5.Chapter 3.S.St.Variation in Shelters

Chapter 3

Variation in Shelters

Look at the pictures of the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters of Madhya Pradesh.  They are the ancient Stone Age rock shelters with paintings.  These permanent settlements are over 9,000 years old.  They are 700 in number and have around 400 paintings.  They throw light on the life, tools and implements of the early man.  His discovery links us to the pre - historic man.  Isn't it amazing!  Pre - historic Bhimbetka caves Caves were the earliest form of shelter for man.  When the early man gave up hunting and food gathering, he became a food producer.  This was the beginning of agriculture.  It brought a great change in his life and the type of dwellings.  Now he started living a settled life close to the water bodies as he needed water for his crops and other domestic activities.  He started building huts with branches and leaves of trees.  Later on, the early man discovered that the walls of the huts could be made with mud.  These types of huts are still found in villages.  13

We have come a long way from the times when huts were the only type of shelter.  Today we have different types, sizes and designs of houses in different parts of India.  This regional variation in houses arises from difference in landforms, climate, materials available for building a house and of course, money that one wants to spend on land and construction.  In the hilly areas where heavy snowfall takes place, houses are built with sloping roofs.  It helps the snow to slide off easily without damaging the roof.  In regions of high temperature like Rajasthan, houses are built with thick walls to keep them cool.  These houses also have flat roofs.  During summers, people enjoy sleeping on these roofs in cool breeze.  Houses having sloping roots The tribals in Nicobar island build stilt houses.  These houses are made of coconut shafts.  The entrance is through the ground floor but people live on the first floor.  Some stilt houses look like beehives.  In Assam many people live in stilt houses along the river Bramhaputra.  These houses are made a couple of Stilt house feet above the ground level.  One has to climb 5-7 stairs to step inside the house.  The house on stilts is mostly a big hall with a kitchen.  The lower part of the 14

house is used to shelter the animals or as a work place.  The grainary is on a raised platform.  These houses also protect the inhabitants from wild animals Do you know?  Mishing tribe of Assam believes that elephants do not attack houses on stilts.  Moreover, the granaries are safe from moisture, rats as well as floods in these houses.  Stilt houses are mostly built in those areas which are close to water bodies and where floods are quite frequent.  The flood water easily drains out from in between the stilts without damaging the house.  Do you know?  Some regions of India receive heavy rainfall which causes floods and water logging, whereas some regions receive very little rain.  Water logging area There are some parts of India that are prone to earthquakes.  Houses in these areas are built with bamboo and wood to minimize the damage to life and property.  Rebuilding of bamboo and wood houses is not very difficult.  GRAU am Bamboo house Wood house 15

Goa, a popular holiday destination for Indians and foreigners, was under the influence of the Portuguese for 450 years.  Even today one can notice the influence of Portuguese religion, architecture, customs, dress and food in Goa.  The architecture of houses in Goa identifying a unique blend of Indian and Portuguese styles.  The verandas and windows allow the sea breeze to cool the houses.  A house in Goa we live in a society because we are dependent on others for the fulfillment of our needs.  Community living teaches us sharing the facilities as well as caring for others.  Do you know?  Most houses are built close together as people like to live in the company of others.  Sharing Space with Neighbors There was a farmer who grew best quality corn.  It won him many prizes.  One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learnt something very interesting.  The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his corn seeds with his neighbors.  "How can you afford to share your corn seeds with your neighbors? They are also entering the same competition with you ', the reporter asked." Sir, said the farmer, the wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field  to field.  Hence, I share my seed corn with all my neighbors so that we all grow good quality corns!  It is true.  You cannot improve the quality of your life unless your neighbors' life improves.  Those who want happiness must help others to find happiness for the welfare of each and every member of the society.  16

The story stresses the importance of responsibility towards neighbors.  Being friendly with the neighbors can make life easy and enjoyable.  It creates a friendly neighborhood, which is a safe and comfortable place to live in.  Caring for neighbors most people keep their own house neat and tidy from inside but do not hesitate to throw the garbage on the street.  Imagine the condition of streets if everyone acted in this irresponsible fashion?  We must keep the same cleanliness standard for the surroundings that we keep for our house.  A clean neighborhood does not have flies, mosquitoes and unpleasant smells.  As a good neighbor, we all have some responsibilities.  We should keep the volume of radio and television low, especially at night.  We should not use noisy appliances like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc.  , at night.  We must inform our neighbors in advance if we are having a party.  One can also organize a car - pool with neighbors and share the parking space.  We must always be ready to help our neighbors in case of an emergency.  Do you know?  The police encourages people to follow the neighborhood watch plan.  Any suspicious character or activity in the locality can be reported by the neighbors easily.  Police encouraging people 17