National days, the flag and the Constitution
On 26 January the whole school stands in lines, the flag opens to the sound of drums and everyone sings together. Why do we celebrate this day?
India became free on 15 August 1947 – Independence Day. A country also needs rules, so a special book of rules, the Constitution, began to be followed on 26 January 1950 – Republic Day. Our tricolour has saffron (strength, courage), white (peace, truth) and green (growth, prosperity), with the blue Ashoka Chakra (duty) in the middle.
In the figure: Each band of the flag carries a message.
Key point 1: Two big days
- Easy : 15 August is Independence Day: we became free.
- Medium : 26 January is Republic Day: the Constitution began to be followed.
- Exam-type : On Republic Day a big parade with state tableaux and the defence forces is held in Delhi.
Just 24 days before freedom, on 22 July 1947, our tricolour was decided. The flag used in the freedom struggle had a charkha (spinning wheel) in the middle! The Constituent Assembly decided to put the blue Ashoka Chakra in its place, and Nehru proposed it.
The Constitution was ready on 26 November 1949, but it was not started at once! The leaders waited two months for 26 January. On 26 January 1930, people across the country had hoisted the tricolour and pledged to win complete freedom (Purna Swaraj). The date was chosen to remember that day.
On the morning of 26 January 1950, Dr Rajendra Prasad became the first President. In the afternoon he rode to the parade in a carriage pulled by six horses. The first parade was not on Rajpath but in a Delhi stadium (today's Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium), and President Sukarno of Indonesia was the chief guest.
Key point 2: Why rules matter
- Easy : Without rules a school or a country would be confusing and unsafe.
- Medium : The Constitution is the main book of rules for our country.
- Exam-type : Making a few rules for your class helps everyone be happy and safe.
Freedom came in 1947; the Constitution started working in 1950.
Mixing up Independence Day and Republic Day.
15 Aug = Free, 26 Jan = Rules. Memory clue: "August = Azadi (freedom), January = Joint rules".
Spot the difference
| Day | Date | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | 15 August 1947 | India became free |
| Republic Day | 26 January 1950 | Constitution began to be followed |
Practice questions
- 1When is Independence Day?
- 2What is the Constitution?
- 3What does the saffron colour stand for?
- 4What does white stand for?
- 5Where is the big Republic Day parade held?
- 6Why does a country need rules?
- 7Name the wheel in the middle of the flag.
- 8Write one rule you follow in your class.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 115 August.
- 2The book of rules of our country.
- 3Strength and courage.
- 4Peace and truth.
- 5In Delhi.
- 6So that everyone stays safe and things run smoothly.
- 7Ashoka Chakra.
- 8Any sensible rule, e.g. wait for your turn.
Symbols that speak: notes, emblem, national symbols
A currency note is more than money. Hold it to the light and it tells stories.
A note shows a picture of Gandhi ji, a smaller image visible against light, and tiny round spectacles that stand for the Clean India Mission. Raised marks help people with visual impairment to identify notes. The National Emblem has three lions on a round base with the Ashoka Chakra below. Other national symbols: tiger (animal) and peacock (bird). Lions in the wild are now found only in the Gir forests of Gujarat.
In the figure: Symbols tell us who we are.
Key point 1: Reading a note
- Easy : Hold the note to light to see a second, smaller picture.
- Medium : Round spectacles stand for cleanliness.
- Exam-type : Raised marks and a mobile helper help people with visual impairment.
Key point 2: Emblem and symbols
- Easy : The emblem shows strength, courage and confidence.
- Medium : Tiger and peacock are national animal and bird.
- Exam-type : Wild lions live only in Gir, thanks to efforts to protect them.
About 2,200 years ago, Emperor Ashoka set up a tall stone pillar at Sarnath. On its top sat four lions, back to back. Over time it was buried in the ground. In 1905 an engineer named Oertel dug there. The pillar was found in pieces, but the lion top was safe! It is now in the Sarnath museum.
On 26 January 1950, the very day India became a republic, this lion top became the country's emblem. Below it were written the words "Satyameva Jayate" (truth alone wins) from the Mundaka Upanishad. In the picture the fourth lion hides at the back, so we see only three. Today the emblem is on our notes and coins.
A school can design its own emblem using shapes, colours and words.
Thinking all national symbols are the same as state symbols.
Note: Light, Spectacles, Raised marks. Memory clue: "LSR – Look, See, Read".
Spot the difference
| Symbol | What it is | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Emblem | three lions + chakra | strength, courage |
| National animal | tiger | strength |
| National bird | peacock | beauty |
Practice questions
- 1Whose picture is on the note?
- 2What does the round spectacles symbol mean?
- 3How do raised marks help?
- 4How many lions are on the emblem?
- 5Name India's national animal.
- 6Name India's national bird.
- 7Where do wild lions live in India?
- 8What would your school emblem show?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Mahatma Gandhi.
- 2Clean India Mission / cleanliness.
- 3People with visual impairment can feel and identify notes.
- 4Three (visible).
- 5Tiger.
- 6Peacock.
- 7Gir forests, Gujarat.
- 8Any symbol, shape and message of your choice.
Languages, dress and diversity
Ask five classmates how to say "mango" at home. You may hear five different words!
More than a thousand languages are spoken in India, so it is a multilingual country. People also differ in food, clothes, songs and headgear, such as the pagri of Rajasthan or the topi of Himachal. A garden has few kinds of plants and needs constant care, while a forest has many kinds that help each other. Like a forest, diversity makes our country stronger. Helmets are also headgear: they protect from injury.
In the figure: Variety makes a forest, and a country, strong.
Key point 1: Many languages
- Easy : More than a thousand languages are spoken in India.
- Medium : A word like "mango" has different names in different languages.
- Exam-type : Translation apps can help us learn words from other languages.
Key point 2: Dress and headgear
- Easy : Headgear shows place, belief or work, and is worn for honour in ceremonies.
- Medium : Helmets protect heads of soldiers, workers and riders.
- Exam-type : Always wear a helmet on a two-wheeler.
Diversity means many kinds living together.
Thinking the whole country speaks one language.
Diversity: Language, Dress, Food, Music. Memory clue: "LDFM – Look at Differences, Find Meaning".
Spot the difference
| Thing | Example | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Headgear | pagri | Rajasthan |
| Headgear | topi | Himachal Pradesh |
| Protection | helmet | roads / mines |
Practice questions
- 1Roughly how many languages are spoken in India?
- 2What does multilingual mean?
- 3Name a headgear from Rajasthan.
- 4Name a headgear from Himachal Pradesh.
- 5Why is a forest more diverse than a garden?
- 6Why must you wear a helmet on a two-wheeler?
- 7Name two things in which people of India differ.
- 8How can you learn a new word in another language?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1More than a thousand.
- 2Having many languages.
- 3Pagri / saafa.
- 4Topi.
- 5It has many kinds of plants and animals.
- 6To prevent serious head injuries.
- 7Any two: language, food, clothes, songs.
- 8Ask a friend or use a translation app.
Art, music and the spirit of togetherness
A drum can sound very different in different regions, yet every drum helps people celebrate together.
India's art forms – music, dance and instruments – are ways of celebrating and sharing stories. There are many drums such as dhol, dholak, tabla and mridangam, each with its own sound. The mridangam is used in Carnatic music; the sitar and shehnai in Hindustani music. Like many threads woven into one cloth, our differences make one strong, colourful country. Old traditions and new ideas live together.
In the figure: Different threads, one strong fabric.
Key point 1: Music and dance
- Easy : Drums are shaped by local culture, traditions and materials.
- Medium : Instruments like mridangam, sitar and shehnai belong to different styles of music.
- Exam-type : Dance forms also come from different states.
Key point 2: Togetherness
- Easy : People of different languages and faiths live and help each other.
- Medium : Old traditions such as yoga and ayurveda live with new things like digital payments.
- Exam-type : As proud citizens, we should care for our country.
New ideas add colour to old traditions; they do not replace them.
Believing that old and modern ways cannot live together.
Unity = many threads, one cloth. Memory clue: "Thread + Thread = Cloth".
Spot the difference
| Instrument | Style / use | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mridangam | Carnatic music | drum |
| Sitar | Hindustani music | string |
| Shehnai | Hindustani music | wind |
Practice questions
- 1Name two Indian drums.
- 2Which instrument is used in Carnatic music?
- 3Name an instrument used in Hindustani music.
- 4What do the threads in the fabric example stand for?
- 5Name one old practice of India.
- 6Name one modern change in the chapter.
- 7Why do people dance and play music together?
- 8How can you make a simple instrument from waste?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Dhol and tabla (any two).
- 2Mridangam.
- 3Sitar or shehnai.
- 4Different people and cultures.
- 5Yoga or ayurveda.
- 6Digital payments or faster trains.
- 7To celebrate, pray, share stories and come together.
- 8Fill a tin with grains, or stretch a balloon over a bowl.