Question 1:
What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa (Odisha) ?
Answer:
Even huge old trees are uprooted. Houses are washed away. There is water and water everywhere. Bloated carcasses and corpses are floating in every direction. There is horrible destruction all around.
Question 2:
How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village ?
Answer:
Prashant has organized a group of youths and elders. This group has pressed on the merchant to give rice for the villagers. He has formed a team of volunteers to clean the place where the villagers have taken shelter. This team has also treated the wounds and fractures of many people. Prashant has organised a team of women to look after children who have been orphaned. He has persuaded women to work in the food-for-work programme. Thus Prashant helped the people of his village.
Question 3:
How have the people of the community helped one another ? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days ?
Answer:
The people have formed themselves into groups. Prashant acts as their leader. Women have formed themselves into teams to look after the orphaned children. Men work to get food and materials for the shelter. Prashant has persuaded women to work in the food-for-work programme. Thus the people of the community helped one another.
Question 4:
Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider ?
Answer:
They feel that in such institutions the orphaned children would grow up without love. Widowed women would suffer from loneliness. They would bear the stigma of being widows. Therefore, Prashant and others believe that children should be brought up in the families of their own community. They should be kept in families of childless widows.
Question 5:
Do you think Prashant is a good leader ? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities ?
Answer:
Prashant is definitely a good leader. He works selflessly. He helps people to get over their grief and sorrow. He organises them into groups so that they can help themselves and others also. Young people can learn from Prashant’s example. They can get together and help people during natural calamities.
Question 6:
Where were Prashant and his friend’s family during the two days of the super cyclone ? What did they live on ? Where did they get their ‘food’ from ?
Answer:
Prashant and his friend’s family remained on the roof. Two coconut trees had fallen on the roof of their house. They got their food from these trees.
Question 7:
Why was it difficult for Prashant to travel back to his village ? ‘His heart went cold’ when he reached his village. Why ?
Answer:
Prashant had to use a stick to locate the road. At many points he lost the road. He had to swim then. Prashant found that his house was gone. No one from the family was there. So his heart went cold with fear.
Question 8:
What were the two important tasks Prashant did after deciding to be the leader of the village ?
Answer:
Firstly, Prashant organised a group of youths. They pressurised the local merchant to give them some rice. Secondly, he made a team of youth volunteers. They cleaned the Red Cross shelter.
Question 9:
How did the villagers make the helicopters drop regular quantities of food ?
Answer:
The villagers made children lie on the ground. They had empty utensils on their stomachs. Those in the helicopters would know that they needed food. So they would drop food for them regularly.
Question 10:
How did Prashant help the women and children to get over their grief ?
Answer:
An N.G.O. had started ‘food for work’ programme. Prashant persuaded the women to join it. He organised sports events for children.
Question 11:
Who do the widows and orphans seek out in their darkest hour of grief ? Do you think this has made Prashant (i) proud ? (ii) happy ? (iii) strong ?
Answer:
In their darkest hour of grief, widows and orphans seek out Prashant. This has made Prashant strong. He can face the miseries and calamities of life boldly. He can also do much to help others.
Question 12:
Suppose you are a victim of a natural calamity. How will Prashant’s example inspire you in rescuing and helping others ?
Answer:
I will take the lead in relief work. I will persuade the government to provide grants and
donations.
I will inspire others to come forward.
Question 13:
Describe the cyclone that hit Ersama.
Answer:
A dark and menacing storm came towards the evening. There was heavy and continuous rain. Trees were uprooted. People and houses were washed away. The waters continued to rise higher and higher.
Question 14:
What scene did Prashant witness on his way to the village ?
Answer:
Prashant saw dead bodies of men, women and children floating in the waters. He also saw the carcasses of dogs, goats and cattle. Not a house was seen standing in its place.
Question 15:
How did Prashant arrange food for the Red Cross shelter ?
Answer:
Prashant organised a group of youths and elders. They pressurised the merchant to give them some rice. They succeeded in their mission. Wading through the waters, they came with food for the entire shelter. Though the rice was rotting, no one cared for it. They gathered branches from fallen trees. Then they made a fire to cook the rice. For the first time in four days, the cyclone victims at the shelter ate their fill.
Question 16:
What did Prashant do for women and children ?
Answer:
Prashant brought all the orphaned children together. He put up a polythene sheet shelter for them. An N.G.O. had started ‘food for work’ programme. He persuaded women to join this. He organised sports events for children. Prashant himself loved to play cricket. He organised cricket matches for children. He helped the widows and children to get out of their grief. He urged them to start their life afresh. He resisted the government’s plan to set up an institution for widows and orphans. His group believed that in such institutions, children grew up without getting love. The widows too suffered from stigma and loneliness in such institutions.