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Tag: India

  • Chapter-5-India, That Is Bharat, Class 6th, Social Science, NCERT

    NCERT ANSWERS

    Q1. Discuss what could be the meaning of the quotation at the start of the chapter.

    Answer (80–100 words):
    The quotation means that India’s unity is based not only on geography but also on culture, traditions, and spirituality. From ancient times, the Himalayas in the north and the seas in the south have shaped India as one land. People shared common festivals, values, and ideas despite living in different regions. This cultural and spiritual unity made India a strong civilisation, known as Bharat, which continues to live in the hearts of its people.

    Q2. True or false?

    1. The Ṛig Veda describes the entire geography of India. – False. It mainly describes the Sapta Sindhu region.
    2. The Viṣhṇu Purāṇa describes the entire Subcontinent. – True. It defines Bharat as land between the Himalayas and oceans.
    3. In Aśhoka’s time, ‘Jambudvīpa’ included what is today India, parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. – True.
    4. The Mahābhārata lists many regions, including Kashmir, Kutch, and Kerala. – True.
    5. The term ‘Hindustān’ first appeared in a Greek inscription more than 2,000 years ago. – False. It first appeared in a Persian inscription.
    6. In ancient Persian, the word ‘Hindu’ refers to the Hindu religion. – False. It was a geographical term.
    7. ‘Bhārata’ is a name given to India by foreign travellers. – False. It was given by Indians themselves.

    Q3. If you were born some 2,000 years ago and had the chance to name our country, what name or names might you have chosen, and why?

    Answer (model – imaginative):
    If I were born 2,000 years ago, I would name our country “Aryavarta” meaning the land of noble people, or “Suryadesh” meaning the land of the rising Sun. These names would reflect India’s values, knowledge, and importance in the ancient world. I might also choose “Ganga Desh”, because the river Ganga symbolises purity and life for millions of people.

    Q4. Why did people travel to India from various parts of the world in ancient times? What could be their motivations in undertaking such long journeys?

    Answer (100–120 words):
    People travelled to India for many reasons:

    1. Trade: India was famous for spices, cotton, silk, gems, and metals.
    2. Religion and learning: Pilgrims and scholars came to study Buddhism, Hinduism, and visit holy places. Chinese travellers like Xuanzang visited universities like Nalanda.
    3. Exploration: Adventurers and travellers wanted to see India’s rich culture and geography.
    4. Conquest: Some came as invaders to control India’s wealth and land.
    5. Cultural exchange: Artists, poets, and writers visited to share and learn knowledge.
      Thus, India was an important centre of attraction for the ancient world.

    Extra Questions – Chapter 5: India, That Is Bharat

    Very Short Answer Questions

    Q1. What name does the Rig Veda give to northwest India?
    Answer: Sapta Sindhava (land of seven rivers).

    Q2. Which text first mentions the name ‘Bhāratavarṣha’?
    Answer: The Mahābhārata.

    Q3. What does ‘Jambudvīpa’ mean?
    Answer: The island of the jamun tree.

    Q4. Who was the first Indian emperor to use the name Jambudvīpa?
    Answer: Emperor Aśhoka.

    Q5. What does the Indian Constitution say at the beginning about India?
    Answer: “India, that is Bharat.”

    Short Answer Questions

    Q6. How did Persians and Greeks refer to India?
    Answer:

    • Persians called it Hind or Hidu from the word Sindhu.
    • Greeks called it Indoi or Indike, dropping the letter “h”.

    Q7. How did the Chinese refer to India?
    Answer: Ancient Chinese called India Yintu, Yindu, or Tianzhu (land of the heavenly master).

    Q8. What does the word Hindustān mean and when was it first used?
    Answer: Hindustān, meaning “land of the Hind,” was first used in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago.

    Long Answer Questions

    Q9. Explain the different names of India in ancient times.
    Answer (120 words):
    India has been known by many names:

    • Sapta Sindhava in the Rig Veda (land of seven rivers).
    • Bhāratavarṣha in the Mahābhārata (land of Bharata people/kings).
    • Jambudvīpa, used by Aśhoka and in Purāṇas.
    • Bharat, described in the Vishnu Purāṇa as land between the Himalayas and oceans.
      Foreigners also gave names:
    • Persians: Hind / Hidu.
    • Greeks: Indoi / Indike.
    • Chinese: Yindu, Yintu, Tianzhu.
    • Arabs & Persians later used: Hindustān.

    Europeans: India, Inde (French).
    These names reflect India’s geography, culture, and its image in the world.