JOURNEY TO THE TOP – Unit 6
Before you read: Listening Text
I.L. Listen to the text read by your teacher and identify the personalities. Write their names in the space provided.
a) Saalumarada Thimmakka
b) Sudha Chandran
c) Kiran Bedi
d) Sania Mirza
The pictures above are of Bachendri Pal. You are now going to read her success story. She puts her life in a nutshell like this:
“I have realized that there are many Everests one has to climb in one’s life” –Bachendri Pal, mountaineer
Read the text: JOURNEY TO THE TOP
1. Bachendri Pal was the first Indian woman to climb the summit of Mt. Everest. The middle one of five children, she was born in 1954 at Nakuri, a small village in the Garhwal Himalayas in the present Uttarakhand. Bachendri was from a modest background. Her father was a border tradesman who would take wheat flour and rice from India to Tibet on mules, horses and goats. He eventually married and settled near Uttarkashi, where the couple raised their family.
modest – small, ಸಣ್ಣ, ಸಾಧಾರಣ
rebellious – one who fights against something/ to resist, ಬಂಡಾಯ, ವಿರೋಧಿಸು
snow-clad – covered with snow, ಹಿಮದ ಹೊದಿಕೆ
amuse – feel pleasantly happy, ರಂಜಿಸು, ವಿನೋದ ಪಡಿಸು
2. Always a rebellious child, Bachendri loved wandering in the snow-clad Garhwal Himalayas. She dreamt of flying in aeroplanes and meeting famous people and this always amused her family. She was an active child and did well in her studies at school. She excelled in sports too. She was independent and fearless. She climbed, together with a group of 12-year old classmates, 4000 m (13,123 feet) height during a picnic. As she could not come down before nightfall, she had to spend the night there, without food or shelter along with the others.
persuade – make someone believe, ಮನವೊಲಿಸು
graduation – getting a degree, ಪದವಿ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಿ
3. The experience remained in Bachendri’s memory. It increased her love for adventure and the mountains. At 13, like most Garhwal girls, she was expected to leave school and help in the house. But her determination to study impressed her parents who allowed her to finish high school. As a student, she earned money by sewing in her spare time. The principal of her school persuaded her family to send her to college, where she defeated both boys and girls in rifle shooting and other competitions.
4. Her B.A. graduation thrilled her parents, who had wanted her to be the first girl in the village with a degree. She eventually did an M.A in Sanskrit and then B.Ed. In spite of these achievements, the job offers that came in were only temporary and junior-level positions. Inspired by her love for the mountains, Bachendri decided to apply to the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) for the Basic Mountaineering Course. She was judged the best student in the course, and much to her surprise was marked down as ‘Everest Material’! She completed her Advanced Mountaineering Course too with flying colours. Bachendri climbed the Gangotri (6672 m/21900 ft) and Rudugaria (5819 m/19,091 ft.) in an advanced camp (1982) during her time at NIM.
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi)
5. Her mentor, Brigadier Gyan Singh, the Director of the National Adventure Foundation (NAF), came to Uttarkashi in February 1983 to run an adventure course for teachers at the NIM. He selected seven local, educated women, including Bachendri for a scholarship. “Bhagirathi Seven Sisters Adventure Club” was set up by him after he came to know through Bachendripal that the poor could use their mountaineering skill to make a living.
mentor – adviser, guide,ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಕ
determination – decisive, ನಿರ್ಧಾರಿತ
adventure – exciting or dangerous experience, journey, ಸಾಹಸ ಕಾರ್ಯ
mountaineering – the sport or activity of climbing mountains, ಪರ್ವತಾರೋಹಣ
This was a unique organization of girls and women to help other girls to find adventure. This scheme would take care of the monetary worries of trained girls and women. Bachendri, whose family was under economic pressure, became an instructor here and reduced their financial burden.
6. Bachendri was selected for the Indian Everest Expedition in 1984. This was the first mixed expedition and its prime aim was to provide Indian women with the opportunity to face the challenge of climbing Mt. Everest. Till then, four women in the world had scaled the peak. The team comprised seven women and eleven men and this was Bachendri’s first real expedition.
Mt. Everest
7. They faced many setbacks including an avalanche and injuries. A sudden landslide injured the members of her team. However, Bachendri Pal continued her climb to reach the peak on May 23rd 1984. Bachendri conquered the summit of Sagarmatha (the Nepali name for the highest peak in the world) at 1:07 p.m. It was a difficult climb of over 29028 ft. (8848 m). Her dream had come true. ‘‘At this moment of joy,’’ Bachendri Pal writes, ‘‘My thoughts went to my father and mother who taught us the value of struggle and the value of efforts.’’
8. Bachendri’s mountaineering excellence has been honoured by the Government of India with the country’s highest sports award, the Arjuna Award, the highly coveted ‘Padmashri’ as well as the National Adventure Award. Among the other major awards, Bachendri was awarded the ‘Yash Bharathi’ award by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, ‘Gold Medal’ by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation as well as an award from the Department of Education, Uttar Pradesh State, and the Lifetime Achievement Award by Kolkata Sports Journalists Association.
9. Bachendri Pal has put together all her experiences of mountaineering in her autobiography, “Everest – My Journey to the Top.” She is presently employed as Deputy Divisional Manager (Adventure Programmes), Tata Steel Adventure Foundation. Her life shows how hard work and the will to succeed can raise one to greater heights.
Everest – My Journey to the Top
ಸಂವೇದ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಪಾಠಗಳು
Samveda – 7th – English Second Language – Journey to the Top (Part 1 of 3)
Samveda – 7th – English Second Language – Journey to the Top (Part 2 of 2)
Samveda – 7th – English Second Language – Journey to the Top (Part 3 of 3)
ಪೂರಕ ವಿಡಿಯೋಗಳು
Journey to the top | Unit 6 | 7th standard English
Grammar Writing : Relative Pronouns
Definition: A relative is someone who has a relationship with you. Relative pronouns show a relationship between a noun and a clause. The clause provides describing information about the noun. You can also use relative pronouns to combine two sentences into one.
What? Who? When? Where? How? Did you know that these ‘WH’ words are not just to be used to ask questions but also to relate one part of the sentence to another? Learn more about how these words are used as relative pronouns. Read through the following topics for a better and in-depth understanding.
What is a Relative Pronoun?
A relative pronoun is a word that is used to connect an independent clause to a dependent clause. Relative pronouns are meant to provide more information about the subject (noun or pronoun) it relates to. These relative pronouns function exactly like adjectives, and so they can also be called adjective clauses.
Examples of Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns are used to form complex sentences. Examples of relative pronouns include who, whom, whose, where, when, why, that, which and how.
Where – Refers to a place
Who – Refers to a person (the noun/pronoun/subject which does the action)
Whom – Refers to the object (the noun or pronoun that receives the action)
Whose – Used to show possession of something or someone
When – Refers to a time
That – Used in a defining clause that refers to a person, animal or thing
Which – Used in a non-defining clause that refers to a person, animal or thing
Here are some examples of how relative pronouns can be used in sentences.
- Sheela, who is a teacher, also works as a social worker.
- The car that was stolen last month was found in a river.
- Susan is the girl whom I was talking about.
- The park, where we had first met, is being renovated.
- The girl, who saved the little boy, was appreciated by everyone.
Check Your Understanding of Relative Pronouns
There is just one thing that you should keep in mind when combining two sentences using relative pronouns. Make sure you locate the subject or object both sentences refer to and then replace it with the most suitable relative pronoun.
Just give it a try. Use suitable relative pronouns to link the following sentences:
1. The student solved the math problem. The teacher appreciated the student.
2. My aunt bought me a ukulele. I love the ukulele.
3. Shanu has played the lead role in the new movie. Shanu is a doctor by profession.
4. This is my brother. He moved to New York last year.
5. Sid won the lottery. Sid is my brother’s friend.
6. Teena borrowed the white bag. Teena did not return it.
7. We had our college reunion dinner in that restaurant. The restaurant is now closed.
8. My mom asked me to clean up the box. The box was filled with old clothes we no longer use.
9. The students like their English teacher. The English teacher is from Bangalore.
10. The bottle game is liked by all. Have you played the game?
Let us find out if you have got it all right.
1. The teacher appreciated the student who solved the math problem.
2. I love the ukulele that my aunt bought me.
3. Shanu, who is a doctor by profession, has played the lead role in the new movie.
4. This is my brother who moved to New York last year.
5. Sid, who is my brother’s friend, won a lottery.
6. Teena did not return the white bag that she borrowed.
7. The restaurant, where we had our college reunion dinner, is now closed.
8. My mom asked me to clean up the box that was filled with old clothes we no longer use.
9. The students like their English teacher, who is from Bangalore.
10. Have you played the bottle game that is liked by all?
How to correctly use RELATIVE pronouns (PART – 1)
How to correctly use RELATIVE pronouns (PART – 2)
How to use THAT as a RELATIVE pronoun (PART – 3)
ಪ್ರಶ್ನೋತ್ತರಗಳು
ಈ ಪಾಠದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೋತ್ತರಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಮೇಲಿನ ಲಿಂಕ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ.
