Chapter 7 India’s Cultural Roots Very Short Question
November 5, 2024Chapter 9 Family and Community Very Short Question
November 5, 2024Very Short Question Answers: Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’
Q1. What is the significance of the “People of India” project conducted by the Anthropological Survey of India?
Ans: It documented 4,635 communities across India, highlighting its cultural diversity.
Q2. How many languages were identified during the “People of India” project?
Ans: 325 languages using 25 scripts were identified.
Q3. What does “unity in diversity” mean in the context of India?
Ans: It signifies the coexistence of diverse cultural, linguistic, and social identities under one national identity.
Q4. Which common food grains are considered staples across India?
Ans: Rice, barley, wheat, millets (bajra, jowar, ragi), and various dals (pulses).
Q5. What are some common spices used throughout India?
Ans: Turmeric, cumin, cardamom, and ginger are commonly used spices.
Q6. What is the sari, and why is it significant in Indian clothing?
Ans: It is an unstitched piece of cloth worn by women across India, showcasing regional variations and cultural diversity.
Q7. Name some famous types of silk saris in India.
Ans: Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Paithani, Patan Patola, Muga, and Mysore are famous types of silk saris.
Q8. What is Makara Sankranti, and why is it significant in Indian festivals?
Ans: It marks the beginning of the harvest season in many parts of India around January 14.
Q9. What are the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa?
Ans: They are two ancient Sanskrit epics that narrate stories of heroes and principles of dharma.
Q10. How have the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa influenced Indian culture?
Ans: They have been adapted into various regional literatures and oral traditions across India.
Q11. What is the Pañchatantra, and why is it significant?
Ans: It is a collection of stories with animals as characters, teaching important life skills, adapted in many languages worldwide.
Q12. Which Indian festivals are celebrated across the country with different names?
Ans: Makara Sankranti and other harvest festivals are celebrated under different names across India.
Q13. How many adaptations of the Pañchatantra are estimated to exist worldwide?
Ans: About 200 adaptations in more than 50 languages are estimated to exist.Q14. How did the “People of India” project contribute to understanding India’s diversity?
Ans: It documented cultural, linguistic, and social diversity across 4,635 communities.
Q15. What natural phenomena originate in oceans and impact coastal regions?
Ans: Cyclones and tsunamis.
Q16. What role did Vincent Smith’s query about India’s diversity play in historical understanding?
Ans: It prompted reflection on how to unify India’s diverse cultural tapestry.
Q17. How does the sari exemplify both unity and diversity in Indian clothing traditions?
Ans: It is a single garment worn differently across regions, showcasing diverse cultural practices while remaining a unifying symbol.
Q18. How have the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa transcended their origins to influence neighboring regions and cultures?
Ans: They have been adapted and localized in various forms across Southeast Asia, the Arab world, and Europe.
Q19. What does the celebration of Makara Sankranti reveal about India’s cultural diversity?
Ans: It shows regional variations in traditions and customs while celebrating the harvest season across the country.
Q20. How has the “People of India” project contributed to preserving India’s cultural heritage?
Ans: By documenting over 4,600 communities, it has preserved and highlighted the rich cultural diversity of India.