Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 5 : India, That Is Bharat Notes & Summary in English for CBSE students
CBSE Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 5 Notes & Summary in English for “India, That Is Bharat” (based on NCERT Social studies textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond).
History Chapter 5 – India, That Is Bharat Complete Notes
Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond
Theme B: Tapestry of the Past
History Chapter 5: India, That Is Bharat
(Complete Notes + Concept-wise Explanation + Summary CBSE Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond (sst) Book)
Chapter 5 India, That Is Bharat Class 6 – Social Science Chapter Notes & Detailed Explanation
1. Introduction: Understanding India Through Time
India today is a modern nation with clear borders, states, and a known population. However, in ancient times, India did not exist as a single political unit. Its boundaries kept changing over thousands of years. The region we now call India was earlier known as the Indian Subcontinent and included present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan.
To understand India’s past, historians study ancient texts, inscriptions, travellers’ accounts, and archaeological evidence. These sources help us understand how India was named and how its identity evolved over time.
2. The Big Questions of the Chapter
This chapter tries to answer three important questions:
- How do we define India?
- What were the ancient names of India?
- How did Indians and foreigners refer to this land?
3. Natural Boundaries of India
India is naturally separated from other regions by:
- The Himalayas in the north
- The Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal in the south, west, and east
These natural boundaries played an important role in shaping India’s geography, culture, and history.
4. How Indians Named India
4.1 Sapta Sindhava (Land of Seven Rivers)
The Ṛig Veda, India’s oldest text, refers to the north-western region of the Subcontinent as Sapta Sindhava, meaning land of seven rivers.
The word Sindhu mainly referred to the Indus River and sometimes to rivers in general.
4.2 Names Mentioned in the Mahābhārata
The Mahābhārata mentions many regions of India such as:
- Kāshmīra (Kashmir)
- Kurukṣhetra (Haryana)
- Vanga (Bengal)
- Prāgjyotiṣha (Assam)
- Kaccha (Kutch)
- Kerala
These names show that ancient Indians had a strong geographical understanding of the Subcontinent.
4.3 Bhāratavarṣha
The Mahābhārata uses the term Bhāratavarṣha to describe the entire Indian Subcontinent.
- Bhāratavarṣha means land of the Bharatas
- Bharata was an important group mentioned in the Ṛig Veda
- Later texts mention several kings named Bharata
This name gradually became widely accepted across India.
4.4 Jambudvīpa
Another ancient name for India was Jambudvīpa, meaning the island of the jamun tree.
- Jamun trees are native to India
- Jambudvīpa came to represent the whole Indian Subcontinent
Emperor Aśhoka, around 250 BCE, used the name Jambudvīpa in his inscriptions to describe India, including regions outside present-day India.
4.5 Bhārata in Ancient Texts
An ancient text, the Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, describes Bhārata as:
“The land that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains.”
This definition clearly refers to India’s geography.
The name Bhārata is still used today:
- Bharat (North India)
- Bharatam (South India)
5. India in the Constitution
The Indian Constitution begins with the phrase:
“India, that is Bharat”
This shows that both names are officially recognised.
The Hindi version also uses “Bhārat arthāth India”.
6. How Foreigners Named India
6.1 Persian Names
The Persians were the first foreigners to mention India.
- They referred to the Indus River as Sindhu
- In Persian, Sindhu became Hind, Hidu, or Hindu
- The term was geographical, not religious
6.2 Greek Names
The ancient Greeks adopted the Persian term but dropped the letter ‘h’.
- Hindu became Indoi or Indike
- This later evolved into the word India
6.3 Chinese Names
Ancient Chinese texts used names like:
- Yintu
- Yindu
- Tianzhu
These names also originated from the word Sindhu.
Tianzhu also meant heavenly land, showing respect for India as the land of Buddha.
6.4 Hindustān
The term Hindustān was first used in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago.
Later, it became commonly used by invaders and rulers to describe the Indian Subcontinent.
7. Travellers to India
Many foreign travellers visited India in ancient times.
One famous traveller was Xuanzang, a Chinese scholar who:
- Visited India in the 7th century CE
- Stayed for 17 years
- Collected and translated Buddhist texts
Such travellers helped spread India’s knowledge and culture across the world.
8. Summary of the Chapter
- India is an ancient land with a long and rich history.
- Ancient Indians used names like Sapta Sindhava, Bhāratavarṣha, and Jambudvīpa.
- The name Bhārata became widely accepted and is still used today.
- Foreigners derived names like Hindu, Indoi, and India from the Indus River.
- The Constitution recognises both names: India and Bharat.
- Geography, texts, inscriptions, and travellers’ accounts help us understand India’s identity.
9. Key Terms to Remember
- Indian Subcontinent: A large region including India and neighbouring countries
- Sindhu: Ancient name of the Indus River
- Bhāratavarṣha: Land of the Bharatas
- Jambudvīpa: Ancient name for the Indian Subcontinent
- Hindu / Indoi / India: Foreign names derived from Sindhu