Why I Love India - 2019

            India is my country.  All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders respect, and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well - being and prosperity alone lies my happiness. We, The People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into sovereign socialist  Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens: 

• India: Unity in Diversity
• India - city and village Life
• India has three seasons.
• Why I Love India
• Problems Faced by India Today
• Sugar Production in India [2002]
• Fast Food Indian
• Population Census in India - 2011
• Mumbai : The Economic Capital of India
• What Can I Do For India ?
• Getting to Know India
•  Our India Home and Environment
• Our India Environment And Us

India: Unity in Diversity

          India is my country  and I love my country very much. There are many reasons for this. This nation has a rich social history and cultural heritage. Most importantly, it is democratic and secular. There is freedom of expression, religion and beliefs. people live here in harmony. The people are peace-loving and there is mutual understanding. They are hardworking and helpful by nature. Amongst the communities there is a feeling of  love and brotherhood. As a result people here live in peaceful co-existence and with great co-operation. India is indeed an example to the world. 

   

                     The term " Unity in Diversity" refers to the state of togetherness or oneness in spite of presence of immense diversity. I am really proud to be a part of this wonderful country. India is a land of diverse physical features. Every possible geographical physical feature you can think of is present in India. The people of India have diverse physical features. They practice different religions speak different languages and follow different customs and traditions. They also differ in their dress and food habits . 

          In spite of all these external differences, the people of India have a common feeling of India ness. They are bound by a common cultural heritage and they share certain basic values. Hence we use the phrase ' Unity in Diversity' to describe the social fabric of India. This is to express the great truth that despite their many differences, the people of India, are all united as Indians. From Kashmir to kanyakumari, from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat, they all have a feeling that they belong to one nation. 

                   India - city and village Life 

         India is known as the country of villages. Around 70% Indians live in rural areas. Due to urbanization, the number of people in cities are increasing. There is vast difference between the life of city and village. 

     

         Acclaimed in Indian classics as the kalpavriksha, the all giving tree the coconut palm grows in several states in India. The coconut palm is a member of the plant family Arcade popularly known as palm family. It flourishes on sandy soils, requiring high humidity, abundant sunlight and high rainfall for optimal growth. All parts of the palm are used in some way or other in the daily life of the people. Coconut water provides a refreshing and nutritious drink. The firm kernel that lines the inside is high in calories and the white milk extracted from it is used in many different ways. Oil extracted from dried mature coconut is used as cooking Oil. The leaves are braided to make thatched roof and mats. The mid ribs of the leaves are dried and tied together to make brooms. The coconut shell and husk are good sources of efficient fuel. During religious ceremonies married women are often presented with a coconut along with a few grains of rice as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. 

India has three seasons.

            India has three seasons. They are summer, rainy and winter. The summer season in India lasts from February to May. During this period the climate is very hot. Plenty of festivals, fairs and meals are held during this season. It is also the time when the farmer ploughs the field.

             The rainy season begins in June and ends somewhere in September. It is cloudy. chilly and cold during this season. The important festivals during this period are the Gauri and Ganesh festivals. When the rains are about to begin the farmer sows the seed. The crops grow and are harvested by September.

                        Problems Faced by India Today

          India is a fastest developing country in the world. India, with its diversified culture. civilization, natural resources. technology and huge skilled human resources is also a fastest growing economy in the world, But at the same time there are several problems plaguing our modern India which is affecting the growth and development.

         The major socio - economic problem being faced by India is 'POVERTY'. Even after seven decades of independence, the country is still fighting against this social evil of poverty. The main problem of it is its overpopulation and illiteracy. People do not earn their bread and butter. Even the standard of education is very poor. There is unemployment and people are below poverty line.

           There is high - handedness of government officials which results in a great deal of corruption. Indian society is full of superstitions and many people have traditional ways of thinking. Although employment figures have increased in recent years, they are still not as good as is to be expected. Terrorism, too has taken a toll on normal day to day activities and creates a lot of destruction in the places affected. As a result India. still remains a developing country.

Fast Food Indian 

 Fast Food is gradually becoming very popular in the city of Mumbai. People, especially the younger generation, is getting attracted towards junk food.

             Recently The Times of India conducted a survey to find out the most popular fast food items. It was observed that the most preferred dish is Pav Bhaji. It could not cross 21% votes which is highest score. South Indian dishes like Idlis / Dosas are also quite popular. They stand neck to neck with pizza, with 17% votes and pizza with 18% South India Vadas are favorites with quite a few and bagged 15% votes. The strongest competitors of Pav Bhaji is Sandwish which is an all -time favorite with many. It has received 20% votes as against 21% of the pav Bhaji. Though hamburger managed to get 8% of the votes. Frankies / rolls only got barely 10%. This shows that hamburgers are slowly getting popular with some section of the society but it has a till a long way to go.

Population Census in India - 2011

        The census for 2011 was declared on 31 March 2011. The total populatio n of the country was found to be 1.21 billion. There were more than 627, 000 villages in the country but only about 2000 towns and cities. The rural population accounted for about 70% of the total population. The population of males in India was about 62 crores, which was about 52.66 per cent of the total population. The female population was about 58 crores. which was about 47.34%. The adult literacy rate is now about 74% Across the nation. The average density of the population is 382 persons per sq. km. However, in the ten major cities of India , the populations density is as high as 6888 persons per sq. km. About 44% of the population in India is made up of the youth (below 16 years of age). The population of the elderly (above 65 years of age) has increased from 6.2 to 6.7 per cent due to education and better health facilities.

Mumbai : The Economic Capital of India

          Mumbai, the economic capital of India, has a population of more than 10 million. It is India's chief western seaport. It is not only an important financial central but also the central of the Indian film industry. Mumbai has many magnificent heritage buildings like the CSMT and the University of Mumbai. Mumbai is full of places for one to visit. For those who like the outdoors, there are places like the Racecourse at Mahalaxmi, the Gateway of India, Chowpatty, Beach, Jijamata  Udyan and Hanging Gardens. Those interested in history will like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalaya, Mani Bhavan, Rajabai Tower, CSMT and Hutatma Chowk. Film lovers have film City. Other worth seeing places are the Nehru Planetarium, Jehangir Art Gallery, and Nariman Point. Indeed, a visit to Mumbai will be an unforgettable experience.

What Can I Do For India ? 

A Speech on the topic 'What can I do for India?' Honourable Chief Guest, Respected Headmaster and Teachers, and My Dear Friends, It is my privilege today to speak to you on a topic that is dear to my heart. What can I do for India? I have often thought about this question and have tried to find the answer in many ways. When I joined the Rotoract club and we arranged a free eye checking camp for the poor of our locality, I got part of the answer. When I assisted the students of the Junior College in their Adult Education Shibir, again I got part of the answer. In fact, when you come to think of it, there are so many things that we as students can do to make this country a better place. Our main concern, I think, is in seeing that medical care and education reach those who do not have access to them. If we, as students, can do our little bit in these two fields, we are contributing much to the betterment and progress of India. Another fields we can concentrate on is cleanliness and its awareness. We can conduct Cleanliness Campaigns frequently in our localities. We can go from house to house telling people about the proper way of garbage disposal. We can also dissuade them from using plastic. In addition to these, we must take up tree plantation programmes with the help of the local municipal officers. There is so much to do, and such a lot that is not being done. The Indian student force is very large. It runs into millions. Just think, how much and how soon our country would improve if every student takes up just one of these tasks I have mentioned seriously. I have made up my mind to involve myself in as many social projects as possibe for the good of my countrymen. I hope my friends in this school will be with me. We will together work towards making a stronger and happier India. Thank You!

My District My State

From hamlets and settlements to state :  Man began to farm the land. He settled near his farms and began to live there. In this way, hamlets and settlements were formed. Many hamlets and settlements form a village. Many villages form a city. Many cities form a taluka. Many talukas form a district. Many districts forms a state.

Important information of our state : Mumbai, is the capital of Maharashtra state. Nagpur is the second capital. According to its physical features. Maharashtra is divided into the following three regions : (i) The coastal region  (ii) The mountainous region and (iii) The plateau region. 

       The Arabian Sea is to the west of Maharashtra. The Sahyadri Mountain is in the western part of Maharashtra. It is also called the 'Western Ghat' . 'Kalsubai' in this mountain is the highest peak in Maharashtra. The Satpuda Mountain is in the northern part of Maharashtra. Astambha is the highest peak in the Satpuda Mountain. Satmala, Ajanta, Harishchandra, Balaghat, Mahadeo, Gavilgad, Navegaon, etc. ranges are spread in different parts of Maharashtra. Thal, Bor, varandha, Tamhini Kumbharli, Amba, Phonda, Amboli, etc. are the ghats in the Sahyadri Mountain. Burhanpur pass is in the Satpuda Mountain. Godavari, Krishna, Koyna, Tapi, Narmada, Painganga, Bhima, Sina, Vaitarna, Ulhas, Vashishthi, Savitri are few rivers that flow in Maharashtra. It rains heavily in the western and the eastern parts of Maharashtra. It rains moderately in the central part of Maharashtra. The area of low rainfall is to the east of the Sahyadri Mountain.

Agriculture in Maharashtra : Agriculture is the main occupation in Maharashtra. Various factors such as climate, soil and availability of water affect the growth of crops. Different regions of Maharashtra get different amounts of rainfall. As a result, there is a variety in the crops grown in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra. rice is grown in the areas of high rainfall. Wheat, tur, soybeans are grown in the areas of medium rainfall and jowar, bajra and moth beans are grown in the areas of low rainfall. The cash crops like sugarcane, cotton turmeric , onions, vegetables and the fruits like mango, coconut, cashew nut, betel - nut grapes, oranges, bananas, chikoo are also grown in Maharashtra. 

          Agriculture in Maharashtra depends mostly on rainfall. This is called rainfed (jirayati) agriculture. In Maharashtra, in some places, water obtained through irrigation is also used. This is called irrigated (bagayati) agriculture. The agricultural season that falls during the monsoon period is called the kharif season and the one that falls during the winter is called the rabi season.

Languages and dialects in Maharashtra : States in India were formed on the basis of language. Maharashtra State was formed on 1st May, 1960. 'Marathi' is the State language of Maharashtra. Dialects of Marathi such as Malvani, Varadhi, Ahirani (Khandeshi), etc. are spoken in Maharashtra. Gormati Kolami, Korku, etc. are the traditional dialects of adivasi tribes in Maharashtra.

Festivals in Maharashtra :  The festivals like Diwali, Dasara, Christmas, Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. are celebrated on a large scale in Maharashtra. 15th August and 26th January are the national festivals which are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Maharashtra and all over the country.

Getting to Know India

      Our counters is rich with many rivers, mountains, and plateaus comprises various rivers, mountains, plateaus, plains, islands, etc. The Indian subcontinent is surrounded by water on three sides and tapers towards the south. This part is called the Indian peninsula. Our northern border is defined by the lofty Himalaya ranges. Our country has forests, plains and deserts. The expanse of our country is large. The height above sea-level varies and goes up even beyond 8000 meters. Therefore, the weather conditions change from region to region. This gives rise to a wide variety of plants, animals and birds. Similarly there is also a difference in the crops cultivated. Wheat is a primary crop in the north. Rice is a primary crop in the south and along the coast. Jowar is produced on a large scale in central India. This diversity has a significant effect on our lifestyle, customs, traditions and culture. People of many different cates, tribes and religions live in our country. Many different languages are spoken. We also see differences in food, clothing and festivals and celebrations in the different regions.

         India is a democratic republic. The capital of India is New Delhi. Considering the area, Rajasthan is the largest State in India. It is followed by Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra is in third place. Goa is State with the smallest area.

Do You Know ? Apart from the Indian mainland, several group of islands are also included in the Indian territory. 1) The Lakshadweep island in the Arabian Sea. 2) The Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal. 3) The coastal island near the Indian mainland. All these islands have strategic locations from the defiance point of view. Long ago, forts were built on some of these islands off the coast of Maharashtra to safeguard the coast. These historical forts are known as sea forts. We can see several such forts along the Maharashtra [KK]coast

 Our India Home and Environment

        On the way to your school, or market, or when you travel to another town, you see many things. Observe carefully the houses that you see. Note the construction, shape, building material and other aspects of the different houses. Do some of the houses resemble the specimens shown above ?

    We saw different types of houses in the India. Their main uses be listed as follows :

• A shelter
• A RESTING PLACE
• PROTECTION AGAINST THE SUN, THE WIND, THE COLD AND THE               RAINS.
•  Protection from wild animals
• Keeping ourselves safe from anti-social elements.

       The types of houses that are common in the respective regions since ancient times. Note how the construction or structure of the houses changes from region to region.

• Regions of heavy rainfall
• Regions of medium rainfall
• Regions of low rainfall
• Desert regions
• Marshy regions
• Mountainous regions
• Plains.

       People build houses to suit the climate of their region, using the natural resources that are available. Differences in the construction and building materials give rise to the different types of houses. Water, food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs of every human being. However, these needs are not fulfilled in the case of each and every person. Then the following situations arise ______ Around us, we see many people who lack shelter. They seek shelter at the roadside, on footpaths, under bridges, in tumbledown buildings in railway or bus stations and even on open grounds. Many people are forced to be 'homeless' because they have insufficient or no means of livelihood. A section of our society being homeless is a social problem. That is why, the government implements many schemes to provide homes to the homeless. In some of the cities, the government makes 'night shelters' available to the homeless.

Why people become homeless : Lack of affordable housing, Inadequate income, Un employment, Physical and mental disorders, Natural disasters, Poverty,    

Always Remember ___ Though there are so many different types of houses, everyone is attached to their own house. It is not only the walls and doors and windows and the roof that make up a house. IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT HOUSE and their love and affection for one another that turns a houses into a home.

          The population of the world is increasing all the time. That is why, houses are being built in large numbers. Natural resources have to be used in very great quantities to build these houses. They are obtained using the methods listed below. The methods are harmful to the environment and lead to the pollution of air, water and soil and also cause noise pollution.

• Digging up hills for quarrying 
• Extracting sand from seahorse and riverbeds 
• Extracting stone and earth from the ground
• Drawing out excessive amounts of groundwater
• Felling trees to clear land
• Filling up ponds, lakes streams, rivers, creeks and low-lying areas to reclaim land.

    Because of growing urbanization, land which was previously being used for agriculture and similar other purposes is now being used to build roads and to raise now being used to build roads and to raise settlements. When this leads to shortage of agricultural land, forestland is used for agriculture. Trees are felled in great numbers and forest are reduced. Energy is needed to produce construction material. It is used on a very large scale to prepare bricks from soil, cement from limestone, glass from sand and so on.  Where does the energy come from ? It is produced using natural fuels like coal, natural gas or mineral oil. These natural fuels can be used only once. They get consumed when we use them. Moreover, burning these fuels leads to air pollution. It takes lakhs of years for these sources of energy to from in nature. That is why, it is necessary to bring into use other sources of energy such as solar energy or wing energy which are available in plenty and which do not cause pollution. These are non- exhaustible sources of energy. All living things need shelter. Like humans, some other living things also build shelter using various materials in their environment. But last year we saw that their shelter are eco - friendly and temporary. We should also be able to make permanent houses that are eco-friendly.

Some characteristics of eco- Friends houses  ----- Minimum consumption of natural resources, Use of non-exhaustible sources of energy such as biogas, wind energy and solar energy, Recycling of water, Recycling of garbage, Avoiding artificial materials and artificial colours, Provision for natural light and ventilation in the houses.

        Water tourism has now become an important occupation. In some places, there are underwater shelters for tourists. From these shelters, we get a direct view of the sea-bed and the amazing marine life. Such shelters are observed in the coastal regions of Europe and North America.

Do You Know? The city of Mumbai comprises seven islands. The portions of water bodies between them were filled with stone and earth to create land. Later, settlements, roads and industries were developed on this land. because this 'reclaimed' land is in a low-lying area, it easily gets water- logged when there is a heavy downpour.

Our India Environment And Us

Deforestation: The population of the world is now close to six hundred crore. Man is developing new technology to meet the needs of all these people, and is using up more and more land and water resources for this purpose. Open spaces are required on a very large scale for agriculture, housing, industry, and for building roads and railways. Forests are cut down to make place for them. The environment provides shelter to different kinds of living things. There are many types of plants in forests. Birds builds their nests in trees. Animals like the bear, deer, monkey, elephant, tiger all live in the forest, i.e. they find shelter in a forest. All their needs are met in the forest. If forests are reduced, biodiversity is also depleted.

Pollution : You have seen how water sources get polluted if waste water is let into them without processing. Waste water is also given out from factories into their surroundings. If water from such polluted sources keeps soaking in to the soil, the soil becomes infertile. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used on a large scale for agriculture. They seep into the soil or finally flow into rivers with rainwater. Due to several such reasons water and soil get polluted. This is dangerous for the plants and animals there. Their number reduces and eventually they die out altogether, that is they become extinct. Fuel is used in all homes. Besides, there are big industries and factories in which fuel is used in great quantities. On the one hand, tremendous quantities of carbon dioxide enter the air due to burring of fuels. On the other hand, due to large scale deforestation, the number of trees available for absorbing this carbon dioxide is dwindling. As a  result, the proportion of carbon dioxide in the air is rising continuously. When the proportion of carbon dioxide in the air rises, it leads to rise in temperature. We see such a temperature rise in all parts of the world.  Besides, when fuels are burnt in vehicles, they give out certain poisonous gases as well as smoke. Industries also let out some poisonous gases into the air. This leads to air pollution on a very large scale.

The need to maintain environmental balance : Due to human intervention in nature, large scale changes are taking place in the air, water and land. Also, these non- living or abiotic components are getting polluted. As a result, the existence of living things is threatened, while several living  things have already become extinct. If one factor of the environment is damaged, its relationships with other factors also get affected, and environmental balance is disturbed. From time to time, some of the living things on the earth become extinct. But today this process is taking at a much faster rate. This is a threat for the whole living world.

If the different types of plants and animals become extinct one by one, many of the links in the different food chains will be lost. Many scientists believe that this will affect the entire living world on the earth and the balance in nature will collapse.

Our Needs And The Environment : Food, water and clothes are the needs of all people. We use a lot of things to meet these needs. Besides, we use many means and devices for the purpose of studies, sport, hobbies and entertainment. We even stock up these things so that they will be available to us whenever we need them. All these things are obtained by using materials from our environment. All the people in the world have similar needs and desires. As a result, the environment is being degraded rapidly. We need to be aware that we ourselves are a part of nature. If the balance of nature is disturbed, it will adversely affect human beings, too. We need to take steps to prevent the degradation of the environment. The steps should mainly include using our means frugally and recycling used articles. Such measures should be practiced sincerely by each and every person.

           Several projects are being implemented at the international level to maintain the balance in nature. It is important to raise the awareness of people all over the world about the threat to environmental balance. Many countries of the world are enacting laws that will help to prevent the pollution of air, water and soil.

Biodiversity parks : An area which is reserved for the purpose of protecting and conserving the biodiversity of a region is called a 'biodiversity parks'. In these parks, biodiversity is both preserved and studied. People visiting such a park enjoy being close to nature. This leads to more concern for nature.

National parks : Some areas which are important for the protection and conservation of wildlife are reserved for the. For example, the Kaziranga National Park, the Tadoba National Park.

Sanctuaries : Certain forest areas are reserved for the protection and conservation of a particular animal or plant. Such a reserved area is called a sanctuary. For example, the Radhanagari Sanctuary for bisons. If the plants on the earth are destroyed the numbers of animals also fall. That is why it is necessary to protect plants in forest. If deforestation is stopped, and instead tree plantation is stepped up, animals that depend on plants will get protection and thrive. Mayani lake has formed due to a dam built on the Chand river in Satara district. Flamingos from the Siberia region in northern Asia migrate to this lake. Here, they build nests and lay eggs. Once the baby birds grow big enough, they return with them to Siberia. In the recent past, as the water level in the dam had fallen, the flamingos had stopped coming. However, the lake has now been declared a sanctuary for birds. There is a Maldhok ( Great Indian Bustard) sanctuary at Nannaj in solapur district. There huge weighty birds are famous for their graceful gait. These birds live in open grasslands. They feed on insects. As they are hunted for their meat and their eggs, their number is fast swindling. Maharashtra State has declared the Nannaj area a sanctuary for the Great Indian Bustard. Deer are also found in these grasslands.

         About 50 km from Pune on the Pune - Ahmednagar highway, the village of Morachi Chincholi is famous for is peacock population. The old, well - looked after tamarind tress here have created a favorable environment for the birds. Peafowl have found sanctuary in this village. Indian culture gives importance to the protection of forests. The Devrai is an example. People believe that a Devrai is really a jungle reserved for god. No tree or plant in a Devrai is ever cut. That is why, all trees in a Devrai are safe even today. Maharashtra has many Devrais. In Madhya Pradesh, they are known as 'Sharanvan'. Devrais give shelter not only to the plants but also to the animals that live there. Hence, Devrais can be called the sanctuaries of ancient times.

Always Remember - Nature Provides enough for every man's need, but not for every man's greed.                👇

Conclusion : There are inter - relationships between all living and non - living things in the environment.  Different kinds of plants, animals and micro - organisms are found in different regions.  The balance between the cycles of the various gases in the atmosphere, the water cycle and food chains has been maintained for thousands of years. Pollution of water is a threat to aquatic plants and animals. We shall all have to make efforts to stop the degradation of the environmental balance caused by human intervention. Devrais, Bio - diversity Parks, National Parks and Sanctuaries are created for the conservation of plants and animals.

We hope that this Article will receive a warm welcome from students and parents.