A Snake Charmer's Story - CBSE Class 5 EVS NCERT

Understanding the Kalbeliya Community and Snakes

This chapter introduces us to the Kalbeliya community, often known as snake charmers. For generations, their lives have revolved around snakes. They don't just catch snakes; they also play music, especially with an instrument called a 'been' (also known as a 'pungi'), to attract and mesmerize snakes for their performances. Their traditional occupation involved moving from village to village, showcasing snakes, and sometimes even helping villagers with snake bites by using traditional herbal medicines they learned from their elders. This unique way of life was a significant part of their culture and identity, with their traditional dance also reflecting the movements of a snake. The Kalbeliyas have a deep, ancestral knowledge of snakes, including their behaviour, different types of venomous and non-venomous snakes, and traditional remedies. This chapter highlights how different communities have unique ways of interacting with nature and the environment around them. It also makes us think about the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and respecting the diverse livelihoods of people.

The Traditional Life of a Snake Charmer and Modern Challenges

1. Living with Snakes — Snake charmers, or Kalbeliyas, traditionally lived a nomadic life. They travelled with their snakes, often carrying them in bamboo baskets. Their income came from performing shows with snakes for villagers, and sometimes from trading traditional medicines or even selling captured snakes. They passed down their knowledge of snakes and herbal remedies from one generation to the next, often from father to son.
2. Music and Medicine — The main instrument used by snake charmers is the 'been' or 'pungi', which they play to 'charm' the snakes. Besides performing, they also used their deep knowledge of plants to prepare medicines for snake bites. If someone in a village was bitten by a snake, people would often call a snake charmer for help, as doctors were not always available in remote areas.
3. Impact of Laws — Around 30 years ago, the government made a law that stated no one can catch or keep snakes. This law was put in place to protect wild animals, including snakes, from cruelty and to conserve them. While this law aims to protect animals, it also made it very difficult for communities like the Kalbeliyas to continue their traditional livelihood, which they had practiced for centuries. It posed a big challenge to their way of life.
4. New Ways of Living — With the law in place, many snake charmers had to find new ways to earn a living. Some started performing their traditional dance for tourists, which is also called the Kalbeliya dance, without using live snakes. Others started finding different jobs to support their families. This shows how changes in laws can significantly impact the lives of people and their traditions, highlighting the need for balance between conservation and community welfare.

Key Lessons on Animal Welfare and Biodiversity

• Respect for All Living Beings: The chapter teaches us that every creature, including snakes, plays a role in our environment. We should respect and protect them.
• Understanding Traditional Livelihoods: It helps us appreciate how different communities earn a living and the deep knowledge they possess about their surroundings.
• Impact of Laws: Laws are made for a good reason, like protecting animals, but they can also change the lives of people. It's important to understand these impacts.
• Conservation: Catching wild animals for entertainment can harm them and disrupt nature's balance. Protecting animals in their natural habitats is crucial for biodiversity.
• No Harm to Animals: We should never harm animals or capture them from their natural homes. Observing them from a distance is the best way to appreciate them.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Who are Kalbeliyas, and what is their traditional occupation?
  A: Step 1: Recall the main community discussed in the chapter.
  Step 2: Remember their primary activity.
  Final answer: Kalbeliyas are a community traditionally known as snake charmers. Their occupation involves catching snakes, performing with them, and using traditional knowledge to help people with snake bites.

• Q: Name two musical instruments used by snake charmers.
  A: Step 1: Think about the instruments mentioned in the chapter for charming snakes.
  Step 2: Identify the specific names.
  Final answer: Two musical instruments used by snake charmers are the 'been' (or 'pungi') and the 'dhol'.

• Q: Why did the government make a law against catching and keeping snakes?
  A: Step 1: Consider the purpose of laws related to animals.
  Step 2: Connect it to animal welfare and natural balance.
  Final answer: The government made a law against catching and keeping snakes to protect wild animals from cruelty and to conserve them in their natural habitats. This helps maintain the balance of nature.

• Q: How did snake charmers help people in villages before doctors were easily available?
  A: Step 1: Remember the traditional role of snake charmers beyond performances.
  Step 2: Focus on their knowledge of medicine.
  Final answer: Before doctors were easily available, snake charmers helped people in villages by using their ancestral knowledge of herbal medicines to cure snake bites. They knew which plants could be used as remedies.

Exam Tip: Focus on Conservation and Community

When answering questions about this chapter in your exams, remember to highlight two key themes: animal conservation and understanding traditional communities. Think about why animals, like snakes, are important for our environment and why laws are put in place to protect them. Also, remember to discuss how traditional communities, like the Kalbeliyas, have unique ways of life and how these can be affected by changes in society or laws. Show your understanding of both environmental protection and cultural sensitivity.

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