Class 6 English · Unit 5

Hamara Bharat — Incredible India!

NCERT Poorvi · Unit 5: Culture and Tradition. Answers to all the textbook questions and activities, in simple words.

Hamara Bharat — Incredible India!

★Let us discuss

1. What has Bharat always been known for?

Bharat has always been known as a land of wise and heroic individuals.

2. What is attractive about Bharat?

Its rich and diverse culture is attractive. It has attracted many travellers since ancient times.

3. What is special about the fact that the people live here in unison?

People of different cultures live together peacefully. They show the world unity in diversity.

4. What geographical features does the passage mention?

Rivers, lakes, high mountains and green forests.

5. What is the advice given to everyone?

We should continue working hard and make sure that Bharat prospers.

Kalakritiyon ka Bharat — before we read

★Complete the words with the correct vowels.

1. We like to decorate our homes with our folk art.
2. Our culture consists of our ideas, customs, traditions, values, arts, and languages.
3. All of us celebrate our festivals together.
4. We tell stories to our children to teach them about our culture, history, and legends.
5. We have our own languages to talk to each other.

Let us discuss

IPart I

1. What is the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme all about?

It is about knowing that we all belong to one nation. Our unity in diversity makes us the most wonderful country.

2. Why is this programme being conducted?

It is conducted so that students can meet friends from different states and learn about their culture. It strengthens the bond between people.

IIComplete the table about the art forms.

Name of the child	State	Art form	Things needed
Akanksha	Uttarakhand	Aipan	white rice flour paste, geru (red clay)
Priyaranjan	Odisha	Dhokra	clay, brass scrap, wax, fire
Chitra	Kerala	Coconut shell craft	brown coconut shell, sandpaper or machine, base, wood polish
Balamurali	Andhra Pradesh	Kondapalli	soft wood, makku (tamarind seed powder and sawdust), oil and water-colours, vegetable dyes, enamel paints

Let us think and reflect

IFill in the blanks.

1. The designs for Aipan are taken from cultural traditions and observations of nature.
2. Dhokra metal craft is very old because it is 4000 years old.
3. A base is needed for coconut shell craft to make it stable.
4. Soft wood, makku and colours are used to make Kondapalli toys.

IIWhy does Akanksha’s family make Aipan?

It is their folk art and tradition. They make Aipan on family functions and festivals to decorate the puja room, the floors and the main door.

IIIIn Dhokra, why does wax come out of the small openings?

The clay-covered figure is put in the fire. The heat melts the wax, so it flows out through the small openings.

IVWhat is common in the toys made in Balamurali’s village and coconut shell craft in Kerala?

Both are handmade from natural materials — soft wood and coconut shells. Both are shaped, finished and coloured or polished by hand.

Let us learn

IComplete the paragraph ‘How I Get Ready for School’.

1. First, I get up and go to take a shower. 2. Then, I wear my school dress. 3. After that, I eat my food. 4. Next, I wear my shoes. 5. Finally, I pick up my bag and go out of my home.

IIMake five sentences using the table. Use -s/-es wherever necessary.

1. We practise spellings on Friday.
2. You ask questions to understand.
3. She draws beautiful flowers.
4. They make paintings in free periods.
5. It (the radio) tells a story every day.

Given examples: I know how to dance. He speaks very loudly. With he, she and it, we add -s or -es to the verb.

Let us listen

IComplete the notes on gakkad bharta.

1. Name of the speaker: Sushil
2. The town of the speaker: Jabalpur
3. The state he belongs to: Madhya Pradesh
4. The name of the food item: gakkad bharta
5. Vegetables roasted for bharta: brinjals and tomatoes

IIComplete the flowchart on how to make gakkad bharta.

To make gakkad, make balls of wheat dough and roast them on high heat.

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To make bharta, roast brinjal and tomatoes and garnish with chopped onions, coriander, green chillies and salt.

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To serve, crumble the gakkad, put some bharta on it and add one spoon of ghee.

Let us speak

★Speak about a local art form of your region.

I know about the art form called Warli painting from Maharashtra. They need a mud wall or paper, geru, and white paste of rice flour. To make it, first they coat the wall with geru. After that, they draw circles, triangles and lines with the white paste. Next, they make people, animals and trees with these shapes. At last, they show scenes of dancing, farming and festivals.

Let us write

✎Write five sentences on the art form you liked the most.

I liked coconut shell craft from Kerala the most. It turns a waste coconut shell into useful things. Bowls and even jewellery can be made from it. It is a biodegradable craft, so it does not harm the environment. I would like to try making a small bowl from a coconut shell.

Let us explore

1Colour the Madhubani painting with natural colours.

Drawing activity. Use yellow from haldi, green from leaves, red from red flowers or geru, orange from flowers and blue from indigo.

2Read about the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme.

Under this programme, states and union territories are paired. People learn about each other’s languages, food, festivals and arts. It celebrates unity in diversity and builds a sense of common identity.

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