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प्रश्न
Read the extract and complete the activities given below:
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"I don't believe in taking the right decisions. I take decisions, I take decisions and then make them right:' One of them make them right. One of Ratan Tata's inspiring words which made me dream beyond shadows. I feel fortunate that I discovered him in the early stage of my life and now I am using his teachings to mould my future the way I want. Even though Ratan Tata was born into a very posh family in India, he never took money and power for granted. He graduated from Riverdale country from New York, Ratan Tata began his career in the Tata Group working on the shop floor of Tata Steel. After working for almost 10 years he was appointed as the director-in-charge of the National Radio and Electronics Company Limited (NELCO) in order to help its struggling finances. He worked hard to build a better consumer electronics division but the economic recession and union strikes prevented him from achieving success and this success helped Tata to be appointed as the chairman of the Tata Group of companies. He started with a very basic job in his father's company and today he owns a billion dollar company. The tag of greatness does not come without making any sacrifices and this tag on Ratan Tata suits to its best. Tata group launched its passenger car Tata Indica in the year 1998 but Tata Indica was a failure in its first year and the experiment seemed to be failing. Many people started advising Ratan Tata that he should sell the passenger car business. Ratan Tata also agreed to this and a proposal was given to Ford. they showed interest too. The three-hour meeting at Ford headquarters in Detroit, chairman of Ford (Bill Ford) said to Ratan Tata, "Why did you enter in the passenger car business when you were not knowing of it. It will be a favour if we buy this business from you." Ratan Tata decided to move back home. Whi le travelling he was very tense as the feeling of being insulted was on his mind. After earlier failures, Tata Motors did well with its business of passenger cars but in the same period, Ford did very bad. In 2008 when Ford was on it way of bankruptcy, Tata Group offered Ford to buy its luxury car brand, Jaguar Land Rover. Ford arrived in Mumbai for the meeting. In the meeting, Bill Ford said to Ratan Tata, you are doing a big favour for us by buying-Jaguar-Land Rover is now owned by Tata Group and is currently making profits. |
A1. Rewrite the following sentences as per their occurrence in the extract: (2)
- He was appointed as the Director-in-charge of the National Radio and Electronics Company Limited.
- Tata Group launched its passenger car 'Tata Indica in the year 1998.
- Billi Ford said to Ratan Tata, "You are doing a big favour for us by buying Jaguar-Land Rover."
- He graduated from Riverdale country from New York.
A2. Explain: (2)
The writer says, "I don't believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right."
A3. Give reasons: (2)
Ratan Tata decided to sell his passenger car business.
A4. Personal Response: (2)
Right decision at the right time is important success. Express your opinion.
A5. Grammar: (2)
Do as directed:
- He worked hard building a better consumer electronics division.
(Rewrite the sentence using the infinitive form of the underlined word) - Tata Group launched the passenger car Tata Indica.
(Rewrite it beginning with 'The passenger car Tata Indica......')
A6. Vocabulary:
Give antonyms.
- Profit × ______
- Prevent × ______
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उत्तर
A1.
(d) He graduated from Riverdale country from New York.
(a) He was appointed as the Director-in-charge of the National Radio and Electronics Company Limited.
(b) Tata Group launched its passenger car 'Tata Indica in the year 1998.
(c) Billi Ford said to Ratan Tata, "You are doing a big favour for us by buying Jaguar-Land Rover."
A2. The author is describing his aptitude for making decisions. He is self-assured and has a positive outlook on everything. As a result, he demonstrates his ability to make a strong choice as well as his ability to overcome any obstacles that may arise as a result of that decision.
A3. Ratan Tata decided to sell his passenger car business because it was a failure right in the first year. It incurred loss in the business as the car model Introduced was not liked in the market.
A4. It is critical to make the correct decision at the appropriate time. Such a decision not only saves us a lot of trouble in the future, but it also allows us to seize the best available opportunity to advance in life. Anyone who wants to be successful must remember that an opportunity knows when it appears and must be seized at that moment.
A5.
- He worked hard to build a better consumer electronics division.
- The passenger car Tata Indica was launched by Tata Group.
A6.
- Profit × loss
- Prevent × allow/encourage
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
What were Watson's observations on the stick left behind by Dr. Mortimer? How far did Sherlock Holmes prove him wrong? (in about 125 words)
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Air pollution is an issue which concerns us all alike. One can willingly choose or reject a food, a drink or a life comfort, but unfortunately there is little choice for the air we breathe. All, what is there in the air is inhaled by one and all living in those surroundings.
2. Air pollutant is defined as a substance which is present while normally it is not there or present in an amount exceeding the normal concentrations. It could either be gaseous or a particulate matter. The important and harmful polluting gases are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The common particulate pollutants are the dusts of various inorganic or organic origins. Although we often talk of the outdoor air pollutions caused by industrial and vehicular exhausts, the indoor pollution may prove to be as or a more important cause of health problems.
3. Recognition of air pollution is relatively recent. It is not uncommon to experience a feeling of 'suffocation' in a closed environment. It is often ascribed to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately, however, the composition of air is remarkably constant all over the world. There is about 79 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen in the air − the other gases forming a very small fraction. It is true that carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs may accumulate in a closed and over-crowded place. But such an increase is usually small and temporary unless the room is really air-tight. Exposure to poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide may occur in a closed room, heated by burning coal inside. This may also prove to be fatal.
4. What is more common in a poorly ventilated home is a vague constellation of symptoms described as the sick-building syndrome. It is characterized by a general feeling of malaise, head-ache, dizziness and irritation of mucous membranes. It may also be accompanied by nausea, itching, aches, pains and depression. Sick building syndrome is getting commoner in big cities with the small houses, which are generally over-furnished. Some of the important pollutants whose indoor concentrations exceed those of the outdoors include gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and organic substances like spores, formaldehydes, hydrocarbon aerosols and allergens. The sources are attributed to a variety of construction materials, insulations, furnishings, adhesives, cosmetics, house dusts, fungi and other indoor products.
5. By-products of fuel combustion are important in houses with indoor kitchens. It is not only the brining of dried dung and fuelwood which is responsible, but also kerosene and liquid petroleum gas. Oxides of both nitrogen and sulphur are released from their combustion.
6. Smoking of tobacco in the closed environment is an important source of indoor pollution. It may not be high quantitatively, but significantly hazardous for health. It is because of the fact that there are over 3000 chemical constituents in tobacco smoke, which have been identified. These are harmful for human health.
7. Micro-organisms and allergens are of special significance in the causation and spread of diseases. Most of the infective illnesses may involve more persons of a family living in common indoor environment. These include viral and bacterial diseases like tuberculosis.
8. Besides infections, allergic and hypersensitivity disorders are spreading fast. Although asthma is the most common form of respiratory allergic disorders, pneumonias are not uncommon, but more persistent and serious. These are attributed to exposures to allergens from various fungi, molds, hay and other organic materials. Indoor air ventilation systems, coolers, air-conditioners, dampness, decay, pet animals, production or handling of the causative items are responsible for these hypersensitivity − diseases.
9. Obviously, the spectrum of pollution is very wide and our options are limited. Indoor pollution may be handled relatively easily by an individual. Moreover, the good work must start from one’s own house
(Extracted from the Tribune)
(a) (i) What is an air pollutant? (1)
(ii) In what forms are the air pollutants present? (2)
(iii) Why do we feel suffocated in a closed environment? (1)
(iv) What is sick building syndrome? How is it increasing? (2)
(v) How is indoor smoking very hazardous? (1)
(vi) How can one overcome the dangers of indoor air pollution? (2)
(b) Find the words from the above passage which mean the same as the following: (3)
(i) giddiness (para 4)
(ii) constant (para 8)
(iii) humidity (para 8)
Answer the following question in 120-150 words:
What kind of life did Silas lead at Lantern Yard?
Answer any four of the following question in 30 – 40 words each:
(a) ''What a thunderclap these words were to me!'' (Franz). What were those words and what was their effect of Franz?
(b) Why did Douglas fail to come to the surface of the pool as he hoped to?
(c) What was Kamala Das's childhood fear?
(d) How is the Earth a source of life when all seems dead on it? Keeping Quiet)
(e) How does Mr. Lamb react when Derry enters his garden?
(f) Which problem did the Maharaja face when he had killed seventy tigers? How did he solve it?
Answer any four of the following in 30–40 words each :
(a) Describe the irony in Saheb's name.
(b) Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?
(c) Aunt Jennifer's efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
(d) What does Stephen Spender want to be done for the children of the school in a slum?
(e) When he was only ten days old, a prediction was made about the future of the Tiger King. What was ironic about it?
(f) What was his father's chief concern about Dr. Sadao?
Mention the odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.
Tick the statement that is true.
The story tries to relate history to Science.
Discuss the following statement in groups of two pairs, each pair in a group taking opposite points of view.
Reality is what is directly experienced through the senses.
In which language do you think Gangadharpant and Khan Sahib talked to each other? Which language did Gangadharpant use to talk to the English receptionist?
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?
The school system often curbs individual talents. Discuss.
How does the insertion of dialogue in the story contribute to its interest?
'Luck is necessary for success in life'.
Why is the quality of pity earth-bound while the other two passions are elevating?
How do you respond to these lines?
Light, chill and yellow,
Bathes the serene
Foreheads of houses
How is colour highlighted in the poem and why? List all the words in the poem that suggest colour.
You know what ‘hide-and-seek’ is. What would ‘hide-and-speak’ mean?
Comment on the physical features of the hawk highlighted in the poem and their significance.
What does the reference to raw mythology imply?
Some poets do not use uniformity in rhyming words, nor a steady rhythm. Such poems with no uniformity in rhyme, rhythm, length of lines or stanzas are called Free Verse. Walt Whitman, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Rabindranath Tagore are some famous poets who have composed poems in Free Verse.
A quick glance at the poem ‘Vocation' reveals that the style used by Tagore is Free Verse.
Now turn the pages of your textbook and see if you can find other poems in Free Verse.
Which pictures reflect gender equality? Write their numbers.
Think and answer in your own words in your notebook.
Why do you think God created worms? What is their ecological importance?
Find out from the internet the poem ‘Song of Youth’ by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
- Copy it down in your notebook and write its theme in your own words.
- Using information from your school library or the Internet, prepare a Profile of any great Indian Scientist.
Find proof from the poem for the following.
The struggle of the cherry tree for survival.
A small thought, put in action, led to a great achievement. Pick out the lines from the beginning and end of the poem and explain their significance.
The cherry tree has inspired the poet to compose the poem. Such poems, describing Nature or aspects of Nature are called ‘Nature poems’. Find out some expressions from the poem that bring out the elements of the beauty of Nature.
Pick out a word from the poem to complete the sentence meaningfully.
Everyone stood ______ (horrified) when the terrible accident took place.
Read other poems by Leigh Hunt, especially 'Abou Ben Adhem'.
Compare the messages in that poem with those in 'The Plate of Gold'. What do you observe?
Kite - flying in Gujarat, is a competitive sport - cum - festival.
Make pair of sentences to show the difference between the meaning of the following Homograph from the story.
interest
Say where the image from nature given in the poem exists.
AIR / LAND / WATER
beneath the boughs
Write any five illnesses of the animals in the poem that you find most amusing / laughable.
Write 3 to 4 lines about the following in your own words.
The Robotic Surgery
Pick out three lines that create an image in your mind of bees busy at work.
Say the following word aloud and put the stress mark on the stressed syllable.
crea-tures
Read the following phrase and use it in a sentence of your own in proper form.
To voice something
Fill in the elements that you find in the drama script of ‘A Battle to Baffle.'
Characters:
- Background Scene:
- Crisis:
- Steps taken to resolve the crisis:
- Climax:
- The end:
Fill in the gap, choosing a word from the bracket to make an appropriate comparison.
(tall / quiet / humble / merry / busy / slippery / fast / sly / slow / big)
as ______ as a mouse.
The whole world is happy because children are going to school. Why is it so? Discuss it in the classroom.
Complete the following sentence using your own ideas.
The princess was as ______ as ______. (Positive)
Read the passage and answer the following question:
Who designed the PVC medal?
Read the given words and share with your friend what comes to your mind.
Read the poem aloud. Recite any stanza of your choice from memory.
The description of the character is given below. Identify the character from the play. Find some sentences which support your choice.
He is a brave but irresponsible person.
Draw a diagram to show a volcanic eruption from its description given in this passage. Label the diagram. Show the following in it :
Volcano; earth’s crust; crack in the earth’s crust; hot molten rock; red, hot lava; smoke; ash; burning chunks of rock.
Read the passage and find the verbs used with the following nouns and phrases:
- volcano
- molten rock
- volcanic mountain
- dust
- 165 village and towns
- the wind and the sea
- seeds
- bird
Enact the advertisement:
Seven children wait in different places, striking a suitable pose as shown in the ad. The character ‘Krispy Krunchy’ comes in dancing. He goes near every child, singing the words shown in the ad. He offers a Krispy Krunchy piece to every child.
The child eats it and begins to smile and clap. At the end, the character faces the class, shows a big pack of Krispy Krunchy, and presents the last few lines.
Discuss and write 1-2 lines about the following,
Why Bushi told Yonamine not to travel at night.
Expand the following ideas in a paragraph or two:-
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Write the following in short:
The story of the three caskets.
Add ten more words to the list on your own. Each of the component words must be meaningful.
Hold a mock trial for the following offence. There should be a complainant, a defendant, and lawyers to argue the case on behalf of them. The whole class can vote to pass the judgment. On what occasions will you plead for justice? What punishment will you suggest? When will you plead for mercy?
A very poor and honest servant has broken a vase while cleaning it. The vase was valuable and the employer liked it very much.
Guess the meaning of the following from the context.
Dawn wakes the starling.
We all follow a class time table made by the school. Imagine for a minute what will happen if there was no time table for your class.
Read the passage and answer the following:
Which book is introduced in the passage?
Read the passage and answer the following:
Who has written the book?
Write a review of your favorite book. Use the following points:
- Title of the book
- Author/Authors
- The central idea or story
- The important characters
- Some special features of the book
- Why it is your favourite book.
Imagine you are Malti. Write about any one event in the story from Malti’s point of view.
Read the poem: ‘Home they brought her warrior dead’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Think and answer:
Does the last line make you happy or sad? Why?
Complete the following sentence with reference to the passage.
It is believed that _________ Homer, who __________ and who ________ to all who __________________.
Sayali was travelling in space for the first time.
Write about how you take care of your books.
Find one example of the following given below from the poem: Metaphor
Choose the appropriate phrase to insert in the gap, to make the sentence meaningful. Use the appropriate form of the verb.
Before we ______ let us stand in attention for the National Anthem.
From any collection of classic poetry or the internet, find another famous poem by Robert Frost titled ‘Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening’. Try to understand the symbolism used in that poem in 8-10 lines.
Who is the speaker in this poem?
How does the following character in the story live up to their name? Provide points from the story.
Teshumai Tewindrow
Write your own impressions about the news items given in (a), (b), (c), and (d) in the table below.
| News item | Good news Bad news | Reliable Unreliable | Interesting Uninteresting Boring | Others |
| (a) | ||||
| (b) | ||||
| (c) | ||||
| (d) |
Write in your own words.
How should that person sing?
Read: ‘The Open Window’ by H. H. Munro (Saki).
Which season would you say is the hardest in your locality? What help would the poor and homeless people need in that season?
Imagine the following and write about it in your own words:
What the world looks like to a baby.
Describe the following with the help of the (The Twelve Months) story.
Summer
Write other meaningful words that begin/end with anywhere.
Do you agree with the poet’s thoughts? Why?
Read the following and say whether the statement tells you about a fact or whether it is imaginary.
There is a man in the Moon.
List the words or phrases related with computers or the Internet.
Find a word that has a similar meaning.
remove
Guess the meaning of the following word.
magnificent
Read the following lines from the poem and answer the question that follow.
Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
- Whom does the word ‘me’ refer to?
- What kind of life does the poet want to lead?
____________ had provided Prospero formerly with books and provisions.
Identify the character or speaker.
It seems to me like the recollection of a dream.
What were the various sounds the brothers heard when they went downstairs?
Answer the following question in about 100-150 word.
Describe the funny incident that caused the confusion in the house.
Look at the following expressions from the text. With the help of your teacher rewrite them in standard English. One has been done for you.
| 1. ‘Musta got away – whatt’d he like? | Must got away - what was he like?’ |
| 2. ‘Looky here, Joe | |
| 3. ‘No sign o’ nothing’ | |
| 4. ‘Back t’ the lines ye goodaam | |
| 5. ‘What was the idea of all them cops tarryhootin’ round the house last night. |
What will happen to the bird in imprisonment?
Who am I?
Who Am I? is a guessing game where players use ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to guess the identity of a famous person. Questions are based upon the traits and characteristics of a person everyone will be able to identify.
Divide the class into groups. One group should decide the personality while the other group should ask ‘yes’ or ‘no’ type questions. To win the game, a team needs to find out the person within 10 clues.
Sample questions to ask. Answers must be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ only
- Are you a male (female)?
- Are you a famous personality?
- Are you a singer (dancer, actor)?
- Are you a historical figure?
- Are you young (old)?
- Are you alive now?
- Does your name start with ‘___’?
- Is he/she ____ ?
Read the incident again and answer the following question.
What is the humour element in the above incident?
Read the following line from the poem and answer the question given below.
Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,
No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;
- What does the poet expect everyone to learn?
- What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?
Identify the speaker/character.
‘ The one that spits deadly poison straight into its opponent’s eyes.’
Mention at least two expressions which shows that Mrs. Krishnan was not willing to have Zigzag at home?
There were many toys in the stall. Three of Hamid’s friends had bought some toys.
Write the names of Hamid’s friends in column A and the toys they bought in column B
| A | B |
‘My tongs are like a tiger among toys.’ It means ______
Find a sentence/word from the text which express the following.
The parent’s earlier view of the child
Usha went to visit her______ house after shopping in the market.
Usha took shelter in the ______.
Which of these statements do you find in the speech?
- Inclusion is essential for us to do well in life.
- We should neglect others.
- Communicate politely with the less privileged.
- Teachers teach us to communicate well.
- Effective Communication is inessential to excel in life.
What do you think are the two most important lessons that the speaker mentions?
Do you think this was a good idea?
What qualities of Mr. Phileas Fogg are highlighted in this extract? Support your answer with suitable examples.
Read the line and answer the question.
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying
Why does the poet ask for a windy day?
What are the characteristics of a courageous man?
Work in pairs and answer the following.
Write the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Read the following article about the amazing similarities between the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln; then underline the passive forms.
Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. Voters elected John F. Kennedy to Congress in 1946.
Lincoln was elected president in 1860. Voters elected Kennedy president in 1960.
Both men were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Lincoln was shot on a Friday. Someone shot Kennedy on a Friday.
Lincoln was shot in the head. The gunman shot Kennedy in the head.
Lincoln’s secretary was called Kennedy. Kennedy’s secretary was called Lincoln.
Lincoln was assassinated by a Southerner. A Southerner assassinated Kennedy.
Lincoln was succeeded by a Southerner named Johnson. A Southerner named Johnson succeeded Kennedy.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names and both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Lincoln was shot at a theatre named “Ford”. The gunman shot Kennedy in a car called a “Lincoln” that the company Ford made.
Booth ran from the theatre and was caught in a warehouse. Oswald ran from a warehouse and the police caught him in a theatre.
Booth was assassinated before his trial. Someone assassinated Oswald before his trial.
There are seven kinds of sea turtles in the world.
The ______ is a biological relative of tortoises.
In India’s coastal waters we can see a species of ______.
How does the coconut tree grow?
Mother did not ask for______.
Identify the sports and the sports personalities from the lesson and fill in the table.
| Sports | Name of the player & Field of sports | Awards |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
Describe the beauty of the blue mountain.
What made the trip a memorable one?
Identify the speaker/character.
"Don't let us down now, Gulliver; we need your help."
Find example of alliteration and write them in the blank.
to muddy roads
monsoons and mangoes
Work in pair, find answer for the question and share in the class.
Name the seasons mentioned in the poem?
How do we work?
He offered _______ to his daughters.
Match the following.
| treat everyone | love each of her child |
| nation | no inner boundaries |
| kind | not divided as people |
| country | alike |
When did the battle of Nauranang start? How long did it continue?
Read the passage three times and colour a bull for each time.
Mr. Murugan is a farmer. He has a small piece of land and two bulls. He takes good care of his bulls as they help him in farming. Every morning, he takes the bulls for grazing. When it rains he ploughs the land with the bulls. As he has no one to help he starts sowing the seed before sunrise. He irrigates the crop till it grows. He reaps and binds the crop then takes it to thrash the paddy. Finally, with the help of the bulls, he takes the paddy to his house.
______is a Do It Yourself kid.
The old man helped ______ and ______.
Look at the picture and Choose the correct word.
Look at the picture and Choose the correct word.
Pick out the rhyming words from the poem and write.
| Mars | |
| time | |
| be |
Did she give up the fight?
Uthaman was skilled in _____.
What did the oil seller perform?
Write the events won by these players.
 |
______ |
 |
______ |
 |
______ |
Write the rhyming word.
goat
Will you solve a mystery with friends? Why?
The official was transferred.
All the animals called the sparrow ______.
Why was the teacher annoyed?
Read the advertisement and answer the question given below.
What is the advertisement about?
Why do the leafcutter ants grow the fungus?
Why did Jana’s friends stop her from going near the tree?
Every year the children visit the______.
Do you think Ani will be a good leader? Why?
The grandmother had kept the plate in memory of her ______.
Name the animal and sound it makes.
Write the word with same meaning.
post- ______
Mugund loved wild animals.
Match the words with similar meaning.
| truck | subway |
| underground | lorry |
| tap | wallet |
| purse | faucet |
How many marks did he score in his 12th board exam?
What is the one thing you will try and improve after reading the story? How?
Who are already awake?
What does the earth do when the day is over?
How did the animals know that the king was just a jackal?
Write the related words as shown in the example:
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
The Stationmaster’s Supreme Sacrifice by Sanchari Pal (Adapted)
- Thirty-three years ago, on the night of December 2, 1984, Bhopal was hit by a catastrophe that had no parallel in the world’s industrial history. An accident at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal had released almost 30 tons of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate, turning the city into a vast gas chamber. The result was a nightmare; more than 600,000 people were exposed to the deadly gas cloud that left thousands dead and many more breathless, blind and in agonizing pain. Few people know that during the Bhopal gas tragedy a heroic stationmaster risked his own life to save others.
- On the evening of December 3, 1984, Ghulam Dastagir was settling down in his office to complete some pending paperwork. This work kept him in his office till 1am in the night, when he emerged to check the arrival of the Gorakhpur Mumbai Express. As he stepped on to the platform, the deputy stationmaster felt his eyes burn and a queer itching sensation in his throat. He did not know that poisonous fumes leaking from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory were stealthily enveloping the railway station.
- Beginning to choke, Dastagir did not know then that twenty-three of his railway colleagues, including his boss, station superintendent Harish Dhurve, had already died. It was later reported that Dhurve had heard about the deadly gas and had immediately tried stopping the movement of trains passing through Bhopal before collapsing in his office chamber. His suddenly worsening health and years of experience told Dastagir that something was very wrong. Though he did not fully comprehend what was happening, he decided to act immediately when he did not get any response from the station master. He alerted the senior staff at nearby stations, like Vidisha and Itarsi, to suspend all train traffic to Bhopal.
- However, the jam-packed GorakhpurKanpur Express was already standing at the platform and its departure time was 20 minutes away. Listening to his gut instinct, Dastagir summoned his staff and told them to immediately clear the train for departure. When they asked if they should wait until the order to do so came from the head office, Dastagir replied that he would take complete responsibility for the train’s early departure. He wanted to ensure that the train left immediately, without any delay. His colleagues later recalled that Dastagir could barely stand and breathe as he spoke to them. Breaking all rules and without taking permission from anyone, he and his brave staff personally flagged off the train.
- But Dastagir’s work was not done. The railway station was filling up with people, desperate to flee the fumes. Some were gasping, others were vomiting, and most were weeping. Dastagir chose to remain on duty, running from one platform to another, attending, helping and consoling victims. He also sent an SOS to all the nearby railway offices, asking for immediate medical help. As a result, four ambulances with paramedics and railway doctors arrived at the station. It was winter and the gas was staying low to the ground, a thick haze poisoning everything in its path. Besieged by hordes of suffering people, the station soon resembled the emergency room of a large hospital. Dastagir stayed at the station, steadfastly doing his duty, knowing that his family was out there in the ill-fated city. That day all he had for his protection was a wet handkerchief on his mouth.
- Ghulam Dastagir’s devotion to duty saved the lives of hundreds of people. However, the catastrophe didn’t leave him unscathed. One of his sons died on the night of the tragedy and another developed a lifelong skin infection. Dastagir himself spent his last 19 years shuttling in and out of hospitals; he developed a painful growth in the throat due to prolonged exposure to toxic fumes. When he passed away in 2003, his death certificate mentioned that he was suffering from diseases caused as a direct result of exposure to MIC (Methyl Isocyanate) gas. A memorial has been built at platform No.1 to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty on the fateful night of December 3, 1984. However, Ghulam Dastagir, who died later, is not one of them. A forgotten hero whose sense of duty and commitment saved countless lives, Dastagir’s story deserves to be recognized and remembered by our fellow countrymen.
- Why was the accident at Union Carbide unparalleled in the world’s industrial history?
- How was Dastagir affected by the poisonous gas?
- What was the action taken by the station superintendent?
- How did Dastagir and his staff break rules?
- What was the cause of Dastagir’s death?
- Find words from the passage which mean the opposite of the following.
- safeguard (para 1)
- common or familiar (para 2)
- prompt (para 4)
- cause (para 6)
Write the compound words from the picture.
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| ______ | |
