India and Her NeighboursClass 7 Social Science NCERT Solutions
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Q1Questions and activities
Explain who a maritime neighbour is with two examples with respect to India.
Solution
A maritime neighbour is a country that is connected to another country by a shared sea or ocean, even if they do not share a direct land border. The ocean serves as a crucial link for trade, cultural exchange, and historical connections that have developed over centuries.
Based on the chapter, two of India's closest maritime neighbours are:
- Sri Lanka: An island nation located to the southeast of India, separated by the Palk Strait. The distance between the two countries is only about 32 km at its nearest point, making them very close maritime neighbours.
- The Maldives: An island nation located southwest of India. It is an important neighbour for trade and security in the Indian Ocean, with its islets being only about 130 km away from Minicoy, an island in the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
Q2Questions and activities
How has Buddhism created links with India's neighbours? Give examples to explain your answer.
Solution
Buddhism, originating in India, has been a powerful cultural and spiritual link connecting India with many of its neighbours for centuries. It spread peacefully through trade routes, pilgrimage, and the efforts of monks and scholars.
Examples from the chapter include:
- China: Buddhism reached China around the 1st century CE through trade and pilgrimage routes. Chinese monks like Faxian and Xuanzang travelled to India, while Indian monks such as Bodhidharma carried Buddhist teachings to China, creating deep spiritual ties.
- Sri Lanka: Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE by Mahendra and Sanghamitrā, the children of Emperor Aśhoka.
- Bhutan: The Indian Buddhist master Guru Padmasambhava introduced the Vajrayāna school of Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century CE, which remains central to Bhutan's religious identity.
- Myanmar: As the birthplace of Buddhism, India holds special spiritual significance for the people of Myanmar, many of whom undertake pilgrimages to India.
- Afghanistan: Before the 7th century CE, Afghanistan was a thriving centre of Buddhist culture. The giant Buddhas of Bamiyan were powerful symbols of Mahāyāna Buddhism's reach from India.
- Thailand: Theravāda Buddhism, which originated in India, is widely practised in Thailand, strengthening cultural ties.
Q3Questions and activities
What does 'open border' policy mean? How does the India-Nepal 'open border' policy affect the lives of people living along the border?
Solution
An 'open border' policy is an arrangement between two countries where people can travel across the border without needing a visa or a passport. It is a symbol of trust and friendship between the nations.
The India-Nepal 'open border' policy has a significant impact on the lives of people living in the border regions. This policy:
- Enables free movement: Citizens from both countries can cross the border freely, which is crucial for maintaining family connections, as many families live on both sides.
- Facilitates access to services: People can easily travel across the border to access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities that may be better or more accessible on the other side.
- Promotes economic interdependence: The open border supports vibrant cross-border trade. Daily life in many border towns is marked by bustling markets where goods and services are exchanged, reinforcing the social and economic integration of the communities.
Q4Questions and activities
The chapter says, "Being neighbours is not just about geography." Explain this statement with an example.
Solution
The statement "Being neighbours is not just about geography" means that the relationship between neighbouring countries is defined by more than just sharing a physical border. It is shaped by deep-rooted historical connections, shared culture, economic interdependence, and the need for cooperation on common challenges. A good neighbourhood involves working together for peace, stability, and mutual progress.
An excellent example from the chapter is the relationship between India and Nepal. While they share a long land border, their relationship is profoundly shaped by:
- Shared Culture and Religion: People from both countries regularly visit sacred sites across the border, such as the Paśhupatinātha temple in Kathmandu. They celebrate common festivals like Daśhaharā (Daśhain) and Dīpāvalī (Tihar).
- People-to-People Bonds: The open border allows for free movement, enabling families to stay connected and people to seek work, education, and healthcare on either side.
- Economic Interdependence: India is Nepal's largest trading partner, supplying essential goods. This trade is vital for both economies, especially in the border regions.
These cultural, social, and economic ties show that their relationship is built on a foundation of shared heritage and cooperation, not just their geographical proximity.
Q5Questions and activities
What are the different ways in which India has helped smaller countries in her neighbourhood? Explain with examples.
Solution
India has provided significant support to smaller countries in its neighbourhood in various ways, including infrastructure development, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and economic cooperation. This assistance reinforces its role as a key partner in the region.
Examples from the chapter include:
- Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (Maldives): India has acted as a first responder for the Maldives in times of crisis. It provided quick help during the 2004 tsunami, supplied fresh water during the 2014 water crisis in Malé, and provided assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Infrastructure Development (Afghanistan): India has supported the rebuilding of Afghanistan by funding and constructing key infrastructure projects, including the Afghan Parliament building and the Zaranj-Delaram highway, which improves connectivity.
- Economic and Energy Cooperation (Bhutan): India has collaborated with Bhutan on developing its hydroelectric power generation. Projects like the Tala Hydroelectric Project, built with Indian support, contribute to Bhutan's economy and also supply renewable energy to India.
- Cultural Restoration (Myanmar): India has assisted in preserving shared cultural heritage. For example, India helped restore the ancient Ananda temple in Bagan, Myanmar, after it was damaged by earthquakes.
Q6Questions and activities
How do shared challenges become opportunities for cooperation? Were there examples in this chapter to illustrate this?
Solution
Shared challenges, such as natural disasters, climate change, and regional security threats, often compel neighbouring countries to work together. These challenges transcend borders and require joint efforts, thus becoming opportunities to build trust, share resources, and strengthen relationships for mutual benefit.
The chapter provides several examples to illustrate this:
- Tsunami Early Warning System: The devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a tragedy shared by many countries. This disaster exposed the need for a better warning system. In response, India joined hands with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other Indian Ocean countries to establish a network of sensors and communication links. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre in Hyderabad now helps alert neighbouring countries, turning a shared vulnerability into a collaborative life-saving mechanism.
- Climate Change: The Maldives, an island nation, is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change. This shared global challenge has become an opportunity for cooperation. The Maldives is a member of the International Solar Alliance, an Indian initiative to promote solar energy. This joint effort towards sustainability strengthens the long-term partnership between the two countries.
- Maritime Security: India and Oman share concerns about the security of the Indian Ocean. This has led to close defence cooperation, with joint military exercises and collaboration on maritime security, turning a shared strategic interest into a strong partnership.
Q7Questions and activities
If borders were drawn only by culture and connections, how would the map look different?
Solution
If borders were drawn based on culture and connections rather than political lines, the world map, especially around India, would look vastly different. Instead of sharp, rigid national boundaries, we would see larger, overlapping zones of shared heritage.
- A Bengali Cultural Region: The border between India's West Bengal and Bangladesh would likely dissolve, creating a single region united by the Bangla language, literature, music, and festivals.
- A Larger Punjabi Zone: The political border dividing Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab would be porous or non-existent, reflecting a shared language, cuisine, history, and cultural landmarks like the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
- The Himalayan Buddhist Zone: A distinct region would emerge connecting Nepal, Bhutan, and the Indian states of Sikkim, Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh. This zone would be defined by a shared heritage of Vajrayāna and Tibetan Buddhism, spiritual sites, and mountain culture.
- A South Indian-Sri Lankan-Maldivian Sphere: The Palk Strait would be a bridge rather than a divider. A cultural region would connect Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, linked by Tamil language influence, shared history, trade routes, cuisine, and folk traditions.
- An Indo-Southeast Asian Maritime Zone: The Bay of Bengal would connect India with Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This zone would be defined by the historical influence of Hinduism and Buddhism, Sanskrit-derived names (like Ayutthaya), and shared epics like the Rāmāyaṇa.
Q8Questions and activities
On blank maps: → Label India’s neighbours. → Draw arrows showing cultural flows (e.g., food, festivals, languages) between India and her neighbours. → Imagine and redraw new "borders of friendship" that connect neighbours through rivers, trade routes, or cultural zones. → Collect pictures of the flags of the countries listed in this chapter and write your observations.
Solution
This is an activity-based question that requires drawing on maps and collecting images. Here is a description of how to complete each part based on the chapter's content.
→ Label India’s neighbours:
On a map of South and Southeast Asia, you would label the following neighbours:
- Land Neighbours: Pakistan, Afghanistan, China (Tibet region), Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar.
- Maritime Neighbours: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Iran, Oman.
→ Draw arrows showing cultural flows:
- Draw arrows originating from India and pointing towards China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, and Afghanistan and label them 'Buddhism'.
- Draw an arrow from India to Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia and label it 'Hinduism / Rāmāyaṇa & Mahābhārata'.
- Draw an arrow between West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh and label it 'Bangla Language & Culture'.
- Draw an arrow between Punjab (India) and Pakistan and label it 'Shared Punjabi Culture & Language'.
- Draw arrows from South India to the Maldives and Sri Lanka and label them 'Language, Cuisine, Arts'.
→ Imagine and redraw new "borders of friendship":
- Ganga-Brahmaputra River Basin Zone: Draw a boundary that includes parts of India and Bangladesh, highlighting the shared river systems and the Sundarbans mangrove forest.
- Himalayan Cultural Zone: Draw a border that encompasses Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, representing a region connected by Buddhism and mountain ecology.
- Ancient Maritime Trade Route Zone: Draw a large loop connecting the coasts of India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, naming it the 'Suvarṇabhūmi Friendship Zone'.
→ Collect pictures of the flags and write observations:
After collecting images of the flags of countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, etc., your observations could include:
- Bhutan's Flag: As mentioned in the chapter, it features a dragon ('Druk'), symbolising the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' and the voice of Buddhist teachings. The jewels held by the dragon represent wealth. The design includes elements that might look familiar from Buddhist art, like the depiction of the dragon itself.
- Nepal's Flag: It is unique because it is not rectangular. It has symbols of the sun and the moon.
- Sri Lanka's Flag: It features a lion holding a sword, which has historical and cultural significance for the Sinhalese majority, along with stripes representing the Tamil and Muslim minorities.