CLASS VI Social Science UT-1 Syllabus

HISTORY- CH-1 What Where How and WhenCH-2 From Hunting – Gathering to Growing Food”

GEOGRAPHY- CH-1 The Earth in The Solar SystemCH-2 Globe: Latitudes and Longitudes

CIVICS- CH-1 “Understanding Diversity”CH-2 “Diversity and Discrimination”

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CLASS VI HISTORYCH-1 WHAT WHERE HOW AND WHEN

Very important points of the chapter:-

Some of the areas where women and men first began to grow crops such as wheat and barley about 8000 years ago are located in the sulaiman and Kirthar hills to the Northwest of India.

The place where the rice was first grown are north of the Vindhyas. The areas where agriculture developed were in Garo hills. South Asia (India. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Srilanka and Bangladesh) is often called a sub continent

because although it is smaller than a continent, it is very large and separated from the rest of Asia by hills, seas and mountains.

The word India comes from the river Indus, called Sindhu in Sanskrit The name Bharata was used for a group of people who lived in the northwest and who are mentioned

in the Rigveda. INSCRIPTION are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. A.D. is a Latin word which stand for ANNO DOMINI which means in the year of lord. Sometimes C.E.is used instead of A.D. C.E. Common Era. B.C.E. Before Common Era. Scholars understand the inscriptions containing both scripts and languages through a process known

as DECIPHERMENT. Rosetta is a town on the north coast of Egypt and here an inscribed stone was found contained

inscription in three different languages and script. Scholars who could read out the names of kings and queens were enclosed in a little frame called a

CARTOUCHE.

Keywords:- Manuscript-a book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed. archaeology- the scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls,

and monuments) of past human life and activities. Historian- A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past.

NCERT Solution:-

Q.1 Return to Rasheeda’s question. Can you think of some answers to it?ANS.A possible answer to Rasheeda’s question is that one can know about the past by reading documents that were written long ago.

Q.2 Match the FollowingNarmada valley The first big kingdomMagadha Hunting and gatheringGaro hills Cities about 2500 years agoIndus and its tributaries Early agricultureGanga valley The first cities

ANSWER:Narmada valley Hunting and gatheringMagadha The first big kingdomGaro hills Early agricultureIndus and its tributaries The first citiesGanga valley Cities about 2500 years ago

Q.3 List one major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions.ANS.One major difference between manuscripts and inscriptions is that manuscripts are written on leaves or barks of trees whereas inscriptions are written on hard surfaces such as stone or metal.

Q.4 Make a list of all the objects that archaeologists may find. Which of these could be made of stone?ANS.Archaeologists may find − tools, weapons, pots, pans, ornaments and coins. Out of these tools and weapons may be made of stone.

Q.5 Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?ANS.1. Ordinary men and women did not keep a record of what they did because they did not find the events of their daily lives to be of such significance that they had to be recorded. 2.Moreover, hiring a person to keep a record of daily events was an expensive proposition. 3.On the other hand, it was not too difficult for kings and rulers to hire chroniclers to record what they did or what was happening in or around their territories.

Q.6 Describe at least two ways in which you think the lives of kings would have been different from those of farmers.ANS.The kings fought battles and kept records of their victories. The farmers engaged in none of these activities.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q.1 What is the meaning of Indus in Sanskrit?Ans. Sindhu

Q.2 Write the full form of BCE.Ans. Before Common Era Q.3 Write the full form of CE.Ans. Common Era

 Q.4 Write the full form of AD.Ans. Anno Domini Q5. Name any two animals that people of the Sulaiman and Kirthar hills reared.Ans. Sheep and Goat

Q.6 Who are historians?Ans. Historians are the scholars who studies and writes about the past. Q.7 What do you understand by tributaries?Ans. Tributaries are smaller rivers that flow into a larger river.

Q.8 Where does the word India come from?Ans. The word India comes from the Indus, called Sindhu in Sanskrit. Q.9 What do you mean by manuscript?Ans. Manuscript means any book or document written by hand. Q.10 What are inscriptions?Ans. These are writings on relatively hard surfaces such as stone or metal. Q.11 Name the ruler whose inscription has been found from Kandahar.Ans. Ashoka’s inscription has been found from Kandahar. Q.12 What is source?Ans. The word source refers to the information found from manuscripts, inscriptions and archaeology. Home Work-write down entire NCERT solution and extra question answer in note book

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CLASS VI HISTORYCH-2 From Hunting – Gathering to Growing Food”

Very important points of the chapter:-*Weather of the world was changing and peoples were change, they started to preferred plants and animals for food.* The ancestor of the dog was the first animal under tame was of and then moderately calm animals were controlled like sheep, goat, cattle and about 12,000 years ago Domestication was began.*Settled Life Peoples form Burzahom (Kashmir) had started to build pit-houses -dug into the ground with steps leading into them and provided shelter in cold weather.*Compared to the earlier Paleolithic tools stone tools from sites were different and so called Neolithic.These also comprised many types of earthen pots. Customs and Practices *Many farmers and herders started live in groups which are recognized as tribes.

*Women did the agrarian work such as making the ground etc. and Men acted as leaders. They may be old and knowledgeable, or young, brave warriors, or priests. And then tribes have rich and unique cultural traditions and had their own gods and goddesses. *Mehrgarh Site It is located near Bolan Pass (currently Baluchistan) on way to Iran.Previously archaeological site found drafts of wild animals counting deer and pig. And diggings of sheep and goat were also seen so that we get idea that people were herders. So Mehrgarh peoples were considered as hunters and later as herders.*Mehrgarh is one of the earliest villages People grew barley and wheat, and rear sheep and goats at that time. And the houses are in the shape of square or rectangular. *According to their burial grounds People believed in life after death. Daojali Hading It is located on hills near the Brahmaputra Valley.*Jadeite, a stone which was brought from China Tools were made up from fossil wood and stone tools like mortars and pestles Form we get idea clear idea that people also did agricultural activities.

NCERT Solutions Let’s Recall1. Complete the sentences(a) Hunter-gatherers chose to live in caves and rock shelters because – they found protection from rains, winds and sunlight.(b) Grasslands developed around —-12,000 years— ago 2. Why do people who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time?Solution 2:When they plant a seed, it takes some time to grow. Depending on the type of seeds used, the time taken would vary from days, weeks, months and years. It means they had to stay in the same place to take care of the plants by watering, weeding, driving away animals and birds – till the grain ripened. Once ripened, they had to think of ways to store it. Hence, they had to stay in the same place for a long time. 3. Why do archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later?Solution 3:Archaeologists found the bones of many animals such as deer in the earlier levels. Hence, they could conclude that they were hunters to start with. Herding became important because they found bones of sheep and goat in the later levels. 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?Solution 4:There are 4 reasons

1. They would have eaten up all the plant and animal resources.2. Animals move from place to place, hence they had to follow their movements3. Plants and trees bear fruits in different seasons. So people may have moved from season to season, in

search of different kinds of plants.4. They need water to survive and many rivers and lakes were seasonal. So, they had to go in search of

water during dry seasons.

5. List three ways in which hunter-gatherers used fire. Would you use fire for any of these purposes today?Solution 5:It was primarily used for 3 purposes.

1. Clearing forest area2. Cooking3. For protection from wild animals.

6. List 3 ways in which the lives of farmers and herders would have been different from that of hunter-gatherers.

Solution 6:1. Farmers and herders would stay in one location; whereas hunter-gatherers would have to move from

place to place, following the movement of animals.2. Farmers and herders would stay in huts or houses, whereas hunter-gatherers would stay in caves.3. For farmers and herders, the food source would be crops and domesticated animals like sheep, goat;

whereas hunters would rely on wild animals as a source of food.

EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERS Q1. Fill in the blanks.

1.Millets have been found at Hallur.                2.People in Burzahom lived in pit houses.            3.Chirand is a site in Bihar.                        4.Milk and meat comes from animals that are reared.                        5.Mehrgarh is one of the earliest villages.

 Q2. True/False

                        1.Jadeite, found in Daojali Hading, may have been brought from China. True                        2.Young women are respected for their wisdom and experience. False                        3. Mehrgarh site is in Pakistan. True                        4. Bolan Pass is one of the most important routes into India. False                        5.Gufkral site is in Kashmir. True

Q3. What is ‘jadeite,’?Ans. Jadeite is a stone that may have been brought from China.

Q4. What ‘Fossil Wood’ refers to?Ans. Fossil wood refers to ancient wood that has hardened into stone.

Q5. Which two Neolithic tools are used to grind grain even today?Ans. Mortars and pestles are used for grinding grain.

Q6. Which was the first animal to be tamed?Ans. The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog.

Q7. Which were the earliest plants to be domesticated?Ans. Some of the earliest plants to be domesticated were wheat and barley.

Q8. Which were the earliest animals to be domesticated?Ans. The earliest domesticated animals include sheep and goat.

Q9. What do you understands by the term ‘Tribes’.Ans. Many of these farmers and herders live in groups called tribes.

Q10. Why were people buried with animals, like goats?Ans. The dead person was buried with goats, which were probably meant to serve as food in the next world.

Q11. Where is Daojali Hading?Ans. This is a site on the hills near the Brahmaputra Valley, close to routes leading into China and Myanmar.

Home Work-write down entire NCERT solution and extra question answer in note book

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CLASS VI GEOGRAPHYCH-1 THE EARTH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Very important points of the chapter:-* Word PLANET comes from the word Plantetai which means the wanderer.*Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune have rings around them.* Pluto is a dwarf planet, though, till August 2006, Pluto was considered a planet* Only earth supports life because it has water and air, the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold and optimum to sustain life.* Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the surface of the moon on 21 July 1969* Light travels at the speed 300000 km per second and it takes 8 minutes for the light to reach to the earth from the sun.*Constellations: Basically, these are patterns formed imaginary outlines by the group of stars ex. Ursa Major, Saptarshi.*Pole Star: There is one star which always remains in the same position wrt the earth. Our ancestors used this star to navigate the route. They knew that this star indicates north direction. Hence it is called North Star or Pole Star.*Planets: Planets are celestial bodies. They do not have their own heat or light. They are lit by the star ex. the earth.*Rings: Belt of small debris. You can see them with the help of a powerful telescope.*The Solar System = The Sun (head of the family) + Eight Planets + Satellites + Other Celestial Bodies in the vicinity.*The Sun: Ultimate source of energy for our family i.e. the solar system. He is made up of gases and these gases are hot. The sun is the centre of the solar system.*Planets of the Solar System: Eight of them. Can you name them in a comment below?*Orbits: Planets move around the sun in a fixed path. These paths are elongated and called orbits.*Geoid: Earth-like shape (flattened at poles and bulged at the equator)*Moon: The moon is an only natural satellite of the earth. The moon moves around the earth in about 27 days*Asteroids: small rocky bodies orbiting the sun. Large numbers of these, ranging enormously in size, are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.*Meteoroids: a small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth’s atmosphere.*Meteorite: Large piece of rock or metal from space that has landed on Earth*Galaxy: A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars, and clouds of dust and gases. There are millions of such galaxies that make the Universe.

NCERT Solution:-Question 1:Answer the following questions briefly.(a) How does a planet differ from a star?(b) What is meant by the ‘Solar System’?(c) Name all the planets according to their distance from the Sun.(d) Why is the Earth called a unique planet?(e) Why do we see only one side of the Moon always?

(f) What is the Universe?ANSWER:(a) Stars are big and hot celestial bodies made up of gases. They have their own heat and light, which they emit in large amounts. Planets are also celestial bodies, but they do not have their own heat and light. They are lit by the light of stars.(b) The Sun, eight planets, satellites and some other celestial bodies known as asteroids and meteoroids form the solar system.(c) In order of their distance from the sun, the eight planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.(d) Conditions favourable to support life are probably present only on Earth. The Earth is neither too hot nor too cold. It has water and air, which are very essential for our survival. The air has life-supporting gases like oxygen. Because of these reasons, the Earth is a unique planet in the solar system.(e) The Moon moves around the Earth in about 27 days. It takes exactly the same time to complete one spin. As a result, only one side of the Moon is visible to us on the Earth.(f) A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars, and clouds of dust and gases. Millions of such galaxies make up the universe.

Question 2:Tick the correct answers.(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

ANSWER:(a) The planet known as the “Earth’s Twin” is

(iii) Venus

(b) Which is the third nearest planet to the Sun?(ii) Earth

(c) All the planets move around the Sun in a(iii) Elongated path

(d) The Pole Star indicates the direction to the(ii) North

(e) Asteroids are found between the orbits of(ii) Mars and Jupiter

Question 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 __________.ANSWER:(a) A group of stars forming various patterns is called a constellation.(b) A huge system of stars is called a galaxy.(c) The Moon is the closest celestial body to our Earth.(d) Earth is the third nearest planet to the Sun.(e) Planets do not have their own heat and light.

EXTRA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQ.1 Why Earth is Called Blue Planet?ANS.Earth surface is 71% ocean, oceans are water and water is blue. From the outer space, the earth appears blue that is why it is called the blue planet.

Q.2 How long does it take to go from a new moon to a full moon?Ans. A fortnight Q.3 Name few dwarf planets.Ans. Pluto, Ceres, 2003 and UB313 Q.4 Which is the closest celestial body to our earth?Ans. The moon is the closest celestial body to our earth.

Q.5 Name the natural satellite of the earth?Ans. Moon is the natural satellite of the earth. Q.6 Where are the most asteroids found?Ans. They are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Q.7 How many times can we see full moon in a month time?Ans. We can see the full moon only once in about a month’s time.

Q.8 How long does it take for the moon to complete one revolution?Ans. The moon moves around the earth in about 27 days.

Q.9 What is a geoid?Ans. A sphere with its ends flattened at poles (just like earth) is called geoid. Q.10 Who are called astronomers?Ans. Those who study the celestial bodies and their movements are called astronomers.

 Home Work-write down entire NCERT solution and extra question answer in note bookDraw the given diagram in the notebook.

CLASS VI GEOGRAPHYCH-2 Globe: Latitudes and Longitudes

Very important points of the chapter:-A needle is fixed through the globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis. Two points on the globe through which the needle passes are two poles – North Pole and South Pole.The equator is an imaginary circular line to locate places on the earth. All parallel circles from the equator up to the poles are called parallels of latitudes. Latitudes are measured in degrees.The northern half of the earth is known as the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is known as the Southern Hemisphere. They are both equal halves.All parallels north of the equator are called ‘north latitudes.’ Similarly all parallels south of the equator are called ‘south latitudes.’ The value of each latitude is, indicated by the letter ‘N’ or ‘S’.Important Parallels of LatitudeThere are four important parallels of latitudes

1. Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the Northern Hemisphere.2. Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern Hemisphere.3. Arctic Circle at 66½° north of the equator.4. Antarctic Circle at 66½° south of the equator.

Heat Zones of the EarthTorrid Zones – The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at least once a year on all latitudes in between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area, therefore, receives the maximum heat and is called the Torrid Zone.Temperate Zones – The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The angle of the sun’s rays goes on decreasing towards the poles. As such, the areas bounded by 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, have moderate temperatures. These are called Temperate Zones.Frigid Zones – Areas lying between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole in the Southern Hemisphere are very cold. It is because here the sun

does not rise much above the horizon. Therefore, its rays are always slanting and provide less heat. These are called Frigid Zones.What are Longitudes?Meridians of longitude are drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole and are at right angles to the Equator. The distances between meridians of longitude are measured in degrees of longitude. Each degree is further divided into minutes, and minutes into seconds.Prime Meridian is an imaginary line on Earth that passes north to south through the Greenwich Observatory in London, England. The prime meridian divides Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. The prime meridian is at 0° (0 degrees) longitude. The longitude of a place is followed by the letter E for the east and W for the west.Longitude and TimeThe best means of measuring time is by the movement of the earth, the moon and the planets. When the Prime Meridian of Greenwich has the sun at the highest point in the sky, all the places along this meridian will have mid-day or noon. As the earth rotates from west to east, those places east of Greenwich will be ahead of Greenwich time and those to the west will be behind it.The rate of difference can be calculated as follows. The earth rotates 360° in about 24 hours, which means 15° an hour or 1° in four minutes. Thus, when it is 12 noon at Greenwich, the time at 15° east of Greenwich will be 15 × 4 = 60 minutes, i.e., 1 hour ahead of Greenwich time, which means 1 p.m. But at 15° west of Greenwich, the time will be behind Greenwich time by one hour, i.e., it will be 11.00 a.m. Similarly, at 180°, it will be midnight when it is 12 noon at Greenwich.Why do we have Standard Time?The local time of places which are on different meridians are bound to differ. In India, for instance, there will be a difference of about 1 hour and 45 minutes in the local times of Dwarka in Gujarat and Dibrugarh in Assam. It is, therefore, necessary to adopt the local time of some central meridian of a country as the standard time for the country. In India, the longitude of 82½° E (82° 30’E) is treated as the standard meridian. The local time at this meridian is taken as the standard time for the whole country. It is known as the Indian Standard Time (IST).

NCERT SOLUTION1. Answer the following questions briefly.(a) What is the true shape of the earth?(b) What is a globe?(c) What is the latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer?(d) What are the three heat zones of the Earth?(e) What are the parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude?(f) Why does the torrid zone receive a maximum amount of heat?(g) Why is it 5.30 p.m. in India and 12.00 noon in London?Answer 1.(a) The earth is not a perfect sphere. It is slightly flattened at the North and the South Poles and bulge in the middle.(b) Globe is a miniature form of the Earth.(c) The latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer is 23½° N.(d) The three heat zones of the Earth are:

1. Torrid Zone2. Temperate Zone3. Frigid Zone

(e) All parallel circles from the equator to the poles are called parallels of latitudes. The lines of reference running from the North Pole to the South Pole are called meridians of longitude.(f) The torrid zone receives the maximum amount of heat, because it is present between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The sun is exactly over the head once a year, on all the latitudes between these two tropics.(g) India is located east of Greenwich at 82°30’E. It is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT. So, it will be 5:30 p.m. in India, when 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 longitude(ii) the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn(iii) the North Pole and the South Pole

Answer 2.a. (ii) 0°b. (i) the Polesc. (ii) 180d. (ii) the Southern hemispheree. (i) parallels of latitudes and meridians of longitude

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.

Answer 3.(a) The Tropic of Capricorn is located at 23½° S.(b) The Standard Meridian of India is 82½° E Longitude.(c) The 0° Meridian is also known as Prime Meridian.(d) The distance between the longitudes decreases towards the poles.(e) The Arctic Circle is located in the northern hemisphere.

EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERSQ1. True/False

             i. Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere. True             ii.The distance between the longitudes decreases towards the poles. True             iii. The Arctic Circle is located in the southern hemisphere. False             iv. The northern half of the earth is known as the Southern Hemisphere. False

v.   90 degrees north latitude marks the North Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks the South Pole. True

Q2. How many lines of longitude are there in total?Ans. 360 Q3. How many latitudes are there in total?Ans. 180 Q4. What is the latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer?Ans. The latitudinal value of the Tropic of Cancer is 23½ degrees north. Q5. What is a grid?

Ans. Grid is a network of parallels of latitudes and meridians of longitudes. Q6. What do you mean by the term equator?Ans. An imaginary line running on the globe divides it into two equal parts. This line is known as the equator. Q7. Which longitude is treated as the standard meridian for India?Ans. In India, the longitude of 82.50° E (82° 30'E) is treated as the standard meridian. The local time at this meridian is taken as the standard time for the whole country. It is known as the Indian Standard Time (IST). Q8. Which heat zone do these places lie in?10 degree north, 25 degree south and 89 degree southAns. 10 degree north – Torrid Zone25 degree south – South Temperate Zone89 degree south – Frigid Zone

Home Work-write down entire NCERT solution and extra question answer in note book_______________________________________________________________________________________

CLASS VI CIVICSCH-1 “Understanding Diversity”

Summary of the chapter:-.Making friendsHow easy is it to make friends with someone who is very different? Given in the textbook is the example of two friends, who despite speaking different languages still communicated with each other, as it was important for them. They belonged to different religious and cultural backgrounds as well, emphasizing on the aspect of diversity. Apart from these differences, it can be seen that while one attended school, the other had to sell newspapers.It is seen that some people may not have enough to eat or wear and sometimes not even a place to live. This is not just about differences but can be called an inequality. Inequality arises when a person does not have the resources and opportunities that are otherwise available to other persons. The caste system is another main example of inequality. Society is divided into different groups based on the work that people do and they were supposed to remain in those groups. For example, children of potters had to continue as potters. This was considered to be irreversible and for this reason, it was not considered necessary for the people to know anything more than was required for their profession. This encouraged inequality.What does diversity add to our lives?Imagine a world, where everything was the same. Other than the same two colours red and white, same food (maybe potatoes!), the same two animals, for example, the deer and the cat, and snakes and ladders, the same game, there was nothing different. There would be no diversity and it would be dull. Even the story writers will not have anything to write about, as most depend on ideas drawn from their experiences and real-life encounters to make stories more interesting and fun.Diversity In IndiaIndia the land of many diversities include different languages, various types of food, different festivals, different religions and so on. At the same time, there are also many things that are similar.How do we explain Diversity?Sometime before 200 years ago, before the age of trains, aeroplane and bus or car, people used to travel by ships, on horses, on camels or on foot. They travelled in search of new places to settle in or people to trade with. At times, they stayed back at a place for a long time. Some others left their homes because of the

scarcity of food caused by droughts and famine. Some made their home at the new places and gave rise to a mix of the old and new in their food, language, music, religion and so forth.Various cultural influences help to shape life and culture in some regions that become very diverse because of their unique histories. In a similar way, diversity also comes about when people adapt their lives to the geographical area in which they live. For example, living near the sea is quite different from living in a mountainous area. Eating habits and clothing of people differ in each of these regions. The kind of work they do is also different.For example: Ladakh is a desert in the mountains in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir, where very little agriculture is possible as this region does not receive any rain and is covered in snow for a large part of the year. For drinking water, people depend on the melting snow during the summer months. People here keep sheep and goats. Goats produce pashmina wool, which is prized and the shawls made of this wool fetch a lot of money. People eat meat and milk products like cheese and butter. Each family owned some goats, cows and dzos (yak-cows). Meanwhile, the place also attracted traders despite being a desert. It was considered a good trade route as it had many passes through which caravans travelled to today’s Tibet. These caravans carried textiles and spices, raw silk and carpets. Buddhism came to Tibet via Ladakh (also called Little Tibet). Islam was introduced in this region over 400 years ago and it has a significant Muslim population. Ladakh has a very rich oral tradition of songs and poems. Local versions of the Tibetan national epic the Kesar Saga are performed and sung by both Muslims and Buddhists.Kerala is a state in the southwest corner of India surrounded by the sea on one side and hills on the other. A number of spices like pepper, cloves and cardamoms are grown on the hills, making this region an attractive place for traders (Jewish and Arab traders being the first to arrive). The Apostle of Christ, St. Thomas came here nearly 2000 years ago and is credited with bringing Christianity to India. Many Arab traders also came and settled down here. Ibn Battuta, who travelled here a little less than 700 years ago, wrote a travelogue describing the lives of Muslims and said that they were a highly respected community. Portuguese discovered the sea route to India from Europe when Vasco da Gama landed with his ship. All these various historical influences resulted in people of Kerala practising different religions such as Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. The fishing nets called cheena-vala used here look exactly like the Chinese fishing nets. Even the utensil used for frying is called the cheenachatti. It is believed that the word cheen could have come from China. The fertile land and climate are suited to growing rice and a majority of people here eat rice, fish and vegetables.Kerala and Ladakh quite different in terms of their geographical features have a history with similar cultural influences. Both regions were influenced by Chinese and Arab traders. The geography of Kerala allowed for the cultivation of spices, while the special geographical location of Ladakh and its wool drew traders to these regions. Meanwhile, the influence of diverse cultures is not merely a thing of the past. Even present lives are all about moving from place to place for work and with each move, the cultural traditions and way of life slowly become part of the new place people reside in. Similarly, in their own neighbourhoods, people from several communities live close to each other. Daily lives are about the ways in which they can do things together and hear stories about each other’s lives, customs and traditions.Unity In DiversityIndia’s diversity is a source of its strength. Women and men from different cultural, religious and regional backgrounds came together to oppose British Rule in India. India’s freedom movement involved thousands of people from different backgrounds. They worked together to decide joint actions, went to jail together, and found different ways to oppose the British. British thought to divide the Indians, because they were so different and then continued to rule them. However, the people showed how they could be different yet united in their battle against the British. There is also a song sung after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar composed in memory of the brave people who were killed by a British General. The songs and symbols that emerged during the freedom struggle serve as a constant reminder of the Country’s rich tradition and respect for diversity. The Indian flag was also used as a symbol of protest against the British. According to the Book, “The Discovery of India”, by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian unity is not imposed from the outside but rather, “It was something deeper and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and every variety acknowledged and even encouraged.” It was Nehru, who coined the phrase, “unity in diversity” to describe the country.

NCERT Solutions

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?Solution 1:Some of the festivals celebrated are Onam, Diwali, Holi, Krishna Janmasthami and Christmas. People across religious lines celebrate festivals like Onam, Holi, Christmas.

2.What do you think, living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?Solution 2:We learn different languages from our friends. We enrich our lives by getting toknow the different cultural traditions. We learn from the different religious ritualsthat are observed by our friends and neighbours.

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?Solution 3:It is definitely an appropriate term. Our country has a huge population with peoplefrom many different cultural backgrounds, different religions, people speaking differentlanguages and people following different traditions. Yet, this huge diverse nation isalways united and moves forward on the path of progress. Nehru is trying to saythat tolerance is very much ingrained in every Indian citizen.

4.Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India’s essential unity.Solution 4:‘The blood of Hindus and Muslims flows together today’ is the line in the poem which reflects India’s essential unity.

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 traditional and geographical factors connected to each other? How?Solution 5:Students are advised to compare their region with any other region in India and study the factors that influence diversity EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERS

Q1. Who is credited with bringing Christianity to India?

Ans. The Apostle of Christ, St. Thomas is believed to have come here nearly 2000 years ago and he is

credited with bringing Christianity to India.

Q2. Who wrote a travelogue that describes the lives of Muslims?

Ans. Ibn Battuta, who travelled here a little less than seven hundred years ago, wrote a travelogue in

which he describes the lives of Muslims.

Q3. While Kerala and Ladakh are quite different in terms of their geographical features, the history of

both regions has seen similar cultural influences. Why?

Ans. The history of both regions has seen similar cultural influences because both regions were influenced

by Chinese and Arab traders.

Q4. What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?

Ans. India is a country of diversities. We speak different languages, have various types of food, celebrate

different festivals, practise different religions. However, despite all this, we unite together as Indians. We

share the same national symbols, national virtues and feelings.

Q5. India's diversity has always been recognised as a source of its strength. How?

Ans. When the British ruled India, women and men from different cultural, religious and regional

backgrounds came together to oppose them. India's freedom movement had thousands of people of

different backgrounds in it. They worked together to decide joint actions, they went to jail together, and

they found different ways to oppose the British. Interestingly the British thought they could divide Indians

because they were so different, and then continue to rule them. But the people showed how they could be

different and yet be united in their battle against the British.

Home Work-write down entire NCERT solution and extra question answer in note book

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CLASS VI CIVICSCH-2 “Diversity and Discrimination”

Summary of the chapter:-

Difference and PrejudicesssA variety of things make us what we are- such as how we live, the languages we speak, what we eat, wear, the games we play and the things we celebrate are all influenced both by the geography and history of the place where we live. To get an idea about how diverse India is, just look at these points. Eight major religions of the world are practised in India and there are 1600 languages as people’s mother tongues and a hundred dance forms. However, this diversity is not always celebrated, the reason being people are more comfortable with those that look, dress and think like them. They may consider people who are different as strange or unfamiliar. They may have a preconceived idea about these people. One stereotype is considering villagers as ignorant and people in cities as money-minded and lazy. When our opinions about a sect of people are always negative then these become prejudiced against them. Prejudice means to judge other people negatively or see them as inferior. 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 and more. Owing to prejudices about others, we don’t want to form friendships with them and may even act in ways that hurt them.Creating StereotypesHow familiar are you with gender differences? What does it mean to be a boy or a girl? The statement ”They don’t cry”, is generally associated with boys and men. Even as a child, when boys fall and hurt themselves, their parents and other family members often console them by saying “Don’t cry. You are a boy. Boys don’t cry.” Soon, even children start believing that crying is a sign of weakness. He also feels that people would tease him if he cries in front of them so refrains from crying. Another common statement is “This is the way boys are and this is how girls are.” We accept without even thinking, and start believing that each one of us must behave accordingly. We fit all boys and all girls into an image that society creates around us. When we fix people into one image we create a stereotype. Saying that those who belong to a particular country, religion, sex, race or economic background are “stingy,” “lazy,” “criminal” or “dumb,” is using stereotypes. There are stringy and generous people everywhere, in every country, religion, group whether rich or poor,

male or female. Stereotypes stop us from looking at each person as a unique individual with his or her own special qualities and skills that are different from others.Inequality and DiscriminationDiscrimination occurs when people act on their prejudices or stereotypes and because of several reasons. People belonging to different religions can be an aspect of diversity, but, can also be a source of discrimination. Some people who may speak a certain language, follow a particular religion, live in specific regions or so may be discriminated against as their customs or practices may be seen as inferior. Further, the matter of different economic backgrounds is not a form of diversity but of inequality. Some people may experience both kinds of discrimination. They are poor and belong to groups whose culture is not valued. Tribals, some religious groups and even particular regions, are discriminated against for one or more of these reasons.On being discriminated againstPeople engage in different kinds of work like teaching, carpentry, pottery, weaving, fishing, farming and more to earn a livelihood. Still, certain kinds of work are valued more than others. This belief is an important aspect of the caste system. In the caste system, communities/ groups of people were placed in a sort of ladder where each caste was either above or below the other. Those who placed themselves at the top of this ladder called themselves upper caste and saw themselves as superior. The groups who were placed at the bottom of the ladder were seen as unworthy and called “untouchables”. Caste rules were set which did not allow the so-called “untouchables” to take on work, other than what they were meant to do. Upper castes acted in ways, which did not give the so-called “untouchables” the same rights as they enjoyed.Discrimination is not only limited to preventing Dalits from undertaking certain economic activities but it also denies them the respect and dignity given to others.Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar (1891-1956) considered the father of the Indian Constitution is also the best-known leader of the Dalits. He was the first person from his caste who completed college education and went to England to become a lawyer. Dr Ambedkar believed that Dalits must fight the caste system and work towards a society based on respect for all persons.Striving for EqualityThe struggle for freedom from British rule also included within it the struggle of large groups of people who not only fought against the British but also fought to be treated more equally. Dalits, women, tribals and peasants fought against the inequalities they experienced in their lives.When India became a nation in 1947 our leaders too were concerned about the different kinds of inequalities that existed. Writers of the 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 and how people had struggled against this. Many leaders of these struggles such as Dr Ambedkar had also fought for the rights of the Dalits. So these leaders set out a vision and goals in the Constitution to ensure that all the people of India were considered equal. This equality of all persons is seen as a key-value that unites us all as Indians. The Constitution placed responsibility on the government to take specific steps to realise this right to equality for poor and other such marginal communities. They believed that respect for diversity was a significant element in ensuring equality. They said that the government must treat all religions equally and no one language, religion or festival should become compulsory for all to follow. Therefore, India became a secular country where people of different religions and faiths have the freedom to practise and follow their religion without any fear of discrimination. Though these ideals are enshrined in our Constitution, inequalities exist even today.

NCERT Solutions

1.Match the following statements in a way that challenges the stereotypes

a. Two surgeons were sitting down to lunch when one of them made a call on the mobile phone

1.suffers from chronic asthma

b.The boy who won the drawing competition went to the dias

2.to become an astronaut which she did

c. One of the fastest athletes in the world 3.to speak with her daughter who had just returned from school

d.She was not that well-off but had a dream 4.on a wheelchair to collect his prize

Solution 1:

a. Two surgeons were sitting down to lunch when one of them made a call on the mobile phone

to speak with her daughter who had just returned from school

b.The boy who won the drawing competition went to the dias

on a wheelchair to collect his prize

c. One of the fastest athletes in the world suffers from chronic asthma

d.She was not that well-off but had a dream to become an astronaut which she did

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.Solution 2:The 5 different negative effects are mentioned below

1. They don’t receive proper love and care from the family.2. They discontinue their education hence their dreams and goals are unfulfilled3. They don’t get adequate diet4. They are asked to do all household works5. They are not allowed to go out and make new friends

 3.What does the constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?Solution 3:Our constitution says

1. Everyone has equal rights and opportunities2. All are equal to compete for Government jobs3. People can choose any kind of work they wish to do4. Untouchability is a crime and is legally abolished.

EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERSQ1. Fill in the blanks.

        1.There are eight major religions in the world.2. The upper castes acted in ways, which did not give the so-called "untouchables" the same rights as they enjoyed.

        3. People form certain attitudes and opinions about others who are not like them.        4.We have more than 1600 languages that are people's mother tongues.

Q2. True/False        1. Dr Ambedkar had also fought for the rights of the Dalits. True          2.There are more than a thousand dance forms. False        3.We feel safe and secure with people who look, talk, dress and think like us. True        4.Government jobs are open to all people. True

Q3. How many major religions are there in the world?

Ans. There are eight major religions in the world.

Q4. What prejudice mean?

Ans. Prejudice means to judge other people negatively or see them as inferior.

Q5. What is seen as a key value that unites us all as Indians?

Ans. Equality of all persons is seen as a key value that unites us all as Indians.

Q6. Write the name used by government for Dalits.

Ans. The government refers to this group of people as Scheduled Castes (SC).

Q7. What is Mahar?

Ans. Mahar is one of the communities which were treated as untouchables in the Bombay Presidency.

Q8. Who are untouchables?

Ans. The groups who were placed at the bottom of the ladder were seen as unworthy and called

"untouchables".

Q9. What do you mean by stereotype?

Ans. Stereotype means fixing something into an image that society creates around us.

Q10. Who was the first person from Dalit community to go to England for higher education?

Ans. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the first person from Dalit community to go to England for higher

education.

Q11. What is discrimination?

Ans. Discrimination is making a distinction in favor of or against, a person based on the group, class, or

category.

Q12. Why diversity is not always celebrated?

Ans. Diversity is not always celebrated because we feel safe and secure with people who look, talk,

dress and think like us.

Q13. What does the first page of our constitution states?

Ans. The first page of the Constitution clearly states that all Indians are entitled to equality of status and

opportunity.

Q14. Who was the chairman of Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?

Ans. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

 Home Work-write down entire NCERT solution and extra question answer in note book