English Summary
'Weathering the Storm in Ersama' by Harsh Mander is a real-life account of a young man named Prashant who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and resilience in the aftermath of a devastating cyclone. The story is set in October 1999 when a super-cyclone hit the coastal state of Odisha, killing thousands and destroying everything in its path.
Prashant, then 19, was visiting a friend in Ersama when the cyclone struck. He survived by clinging to a wooden log for hours as the floodwaters raged. After the storm subsided, he found his friend's family dead. Driven by a desperate need to see his own family, he waded through the flood for two days, often using dead bodies as stepping stones, to reach his village, Kalikuda.
Upon reaching, he found his home damaged but his family alive. Instead of giving in to grief, he took charge. He organized the youths to clean shelters and help the widows and orphans. He made a team to persuade the merchant to part with his stock of rice for the starving community. He organized a team to clean the filth and urine from the shelter to prevent an epidemic. He arranged for child care for the orphans and set up foster families. He also organized sports events for the children to help them overcome trauma.
Prashant's initiatives brought a sense of order, hope, and collective action to the shattered community. The story highlights how a calamity can bring out the latent leadership and humanity in ordinary individuals. It is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure, rebuild, and care for others in the face of unimaginable disaster.
Chapter 6: Weathering the Storm in Ersama - Hindi Summary (हिंदी सारांश)
हर्ष मंदर द्वारा लिखित 'वेदरिंग द स्टॉर्म इन एरसामा' एक युवा व्यक्ति प्रशांत की एक वास्तविक जीवन की घटना है जो एक विनाशकारी चक्रवात के बाद असाधारण नेतृत्व और लचीलापन प्रदर्शित करता है। कहानी अक्टूबर 1999 में सेट है जब एक सुपर-चक्रवात ने तटीय राज्य ओडिशा को प्रभावित किया, हजारों लोगों को मार डाला और अपने रास्ते में सब कुछ नष्ट कर दिया।
प्रशांत, जो उस समय 19 वर्ष का था, एरसामा में एक दोस्त के यहाँ मिलने गया हुआ था जब चक्रवात आया। उसने घंटों तक एक लकड़ी के लट्ठे से चिपके रहकर जान बचाई जब बाढ़ का पानी उफान पर था। तूफान शांत होने के बाद, उसने अपने दोस्त के परिवार को मृत पाया। अपने परिवार को देखने की तीव्र इच्छा से प्रेरित होकर, वह दो दिनों तक बाढ़ के पानी में चलता रहा, अक्सर मृत शवों को पैर रखने के लिए इस्तेमाल करते हुए, अपने गाँव कालीकुडा पहुँचने के लिए।
पहुँचने पर, उसने अपना घर क्षतिग्रस्त पाया लेकिन उसका परिवार जीवित था। दुःख में डूबने के बजाय, उसने जिम्मेदारी संभाली। उसने युवाओं को संगठित किया ताकि आश्रयों की सफाई करें और विधवाओं और अनाथों की मदद करें। उसने एक टीम बनाई ताकि व्यापारी को भूखे समुदाय के लिए चावल का अपना स्टॉक देने के लिए राजी किया जा सके। उसने महामारी को रोकने के लिए आश्रय से गंदगी और मूत्र की सफाई के लिए एक टीम बनाई। उसने अनाथों के लिए बच्चों की देखभाल की व्यवस्था की और पालक परिवार स्थापित किए। उसने बच्चों के आघात को दूर करने में मदद के लिए खेल आयोजन भी किए।
प्रशांत के पहलों ने टूटे हुए समुदाय में व्यवस्था, आशा और सामूहिक कार्रवाई की भावना लाई। कहानी इस बात पर प्रकाश डालती है कि कैसे एक विपत्ति सामान्य व्यक्तियों में निहित नेतृत्व और मानवता को बाहर ला सकती है। यह मानवीय भावना की अकल्पनीय आपदा के सामने सहन करने, पुनर्निर्माण करने और दूसरों की देखभाल करने की क्षमता का प्रमाण है।
Character Sketch
Prashant: A 19-year-old boy who transforms into a remarkable leader through adversity. Initially, he is a visitor caught in the storm. He shows immense physical courage by surviving the flood. His true strength lies in his emotional resilience and proactive nature. Instead of succumbing to personal grief, he channels his energy into organizing relief work with pragmatism and compassion. He represents the indomitable human spirit, selfless service, and the ability of youth to lead in a crisis.
The Villagers of Kalikuda: They represent a community shattered by disaster, initially paralyzed by grief, hunger, and disease. They are vulnerable but responsive. Under Prashant's direction, they come together, showing that collective action can overcome despair. They symbolize hope and the capacity for recovery when guided effectively.
The Merchant (Mentioned): Represents a challenge in the relief efforts—someone with resources (rice) who is initially unwilling to share. Prashant's team has to negotiate with him, highlighting the social dynamics and obstacles that arise even in times of collective crisis.
10 Previous Year Questions & Solutions
1. Describe the super-cyclone that hit Orissa in October 1999. (2020)
Answer: The super-cyclone that hit Orissa (Odisha) in October 1999 was a devastating natural disaster. It was accompanied by torrential rains and winds with a speed of 350 km per hour. It caused a 7-10 meter high tidal wave that smashed everything in its path for miles. It killed thousands of people, destroyed houses, uprooted trees, and left the land flooded and littered with human and animal corpses.
2. How did Prashant survive the storm and the flood in Ersama? (2022)
Answer: Prashant survived by clinging to the hardest wooden pillar of his friend's house. When the pillar collapsed, he found a floating wooden log and held onto it tightly for hours. He was swept away but managed to stay afloat. He was eventually washed ashore, where he took shelter in a ruined house and survived on coconuts from uprooted trees for a few days.
3. What heartbreaking sight did Prsahant see at his friend's house in Ersama? (2019)
Answer: At his friend's house in Ersama, Prashant saw six corpses floating on the water. Among them were his friend's parents and other family members. The roof of the house had been blown away, and the walls had collapsed, leaving only the foundation. It was a scene of utter death and destruction.
4. Why did Prashant decide to go to his village, Kalikuda? What difficulties did he face on the way? (2023)
Answer: Prashant decided to go to Kalikuda out of a desperate need to see his own family and find out if they were alive. On the way, he faced immense difficulties. He had to wade through chest-deep water for two days. The landscape was covered with bloated human and animal corpses, which he had to push away or use as stepping stones. He saw shattered homes and uprooted trees everywhere.
5. How did Prashant take the initiative to help the people of his village after the cyclone? (2018)
Answer: Prashant took multiple initiatives: (1) Organized youths to clean shelters. (2) Formed a group to persuade a merchant to give rice for the hungry. (3) Organized cleaning of filth and urine to prevent disease. (4) Set up child-care centres for orphans. (5) Organized sports events for children. He brought organization and hope to the chaotic situation.
6. What steps did Prashant take to help the orphans in the village? (2021)
Answer: To help the orphans, Prashant brought them together and set up a polythene sheet shelter for them. He persuaded women to look after them in return for food. He asked the children to lie in the sun to stay warm. He also organized sports events like cricket matches to bring them joy and help them heal from trauma.
7. How did the community's attitude change under Prashant's leadership? (2022)
Answer: Initially, the community was gripped by grief, passivity, and despair. Under Prashant's leadership, they became active participants in their own recovery. They worked together to clean, cook, care for orphans, and rebuild a sense of normalcy. His leadership transformed their helplessness into collective action and resilience.
8. What qualities of leadership did Prashant display? (2020)
Answer: Prashant displayed exceptional leadership qualities: courage, initiative, resilience, empathy, and organizational skills. He identified problems (hunger, filth, orphans), devised practical solutions, motivated people to work together, and prioritized the community's needs over his own grief. He was a pragmatic and compassionate leader.
9. What is the message conveyed by the story 'Weathering the Storm in Ersama'? (2023)
Answer: The story conveys that even in the worst disasters, the human spirit of resilience, compassion, and leadership can emerge. It emphasizes the importance of community action, selfless service, and hope. The message is that we can 'weather' any storm if we come together, help each other, and refuse to give up.
10. Why is the title 'Weathering the Storm' appropriate? (2019)
Answer: The title is appropriate on two levels. Literally, it refers to surviving the physical super-cyclone and floods. Metaphorically, it refers to 'weathering' or overcoming the emotional and social storm of grief, loss, and chaos that followed. It signifies enduring and triumphing over both natural and human adversities.
