NCERT Textbook: Across the Wall | EVS Class 5 PDF Download

 Page 1


154 Looking Around
17. Across the Wall
Meeting the team
We read in the newspaper about Afsana and the Nagpada
basketball team. We thought of meeting these girls and
introducing them to you.
We took the train and got off at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus Station (railway station). From there we walked
towards Nagpada. It took us just twenty minutes to reach there.
There we met Afsana and the other girls of the Nagpada
Basketball Association. Read the interview with the team
members.
Stars in her eyes (Indian Express, 2007)
utensils for a living. The gender wall
her mother had put up for her.
Today, Afsana herself has become a
strong wall of NBA, the Nagpada
Basketball Association of Mumbai.
Today, she is the source of strength
for five other girls who have come to
the basketball court, leaving behind
the problems of their everyday lives.
Today, she is the star of a young
team. This team has managed to
surprise some of Mumbai’s club
teams. With a lot of guts and courage,
the team has reached the semi-finals
of a district-level tournament.
Just 13 years old, Afsana Mansuri
has already jumped over the wall.
The wall between her jhuggi and the
local basketball court. The wall made
by society, for a girl who washes
2024-25
Page 2


154 Looking Around
17. Across the Wall
Meeting the team
We read in the newspaper about Afsana and the Nagpada
basketball team. We thought of meeting these girls and
introducing them to you.
We took the train and got off at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus Station (railway station). From there we walked
towards Nagpada. It took us just twenty minutes to reach there.
There we met Afsana and the other girls of the Nagpada
Basketball Association. Read the interview with the team
members.
Stars in her eyes (Indian Express, 2007)
utensils for a living. The gender wall
her mother had put up for her.
Today, Afsana herself has become a
strong wall of NBA, the Nagpada
Basketball Association of Mumbai.
Today, she is the source of strength
for five other girls who have come to
the basketball court, leaving behind
the problems of their everyday lives.
Today, she is the star of a young
team. This team has managed to
surprise some of Mumbai’s club
teams. With a lot of guts and courage,
the team has reached the semi-finals
of a district-level tournament.
Just 13 years old, Afsana Mansuri
has already jumped over the wall.
The wall between her jhuggi and the
local basketball court. The wall made
by society, for a girl who washes
2024-25
Across the Wall 155
Teacher’s Note : Give opportunities to children to share their experiences about
games. Discuss these to build children’s understanding on issues, such as, similar
games for boys and girls, equal opportunities for all while playing, etc.
Find out
w Is there any place to play near your house?
w What do people play there? Who plays there?
w Do the children of your age also get a chance to play there?
w What other things happen at this place?
Meet this special team!
Meet Afsana, Zarin, Khushnoor and Afreen.  At first the girls were
quiet, but once they started, they just did not stop!
Zarin began, “My house is just in front of this ground. My brother
used to play here. I would
stand in my balcony and
watch the boys play. I
was in Class VII at that
time. Whenever the boys
played a match, many
people came to watch.
The winning team got a
lot of praise. Everyone
cheered the players. On
seeing all this, I wished I
could also play. Would I too get a chance to show my talent? I
asked the coach, but was afraid. He is a good friend of my father.
The coach said, “Why not? If you bring some more girls, you can
make a team. Then I will teach you.”
2024-25
Page 3


154 Looking Around
17. Across the Wall
Meeting the team
We read in the newspaper about Afsana and the Nagpada
basketball team. We thought of meeting these girls and
introducing them to you.
We took the train and got off at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus Station (railway station). From there we walked
towards Nagpada. It took us just twenty minutes to reach there.
There we met Afsana and the other girls of the Nagpada
Basketball Association. Read the interview with the team
members.
Stars in her eyes (Indian Express, 2007)
utensils for a living. The gender wall
her mother had put up for her.
Today, Afsana herself has become a
strong wall of NBA, the Nagpada
Basketball Association of Mumbai.
Today, she is the source of strength
for five other girls who have come to
the basketball court, leaving behind
the problems of their everyday lives.
Today, she is the star of a young
team. This team has managed to
surprise some of Mumbai’s club
teams. With a lot of guts and courage,
the team has reached the semi-finals
of a district-level tournament.
Just 13 years old, Afsana Mansuri
has already jumped over the wall.
The wall between her jhuggi and the
local basketball court. The wall made
by society, for a girl who washes
2024-25
Across the Wall 155
Teacher’s Note : Give opportunities to children to share their experiences about
games. Discuss these to build children’s understanding on issues, such as, similar
games for boys and girls, equal opportunities for all while playing, etc.
Find out
w Is there any place to play near your house?
w What do people play there? Who plays there?
w Do the children of your age also get a chance to play there?
w What other things happen at this place?
Meet this special team!
Meet Afsana, Zarin, Khushnoor and Afreen.  At first the girls were
quiet, but once they started, they just did not stop!
Zarin began, “My house is just in front of this ground. My brother
used to play here. I would
stand in my balcony and
watch the boys play. I
was in Class VII at that
time. Whenever the boys
played a match, many
people came to watch.
The winning team got a
lot of praise. Everyone
cheered the players. On
seeing all this, I wished I
could also play. Would I too get a chance to show my talent? I
asked the coach, but was afraid. He is a good friend of my father.
The coach said, “Why not? If you bring some more girls, you can
make a team. Then I will teach you.”
2024-25
156 Looking Around
We asked – Was it easy to make a beginning?
Khushnoor: At first my parents refused. But when I insisted
they agreed.
Afsana: My mother works in the flats and sends us to school. I also
help her. When I told her about my plans to play basketball, Ammi
got angry. She said, “Girls do not play basketball. Do your work, go
to school and study hard. No need to go to the ground to play.” But
when my friends and Coach Sir talked to her, Ammi agreed.
Afreen : We were not allowed, because we are girls. My grandmother
gets very angry with all of us. But still, we three sisters come here
to play. Grandmother scolds us and even scolds our Coach Sir!
She tells us, “You need proper equipment to play. You need to have
a lot of milk for strength. Where will the money for all this come
from?” But daddy understands our feelings. He even teaches us
some special moves used in the game. My daddy also used to play
on this ground when he was young. He did not have proper shoes
or clothes. He used to practice with a plastic ball.
Daddy tells us that Bacchu Khan was the coach when he used
to play. He saw my daddy playing once. He realised that the boy
played very well and that he should be trained properly. He gave
proper shoes and clothes to my daddy. My daddy could have become
a very good player. But because of his responsibilities at home, he
left the game and took up a job. So he wants us to play and become
good players.
Tell
w Has anyone ever stopped you from playing some games?
Which games?
w Who stopped you and why? What did you do then?
w Did anyone help you and encourage you to play?
2024-25
Page 4


154 Looking Around
17. Across the Wall
Meeting the team
We read in the newspaper about Afsana and the Nagpada
basketball team. We thought of meeting these girls and
introducing them to you.
We took the train and got off at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus Station (railway station). From there we walked
towards Nagpada. It took us just twenty minutes to reach there.
There we met Afsana and the other girls of the Nagpada
Basketball Association. Read the interview with the team
members.
Stars in her eyes (Indian Express, 2007)
utensils for a living. The gender wall
her mother had put up for her.
Today, Afsana herself has become a
strong wall of NBA, the Nagpada
Basketball Association of Mumbai.
Today, she is the source of strength
for five other girls who have come to
the basketball court, leaving behind
the problems of their everyday lives.
Today, she is the star of a young
team. This team has managed to
surprise some of Mumbai’s club
teams. With a lot of guts and courage,
the team has reached the semi-finals
of a district-level tournament.
Just 13 years old, Afsana Mansuri
has already jumped over the wall.
The wall between her jhuggi and the
local basketball court. The wall made
by society, for a girl who washes
2024-25
Across the Wall 155
Teacher’s Note : Give opportunities to children to share their experiences about
games. Discuss these to build children’s understanding on issues, such as, similar
games for boys and girls, equal opportunities for all while playing, etc.
Find out
w Is there any place to play near your house?
w What do people play there? Who plays there?
w Do the children of your age also get a chance to play there?
w What other things happen at this place?
Meet this special team!
Meet Afsana, Zarin, Khushnoor and Afreen.  At first the girls were
quiet, but once they started, they just did not stop!
Zarin began, “My house is just in front of this ground. My brother
used to play here. I would
stand in my balcony and
watch the boys play. I
was in Class VII at that
time. Whenever the boys
played a match, many
people came to watch.
The winning team got a
lot of praise. Everyone
cheered the players. On
seeing all this, I wished I
could also play. Would I too get a chance to show my talent? I
asked the coach, but was afraid. He is a good friend of my father.
The coach said, “Why not? If you bring some more girls, you can
make a team. Then I will teach you.”
2024-25
156 Looking Around
We asked – Was it easy to make a beginning?
Khushnoor: At first my parents refused. But when I insisted
they agreed.
Afsana: My mother works in the flats and sends us to school. I also
help her. When I told her about my plans to play basketball, Ammi
got angry. She said, “Girls do not play basketball. Do your work, go
to school and study hard. No need to go to the ground to play.” But
when my friends and Coach Sir talked to her, Ammi agreed.
Afreen : We were not allowed, because we are girls. My grandmother
gets very angry with all of us. But still, we three sisters come here
to play. Grandmother scolds us and even scolds our Coach Sir!
She tells us, “You need proper equipment to play. You need to have
a lot of milk for strength. Where will the money for all this come
from?” But daddy understands our feelings. He even teaches us
some special moves used in the game. My daddy also used to play
on this ground when he was young. He did not have proper shoes
or clothes. He used to practice with a plastic ball.
Daddy tells us that Bacchu Khan was the coach when he used
to play. He saw my daddy playing once. He realised that the boy
played very well and that he should be trained properly. He gave
proper shoes and clothes to my daddy. My daddy could have become
a very good player. But because of his responsibilities at home, he
left the game and took up a job. So he wants us to play and become
good players.
Tell
w Has anyone ever stopped you from playing some games?
Which games?
w Who stopped you and why? What did you do then?
w Did anyone help you and encourage you to play?
2024-25
Across the Wall 157
Teacher’s Note : Make different groups of children in class to give them a chance to
play different games. Try to encourage the children to play for the team, not for
themselves.
We asked – Tell us about your team
One girl: We felt a bit strange in the beginning. We were the first
girls’ team here. People used to come and watch us practicing.
They were curious to see how girls would play basketball. Now
people are no longer surprised. They have begun to accept that we
girls can also play well.
Afsana: I was eleven years old when we first started playing. At
that time we were not allowed to go anywhere else to play a match.
It has been two years since then. Now we go to other places also
for matches. But all this could happen only because of our hard
work and Sir’s coaching.
Another girl : Yes, we really work hard. Sir is also very strict. We
first jog together and then do our exercises. Sir teaches us how to
play the game well. We practice how to keep the ball with us, to dodge
the players of the other team, how to throw the ball in the basket, to
score a goal, to pass the ball well, and to run fast on court.
Afreen: Sir says, “While playing, don’t think you are girls. Play
like a player. Keep
playing even if you get
a little injured.” We
support each other and
say – Come on, get up,
you will be fine!” Now
our game has improved
a lot. Everyone says that
we play as well as the
boys’ team.
2024-25
Page 5


154 Looking Around
17. Across the Wall
Meeting the team
We read in the newspaper about Afsana and the Nagpada
basketball team. We thought of meeting these girls and
introducing them to you.
We took the train and got off at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus Station (railway station). From there we walked
towards Nagpada. It took us just twenty minutes to reach there.
There we met Afsana and the other girls of the Nagpada
Basketball Association. Read the interview with the team
members.
Stars in her eyes (Indian Express, 2007)
utensils for a living. The gender wall
her mother had put up for her.
Today, Afsana herself has become a
strong wall of NBA, the Nagpada
Basketball Association of Mumbai.
Today, she is the source of strength
for five other girls who have come to
the basketball court, leaving behind
the problems of their everyday lives.
Today, she is the star of a young
team. This team has managed to
surprise some of Mumbai’s club
teams. With a lot of guts and courage,
the team has reached the semi-finals
of a district-level tournament.
Just 13 years old, Afsana Mansuri
has already jumped over the wall.
The wall between her jhuggi and the
local basketball court. The wall made
by society, for a girl who washes
2024-25
Across the Wall 155
Teacher’s Note : Give opportunities to children to share their experiences about
games. Discuss these to build children’s understanding on issues, such as, similar
games for boys and girls, equal opportunities for all while playing, etc.
Find out
w Is there any place to play near your house?
w What do people play there? Who plays there?
w Do the children of your age also get a chance to play there?
w What other things happen at this place?
Meet this special team!
Meet Afsana, Zarin, Khushnoor and Afreen.  At first the girls were
quiet, but once they started, they just did not stop!
Zarin began, “My house is just in front of this ground. My brother
used to play here. I would
stand in my balcony and
watch the boys play. I
was in Class VII at that
time. Whenever the boys
played a match, many
people came to watch.
The winning team got a
lot of praise. Everyone
cheered the players. On
seeing all this, I wished I
could also play. Would I too get a chance to show my talent? I
asked the coach, but was afraid. He is a good friend of my father.
The coach said, “Why not? If you bring some more girls, you can
make a team. Then I will teach you.”
2024-25
156 Looking Around
We asked – Was it easy to make a beginning?
Khushnoor: At first my parents refused. But when I insisted
they agreed.
Afsana: My mother works in the flats and sends us to school. I also
help her. When I told her about my plans to play basketball, Ammi
got angry. She said, “Girls do not play basketball. Do your work, go
to school and study hard. No need to go to the ground to play.” But
when my friends and Coach Sir talked to her, Ammi agreed.
Afreen : We were not allowed, because we are girls. My grandmother
gets very angry with all of us. But still, we three sisters come here
to play. Grandmother scolds us and even scolds our Coach Sir!
She tells us, “You need proper equipment to play. You need to have
a lot of milk for strength. Where will the money for all this come
from?” But daddy understands our feelings. He even teaches us
some special moves used in the game. My daddy also used to play
on this ground when he was young. He did not have proper shoes
or clothes. He used to practice with a plastic ball.
Daddy tells us that Bacchu Khan was the coach when he used
to play. He saw my daddy playing once. He realised that the boy
played very well and that he should be trained properly. He gave
proper shoes and clothes to my daddy. My daddy could have become
a very good player. But because of his responsibilities at home, he
left the game and took up a job. So he wants us to play and become
good players.
Tell
w Has anyone ever stopped you from playing some games?
Which games?
w Who stopped you and why? What did you do then?
w Did anyone help you and encourage you to play?
2024-25
Across the Wall 157
Teacher’s Note : Make different groups of children in class to give them a chance to
play different games. Try to encourage the children to play for the team, not for
themselves.
We asked – Tell us about your team
One girl: We felt a bit strange in the beginning. We were the first
girls’ team here. People used to come and watch us practicing.
They were curious to see how girls would play basketball. Now
people are no longer surprised. They have begun to accept that we
girls can also play well.
Afsana: I was eleven years old when we first started playing. At
that time we were not allowed to go anywhere else to play a match.
It has been two years since then. Now we go to other places also
for matches. But all this could happen only because of our hard
work and Sir’s coaching.
Another girl : Yes, we really work hard. Sir is also very strict. We
first jog together and then do our exercises. Sir teaches us how to
play the game well. We practice how to keep the ball with us, to dodge
the players of the other team, how to throw the ball in the basket, to
score a goal, to pass the ball well, and to run fast on court.
Afreen: Sir says, “While playing, don’t think you are girls. Play
like a player. Keep
playing even if you get
a little injured.” We
support each other and
say – Come on, get up,
you will be fine!” Now
our game has improved
a lot. Everyone says that
we play as well as the
boys’ team.
2024-25
158 Looking Around
Discuss
w w w w w Do girls and boys play different types of games in your
school or neighbourhood? If yes, then which games do
the boys play and which do the girls play?
w w w w w Do you think that there is any difference between the
games and the way they are played by boys and girls?
w w w w w Should the games for boys and the girls be different? What
do you think?
We said – Tell us more about your team.
One girl : Our team is very special. Our team is united. Even if we
quarrel, we quickly make up and forget about it. Here we have
learnt how to stay and play together. Some of the girls from our
team got a chance to play as part of the Mumbai team. The match
was at Sholapur.
Zarin : When we went to Sholapur we found that the team had
girls from different parts of the state. They did not talk to us nicely
and treated us like juniors. They would not even give us a chance
to play properly. We felt very bad. There was no cooperation at all in
that team.
Teacher’s Note : If possible, try to develop an understanding in children that
players are recognised by their ability to play rather than by their caste or
economic status.
One girl: We also play with boys’ teams. We want them to play
with us as equals. They should not be lenient because we are
girls. Sometimes we get angry when the boys imitate us. But we
take it as a challenge and correct our mistakes. If the boys try to
cheat, we scold them!
2024-25