Walls Tell Stories

Questions with (*) sign are open-ended questions.

Page 77

Find out

Think

Why were bastions made in the fort wall?

Bastions were made in the fort to ensure security.

Why were big holes made in them?

Big holes are made in them to increase the view area.

What difference would be there if you were to look from a straight flat wall or a bastion at a height? How would the soldiers find peeping from the holes in the bastions useful while attacking?

A bastion at a height increases the view area as compared to look from a straight flat wall. It also ensures security for the soldiers

Page 89

Think and discuss

How would the fountains have worked?

Fountains would have got water from the big tanks or reservoirs.

What arrangements would have been made in the building for air and light?

Large windows, doors and ventilators are made in the building for the flow of air and light.

Look carefully at the picture of the beautiful carving on the wall. What kind of tools would have been used for such fine carving?

Chisel and hammer were used for such beautiful carving on the wall.

(*) We still do not have any electricity at many places in our country. Even at places that do have electricity, imagine what would happen if there was no electricity for one week. What are the things that would be difficult to manage without it?

Page 90

Tell and write

Look carefully at the map of Golconda. On the map, arrows show all the four directions.

(a). If you are peeping inside from Bodli Darwaza, in which direction from you is Katora Hauz?

To the north direction.

(b). If someone is entering from Banjara Darwaza, in which direction from her is Katora Hauz?

To the south direction.

(c). In which direction will you walk from Bala Hisar to reach Moti Mahal?

In the east direction.

(d). How many gates can you see on the outer walls of the fort?

Nine gates.

(e). Count how many palaces are there in the fort?

Three palaces.

(f). What arrangements for water can you see inside the fort? For example, wells, tanks, step-wells.

There were baolis (five) and hauz (three) for water.

On the map, 1 cm distance is equal to a distance of 110 metres on the ground. Now tell

On the map, the distance between Bala Hisar and Fateh Darwaza is 8 cm. On the ground, the distance between the two would be 880 metres.

How far is Makai Darwaza from Fateh Darwaza?

Near about 100 metres.

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Discuss

Have you recently read or heard about any country attacking or going to war with another country?

Yes. Afghanistan war

Find out what was the reason for this war.

To overthrow the ruling government of the Taliban from Afghanistan.

What kind of destruction was caused because of this?

There was a huge loss of life and property.

Find out

The big gun that Shreedhar saw was made of bronze. Have you seen anything made of bronze? What?

Yes. I have seen statues made up of bronze.

Find out from your elders about some of the things made from bronze that were, or are still used in your house. From its colour try to identify which one of them is made from copper, which is from brass, and which is from bronze.

Copper: lota

Brass: lota, plate

Bronze: statue of god and goddess

Page 94

Now imagine, how would this garland of pots lift water from the well?

The garland of pots is connected with a toothed wheel. As the wheel moves the garland of pots also moves. The pot which is in water gets filled with water and comes up. As the pots with water reach the level of the canal the water in the pots is emptied.

Do you now get some idea about how the tanks could have been filled by lifting water from the well?

Animals like bullocks were used to move the garland of pots to fill the tanks.

Where else have you seen such wheels attached to each other? For example, in the gear of a cycle or somewhere else?

In watches, machines, power looms, sewing machines and toys.

Look around and find out how water is pumped up from the grounds to higher places?

Electric motor pumps are used to pump water from the grounds to higher places.

How is water pumped up using electricity? How is water lifted without electricity?

Water is pumped using motors running on electricity. In the absence of electricity, pulleys are used to pump the water.

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Write

What kinds of pots have you seen around you?

I have seen pots made of clay, plastic, aluminum and brass.

Try to find out from your grandparents about the other kinds of pots and pans they used in their time?

During the time of my grandparents, pots were made up of clay and brass.

Have you ever been to some museum or heard about it?

Yes. I have visited the Chathrapati Sambhaji Maharaj museum in Mumbai.

What all things are there in a museum?

There are many articles, clothes, coins from ancient times that are kept in the museum.

Survey and write

Is there any old building or monument near your house which people come to see? If yes, name it.

Yes. I live in Mumbai and there are many monuments in the city.

Have you ever gone to see an old monument? Which was that? Did you feel it told you a story? What could you know about those items from it?

Yes, I visited Shaniwar Wada fort in Pune. It reminds me of the glory of the Peshwas and the Maratha Empire.

How old was it? How did you know?

It is around 300 years ago. It was built in 1732.

What was it made of?

It was made of partly stones and partly bricks.

Were there any special kinds of designs on the old building?

We cannot see any design as the structure was damaged in a fire accident.

(*) Draw them in your notebook.

Who used to live there in the olden days?

Peshwas used to live there in the olden days.

What kind of activities took place there?

It was the residence of the Peshwas.

Do some people still live there?

Nobody lives there.