Why we need rules
At a red light, every vehicle stops: a car, a scooter, even an ambulance waits unless it is an emergency. The rule is the same for all, so the road moves smoothly.
Rules (नियम) tell each person their duties and responsibilities (कर्तव्ये व जबाबदाऱ्या), so life is orderly.
Rule 1: Why rules are needed — We follow traffic rules so that traffic moves smoothly. In the same way, rules of social life tell us what each person should do, so daily life is disciplined and we can work more efficiently.
In the figure : In the figure rules make our daily life orderly.
- Easy : Easy: Queue at the school gate.
- Medium : Medium: Keep to the left on a school corridor to avoid collisions.
- Exam-type : Exam: How do rules make life orderly?
Rule 2: Equality before rules — Rules are meant for everybody and apply equally to all. No one is above the rules. Disobeying rules leads to punishment, and there is no discrimination in punishments. So equality (समानता) is the basis of rules.
In the figure : In the figure rules apply equally to everyone.
- Easy : Easy: A teacher also follows school rules.
- Medium : Medium: A rich or poor person gets the same fine.
- Exam-type : Exam: Equality is the basis of rules.
Rules give duties, make life orderly and apply equally to all.
Thinking big people can skip rules. No one is above the rules.
Memory clue: "नियम = सर्वांसाठी सारखे".
Spot the difference
| Idea | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rule | Tells duties |
| Equality | Same for all |
| Punishment | Same for all |
Practice questions
- 1Why do we follow traffic rules?
- 2What do rules tell us?
- 3For whom are rules meant?
- 4What happens if rules are broken?
- 5Is punishment different for different people?
- 6What is the basis of rules?
- 7Name one rule of your classroom.
- 8The fine for crossing a red light is ₹500. Two drivers cross. What is the total fine?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1So traffic moves smoothly.
- 2Our duties and responsibilities.
- 3For everybody.
- 4There is punishment.
- 5No.
- 6Equality.
- 7E.g. do not shout.
- 8500 × 2 = ₹1000.
Rules of society and laws of nature
The sun rises every day, whether you like it or not. But your class rule about silent reading can change if all agree. Two kinds of rules!
Laws of nature (निसर्गाचे नियम) are fixed and cannot be changed. Rules of society (समाजाचे नियम) are made by us and can change.
Rule 1: Two kinds of rules — Our society works by rules that we make ourselves, for the common good, and they are changed properly from time to time. Natural events follow laws of nature: sunrise and sunset, change of seasons, gravity, tides and moon phases. These are constant and never become outdated.
In the figure : In the figure laws of nature are fixed; the rules of society change.
- Easy : Easy: The sun rises daily by a law of nature.
- Medium : Medium: A stone thrown up falls down: gravity.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name three laws of nature.
Rule 2: Human laws change — Human laws change with conditions. Laws under British rule were different, and after Independence the laws of civic life changed. For example, the voting age was 21 years after Independence and was lowered to 18 years after 1988.
- Easy : Easy: Voting age is now 18.
- Medium : Medium: It was lowered by 21 − 18 = 3 years.
- Exam-type : Exam: Society changes its rules; nature does not.
Laws of nature: fixed. Rules of society: can change.
Thinking we can change gravity by a vote. We cannot.
Memory clue: "निसर्ग = ठाम, समाज = बदलणारा".
Spot the difference
| Kind | Can it change? |
|---|---|
| Laws of nature | No |
| Rules of society | Yes |
Practice questions
- 1Give two laws of nature.
- 2Who makes the rules of society?
- 3Why do we follow society's rules?
- 4Can laws of nature become outdated?
- 5What was the voting age after Independence?
- 6What is it now?
- 7Is the tide a law of nature or a rule of society?
- 8Why must society change some rules?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Sunrise-sunset and gravity.
- 2People themselves.
- 3They are for the common good.
- 4No.
- 521 years.
- 618 years.
- 7Law of nature.
- 8Conditions and understanding change.
Equality and justice
If a boy is given milk and a girl is not, the girl will be weaker even if she is as clever. That is unfair. Rules help stop such unfairness.
Equality (समानता) means boys and girls, men and women get the same chances. Justice (न्याय) means no one is treated unfairly.
Rule 1: Equality of boys and girls — Boys and girls, men and women are equal and must get the same opportunities for development. It is wrong to discriminate, for example by not giving girls nourishing food or not sending them to school.
In the figure : In the figure rules are made so that no one is treated unfairly.
- Easy : Easy: Girls must go to school.
- Medium : Medium: Both should get nourishing food.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why is discrimination wrong?
Rule 2: Rules against injustice — Rules prevent injustice. Examples: no loudspeakers in public places after 10 at night, free primary education for boys and girls, no dumping of garbage in rivers, protection of women from domestic violence, a ban on child labour, and a ban on felling trees, hunting and poaching.
- Easy : Easy: Child labour is banned.
- Medium : Medium: A loudspeaker rule protects sleep.
- Exam-type : Exam: Give four rules that prevent injustice.
Boys and girls are equal. Rules prevent injustice.
Thinking rules only punish. They also protect.
Memory clue: "नियम = संरक्षण".
Spot the difference
| Rule | Protects |
|---|---|
| Ban on child labour | Children |
| Domestic violence law | Women |
| Ban on poaching | Wild animals |
Practice questions
- 1Are boys and girls equal?
- 2Give an example of discrimination.
- 3What does a ban on child labour do?
- 4Which rule protects rivers?
- 5Which rule protects wild animals?
- 6Why are loudspeakers banned after 10 pm?
- 7A school has 60 boys and 60 girls. All attend. How many in all?
- 8A neighbour stops his daughter's school. What should we do?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Yes.
- 2Not sending girls to school.
- 3Protects children from work.
- 4No dumping of garbage in rivers.
- 5Ban on hunting and poaching.
- 6To let people sleep.
- 760 + 60 = 120.
- 8Tell elders or the teacher so the right to education is protected.
Customs, traditions and laws
Grandmother teaches you to welcome guests with water and a smile. That is a good custom. But if someone says "Do not sit near that boy because of his caste", that is a bad custom.
Customs and traditions (प्रथा व परंपरा) are habits handed down in a society. We keep the good ones and give up the harmful ones.
Rule 1: Good customs and bad customs — We learn customs from parents, grandparents and relatives. Many are good: celebrating festivals together, welcoming guests, showing love and gratitude to animals, and the values of non-violence and peace. Some are bad, like caste distinction, which created divides and inequality. Untouchability was inhuman and unjust and was abolished by the Constitution of Independent India.
In the figure : In the figure we keep good customs and give up harmful ones.
- Easy : Easy: Welcoming guests is a good custom.
- Medium : Medium: Untouchability was abolished by the Constitution.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why is caste distinction harmful?
Rule 2: Laws and reformers — Laws banned sati, child marriage and dowry; the law against magic used to cheat people was first enacted in Maharashtra. Poverty and lack of education are two big obstacles. Mahatma Jotirao Phule, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule (helped by Fatima Sheikh) and Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve worked to remove them.
- Easy : Easy: Savitribai Phule worked for education.
- Medium : Medium: Laws banned child marriage.
- Exam-type : Exam: Name three reformers.
Keep good customs, drop harmful ones; laws and reformers helped.
Thinking every old custom is good because it is old. Judge by fairness.
Memory clue: "चांगले ठेवा, वाईट सोडा".
Spot the difference
| Custom | Good or bad |
|---|---|
| Welcoming guests | Good |
| Untouchability | Bad, abolished |
| Dowry | Bad, banned |
Practice questions
- 1Where do we learn customs?
- 2Name two good customs.
- 3Which custom was abolished by the Constitution?
- 4Name two practices banned by law.
- 5Where was the law against black magic first made?
- 6Name two obstacles to progress.
- 7Who helped Savitribai Phule?
- 8A friend is teased for his caste. What do you do?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1From parents, grandparents and relatives.
- 2Festivals together and welcoming guests.
- 3Untouchability.
- 4Child marriage and dowry.
- 5Maharashtra.
- 6Poverty and lack of education.
- 7Fatima Sheikh.
- 8Stand by him, tell the teacher, and explain that all are equal.
Protecting our environment
The mango tree you plant today gives fruit to children you will never meet. We use nature now, but the future needs it too.
We need laws to protect the environment so that natural resources last for future generations (भावी पिढ्या).
Rule 1: Protecting the environment — Most of our needs are fulfilled by nature, so natural resources must be available in enough quantity for future generations. We must conserve them and use them carefully.
In the figure : In the figure we must use natural resources carefully for the future.
- Easy : Easy: Switch off lights not in use.
- Medium : Medium: Use both sides of paper.
- Exam-type : Exam: Why conserve resources for future generations?
Rule 2: What we have learnt — Rules made for people are changed from time to time. Rules in olden days were religious traditions and social customs. Laws are made to combat inhuman and undesirable traditions and customs.
- Easy : Easy: Laws fight bad customs.
- Medium : Medium: Rules change from time to time.
- Exam-type : Exam: Old rules were religious and social customs.
Conserve resources for the future. Laws fight harmful customs.
Thinking resources are endless. They must be used carefully.
Memory clue: "आज वापर, उद्याही ठेव".
Spot the difference
| Idea | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Conserve | Use carefully |
| Future generations | Children of tomorrow |
| Law | Fights harmful customs |
Practice questions
- 1Why do we need laws for the environment?
- 2Who meets most of our needs?
- 3What does conserve mean?
- 4What were rules in olden days?
- 5Why are laws made against harmful customs?
- 6Do rules change with time?
- 7A tap wastes 2 litres each minute. How much in 10 minutes?
- 8Write one rule to save water at school.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1To keep resources for the future.
- 2Nature.
- 3Use carefully and save.
- 4Religious traditions and social customs.
- 5To stop inhuman practices.
- 6Yes.
- 72 × 10 = 20 litres.
- 8E.g. close the tap tightly after use.
Quick revision
- Rules apply equally to everyone; no one is above them.
- Laws of nature never change; human rules change with time.
- Boys and girls are equal; unjust customs are banned by law.