CH - Weathering The Storm in Ersama
Introduction
This story is a true account of devastation caused by a super cyclone in Orrisa ( now Odisha ) in 1999. A young boy Prashant faced the fury of the storm and reached his village. The details of how he worked hard to help the villagers by showing leadership qualities helped the village to overcome the devastation caused by the storm inspire us to have courage and a positive approach towards life.
Summary
On 27th October 1999, Prashant, a young boy of 19, went to Ersama to his friend's house. Ersama is a small coastal town in Odisha, which is eighteen kilometers from his village. When the cyclone hit the coast of Odisha, Prashant was in Ersama. The cyclone continued for two days. It devastated the city of Ersama by bringing down all the houses and trees. Prashant and his friend's family remained on the rooftop of the house and survived on the tender coconuts from the coconut trees that had fallen on the roof.
As the rain stopped, Prashant left for his home as he feared the worst for his family. He started his return journey back to village. On the way, he had to make his way through human bodies and animal carcasses. Eventually Prashant reached his village, Kalikuda. His heart went cold. He wept as he felt that he had lost his beloved. He went to the Red cross shelter in search of his family. There Prashant met his maternal grandmother. She was elated to see him alive as they had not expected that he would have survived the storm.
Prashant saw a crowd of 2500 people at the shelter. Many had lost their families in the disaster. They were grief stricken as the catastrophe had snatched everything. He came forward to arrange food and medicines for the victims. He also formed a group of youth and elders. They forced the merchant to give them the stock of rice and were successful.
After 4 days the crowd ate a meal. Then the group of volunteers cleaned the shelter and tended to the injured people. Prashant engaged the widows to work in the NGO program “Food for work”. He engaged the children by arranging sports matches for them. The volunteers managed to set up foster families comprising of the widows, orphaned children and lone men who would form a family and support each other. Like this Prashant overcame his grief and learnt to smile even in the face of adversities.
As the rain stopped, Prashant left for his home as he feared the worst for his family. He started his return journey back to village. On the way, he had to make his way through human bodies and animal carcasses. Eventually Prashant reached his village, Kalikuda. His heart went cold. He wept as he felt that he had lost his beloved. He went to the Red cross shelter in search of his family. There Prashant met his maternal grandmother. She was elated to see him alive as they had not expected that he would have survived the storm.
Prashant saw a crowd of 2500 people at the shelter. Many had lost their families in the disaster. They were grief stricken as the catastrophe had snatched everything. He came forward to arrange food and medicines for the victims. He also formed a group of youth and elders. They forced the merchant to give them the stock of rice and were successful.
After 4 days the crowd ate a meal. Then the group of volunteers cleaned the shelter and tended to the injured people. Prashant engaged the widows to work in the NGO program “Food for work”. He engaged the children by arranging sports matches for them. The volunteers managed to set up foster families comprising of the widows, orphaned children and lone men who would form a family and support each other. Like this Prashant overcame his grief and learnt to smile even in the face of adversities.
Solutions ( NCERT )
Think About It
1. What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
Ans: The super cyclone led to mass destruction. People lost their homes. Many people lost their lives too. Children lost their parents, women became widows and were rendered homeless. The people were left with nothing.
2. How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
Ans: Prashant helped the people in the following ways -
3. How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
Ans: Under the leadership of Prashant, the people of the community came together and decided to help each other. They went to the local merchant and got his stock of rice. They cooked the rice on a fire burned with the branches from the trees and ate a meal after four days.
They signaled the military helicopters for food and help. The widowed women looked after the orphaned children and the men arranged food and other necessities.
4. Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
Ans: Prashant and other volunteers resisted the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows because they felt that isolation would increase their grief. They wanted to settle them in foster families of their own community where they would love and support each other.
5. Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
Ans: Yes, Prashant is a good leader. He overcame his grief and took charge of the situation. Young people can get together to help others during any calamity. They can use their strength and energy to help others in times of need. With the effort and cooperation the relief work can also be speeded up.
1. What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
Ans: The super cyclone led to mass destruction. People lost their homes. Many people lost their lives too. Children lost their parents, women became widows and were rendered homeless. The people were left with nothing.
2. How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
Ans: Prashant helped the people in the following ways -
- He formed a group of volunteers and got rice for the people.
- They cleaned the shelter and tended to the injured.
- They sent messages to the passing helicopters demanding food and other necessities.
- Prashant guided the widows to work in the food for work NGO.
- He arranged sports events for the orphan children.
- Prashant and the volunteers set up foster families for them.
3. How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
Ans: Under the leadership of Prashant, the people of the community came together and decided to help each other. They went to the local merchant and got his stock of rice. They cooked the rice on a fire burned with the branches from the trees and ate a meal after four days.
They signaled the military helicopters for food and help. The widowed women looked after the orphaned children and the men arranged food and other necessities.
4. Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
Ans: Prashant and other volunteers resisted the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows because they felt that isolation would increase their grief. They wanted to settle them in foster families of their own community where they would love and support each other.
5. Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
Ans: Yes, Prashant is a good leader. He overcame his grief and took charge of the situation. Young people can get together to help others during any calamity. They can use their strength and energy to help others in times of need. With the effort and cooperation the relief work can also be speeded up.