India, That is Bharat Class 6 Questions and Answers
The Big Questions (Page 75)
Question 1: How do we define India?
Answer:
India is a large and diverse country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country in the world. India is bordered by several countries:
- Pakistan to the northwest,
- China and Nepal to the north,
- Bhutan to the northeast,
- Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. To the south, it is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, with the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east.
India has different types of landscapes:
- The Himalayas (tall mountains) are in the north.
- The Indo-Gangetic Plain (fertile area) is in the center.
- The Thar Desert is in the west.
- The Deccan Plateau and coastal plains are in the south. India also has many islands, like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.
Question 2: What were the ancient names for India?
Answer:
In ancient times, India had several names:
- Bharat: Named after the ancient king Bharata. This name is still used today.
- Jambudvipa: Meaning “island of the rose apple tree.” This name was used in ancient texts.
- Indike: The ancient Greeks called India this, after the Indus River.
- Hindustan: The Persians called India this, meaning “land of the Hindus,” derived from the Sindhu River (the Indus River).
These names show how important India was in ancient times, with its rich culture and history.
Let’s Explore
Question 1: Do you recognize any regions on the map (on page 79)? List the ones you know.
Answer:
The regions I recognize are:
- Kerala
- Kalinga
- Chola
- Pandya
- Kashi
- Kosala
- Avanti
Question 2: Can you find the phrase “India, that is Bharat” in the original Constitution (on page 82)?
Answer:
Yes, the phrase “India, that is Bharat” appears in the very first article of the Indian Constitution. It says:
“India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”
This means that both India and Bharat are official names for the country.
Question 3: Complete the table of names of India in different languages.
Answer:
Here are the names of India in different languages:
- Persian: Sindhu
- Greek: Indike or Indoi
- Latin: India
- Chinese: Yindu
- Arabic & Persian: Hindustan
- English: India
- French: Inde
India, That is Bharat Question Answers (Exercise)
Question 1: What could the quotation at the start of the chapter mean?
Answer:
Refer to the previous question about the phrase “India, that is Bharat.” It shows that India and Bharat are two names for the same country, one used in modern times and one rooted in ancient culture.
Question 2: True or False
(a) The Rig Veda describes the entire geography of India.
Answer: False
(b) The Vishnu Purana describes the entire Subcontinent.
Answer: True
(c) In Ashoka’s time, ‘Jambudvipa’ included what is today India, parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Answer: True
(d) The Mahabharata lists many regions, including Kashmir, Kutch, and Kerala.
Answer: True
(e) The term ‘Hindustan’ first appeared in a Greek inscription more than 2,000 years ago.
Answer: False
(f) In ancient Persian, the word ‘Hindu’ refers to the Hindu religion.
Answer: False
(g) ‘Bharata’ is a name given to India by foreign travellers.
Answer: False
Question 3: If you were born 2,000 years ago, what name might you have chosen for India, and why?
Answer:
This is a creative question. You can think of a name that reflects India’s rich culture, history, or geography, like “Bharat” or “Jambudvipa” (the land of the rose apple tree), or something that connects to a famous river like the Indus.
Question 4: Why did people travel to India from different parts of the world in ancient times? What were their reasons?
Answer:
People traveled to India for several reasons:
- Trade: India was famous for its spices, silk, and valuable goods. Traders came from far-off countries to buy and sell these things.
- Knowledge: India had great universities like Nalanda and Takshashila, where people studied subjects like medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. Scholars came to India for education.
- Religion: India is the birthplace of religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Pilgrims traveled to India to visit holy places and seek spiritual knowledge.
- Adventure: Some explorers were curious about India’s different cultures, traditions, and natural beauty. They wanted to discover new lands and people.
- Conquests: Kings and conquerors came to India to expand their empires and take control of India’s rich resources and fertile lands.
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