Unit 3 : An Interview with Arun Krishnamurthy

 Unit 3 : An Interview with Arun Krishnamurthy

કેતન જોષી

( 1 ) Arun Krishnamurthy was just 17 years old when he founded the NGO Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI). Beginning with the Turtle Walk - a move to save turtle eggs and young hatchlings in Chennai, today Arun and his team of volunteers have cleaned beaches and various water bodies in Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Coimbatore and Puducherry. The team cleans lakes, beaches and zoos, plants trees, educates people through street plays and also makes environment-friendly paper bags. Arun's team has students who joined him when they were in Class-7 and continued to work with him even after five years.

1. Which organization did Arun found at the age of 17 ?

 Ans. Arun founded NGO called Environmentalist Foundation of India at the age of 17. an

2. Which was the first activity of EFI ?

Ans. The first activity of EFI was Turtle Walk - a move to save turtle eggs and young hatchlings in Chennai.

What are the activities of Arun's team ?

3. Ans. Arun's team cleans lakes, beaches and zoos, plants trees, educates people through street plays and also makes environment-friendly paper bags.

(2)I have supportive parents who understood that my interest was the environment. They have never stopped me from doing what I want. On my part, I also made sure that I did not fail my parents in any way. I always informed them about everything that I did and took their advice before jumping into actions.

1. What does Arun say about his parents ?

Ans. Arun says that his parents are supportive and understood his interest in environment and so they never stopped him from doing what he wanted.

2. How did Arun make sure that he never failed his parents ?

Ans. Arun always informed his parents about his activities and took their advice before jumping into action.

(3) I have teachers who taught me how to go about things. They also taught me humility - so that I did not become snobbish or arrogant and start thinking I was a superstar because I was doing all this environment work. They taught me to be simple and keep learning all the time. I am not an activist, I am an environmentalist. I have learnt so much by doing this work.

 1. What did Arun's teachers teach him ?

Ans. Arun's teachers taught him to be humble, simple and keep learning all the time.

2. Why did Arun's teachers teach him humility ? Ans. Arun's teachers taught him humility so that he did not become arrogant or snobbish and start thinking that he a superstar because he worked for the environment. was

2. Why did Arun quit his job ?

Ans. Arun did not want to sit back and enjoy life when environmental damage was happening on a large scale, so he quit his job to work to save the environment.

- ( 6 ) Everything from a diaper to worn out slippers - We find everything in our lakes. It is so disturbing because it is water and water is the basis of life. How can we not care for these water bodies? We use this garbage for landfill with no or minimal exposure to the outside environment. We ensure that the lake area and water-holding are free of garbage so that birds, frogs and snakes can live in peace.

1. Why should we care for water bodies ?

Ans. We should care for water bodies because water is the basis of life.

2. What do Arun and his team ensure? Why? Ans. Arun and his team ensure that the lake area and water-holding are free of garbage so that birds, frogs and snakes can live in peace.

(7) Firstly, we should all stop throwing trash outside our homes. Next, we should reduce the amount of trash we generate. Stow, tissues, wrappers, batteries, fast food junk, all these end up in lakes and they come from our homes. If we can reduce the amount of garbage at home and if we can dispose all garbage safely, that itself is a great deal. Every student is welcome to volunteer with us in helping the environment.

1. What advice does Arun give us ?

Ans. Arun advises us to stop throwing trash outside our homes and reduce the amount of trash that we generate. 2. What is found in lakes ?

Ans. Stow, tissues, wrappers, batteries and fast food junk are found in lakes.

3. If we can reduce the amount of garbage at home, ...

 Ans. If we can reduce the amount of garbage at home, we can dispose all garbage safely.

Unit 4: A Wonderful Creation

(1 ) Details of the Wonderful Creation

- (movable and replaceable parts - her lap - her kiss - six pairs of hands - run on any food available - three pairs of eyes - tears)

Ans. Mother is a wonderful creation of God. When God created mother, he wanted all her parts to be movable and replaceable. Her lap disappears when she stands up. Her kiss can cure everything from a broken leg to a broken heart. She would have six pairs of hands to manage her children and family, without getting irritated. She would be able to run on any food available. She would have three pairs of eyes. One pair that sees her children through closed doors. Another pair to look at the children and say, 'I understand and I love you.' without uttering a word. And the third pair to see all secret things without opening them. Her tears could be for pain, or joy, or pride, or disappointment, or loneliness.

(2) Qualities found in mothers

(her kiss - run on any food available - feed family of six only on half a kilo of cabbage - heal herself - her eyes - manage a child without getting irritated - tough, not only think but can reason and compromise too) - -

Ans. God gave unique qualities to mother. Her kiss can cure everything from a broken leg to a broken heart. She can run on any food available. She can feed a family of six members only on half a kilo of cabbage. She can heal herself when she is sick. Her eyes can see her children through closed doors, see all secret things without opening them and look at the children and say, 'I understand and I love you.' without uttering a word. She can manage a child's bath, play, study, food and sleep without getting irritated. Though she looks soft, she is tough. No one can imagine what she can do and endure. A mother can not only think, but can reason and compromise too.