Q1. [4]
Sacred Groves – a wealth of diverse and rare species
Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called Sacred Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses). These patches of forest or parts of large forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is banned.
Certain societies revere a particular tree which they have preserved from time immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during weddings. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered sacred.
Indian society comprises several cultures, each with its own set of traditional methods of conserving nature and its creations. Sacred qualities are often ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants and animals which are closely protected. You will find troops of macaques and langurs around many temples. They are fed daily and treated as a part of temple devotees. In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck (chinkara), nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them.
Read the given source and answer the questions that follow :
- 35.1 How do sacred groves show the inter-connectivity of spirituality and ecology ? [1]
- 35.2 How do tribal practices promote conservation of forests ? [1]
- 35.3 Why is conservation of wildlife important for all of us ? Explain. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2025 32/4/1 Q35
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:05 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(35.1) Sacred groves are patches of forest preserved by local people due to religious beliefs — they are considered forests of gods and goddesses. Thus, spiritual reverence directly leads to ecological protection of virgin forests, showing the strong inter-connectivity between spirituality and ecology.
(35.2) Tribal practices promote forest conservation through nature worship. The Mundas and Santhals of Chota Nagpur worship mahua and kadamba trees, while tribals of Odisha and Bihar revere tamarind and mango trees during weddings. Any interference with these trees is banned, keeping forests untouched.
(35.3) Wildlife conservation is important because Indian society has always treated animals as part of the community. Macaques and langurs near temples are fed and protected. In Bishnoi villages, blackbuck, nilgai and peacocks live freely. Losing wildlife disrupts ecosystems and cultural traditions that sustain biodiversity and ecological balance for all.
Source: Chapter – Forest and Wildlife Resources, Section – Sacred Groves
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Explanation
- 35.1 is 1 mark — one sentence on the spiritual→ecological link is enough.
- 35.2 is 1 mark — cite specific tribal examples from the passage (Mundas, Santhals, tribals of Odisha/Bihar).
- 35.3 is 2 marks — use examples from the passage (Bishnoi villages, temple animals) and conclude with ecosystem/cultural importance. Do NOT bring outside information that contradicts the passage.
- Examiners reward use of passage evidence + a concluding statement. Avoid vague general sentences.
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