A ship full of Jews fleeing Roman persecution lands on the Kerala coast. A group of Zoroastrians dissolves sugar into a cup of milk to tell a king they will blend in without causing any trouble. A maharaja in Gujarat opens his doors to a thousand Polish orphans during World War II. A Tibetan monk crosses the Himalayas on foot and finds a home in Dharamshala. These are not stories from a history book about great battles or empires. These are stories about something just as important, a country that kept saying yes when the world said no.
This page has MCQ questions based on Chapter 5, India, a Home to Many, from the unit Our Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Traditions in Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Grade 7 Part 2, published by NCERT under the CBSE curriculum. The chapter explores how people from different parts of the world came to India, how they were received, and how they became part of Indian society while keeping their own traditions alive.
Here is a look at the key communities and topics this chapter covers:
- Bene Israel Jews, around 175 BCE: Shipwrecked near the Konkan coast; settled and grew to over 25,000 by Independence.
- Cochin Jews, 12th-19th centuries: Fled persecution; Raja of Kochi gave them land and they built a synagogue still standing today.
- Syriac Christians, from 4th century CE: Persecuted in the Roman and Persian empires; settled freely on the Malabar coast in Kerala.
- Parsis (Zoroastrians), 8th-10th centuries: Fled Arab conquest of Persia; settled in Gujarat and kept their sacred fire burning in Udvada.
- The milk and sugar legend: A Parsi dissolved sugar into full milk. He did this to show that Parsis would enrich India and not overflow it.
- Zoroastrianism and Vedic links: Both share fire worship, cosmic order. There are many common word roots between Old Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit.
- Arab merchants, from 7th century CE: Settled peacefully on India’s west coast; helped build the Cheraman Juma Masjid, India’s oldest mosque.
- Siddis, 7th-19th centuries: Of African origin, brought as enslaved persons; today a scheduled tribe with a unique blend of African and Indian culture.
- Hirabai Lobi, Padma Shri 2023: Siddi woman from Gujarat uplifted her community through education, banking, and farming.
- Armenians in India, from 8th century CE: Christian traders in spices and silk. Akbar gave them permission to build a church in Agra.
- Baha’i community, late 19th century: Persecuted in Persia for their faith; built the iconic Lotus Temple in New Delhi.
- The ‘Good Maharaja’, 1942-1946: Maharaja of Nawanagar (Jamnagar) saved around a thousand Polish orphans during World War II; honoured by Poland with a memorial in Warsaw.
- Tibetan refugees, from 1959: The 14th Dalai Lama fled to India after China’s annexation of Tibet; India built settlements and schools, especially in Karnataka.
- Sowa Rigpa: Traditional Tibetan healing system brought by refugees in 1959; now part of India’s AYUSH programme.
- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Ancient Indian idea that means “the whole world is family”.
What kind of country welcomes strangers again and again, across centuries, across religions, across continents? India’s answer has been shaped by deep civilisational values such as atithi devo bhava and sarve bhavantu sukhinah. Through real communities and real stories, this chapter shows that those values were actually lived. For Class 7 students, it opens up a view of India that goes far beyond kings and battles.
See how well you know this chapter by attempting these MCQ questions for Class 7 Social Science and check your understanding of one of the most thought-provoking chapters in the textbook.
Class 7 India, a Home to Many Part 2 MCQ Questions with Answers
Class 7 SST Chapter 5 India, a Home to Many Part 2 MCQ Questions
1. Which idea from the chapter means that the whole world is one family?
a) Atithi devo bhava
b) Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
c) Vasudhaiva kutumbakam
d) Ahimsa paramo dharmah
Answer:
c) Vasudhaiva kutumbakam
2. Why did many communities from other parts of the world come to India?
a) To learn only farming
b) To escape persecution or seek better opportunities
c) To rule all Indian kingdoms
d) To replace local cultures
Answer:
b) To escape persecution or seek better opportunities
3. The Bene Israel were a Jewish community that lived mainly on the
a) Coromandel coast
b) Konkan coast
c) Malabar hills
d) Deccan plateau
Answer:
b) Konkan coast
4. According to some scholars, the Bene Israel came to India around
a) 175 BCE
b) 175 CE
c) 750 CE
d) 1498 CE
Answer:
a) 175 BCE
5. What happened to the ship carrying the Bene Israel to India?
a) It reached Kochi safely
b) It was captured by pirates
c) It was shipwrecked near the coast
d) It turned back to Israel
Answer:
c) It was shipwrecked near the coast
6. What did the Raja of Kochi grant to some Jewish settlers?
a) A military post
b) Land free of cost
c) A large navy
d) Control of a port
Answer:
b) Land free of cost
7. A synagogue is a place of worship for
a) Parsis
b) Buddhists
c) Jews
d) Baha’is
Answer:
c) Jews
8. Syriac Christians travelled to India mainly from
a) East Asia
b) West Asia
c) Central Africa
d) Europe alone
Answer:
b) West Asia
9. Why were some Syriac Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire?
a) They refused to trade
b) Their beliefs about Christ differed from those of the official Church
c) They fought against India
d) They rejected all languages
Answer:
b) Their beliefs about Christ differed from those of the official Church
10. On which coast of India did some Syriac Christians settle?
a) Malabar coast
b) Konkan coast
c) Coromandel coast
d) Saurashtra coast
Answer:
a) Malabar coast
11. The Parsis were followers of
a) Jainism
b) Judaism
c) Zoroastrianism
d) Sikhism
Answer:
c) Zoroastrianism
12. The Parsis came mainly to India after the
a) Roman conquest of Persia
b) Islamic conquest of Persia
c) British conquest of Gujarat
d) Mughal conquest of Bengal
Answer:
b) Islamic conquest of Persia
13. In the legend of the Parsis, what did the full jug of milk shown by Raja Jadi Rana mean?
a) The kingdom was rich in dairy
b) The kingdom was full and could not take more people
c) Milk was a sacred gift
d) The visitors had to become farmers
Answer:
b) The kingdom was full and could not take more people
14. What did dissolving sugar in milk without spilling it symbolise?
a) The Parsis would quietly enrich society without causing trouble
b) The Parsis wanted to become rulers
c) The Parsis wanted only sweet food
d) The king should give them milk daily
Answer:
a) The Parsis would quietly enrich society without causing trouble
15. Where does the ancient sacred Parsi fire continue to burn?
a) Surat
b) Udvada
c) Agra
d) Dharamshala
Answer:
b) Udvada
16. Which pair shows a linguistic similarity mentioned in the chapter?
a) soma – haoma
b) raja – malik
c) nadi – river
d) guru – lama
Answer:
a) soma – haoma
17. Arab merchants who settled in India along the west coast became part of which community in Kerala?
a) Mappila Muslim community
b) Bene Israel community
c) Armenian community
d) Tibetan community
Answer:
a) Mappila Muslim community
18. Which mosque mentioned in the chapter is described as India’s oldest mosque?
a) Jama Masjid
b) Cheraman Juma Masjid
c) Mecca Masjid
d) Adhai Din ka Jhonpra
Answer:
b) Cheraman Juma Masjid
19. The Siddis are originally of
a) Persian origin
b) Tibetan origin
c) African origin
d) Armenian origin
Answer:
c) African origin
20. The Siddis were brought to India mainly by
a) Greek, Roman, and Kushana traders
b) Arab, Portuguese, and British traders
c) Tibetan and Chinese monks
d) Chola and Pallava merchants
Answer:
b) Arab, Portuguese, and British traders
21. Which honour was given to Hirabai Lobi in 2023?
a) Bharat Ratna
b) Padma Shri
c) Padma Vibhushan
d) Jnanpith Award
Answer:
b) Padma Shri
22. During Akbar’s time, the earliest Armenian settlement mentioned in the chapter was in
a) Surat
b) Kolkata
c) Agra
d) Chennai
Answer:
c) Agra
23. The Baha’i faith began in Persia in the
a) 7th century
b) 12th century
c) mid-1800s
d) early 1500s
Answer:
c) mid-1800s
24. Which famous Baha’i structure in India is in New Delhi?
a) Akshardham
b) Lotus Temple
c) Sanchi Stupa
d) Gol Gumbaz
Answer:
b) Lotus Temple
25. In 1959, India granted asylum to the
a) Chief Justice of Armenia
b) 14th Dalai Lama
c) Raja of Sanjan
d) founder of the Baha’i faith
Answer:
b) 14th Dalai Lama
India, a Home to Many Class 7 Part 2 Assertion-Reason Questions
1. Assertion (A): India became a home for many persecuted communities. Reason (R): Indian society developed values of acceptance, inclusion, and compassion.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Assertion (A): The Jews in India could practise their faith without fear. Reason (R): India proved to be a safe haven for persecuted Jewish communities.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
3. Assertion (A): The Parsis were welcomed into Gujarat. Reason (R): The story of sugar in milk symbolised that they would blend with and enrich local society.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
4. Assertion (A): Arab merchants came to India mainly as peaceful traders. Reason (R): They settled on the west coast, traded goods, married locally, and formed new communities.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
5. Assertion (A): Tibetan refugees preserved their culture in India. Reason (R): India rehabilitated them, supported settlements, education, and monasteries, and allowed them to continue their way of life.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Answer:
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
India, a Home to Many Class 7 Part 2 Fill in the blanks Questions
1. The Bene Israel lived on the __________ coast, just south of Mumbai.
Answer:
Konkan
2. A Jewish place of worship is called a __________.
Answer:
synagogue
3. Syriac Christians reached the __________ coast of India.
Answer:
Malabar
4. The Parsis followed the religion of __________.
Answer:
Zoroastrianism
5. The king of Sanjan in the Parsi legend was Raja __________.
Answer:
Jadi Rana
6. The ancient sacred Parsi fire still burns in __________.
Answer:
Udvada
7. Arab merchants helped build the Cheraman Juma __________ in Kerala.
Answer:
Masjid
8. The Siddis have been designated as a scheduled __________.
Answer:
tribe
9. Akbar allowed Armenians in Agra to build a __________.
Answer:
church
10. The Baha’i faith was led by __________.
Answer:
Baha’u’llah
India, a Home to Many Class 7 Part 2 True or False Questions
1. India has sheltered persecuted people from different religions and nations.
Answer:
True
2. The Bene Israel became the largest Jewish community in India.
Answer:
True
3. Syriac Christians were welcomed equally in all empires of West Asia and therefore had no reason to migrate.
Answer:
False
4. The Parsis came to India mainly to spread military rule over Gujarat.
Answer:
False
5. Old Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit share some word roots and grammatical features.
Answer:
True
6. Arab merchants who came to India are described in the chapter as conquerors.
Answer:
False
7. The Siddis created a cultural blend of African and Indian traditions.
Answer:
True
8. Most Baha’is in India today are Iranians.
Answer:
False
9. Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji helped save around a thousand Polish orphans.
Answer:
True
10. The Dalai Lama lives in Dharamshala in India.
Answer:
True
India, a Home to Many Class 7 Part 2 Match the following Questions
Question 1
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Bene Israel | A. Followers of Zoroastrianism |
| 2. Syriac Christians | B. Jewish community on the Konkan coast |
| 3. Parsis | C. Reached the Malabar coast from West Asia |
| 4. Arab merchants | D. Peaceful traders on the west coast |
| 5. Siddis | E. Community of African origin |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Bene Israel | B. Jewish community on the Konkan coast |
| 2. Syriac Christians | C. Reached the Malabar coast from West Asia |
| 3. Parsis | A. Followers of Zoroastrianism |
| 4. Arab merchants | D. Peaceful traders on the west coast |
| 5. Siddis | E. Community of African origin |
Question 2
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Armenians | A. Rescued Polish children during World War II |
| 2. Baha’i community | B. Built settlements in Agra, Surat, Kolkata, and Chennai |
| 3. Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji | C. Found refuge in India after 1959 |
| 4. Tibetan refugees | D. Faith associated with the Lotus Temple |
| 5. Vasudhaiva kutumbakam | E. The whole world is family |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Armenians | B. Built settlements in Agra, Surat, Kolkata, and Chennai |
| 2. Baha’i community | D. Faith associated with the Lotus Temple |
| 3. Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji | A. Rescued Polish children during World War II |
| 4. Tibetan refugees | C. Found refuge in India after 1959 |
| 5. Vasudhaiva kutumbakam | E. The whole world is family |
