Hello, young historians!
Today, we’re exploring Chapter 4, “India, that is Bharat”, where we’ll discover the rich and diverse identity of our country through its history, culture, and heritage. In this chapter, you’ll learn about the names “India” and “Bharat”—two identities that reflect different aspects of our nation’s story. You’ll discover how India is shaped by its landscapes, languages, traditions, and the unity that brings us together.
Each concept is explained simply to help you feel confident and excited as you explore. Learn about India’s vibrant story, and with these solutions, every step will be easy to follow. We’re here to guide and encourage you, hoping to inspire questions and reflections on how India’s past shapes the world around us today.
So, let’s embark on this incredible journey into our nation’s heritage—there’s so much to discover about India that is Bharat!
Find Solutions for NCERT Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 5 “India, that is Bharat,” here.
The Big Questions
1. How do we define India?
Answer:
India, also known as Bharat, is both a modern nation with defined borders, states and a known population, as well as an ancient civilisation with a rich spiritual and cultural tradition. Historically, the Indian Subcontinent has been recognized for the diversity of its people, traditions, and landscapes stretching between the Himalayas and the surrounding seas.
2. What were the ancient names for India?
Answer:
India had been referred to by many names by its inhabitants as well as visitors. We learn of the following names from ancient texts, accounts of travellers and pilgrims and inscriptions:
Sapta Sindhava: From the Ṛig Veda, meaning the “land of seven rivers.”
Bhāratavarṣha: Mentioned in the Mahābhārata, meaning the “land of the Bharatas.”
Jambudvīpa: Meaning “island of the jambul tree.”
In addition to the above names used by the inhabitants of India, people from other lands also referred to India by various names:
Persians: Referred to India as ‘Hind’, ‘Hidu’, or ‘Hindu’, which were adaptations of the Sanskrit word ‘Sindhu’, the name of the Indus River.
Greeks: Called India ‘Indoi’ or ‘Indike’, derived from the Persian Hindu.
Chinese: Used the names ‘Yintu’ or ‘Yindu’, also derived from Sindhu. Another name used by the Chinese was ‘Tianzhu’ or ‘heavenly master’, which reflected their reverence for India as the land of the Buddha.
Arabic & Persian: The term’ Hindustān’ appeared in Persian inscriptions about 1,800 years ago to describe the Indian Subcontinent.
Latin: India was called ‘India’ in Latin, similar to the modern name.
French: The French referred to India as ‘Inde’.
These names evolved from different languages and cultures interacting with India, often influenced by the significance of the Indus River and India’s rich history as a centre of trade, learning, and religion.
THINK ABOUT IT (Page 77)
Consider the physical map of the Indian Subcontinent at the start of the chapter. What are its natural boundaries that you can make out?
Answer:
The natural boundaries of the Indian Subcontinent as seen on the physical map include:
The Himalayas: These mighty mountains form the northern boundary which separates the Indian Subcontinent from the rest of Asia.
The Indian Ocean: The Indian Subcontinent is bordered by the vast Indian Ocean which lies to the South.
The Arabian Sea: Located to the west of the subcontinent, this sea acts as a natural boundary along the western coast of India.
The Bay of Bengal: To the east, the Bay of Bengal also forms another natural boundary along the eastern coast.
These natural barriers have significantly impacted India’s history, culture, and its relations with other regions.
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 78)
Do you recognise the names of any regions given in the map (Fig. 5.4) on page 79? List the ones that you have heard of.
I can recognise the following regions mentioned in the map (Fig. 5.4) which correspond to various modern-day areas of India:
Kāshmīra (Kashmir)
Kurukṣhetra (in Haryana)
Vanga (Bengal)
Prāgjyotiṣha (Assam)
Kaccha (Kutch)
Kerala (Kerala)
THINK ABOUT IT (Page 80)
Have you identified the ‘snowy mountains’? Do you think this brief description of Bhārata is correct?
Answer:
The ‘snowy mountains’ mentioned in the ‘Vishnu Purana’ refer to the ‘Himalayas’, which form the northern boundary of the Indian Subcontinent. This brief description of Bhārata, as the land between the ocean in the south and the Himalayas in the north, is correct, as it describes the general geographic extent of ancient India.
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 81)
In this reproduction of the first page of the original Constitution of India in Fig. 5.5 (page 82), can you make out the phrase ‘India, that is Bharat’?
Answer:
Yes, in the reproduction of the first page of the original Constitution of India in Fig. 5.5 (Page 82), the phrase “India, that is Bharat” can be clearly read. The first Article of the Constitution states, “India that is Bharat shall be a union of states”.
This phrase underscores the dual names used for the country, and recognises both ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’ as official names in both English and Hindi versions of the Constitution.
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 83)
Can you complete this table of the many names of India?
| Persian | |
| Greek | |
| Latin | India |
| Chinese | |
| Arabic& Persian | |
| English | India |
| French | Inde |
Answer:
| Persian | Hind, Hidu, or Hindu |
| Greek | Indoi or Indike |
| Latin | India |
| Chinese | Yintu’ or ‘Yindu’. ‘Tianzhu |
| Arabic& Persian | Hindustān |
| English | India |
| French | Inde |
Questions, activities and projects (page 84)
1. Discuss what could be the meaning of the quotation at the start of the chapter.
Answer:
The quotation at the start of the chapter, from Sri Aurobindo, states:
“In India at a very early time the spiritual and cultural unity was made complete and became the very stuff of the life of all this great surge of humanity between the Himalayas and the two seas.”
The quote by Sri Aurobindo means that a long time ago, even before India became one country, the people living between the Himalayas and the seas were already united by their common culture and spiritual beliefs. Although they spoke different languages and lived in different regions, their shared traditions and ways of thinking brought them together.
2. True or false?
The Ṛig Veda describes the entire geography of India.
Answer:
False – The Rig Veda only describes the North West region of the subcontinent and calls it the ‘Sapta Sindhu.
The Viṣhṇu Purāṇa describes the entire Subcontinent.
Answer:
True
In Aśhoka’s time, ‘Jambudvīpa’ included what is today India, parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Answer:
True
The Mahābhārata lists many regions, including Kashmir, Kutch, and Kerala.
Answer:
True
The term ‘Hindustān’ first appeared in a Greek inscription more than 2,000 years ago.
Answer:
False – The term ‘Hindustan’ was first used in a Persian inscription some 1,800 years ago.
In ancient Persian, the word ‘Hindu’ refers to the Hindu religion.
Answer:
False – in ancient Persian, the term ‘Hindu’ is a purely geographical term; it does not refer here
to the Hindu religion.
‘Bhārata’ is a name given to India by foreign travellers.
Answer:
False – ‘Bharata’ is a name that first appears in the Ṛig Veda, where it refers to one of the main Vedic groups of people.
3. If you were born some 2,000 years ago and had the chance to name our country, what name or names might you have chosen, and why? Use your imagination!
Answer:
If I were born 2,000 years ago and had the chance to name our country, I might have chosen the name “sukhshantibhoomi”, which means “Land of happiness and peace”. I would choose this name because it conveys a sense of happiness and positivity, reflecting the vibrant and diverse cultures of India living in peaceful harmony.
4. Why did people travel to India from various parts of the world in ancient times? What could be their motivations in undertaking such long journeys? (Hint: There could be at least four or five motivations)
Answer:
In ancient times, people travelled to India from various parts of the world for several reasons, including:
Trade and Commerce: India was famed for its rich resources, such as spices, silk, muslin and precious stones. Merchants and traders from different regions flocked to India to buy these goods and to sell their own products.
Religious Pilgrimage: India was a important centre for various religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Pilgrims travelled to India drawn by the sacred shrines, temples, and places of worship. The Chinese traveller’s like Faxien, Xuanzang and Yanjing came to India to gain knowledge about Buddhism.
Knowledge and Learning: India was renowned for its advanced knowledge in fields like mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Scholars from distant lands travelled to India to study and exchange ideas with Indian scholars and to gain knowledge. Renowned Indian universities like Nalanda and Takshashila attracted a lot of students.
Diplomatic Missions: Rulers and emissaries from foreign lands visited India to establish diplomatic relations, form alliances, and negotiate treaties. Deimachus from Greece came to India in the 3rd century BCE and was an ambassador in the court of Bindusara
Exploration and Curiosity: Some travellers were adventurous and fuelled by a desire to explore new lands, understand different cultures, they came to experience the diverse and rich traditions of India.
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In this chapter, you’ll explore the significance of India’s dual identity as “India” and “Bharat,” learning how these names represent different aspects of our nation’s rich cultural heritage. We recommend that you begin by reading the lesson carefully, and then going through the solutions, paying attention to each explanation. Be sure to review the solutions before your exam, and practice writing answers under timed conditions. This practice is key—not only will it help perfect your skills, but it will also boost your confidence, ensuring you’re ready to tackle any question.
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