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    6. Weathering the Storm in Ersama - Class 9 - Moments

    Updated: May 30


    Author: Harsh Mander

    Textbook: Moments

    Genre: Realistic Narrative / Disaster Survival



    📝 Summary


    The story “Weathering the Storm in Ersama” is based on the devastating super cyclone that hit coastal Orissa in 1999. It follows the experiences of a 19-year-old boy named Prashant, who was visiting a friend in the town of Ersama when the cyclone struck. The storm brought violent winds, torrential rain, and a massive flood that left thousands dead and many homeless.


    Prashant and his friend’s family survived by taking refuge on the rooftop and living on tender coconuts. After two days, Prashant decided to return to his village, Kalikuda, 18 kilometers away. Along the way, he witnessed horrific scenes of destruction — uprooted trees, dead animals, and floating human bodies. When he reached his village, he was relieved to find his family alive at a Red Cross shelter.


    Rather than resting, Prashant took charge and began relief work. He mobilized youth to clean the shelter and arranged food and medical supplies. He helped resettle widows and orphans and started work-for-food programs. His leadership restored hope and order to the community. The story highlights the themes of courage, compassion, and the power of youth during times of crisis.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions


    Q1. Where was Prashant when the cyclone hit Ersama?

    👉 Prashant was visiting a friend in the town of Ersama when the super cyclone struck the coastal areas of Orissa.


    Q2. How did Prashant and his friend’s family survive the cyclone?

    👉 Prashant and his friend’s family survived by taking shelter on the rooftop of the house for two days and living on coconuts from fallen trees.


    Q3. What did Prashant see on his journey back to Kalikuda?

    👉 On his journey, Prashant saw terrible devastation, including dead bodies of people and animals, collapsed houses, uprooted trees, and a vast sheet of water covering everything.


    Q4. Where did Prashant find his family after the cyclone?

    👉 Prashant found his family at a Red Cross shelter in Kalikuda, safe but weak and mourning the loss of relatives.


    Q5. How did Prashant ensure that helicopters brought relief material to the shelter?👉 Prashant made children lie on the ground with empty utensils on their stomachs to signal their hunger, which caught the attention of helicopters passing overhead.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions


    Q1. How did Prashant emerge as a leader in the cyclone-affected village?

    👉 Prashant showed great initiative and leadership by organizing a group of youth to clean the shelter and arrange food for the victims. He also helped in nursing the injured, counselling people, and setting up orphan and widow care programs, bringing hope and order to the village.


    Q2. What were the major challenges faced by Prashant during his journey home?

    👉 Prashant had to wade through deep, waist-high floodwaters and use a long stick to test the depth. He encountered floating human and animal corpses, broken trees, and destroyed homes, making the journey emotionally and physically exhausting.


    Q3. How did Prashant deal with the condition of widows and orphans in the shelter?👉 Prashant opposed the government’s plan to send orphans and widows to institutions. Instead, he encouraged families to adopt orphans and arranged for the widows to be involved in community kitchens, giving them purpose and emotional support.


    🧠 Value-Based Question


    Q. What lesson does the story of Prashant teach us about youth and responsibility during a crisis?

    👉 The story teaches that even young individuals can make a big difference in times of disaster if they act with courage and compassion. Prashant's sense of responsibility, leadership, and selflessness show that age is not a barrier to making a positive impact. It also emphasizes the importance of community support and working together to overcome hardships.


    📖 Title Justification


    The title “Weathering the Storm in Ersama” is appropriate because it reflects both the literal storm — the super cyclone — and the emotional and social challenges that Prashant and his village had to endure. It highlights not only survival but also recovery, resilience, and leadership in the face of natural disaster.


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