Social Science [3 Mark Questions]

The two fundamental duties of the Indian citizens are:

1. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
2. To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

This stereotype thinking regarding Muslims not interested in educating girls and therefore do not send girls to school is wrong. The main reason for the Muslim girls not attending the schools is poverty. Wherever efforts have been made to reach education to the poor, there the Muslim community has shown an interest in sending their girls to school for example Kerala.

Mahars were poor people who owned no land. They lived in the outskirts of the village and were not allowed to enter into the village. Mahars were the largest untouchable caste in Maharashtra, comprising 9 percent of that area's population. Ambedkar, the first individual from a traditionally untouchable caste to receive a university education, encouraged Mahars to leave Hinduism in protest of their caste status.

In our constitution, right to equality is the most important right guaranteed to the citizens of India. It means that all citizens have equal privileges and opportunities. It looks after the citizens against any discrimination by the State on the basis of religion, caste, race, sex or place of birth. The citizens shall be equally protected by the laws of the country. It also says that the practice of untouchability is an offense.

Scheduled Caste is a social categorization that characterizes the lowest step of the caste hierarchy, as well as legal categorization that relates to the constitutionally designed instrument for identifying certain caste groups for the purpose of various constitutional entitlements.

He was the son of Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai Murbadkar. Bhimrao's native village name was "Ambavade" in Ratnagiri District so he changed his name from "Sakpal" to "Ambedkar" with the recommendation and faith of Mahadev Ambedkar, his teacher who believed in him.

When we evaluate people on the basis of prejudices and stereotypes, we are engaging in discrimination. Women and minorities are mistreated by discrimination in employment, education and social services. Sometimes, they are excluded from high rank positions in the society.

We feel angry, helpless or sad because of the following:Different people from among us:

1. Tease us.
2. Laugh at us.
3. Do not include us in certain activities or group.

A common stereotype about Muslims is

1. They are not interested in education of girls.

Reasons:

1. Poverty
2. Mental set up.

Dalits are not permitted to drink water from the public wells, attend the temple prayers, wear shoes in front of an upper caste or drink from the same cups in the tea stall. They have to face various sorts of discrimination and atrocities from the upper caste.

Yes, the National Human Rights Commission of India is one such Commission that works for the protection of human rights. The commission enquires into a petition presented to it by a victim or any person on his behalf into complaint of violation of human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violation by a public servant.

The famous leader who faced discrimination was the father of India, Mahatma Gandhi. He faced discrimination when he was in South Africa. He faced discrimination directed at black South African and Indians. One day in the court at Durban, he was asked to remove his turban by the magistrate. Another incident was that he was thrown off a train after his refusal to move from the first class to a third class.

Before independence, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Gandhi had raised their voice for abolishing untouchability and promoting social equality. The Dalits organised themselves in order to gain the right to go to the temples. These struggles were so prominent that they thought these to be vital while drafting the Constitution after independence.

Diversity is defined as the state or fact of being different and unique. We are different from each other in gender, appearance, habits and interests. We also have different ideologies, speak different languages, celebrate different festivals, follow different faiths, and have different ways of life. Even the plants and animals around us show a wide variety of different shapes, colours, sizes and show different behaviour. This diversity enriches our lives by adding variety to it. It teaches us to appreciate differences and learn from each other, thus making us tolerant and open-minded.

Diversity means “variety” and “being different”. It is a product of different geography, culture and history. Diversity is more than just tolerating the differences. It is respecting and understanding the varying differences among individuals in society.

Directive principles of state policies are very important because they give directions to the governments at the Centre as well as State to attain the welfare of the people. Their aim is to secure economic and social justice to all the people. It also aims to promote international peace and security.

When thousands of Indians were struggling to free themselves from the clutches of colonial rule, there were lakhs who were victims of social inequality. They were called Dalits, untouchables and tribals. Further, there were poor and landless farmers who were also being exploited by the landlords.

People differ in the way they live, eat and celebrate. Likewise the languages they speak, the clothes they wear and the religion they practice are also diverse. The whole world is thus full of diversity. But this diversity is not accepted always as we feel safe and secure only with people who dress, talk, think and look like us. The saying ‘Birds of the same feather flock together’ aptly describes this fact. Each one adopts an attitude or forms an individual opinion about the other.

Equality means all men are equally protected by law, no one is above law. All are free to follow their religion, language, and festivals and to express themselves freely. Everyone has freedom to do work of their own choice. The State will not differentiate any individual on the basis of religion, caste, language, gender or birth.

1. Many Dalits fought for gaining entry into temples.
2. Women demanded right to education as men did.
3. Peasants and tribals fought for freedom from moneylenders, and from high rates of interests.

Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar [1891–1956] was born on 14th April 1891. He is considered to be the father of the Indian Constitution and is also known as a great scholar and social worker. As a Dalit leader, he organised Untouchable’s Conference at Nagpur in 1918. He fought for the Dalits because he wanted to uplift them, save them from the atrocities that the higher castes were committing upon them. He organised a ‘Satyagraha’ in December 1927.

Problems of the poor people:

1. They cannot meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.
2. They are discriminated in offices, in hospitals, in schools etc.
3. They are treated badly everywhere they go.

S.no.	On Rural People	On Urban People
1.	Villagers are forced to migrate to cities in search of work.	Various facilities like education, employment are provided here.
2.	People in villages are familiar with each other.	In cities families spend very little time with each other.
3.	People lead a simple life.	Living in a city is expensive.

Stereotypes often lead to discrimination. Discrimination is when someone is treated worse than other people because of their: Gender, race, disability, colour, nationality, religion and age. When we judge people and groups based on our prejudices and stereotypes, then we treat them differently, which leads to discrimination.

Dalits are formerly known as untouchable- a person outside of the four Varnas, and considered below of all and polluting. Dalits include people as leather-workers, scavengers, tanners, flayers, cobblers, agricultural labourers, municipal cleaners and drum beaters. They are also known as broken people.

Life in the village is economical as people share common facilities such as temples, schools, ponds and grazing grounds. Life in the city is expensive as people have to spent more money on rent and transport.

Constitution is set of rules for government- often in the form of a written document- that establishes principles of an autonomous political entity. It defines the fundamental political principles and establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a government.

The Constitution says that all citizens of India are equal irrespective of religion, caste, gender or economic status. This is very important for all people to be equal because all of us are born equal in the eyes of the god. Every person should get equal opportunities in terms of education and career options. Nobody should get preferential treatment at public facilities. Equal treatment helps develop a sense of confidence among the people.

Caste division is special in India. It has not completely disappeared from India. Despite constitutional prohibition, untouchability is still continuing in India. The lower caste people are still backward in education as well as in their economic condition. In modern India, like in pre-independence the poor are mostly the low castes and the rich are the higher castes. All these show that inequalities are still continuing inspite of the vast development that India has achieved.

Many people do not accept the branded stereotypes and express their displeasure at those people who consider some as dumb, lazy and inferior than others. Likewise, members of certain communities do not send their daughters to good schools for education. They hold poverty and faulty government policies for their inability to send the girls to good schools while boys are given good education simply because they are regarded as bread winners of the family.

Rural population is a huge population in India and there is much more diversity between the villages situated one edge to another edge. Their costumes, traditions, living habits, behavior are varied; although features of rural people can be summarized as under :

1. They are often laborious and gentle;
2. Life of the rural areas is not easy. Many villages of India are still suffering from the scarcity of drinking water, electricity, roads, transport, health, education facilities etc.
3. They care a little bit about their health;
4. Most of the people of villages are backward and are depending on agriculture for their livelihood.
5. Most of them are not educated or they are little bit educated;
6. In many cases, women are also working in the fields.
7. Rural families spend 12 to 14 hours in the fields in peak harvesting and plantation season.

A common stereotype about Muslims is that they are not interested in educating girls and therefore do not send girls to school.
Whereas, studies have now shown that poverty amongst Muslims is an important reason for dropping out of school. It is very difficult for the poor people that they spend money on the girl child when they are struggling for the fulfillment of their basic needs. Efforts should be made to reach education upto the poor families irrespective of their belief.
There are many Muslim families who have shown their interest in sending girls to school. Therefore, a common stereotype thinking that Muslims do not show interest in taking education, is not an absolute fact.

With regards ta. equality the Constitution says :
1. Everyone has equal rights and opportunities.
2. Untouchability is seen as a crime and legally abolished by law.
3. People are free to choose the kind of work they wish to do.
4. Government jobs are open to all people.
The equality of all persons is seen as a key that unites us all as Indians. The Constitution also placed responsibility on the government to take specific steps to realize that this right to equality to poor and other deprived communities.

When the stereotype people think that daughter is a burden on the parents, it affects the life of the girl child in the following ways :
1. She feels guilty that she is a burden on the family.
2. The daughters are not sent to school.
3. They are not given nutritional food from the parents. Milk, butter, fruits are kept for the boys.
4. They are deprived of love, care, and attention.
5. When daughters fall sick-they do not get proper medical care and attention.

1. Muslims, Christians, tribals, handicapped, disabled persons, etc.
2. Yes.
3. Special training to teachers.