2.8 Small Towns and Rivers

2.8 Small Towns and Rivers

ICE BREAKERS:
 (i) Most of the civilizations have flourished on the banks of the rivers. Discuss the reasons in the class. One is done for you.
(a) Availability of water

(b) Fertile land is available.

(c) Allowed them to support farming

(d) Animals can also be raised

(ii) Write down the names of the famous cities that are situated on the banks of the rivers given below. One is done for you.
Ans:

(iii) Write down the names of the rivers on the banks of which following cities have prospered:
Ans:

 (i) Divide your class into groups and discuss the changes that might have taken place when the cities grow on the banks of the rivers.
Ans:
• commerce and sustainability.

• provide food and other resources 

• water transportation.

• irrigation for agriculture.

• cultural mixing.

(ii) Share your views in the class on the topic ‘Conservation of Rivers and Development of the Cities.’
Ans:
• Climate change Food security 

• Biodiversity 

• Draughts and floods Water security 

• Infrastructure 

• Trade Transport


BRAINSTORMING:
(A1) Discuss the importance of Nature in the lives of the people from the Northeastern part of India as expressed in the poem with reference to-
(a) Flowers : Flowers are the manifestation of the soul which is ever present in the seed which thereby is transmitted to the plant and then to the flower. The radiance the flower transmits is reflective in nature. Author subtly describes the radiance emitted by the flower as beautiful. The flower is short-lived but is immortal as the same flower gets transformed in to seed and another plant or sapling. So author indirectly says that as the river is immortal so is flower The fragrance brightness and presence of flower is subtly described by the author.

(b) River : The significance of river is well known from time immemorial The people of Arunachal believe that river too has soul like human beings. The river is always equated with goddess and so is considered immortal. The water in the river is deemed as eternal.

(c) Bamboo : Bamboo is always regarded as a coolant. The atmospheric temperature is considerably brought down by bamboo. So poet calls it cool. The bamboo sheaths are used in small towns as ceiling. Thus, insulating the house from heat.

(d) East : It is a direction that is highly revered by the people of Arunachal. Sun is regarded as God. the rising of sun is in the east so the direction is given special status. Even the mortal remains of a person is placed pointing west as they feel the soul will reach the sun directly. East is always numero uno among directions

(A2) (i) The poet has described her small town in Arunachal Pradesh. Pick out the lines that describe the poet's town.
Ans:
The poet has used the following lines to describe her hometown.

(a) My hometown lies calmly amidst the trees.
     it is always the same.
     in summer or winter,
    with the dust flying,
    or the wind howling down the gorge

(b) 'In small towns by the river 
we all want to walk with the gods."

(ii) Make a list of natural elements mentioned in the poem.
Ans: The poet has mentioned the natural elements like river, trees, summer, winter. dust flying, the sound of the wind in the valley, land. fish and stars, rain, earth, water, mountaintop, sun, etc., in the poem.

(iii) 'The river has a soul.' Elaborate the concept in your words as the poet has explained it in the poem.
Ans: River is always taken as one of the richest source of water. Poet feels that the river has soul. Soul never perishes. The physical structure might but soul remains immortal So does the river according to the poet.
She also equates it with water cycle. Says the river water evaporates goes to the tip of mountain and form icicles which ladens the cloud and falls back in to the river as rainwater. Thus, the river water is immortal. It's exalted to highest position among tribals in Arunachal.

(iv) The poet is convinced with the thought of immortality of water. Pick out the relevant lines.

(a) ."The river has a soul."

(b) ."In the summer it cuts through the land"

(c) ."Sometimes, I think it holds its breath"

(d) .The river knows the immortality of water."

(v) The poet has used some unconventional expressions. Illustrate them in your words.
(a) Torrent of grief : It ia used to express the outpouring of grief of the river.

(b) Shrine of happy pictures : It is used to express the poet's childhood happy memories related to the divine places her hometown).

(c) The land of fish and stars : It is used to tell the fact that the rivers are in pathetic situation and she wants to escape from it and once again want to return her former glory and become a land for fish and stars as it was in the past.

(vi) The poet is anxious about the existence of natural beauty of her town in the future. But she touches the strings of the hearts while appealing to conserve the Nature. Explain the way she has expressed it in the first and the last line of the poem.
Ans:  The poet is anxious about the existence of natural beauty of her town in the future. The poet is appealing to conserve the nature the opening line of the poem - "Small towns always remind me of death." Here, the Death is referred for the destruction of the natural elements like rivers, mountains, trees in our vicinity, in the name of development of small towns situated on the banks of river. In the last line of the poem - "In small towns by the river we all want to walk with the gods." The poet appeals that God exists in this nature we should worship him by preserving the natural elements.

(vii) The poet has connected the need to preserve Nature with the belief of particular community and her childhood memories. Write down the measures you would take to convince the people regarding the need to conserve the Nature.
Ans:  The poet Mamang Dai is from the Adi community from Pasighat. Arunachal Pradesh. This community believes in nature and live happily with it. Their belief helps to conserve the nature as it is the need of the hour. Following are the measures that I will take to convince the people regarding the need to conserve the Nature.

(a) Stop exploiting natural resources,

(b) Stop pollution

(c) Go Green, Save Mother Earth

(d) Plant Trees, Save Trees.

(e) Save Trees, Save Nation.

(f)Trees Are Our Best Friends

(g) Save Water Save Life.

By using the above measures we can convince the people regarding the need to conserve the Nature. We are a part of the nature and cannot depart from nature.

(A3) (i) Write down the expressions related to 'the seasons' from the poem.
Ans: The poet has listed the following expressions related to the seasons in the poem.

(a) it is always the same, in summer or winter,

(b) with the dust flying 
      or the wind howling down the gorge."

(c) "In the summer it cuts through the land like a torrent of grief.


(d) "From the first drop of rain to dry earth

(ii) Match column 'A' with column 'B'.

                                                  
(A4) (i) Read the expression 'a sad wreath of tuberoses.
'Is the wreath sad?' Explain the figure of speech.
Ans: The poet has used Transferred Epithet 
Explanation: An adjective 'sad' is transferred from a person to wreath.

(ii) List and explain the metaphorical expressions from the poem. For example, 'torrent of grief.'
Ans:  The poet has used the following metaphorical expressions to describe the feelings of the river 
(a)  Torrent of grief': It is used to express the sad feelings of the river.
(b) House of the sun : It is used to express the heaven.

(iii) 'The river has a soul.'
'Life and death.'
These are the two expressions that are repeated in the poem; but both of them indicate different figures of speech. Find out and discuss.
Ans: 
(a) 'The river has a soul.' :
* Refrain : The line is repeated to highlight the truth in the sentence.

Personification: The river is personified and described like a human being.

* 'life and death' :


Repetition : The phrase 'life and death' is repeated for poetic effect.

Antithesis: Two contradictory terms (life and death) are used to highlight the thought in the given line.

(iv) Find out the beauty of the free verse reflected in this poem.
Ans:  The poem Small Towns and Rivers is the best example of the modern poetry. It has not any metrical form. It is written in free verse. The poet has used free verse to treat the universal subject The Degradation of Environment.

(A5) (i) Prepare the arguments for group discussion on the topic -
'A balanced progress never harms the Nature.'
Ans: In favour

1. Growth should always be in stages and not lopsided

2. Any activity well planned is always half executed.

3. Growth should be planned to strengthen.

4. Longterm damages foreseen, be taken into consideration

5. Short term growth should not hamper the long term eco factors.

Against

1. Under no circumstances should growth be thwarted.

2. The delays may have repercussions on cost.

3. This will impede the economy which will lead to further protest.


4. One must sacrifice and aim at having good results.

(ii) Compose 4 to 6 lines on 'Gift of the Seasons'.
Ans:  Gift of the Seasons

Seasons are punctual, 
Never disobey their master.
Be Summer, Rainy or Winter,
Follows the commands 
Every time of the nature,
Mango in summer, 
Greenery In rainy, 
And festivals in winter.
We celebrate, 
The gifts of seasons.

(iii) Write an appreciation of the poem 'Small Towns and Rivers'. Refer to the earlier poems for the points to be covered for appreciation.
Ans:
1) Title of the poem:The title of the poem is* Small Towns and Rivers.

2) Name of the poet: Mamang Dai from Arunachal Pradesh, the north east region-of,India is the poet of this poem.

3) Theme of the Poem: The theme of the poem is preservation and conservation of natural elements in vicinity.

4) Poetic devices used in the poem:
The use of poetic devices enriches the content of the poem. The poetess has used variety of poetic devices in the poem.

They are Alliteration, Repetition, Simile, Metaphor, Inversion, Transferred Epithet, Antithesis, Personification etc.

5) Language/ style : It is difficult to depict the current situation of the hometown of poetess in words. So the poetess has depicted the picture with the help of beliefs of' Adi' community in her hometown. She has used simple and easy language in the poem.

6) Special features : The poetess has used free verse to deal with the universal theme, the protection and conservation of the natural elements in our vicinity. There is no rhyming scheme. The use of transferred epithet helps express the feelings of the poetess.

7) Values/ message : The poetess gives us message that we should be aware of the degradation of the natural elements in our vicinity.
There is need to protect and conserve the natural elements.

8) Opinion : I think this is the best poem by Mamang Dai. The title' Small Towns and Rivers' arouses curiosity in readers mind. The poetess has depicted her hometown and the beliefs of' Adi' community in the poem. She tries to aware her reader about the prosperity of small towns on the cost of the destruction of the natural elements in the vicinity. The poetess has used simple and easy language.

This poem is written in free verse

(iv) Write a dialogue between two friends on 'Importance of the rivers'.
Ans: 
Samidha : Good morning, friend

Yash : Good morning. What do you think about the condition of rivers in India?

Samidha : I Think it is very bad. We have developed towns but greatly ignored the rivers.

Yash : You are right. Do you know rivers are very important in our life?

Samidha : Yes. I agree with you. We get water from the rivers,

Yash : Do you know we cannot exist without rivers?

Samidha : Yes. I am sure. We cannot live without water.

Yash : Our ancient cultures were flourished on the banks of river. They got fertile land for agriculture and water for daily activities of life.

Samidha : Yes, it is true. We also get fishes for food from the river.

Yash : Nowadays rivers are used as transportation, water rides also

Samidha : I Know it. The rivers are blessings for our life. We should protect and preserve rivers.

Yash : You are exactly right. We have made a big mistake. We have ignored the contribution of the rivers in our life, while developing towns.

Samidha : You are right. We should set the right from the wrong things. The rivers are important and it is our duty to protect them.

Yash : Yes. Surely, we will do it.


(A6) (i) Collect information about rivers in Maharashtra.
Ans: There are many rivers in Maharashtra but a few of them are given below 
(a) Godavari : It is the second largest river in India. Its source is in Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra.
It flows east for 1465 km and meets Bay of Bengal.

(b) Krishna : It is the fourth largest in India, after the Ganga, Godavari and Brahmaputra. Its source is in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, It is 1400 km in length.

(c) Tapi: It flows in central India, between the Godavari and Narmada rivers Its source is in Satpura Range, Mahabaleshwar. It is 724km. in length. Flows westwards and meets Arabian sea.

(d) Narmada: It flows in central India. It is called The Rewa and Neruda. It is called Life line of M P. and Gujarat. Its source is in Amarkantak. It is 1312 km. in length.

(ii) Further reading :
'The River Poems' - Mamang Dai
Ans: Total 52 poems (1 is given to read )

          Birthplace

We are the children of the rain
of the cloud woman,
brother to the stone and bat
in our cradle of bamboo and vine
in our long houses we slept,
and when morning came
we were refreshed.

There were no strangers
in our valley.
Recognition was instant
as clan by clan we grew,
and destiny was simple
like a green shoot
following direction
like the sun and moon.

The first drop of water
gave birth to man.
From red sheath
to green stem
and the spreading wind:

We descend
from solitude and miracles.

'The World Is Too Much With Us' - William Wordsworth
Ans: It is a sonnet by the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth. In it, Wordsworth criticises the world of the First Industrial Revolution for being absorbed in materialism and distancing itself from nature. Composed circa 1802, the poem was first published in Poems, in Two Volumes (1807). Like most Italian sonnets, its 14 lines are written in iambic pentameter.

 The World Is Too Much With Us

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;

The winds that will be howling at all hours,

And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;

For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be

A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.