Class 7 Social Science Notes Chapter 9 (The Making Of Regional Cultures) – Out Pasts - II Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 9, 'The Making of Regional Cultures'. This is an important chapter because it helps us understand that the cultures we see in different parts of India today didn't just appear overnight. They evolved over centuries, mixing local traditions with ideas from other parts of the country. This chapter explores how language, religion, art, music, and even food habits developed distinct regional characteristics. Pay close attention, as these details are often tested in competitive exams.

Detailed Notes: The Making of Regional Cultures (NCERT Class 7, Chapter 9)

1. Understanding Regional Cultures:

• Culture is dynamic: It involves language, food, clothing, poetry, dance, painting, music, and religious beliefs.
• Regional cultures today are often a product of complex processes:
  • Intermixing of local traditions.
  • Influence from ideas/practices from other regions.
  • Some traditions are specific to a region, while others seem similar across regions but evolved differently.

2. The Cheras and the Development of Malayalam (Kerala):

• Region: South-western part of the peninsula (present-day Kerala).
• Ruling Dynasty: The Chera dynasty established a kingdom in Mahodayapuram in the 9th century CE.
• Language Development:
  • Malayalam was likely spoken in this region.
  • Rulers introduced Malayalam language and script in their official inscriptions. This is a prime example of using a regional language in official records in the subcontinent.
  • The Cheras also drew upon Sanskritic traditions. Kerala's temple theatre borrowed stories from Sanskrit epics.
  • The first literary works in Malayalam, dating to the 12th century, are directly indebted to Sanskrit.
  • Example: Lilatilakam (14th century) - a text dealing with grammar and poetics, composed in Manipravalam (literally meaning "diamonds and corals"), referring to the two languages, Sanskrit and the regional language (Malayalam).

3. Rulers and Religious Traditions: The Jagannatha Cult (Orissa):

• Region: Puri, Orissa (present-day Odisha).
• Cult: The cult of Jagannatha (literally, "lord of the world"), a name for Vishnu.
• Development:
  • To date, the local tribal deity was made of wood, suggesting tribal origins. Later, it was identified with Vishnu.
  • Role of Rulers:
    • Anangabhima III (1216): A prominent king of the Ganga dynasty, dedicated his kingdom to the deity (Jagannatha) and proclaimed himself as the "deputy" of the god. He built the great Purushottama Jagannatha temple at Puri.
    • Subsequent rulers (Mughals, Marathas, English East India Company) sought control over the temple. They felt this would make their rule acceptable to the local people, as the temple was a major pilgrimage center and central to regional authority and culture.

4. The Rajputs and Traditions of Heroism (Rajasthan):

• Region: Present-day Rajasthan, often called Rajputana by the British. While various groups lived there, it's strongly associated with Rajput culture from the 8th century onwards.
• Rajput Identity: Many groups who identify as Rajputs today trace their origins to different lineages (e.g., Suryavanshi - sun dynasty, Chandravanshi - moon dynasty). Prithviraj Chauhan was one such famous ruler.
• Ideals and Aspirations:
  • Rulers cherished the ideal of the hero who fought valiantly, often choosing death on the battlefield rather than facing defeat.
  • Stories about Rajput heroes were recorded in poems and songs, recited by specially trained minstrels (bards). These preserved memories and were expected to inspire others.
  • Role of Women: Often depicted as following their heroic husbands in life and death. Stories about sati (immolation of widows on their husband's funeral pyre) are sometimes mentioned, though ordinary people were also attracted to these stories.

5. Beyond Regional Frontiers: The Story of Kathak (North India):

• Origin: The term Kathak derives from katha (Sanskrit word for story). Originally, Kathaks were a caste of story-tellers in temples of north India.
• Evolution:
  • Bhakti Movement: Story-telling embellished with gestures and songs. Legends of Radha-Krishna were enacted in folk plays called rasa lila.
  • Mughal Era: Performed in the courts of Mughal emperors and nobles. It acquired its present features: rapid and intricate footwork, elaborate costumes, enactment of stories.
  • Gharanas (Traditions/Schools): Developed in two major courts:
    • Jaipur
    • Lucknow (grew under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh).
  • Spread: By the third quarter of the 19th century, it spread to Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • British Rule: Disliked by most British administrators. Survived and continued to be performed by courtesans.
  • Post-Independence: Recognized as one of the six classical dance forms in India.

6. Painting for Patrons: The Tradition of Miniatures:

• Definition: Miniature paintings are small-sized paintings, usually done in watercolour on cloth or paper.
• Early Examples: Found on palm leaves or wood. Western Indian Jaina texts contain some of the most beautiful examples.
• Mughal Influence:
  • Emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan patronized highly skilled painters.
  • Painters primarily illustrated manuscripts containing historical accounts and poetry.
  • Themes: Court scenes, scenes of battle or hunting, aspects of social life. Often exchanged as gifts.
• Spread to Regions:
  • With the decline of the Mughal Empire, painters moved to regional courts (Deccan, Rajput courts of Rajasthan).
  • Mughal artistic tastes influenced regional courts but distinct styles developed. Portraits and court scenes continued, alongside themes from mythology and poetry.
• Regional Styles:
  • Mewar, Jodhpur, Bundi, Kota, Kishangarh: Developed distinct styles.
  • Himalayan Foothills (Basohli): By the late 17th century, a bold and intense style of miniature painting developed here. Most popular text painted: Bhanudatta’s Rasamanjari.
  • Kangra School:
    • Nadir Shah's invasion (1739) and the conquest of Delhi led Mughal artists to migrate to the hills.
    • By the mid-18th century, the Kangra artists developed a distinct style. Soft colours (including cool blues and greens) and a lyrical treatment of themes became Kangra's specialty.
    • Patronage: Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra.
    • Common themes: Vaishnavite traditions, Radha-Krishna stories (inspired by poets like Jayadeva - Gita Govinda). Ordinary men and women also painted (on pots, walls, floors, cloth).

7. A Closer Look: Bengal

• The Growth of a Regional Language (Bengali):

  • Origin: Assumed to have derived from Sanskrit, but it passed through many stages of evolution. Non-Sanskritic words (from tribal languages, Persian, European languages) are now part of modern Bengali.
  • Early Influences:
    • 4th-3rd centuries BCE: Commercial ties between Bengal and Magadha (south Bihar) may have led to growing Sanskrit influence.
    • 4th century CE: Gupta rulers established political control over north Bengal; Brahmanas started settling there.
    • 7th century CE: Chinese traveller Xuan Zang observed Sanskrit-related languages spoken all over Bengal.
    • 8th century: Development under the Palas.
    • 14th-16th centuries: Ruled by Sultans independent of Delhi. Persian became a language of administration, but Bengali developed as a regional language. Under Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1390-1410), the poet Krittibas Ojha translated the Ramayana into Bengali (Shri Ram Panchali). Maladhar Basu translated the Bhagavata Purana (Sri Krishna Vijay).
  • Mughal Period: Akbar conquered Bengal (1586), forming the Bengal suba. Persian remained the administrative language, but Bengali continued its regional development.
  • Literature:
    • Early Bengali literature (mid-15th to mid-18th century) can be divided into:
      • Sanskrit epics translations.
      • Mangalkavyas: Literally "auspicious poems", dealing with local deities.
      • Bhakti literature: Biographies of Chaitanyadeva (leader of the Vaishnava bhakti movement), e.g., Chaitanyacharitamrita by Krishnadas Kaviraj.
      • Nath literature: Songs about Maynamati, Gopichandra, Dharma Thakur worship.

• Pirs and Temples:

  • Settlement & Religion: From the 16th century, people migrated from less fertile western Bengal to the forested and marshy south-eastern areas. Forest clearing and rice cultivation increased with Mughal control.
  • Pirs: Mosque building and religious transformation occurred. Community leaders, sometimes called pirs (a Persian word meaning spiritual guide), included Sufi saints, soldiers, colonisers, Hindu and Buddhist deities, and animistic spirits. Cults of pirs became popular; their shrines (dargahs) became centres of devotion.
  • Temple Building: From the late 15th century, individuals and groups built numerous temples, demonstrating their power and piety. Many modest brick and terracotta temples were built with the support of social groups like kolu (oil pressers) and kansari (bell metal workers). European trading companies also built temples.
  • Architecture: Temples copied the double-roofed (dochala) or four-roofed (chauchala) structure of thatched huts typical of Bengal villages. This led to a distinct Bengali style in temple architecture. Temples were usually built on a square platform, with decorated outer walls (terracotta plaques or tiles) depicting scenes from epics, Puranas, and daily life.

• Fish as Food:

  • Bengal is a riverine plain with abundant rice and fish. These are major items in the Bengali diet, even for poorer sections.
  • Fishing has always been important; Bengali literature mentions fish.
  • Terracotta plaques on temples and viharas depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to market.
  • Brahmanas & Diet: While Brahmanas were traditionally forbidden from eating non-vegetarian food, the popularity of fish led to a relaxation of this rule for Bengali Brahmanas. The Brihaddharma Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit text from Bengal, permitted local Brahmanas to eat certain varieties of fish.

Conclusion:

Regional cultures are complex and evolved through the intermingling of diverse local customs and external influences over long periods. Understanding this process helps appreciate the rich tapestry of Indian culture.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram, known for using Malayalam in inscriptions, was established in which century?
   a) 7th century CE
   b) 8th century CE
   c) 9th century CE
   d) 10th century CE

2. The Jagannatha cult, primarily associated with Vishnu, is centered in which city?
   a) Kolkata, West Bengal
   b) Puri, Odisha
   c) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
   d) Madurai, Tamil Nadu

3. Which ruler dedicated his kingdom to Lord Jagannatha and proclaimed himself the deity's "deputy"?
   a) Prithviraj Chauhan
   b) Raja Sansar Chand
   c) Anangabhima III
   d) Wajid Ali Shah

4. The stories of Rajput heroes and their ideals were primarily preserved and popularized by:
   a) Temple priests
   b) Mughal administrators
   c) Specially trained minstrels (bards)
   d) Buddhist monks

5. The Kathak dance form evolved significantly under Mughal patronage, developing distinct traditions or schools known as:
   a) Ragas
   b) Talas
   c) Gharanas
   d) Sampradayas

6. Which Nawab of Awadh was a great patron of the Lucknow gharana of Kathak?
   a) Asaf-ud-Daula
   b) Shuja-ud-Daula
   c) Wajid Ali Shah
   d) Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk

7. Bhanudatta’s Rasamanjari was a popular text illustrated in which style of miniature painting?
   a) Kangra
   b) Mughal
   c) Basohli
   d) Mewar

8. The distinct Bengali temple architecture often imitated the structure of:
   a) Mughal palaces
   b) Buddhist stupas
   c) Thatched village huts (dochala/chauchala)
   d) South Indian gopurams

9. The Brihaddharma Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit text from Bengal, notably permitted local Brahmanas to:
   a) Engage in overseas trade
   b) Eat certain varieties of fish
   c) Marry outside their caste
   d) Learn Persian for administration

10. The literary work Lilatilakam, dealing with grammar and poetics, was composed in Manipravalam, combining which two languages?
    a) Sanskrit and Tamil
    b) Sanskrit and Telugu
    c) Sanskrit and Kannada
    d) Sanskrit and Malayalam

Answer Key:

1. c) 9th century CE
2. b) Puri, Odisha
3. c) Anangabhima III
4. c) Specially trained minstrels (bards)
5. c) Gharanas
6. c) Wajid Ali Shah
7. c) Basohli
8. c) Thatched village huts (dochala/chauchala)
9. b) Eat certain varieties of fish
10. d) Sanskrit and Malayalam

Make sure you revise these points thoroughly. Understanding the connections between rulers, regions, languages, and cultural practices is key to mastering this chapter for your exams. Good luck!