FIELD OBSERVATION- PHASE 2

Please Note- This document contains three sub- topics. 

NATIONAL CRAFTS MUSEUM, PRAGATI MAIDAN. 

1. Choose any craft and find out which natural resources are necessary for practicing
that craft. In addition, find out how crafts people collect these resources.
CRAFT-  Weaving the Kashmiri shawls. 
Cotton, wool, colours and thread are natural resources used in this craft. The craftspeople
collect these resources from their region itself. They get the wool from animals that are found in
the region itself and some of them are obtained from the other places as well. They get the
cotton from the other areas or the states which is also used for making thread. Naturals Colours
are used that are obtained from the flowers and from other natural materials  like jaggery, indigo
turmeric. 

2. In those crafts in which natural colours are used find out how they are made. Are they
still being used? If they are replaced by unnatural colours, find out the reason for their
replacement.
Craft- Painting the cloth in a special manner. This craft is done using the natural colours only.
The colours used here are made with the help of alum, jaggery, turmeric ,indigo. Although, few
craftsmen have started using artificial colour because it saves time. Many of the craftsmen
believed that artificial colours would not give the desired texture and colour. 

3. Meet the craftspeople working on fabric. Find out in which aspects of their work are
they using artificial resources? Why? There are some crafts people who work on fabric using
artificial colours in some aspects of their work. The reasons for this can be the cost majorly.
Using artificial colours reduces the cost of manufacturing the fabric and hence it can be sold
easily. Huge cost of manufacturing leads to high pricing of the product and this makes it difficult
for the craftspeople to sell the product. Another reason for moving on to artificial colours can be
the availability of a variety of shades. Artificial colours come up with different shades which
natural colours lack. This may give them the desired colours that they want to be in the fabric.

4. Try to learn any craft displayed here for a few minutes and reflect on the experiences
that you had. What kind of possible challenges crafts men or women face while engaging
in this craft?
I tried to learn pottery which was being done by a man in a stall. He took 50 rupees for teaching
me the initials of the pottery.
He was using an electrical charkha for making the pots unlike the conventional one. When
asked about the reason for using an electrical charkha instead of the conventional one,the man
said that it is easier for the beginners to work on this one as compared to the traditional one.
The possible challenges that the craftsman would have experienced while engaging in this craft
is collecting the resources that are mud and using this electrical charkha that is used on a large
scale in this craft and the man has to collect it everyday because it is supposed to be fresh. 
Electricity is another challenge that is faced by the craftsman as in his native place electricity is
not much easily available.
The next challenge that the man has to face is to wait for a few hours to let the pots dry and also
,they have to be heated in a furnace to make them strong. And the main challenge is patience.
While engaging in this craft, one has to be very much patient with the hand movements and
mind. A little bit of distraction can ruin the whole pot and the other products that are made using
this craft.

5. Look at the horses displayed at the entrance of the museum and relate the figure of the
horse with the culture of the respective regions in which they are made.
The horses displayed at the entrance of the museum related very much to the culture and the
traditions of the region they belonged to.
The culture represented there belonged to South India. The horses were of different sizes and
shapes. They were also differently decorated. This might show the differences of the classes in
the horses as well. The horse which belonged to the higher class was highly decorated and of
bigger size while the rest of the horses were less decorated because they might belong to the
lower rank soldiers.

6. Talk to, at least, to craftsmen or craftswomen practicing two different crafts and find
out how they learnt their crafts. Compare the learning experience of these two. Try to
distinguish at what stages in their lives they learnt which aspect of their craft.
Iron craft-  The craftsman, Rajkumar, from Chhattisgarh has known crafting from his father.
This is an occupation which he inherits from his ancestors. Around the year 1999 to 2000, his
father used to colour the iron made items with coal powder and oil but with the passage of time
Rajkumar has started using Asian black colour paint. He uses the traditional machine to blow air
into the burnt calls for igniting fire. Although, nowadays an electric machine has come which
requires less labour. The work required two days and the item gets ready. On the first day,
shapes are given to the iron plank and on the other day these are painted. 
Gonda Painting- (Textile)-  The craftsmanship Shiv Prasad, from Madhya Pradesh, had to
learn this art as a cultural heritage. He has shifted to acrylic Colours for painting. He works on
two different materials- Canvas and sheets. Working on canvas takes two month of time to
complete and on sheets 12 to 15 days are sufficient. His wife also works with him and helps to
do his work. His wife has learnt from him some basics of colouring the work. Although,  there
was a time when he used to use natural colours which were made from turmeric, flowers bark
of Indian Green Tree, fruit rind of pomegranate, pink and orange shades and copper, tin, iron
were used for adding vibrant to the colour but the procedure was full of hard work and time
taking. Moreover, finishing was not that appropriate.
7. Locate the hair dryer displayed in this museum and find out how it works.
The hair dryer displayed in the museum could not be easily found. It was in the last gallery of
the museum. We had to ask the staff members to help us in locating the hair dryer.
The dryer belonged to the royal family.
The place where it was displayed had other royal objects also. The dryer does not work like the
present. It was the technology made out of need at that time. It does not run on electricity as
electricity was not available at that time to which it belongs. It runs on manual power and wind
energy. It has two ropes tied to it on both the sides. One has to pull and push both of them
together so that the wings of the dryer move and they dry the hair of the person sitting below it.
8. The experience of weaving can be used to introduce fundamental concepts in
economics. Use the displayed information in the museum to identify the concepts.
Weaving does not involve just one step of weaving the thread into the cloth. It involves several
other concepts also which may help in learning economics at different levels.  The process
involves buying and selling at different stages which may teach the students the basic concepts
about cost management and profit & loss concepts. The process of weaving involves many
steps. This involves employment of a large number of labourers at different levels. This may
help in the development of the economy. Since the resources have to be collected from different
regions also, it teaches how goods and raw materials are transported and who all are involved
in this process. Obtaining the technology or the equipment for weaving, from different parts of
the nation and the world is a challenge too. Then storing these raw materials and the final
products is another challenge. 

9. What kind of ideas came to your mind when you saw the display of different kinds of
houses? List the ideas.
Different kinds of houses were displayed in the museum related to different areas of the country.
Some were made up of mud and some were made of bamboo. All the houses were described
briefly on boards in front of each of them. All the houses depicted the culture of that respective
region. For example, the houses of Rajasthan showed the paintings of Krishna and the Leela
that He used to perform. The houses of Nagaland have weapons and arms hung at the gateway
as they follow many fighting techniques as a skill. The houses of Manipur had skulls of animals
and humans on their walls which showed their hunting skills. Many of the huts belonged to the
same region but their depiction was about different communities.  The houses also showed the
geographical situations of the regions. For example, the house of Andaman and Nicobar islands
was a stilt house as it is prone to waterlogging and floods. To prevent water from entering the
house, the huts are made on stilts and the rest of the structure also takes care of the rest of the
problems.

10. On the first floor of the museum, there is a display of different kinds of fabric. While
standing there, reflect on what Gandhi has said about the role of handicrafts in the life of
India and its economy. Whatever ideas come to your mind, note them down.
Mahatma Gandhi's ideas about the Handicrafts and self sufficiency were directly related to his
view on industrialisation in society. He believed that industrial societies were based on an
endless production of commodities and thus increasing greed which resulted into competition
and ultimately into violence and war.  Gandhiji wanted to revive the villages, their craft, economy
and their practice and make them represent a system that was based on the concept of self
sufficiency and self regulation. For making India strong in terms of economy and making it self
reliant, he emphasized on the growth of rural development especially rural industries like khadis,
handlooms and handicrafts. Due to industrialisation the handmade items cannot compete
against machine items. There is a lot of labour work required and so many sellers are shifting to
machine made. The demand of handmade items are only made by those who can afford these
and so a long portion of the society cannot buy due to its cost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gandhi Smriti: Tees January Marg

1. At the back of Gandhi Smriti, Albert Einstein’s message on hearing about Gandhi’s
death is inscribed on two rocks. What is the message? In your view, what might have led
Einstein to make this comment?
Albert Einstein’s message was,” A leader of his people, unsupported by any outward authority, a
politician whose success rests not upon the craft nor upon the mastery of technical devices but
simply on the convincing power of his personality. A victorious fighter who has always scorned
the use of force. A man of wisdom and humility, armed with resolve and inflexible consistency
who has devoted all his strength to the uplifting of his people and the betterment of their lot. A
man who has confronted the brutality of Europe with the dignity of the simple human being, and
this at all times risen superior. Generations to come it may be, will scarce believe that such a
one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth." Einstein was inspired by Gandhi's
idea of nonviolence and how without resorting to force a man of his calibre could overcome the
brutality of British and think for the betterment of all. 
2. Behind the spot where Gandhi used to sit and give his evening talks, there is a vast
display of paintings portraying his life from childhood onwards. Which incidents of his
childhood have been portrayed in this display? Why are these particular incidents of his
childhood considered important?
Gandhiji's childhood incidents are being displayed which contain many aspects of his childhood
such as- his schooling when he got the opportunity to go to England for higher studies, his high
school certificate, a letter which he wrote to his brother,  his application for scholarship, a letter
of recommendation, Satyagraha in South Africa, interview to “The Vegetarian”. Several others
were also there which displayed pictures of some important people of his life like his family. The
reason for displaying these specific incidents could be their significance in Gandhi’s life. These
incidents not only brought a change in his life but are also an inspiration for the next
generations. Every incident gives a lesson to the people which may help them in dealing with
different situations of life. 
3. The word ‘freedom’ has been used in several displays in this museum. How did the
meaning of this word change and evolve in different phases of Gandhi’s public life from
South Africa onwards? 
Gandhiji faced the colour based discrimination in 1893 due to the complaint made by a white
passenger and he was thrown out of the first class railway compartment in South Africa. This
incident changed his course of  life. When he came back from South Africa he fought for the
peasants who were facing extreme exploitation by the British officials in Champaran. He then
started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1919 against the Rowlatt Act and then continued the
campaign of the Swadeshi movement by asking to boycott the  foreign goods. Gandhiji also did
not hesitate to go against the British on salt tax whereby he started the Dandi March. The idea
of Swaraj that is Freedom from any outside rule and the idea of self-reliance made him unique
in his thoughts. Gandhiji also started the civil disobedience movement. 
4. List the name and number of women whose pictures have been displayed in the
museum. In which contexts, they joined Gandhi? How did they get so inspired by
Gandhi?
Some of the women whose pictures have been displayed in the museum are:
Sarojini Naidu- Naidu had been an active member of the Independence movement before she
first first met Gandhi in 1914. She went on to join Gandhi's Satyagraha Movement in 1920 and
was one of the major figures alongside Gandhi participating in the 1930 Salt Tax March. Sharing
the same passionate view for an independent India, Naidu actively participated in the Civil
Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement led by Gandhiji facing repeated address
by the British authorities. 
Rajkumari Amrita Kaur-  She was a woman with reason to break colonial chains as well as the
oppressive social norms that bound India.  She was already working against social evils such as
child marriage, purdah system and devadasi system before 1929 when she dedicated herself to
the Civil Disobedience Movement and was eventually asked by Gandhi himself to become is
Secretary, a post which she went on to retain for 17 years. 
Mira Behn- She heard of Gandhi from Roman Roland and believed that she had discovered in
Gandhi's way of life the thing that her soul had yearned  from childhood. She went on to join
Gandhiji in serving the Indian people who were suffering the worst forms of exploitation. She
played a prominent part in India's freedom struggle and was imprisoned three times, including
the time she was detained with Gandhiji in the Aga Khan Palace in Pune from August 1942 to
may 1944. 
Dr. Sushila Nayyar- She was a young medical graduate from Lady Hardinge medical college
when she was highly influenced by Gandhi's philosophy. As sister of Gandhi's secretary,
Pyarelal, she often visited the Ashram and met Gandhi where she gained spiritual and
nationalistic perspectives. As a doctor and a freedom fighter , she fought alongside Gandhi.
Actively engaging in the Quit India Movement, she was also among those who were imprisoned
in the Aga Khan Palace jail for her pro Independence ideologies. 
Kamala Nehru- As a wife of one of the most prominent freedom fighters of India, Jawaharlal
Nehru, she emerged as a strong woman to provide leadership in the fight for freedom. She was
greatly influenced by Gandhi's principles especially his call for self sacrifice and even
encouraged her husband in his radicalism urging him to change his way of life. Following
Gandhiji, she  was also involved in the civil disobedience movement to protest British's
Monopoly on salt and was believed to be one of the first leaders to self contraband salt during
Salt Satyagraha.
5. Stand at the spot where GandhiJi was killed. Write your feelings that this spot evokes.
I could feel the peace, the quiet nature of that place. Soon, the Gandhiji I had seen in movies,
the contribution he had made to uplift India to attain Swaraj started making me feel proud but I
started wondering how could a man like him have any enemy? Why would anyone want a
Mahatma like to die? But, that place was so peaceful and one could feel the patriotism inside
waking up, with the national anthem playing in the subconscious mind. May his name always be
glorified. 
6. Did Gandhi make an exception to non-violence? If yes, where did
you find the evidence in the museum? Although Gandhi always followed the principle of non-
violence in his life and also taught people to walk on this path, when it came to women safety,
Gandhi suggested to follow every possible method to protect a woman, even if it is
violence.Gandhi ji worked very hard for women empowerment. He considered a woman to be
the face of eternal power. And if someone tries to bring a woman down by hurting her, then that
woman has all the rights to protect her dignity, even by violence because that is what her
primary
concern is.
7. One of the qualities that Gandhi thought education could develop is industriousness.
In which photograph, visuals and inscriptions do you get that message and in what
form?
Gandhiji believed in the self reliance of an individual. He was not against machinery but was
against the craze for machinery and how it lead to  discrimination. He never wanted machines to
replace humans. He always preferred handlooms, handicrafts and Khadis as that would help the
rural people to develop and the economy of the nation would boost. 
8. Look at the display of stamps issued by various countries to commemorate Gandhi.
Choose any 5 countries and distinguish the theme which these countries try to portray
from Gandhi’s life.
The display of stamps to commemorate Gandhi issued by different countries were as follows- 
People's Republic of Southern Yemen, Asia: To commemorate 100th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi.
Portugal, Europe: To commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Republic of Nigeria, Africa: To commemorate the 100th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Myanmar, Asia: To commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mexico, America- To commemorate the 100th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

9. What were the main activities of Gandhi after India had attained freedom on 15th
August 1947. Find about these activities by looking at the displays in the museum.
After Indian Independence there was a lot of turmoil in the country and Gandhiji's main objective
was to bring peace and harmony within the country. He went to several parts of the country to
appease the victims of the riot and ask the rioters to unite together peacefully. 
10. List the name and number of foreigners whose pictures have been displayed in the
museum with Gandhi. Note the contexts in which they associated with Gandhi and in
ideas.
C. F. Andrews- While Andrews was profoundly influenced by Gandhi's knowledge of the
Christian values, his concepts of non-violence and self-sacrifice particularly moved him in
Gandhi. His conduct and Lifestyle projected elements of Christian ideals greatly in the fact that
he was even willingly to serve the people of India at his own expense and they both shared
deep friendship. 
Charlie Chaplin- Having learnt the fact that Charlie Chaplin was sympathetic towards the cause
of India's struggle, Gandhi agreed to meet him. On meeting each other in 1930, Chaplin was
greatly influenced by Gandhi's idea of freedom and as a reply to Chaplin's question of Gandhi's
opposition to the use of machinery, Gandhi said- "I am not against machines, but I cannot bear
it when these very machines take away man's  work from him. Freedom will surely be ours if we
learn to free ourselves from the attraction towards European goods." This idea of freedom left a
lasting impact on Chaplin.
Romain Rolland- Although Rolland had to struggle understanding and accepting Gandhi's
uncompromising ideologies of nonviolence, he doubtlessly went on to admit that Gandhi began
the greatest moral and ethical Movement in world politics. One of the miniature displays of
Gandhi's life incidents displays Gandhi discussing the evil effects of War and the efficacy of
nonviolence at Geneva in 1931. At his request,  Rolland played Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on
the piano.
Leo Tolstoy- Gandhi was immensely influenced by Leo Tolstoy's ideology of simplicity and
pronunciation of life of luxury and affluence. The first time of their correspondence was on the
ground of the ideology of non violence wherein  Gandhi wrote to Tolstoy apprising him about the
Indians' 'Passive Resistance' against racial oppression when the latter expressed how non
violent resistance and a resolve by Indians to become free were the only solution to resistance
in his  'Letter to a Hindoo'. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

National Science Center, Pragati Maidan. 

1. Observe the Kugal fountain exhibit which is about 1200 kg granite ball spinning on
water. In terms of civilization progress and knowledge, what does it reveal to you?
The Kugal fountain gives an insight on the development and study of rotational motion and its
impact in the society. One of the best discoveries in human civilization is the discovery of  the
wheel and this discovery has given a huge thrust in the progress of civilization. In Kugal
fountain, the principle behind the spinning of the granite ball on water is because of the
lubrication provided by the water on the smooth surface where friction is less but when the
overflowing water is switched off one can't even lift the ball.
2. Stand in front of the energy ball exhibit and wonder what all things - from different
aspects in life - can be understood better by understanding this?
The energy ball is lifted from top to bottom to a point and to a height and allowed to fall freely. If
we consider this in our life then the heightened ball has a potential energy and when the ball
starts falling down, that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Similarly in our life we
have to always keep moving and we have that inner potential energy in us which will always
guide us to move in our life acting as a kinetic energy and once aim in life should always be to
keep moving and to keep attaining the heights of success.
3. Enjoy the multimedia presentation titled "Cave Painting to Internet" and write a
paragraph on your developed understanding of what is communication in its true terms? 
The Cave Painting to Internet teaches us that communication can be in many forms. It is
present not only in humans but also in animals by some sort of gesture. Different people have
different languages, dialects and signs and symbols. It is the acceptance of these diversities
that actually make us all one family. One should always try to address the language differences
and try to acknowledge and respect different modes of communication. The main aim is to
understand and express and that should be fulfilled. 
4. In ‘Science on a Sphere (SOS) room’, learn deeply about one
complex environmental process and write it down.
Atmospheric changes, climatic changes, how storms are caused and many other environmental
processes are shown through the help of visual aids. It is also depicting different researches of
NASA. One if the research asserts that Saturn is losing its rings and the number of its rings has
declined due to its own atmospheric conditions. It is good to grab the knowledge of how
environmental processes function in this world. 

5. What is the significance of knowing about aquariums for social science and language
students?
In aquarium fishes from diverse living conditions are being introduced into a new kind of
ecosystem. Aquarium is a new kind of social system. As a child being exposed to a new region
or to a completely unknown place, initially some adaptability will be required. As he has left his
own usual surrounding and now have started to address the diversity of a new place. There will
be a mode of communication which may be different from the language of the concerned child
but he will try to adapt the language too. There will be signs and gestures and some mode of
communication. 
6. Watch the short film titled ‘Our Body Systems’ and write how art
has made it possible for us to know so deeply about the human body?
The short film is really helpful to understand the different parts of body systems. Through the
visual mode, one can understand the parts and organs and how they are synchronized in a
system to form a whole body. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to visualise the diagram from the
textbook and here these kinds of short films help. It is also good to note that how humans have
studied human body and how painters have drawn different parts of body by studying the
human body to bring forth what is hidden from the eyes. 
7. Why did you need to spread your arms to balance yourself on the balancing rope? In
the balancing rope, in order to move forward, we have to shift our centre of gravity to a different
position because of the rope as it is not stable while we stand on it. In order to maintain a proper
positioning of our centre of gravity, we straighten our arms. This is an involuntary action done by
our brain to maintain the body balance.
8. Some people believe that one should not sleep in a North - South direction. Is there a
scientific reason behind it?
The Earth's magnetic field is in the north south direction and sleeping in this direction can bring
a person into the magnetic field and this may cause some problems in the human body. 
9. Can you visualise 2D shapes such as rectangle or a square in your
mind? What happens in the process to your mind?
No, one cannot instantly visualise the 2 D shapes. It is because one is used to imagine shapes
and figures in 3D. So the brain has started acting in that same way. It takes some concentration
and time for the brain to restructure itself to see that the shapes are actually 2D. 
10.  Imagine that you bring a group of 13-14 year old students to the Science Center
repeatedly and leave them to explore on their own. What do you think will happen?
Science Museum is a place where children can enjoy with so many activities to do for them. The
children would first be attracted to those things which would make them curious and especially
those where they could themselves explore things. But, they would just enjoy and would not
think why things were actually happening the way they were happening? Yes, many would start
questioning themselves about different aspects in the museum but they should be explained
how the theories which they study in classrooms actually work in real life. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                               THANK YOU:)