CLASS - 6 // SUBJECT - SOCIAL SCIENCE CIVICS // CHAPTER - 1 // UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY //

 

Chapter 1 Understanding Diversity

 

1.Give an example of diversity in India.
Ans: The people of India, living in different parts, speak different languages.

2. Give an example of unity in diversity among Indians.
Ans: All Indians share the same national pride of having India as their motherland.

3. Why did Samir Do, the paper boy, think the author did not know Hindi?
Ans: Samir Do, the paper boy, thought the author looked like a foreigner, so he could not know Hindi.

4. Why was Samir Do tense?
Ans: Samir Do was tense because riots had broken out in Meerut, where his family lived.

 5. Give one example to show why diversity is important in our lives.
Ans: If all had similar lives in aspects of region, religion, opportunities, etc., then writers would lack innovation.

 6. Give one way in which Kerala and Ladakh are different.
Ans: Kerala is famous for the cultivation of spices. Ladakh is famous for growing wool.

 7. What is Ladakh known as?
Ans: Ladakh is known as Little Tibet.

 8. Mention the different religions that are practised in Kerala.
Ans: The people of Kerala practice many different religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

9. How can you say that the history of Kerala and Ladakh has been similar cultural influences?
Ans: Both regions were influenced by Chinese and Arab traders.

10. How was the Indian flag used during the freedom struggle?
Ans: During the freedom struggle the Indian flag was used as a symbol of protest against the British by people everywhere.

11. ‘India is a country of many diversities’. Explain giving examples. [V. Imp.]
Ans: Ope of the special features of India is that it is a country of many diversities. For example.

·       We speak different languages, such as Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, etc.

·       We eat different kinds of food, such as chawal, dal, Razma, idli, dosa, Roti, etc.

·       We celebrate different festivals, such as Holi, Diwali, Id, Guru Parv, Christmas, Baishakhi, etc.

·       We practise different religions, such as Hinduism, Islam, Shikhism, Christianity, etc.

·       We wear different types of clothes, such as saree-blouse, Kurta-pyjama, shirt- pant, etc.

12. India’s diversity has always been recognised as a source of its strength Explain.
Ans: It is a fact that India’s diversity has always been recognised as a source of its strength. It became clear when the country was struggling against British rule. People from different cultural, religious, and regional backgrounds came forward together to oppose the British government in India. They worked together to decide joint actions, they went to jail together and they found different ways to oppose the British.

The British thought that they could divide Indians because they were so different and then continue to rule them. But it was their illusion. Although Indians were so different, they were united from within at the question of the British government in India. They were ‘one’ in their battle against the British. They cherished the same goal to banish the British from India as soon as possible.

13. How are history and geography tied in the cultural life of a region? Explain giving examples of Kerala and Ladakh. [V. Imp.]
Ans: Kerala and Ladakh are quite different in terms of their geographical features. It was the geography of Kerala which made the possibility of spice cultivation there. So far Ladakh in concerned, its special geographical location flourished the business of wool collection among the Ladakhi people. The people of Ladakh carefully collect the wool of the sheep and sell it to the traders from Kashmir. The history of both regions has been affected by similar cultural influences. Both regions were influenced by Chinese and Arab traders. Thus, we can say the history and geography are often tied in the cultural life of a region.

 

14. 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: Festivals shared by different regional and religious communities are:

·       Independence Day

·       Republic Day

·       Gandhi Jayanti

These are our national festivals, so every Indian celebrates them irrespective of region and religion.

15.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 adds to our life in the following ways:

·       We know different people, their culture, customs, traditions, backgrounds. These diverse things add to our life.

·       Geographical diversities decide our way of life, our food, our occupations and many other things.

·       We relish our customs and traditions.

16. 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:
Yes, we think that the term ‘unity in diversity’ is an appropriate term to describe India.
Diversities:

1.      Geographical diversities like different physical features, climates, vegetations, rivers and lakes.

2.      Cultural diversities like different languages, religions, communities, customs, traditions, festivals, rituals, etc.
Despite all these diversities there is unity among the people.

·       They are one.

·       They stood against the British and threw the mighty empire by adopting Ahimsa and peaceful means.

·       All the people belonging to various regions are one when the country’s interests are involved.

·       In natural disasters they whole-heartedly contribute for mitigating the sufferings of the people.

 

17.How do we explain diversity?                      
Ans:  Diversity is the term that applies to dissimilarities. It may be in language, food, culture, living, religion, etc. India is a unique country where one can observe it extensively. There are a number of festivals, languages, dresses, religions, etc. in India. Still, the people of India are Indians and they salute the one flag and sing one national anthem. It is unity in diversity. Diversity occurs when we travel to different parts of the world.

Since time immemorial people have been visiting different lands in order to learn something and for trade. They adopted different styles, languages, and cultures from all those places. Diversity also occurs due to geographical variations and natural calamities. For example, Kashmir is a cold place and the temperature goes even below 0°C. Naturally, Kashmiri people wear woollen clothes, eat and drink hot food. On the other hand, people in desert areas use different clothes because it is very hot there.