NOTE MAKING

 NOTE MAKING

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RANGA'S MARRIAGE

RANGA’S MARRIAGE

Ranga is a young boy from the village of Hoshali in Mysore. He goes to Bangalore to pursue an English Medium education. When he returned to the village, all the residents flocked to his place to see if the youngster had changed. However, to their disappointment, Ranga is the same as he was before.

He even greeted everyone with a Namaskar before they all left. Hoshali is a nice village with excellent mangoes. It is a small village that is not even well-known. After the villagers leave Ranga’s house, the narrator stays back to speak with him.

As a result of their conversation, the narrator decided it would be a good idea to find a suitable girl for Ranga, who is not yet thinking about marriage and wishes to marry only a mature and admirable girl. As a result, the narrator decides that he will undoubtedly get Ranga married. He believes that Ratna would be a perfect match for Ranga. Ratna is from a big town and is adept at musical instruments like the veena and the harmonium. 

Thus, he decided to call Ratna on purpose while Ranga was visiting. ranga was taken aback when he saw ratna. However, the narrator lied to Ranga about her marital status. This disappointed Ranga since he had begun to like her. The narrator planned to take Ranga to an astrologer.

The narrator had already made plans with an astrologer, and everything was well-planned. So, the astrologer asked Ranga questions which enabled him to admit the fact that he liked Ratna. The problem of her marriage was at the forefront. Nonetheless, the astrologer informed Ranga that he was in love with a girl whose name resembled Ratna. Ranga was overjoyed, yet saddened again because she was not available.

After confirmation that Ranga loved Ratna, the narrator decided to arrange their marriage. The narrator visited Ratna’s house to request her hand in marriage to Ranga. Finally, the story jumps forward ten years. Ranga is paying a visit to the narrator to celebrate his son’s birthday. Ranga and Ratna got married and Ranga named their son after the narrator, who arranged their marriage.

To summarise, we learn about the beauty of a small community, its rituals and traditions, and the struggle to preserve our culture against westernisation.

Q: Comment on the influence of English—the language and the way of life—on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator’s attitude to English?
Answer: The story illustrates the traditional Indian way of life when just a few people spoke English. Those who knew it never used its words while speaking Kannad. People used to be simple and behaved similarly to a flock of sheep. The narrator was the true admirer of his village Hosahalli.

He was well-cultured and kind. He valued his mother tongue. He spoke English when it was necessary. The narrator feels it disgraceful to use English words when speaking Kannada. He is also feeling delighted while describing how, during the holidays, one can see many people in the village on every street speaking English.

Q: Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.
Answer: Answer: Most astrologers rely on hearsay or information gathered from their clients. The innocent client believes that his astrologer is reading his stars, but the deceitful fellow robs innocent people's faces. The same happens in the story when Shyam, the narrator instructs Shastri to regurgitate the muddled facts in front of Rangappa that Ratna would be the only eligible match for him based on the star cast. Because of the dramatic mockery enacted by Shyam and Shastri, Ranga listened to his heart and married Ratna. He got so influenced that he named his son ‘Shyam’ after the narrator.

Q: Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.
Answer: In today’s world, every Indian is well-educated and cultured. As one's knowledge expands, so do one's expectations or vision. This deep thought existed in the narrator's mind and gave birth to the story. The entire story has been plotted by the narrator to let Ranga realize the marriageable age and how to find the ideal mate. He knocked at Ranga’s heart and he welcomed Ratna in. Ranga might have run away if the narrator had just proposed for Ratna.

Q: What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?
Answer: In Today’s self-centred fast world no one pains for others. But the narrator is a different man. He not only devotes his time but also Ranga’s wedding selflessly. In fact, he extends mature and experienced assistance to Rang's fragile heart and young mind in choosing a suitable life partner. As a reward for his altruistic act, Ranga named his son Shyam after the narrator’s name.

Q. Why has the narrator not given some mouth-filling title to his story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’?

Answer: The narrator has not given his story some mouth-filling or catchy title like ‘Jagannatha’s Vijaya’ or ‘Girija Kalyana’ because this is not a story about Jagannatha’s victory or Girija’s wedding. It's about Ranga's marriage.

Q. What does the narrator say about Hosahalli?

Answer: The action takes place in Hosahalli village. The sahib in England and Indian writers have not made any mention of it in their Geography books. It is not depicted on any map by any cartographer. The narrator emphasises its importance by comparing it with the preparation of a festival meal known as Karigadabu.

Q. Mention two distinctive features of village Hosahalli.

Answer: In the village Hosahalli, there are a few mango trees. One comes to know the extreme potency of sourness if one happens to taste a raw mango from one of them. Then, there is a creeper growing in the water of the village pond. One will not require the afternoon meal if one consumes two leaves from the creeper while bathing in the pond.

Q. What are the two special products of Hosahalli and in what respect?

Answer: The two special products of Hosahalli are mentioned below. First, there is the raw mango. The Brahmarandhra, or the sensitive area of the child's head where the skull bones subsequently attach, is certain to feel the sourness of its bites. The second speciality is a creeper that grows in the water of the village pond. Its flowers are a visual feast. One's entire family can have the midday meal on its two leaves.

Q. Describe the narrator’s experience of tasting a raw mango from the mango trees growing in the village.

Answer: Once the narrator brought a raw mango home and chutney was prepared with it. The entire family tasted it. They had a severe cough. The narrator had visited the doctor to get cough medicine.

Q: Ranga possessed certain qualities that endeared him to Shyama, the narrator. Mention three qualities.

Answer: Ranga was well educated; he respected his tradition and did not remove his sacred thread; he was respectful of elders.

Q: Describe the village scene when Ranga returned from Bangalore.

Answer: People came to see Ranga out of curiosity. He had gone to Bangalore to study. People were curious if his education had changed him.

Q: How did the narrator let Ranga have a glimpse of Ratna?

Answer: The narrator asked Rama Rao’s wife (Ratna’s aunt) to send her to his house to get some buttermilk. When Ratna came, he sent for Ranga. He asked Ratna to sit a while and sing a song. Ranga came while she was singing. His curiosity and interest were roused. 

Q: Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.

Answer: The astrologer plays an important part in the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’. Shyama, the narrator wanted to bring about the marriage of Ratna to Ranga.
Shyama met an astrologer and gave him certain instructions. Then he took Ranga to meet him.
The astrologer told him that the girl he was thinking about could be his if he approached the family. Ranga was able to marry Ratna because of what the astrologer said. Astrologers do not always say what the stars tell.

Q: Why is there no mention of Hosahalli in any Geography book?

Answer: Hosahalli is not mentioned by the English experts and therefore not by Indians either. As a result, Hosahalli is not in geography books or atlases.

Q: Did Ranga select his bride according to the views he held on the subject of marriage?

Answer: No. Ranga did not select his bride according to the new fanged ideas on marriage he had acquired. He fell for an eleven-year-old girl Ratna and married her.

Q: Why was Ranga’s homecoming a great event?

Answer: Ranga’s homecoming was a great event for the people in the village. People came to see Ranga out of curiosity. He had gone to Bangalore to study. People were curious if his education had changed him.

Q: Why does the narrator compare himself to a he-goat and Ranga to a lion?

Answer: The narrator referred to a story in which a clever he-goat was able to scare away a lion. Here, he himself is the shrewd goat who has laid a plot for Ranga’s marriage. Ranga, though like a lion, was unable to escape the wiles of the clever goat.

Q: What were Ranga’s ideas about marriage? Do you find any change in them at the end of the story? How?

Answer: Ranga was the accountant’s son and the first person to go out of Hosahalli for education. He was the most eligible bachelor in the town.
When he returned from the city, he said he would marry when he found the ‘right girl. The ‘right girl’ would be mature, and not likely to misunderstand him. Besides, he felt that a man should marry the girl he admired.
But Ranga did not adhere strictly to his views. He was attracted to Ratna, the eleven-year-old niece of Rama Rao and ended up marrying her.

Q: Comment on the influence of English—the language and the way of life—on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator’s attitude to English?

Answer: The narrator of the story Shyama lived in a remote village in Karnataka. He has written of the time when the English language was not used in the village. Not many knew English or used English words in their speech. Therefore when the accountant sent his son Ranga to Bangalore to study, it was a revolutionary step. When Ranga returned to his village everyone came out to see if he had changed due to the influence of his education. Ranga showed the influence of English on his thinking when he named his child after Shyama who had brought about his marriage. The narrator does not know English. He is sarcastic towards and resentful of the English language.

 

 

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THE AILING PLANET

 THE AILING PLANET: THE GREEN MOVEMENT’S ROLE

SUMMARY

The author summarizes the change in the perception of the societies from a materialistic to a comprehensive and ecological perspective of this world. According to the article, humans are now concerned about the environment. In this way of perception, our planet is considered a living organism. People believe it has its own metabolic functioning, just like all other living entities.

The author then describes the concept of Sustainable growth. “Meets the wants of the current time, without losing the ability of upcoming generations to meet their needs and fulfil them”. Furthermore, we must use the natural resources in such a way that we meet our needs while also conserving these resources for future generations. People consider themselves as a partner and not as a member of this planet. In reality, we are partners with millions of other organisms on our planet.

According to the book Global Economic Prospect, the planet’s major biological systems are four: fisheries, forests, croplands, and grasslands. These include almost all the raw materials used in industry today. These resources are being used in an unsustainable manner. The writer is then concerned about the loss of the forest land. The dung which we should use as a natural fertilizer, we are generally using to produce fuel. The soil, on the other hand, is not receiving natural fertilizer.

The writer then alludes to Article 48A of the Indian Constitution. According to Article 48A, the state is responsible for protecting and improving the forest and wildlife. However, they do not impose the law appropriately. Then the writer refers to a Parliamentary committee report that states that 3.7 million acres of forest are lost every year. The United Nations warns that the environment has worsened to the point where it is critical in many of the 88 countries studied.

The population is growing at an alarming rate. the two most appropriate solutions to people's issues are development and growth. Development is a difficult task with such a large population. We need proper family planning to control the situation of overpopulation. There is an urgent need to regulate the world's population. The writer at this point once more repeats the positive change in view of the people regarding ecology. Industries must also take responsibility for a better ecosystem.

To summarise, the ailing planet: the green movement’s role, it tells us about how the world is in critical condition and how we must do our best to save it. 

Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

a holistic and ecological view - It refers to the point of view that advocates for the preservation of the planet. The holistic and ecological perspective refers to comprehending the significance of the earth’s resources and environment for future generations.

inter alia - among other things or as well as other things.

sustainable development - A balanced development that serves the needs of the present/today while also considering the needs of future generations.

decimated - to reduce drastically in number.

languish - many species are ignored or go unrecognised.

catastrophic depletion - a severe and harmful reduction/decrease in the number of something.

ignominious darkness - disgraced or dishonoured since no one knows or is aware of them.

transcending concern - a concern that surpasses/transcends generation, and boundaries. It is about the present as well as the future; it is about people as well as the planet.

Q: Locate the lines in the text that support the title. 'The Ailing Planet'

Answer: The lines that support the title of the chapter are given below.

“The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.”

 “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes, and the ailing environment?”

 “…the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is ‘critical’ in many of the eighty-eight countries investigated”.

Q: What does the notice 'The world's most dangerous animal' at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify?

Answer: In the zoo at Lusaka, there is a cage labelled "The world’s most dangerous animal." However, there is no animal within the cage, only a mirror that reflects the visitor's/person's reflection.

The notice signifies that man is the most harmful creature on this planet. He is not only responsible for the planet's deterioration and resource depletion, but he also poses a threat to other living species. A human being is far more destructive and threatening to the ecology of the Earth than any other organism. Thus, the cage in a zoo in Lusaka, Zambia, merely attempts to draw our attention to the aforementioned fact.

Q: How are the earth’s principal biological systems being depleted ?

Answer: According to Mr Lester R Brown's book ‘The Global Economic Prospect’,  there are four major biological systems of the earth. These are fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. They form the foundation of the global economic system. Apart from supplying our food, these four systems offer almost all of the raw material for industry except minerals and petroleum-derived synthetics.

However, in many parts of the world, human claims on these systems have reached an unsustainable level, impairing their productivity. When this occurs, fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands are converted into barren wastelands and croplands deteriorate. In a protein-conscious and protein-hungry world, over-fishing is common every day. In poor countries, local forests are being decimated in order to procure firewood for cooking. That is why these four systems are being depleted.

Q: Why does the author agree that the growth of the world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society?

Answer: The author is correct in stating that global population growth is one of the strongest factors influencing the future of human society. The world's population is rapidly increasing. It took mankind more than a million years to reach the first billion. That was the world population around the year 1800. By the year 1900, a second billion was added. However, the twentieth century added another 3.7 billion. The current global population is estimated to be 5.7 billion.

The abnormal rise in the world population has a negative impact on the future of mankind. The population remains under control when incomes rise, education spreads and health improves leading to overall development. But if the current population growth continues, development may be possible. The rich get richer and the poor remain poor for want of control of the population. The rate of unemployment increases and the increasing number of people remain unemployed. It affects very badly the future of human society.

DISCUSS IN GROUPS.

Laws are never respected not enforced in India.

India, the world's largest democracy, is condemned for its easy attitude towards laws. In our country, laws are made but never followed nor enforced. For example, the Indian Constitution mentions that castism, untouchability and bonded labour will be abolished; however, these evils continue to exist openly even today. According to the author, Article 48A of the Indian Constitution propounds that “the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”. However, little is being done to promote this. Over the last five/six decades, we have witnessed a near “catastrophic depletion” of forests. Forests are disappearing at a rate of 3.7 million acres a year over the last few decades. Areas that are officially designated as forest land are actually devoid of trees. The actual rate of forest loss is eight times that indicated by the government statistics. 

 “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and an ailing environment?”

According to the text, the first Brandt Report raised the aforementioned question about the planet's deteriorating condition. Earth is like a “patient in declining health”. Excessive resource demand has resulted in the depletion of forests, grasslands, fisheries and croplands. Over-population has put a significant strain on the health of our planet. We must realise soon that it is solely our responsibility to preserve our planet in this “Era of Responsibility.” We must realise that the earth belongs to future generations just as much as it does to us. Rather than claiming it as our own, we should do everything we can to protect it for future generations. 

We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children”

People's attitudes towards the environment have changed over the decades. Human perception has shifted to a “holistic and ecological view of the world”. Earth is a living organism with limited resources. These resources will not last forever. The earth has metabolic requirements that must be preserved. The term “sustainable development” refers to the need of meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the need of future generations. The present problems are not necessarily fatal, but they are a ‘passport to the future.’ This is the “Era of Responsibility” and we must act responsibly. We must realise that the earth belongs as much to the future generation as much as it belongs to us.

The problems of overpopulation directly affect our everyday life.

Every four days, the world population grows by one million people. With this ever-increasing population, development seems to be a distant dream. Over-population leads to the issues of poverty and unemployment. The vicious spiral of population and poverty will persist unless the root cause i.e. population is taken care of. It stifles the development of a country. It results in a considerably faster use of natural resources. The fossils consumed, the resources drained, the forests cleared, the heat produced, and the global warming caused are all the consequences of the world's rapidly rising population.

Q: Locate the following words in the text and study their connotation.

1. gripped the imagination of

 2. dawned upon

 3. ushered in

 4. passed into the current coin

 5. passport of the future

Answer:

1. gripped the imagination of: gained a lot of attention

2. dawned upon: for the first time became aware of it

3. ushered in: started the new idea

4. passed into current coin: have been brought into use

5. passport of the future: a thing that makes something possible or enables one to achieve it.

Answer in Brief

The words ‘grip’, ‘dawn’. ‘usher’, ‘coin’, and ‘passport’ has literal as well as figurative meaning. Write pairs of sentences using each word in the literal as well as figurative sense.

1) grip: a) She performed admirably throughout the rock-climbing session. She has a strong grip. b) The 'India Against corruption' movement has gripped the minds of Indians.

2) dawn: a) The day dawned with a clear sky. b) Suddenly, the idea dawned on him.

3) usher: a) The waiter ushered them to their seats. b) The Green Movement ushered in a new era of awareness.

 4) Coin: a) I have ten coins of Rs. 5. b) The term was coined by a famous philosopher.

Passport: a) he has recently got his passport made to visit his uncle in the USA. b) Education is the passport to a bright future.

Q: What is the Green Movement? Why has it become popular all over the world?

Answer: The Green Movement first emerged in New Zealand 1972 in. It has made the people aware that the earth is a living organism that needs preservation. It advises us to work together and co-exist with other species. The Green Movement approaches the situation holistically and aims to protect the environment while promoting tthe ongoing development.

Q: What is the holistic and ecological view of the world that has emerged in recent times?

Answer: The planet itself is seen as an organism that requires care from a holistic and ecological perspective. It has metabolic requirements and essential  processes that must be respected. 

Q: What awareness according to Nani Palkhivala is growing worldwide? Why?

Answer: The movement, that has captured the interest of the entire human race, is the global realisation that the earth is a living entity of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs and vital processes that need attention because the earth’s vital signs reveal its declining health.

Q: What is propagated by the concept of sustainable expansion?

Answer: In 1987, The World Commission on Environment and Development made the concept of sustainable development widely accepted. It emphasised the concept of development that satisfies the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, i.e., without depleting the natural world of resources necessary for future generations.

Q: What is the global concern raised by Mr Lester R. Brown that threatens the very existence of man?

Answer: According to Mr Lester R. Brown, the primary biological systems of the earth are fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands, and these  systens serve as the foundation of the global economic system. They provide almost all of the raw materials for companies as well as our food. However, human activities are depleting the natural resources,  causing fisheries to the collapse and grasslands to vanish.

Q: What steps has the Indian government taken to ensure the protection of the environment? What is the impact?

Answer: By Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, The government of India mandates that the State shall make efforts to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. However, the law has not had the due impact because laws are neither respected nor upheld in India.

Q: What are the reasons that are leading to depletion of our natural resources?

Answer: In a society where people are concerned about protein, over-fishing is common. Local forests are being cut down in underdeveloped countries in order to supply firewood for cooking. As a result, in certain areas, firewood has become so expensive that fuel costs more than the food.

Q: The population in the world is growing at an alarming rate. Comment.

Answer: The future of human society is being distorted by the growing world population. Human population reached its first billion around the year 1800. By the year 1900, a second billion was added, and another 3.7 billion in the twentieth century. Tge current estimate of the world's population is 5.7 billion. The population of the world Every day the world grows by one million per day.

Q: Why is the growing population detrimental to the world’s progress?

Answer: Development will not be possible if the current rate of population growth continues. The rich get richer and the poor have more children, and this hampers their economic growth. More children do not mean more workers, merely more people without work. Population growth makes poverty more persistent. People would starve to death unless population growth is controlled. 

Q: “The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.” What are these ‘vital signs’? Answer: According to a three-year assessment by the UN using satellites and aerial photography, the environment has worsened so badly that it is now considered "critical" in many of the 88 countries studied. The nearly catastrophic depletion of India's forests over the past forty years has bebeen emphasised in a recent report of our Parliament’s Estimates Committe. Reliabile data indicates that India is losing 3.7 million acres of forests every year. Several sizeable regions that are officially classified as forestland, “are already virtually treeless”. The actual loss of forests is estimated to be around eight times higher than the rate indicated by government statistics.

The ancient tropical forests that once covered the globe are now disappearing at a rate of forty to fifty million acres per year, and the growing use of dung for burning deprives the soil of an important natural fertilizer. According to the World Bank, a five-fold increase in the rate of forest planting is required to meet the anticipated demand for fuel wood.

Q: What do you mean by ‘sustainable development’? Answer: ‘Sustainable development’ is the only way to save the planet earth. It means that development should not be at the cost of the environment. The resources of the earth should be used with restraint so that they are available for future generations too.

Q: Who is ‘the world’s most dangerous animal’? Why is it called so?

Or

What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia signify? Answer: Human beings are the most dangerous to the environment. They cause more destruction to the environment than any other species.

Q: What are the earth’s principal biological systems? What is happening to them and what can be the results? Answer: Four systems – fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands – foundation of global economy, supply food – provide raw materials for industry Present status–Human claims of preservation are excessive – the productivity of these systems affected. Grasslands becoming wastelands – forests – disappearing decimated for firehood – fisheries depleted. Consequently many species face extinction.

Q: Explain Margaret Thatcher’s statement made by her, during the years of her Prime Ministership on the earth-as an ailing planet. Answer: ...We have to take care of our planet so that our children too may enjoy its bounty. We should not deplete and ruin the planet.

Q: Locate the lines in the text that support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’. Answer: “The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health. We have begun to realise our ethical obligations to be good stewards of the planet and responsible trustees of the legacy to future generations.”

Q: Justify the title of the essay. Answer: The planet earth is thought of as someone ailing i.e., sick. We need to restore the health of the planet.

Q: What is the Green Movement? Why has it become popular all over the world? Answer: Green Movement started in 1972 in New Zealand. It has informed the people that earth is a living organism which needs to be cared for. It tells us to co-operate and co-exist with other species. The green movement takes a holistic view of the situation and seeks to preserve environment as well as continuous development.

Q: What is the holistic and ecological view of the world that has emerged in recent times? Answer: The holistic and ecological view is that earth itself is an organism which needs to be cared for. It has its metabolic needs and vital processes which need to be respected and preserved. We need to save the earth for our future generations.

Q: What is the concept of ‘sustainable development’? Answer: The development which meets the needs of the present and at the same time preserves the environment for future generations is sustainable development.

Q: What is the status of the earth’s forest systems? Answer: Tropical forests are eroding at the rate of 40 to 50 million acres a year. We are losing one and a half acre of forests per second.

Q: Has the growth of world population contributed to the bad environment situation today? Answer: Due to population growth, great pressure is placed on natural resources. Natural resources like forests, rivers are getting depleted.

Q: We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children. Elucidate keeping in mind the lesson ‘The Ailing Planet’. Answer: We need to practise sustainable development — development which meets the needs of the present and at the same time preserves the environment for future generations.

Q: What is the role of industries in the preservation of the environment? Answer: Industries have to exercise restraint about using natural resources. The top officers need to become guardians of the environment — control effluents — place filters on smoke emissions — take necessary steps.

Q: What was the significance of placing a mirror in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia? Answer: It is to show human beings that they are the most destructive creatures. The most dangerous animal on earth.

Q: Explain the statement ‘forests precede mankind; deserts follow’. Answer: Forests help in nurturing mankind – man destroys forests so thoughtlessly that deserts grow where once forests flourished. Man destroys himself by destroying forests.

Q: “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children” Margret Thatcher’s words highlight the theme of the lesson ‘The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role. You feel very concerned about this earth which is being destroyed gradually. Write an article in about 100 words on ‘Save the Planet Earth.’ Answer:

Save the Planet Earth.

The picture is dismal. The vital systems of the earth are deteriorating due to overuse and pollution. We need to practise sustainable development which means development that meets the needs of the present and preserves the environment for future generations too. We need to preserve the fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands of the earth. It is equally important to control the growth of the population and act responsibly towards the earth.

Save the Planet Earth Margaret Thatcher’s statement about our planet makes a very valid point. It is the responsibility of each generation to use the resources of the earth judiciously. Today air, water, soil, trees and rivers are being consumed or polluted as if there will be no tomorrow.

Q: Why does Nani Palkhivala call the earth ‘The Ailing Planet’? How can the ailing planet survive? Answer: At present, the earth is like a patient. Her health is poor — her vital systems like forests and water are deteriorating and need to be brought back to health. — Preserve environment — planet for tomorrow — find alternatives. Environmental enrichment is possible –restraint in use is needed – replenishment of the four biological systems is needed – responsibility on the part of business and industry is needed. Awareness that we should leave earth’s resources for the future generations is essential.

Q: We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children. Elucidate keeping in mind the lesson ‘The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role’ in about 100 words.

Answer: It is essential that we preserve the four principal biological systems of the earth–the fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. So, we should plant trees for the future, take a holistic view of the environment and the planet and act with responsibility. This is what the Green Movement is all about.

Q: ‘No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life with a full repairing lease.’ Explain with reference to The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role. 

Answer: No generation can deplete the earth of its resources. The use of water, trees, minerals should be such that they are available to the coming generations too. Therefore, we should understand the concept of sustainable development i.e. development which meets the needs of the present and at the same time preserves the environment for future generations.

Q: The problems of overpopulation directly affect our everyday life. Discuss. Answer: Present world population is about 5-7 billion. Development is not possible if population increases. If population growth is controlled income and education of people increases. In uncontrolled population growth, the rich get richer and the poor poorer—family planning needs to be forced on people because large population promotes poverty. India’s population must be controlled.

Q: How are the earth’s principal biological systems being depleted? Answer: Four systems (a) Fisheries—their productivity is impaired—overfishing is common. (b) Forests are decimated for firewood, several species face extinction—forty to fifty million acres of forests are being eroded every year—we are losing one and a half acre of forests per second. (c) Grasslands and (d) croplands too are being depleted. These are being destroyed because of overuse by human beings.

Q: What is the concept of sustainable development? Why did it become greatly popular? Answer: Sustainable development — development which meets the needs of the present — and preserves the resources for the future. Concept became greatly popular because it showed a way to preserve environment – that if we cut we should plant trees too — We should keep the needs of the future generations in mind—fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands should not be overused. Q: How has the growth of world population affected the environment? Support your answer with suitable argument. Answer: Alarming growth of population – 2 billion in 1900. 20th century added 3.7 billion — resources of the world overstretched — four systems under stress. — only answer is development. Awareness can bring down population growth. Population control should be given topmost priority.

Q: What do you understand by the term ‘a holistic and ecological view’? Explain. Answer: Holistic and ecological view — a revolutionary concept – recognises earth as a living organism with its own metabolic needs which need to be preserved At present, the earth is like a patient. Her health is poor – her vital systems like forests and water are deteriorating and need to be brought back to health.

Q: Is there hope for environmental enrichment in future? What is needed to bring about the change from degradation to enrichment? Answer: Environmental enrichment is possible – restraint in use is needed – replenishment of the four biological systems is needed — responsibility on the part of business and industry is needed. Awareness that we should leave earth’s resources for the future generations is essential.

Q: “................The growth of the world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society” is the opinion of experts on world matters. Show in an essay of about 100 words how growing population can take the world back to prehistoric times. Answer:

The Ailing Planet

The startling fact is that in every four days, the world population rises by a million. The effect of uncontrolled population growth, in one word, is shortages of natural as well as man-made resources which will lead to bloody fights among individuals as well as among nations. Shortages of – food and water – petrol and other fuels – facilities for education – facilities for health care – housing These shortages will lead to the growth of : – poverty – conflict – moral degradation There is an urgent need to control population growth.

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The Portrait of a Lady

 Chapter  –  1

The Portrait  of  a Lady

Khushwant  Singh is one of the leading  Indian authors and columnists.  He has written on different subjects and issues.  He has given a thorough account in this lesson,  who had a  long association with him.  The old,  robust,  short and a  little bent grandmother is dressed in white clothes and keeps on telling beads of her rosary.   

The  grandmother  used  to  wake  up  the  narrator  in  the  morning during  their  long  stay  in  village, and  she accompanied  him  to  school.  She  took  care  of  all  little  things  and  continued  her  daily prayers  and  scriptural reading.  She  fed  stray dogs  with  stale  chapatis on  the  way  back  home. Shifting  to  city  home  was  a  turning  point in their relationship as  it  increased  distances. Now,  the author  was  going  to  a  school in the city and  learning  all  modern  day  subjects. In  his  studies,  the  grandmother  was not  able  to  assist  the  author and  she  felt  disturbed  as  there  was  no  teaching  of  God and scriptures. 

The  grandmother  spent  her  time  in  praying,  spinning  and  feeding  sparrows.  When  the  author  was  leaving  for  abroad,  she  did  not  get disturbed  and  saw  him  off  keeping her  peace  and calm.  The narrator felt, seeing  her  old  age,  that  this might  be  his  last  meeting  with  his affectionate  grandmother.  Yet,  contrary  to  his  thinking, his grandmother was there to receive him after  a  span  of  five  years.  She  celebrated  her  grandson’s  home  coming  in  an  usual way by beating  a  drum  and singing.  She  had  a  peaceful  end  and the death of a brave, religious, realistic,  responsible and caring person aggrieved  all, even sparrows.

Page No 3:

Question 1:

Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

• the thought was almost revolting

• an expanse of pure white serenity

• a turning-point

• accepted her seclusion with resignation

• a veritable bedlam of chirrupings

• frivolous rebukes

• the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum

Answer:

The thought was almost revolting: The thought that the author’s grandmother was once young and attractive raises a question in the author’s mind. It is too hard for him to believe.

An expense of pure white serenity: It refers to the calm, quiet and serene character and actions of the author’s grandmother. She is compared to the peaceful winter landscape in the mountains.

A turning-point: It refers to the point in which the relationship of the author with his grandmother radically changes as they move to the city-house.

Accepted her seclusion with resignation: This indicates the author’s grandmother’s passive submission to her retreat after she gradually loses touch with her grandson.

A veritable bedlam of chirruping: It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos caused by the chirruping and scattering sparrows around the author's grandmother.

Frivolous rebukes: It refers to the casual and light-hearted rebukes of the grandmother to the sparrows.

The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum: It points out that the drum is shabby and worsened.

Page No 6:

Question 1:

Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.

Answer: The author had number of phases of his relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad. These are:

The first phase was the early childhood  of the author. He used to live in the village with his grandmother during that time. The grandmother used to wake him up and get him ready to go to school. She accompanied him to the school. Both shared a strong relationship with each other.

The second phase was when the author and the grandmother went to the city to live with the parents of the author. This was a turning-point in their relationship, they now ‘saw less of each other’.

The third phase was when the author joined University. He got his own room and the mutual bond of their relationship was snapped. The grandmother turned to wheel-spinning and reciting prayers all day long. She acknowledged her seclusion with silence.

Question 2:

Mention three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.

Answer: The author’s grandmother was disappointed after discovering that the topics taught to him at school were linked to western science and learning. Secondly, she did not believe those things that were taught at his new school. She was disturbed that there was no teaching about God and the scriptures. Third, she was dissatisfied with the idea of the music lessons being given at school. She felt music was only appropriate for people of low integrity. The grandmother's disapproval was evident in her silence.

Page No 7:

Question 1:

Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?

Answer: The author and his grandmother might have spoken with each other in their mother-tongue. As the author, Khushwant Singh, belongs to Punjab, the language used by them might be Punjabi.

Question 2:

Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?

Answer: I speak in Bengali to talk to the elderly relatives in my family.

How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?

Answer: In Bengali, we would call ‘a dilapidated drum ‘phata dhol’

Notice the following uses of the word ‘tell’ in the text.

1. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.

2. I would tell her English words and little things about Western science and learning.

3. At her age, one could never tell.

4. She told us that her end was near.

Given below are four different senses of the word ‘tell’. Match the meanings to the uses listed above.

1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words

2. count while reciting

3. be sure

4. give information to somebody

Answer: 1. Make something known to someone in spoken or written words: I would tell her English words and little things about western science and learning.

2. Count while reciting: Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.

3. Be sure: At her age, one could never tell.

Notice the different senses of the word ‘take’.

1. to take to something: to begin to do something as a habit

2. to take ill: to suddenly become ill Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used.

Answer: The instances where these phrases have been used in the story are given below.

1. “... she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house”. This phrase refers to the daily activity that the author’s grandmother took up when they shifted to the city.

2. “The next morning she was taken ill.” This phrase refers to the author’s grandmother’s sudden illness.

Q: The word ‘hobble’ means to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad condition. Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking.

Answer: The words that also refer to a manner of walking are: shuffle, stride, waddle, paddle, swagger, trudge, slog.

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