tick the correct answers: (a) Maps showing distribution of forest are (i) Physical map (ii) Thematic map (iii) Political map (b) The blue colour is used for showing (i) Water bodies (ii) Mountains (iii) Plains

Maps

159

(c) A compass is used – (i) To show symbols (ii) To find the main direction (iii) To measure distance (d) A scale is necessary (i) For a map (ii) For a sketch (iii) For Symbols Ans. (a) (ii) Thematic map, (b) (i) Water bodies, (c) (ii) To find the main direction, (d) (i) For a map Things to Do 1. Draw a plan of your classroom and show the teacher’s table, blackboard, desks, doors and windows. Ans. Please do this exercise yourself. 2. Draw a sketch of your school and locate the following: (a) the principal’s room (b) your classroom (c) the playground (d) the library (e) some big trees (f) drinking water Ans. Students do yourself. Let’s Do • Take an old rubber ball and make any drawing all over it. — You may also mark north pole and south pole on it. — Now cut this ball with knife and try to flatten it. — See how drawing are distorted Ans. Do this exercise yourself.

V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  State whether the following statements are True or False: 1. Each map generally contains an arrow directing towards the North direction. 2. To study a small area of a town, globe is more helpful than a map. 3. Each map has its own system of symbols according to the wish of the mapmaker. 4. A sketch is a rough map drawn from memory which may not be to the scale. 5. Thematic maps are very useful to study the state boundaries of a country. 6. The physical features of a country are depicted in a physical map. 7. Globes are difficult to carry, while a map can be folded and easily be carried in a bag. 8. Relief map is the other name of a political map. 9. All maps use a universal scale where 500 km of actual distance is reduced to 5 cm. 10. Cardinal points are the four major directions. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False, 6. True, 7. True, 8. False, 9. False, 10. True

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II.  Fill in the Blanks: 1. To find the directions, we use . 2. Scale of a map helps us to get an idea about the between two places. 3. The annual rainfall of a country can be depicted in a map. 4. Maps are drawn on a surface, while globe is made on a surface. 5. Mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, etc. can be shown on a map with a help of . 6. A map bears more detailed information than a map. 7. The magnetic needle of a compass always lie along direction. 8. A is used to study a small area in a large scale. Ans. 1. compass, 2. distance, 3. thematic, 4. flat, curved 5. conventional symbols, 6. large scale, small scale, 7. north-south, 8. plan

VI. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The ‘scale’ in a map gives us useful information about (i) the directions (ii) distance between two points (iii) the size of the map (iv) the name of a city 2. The green colour in a map denotes (i) Plain land (ii) Mountains (iii) Rivers (iv) ?? 3. A plan of an area consists of (i) details about the population of the place (ii) the location of a place (iii) physical features of a place (iv) details about length and breadth of A location 4. The maps that show mountains, rivers, plateaus, etc. are called (i) Thematic maps (ii) Physical maps (iii) Political maps (iv) A globe 5. ‘PS’ in a map stands for (i) Police Station (ii) Public Station (iii) Phone Station (iv) Post Station 1. (ii)

2. (i)

ANSWERS 3. (iv) 4. (ii)

5. (i)

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is an atlas? Ans. An atlas is a book of maps or a collection of maps. 2. What do PO and PS stand for in a map? Ans. In a map, PO stands for Post Office, and PS stands for Police Station.

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3. Which colour is used to depict the seas and plains in a map? Ans. In a map, a seas are depicted in blue colour and plains are depicted in green colour. 4. What is a relief map? Ans. A map where the physical features of a place are represented is called a relief map. 5. When do you need to study a thematic map? Ans. To study a particular and special feature of a place, thematic maps are used. For example, rainfall map, agriculture map, etc. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Which direction could be found with the help of a compass? Ans. The needle of the compass always lies in North-South direction, and the needle points towards north. The north can be found with a compass, and once north is known, the other directions can be found easily. 2. What are the different kinds of maps? Ans. Different kinds of maps are: Political map, Physical map, and thematic map. 3. What do you understand by large scale map and small scale map? Ans. In large scale maps, a small area, such as, a village or a town is shown in map. The scale of the map is in the range of 500 metres = 5 centimetres. Hence, details can be shown in the large scale maps. In a small scale map, a huge area, such as a country, or the whole world is shown in map. Here, the scale of the map is 500 kilometres = 5 centimetres or even more than that. Too many details cannot be shown in this type of maps. 4. Differentiate between cardinal points and intermediate directions. Ans. Cardinal Points are the main four directions – North, East, South and West. Intermediate directions are the directions which lie in between two cardinal points. For example, North-East, South-East, etc. 5. What are the thematic maps? Ans. The thematic maps show some specific information. For example, annual rainfall of a country, railway networks, distribution of industries, etc. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. What is a map? What are the different types of maps? Ans. A map is a graphical representation of the surface of the earth or a part of it according to a suitable scale on a flat surface. There are various types of maps. The main types of maps are: → Physical maps: The maps which show the physical features, such as mountains, deserts, rivers, oceans, etc. are called physical maps or relief maps. → Political maps: The maps which show, cities, towns, boundaries of states and countries, etc. are called political maps.

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→ Thematic maps: The maps which show some specific features of an area, such as, rainfall, temperature, distribution of forests, mineral mines, etc. are called thematic maps. 2. What are the different components of a map? Ans. The maps mainly have three components. These are: → Distance: The maps are the miniscule drawings of the whole or a portion of the earth. Thus, the original distance between two points on earth has to be reduced proportionately in a map. The scale of a map is the ratio between the original distance on the earth surface and on the map. In a large scale map the above ratio is small, and thus a greater detail can be shown. In a small scale map a large amount of area is represented in very small part. Thus, too many features cannot be represented. → Direction: A map has to show the directions clearly in a corner. Generally, an upright arrow is drawn at the right corner of a map depicting north. → Symbols: It is not possible to draw buildings, bridges, factories, etc. on a map. So, certain symbols of letters, or colours, or lines, are used to represent those features. There are conventional symbols which are used universally. 3. Discuss ‘symbol’ as a component of a map. Ans. It is not possible to draw various features of a locality, like, buildings, temples, ponds, trees, etc. on a map. So certain letters, symbols, etc. are used to denote those features. It is also important to have a universal system of symbols. Otherwise, except for the mapmaker, nobody else will be able to understand which symbol stands for what. Thus, there is a universal agreement regarding the use of the symbols. These symbols are called conventional symbols. Examples: (i) Blue is used to represent water bodies, such as, rivers, seas, oceans, lakes, etc. Dark brown is used to denote mountains, yellow for plateaus, while green for plain lands. (ii) PO stands for post office, RS for Railway Station, etc. (iii) Filled circles represent a city, while filled circle encircled by a ring is used to denote the capital of a country. Small filled triangles represent a mountain peak, etc. The symbols are quite useful and their use has made reading a map very simply.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. What are the advantages of a globe over a map? 2. What is a sketch? 3. Name an intermediate direction which lies between north and east. 4. What is the North line in a map? 5. Study the following map and answer the questions:

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(a) Name the villages separated by a railway track. (b) Where is the village Sunderpur located with respect to the village Dumri? (c) On which bank of the river is the temple located? (d) Where is the school located? (e) On which type of railway line is the station situated?

5 Chapter

Major Domains of the Earth

I. BASIC CONCEPTS The earth is the only planet known so far that has life. This is because the earth has the unique blend of life sustaining factors, such as, atmosphere, land, water, oxygen, moderate temperature, and moderate day and night lengths. On the surface of the earth, three main components of the environment meet and interact with each other. All the living organisms on the earth’s surface constitute the Biosphere.

The solid and rocky portion of the earth’s crust on which we live and which sustains the living organisms is called the Lithosphere. The gaseous layer surrounding us is called the Atmosphere. Almost ¾th of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Together all the water bodies make the Hydrosphere.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• The earth’s surface consists of very large landmasses called the Continents, and the huge water bodies called the Oceans. •• If you see a world map, you will observe that all the oceans are connected with each other. The level of water of the seas and oceans are same everywhere, and it is taken as zero, and is called the mean sea level.

Continents and oceans [Source: Wikipedia]

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•• The elevation of mountains, plateaus, etc. are measured starting from mean sea level. •• There are seven continents which are separated by the oceans. Most of the landmasses are present in the Northern Hemisphere. The continents are – Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica. •• The largest continent on earth is Asia. It lies in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres. Asia and Europe are joined together and the combined landmass is known as Eurasia. Asia and Europe are separated by the Ural Mountains. World’s tallest mountain range, the Himalayas is located here. •• Europe lies to the west of Asia. It is much smaller than Asia. The Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean flow between Europe and North America. •• Africa is the second largest continent and lies to the south of Europe. The equator passes along the middle of it. It is the only continent through which the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn pass. World’s largest hot desert Sahara is located in northern Africa. Also, world’s longest river, the Nile flows through it. •• North America is the third largest continent. It is joined with South America through a narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama. Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans have surround it from all sides. •• South America lies to the south of North America. It is mostly located in the Southern Hemisphere. World’s longest mountain range, the Andes runs through its west coast from north to south. Amazon is the world’s largest river. •• Australia is the smallest continent which is located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. Pacific, Indian, and the Southern Oceans have surround it completely from all sides. Hence, it is called an Island Continent. •• Antarctica is located around the South Pole. It is permanently covered with thick sheets of ice. This is the largest cold desert. No permanent human settlements are there, however, several countries have research stations here. Maitri and Dakshin Gangotri are the names of Indian research stations. •• The hydrosphere constitutes about 71% of the earth’s surface. However, 97% of the earth’s water is saline and unfit for human consumption. Fresh water is present in the form of ice sheets, rivers, and in underground water table. This is the reason that we face water shortage even when our planet is ¾th covered with water. •• There are 5 oceans on earth, and they are interconnected. These are – the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. Ocean water has three major types of movements: waves, tides and ocean currents. •• The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean covering almost 1/3rd of the earth’s surface. The deepest part of the earth, the Mariana Trench lies in the Pacific Ocean. •• The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean. The coastline of the Atlantic Ocean is highly indented. This provides ideal locations for natural harbours and ports. Thus, most of the major ports are located along the Atlantic Ocean.

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•• The Indian Ocean is triangular in shape. It is bound in the north by Asia, in the west by Africa, and in the east by Australia. •• The Southern Ocean surrounds the Antarctica and is located in the south of the Antarctic Circle. •• The Arctic Ocean is located within the Arctic Circle and surrounds the North Pole. It is connected with the Pacific Ocean through a narrow strait called Bering Strait. •• Isthmus: It is a narrow strip of land which joins two landmasses. For example, the Isthmus of Panama joins North America and South America. •• Strait: It is a narrow passage of water connecting two large water bodies. For example, the Bering Strait connects the Arctic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. •• Atmosphere is the layer of air and gases which surrounds the earth like a blanket. It contains the oxygen gas which all living beings need to breathe. The atmosphere extends up to a height of 1600 km from the earth surface. It can be divided into five layers on the basis of composition, temperature, etc. From the surface of the earth to the space these layers are: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. •• The Troposphere is mainly made up of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) gases. Other gases present are carbon dioxide, helium, argon, water vapour, etc. Oxygen is essential for the breathing of living organisms. Nitrogen is an important component of proteins and help in growth of the organisms. Carbon dioxide traps the heat energy from the sun. It also is a major component in photosynthesis that occurs in plants. •• The atmosphere traps the heat the earth receives from the sun, and thus it keeps the temperature of the surface of the earth moderate. •• The density of the gases in the atmosphere is maximum near the sea level and it decreases with the increase of the altitude. Thus, people sometimes observe breathlessness high up on the mountains. The temperature also decreases with increasing altitude. •• The Biosphere is the domain containing all living organisms. It is the narrow zone of contact between the land, water and air. Atmosphere

Lithosphere

Hydroshpere

The biosphere along with the other major domains of the earth

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•• The organisms in the biosphere interact with each other and also with other domains on earth to survive. The biosphere can be divided into several kingdoms, plants and animals are the major kingdoms. •• Lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere interact with each other and can affect each other. For example, the deforestation and emissions from the vehicles increase carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere. This increased carbon dioxide causes more and more heat trapping on the surface of the earth raising the increase of temperature. This phenomenon is called global warming. This global warming in turn causes melting of polar icecaps. The extra water is going to flood the coastline of all the continents.

III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Continent: A large area of continuous land rising above sea level. Ocean: These are vast stretches of water. Isthmus: Narrow strip of land joining two landmasses. Hydrosphere: Oceans, seas, lakes and river, and water vapour collectively from hydrosphere. Lith Sphere: Outer solid surface of the earth. Crust: Outer layer of the earth. Ice Sheets: A layer of ice that covers a large area of land for a long period of time. Realms: The portions of the earth which contain water, land and air. Tide: A regular rise and fall in the level of the sea, caused by the pull of the moon and sun. Eurasia. Combined landmass of Europe and Asia.

IV. NCERT TEXTBOOK IN-TEXT QUESTIONS (Pages 30, 33) Page 30 Word origin 1. In the Greek language; Lithos means Stone; Atmos means Vapour; Hudor means Water; and Bios means Life. Can you make words using the above? Ans. Lithos: Lithosphere Atmos: Atmosphere Hudor: Hydrosphere Bios: Biosphere Page 33 1. Name the strait between India and Sri Lanka. Ans. The strait between India and Sri Lanka is Palk Strait.

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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 37-38) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) What are the four major domains of the earth? Ans. The four major domains of the earth are: (i) lithosphere, (ii) hydrosphere, (iii) atmosphere, and (iv) biosphere. (b) Name the major continents of the earth. Ans. There are seven major continents on the earth. These are: (i) Asia, (ii) Africa, (iii) North America, (iv) South America, (v) Antarctica, (vi) Europe, and (vii) Australia. (c) Name the two continents that lie entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. Ans. Australia and Antarctica are the two continents that lie entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. (d) Name the different layers of the atmosphere. Ans. From the surface of the earth towards the space the layers of the atmosphere are: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. (e) Why is the earth called the ‘blue planet’? Ans. About 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water bodies. From the outer space the earth looks blue due to the presence of the water bodies. Hence, the earth is called the ‘blue planet’. (f) Why is the Northern Hemisphere called the Land Hemisphere? Ans. Most of the land masses or the continents are present in the Northern Hemisphere. Hence, it is called the Land Hemisphere. (g) Why is the Biosphere important for living organisms? Ans. The biosphere is in contact with lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. Thus, biosphere contains all the factors essential for sustenance of life. That is why the biosphere is important for living organisms. 2. Tick the correct answers. (a) The mountain range that separates Europe from Asia is (i) the Andes (ii) the Himalayas (iii) the Urals (b) The continent of North America is linked to South America by (i) an Isthmus (ii) a Strait (iii) a Canal (c) The major constituent of atmosphere by per cent is (i) Nitrogen (ii) Oxygen (iii) Carbon dioxide (d) The domain of the earth consisting of solid rocks is (i) the Atmosphere (ii) the Hydrosphere (iii) the Lithosphere (e) Which is the largest continent? (i) Africa (ii) Asia (iii) Australia Ans. (a) (iii) the Urals, (b) (i) an Isthmus, (c) (i) Nitrogen, (d) (iii) the Lithosphere, (e) (ii) Asia

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3. Fill in the blanks. (a) The deepest point on the earth is in the Pacific Ocean (b) The Ocean is named after a country. (c) The is a narrow contact zone of land, water and air that supports life. (d) The continents of Europe and Asia together are known as . (e) The highest mountain peak on the earth is . Ans. (a) Mariana Trench, (b) Indian, (c) biosphere, (d) Eurasia, (e) Mount Everest Thing to Do 1. Cut the outlines of the continents from an outline map of the world and arrange them according to their decreasing sizes. 2. Cut the outline of the continent from an outline map of the world and try to fit them together an a jig-saw puzzle. 3. Collect pictures of expeditions to the Himalayas. Write about the kind of equipments carried by the climbers for protection against sunshine, temperature and the lack of air. Ans. Q.1 to Q.3 for self-attempt. Map Skills On the outline map of the world, mark the following: Europe, Asia, Antarctica, South America, Australia, India Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic, Ocean, Ural Mountains and Isthumus of Panama. Ans.

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VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Match the following: Column A 1.

The Andes

2.

Mariana Trench

3.

Column B (i)

Indian research station at Antarctica

(ii)

The highest peak in world

Mount Everest

(iii)

The deepest point on earth

4.

The Urals

(iv)

Longest mountain range

5.

The Isthmus of Panama

6.

Maitri

7.

Nile

8.

Sahara

9.

Amazon

(v)

The longest river

(vi)

Mountain range between Europe and Asia

(vii)

Narrow land strip separating North America and South America

(viii) (ix)

The largest river The largest hot desert

Ans. 1. (iv),  2. (iii),  3. (ii),  4. (vi),  5. (vii),  6. (i),  7. (v),  8. (vi),  9. (ix) II. True or False: 1. South America is the third largest continent. 2. All the continents are connected to one another. 3. Most of the land masses in the world are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere. 4. The Himalayas is the longest mountain range. 5. The river Nile in Africa is the longest river. 6. The continent of Antarctica is encircled by the Southern Ocean. 7. The Ural Mountains separate North America from South America. 8. The highest point on earth’s surface is the Mount Everest. 9. The largest river Amazon flows through Africa. 10. The presence of oxygen gas in the atmosphere is the cause of global warming. Ans. 1. False, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True, 6. True, 7. False, 8. True, 9. False, 10. False III. Fill in the Blanks: 1. The world’s largest river is

.

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2. The world’s largest hot desert is , which lies in the continent of . 3. The plants and animals constitute the domain which lies on the . domain 4. The highest peak of the world is , which is tall. 5. 78% of the atmosphere is composed of gas, and % of the atmosphere is composed of oxygen. Ans. 1. Amazon, 2. Sahara, Africa, 3. Biosphere, lithosphere, 4. Mt. Everest, 8,848 meters, 5. nitrogen, 21

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The gas responsible for global warming is (i) Oxygen (ii) Carbon dioxide (iii) Nitrogen (iv) Ozone 2. Which domain of the earth is made up of solid rock surface of the earth’s crust? (i) Lithosphere (ii) Biosphere (iii) Hydrosphere (iv) Atmosphere 3. How many continents are there in the world? (i) 4 (ii) 5 (iii) 6 (iv) 7 4. Which of the following separates Sri Lanka from India? (i) Sea (ii) Island (iii) Strait (iv) Isthmus 5. The Equator passes through which of the following continents? (i) Europe (ii) Africa (iii) Antarctica (iv) Australia 1. (ii)

2. (i)

ANSWERS 3. (iv) 4. (iii)

5. (ii)



VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Name the research centres established by India in Antarctica. Ans. The research centres established by India in Anatarctica are: Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri. 2. Define the term ‘ocean basin’. Ans. The huge depressions on earth’s crust on which the oceans lie are called ocean basins. 3. What are the different types of motions observed in an ocean? Ans. Waves, tides and currents are the different types of motions observed in an ocean.

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4. Who was the first person(s) to climb Mount Everest? Ans. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of India were the first persons to climb Mount Everest. 5. Who was the first woman to climb Mount Everest? Ans. Junko Tabei of japan was the first woman to climb Mount Everest. 6. Who was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest? Ans. Bachendri Pal was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest. 7. Name the ‘island continent’ and why is it named so? Ans. Australia is known as the ‘island continent’. This is because Australia is surrounded by all sides by seas and oceans. The Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean surround this continent from all sides. 8. What is Tsunami? Ans. Tsunami is a very high and destructive tidal wave caused by earthquakes or other natural processes. The recent Tsunami in The Indian Ocean submerged parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 9. On what basis is the atmosphere divided into different layers? Ans. On the basis of composition, temperature, and other factors, the atmosphere is divided into different layers. 10. What are the contents of nitrogen and oxygen in air? Ans. In the air, nitrogen content is 78% and oxygen content is 21%. 11. Through which continent do both the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn pass? Ans. The Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn – all pass through the continent of Africa. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is the difference between a strait and an isthmus? Ans. Strait

Isthmus

1.

It is a narrow stretch of shallow water which joins two large water bodies, like, seas or oceans.

1.

It is a narrow strip of land which joins two large land masses.

2.

Example: Bering Strait joins the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

2.

Example: The Isthmus of Panama joins North America and South America.

2. Which ocean is considered commercially busy ocean and why? Ans. The Atlantic Ocean is considered commercially busiest ocean. The coastline of Atlantic Ocean is very irregular and indented. This provides

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ideal condition for harbours and ports. The ships and trawlers can easily anchor near the port for upload or download of goods. Thus, many commercially important ports are situated along the coasts of Atlantic Ocean and it is considered commercially the busiest ocean. 3. How do the pressure, temperature and density of the atmosphere vary with elevation? Ans. The atmosphere exerts pressure, and this pressure is not same everywhere. In general, with elevation the pressure of the atmosphere decreases. The atmosphere is hottest near the surface of the earth. Temperature decreases with the increase in height of the atmosphere. The density of the atmosphere decreases with the increase in elevation. 4. Why is there a need to limit the use of natural resources? Ans. There are two types of natural resources: renewable and non-renewable resources. The renewable resources like, sunlight, air, etc. should be used more because they are inexhaustible. However, we should carefully use nonrenewable resources, such as, coal, petroleum, etc. These fuels are already almost exhausted and it takes millions of years to replenish them. So, we need to limit the use of these natural resources. 5. What should we do to protect the environment? Ans. The following steps should be taken by everyone to protect the environment: 1. We should use the non-renewable natural resources carefully. 2. We should not pollute the environment in any way. The use of plastic should be limited. 3. We should all plant trees and nurture them. 4. We should try to avoid using petrol or diesel vehicles as much as possible. 5. We should not harm other plants and animals, and try to protect them. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write short notes on the following: (a) Lithosphere (b) Hydrosphere (c) Atmosphere (d) Biosphere Ans. (a) Lithosphere: The solid rocky portion on the earth’s surface is known as the lithosphere. It is composed of the crust and the outermost mantle. The continents and the ocean beds are made of lithosphere. The uppermost thin layer of lithosphere makes the soil. The huge landmasses elevated over the sea level are known as continents. There are seven continents on earth. The names of the continents are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia. (b) Hydrosphere: More than 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. All the water bodies on the earth’s surface together make the hydrosphere. There are 5 huge water bodies on earth which are called oceans. The oceans are interconnected with each other. The names of the oceans are: Pacific

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Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean. Although huge amount of water is present in the oceans, the water is salty and cannot be used for human consumption. Only 3% of the surface water is fresh water coming from rivers, glaciers, lakes, etc. (c) Atmosphere: Atmosphereis the layer of air and gases which surrounds the earth like a blanket. It contains the oxygen gas which all living beings need to breathe.The atmosphere extends up to a height of 1600 km from the earth surface. It can be divided into five layers on the basis of composition, temperature, etc. From the surface of the earth to the space these layers are: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and inert gases. The atmosphere plays a significant role in maintenance of life on earth. The CO2 gas present in atmosphere trap the heat energy received from sun and keep the earth warm. Otherwise, it would have been very hot during daytime, and freezing cold during night. The O2 gas is essential for the respiration of living organisms. The Ozone gas present in the upper layer of atmosphere protects the earth from harmful UV rays. (d) Biosphere: The Biosphere is the domain containing all living organisms. It is the narrow zone of contact between the land, water and air. A great variety of plants and animals are present on earth starting from the microscopic bacteria to huge blue whales. Although the biosphere can be divided into five kingdoms, the major kingdoms are plant kingdom and animal kingdom. The biosphere interacts with other domains, such as, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. The presence of biosphere is a unique property of the earth. 2. Write notes on the following: (a) Pacific Ocean (b) Indian Ocean (c) Atlantic Ocean Ans. (a) Pacific Ocean: The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean covering almost 1/3rd of the earth’s surface. It is somewhat circular in shape. The Pacific Ocean has North America and South America on its east, Asia and Australia on its west. In south, it meets the Southern Ocean and it is connected with the Arctic Ocean through Bering Strait. The deepest part of the earth, the Mariana Trenchlies in the Pacific Ocean. (b) Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is triangular in shape. It is bound by Asia on north, Asia and Australia in east, Africa on west. It has the Southern Ocean on its south. It is the only ocean to be named after a country, India. It is the third largest ocean on earth.

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(c) Atlantic Ocean: It is the second largest ocean on earth. This S-shaped ocean has North America and South America on its west, and Europe and Africa on its east. It is joined by Arctic Ocean on north and Southern Ocean on south. The coastline of the Atlantic Ocean is highly indented. This provides ideal locations for natural harbours and ports. Thus, most of the major ports are located along the Atlantic Ocean. 3. Write notes on the following continents: (a) Asia (b) Africa (c) North America (d) South America Ans. (a) Asia: The largest continent on earth is Asia. It lies in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres. Asia and Europe are joined together and the combined landmass is known as Eurasia. Asia and Europe are separated by the Ural Mountains. Asia has Arctic Ocean on north, Indian Ocean and Australia on its south, Pacific Ocean on its east, and Europe and Africa on its west. World’s tallest mountain range, the Himalayas is located here. (b) Africa: Africa is the second largest continent and lies to the south of Europe. The equator passes along the middle of it. It is the only continent through which the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn pass. Africa has Europe on its north, Southern Ocean on its south, Asia and Indian Ocean on its east, and Atlantic Ocean on its west. World’s largest hot desert Sahara is located in northern Africa. Also, world’s longest river, the Nile flows through it. (c) North America: It is the third largest continent. North America lies completely in the Northern and Western hemisphere. It is joined with South America through a narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama. Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans surround it on all sides. (d) South America: It lies to the south of North America. It is mostly located in the Southern Hemisphere. World’s longest mountain range, the Andes runs through its west coast from north to south. Amazon, the world’s largest river is also located in this continent. 4. What is global warming? Ans. The CO2 gas present in the atmosphere has the ability to absorb heat. Thus, with the increase in level of CO2 gas in the atmosphere more and more heat is remaining on the earth and are not radiated back to the space. This causes increase in temperature of the earth’s surface and this phenomenon is known as global warming. The main causes of global warming are deforestation and air pollution. During respiration, all living being exhale CO2 gas which is taken in by the plants for photosynthesis. Large scale deforestation reduces the number of plants drastically, and CO2 gas is not absorbed effectively. This increases the CO2 content in the atmosphere. Secondly, the emissions from vehicles and

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industrial smokes have high amount of smoke. Together, these increase the percentage of CO2 gas to high level. The effects of global warming is devastating. Already the temperature of earth’s surface has increased by a few degrees. It is estimated that a few more degrees of increase in global temperature will melt the polar ice caps. This will increase the level of water in the oceans. The coastal regions will be flooded by this rise in water level. Other than this, many of the animal species are dying due to the rise in temperature. There is a high possibility of mass extinction in near future due to global warming. To check this upcoming crisis we should all try to minimise CO2 gas release in the atmosphere. Planting more trees is a must for everybody. We should also avoid using vehicles for travelling short distances, and can use bicycle instead to minimise emission. If everybody is aware of the threat and start taking steps to check global warming, we can save this planet for our future generations.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Why do you think the atmosphere is important for us? 2. Why do the climbers of high mountains carry oxygen cylinders? 3. Why do we take sea level as the base to calculate altitude? 4. Why there is no permanent human settlement in Antarctica? 5. What are the different layers of the atmosphere?

6 Chapter

Major Landforms of the Earth

I. BASIC CONCEPTS The different types of landforms on earth are basically the results of two processes: (i) Internal Process, and (ii) External Process.

Internal process is formed within the interior of the earth. Inside the mantle of the earth various movements take place. This causes sudden upliftment and sinking on the earth surface.

The wearing down of the surface is known as erosion. Erosion causes breaking down and lowering down of the surface. Water, ice, wind etc. are the agents

External process is the continuous wearing down and rebuilding of the surface by the external agents like, air, water, temperature, etc.

The rebuilding of the surface is called deposition. The eroded material are carried by water stream or wind and are deposited in another place.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• The surface of the earth is not uniform everywhere, and there are different types of landforms.

Various landforms on earth

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•• Mountains are any natural elevation on earth surface. They are considerably taller than the surrounding area. Mountains generally have a narrow peak and a broad base. Some mountains are submerged in the seas and oceans and we cannot see them. •• Commonly, the elevation of 600 m to 900 m are called the Hills, and more than 900 m are called the Mountains. •• Glaciers are the permanently frozen rivers. Glaciers are formed on very high mountains. For example, Gangotri glacier. •• Less people live in the mountain areas. This is because, much farming cannot be done on steep slopes. Also, the climate is harsh on mountains. •• A series of mountains in line is known as Mountain Range. A series of parallel mountain ranges is called a Mountain System. •• Mountains can be classified on the basis of their formation as: (i) Fold Mountains, (ii) Block Mountains, and (iii) Volcanic Mountains. •• Fold Mountains: Fold Mountains are formed by the folding of the upper part of earth crust in layers. They are generally composed of sedimentary rocks. For example, The Himalayas and the Alps are young fold mountains, while the Aravalli range in India is one of the oldest fold mountains of the world. The Aravalli range is Crust Asthenosphere or Upper Mantle now worn down over time due to erosion. The Ural Mountains and the Appalachians are also very old fold mountains. •• Block Mountains: When large areas of the earth crust is broken and displaced vertically, Block Mountains are formed. The uplifted blocks are called horsts and the lowered blocks are called graben. Example: Rhine valley and the Vosges Mountains in Europe.

Block mountain

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•• Volcanic Mountains: These are formed due to volcanic eruptions. During eruptions, the molten lava coming out of the crater deposit and solidify over time forming a conical shaped mountain. Examples of this type of mountains are: Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Fujiyama in Japan, etc.







•• Usefulness of the Mountains: → From mountain glaciers many rivers are formed. → Waterfalls in the mountain region are ideal for generation of hydroelectricity, and also can be used for irrigation. → Terrace farming can be done on mountain slopes. → Rich variety of flora and fauna are found on mountains. → Fuel, fodder, gum, raisins, etc. can be found in forests on mountains. → Mountains provide idyllic sites for tourists. •• A plateau is an elevated flat-topped table land. The slopes on the sides may be gradual or steep. The heights of the plateaus can be a few hundred metres to several thousand metres. The Deccan Plateau of India is one of the oldest plateaus. Other examples are, East African Plateau, Western Plateau in Australia, Tibet Plateau in Asia, etc. The Tibet Plateau is the highest plateau in the world with a height of 4000 – 6000 metres. •• Usefulness of Plateaus: → Plateaus are rich in mineral deposition. → African plateau is famous for gold and diamond mining. → The lava plateaus are rich in black soil which is good for several crops, such as, cotton, sugarcane, etc. → The waterfalls present in plateau region are ideal spots for generation of hydroelectricity.

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•• The stretches of flat lands having an elevation of 200 metres or below are called Plains. Some are extremely flat, while some have undulating or rolling surface. •• Plains are generally formed by rivers and their tributaries. While coming down from the mountains, the rivers erode them and bring chunks of rocks which are fragmented over the course of the river. Finally, these rocks form very fine sand or silts which are deposited on the banks of the rivers forming plains. Examples are Ganga-Brahmaputra plains in India, Yangtze plains in China, etc. •• Plains are very fertile because they receive fresh deposits from the rivers. Construction and transport are also easy on plain lands. Thus, plains are thickly populated. •• Usefulness of Plains: → Plains are very good for cultivation. → Life is easy in plains. → The presence of rivers ensure plenty of water. → Construction of factories and buildings are easy on plains. → Transportation is also convenient on plains. •• Humans living in different landforms adapt different ways of life. Life easy on plains, while much tougher on mountains.

III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Erosion: Wearing away of the earth’s surface. Deposition: This is the process in which debris is deposited in the low lands. Range: Mountains arranged in a line. Horst: Uplifted blocks of mountains. Garben: Lower blocks of mountains. Store House: A reservoir, store, a place where something in kept stored. Terraces: These are stepped land form made by the river action, which are ideal for cultivation. •• Flora: Plant species. •• Fauna: Animal species. •• Table Land: An elevated land mass with flat top surface.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS (Page 41) Page 41 1. The Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain in Europe are examples of such (Block) mountain systems. Locate them on the world map in atlas and find out some more examples of this type of landforms. Ans. Please see map. Examples of some more such landforms are: – Deccan Plateau. – Balck Forest – East African Plateau – Narmada and Tapi Valleys.

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2. Can you name some places in the Himalayas associated with these sports? Ans. Yes, they are: – Shimla – Dehradun – Dharmashala – Kullu Manali. Page 42 1. Can you name this game in the given picture?

Ans. The name of this game is skiing. Page 44 4. In how many ways we use land and water. Ans. Use of land in the following ways: Use of water in the following ways: – Agriculture – Drinking – Pastroal activities – Domestic use – Mining – Fishing – Habitation – Transportation – Industries – Industries – Urbanisation – Sewage disposal – Irrigation – Generation of hydro electricity – Urbanisation – Domestic animals in rural areas like drinking, bathing, etc.

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Ans. 1. Photograph 1: This is a photograph of a desert, and thus this photo is from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. Photograph 2: The photograph shows the coastal region where a sea meets the land. Photograph 3: The photograph shows the traditional boat race in Kerala. Photograph 4: This is a village under the shades of trees. Photograph 5: The houses are built on the slopes of a mountain. Photograph 6: The workers are harvesting tea leaves in a tea garden.

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Photograph 7: The photo shows a few rows of houses along a plateau. Photograph 8: People are enjoying river rafting in a rubber boat. Photograph 9: Cattles like goats and sheep are grazing along the slopes of a mountain. Photograph 10: This is a night scene of a very cold place, where the streets are covered with snow. 2. The landform feature in photograph 1 is a desert, photograph 2 is a coast, and photograph 7 is a plateau. 3. It appears that the land is used for cattle grazing. 4. Photograph 3 shows boat race in Kerala which is called Vallam Kali. Photograph 6 shows harvesting or plucking of tea leaves in a tea garden. Photograph 8 shown river rafting, and photograph 9 shows cattle grazing. 5. Photograph 4 shows mud houses with roofs made up of hay or dry leaves. Photograph 5 shows 2 or 3 storey lightweight houses with triangular roofs. 6. The water sport shown in photograph 3 is Vallam Kali or boat race, and in photograph 8 is river rafting. 7. The means of transport shown in photograph 1 in camels, and in photograph 10 is cars.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 46) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) What are the major landforms? Ans. The major landforms on earth are mountains, plateaus, and plains. (b) What is the difference between a mountain and a plateau? Ans. A mountain has a broad base and a small narrow summit, while a plateau does not have a summit. (c) What are different types of mountains? Ans. The different types of mountains are: (i) Fold Mountains (ii) Block Mountains (iii) Volcanic Mountains. (d) How are mountains useful to man? Ans. Mountains are useful to mankind in several ways: ã From mountain glaciers many rivers are formed. ã Waterfalls in the mountain region are ideal for generation of hydroelectricity, and can also be used for irrigation. ã Terrace farming can be done on mountain slopes. ã Rich variety of flora and fauna is found on mountains. ã Fuel, fodder, gum, raisins, etc. can be found in forests on mountains. ã Mountains provide idyllic sites for tourists. (e) How are plains formed? Ans. Plains are generally formed by rivers and their tributaries. While coming down from the mountains, the rivers erode them and bring chunks of

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rocks which are fragmented over the course of the river. Finally, these rocks form very fine sand or silts which are deposited on the banks of the rivers forming plains. Examples are Ganga-Brahmaputra plains in India, Yangtze plains in China, etc. (f ) Why are the river plains thickly populated? Ans. The river plains are thickly populated due to the following reasons: (i) The soils is very fertile and suitable for agriculture due to the fresh deposition carried by the rivers. (ii) Easy availability of water. (iii) Construction of buildings, roads, railway tracks, and factories is easy on plains. (iv) Presence of moderate climates makes life easy on plains. (g) Why are mountains thinly populated? Ans. Mountains are thinly populated due to following reasons: (i) Difficult to travel from one place to another. Construction of roads and railway lines is also difficult. (ii) Steep slope of the mountains does not provide enough surface for agriculture. (iii) Mountains with high altitude have harsh climate. 2. Tick the correct answers. (a) The mountains differ from the hills in terms of (i) elevation (ii) slope (iii) aspect (b) Glaciers are found in (i) the mountains (ii) the plains (iii) the plateaus (c) The Deccan Plateau is located in (i) Kenya (ii) Australia (iii) India (d) The river Yangtze flows in (i) South America (ii) Australia (iii) China (e) An important mountain range of Europe is (i) the Andes (ii) the Alps (iii) the Rockies Ans. (a) (i) elevation, (b) (i) the mountains, (c) (iii) India, (d) (iii) China 3. Fill in the blanks. 1. A ___________ is an unbroken flat or a low-level land. 2. The Himalayas and the Alps are examples of _______________types of mountains. 3. _____________ areas are rich in mineral deposits. 4. The _________________ is a line of mountains. 5. The ____________areas are most productive for farming. Ans. 1. plain, 2. fold and young, 3. Plateau, 4. Mountain range, 5. plain

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Things to Do 1. What kind of landforms are found in your state? Based on the reading of this chapter, say how they are of use to the people. Ans. In Karnataka, mainly three types of landforms are found: (i) The coastal area: At the west side of the Western Ghat Mountains, there is a narrow strip of coastal plain at the banks of the Arabian Sea. (ii) Mountain area: The Western Ghat Mountains with about 900 metres of average height make up the mountain area. (iii) Plateau area: The Deccan Plateau comprises the main area of the state. The coastal plains have fertile soil and coconut and rice are the main crop. Fishing is the main occupation of the people residing in this region. The mountain region is known for the valuable timbers, like, teak and rosewood. Coffee and spices are grown in the Western Ghats. The Deccan Plateau is a rich source of minerals. Bauxite, dolomite, gold, iron ore, etc. are main minerals found here. Map Skills 1. On an outline map of the world, mark the following: (a) Mountain ranges: Himalayas, Rockies, and Andes. (b) Plateau: Tibet Ans.

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VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

The Himalayas

(i)

2.

The Western Plateau

3.

Ural Mountains

(iii)

North America

4.

The Appalachians

(iv)

Subarnarekha River

5.

Hundru Falls

(v)

6.

Yangtze River

(vi)

7.

Andes Mountains

(vii)

8.

Vosges Mountain

(viii)

9.

Jog Fall

(ix)

Europe

10.

The Alps

(x)

Russia

(ii)

Australia Karnataka

China South America Europe India–Nepal

Ans. 1. (viii), 2. (i), 3. (x), 4. (iii), 5. (iv), 6. (v), 7. (vi), 8. (vii), 9. (ii), 10. (ix) II. Write True or False: 1. The Deccan plateau in India is one of the oldest lava plateaus. 2. Block Mountains are formed as a result of internal processes. 3. Young fold mountains have rounded features with small summit. 4. All plateaus have very fertile soil. 5. Tibet plateau is the highest plateau in the world. 6. Yangtze River plain is located in Japan. 7. The Rhine Valley is an example of Horsts. 8. A hill has more elevation than a mountain. 9. The Aravalli Mountains is an example of one of the oldest fold mountains. 10. We should dispose garbage in rivers. Ans. 1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. False, 5. True, 6. False, 7. False, 8. True, 9. True, 10. False III. Fill in the Blanks: 1. A stretch of flat or a low-level land is known as a _________. 2. In the plateau areas, one can find several __________ as rivers fall from a great height. 3. Examples of river plains are the Yangtze Plains in ________ and GangaBrahmaputra plain in __________.

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4. Mt. Kilimanjaro in _________ and _____________ in Japan are the examples of volcanic mountains. 5. The ___________ on the slopes of mountains are great for cultivation. Ans. 1. plain, 2. waterfalls, 3. china, India, 4. Africa, Mt. Fujiyama, 5. terraces

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. How are the different landforms classified? Ans. On the basis of elevation, the landforms are classified into mountains, plateaus, and plains. 2. Name a few fold mountains. Ans. Names of a few fold mountains are: The Himalayas in Asia, the Andes mountains in South America, the Alps in Europe, Rocky Mountains in South America, etc. 3. Give a couple of examples of volcanic mountains. Ans. Mount Fujiyama in Japan and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa are the examples of volcanic mountains. 4. What type of soil do lava plateaus have? Ans. Lava plateaus have black soil which is good for the cultivation of cotton and sugarcane. 5. What mining is the African Plateau famous for? Ans. Gold and diamond mining is famous in African Plateau. 6. Name two waterfalls present in plateau region in India. Ans. Hundru falls is present in Chhotanagpur Plateau, and Jog Falls is present in Deccan Plateau. 7. Name a plain in India which is very densely populated. Ans. The Indo-Gangetic plain is very densely populated. 8. Give an example of horsts and graben. Ans. The Rhine valley in Europe is an example of graben, and the Vosges Mountain is an example of horsts. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. How are the volcanic mountains formed? Ans. These are formed due to volcanic eruptions. During eruptions, the molten lava coming out of the crater, deposit and solidify over time forming a conical shaped mountain. Examples of this type of mountains are: Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Fujiyama in Japan, etc. 2. What do you understand by horsts and graben? Ans. By internal processes sometimes a large area on earth’s crust is broken and displaced vertically. The uplifted blocks are called horsts, and the depressed blocks are known as graben.

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3. What are the internal and external processes of formation of various landforms? Ans. Internal process starts within the interior of the earth. Inside the mantle of the earth various movements take place. This causes sudden upliftment and sinking on the earth surface. External process is the continuous wearing down and rebuilding of the surface by the external agents like, air, water, temperature, etc. 4. Why are the mountains called the ‘storehouse of water’? Ans. The glaciers present in the mountains are source of many rivers. Many waterfalls are present on the mountains. Hence, the mountains are called the ‘storehouse of water’. 5. How do you know whether a fold mountain is old or young? Ans. The Fold Mountains which have rugged features and high conical peaks are the young ones. For example, the Himalayas and the Alps. However, low elevation with rounded features denote erosion and are the characteristics of old fold mountains. For example, Appalachians and Ural mountains. 6. Why do the river plains have fertile soil? Ans. The rivers originated in the mountains flow with a great speed on mountainous terrain. In the force of the water current, many of the rocks break away and are carried with the river water. The rocks break down into fine gravel and silt due to friction. When the river enters plain, its speed gets reduced and the river deposits the sediments on the banks. Thus, the plains get fresh nutrient rich fertile soil in the form of sediments every year. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write short notes on different types of mountains. Ans. Fold Mountains: Fold Mountains are formed by the folding of the upper part of earth crust in layers. They are generally composed of sedimentary rocks. For example, The Himalayas and the Alps are young fold mountains, while the Aravalli range in India is one of the oldest fold mountains of the world. The Aravalli range is now worn down over time due to erosion. The Ural Mountains and the Appalachians are also very old fold mountains. Block Mountains: When large areas of the earth crust are broken and displaced vertically, Block Mountains are formed. The uplifted blocks are called horsts and the lowered blocks are called graben. Example: Rhine valley and the Vosges Mountains in Europe. Volcanic Mountains: These are formed due to volcanic eruptions. During eruptions, the molten lava coming out of the crater deposit and solidify over time forming a conical shaped mountain. Examples of this type of mountains are: Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Fujiyama in Japan, etc. 2. What are the characteristic features of a plateau? Ans. The characteristic features of a plateau are: 1. It is an elevated flat-topped table land. 2. The slopes on the sides may be gradual or steep. 3. The heights of the plateaus can be a few hundred metres to several thousand

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metres. For example, the Tibet Plateau is the highest plateau in the world with a height of 4000 – 6000 metres. 4. Some plateaus are formed from volcanic activities. Example of such a plateau is the Deccan Plateau of India, which is one of the oldest plateaus. 5. The plateaus are generally very rich in mineral deposits. 6. Many waterfalls are present in plateau regions as the rivers fall from a great height. For example, Hundru Falls is present in Chhotanagpur Plateau. 3. How are the plateaus useful to mankind? Ans. The Plateaus are useful to mankind in the following ways: → Plateaus are rich in mineral deposition. → African plateau is famous for gold and diamond mining. → The lava plateaus are rich in black soil which is good for several crops, such as, cotton, sugarcane, etc. → The waterfalls present in plateau region are ideal spots for generation of hydroelectricity. 4. Why do people prefer to stay in plains? Ans. People prefer to stay in plains due to the following reasons: → The soils are very fertile and suitable for agriculture due to the fresh deposition carried by the rivers. → Life is easy in plains. → The presence of rivers ensure plenty of water. → Construction of factories and buildings are easy on plains. → Transportation is also convenient on plains. → The climate is moderate in the plains. Picture Based Question 1. Look at the picture below and answer the following questions: (a) What type of landform is it? (b) What activity is going on in the picture? (c) Do you think this type of activity is common in this landform? Why? Ans. (a) The landform in the given picture is plains. (b) In the picture cultivation of crop is going on. (c) Yes, crop cultivation is very common in the plains. This is because, plains have a very fertile soil productive for cultivation.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Name some of the adventure sports that can be performed in the mountains. 2. What do you mean by erosion and deposition? 3. Do you think we should use land and water in a wasteful manner? Give reasons. 4. Mention a few differences in the lifestyle of people living in different landforms. 5. Look at the picture below and answer the questions that follow:

(a) What type of adventure sport do you see in the picture? (b) In which type of landform this adventure sport is popular? (c) Name any two other adventure sports that are also popular in this type of landform.

7 Chapter

Our Country—India

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • Our country India is a vast country with an area of 3,287,263 sq. km. It is the seventh largest country in the world. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the north to south extent is around 3214 km; while Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh, east to west extent is ~2933 km. • India has a diverse landforms ranging from the lofty Himalayas to the Thar Desert to the Northern Plains, to Deccan Plateau, to the coastal regions to the islands. • In this vast array of landforms people differ in food habit, culture, language, and religion. There is a great diversity in climate, vegetation, and wildlife. Still, we Indians are united as one nation. We have common traditions and love for our country and countrymen. • India is the second most populous nation with a population of more than 120 crores (2011) after China.

The Himalayas: • India has diversified physical features. The Himalayas Mountain range is located in the north. The Himalayan Mountains can be divided into three parallel ranges, from north to south these are: the Great Himalaya or Himadri, Middle Himalaya or Himachal, and the Shiwalik. • The highest peaks of the world are located in the Himadri range. The first, second, and third highest peaks in the world, Mount Everest, Mount K-2, and Mount Kanchenjunga respectively are located in this range. • There are many hill stations of tourist interest located in the Himachal range. They are: Dalhousie, Manali, Shimla, Musoorie, Darjeeling, Nainital, etc. • Shiwalik is the lowest of the three ranges and is the youngest too.

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The Northern Indian Plains: • The Northern Plains lie to the South of Himalayas. These plains are formed by rich and fertile alluvial deposits of the rivers Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. • This region is the agricultural backbone of the country. • The population is very dense in these plains.

Coastal plains: To the west of Western Ghats and the east of Eastern Ghats are two narrow strips of coastal plains, though the eastern coastal plains are broader than the western plains. Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are the important rivers that drain into the Bay of Bengal.

Peninsular Plateau: • To the south of the Northern Plains lies the triangular Peninsular Plateau. Many hills, valleys and plateaus are present here. The terrain is rough and rocky. • Aravalli hills stand as the north-western boundary of this region. • Vindhyas and Satpura are two important hill ranges. • Narmada and Tapi flow almost parallel to each other and fall into the Arabian Sea. • The Western Ghats or Sahyadri are present along the western coast. Eastern Ghats lie along the eastern coast. Eastern Ghats are broken at places and are not as high as the Western Ghats. • The plateau is very rich in coal, iron, manganese, silica, etc.

Islands: • Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea. These are coral islands off the coasts of Kerala. • The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal to the south-east of the mainland India. • The Ganga and Brahmaputra make the largest delta in the world, the Sunderbans delta when they fall into the Bay of Bengal. Delta is a triangular deposition at mouth of the river when it meets a sea.

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II. IN A NUTSHELL •• India is located in the northern and eastern hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer divides India almost into half. India extends from 8°4’N to 37°6’N, and from 68°7’E to 97°25’E. Since the difference of meridian can cause almost 2 hours of time difference from east to west, 82°30’E meridian is taken as the Indian Standard Time.

Afghanistan

Borders of India China

Pakistan Nepal

Bhutan

Bangladesh Myanmar

Sri Lanka

Borders of India

•• India has China, Bhutan, and Nepal to the north; Afghanistan, and the Arabian Sea to the west; Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka to the south; and Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. •• The Palk Strait separates India from Sri Lanka. •• Politically, India is divided into 29 States and 7 Union Territories. Delhi is India’s national capital. •• On the basis of area, Rajasthan is the largest state, and Goa is the smallest state. •• The states are further divided into districts, which are governed by local governments.

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•• In 2004, the Tsunami hit the Anadman and Nicobar Islands causing huge destructions. The Tsunami was caused by an earthquake that occurred in the sea floor off the Sumatra Coast.

III. KEYWORDS •• Peninsula: A piece of land that is surrounded by water on its three sides. •• Island: A placed of land that is surrounded by water on all sides. •• Strait: Narrow passage of water connecting two large water bodies like seas and oceans. •• Alluvial deposits: Very fine soils brought by rivers which are deposited at the river basin after the river enters plain land. •• Tributary: A river or stream which flows into a bigger river. •• Plateau: Area of a flat land that is higher than the land around it. •• Desert: Large area of land that has very little water and very few plants growing on it and covered by sand. •• Coastal plain: Plain of or near a coast. •• Duns : The broad elongated valleys situated in the Himalayas.

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•• Delta: Triangular shaped islands formed by the river deposits where the river enters a sea (mouth of the river). •• Corals: Hard, stony exoskeleton secreted by certain marine animals or Polyps. •• Tsunami: Huge sea wave generated by an earthquake on the sea floor.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 1. If we divide the world into eastern and western hemisphere would India belong to? Ans. Eastern Hemisphere 2. Find out the name of the neighbouring countries from the Fig. 7.1.

Ans. Afghanisthan, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myammar and Bangladesh. 3. How many of these countries (neighbouring countries of India) do not have uccess to any ocean or sea? Ans. Bhutan and Nepal. 4. Find out the names of five with stations in middle Himalayas. Ans. Manali, Kullu, Mussorie, Shimla and Nepal.

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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 54-55) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) Name the major physical divisions of India. Ans. The major physical divisions of India are: (i) The Himalayas, (ii) The Northern Plains, (iii) The Great Indian Desert, (iv) The Peninsular Plateau, (v) The Coastal Plains, (vi) The Islands. (b) India shares its land boundaries with seven countries. Name them. Ans. The names of the countries with whom India shares its land boundaries are: China, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. (c) Which two major rivers fall into the Arabian Sea? Ans. Narmada and Tapi fall into the Arabian Sea. (d) Name the delta formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra. Ans. The delta formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra is the Sunderbans Delta. (e) How many States and Union Territories are there in India? Which states have a common capital? Ans. There are 29 States and 7 Union Territories in India. Punjab and Haryana have a common capital, Chandigarh. Also, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have a common capital, Hyderabad. (f) Why do a large number of people live in the Northern plains? Ans. The Northern Plains are made up of nutrient rich alluvial soil brought by Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. This area is very good for cultivation. That is why a large number of people live in this area. (g) Why is Lakshadweep known as coral island? Ans. Lakshadweep is made up of skeletons of marine animals called polyps. These skeletons are known as corals. The deposition of corals over several thousand years forms islands. Lakshadweep islands are formed like this. That is the reason, it is known as coral island. 2. Tick the correct answers. (a) The southernmost Himalayas are known as (i) Shiwaliks (ii) Himadri (iii) Himachal (b) Sahyadris is also known as (i) Aravali (ii) Western Ghats (iii) Himadri (c) The Palk Strait lies between the countries (i) Sri Lanka and Maldives (ii) India and Sri Lanka (iii) India and Maldives (d) The Indian islands in the Arabian Sea are known as (i) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ii) Lakshadweep Islands (iii) Maldives (e) The oldest mountain range in India is the (i) Aravali hills (ii) Western Ghats (iii) The Himalayas Ans. (a) (i) Shiwaliks, (b) (ii) Western Ghats, (c) (ii) India and Sri Lanka, (d) (ii) Lakshadweep Islands, (e) (i) Aravalli hills

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3. Fill in the blanks. (a) India has an area of about ________________. (b) The Greater Himalayas are also known as_________________. (c) The largest state in India in terms of area is__________________. (d) The river Narmada falls into the __________________ sea. (e) The latitude that runs almost halfway through India is ___________. Ans. (a) 3,28 million sq. kms; (b) Himadri; (c) Rajasthan; (d) Arabian; (e) Tropic of Cancer Map Skills 1. On an outline map of India, mark the following. (a) Tropic of Cancer (b) Standard Meridian of India (c) State in which you live (d) Andaman Islands and Lakshadweep Islands (e) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats Ans. See the map

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VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Write True or False: 1. Mahanadi and Godavari drain into Arabian Sea. 2. Ganga and Brahmaputra drain into the Bay of Bengal. 3. The tallest peaks of the world are located in Himachal range of the Himalayas. 4. India is second largest country in the world. 5. The Peninsular Plateau is rich in coal and iron ore. 6. The Western Ghats is a continuous range, while the Eastern Ghats is broken here and there. 7. The Great Indian Desert is an example of a cold desert. 8. The Tsunami in 2004 affected Andaman and Nicobar Islands very badly. 9. Like Ganga, Mahanadi also forms delta at its mouth. 10. The Shiwalik Range is the northernmost range of the Himalayas. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. False, 5. True, 6. True, 7. False, 8. True, 9. True, 10. False II. Fill in the blanks: 1. The ____________ are the exoskeleton secreted by the marine animals called ______. 2. The Great Indian Desert lies in the _______________ part of India. 3. The Vindhyas and __________ are the important ranges lining the north border of the Peninsular India, and the rivers __________ and __________ flow through these ranges. 4. India has the Arabian Sea in the ________ and the Bay of Bengal in the ___________. 5. The sun rises about two hours ______________ in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat. Ans. 1. corals, polyps, 2. Western, 3. Satpuras, Narmada, Tapi, 4. west, east, 5. Earlier

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The area of India is (i) 42.8 million sq. km. (iii) 3.28 million sq.km 2. India has a population of (i) 120 crores (iii) 1200 crores

(ii) 32.8 million sq. km

(ii) 12 crores

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3. India is politically divided into (i) 30 States and 7 Union Territories (ii) 29 States and 7 Union Territories (iii) 29 States and 9 Union Territories 4. Narmada and Tapi drain into (i) Bay of Bengal (ii) Arabian Sea (iii) Indian Ocean 5. The Coral islands are (i) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ii) Lakshadweep Islands (iii) Sunderbans Delta ANSWERS 1. (iii)

2. (i)

3. (ii)

4. (ii)

5. (ii)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is the time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh? Ans. There is almost 2 hours (117 minutes) time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. 2. What is the Standard Meridian of India? Ans. The Standard Meridian of India is 82°30’E meridian. 3. What is India bound by? Ans. India is bound by China, Bhutan, and Nepal at the north; Afghanistan, and the Arabian Sea at the west; Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka at the south; and Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and Myanmar at the east. 4. Where is the Aravalli range located? Ans. The Aravalli hills are located at the north-west border of the Peninsular Plateau. 5. What type of minerals are found in the Peninsular Plateaus? Ans. Coal, iron ore, manganese are found in Peninsular Plateau. 6. Name the largest delta in the world. Where is it located? Ans. The largest delta in the world is the Sunderbans delta. It is located at the mouth of Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. 7. Name the rivers which form the Northern Plains. Ans. Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra are the main rivers which form the Northern Plains. 8. Name the strait which separates Sri Lanka from India. Ans. The Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India.

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B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Describe the Northern Plains of India. Ans. The Northern Plains lie to the south of the Himalayas. These plains are formed from the rivers originated in the Himalayas. Mainly Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries form these plains. Northern Plains are extended from Punjab in the west to Assam in the east. These plains are made of rich alluvial soils carried by the rivers and hence, the soil is very fertile. Thus, this region is agriculturally very active. This area is densely populated too. 2. Describe the Peninsular plateau of India. Ans. To the south of the Northern Plains lies the triangular Peninsular Plateau. Many hills, valleys and plateaus are present here. The terrain is rough and rocky. Aravalli hills stand as the north-western boundary of this region. Vindhyas and Satpura are two important hill ranges. Narmada and Tapi flow almost parallel to each other and fall into the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats or Sahyadri are present along the western coast. Eastern Ghats lie along the eastern coast. Eastern Ghats are broken at places and are not as high as the Western Ghats. The plateau is very rich in coal, iron, manganese, silica, etc. 3. How is India politically divided? Ans. India is politically divided into 29 States and 9 Union Territories. Delhi is the national capital city. The States are further divided into districts. 4. How are the coral islands formed? Ans. Certain tiny marine animals called polyps have an exoskeleton known as coral. When the polyps die, their skeletons are deposited on the seabed. New polyps grow over this deposition. In this way coral is grown higher and higher in several thousand years and form islands over the sea level. Such islands are known as Coral islands. An example is Lakshadweep Islands in India. 5. Name five hill stations in the Himachal range. Ans. Five hill stations in the Himachal range are Nainital, Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Musoorie. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. What are the physical divisions of India? Ans. On the basis of physical features India is divided into the following divisions: (i) The Himalayas: The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world which are present in the north of India. (ii) The Northern Plains: The Northern Plains lie to the south of the Himalayas. They are formed from the deposition of Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. (iii) The Great Indian Desert: The Great Indian Desert lies in the western part of the country almost entirely in the state of Rajasthan. This is a very dry, hot and sandy desert, also known as Thar Desert.

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(iv) The Peninsular Plateau: This is a triangular shaped lava plateau with rough and undulating surface. From Aravalli, Vindhya and Satpura ranges this plateau spreads over to the south of India. (v) The Coastal Plains: On the west of Western Ghats and east of Eastern Ghats lie two strips of plains along the coast of Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal respectively. (vi) The Islands: On the south-west, in the Arabian sea, there are Lakshadweep Islands made up of coral reefs. On the South-east of India, in the Bay of Bengal are the Andaman and Nicobar islands. On the mouth of the GangaBrahmaputra river system, lies the largest deltaic island of the world, the Sunderbans. 2. Describe the geographic extent and border of India. Ans. India has an area of 3,287,263 sq. km. It is the seventh largest country in the world. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the north to south extent is around 3214 km; while Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh, east to west extent is ~2933 km. India is located in the northern and eastern hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer divides India almost into half. India extends from 8°4’N to 37°6’N, and from 68°7’E to 97°25’E. India has China, Bhutan, and Nepal to the north; Afghanistan, and the Arabian Sea to the west; Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka to the south; and Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. The Palk Strait separates India from Sri Lanka. 3. Describe the three ranges of the Himalayas. Ans. The Himalayan Mountains can be divided into three parallel ranges, from north to south these are: the Great Himalaya or Himadri, Middle Himalaya or Himachal, and the Shiwalik. Himadri: The highest peaks of the world are located in the Himadri range. The first, second, and third highest peaks in the world, Mount Everest, Mount K-2, and Mount Kanchenjunga respectively are located in this range. Himachal: This is the middle range of the Himalayas. The elevation is also intermediate between Himadri and Shiwalik. It has rugged features. There are many hill stations of tourist interest located in the Himachal range. They are: Dalhousie, Manali, Shimla, Musoorie, Darjeeling, Nainital, etc. Shiwalik: Shiwalik is the lowest of the three ranges and is the youngest too. This range is still getting built. This is the southernmost range of the Himalayas.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Name Three tallest peaks in the world. 2. Name a few rivers in the Peninsular Plateau. 3. Write a short note on the Great Indian Desert. 4. What is a peninsula? 5. Which latitude passes almost through the middle of India?

8 Chapter

India: Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • Changes in weather and climate due to temperature, rainfall, sunshine, etc. • Four seasons in India: Cold weather season (Winter) from December to February. Hot weather season (Summer) from March to May. Southwest monsoon (Rainy season) from June to December. Retreating monsoon season (Autumn) October to November. • Natural vegetation is dependent upon climate conditions and the amount of rainfall a place receives. • Various types of natural vegetation such as Tropical evergreen forests, Tropical deciduous forests, Thorny bushes, Mount air Vegetation and Mangrove forests. • Forests are necessary. They provide us timber for furniture, fuel, wood, fodder, medicinal plants and herbs, lac, honey, gum, etc. • Cutting of forests and hunting, several species of wildlife of India are declining rapidly. • Thousand of species and animals and a large variety of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, insects and warm well in the forest. • Project Tiger and Project Elephant been launched to protect wildlife.

II. IN A NUTSHELL Climate of India •• The day to day changes in the atmosphere is called weather. Changes in temperature, rainfall, humidity, sunshine, atmospheric pressure – all come under weather. •• Broadly, there are four seasons in India: → Winter: This is the cold season and stretches from December to February. → Summer: Summer is the hottest season. From March, it extends up to May. → Rainy Season: This is the monsoon season, and most of the days it rains. This season extends from June to September. → Autumn: Sometimes it rains due to retreating monsoon, days start to get colder. This season extends from October to November.

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•• During winter, the days are generally cold. The sun rays do not fall directly. Hence, the temperature remains low. Northern India gets colder than Southern India. •• Summer is quite hot in India. The sun shines directly above India. During the day hot and very dry wind called loo blows. •• Rainy season is the wettest season of the year. Cool wind laden with moisture blow from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea towards India. When they strike the Himalayas, they start to rain. •• After raining on mainland India, the winds retreat to the Bay of Bengal. On the way, it rains again in Tamil Nadu and in some parts of Andhra Pradesh. •• India’s agriculture depends mainly on the rains brought by monsoon winds. Timely and adequate monsoon results in bountiful crops. •• The climate of a place depends upon its location, altitude, relief, distance from the sea, etc. That is why, there are variations in climate in various parts of India. Rajasthan is very hot and dry with practically no rainfall; while Ladakh is freezing cold; Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata are humid; Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the world’s largest rainfall. Natural Vegetation



•• The plants, for example, grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc. which grow on their own without human interference, are called natural vegetation. •• Natural vegetation depends on the climatic conditions, like rainfall, temperature, humidity and soil type. India has a wide range of natural vegetation due to varied climatic conditions and soil types. •• The natural vegetation of India can be divided into the following types: → Tropical evergreen forest → Tropical deciduous forest → Thorny bushes → Mountain vegetation → Mangrove forests •• Tropical Rain Forest: The areas with heavy rainfall have this type of forests. These forests are very dense. Various plant species are found here, which shed their leaves at various times of the year. So, the forest looks green all the year round and are sometimes called evergreen forests. Important trees are mahogany, ebony, and rosewood. This type of forests are found in parts of North-eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and on the western slope of Western Ghats. •• Tropical Deciduous Forest: This type of forests are distributed almost in every part of the country. Deciduous forests are less dense and are called the monsoon forests due to their dependence on rain. The trees shed their leaves at a particular time of the year, such as in winter. Therefore, these are called deciduous forests. Sal, peepal, teak, neem, shisham, etc. are the important trees of this type of forests. In Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and in parts of Maharashtra this type of forests are found.

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•• Thorny Bushes: Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country, such as, in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat and on the eastern slopes of Western Ghats. The leaves of these plants have turned to thorns or spines to minimise water loss due to transpiration. Cactus, Khair, babool, keekar, etc. are found in this type of bushes. •• Mountain Vegetation: On the basis of the height, various types of trees are found. Between 1500 m to 2500 m coniferous trees, such as, Pine, Chis, and Deodar are found. The mountainous regions of the country have this type of vegetation. •• Mangrove Forests: This type of forests are found in the saline water, in and near Sunderbans and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sundari, Acanthus, Phoenix, etc. are this type of plants. •• Importance of Forests: → Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis. → The carbon dioxide exhaled by us is absorbed by plants, thus forest prevents air pollution. → Forests are the natural habitats of wildlife. → We get timber and wood from forests to make furniture, houses, etc. and use as fuels. → Medicinal plants are important for manufacture of various medicines. → We get honey, lac, gum, fodder, etc. from forests. → Forests prevent soil erosion by binding the earth with roots. •• We should stop cutting down trees and plant more trees. Also we should make people aware of the importance of trees in our life. We should plan programmes like Van Mahotsav, etc. to involve and encourage people to plant trees.

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Wildlife •• Forests are home to a variety of wildlife, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc. •• The Royal Bengal Tiger is our national animal. It is found in various parts of the country, such as, Sunderbans, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Corbett National Park, etc. •• Asiatic Lions are found in Gir forest in Gujarat. •• Elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses are found in the forests of Assam. •• Elephants are also found in Kerala and Karnataka. •• Camels are found in the Great Indian Desert. •• Wild Asses are found in the Rann of Kuchchh. •• Wild Goats, Snow Leopards, Bears, etc. are found in the Himalayan region. •• Other animals, such as, monkey, wolf, jackal, nilgai, cheetal, etc. are found in various forests in India. •• Peacock is our national bird. •• Parrot, Pigeon, Mynah, Geese, Bulbul, Ducks, etc. are the common birds of India. There are several bird sanctuaries in India, such as, Bharat Bird Sanctuary. •• Several hundreds of species of snakes are found in India. Common among them are cobra, krait, etc. •• Cutting down of forests for the extension of cities is affecting wildlife of India negatively. Many of the indigenous species have already become extinct. To protect the wild life many national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, etc. are set up. Project Tiger, Project Elephant, etc. are the initiatives taken by the governments. •• We can all contribute in conserving wildlife. We should not buy things made from animal bones, horns, fur, hide, feathers, etc. Every year in the first week of October we observe wildlife week to make people aware of the importance of conserving wildlife. •• Pelican, Siberian Crane, Stork, Flamingo, Pintail Duck and Curlew migrate from different parts of the world to our country every year during winter and stay till the arrival of spring.

III. KEYWORDS •• Mausim: Season •• Weather: Atmosphere condition of a particular place and Time such as temperature rainfall and sunshine, etc. •• Climate: Average weather condition over a long period. •• Monsoon: Seasonal wind that brings rainfall in India. Origin – Arabic ‘mausim’ means season. •• Loo: Hot and dry winds blow during the day. •• Sundari: Well known species of trees in management forests. •• Wildlife: All the wild animals and birds live in a natural environment.

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•• Migratory Animals: The animals that moves or relocates from one place to another to avoid harsh climate. •• Van Mahotsav: A special programme for planting trees. •• Sanctuary: An area where wild birds or animals are protected and encouraged to bread.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 57 1. What would happen if monsoons were weak, or even worse, failed to occur one year? Tick the correct answer: Crops will be affected/not affected The level of water in a well will come-up/go-down Summer will be longer/shorter Ans. Affected, go-down, longer Page 63 2. Why do poachers kill tigers? Ans. Poachers kill tigers for their skin, bone, etc. The skins and bones of tigers are very expensive and that is the main reason of killing them.

3. What will happen if tigers vanish from our forests?

Ans. The tigers are the carnivorous animals and are placed at the top of the food chain. The tigers keep the numbers of deer, sambars, buffaloes, etc. in a forest in check. If tigers vanish, the number of these herbivores will increase so much that they will exhaust the natural vegetation of the area. That will affect the smaller animals and insects adversely. Thus, if tigers vanish from our forests, the ecosystem of the forest will be destroyed.

4. Have you ever visited any tiger reserves or a zoo where tigers are kept?

Ans. Yes, I have visited several zoos, such as, Alipore Zoo in Kolkata, Hyderabad Zoo, etc. where tigers are kept. I have also visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Sunderban Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh National Park, etc.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 64-65) 1. Answer the following questions briefly. (a) Which winds bring rainfall in India? Why is it so important? Ans. Monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal bring rainfall to India. The monsoon wind is very important in India. It brings annual rainfall to the whole country. The rainfall brought by the monsoon wind is sufficient for sustaining the agriculture of our country. (b) Name the different seasons in India. Ans. Mainly there are four seasons in India:

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1. Winter: This is the cold season and stretches from December to February. 2. Summer: Summer is the hottest season. From March, it extends up to May. 3. Rainy season: This is the monsoon season, and most of the days it rains. This season extends from June to September. 4. Autumn: Sometimes it rains due to retreating monsoon, days start to get colder. This season extends from October to November. (c) What is natural vegetation? Ans. The plants, for example, grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc. which grow on their own without human interference, are called natural vegetation. (d) Name the different types of vegetation found in India. Ans. The different types of vegetation found in India are: 1. Tropical Deciduous Forest 2. Tropical Evergreen Forest 3. Thorny Bushes 4. Mountain Vegetation 5. Mangrove Forest. (e) What is the difference between evergreen forest and deciduous forest? Ans. Evergreen forest

Deciduous forest

1.

The trees shed their leaves at different times of the year. So, the forest always look green and hence, known as evergreen forest.

(i)

The trees shed their leaves at same time of the year. Hence, the forest is known as deciduous forest.

2.

These forests are very dense, and sometimes the sunlight does not reach the ground.

(ii)

3.

Mahogany, ebony, rosewood, etc. are the important trees.

(iii)

Sal, teak, shisham, neem, etc. are the important trees.

4.

This type of forests are found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of North-Eastern states, and on the western slope of the Western Ghat Mountains.

(iv)

This type of forests are found in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and in parts of Maharashtra.

These forests are less dense.

(f ) Why is tropical rainforest also called evergreen forest? Ans. Tropical rainforest remain green all the year round. All the trees in this type of forests never shed leaves at the same time. Hence, the rainforests are known as evergreen forest.

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2. Tick the correct answers. (a) The world’s highest rainfall occurs in (i) Mumbai (ii) Asansol

(iii) Mawsynram

(b) Mangrove forests can thrive in (i) saline water (ii) fresh water

(iii) polluted water

(c) Mahogany and rosewood trees are found in (i) mangrove forests (ii) tropical deciduous forests (iii) tropical evergreen forests (d) Wild goats and snow leopards are found in (i) Himalayan region (ii) Peninsular region (iii) Gir forests (e) During the south west monsoon period, the moisture laden winds blow from (i) land to sea (ii) sea to land (iii) plateau to plains Ans. (a) (iii) Mawsynram, (b) (i) saline water, (c) (iii) tropical evergreen forests, (d) (ii) sea to land, (e) (i) Himalayan region. 3. Fill in the blanks. (a) Hot and dry winds known as ________________ blow during the day in the summers. (b) The states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu receive a great amount of rainfall during the season of________________. (c) _____________ forest in Gujarat is the home of ________________. (d) _____________ is a well-known species of mangrove forests. (e) ____________ are also called monsoon forests. Ans. (a) Loo, (b) Retreating Monsoon, (c) Gir, lions, (d) Sundari, (e) Tropical Deciduous Forests.

V. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Asiatic Lion

(i)

2.

Mahogany

3.

One-houred rhinoceros

(iii)

Thorny bushes

4.

Snow lepard

(iv)

Gir forest

5.

Sundari

6.

Pine

7.

Peacock

(ii)

(v) (vi) (vii)

Mountain vegetation Himalayan regions

Assam Tropical rainforest Mangrove forest

India: Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife

8.

Shisham

9.

Babool

10.

(viii) (ix)

Siberian crane

(x)

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National bird Migratory bird Tropical deciduous forest

Ans. 1. (iv), 2. (vi), 3. (v), 4. (ii), 5. (vii), 6. (i), 7. (viii), 8. (x), 9. (iii), 10. (ix) II. Are the following statements True or False? 1. The tropical rain forests are also known as tropical deciduous forests. 2. Pine tree is found in mountain regions. 3. Wild goats are common in Himalayan region. 4. Van Mahotsav encourages us to protect animals. 5. Thorny bushes are abundant in areas with heavy rainfall. 6. Sundari tree is found in Sunderbans area. 7. The monsoon wind brings spring to our country. 8. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air. 9. Planting of trees is the cause of soil erosion. 10. Tropical rain forests are found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. False, 6. True, 7. False, 8. True, 9. False, 10. True

VII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Which wind brings rain to our country? Ans. The monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal brings rain to our country. 2. What are the factors that affect the climate? Ans. The climate of a place is affected by its location, altitude, relief, distance from the sea, etc. 3. Name two places where the thorny bushes are found. Ans. Thorny bushes are found in the western part of the Rajasthan, and in Rann of Kuchchh area. 4. Name the place which receives maximum annual rainfall in the world? Ans. The Mawsynram village in Cherrapunji district in Meghalaya receives the maximum annual rainfall in the whole world. 5. Name two places in India which remain freezing cold all the year round? Ans. Drass and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir remain freezing cold all the year round. 6. Why do we celebrate Van Mahotsav? Ans. To spread awareness on importance of planting more trees we celebrate Van Mahotsav.

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7. What do you mean by ‘migratory birds’? Ans. Some birds during harsh climates migrate to other countries and come back after the season is over. Pelican, Siberian Crane, Stork, Flamingo, Pintail Duck and Curlew migrate from different parts of the world to our country every year during winter and stay till the arrival of spring. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What are the features of the tropical deciduous forests? Ans. The tropical deciduous forests are spread across a large part of our country. • The main trees found in this type of forests are sal, teak, peepal, neem, shisham, etc. • The trees in a forest shed their leaves together at a particular time of the year, and hence, the forests are known as deciduous forest. • In Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and in parts of Maharashtra this type of forests are found. 2. Write a short note on tropical rain forests of India. Ans. Tropical rainforests are abundant in India wherever there is heavy rainfall. • These forests are very dense and in some places even sunlight does not reach the ground. • The trees found in this type of forests do not shed leaves at a specific season and hence, the forests always appear green. For this reason these forests are also known as tropical evergreen forests. • Mahogany, ebony, rosewood, etc. are the common trees found in the rain forests. This type of forests are present in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, North-Eastern states, on the western slopes of Western Ghats, etc. 3. Why are the forests important? Ans. Forests are important for the following reasons: ã Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis. ã The carbon dioxide exhaled by us is absorbed by plants, thus forest prevents air pollution. ã Forests are the natural habitats of wildlife. ã We get timber and wood from forests to make furniture, houses, etc. and use as fuels. ã Medicinal plants are important for manufacture of various medicines. ã We get honey, lac, gum, fodder, etc. from forests. ã Forests prevent soil erosion by binding the earth with roots. 4. Write the features of the autumn season in India. Ans. The autumn season in India consists of the months of October and November. In this season, the monsoon wind retreats to the Bay of Bengal from the mainland India. On the way, it rains in a few places, especially in Tamil Nadu and in some places of Andhra Pradesh. The temperature during this season is moderate and gets colder from the middle of November. The Northern part of the country shows lower temperature than the Southern states. 5. Describe the mangrove forests. Ans. The mangrove forests are typically found in saline water. Mainly in the

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Sunderbans and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this type of forests are found. The mangrove forest is characterised by the presence of typical mangrove plants which have breathing roots which grow upwards from the soil. This adaptation is shown by the mangrove plants due to too much salinity in the soil and too less air contained in the soil. The plants found in this type of forests are Sundari, Acanthus, goran, garjan, etc. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Describe the wildlife in India. Ans. The Royal Bengal Tiger is our national animal. It is found in various parts of the country, such as, Sunderbans, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Corbett National Park, etc. Asiatic Lions are found in Gir forest in Gujarat. Elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses are found in the forests of Assam. Elephants are also found in Kerala and Karnataka. Camels are found in the Great Indian Desert. Wild asses are found in the Rann of Kuchchh. Wild goats, snow leopards, bears, etc. are found in the Himalayan region. Other animals, such as, monkey, wolf, jackal, nilgai, cheetal, etc. are found in various forests in India. Peacock is our national bird. Parrot, pigeon, mynah, geese, bulbul, ducks, etc. are the common birds of India. There are several bird sanctuaries in India, such as, Bharat Bird Sanctuary. Several hundreds of species of snakes are found in India. Common among them are cobra, krait, etc. Cutting down of forests for the extension of cities is affecting wild life of India negatively. Many of the indigenous species have already become extinct. To protect the wildlife many national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, etc. are set up. Project Tiger, Project Elephant, etc. are the initiatives taken by the governments. 2. What are the different types of vegetation found in India? Ans. The following types of vegetation are found in India: 1. Tropical Rainforest: The areas with heavy rainfall have this type of forests. These forests are very dense. Various plant species are found here, which shed their leaves at various times of the year. So, the forest looks green all the year round and are sometimes called evergreen forests. Important trees are mahogany, ebony, and rosewood. This type of forests are found in parts of North-eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and on the western slope of Western Ghats. 2. Tropical Deciduous Forest: This type of forests are distributed almost in every part of the country. Deciduous forests are less dense and are called the monsoon forests due to their dependence on rain. The trees shed their leaves at a particular time of the year, such as in winter. Therefore, these are called deciduous forests. Sal, peepal, teak, neem, shisham, etc. are the important trees of this type of forests. In Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,

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Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and in parts of Maharashtra this type of forests are found. 3. Thorny Bushes: Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country, such as, in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat and on the eastern slopes of Western Ghats. The leaves of these plants have turned to thorns or spines to minimise water loss due to transpiration. Cactus, Khair, babool, keekar, etc. are found in this type of bushes. 4. Mountain Vegetation: On the basis of the height, various types of trees are found. Between 1500 m and 2500 m coniferous trees, such as, Pine, Chis, and Deodar are found. The mountainous regions of the country have this type of vegetation. 5. Mangrove Forests: This type of forests are present in the saline water, in and near Sunderbans are and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sundari, Acanthus, Phoenix, etc. are this type of plants. 3. What are the different seasons in India? Ans. In India, there are mainly four seasons: 1. Winter: This is the coldest season and stretches from December to February. During winter, the days are generally cold. The sun rays do not fall directly. Hence, the temperature remains low. Northern India gets colder than Southern India. 2. Summer: Summer is the hottest season. From March, it extends up to May. Summer is quite hot in India. The sun shines directly above India. During the day hot and very dry wind called loo blows. 3. Rainy Season: This is the monsoon season, and most of the days it rains. This season extends from June to September. Rainy season is the wettest season of the year. Cool wind laden with moisture blows from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea towards India. When it strikes the Himalayas, it starts raining. 4. Autumn: Sometimes it rains due to retreating monsoon, days start to get colder. This season extends from October to November. After raining on mainland India, the winds retreat to the Bay of Bengal. On the way, it rains again in Tamil Nadu and in some parts of Andhra Pradesh.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. What are the steps taken by the government of India to protect wildlife? 2. Why should we stop buying things made of animal body parts? 3. Name the common birds found in India. 4. How is the climate in the coastal places in India? 5. Study the following picture of a typical tropical rain forest and answer the questions.

India: Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife

(a) What is the height of the ground layer of vegetation? (b) Which layer do you find to raise up to 20 metres? (c) At which height do you expect to see the canopy? (d) What is the topmost layer called? (e) What is the height of the topmost layer?

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PART C: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL LIFE–I

1 Chapter

UNIT I: DIVERSITY

Understanding Diversity

I. BASIC CONCEPTS Diversity:

• All human beings are different from each other. All of us differ in looks,

languages, environment, customs, cultural background, social background, religions, etc. • In addition to the diversity, there is inequality in our society. For example, all children in our society cannot go to school because of poverty. This inequality is the result of unavailability of resources and opportunities to all. • Caste system is another social inequality. The inequalities are created artificially to discriminate people. • In India, we see diversities in languages, food habits, celebrations, festivals, religions, climate, geographical surroundings, etc. • Long ago, when people settled in a place long ago, when people settled in a place, they stayed there as there were not many modes of transport. So, people started to adapt to the geographical area and over time the people developed unique lifestyle, rituals, food habit, etc. • In this way life in mountainous areas differ significantly from the life in coastal region. • Not only food habits and clothing patterns, but kind of work people do also differs in different geographical regions. For example, kinds of work people do in cities are totally different from kinds of work people do in villages. Unity in Diversity in India: • India is a country with great diversity and always has shown unity. Indians have unitedly opposed to the British rule. People from every corner of India with different backgrounds and different religions came together for freedom movement. • British tried to divide India and continue ruling us. However, Indians showed the strength of unity.

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• In the book, “The Discovery of India”, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote that the unity shown by the Indians was not imposed, but “… was something deeper and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and every variety acknowledged and even encouraged.” He coined the phrase ‘unity in diversity’ to describe India.

II. IN A NUTSHELL Ladakh: •• Ladakh is a cold desert in the Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. Agriculture is not possible here as this region does not receive much rain and is covered in snow for a major part of the year. •• People here keep sheep and collect the wool. This wool is very famous and the pashmina shawls woven from it are high in demand. Thus, they sell the wool to traders from Kashmir where the shawls are woven. •• People in Ladakh eat meat and cheese, milk, butter, etc. Goats, cows and yaks are kept in almost every family. •• Ladakh is in a popular trade route and attracts many traders. Caravans from Tibet carrying textiles, spices, raw silk, carpet, etc. pass through this route. •• Ladakh is also known as Little Tibet. Buddhism reached Ladakh through Tibet. There is also a significant number of Muslim population. •• Local versions of the Tibetan national epic of Kesar Saga are performed by both Muslim and Buddhist people of the region. Kerala: •• Kerala is located in the south-west corner of India. It has the Arabian Sea on its west and the Western Ghats on its east. •• Various spices, such as, pepper, clove. Cardamom, etc., coffee, coconut are grown in Kerala. •• The availability of spices made Kerala an attractive trading spot. Jewish and Arabian traders were the first to come here. St. Thomas, the Apostle of Christ had come here nearly 2000 years ago and brought Christianity to India. •• Arab traders also came and eventually settled down here. Ibn Battuta came here around 700 years ago and wrote a travelogue. •• Portuguese travellers discovered the sea route to India from Europe. •• Kerala has historical influences of all these different traders and travellers. Here, many different religions, like, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. are practised. •• It is thought that long ago the Chinese traders had also come here as the fishing nets used here resemble the Chinese fishing nets and are called the ‘cheena-vala’. Cooking utensils, especially those used for frying fish are called ‘cheenachatti’ which is also derived from China. •• Rice is the major agricultural crop here. People eat rice, vegetables and fish.

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•• Thus, both Ladakh and Kerala have influences of Chinese and Arabian traders. Both places have similar cultural influences. However, due to different geographical features, Kerala grows rice and spices, while Ladakh rears sheep. •• In modern times also, when people move from one place to another in search of livelihood, their culture traditions become a part of the new place’s culture and traditions.

III. KEYWORDS •• Diversity: Different languages, religions, regions, rituals, customs and traditions constitute diversity. •• Unity: Oneness despite diversity in emotions and patriotism. •• Inequality: The differences between two or more people that arise because of their abilities, resources and opportunities, or their caste, etc. •• Habitat: The geographical area where a living being has adapted and lives comfortability. •• Culture: The customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organisation of a particular country. •• Incredible: Not believable, the one who/what cannot be believed. •• Profession: Job through which one earns his livelihood.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 3 1. Look around you in the classroom: do you see anyone who looks exactly like you do? Ans. No one in my class looks exactly like me. 2. What does diversity add to our lives? Ans. Because of diversity, there are different languages, food habit, religions in our lives. My friend belongs to a different community than me and when I visit her house, I learn different rituals and this enriches my life. 3. How did India become like this? Ans. In India, various tribes of people came and settled here. Thus, India became so interesting and diverse. 4. Are all kinds of difference a part of diversity? Ans. Yes, all kinds of differences are a part of diversity. 5. Can diversity also be a part of unity? Ans. Yes, diversity can also be a part of unity. This is seen in India. Page 4 1. Fill out the following information about yourself When I go out I like wearing ______________ At home I speak in _____________

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My favourite sport is _______________ I like reading books about ______________ Ans. Do it yourself. One example is given to help you. When I go out I like wearing Jeans, T-shirt and shoes. At home I speak in Bengali, Hindi and English. My favourite sport is Kabaddi. I like reading books about Mysteries and Mythologies. Page 5 2. Name three ways in which Samir Ek and Samir Do were different? Ans. Samir Ek and Samir Do were different in the following ways: 1. Samir Ek went to school, while Samir Do did not. 2. Samir Ek knew both Hindi and English. However, Samir Do knew only Hindi. 3. Samir Ek was a Hindu, while Samir Do was a Muslim. Did these differences prevent them from becoming friends? Ans. In spite of the differences, Samir Ek and Samir Do had become friends within a few days. They could have become closer if Samir Do did not have to leave the city suddenly. Thus, differences did not prevent them from becoming friends. Page 6 3. Make a list of the festivals that might have been celebrated by the two boys. Can you think of a situation in which you made friends with someone who was very different from you? Write a story that describes this. Ans. Samir Ek: Diwali, Holi, Navratri, Janmashtami, etc. Samir Do: Eid, Ramzan, Muharram, etc. Write the story yourself about a situation where you have made friends with someone very different from you. Discuss: Why do you think Samir Do did not attend school? Do you think it would have been easy for him to attend school if he wanted to? In your opinion is it a fair situation that some children get to go to school and others don’t? Ans. Samir Do had to earn his livelihood from a very young age. He lives far away from his mother to earn for his family. In this situation, he did not have enough time to attend school. No, it would not have been easy for him to attend school if he wanted to. First of all, he did not have time to attend school. Secondly, he did not have enough money to pay the school fees. Thirdly, there is nobody to help him with the study at home. It is definitely not a fair situation where some children get to go to school while other’s do not. This bring inequality in our society. Every child must attend school.

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4. Make a list of food that you have eaten from different parts of India. Ans. List of food that I have eaten from different parts of India are: Idly, Dosa, Utthapam, etc.: In South India Paratha, Paneer kofta, Kadhai chicken, etc.: In Delhi, Punjab, etc. Dal, Bati, Churma: In Rajasthan Rice, dal, fish curry, Luchi: In West Bengal Liitti, Chokha: In Bihar Appam, chicken stew, Malabar fish curry: In Kerala 5. Make a list of the languages besides your mother tongue that you can speak at least one or two words of. Ans. Make the list yourself. One example is given to help you: I can speak English, Hindi, Telugu, Asamiya, and French. Page 8 6. List at least three different ways in which people in India do the following. One possible answer has been provided for you already. Different ways in which people pray

Through singing a hymn

Different ways in which people get married

Through signing a register in the court

Different ways in which people dress

In Manipur women wear a fanek. In Jharkhand many adivasis say “johar” to greet each other

Different ways in which people greet each other Different ways in which people cook rice

By making Biriyani with meat or vegetables

Ans. Different ways in which people pray

Through singing a hymn

Different ways in Through which people get performing married various rituals in front of Agni, by wearing sindoor and mangalsutra

Through offering flowers and worshipping idols

Through offering Namaz

Through signing a register in the court

Through giving consent by both bride and groom.

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Different ways in which people dress

In Rajasthan, In Tamilnadu, women wear males wear white ghagra, choli and veshti and shirt dupatta.

In Manipur women wear a fanek.

Different ways in which people greet each other

In West Bengal people put their palms together and say “namaoskar”

In Jharkhand many adivasis say “johar” to greet each other

In Punjab people greet each other by saying “Satshri Akaal”

Different ways in which people cook rice

By making Biriyani with meat or vegetables

By making Appam

By making plain boiled rice

Page 9 7. Look at the map of India in an Atlas and locate Kerala and Ladakh. Can you list three ways in which the different geographical locations of these two regions would influence the following? 1. The food people eat 2. The clothes they wear 3. The work they do Ans. Kerala Ladakh

Milk and milk products, meat Cotton clothes, synthetic Woollen clothes suitable for Clothes clothes suitable for warm very cold climate climate Agriculture, fishing Rearing of sheep, goat, etc., tradWork ing, wool collection, etc. Food

Rice, vegetables, fish

Page 12 1. Do you know the story of the Indian Flag? Ans. Yes, the story of Indian Flag is very interesting. – The national flag underwent several changes. – At last the present flag came into being. It was used as a symbol of protest against the British rule by the people of India everywhere. Now it is symbol of faith, dignity and patrotism. 2. India’s national anthem, composed by Rabindranath Tagore, is another expression of the unity of India. Ans. By reading the National Anthem it is revealed that it describes this unity. Read this and try to understand this unity.

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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 12) 1. Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities? Ans. Different festivals celebrated in our locality are: 1. Republic Day 2. Makar Sankranti 3. Pongal 4. Eid-ul-Fitr 5. Vaishakhi 6. Good Friday 7. Ganesh Chaturthi 8. Independence Day 9. Dusshera 10. Holi 11. Diwali 12. Bakrid 13. Christmas 14. Lohri Republic Day, Independence Day, etc. celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities. 2. What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life? Ans. Yes, living in India with its rich heritage of diversity definitely adds to my life. This is because we come across people with different cultures, customs, traditions, languages, food habits, etc. These differences mix with each other’s life and enrich our lives. 3. Do you think the term "unity in diversity" is an appropriate term to describe India? What do you think Nehru is trying to say about Indian unity in the sentence quoted above from his book The Discovery of India? Ans. The term “unity in diversity” is an appropriate term to describe India. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru coined this term in his book “The Discovery of India”. By this term Pt. Nehru meant that there are so many diversities in India in culture, custom, traditions, language, clothing, food habit, religion, etc., yet people in India are united together. When it was necessary, all Indians came together and won the freedom of their country together. Thus, Pt. Nehru felt that this unity is not imposed on Indians from outside. This feeling of unity is something deeper which comes within from each and every Indian. 4. Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India's essential unity. Ans. Don’t forget the days of blood, O friend In the midst of your happiness remember to shed a tear for us The hunter has torn away every single flower Do plant a flower in the desert garden dear friend Having fallen to bullets we slept in Jallianwala Bagh

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Do light a lamp on this lonely grave O friend The blood of Hindus and Muslims flows together today Do soak your robe in this river of blood dear friend Some rot in jails while others lie in their graves Do shed a few tears for them O friend. 5. Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How? Ans. West Bengal

Punjab

Traders from China, Britain, and Portugal came here. Before Independence, West Bengal was carved out from Banga. In Bangladesh Liberation War, people of West Bengal took part.

Traders from Britain, Tibet. Also, travellers from Greece had come. Punjab was also divided into two parts before independence.

West Bengal has the Himalayas in the north and the Bay of Bengal in the south. The Bhagirathi river and its Geographical tributaries make West Bengal factors very fertile. Rice, and jute are the major crops.

The five tributaries of Indus river form the plains of Punjab. Punjab is also very fertile. Major crops are wheat, mustard, sunflower, rice, sugarcane are the main crops.

Historical factors

Climate

Warm and humid.

Festival

Durgapuja, Diwali, Poush Lohri, Teej, Baishakhi, etc. are Parbon are the main festivals. the main festivals.

Religions

Moderate.

Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Jainism, etc. Jainism, etc.

Islam,

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VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Fill in the Blanks: 1. As Ladakh does not receive any _______, very little ___________ is possible here. 2. Ladakh is considered to be a good _________ as it has many passes. 3. Ladakh is also known as _________. 4. The Tibetan national epic, the __________ are performed and sung in Ladakh. 5. ___________ is the fishing net used by the fishermen in Kerala. 6. _________________ is the phrase coined by Jawaharlal Nehru to describe India. Ans. 1. rain, agriculture, 2. trade route, 3. Little Tibet, 4. Kesar saga, 5. Cheenavala, 6. Unity in diversity II. Picture Based Questions: 1. Look at the image below and answer the questions that follow:

(a) Identify the landscape. (b) Why are not there any trees? (c) What is the main occupation of people who stay here? Ans. (a) The landscape is of the mountainous terrain of Ladakh. (b) This place does not receive rain and is mostly covered with snow. That is why no trees are found in the image. (c) The main occupation of people is wool collection. 2. Look at the image below and answer the questions:

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(a) What do you see in the image? (b) What are these used for? (c) How is the name of these things derived? Ans. (a) The image shows Chinese Fishing Nets or cheena-vala. (b) These are used to catch fish in Kerala. (c) The name is derived from China. III.  Write True or False: 1. Rice is the major crop in Ladakh. 2. Pt. Nehru wrote the book “The Discovery of India”. 3. Samir Do is a Muslim by religion. 4. Caste system is an example of inequality. 5. The famous traveller ibn battuta visited Kerala. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. True, 5. True

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Samir Do’s family stayed in (a) Delhi

(b) Kanpur

(c) Meerut

2. Where is the wool for pashmina shawls collected? (a) Kashmir (b) Ladakh

(c) Kerala

3. Caste system creates ______ in the society. (a) inequality (b) equality

(c) humanity

4. The food habit of people changes according to the _________ of a place. (a) geographical features (b) local government (c) none of these 5. Onam festival is celebrated in (a) Ladakh (b) Jallianwala Bagh

1. (c)

2. (b)

ANSWERS 3. (a) 4. (a)

(c) Kerala

5. (c)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Who composed the national anthem of India? Ans. Rabindranath Tagore composed the national anthem of India. 2. Who is the author of the book ‘The Discovery of India’? Ans. The author of the book “The Discovery of India” is Jawaharlal Nehru. 3. What are the main professions of the people of Kerala? Ans. Fishing and agriculture are the main professions of the people of Kerala.

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4. How is the climate in Ladakh? Ans. The climate of Ladakh is very dry and cold. Ladakh is covered with snow almost all the year round. 5. Which religions are practised in Kerala? Ans. Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam are the main religions practised in Kerala. 6. What are constant reminders of our rich traditions of respect for diversity? Ans. Songs and symbols. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why do you think rearing of sheep is the main occupation of people in Ladakh? Ans. Ladakh is situated in the Himalayas. The place is very cold and dry as it does not receive much rain. Due to mountainous terrain, cold climate and scarcity of rain, much agriculture is not possible here. Thus, sheep rearing is main occupation of the people of Ladakh. The wool obtained from these sheep is very famous. 2. Write a short note on the book “The Discovery of India”. Ans. The book “The Discovery of India” is authored by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. In this book, Nehru wrote about India’s rich heritage and culture. He discussed the unity among the Indians in spite of such diversified lineages and cultures. He coined the phrase ‘unity in diversity’ to describe India in this book. In ‘The Discovery of India’, Nehru wrote that the unity in Indians is not something that is imposed from outside, rather “it was something deeper, and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and every variety was acknowledged and even encouraged.” 3. What do you mean by inequality? Ans. Inequality is caused when everyone in a society does not have access to all resources opportunities equally. Inequality causes artificial differences, which should not be there. For example, due to poverty many children in our country cannot go to school. Here money causes inequality between a rich and a poor child. Another example is, till 2014 in Saudi Arabia women were not permitted to vote. This is another inequality caused by gender bias. 4. How can you deduce that Chinese traders came to Kerala? Ans. The fishing nets used by the fishermen in Kerala resemble the Chinese fishing nets. These are called ‘cheena-vala’. Also, the utensils used for frying is called ‘cheenschatti’. It is thought these words are derived from China and that the Chinese traders came to Kerala centuries ago. 5. Do you think the caste system in our country is a cause of inequality? Ans. Yes, I think the caste system is a cause of inequality in our country. Because, in caste system people are grouped on the basis of the work they do and they have to follow whatever work their forefathers did. For example, a potter’s son is expected to be a potter, even if he wants to do something else in life. Not only this, certain professions were looked down upon by others. For example,

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a priest was considered to be a high caste, whereas a garbage-collector a low caste. Caste system brought about untouchability issues in society. This caused inequality in our country. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Discuss the ways of life in Kerala and Ladakh. Ans. Kerala: Kerala is located in the south-west corner of India. It has the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. The climate is typically tropical with warm and humid climate. Kerala experiences enough rainfall and the soil is very fertile. Thus, agriculture is one of the main occupations of the people. Rice, coconut, various spices and coffee are the chief agricultural products. Fishing is another main occupation of the people. Rice, dal, vegetables and fish are the main food. Ladakh: Ladakh is located in the north India in the Himalayan Mountains in Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is a cold desert with very little rainfall. Most of the time the place is covered with snow. The climate is very dry and cold. Rearing of sheep is the main occupation of people. The wool obtained from these sheep are very famous. Milk and milk products like cheese, butter, etc. and meat are the main food of the people. 2. What do you mean by “unity in diversity” in India? Ans. India has always been a country with wide range of diversity. The diversity is found in climate, occupation, livelihood, clothing pattern, food habit, language, religion, etc. Still Indians draw strength from this diversity and remain united. Before the independence of India from British rule, the people of India from different backgrounds came together unitedly to fight against the British rule. When Gandhiji called the Indians for Salt March and Disobedience Movement, Indians joined him irrespective of their religion and background. This shows unity of India among so many diversities. The British tried to break the backbone of India’s unity by creating differences among people. However, due to strong unity, they were unsuccessful. This is the ‘unity in diversity’ in India.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Where are the pashmina shawls woven? 2. Who discovered the sea route to India from Europe? 3. Who was Ibn Battuta? 4. Which religions are practised in Ladakh? 5. What is ‘Jallianwala Bagh Massacre’?

2 Chapter

Diversity and Discrimination

I. BASIC CONCEPTS Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar popularly known as Babasaheb, was born 14 April 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. He is known for his inspirational work for Dalit community of India. He was an Indian jurist, politician and social reformer. He was Independent India’s first law minister and was among the main architect in designing Constitution of India. Ambedkar was born into a poor low Mahar caste in the town and military cantonment of Mhow. At school, Ambedkar and other untouchable children were segregated and given little attention by the teachers. They were not allowed to sit inside the class. They were not even allowed to drink water meant for higher caste. He obtained his degree in economics and political science from Bombay University. Later, he earned law degree from Columbia University and various doctorates from London School of Economics. He is remembered for the work he had done to uplift that time’s untouchable society. Preamble The Preamble to the Constitution of India is a brief introductory statement that sets out the guiding purpose and principles of the document. It states that, “We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty, of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; And to promote among them all Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation; In our constituent assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution.”

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II. IN A NUTSHELL •• What we speak, what we eat and wear, how we live and what we play-- that all depends upon the historical background and geographical structure of the place we live in. •• Most of the major world religions are followed in India. There are over 1600 mother tongues spoken in India and over a 100 dance forms are practiced. •• Most of the people in this world are prejudiced about people that differ from us- like we can be prejudiced about many things: people's religious beliefs, the colour of their skin, the region they come from, the accent they speak in, the clothes they wear etc. At times, we may even act in ways that hurt them. •• We also tend to create stereotypes- that is we form one particular notion about a certain thing, that is we form an image – positive or negative–about something, without carefully thinking about it. The stereotype may be with respect to religion, sex, race, background or place of origin etc. •• Driving by the prejudice and stereotype people act accordingly. First thing that happens is discrimination. Discrimination creates inequality in the society. We prevent people from using their rights just because we consider them as inferior. •• Caste was used to discriminate against large numbers of people. Castes was created as a result of discrimination on the basis of occupation of the people. Rules were created by the people who called themselves upper caste. In the caste list the bottom most place was reserved for ‘untouchables’. •• Caste rules were set such that it did not allow the so-called “untouchables” to take on work, other than what they were meant to do. People maintained distance from them. They were called 'Dalits'. •• Dalits, women, tribals and peasants fought against the inequalities they experienced in their lives. Women demanded that they should have as much a right to education as men did. Peasants and tribals fought to release themselves from the grasp of the moneylender and the high interest they were charged. •• When India became independent, Constitution of India, a document that laid out the rules by which the nation would function, were aware of the ways in which discrimination had been practised in our society. So the Constitution was written to ensure that all the people of India were considered equal. •• Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar is considered the father of the Indian Constitution and is also the best known leader of the Dalits.

III. KEYWORDS •• Prejudice: Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another. Tendency to judge people negatively. •• Stereotype: Stereotype is a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong.

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•• Discrimination: The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. •• Constitution: The set of political principles by which a state or organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people it governs. •• Untouchability: People tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure, less than human. Human rights abuses against these people, known as Dalits, are legion. More than 160 million people in India are considered “Untouchable”. •• Preamble: A preamble is a brief introduction to a speech, like the Preamble to the Constitution that starts out “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union...do ordain and establish this Constitution.” •• Dalits: Dalits are those people who are considered low and down trodden on the basis of prejudices and discrimination. •• Mahars: Untouchable in Bombay Presidency.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 15 1. Arrange the statements given below in these two sections, according to what you think is appropriate for the section. They are well behaved. They are soft spoken and gentle. They are physically strong. They are naughty. They are good at dance and painting. They don’t cry. They are rowdy. They are good at sport. They are good at cooking. They are emotional. Girls

Boys

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

Now check, with your teacher’s help, who has put which statement where. Find out and discuss people's reasons for doing this. Are the qualities you put in for boys something that boys are born with?

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Ans. Girls

Boys

1.

They are well behaved.

(i)

2.

They are soft spoken and gentle.

3.

They are good at dance and painting.

(iii)

They don’t cry.

4.

They are good at cooking.

(iv)

They are rowdy.

5.

They are emotional.

(ii)

(v)

They are physically strong. They are naughty.

They are good at sport.

Yes, some of the qualities that we have put with boys are the qualities that the boys are born with. Page 16 1. Discuss what these children are saying about stereotypes regarding them and why. Ans. (i) In the first picture, the child is with a crutch. He/She cannot walk properly and he/she also has some speech defect. The boy is also very sad and sore from his heart because every time he meet his friends, they make fun of him, would love at him. So he is asking the society that what others who make fun of him would have done if the same had happened with them. (ii) In the second picture, the boy is in a wheelchair which means he has mobility problem. He also feels very shy because of his state for which he himself is not responsible. He wants to hide himself from the eyes of the society those who look at him with sympathy. (iii) In the third picture, the little girl also has walking disability. But the society and its people doesn’t think in that way. They treat her as a mentally challenged person. Though her brain is very much active and she is very good in painting.

2. Do you think children with special needs should be a part of regular schools or study in a separate school? Give reasons for your answer. ns. I think children with special needs should obviously be a part of regular A schools through the inclusion system and they should not be isolated and sent to separate schools. Mixing with other normal children will help them to forget about their disability. They will also try to compete with the general students and in this way they will grow a competitive attitude which will also help to grow their personality in future. This way, they would do better and achieve better in life. Page 17 1. You can take other statements such as, “They are soft and gentle” or “They are well behaved” and discuss how these are applied to girls. Do girls possess these

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qualities at birth or do they learn such behaviour from others? What do you think about girls who are not soft and gentle and those who are naughty? Ans. Softness and gentleness are the two qualities every human being should possess. There are some characteristics among human beings which are in-born. Softness and gentle nature in girls are one of them. Sometimes bad or good company also determines how the girl would behave. If girls do not possess them it becomes the duty of their parents to teach her the qualities right from the beginning. Same goes for a boy also. Page 19 1. What is the difference between discrimination and stereotypes? Ans. Discrimination is the practice of treating one person or group of people less fairly or less well than other people or groups on the basis of caste, colour, sex, religion, etc. For example, Dalits were discriminated in the society saying that they were the untouchables which is not justified. Stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing which is often not true in reality. For example, like in the previous picture shown the girl who has walking disability but is an excellent painter but the stereotype is society thinks as she can’t walk properly she can’t do anything properly. This is a judgement without knowing the fact. Several other examples are there. 2. How do you think a person who is discriminated against might feel? Ans. The person might feel hurt and insulted. Sometimes the person becomes secluded from the society this way. Page 21 1. Despite the children offering money the cart men refused them. Why? Ans. The cart men had heard of the words that the children were from Mahar community who were treated as ‘Dalits’ or untouchables those days. So they were not ready to get polluted and to demean himself carrying passengers of the untouchable classes. 2. How did people at the station discriminate against Dr Ambedkar and his brothers? Ans. Looking at the dresses of the children and the way they were talking, no one was able to make out that they were Dalits. Instead, everyone thought they were Brahmin children, behaved nicely even the station master was extremely touched at the plight in which he found the children. 3. How do you think Dr Ambedkar felt as a child, when he saw the stationmaster’s reaction to his statement that they were Mahars? Ans. Dr. Ambedkar and his brothers were quite bewildered, and the joy and happiness, which they felt at the beginning of their journey, gave way to a feeling of extreme sadness. 4. Have you ever experienced prejudice or witnessed an incident of discrimination? How did this make you feel?

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Ans. This is a question for which the answer would be different for everyone. Leaving this question to the student to answer.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 23-24) 1. Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes.

Ans. (a) 3. Remark: Many people have the notion that doctors are so busy in their job and making money that they cannot think of their family. This is a stereotype without knowing the fact. This example proves that feelings for the family is universal and that is why the surgeon wanted to talk to his daughter. (b) 4. Remark: This example breaks the stereotype that crippled children are unable to do anything. But the truth is that in most of the cases with their willpower, mind and talent they can do marvellous jobs which we can't think of also. (c) 1. Remark: This challenges the stereotype that chronic asthma patients cannot run fast or take part in sports. (d) 2. Remark: This example challenges the stereotype that only influential and well to-do people can dream big. Even poor people with intelligent mind can dream big and prove themselves. 2. How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least five different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house. Ans. Girls have been treated as a burden in Indian Society since long before. Even today their condition has not changed in some areas. Whether it is home or outside, they are not given due opportunity. The mental set up of the parent is such that it never accepts the birth of a daughter wholeheartedly. As a result of this kind of mentality, girl’s life is badly affected.

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Below are the five different effects that this stereotype causes in daughters: • Sometimes girls are not allowed to get higher education. This ruthless attitude of the parents towards their daughters ruin their career. They feel helpless even in the parents' house. • Girls would feel discouraged and they would not concentrate on their studies. All their dreams to achieve separate identity in the society would be shattered. • Difference in treatment with her brother in the home front would also make her less confident. And she will not be able to raise her voice if required. • Even marriage does not bring fortune to the girls all the time. Some inlaws prove themselves to be good by giving proper treatment to the newly married girls. But most of the time we find that they are ill-treated in their in-law's house. They are subjected to all kind of humiliation. And their upbringing also doesn't allow her to raise her voice against this injustice. They accept this injustice as their fate and die with this. • All their dreams would get ruined as nobody care to listen to them and think about their dreams. 3. What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal? Ans. Constitution of India provides equality for all Indian citizen. This equality of all persons is seen as a key value that unites us all as Indians. It is important for all the people of the country to be treated equally because only then our country would develop in true sense of the term. Equality among the people would diminish discrimination among the people. Equality will ensure practice of one’s own religion without any fear and this way our country would become a true secular country. It is our right to be treated equally and be given due respect, equal opportunities. We need equality so that we may go ahead without hindrances and mix up with every class in the society. In absence of all these life would be hell. 4. Sometimes people make prejudiced comments in our presence. We are often not in a position to do anything about this because it is difficult to say something right then and there. Divide the class into groups and each group discuss what they could do in one of the following situations: (a) A friend begins to tease a classmate because he is poor. (b) You are watching TV with your family and one of them makes a prejudicial comment about a particular religious community. (c) Children in your class refuse to share their food with a particular person because they think she is dirty. (d) Someone tells you a joke that makes fun of a community because of their accent. (e) Some boys make remarks about girls not being able to play games as well as them. Ans. (a) The classmate should be prevented from doing so. (b) I should stop my family member from making further comments.

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(c) The classmates should be advised to share their food. They should appreciate the good qualities or virtues, not the physical appearance of a person. On the other hand, the dirty classmate should be advised to wash her hands and stay clean. (d) That person should be advised not to make such comments. (e) This is gender bias and gender discrimination. This cannot be encouraged. The boys should be stopped from making such remarks. 5. Discuss in class what the different groups have suggested for the above situations, and also talk about the problems that can come up when raising the issue. Ans. (a) I would try to convince my friend that being poor is not a crime or curse. Nor does it is a matter of laugh too. Hence, he should not tease his classmate. Instead, he should take of him with dignity and self-respect. (b) I would stop him/her to do that. (c) I would request my friends to be friendly with everyone in the class. There should be any discrimination among the friends. (d) I would not listen to his/her joke and would advise/her not to do that by telling that the other person might throw a similar joke on his/her religion. How would he/she feel then? (e) I would refrain them from doing so. No gender is weak. I will show the example of Indira Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, and Bachendri Pal who did what many men could not think of.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. If you do something to put other people down, you are ___________ against them. 2. _____________________ fought for the rights of the Dalits. 3. The upper castes did not give the so-called ___________ the same rights as they enjoyed. 4. _____________________ stop us from looking at each person as a unique individual with/his/her own special qualities and skills that are different from others. 5. People usually from certain attitudes and opinions about others who are not _____ them. Ans. (a) discrimination, (b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, (c) untouchables, (d) Stereotypes, (e) like II. Write True and False: 1. Dalits are referred to as Scheduled Tribe (ST). 2. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar belonged to the Mahar caste which was considered untouchable.

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3. We have more than 1600 languages that are people's mother tongue. 4. Government jobs are open to the people who come from upper caste. 5. We feel secure with people who are very different from us. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. False III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

The groups who were placed at the bottom of the caste ladder.

2.

Judging negatively

3.

Fixing people into one image

(iii) Untouchables

4.

Treating someone less fairly than others

(iv) Stereotype

other

people

(i) Discrimination (ii) Prejudiced

Ans. 1. (iii), 2. (ii), 3. (iv), 4. (i)

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. ________________ community was treated as untouchables in the Bombay Presidency. (i) Munda (ii) Nayar (iii) Mahar (iv) Koli 2. India is a secular country. It means (i) People of India have the freedom to live in any part of the country. (ii) People of different community have the freedom to practise their religion without any discrimination. (iii) All Indians are equal on the basis of caste and creed. (iv) People of single religion, i.e., Hinduism are allowed to live in the country. 3. The number of major religions in the world is (i) nine (ii) seven (iii) six (iv) eight 4. ______________ is known as the leader of the Dalits. (i) Guru Teg Bahadur (ii) Saradar Vallabh Bhai Patel (iii) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (iv) Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar 5. An important reason why Muslim girls do not attend school or drop out from school after a few years is (i) lack of willingness to go to school (ii) superstition (iii) poverty (iv) None of the above.

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ANSWERS

1. (iii)

2. (i)

3. (iii)

4. (iv)

5. (iii)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. How can we say India is a secular country? Ans. India is considered a secular country because people of different religions and faiths have the freedom to practice and follow their religion without any fear of discrimination. There is no official religion in India. 2. How do we feel in the company of the people who are very much like us? Ans. We feel safe and secure in the company of such people. 3. How do parents often console boys when they fall and hurt themselves? Ans. Parents say, “Boys are brave, they don't cry”. 4. Mention one drawback of stereotypes. Ans. Stereotypes prevent us from doing certain things that we might otherwise be good at. 5. Mention some activities which are considered less valued. Ans. Activities like cleaning, washing, cutting hair, picking garbage are considered less valued. 6. What is that which can unite all Indians? Ans. It is equality of all persons that can unite all Indians. 7. ‘Some [people may experience both kinds of discrimination.’ What do you mean by ‘both kinds of discrimination?’ Ans. Some people are poor and they belong to groups whose culture is not valued. 8. What responsibility has been placed on the government by the Constitution? Ans. It is the responsibility of the government to take specific steps to realise right to equality for poor and other marginal communities. 9. Who was Bhimrao Ambedkar? Ans. He was a noted Dalit leader. He himself was a Dalit and fought for the rights of the Dalits. 10. ‘India is a secular country’. What does it mean? Ans. This means that people of different religions and faiths have the freedom to practise and follow their religion without any fear of discrimination. 11. What does the first page of our Constitution proclaim? Ans. All Indians are entitled to equality of status and opportunity.

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B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What happens when we act on our prejudices and stereotypes? Ans. Stereotypes often lead to discrimination. Discrimination is when someone is treated worse than other people because of their gender, race, disability, colour, nationality, religion and age. When we judge people and groups based on our prejudices and stereotypes, then we treat them differently, which leads to discrimination. 2. Write short notes on ‘Dalit’. Ans. Dalits are formerly known as untouchable–a person outside of the four Varnas, and considered below of all and polluting. Dalits include people as leather-workers, scavengers, tanners, flayers, cobblers, agricultural labourers, municipal cleaners and drum beaters. They are also known as broken people. 3. What do you mean by equality? Ans. Equality means all men are equally protected by law, no one is above law. All are free to follow their religion, language, and festivals and to express themselves freely. Everyone has freedom to do work of their own choice. The State will not differentiate any individual on the basis of religion, caste, language, gender or birth. 4. A common stereotype about Muslims is that they are not interested in educating girls and therefore do not send girls to school. Do you agree? Ans. This stereotype thinking regarding Muslims not interested in educating girls and therefore do not send their girls to school is wrong. The main reason for the Muslim girls not attending the schools is poverty. Wherever efforts have been made to reach education to the poor, there the Muslim community has shown an interest in sending their girls to school for example, Kerala. 5. Define Constitution. Ans. Constitution is set of rules for government — often in the form of a written document — that establishes principles of an autonomous political entity. It defines the fundamental political principles, and establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a government. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Explain briefly the caste system in India. Ans. India has a hierarchical caste system in the society. The Indian term for caste is jati, which generally designates a group varying in size from a handful to many thousands. There are thousands of such jatis, and each has its distinctive rules and customs. Varna (meaning, “color”) refers to the ancient and somewhat ideal fourfold division of the Hindu society: 1. The Brahmans, the priestly and learned class 2. The Kshatriyas, the warriors and rulers 3. The Vaisyas, farmers and merchants 4. The Sudras, peasants and labourers.

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The Caste System was born and maintained by the Brahmins, the priestly class, they are the ones to get more advantage from it! 2. What are the basic features of the Indian Constitution? Ans. The basic features of Indian constitution are sovereign democratic republic, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. In the constitution of India, Justice means justice for all. • Social justice means, justice for the whole society, no discrimination on the basis of caste or colour. • Economic justice implies equal distribution of wealth and political justice means equal participation of every individual to participate in the government. • Liberty: Indian citizens are given freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. • Equality: Liberty without equality is meaningless. Every citizen of India is treated equally before law and is ensured equal protection. • Fraternity: It means brotherhood among the people of India. 3. What do the terms ‘Difference' and ‘Prejudice, mean to you? What is stereotyping? How does it create discrimination? Ans. Difference can be understood as difference among people like different types of food, clothes, languages, cultures and religions. All these are influenced by geographical and historical factors. Prejudice means to judge others negatively or as inferior on the basis of skin colour, accent, culture or clothes. When we fix an individual or group into a particular framework, we create a stereotype. It is a popular belief about a specific social group based on assumptions and not facts. Stereotyping creates inequality and discrimination. This further leads to rejection from the community. For example, Dalits are treated as untouchables and inferior. 4. What are the Constitutional provisions for establishing equality in Indian society? Do you think these are enough? Ans. Right from the beginning of the social set-up, India has been a victim of inequality and discrimination. Society was divided into four main castes. All the opportunities were confined to the upper class. Some of the castes were considered so low that people even scared of their shadow. It created great disparity in society. With the spread of education, consciousness against this evil system was aroused and the people are awakened. After getting independence, the Constitution makers had strong arguments against this system. So, it was declared a crime in a Constitution. It was declared that the Constitution would provide equality and right against the discrimination to the citizens of India. Reservation was provided for those discriminated people in every field of life. But still it is a fact the system persists. Only Constitutional provisions are not enough. It is observed that even after reservation, these people lay behind. They prefer earning their livelihood than going to school. A compulsory

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educational system should be developed. A mass consciousness is needed otherwise, we can’t hope more. Picture Based Question Look at the given picture and point out if you see any social injustice in the picture.

Ans. Here, I see that some children are made to separately from others. The social injustice in the picture is discrimination.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. What are the discriminations faced by the Dalit in India even today? 2. How did prejudice and stereotypes leads to discrimination? 3. What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? 4. How does discrimination occur? 5. Mention any two fundamental duties of the Indian citizens?

3 Chapter

UNIT II: GOVERNMENT

What is Government? I. BASIC CONCEPTS

• Each coutry needs a government to make important decisions and functions well. • The Government plays an important role in our lives and responsible for a number of things for the people. • The Government is required to maintain law and order in a country. • The Government makes laws and every citizen is supposed to follow them. • The Government works at different level–local level, state level and national level. • Two types of Governments–Democratic (India, UK, USA and Authoritarian Saudi Arabia and Myanmar).

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Each country needs a government to make important decisions and function well. The decisions may be economic, educational or social. •• The government works at different levels-local level, state level and national level. •• The government makes laws and every citizen is supposed to follow them. Laws need to be enforced for proper function of the government. •• The government is responsible for the transport facilities and health facilities for citizens. It also takes care of the international boundaries and relations with other countries. •• The Supreme Court, the Indian Railway and Bharat Petroleum are some of situations that are part of the government. •• Citizens can also take the help of law if they are dissatisfied with something. •• There are instances in history when governments did not allow women, the poor people and the uneducated to vote. But when India got independence, universal adult franchise was enforced. •• There are some types of government, like democratic, monarch etc. In a monarchy the king/queen has the power to make decisions and no one from the citizens can object to them. •• The basic idea of democracy is that people rule themselves by taking part in the law-making. •• Democracy is a form of government run by elected representatives who hold the decision making power. It can be classified into direct and indirect democracy.

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III. KEYWORDS •• Government: The system or machinery present in each country in order to make decisions for the proper running of the country. •• Laws: A system of rules that are enforced through social institutions to govern behaviour. •• Monarchy: A system of government which is run by a king/queen on a hereditary basis and where people do not get their say in decision-making. The king/queen is said to be the monarch. •• Elections: The process in which citizens of a democratic country cast their votes for the leaders of their choice. The elected leaders form a government later. •• Democracy: A system of government in which the people (citizens) of the country choose their leaders to rule. The elected government is answerable to its people for its decisions. •• Direct Democracy: It is regarded as a pure democracy. A direct democracy is a political system in which all citizens are allowed to influence policy by means of a direct vote. It is applicable in Switzerland. •• Indirect Democracy: It is a term, which is used as a means of governance by the people through elected representatives who make decisions on their behalf. •• Representative Democracy: This is the form of government in which people elect The government, take decisions and make laws through their elective representatives. •• Suffrage: The right to vote in elections. •• Universal Adult Franchise: The rule that allows all adults in the country, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, literacy, occupation, etc. to vote and take part in the elections.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 27 Government sought to protect rights of unorganised workers

ons. e of oni c i r p s e x rket. Govt. fi e in ma g a t r o h s Says no Supreme Court can have five more judges: Govt

Detailed plan to tackle floods soon, says Government

Govt. fo r revam ping coa and pow l er secto y-hit r d scarcit e r la c e d s 00 village Over 15,0 t nmen by Gover

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241

1. Look at the newspaper headlines above and list the different kinds of activities that the government is reported to be doing in these newspaper headlines. 1. .................................................................................... 2. .................................................................................... 3. .................................................................................... 4. .................................................................................... Isn’t this a wide range of activities? What do you think government is? Discuss in class. Ans. Given below is the list of different kinds of activities that the government is reported to be doing in these newspaper headlines: 1. The government fixes price of onions. It says there is no shortage of onions in markets. 2. The government protects the rights of unorganized workers. 3. The government has detailed plan to tackle floods soon. 4. It revamps coal and power sector. 5. It declares 15,000 scarcity-hit. 6. It appoints judges to High Court and the Supreme Court. Obviously, this is a wide range of activities in which the government involved itself for the welfare of country as a whole. The government is an institution or organization that takes decision and gets things done in time. It builds roads and schools. It regularises the supply of electricity. It takes action on economical and social issues such as poverty, corruption, price-rise etc. The postal, petroleum and railway services are under its supervision. The government makes all efforts to keep the country safe and peaceful. It tries to maintain good relationship with its neighbouring countries. Thus, the government has a variety of works to perform and it is difficult for us to list all of them. Page 28 2. Can you list three things that the government does which have not been mentioned? Ans. 1. Governments do control resources and protect the territory of a country, so people can feel secure. In a way it promotes patriotism among its citizens. 2. It compels to obey rules. 3. The government promotes people to honour human dignity. 3. Look at the statements in the column on the left. Can you identify which level they belong to? Place tick marks against the level you consider most appropriate. Ans. Local 1.

The decision of the Indian government to maintain peaceful relations with Russia.

2.

The decision of the West Bengal Government on whether to have Board exam in Class 8 for all government schools.

State Central 3

3

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3.

Introduction of two new train connections between Jammu and Bhubaneswar.

4.

The decision to locate a common well in a particular area of the village.

3

5.

Decision to construct a big children's park in Patna.

3

6.

The decision of the Haryana government to provide free electricity for all farmers.

7.

Introduction of a new 1000 rupee note.

3

3 3

Page 31 1. Think of an example of another law. Why do you think it is important that people abide by this law? Ans. The government has made it compulsory for all persons to wear a helmet while driving a two-wheeler. However, the Sikhs have been excluded from the law. It is important that people abide by this law for their own safety. Recently, the government has declared that without helmets no petrol/diesel would be provided in the pump. 2. Who gives the government this power to make decisions and enforce laws? Ans. The answer to this question varies with the type of the government. • In a democracy, it is the people who give the government the power to enforce laws. They do this through elections in which they vote for particular persons and elect them. Once elected, these persons form the government at the Centre or at the State Level. In a democracy the government has to explain every action and defend its decision to people. • In the monarchy, the monarch, i.e. king or queen, has the power to make decisions and run the government. The monarch may have a small group of people to discuss matters with but the final decision-making power remains with him/her. Page 31 1. Do you think it is important for people to be involved in decisions that affect them? Give two reasons for your answer. Ans. Yes, it is very much important for people to be involved in decisions that the government takes. 1. Common people have a share in country’s economy. So, they must know about what the government decides to do to usher in new policies for the growth of the economy. 2. If the government decides to raise the price of petrol/diesel, it must be intimated to the common masses so that they may get mentally prepared for price hike and act accordingly. Because ultimately they are the ones who are going to be affected.

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Page 32 1. Which type of government would you prefer to have in the place you live in? Why? Ans. Democracy is the best form of government and I would not like to replace it with any other form of it. In a democracy, people have a say. They can get their wishes fulfilled through their elected representatives. It is they who rule themselves by participating in the making of the government. Democracy means – ‘Of the people, for the people and by the people’. 2. Which of the statements below is correct? Correct those sentences that you think need correction. (a) In a monarchy the country’s citizens are allowed to elect whomever they want. (b) In a democracy a king has absolute powers to rule the country. (c) In a monarchy people can raise questions about the decisions the monarch takes. Ans. (a) In a democracy the country's citizens are allowed to elect whomever they want. (b) In a monarchy a king has absolute powers to rule the country. (c) In a monarchy people cannot raise questions about the decisions the monarch takes.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 34) 1. What do you understand by the word ‘government’? List five ways in which you think the government affects your daily life. Ans. Government is a set of institutions that have the power to make, implement and interpret laws so as to ensure an orderly life. Government consists of group of people who are assigned the task of administering and managing the affairs of the nation. • The government provides legal support to its citizens against any kind of discrimination and injustice. • Government ensures proper supply of drinking water and electricity. • Government makes hospitals which treat patients either free of cost or at nominal cost. • It controls crime. • In the event of natural calamities, the government provides all emergency support to the affected people. 2. Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws? Ans. Law establishes justice. The government needs laws to maintain peace and order in the society. It is meant to achieve constitutional ideas i.e. equality and right against discrimination. Law makes it mandatory for the people to obey it.

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3. Name two essential features of a democratic government. Ans. Two essential features of a democratic government are: • In democracy people have the power to elect their leaders. The basic idea is that democracy is a rule by the people. • All adults in the country are allowed to vote. Universal adult franchise is practised in the country. 4. What was the suffrage movement? What did it accomplish? Ans. Suffrage means the right to vote. Women and the poor have had to fight for participation in government all over Europe and USA. When the World War began, all the men became busy in war. It was left to the women to shoulder other responsibilities; like working in offices and factories. Then many people began to realize that women should also be given voting rights. After many years of continuous struggle, women could get voting rights. This ensured that women too got equal say in power. It gave the right to vote to the American women in 1920 and women in the UK got to vote on the same terms as men in 1928. 5. Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don't share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share these with the class. Ans. Gandhiji was of the view that if a person was poor or illiterate, it did not mean that the person was not wise enough to elect a government. Depriving the poor and the illiterates of voting rights would have been a form of discrimination. Gandhiji was right in believing that every adult was a responsible person. He believed that if a person was mature enough to shoulder the responsibility of running a family, he must be mature enough to elect a government of his/ her choice. Following points support this view: • A person does not become poor because of choice but because of circumstances. • Person remains illiterate because he does not get enough opportunity to become literate. • A poor person need not be a foolish person and rich person may not always be intelligent. • Dishonesty and criminality can develop in any person; whether he is literate or illiterate. • Every adult develops certain level of maturity which gives him enough wisdom to think about the government.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. The government works at different levels: at the level of the and at the

level.

level, at the

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245

2. American women got the right to vote in . 3. In India, before Independence, only a small was allowed to vote. 4. The suffragettes demanded the right to vote for all . 5. In India, before Independence, only a small minority was allowed to . Ans. 1. local, state, national, 2. 1920, 3. minority, 4. women, 5. vote II. Write True and False: 1. Women in the UK got to vote on the same terms as men some years later, in 1938. 2. In Monarchy, kings and queens do not have to explain their actions or defend the decisions they take. 3. In their earliest forms governments allowed only women who owned property and were educated, to vote. 4. Courts are also a part of the government. 5. It was Gandhiji who demanded that all adults have the right to vote. Ans. 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True, 5. True. III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Government of people

(i) Voting Right

2.

It protects rights of unorganized workers

3.

Power vested in one man

(iii) Government

4.

Women’s suffrage movement

(iv) Democracy

5.

Highest Court of judgement

(v) Monarchy

(ii) Supreme Court

Ans. 1. (iv), 2. (iii), 3. (v), 4. (i), 5. (ii)

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The government also works at local level. Here local level means (a) Village (b) Locality (c) Town (d) All the above. 2. American women got the right to vote in the year (a) 1919 (b) 1925 (c) 1928 (d) 1920 3. The two types of government mentioned in the chapter are: (a) Monarchy (b) Democracy (c) Dictatorship (d) Both (a) and (b). 4. The court can intervene (a) Anyone does not study well. (b) Any law passed by the government is not followed. (c) A child tells a lie.

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5. The term suffrage means (a) Right to livelihood. (b) Right to vote. (c) Right to go anywhere in the country. (d) None of the above. ANSWERS

1. (d)

2. (d)

3. (d)

4. (b)

5. (d)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Name some of the institutions that are part of the government. Ans. The Supreme Court, the Indian Railways, Bharat Petroleum. 2. How many level of government are there in our country? Ans. The government works at three different levels – Central, State, Local. 3. What is universal adult franchise? Ans. Universal adult franchise means that all adults in the country are allowed to vote. 4. What was the unfair practice according to Gandhiji? Ans. In India, before Independence, only a small minority was allowed to vote. This was the unfair practice according to Gandhiji. 5. Why government needs to control resources and protect the territory of a country? Ans. Government needs to control resources and protect the territory of a country so that people can feel secure. 6. Which type of government would you prefer to have in the place you live in? Why? Ans. We would prefer to have a democratic government because it is a government by the people, for the people and of the people. 7. When a person can approach the court? Ans. If a person feels that a particular law is not being followed, for example, that they were not hired for a job because of their religion or caste, he or she may approach the court and claim that the law is not being followed. 8. What do you mean by monarchy? Ans. Rule by King or Queen. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Why do you think elections are required after a fixed period? Ans. All governments are elected for fixed periods. Election is a moment when people can sense their power in a democracy. Regular elections keep check on the power of the government and leaders. Elections make leaders and parties responsible to the public for their work and performance.

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2. What are the prerequisites of democracy? Ans. The prerequisites of democracy are as follows: 1. Regular and periodic elections. 2. Elected representatives exercise their constitutional powers. 3. Universal Adult Franchise. 4. Right to contest elections. 5. Citizens are given the fundamental rights. 6. Freedom of speech and expression. 3. Describe the different levels of government. Ans. The government works at different levels 1. Local level – At the local level it covers the village, town or locality. It is named as Gram Panchayat or Municipality or Municipal Council. 2. State level – It covers an entire state like Haryana or Assam etc. A state government governs its own state. It does not interfere with other one. 3. National level – Its decision-making covers the entire country. 4. Explain the role of government in our lives. Ans. The way our country has to run is determined by the government. At each and every level, government makes laws that citizens have to comply. Government formulates and implements policies and programmes for the socio-economic development of the nation and those directly or indirectly affects our daily life. 5. Why is it important for people to abide by laws? Ans. Laws are meant for safety and welfare of people. It is important for people to follow laws to avoid chaos and maintain order. In the absence of laws, there will be inequality in society as the rich, influential and powerful would get their way out. 6. Write a short note on Monarchy. Ans. A monarchy has either a king or a queen. A monarch is not an elected person but get power hereditarily. In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has supreme power. However, in a constitutional monarchy, like the UK, the democratic government limits the monarch’s control. 7. Mention few demerits of a democratic government. Ans. In a democratic government, leaders keep changing which leads to instability of the government. The elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decision. Democracy leads to corruption as it is based on electoral competition. In a democracy, people have to be consulted that leads to delays in the decision-making. 8. Why do people prefer to live in a democracy than any other form of government? Ans. People prefer to live in democratic countries over non-democratic due to the following reasons: (a) Fundamental rights – Democracies guarantee freedom of speech and expression, right to association, right to equality, etc. (b) Sense of Participation – People gain a sense of participation in the process of choosing their own government.

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(c) Right to criticize the Government – Freedom of speech and expression gives citizens the right to criticize the government for wrong doings. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write short notes on features of a democratic country. Ans. The main features of a democratic country are: (a) People have the power to elect their representative to form and run the government and also to take decision on their behalf. (b) The competitive elections are held at regular intervals. (c) There is a separation of powers between the three organs of the state i.e. legislature, executive and judiciary. (d) Freedom of speech and expression. (e) Fundamental rights are enjoyed by its citizens. (f) Effective participation of the people in the decision-making process. 2. Democracy is a better form of government. Explain Ans. The forms of government like monarchy and dictatorship (of a military or of a political party), the ruler or group-wields supreme power and people have no remedy against its misuse. There is no individual freedom, freedom of speech or expression to the people. On the other hand, in a democratic system, the people have rights to participate in the working of the government and the government is accountable to the people. 3. What are the functions of government? Ans. Functions of government (i) It takes decisions about where to build roads and schools, or how to reduce the price of onions when they get too expensive or ways to increase the supply of electricity. (ii) It also takes action on many social issues. (iii) It runs postal and railway services. (iv) It protects the boundaries of the country and maintains peaceful relations with other countries. (v) It ensures that all its citizens have enough to eat and have good health facilities. (vi) It provides aid and assistance for the affected people in case of natural disasters like the tsunami or an earthquake. 4. Differentiate between democracy and monarchy forms of government. Ans. Difference between democracy and monarchy forms of government Democracy

Monarchy

1. In a democracy it is the people who 1. The monarch (king or queen) has the give the government this power. power to make decisions and run the They do this through elections government. The monarch may have in which they vote for particular a small group of people to discuss persons and elect them. matters with, but the final decisionmaking power remains with the monarch.

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2. In a democracy the government 2. In monarchy kings and queens do not has to explain its actions and have to explain their actions or defend defend its decisions to the people. the decisions they take. 3. It is elected by the people.

3. The crown is passed from one generation to another.

4. People are considered equal.

4. People are not considered equal.

Picture Based Question Look at the picture below? What practice is going on?

Ans. In this picture marking of one’s finger after casting vote is done. This process ensures that one person can cast only one vote.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. How does the government manage so many different things? 2. Define universal adult franchise with examples. 3. What do you mean by representative democracy? 4. Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws? 5. What was the voting system in India before Independence? What ideas did Gandhiji express in the journal Young India about voting system?

4 Chapter

Key Elements of a Democratic Government

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • People have struggled for a long for their rights. • Democracy is the best system to give right to people. • Equality and justice are key elements of democracy.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• In South Africa, we can find people of several races – black native people, whites and Indians. •• The country was governed by apartheid laws. Apartheid means separation on the basis of race. •• Non-white had to face several distinctions. They were not allowed to vote and neither had they availed other basic privileges. •• Hence, the African National Congress started a struggle against the apartheid system under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. •• Nelson Mandela fought for several years. Finally, South Africa became a democratic country in 1994. Now, there is no apartheid and people of all races are considered equal. •• The people are playing an important role in the proper functioning of the democratic government, which includes the election as well as the working and decision-making responsibilities of the government. •• In a democratic country, people cast their vote to elect a representative. They take the decision on behalf of the people. Here, people have the right to participate in the decision-making process of the government. •• People express their views in various ways like dharnas, rallies, strikes and signature campaign. •• The key idea of the democratic government is its commitment to equality and justice. •• Conflicts occur when people of different religions, cultures or economic background do not get along with each other and they use violent measures to set their conflicts. Government helps people in resolving the conflict. •• Active citizenship means being aware of one’s rights and responsibilities as a citizen, the responsibility of a citizen does not end with election of government.

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Citizen should be active and vigilant so that government does not become unresponsive and unaccountable. •• Mass media informs people of various government policies and also reports public opinion on these policies. •• Police is responsible to maintain peace and security in society.

III. KEYWORDS •• Apartheid: It is a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race. •• Untouchability: The position of the society in which Dalits are considered worth untouchable. •• Afrikaan Language: The language spoken by the white people in South Africa. •• Zulu Language: Language of African people. •• Race: One of the main groups that humans can be divided into according to their physical differences, for example, the colour of their skin. •• Conflict: Differences between people of various castes, cultures or creed. The conflict may arise in the name of region, religion, language etc. •• Representative: The person elected through people’s voting right to take part in the system of governance. •• Resolution: Solution of the conflict or a firm decision to do or not to do something. •• Participation: People’s involvement in the process of government. •• A Democracy Country: A country where government is of the people, for the people and by the people.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 36 1. What were Hector and his classmates protesting about? Ans. They were protesting against learning the Afrikaan language in school. This language was spoken by the Whites. Therefore, Hector and his classmates were being forced to learn this language. But they had their own language (Zulu) which they wanted to learn. 2. List five ways in which the Non-whites were discriminated against: Ans. • There were separate trains and buses for the Non-whites. • Non-whites were not allowed to vote. • Hospitals were separate for them. • An ambulance meant for white people would always be well-equipped with modern facilities while one meant for black was not. • The best land in the country was reserved for the white people and Nonwhites had to live on the worst available land.

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Page 37 3. Look at some newspapers and discuss some elections that you may have read about. Do you think it is important for all persons to be treated equally? Why? Ans. Yes, it is very important for all persons to be treated equally in the society. Everyone has a right to lead a dignified life. Any difference causes discrimination or exploitation. It later creates an atmosphere of revolt and protest. 4. Why do you think elections are required after a fixed period? Ans. All governments are elected for fixed periods. Election is a moment when people can sense their power in a democracy. Regular elections keep check on the power of the government and leaders. Elections make leaders and parties responsible to the public for their work and performance. 5. What approval or disapproval is being expressed here in the given cartoon?

Not bad! One of the taps in the nearby village must be getting water!

Ans. Approval. The two persons expresses approval of presence of water in a tap. Disapproval. The distribution of water is not praiseworthy. It should be condemned as it may arise aversion to the system and governance. Page 38 1. Do you think the police shooting of Hector could have been avoided? How? Ans. The police shooting of Hector was created intentionally to show arrogance towards the Non-whites. It could have been avoided by talking with him in a peaceful manner or putting him in jail. Page 40 1. In Maya’s story, did the government support the idea that people are equal? Ans. The government did not support the idea that people are equal. Sharp differences are seen between the Whites and Non-whites. The Whites avail all privileges while the Non-whites have to face hardships. They have no voting rights like the Whites.

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2. In Dr Ambedkar’s story, did the practice of untouchability support the idea that people are equal? Ans. Not at all. Dalits were considered untouchables. They belonged to the group of have-nots or poor. 3. How do you think lowering the school fees would help girls attend school? Ans. This would not help much. But to some extent it may be encouraging. Most of the parents never think seriously about a girl's career. They find it difficult to spend money on their education. For such parents lowering the school fees would perhaps help girls to attend school. 4. Can you think of any experience from your life in which you have helped someone out of a situation which you thought was unfair? Did everyone else see it the same way? What did you have to say to convince others that what you did was fair? Ans. Yes, I had an experience few months back. The sweeper who takes away our bin bags and sometimes clean our washroom often comes with her daughter, a sweet little girl. When I was interacting with her, I found that the girl never went to school. I asked her father the reason. He said since they are from the lower (social) class, schools will not be ready to admit her and being a girl child his father doesn’t feel the need to send him to school. I explained him about the advantages and disadvantages as well of going and not going to school in my little way. He understood and now he has put her in a local school.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 40) 1. How would Maya's life be different in South Africa today? Ans. Today, South Africa is a free nation. The apartheid law is dead in this country. There is no more discrimination on the basis of skin colour. So, Maya can enjoy equal status in today’s South Africa. She no longer has to suffer the insult of being treated as second class citizen. 2. What are the various ways in which people participate in the process of government? Ans. People can participate in the process of government through many ways. Some of them are as follows: • Through popular elections • By staging mass protests • By participating in debates on television • By writing on social media • By writing letters to editors 3. Why do you think we need the government to find solutions to many disputes or conflicts? Ans. Conflicts between two social groups can turn into ugly form if people are left on their own. If the government does not intervene, the situation may turn violent. So, the government needs to find solution to such conflicts. This is necessary to prevent violence and to maintain peace.

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4. What actions does the government take to ensure that all people are treated equally? Ans. The government takes the following actions to ensure equality: • The Constitution considers all citizens as equal. There is no difference on the basis of religion, caste, gender or economic status. • People from backward sections of the society are given reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. This facility has been given to help them improve their social status. • Any act of discrimination against the untouchables is a punishable offence. 5. Read through the chapter and discuss some of the key ideas of a democratic government. Make a list. For example, all people are equal. Ans. • All people are equal. • Opportunities for equal education to all. • Abolition of discriminations. • All people are equal. • Equal status to all religions. • Abolition of untouchability.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. ___________ led the struggle against apartheid. 2. Apartheid means separation on the basis of ______. 3. Non-whites were not allowed to ___________. 4. African people were divided into White, Black, ________ and Coloured races. 5. Through ________in elections people elect leaders to represent them. 6. The earlier practice of untouchability is now banned by_______. 7. Elected representatives take decisions on behalf of the ______. Ans. 1. The African National Congress, 2. race, 3. vote, 4. Indian, 5. voting, 6. law, 7. people II. Write True and False: 1. Nelson Mandela fought the apartheid system for several years. 2. In 1984 South Africa became a democratic country. 3. The key idea of a democratic government is its commitment to equality and justice. 4. In our society there is a general tendency to value and care for the girl child more than the boy child. 5. Religious processions and celebrations can sometimes lead to conflicts. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True

Key Elements of a Democratic Government

III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Equality and Justice

(i) Black

2.

Hector Pieterson

3.

Untouchability

4.

People elect leaders represent them

5.

Afrikaans

(ii) Through Voting (iii) Key elements of democracy to

(iv) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (v) Whites

Ans. 1. (iii), 2. (v), 3. (iv), 4. (ii), 5. (i)

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. In India, the government is elected for the period of (a) 2 years (b) 3 years (c) 5 years (d) 6 years 2. Which of the following dams is used for irrigation in Karnataka? (a) Hirakud dam (b) Tehri dam (c) Bhakra dam (d) Krishna Sagar dam 3. South Africa became a democratic country in the year (a) 1950 (b) 1970 (c) 1984 (d) 1994 4. The leader of the African National Congress was (a) Yasser Arafat (b) Nelson Mandela (c) Kofi Annan (c) Vinni Mandela 5. The two states involved in the Cauvery water dispute are (a) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (b) Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (c) Kerala and Tamil Nadu (d) Odisha and Kolkata ANSWERS

1. (c)

2. (d)

3. (d)

4. (b)

5. (a)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Name the various races that live in South Africa. Ans. The various races that live in South Africa are:

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• Black people who belong to South Africa • Whites who came there to settle. • Indians who came as labourers and traders. 2. What does ‘Apartheid’ mean? Ans. Apartheid means separation on the basis of race. 3. What is “Zulu”? Ans. Zulu is Afrikaans language. 4. Which party fought against the system of apartheid in South Africa? Ans. The African National Congress was the party which fought against the system of apartheid in South Africa. 5. How did South African police treat the protesters? Ans. The South African police beat up the protestors mercilessly and shot at the crowd. One of their bullets killed Hector. This was on 30th of April, 1976. 6. What are the effects of conflict in the society? Ans. People may use violent means to settle their differences. This leads to fear and tension among others living in the area. 7. What is the key idea of a democratic government? Ans. One of the key ideas of a democratic government is its commitment to equality and justice. Equality and justice are inseparable.

B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Write a short note on ‘Apartheid Laws’. Ans. Africa was earlier governed by apartheid laws. Apartheid means separation on the basis of race. South African people were divided into White, Black, Indian and Coloured races. According to the law, these races were not allowed to mingle with each other, to live near each other or even to use common facilities. 2. Write about ‘African National Congress’. Ans. The African National Congress, a group of people who led the struggle against apartheid, and their most well-known leader, Nelson Mandela fought the apartheid system for several years. Finally, they succeeded and in 1994 South Africa became a democratic country in which people of all races were considered equal. 3. When do people sense their power in a democracy? Ans. All governments are elected for fixed periods. In India, this period is five years. Once elected, governments can stay in power only for that period. If they want to continue to be in power then they have to be re-elected by the people. This is a moment when people can sense their power in a democracy. 4. How does the power of the government get limited? Ans. The power of the government gets limited by regular elections. All governments are elected for fixed periods. In India, this period is five years. Once elected, governments can stay in power only for that period. If they want to continue to be in power then they have to be re-elected by the people.

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5. Democracy is a better form of government. Explain Ans. The forms of government like monarchy and dictatorship (of a military or of a political party), the ruler or group-wields supreme power and people have no remedy against its misuse. There is no individual freedom, freedom of speech or expression to the people. On the other hand, in a democratic system, the people have rights to participate in the working of the government and the government is accountable to the people. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. List five ways in which the non-whites were discriminated against. Ans. Five ways in which the Non-whites were discriminated against: (i) Hospitals were separate and so were ambulances. (ii) An ambulance meant for White people would always be well equipped while one meant for Black people was not. (iii) There were separate trains and buses. Even the bus stops were different for Black and White people. (iv) Non-whites were not allowed to vote. 2. “People participate by taking an interest in the working of the government and by criticising it when required.” Explain the statement with the help of an example. Ans. People participate by taking an interest in the working of the government and by criticising it when required. In August 2005, when a particular government increased the money people had to pay for electricity, people expressed their disapproval very sharply. They took out rallies and also organised a signature campaign. The government tried to explain and defend its decision but finally listened to the people's opinion and withdrew the increase. The government had to change its decision because it is responsible to the people. 3. What is the benefit of holding elections at regular intervals? Ans. Holding elections at regular intervals has following benefits: • People get the opportunity to change the government. • Elected representatives work for the benefit of people because nobody likes to lose an election. • If a government shows good performance, it is re-elected by the people. • Frequent elections prevent autocratic rule in the country. 4. How did the caste system encourage inequality? Ans. Because of the age-old caste system, there has been a long history of inequality in India. Many people could not get opportunities to study and take up certain occupations because of the caste system. Many people from the downtrodden section did not even get the basic human rights. They were not even allowed to offer prayers in a temple. They were not allowed to take water from public places.

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5. “Rivers too can become a source of conflict between states.” Comment Ans. Rivers too can become a source of conflict between states. A river may begin in one place, flow through another and end in a third. The sharing of river water between different places that the river goes through is becoming an issue of conflict. For example: Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The water stored in Krishnasagar dam in Karnataka is used for irrigating a number of districts and for meeting the needs of the city of Bangalore. The water stored in Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu is used for crops grown in the delta region of that state. A conflict arises because both dams are on the same river. The downstream dam in Tamil Nadu can only be filled up if water is released from the upstream one located in Karnataka. Therefore, both states can't get as much water as they need for people in their states. This leads to conflict. The central government has to step in and see that a fair distribution is worked out for both states.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. What do you understand by gender-based inequality? What steps have been taken by the government to improve the situation? 2. What actions does the government take to ensure that all people are treated equally? 3. What are the various ways through which people participate in the process of government? 4. What is ‘African National Congress’ in South Africa? 5. How does our society value the girl or the boy child?

5 Chapter

UNIT III: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Panchayati Raj

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • India has always had a well-developed system of local administration at the level. • This was founded through the institution of Panchayati Raj at the village level. • Punchayat means a committee of people. • Gram Sabha is a meeting of all adults who live in the area covered by a Panchayat. • The Ward Panch and Sarpanch together from the Gram Panchayat. • The Panchayati Raj System is process through which people participate in their own government.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Panchayats are the backbone of the Indian village. Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate or middle tier of the Panchayati Raj scheme. It has many village panchayats under it. The Panchayat Samiti is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration. •• Gram Sabha is a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of the Panchayat at the village level. The president officer of the panchayat is known as sarpanch, pradhan and mukhiya. •• Gram panchayat is a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of the Panchayat at the village level. •• Nyaya panchayats are village courts where disputes between villagers are settled. •• Watershed is a ridge of highland dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. It is also called water parting. •• Zilla Parishad is the apex body of Panchayati Raj system. It consists of President of Panchayat Samiti in the district and the members of Parliament representing the constituency falling within the district.

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•• Sources of income of Gram Panchayat are property tax on buildings, tax on animal trade, professional taxes, grant from the state and the Zilla Parishad. Gram panchayat also has access to funds allotted for various schemes. •• The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all meeting of all adults who live in the area covered by a Panchayat. •• Every village Panchayat is divided into wards, i.e. smaller areas. •• Each ward elects a representative who is known as the ward member or Panch. •• The Gram Sabha members elect a Sarpanch who is the Panchayat President. •• The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch together form the Gram Panchayat. •• The term of Gram Panchayat is of five years.

III. KEYWORDS •• Gram Panchayat: It is the primary unit of governance in the Panchayati Raj System. It consists of a Panchayat President and its members elected by the people through a general election. •• Gram Sabha: It refers to the meeting where people directly participate and seek answers from their elected representatives. •• Panch: The member of a Panchayat Committee. •• Sarpanch: The head of the Panchayat Samiti. •• Panchayati Raj System: It is a process through which people participate in their own government. •• BPL (Below Powerty Line): The monthly income of the people which dose not provide two meals a day is called below poverty line. •• Gram Panchayats: Gram Panchayats are bodies of elected representatives as village level. •• Zila Parishad: Panchayat at district level is termed as Zila Parishad. •• Janpad Panchayats: Panchayat consisting of several Gram Panchayats at Block level is called Janpad Panchayat.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 44 1. What is a Gram Sabha? Ans. Gram Sabha is a meeting where people directly participate and seek answers from their elected representatives. 2. In the meeting of the Gram Sabha so far what are the problems that are being discussed? What sort of solutions are being suggested? Ans. Several problems are being discussed in the meeting of the Gram Sabha: • Finalisation of the list of people below the poverty line (BPL) which had to be approved by the Gram Sabha. • Problem of water shortage. Solutions that are being suggested for water crisis–

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261

• One

of the members of the Gram Sabha suggests piping water from the Sure and making an overhead tank in the village to increase the supply. • Others feel that it is better to deepen the hand pumps and clean the wells for that season. • A villager, called Tijia, suggests for some permanent solution. • Anwar, a villager suggested for watershed development programme as permanent solution and he had also suggested that the government would give money for this programme.

Page 45 1. Was there a problem with the BPL list that the Gram Sabha was finalising? What was this problem? Ans. Yes, there was a problem with the BPL list that the Gram Sabha was finalising. The name of one landless labourer called Om Prakash was not in the BPL list. The villagers are very keen to get his name included in the list. 2. Why do you think Soorajmal kept quiet even though Saroj asked him to speak? Ans. Soorajmal kept quiet because Amirchand was sitting in the Gram Sabha keeping an eye on everyone. He knew the power and influence of Amirchand. 3. Have you seen any similar incidents when people are unable to speak for themselves? Why do you think that happened and what prevented the person from speaking? Ans. Yes, there are several instances of similar incidents when people find it difficult to speak for themselves. Such situation occurs because people find themselves under the shadow of some unknown fear. Soorajmal could not speak a single word in favour of a genuine point because he was afraid of Amirchand, an influential landowner in the village. He dared not to say anything that might anger Amirchand. 4. How can the Gram Sabha prevent the Panchayat from doing what it likes? Ans. The Gram Sabha is a key factor in making the Gram Panchayat play its role and be responsible. It is the place where all plans for the work of the Gram Panchayat are placed before the people. The works of Gram Panchayat must be approved by the Gram Sabha. It observes the meetings and gets the accounts of the Panchayat checked and scrutinised. Page 47 1. What decisions were taken by the Gram Panchayat? Ans. The Gram Panchayat decided to deepen two hand-pumps and clean one well so that the village would not go without water. The Gram Panchayat members were also keen for a long-term solution of water shortages. They suggested for the watershed development programme. 2. Do you think it was necessary for them to take these decisions? Why? Ans. Yes, it was very necessary for them to take these decisions because the problem of water shortage was becoming acute.

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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 48) 1. What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem? Ans. People of Hardas village faced the problem of shortage of drinking water. They held prolonged discussion on the topic and found a solution which was economical and sustainable. As short-term solution, the villagers agreed on deepening the hand-pumps and wells. As long-term solution, the villagers agreed to implement conservation of water and recharging the water bodies. 2. What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why? Ans. The Gram Sabha functions to provide checks and balances on the working of the Gram Panchayat. During the meeting of the Gram Sabha, all the attendants have the right to raise questions if they find some wrongdoing. It is important that all members of the village attend the Gram Sabha meetings. This helps in proper implementation of various programmes. This also helps in making every person responsible for the welfare of the Panchayat. The members of Gram Sabha represent different areas. So, it is important for them to put their local problems and development programmes in the meetings. 3. What is the link between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat? Ans. A Gram Sabha consists of all adults living in an area covered by a Panchayat. Sarpanch, the Panchayat President, is elected by all the members of a Gram Sabha. The Gram Panchayat has a secretary who is also the secretary of Gram Sabha. The Secretary is not an elected authority but is appointed by the government. The Secretary is the link between the Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha. He is responsible for calling the meetings of Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha. He is also the custodian of the records of the proceedings. Gram Sabha controls the functioning of the Gram Panchayat. 4. Take an example of any one task done by a Panchayat in your area/nearby rural area and find out the following: (a) Why it was taken up. (b) Where the money came from. (c) Whether or not the work has been completed. Ans. (a) There was an acute shortage of drinking water in village Rampur. Situation was worse, especially during the summer season. So, the Gram Panchayat worked on finding a permanent solution to this problem. (b) Part of the money came from grants from the government. Another part came from the taxes collected by the Panchayat. (c) The work has been completed. Two ponds in the village were cleaned and deepened. Trees were planted on all sides of the pond. Arrangements were made to allow rainwater to flow into the pond.

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5. What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat? Ans. Gram Panchayat is an elected body whose members are elected by the people. Gram Sabha is the meeting of the Gram Panchayat. All the adults of the village are the members of the Gram Sabha. 6. Read the following news item. Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villagers depend on tankers for all their needs. Bhagvan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, iron rods and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police, Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nimone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for the lower castes.



Adopted from Indian Express, May 1, 2004

(a) Why was Bhagvan beaten? (b) Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why? Ans. (a) Bhagvan was beaten because he insisted on the tankers being emptied in the storage tank. This was against the wishes of the upper caste people in the village. (b) This is a clear case of caste-based discrimination. In this case, people from upper caste want to enjoy all the comforts. They also want to deny the lower caste people even the basic need of drinking water. 7. Find out more about watershed development and now it benefits an area? Ans. • Watershed development helps in conserving water and recharging the groundwater resources. • Under watershed development scheme the following tasks are performed: – Trees are planted. – Check dams and tanks are constructed to harvest rain water. • Ample quantity of water is available both for drinking and irrigation. • Barren lands are turned into green meadows. • Arable Land is reclaimed.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. ________________ prevents the Panchayat from misusing the village money. 2. The secretary of the Gram Panchayat is not an elected person but is appointed by the _____________. 3. ‘BPL’ stands for ____________________________.

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4. The work of Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the ________________. 5. The Panchayat Raj System is the ________ level of democratic government. 6. Every village Panchayat is divided into ____________. 7. There is a _________between Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha. 8. ______________ keeps control on Gram Panchayat. 9. ______________ is the President of the Gram Panchayat. 10. The Panchayat Samiti has many ___________________ under it. 11. ___________________________ presides the meeting of the Gram Sabha. Ans. 1. The Gram Sabha, 2. Government, 3. Below Poverty Line, 4. Gram Sabha, . first, 6. wards, 7. link, 8. Gram Sabha, 9. Sarpanch, 10. Gram Panchayats, 5 11. The panchayat President or the Sarpanch II. Write True and False: 1. The secretary of the Gram Panchayat is responsible for keeping a record of the Gram Panchayat and the Gram Sabha. 2. Panchayati Raj system is third level of a democratic government. 3. The Panchs and the Gram Panchayat are answerable to the Gram Sabha. 4. The members of Gram Sabha must be of 18 years or above. 5. The people of Hardas Village were facing the problem of electricity. 6. Gram Panchayat is elected for 3 years. 7. The people of Hardas Village suggested watershed development programme for the permanent solution of the water shortage. 8. The Secretary of the Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha is an elected person. 9. Gram Panchayat collects local taxes. 10. Gram Sabha finalizes and approves the list of the people below the poverty line in rural areas. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. True, 5. False, 6. False, 7. True, 8. False, 9. True, 10. True III. Match the following: Column A 1. Sarpanch 2. Panch

Column B (i) Panchayat Samiti (ii) Zila Parishad

3. Block Panchayat

(iii) Member of the Panchayat

4. Recharging

(iv) President of the Panchayat

5. District Panchayat Ans. 1. (iv), 2. (iii), 3. (i), 4. (v), 5. (ii)

(v) Refilling

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VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The members of the Gram Sabha must be adults. It means they must be of (a) 18 years or more. (b) 20 years or more. (c) 22 years or more. (d) 25 years or more. 2. The work of the Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the (a) Members of the Gram Sabha. (b) Zila Parishad. (c) Ward Member (d) Gram Sabha 3. Which one is not the source of funds for the Panchayat? (a) Collection of taxes on houses, marketplaces, etc. (b) Donations for community works, etc. (c) Donations contributed by the villagers for village welfare works. (d) Government scheme funds received through various departments of the government – through the Janpad and Zila Panchayats. 4. The Panchayati Raj System is the (a) First level of democratic government. (b) Second level of democratic government. (c) Third level of democratic government. (d) Fourth level of democratic government. 5. The people of Hardas village are facing the problem of (a) Water shortage (b) Electricity (c) Unemployment (d) None of the above. ANSWERS

1. (a)

2. (d)

3. (d)

4. (c)

5. (a)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. What do you understand by Panchayati Raj System? Ans. The Panchayati Raj System is a process through which people participate in their own government. 2. What is Nirmal Gram Puraskar? Ans. Nirmal Gram Puraskar is awarded to panch/panchs for their excellent work in panchayat. 3. Who is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings? Ans. The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat and keeping a record of the proceedings. 4. Why the Panchs and the Gram Panchayat are answerable to the Gram Sabha? Ans. The Panchs and the Gram Panchayat are answerable to the Gram Sabha because it is the members of the Gram Sabha who elected them.

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5. Which is the third level of Panchayati Raj System? Ans. The Zila Panchayat or District Council or Zila Parishad or District Panchayat, is the third tier of the Panchayati Raj system. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Describe the importance of the local government. Ans. It is through these local self-governments that the local problems can be considered and solved effectively. It also lessens the heavy responsibilities of the central and the state governments and establishes democracy in a wider context. 2. Write the composition of a Village Panchayat. Ans. Gram Panchayat is the organization of elected panchs (ward members) by the members of Gram Sabha of the village. It is a self-government organization. The head of the Panchayat is known as “Sarpanch”. The Gram Panchayat has a Secretary who is also the Secretary of the Gram Sabha. 3. What is the need of Village Panchayat? Ans. The main objective behind the Panchayati Raj is that the people in the village should undertake the responsibilities of governing themselves. People in the villages should actively participate in the development activities regarding agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, public health, education, etc. 4. What are the main functions of the Zila Parishad? Ans. The main functions of the Zila Parishad are: 1. It makes developmental plans at the district level. 2. With the help of Panchayat Samitis, it also regulates the money distribution among all the Gram Panchayats. 5. How are decisions made by Gram Panchayat? Ans. All problems are kept before the people of the village and the Panchs. Problems are then discussed and finally decisions are taken by the Sarpanch. 6. What problem did the women of Hardas village was facing? Ans. The water problem in Hardas had become very acute. There was hardly any water in the taps. Women had to go to the Suru River which is 3km. away to get water. 7. What do you mean by Gram Sabha? Who is the member of the Gram Sabha? Ans. The Gram Sabha is a meeting of all adults who live in the area covered by a Panchayat. This could be only one village or a few villages. Anyone who is 18 years old or above and who has the right to vote is a member of the Gram Sabha. 8. Why do Gram Sabhas in some states form committees? Ans. In some states, Gram Sabhas form committees like construction and development committees. These committees include some members of the Gram Sabha and some form the Gram Panchayat who work together to carry out specific tasks.

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9. Write a brief note on the three levels of Panchayats. Ans. The Panchayati Raj System is a process through which people participate in their own government. The Panchayati Raj System is the first tier or level of democratic government. It extends to two other levels. One is the Block level, which is called the Janpad Panchayat or the Panchayat Samiti is the District Panchayat or the Zila Parishad. 10. What are the sources of funds for the Gram Panchayat? Ans. The sources of funds for the Gram Panchayat are: • Collection of taxes on houses, market places etc. • Government scheme funds received through various departments of the government through the Janpad and Zila Parishads. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Explain Mahatma Gandhi’s belief related to Panchayati Raj. Ans. Gandhi’s idea of village Swaraj is that of a complete republic. The working of the day-to-day activities of the village will be conducted by the Panchayat of five persons, annually elected by elderly men villagers, male and female, possessing minimum prescribed qualifications. Panchayats will have all the power and authority required. He believed that strengthening of village Panchayats would help the process of effective de-centralisation. 2. What in your opinion is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings and why? Ans. The Gram Sabha is of great importance to all of us who are living in villages. In the Gram Sabha, all important issues regarding the development of a village are discussed and Gram Panchayat works according to the agenda laid down in and passed by the Gram Sabha. Yes, all the members should attend Gram Sabha meetings because this practice will automatically educate the participants and they would learn the procedure for calling the meeting. 3. Describe the functions of the Gram Sabha. Ans. The Gram Sabha performs various tasks. • It keeps control on the Gram Panchayat. It makes the Gram Panchayat play its role and be responsible. • It is the place where all plans for the work of the Gram Panchayat are placed before the people. • The Gram Sabha prevents the Panchayat from doing wrong things which may include misusing money, or favouring certain people. • It keeps an eye on the elected representatives and in making them responsible to the persons who elected them. 4. Describe the composition of a Village Panchayat. Ans. A Village Panchayat is divided into wards. Each ward elects a representative who is known as the Ward Member, also called Panch. All the members of the Gram Sabha also elect a Sarpanch who is called the Panchayat President. The Ward Panchs and the Sarpanch form the Gram Panchayat. The tenure of the Gram Panchayat is five years.

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The Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha have a common secretary. He is a person whom the government appoints. Thus, he is not an elected person. The Secretary is responsible for calling the meeting of the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat. He also keeps the records of the proceedings of the meeting. Picture Based Question Look at the picture below and answer the questions that follow:

Ans.

1. Who are seen in the above picture? 2. What award was given to them? 3. Why was this award given? 1. Two village Panchs from Maharashtra are seen in this picture. 2. They were given Nirmal Gram Purashkar. 3. They were given this award for their excellent work.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Why Tijia was looking for some permanent solution to the problem of water shortages? 2. Who suggested watershed development programme? 3. What is Nirmal Gram Puraskar? 4. What was the next item on the agenda for the Gram Sabha? 5. Who is known as Sarpanch?

6 Chapter

Rural Administration I. BASIC CONCEPTS

Area of the Police Station Every police station has an area of its operation known as its jurisdiction. All persons in that area can report cases or inform the police about any theft, accident, fight, injury or illegal occurrence, etc.

The Work at the Police Station At the police station the person incharge called Station House Officer (SHO) writes down the complaints of the public and then investigates the matter to take proper legal action.

• India–a vast country with a vast land area. • More than 6 lakh villages in India. • Not easy to provide basic necessities like water electricity, roads, etc to all

the villages.

• Patwari is the person whose task is to manure land and keep and updates the land records. • The District Collector is an office who heads the district administration. • The Revenue Officer known as Tehsildar work under District Collector.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Village is a form of community that practices agriculture, farmers work in their agriculture field for many years. •• Each village is assigned under a particular patwari. He maintains the record of ownership and cultivation of land map of village called 'aks sizra' mutation and other records of the land. •• In the police station people give complaint to the S.H.O in writing. S.H.O sends a constable to investigate the incident. Patwari also plays an important role in investigation •• The dispute could also be solved by village panchayat through Gram Sabha instead of taking the issue to the police station •• At the head is the district collectors, also known as District Magistrate, District collector, District Officer and also Deputy Commissioner in some of the states. Under the District Collector there are revenue officers known as Tehsildars.

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•• The Hindu Succession Act came into force in September, 2005. The Act was passed to remove gender discriminatory provisions in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. •• Land disputes are the most frequent cause of dispute in rural areas. It often happens that a person forcibly tries to occupy someone else’s land. •• The land record of a particular plot contains important information. Key information among them are as follows: (a) Current owner of the land (b) Area of the land (c) Crop grown (d) Any other facility on the land (e) Boundary of the land. •• The maintenance of record of the crop grown at every harvest and the keeping of the record of rights to a plot up to date is the duty of a Patwari. •• The revenue department of the plays a major role in this direction. Senior people in this department supervise the Patwari’s work.

III. KEYWORDS •• Bund: The boundary between plots of agriculture land is called bund. •• Police Station: It is a place where people register their complaints. Every police station has an area that falls under its control. All persons in that area can report cases or inform the police about any theft, accident, fight, injury or illegal occurence etc. •• SHO: Station House Officer who is the person in-charge of the police station. •• Tehshil: A sub-division of a district. Also known as taluka, etc. •• Patwari: One whose job is to measure land and keep land records. •• Superintendent of Police: The head of the police force of a district. •• Tehsildar: He is the revenue officer working under the District Collector.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 50 1. If there is a theft in your house which police station would you go to register your complaint? Ans. In such a situation I would go to the police station of my area to register my complaint. 2. What was the dispute between Mohan and Raghu? Ans. Raghu had managed to take over some of Mohan’s land and increased the size of his own field. This made Mohan angry. He reached Raghu's house to make complaints. But Raghu did not accept what he had done with Mohan's land. This created a dispute between the two. 3. Why was Mohan worried about picking a quarrel with Raghu? Ans. Mohan was worried about picking a quarrel with Raghu because Raghu’s uncle was the Sarpanch of the village. Not only this, Raghu's family owned many

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fields. This had made Raghu influential in the village. No one had dared to confront him. And reached Raghu's house to make complaints about what Raghu had done with him. 4. Some people said Mohan should report the matter to the police and others said he should not. What were the arguments they gave? Ans. Some people suggested Mohan to go to the police station to report the matter. In their opinion, Raghu had done wrong with Mohan and he should not tolerate such an injustice. There were also others who discouraged Mohan from taking any such step. They knew Raghu was influential and had power. His uncle was the Sarpanch, it was also known to everyone. Hence, they had doubt whether it was a good idea because they felt it would be a waste of money and time. Page 52 The Khasra record of the Patwari gives you information regarding the map given below. It identifies which plot of land is owned by whom. Look at both the records and the map and answer the questions given below regarding Mohan and Raghu's land. Ans. Khasra 5 No.

Area in hectare

Name of owner,

If it is

Father or

rented to

husband’s name,

some other

address

farmer,

Facilities

Area cultivated the year Crop

Area

grown

their name

Second

Area

crop

not

grown

cultivated follow land

7

8

1.75

0.25

and rent received 1

2

1

0.75

3 Mohan, Son of Raja

4

5

6

No

Soyabean

0.75 Hectare

Ram, Village Amrapura Owner 2

3.00

Raghu Ram, Son of

Well-1 No

Soyabean, Wheat, irrigated

Ratan Lall, Village

6.00

Madhya Pradesh Government Grassland

working

Hectare Well-1

Amrapura Owner 3

2.75

No

–

working Grazing

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Ans. 1. Raghu owns the land south of Mohan’s filed. 2. Common boundary is marked with dark line. 3. Madhya Pradesh government can use field no. 3. 4. Field no. 2 belongs to Raghu. Raghu grows soybean and wheat in this field. The land is irrigated. It is not on rent. The area is 2.75 hectare. Second crop is grown well in 1.75 hectare. Area not cultivated, i.e. fallow land is 0.25 hectare. There is one well in the field and it is working. Field no. 3 belongs to the Madhya Pradesh government. It is a grassland. It is not on rent. There is one well in the field and it is working. This grassland is used for grazing purposes. Page 53 When do you think farmers may require a copy of this record? Study the following situations and identify the cases in which these records would be necessary and why. → A farmer wants to buy a plot of land from another. → A farmer wants to sell her produce to another. → A farmer wants a loan from the bank to dig a well in her land. → A farmer wants to purchase fertilizers for his field. → A farmer wants to divide his property among his children. Ans. Farmers may require a copy of this record when (i) He wants to sell his land. (ii) He wants to give it on partnership (iii) He gets crops grown on it.

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(iv) He wants to divide it among the children. • When farmer wants to buy a plot of land from another, he has to get his name in the revenue records after it has been registered in his name. • Not needed • The farmers will submit land papers as mortgaged in the bank. • He will require the records to divide the land among his children and register the plots in their names. Page 54 Do the following exercise for your village/by visiting a nearby village or looking at your own area? List the public services in the village/area such as: the milk society, the fair price shop, the bank, the police station, the agricultural society for seeds and fertiliser, the post office or sub post office, the anganwadi, crèche, government school/s, health centre or government hospital etc. Collect information on three public services and discuss with your teacher how improvements can be made in their functioning. One example has been worked out. Public

What did

Area

What do

Problems

Problem

Improvements

service

you notice

covered

they need to

faced by

faced by

that can be

about their

do it in

made

order to use

those managing

people

work

the facility shop Fair price The shop was This shop open. Three covers two people came. villages. (ration They all had shop) yellow cards. They bought sugar and rice. Kerosene was not available.

They need a ration card. This has to be made at the tehsil office.

the service There is not Rice is of Improve quality enough supply very bad of rice. Make of kerosene. quality. kerosene Whenever get kerosene.

available. The fair price should be kept open every day.

Health Centre Milk Society

Ans. The public services in the village/ area as follows: (i) Health centres and hospital (ii) Milk booth (iii) School (iv) Post office (v) Police station (vi) Fruits and vegetables shop (vii) Fair price shop (viii) Bank (ix) Agricultural shop.

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Public

What did

Area

What do

Problems

Problem

Improvements

service

you notice

covered

they need to

faced by

faced by

that can be

about their

do it in

people

made

work

order to use

those managing

the facility shop Fair price The shop was This shop open. Three covers two people came. villages. (ration They all had shop) yellow cards. They bought sugar and rice. Kerosene was not available.

They need a ration card. This has to be made at the tehsil office.

Health

New patients may get

Centre

Milk Society

Many people were standing in queues some of them were old patients while some were new.

This centre covers

showing their medical cards.

complete area

Milk vendors Covers were there. area. They had milk pots in their hands.

There is not Rice is of Improve quality enough supply very bad of rice. Make of kerosene. quality. kerosene Whenever get kerosene.

medicines

almost

the service

There were lots of doctors and nurses, but there was not enough supply of medicines

More medicines require in huge

available. The fair price should be kept open every day.

Improve quality of medicines and proper supply in bulk.

quantity. We never get costly medicines.

full

You need a book of milk entry every day.

No problem was faced in collection.

Milk rates Improve facility get revised of refrigeration time to time

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 56) 1. What is the work of the police? Ans. The police maintains law and order to establish peace in the society. By doing this, the police provide security to the general public. 2. List two things that the work of a Patwari includes. Ans. The work of Patwari includes the following: • Measurement of land and maintenance of land records • Organising collection of land revenue from the farmers and provides information to the government about the crops grown in the area. 3. What is the work of a tehsildar? Ans. Following are the work of a tehsildar: • He has to hear the disputes related to land • He also has the responsibility of supervising the work of Patwari • He ensures that farmers can easily obtain land record, students can obtain their caste certificates etc. 4. What issue is the poem trying to raise? Do you think this is an important issue? Why? Ans. The poem is trying to raise the gender-based discrimination when it comes to inheritance of property. Traditionally, all the sons get inheritance in property but daughters are debarred from it.

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This is an important issue because women also work equally in the farm. But they seldom get ownership of the farm. 5. In what ways are the work of the Panchayat that you read about in the previous chapter and the work of the Patwari related to each other? Ans. Patwari maintains land record, while Panchayat looks after local needs. A panchayat also needs land record, when construction of road or drainage or installation of hand-pump needs to be carried out. Moreover, many land disputes can be easily settled at the Panchayat itself. Thus, both Patwari and Panchayat need to cooperate with each other in resources and planning. 6. Visit a police station and find out the work that the police have to do to prevent crime and maintain law and order in their area especially during festivals, public meetings etc. Ans. During festivals and public meetings, the police takes the following actions to prevent crime and to maintain law and order: • Police personnel are put on duty for proper crowd management. • Presence of police also sets some fear in the mind of criminals. • Police helps people if someone is separated from family during religious festivals or public meetings. 7. Who is incharge of all the police stations in a district? Find out. Ans. In a district, the SP (Superintendent of Police) is in-charge of all the police stations. Individual police stations have their own Station House Officers (SHO). 8. How do women benefit under the new law? Ans. Under the new law, women also get a right on their ancestors’ property. This gives empowerment to the women. 9. In your neighbourhood, are there women who own property? How did they acquire it? Ans. There are many women in my neighbourhood who own property. Some of them have got the property from their forefathers. Some others have bought the property from their earnings.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Revenue Officer work under ________________. 2. Kanungo is the other name of ________________. 3. _________________ is the person in charge of the Police Station. 4. The___________ maintains and updates the records of the village. 5. For managing matters relating to land, districts are further sub-divided into ________ or ________. 6. Revenue Officer underDistrict Collector is also known as ____________. 7. Every police station has an_________ that comes under its control. 8. ____________ keeps the Khasra records in the village. Ans. 1. District Collector, 2. Patwari, 3. Station House Officer, 4. Patwari, 5. Tehsil, Taluka, 6. Tehsildar, 7. area, 8. Patwari

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II. Write True and False: 1. The Tehsildar’s office is where land disputes are also heard. 2. Subdivisions of a district are known by different names such as tehsil, taluka, etc. 3. In the new law sons, daughters and their mothers can get an equal share in the land. 4. Patwari rarely update the records. 5. Raghu’s uncle was the Sarpanch of the village. 6. Measuring land and keeping land records is the main work of the Sarpanch. 7. Patwari is responsible for group of villages. Ans. 1. True, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True, 6. False, 7. True III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Mohan

(i) Collect revenue

2.

Hindu Succession Act, 2005

3.

Tehsildars

(iii) An influential person in the village

4.

Raghu

(iv) Sons, daughters and their mothers have equal share in the land

5.

Patwari

(ii) Responsible for a group of villagers

(v) A small farmer

Ans. 1. (v), 2. (iv), 3. (i), 4. (iii), 5. (ii)

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The person in-charge of the police station is known as (a) Station Master (b) Superintendent of Police (c) Station House Officer (d) None of the above 2. Kanungo is the other name of (a) Tehsildar (b) Patwari (c) Talukdar (d) Land owner 3. A daughter wants only (a) A place of her own (b) Dowry (c) High education (d) Both (a) and (b) 4. A heated argument began between Raghu and Mohan because (a) Mohan had taken a loan form Raghu and denied to return it (b) Raghu had taken oversome of Mohan’s land (c) Mohan had taken over Raghu's land (d) All of the above. 5. The sub-divisions of a district are known by different names such as (a) Taluka (b) Tehsil (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of the above

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ANSWERS

1. (c)

2. (b)

3. (a)

4. (b)

5. (c)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. How many villages are there in India? Ans. There are more than six lakh villages in India. 2. Who is called the administrative head of the district? Ans. The administrative head of the district is the District Collector. 3. Who is the in-charge of a Police Station? Ans. Station House Officer or S.H.O. is the in-charge of a Police Station. 4. What do you understand by a ‘Bund’? Ans. A bund is a small boundary which separates the land. 5. Where can one register a case? Ans. One can register a case in the police station which comes under his/her area or locality. 6. What is an FIR? Ans. The written complaint registered in the police station is known as an FIR or First Information Report. 7. What are the different names of the Patwari? Ans. Lekhpal, Kanungo, Karamchari, Village Officer. 8. Who is responsible for measuring land and keeping land records? Ans. Measuring land and keeping land records is the main work of the Patwari. 9. What are the different names used for the sub-division of a district? Ans. The subdivisions of a district are known by different names such as tehsil, taluka, etc. 10. What is Khasra record? What does it tell? Ans. The Khasra record of the Patwari gives information regarding the map of land. It identifies which plot of land is owned by whom. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. When do you think farmers may require a copy of land record? Ans. Farmers may require a copy of land record for the following purpose: (i) A farmer wants to buy a plot of land from another. (ii) A farmer wants to sell her produce to another. (iii) A farmer wants a loan from the bank to dig a well in her land. (iv) A farmer wants to purchase fertilizers for his field. (v) A farmer wants to divide his property among his children. 2. What are the responsibilities of the Tehsildar? Ans. Responsibilities of the Tehsildar (i) They have to hear disputes. (ii) They also supervise the work of the Patwaris and ensure that records are properly kept and land revenue is collected.

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(iii) They make sure that the farmers can easily obtain a copy of their record; students can obtain their caste certificates etc. 3. What are the responsibilities of a Patwari? Ans. Responsibilities of a Patwari (i) He is responsible for collection of land revenue from the farmers. (ii) He provides information to the government about the crops grown in the area. (iii) He maintains and updates the land records. 4. Write a short note on ‘Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005’. Ans. Till recently in some states Hindu women did not get a share in the family's agricultural land. After the death of the father, his property was divided equally only among his sons. Recently, the law was changed. In the new law sons, daughters and their mothers can get an equal share in the land. The same law will apply to all states and union territories of the country. 5. Elucidate the role of the police department in the society. Ans. Role of the police department (i) To maintain law and order in the society. (ii) To register cases about any theft, accident, injury, fight, etc. (iii) To enquire and to investigate and take action on the cases within its area. 6. What is the role of a Tehsildar? Ans. Role of a Tehsildar (i) They have to hear disputes. (ii) They also supervise the work of the Patwaris and ensure that records are properly kept and land revenue is collected. (iii) They make sure that the farmers can easily obtain a copy of their record; students can obtain their caste certificates etc. C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. How does the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 help women in India to get equal share in the family property? Ans. The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 is a landmark in the way to women empowerment. It came into force on 9th September 2005. The Act removes gender discriminatory provisions in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 and gives equal rights in inheritance to daughters. This means daughter has the same right over the property as a son. The Act states that daughters will have the same rights as sons to reside in or seek partition of the family house. Economically, it can improve women's security by giving them birth right in property. All this shows that daughters and sons are equally important members of the family. 2. Why did Mohan not register his case at the main Police Station in town? Ans. He did not register his case at the main Police Station in town because every police station has an area that comes under its control and all persons in that area can report cases or inform the police about any theft, accident, injury, fight, etc. It is the responsibility of the police of that station to enquire, to investigate and take action on the cases within its area.

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3. Who is a Patwari? Enumerate his various works. Ans. Patwari is the person in the village whose main task is to measure land and keep land records. He also updates these records. He is called by different name like Lekhpal, Kanungo, Karamchari, and Village Officer in different states. • He measures land and keeps land records. • He is reasonable for a group of villages. • He maintains and updates the records of the village. • He is responsible for organising the collection of land revenue from the farmers and providing information to the government about the crops grown in the area.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. How does a Patwari measure an agricultural field? 2. What is the need of Ration Cards? 3. How were women treated in the share in the family's agricultural land prior to the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005? 4. What would you do if somebody claims your piece of land? 5. Why do we need ‘Rural Administration’ in India? 6. How do farmers get a copy of their land records?

7 Chapter

Urban Administration

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • A rapid growth in the rate of urbanisation due to growth of the cities spread over big areas. • The problems of narrow roads, traffic jams, water and electricity shortage, crowded hospital, etc. • In the cities, the Municipal Corporation that takes care of street light, garbage collection, water supply, keeping the streets and the market clean. • The city is divided into different wards and the ward councillors get elected.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Urban area includes cities and town; it refers to local government body responsible for managing the city or town •• Municipal Corporation in India is responsible for providing essential services in every small town as well as village of district /City. Municipal Corporation of India is state government formed department. •• Responsibilities of Municipal Corporation are street lighting, garbage collection, water supply, prevention of diseases, runs a school, hospitals dispensaries etc. •• The city is divided into different wards; matters like park location and hospital are usually decided by the ward councillor. Complicated issues that affect the whole city are decided by group of councillors who form committees to decide an issue •• The demands of ward councillors are forwarded to administrative staff for implementation •• The Municipal Corporation generates money through the taxes, people have to pay taxes on water, electricity, housing, education and other amenities •• Media plays an important role in bringing social and political issues to public •• The Commissioner and the administrative staff are appointed while the councillors are elected •• As the city is so large, the work here is divided into different departments, such as the water department, the garbage collection departments, sanitation department, etc.

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III. KEYWORDS •• Municipal Council (Muncipality): The organisation that looks after the welfare of small towns. •• Municipal Corporation: It is the legal term for a local governing body including cities, countries, towns, etc. It is responsible for the welfare of big cities. •• Councillor: A member or a group of people appointed or elected to make laws or give advice. •• Wards: Territorial constituencies of local self-government. •• Municipal Commissioner: The chief executive and administrator of the Municipal Corporation is called Municipal commissioner. •• Garbage: Garbage is the heap of dirt and filth and waste material thrown by the households.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 58 1. List at least four different tasks that the Municipality does: Ans. 1. It takes care of the sanitation of the town. 2. It manages to collect garbage and disposes at a proper place. 3. It takes care of water supply and keeps the streets and roads clean. 4. It builds roads and repair them whenever required. Page 59 1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below: 1. In a panchayat, the elected members are called ___________. 2. The city is divided into several ___________. 3. In a municipal corporation, the elected members are called ___________. 4. Groups of councillors deal with issues that affect the ___________. 5. Elections are held once every _________ years for the panchayat as well as for the municipality. 6. While the councillors make decisions, the administrative staff led by the Commissioner ______________ these. Ans. 1. Panchs, 2. wards, 3. Councillors, 4. entire city, 5. five, 6. implement. Page 61 1. What was Gangabai protesting about? Ans. Gangabai was protesting about the filthy environment of her locality. 2. Why do you think Gangabai decided to approach the Ward Councillor? Ans. Gangabai decided to approach the Ward Councillor because it was Ward Councillor's duty to look after the sanitation of his locality. 3. What did Gangabai say when the Commissioner said that there were not enough trucks in the city?

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Ans. When the Commissioner said that there were not enough trucks in the city, Gangabai retorted, “But you seem to have enough trucks to collect garbage from the rich localities”.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Pages 63-64) 1. Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala’s house? Ans. The children were curious to know who was responsible for fixing the streetlights. Yasmin Khala was working for the municipality. Hence, Rehana's mother advised them to go to Yasmin Khala. She thought that Yasmin Khala would be the best person to answer their questions because she has just retired from the Municipal Corporation. Hence, she had advised the children to go to Yasmin Khala to get their problem solved. 2. List four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller. Ans. Following are the four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller: • By keeping the drainage clean, it keeps the city clean. • By collecting and disposing off the garbage, it maintains cleanliness on streets. • By providing parks, it provides open space to people. • By working on malaria and dengue prevention, it helps the health of the people. 3. Who is a Municipal Councillor? Ans. The person who is elected by the people of a ward is called the Municipal Councillor or Ward Councillor. 4. What did Gangabai do and why? Ans. Gangabai was not happy because there was no regular cleaning of streets in her locality. So, she took a group of women and protested in front of the Chairman’s office. 5. How does the Municipal Corporation earn the money to do its work? Ans. The Municipal Corporation collects taxes on houses, water, entertainment, parking, etc. to earn money. It also gets some grant from the government. The Municipal Corporation collects money in different ways. • Collect property tax as well as taxes for water and other services. • Collect taxes for education and other amenities. • Collect entertainment tax such as tax on cinema tickets.

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6. Discuss.

In the two photographs you see different ways of collecting and disposing garbage. (i) Which way do you think provides safety to the person disposing garbage? (ii) What are the dangers of collecting garbage in the manner shown in the first photograph? (iii) Why do you think that proper ways of disposing garbage are not available to those who work in municipalities? Ans. (i) The second photograph shows the safe way of disposing garbage. (ii) Collecting garbage in the manner shown in photo 1 is full of dangers. Children are so close to open garbage that they may fall sick or they may develop the symptoms of some deadly diseases in the long run. There may be pieces of broken glasses. While collecting garbage in this manner, their fingers may get injured. We see two stray cows around the garbage searching some eatables. These cows may attack these boys which may take their lives. Thus, there is no safety at all in this way. (iii) The proper way of disposing garbage is not available to this who work in municipalities because firstly, the government has not proper arrangement for this as of yet. It has provided trucks no doubt but their number is not sufficient. Secondly, the workers working in the municipalities are generally less aware of health and hygiene. They do not bother whether garbage is being disposed properly or not. Thirdly, the economic condition of the municipalities is not good. 7. Several poor people in the city work as domestic servants as well as work for the Corporation, keeping the city clean. Yet the slums in which they live are quite filthy. This is because these slums seldom have any water and sanitation facilities. The reason often given by the Municipal Corporation is that the land in which the poor have set up their homes does not belong to them and that slum-dwellers do not pay taxes. However people living in middle class neighbourhoods pay very little in taxes compared to the amount of money the corporation spends on them in setting up parks, street lighting facilities, regular garbage collection etc. Also as you read in this chapter, the property taxes collected by the Municipality makes up only 25-30 per cent of its money.

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Why do you think it is important that the Corporation should spend more money on slum localities? Why is it important that the Municipal Corporation provide the poor in the city with the same facilities that the rich get? Ans. Slums are also an integral part of a city. The slum dwellers contribute immensely. They provide various services to the middle class people. So it is important that the corporation should spend more money on slum localities because slum-dwellers are also an integral part of our society. Moreover, if an epidemic spreads in a slum it will also an affect the middle class locality. They need education, sanitation, rehabilitation and other facilities as the common people avail. So the maintenance of cleanliness in slums is as important as in middle class locality.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I.  Fill in the Blanks: 1. People who own homes have to pay a___________. 2. Municipal ________ functions in small towns. 3. In a municipal corporation, the elected members are called_________. 4. Commissioner and the administrative staff are appointed by the__________. 5. Property taxes form only _________ percent of the money that a Municipal Corporation earns. Ans. 1. property tax, 2. council, 3. ward councillors, 4. government, 5. 25-30 II.  Write True and False: 1. Yasmin Khala worked on accounts in the sanitation department. 2. Municipal Corporation builds hotels and restaurant. 3. The city of Surat had a plague scare in 2014. 4. Larger houses have to pay less taxes. 5. Pune, being a big city, has a Municipal Corporation. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. False, 5. True III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Municipal Corporation

2.

Councillors

3.

Commissioner and administrative staff

(iii) Elected bodies

4.

Surat

(iv) Civic body

5.

Property taxes

Ans. 1. (iv), 2. (iii), 3. (v), 4. (ii), 5. (i)

(i) Collected by Corporation (ii) Hit by plague in 1994

(v) Appointed by the government

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VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. People who own homes pay (a) Water tax (b) General tax (c) Education tax (d) Property tax 2. Which one is not the job of the Municipal Corporation? (a) It keeps the streets and markets clean. (b) It builds gardens and maintains them. (c) It runs schools, hospitals and dispensaries. (d) It builds hotels for the tourists. 3. The Municipal Council is found in (a) Big cities (b) Small towns (c) villages (d) Metropolitan cities. 4. The cleanest city in India is (a) Surat (b) Mumbai (c) Chandigarh (d) Nagpur 5. Yasmin Khala worked in the (a) Sanitation department (b) Water department (c) Garbage collection department (d) None of the above ANSWERS

1. (d)

2. (d)

3. (b)

4. (c)

5. (a)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Who is a Municipal Councillor? Ans. The elected Ward Councillor, in a city. 2. What do you mean by 'Sub-Contracting'? Ans. Private Contractors who collect and process garbage. 3. What do you mean by tax? Ans. A sum of money that people pay to the government for the services that government provides. 4. Why is city divided into several wards? Ans. For the purpose of better administration and elections. 5. Name the two cleanest cities of India. Ans. Chandigarh and Surat. 6. What is a Municipal Council? Ans. In smaller towns, Municipal Corporation is called the Municipal Council. 7. Who is a Municipal Councillor? Ans. In a city, the elected Ward Councillor is a Municipal Councillor.

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8. What is the role of Municipal Corporation in term of health of people? Ans. Municipal Corporation is also responsible for ensuring the health of the people. It also runs schools, hospitals and dispensaries. 9. Who decides where a park or a new hospital should go? Ans. Ward Councillors. 10. Who are responsible for preparing the budget for a city? Ans. Ward Councillors are responsible for preparing the budget for a city. 11. How is a ward councillor elected? Ans. The city is divided into different wards and ward councillors get elected. 12. All cities have Municipal Corporation. Comment. Ans. No, not all the cities have Municipal Corporations; big cities have Municipal Corporation while smaller towns have Municipal Council. 13. Who is a Mayor? Ans. The presiding officer or Chairman of a Municipal Corporation is called a Mayor. 14. What is an epidemic? Ans. The diseases that spread rapidly among many people at a same place for a particular time is known as an epidemic. 15. Who is a district collector? Ans. A district collector is the highest officer of a district. He is in charge of maintaining law and order in the district. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Define urbanization. Ans. Urbanization means the increase in the proportion population of a country that live in the urban areas. 2. Why is Urban Administration important? Ans. Urban administration is necessary to provide the basic amenities like street lights, garbage collection, water supply, keeping the streets and the markets clean, collecting of house tax and water taxes, etc. They are responsible for cleaning of city drainage system, maintenance of parks, and market. It had made possible for regulating the urban development and local management of civic facilities. 3. What is a Municipal Corporation? Ans. A Municipal Corporation is established in big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai etc., to solve the local problems of the people staying in these cities. Its main functions are sanitation, records of birth and death, establishment of school and libraries, establishment and maintenance of hospital, water and electricity supply etc. 4. State any five functions of the Municipalities. Ans. The five functions of the Municipalities are as follows: (a) Supply of adequate drinking water. (b) Providing and maintaining drainage and sewage systems. (c) Maintenance of public street lighting. (d) Construction and maintenance of bus terminals, roads and bridges. (e) Maintenance of birth and death records.

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5. Briefly explain the different types of urban local bodies. Ans. Urban government bodies consist of Municipal Corporation and Municipalities. Municipal Corporations are found in the larger cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other places. Municipalities exist in smaller towns and cities. 6. Critically evaluate the role of the Ward Councillors. Ans. A ward councillor is directly elected to represent and serve the people in a specific ward. The ward councillor should make sure that the interests of the people in the ward are represented in a proper manner. The ward councillor remains in touch with the key issues in their area, understand the crucial problems and monitor their development. The ward councillor acts as a spokesperson for the people in the ward. They are the direct link between the council and the voters. People can also bring their problems to the ward councillor and he/she should deal with these in a suitable way. 7. What are the functions of Ward Committee? Ans. The important functions of Ward Committee are as follows: (a) Supervision of the overall municipal work. (b) Water and sanitation requirements. (c) Identification of slums and their upgradation. (d) Public health - information dissemination. (e) Environment protection. (f) Supervision of public physical infrastructure like hospitals, schools and roads. 8. Where was the first Municipal Corporation of India established? Ans. Kolkata Municipal Corporation (formerly Calcutta Municipal Corporation) is the first Municipal Corporation of India. It was established by the British Government in the year 1690 in order to establish local trade, which was favourable in many villages. It became more effective and efficient with the passage of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, which stated the functions of the municipality department. 9. What is meant by the devolution to urban local bodies? Ans. Devolution is the transfer of responsibility and accountability from the higher levels of governments (central and state) to the local governments. It involves de jure as well as de facto transfer of responsibilities to the municipal governments along with the transfer of adequate funds to enable municipalities to carry out their functions in a fair and proper manner. 10. How does the municipality take care of health facilities in a locality? Ans. The Municipality and the Municipal Corporation arrange for the disposal of wastes which causes a number of diseases. They construct sewage to drain out dirty water from our cities and villages. They protect the people from epidemics and other diseases like cholera and small pox. They make arrangements for polio vaccination for the children. They maintain dispensaries and hospitals for the sick and also construct public latrines and urinals.

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C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. List the functions of the chief executive officer in a municipal corporation. Ans. The chief executive officer in a municipal corporation is also known as the municipal commissioner. The state government appoints this person. The executive officer acts as a link between the state government and Municipal Corporation. Various officers in charge of departments like those in charge of health, education, engineering and sanitation help him or her in this work. The municipal commissioner co-ordinates their work and has the power to appoint lower level employees. He/she is the head of the executive branch of the municipal corporation. The municipal commissioner has all the executive powers. The day-to-day work of the municipal corporations is carried out with the help of a number of committees. 2. Explain the relation between the local bodies and the state government. Ans. The local bodies cannot work without the permission of the state government. The state government keeps a strict watch on the financial grants that are given to the local bodies. It should get the permission of the state in levying any new tax, in getting public loan that can be taken only with the permission of the state government. A state government can dissolve any Municipality or Municipal Corporation if it is not satisfied with its performance. The main function of the local bodies and the state government is to promote the welfare of the people. 3. How can we keep our surrounding clean? Ans. We can keep our surrounding clean by doing the following: 1. Don’t Litter, throw waste in dustbin only. 2. Don’t encourage spitting, immediately condemn people if found doing so. 3. Avoid usage of plastic covers, plastic disposables. 4. Teach others about cleanliness and sanitation. 5. Separate dry waste and wet waste in your house, ease the work of municipality workers. 4. How does the work of Municipal Corporation affect the life of a city dweller? Ans. Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller in the following ways: • It takes care of street lights, garbage collection, water supply etc. • It keeps the streets and the market clean. • It ensures that diseases do not break out in the city. • It runs schools, hospitals and dispensaries. • It makes gardens and maintains them. 5. Differentiate between Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committee. Ans. There are some differences between the two: 1. Municipal Corporations are established in big cities with large population. On the other hand, Municipal Committees are set up in smaller cities and town. 2. Municipal Corporations have more powers and higher status than those of Municipal Committees. 3. Municipal Corporations have better and have more financial power than Municipal Councils.

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4. Municipal Corporations deal with the State Government directly. But Municipal Committees, have to deal with the Government through the District Administration. For Example, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Patna etc. have Municipal Corporation.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Differentiate between the Councillors and the administrative officers. 2. Who looks into the elections of the Municipalities? 3. What are public amenities? 4. Who is a ‘Session Judge’? 5. List the qualifications that are needed to become the member of the municipality.

8 Chapter

UNIT IV: LIVELIHOODS

Rural Livelihoods

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • Several kinds of livelihoods are in rural areas. • Different ways in which people earn their living in villages. • The most important occupation in the villages is agriculture and farming. • Only 20% of farmers can boast of a good lifestyle. • People find it difficult even to met their basic necessities. • People in a coastal area face a tough life.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Villages are the backbone of India. It is the place where our daily commodities like sugar, honey, tea, coffee, milk, wood etc. come from. Bullock cart is the primary means of transport in village which carries human beings and goods. •• The government of India viewed rural education as an effective tool for bringing social change. More emphasis is laid on primary education up to the age of 14 years. Teachers teach elementary subjects including arts and housekeeping subjects, etc. •• In rural India, midwives and nurses play an important role in rural healthcare. They are very active and are provided with effective medical aid. •• Rural people do not get work throughout the year. Therefore, they are forced to move to nearby towns in search of jobs. •• In rural area apart from farming, people engage themselves in: animal husbandry, dairy produce and fishing. •• Rural people in different regions of the country grow different crops, however we do find similarities in their life situations and in the problems that they face. For their survival many families need to borrow money for their work or when no work is available. •• Farming and collection of mahua, tendu leaves, honey etc. from the forest are the important sources of livelihood. Selling milk to the village cooperative society and fishing in the coastal areas are main source of livelihood for some families. Fishing families live in a place nearby Kalpattu called Pudupet.

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III. KEYWORDS •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

•• •• ••

Livelihood: The work people do for earning their bread. Rural Livelihoods: Different ways of earning living in rural areas. Pesticide: A chemical used for killing pests, especially rats, insects. Migration: The movement of large number of people from one place to another to find jobs is termed as migration. Harvest: The act of cutting and gathering crops. Loan: A sum of money that is borrowed. Firewood: Wood used in cooking food in the house in chullah is called firewood. Terrace Farming: This is a type of farming in which the land on hill slope is made into flat plots and carved out in steps. The sides of each plot are raised in order to retain water. This allows water to stand in the field which is suitable for the cultivation of rice. Agricultural Labourer: Landless persons who work on other people’s fields to earn a living. Catamaran: Catamnaran is a small boat used for catching fish. Fisherman: A person engaged in the work of catching fish is termed as fisherman.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 67

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Fig. 8.1

1. Observe the below picture and answer the questions that follow: (i) Describe the work that you see people doing in the above pictures. (ii) Identify the different types of work that are related to farming and those that are not. List these in a table. (iii) In your notebook, draw some pictures of work that you have seen people do in rural areas and write a few sentences that describe the work. Ans. (i) People in the picture are engaged in different activities like fishing, spraying pesticides, selling fruits, ploughing the field, plucking fruits, etc. (ii) Farming activities

Non-farming activities

•

Ploughing

•

Fishing

•

Spraying pesticides

•

Selling Fruit

•

Plucking fruits

•

Working in construction work

•

Winnowing

•

Trade activity

(iii) Draw the picture yourself. The people in village do farming. I have seen them sowing seeds, while some others were weeding the seedlings. I have seen people ploughing fields to make it ready for the next crop. Page 69

Fig. 8.2

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293

2. Based on the above diagram, would you say that Thulasi earns money throughout the year? Ans. Thulasi does not earn money throughout the year. She has worked only for 6-7 months in a year. • Preparing Saplings : June and July • Transplanting of paddy : July and August • Weeding : September and October • Harvesting : November and December 3. Describe the work that Thulasi does. How is it different from the work Raman does? Ans. Thulasi works in Ramalingam’s paddy field. She transplants the paddy in the field, then she weeds the plants and finally harvests the paddy. Apart from working on the lands, she does household chores. She cooks food, cleans the house and washes clothes. She also goes to nearby forests to collect firewood. She fetches water from far away. Raman’s work is different from Thulasi. Her husband is Raman. He is also a labourer. He sprays pesticides during the season. When there is no work on the field, he engages himself in some other activities such as loading sand from the river, stone from the quarry nearby gets material as groceries for house; and rears cow. 4. Thulasi gets paid very little money for the work she does. Why do you think agricultural labourers like her are forced to accept low wages? Ans. Thulasi gets paid very little money for the work she does and in a way she is forced to accept low wages. As she and others like her have no land of their own, they are usually exploited by the big farmers, who take undue advantage of their poverty and compel the labourers to work on their field. 5. In what ways would her way of earning a living have been different if Thulasi owned some farm land? Discuss. Ans. If Thulasi had owned some farmland, her life would have been more comfortable. She would not have required to work as farm labourer. She would have supervised the work of farm labourers. There would have been possibility of earning more. She would have been more satisfied doing her own work rather than working in pressure in other's land under their supervision. 6. What are the crops grown in your region or nearby rural area? What kinds of work do agricultural labourers do? Ans. Paddy, wheat, pulses, millets, etc. are grown in my region. Agricultural labourers do a variety of work in the field, like preparing the land, sowing, weeding and harvesting of crops. Page 71 1. What work does Sekar’s family do? Why do you think Sekar does not usually employ labourers for doing farming work? Ans. Sekar has a small plot of land where his family is sufficient to complete all farming activities. He and his family members manage to do all the work on their own. At times during the harvest, he takes the help of other small farmers and in turn help them harvest their field.

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2. Why does Sekar not go to the town market to get a better price for his paddy? Ans. Sekar knows that if he sells his paddy in the town market, he will get better price for his paddy. Still, he sells them to the traders at somewhat lower price because the trader gives him seeds and fertilizers as a loan. Sekar is bound to sell his produce to the trader. He has little paddy which is to be consumed in his own house. 3. Sekar’s sister Mina had also taken a loan from the trader. She does not want to sell her paddy to him but she will pay back her loan. Write an imaginary conversation between Mina and the trader's agent and the arguments given by each person. Ans. An imaginary conversation between Mina and the traders’ agent is as follows: Trader’s agent : Mina, I am here to take the paddy in exchange of the loan. Mina : That’s okay, but this time I will pay cash as instalments. Agent : Why so? You had been paying the instalments by your produce. Mina : Yes, but this time I have decided to sell it in the open market and get money. Agent : Think again and this time wisely. It will make the trader angry. He helps you in time so you should do as he wants. Mina : I am not bound to do whatever he says. I am a free citizen and I’ll do as I wish. Agent : But remember you may not get help form us in future. Mina : OK, I’ll manage it from Govt. Bank if needed. 4. What are the similarities and differences between Sekar’s and Thulasi’s lives? Your answer could be based on the land that they have, their need to work on the land that belongs to others, or loans that they need and their earnings. Ans. Similarities: • Both Sekar and Thulasi are poor villagers. • Both Sekar and Thulasi are engaged in agricultural activities. • Both grow the same crop, i.e. paddy. • Both rear cow and sell milk to meat their both ends. Differences: • Sekar owns his land while Thulasi works on other's land. • Whenever Thulasi needs money, she borrows from her land owner, Ramalingam. But Sekar takes loans from the trader. This loan is not in the term of money but in kinds. • Thulasi earns Rs. 40 per day. Sekar gets 60 bags of paddy from his field. He sells some of the bags to repay the loan. The rest he uses at home. He aslo earns money by working in Ramalingam’s rice mill. 5. Read again Sekar’s and Thulasi’s accounts. What do they say about Ramalingam, the large farmer? Together with what you have read fill in the details below: (i) How much land does he have?

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(ii) What does Ramalingam do with the paddy grown on his land? (iii) Apart from farming, how else does he earn? Ans. (i) Sekar has 20 acres of paddy land in the village. (ii) Ramalingam prepares rice from paddy and sells them to traders in nearby towns. (iii) Apart from farming, Ramalingam is engaged in other activities too in order to earn extra money. He owns a rice mill and a shop selling seeds, pesticides etc. he buys paddy from within the village and from surrounding villages. The rice that is produced in the mill is sold to traders in the nearby towns. This gives Ramalingam a substantial income. Page 72 1. From Fig. 8.1, would you say that a majority of the country's farmers are quite poor? What do you think can be done to change this situation? Ans. Yes, a majority of the country’s farmers are still poor. Some of the following measures can be taken to change the situation. • Fixation of farm wages • Distribution of land equitably. • Curb on moneylenders • Distribution of seeds, fertilisers and pasticides by governments • Loan facilities provided by government run credit institutions. • Marketing facilities for sell of agricultural produce in all the villages. 2. Why do both Sekar’s and Aruna’s families have to borrow? What similarities and differences do you find? Ans. Both Sekar and Aruna are poor: Sekar manages to get seeds and fertilizers as a loan form the traders. Aruna’s family has taken a loan from a bank to purchase an engine. Both took loan. But one (Sekar) gets it from the trader while the other (Aruna) from a bank. 3. Have you heard of tsunami? What is this and what damage do you think it might have caused to the life of fishing families like Aruna’s? Ans. Yes, we have heard of tsunami. It is a harbour wave caused by earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption on the floor of the sea or ocean. During the recent tsunami the coastal region was completely devastated. The fishing families lost their habitat and livelihood.

V. NCERT TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (Page 75) 1. You have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. List five of these. Ans. (i) Making baskets, utensils, pots, bricks, bullock-carts etc. (ii) Teaching (iii) Washing clothes

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(iv) Weaving (v) Repairing cycle 2. List the different types of people you read about in Kalpattu who depend on farming. Who is the poorest among them and why? Ans. These people are Thulasi, Sekar and Ramalingam. Thulasi is the poorest among them. She is landless. She has to work on Ramalingam’s field as farm labourer. 3. Imagine you are a member of a fishing family and you are discussing whether to take a loan from the bank for an engine. What would you say? Ans. I will prefer to take a loan from the bank. Loan from the bank is more advantageous. Interest rate for bank loan is low. I will also have to plan properly so that I could repay the loan in time. Fitting an engine in my catamaran will help me in fishing in deep waters. This will ensure bigger catch and better income. 4. Poor rural labourers like Thulasi often do not have access to good medical facilities, good schools, and other resources. You have read about inequality in the first unit of this text. The difference between her and Ramalingam is one of inequality. Do you think this is a fair situation? What do you think can be done? Discuss in class. Ans. The difference between Thulasi and Ramalingam does not show a fair situation. This happens because of inequality in incomes. The government needs to help out people like Thulasi from the following ways. • Equal distribution of land among the people. • Bank loans in place of lands from the moneylenders. • Drinking water facilities. • Supply of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides on reasonable prices. • Electricity at cheaper rate. 5. What do you think the government can do to help farmers like Sekar when they get into debt? Discuss. Ans. Government can chalk out some mechanism so that Sekar is not forced to sell his produce to his lender. Benefits of MSP (Minimum Support Price) should reach Sekar as well. While procuring farm produce, the government should give preference to small farmers; like Sekar. 6. Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table: Sekar Land cultivated Labour required Loans required Selling of harvest Other work done by them

Ramalingam

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Ans. Sekar

Ramalingam

Land cultivated

2 acres.

20 acres

Labour required

No labour required. Only the He hires labour. help of other smaller farmers.

Loans required

He requires loan for seeds, He takes loans from govt. fertilizers, pesticides, etc. he Bank for establishing a takes loan form the trader. rice mill.

Selling of harvest

He sells a few bags of paddy to pay back the loan.

Other work done He has a hybrid cow, whose He owns a rice mill and by them milk he sells in the local milk a shop selling seeds, cooperatives. pesticides, etc.

VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Ramalingam has_________ acres of paddy fields in Kalpattu. 2. Only _____ per cent of India’s farmers are like Ramalingam. 3. The people of Chizami village do ___________ cultivation. 4. In India, nearly ____ out of every five rural families are agricultural labourer families. 5. People of Pudupet earn their living by __________. Ans. 1. twenty, 2. 20, 3. ‘terrace’, 4. two, 5. fishing. II. Write True and False: 1. Thulasi sold her cow to pay back the money she borrowed from Ramalingam for her daughter’s treatment. 2. Weaving is a farm activity. 3. Sekar has a hybrid cow, whose milk he sells in the local milk cooperative. 4. Sekar takes loan from bank and buys seeds and fertilizers. 5. Ramalingam is a big farmer having twenty acres of land. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Aruna and Paarivelan activities

(i)

Non-farming

2.

Sekar

(ii)

A poor landless labourer

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298 3.

Kalpattu

(iii) Fishing

4.

Thulasi

(iv)

A large farmer

5.

Teaching, washing, etc. are related to.

(v)

A small farmer

6.

Ramalingam

(vi)

Tamil Nadu

Ans. 1. (iii), 2. (v), 3. (vi), 4. (ii), 5. (i), 6. (iv)

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. The percentage of large farmers in India is (a) 5 (b) 20 (c) 10 (d) 80 2. Ramalingam has (a) Thirty acres of land (b) Ten acres of land (c) Twenty acres of land (d) Five acres of land 3. Thulasi sold her cow to (a) Pay the instalment of the loan that she took from bank. (b) Pay the fees of her daughter (c) Pay back the money she borrowed from Ramalingam. (d) Purchase jewellery 4. Which one is not a farming activity? (a) Ploughing (b) Harvesting (c) Weeding (d) Basket-weaving 5. Thulasi earns (a) ` 40 per day (b) ` 100 per ay (c) ` 70 per day (d) ` 80 per day ANSWERS

1. (b)

2. (c)

3. (c)

4. (d)

5. (a)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. Where is the Chizami village located? Ans. Chizami village is in Phek district in Nagaland. 2. How much land does Sekar have? Ans. Sekar owns only two acres of land. 3. Fishermen go far into the sea. Why? Ans. Fishermen go far into the sea so that they can get a better catch. 4. How much land does Ramalingam have? Ans. He has twenty acres of paddy fields in Kalpattu.

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5. Why did Thulasi borrow money from Ramalingam? Ans. Thulasi borrowed money from Ramalingam for her daughter’s treatment. 6. What work does Sekar do at Ramalingam’s rice mill? Ans. Sekar helps Ramalingam collect paddy from other farmers in the neighbouring villages. 7. What does Ramalingam do with the paddy grown on his land? Ans. Ramalingam uses the paddy grown on his land to produce rice in his rice mill and sells the rice produced to traders in nearby towns. 8. What are the other source of income for farmers other than farming? Ans. Collection from the forest, animal husbandry, dairy produce, fishing etc. 9. When dose the “Community Development Programme” was introduced? Ans. In 1952. 10. Why does Sekar need to earn some extra money? Ans. Whatever he earns from selling paddy last only for eight months. So he needs to earn some extra money. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. Imagine you are a member of a fishing family and you are discussing whether to take a loan from the bank for an engine. What would you say? Ans. I would say it is better to take loan from bank than to go to moneylenders. Moneylenders charge high interest rates which cause distress among the poor people. 2. What work does Sekar do for a living? Ans. Sekar owns only two acres of land. He grows paddy with help of his family members. He also works in Ramalingam's rice mill. He helps him collect paddy from other farmers in the neighbouring villages. He also has a hybrid cow, whose milk he sells in the local milk cooperative. 3. What are the reasons of crop failure? Ans. The major reasons of crop failure are: (i) If the seeds are not of good quality. (ii) If pests attack the crop. (iii) If the monsoon does not bring enough rain. 4. You have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. List five of these. Ans. Non-farm work (i) Making baskets, utensils, pots, bricks, bullock-carts etc. (ii) Blacksmiths (iii) Teachers (iv) Washermen (v) Weavers 5. What causes distress among the farmers? Ans. When crops ruin, farmers sometimes are unable to pay back their loans. And, for the family to survive, they may even have to borrow more money. Soon the loan becomes so large that no matter what they earn, they are unable to repay. This is how they are caught in debt. This has become a major cause of distress among farmers.

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C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. Write a brief note on big landlords in villages. Ans. A very small number of farmers are big landlords. They own a major portion of farmland in a village. The produce enough to take care of their family needs. The sell surplus produces in the market. Many big farmers also carry out related businesses; like flour mill, shops for fertilizers and seeds. They also rent out their farm equipment; like tractors and threshers to other farmers. Big farmers do not need to work on their farms rather they hire labourers for various works. 2. Farmers in India are without work for a major portion of the year. (i) Why? (ii) What is the situation of market for farm produce? Ans. (i) Farming in India generates employment on a seasonal basis. Workers are busy only during certain months of the year. Work is available during ploughing, sowing, weeding and harvesting times only. For the remaining months, the farm workers are without job. (ii) The farm produce do not fetch attractive prices during the harvest season. Farmers are usually forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices. Sometimes, the middlemen force them to sell at cheaper rates. Sometimes, the moneylenders also force them to sell at cheaper rates. Lack of proper storage facilities is another major reason that farmers are forced to sell at lower prices. Government tries to help out farmers by offering MSP (Minimum Support Price) for farm produce. During harvest season, the FCI (Food Corporation of India) buys the farm produce at MSP. 3. Why do you think that there is seasonal unemployment in villages? Ans. In the villages of India, the main occupation of the people is agriculture or farming. Farmers do not get work throughout the year. Farming involves many activities like preparing land for sowing, transplanting saplings, weeding grass, applying fertilisers, harvesting crops and threshing grains. Whole work is done in periodic intervals. Due to the break in the continuity of the farming work, there is seasonal unemployment in villages. When there is no work in the farm, the farmers has to look for other work like making bricks, carrying bricks, building roads and houses.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. What work does Sekar’s family do? Why do you think Sekar does not usually employ labourers for doing farming work? 2. What do you think the government can help farmers like Sekar when they get into debt? Discuss. 3. Write a short note on people of Chizami. 4. Briefly explain the term ‘seasonal unemployment’. 5. Write short notes on rural livelihoods.

9 Chapter

Urban Livelihood

I. BASIC CONCEPTS • More than 5000 towns and 27,000 big cities in India. • Big cities Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata are known as metropolis or simply as metro. • More than 1 million people live and work in each city. • In factories, jobs are casual basis are not permanent. Less facilities are provided. No Job security. • In city, many workers who work in offices, shops, factories, etc. • India has become a major centre not only for Indian companies but also for foreign companies.

II. IN A NUTSHELL •• Work gives us a sense of accomplishment; we work to meet our needs and requirements of those who are dependent on us. Our work contributes to the growth of economy of country. •• The main street of cities are always buzzing with activities like vegetable vendor, fruit seller, newspaper seller, auto rickshaw and cycle rickshaw puller. •• Businesspersons are not employed by anyone but they employ a number of workers as supervisors and helpers. Businesspersons get license from the Municipal Corporation to open showrooms. •• Municipal Corporation decides the working days of the market. Example: Wednesday market. Markets also provide services such as banks, courier services and others. •• Sales persons work is to get orders from shopkeepers and collect payments from them. Each salesperson is responsible for a particular region. •• Marketing manager meets the salespersons once in a week to check their progress report and discuss the problem they face while doing the marketing. He has to travel to different places. The job of a marketing manager is permanent and they also get benefits from the office. •• Factory area consists of small workshops. In one of the factories, people work on sewing machines and stitch clothes. In another section, the stitched clothes are stacked. Many women work as tailors in the export garment unit.

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III. KEYWORDS •• Urban Areas: Towns and cities •• Business Person: One who earns his livelihood by engaging himself in some business. •• Vendor: One who sells things of daily use by visiting door to door. •• Casual Worker: One who works on daily wages and doing different works. •• Employer: One who gives job to someone. •• Labour Chowk: A place where daily wage earner gather together with their tools and wait for people to come and hire them for work. •• Call Centre: It gives a new form of employment to the people of big cities. It is a centralised office that deals with problems and questions that consumers/ customers have regarding goods purchased and services like banking, ticket booking, etc. •• Hawker: One who sells things by visiting from place to place asking people to buy his goods.

IV. NCERT IN-TEXT QUESTIONS Page 76

1. What do you see in this illustration? Ans. In the above illustration, we see people engaged in a variety or works. Someone is selling something, someone is running to catch the bus, someone is purchasing things, children are going to school etc.

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Page 77

1. You have already read about the work that people do in rural areas. Now compare the work that people in this illustration are doing with the work that people do in rural areas. Ans. In the picture of rural area we see people are engaged in farming activities such as agriculture, blacksmith, repairs of farm equipments, work in rice mills, rearing of cattle-cow, working as farm labourer, labour in nearby town. In Urban areas, non-farming activities–Transport, shops, purchasing and selling of goods. Page 79 1. Some parts of the city are different from others. What differences do you notice in this illustration? Ans. In one of the pictures, there are users who avail the facilities while in the other picture there are the service providers providing different services. We see a barber, a sweeper, a milk vendor, a florist etc. There is a hospital too. An auto driver is also seen in the picture. Services of these people are very essential. They are an important part of the urban society. 2. Why did Bachchu Manjhi come to the city? Ans. Bachchu Manjhi came to the city to earn a living. 3. Why can’t Bachchu Manjhi live with his family? Ans. Bachchu Manjhi can’t live with his family as he did not have any room to stay in and not enough earning for whole family.

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4. Talk to a vegetable vendor or hawker and find out how they organise their work, their way of preparing, purchasing, selling etc. Ans. Do it yourself. 5. Bachchu Manjhi has to think twice before taking a day off from work. Why? Ans. Because he would not earn anything on that day and, therefore, he would have to face difficulties. Page 81 1. Why did Harpreet and Vandana start a showroom? Ans. These days people prefer to buy readymade clothes rather than to get them stitched by tailor. Nowadays there is a trend for readymade garments. Therefore, they started a showroom after completing their college education. 2. What do they have to do to run the showroom? Ans. For their showroom, they had to purchase garments from different cities and states. They got some dress items from abroad too. The had to give advertisements in different papers, radios, T.V. channels, etc. 3. Talk to a shop owner in a market and find out how he plans his work. Ans. By talking to businessman, our opinion is: 1. He purchased a showroom, earlier it was on rent. 2. He has also purchased a house in nearby apartments. • He has already purchased a car. • The showroom running is based on the following activities. (i) He buys different things from different places. (ii) He advertises his products in the newspapers, radio and TV channels. 4. Have there been any changes in his business in the past twenty years? Ans. Yes, his business has changed a lot with the passage of time. Previously, it was only he who owned a garment shop in the area. And therefore, he did not have to face competition. But now, there are a several garment shops which have made the market very competitive. The sale has been affected. People do bargaining. If they are not satisfied with the price, they move to another shop. Those who sell things in the street buy their things from the local market. 5. What are the differences between those who sell on the street and those in the market? Ans. On the contrary, those who sell things in the market, purchase their things in bulk from the bigger towns or the manufacturing cities. The street vendors or sellers don’t need any licence whereas those who have shops in the main market need licence and also pay taxes. One can’t rely more on the street vendors whereas shops in the market are permanent and hence reliable. Page 83 1. What are the differences between those who sell on the street and those in the market? Ans. Small workshops and factories employ casual workers because they don’t have regular work.

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2. Why do you think small workshops and factories employ casual workers? Ans. They employ casual workers because small workshops and factories are seasonally. During the loan periods they do not work. They are not rich enough to pay salaries for loan periods. Workers cannot wait sitting idle. These workers do the work whatever is available to them. 3. Describe the working conditions of people like Nirmala keeping in mind the following: working hours, conditions in the workplace, earnings, and the days of work available. Ans. Nirmala works as a tailor in an export garment unit. The factory where she works makes summer clothes for people in foreign countries. • Working hours of Nirmala. Nirmala has to work for very long hours in the months from December to April. A normal working time begins at 9 a.m. and finishes till 10 p.m. sometimes even later. She works for six days a week. At times when the work needs to be done urgently, she works on Sundays too. • Conditions of Workplace. Jobs like that of Nirmala are not permanent. There is no job security or protection and there is also ill-treatment. Workers are expected to work for long hours. For example, in the cloth mill units, the workers work for one day and night shifts with each shift lasting 12 hours. • Earnings. Nirmala is paid Rs. 80 per day for eight hours and Rs. 40 extra for working for extra time. • Days of the work available. Most workers, like Nirmala, are employed on the casual basis, i.e., they are required to come as and when the employer needs them. They are employed when the employer gets a large order for goods in certain seasons. At other times of the year they have to go elsewhere to find a job. The factory in which Nirmala works, reduces its staff by June. Nirmala will therefore, be asked to leave the job. She will be without work for at least three or four months. 4. Would you say that domestic workers like housemaids are also casual workers? Why? Describe the workday of one such woman detailing the work she does in other peoples' houses. Ans. Yes, domestic workers like housemaids, are also casual workers because they don’t get the facilities of the permanent and regular job. They are at the will of their employer. So long they are physically fit, they will continue their duty. As soon as their efficiency decreases, they are asked to leave their job. I know one such woman who works as a domestic help in my neighbourhood. Her name is Sita. Every day she starts doing work from 7 o’clock in the morning. She does each and every household work. Her Memsahib works in an office and is a very busy person. Sita takes care of everything. She cooks food, washes clothes, cleans the house, buys household articles from the nearby shops, etc. She doesn’t get any free time to rest. She goes to bed 12 o’clock. She earns ` 8500 per month.

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V. NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS (Pages 84-85) 1. Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk. Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accommodation and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay ` 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need. Source: Aman Sethi, Hindu, On-line Ans. Students are suggested to discuss the above theme in the class in the presence of their teacher. 2. Complete the following table and discuss how their work is different: Name

Place of work

Bachchu Manjhi

Earnings

Security of work

Benefits received

100 a day

Harpreet Vandana

Work on their own

Nirmala Sudha

Work on their own or employed

No security Company

30,000 p.m.

Ans. Name

Place of work

Earnings

Security of work

Benefits received

Bachchu Manjhi

Bus stand

Harpreet Vandana

Showroom in Several the market thousands

Nirmala

Workshop

` 80 + a day No security Only wages for ten hours

Sudha

Company

30,000 p.m.

100 a day

Work on their own or employed

No

No benefits

Work on their own

Yes

Full income

Work on their own

Full Security

Holidays, medical facilities

Casually Permanent

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3. In what ways is a permanent and regular job different from a casual job? Discuss. Ans. Permanent job (Regular Job)

Casual job (Non-regular job)

1. Permanent job and regular jobs are secured, run year to years.

1. Casual job is only for a fixed period. No job security.

2. Working hours are less.

2. Working hours are very long.

3. Handsome salaries are paid.

3. They get less salaries.

4. They get other benefits such as holidays, medical facilities pension, leaves.

4. They do not get any other benefits.

4. What benefits does Sudha get along with her salary? Ans. Sudha is a marketing manager in a company with a regular salary. She also gets benefits such as medical facilities for the family Pension and Provident fund. 5. Fill in the following table to show the services provided by people in the markets which you visit frequently. Name of the shop or office

Name of the service provider

Ans. Name of the shop or office

Name of the service provider

Garment showroom

It provides clothes as per the requirement of the customer.

Cloth Showroom

Cloths and readymade garments.

Auto Repair shop

Repair of scooter, mobile, car, etc.

Grocey

Food articles and other articles.

STD/ISD Booths

Telephone will, E-mail, Fax, etc.

Shop selling utensils, footwear, They provide household things. electronic goods, etc. Banks

They provide security and growth to our money.

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VI. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS I. Fill in the Blanks: 1. Nirmala works in a_______________. 2. There are almost _______'street vendors' in the country working in urban areas. 3. _______________ is now recognised as a general benefit and as a right of people to earn their livelihood. 4. A large number of people in the city work on the __________. 5. ____________ and ________are business persons. Ans. 1. garment factory, 2. one crore , 3. Street vending, 4. streets, 5. Harpreet, Vandana. II. Write True and False: 1. Vandana is a dress designer. 2. Workers who work in offices, factories, and government departments are called casual workers. 3. Working in Call Centres is a new form of employment in the big cities. 4. Street shops are usually permanent structures. 5. Casual workers can complain about their pay or working conditions. Ans. 1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False, 5. False III. Match the following: Column A

Column B

1.

Sudha

(i) Work as helpers to masons

2.

Daily wage workers

3.

Nirmala

(iii) Business persons

4.

Harpreet and Vandana

(iv) Works as a tailor

5.

Bachchu Manjhi

(ii) Rickshaw puller

(v) Works as a Marketing Manager

Ans. 1. (v), 2. (i), 3. (iv), 4. (iii), 5. (ii)

VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1. Workers who are employed on casual basis usually get (a) Poor Salary (b) Medical leave (c) Handsome salary (d) Both (a) and (b) 2. The authority that issues a licence to the permanent shops is the (a) Home Ministry (b) Municipal Corporation (c) Electricity department (d) None of the above.

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3. Foreign companies usually set up call centres in India because (a) They can get people who can speak English. (b) They can get cheap land to establish call centre. (c) They can get people who will work for lower wages. (d) Both (a) and (b). 4. Vandana is a (a) Doctor (b) Dress designer (c) Sales manager (d) Dentist 5. Nirmala works in a (a) Showroom (b) Company (c) Call centre (d) Garment factory ANSWERS

1. (b)

2. (b)

3. (d)

4. (b)

5. (d)

VIII. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS A. Very Short Answer Type Questions 1. List some activities that are carried out on the streets? Ans. Vending, hair cutting, shoe repairing, flower selling, newspaper selling etc. 2. Who is Bachchu Manjhi? Ans. Bachchu Manjhi is a Cycle-Rickshaw Puller. 3. What kind of threat temporary workers go through? Ans. Temporary workers go through the threat of being fired by the employer. 4. How many towns and big cities are there in India? Ans. There are more than five thousand towns and twenty seven big cities in India. 5. Which authority issues licence to the permanent shops to do business? Ans. Municipal corporation authority issues licence to the permanent shops to do business. 6. What is labour chowk? Ans. The ‘labour chowk’ is a place where daily wage labourers wait with their tools for contractors to hire them. 7. How street vending was looked upon recently? Ans. Street vending was till recently looked upon only as an obstruction to traffic and to people walking. 8. Why foreign companies set up their call centres in India? Ans. Foreign companies set up Call Centres in India as they can get people who can speak English and will work for lower wages. 9. What was found in a survey of Ahmedabad city? Ans. In a survey of Ahmedabad city it was found that 12 per cent of all the workers in the city were people working on the street. 10. Why do you think small workshops and factories employ casual workers? Ans. Small workshops and factories employ casual workers because they get large orders only during certain seasons.

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11. Who are casual workers? Ans. Casual workers are not the part of the permanent workforce, but supply services on an irregular or flexible basis, often to meet a fluctuating demand for work. 12. Why can’t Bachchu Manjhi live with his family? Ans. Bachchu Manjhi can’t live with his family because he stays with his friends in a rented room. B. Short Answer Type Questions 1. What is the difference between a city and a village? Ans. A city is much bigger if compared to a village. The population of village runs into thousands at the most, while the population of a city can be in millions. While agriculture is the main occupation in village, this is not the case in a city. 2. What do you understand by government servants? Ans. People who work for the government are called government servants. Some of them work for the Central Government, while some others work for the State Government. 3. Explain retirement benefits in a permanent job. Ans. A part of the salary is saved by the government every month. This money is utilized to provide retirement benefits to employees. When a government servant retires, he gets a big amount of money as one-time payment. Additionally, he also gets monthly pension after retirement. The pension is usually enough to maintain a comfortable life during old age. 4. What are the working conditions of the non-permanent workers? Ans. The working conditions of the non-permanent workers are very depressing. They are given very minimum pay for their work and if they complain about their pay, they are asked to leave the job. There is no job security or protection if there is ill treatment. They are also expected to work very long hours. For examples, in the cloth mill units the workers work on day and night shifts, with each shift lasting 12 hours. One worker works on one machine for 12 hours and then is replaced by another on the same machine for the next 12 hours. 5. Describe the living conditions of workers who come to the labour Chowk? Ans. Most of the workers at the labour Chowk cannot afford permanent lodging and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs. 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need. Hence, the living conditions of the workers are very poor and depressing.

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C. Long Answer Type Questions 1. What are the differences between those who sell on the street and those in the market? Ans. Difference Who sell on the street

Who sell in the market

1. They buy things from local 1. They buy things from the bigger towns market. or the manufacturing cities. 2. They don’t need licence to do 2. They need licence to do business. business. 3. Shops on the street are temporary. 3. Shops in the market are permanent. 2. What are the benefits of a permanent job? Ans. People in permanent jobs have following benefits: (i) They get regular salary every month. (ii) They can expect their job to continue for a long period of time. (iii) They get off on Sundays and national holidays. They also get some days as annual leave. (iv) A part of their salary is kept in a fund with the government. They will earn interest on these savings. When they retire from their job, they will get this money. 3. Differentiate between a family and a community. Ans. Family

Community

1. It is the smallest unit of a civic 1. It is the biggest unit of civic life. life. 2. Consists of parents and children. 2. Consists of people living in one place, district or country 3. Parents manage affairs.

3. Here, local bodies manage their affairs.

4. Why do people prefer working in an organised sector? Ans. Unorganized sector is characterized by low wages, long hours of work and lack of job security. People prefer to work in an organised sector because of the following reasons – 1. Workers enjoy security of employment. 2. There are fixed number of working hours. If workers work more, they have to be paid overtime by the employer 3. Employees of the organised sector are entitled to medical leave, payment during holidays, provident fund etc. 4. Workers also get medical benefits and under the laws, factory manager has to ensure facilities like drinking water and a safe working environment.

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5. Compare livelihood challenges faced by rural and urban women. Ans. Challenges faced by rural women – 1. Poor resource base and resource quality (small or no agricultural land and water) 2. Illiteracy and lack of skill 3. Lack of awareness on different government schemes and programmes 4. Lack of knowledge of disasters Challenges faced by urban women – 1. Lack of employment and irregular jobs 2. Lack of job security and low wages 3. Lack of sufficient and timely credit support system for petty trade 4. Fear of eviction by police and civic bodies 5. Congested and hazardous working conditions 6. Why did Harpreet and Vandana start a showroom? What do they have to do to run the showroom? Ans. These days people prefer to buy ready made clothes, rather than have them stitched. The trend these days is for ready made garments. Therefore, Harpreet and Vandana started a showroom. For their showroom, they buy things from different places. They buy most of the materials from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana and Tripura. Some materials also come from Noida and Gurgaon, towns near Delhi. They get some dress items from foreign countries too. There are several things they need to do to run this showroom properly. They advertise in various newspapers, cinema theatres, television, and radio channels. Picture Based Question Look at the picture and answer the following questions:

1. What kind of office is this? 2. What type of work is done in this type of offices? 3. Where are these types of offices found: in urban or rural localities? 4. Why do you think the foreign companies set up this type of offices in India?

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Ans. 1. The picture shows a Call Centre. This is a centralised office. 2. Mainly customer or consumer related issues are dealt with in the Call Centres. 3. These types of offices are found in urban localities. 4. Indians speak English well and they work for lower wages. So, foreign companies set up Call Centres in India.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST 1. Why do small workshops and factories need casual workers? 2. State the differences between marketing and selling. 3. What is a Call Centre? 4. Briefly describe the consumer market. 5. What are your duties towards your parents?

Sample Paper–1 Time: 3 hrs. All questions are compulsory.

Marks: 80

SECTION A (HISTORY) 1. Fill in the blanks: [4 × 1 = 4] (a) The Sanskrit name for ‘Indus’ is ____________. (b) The word ‘Mesolithic’ means ________________. (c) Most families are related to one another and groups of such families from a _______________. (d) ____________ is a kind of stone used to make stone weights for weighing precious stones or metals. 2. Select the correct answer from the options given below: [4 × 1 = 4] (i) Where is Inamgaon located? (a) Karnataka (d) Maharashtra (c) Kerala (d) Gujarat (ii) Who according to the Brahmins were responsible for fighting battles and protecting people? (a) Rajas (b) Brahmins (c) Vaishya (d) Kshatriyas (iii) Where did the Buddha pass away? (a) Gaya (b) Kapilavastu (c) Kusinara (d) Sarnath (iv) Where is Pataliputra situated in present-day India? (a) Pune (b) Puducherry (c) Panaji (d) Patna 3. Answer the following questions in one word: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) Where was Sangam literature composed? (b) What does the term ‘Bodhisattva’ mean? (c) Name a court poet during the rule of Samudragupta. 4. Answer the following questions in short: [5 × 2 = 10] (a) Write a short note on Meghaduta. (b) How do we learn about the Gupta rulers from inscriptions and coins? (c) Why were the Satavahanas called the lords of the dakshinapatha? (d) What do you know about the ring wells found in Delhi? (e) Name the countries where Ashoka’s inscriptions have been found.

314

Sample Paper–1

5. Answer the following questions: (a) Write a note on ‘Upanishad’. (b) Differentiate between ‘Aryas’ and ‘Dasas’. 6. Locate the following in the map provided: Vindhya, Garo Hills, River Ganga

315 [2 × 3 = 6] [3 × 1 = 3]

SECTION B (GEOGRAPHY) 7. Fill in the blanks: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) A huge system of stars is called a ____________. (b) The Indian Standard Time is based on _____________ meridian. (c) The daily motion of the earth is called _____________.

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Social Science—VI (Political Science)

8. Select the correct answer from the options given below: [3 × 1 = 3] (i) A compass is used – (a) To show symbols (b) To find the main direction (c) To measure distance (d) To measure speed (ii) The gas responsible for global warming is (a) Oxygen (b) Carbon dioxide (c) Nitrogen (d) Ozone (iii) The river Yangtze flows in (a) South America (b) Australia (c) China (d) India 9. Answer the following questions in one word: [2 × 1 = 2] (a) Name the delta formed by the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra. (b) Name the seasonal wind that brings rainfall to India. 10. Answer the following questions in short: [4 × 2 = 8] (a) What do you mean by migratory birds? (b) Write a short note on the Great Indian Desert. (c) What are the different types of mountains? (d) What is Tsunami? 11. Answer the following questions: [3 × 3 = 9] (a) What do you understand by a large scale map and a small scale map? (b) What is an equinox? (c) What are the differences between latitudes and longitudes?

SECTION C (POLITICAL SCIENCE) 12. Fill in the blanks: [4 × 1 = 4] (a) ______________ is the fishing net used by the fishermen in Kerala. (b) _______________ fought for the rights of the Dalits. (c) American women got the right to vote in _________. (d) In _________ South Africa became a democratic country. 13. Choose the correct answer from the given options: [4 × 1 = 4] (i) The work of the Gram Panchayat has to be approved by the (a) Members of the Gram Sabha. (b) Zila Parishad. (c) Ward Member (d) Gram Sabha (ii) The person in-charge of the police station is known as (a) Station Master (b) Superintendent of Police (c) Station House Officer (d) None of the above (iii) Which one is not the job of the Municipal Corporation? (a) It keeps the streets and markets clean. (b) It builds gardens and maintains them. (c) It runs schools, hospitals and dispensaries. (d) It builds hotels for the tourists.

Sample Paper–1

317

(iv) Which one is not a farming activity? (a) Ploughing (b) Harvesting (c) Weeding (d) Basket-weaving 14. Say whether the following statements are true or false: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) Rice is the major crop in Ladakh. (b) Government jobs are reserved for people who belong to the upper caste. (c) It was Gandhiji who demanded the right to vote for all. 15. Answer the following questions in short: [4 × 2 = 8] (a) What is the key idea of a democratic government? (b) Describe the importance of local government. (c) Write any two responsibilities of patwari. (d) What do you think the government can do to help farmers when they get into debt? 16. Answer the following question: [1 × 3 = 3] List the ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller. 17. Observe the following picture and answer the questions that follow: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) What kind of office is this? (b) What type of work is done in these offices? (c) Where do you find this type of offices: in urban or rural localities?

Sample Paper–2 Time: 3 hrs. All questions are compulsory.

Marks: 80

SECTION A (HISTORY) 1. Fill in the blanks: [4 × 1 = 4] (a) The word ‘sukta’ means _____________. (b) The capital of Vajji was the city of ______________________. (c) The followers of Mahavira are called the ____________. (d) The Mauryan rulers tried to control roads and ______ ____ which were important for transport. 2. Select the correct answer from the options given below: [4 × 1 = 4] (i) Mathura was an important: (a) village (c) port (c) religious centre (d) forested area (ii) This was an important settlement in the Chola kingdom. (a) Kaveripattinam (c) Madurai (c) Kanchipuram (d) Magadha (iii) Harsha's brother-in-law was the ruler of which kingdom? (a) Thanesar (b) Kanauj (c) Bengal (d) Magadha (iv) Bhagavad-Gita is a part of which of the following epics? (a) Ramayana (b) Mahabharata (c) Silappadikaram (d) Manimekalai 3. Answer the following questions in one word: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) Name the book written by Charaka. (b) A term to refer to a group that has many members. (c) A Buddhist monastery or temple. 4. Answer the following questions in short: [5 × 2 = 10] (a) Write a short note on the Great Wall of China. (b) What is the importance of the port of Arikamedu? (c) Why do you think it would have been difficult to use carts along the Silk Route? (d) According to Banabhatta, ‘the whole world was swallowed up in dust’. Explain the statement. (e) Why did Marutasami visit Mehrauli? Describe the path taken by him.

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Sample Paper–2

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5. Answer the following questions: [2 × 3 = 6] (a) Suppose you have to interview an archaeologist. Write down three questions that you would like to ask hm/her. (b) Why did the hunter-gatherers travel from place to place? In what ways are these similar to/different from the reasons for which we travel today? (c) Why do archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later? 6. Identify the objects and write one sentence on each. [3 × 1 = 3]

1.

2.

3. SECTION B (GEOGRAPHY) 7. Fill in the blanks: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) The 0° Meridian is also known as ________. (b) The earth travels around the sun in a/an ___________ orbit. (c) Scale of a map helps us to get an idea about the ________ between two places. 8. Select the correct answer from the options given below: [3 × 1 = 3] (i) Which domain of the earth is made up of solid rock surface of the earth’s crust? (a) Lithosphere (b) Biosphere (c) Hydrosphere (d) Atmosphere (ii) An important mountain range of Europe is (a) the Andes (b) the Alps (c) the Rockies (d) the Himalayas (iii) India is politically divided into (a) 30 States and 7 Union Territories (b) 29 States and 7 Union Territories (c) 29 States and 9 Union Territories (d) 29 States and 7 Union Territories 9. Answer the following questions in one word: [2 × 1 = 2] (a) What is the shape of the earth is called? (b) What do you think would happen if the earth stops revolving around the sun?

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10. Answer the following questions in short: [4 × 2 = 8] (a) What are the different components of a map? (b) Why do the river plains have fertile soil? (c) Name the different seasons in India. (d) Write any two differences between evergreen forest and deciduous forest. 11. Answer the following questions: [3 × 3 = 9] (a) What are the factors or conditions that support life in the Earth? (b) Describe the three ranges of the Himalayas. (c) Label the names of any two continents and any one ocean in the following map:

SECTION C (POLITICAL SCIENCE) 12. Fill in the blanks: [4 × 1 = 4] (a) Working in Call Centres is a new form of __________ in the big cities. (b) People of Pudupet earn their living by __________. (c) __________ are responsible for preparing the budget for a city. (d) The written complaint registered in the police station is known as a/an ___________. 13. Choose the correct answer from the given options: [4 × 1 = 4] (i) The Panchayati Raj System is the (a) First level of democratic government. (b) Second level of democratic government. (c) Third level of democratic government. (d) Fourth level of democratic government.

Sample Paper–2

321

(ii) Which of the following dams is used for irrigation in Karnataka? (a) Hirakud dam (b) Tehri dam (c) Bhakra dam (d) Krishna Sagar dam (iii) The term suffrage means (a) Right to livelihood. (b) Right to vote. (c) Right to go anywhere in the country. (d) None of the above. (iv) India is a secular country. It means (a) People of India have the freedom to live in any part of the country. (b) People of different community have the freedom to practise their religion without any discrimination. (c) All Indians are equal on the basis of caste and creed. (d) People of single religion, i.e., Hinduism are allowed to live in the country. 14. Say whether the following statements are true or false: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote the book “The Discovery of India”. (b) Workers who work in offices, factories, and government departments are called casual workers. (c) Weaving is a farm activity. 15. Answer the following questions in short: [4 × 2 = 8] (a) What is a Municipal Corporation? (b) Who is a Patwari? Menton two of his responsibilities or duties. (c) What problem did the women of Hardas village was facing? (d) Write a short note on African National Congress. 16. Answer the following questions: [2 × 3 = 6] (a) Match the columns: Column A 1. Government of people 2. It protects rights of unorganized workers 3.

Power vested in one man

Column A (i) Monarchy (ii) Democracy (iii) Government

(b) Discuss what you understand by the term ‘equality’.

Sample Paper–3 Time: 3 hrs. All questions are compulsory.

Marks: 80

SECTION A (HISTORY) 1. Fill in the blanks: [4 × 1 = 4] (a) The Ghoda is a tributary of River ____________. (b) _________________ is the present-day name of the city Rajagriha. (c) Siddhartha was born in the ______________________ gana. (d) Kalinga was the ancient name of ______________. 2. Select the correct answer from the options given below: [4 × 1 = 4] (i) Punch marked coins were made of: (a) silver (b) gold (c) tin (d) ivory (ii) Romans named this product exported from the Indian subcontinent as Black Gold. (a) Black Salt (b) Black Silk (c) Black Gemstone (d) Black Pepper (iii) Who was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty that adopted the grand title of maharaj- adhiraja? (a) Samudragupta (b) Chandragupta I (c) Skandhagupta (d) Chandragupta II (iv) What is the most important part of the temple where the image of the chief deity kept? (a) Shikhara (b) Garbhagriha (c) Mandapa (d) Stupa 3. State whether the following sentences are true or false. [3 × 1 = 3] (a) Microliths are large standing stones found in the Deccan region, north-east India and Kashmir. (b) When some janapadas gained control over large areas, they became mahajanapada. (c) The Buddha taught that karma has no effect on our lives. 4. Answer the following questions in short: [5 × 2 = 10] (a) Why was the king Ashoka considered a unique ruler? (b) What kind of special gifts were brought by merchants for the king in Barygaza?

322

Sample Paper–3

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(c) Why did Buddhism spread other parts of Asia? (d) How did Harishena describe Samudragupta in his prashasti? (e) Write about the Great Stupa located at Sanchi. 5. Answer the following questions: [2 × 3 = 6] (a) Match the below columns. Column A

Column B

Narmada Valley

Early agriculture

Magadha

Hunting and gathering

Garo hills

The first big kingdom

(b) List three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire. (c) Describe the drainage system of the Harappan cities. 6. Match the grains that were found in the sites given below. Note, none of the choices can be repeated. [6 × ½ = 3] Sites 1. Mehrgarh 2. Koldihwa

Grains found (i) Green Gram (ii) Black gram

3. Gufkral

(iii) Millet

4. Chirand

(iv) Barley

5. Hallur 6. Paiyampalli

(v) Lentil (vi) Rice

SECTION B (GEOGRAPHY) 7. Fill in the blanks: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) The ________ divide the earth into three major heat zones. (b) The sun’s rays fall vertically on the Tropic of ________ on 21st June. (c) The plants and animals constitute the domain ___________ which lies on lithosphere. 8. Select the correct answer from the options given below: [3 × 1 = 3] (i) The Equator passes through which of the following continents? (a) Europe (b) Africa (c) Antarctica (d) Australia (ii) Glaciers are found in (a) the mountains (b) the plains (c) the plateaus (d) the oceans

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(iii) The oldest mountain range in India is the (a) Aravali hills (b) Western Ghats (c) Himalayas (d) Vindhyas 9. Answer the following questions in one word: [2 × 1 = 2] (a) Which direction could be found with the help of a compass? (b) Name the hot and dry wind that blow ovver northern India during summer days. 10. Answer the following questions in short: [4 × 2 = 8] (a) What is the name of the area lying at the north of the Arctic Circle? Why is that name given? (b) Write a short note on volcanic mountains. (c) How are the coral islands formed? (d) What will happen if tigers vanish from our forests? 11. Answer the following questions: [3 × 3 = 9] (a) Write down the reasons why there is no life in the Moon. (b) Differentiate between the Summer and Winter Solstice. (c) Study the following map and answer the questions:

(i) Name the villages separated by a railway track. (ii) Where is the village Sunderpur located with respect to the village Dumri? (iii) On which bank of the river is the temple located?

SECTION C (POLITICAL SCIENCE) 12. Fill in the blanks: [4 × 1 = 4] (a) ___________ stop us from looking at each person as a unique individual withhis/her own special qualities and skills that are different from others. (b) ______________ means that all adults in the country are allowed to vote. (c) The two states involved in the Cauvery water dispute are Karnataka and ______________. (d) ___________ is the apex body of Panchayati Raj system.

Sample Paper–3

325

13. Choose the correct answer from the given options: [4 × 1 = 4] (i) Kanungo is the other name of (a) Tehsildar (b) Patwari (c) Talukdar (d) Land owner (ii) The cleanest city in India is (a) Surat (b) Mumbai (a) Chandigarh (d) Nagpur (iii) Thulasi sold her cow to (a) pay the instalment of the loan that she took from bank. (b) pay the fees of her daughter (c) pay back the money she borrowed from Ramalingam. (d) purchase jewellery (iv) Workers who are employed on casual basis usually get (a) poor Salary (b) medical leave (d) handsome salary (d) both (a) and (b) 14. Say whether the following statements are true or false: [3 × 1 = 3] (a) Courts are also part of the government. (b) In our society there is a general tendency to value and care for the girl child more than the boy child. (c) The Secretary of the Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha is an elected person. 15. Answer the following questions in short: [4 × 2 = 8] (a) What is the role of the Police Department in the society? (b) List two ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller. (c) Why does Sekar not go to the town market to get a better price for his paddy? (d) Explain the retirement benefits in a permanent job. 16. Answer the following questions: [2 × 3 = 3] (a) Write down any three basic features of the Indian Constitution. (b) Look at the image below and answer the questions that follow:

(i) What do you see in the image? (ii) What are these used for? (iii) How is the name of these things derived?

CBSE CBSE in in

SOCIAL SCIENCE

2021

CBSE

2021 in

SOCIAL SCIENCE The Ultimate Exam Preparation Kit Strictly based on CBSE Latest Syllabus  Basic Concepts  In a Nutshell  Keywords with explaina on  Date Line  NCERT Textbook Exercises  Objec ve Type Ques ons  Mul ple Choice Ques ons  Addi onal Ques ons  Self-Assessment Test 

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