NCERT Class 5 English Santoor: Chapter 9 — Vocation
This NCERT Class 5 English Santoor Chapter 9, 'Vocation,' explores the theme of work and the desire for different professions. The poem begins with the speaker encountering a hawker selling bangles on their way to school. The speaker expresses a wish to be like the hawker, free from schedules and responsibilities, enjoying the freedom to roam and call out their wares. The poem then shifts to observing a gardener digging in the afternoon. The speaker again expresses a longing to be the gardener, enjoying the liberty to work as they please, without being reprimanded for getting dirty or being out in the sun. The chapter highlights children's fascination with the independence and perceived freedom associated with various occupations, contrasting it with their own structured school life. It encourages an appreciation for all types of work.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 5 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Santoor |
| Chapter | Chapter 9 — Vocation |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 1 minute |
| Word count | 149 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the concept of 'vocation' as a chosen profession or calling.
- Identify and describe the activities of a hawker and a gardener.
- Express personal desires and wishes related to different occupations.
- Appreciate the freedom and independence associated with various jobs.
- Develop a positive attitude towards different types of work.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vocation | A person's employment or main occupation, especially regarded as a calling. |
| Gong | A metal disc or bell shaped like a wide shallow cup, which is struck with a clapper or hammer to make a sound. |
| Hawker | A person who travels about selling goods, typically advertising them by shouting. |
| Bangles | A piece of jewellery worn on the wrist or arm. |
| Crystal | A transparent mineral substance, especially quartz. |
| Hurry | Move or act with great speed. |
| Gardener | A person who cultivates a garden. |
| Spade | A tool with a sharp-edged, typically metal, blade and a long handle, used for digging. |
| Soils | Make something dirty. |
| Takes him to task | To reprimand or criticize someone. |
| Baked in the sun | To be exposed to intense heat from the sun. |
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Practice questions
- What does the hawker sell? Answer: The hawker sells bangles, crystal bangles.
- When does the speaker meet the hawker? Answer: The speaker meets the hawker at ten in the morning when walking to school.
- What does the speaker wish to be like the hawker? Answer: The speaker wishes to be like the hawker to spend the day in the road, crying 'Bangles, crystal bangles!' without any hurry or fixed destination.
- Who does the speaker see when returning from school? Answer: The speaker sees the gardener digging the ground.
- What freedom does the gardener have? Answer: The gardener can do what he likes with his spade, doesn't worry about soiling his clothes, and isn't scolded if he gets baked in the sun or wet.
- What does the speaker wish to be like the gardener? Answer: The speaker wishes to be a gardener digging away at the garden with nobody stopping them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of the NCERT Class 5 English Chapter 9, 'Vocation'?
The main theme is the fascination children have with different jobs and the freedom they perceive in them, contrasting with their own structured lives.
Who are the two people described in the poem 'Vocation'?
The poem describes a hawker selling bangles and a gardener digging the ground.
What does the speaker admire about the hawker?
The speaker admires the hawker's freedom to travel, sell without a fixed schedule, and not be hurried.
What does the speaker admire about the gardener?
The speaker admires the gardener's freedom to work as they please, get dirty, and not be criticized for their work conditions.
What does 'Vocation' mean in the context of this chapter?
'Vocation' refers to a person's chosen profession or occupation, often seen as a calling.
What is the message of the chapter 'Vocation'?
The chapter suggests that all work has its own value and freedom, and children often dream of the independence they see in various jobs.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 5 English — Santoor — Chapter 9 — Vocation. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.