Class 9 English Moments


Weathering the Storm in Ersama

NCERT Solution

Question 1. What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?

Answer: The super cyclone devastated everything in Orissa. Houses were destroyed, people lost their families, belongings and source of sustenance. Any natural calamity apparently damages physical things. But deep inside it wreaks a psychological damage on a larger scale. Think about the plight of a village folk who loses everything and may not be able to understand where to get his next meal from. The scar of losing every hope in life has a lifelong effect on people. From there it becomes very difficult to bring the life back on rail.

Question 2: How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?

Answer: Prashant shows the true leadership qualities. He motivates people for self help. His young energy works miracles in awakening people to fight with the after effects of the super cyclone.

Question 3: How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?

Answer: Men and youth worked on arranging for food and shelter. While women took care of cooking and looking after orphaned and injured. This happens in normal life also. In most of the households menfolk go out to earn the bread and butter. Women manage the household nurturing everyone.

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: Prashant and other volunteers were of the opinion that orphans would be devoid of love and affection which was their important need. Proper love is always required for better psychological development of a child.

Widows would have to live with the stigma of widowhood throughout their lives. It was necessary for them also to get a sense of belongingness. Society also plays a great role in providing mental comfort to people.

To create a sense of belongingness and to foster love and affection they planned to complement the needs of orphaned and childless people. They brought them under one roof to heal their mental wounds.

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: Yes, Prashant is a good leader. He didn’t ponder over his loss and started helping everybody else. A good leader manages to utilize people and resources to bring the fruitful results. The need of the hour was to fulfill physical as well as mental needs of people in crisis. Prashant managed and motivated his village folks to fulfill those needs.

In times of natural calamities if people come together then it gives them a sense of strength to tide over the crisis. The feeling that somebody is with you is enough to lift your spirits. The sense of loss and helplessness during crisis is almost impossible to fight with if somebody is alone. People should and people do get together in times of crisis. During floods and earthquakes usually it is people who take the initiative to fight the mishap.