Chapter 10: Earth — Our Shared Home
1. Chapter at a Glance
Astronauts who look at the Earth from space see one blue planet with no borders between countries. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station, said we are all part of humanity and the Earth is our one home. Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, described India as “Saare Jahaan Se Achcha”.
Nature has no boundaries. Air, water, clouds, seeds and animals move freely across the world. Through six stories, the chapter shows how things travel between countries: rosy starlings fly from Russia and Mongolia to India, yoga went from India to the world, chillies came from South America, sugar-making spread from India, marigolds came from Mexico, and Indian cows went to Brazil.
These stories show that people, plants, animals and ideas are all connected. The ancient Indian saying “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” means the world is one family. Earth is the only planet we know that has life, so we must care for it, for ourselves, for others and for the future.
2. Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Planet | A large, round body that moves around the Sun |
| Astronaut | A person who travels into space |
| International Space Station | A large spacecraft where astronauts live and work in space |
| Border | A line that separates two countries or states |
| Humanity | All human beings together |
| Globe | A round model of the Earth |
| DIGIPIN | A 10-character digital code for every place in India |
| Migrate | To travel from one place to another at a certain time of year |
| Pest | An insect or animal that harms crops |
| Locust | A type of grasshopper that eats crops |
| Trade | Buying, selling or exchanging goods |
| Cuisine | A style of cooking |
| Jaggery | A sweet made from sugarcane juice (gur) |
| Breed | A particular type of animal, like Gir cows |
| Culture | The customs, food, music and way of life of people |
| Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam | “The world is one family” |
| Harmony | Living together peacefully |
3. Important Topics
A. The Blue Planet
- From space, the Earth looks blue and borderless. Only the shapes of land and sea are seen, not cities or villages.
- Shubhanshu Shukla was the first Indian to reach the International Space Station.
- Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to see the Earth from space. He said India looks “Saare Jahaan Se Achcha”.
- All the oceans on Earth are connected.
- DIGIPIN gives every place in India a 10-character digital address.
B. Nature Has No Boundaries
- Air, water, clouds, seeds and animals move freely across the world.
- Clothes, food, toys, music, stories and ideas also travel between countries.
C. Six Stories of Sharing
| Story | What Travelled | From → To | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Travelling birds | Rosy starlings | Russia, Mongolia → India | They eat locusts and grasshoppers, helping farmers |
| 2. Yoga | Yoga | India → the world | Keeps body and mind healthy; 21 June is International Day of Yoga |
| 3. Chilli | Chilli plant | South America → India (via Portuguese travellers) | Now part of almost all Indian food; before this, black pepper was used |
| 4. Sugar | Jaggery and sugar making | India → the world | India first made jaggery from sugarcane juice |
| 5. Marigold | Marigold flower | Mexico → India | Now used in temples, weddings and festivals |
| 6. Cows | Gir, Kankrej, Ongole cows | India → Brazil (via Portuguese traders) | Give more than three-fourths of Brazil’s milk; shown on stamps and coins |
D. More Things That Travelled
| From India to the World | From the World to India |
|---|---|
| Yoga, ayurveda | Chillies (South America) |
| Zero, chess, snakes and ladders | Potatoes, tomatoes, peanuts, cashews |
| Sugar, rice, mangoes, bananas | Paper (China) |
| Spices like pepper and cardamom (“black gold”) | Marigold (Mexico) |
| Indigo dye | Dates and lemons (Arab traders) |
E. One Earth, One Family
- “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” means the world is one family.
- All people, animals, trees, rivers, air and sky belong to this family.
- Earth is the only planet we know that has life, so we must protect it for the future.
- The logo of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change shows the balance between nature and human life.
4. Question-Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
1. Who was the first Indian to reach the International Space Station?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
2. Who was the first Indian to see the Earth from space?
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma.
3. What is DIGIPIN?
A 10-character digital code that works like a digital address for every place in India.
4. From where do rosy starlings come to India?
From southern Russia, Mongolia and nearby countries.
5. When is International Day of Yoga celebrated?
On 21 June.
6. Where did chillies originally come from?
South America.
7. Where does the marigold flower come from?
Mexico.
8. Name the Indian cow breeds found in Brazil.
Gir, Kankrej and Ongole.
9. From which country did paper come to India?
China.
10. What does “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” mean?
The world is one family.
Short Answer Questions
1. What did Shubhanshu Shukla say about the Earth from space?
He said that from space, the Earth looks like one and no borders are visible. We are all part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home.
2. How do rosy starlings help Indian farmers?
They eat locusts and grasshoppers that damage crops, so they protect the farmers’ fields.
3. What does “nature has no boundaries” mean?
Air, water, clouds, seeds and animals move freely across the world without stopping at country borders.
4. How did chillies become part of Indian food?
About 400 to 500 years ago, Portuguese travellers brought chillies from South America to India. People loved them, and now we can’t imagine our food without them.
5. What is the story of sugar?
Long ago, people used honey to sweeten food. The method of making jaggery from sugarcane juice was first discovered in India, then turned into sugar-making, and this knowledge spread around the world through trade.
6. Why are Indian cows important in Brazil?
Portuguese traders took Indian cows to Brazil. They were strong, gave good milk and suited Brazil’s weather. Today, Gir, Kankrej and Ongole cows give more than three-fourths of Brazil’s milk.
Long Answer Questions
1. How do the stories in this chapter show that the Earth is our shared home?
The stories show how birds, plants, animals, food and ideas move across the world. Rosy starlings fly to India and help farmers. Yoga went from India and is now practised everywhere. Chillies and marigolds came to India from faraway lands and became part of our food and festivals. Sugar-making and Indian cows went from India to other countries. All this shows that people and nature everywhere are connected and share the same Earth.
2. Explain “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and how we can follow it.
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is an ancient Indian saying meaning “the world is one family”. All people, animals, trees, rivers, air and sky belong to this family and depend on each other. We can follow it by respecting people of all languages and cultures, sharing knowledge, helping others and caring for the Earth by saving water, planting trees and reducing waste.
Textbook Exercise Answers
Are all the oceans on Earth connected?
Yes, all the oceans are connected with each other.
What does the rosy starling story tell us about nature?
Nature is connected across the world, and animals move freely across borders and help people in other lands.
Why did yoga become popular around the world?
Because it keeps the body healthy and the mind peaceful, and anyone of any age can practise it.
What would happen if chillies disappeared from our kitchens for a week?
Many dishes would taste very different and less spicy, and we would have to use black pepper or other spices instead.
Why do both Indian and Mexican cultures use marigolds in festivals?
Marigolds are bright orange and yellow and stand for warmth, joy and celebration in both cultures.
What does the story of cows in Brazil tell us?
Animals can adapt to new places and become very useful there, which connects the people of different countries.
Things that came to India and things that went from India.
- Came to India: chillies, potatoes, tomatoes, marigolds, paper, dates and lemons.
- Went from India: yoga, sugar-making, rice, mangoes, bananas, spices, cows, zero and chess.
Write one way you can care for the Earth.
Sample: I will save water by turning off the tap while brushing, and plant one tree every year.
What does “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” teach us?
It teaches us that the whole world is one family, so we should live with respect, care and love for all people and for the Earth.
All ten chapters are now written in the Chapter 5 format: Chapter at a Glance, Word Meanings, Important Topics and Question-Answers. Chapters 1–4 and 6–10 are in the messages above. Chapter 5 is the page I gave you earlier, so I didn’t send it again. Everything is in my own words, ready to paste into Elementor.