Question 9 of 13intermediate💡 UnderstandShort Answer3 marks

The chapter says, 'Being neighbours is not just about geography.' Explain this statement with an example.

Correct Answer

The statement means that neighbourhood relationships extend beyond mere physical proximity or shared borders to include cultural, historical, economic, and emotional connections.

For example, India and Thailand do not share a land border, yet they share deep cultural ties dating back to the 3rd century BCE.

Thai kingdoms were named after Indian cities — the Dvāravatī culture derived its name from Dvārakā (Krishna's city), and the Ayutthayā Kingdom was named after Ayodhyā (Rama's birthplace). The current Thai kings are named after Rama, showing the lasting influence of Indian epics.

Buddhism and Hinduism travelled from India to shape Thai religious and cultural life.

This demonstrates that being neighbours is defined by shared heritage, values, and cooperation, not just geographical proximity.

Exercise: Questions and activities | Q: 4 | (Page Page 32)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The chapter emphasises throughout that neighbourhood involves cultural, historical, and strategic dimensions beyond geography. The example of Thailand (pages 21-23) illustrates this well — despite no land border, the cultural connections through Buddhism, Hinduism, place names, and royal traditions show deep neighbourhood ties. Other examples include India's relationship with maritime neighbours like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, and Indonesia, where the Indian Ocean serves as a connecting link rather than a barrier.

Solution Steps

  1. Neighbourhood relationships extend beyond physical proximity to include cultural, historical, economic, and emotional connections

  2. India and Thailand share deep cultural ties despite no land border, dating back to the 3rd century BCE

  3. Thai kingdoms were named after Indian cities — Dvāravatī from Dvārakā and Ayutthayā from Ayodhyā

  4. Thai kings are named after Rama, showing the lasting influence of Indian epics

  5. Buddhism and Hinduism travelled from India to shape Thai religious and cultural life

  6. Being neighbours is defined by shared heritage, values, and cooperation, not just geographical proximity

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