What issue is the poem trying to raise? Do you think this is an important issue? Why?
The issue raised in the poem is that the father inherits characteristics from his father and leaves it to the boy child. The daughter is asking for her rights by expecting a share of the house for her and her mother. She wants her own palace not dowry of silk and gold. The boy child always gets everything but girls are always treated unequally and has to fight for their own rights. They only get anything in the form of Dowry which is eventually given to her husband.
Hence, yes, I think that it is an important matter or issue because a daughter is trying to raise issue about equality. The daughters are not given equal rights. They only get anything only after their marriage, expecting by her husband. Everything is given to her brother and after marriage to her husband. Even she is not given a small share of her house also.
In your neighbourhood are there women who own property? How did they acquire it?
How do women benefit under the new law?
List two things that the work of a Patwari includes.
Who is in charge of all the police stations in a district? Find out.
What is the work of a tehsildar?
Visit a police station and find out the work that the police have to do to prevent crime and maintain law and order in their area especially during festivals, public meetings etc.
In what ways are the work of the Panchayat, that you read about in the previous chapter, and the work of the Patwari related to each other?
What is the work of the police?
How would Maya's life be different in South Africa today?
What problem did the villagers in Hardas village face? What did they do to solve this problem?
Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes.
a. Two surgeons were sitting down to lunch when one of them made a call on the mobile phone |
1. suffers from chronic asthma. |
b. The boy who won the drawing competition went to the dias |
2. to become an astronaut which she did. |
c. One of the fastest athletes in the world |
3. to speak with her daughter who had just returned from school. |
d. She was not that well-off but had a dream |
4. on a wheelchair to collect his prize. |
Look at the statements in the column on the left. Can you identify which level they belong to? Place tick marks against the level you consider most appropriate.
Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala's house?
You have probably noticed that people in Kalpattu are engaged in a variety of non-farm work. List five of these.
Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk.
Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accommodation and so sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safekeeping, and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safely and also offer loans to labourers in need.
Source: Aman Sethi, Hindu On-line
What are the various ways in which people participate in the process of government?
What, in your opinion, is the importance of the Gram Sabha? Do you think all members should attend Gram Sabha meetings? Why?
What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?
What is the difference between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?
Compare the situation of Sekar and Ramalingam by filling out the following table:
Why do you think the government needs to make rules for everyone in the form of laws?
Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don't share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share these with the class.
Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes.
a. Two surgeons were sitting down to lunch when one of them made a call on the mobile phone |
1. suffers from chronic asthma. |
b. The boy who won the drawing competition went to the dias |
2. to become an astronaut which she did. |
c. One of the fastest athletes in the world |
3. to speak with her daughter who had just returned from school. |
d. She was not that well-off but had a dream |
4. on a wheelchair to collect his prize. |
What did Gangabai do and why?
What do you understand by the word 'government'? List five ways in which you think the government affects your daily life.
Take an example of any one task done by a Panchayat in your area/nearby rural area and find out the following:
a. Why it was taken up.
b. Where the money came from.
c. Whether or not the work has been completed.
What is the link between a Gram Sabha and a Gram Panchayat?