Class 10 Social Science Notes Chapter 6 (Work; life and leisure) – India and Contempory World-II Book

Alright class, let's delve into Chapter 6, 'Work, Life and Leisure'. This chapter examines the fascinating transformation of cities, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on London and Bombay (now Mumbai). Understanding this urban evolution is crucial, as cities became the epicenters of modern life, shaping work, social structures, politics, and even how people spent their free time.

Detailed Notes: Chapter 6 - Work, Life and Leisure

1. Introduction: The Rise of the Modern City

• Urbanization: The process by which cities grow and a higher proportion of the population comes to live in the city. The modern city emerged prominently in the 19th century, driven largely by industrialization.
• Key Features: Modern cities were distinct from pre-industrial urban centers. They were characterized by:
  • Large scale industrial production.
  • Vast populations, often swelled by migration from rural areas.
  • New social groups (industrial capitalists, working class, salaried middle class).
  • New forms of transport and communication.
  • Complex challenges like overcrowding, pollution, sanitation issues, housing shortages, and crime.
  • New forms of leisure and political activity.

2. The Industrial City: London

• First Metropolis: London was the largest city in the world for much of the 19th century and the first modern 'millionaire' city (population exceeding one million).
• Growth Factors:
  • Migration: People flocked from rural areas seeking work.
  • Industries: While not a major center for heavy industry like Manchester or Leeds, London had numerous industries: clothing and footwear, wood and furniture, metals and engineering, printing and stationery, precision products (surgical instruments, watches), etc. The London dockyards were also a major employer.
  • Five Major Types of Industries (19th Century): Clothing & Footwear, Wood & Furniture, Metals & Engineering, Printing & Stationery, Precision Products.
• Social Stratification:
  • The Wealthy (West End): Industrialists, merchants, bankers, and aristocrats lived in luxurious homes in areas like the West End.
  • The Working Class (East End): Lived in overcrowded, poorly maintained tenements, often in slums, primarily in the East End. Life expectancy was significantly lower here.
• Problems Faced:
  • Overcrowding & Housing: Vast numbers lived in cramped, unsanitary conditions. Tenements were common. High rents forced many families into single rooms.
  • Pollution: Industrial smoke and domestic coal fires created thick smog ("pea-soupers"). Lack of proper sewage systems polluted the River Thames.
  • Crime: Overcrowding and poverty led to increased crime rates. Authorities worried about social disorder and potential uprisings.
  • Health: Poor sanitation, lack of clean water, and pollution led to epidemics (cholera, typhoid).
• Efforts at Improvement:
  • Housing Reforms: Philanthropists and later, the state, attempted housing schemes. Rent control was introduced during World War I to ease housing pressure.
  • Public Health Measures: Efforts were made to improve sanitation and water supply.
  • Decongestion Ideas:
    • Ebenezer Howard: Proposed the concept of the 'Garden City' – self-contained communities surrounded by green belts, balancing city life with nature. Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City were built based on these ideas.
    • Raymond Unwin & Barry Parker: Designed the garden city of New Earswick.
  • Green Belt: The idea of leaving a ring of open green space around London to limit urban sprawl gained traction.
  • Transport Innovation: The London Underground (Tube), the world's first underground railway (opened 1863 between Paddington and Farringdon), revolutionized transport. It helped people commute from suburbs, easing some central congestion but also contributing to suburban growth. However, initial construction caused significant disruption and displacement.

3. Social Changes in the City

• Family Life: Traditional family structures weakened. Ties between members of households loosened. Individualism increased.
• Women's Roles:
  • Work: Women found work in factories (especially during wartime), as domestic servants, tailors, laundresses, etc. However, they were often paid less than men.
  • Social Change: Cities provided opportunities for women to become more independent and participate in social and political movements (e.g., suffrage movement).
• Leisure and Consumption:
  • New Forms: Industrial work schedules created free time, leading to new forms of leisure.
  • Working Class: Pubs, music halls, later cinemas, street entertainment.
  • Upper/Middle Class: Theatres, opera houses, museums, art galleries, libraries, social clubs.
  • Public Spaces: Parks and beaches became important leisure spots for all classes.
  • The Weekend: The concept of the weekend as dedicated leisure time emerged.
  • Mass Consumption: Cities became centers of consumption, with department stores and advertising shaping desires.

4. Politics in the City

• Social Unrest: The stark inequalities and harsh conditions led to social unrest and political mobilization.
• Organized Movements: Workers organized demanding better wages, working conditions, and political rights (e.g., Chartism in Britain). Socialist ideas gained ground.
• State Intervention: Fear of revolution and growing awareness of social problems prompted state intervention in areas like public health, housing, and eventually, social welfare. Philanthropy also played a role but was insufficient.

5. The City in Colonial India: Bombay (Mumbai)

• Colonial Hub: Bombay was a major administrative, commercial, and industrial center of British India. It was the primary port on the western coast.
• Growth Factors:
  • Trade: Major outlet for cotton textiles and opium trade (initially). The American Civil War (1861-65) disrupted US cotton supplies, boosting demand for Indian cotton exported via Bombay.
  • Industries: Development of cotton textile mills from the 1850s onwards attracted a large workforce.
  • Port & Railways: Its natural harbour and connection to the railway network made it a crucial hub.
  • Administration: Capital of the Bombay Presidency.
• Population & Migration: Grew rapidly through migration from nearby regions (like Ratnagiri) and other parts of India. Became a diverse, multi-lingual city.
• Housing Challenges:
  • Overcrowding: Extreme congestion, especially in the 'native' parts of the city. About 70% of the working population lived in densely packed 'chawls'.
  • Chawls: Multi-storeyed structures, often privately owned, with single-family rooms along corridors and shared toilet facilities. They became characteristic housing for Bombay's working class. High rents were a major issue.
  • Spatial Division: Clear separation between European/'White' areas (spacious bungalows) and Indian/'Black' areas (overcrowded). Caste and community clusters also formed within Indian areas.
• Land Reclamation: Due to scarcity of land, major land reclamation projects were undertaken throughout the 19th and 20th centuries to expand the city area (e.g., Back Bay Reclamation). Bombay was originally a group of seven islands.
• City Planning:
  • Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT): Established in 1898, aimed to create new housing schemes for workers and improve sanitation, partly driven by fears of plague. However, its schemes only housed a fraction of the population and often displaced the poor.
• Life and Leisure:
  • Similar patterns of leisure emerged as in London, adapted to the Indian context: temples, religious festivals, street entertainment, wrestling akharas, tea shops, later cinemas.
  • Bombay Cinema (Bollywood): Emerged in the early 20th century (first full-length feature film 'Raja Harishchandra' by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913). Cinema became a hugely influential medium, often depicting city life and shaping national imagination.

6. Cities and the Environment

• Pollution: Industrial cities faced severe air and water pollution.
  • London: Infamous for its thick smog caused by coal smoke.
  • Calcutta (Kolkata): Also suffered from air pollution from industries and domestic fires, and water pollution in the Hooghly river.
• Early Responses: Growing awareness led to demands for clean air and water. Early smoke abatement laws were passed (e.g., Smoke Abatement Acts of 1847 and 1853 in Britain), though often ineffective initially. Public health movements linked sanitation and environment to disease control.

7. Conclusion

• Modern cities were dynamic centers of economic growth, social change, and cultural innovation.
• However, they also presented immense challenges: deep social inequalities, poor living conditions for the majority, environmental degradation, and new forms of social conflict.
• The experiences of London and Bombay highlight both the universal aspects of industrial urbanization and the specific variations shaped by colonial contexts.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which city was the first modern metropolis to exceed a population of one million in the 19th century?
   a) Paris
   b) New York
   c) London
   d) Manchester

2. Which of these was NOT listed as one of the five major types of industry in 19th century London?
   a) Clothing and Footwear
   b) Heavy Steel Manufacturing
   c) Printing and Stationery
   d) Wood and Furniture

3. The concept of the 'Garden City' as a solution to urban congestion was proposed by:
   a) Raymond Unwin
   b) Charles Booth
   c) Ebenezer Howard
   d) Barry Parker

4. What were the multi-storeyed structures providing single-room housing for Bombay's working class called?
   a) Bungalows
   b) Tenements
   c) Havelis
   d) Chawls

5. The growth of Bombay's cotton textile industry received a major boost due to:
   a) The invention of the power loom
   b) The discovery of gold in India
   c) The American Civil War
   d) The decline of Calcutta's jute industry

6. The world's first underground railway, opened in 1863, was located in:
   a) Bombay
   b) Paris
   c) New York
   d) London

7. The Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT) was established primarily in response to fears about:
   a) The plague epidemic
   b) Potential worker uprisings
   c) Environmental pollution
   d) Foreign invasion

8. Which area of London was predominantly inhabited by the wealthy classes in the 19th century?
   a) East End
   b) South Bank
   c) West End
   d) North London

9. Who directed India's first full-length feature film, 'Raja Harishchandra' (1913)?
   a) Satyajit Ray
   b) Dadasaheb Phalke
   c) Mehboob Khan
   d) Guru Dutt

10. Which factor contributed significantly to the weakening of traditional family ties in industrial cities?
    a) Increased religious observance
    b) Availability of large family homes
    c) The rise of individualism and new work patterns
    d) Government policies promoting smaller families

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) London
2. b) Heavy Steel Manufacturing
3. c) Ebenezer Howard
4. d) Chawls
5. c) The American Civil War
6. d) London
7. a) The plague epidemic
8. c) West End
9. b) Dadasaheb Phalke
10. c) The rise of individualism and new work patterns

Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understanding the specific examples of London and Bombay helps illustrate the broader processes of urbanization and social change during this period. Good luck with your preparation!