case /data -based (4 Marks)

Question 14 Marks

The most popular reference to a geographical area being described as Bharat is in the Vishnu Purana- “Uttaram yat samudrasya, Himadreschaiva dakshinam, varsham tad Bharatam nama Bharati yatra santatih”, meaning, the country that lies to the north of the ocean and to the south of the snowy mountains is called Bharata as there dwell the descendants of Bharat. In Hindu scriptures Bharatvarsha is identified as part of a larger geographical entity called Jambudweepa.
Bharata, whose descendants were said to be living in a particular area in Vishnu Purana, is commonly thought to be King Bharata, the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala, and an ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas. That also explains the name of the ‘Mahabharata’ which chronicles the war between Bharata’s descendants. In the Vedas, Bharata is the name of a tribe. King Sudasa of the Bharata tribe fights a war against the Puru tribe of which the Bharta tribe was a part. Later, Kuru dynasty emerged from the Bharata lineage in which King Bharata was born.
Q.1. What is the geographical location of Bharat, according to the Vishnu Purana?
(a) North of the snowy mountains and south of the ocean.
(b) North of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains.
(c) East of the snowy mountains and west of the ocean.
(d) West of the snowy mountains and east of the ocean.
Q.2. The term ‘Bharatavarsha’ was mentioned in which ancient text?
(a) Rig Veda $\quad$ (b) Mahabharata $\quad$ (c) Vishnu Purana $\quad$ (d) None of these
Q.3. In Hindu scriptures, Bharatvarsha is identified as a part of which larger geographical entity?
(a) Jambudweepa $\quad$ (b) Aryavarta $\quad$ (c) Indraprastha $\quad$ (d) Bharata
Q.4. In Vishnu Puaran, who is commonly thought to be the ‘Bharata’?
(a) A Vedic sage $\quad$ (b) An ancient tribe
(c) A king from the Kuril dynasty $\quad$ (d) The son of Dushyant and Shakuntala

Answer

1.B. North of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains
Explanation.
The Vishnu Purana describes Bharat as lying to the north of the ocean and to the south of the snowy mountains.
2.B. Mahabharata
Explanation.
‘Bharatvarsha’ was mentioned in the Mahabharata to describe the entire Indian subcontinent.
3.A. Jambudweepa
Explanation.
Bharatvarsha is identified as a part of the larger geographical entity called Jambudweepa in Hindu scriptures.
4.D. The son of Dushyant and Shakuntala
Explanation.
In Vishnu Purana, ‘Bharata’ is commonly thought to be the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala and an ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas.

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Question 24 Marks

It is interesting to note that different parts of the country adopted a similar definition for India. For instance, a poem of ancient Tamil literature, from about 2,000 years ago, praises a king whose name Is known “from [Cape] Kumari in the south, from the great mountain in the north, from the oceans on the east and on the west..” You can now recognise The great mountain in the north’, and it should not be difficult to identify ‘Cape Kumari’. It looks like ancient Indians knew their geography well!
Q.1. Which geographical feature is referred to as ‘the great mountain in the north’, in the Tamil Poem?
(a) The Himalayas $\quad$ (b) The Vindhya Range
(c) The Satpura $\quad$ (d) The Karakoram
Q.2. What does ‘Cape Kumari’ refer to in the Tamil poem?
(a) Karnataka $\quad$ (b) Kerala $\quad$ (c) Coimbatore $\quad$ (d) Kanyakumari
Q.3. ‘Ocean on the east’ most likely refers to which of the following?
(a) Indian Ocean $\quad$ (b) Bay of Bengal $\quad$ (c) Arabian Sea $\quad$ (d) Mediterranean Sea
Q.4. What can be inferred from the ancient Tamil poem mentioned in the passage?
(a) It solely mentions religious sentiments
(b) It demonstrates the grammar of Tamil literature.
(c) It highlights a clear understanding of India’s vast geography in the past.
(d) It tells about the ruling dynasties of South India.

Answer

1.A. The Himalayas
Explanation.
“The great mountain in the north” refers to the Himalayas, which is the highest mountain range in the world and is a significant geographical feature of northern India.
2.D. Kanyakumari
Explanation.
‘Cape Kumari’ refers to Cape Comorin, which is commonly known as Kanyakumari. It is the southernmost tip of India.
3.B. Bay of Bengal
Explanation.
Bay of Bengal is to the east of India, Arabian Sea to the west and the Indian Ocean is to the south.
4.C. It highlights a clear understanding of India’s vast geography in the past.
Explanation.
The Tamil poem in the passage is an ancient piece of literature as it was written some 2,000 years ago. The poem clearly reflects geographical awareness of that time.

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Social Studies case /data -based (4 Marks)

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