Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table:
Sekar | Ramlingam | |
Land cultivated | 2 acres | 20 acres |
Labour required | He do not requires | He requires |
Loans required | He requires | He also requires the loan for rice mills |
Selling of harvest | He pays paddy to back the loan | Sell to the traders |
Other work done by them | He has | He owns |
Sekar owns only 2 acres of land whereas Ramlingam owns 20 acres of land. Sekar is poor and he has to work on other’s land and in addition he has to do other works also; as he is poor and that’s why he does not requires any labour. Ramlingam is a rich person and he has a big land so, he cannot work on that land alone i.e. he requires labours to work on his land. They both requires loans because Sekar has to buy seeds, pesticides and fertilizers whereas Ramlingam requires loans for the rice mill. Sekar has not enough money to pay loan back to the bank so, he has to give some amount of his harvest to the bank as loan on the other hand Ramlingam sell his harvest to the traders and he earns a lot of money for his harvest. Sekar is poor so one work is not enough for him so, he has to do some other works also and Ramlingam has a rice mill as well as 20 acres of land.
Sometimes people make prejudiced comments in our presence. We are often not in a position to do anything about this because it is difficult to say something right then and there. Divide the class into groups and each group discuss what they could do in one of the following situations:
a. A friend begins to tease a classmate because he is poor.
b. You are watching TV with your family and one of them makes a prejudicial comment about a particular religious community.
c. Children in your class refuse to share their food with a particular person because they think she is dirty.
d. Someone tells you a joke that makes fun of a community because of their accent.
e. Some boys make remarks about girls not being able to play games as well as them. Discuss in class what the different groups have suggested for the above situations, and also talk about the problems that can come up when raising the issue.
Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
Look at the statements in the column on the left. Can you identify which level they belong to? Place tick marks against the level you consider most appropriate.
What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?
What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?
Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India's essential unity.
How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least five different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house.
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?
Name two essential features of a democratic government.
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?
List the different types of people you read about in Kalpattu who depend on farming. Who is the poorest among them and why?
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?
Take an example of any one task done by a Panchayat in your area/nearby rural area and find out the following:
a. Why it was taken up.
b. Where the money came from.
c. Whether or not the work has been completed.
Who is in charge of all the police stations in a district? Find out.
Poor rural labourers like Thulasi often do not have access to good medical facilities, good schools, and other resources. You have read about inequality in the first unit of this text. The difference between her and Ramalingam is one of inequality. Do you think this is a fair situation? What do you think can be done? Discuss in class.
What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?
Read through the chapter and discuss some of the key ideas of a democratic government. Make a list. For example, all people are equal.
What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?
What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India's essential unity.