Question 1 of 13intermediate🔍 AnalyzeEssay2 marks

What defines a 'neighbour'? Is it just shared land borders?

Correct Answer

A neighbour is not defined only by shared land borders.

Countries can also be maritime neighbours, connected by seas and oceans even without direct land boundaries.

For India, maritime neighbours include Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and more distant countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia that are connected through the Indian Ocean.

Being a neighbour involves cultural, historical, trade, and strategic connections that go beyond mere geography.

Exercise: Chapter Introduction | Q: 1 | (Page Page 1)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The chapter introduces this framing question at the beginning to help students understand that the traditional view of neighbourhood (shared land boundaries) is expanded to include maritime neighbours. The chapter explains that India, being surrounded by sea on three sides, has both land neighbours (Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar) and maritime neighbours (Sri Lanka, Maldives, and others connected through the Indian Ocean).

Solution Steps

  1. A neighbour is not defined only by shared land borders

  2. Countries can be maritime neighbours connected by seas and oceans without direct land boundaries

  3. India's maritime neighbours include Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia through the Indian Ocean

  4. Neighbourhood involves cultural, historical, trade, and strategic connections beyond geography

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