NCERT Textbook: Every Drop Counts - EVS Class 5

 Page 1


6. Every Drop Counts
Pawan Gupta
51
Long Long Ago
This is a picture of Ghadsisar. Sar means a lake. King Ghadsi
of Jaisalmer got it made 650 years ago with the help of the
people. All around the lake there are ghats with steps leading
to the water, decorated verandahs, large halls, rooms and
much more. People came here to celebrate festivals and for
programmes of music and dance. Children came to study in
the school on the ghat. The talab belonged to everyone and
everyone took care to keep it clean.
Rainwater collected in this lake spread over many miles.
It was made in such a way that when the lake was full, the
extra water flowed into another lake at a lower level. When
that too filled up, the
extra water flowed into
the third lake and so on –
filling nine such
interconnected lakes. The
collected rain water could
be used throughout the
year and there was no
shortage of water. Today,
Ghadsisar is no more in
use. Many new buildings
and colonies have come
up in between those nine lakes. Now the water does not get
collected in these lakes but just flows away and is wasted.
Page 2


6. Every Drop Counts
Pawan Gupta
51
Long Long Ago
This is a picture of Ghadsisar. Sar means a lake. King Ghadsi
of Jaisalmer got it made 650 years ago with the help of the
people. All around the lake there are ghats with steps leading
to the water, decorated verandahs, large halls, rooms and
much more. People came here to celebrate festivals and for
programmes of music and dance. Children came to study in
the school on the ghat. The talab belonged to everyone and
everyone took care to keep it clean.
Rainwater collected in this lake spread over many miles.
It was made in such a way that when the lake was full, the
extra water flowed into another lake at a lower level. When
that too filled up, the
extra water flowed into
the third lake and so on –
filling nine such
interconnected lakes. The
collected rain water could
be used throughout the
year and there was no
shortage of water. Today,
Ghadsisar is no more in
use. Many new buildings
and colonies have come
up in between those nine lakes. Now the water does not get
collected in these lakes but just flows away and is wasted.
52 Looking Around
Teacher’s Note : We can tell children how Al-Biruni’s book is helpful to know
about the past. Also discuss about other sources of history, such as old buildings,
coins, paintings, etc. Help children to locate Uzbekistan in the world map.
Drop-by-drop
Besides Jaisalmer, many places in Rajasthan, get very little
rainfall. Here it rains for only ten to twelve days in the entire
year, sometimes not even that much. The rivers here do not
Through the eyes of Al-Biruni
More than a thousand years ago, a traveller came to
India. His name was Al-Biruni.  The place that he came
from is now called Uzbekistan. Al-Biruni carefully
observed and noted down the details of all that he saw.
He wrote especially about those things that he found
very different from his own country. Here is a part of what he
wrote about the ponds of that time.
The people here are very skilled at making ponds. My
countrymen would be surprised to see them. They pile up huge
rocks and join them with iron rods to build chabutaras (raised
platforms) all around the lake. Between these, there are rows
of long staircases, going up and down. The steps for going up
and coming down are separate. So there is less crowding.
Today when we study history, we can learn a lot about those days
from the writings of Al-Biruni. (This stamp came out in 1973, one
thousand years after his birth.)
Think and find out
 Look at the area around your school. Are there any
fields, farms, pucca roads, drains, etc. Is the area
sloping, rocky or flat? Think, what will happen here
when it rains? Where will the rain water go – into
the drains, pipes or pits? Is some water also getting
soaked into the soil?
Page 3


6. Every Drop Counts
Pawan Gupta
51
Long Long Ago
This is a picture of Ghadsisar. Sar means a lake. King Ghadsi
of Jaisalmer got it made 650 years ago with the help of the
people. All around the lake there are ghats with steps leading
to the water, decorated verandahs, large halls, rooms and
much more. People came here to celebrate festivals and for
programmes of music and dance. Children came to study in
the school on the ghat. The talab belonged to everyone and
everyone took care to keep it clean.
Rainwater collected in this lake spread over many miles.
It was made in such a way that when the lake was full, the
extra water flowed into another lake at a lower level. When
that too filled up, the
extra water flowed into
the third lake and so on –
filling nine such
interconnected lakes. The
collected rain water could
be used throughout the
year and there was no
shortage of water. Today,
Ghadsisar is no more in
use. Many new buildings
and colonies have come
up in between those nine lakes. Now the water does not get
collected in these lakes but just flows away and is wasted.
52 Looking Around
Teacher’s Note : We can tell children how Al-Biruni’s book is helpful to know
about the past. Also discuss about other sources of history, such as old buildings,
coins, paintings, etc. Help children to locate Uzbekistan in the world map.
Drop-by-drop
Besides Jaisalmer, many places in Rajasthan, get very little
rainfall. Here it rains for only ten to twelve days in the entire
year, sometimes not even that much. The rivers here do not
Through the eyes of Al-Biruni
More than a thousand years ago, a traveller came to
India. His name was Al-Biruni.  The place that he came
from is now called Uzbekistan. Al-Biruni carefully
observed and noted down the details of all that he saw.
He wrote especially about those things that he found
very different from his own country. Here is a part of what he
wrote about the ponds of that time.
The people here are very skilled at making ponds. My
countrymen would be surprised to see them. They pile up huge
rocks and join them with iron rods to build chabutaras (raised
platforms) all around the lake. Between these, there are rows
of long staircases, going up and down. The steps for going up
and coming down are separate. So there is less crowding.
Today when we study history, we can learn a lot about those days
from the writings of Al-Biruni. (This stamp came out in 1973, one
thousand years after his birth.)
Think and find out
 Look at the area around your school. Are there any
fields, farms, pucca roads, drains, etc. Is the area
sloping, rocky or flat? Think, what will happen here
when it rains? Where will the rain water go – into
the drains, pipes or pits? Is some water also getting
soaked into the soil?
Every Drop Counts 53
have water in them all round the year. And yet, most of the
villages in these areas did not have a shortage of water.
People knew that every drop of water was precious. Lakes
and johads were made to collect these
precious drops of water. Water was
everyone’s need. One and all came
together in this work – be it a
businessman or a labourer. Some water
from the lakes soaked into the ground
and reached the wells and bavdis
(stepwell) in that area. The soil of the
area also became wet and fertile.
Every house had a system to collect
the rain water. Look at this picture.
How do you think the
rainwater that falls on
the roof will reach the
underground tank?
Draw the path.
Have you ever seen
a stepwell? Look at
the picture. Can you
imagine by looking at
the picture that the
steps go down several
storeys deep? Instead of drawing the water up from the well,
the people could go down the steps and reach the water.
That is why they are called stepwells.
Teacher’s Note : How does the earth soak water and how does it reach wells and
stepwells? This can be discussed with children.
Meenu
Page 4


6. Every Drop Counts
Pawan Gupta
51
Long Long Ago
This is a picture of Ghadsisar. Sar means a lake. King Ghadsi
of Jaisalmer got it made 650 years ago with the help of the
people. All around the lake there are ghats with steps leading
to the water, decorated verandahs, large halls, rooms and
much more. People came here to celebrate festivals and for
programmes of music and dance. Children came to study in
the school on the ghat. The talab belonged to everyone and
everyone took care to keep it clean.
Rainwater collected in this lake spread over many miles.
It was made in such a way that when the lake was full, the
extra water flowed into another lake at a lower level. When
that too filled up, the
extra water flowed into
the third lake and so on –
filling nine such
interconnected lakes. The
collected rain water could
be used throughout the
year and there was no
shortage of water. Today,
Ghadsisar is no more in
use. Many new buildings
and colonies have come
up in between those nine lakes. Now the water does not get
collected in these lakes but just flows away and is wasted.
52 Looking Around
Teacher’s Note : We can tell children how Al-Biruni’s book is helpful to know
about the past. Also discuss about other sources of history, such as old buildings,
coins, paintings, etc. Help children to locate Uzbekistan in the world map.
Drop-by-drop
Besides Jaisalmer, many places in Rajasthan, get very little
rainfall. Here it rains for only ten to twelve days in the entire
year, sometimes not even that much. The rivers here do not
Through the eyes of Al-Biruni
More than a thousand years ago, a traveller came to
India. His name was Al-Biruni.  The place that he came
from is now called Uzbekistan. Al-Biruni carefully
observed and noted down the details of all that he saw.
He wrote especially about those things that he found
very different from his own country. Here is a part of what he
wrote about the ponds of that time.
The people here are very skilled at making ponds. My
countrymen would be surprised to see them. They pile up huge
rocks and join them with iron rods to build chabutaras (raised
platforms) all around the lake. Between these, there are rows
of long staircases, going up and down. The steps for going up
and coming down are separate. So there is less crowding.
Today when we study history, we can learn a lot about those days
from the writings of Al-Biruni. (This stamp came out in 1973, one
thousand years after his birth.)
Think and find out
 Look at the area around your school. Are there any
fields, farms, pucca roads, drains, etc. Is the area
sloping, rocky or flat? Think, what will happen here
when it rains? Where will the rain water go – into
the drains, pipes or pits? Is some water also getting
soaked into the soil?
Every Drop Counts 53
have water in them all round the year. And yet, most of the
villages in these areas did not have a shortage of water.
People knew that every drop of water was precious. Lakes
and johads were made to collect these
precious drops of water. Water was
everyone’s need. One and all came
together in this work – be it a
businessman or a labourer. Some water
from the lakes soaked into the ground
and reached the wells and bavdis
(stepwell) in that area. The soil of the
area also became wet and fertile.
Every house had a system to collect
the rain water. Look at this picture.
How do you think the
rainwater that falls on
the roof will reach the
underground tank?
Draw the path.
Have you ever seen
a stepwell? Look at
the picture. Can you
imagine by looking at
the picture that the
steps go down several
storeys deep? Instead of drawing the water up from the well,
the people could go down the steps and reach the water.
That is why they are called stepwells.
Teacher’s Note : How does the earth soak water and how does it reach wells and
stepwells? This can be discussed with children.
Meenu
54 Looking Around
Long ago, people used to make long journeys with their
caravans of animals and goods. People felt it was a good
thing to give water to thirsty travellers. Thus, they built
many beautiful stepwells.
 Have you ever faced a shortage of water in your area?
If yes, then what was the reason for it?
Talk to your grandmother or any elderly person. Find
out, when they were of your age:
 From where did they get water for the house? Has there
been a change now?
 What kind of water arrangements were made for
travellers – for example piau, mashak (leather bag) or
any other? Now what do people do about water when
they travel?
Customs related to water
Even today people get water from very old lakes, dharas,
stepwells and naulas. Many customs and festivals are related
to water. At some places,
whenever lakes get filled up
with rainwater, the people
gather around the lake to
celebrate.
See the bride of Uttarakhand
in this picture. After getting
married she has come to the
new village. She bows to the
spring or the pond. In cities
one can see an interesting
form of this custom. The new
bride worships the tap in her home. Can we even imagine life
without water?
Devraj Agarwal
Page 5


6. Every Drop Counts
Pawan Gupta
51
Long Long Ago
This is a picture of Ghadsisar. Sar means a lake. King Ghadsi
of Jaisalmer got it made 650 years ago with the help of the
people. All around the lake there are ghats with steps leading
to the water, decorated verandahs, large halls, rooms and
much more. People came here to celebrate festivals and for
programmes of music and dance. Children came to study in
the school on the ghat. The talab belonged to everyone and
everyone took care to keep it clean.
Rainwater collected in this lake spread over many miles.
It was made in such a way that when the lake was full, the
extra water flowed into another lake at a lower level. When
that too filled up, the
extra water flowed into
the third lake and so on –
filling nine such
interconnected lakes. The
collected rain water could
be used throughout the
year and there was no
shortage of water. Today,
Ghadsisar is no more in
use. Many new buildings
and colonies have come
up in between those nine lakes. Now the water does not get
collected in these lakes but just flows away and is wasted.
52 Looking Around
Teacher’s Note : We can tell children how Al-Biruni’s book is helpful to know
about the past. Also discuss about other sources of history, such as old buildings,
coins, paintings, etc. Help children to locate Uzbekistan in the world map.
Drop-by-drop
Besides Jaisalmer, many places in Rajasthan, get very little
rainfall. Here it rains for only ten to twelve days in the entire
year, sometimes not even that much. The rivers here do not
Through the eyes of Al-Biruni
More than a thousand years ago, a traveller came to
India. His name was Al-Biruni.  The place that he came
from is now called Uzbekistan. Al-Biruni carefully
observed and noted down the details of all that he saw.
He wrote especially about those things that he found
very different from his own country. Here is a part of what he
wrote about the ponds of that time.
The people here are very skilled at making ponds. My
countrymen would be surprised to see them. They pile up huge
rocks and join them with iron rods to build chabutaras (raised
platforms) all around the lake. Between these, there are rows
of long staircases, going up and down. The steps for going up
and coming down are separate. So there is less crowding.
Today when we study history, we can learn a lot about those days
from the writings of Al-Biruni. (This stamp came out in 1973, one
thousand years after his birth.)
Think and find out
 Look at the area around your school. Are there any
fields, farms, pucca roads, drains, etc. Is the area
sloping, rocky or flat? Think, what will happen here
when it rains? Where will the rain water go – into
the drains, pipes or pits? Is some water also getting
soaked into the soil?
Every Drop Counts 53
have water in them all round the year. And yet, most of the
villages in these areas did not have a shortage of water.
People knew that every drop of water was precious. Lakes
and johads were made to collect these
precious drops of water. Water was
everyone’s need. One and all came
together in this work – be it a
businessman or a labourer. Some water
from the lakes soaked into the ground
and reached the wells and bavdis
(stepwell) in that area. The soil of the
area also became wet and fertile.
Every house had a system to collect
the rain water. Look at this picture.
How do you think the
rainwater that falls on
the roof will reach the
underground tank?
Draw the path.
Have you ever seen
a stepwell? Look at
the picture. Can you
imagine by looking at
the picture that the
steps go down several
storeys deep? Instead of drawing the water up from the well,
the people could go down the steps and reach the water.
That is why they are called stepwells.
Teacher’s Note : How does the earth soak water and how does it reach wells and
stepwells? This can be discussed with children.
Meenu
54 Looking Around
Long ago, people used to make long journeys with their
caravans of animals and goods. People felt it was a good
thing to give water to thirsty travellers. Thus, they built
many beautiful stepwells.
 Have you ever faced a shortage of water in your area?
If yes, then what was the reason for it?
Talk to your grandmother or any elderly person. Find
out, when they were of your age:
 From where did they get water for the house? Has there
been a change now?
 What kind of water arrangements were made for
travellers – for example piau, mashak (leather bag) or
any other? Now what do people do about water when
they travel?
Customs related to water
Even today people get water from very old lakes, dharas,
stepwells and naulas. Many customs and festivals are related
to water. At some places,
whenever lakes get filled up
with rainwater, the people
gather around the lake to
celebrate.
See the bride of Uttarakhand
in this picture. After getting
married she has come to the
new village. She bows to the
spring or the pond. In cities
one can see an interesting
form of this custom. The new
bride worships the tap in her home. Can we even imagine life
without water?
Devraj Agarwal
Every Drop Counts 55
Find out
Is there a lake, well or stepwell near your house or school?
Visit it and find out more about it.
 How old is it? Who got it built?
 What kinds of buildings are around it?
 Is the water clean? Is it cleaned regularly?
 Who all use the water?
 Is there any festival celebrated at this place?
 Is there any water today, or is it dry?
Devraj Agarwal
Do you have some special pots for water at your place?
Look, water is being filled in this beautiful copper pot. The
shining yellow pot of brass is seen in the other picture. Many
stone carvings are also made near the place of drinking water .
Have you ever seen any beautiful building near the place of
water? Where?