NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Civics - Understanding Diversity

Q1. 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.

Q2. 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.

Q3. 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:

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

Q4. Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India’s essential unity.
Ans: Don’t forget the days of blood, O friend
In the midst of your happiness remember to shed a tear for us
The hunter has tom away every single flower
Do plant a flower in the desert garden dear friend
Having fallen to bullets we slept in Jallianwalla Bagh
Do light a lamp on this lonely grave O friend
The blood of Hindus and Muslims flows together today
Do soak your robe in this river of blood dear friend
Some rot in jails while others lie in their graves
Do shed a few tears for them O friend.
The underlined line reflects India’s unity.
When it came to struggling for freedom of the country, the Hindus and Muslims came together to fight and ‘their blood flows together’.

Q5. Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How?
Ans:

Location of West Bengal on India's Map

• Geographical Factors: Lies in the regions of the Ganges-Brahmputra Delta. It stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. A small coastal region is on the extreme south, while the Sundarbans forests are a remarkable landmark in the Ganges delta.
• Historical Factors: It has close relations with geographical factors. The major population depends on agriculture or mainly the cultivation of rice due to the fertile lands of the Delta. The people of Bengal supported the Bangladesh Liberation war. Durga Puja for Hindus and Eid for Muslims are two main festivals celebrated in Bengal.

Location of Kerala on India's Map

• Geographical Features: Situated between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. It has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by seasonal heavy rains. The western coastal belt is relatively flat compared to the eastern region and has many lakes and canals.
• Historical Factors: Due to coastal areas, export and import were prevalent and thus there are people from many religions. This state has a nearly equal population from Hinduism, Muslims and Christian regions. Festivals like Onam, Eid, Christmas, etc. are celebrated. The geographical features helped in the cultivation of spices.