Chapter 12: Changing Times
बदलते ज़माने (डेरा गाज़ी ख़ान से सोहना गाँव, कच्चा घर से पक्का मकान)
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- 1947 Partition Migration: Chetandas was 9 years old when India gained independence; his family migrated from Dera Gazi Khan (now in Pakistan) to Delhi refugee tents, then settled in Sohna village (Gurugram, Haryana).
- Mud & Cow Dung Flooring: Mixing cow dung (*gobar*) with mud and plastering the floor keeps away insects, ants, and pests while binding soil smoothly.
- Neem and Keekar Wood Roof Framing: Roof rafters were made by joining branches of Neem and Keekar (acacia) wood because termites (*deemak*) do not attack or destroy these woods.
- Evolution of Housing: 1. Mud and husk kucha house -> 2. Unbaked mud bricks -> 3. Kiln-fired baked red bricks, iron rods, and cement -> 4. Multi-story high-rise concrete apartments with flush sanitation.
- Sanitation Evolution: Earliest village toilets were dug behind the courtyard; sweepers cleaned human waste from basket toilets; later replaced by modern underground sewer pipes.
- Trap: Why is cow dung mixed with mud on floors? CBSE options include 'to make it shine' or 'for fragrance'. Correct: **To keep insects and pests away**.
- Trap: Why are Neem and Keekar tree branches placed on roof rafters? Correct: **To prevent termites (deemak) from attacking the wooden roof frame**.
- Trap: Location of Dera Gazi Khan: It is currently in **Pakistan**; Sohna village is in **Haryana (near Gurugram)**.
NCERT Core Facts: Housing Technology, Indigenous Pest Control & Partition
NCERT Class 4 Chapter 12 "Changing Times" presents a multi-generational history of Indian housing through the life story of Chetandas.
1. Migration History & Geography
- In August 1947, India was partitioned.
- Chetandas and his family left Dera Gazi Khan (डेरा गाज़ी ख़ान) (now situated in Punjab province, Pakistan).
- They lived temporarily in tents at a large refugee camp in Delhi before receiving land in Sohna village (सोहना) in Haryana.
2. Indigenous Building Materials & Biological Safeguards
CBSE frequently asks multi-statement reasoning questions on these traditional techniques:
A. Mud and Cow Dung Flooring (लिपाई)
- Chetandas and his mother mixed cow dung with mud and coated the floor.
- Scientific & Pedagogical Reason: Cow dung has natural antimicrobial and repellent properties; coating mud floors with dung prevents insects, pests, and ants from boring holes.
B. Neem and Keekar Wood Rafters (दीमक से सुरक्षा)
- The family made a wooden frame of rafters for the roof and placed branches of Neem and Keekar trees on it.
- Scientific & Pedagogical Reason: The wood of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Keekar (Acacia nilotica) contains bitter resin compounds that termites (दीमक) cannot digest or damage. Gunny bags were laid over them and covered with clay.
3. The 4 Stages of Home Modernization
- 1.Stage 1 (1947): Mud, straw, husk, cow dung, neem branches, and makeshift courtyard latrine.
- 2.Stage 2: Walls made of unbaked mud bricks; small brick kitchen with a clay stove (chulha).
- 3.Stage 3: Kiln-baked red bricks, river sand, cement, lintels, and indoor pipe toilet.
- 4.Stage 4 (Modern): High-rise multi-story RCC buildings with marble tiles, concealed plumbing, and modular fixtures.
Test Your Mastery: Changing Times
Authentic CBSE exam questions tested directly from this NCERT chapter.
In rural house construction described in NCERT Class 4, why is cow dung mixed with mud to coat the floors?
कक्षा 4 की एनसीईआरटी में ग्रामीण मकानों में फर्श को लीपने के लिए मिट्टी में गोबर क्यों मिलाया जाता है?
Why were branches of Neem and Keekar trees placed over the wooden frame of the roof in Chetandas's house?
चेतनदास के मकान की छत की लकड़ी के फ्रेम पर नीम और कीकर की लकड़ियाँ क्यों बिछाई गई थीं?
Sohna village, where Chetandas built his house after migrating from Dera Gazi Khan during partition, is located in which state?
विभाजन के समय चेतनदास जिस सोहना गाँव में बसे, वह वर्तमान में किस राज्य में स्थित है?
Why is cow dung mixed with mud to coat the floors of village houses in NCERT?
To keep insects and pests away.
Why are branches of Neem and Keekar trees used in roof frames?
Because termites do not attack or damage Neem and Keekar wood.
Where was Dera Gazi Khan located, and where did Chetandas settle after partition?
Dera Gazi Khan is in Pakistan; Chetandas settled in Sohna village, Haryana.