English Study Material for First Year Intermediate, on Prose ”The Green Champion” byThimmakka, via Interactive English Telugu Akademi, Hyderabad.
Prose
2. The Green Champion by Thimmakka (Adapted from the internet)
6. Match any four of the following words in column-A with their meaning/definition in column-B[4 x 1=4]
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| saalumarada | A row of trees (in Kannada language) |
| Conceive | to become pregnant |
| saplings | young trees |
| stretch | an area or extent of land |
| respite | a short period of relief from something difficult or unpleasant |
| pails | buckets |
| invariably | without fail |
| onset | a beginning |
| conferred | awarded a degree, title etc |
| incredible | difficult to believe, extraordinary |
| massive | exceptionally large |
| patrolled | went round an area to check that it was safe and there was no trouble |
| facet | a particular aspects |
| captured | caught animals and kept them in confined spaces |
| foster son | adopted son |
| tending | looking after/ caring for |
1. Answer the following in about 100 words each [2x 4 = 8 Marks]
a. All great things have humble, small beginnings. Justify the statement based on the life and work of Thimmakka.
b. Why did Thimmakka and her husband decide to plant trees? Describe how hard they tried to succeed in their mission.
c. Who is taking the noble mission of Thimmakka forward and how?
d. Why was Thimmakka called Salalumarda?
The lesson “The Green Champion Thimmakka”. It is a biographical piece taken from the Internet.
The Green champion-Thimmakka, Thimmakka a women more than 100 years in age from Karnataka, has been praised globally as the green champion for her tree planting mission.
Thimmakka was born poor in Hulikal village of karnataka. She never had the opportunity to go to school. She started working at an early age as a labourer. Later she was married to Bikkala Chikayya who was also a labourer. Unfortunately, the couple were not blessed with children. She was dishearted and thought to end her life, but she realized soon the true purpose of her life, so she changed her decision. To fill the emptiness in their lives, the couple decided to plant banyan trees and raise them as their own kids.
Her husband was very cooperative. The couple Thimmakka and Chikkayya, started planting trees in their village in a stretch of 4kms. They planted 10 banyan saplings in the first year and increased the number year after year. the couple not only planted them but tendered them to maturity. Both of them used to carry four buckets of water for a distance of 4 Kms to water the saplings. Now, there are around 400 banyan trees in the area, apart from banyan trees, she planted over 8000 other trees in over 80 years. Her husband, Chikkaya too had devoted his life towards nature and patrolled the stretch of the trees and kept the cattle away from them .
She had become the international icon for the conservation of the environment. She received many awards and brought international recognization for the Indians, but she has remained poor and living on her Rs 500 pension. The U.S environment organization changed its name as “Thimmakka’s Resources For Environmental Education” in honour of Thimmakka. She had good intentions and responsibilities toward the well-being of the environment as well as society.
Thimmakka’s foster son, Shri Umesh B.N Umesh has been planting and tending trees along the roads, schools, public places, and on the mountains and hilltops. He is also running successfully “PRITHVI BACHAVO” movement. He has his own nursery and distributes plants to the farmers who are interested in growing plants. Thimmakka received many awards, including the Padma Shri by the Indian government in 2019.
Plant and protect the trees. They will protect you and your environment. Thimmakka says,“ Even one sapling each, could make the world a better place for our children”
Thus, Thimmakka started her life and work in humble manners, got name through her tree planting mission. She is a true inspiration to us.
“A tree planted; a life nurtured.”
(OR)
The lesson The Green Champion Thimmakka. It is a biographical piece taken from the Internet.
Thimmakka was born poor. she wasn’t educated. she worked as a coolie. Her married life wasn’t happy because she couldn’t become a mother till she was forty. Her husband was very cooperative. The couple started planting trees in that village in a stretch of 4 km. They not only planted them but tender them to maturity. Thimmakka foster son, Sri Umesh. B.N. Umesh has been plating and tending to trees along the roads, in schools, public places, and on the mountain and hilltops. He is also successfully running the PRITHVI BACHAO Movement.
Thus Thimmakka started her life and work in a humble manner, got name through a tree-planting mission.