Society: meaning, need and family
School, market, lane and home — every day we talk to many people, take help and give help. All these people together make our society.
Society is not just a crowd of people; it is the pattern of relationships among people living together. The old, adults, youth and small children all belong to it. A family is a group living together, tied by blood, marriage or adoption, who care for one another.
Key idea 1 : Why did humans need society? — In the nomadic stage humans lacked security and stability. They came together for food, shelter and protection from natural dangers. They learnt that life became easier if everyone made an effort; this is how society began. Farming began for food and since farming needed many hands, the family system arose.
Key idea 2 : Humans are social beings — Humans like living in society; not only for safety but for all-round development. When happy we want to tell someone; when sad we want someone to understand; when we get a new idea we want to share it with loved ones. In this exchange of feelings and thoughts our social nature shows.
Key idea 3 : Small family, large family and division of labour — Small (nuclear) family: four or fewer members — mother, father, brother, sister. Large (joint) family: parents and children plus grandparents, uncles, aunts and their children. In society no one can do every task, so division of labour began; rules were made for smooth dealings. Children get security, love, values, education, food and health from the family.
- Easy : A family of four (mother, father, 2 children) is which type? — Small (nuclear).
- Medium : Grandparents, uncle-aunt and 10 members living together — which family? — Large (joint).
- Exam-type : Sharing household chores is an example of what? — Division of labour.
In the figure: Journey of society: nomadic life → coming together → farming → family and society.
Society = pattern of relations; family = blood, marriage, adoption; small = 4 or fewer; large = with grandparents, uncles-aunts.
Society is not just a crowd; relationships and rules among people matter.
Society = people + relations + rules. Memory clue: ‘Lo-Naa-Ni’ — people, relations, rules.
Spot the difference
| Point | Small family | Large family |
|---|---|---|
| Members | Four or fewer | More; many generations |
| Who lives | Parents, children | Including grandparents, uncles-aunts |
| Other name | Nuclear family | Joint family |
Practice questions
- 1What is society?
- 2Why did humans need society? Write two reasons.
- 3Write the definition of family.
- 4State the difference between small and large family.
- 5What is division of labour?
- 6Which occupation did humans start to meet the need for food?
- 7What does a child get from the family?
- 8List five chores you do at home.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The pattern of relationships among people living together.
- 2For security and stability; for food, shelter and protection from natural dangers.
- 3People living together by blood, marriage or adoption and caring for one another.
- 4Small — four or fewer members; large — many members including grandparents, uncles-aunts.
- 5Sharing tasks instead of one person doing all.
- 6Farming.
- 7Security, love, values, education, food and health.
- 8E.g. making the bed, arranging utensils, watering plants, sweeping the room, helping in shopping.
Social institutions and interdependence
School, clinic, bank and market in one town make our work easy. The work of all of them depends on one another.
A social institution is an organised structure formed to meet basic social needs; e.g. family, school, religious institution. People in society depending on one another to meet needs is called interdependence.
Key idea 1 : Social institutions and their work — The main work of family, school, college and religious institutions is meeting basic needs of society, giving good values, emotional support and maintaining discipline. Family members, neighbours, friends, teachers and also radio, newspapers, television, films and the internet shape our independent thinking. So students of one school later work in different fields.
Key idea 2 : School: an important social institution — School is a basic institution created by society itself. At school we learn discipline, cooperation, introduction to subjects, nurturing of talents and team spirit. School is the link joining a person’s own life with the need of society.
Key idea 3 : Interdependence — Society must make arrangements to meet basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. E.g. farming, farm tools and livestock, seeds and saplings, industries on farm produce, and credit societies or banks for loans. Education and healthcare come from people’s intelligence, entertainment from artistic talents, industry and trade from business skills. All depend on one another for both material and emotional needs.
- Easy : What kind of institutions are school, family and religious bodies? — Social institutions.
- Medium : From whom does a farmer get seeds and loan? — shops/agri services and bank/credit society; this is interdependence.
- Exam-type : A doctor treats illness and a teacher teaches his child; example of what? — Interdependence.
In the figure: Four institutions and their work: family, school, bank-clinic, religious bodies.
Institution = structure to meet needs; school = link to society; interdependence = depending on each other.
Interdependence is not weakness; society runs on one another’s skills.
Institution = values + support + discipline; interdependence = depending on others for needs. Memory clue: ‘Moo-Aa-Shi’ — values, aadhar (support), shista (discipline).
Spot the difference
| Institution | Main work |
|---|---|
| Family | Values, love, support |
| School | Discipline, knowledge, cooperation |
| Bank | Loans and money services |
| Clinic | Healthcare |
Practice questions
- 1What is a social institution? Give two examples.
- 2What is the main work of social institutions?
- 3Why is school an important social institution?
- 4Which qualities do we learn at school?
- 5What is interdependence?
- 6Which five things from society are needed for farming?
- 7What are the components of society?
- 8List the arts or interests your friends pursue.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1An organised structure to meet basic social needs; e.g. family, school.
- 2Meeting needs, giving good values, emotional support and maintaining discipline.
- 3It was created by society and links the individual with society.
- 4Discipline, cooperation, nurturing of talents and team spirit.
- 5People in society depending on one another to meet needs.
- 6Farming, tools and livestock, seeds, industries and bank/credit society.
- 7Individual, family, groups, culture, social norms and values, social relations and institutions.
- 8E.g. drawing, singing, sports, dance, reading.
Social and cultural diversity
In our own class there are children who speak different languages and eat different foods. Yet all celebrate school festivals together.
Variety in language, religion, culture, food, dress, customs and ideas is social diversity. India has great diversity and that is its real strength; this shows ‘unity in diversity’.
Key idea 1 : Diversity of religions and languages — In India people of many religions — Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Sikh and Parsi — live in harmony; everyone has freedom to celebrate festivals according to their faith. We learn language at home, in the neighbourhood and at school. Languages like Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Sindhi; dialects like Ahirani, Konkani, Varhadi; and tribal dialects like Gondi, Bhil, Santhali enrich the linguistic heritage.
Key idea 2 : Diversity of food and culture — Farm produce differs by geography and climate, so daily food differs too. Rice is the staple in the south and coastal areas; wheat, jowar, bajra and maize in north and central India. Oils: coconut in the south, mustard in the north, groundnut in the west. Pithla-bhakri is a special dish of Maharashtra. Idli-dosa and samosa-paratha are liked across the country today, an example of ‘unity in diversity’. Social life has grown through the exchange of art, language, dress, traditions and sports.
Key idea 3 : Diversity: India’s identity and strength — By respecting one another’s customs, even with a vast country and huge population, ‘Indianness’ is felt everywhere. Languages become richer through contact. Mutual tolerance increases social harmony and in natural calamities people help one another. Acceptance of a democratic system that includes all is itself an example of unity in diversity.
- Easy : What is the staple food of south and coastal India? — Rice.
- Medium : Which oil is used in western India? — Groundnut oil.
- Exam-type : Idli-dosa is liked everywhere; example of what? — Unity in diversity.
In the figure: Four colours: language, religion, food and art — together one India.
Diversity = language, religion, food, dress, festivals, traditions; respect and tolerance = unity.
Diversity is not division; with respect for all it becomes strength.
Diversity + respect = unity. Memory clue: ‘Vi + Aa = E’ (vividhata + aadar = ekta).
Spot the difference
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Religious | People of many religions together |
| Linguistic | Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Gondi |
| Food | Rice, jowar, pithla-bhakri |
| Cultural | Festivals, songs, traditions, dress |
Practice questions
- 1What is social diversity?
- 2Which are the main religions of India?
- 3Where do we learn language?
- 4Write names of three tribal dialects of India.
- 5Why do we see variety in food?
- 6What is ‘unity in diversity’?
- 7How is diversity India’s strength?
- 8Write which languages are spoken in your locality and name one festival.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Differences in language, religion, culture, dress, customs and ideas.
- 2Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Sikh and Parsi.
- 3At home, in the neighbourhood and at school.
- 4Gondi, Bhil and Santhali.
- 5Because farm produce differs with geography and climate.
- 6Being bound together despite differences in language, religion, food.
- 7Mutual respect increases harmony, enriches languages and brings help in crisis.
- 8E.g. Marathi, Hindi, Urdu; festival — Makar Sankranti.