Weathering the Storm in Ersama

Chapter-opening question

1. Did he find his family?

Answer: Yes, Prashant found his family at the Red Cross shelter in his village, Kalikuda. His maternal grandmother was among the first people he saw. Soon, his brother, sister, uncles and aunts also gathered around him. They had survived the cyclone and had already given Prashant up for dead.

THINK ABOUT IT

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

Answer: The super cyclone caused widespread destruction and suffering in the lives of the people of Orissa. Houses and huge trees were washed away, while human bodies and animal carcasses floated in the flood waters. In Kalikuda, eighty-six people lost their lives and all ninety-six houses were washed away. Many people were left hungry, injured and homeless. A large number of children were orphaned and many women were widowed. The cyclone also destroyed the belongings and homes of the villagers, leaving the survivors in deep grief.

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

Answer: Prashant helped the people of his village by organising a group of youths and elders to obtain food for the survivors. He organised volunteers to clean the shelter and care for the injured. When the helicopter stopped dropping food, he and the youth task force found a way to communicate the villagers’ need for food to the passing helicopters.

He also brought the orphaned children together and arranged a shelter for them. He mobilised women to look after the children and persuaded them to join a food-for-work programme. He also organised sports events for the children and helped the widows and orphaned children rebuild their lives.

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 of the community helped one another through cooperation and collective effort. The youths and elders joined together to obtain food for the people in the shelter. Volunteers cleaned the shelter and tended to the wounds and fractures of those who were injured. The youth task force also helped secure regular supplies of food and other basic necessities.

The women played an important role in caring for the orphaned children. They were mobilised to look after them in the shelter. Later, Prashant persuaded the women to participate in the food-for-work programme started by an NGO. In this way, they contributed to the recovery of the community while also helping themselves overcome their grief.

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 the other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows because they feel that children would grow up without love in such institutions. They also believe that widows would suffer from stigma and loneliness.

Instead, they believe that orphans should be resettled within their own community. They consider placing them in new foster families made up of childless widows and children without adult care. This would provide care and support to the orphaned children and help the widows overcome their loneliness.

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. Although he was only nineteen years old, he took responsibility for the people of his village after the cyclone. He organised youths and elders to obtain food for the survivors and organised volunteers to clean the shelter and care for the injured.

He also helped orphaned children and widows by arranging shelter, food and other support. He organised sports events for the children and worked with other volunteers to help them rebuild their lives. His actions show that young people can get together and help others during natural calamities through courage, cooperation and proper organisation.

EXTRA QUESTION

1. Describe the difficulties Prashant faced while returning to his village after the cyclone.

Answer: Prashant started his eighteen-kilometre journey to his village through the swollen flood waters. He used a long, sturdy stick to find the road and locate places where the water was shallow. At some places, the water was waist deep and he had to swim when he lost the road.

On the way, he and his companions had to push away human bodies and carcasses of animals carried by the current. In every village they passed, they could barely see a house standing. Despite these difficulties, Prashant continued his journey and finally reached Kalikuda.

2. How did Prashant help the orphaned children and widows after the cyclone?

Answer: Prashant brought the orphaned children together and arranged a polythene sheet shelter for them. He mobilised women to look after the children, while the men secured food and materials for the shelter.

He also persuaded the women to join a food-for-work programme started by an NGO. To help the children overcome their grief, he organised sports events, including cricket matches. Along with other volunteers, he helped the widows and children rebuild their lives.

3. What qualities of Prashant are revealed through his actions after the cyclone?

Answer: Prashant's actions reveal that he was courageous, responsible and compassionate. Even after suffering from the cyclone himself, he took responsibility for the people in the shelter and organised youths and elders to obtain food.

He also showed leadership and concern for others by organising volunteers, helping injured people, caring for orphaned children and supporting widows. He remained active in helping others instead of focusing on his own suffering.