Pochampalli – Class 4 EVS NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for Pochampalli, Class 4 EVS NCERT. This chapter teaches us about the traditional art of weaving Pochampalli sarees in Telangana. It highlights the importance of preserving our cultural heritage, family traditions, and the challenges faced by traditional artisans. The chapter also emphasizes how entire families work together in traditional occupations and pass their skills to the next generation.

Chapter Summary (English)

Pochampalli is a fascinating chapter that takes us to Mukhtapur village in Telangana, where the famous Pochampalli sarees are woven. The story revolves around Vani and Prasad, whose family has been weaving these special sarees for generations. The chapter explains the intricate process of making Pochampalli sarees – from cleaning and dyeing threads to weaving them on looms. It also highlights the challenges faced by weavers, including rising silk costs and unfair pricing by big shopkeepers, which threatens this precious traditional craft.

अध्याय सारांश (Hindi)

पोचमपल्ली अध्याय हमें तेलंगाना के मुख्तापुर गांव की यात्रा कराता है, जहां प्रसिद्ध पोचमपल्ली साड़ियां बुनी जाती हैं। कहानी वाणी और प्रसाद के परिवार के बारे में है, जो कई पीढ़ियों से इन विशेष साड़ियों की बुनाई कर रहे हैं। अध्याय में पोचमपल्ली साड़ियों को बनाने की जटिल प्रक्रिया के बारे में बताया गया है – धागों की सफाई और रंगाई से लेकर करघे पर बुनाई तक। इसमें बुनकरों की चुनौतियों को भी उजागर किया गया है, जिसमें रेशम की बढ़ती लागत और बड़े दुकानदारों द्वारा अनुचित कीमतें शामिल हैं, जो इस बहुमूल्य पारंपरिक शिल्प को खतरे में डाल रही हैं।

Word Meanings

Exercise Solutions

Discuss

1. Vani and Prasad learnt this beautiful craft from their family members. When they grow up, do you think they will be able to teach their children the skills of this craft?

In my opinion, whether Vani and Prasad will be able to teach their children this beautiful craft depends on several factors:

• If they continue practicing and mastering the craft themselves, they will definitely have the skills to teach their children.
• However, due to the current challenges facing the Pochampalli weaving industry, like low prices and expensive raw materials, they might have to choose different occupations for survival.
• If the government provides support and people start paying fair prices for handloom products, this traditional craft can be preserved and passed on to the next generation.
• The children’s interest in learning the craft will also play a crucial role in carrying forward this tradition.

Write in your notebook

1. Have you ever seen anybody weave something on a loom? What were they weaving and where?

Yes, I have seen weaving on a loom in my grandmother’s village. There was a family that used to weave traditional cotton durries (rugs) on a wooden loom set up in their courtyard. It was fascinating to watch how they carefully passed the shuttle through the threads and created beautiful patterns. The rhythmic sound of the loom and the gradual emergence of colorful designs was a memorable experience.

2. The threads of a saree are dyed. Do you know of any other thing that is dyed?

Yes, many items are dyed in our daily life:

• Clothes like t-shirts, dresses, and other garments
• Wool for making sweaters and shawls
• Yarn for making carpets and rugs
• Natural fibers like jute and coir
• Traditional tie and dye fabrics like bandhani

3. If you visit Vani’s village it seems as if the entire village is weaving sarees. Do you know of any other work which many people living in one place do?

Yes, there are many places in India where entire communities are involved in specific traditional crafts:

• In Gujarat’s Kutch region, many villages specialize in block printing
• In Moradabad, many families are engaged in brass work
• In Bihar’s Madhubani region, whole villages are known for their traditional paintings
• In Kashmir, numerous families work together in carpet weaving
• In West Bengal’s Shantiniketan, many people are involved in leather craft

4. Do they make some article?

Yes, taking the example of Moradabad’s brass workers, they make various articles:

• Decorative brass items like vases and bowls
• Utensils for cooking and serving
• Religious items like temple bells and idols
• Modern home decor items
• Export quality brass artifacts

5. Find out the process of making the article? What are the different steps?

Taking brass work as an example, here are the steps involved:

1. Raw material collection: Gathering brass sheets or scrap brass
2. Melting: The brass is melted in furnaces at high temperatures
3. Molding: The molten brass is poured into specific molds
4. Cooling: The items are left to cool and solidify
5. Basic shaping: Rough edges are filed and shaped
6. Design work: Patterns are etched or engraved
7. Polishing: The items are polished to give them shine
8. Final finishing: Adding any additional decorative elements

6. Do men and women do different kinds of work to make this article?

Yes, in brass work, there is often a division of labor between men and women:

• Men usually handle the heavy work like melting, molding, and basic shaping
• Women often do the intricate design work, polishing, and quality checking
• Both men and women participate in the final finishing work
• Women also manage the packaging and local sales
• Men typically handle bulk orders and dealings with traders

7. Do children also contribute in making this article?

Children sometimes help in small ways, but they should focus on their education. Their contribution might include:

• Learning basic skills by watching their parents work
• Helping in simple tasks like cleaning and organizing
• Assisting in packaging finished products
• Running small errands for their parents
• Participating in the craft during holidays to understand their family tradition

Find out and write

1. Talk to an ironsmith, a carpenter and a potter about the nature of their work.

After talking to local craftspeople, here’s what I learned:

• Ironsmith: Makes tools, agricultural implements, and repairs metal items. Works with hot furnace and requires great physical strength.
• Carpenter: Creates furniture, doors, windows, and wooden items. Needs precise measurement skills and knowledge of different woods.
• Potter: Makes pots, diyas, and decorative items from clay. Requires skills in clay preparation, wheel operation, and firing techniques.

2. Where did they learn to do their work?

Each craftsperson learned their trade differently:

• The ironsmith learned from his father who had been in this profession for 40 years
• The carpenter initially learned from his uncle and then took formal training at a government center
• The potter learned the traditional art from both parents as it’s their family occupation for generations

3. What else did they need to learn to be able to do this work?

Besides their basic craft skills, they needed to learn:

• How to select and maintain tools
• Understanding of raw materials and their properties
• Basic business management and customer relations
• Modern techniques and designs to stay competitive
• Safety measures while working

4. Have they taught this work to anybody in their family, or to anyone else?

Yes, these craftspeople are passing on their skills:

• The ironsmith is teaching his son who works with him after school
• The carpenter has trained three apprentices from his village
• The potter teaches pottery classes to interested students and has trained his daughter

5. Fill in the table below: