# The Art of Calligraphy

## Overview
In this chapter, students learn how writing is not only a means of communication but also an expressive and visual art. The chapter explores the rich history of scripts in India, the creative role of calligraphy in personal and public expression, and provides hands-on activities that encourage exploration of letterforms, tools, styles, and meanings.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Origin and Evolution of Scripts
- The earliest scripts in India can be traced to the Indus-Sarasvati civilisation.
- The decoded Brahmi script from Ashoka’s edicts is around 2300 years old.
- The original Constitution of India was handwritten by:
- **Prem Behari Narain Raizada** (English version)
- **Vasant Krishan Vaidya** (Hindi version)
- The Indian Constitution today recognizes 22 official languages.
- Letters evolved from pictures and drawings into organized writing systems.

### 2. What Is Calligraphy?
- Calligraphy is more than writing — it involves emotion, expression, and artistic effort.
- Each letter in calligraphy can reflect mood, purpose, and design.
- Ancient manuscripts often used letters decoratively, forming shapes, pictures, and borders.
- Modern media (e.g., newspapers) use styles like bold or clear fonts for quick readability.

### 3. Tools and Surfaces for Calligraphy
- Materials used include quills, brushes, nibs, inks, and paints.
- Surfaces can include palm leaves, paper, cloth, and more.

### 4. Letter Observation and Expression

#### ACTIVITY 19.1: Looking at Letters
- The Indian Rupee symbol (₹) is based on the Devanagari letter “र”.
- Design elements like the Shiro-Rekha (top horizontal line) give it a unique Indian identity.
- Shapes and lines can be manipulated to enhance meaning in logos and titles (e.g., “Incredible India”).

#### ACTIVITY 19.2: Letter Hunt
- Students collect printed materials to analyze and compare letter styles.
- Emphasis on:
- Arrangement, size, and colour of letters
- Identifying impactful and decorative styles
- Group activity involves sorting and pasting different letter types on A3 sheets.

#### ACTIVITY 19.3: Similar but Different
- Exploration of the same letter written in multiple styles, reflecting its "anatomy".
- Students write one letter in many forms:
- Freely
- Using grids and guides
- With varied thickness, angles, and heights

### 5. Expressing Emotions Through Letters

#### ACTIVITY 19.4: Writing Like We Speak
- Just like we modulate our voice when we speak, we can alter letter shapes to show emotion.
- Example: Large, bold letters to show excitement.
- Small, thin letters to show calmness or softness.
- Students are encouraged to shape words to reflect their emotional tone.

### 6. Designing with Calligraphy

#### ACTIVITY 19.5: Calligraphy in Posters
- Just as names are thoughtfully given, titles of plays, books, and campaigns are designed using appropriate letter styles.
- Steps for poster design:
1. Choose a name or title.
2. Decide the size, style, and colour of letters.
3. Use guidelines and margins for layout.
4. Include clear text for important info:
- Date, time, venue
- Contact information
- Organizers and contributors
- Posters must be visually engaging and readable.

## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Definition |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Calligraphy | The art of beautiful handwriting. |
| Script | A system of written characters used for a language. |
| Constitution | A document that contains the rules for how a country is governed. |
| Quill | A writing tool made from a feather. |
| Nib | The pointed metal part of a pen used in calligraphy. |
| Shiro-Rekha | The top horizontal line in Devanagari script letters. |
| Pictogram | A picture or drawing that represents a word or idea. |
| Anatomy (of letters)| The structure and design of a letter, including height, width, and angles.|
| Margin | The blank space around the edges of a page or design. |
| Layout | The way text and images are arranged on a page. |

## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)
1. **What is calligraphy?**
→ *It is the art of beautiful writing.*

2. **Which script is the Indian Rupee symbol (₹) based on?**
→ *It is based on the Devanagari script.*

3. **Name one tool used in calligraphy.**
→ *Quill or nib or brush.*

### Medium (2)
4. **Who wrote the Hindi version of the Indian Constitution by hand?**
→ *Vasant Krishan Vaidya.*

5. **Why do newspapers use bold letters?**
→ *To grab attention and make reading easier.*

### Difficult (3)
6. **Explain how calligraphy can show emotion.**
→ *Big, bold letters can show excitement or loudness, while small, thin letters can show calmness or sadness.*

7. **What do the two horizontal lines in the ₹ symbol represent?**
→ *They represent the tricolour bands of the Indian flag.*

8. **Describe the steps to create a calligraphy poster.**
→ *Choose a title, select letter style/size/colours, mark margins, write clearly, and add event details.*

### Very Difficult (2)
9. **Compare how the anatomy of letters is similar to the human body.**
→ *Just as humans have body parts like bones and muscles, letters have parts like height, width, and curves that define their structure.*

10. **Why is it important to consider margins and spacing in calligraphy?**
→ *It helps maintain neatness, balance, and readability in the artwork.*

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