NCERT Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond Part 2 Chapter 02 India and Her Neighbours PDF Download

Chapter 2: India and Her Neighbours

[Figure 2.1: India and some of her neighbours, See in your textbook]

The Big Questions

1. What defines a 'neighbour'? Is it just shared land borders?
2. How do geography and history influence the nature of India's relationships with her neighbours?
3. In what ways are India and her neighbours interconnected today?

Framing the Neighbourhood

When we think of a neighbour, we often imagine a country that shares a land boundary with us. That is the traditional view of neighbourhood. In that sense, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest, China's region of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan in the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east are indeed our neighbours. India's total land boundary stretches over 15,100 km and passes through diverse landscapes, including deserts, plains, forests, mountains, marshes, and river valleys.

India, however, has always been a maritime nation, surrounded by the sea on three sides. This makes Sri Lanka and the Maldives our immediate neighbours across the waters. But if we look at India from a high-altitude satellite, we can also see that nations like Iran, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia are part of our maritime neighbourhood. In this chapter, we use this understanding of a wider neighbourhood to situate India's central and strategic place in South Asia.

Teacher's Note

Notice that "neighbour" has two meanings here: land neighbours share a border, and maritime neighbours are connected by ocean. Many students think neighbours must share land only. On exams, when you describe India's neighbours, always mention both types so your answer is complete.

Don't Miss Out

Who is a maritime neighbour?

A maritime neighbour is a country connected to another by a shared sea or ocean, even without a direct land border. (Revisit the chapter 'Oceans and Continents' in your Grade 6 textbook.) The ocean acts as a vital link, facilitating centuries of trade, cultural exchange, and historical ties. In this chapter, we will visit only the maritime neighbours nearest to India.

Let's Explore

Identify the three large water bodies that surround India in the map on the facing page (Fig. 2.2).

[Figure 2.2: A simplified map of the major land and sea routes that have connected India with many regions and countries of Eurasia and Africa over the centuries. (The routes shown here are approximate and fluctuated in time.), See in your textbook]

Teacher's Note

The map shows both red land routes (called Silk Roads) and white sea routes across the Indian Ocean. When you study India's neighbours, remember that these old trade routes shaped the relationships and cultural ties that still exist today. Look for how geography - whether mountains or oceans - determined which countries could easily reach each other.

Key Points

• A neighbour of India can be either a country sharing a land boundary or one separated by sea but still closely connected through the ocean.
• India's land neighbours include Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, with a total land boundary of over 15,100 km.
• India's maritime neighbours include Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and other nations around the Indian Ocean like Iran, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
• The ocean has historically acted as a link for trade and cultural exchange, making maritime neighbours important to understanding India's relationships.
• Both land routes and sea routes have connected India to many regions of Eurasia and Africa for centuries.

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