Weathering the Storm in Ersama Class 9 Question Answer
Textbook questions:
Think about it
Question 1.
What havoc has the super-cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
वृहद चक्रवात में उड़ीसा के लोगों के जीवन में विनाश का क्रोध/बदला कैसे दिखाया?
Answer:
A super-cyclone took place in the coastal towns and villages of Orissa in the end of October 1999. It had devastating effects. It lasted for two days. It rained heavily, the wind blew at the speed of 350 kms. per hour. No one had ever seen so far such fury and speed of wind. Huts and kaccha houses collapsed, the ancient trees were uprooted. The air was rent with the cries of people being washed away. There were carcasses and corpses floating all over. Nothing but water could be seen all around. Only a few cemented houses remained. They, too, were flooded. People took shelter on roofs of cemented houses or Red Cross Shelters which were filthy and unhygienic with no proper arrangement for food.
Thousands of people died and hundreds of villages were marooned in the super-cyclone. It lasted only for two days but its effect could be seen and felt till many months later.
Question 2.
How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
किस प्रकार 20 साल से कम उम्र के प्रशांत ने अपने गांव के लोगों की सहायता की?
Or
How did Prashant help the villagers after the storm?
प्रशांत ने तूफान के बाद गांव वालों की मदद कैसे की?
Or
What steps did Prashant take to help the villagers?
प्रशांत ने गाँव वालों की मदद करने के लिए क्या कदम उठाए?
Answer:
Not a single house remained in the village – Kalikuda’ where Prashant lived. Eighty-six people of the village had lost their lives. The remaining 2500 people had taken shelter in the Red Cross Shelter put up in the village.
When Prashant arrived at the shelter he noticed that hunger, grief and unhygienic conditions prevailed all around. The worst part was that there was no one to manage or organise things at the shelter. He mustered courage, resolved to manage things at the shelter and help the people of his village Prashant could not do anything single handed so he gathered a team of young volunteers. With the help of these volunteers first of all he got cleaned the shelter of filth, urine, vomit and carcasses. They also tended the wounded and the injured. Then they procured food after pressurising, the merchant to part with rice and later managed to get the helicopters air-drop food and other necessities for the people at the shelter.
Prashant persuaded the grief-stricken women to join food for work programme of an NGO. For the children he organised cricket matches and other sports. He also established foster families for the widows and orphans.
Thus Prashant, hardly 19 years old showed exemplary courage and superb management. He served and helped people at the shelter with kind, sympathetic, understanding and caring heart. No wonder his confident, handsome, youthful face was the most sought after when the children or the widows were in grief.
Question 3.
How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
समुदाय के लोगों ने एक-दूसरे की सहायता किस प्रकार की? इन दिनों कालीकुड़ा की औरतों ने क्या भूमिका निभाई?
Answer:
The people of Kalikuda community helped each other in the testing time of disaster. The young volunteers gathered at Prashant’s call to help him clean and manage the Red Cross Shelter living there was like living in hell.
First of all they cleaned the shelter of filth, urine, vomits and carcasses. They tended the wounded and the injured. Then they procured food for its inhabitants. The women and children were sinking deeper and deeper into grief. They felt lonely and depressed. At Prashant’s persuading the women started taking part in food for work programme of an NGO. Thus women came forward to earn their own bread and butter and help support their families.
Childless widows adopted parentless children and helped form foster families. The loneliness of both – such women and children was taken care of. Thus, we see that the whole community of Kalikuda helped each other in rehabilitating and establishing themselves again in life.
Question 4.
Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternative do they consider?
प्रशान्त और दूसरे स्वयं सेवकों ने विधवाओं और अनाथों के लिए संस्थाओं के विचार का विरोध क्यों किया? उन्होंने कौन-से विकल्प पर ध्यान दिया?
Answer:
Prashant and other volunteers resisted government’s plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows because they felt that in such institutions children would grow up without love and widows would suffer from the stigma and loneliness.
They believed that children should be resettled in their own community as far as possible. As an alternative to institutions for widows and orphans, they started foster families which were made up of childless widows and children without adult care.
Question 5.
Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
क्या आप सोचते हैं कि प्रशान्त एक अच्छा नेता है? क्या आपके विचार में युवा लोग प्राकृतिक आपदाकाल में लोगों की सहायता करने के लिए इकट्ठा हो सकते हैं?
Answer:
A true leader is one who directs and guides his fellow-beings specially when they are in some difficulty and find themselves at a loss or confused what to do or where to go. Prashant reveals all the qualities which a good leader has. He shows exemplary organising ability. When he sees that there no one to organise things at the Red Cross Shelter, he himself takes the commands in his hands and resolves to set the things right and help his fellow villagers. He gathers a team of young volunteers who clean the shelter of filth, urine, vomit and carcasses, tend the wounded and the injured and procure food for them.
Like a true leader he evolves ways to settle the grief stricken women and children. He persuades women to join food for work programme of an NGO, organises cricket matches and other sports for children, makes foster families involving childless widows and orphans.
Prashant is kind, sympathetic, caring, confident, a good administrator and guide all the qualities which make a good leader. He also has the capacity to make followers who have full faith and hope in him.
I do think that young people can get together to help people during natural calamities. As does the team of young volunteers in the above story. Similarly after earthquake in Kashmir or in Gujarat or Tsunami young volunteers had rushed to the spot to help their fellow-beings.
IV. Very Important Examination Questions:
I. Extract-based Objective Type Questions
Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions with the help of the given options :
Question 1.
“Eventually Prashant reached his village, Kalikuda. His heart went cold. Where their home once stood, there were only remnants of its roof.”
(i) Prashant came back his village from _______.
(a) the abroad
(b) the state capital
(c) his friend’s house
(d) a big city
Answer:
(c) his friend’s house
(ii) In order to look for his family, Prashant’s house _______.
(a) his friend’s house
(b) the Red Cross shelter
(c) the district shelter home
(d) his relative’s house
Answer:
(b) the Red Cross shelter
(iii) Prashant’s heart went cold because _______.
(a) he was ill
(b) there was winter season
(c) he saw his devasted house
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) he saw his devasted house
(iv) Which word in the extract means the same as ‘remains’?
(a) home
(b) remnants
(c) roof
(d) village
Answer:
(b) remnants
(v) What was the name of Prashant’s village?
Answer:
The name of Prashant’s village was Kalikuda.
(vi) Where did Prashant go after this to look for his family?
Answer:
After this Prashant went to the Red Cross shelter to look for his family.
(vii) What did he see there in the shelter?
Answer:
At the Red Cross shelter, he saw the deplorable and unhygienic condition everywhere. There was no one to manage it. He forgot his own grief and managed a team of youths and elders as volunteers.
(viii) Why his heart went cold?
Answer:
He worried about his family and when he saw the devastated house, his heart went cold.
Question 2.
It is six months after the devastation of the super cyclone. This time Prashant’s wounded spirit has healed simply because he had no time to bother about his own pain. His handsome, youthful face is what the widows and orphaned children of his village seek out most in their darkest hour of grief.
(i) Prashant’s wounded spirit healed because _______.
(a) he became very rich
(b) he was a healthy person
(c) he had no time to bother about his own pain.
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) he had no time to bother about his own pain.
(ii) Which character trait of Prashant is reflected from this extract?
(a) Leadership skill
(b) Social responsibility
(c) Empathy
(d) all of these
Answer:
(d) all of these
(iii) Prashant helped the widows _______.
(а) by providing them food and other basic needs.
(b) by saving their property.
(c) by saving her family member’s lives.
(d) none of these.
Answer:
(а) by providing them food and other basic needs.
(iv) Which word in the extract means the same as ‘cured’t _______.
(a) wounded
(b) healed
(c) orphaned
(d) grief
Answer:
(b) healed
(v) How much time has passed since the super cyclone struck?
Answer:
It has been six months since the super cyclone struck Ersama, a small town in coastal Orissa.
(vi) ‘Prashant’s wounded spirit healed’. How?
Answer:
Prashant’s wounded spirit had healed simply because he had no time to bother about his own pain. He had forgotten his pain working for the resettlement of the widows and orphaned children.
(vii) Why do you think Prashant is a good leader?
Answer:
Prashant reveals all the qualities which a good leader has. A true leader is one who guides his fellow-beings especially when they are in some difficulty.
(viii) What was the ‘hour of grief’?
Answer:
The hour of grief was the time when the super cyclone struck and killed many people. Many, who survived, left devastated.
Question 3.
Screams rent the air as people and houses were swiftly washed away. The angry waters swirled into his friend’s house, neck deep. The building was of brick and mortar and was Strong enough to survive the devastation of the wind’s velocity of 350 km per hour. But the cold terror of the family grew with crashing of trees that had got uprooted and fallen on their house, some time in the middle of the night, damaging its roof and walls.
(i) People of Ersama were screaming because _______.
(a) of a terrorist attack
(b) they and their houses were washed away
(c) they were suffering from severe pain
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) they and their houses were washed away
(ii) The uprooted trees had damaged _______.
(a) the royal building
(b) the building of brick and mortar
(c) the house of Prashant’s friend
(d) none of theses
Answer:
(c) the house of Prashant’s friend
(iii) Which word in the extract is opposite to ‘slowly’?
(a) screams
(b) swiftly
(c) strong
(d) velocity
Answer:
(b) swiftly
(iv) Why was the family terrified?
Answer:
The family was terrified because the trees that got uprooted in the storm, had fallen on their houses.
(v) What was the wind’s velocity in that devastating cyclone?
Answer:
The wind’s velocity was of 350 km per hour in that devastating cyclone.
(vi) What had survived in the devastation of the wind?
Answer:
The building of brick and mortar was strong enough to survive the devastation.
Question 4.
On 27th October 1999, seven years after his mother’s death, Prashant had gone to the block headquarters of Ersama, a small town in coastal Orissa, some eighteen kilometers from his village, to spend the day with a friend. In the evening, a dark and menacing storm quickly gathered. Winds beat against the houses with a speed and fury that Prashant had never witnessed before.
(i) Prasant had gone to Ersama to _______.
(a) meet the Block Development Officer
(b) spend the day with a friend
(c) higher studies
(d) earn the money
Answer:
(b) spend the day with a friend
(ii) Ersama is a _______.
(a) small town
(b) village in remote areas
(c) district headquarater
(d) big city
Answer:
(a) small town
(iii) Prashant had never witnessed such _______.
(a) a fire
(b) an earthquake
(c) a big city
(d) a super cyclone
Answer:
(d) a super cyclone
(iv) Which word in the extract means the same as ‘threatening’?
(a) coastal
(b) evening
(c) menacing
(d) fury
Answer:
(c) menacing
(v) Where had Prashant gone on 27th October 1999?
Answer:
On 27th October 1999, Prashant had gone to the block headquarters of Ersama, a small town in coastal Orissa, some eighteen kilometres from his village.
(vi) Why had Prashant gone there?
Answer:
Prashant had gone there to spend a day with a friend.
(vii) How did the super cyclone affect the life of the people of Orissa?
Answer:
The super cyclone affected the life of the people of Orissa as it killed thousands of people, destroyed houses, villages, crops and animals. Property worth crores was washed away in the cyclone.
(viii) What happened in the evening?
Answer:
In the evening, a dark and menacing storm quickly gathered and winds started blowing with a speed and fury.
Short Answer Type Questions
II. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words:
Question 1.
Why did Prashant decide to go back to his village after spending two days at his friend’s house?
अपने मित्र के घर पर दो दिन बिताने के बाद प्रशान्त ने अपने गाँव जाने का फैसला क्यों किया?
Answer:
A cyclone had hit Orissa in 1999 that killed thousands of people and devastated hundreds of villages. For two dreadful nights, Prashant was marooned on the roof of his house that was devastated by the cyclone. Disturbed by the havoc wreathed by the storm Prashant was in tears. He wanted to know whether his family had survived the fury of the super cyclone. He therefore, set out on the journey to his village to seek out his family.
Question 2.
How did Prashant’s maternal grand¬mother react on seeing him?
प्रशान्त की नानी माँ ने उसको देखकर क्या प्रतिक्रिया दिखाई?
Answer:
Among the first people he saw in the crowd was his maternal grandmother. Weak with hunger, she rushed to him, her hands outstretched, her eyes brimming, for they had long given him up for dead. It was a miracle to see him alive!
Question 3.
‘Prashant had never witnessed such a storm before’. Describe the storm in your own words.
प्रशान्त ने ऐसा तूफान पहले कभी नहीं देखा था। तूफान का वर्णन अपने शब्दों में करें।
Answer:
On that day, a super cyclone with a speed of 350 km per hour hit the coastal areas of Orissa. Winds beat against the houses with a speed and fury. Heavy and incessant rain filled the place with darkness, ancient trees were uprooted and crashed to the earth. Some trees had even fallen on the houses, damaging their roofs and walls screams rent the air as popular houses were swiftly washed away.
Question 4.
What did Prashant decide to do to resettle orphans and widows?
प्रशान्त ने अनाथ बच्चों और विधवा औरतों को पुन: स्थापित करने के लिए क्या निर्णय लिया?
Answer:
Prashant set up a polythene shelter for orphans and helped them to resettle in their own societies through adoptions and foster families. He organized matches etc. to help them recover. He also helped the widows by providing them food and other basic needs. He made them work for NGOs and to look after orphans. He helped them set up foster families.
Question 5.
Why did Prashant and his friend’s family spend the night in cold terror?
प्रशान्त और उसके दोस्त के परिवार ने वह भयानक रात भयभीत होकर क्यों बिताई थी?
Answer:
Prashant was at his friend’s house when the storm struck Orissa. The angry water swirled into his friend’s house, neck deep. Although, the building was strong enough the crashing of trees that had fallen on their house, damaged it’s roof and walls. To escape the water rising in the house, Prashant and his friend’s family spent the night in cold terror.
Question 6.
On reaching his village, where does Prashant decide to go and why? Whom did he meet there?
अपने गाँव पहुँचकर प्रशान्त ने क्या निर्णय लिया और क्यों? वहाँ वह किसको मिला?
Answer:
Prashant could sense the feeling of a deathly grief setting fast upon the people of his village. In place of his house, there were only remnants of its roof. He decided to go to the Red Cross shelter to search his family.
At first, he saw his maternal grandmother in the crowd. Also, he met his brother, sister, his uncles and aunts there, who were all extremely happy to see him there as he had not returned for days.
Question 7.
Suggest measures that one should adopt in case of natural disaster,the kind of disaster that took place at Ersama.
प्राकृतिक विपदाओं में किन कदमों को उठाना चाहिए जैसे कि एरसामा में हुआ।
Answer:
It is always better for those occupying the coastal areas to move to a safer place, taking along only what is essential. After the storm subsides, the youth force and able men should volunteer to do the needful, till life comes back to normalcy. Care should be taken to prevent epidemics that may break out during such times.
Long Answer Type Questions
III. Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words :
Question 1.
Recount the events in Prashant’s village which led to the slow and tortuous process of survival. Which values enabled the villagers to come out of their desperate situation after the cyclonic fury?
क्रम से तूफान के बाद होने वाली घटनाओं के विषय में बताएँ कैसे गाँववालों ने वह कष्टदायी यात्रा की। तूफान के बाद की प्राकृतिक विपदाओं का सामना गाँववालों ने अपने जीने के लिए कैसे किया?
Answer:
Prashant sensed a deathly grief setting upon the 2500 strong crowd in the shelter. It was their fourth day. So far they had survived on green coconuts. Prashant organised a group of youths and elders and brought rice from the merchant through wading waters. It was cooked and eaten by the people. The helicopter dropped food packets on the fifth day. But that was all. The Youth Task Force gathered empty utensils and deputed children to lie in the ground with these utensils on their stomachs to communicate their hunger to the passing helicopters. Then, there was regular food supply. Unity and comradery enabled the villagers to come out of their desperate situation.
Question 2.
Prashant’s group resisted the government’s plan to set up institution for orphans and widows. What alternative did the group have in mind? Which values and principles guided them towards implementing the same?
प्रशान्त के समूह ने सरकार द्वारा उठाए हुए कदमों को मना किया जो संस्था अनाथ व विधवाओं के लिए थी। उन्होंने क्या कदम उठाए? कौन-से सिद्धान्त और नैतिक मूल्यों को उन्होंने साथ में लेकर अनाथों और विधवाओं का पुर्नस्थापन किया?
Or
Why did Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows?
प्रशान्त तथा अन्य स्वयंसेवकों ने अनाथों और विधवाओं के लिए संगठन बनाने की योजना का विरोध क्यों किया?
Answer:
It was felt that in such institutions, children would grow up without love and widows would suffer from stigma and loneliness. The group formed by Prashant believed that orphans should be resettled in their own community and if possible in new foster families made up of childless widows and children without adult care.
He persuaded the women to start working in the food-for-work programme started by an NGO, and for the children he organized sports events. He organized cricket matches for children. Prashant initially made a polythene sheet shelter for the children who had been orphaned after the super cyclone. Women were mobilized to look after them and men secured food and materials for the shelter.
In any natural calamity, the basic needs of the people are food, shelter, healthy living conditions and medical facilities. We need to console each other and fight the grief and hopelessness together. The people who suffer need someone to listen and understand their problems. Prashant heard their problems patiently and worked for their health and well-being. He helped them physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Question 3.
What values of life can we learn from the story, Weathering the Storm in Ersama, with respect to Prashant’s character?
‘विदरिंग द स्टॉर्म इन एरसामा’ में प्रशान्त के किस गुण की बात पता चलती है?
Or
Serving people in difficulty is a quality which every young man should try to cultivate. What does Prashant do to help the people affected by the super cyclone?
कठिनाई में लोगों की मदद करना एक ऐसा गुण है जो हर व्यक्ति को रखना चाहिए। तूफान के बाद प्रशान्त ने लोगों की मदद कैसे की?
Or
Prashant is a fine young man who not only has a caring and loving attitude but also tremendous determination to rebuild a broken world. Do you agree? Do you believe that such values can alleviate suffering from the world ? explain with reference to the story ‘Weathering the Storm in Ersama’.
प्रशान्त एक अच्छा नौजवान है जो केवल सुविचारित और स्नेही प्रवृत्ति ही नहीं रखता बल्कि टूटे हुए संसार के पुनर्निर्माण हेतु अति लगनशील भी है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? ऐसे मूल्यों से दु:ख को कम करा जा सकता है। पाठ के संदर्भ में बताएँ।
Answer:
Prashant, being just a teenaged boy, is a classic example of the fact that hard work with foresight and determination leads to success. When he reached the Red Cross shelter, what he saw was a horrifying sight-homeless people, childless widows, orphaned children, all of them were grieving and starving. This pathetic sight gave him the impetus to do something to improve the people’s condition. He used his organisational skills which helped a lot in the revival of the village. Right from arranging to provide food for these people, to cleaning up their surroundings and arranging for other amenities.
Prashant had been an inspiring force for the village youths and other volunteers. His management techniques are revealed in the way he put up a shelter for orphans with women to take care of them. He persuaded women to start working for the food for work programme of an NGO. It proved to be a success. The highlight of all the Prashant’s effects of rebuilding was the resettlement of childless widows and orphaned children into new foster families. Thus, without getting disheartened, he helped people in picking up the lost threads of their lives. He thus, exhibits the initiative to do good, leadership skills, organizational skills and iron grit with determination.
Question 4.
Describe Prasant’s journey to his village to find his family on the third day after the cyclone had hit the town. What did he experience on the way?
प्रशान्त की यात्रा का वर्णन कीजिए जब तूफान के बाद वह तीसरे दिन अपने गाँव वापिस आता है। रास्ते में वह क्या अनुभव करता है।
Or
Describe Prashant’s return journey to his village after the super cyclone.
प्रशान्त की वापसी यात्रा का वर्णन कीजिए जब वह तूफान से घर वापिस आता है।
Answer:
Two days later, when the rain stopped, Prashant decided to go back to his village. He equipped himself with a long sturdy stick and started his eighteen kilometre expedition to his village through the flood water.,He constantly used his stick to locate the road and determine the depth of the water. He was relieved to find two friends of his uncle who were returning to their village. Together, the three moved ahead. They had to push away many human bodies and carcasses of animals that the current swept against them as they moved. In every village they had passed, they could barely see a house standing.
Question 5.
There are some people who assert the negative shades of their personality by taking advantage of the victims of a catastrophe. The story, ‘Weathering the Storm in Erasama’ has a reference which tells us about a merchant who was pressurised to part with his rice in the aftermath of the cyclone. Discuss the negativity that influences such people. What values increase their chances of survival in a group?
कई लोग अपनी नकारात्मक सोच की वजह से कठिनाईयों से सामना करते हुए लोगों का फायदा उठाते हैं। कहानी में एक व्यापारी है जो तूफान से पीड़ित लोगों का शोषण करता है। चावल नहीं देना चाहता परन्तु उसको बाध्य किया जाता है। ऐसे लोगों की सोच समझाते हुए बताइये कि एक समूह में वह कैसे जी सकेगा?
Answer:
After the terrible storm that devastated the villages near the coastal areas of Orissa, people were shifted to a Red Cross shelter. They had lost their kith and kin, their houses and whatever possessions they had. For the first four days people in the shelter survived on green coconuts. Prashant could not bear to see the people in that condition. So, he organised youths and elders to pressurise merchants to part with the rice. There are many such merchants who take the opportunity to exploit the situation.
These merchants hoard the grains so that they can release them at a high price when the demand is at its peak. They know if they would store the rice, it would rot, still they do so. They do not realise the need of the hour. Being an inhabitant of the village, the merchant seems to be hard hearted to find his own village people starving while he is rolling in money. Individuals like him calculate about their future prospects, and not the present crises which could have long term effects. Their selfishness increases their chances of survival. However, such people should be made to experience the hardships of the poor commoners, so that they may understand their plight.
Question 6.
Prashant found that a large number of children had been orphaned. He brought them together and put up a polythene sheet shelter for them. What values did he exhibit at the plight of children orphaned by the deadly cyclone? Discuss how a life inspired by moral and human values can make this world a better place for them.
प्रशान्त को बहुत अनाथ बच्चे दिखते हैं। वह सबको साथ लाया और एक पोलीथीन की चादर के नीचे आश्रय दिया। उसके कौन से मूल्य उसे ऐसा करने को कहते हैं? एक आदमी की सोच और उसके मूल्य ही संसार को एक अच्छी जगह बनाते हैं। चर्चा कीजिए।
Answer:
When a natural calamity hits any place, the major problem one faces is resettling the people of the affected area and providing them food and shelter. Prashant is a very courageous teenager who has all the good qualities of a leader. He displays the courage and capacity to help the needy. He acted maturely at such a young age. He showed exemplary courage and acted as an inspiration for the others.
He was resolved to solve the problems of the survivors who were rendered homeless after the cyclone. They were full in the ground of despair and gloom. The first problem was an acute shortage of food in the Red Cross shelters. He made the children lie down with empty utensils on their stomachs so that the authorities notice it. After that there were regular visits of helicopters that dropped the food for them. He organised people to clean the shelter and tendered the injured. He boosted their moral and uplifted their spirits by organizing matches and other activities. He set up polythene shelters for orphans, helped them resettle through adoptions an foster families. Thus, he did not let adversity overpower him; rather he took it as a challenge and brought light to their dark lives. This shows how a life inspired by moral and human values can make this world a better place for them.
Question 7.
Describe the effect of cyclone on Prashant’s village.
तूफान का असर प्रशान्त के गाँव पर क्या रहा, उसका वर्णन कीजिए।
Or
उड़ीसां के तट पर स्थित गाँव के लोगों के जीवन पर तूफान का क्या असर हुआ?
How did, the super cyclone affect the lives of people in the coastal area of Orissa?
27 अक्तूबर, 1999 को उड़ीसा के तट पर एक तूफान आया। तूफान की बर्बादी का वर्णन करें।
Or
On 27th October, 1999 super-cyclone hit the coastal Orissa as mentioned in “Weathering the Storm in Ersama”. Describe the devastation caused by the cyclone.
27 अक्तूबर, 1999 को उड़ीसा के तट पर एक तूफान आया। तूफान की बर्बादी का वर्णन करें।
Answer:
After the super cyclone hit the coastal areas, there were heavy incessant rains for two days. This resulted in uprooted trees, collapsing houses, and people and animals being swept away in water. Where houses once stood, there were only remnants of their roofs. People were shifted to the Red Cross shelter. They survived on green coconuts. Eighty six lives were lost and ninety six houses were washed away. The merchants who had hoarded rice were not ready to part with it, even though it was all rotting. People suffered from hunger for a few days. Even the military helicopter threw food pouches only once. Then, after they were communicated about the hunger, they started regular supply. Women were widowed and children orphaned.
Question 8.
Write the character-sketch of Prashant.
प्रशान्त का चरित्र-चित्रण करो।
Answer:
Prashant, showed exemplary organising ability, courage, confidence and grit (जीवट/धैर्य) to face the catastrophe (आकस्मिक विपदा). When he saw the deplorable (शोचनीय) unhygienic condition of the Red Cross shelter and the grief- stricken people of his village, he at once resolved to have a grip on himself and the situation around him. He organised a group of youths and elders who pressurized the merchant to part with his rice.
Then he organised a team of youth volunteers who cleaned the shelter of filth and floating carcasses and to look after the wounded and the injured. Prashant had a humane eye and was sensitive to relieve the women and children of their grief. He persuaded the women to join the food-for-work programme. He also helped in making foster families.
The way he managed to convey the message of hungry villagers by asking the children to lie on sand with empty vessels on their stomachs, shows his innovative quality. Thus, we see that Prashant had all the qualities of a true leader. He was a very good organiser, a keen observer, sympathetic, understanding and innovative. No wonder his handsome, youthful face was the most sought after when the children of the widows used to be in grief.
I. Summary In English:
Super-cyclone that hit coastal Orissa: A super-cyclone hit Orissa in October, 1999 with a furious speed. There was a heavy downpour. Even the ancient trees were uprooted and crashed to the earth. The people and houses were mercilessly washed away.
Prashant in Ersama at friend’s house during cyclone: Prashant had gone to his friend’s house in Ersama. Neckdeep water entered his friend’s house. The wind was blowing at the velocity of 350 km. per hour. Luckily, the brick building did not fall down. Prashant and his friend’s family took refuge on the roof. The uprooted trees fell on their house. They harmed the roof and walls of their house. The surge of the flood and the wind speed had reduced a little on the third day. A brown sheet of water was covering everything. Even the cement houses got fractured. Carcasses and corpses floated everywhere. Prashant and his friend’s family lived on coconuts because two coconut trees had fallen on their roof.
Prashant’s journey to his village in flood: Prashant was afraid lest his family should die as a result of the fury of the super-cyclone. So he was determined to seek out his family. He took a long and sturdy stick and started his eighteen kilometre expedition back to his village through the swollen flood water. He got relief when he met two friends of his uncle. All of them moved ahead together. They had to push away dead bodies of people and animals. They did not see any house standing in any village on the way. He felt desperate on reaching his village. His house had fallen and his belongings had wrecked and scattered. He reached the Red Cross Shelter. His maternal grandmother greeted him. He also saw his brother and sister, his uncles and aunts. All of them were starving.
Prashant managed the Red Cross Shelter: Prashant organised a group of youths. They pressurised the merchant to part away with his rice. Then they got the surroundings cleaned. They also nursed the injured. They made a helicopter airdrop food for the refugees. The group mobilised the women to look after the orphans He also formed foster families in which childless widows adopted the orphans.
II. Complete Text With Hindi Translation:
Text (Page 37) : The cyclone that hit Orissa in October, 1999 killed thousands of people and devastated hundreds of villages. For two dreadful nights Prashant, a young man, was marooned on the roof of a house. On the third day, he decided to go to his village. Did he find his family?
Vocabulary : cyclone (साइक्लोन) violent windstorm accompanied with heavy rain at times चक्रवात; hit (हिट) struck आहत किया; devastating (डिवास्टेटिंग) laid waste तबाह कर दिया; dreadful (ड्रैडफुल) horrible भयानक; marooned (मरून्ड) abandoned in a helpless situation असहाय होना; coastal (कोस्टल) on seashore तटीय ।
अनुवाद : उड़ीसा को अक्तूबर, 1999 में आहत करने वाले चक्रवात से हजारों लोगों की जानें चली गई थीं और सैकड़ों गाँव तबाह हो गए थे। प्रशान्त नामक एक नवयुवक दो भयानक रातों में एक मकान की छत के ऊपर ठहरा था। तीसरे दिन उसने अपने गाँव में जाने का निर्णय लिया। क्या उसे अपना परिवार मिला ?
Text (Pages 37-38) : On 27 October, 1999, seven years after his mother’s death, Prashant had gone to the block headquarters of Ersama, a small town in coastal Orissa, some eighteen kilometres from his village, to spend the day with a friend. In the evening, a dark and menacing storm quickly gathered. Winds beat against the houses with a speed and fury that Prashant had never witnessed before. Heavy and incessant rain filled the darkness, ancient trees were uprooted and crashed to the earth.
Vocabulary : menacing (मेनैसिंग) threatening धमकाने वाले; fury (फ्यूरी) violent anger प्रचण्ड क्रोध; witnessed (विटनैस्ड) seen देखा था; incessant (इनसैसेन्ट) continuous लगातार; crashed (क्रैश्ड) fell down with a thud जोर से गिरना ।
अनुवाद : अपनी मम्मी की मृत्यु के सात वर्ष बाद 27 अक्तूबर, 1999 प्रशान्त अपने गाँव से अठारह किलोमीटर की दूरी पर एरसामा नामक, “तटीय उड़ीसा के खण्ड हैडक्वार्टर में गया हुआ था, ताकि वह अपने मित्र के साथ एक दिन बिताए। शाम को अचानक तेजी से एक काला और भयानक तूफान मण्डरा गया। हवाओं ने मकानों को बेतहाशा तेजी से और क्रोध से इतने अधिक थपेड़े मारे जितने प्रशान्त ने पहले कभी नहीं देखे थे। भारी और निरन्तर वर्षा ने अन्धकार को और गहरा कर दिया। पुराने वृक्षों को भी समूल उखाड़ दिया और जमीन पर गिरा दिया।
Text (Page 38) : Screams rent the air as people and houses were swiftly washed away. The angry waters swirled into his friend’s house, neck deep. The building was of brick and mortar and was strong enough to survive the devastation of the wind’s velocity of 350 km. per hour. But the cold terror of the family grew with the crashing of trees that had got uprooted and fallen on their house, sometime in the middle of the night, damaging its roof and walls.
Vocabulary : sereams (स्क्रीम्स) yells चीखें; swiftly (स्विफ्टली) with fast speed तेजी से; swirled (स्वर्लड) moved in whirling motion चक्कर खाना, भँवर बनाती हुई: mortar (मोरटर) mixture of lime, sand, water, cement गारा; survive (सर्वाइव) to remain intact नष्ट होने से बचे रहना; devastation (डिवास्टेशन) to cause heavy destruction तहस-नहस करना; velocity (विलॉसिटी) speed of motion गति; uprooted (अपस्टेड) pulled out from root जड़ से उखड़ना; damaging (डैमेजिंग) causing harm क्षति पहुंचाना।।
अनुवाद : ज्यों ही लोगों और घरों को तेजी से बहाकर ले जाया जा रहा था, तो लोगों के चीत्कार से हवा भर गई। गर्दन तक ऊँचाई वाला क्रोधित जल उसके मित्र के घर में घुस कर चक्कर लगाने लगा। वह भवन इंटों और गारे का था और इतना मजबूत था कि उसने प्रति घंटा 350 किमी. की गति वाली विध्वंसक तूफानी हवा का मुकाबला किया, परन्तु वृक्षों के गिरने से, जिन्हें समूल उखाड़ कर छतों पर गिरा दिया गया था, परिवार का उत्साहहीन, निर्दय भय और भी बढ़ गया था। वृक्ष आधी रात में गिरे और मकान की छत तथा दीवारों को क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया।
Text (Page 38): The crazed destruction wrought by the cyclone and the surge of the ocean continued for the next thirty-six hours, although wind speeds had reduced somewhat by the next morning. To escape the waters rising in the house, Prashant and his friend’s family had taken refuge on the roof. Prashant will never forget the shock he experienced at his first glimpse of the devastation wrought by the super-cyclone, in the grey light of the early morning.
Vocabulary : crazed (क्रेज्ड) maddened पागल हुई। destruction (डिस्ट्रक्शन) devastation विनाश; wrought (पेट) made, worked लाया गया; surge (सज) rolling swell उफान; refuge (रिफ्यूज) shelter शरण; glimpse (ग्लिम्प्स) passing look झलक।
अनुवाद : चक्रवात तथा समुद्र के उफान द्वारा किया गया विध्वंस अगले छत्तीस घंटे तक चलता रहा, हालांकि अगले दिन प्रातः तक वायु की गति कुछ मंदी हो गई थी। घर के भीतर पानी के चढ़ते हुए स्तर से बचने के लिए प्रशान्त और उसके मित्र के परिवार ने छत के ऊपर शरण ले ली थी। विशिष्ट चक्रवात द्वारा किए गए विध्वंस की पहली झलक के जो झटके प्रशान्त ने प्रातः काल की सलेटी रोशनी में अनुभव किए, उन्हें वह कभी भी भूल नहीं
Text (Page 38) : A raging, deadly, brown sheet of water covered everything as far as the eye could see; only fractured cement houses still stood in a few places. Bloated animal carcasses and human corpses floated in every direction. All round, even huge old trees had fallen. Two coconut trees had fallen on the roof of their house. This was a blessing in disguise, because the tender coconuts from the trees kept the trapped family from starving in the several days that followed.
Vocabulary : raging ((हडल्ड) violently angry अतिक्रुद्ध; bloated (ब्लौटेड) swollen फूली हुई; careasses (कारकसज़) dead bodies of animals पशुओं के शव; corpses (कॉर्पसेज़) dead bodies of human beings मानव शव; blessing (ब्लैसिंग) आशीर्वाद; disguise (डिसगाइस) in changed appearance बदली वेशभूषा, किसी और रूप में, tender टिन्डर) soft नरम; trapped (ट्रैप्ड) entangled फँसे हुए; starving (स्टाविंग) dying of hunger भूख से मरना।
अनुवाद : जहाँ तक दृष्टि पड़ती है, क्रोध और मृत्युकारी पानी की भूरी चावर ने सभी चीजों को ढक रखा था, केवल कुछ स्थानों पर टूटे हुए सीमेंट के घर खड़े हुए थे। सभी दिशाओं में फूले हुए पशुओं तथा मनुष्यों के शव बह रहे थे। सभी ओर विशाल और दीर्घकाय वृक्ष गिर गए थे। उनके घर के ऊपर नारियल के दो पेड़ गिर गए थे। यह बदले भेष में एक वरदान था क्योंकि वृक्ष के मुलायम फलों ने कई दिनों तक फंसे हुए परिवार पर भूखों मरने की नौबत आने की स्थिति को बचा लिया।
Text (Page 38): For the next two days, Prashant sat huddled with his friend’s family in the open on the rooftop. They froze in the cold and incessant rain; the rain water washed away Prashant’s tears. The only thought that flashed through his mind was whether his family had survived the fury of the supercyclone. Was he to be bereaved once again?
Vocabulary : huddled (हडल्ड) sit as if packed गठरी बन कर बैठना; froze (फ्रोज़) chilled बर्फ से जमे हए: incessant (इन्सेसेन्ट) continuous लगातार; nashed (फ्लैशड) glowed कौंधती, चमकती; fury (फ्यूरी) anger क्रोध; bereaved (बिरीव्ड) to be deprived of वंचित होना; survived (सर्वाइव्ड) remained alive ज़िन्दा रहे।
अनुवाद : अगले दो दिन प्रशान्त अपने मित्र के परिवार के साथ छत के ऊपर खुले स्थान में सट कर बैठा रहा। वे ठण्ड तथा निरन्तर वर्षा के कारण जम (ठिठुर) से गए, वर्षा के पानी ने प्रशान्त के आँसुओं को धो डाला। उसके मस्तिष्क में केवल एक ही विचार था कि विशाल चक्रवात के क्रोध के उपरान्त उसका परिवार जीवित बचा होगा या नहीं। क्या उसे एक बार फिर उनकी मृत्यु हो जाने के कारण उनका विछोह सहना पड़ेगा?
Text (Page 38) : Two days later, which seemed to Prashant like two years, the rain ceased and the rain waters slowly began to recede. Prashant was determined to seek out his family without further delay. But the situation was still dangerous, and his friend’s family pleaded with Prashant to stay back a little while longer. But Prashant knew he had to go.
Vocabulary : ceased (सीज्ड) stopped रुक गया, खत्म हो गया; recede (रिसीड) to retreat पीछे हटना; determined (डिटमिड) resolved निश्चय किया; seek out (सीक आउट) find out ढूँढ निकालना; delay (डीले) aloss of time देरी; pleaded (प्लीडिड) argued with, requested तर्क किया, प्रार्थना की।
अनुवाद : दो वर्षों की भांति दिखाई पड़ने वाले दो दिन के पश्चात् वर्षा थम गई और वर्षा के जल का स्तर नीचे जाने लगा। अब प्रशान्त ने दुढ़ निश्चय किया कि और अधिक देरी किए बिना अपने परिवार को दूंड ले। परन्तु अभी भी स्थिति खतरे से खाली नहीं थी और उसके मित्र के परिवार ने प्रशान्त से थोड़ा और अधिक समय तक स्कने का अनुरोध किया, परन्तु प्रशान्त जानता था कि उसे जाना ही है।
Text (Pages 38-39): He equipped himself with a long, sturdy stick, and then started on his eighteenkilometre expedition back to his village through the swollen flood waters. It was a journey he would never forget. He constantly had to use his stick to locate the road, to determine where the water was most shallow. At places it was waist deep, and progress was slow. At several points, he lost the road and had to swim. After some distance, he was relieved to find two friends of his uncle who were also returning to their village. They decided to move ahead together.
Vocabulary : equipped (इक्वीप्ड) furnished उपकरण लिया; sturdy (स्टडी) strong मज़बूत: expedition (एक्सपीडीशन) campaign अभियान: constantly (कॉन्सटेंट्ली) continuously लगातार; locate (लोकेट) to find aplace स्थान ढूँढना; shallow (शैलो) not deep उयला; several (सैवरल) many कई; relieved (रिलीव्ह) feel relaxed, relief राहत महसूस की, तनावमुक्त हुआ; ahead (अहैड) forward आगे।
अनुवाद : उसने एक लम्बी और मजबूत छड़ी ली और तूफान युक्त बाढ़ वाले जल के बीच, अठारह किलोमीटर की दूरी पर स्थित अपने गाँव की ओर चलने का अभियान प्रारम्भ किया। उस यात्रा को वह कभी भी नहीं भूल पाएगा। सड़क की स्थिति तथा कम से कम गहरे पानी के स्थान को जानने के लिए उसने निरन्तर अपनी छड़ी का प्रयोग किया।
कई स्थानों पर पानी कमर जितना गहरा था और उसकी प्रगति मन्द हो जाती थी। कई स्थानों पर वह सड़क को छोड़ जाता था और उसे तैरना पड़ता था। कुछ दूरी तय करने के बाद उसे उस समय राहत मिली जब उसके चाचा के दो मित्र उसे मिल गए जो उसके गाँव की तरफ ही लौट रहे थे। उन्होंने इकठे आगे बढ़ने का निर्णय लिया।
Text (Page 39) : As they waded through the waters, the scenes they witnessed grew more and more macabre. They had to push away many human bodies – men, women, children and carcasses of dogs, goats and cattle that the current swept against them as they moved ahead. In every village that they passed, they could barely see a house standing. Prashant now wept out loud and long. He was sure that his family could not have survived this catastrophe.
Vocabulary : waded (38) walked through waters पानी के बीच से गुजरे; macabre (मैकाबर) gloomy, suggesting death वीभत्ल; barely (वयली) hardly मुश्किल से; catastrophe (केटैस्ट्रॉफी) sudden and widespread disaster भीषण विपत्ति।
अनुवाद : पानी में चलते हुए उन्होंने जो दृश्य देखे, वे अधिक वीभत्स होते चले गए। ज्यों-ज्यों के आगे की ओर बढ़ते गए, त्यों-त्यों उन्हें बहाव की तीव्रता से उनकी ओर लाए जाने वाले पुरुषों, महिलाओं तथा बच्चों की लाशों
और कुत्तों, बकरियों तथा अन्य पशुओं के शवों को एक तरफ धकेलना पड़ता था। जिस-जिस गाँव के नज़दीक से वे गुजरते थे, उन्हें वहाँ मुश्किल से ही कोई मकान खड़ा हुआ दिखाई देता था। अब प्रशान्त काफी देर तक फूट-फूट कर रोता रहा। उसे निश्चय हो गया कि उस विप्लवकारी स्थिति में उसका परिवार नहीं बच पाया होगा।
Text (Page 39) : Eventually, Prashant reached his village, Kalikuda. His heart went cold, Where their home once stood, there were only remnants of its roof. Some of their belongings were caught, mangled and twisted, in the branches of trees just visible above the dark waters. Young Prashant decided to go to the Red Cross shelter to look for his family.
Vocabulary: eventually (इवेन्चुवली) ultimately अन्त में; remnants (रैमनेन्ट्स) remains अवशेष, belongings (बिलोगिन्स) possessions, parts of property सम्पत्ति; mangled (मंगल्ड) mutilated क्षत-विक्षत; twisted (विस्टेड) curled मुड़ी
अनुवाद : अन्त में, प्रशान्त कालीकुडा नामक अपने गाँव में पहुँच गया। उसका हृदय उत्साहहीन हो गया। जहां उसका घर था, उस स्थान पर उसकी छत के अवशेष पड़े थे। उनकी कुछ सम्पत्ति पेड़ों की शाखाओं में अटकी हुई. टूटी हुई या मुड़ी हुई, काले पानी के ऊपर नज़र आ रही थी। अपने परिवार की तलाश करने के लिए प्रशान्त ने रैड क्रॉस शरणस्थल पर जाने का निर्णय लिया।
Text (Page 39) : Among the first people he saw in the crowd was his maternal grandmother. Weak with hunger, she rushed to him, her hands outstretched, her eyes brimming. It was a miracle. They had long given him up for dead.
Quickly word spread and his extended family gathered around him, and hugged him tight in relief. Prashant anxiously scanned the motley, battered group. His brother and sister, his uncles and aunts, they all seemed to be there.
Vocabulary: maternal (मटर्नल) from mother’sside गों की ओर से maternal grandmother (मैटर्नल अँडमदर) शानी: outstretched (आउटस्ट्रैच्ड) spread out फैलाये; Priiaming (ब्रिमिंग) full of tears आँसुओं से भरी हुई; miracle मिरेकल) wonder चमत्कार; extended (एक्सटेंडेड) stretched vut फैले हुए: hugged (हग्ड) embraced आलिंगन किया; unxiously (एशियसली) curiously उत्सुकतापूर्वक; scanned (स्केन्ड) examined परखा, सरसरी निगाह से खोजा; motley (मोट्ली) of different colours रंग-बिरंगी; battered (बैटर्ड) beaten heavily and repeatedly बार-बार दुःखों विपत्तियों से पिटी हुई।
अनुवाद : भीड़ में नजर आने वाले व्यक्तियों में सर्वप्रथम उसकी नानी थी। हालांकि भूख के कारण वह निर्बल हो चुकी थी, परन्तु अपने हाथ फैला कर और अनुपूर्ण नेत्रों से वह तीव्र गति से आगे बढ़ी। यह एक चमत्कार था। उन्होंने उसे काफी समय पहले मरा हुआ समझ लिया था।
थोड़ी देर में यह समाचार फैल गया और उसके परिवार के अन्य सदस्य उसके इर्द-गिर्द इकट्ठे हो गए और राहत महसूस करते हुए उसका आलिंगन किया। प्रशान्त ने चाह भरी दृष्टि से उस रंग-बिरंगे तथा क्षत-विक्षत दल को आँका। उसके भाई और बहन, उसके चाचा और चाचियाँ, सभी वहाँ दिखाई
Text (Page 40) : By the next morning, as he took in the desperate situation in the shelter, he decided to get a grip over himself. He sensed a deathly grief settling upon the 2500 strong crowd in the shelter. Eighty-six lives were lost in the village. All the ninety-six houses had been washed away. It was their fourth day at the shelter. So far they had survived on green coconuts, but there were too few to go around such a tumult of people.
Vocabulary : desperate (डेस्पेरेट) hopeless निराश; situation (Parquara) state of affair frafa: grip (fr) hold, control पकड़, नियंत्रण; sensed (सैन्स्ड) felt महसूस किया, deathly grief (हचली ग्रीफ) mourning like death मृत्यु के शोक जैसा; washed away (वाश्ड अवे) swept away बह गये; tumult (टयूमुल्ट) uproar of agitated crowd उत्तेजित भीड़।
अनुवाद : अगली प्रातः तक वह शरण स्थल की निराशाजनक स्थिति का जायजा ले चुका था, उसने अपने ऊपर काबू करने का प्रयत्न किया। उसने शरणस्थल में शरण पाए हुए 2500 सशक्त व्यक्तियों के घातक दुःख को निहारा। गाँव के 86 व्यक्ति मर चुके थे। सभी 96 घर बह गए थे। शरणस्थल में यह उनका चौथा दिन था। अभी तक उन्होंने हरे नारियलों पर जीवन-यापन किया था, परन्तु इतनी बड़ी अपार भीड़ के लिए उनकी संख्या कम पड़ गई थी।
Text (Page 40) : Prashant, all of nineteen years, decided to step in as leader of his village, if no one else did. He organised a group of youths and elders to jointly pressurize the merchant once again to part with his rice. This time the delegation succeeded and returned triumphantly, wading through the receding waters with food for the entire shelter. No one cared that the rice was already rotting. Branches from fallen trees were gathered to light a reluctant and slow fire, on which to cook the rice.
Vocabulary : organised (ऑरगेनाइज्ड) put in order, united व्यवस्थित/संगठित किया; pressurize(प्रेशराईज़) compelled, put pressure on, forced दबाव डाला delegation (डेलीगेशन) group of representatives प्रतिनिधियों का दल; triumphantly (ट्रायम्फेंट्ली ) victoriously विजयी होकर; entire (एन्टायर) whole समूचा; reluctant (रिलक्टैन्ट) unwillingly अनिच्छापूर्वक; rotting (रॉटिंग) decaying सड़/खराब हो रहे थे।
अनुवाद : जब अन्य कोई व्यक्ति नेता नहीं बना तो उन्नीस वर्षांव प्रशान्त ने अपने गाँव का नेता बनने का निर्णय लिया। उसने मिल-जुलकर सौदागर के ऊपर एक बार दोबारा चावल बाँटने के लिए दबाव देने हेतु नवयुवकों तथा वृद्ध पुरुषों के दल को संगठित किया। इस बार प्रतिनिधिमण्डला को सफलता मिल गई और वे पानी के उतरते हुए स्तर के बीच सभी शरणार्थियों के लिए खाद्य सामग्री लेकर विजयी होकर लौटे। इस बात की ओर किसी का ध्यान नहीं गया कि वह चावल पहले ही सड़ रहा था। उन्होंने गिरे हुए वृक्षों की शाखाएँ इकट्ठी की ताकि मंदी और अनिच्छुक आग जलायी जा सके और उसके ऊपर चावल उबाले जा सकें।
Text (Page 40): For the first time in four days, the survivors at the cyclone shelter were able to fill their bellies. His next task was to organise a team of youth volunteers to clean the shelter of filth, urine, vomit and floating carcasses, and to tend to the wounds and fractures of the many who had been injured.
Vocabulary : survivors (सर्वाइवरस्) those who could remain alive जीवित बचे; bellies (बेलीज़) stomachs पेट; volunteers (वॉसन्टीयस) one who opts to work free of charge स्वयं-सेक्क; filth (फिल्थ) dirt, foul matter गंदगी, मैला पदार्थ; wounds (वून्डस्) injured part of body घाव, चोट लगा भाग; fractured (फ्रक्चर्ड) broken bone टूटी हड़ी।
अनुवाद : चार दिनों में पहली बार शरणस्थल के जीवित शरणार्थियों ने भरपेट भोजन खाया था। उसका अगला कार्य नवयुवक स्वयं-सेवकों के दल को संगठित करना था ताकि वे शरणस्थल में से मैले पदार्थों, पेशाब, उल्टियाँ और बहती हुई लाशों को हटा दें तथा घायल लोगों के तथा टूट-फूट का इलाज कर सकें।
Text (Pages 40-41) : On the fifth day, a military helicopter flew over the shelter and dropped some food parcels. It then did not return. The youth task force gathered empty utensils from the shelter. Then they deputed the children to lie in the sand left by the waters around the shelter with these utensils on their stomachs, to communicate to the passing helicopters that they were hungry. The message got through, and after that the helicopter made regular rounds of the shelter, air dropping food and other basic needs.
Vocabulary : utensils (बूटैनसिल्स) pots बर्तन: communicate (कम्यूनिकेट) to convey message संदेश भेजना; basic needs (बेसिक नीड्स) bare necessities बुनियादी ज़रूरतें।
अनुवाद : पाँचवें दिन सेना का एक वायुयान शरणस्थल के ऊपर से उड़ा और उसने खाद्य पदार्थों के कुछ पैकेट नीचे डाले। फिर वे वापस नहीं आए। नवयुवक स्वयं-सेवक दल ने शरणस्थल में से खाली बर्तन उठाए। फिर उन्होंने बच्चों को शरणस्थल के चारों ओर जहाँ से पानी हट गया था, रेत के ऊपर, अपने पेटों के ऊपर खाली बर्तन रख कर लेटने के लिए नियुक्त किया ताकि ऊपर से गुजरते हुए वायुयानों को पता चल जाए कि वे भूखे हैं। यह संदेश पहुंच गया और उसके बाद वायुयानों ने शरणस्थल के नियमित दौरे किए और खाद्य सामग्री तथा अन्य आवश्यक वस्तुएँ नीचे गिराई।
Text (Page 41) : Prashant found that a large number of children had been orphaned. He brought them together and put up a polythene sheet shelter for them. Women were mobilised to look after them, while the men secured food and materials for the shelter.
Vocabulary : orphaned (जौरफैन्ड) deprived of parents अनाथ; mobilised (मोबीलाइज्ड) activated गतिमान किया। secured (सिक्योड) to obtain/get प्राप्त करना।
अनुवाद : प्रशान्त ने देखा कि असंख्य बच्चे अनाथ हो गए थे। उसने उन्हें इकट्ठा किया और उनके लिए पॉलीथीन की चादर लगाकर शरणस्थान बना दिया। उनकी देख-रेख के लिए महिलाओं को सक्रिय बनाया गया जब कि पुरुष उनके लिए खाद्य सामग्री तथा अन्य आवश्यक सामग्री जुटाते थे।
Text (Page 41): As the weeks passed, Prashant was quick to recognise that the women and children were sinking deeper and deeper in their grief. He persuaded the women to start working in the foodfor-work programme started by an NGO, and for the children he organised sports events. He himself loved to play cricket, and so he organised cricket matches for children..
Vocabulary : grief (ग्रीफ) sorrow दुःख; persuaded (परसुएडेड) convinced राजी किया; engaged (एन्गेज्ड) made _busy व्यस्त कर दिया काम में लगा दिया।
अनुवाद : कई सप्ताह बीत जाने पर प्रशान्त ने तेजी से भांप लिया कि महिलाएं और बच्चे अधिक दुःखी होते जा रहे हैं। उसने महिलाओं को काम के लिए भोजन प्रोग्राम में भाग लेने के लिए राजी कर लिया जिसे एक एन.जी.ओ. ने प्रारम्भ किया था और बच्चों की खातिर उसने खेल-प्रतियोगिताओं का आयोजन किया। वह स्वयं क्रिकेट खेलने में रुचि रखता था। इसलिए उसने बच्चों के लिए क्रिकेट के मैचों का संगठन किया।
Text (Pages 41-42) : Prashant engaged, with other volunteers, in helping the widows and children to pick up the broken pieces of their lives. The initial government plan was to set up institutions for orphans and widows. However, this step had been successfully resisted, as it was felt that in such institutions, children would grow up without love and the widows suffer from stigma and lopeliness.
Prashant’s group believed orphans should be resettled in their own community itself, possibly in new foster families made up of childless widows and children without adult care.
Vocabulary: initial (इनीशियल) of beginning प्रारम्भिक, resisted (रज़िस्टेड) opposed विरोध किया; stigma (स्टिग्मा) blot धब्बा; foster (फॉस्टर) to nurture, to bring up लालन-पालन करना; adult care (अडल्ट केयर) to be looked after by any elder बड़ों द्वारा देखभाल ।
अनुवाद : अन्य स्वयं सेवकों के साथ मिलकर प्रशाना विधवाओं और बच्चों की सहायता के कार्य में जुट गया ताकि वे अपने जीवन के क्षत-विक्षत टुकड़ों को संभाल सकें। अनाओं और विधवाओं के लिए संस्थाएं स्थापित करना सरकार की प्रथम योजना थी, परन्तु इस कदम का सक्रिय विरोध हुआ क्योंकि यह महसूस किया गया कि इस प्रकार की संस्थाओं में बढ़े हुए बच्चे प्रेम से वंचित रहेंगे और विधवाएँ कलंकों और एकांतभाव से ग्रस्त होंगी। प्रशान्त के दल का विश्वास था कि अनाथों को उन्हीं के सम्प्रदाय के भीतर पुनर्वासित किया जाए। यदि सम्भव हो तो उन्हें उन पोषक गृहों में रखा जाए जो किसी वयस्क के नियन्त्रण में नहीं हों बल्कि, बिना बच्चों वाली विधवाओं और बच्चों के योग से बने हुए हों जिनका संरक्षक कोई वयस्क नहीं हो।
Text (Page 42): It is six months after the devastation of the super-cyclone. This time Prashant’s wounded spirit has healed simply because he had no time to bother about his own pain. His handsome, youthful face is what the widows and orphaned children of his village seek out most in their darkest hour of grief.
Vocabulary : wounded spirit (तून्डेड स्पिरिट) hurt soul घायल आत्मा; healed (हील्ड) cured or filling up of wound घाव भरना/ठीक होना; bother (बॉदर) worry चिन्ता करना; seek out (सीक आउट) try to find out ढूँढते हैं; darkest hour of grief (डार्केस्ट आवर ऑफ ग्रीफ) sad time when they are in sorrow दुःख की काली घड़ी।
अनुवाद : विशाल चक्रवात द्वारा की गई तबाही के बाद छह मास की अवधि बीत चुकी है। इस बार प्रशान्त की पावल आत्मा स्वस्थ हो चुकी है क्योंकि अपने कष्टों द्वारा परेशान होने का उसके पास समय नहीं है। उसके गाँव की विधवाएँ तथा अनाथ बच्चे अपने दुःख के कठोरतम समय में उसके सुन्दर और युवा चेहरे की ओर लालसा-भरी दृष्टि से देखते हैं।