Short Questions (2 Marks)

Question 1 : Where did Prashant go seven years after his mother’s death? How far was it from his village?

Answer : Prashant went to meet his friend who lived in a small coastal town called Ersama seven years after his mother’s death.

Ersama was found around 18 kms from his village.

Question 2 : What happened when Prashant reached Ersama? How long did it last?

Answer : A super cyclone struck Ersama when Prashant reached there. The cyclone hit the area badly causing serious damage to the life and property there.

It was accompanied with continuous rains and lasted for 36 hours.

Question 3 : Describe the devastation caused by the super cyclone. 

Answer : The super cyclone destroyed many houses and uprooted ancient trees. The continuous rain caused floods due to which many people and animals got injured or lost their lives. People became homeless and without food. They were suffering.

Question 4 : How did Prashant save his life? What was the blessing in disguise for him?

Answer : Prashant and his friend’s family saved their lives by taking refuge on the roof of his friend’s house. The coconut trees that had fallen on his friend’s roof were the blessing in disguise for him as he ate the coconuts when he was hungry.

Question 5 : How did Prashant feel on the rooftop? How long did he stay there?

Answer : Prashant felt frozen due to the continuous rains. He also cried and worried about his family’s well being from time to time. He was doubtful that his family might not have survived.

He stayed there for two days until the rain stopped and the water receded.

Question 6 : Describe Prashant’s journey to his village.

Answer : Prashant waded through the waist deep water and used a stick to locate the road on the journey to his village. He had to swim whenever he lost the road and push away human bodies and carcasses to make his way.

Question 7 : Why did Prashant’s heart go cold when he reached his village?

Answer : On reaching his village, Prashant saw only a remainder of the roof of his house where his home once stood. He feared that his family members were dead and this made his heart beat faster. He was sure then he had become bereaved once again.

Question 8 : Why did Prashant go to the Red Cross Shelter? Who was the first to meet Prashant there?

Answer : Prashant went to the Red Cross Shelter to look for his family members as his home was completely destroyed by the cyclone. He knew that he might find someone there.

His maternal grandmother was the first person to meet him there.

Question 9 : What was the miracle for Prashant’s family? Why was it considered a miracle?

Answer : Prashant’s return to Kalikuda was a miracle for Prashant’s family.

It was considered as a miracle by his family as they had thought that Prashant had died in the cyclonic floods and didn’t expect him to return alive.

Question 10 : Describe the reaction of Prashant’s family on seeing him.

Answer : Prashant’s family considered his return a miracle. Her maternal grandfather rushed to him with her hands outstretched grandmother rushed to him with her hands outstretched and eyes brimming. The other family members gathered around him and hugged him in relief. They were very happy on seeing him alive.

Long Questions (8 Marks)

Question 1 : Why was Prashant anxious to go to his village? How did he reach there?

Or, How did Prashant manage to reach Kalikuda in the flood?

Or, Describe Prashant’s journey to his village.

Answer : The cyclone hit the area very badly. It caused a great description there and left nothing upright. The cyclone was so heavy that it removed all the houses there and no trees were standing. Prashant, after spending two days at the friend’s house, decide to look for his family members and started for his village. Prashant was worried about the well-being of his family members at his village. So, he decided to go there although the situation was still dangerous.

Prashant took a long, sturdy stick and started his 18 kms journey to his village. He used the stick to know the level of the water and locate the road through the swollen flood waters. At several places, he had to swim when he lost the road. After covering some distance, he found two friends of his uncle and decided to move with them.

He saw many frightening scenes as dead bodies of people and carcasses of animals swept against him due to the water current. In  every village he passed, he could hardly see a house standing. He cried loudly as he feared he might have lost his family members. Finally, he reached his village after facing all these difficulties.

Question 2 : Describe the role of Prashant as the leader of his village.

Or, How did Prashant help his villagers?

Answer : Although Prashant was just nineteen years old, he stepped in as a leader to represent his village.

He organised a group of youth and elders. The group pressurised the local grain merchant to give rice to feed the hungry people. Once they got rice from the merchant, they collected the broken branches of trees and cooked food to feed the flood victims.

Prashant then organised a team of youth volunteers to clean the shelter of filth, urine, vomit and floating carcasses. The wounded and fractured victims were tended to next. He also gathered the orphan children together and mobilised the women to take care of them.

The men were given the task of getting food and other materials for the shelter. Some women were persuaded by Prashant to work for an NGO as that they can get food for the work they did. He even helped the orphans and windows of the shelter to come to terms with their loss. Only a leader can do all this that too in the time of extreme need. This way, we can say that Prasant acted as true leader in the hour of need and was successful at his job as a leader.

Question 3 : How would you react if you were in a situation like Prashant? Elaborate.

Answer : If I were in a situation like Prashant, I would not panic and stay calm. I would team up with my friends and start helping the victims. Providing first aid to the wounded victims would be the first thing to do. Then, we would provide food and shelter for the victims.

The government and NGOs would be contacted to give the best possible aid to the victim. These organisations would surely come up with the best possible help. In the time of need, we can expect some other foundations to help us and we will surely contact them to offer whatever they can.

In this internet dominated era, I would also ask for volunteers through social networking sites to come forward and help the victims. Once the victims are healed, we would start the rehabilitation programme for them. As losing a loved one in such calamities can be painful, we would also help the victims to come out of the emotional trauma by providing them counselling and therapy by trained personnel. Children, women and old people would be taken care of by us in the best possible manner.