India: land of many faiths: religious traditions play a vital role in the lives of many Indian teens.* OBJECTIVE Students should understand * the people of India practice a number of religions, speak many languages and dialects', and belong to a variety of ethnic groups. * TEACHING STRATEGY Ask: "What do you know about India?" * BACKGROUND Since independence in 1947, India has fought with Pakistan for control of Kashmir, a state that both nations claim. Since 1989, the violence in Kashmir Violence in Kashmir has existed in various forms, mainly in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian-controlled side of the disputed territory. Kashmir has been the target of a campaign of militancy by all sides in the conflict. between India and Muslim insurgents Insurgents, in U.S. history, the Republican Senators and Representatives who in 1909–10 rose against the Republican standpatters controlling Congress, to oppose the Payne-Aldrich tariff and the dictatorial power of House speaker Joseph G. Cannon. has killed as many as 80,000 people. Indian Prime Minister Singh, seeking increased stability, recently announced a $5.3 billion plan that would aid the state's economy and infrastructure. * CRITICAL THINKING COMPREHENSION: What are the basic beliefs of Buddhism? (Buddhism emphasizes a quest for Verb 1. quest for - go in search of or hunt for; "pursue a hobby" quest after, go after, pursue look for, search, seek - try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of; "The police are searching for clues"; "They are searching for the spiritual awareness, a respect for others, and an existence unencumbered by the pursuit of material goods. Such a philosophy, Buddhism promises, will help a person reach a state of peace called nirvana.) MAKING INFERENCES: What is the significance of Manmohan Singh becoming India's Prime Minister? (Singh is the first non-Hindu to lead India Lead India is an initiative launched on India's 60th Independence Day by The Times of India Group in search of a new bold leader for India. Citizens of India aged between 25 and 45 can participate in the three-stage contest whose result will be a winner who will be a worthy . The change furthers a recent trend in which government positions have been occupied by non-Hindus. This development reflects the diminishing role of the caste system Noun 1. caste system - a social structure in which classes are determined by heredity class structure - the organization of classes within a society and an acceptance of groups previously excluded.) * ACTIVITY RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE: Ask students to form small groups. Then, assign each group one of the following religions widely practiced in India: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and Sikhism. Students should research each faith's tenets and create a poster or chart detailing their findings. STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * Culture: How India, the world's second-most populous country, is a complex, multicultural nation. * Individuals, groups, and institutions: How Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Christianity play a major role in Indian society and politics. RESOURCES * MacMillan, Dianne, Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights (Enslow Pub., 1997). Grades 5-8. * Dalai Lama Dalai Lama (dä`lī lä`mə) [Tibetan,=oceanic teacher], title of the leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Believed like his predecessors to be the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, 1935–, , The Art of Happiness (Penguin Putnam, 1998). Grades 7-8. GROLIER WEB SITE KEY TERM * India WEB SITES * India and the Himalayas www.mrdowlingcom/ 612india.html * India Art www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/ india_art/index.htm ********** Stanzel Chokgup was 10 when he first saw the Dalai Lama (DAH-leye LAH-muh). The revered Buddhist leader had come to speak in Ladakh, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir: see Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir State (pop., 2001: 10,143,700), northern India. With an area of 39,146 sq mi (101,387 sq km), it occupies the southern portion of the Kashmir region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent and is . Ringed by the majestic Himalaya mountains, Ladakh is known as the rooftop of India and was once a Buddhist kingdom. Stanzel and his family are Buddhists, like most Ladakhis. Buddhists believe that a knowledge of spiritual truths, a respect for others, and a lack of attachment to worldly things leads to nirvana, or a state of peace. The Chokgups were thrilled to see the Dalai Lama. "We all dressed up," Stanzel recalls. "My mother wore a perak, headgear headgear, n the apparatus encircling the head or neck and providing attachment for an intraoral appliance in use of extraoral anchorage. headgear, radiologic, n a device that is used to protect the head from injury by radiation. embroidered em·broi·der v. em·broi·dered, em·broi·der·ing, em·broi·ders v.tr. 1. To ornament with needlework: embroider a pillow cover. 2. with turquoise stones, and my father wore his goncha, the traditional gown worn by Ladakhi men." The Dalai Lamas talk impressed Stanzel so much that he decided to become a lama A Lama is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. [ edit ] Municipalities in Pontevedra "I had to share a big room with nine other young monks," Stanzel recalls about his first days in the monastery. "Even though I could visit my family as often as I liked, I missed my parents and my brothers and sisters." Now 17, Stanzel is still learning about his faith. He dresses each morning in a long maroon robe fastened with a yellow belt. Then he drinks a bowl of salty tea mixed with yak butter Noun 1. yak butter - butter made from yaks' milk butter - an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use and says his morning prayers. Later, he goes out to the nearby villages with other young monks to offer blessings. Sometimes, he picks up a soccer ball and plays with the village children. As darkness falls across the mountains, Stanzel returns to the monastery for chants and study. MANY FAITHS Although 82 percent of Indians are Hindu, India is home to many religions, including Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, and Buddhism. With 150 million Muslims, India has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. With so many religions, conflict is not unusual. India has a long history of violence between Hindus and Muslims. When Britain granted India independence in 1947, two separate countries were created, a largely Hindu India and a mostly Muslim Pakistan. The partition (separation) led to turmoil. An estimated one million people were killed during Hindu-Muslim riots. More than 10 million others became refugees. Tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India have lessened in recent years, but they have not disappeared. In 2002, rioting in Gujarat, a state in northwest India, left hundreds of people dead. CASTE SYSTEM Perumal Alagumuthu, 17, cannot understand what causes such violence. "It doesn't make sense to me," he says. "My best friend is Christian. At Christmas, I go to his house and help him decorate the tree. When it is time for Diwali [the Hindu festival of lights], he comes here to set off firecrackers." Alagumuthu's parents moved to New Delhi New Delhi (dĕl`ē), city (1991 pop. 294,149), capital of India and of Delhi state, N central India, on the right bank of the Yamuna River. , the capital of India, from the southern part of the country many years ago. (As is the tradition among people in the south. Alagumuthu goes by his last name.) His father is a chauffeur, and his mother works as a maid. Alagumuthu, his parents, and younger brother Wiki is aware of the following uses of "'Younger Brother":
Each morning, Alagumuthu spends a few minutes before his family's temple. "I know my day would be incomplete," he told JS, "if I didn't say my prayers." Then he picks up his lunch of rice and did (lentils), prepared by his mother, and rushes off to catch a bus to school. Alagumuthu does not like all aspects of Hinduism, notably the caste (class) system. When Hinduism began to spread in 1000 B.C., people were divided into four groups: priests, warriors, traders, and laborers. Gradually, occupations turned into castes. No social interactions were allowed between higher and lower groups. Today, caste distinctions are less important, but still exist, especially in rural areas. "When I go to my village, everyone knows my caste, and I behave with respect to the upper castes," says Alagumuthu. But the caste system is slowly changing. Today, upper-caste Hindus no longer occupy all positions of power. India's previous President, K.R. Narayanan, was from a lower caste of boat-builders. The current President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (Tamil: அவுல் பகீர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் , is a Muslim. And India's new Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, is a Sikh--the first non-Hindu to occupy his country's highest office. SIKH LIFE Gurpreet Singh, 12, is proud that India's Prime Minister is a Sikh, like him. "Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Noun 1. Guru Nanak - Indian religious leader who founded Sikhism in dissent from the caste system of Hinduism; he taught that all men had a right to search for knowledge of God and that spiritual liberation could be attained by meditating on the name of God in the late 15th century," Gurpreet explains. "He wanted to bring together the best of Hinduism and Islam without an emphasis on caste." Gurpreet and his family live with 200 other families, all Sikhs, in a commune outside Delhi. Everyone works for the common good, just as Guru Nanak would have wanted. Each day, members of the commune prepare a free meal for all those who worship at the gurdwara gurdwara Sikh place of worship. Each gurdwara houses a copy of the Adi Granth and serves as a meeting place for worship, including recitation, singing, and explication of scripture. A community kitchen and often a school are attached to the building. , the Sikh temple. "My mother makes really good jalebis [spiral-shaped strips of dough that are fried and dipped in syrup], so she is in charge of making them," explains Gurpreet, whose long, flowing hair is hidden under a turban. "NOT SO FRAGILE" Within the capital lies the older, larger city of Delhi, which Indians call Old Delhi. There, Fabieah (FAH-bee-yah) Syed, 17, enters Jama Masjid Jama Masjid may refer to:
"People think that because Muslims pray five times a day they must be either crazy or fundamentalist," says Fabieah. "But one tries to connect with the Almighty to become a better human being, not to become a monster." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Islam, all followers must worship and obey Allah, who is lord of the universe. Fabieah is studying home economics at an all-girl's college in South Delhi South Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India. It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, and by the districts of New Delhi to the north, East Delhi to the northeast across the Yamuna, Gautam Buddha Nagar District of Uttar . "I feel much more grown up now," she says. "Before, I went to a school close to home, where I was more protected." Fabieah's mother is concerned about this newfound freedom. She would prefer to have Fabieah study at a college in Old Delhi, an area mostly populated by Muslims. But Fabieah is determined to find her own way, She hopes to become a nutritionist nu·tri·tion·ist n. One who is trained or is an expert in the field of nutrition. nutritionist Dietitian, see there or a dietician dietician Nutritionist A health professional with specialized training in diet and nutrition . "I am not so fragile," she tells her mother. "I have my faith to keep me strong." Like Fabieah, millions of Indian teens are observing their centuries-old religious traditions while making their own place in the world. They help make India a vibrant and colorful nation. Words to Know * reincarnation: the rebirth of a person's soul in another form. Your Turn THINK ABOUT IT Describe a typical day for Stanzel. How is your life different from his? RELATED ARTICLE: India. India is the second-most populous country in the world, and the seventh-largest in area. Located on a landmass land·mass n. A large unbroken area of land. landmass Noun a large continuous area of land landmass called the Indian subcontinent, it is made up of 28 states and 7 territories. Civilizations have thrived in India for nearly 5,000 years. Great Britain ruled India from the late 1700s until 1947. FACTS TO KNOW: AREA: 1,269,340 square miles. POPULATION: 1,086,600,600; Indians are a mixture of many ethnic groups collectively known as the Indian geographic race. GOV'T: Parliamentary democracy; Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister. ECONOMY: Many people farm small plots of land. Much of the economy is fueled by mining, farming, facto ties, and service industries. PER CAPITA [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. (PER PERSON) GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. : $2,900. RELIGION: Hindu, 81.3%; Muslim, 12%; Christian, 2.3%; Sikh, 1.9%; Buddhist and others, 2.5%. LANGUAGE: 15 official languages; Hindi is the main language of 30% of the people; English is widespread. Literacy: Men, 70%; women, 48%. LIFE EXPECTANCY Life Expectancy 1. The age until which a person is expected to live. 2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. : Men, 61 years; women, 63 years. QUESTIONS 1. The city of Ahmadabad is located in which state? 2. What is the northernmost state in India? 3. What named line of latitude Noun 1. line of latitude - an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator parallel of latitude, parallel, latitude polar circle - a line of latitude at the north or south poles runs through India? 4. What is India's major river? 5. What major city is located near the river's mouth? 6. India lies between what two bodies of water? 7. What is the landmass India sits on called? 8. Today, one of the centers of Indian moviemaking mov·ie·mak·er n. One that makes movies, especially professionally. mov  ie·mak is Mumbai (Bombay). About how many miles is it from there to the capital? 9. What Indian cities have populations of more than 10 million? 10. What is the capital of Pakistan Noun 1. capital of Pakistan - the capital of Pakistan in the north on a plateau; the site was chosen in 1959 Islamabad Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Pakistan, West Pakistan - a Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization ? ANSWERS 1. Gujarat 2. Jammu and Kashmir 3. Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Cancer, parallel of latitude at 23°30' north of the equator; it is the northern boundary of the tropics. This parallel marks the farthest point north at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; north of the parallel the sun appears less than 4. Ganges River 5. Calcutta 6. Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal Noun 1. Bay of Bengal - an arm of the Indian Ocean to the east of India Andaman Sea - part of the Bay of Bengal to the west of the Malay Peninsula Indian Ocean - the 3rd largest ocean; bounded by Africa on the west, Asia on the north, Australia on the east 7. Indian subcontinent 8. 1,000 miles 9. Mumbai, Delhi, and Calcutta 10. Islamabad QUICK QUIZ * Decide whether each sentence is true, false, or an opinion. --11. Buddhists believe a knowledge of spiritual truths will help lead to nirvana, a state of peace. --12. A majority of India's people are Muslims. --13. The caste system dictates the way of life for many Hindus. --14. Living near the majestic Himalaya mountains can help a person lead a peaceful and simple life. --15. Sikhism draws upon religious teachings from Hinduism and Buddhism. ANSWERS 11. True 12. False 13. True 14. Opinion 15. False WORD MATCH Did you learn any new vocabulary words in this issue? Here's a chance to test yourself. You can review these words in the JS articles that appear on pp. 8-11 and pp. 14-17. INDIA--LAND OF MANY FAITHS Use a word from the box below to complete each sentence. Buddhism Hinduism Islam reincarnation Sikhism 1. --is one of the world's oldest religions. Followers worship one or many of the religion's thousands of gods and goddesses. One of the faith's tenets (principles or beliefs) is--, or life after death. 2. Most followers of--live in the northern states of India. This religion's founder, Guru Nanak, instructed his followers to direct each day's activities to the celebration of God. This faith incorporates some parts of Islam and Hinduism. 3. India has one of the world's largest Muslim populations. Muslim is the name given to people who practice the religion of--. Devout Muslims pray five times a day because they believe prayer brings one closer to Allah. 4. --emphasizes a life free of attachment to material and other worldly things. Followers seek an understanding of spiritual truths and encourage respect for all living beings. Such efforts, they believe, can lead to nirvana, or a state of peace. ANSWERS 1. Hinduism, reincarnation 2. Sikhism 3. Islam 4. Buddhism TEACHER'S EDITION Dear Teacher, In this issue, JS introduces your students to four young people in India: a Buddhist monk, a Hindu, a Sikh, and a Muslim. The teens describe the role that religious faith and traditions play in their lives. We also present our choices for the 10 most important news stories of 2004. We hope students will discuss which news stories they think are most important and then cast their vote for the top story at www.scholastic.com/juniorscholastic. This issue also contains a classroom play about Nat Turner's slave rebellion Nat Turner's Rebellion (also known as the Southampton Insurrection) was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia during August 1831. Over 50 people were reported killed. , an article about teen spending habits, a GeoSkills lesson on map projections, and our Hometown America contest, which features a winning entry from last year's contest as a guide. We hope you and your students enjoy the issue. Happy Holidays from the JS staff. |
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