CHAPTER 1 – UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY

Q 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 1- The festivals celebrated in our locality are: Diwali, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Republic day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Children’s day etc.

Out of these festivals National festivals like Republic day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Children’s day are celebrated by all castes and religions.

Q 2- What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?

ANS 2- India is a country of diversity of  caste, food,  clothes & celebrations etc. Still a feeling of being Indian always remains in us. We all sing same National anthem. We all celebrate same National festivals.

Q 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 3- Yes. India is country of diversity in terms of religions, foods, clothes, festivals, rituals etc. we collectively celebrate national festivals. In Nehru’s book Diversity of India, Nehru  also wants to say that we can see unity amongst people of different caste andreligion. They can easily accept other customs and beliefs.

Q 4- Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India’s essential unity.

ANS 4- The blood a/Hindus and Muslims flows together today

Q 5- Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the histo1ical and geographical factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How?

ANS 5- Region – Kerala

Geographical features – Situated between Lakshadweep and Western Ghats. It has wet climate and seasonal heavy rains. This region is having many lakes and canals.

Other features –  Due to coastal areas import and export were prevalent. This state has an equal population of Hindu, Muslims. Christians. Festivals like, Eid, Christmas, and Onam. The geographical features helped in the cultivation of species.