Reach For The Top

The ‘holy man’ was surprised as the unborn child’s grandmother acquainted him of their desire of not wanting a son. Since he was under the impression that Santosh’s mother wanted a son, the request of a blessing for a girl came to him as a surprise.

Santosh as a young girl was not ready to accept anything unreasonable and from the very beginning, lived life on her own terms and conditions. The instance where in other girls wore traditional dresses while Santosh preferred shorts throws light on her free-spirited attitude towards the conventional conceptions of life.

Santosh’s parents were affluent landowners who could afford to send their children to the best of the schools but sent Santosh to the local school in accordance with the prevailing custom in the family.

When Santosh turned sixteen, she was pressurized for marriage. However, she threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education. It was then that she left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

When Santosh’s parents refused to pay for her schooling in Delhi, she informed them of her alternate plans of working part time in order to pay for her school fees. Then, eventually, her parents agreed to pay for her education. This incident portrays that Santosh was a mentally strong person who was not only determined towards working hard but also had the courage to challenge the norms of the society bravely.

Santosh often observed the villagers going up the Aravalli Hills and then vanishing after a while from her room in Kasturba Hostel. However, on investigating regarding the truth behind it, she found only a few mountaineers and asked if she could join them. They instantly agreed to this and even motivated her to take up Mountain Climbing. In this way, Santosh was acquainted with mountaineering and began to climb mountains.

During her expedition to the Everest, Santosh showed immense concern for her team mates. Though, she was unluckily unsuccessful in saving one of the climbers who lay dying at the South Col., she managed to save another climber, Mohan Singh, who could have met with the same fate had she not shared her oxygen with him timely.

Santosh was a fervent and courageous environmentalist. The instance where she collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas reflect her deep concerns for the safety of the environment as well as the well-being of the people.

When Santosh was at the summit of the Mount Everest her joy knew no bounds. She claimed that her feeling was ‘indescribable’. Unfurling the Indian Flag at the top was a spiritual moment for her and she felt proud as an Indian.

Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she conquered Mount Everest. She was successful in reaching at the top due to her climbing skills, immense physical fitness, and mental strength. Moreover, she was a very courageous and an iron-willed girl from the very beginning which significantly contributed towards her professional success as a mountaineer.

(1) From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers going up the hill and suddenly vanish after a while.

(2) When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled in a course at the Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without seeking his permission.

(3) During the Everest expedition her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, mental strength and physical fitness while her concern for others and the immense desire to work together as a team endeared her to fellow climbers.

(1) Took to be true, without proof - assumed

(2) Based on reason, sensible, reasonable - rational

(3) The usual way of doing things - custom

(4) A strong desire arising from within - urge

(5) The power to endure, without falling ill – resistance

(1) Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.

(2) After you finish the book, perhaps you just throw it away.

(3) He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart.

(4) Having nothing then makes you very determined.

(5) I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.

(1) Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.

(2) She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

(3) She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived.

(4) Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States.

Women Tennis

Tennis is one of the most suitable sports for women and is also a popular worldwide spectator sport. It is a selective game and women have been successful setting massive records in this praiseworthy and interesting event. From 3 November 1975 to 22 August 2005, near about sixteen women from different countries have ranked high. Among them women from the United States, Germany and Switzerland are the toppers. Because of their endurance, tenacity of effort and a constant desire of playing tennis, they have been helpful in emerging victorious. Merit, being high in number or small is at the end of the day merit which has been achieved by each player through constantly driven mind and energy towards playing tennis. Therefore, Be it Maria Sharapova with the shortest record of a week or Steffi Graf with the highest record of 377 weeks stand equal in terms of their passion towards succeeding in reaching their goals.

NOTE- Students can include more information according to the length of the article they wish to keep.

Character of Santosh

The following words in the box can be used to describe Santosh Yadav, the conqueror of the Mount Everest:

Santosh Yadav is one of the most determined mountaineers of India who has been successful in setting a world record. It was due to her persevering attitude that she managed to reach the golden heights of victory in such a short span of time. Santosh, being an independent individual determined towards her ambitions in life, possessed the zeal to go beyond the conventions of the society when she left her home to continue her studies in Delhi.

The stay in Kasturba Hostel was inadvertently the turning point in Santosh’s life as she discovered her mountaineering skill and the passion to pursue it. Her journey of expeditions that began at the Uttarkashi’s Institute of Mountaineering throw light on her adventurous and positive attitude which helped her in reaching the highest peak i.e. The Mount Everest.

Not only did she possess immense potential and mental strength, Santosh Yadav was also a considerate person. During her expeditions, she often used to help and take care of her fellow-climbers which helped her in winning the hearts of her seniors as well.

No, a simple jab of the knife cannot kill a tree because a tree takes countless years to grow and rise out of the earth’s surface. Its roots go on curling inside the cave of the deep earth which are well protected by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water. Therefore, a jab of the knife won’t be enough as the tree would rise again to its former size.

The tree has slowly grown out of the earth’s surface to its full size and sprouted leaves by ingesting years of sunlight, air and water.

The following words are suggestive of its life and activity:

● grown slowly consuming the earth

● rising out of it

● feeding upon its crust

● absorbing years of sunlight, air and water

● out of its leprous hide sprouting leaves

"Bleeding Bark” here refers to the cutting of the tree with heavy and unbearable blows i.e. the axe. The continuous and rough blows of an axe by the wood cutter make the tree bleed.

The word ‘No’ tends to provide a shift in the argument offered where the poet makes an attempt to lay emphasis on the fact that merely cutting a tree would not kill it. Its roots are deep seated inside the earth’s surface which protect the tree and slowly help it in coming back to its original size.

‘Anchoring earth’ refers to the roots of the tree that are deep seated inside the earth’s surface and play the most pivotal role in the healthy growth and nourishment of the tree by supplying it with water and nutrients. “Earth cave” refers to the surface of the ground on which the basic structure of the tree is laid. It performs the significant function of holding the tree and helping it withstand different conditions of natural calamities.

The real power of a tree lies deep inside the earth’s surface i.e. in the roots. The poet, therefore, suggests for a complete snapping of these in order to kill a tree. ‘the strength of the tree exposed’ is used by the poet in this context to signify the situation where the roots of the tree are completely pulled out of the earth and left exposed.

The tree is finally killed after its roots have been completely plucked out of the earth’s surface with the help of rough and unbearable blows of an axe. Thus, its strength is eventually exposed which culminates in the death of the tree. Furthermore, the withering, browning and hardening of the matter left in the sun and air completely dries up its roots as well as its foundations.

Respected Academicians and my dearest girls. You all know that the All India Girl's Athletic Meet is winding up today with great enthusiasm. All the participants have performed to show their capabilities in different games. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both the participants as well as the spectators who have encouraged their morale. We all know sports are an indispensable part for our lives. They help us in keeping our mind and body healthy and at the same time inculcating the fellow feeling of teamwork and cooperation and most of all, the zeal to succeed.

My journey as a mountaineer has been a quite struggle. Right from facing the challenging norms of the society and receiving education in Delhi to the beginning of my life of expeditions, it has been a very meaningful and memorable journey. All these have inculcated a sense of confidence within me and played the most crucial role in making me what I am today.

So dear students never allow obstacles in your way to let you down but rather encounter them with full confidence. I hope all of you will try your best and show your capability and reach your destinations. Wishing you all the very best for your future endeavors.

Thank you!

*NOTE- Students can add more to this speech using phrases and words apart from those suggested in the question above.