# We Are All Indians

## Overview

This chapter celebrates the unity in diversity of India by introducing students to children from various states, each representing a different language, culture, and tradition. Through engaging dialogues, speaking and listening exercises, cultural discussions, and interactive writing activities, students learn to appreciate India’s richness while identifying their own unique backgrounds. The chapter concludes with reflections on Mahatma Gandhi’s values and the symbolic significance of the Charkha.

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## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Meet the Children of India

Children from different states introduce themselves with details such as:
- Their **name**
- **State** they belong to
- **Language** they speak
- Their **hobbies**, interests, and travel experiences

Examples include:
- **Ramu** from Gujarat who speaks Gujarati and loves Garba dance.
- **Meenakshi** from Tamil Nadu whose favorite festival is Pongal.
- **Gulabo** from Rajasthan enjoys puppet shows and colorful clothes.
- **Badal** from Bengal likes painting and music.
- **Surinder** from Punjab talks about Bhangra.
- **Vibha** from Maharashtra shares her visit to Ellora and Ajanta caves.
- **Kamala** from Karnataka plays the Mridang.
- **Neerja** from Uttar Pradesh has visited the Taj Mahal.
- **Nonglik** from Manipur speaks Manipuri.
- **Bharti** from Andhra Pradesh visits Kashmir.
- **Two sisters** from Odisha decorate walls and floors with traditional art.
- **Unni** from Kerala loves coconut trees.

Each introduction ends with a question for the reader, encouraging self-expression.

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### 2. Unity in Diversity

- Despite differences in languages, clothes, and customs, all characters share a common identity: **They are all Indians.**
- Students are encouraged to celebrate and respect these differences.

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### 3. Let Us Speak

**Situational Dialogues**:
- What to say in situations like entering a classroom, borrowing a book, or thanking a friend.

**Partner Questions**:
- Students ask each other about languages spoken, favorite foods, and trees.

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### 4. Let Us Draw

- Activity: Draw something you like the most in your home.

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### 5. Let Us Listen and Frame Sentences

**Word List for Practice**:
- Words like **bread**, **frock**, **frame**, **frog**, **bridge**, **brown**.
- Example sentence: *It was a bright sunny day. My brother went to buy bread. He crossed the bridge to reach the shop.*

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### 6. Let Us Write

#### A. Comprehension Questions
1. What do we call the people who live in India? → *Indians*
2. Name the festival of colours. → *Holi*
3. Which festival do you like the most? Why? → *(Personal response)*

#### B. Language Puzzle
Rearranging jumbled letters to form names of languages:
- INHDI → HINDI
- GNIELHS → ENGLISH
- RUUD → URDU
- ELUTGU → TELUGU

#### C. Combining Sentences Using “But”
Examples:
- I like milk **but** I don’t like tea.
- My grandfather is old **but** he is strong.

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### 7. Something New — The Charkha

A classroom story introduces the **Charkha**:
- A wooden spinning wheel used by **Mahatma Gandhi**.
- Symbol of self-reliance and independence.
- Gandhi used it to promote local crafts and non-violence.
- The Charkha becomes a point of curiosity and learning for students.

### 8. Festivals of India

The chapter presents **unique regional festivals**, showing how they reflect traditions and respect for nature:

- **Phool Dei (Uttarakhand)**: Celebrates spring. Children offer flowers at neighbors’ doorsteps and receive rice and jaggery in return.
- **Sharad Poornima**: Celebrated on a full moon night in Ashvin (September–October), marking the end of the monsoon.
- **Pang Lhabsol (Sikkim)**: Celebrated in August or September; Mt. Kanchenjunga is worshipped as a protector.
- **Aadi Perukku (Tamil Nadu)**: A monsoon festival where people worship the **river Cauvery** and farmers pray for good harvests.

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### 9. Project Work

Children are encouraged to:
- Talk to their parents or grandparents about a **folk song**.
- Learn it in their **mother tongue**.
- Present it in class, including:
- Their name
- Where their family is from
- Their mother tongue
- The **main idea** of the song

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## New Words and Simple Definitions

| Word | Meaning in Simple English |
|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Festival | A special day to celebrate something |
| Puppet | A small model of a person or animal used in shows |
| Travel | To go from one place to another |
| Painting | Making a picture with colours |
| Neighbour | A person who lives next to your house |
| Fingerprints | Marks made by the tips of your fingers |
| Monument | A famous building or structure |
| Charkha | A small wooden machine used to make thread |
| Spinning | Making thread from cotton using a Charkha |
| Harvest | The process of collecting crops |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)
1. What is the name of the boy from Gujarat?
**Answer**: Ramu
**Explanation**: He introduces himself at the beginning of the chapter.

2. Which festival is known as the festival of colours?
**Answer**: Holi
**Explanation**: Holi is a colourful festival celebrated across India.

3. What is the Charkha used for?
**Answer**: To spin thread
**Explanation**: Mahatma Gandhi used it to make thread and promote self-reliance.

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### Medium (2)

4. Name two children who talk about places they have visited.
**Answer**: Vibha (Ellora & Ajanta), Bharti (Kashmir)
**Explanation**: They describe their travel experiences.

5. Which languages do Badal and Nonglik speak?
**Answer**: Bengali and Manipuri
**Explanation**: Badal is from Bengal; Nonglik is from Manipur.

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### Difficult (3)

6. What is the message of unity in this chapter?
**Answer**: We are different in many ways but all are Indians.
**Explanation**: The chapter highlights diversity but emphasizes common identity.

7. Describe the festival Phool Dei.
**Answer**: Children offer flowers to elders during spring.
**Explanation**: It celebrates the season and community bonding.

8. Write one sentence combining these: "I wanted to go out." and "I was too tired."
**Answer**: I wanted to go out but I was too tired.
**Explanation**: The word "but" joins the two ideas.

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### Very Difficult (2)

9. Why did Mahatma Gandhi promote the use of the Charkha?
**Answer**: To support local handicrafts and encourage self-reliance.
**Explanation**: It was a symbol of independence during the freedom struggle.

10. Compare any two festivals mentioned and explain how they are different.
**Answer**: Phool Dei uses flowers to celebrate spring; Aadi Perukku worships a river for good harvest.
**Explanation**: One celebrates season, the other connects to farming and water.

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