Teachers guide students to use Exploring Society India and Beyond Class 7 Solutions and Class 7 SST Part 2 Chapter 5 India, a Home to Many Question Answer NCERT Solutions for quick learning.
India, a Home to Many Questions and Answers Class 7 SST Chapter 5
India, a Home to Many Class 7 Question Answer (In-Text)
The Big Questions? (Page 125)
Question 1.
What has made India a home for people from different parts of the world?
Answer:
India developed a culture of acceptance, compassion, and peaceful coexistence, which made it a natural home for people coming from many regions. The chapter explains that India welcomed those seeking refuge or new opportunities because of its long standing values such as vasudhaiva kutumbakam (“the whole world is family”), atithi devo bhava (“a guest is like God”), and the wish for universal well-being expressed in sarve bhavantu sukhinah (“may all creatures be happy”). These cultural ideals created a society where newcomers could safely settle and maintain their traditions.
Question 2.
Why did oppressed or persecuted people from other countries seek refuge in India?
Answer:
People who were oppressed or persecuted looked to India because it had a reputation as a safe place where they could live without fear. Examples from the chapter include:
- Jews fled persecution in different countries and found India to be a place “where they can practise their faith without fear.”
- Syriac Christians escaped persecution in West Asia and were able to “live and worship freely” on the Malabar coast.
- Parsis (Zoroastrians) fled severe religious persecution in Persia and found protection from local Indian rulers like Raja Jadi Rana.
- Baha’is came to India because they were treated as heretics and oppressed in Iran.
- Tibetans sought refuge after the Chinese takeover and were granted asylum and rehabilitation by India. Thus, persecuted groups saw India as a safe, compassionate, and welcoming land.
Question 3.
What is it about the nature of Indian society that enables people to assimilate here?
Answer:
India’s society is shaped by values and traditions that naturally encourage inclusion, respect for diversity, and cultural harmony. The chapter highlights:
- A long history of multiple schools of thought that embraced openness, compassion, and coexistence.
- Core teachings such as “the whole world is family” and “may all creatures be happy”, which promote universal kindness.
- A cultural ethos that allows even small communities to find a secure place and maintain their traditions over centuries.
- The ability of local communities to blend with newcomers—seen in the assimilation of Jews, Syrian Christians, Parsis, Arab merchants, Armenians, Siddis, and Tibetans.
These values created a society where different cultures could mix like sugar in milk—sweetening the whole without causing conflict.
Let’s Explore
Question 1.
Look at the two pictures below. Is the place shown in both the photographs the same? Why is the Maharaja of Travancore (the name of the kingdom in and around Kochi at that time) giving such an expensive gift to the Jewish synagogue for the Torah (religious book of the Jews)? (Page 128)
Answer:
Yes, the place shown in both photographs is the same – the Jewish synagogue in Kochi. Both images depict different parts of the same building. The Raja of Kochi (Travancore region) had granted land to the Jewish community free of cost “as long as the world, sun, and moon endure,” showing his respect and acceptance. The Jewish community lived peacefully in his kingdom and became part of the local society.
Therefore, the Maharaja’s expensive gift – a gold crown for the Torah – reflects:
- Respect for the Jewish faith and its traditions
- A gesture of goodwill and honour toward a community that had peacefully settled in his kingdom
- India’s culture of acceptance and hospitality, which welcomes diverse communities
By donating the crown, the Maharaja showed encouragement, support, and protection for the Jewish community’s religious life.
Question 2.
Observe the picture given below. What clues do you get about the integration of the Jewish community into Indian society over time? (Page 129)
Answer:
The picture shows a Jewish family in Mumbai in the late 19th century, and the picture gives several clues that the Jewish community had gradually integrated into Indian society. Clues of integration are as follows:
- Indian-style clothing: Members of the family are wearing clothes influenced by Indian fashion of that time. This shows they adopted local dress styles while still keeping their identity.
- Indian cultural setting: The background and overall appearance reflect the typical environment of Indian homes of that period, indicating that Jewish families lived comfortably within Indian neighbourhoods.
- Blending of traditions: Although they remained Jewish in faith, their lifestyles show a mix of Jewish and Indian cultural elements, showing how they lived as part of Indian society without losing their heritage.
- Long-term settlement: The fact that this is a late 19th-century photograph shows that Jews had lived in India for many generations and become a familiar part of social life in cities like Mumbai.
Question 3.
Observe the pictures below. What are the clues you get about the integration of the Syriac Christian community into Indian society? (Page 130)
Answer:
The picture shows a Syriac (Syrian) Christian wedding ceremony, and about how the Syriac Christian community gradually integrated into Indian society.
Clues of integration are as follows:
- Indian-style wedding clothing: In the picture, both the bride and groom wear clothing that resembles traditional Indian wedding attire, showing that the community adopted local customs in dress.
- Indian cultural elements in the ceremony: The decorations, the way the ceremony is arranged, and the setting all reflect Indian cultural practices, suggesting that their religious ceremonies blended with local traditions.
- Use of local customs alongside Syriac traditions:
Although they continued practising their Syriac Christian faith, the visual elements show that they included Indian rituals, jewellery styles, and cultural aesthetics in their celebrations. This reflects a harmonious blend of both identities. - Long-term settlement and cultural blending: The picture indicates that, over centuries, Syriac Christians who came as refugees or migrants became part of Indian social life, participating in Indian customs while keeping their religious practices.
Question 4.
This painting of a Parsi bride getting ready for her wedding shows many aspects of Indian culture. Do any of them seem familiar to you? Based on what you see, can you draw any conclusions about the integration of Parsi culture in India? (Page 132)
Answer:
Familiar aspects of Indian culture in the painting “Decking the Bride”, several elements clearly reflect Indian cultural traditions:
- Traditional Indian jewellery- The bride is adorned with ornaments commonly worn by Indian women.
- Indian-style clothing and draping- Her attire resembles Indian bridal wear.
- Indian wedding preparations- The scene of women helping the bride get ready is a familiar part of Indian wedding customs.
- Art style itself – Raja Ravi Varma’s painting style portrays Indian social life, showing how Parsis participated in similar cultural settings.
About the integration of Parsi culture in India Based on the painting, we can conclude that:
The Parsis blended deeply into Indian society while maintaining their identity.
- They adopted Indian styles of dress, jewellery, and wedding customs.
- Their ceremonies and social traditions show a combination of Parsi religious identity and Indian cultural influence.
- The painting reflects how naturally Parsis became part of India’s cultural life, just as the chapter explains—they combined “their ancient traditions with those of the local culture.”
Question 5.
What clues do you get about African and Indian cultural integration from the pictures? Identify and name a few features that are distinctly Indian. (Page 134)
Answer:
Clues about African and Indian cultural integration From the pictures of the Siddi community, we can observe several signs showing how African-origin Siddis gradually blended with Indian society:
- Clothing influenced by Indian styles: In the pictures, the Siddi individuals wear sarees, jewellery, and clothing commonly worn in Karnataka and other Indian regions. This shows adoption of Indian dress traditions over time.
- Participation in Indian cultural settings: The simple village surroundings look very similar to typical Indian rural environments, showing that Siddis live as part of local Indian communities.
- Dance forms showing a blend of African and Indian style.s The drumming and dance movements reflect African roots. But the dress, ornaments, and setting reflect Indian cultural influences.This indicates a fusion of African traditions with Indian ways of life.
Question 6.
Are there communities in your neighbourhood whose ancestors might have come to India centuries ago and made it their home? Have a class discussion on what their experience may have been. (Page 140)
Answer:
Yes, there are communities in many neighbourhoods in India whose ancestors came centuries ago and made India their home. Some examples that might be found in different parts of India include:
1. Parsis: Many Parsi families today live in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and parts of Gujarat. Their ancestors arrived from Persia to escape religious persecution. Their experience in India has generally been positive — they were welcomed by local rulers and integrated well into Indian society while maintaining their distinct customs.
2. Syrian Christians (Syriac Christians): In Kerala, there are many Syrian Christian families whose ancestors migrated centuries ago. They adopted Indian traditions in food, clothing, and festivals while continuing their Christian faith.
3. Jewish communities : Cities like Mumbai and Kochi still have Jewish families whose ancestors arrived long ago seeking safety. They lived peacefully in India, built synagogues, and integrated into the local culture.
4. Siddis: In parts of Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, Siddi communities—descendants of Africans brought centuries earlier—live as part of the local population. They blended African traditions with Indian lifestyles.
5. Tibetan refugees: In places like Dharamshala and Bylakuppe (Karnataka), Tibetan families who arrived after 1959 have created settlements. Their experience includes rebuilding their community, preserving culture, and living peacefully in India.
Class Discussion Points—During a class discussion, students might note that:
- These communities came to India seeking safety, opportunities, or freedom to practice their traditions.
- India allowed them to preserve their identities while becoming part of the larger society.
- Over centuries, they contributed to India’s culture, economy, food, festivals, and knowledge traditions.
- Their experiences generally show acceptance, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence, reflecting values discussed in the chapter like vasudhaiva kutumbakam, sarve bhavantu sukhinah, and atithi devo bhava.
Question 7.
Identify similar values in any story or local tradition etc. known to you. You could ask your guardians or relatives too. Collect these stories and create a class manuscript. You could include illustrations.
(Page 140)
Answer:
Here are a few stories and local traditions that reflect values similar to those mentioned in the chapter:
1. The Story of Shabari (from the Ramayana):
Shabari, a simple forest woman, welcomed Lord Rama with great love and humility.
She offered him berries after carefully tasting each one to make sure only the sweetest berries were given to him. Value shown: Hospitality, devotion, and seeing a guest as divine (atithi devo bhava).
2. The Tradition of Langar in Gurudwaras: In Sikh traditions, every Gurudwara runs a langar a free community kitchen where anyone, regardless of religion, caste, gender, or background, is welcome to eat.
Value shown: Equality, compassion, and the belief that the whole world is one family.
3. The Story of the Buddha and Angulimala: The Buddha compassionately guided Angulimala, a feared bandit, inspiring him to change his life.
Value shown: Forgiveness, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to transform.
4. A Local Community Tradition (Example): In many villages, during festivals like Pongal, Onam, or Bihu, neighbours prepare food together and share it with everyone in the community, including strangers passing by.
Value shown: Sharing, inclusion, and offering food without discrimination.
For the Class Manuscript
All these stories reflect the same spirit seen in the chapter:
- Compassion toward others
- Welcoming and helping those in need
- Seeing all human beings as one family
- Living together peacefully despite differences
If you create a class manuscript, you can illustrate scenes like Shabari offering berries, people eating together at a langar, or neighbours sharing festival food.
Think About It
Question 1.
Imagine this scenario — A stranger knocks at your door at midnight. It is raining heavily outside, and the stranger seeks shelter for the night claiming that his car broke down while he was driving in the vicinity. Your family goes into a huddle to discuss the pros and cons of letting a stranger into the house at night. Form two groups to discuss the arguments for and against in this scenario. Now extend this scenario to a country like India — when refugees seek shelter in India, will similar arguments apply? (Page 126)
Answer:
A. Arguments for letting the stranger into the house
- Humanity and compassion: It is raining heavily and the stranger may be in danger. Helping someone in distress is a moral duty.
- Emergency situation: If the car has broken down, the stranger has no other safe place to go for the night.
- Values of kindness and hospitality: Families may feel that helping someone in need reflects cultural values such as kindness and atithi devo bhava (a guest is like God).
- Possibility that the person genuinely needs help:
The stranger may be completely harmless and truly seeking temporary shelter.
B. Arguments against letting the stranger into the house:
- Safety concerns: The stranger might have harmful intentions or could be pretending to seek help.
- Risk to family members: Allowing an unknown person inside at night could endanger everyone in the house.
- Lack of information: The family knows nothing about who the person is, where they came from, or their real purpose.
- Alternative help available: The family may prefer to offer assistance from outside, like calling the police or roadside help, instead of opening the door.
C. Extending this scenario to India and refugees
When refugees seek shelter in India, similar arguments do apply, but on a much larger scale.
However, India’s response is shaped by its cultural values and historical traditions, as described in the chapter. Arguments for accepting refugees (based on India’s values shown in the chapter):
- Compassion and cultural ethos: India has long believed in vasudhaiva kutumbakam — “the whole world is one family.”
- Moral responsibility: Refugees are often fleeing persecution, danger, or war; helping them is an act of humanity.
- Historical tradition: India has welcomed Jews, Parsis, Syriac Christians, Tibetans, and others for centuries, offering them safety and freedom to live peacefully.
- Peaceful coexistence: Indian society has a culture of acceptance that allows different communities to settle and contribute.
Arguments against or concerns a country might have
- Security concerns: A country must ensure that those entering do not pose threats to national safety.
- Resource limitations: Providing food, shelter, and other facilities to refugees requires resources and planning.
- Social adjustments: Large inflows of refugees may require time for both refugees and local communities to adapt.
Question 2.
What do you think dissolving the sugar in the milk without spilling it meant? (Page 131)
Answer:
The act of dissolving the sugar in the milk without spilling it symbolised the message that The Parsis would blend into Indian society peacefully and sweeten it without causing any disturbance.
They would not overflow or disrupt the existing population just as the milk did not spill.
They would integrate harmoniously into the local culture Their presence would add “sweetness” meaning they would contribute positively to society. This symbolic gesture reassured Raja Jadi Rana that the Parsis would live peacefully, respect local customs, and enrich the kingdom rather than create conflict.
India, a Home to Many Class 7 Solutions (Exercise)
Question 1.
On the outline of a world map, try to trace the routes that the communities mentioned in this chapter may have used to reach India. What types of physical geographies did they have to negotiate?
Answer:
The different communities reached India by crossing a variety of physical geographies:
- Jews: Some came by sea after being shipwrecked on the Konkan coast. Others travelled from West Asia to the Malabar coast.
Geographies crossed: Seas, coastal routes. - Syriac Christians: Travelled eastward along ancient trade routes from West Asia to the Malabar coast.
Geographies crossed: Deserts, mountains, sea routes. - Parsis (Zoroastrians): Escaped from Persia and crossed the Arabian Sea to Gujarat.
Geographies crossed: Arid landscapes, sea routes. - Arab merchants: Sailed from Arabia to the Indian west coast (Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka). Geographies crossed: Ocean routes.
- Siddis: Brought from Africa through sea routes by Arab, Portuguese, and British traders.
Geographies crossed: Indian Ocean and surrounding seas. - Armenians: Travelled through Persia and Central Asia, and some arrived by sea to ports like Surat and Chennai.
Geographies crossed: Mountain ranges, deserts, long land routes, sea. - Baha’is: Came from Persia into India. Geographies crossed: Mountainous and desert regions.
- Polish refugees: Travelled across war-affected Europe to reach India.
Geographies crossed: Mountain ranges, plains, long land routes. - Tibetans: Crossed the Himalayan mountains to take refuge in India.
Geographies crossed: High mountain passes, snow-covered terrain.
Question 2.
What are the key values intrinsic to Indian culture that enable it to welcome people of different backgrounds?
Answer:
The core Indian civilisational values that allowed India to welcome many communities are as follows:
- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – “The whole world is one family.” This belief promotes acceptance and openness toward all people.
- Atithi Devo Bhava – “A guest is like God.” Encourages hospitality and care for newcomers.
- Sarvc” Bhavantu Sukhinah – “May all creatures be happy.” Reflects compassion and goodwill toward everyone.
- India has long supported multiple faiths, schools of thought, and diverse communities.
Question 3.
Homi Bhabha, Sam Maneckshaw, Ratan Tata, Fali Nariman, Nani Palkivala, and Cornelia Sorabji are a few names of Parsis who excelled in their respective fields. Find out more about people from other communities that made India their home and their contributions.
Answer:
People from many communities who came to India made important contributions to the country. Jews such as David Sassoon helped develop trade, industries, and public institutions, while Lt Gen J. F. R. Jacob played a major role in India’s 1971 war victory. Syrian Christians contributed greatly to education, social reform, and culture, especially in Kerala.
Members of the Arab-Indian Muslim community strengthened India’s maritime trade and enriched Indian literature, with writers like Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The Siddi community of
African origin produced leaders like Malik Ambar, a skilled military commander and administrator, and social reformers such as Hirabai Lobi.
The Armenians helped expand India’s overseas trade and set up schools and churches in cities like Kolkata and Chennai. Tibetan refugees, led by the Dalai Lama, preserved Buddhist traditions and promoted peace and compassion from India. The Baha’i community spread messages of unity and harmony, symbolised by the Lotus Temple in Delhi. Together, these communities enriched India’s cultural, social, and national life.
Question 4.
Take up a class project. Divide the class into groups. Each group takes up a small project to study a little more about the communities that we have been listed here. Share what you have gathered with your classmates through one of these ways — drama, posters, song, painting, etc.
Answer:
Do it yourself