The Man Who Planted Trees || Class 08 || Lesson 13 || All Unit || Text || Hindi Translation || Word Meaning || Solution || Extra Question ||

 Lesson 13

 The Man Who Planted Trees

Jean Giono

Let's Start:

Jean Giono (1895-1970) was a French author who wrote works of fiction mostly set in the Provence region of France. His most noted works are The Horseman on the Roof, Two riders of the Storm etc. The present text is adapted from his famous works of the same name. which has been translated into English by Peter Doyle. 

Let's share: 

1. Do you have any ideas which might help in beautifying your natural surroundings?

Discuss with your partner.

2. When do you think it is possible for a single person to carryout, all by himself, a task which usually requires the participation of many people?

Let's read:

wild lavender

About forty years ago I went a long hike (यात्रा), through hills absolutely (पूरी तरह से) unknown (अनजान)  to tourists(यात्री), in that very old region(क्षेत्र) where the Alps penetrate(प्रवेश) into Provence(फ़्रांस का एक प्राचीन राज्य). It consisted(शामिल) of barren(बंजर) and monotonous(नीरस) lands. Nothing grew there except(के अलावा) wild lavender(एक फूल).

I was crossing(पार करना) this country at its widest(सबसे ज्यादा फैला) part, and after walking for three days, I found myself(खुद को) in the most complete desolation(अकेला). I was camped(ठहरना) next to an abandoned(त्यागा गया) village. I had used the last of my water the day before and I needed(जरूरत) to find more. These ruined(बर्बाद) houses of the village made me think that there must, at one time, have been a spring(झरना) or a well(कुआं) there. There was indeed(अवस्य) a spring, but is was dry. All life had disappeared(गायब).

It was a beautiful June day with plenty(अधिक) of sun, but on these shelterless(आवासहीन) lands, high up in the sky, the wind whistled(आवाज करना) continually(लगातार). Its sound was like that of wild beast(जानवर) disturbed(परेशान) during(के समय) its meal(भोजन).

I had to move my camp. After five hours of walking, I still(अभी भी) hadn't found water, and nothing gave me hope(आशा) of finding(मिलना) any(कोई).

Hindi Translation:

लगभग चालीस साल पहले मैं एक लंबी पदयात्रा पर गया था, पर्यटकों के लिए बिल्कुल अज्ञात पहाड़ियों के माध्यम से, उस बहुत पुराने क्षेत्र में जहां आल्प्स प्रोवेंस में प्रवेश करते हैं। इसमें बंजर और नीरस भूमि शामिल थी। जंगली लैवेंडर के अलावा वहां कुछ भी नहीं उगता था।

मैं इस देश के सबसे चौड़े हिस्से को पार कर रहा था, और तीन दिनों तक चलने के बाद, मैंने खुद को सबसे अधिक वीरान पाया। मुझे एक परित्यक्त गाँव के बगल में डेरा डाला गया था। मैंने एक दिन पहले अपना आखिरी पानी इस्तेमाल कर लिया था और मुझे और पानी खोजने की जरूरत थी। गाँव के इन खंडहर मकानों ने मुझे सोचने पर मजबूर कर दिया कि कभी यहाँ कोई झरना या कुआँ रहा होगा। वहाँ वास्तव में एक झरना था, लेकिन सूखा था। सारा जीवन लुप्त हो गया था।

वह जून का एक ख़ूबसूरत दिन था, भरपूर धूप के साथ, लेकिन इन आश्रयहीन ज़मीनों पर, आकाश में ऊपर, हवा लगातार सीटी बजा रही थी। उसकी आवाज़ ऐसी थी मानो जंगली जानवर भोजन करते समय परेशान हो रहा हो।

मुझे अपना शिविर स्थानांतरित करना पड़ा। पाँच घंटे तक चलने के बाद भी मुझे पानी नहीं मिला, और न ही मुझे पानी मिलने की कोई उम्मीद थी।

Let's continue: 

Everywhere there was the same dryness(सूखापन), the same stiff(कठोरता), woody(झारीदर) plants. I thought I saw in the distance(दूरी) the shadow(परछाई) of a figure(आकृति). On a chance(उसी मौके) I headed(आगे गया) towards(के ओर) it. It was a shepherd(गरेरिया). Thirty lambs(भेर के बच्चे) or so were resting(आराम) near him on the scorching(झुलसाने) ground.

He gave me a drink and a little later(बाद) he led(ले गया) me to his shepherd's cottage(घर). he shared(बाँटा) his soup with me. It had been agreed immediately(तुरंत) that I would pass(गुजरना) the night there, the closest(करीबी) village being still(अभी भी) more than a day and a half farther on(आगे). There are four or five villages dispersed(मिला दिया) far from one another on the flanks(किनारे) of the hills in this area. They are inhabited(बसना) by woodcutters(लकरहरा) who make charcoal(कोयला).

The shepherd took out(बाहर निकाला) a beg and poured a pile(एक ढ़ेर निकाला) of acorns out onto the table. He began to examine(जाँचना) them one after another with a great deal of attention(ध्यान), separating(अलग करना) the good ones from the bad. When he had before him one hundred perfect acorns he stopped, and we went to bed. The company(साथ) of this man brought(लाया) me a feeling of peace. He gave me the impression(प्रभाव) that nothing could disturb him. I was intrigued(हैरान और उत्सुक) and I wanted to find more about this man.

Hindi Translation:

हर जगह वही सूखापन, वही कड़े, लकड़ी वाले पौधे थे। मुझे लगा कि मैंने दूर किसी आकृति की छाया देखी है। मौका पाकर मैं उस ओर बढ़ गया। यह एक चरवाहा था. उसके पास लगभग तीस मेमने तपती ज़मीन पर आराम कर रहे थे।

उसने मुझे पानी दिया और थोड़ी देर बाद वह मुझे अपने चरवाहे की झोपड़ी में ले गया। उसने अपना सूप मेरे साथ साझा किया। इस बात पर तुरंत सहमति हो गई थी कि मैं वहीं रात गुजारूंगा, निकटतम गांव अभी डेढ़ दिन से भी ज्यादा दूर है। इस क्षेत्र में पहाड़ियों के किनारों पर चार या पाँच गाँव एक दूसरे से दूर-दूर तक फैले हुए हैं। इनमें लकड़हारे रहते हैं जो लकड़ी का कोयला बनाते हैं।

चरवाहे ने एक भीख निकाली और मेज़ पर बलूत का फल का ढेर डाल दिया। उसने बड़े ध्यान से एक के बाद एक उनकी जांच करना शुरू किया, अच्छे लोगों को बुरे लोगों से अलग किया। जब उसके सामने एक सौ उत्तम बलूत का फल था तो वह रुक गया और हम सोने चले गये। इस आदमी की संगति से मुझे शांति की अनुभूति हुई। उसने मुझे यह आभास दिया कि कोई भी चीज़ उसे परेशान नहीं कर सकती। मैं उत्सुक था और मैं इस आदमी के बारे में और अधिक जानना चाहता था।

Let's continue:

Before going out the next day, he soaked(भिगोया) in a bucket of water the acorns that he had so carefully chosen(चुना) and counted(गिना). He carried an iron rod too, as a walking stick. He invited me to come along(साथ) with him.

Having arrived at the place he had been heading for, he began to pound(मिट्टी मे धसाना) his iron rod into the ground. This made a hole in which he placed an acorn, and covered over the hole again. He was planting oak trees. In this way, he planted his one hundred acorns with great care.

He told me that for three years now he had been planting trees in this solitary(अकेले) way. He had planted on hundred thousand. Of these one hundred thousand, twenty thousand had come up. 

It was at this moment(पल) that I began to wonder(आश्चर्य) about his age. He was clearly more than fifty. Fifty-five, he told me. His name was Elzeard Bouffier. He had owned a farm in the plains(भूमि), where he lived most of his life. He had lost his only son, and then his wife. He had retired(पहुचना) into this solitude(एकांतवास), where he took pleasure(आनंद) in living slowly, with his flock(झुंड) of sheep and his dog. He had concluded(निसकर्ष देना) that this country was dying(मरना) for lack(कमी) of trees. He added that, having nothing more important to do, he had resolved(संकल्प लिया) to remedy(उपाय) the situation(दशा).

We parted(अलग होना) the next day.

The next year the was came, in which I was engaged(जुरा रहा) for five years. With the war behind me(मेरे गैरमोजूदगी मे), I had a great desire(इच्छा) to breathe(साँसलेना) a little pure air, and set out(बाहर निकला) again along the trail(पुराने रास्ते) through that deserted(मरुभूमि) country. The land had not changed. Ever since the day before, I had been thinking about the shepherd who planted trees. Ten thousand oaks, I had said to myself, must(जरूर) really take up a lot of(कई) space.

When I met Elzeard Bouffier this time, I found that the war had not disturbed(परेशान) him at all. He had continued(जारी रखना) with his planting. The oaks of 1910 were now ten years old and were taller than me and than him. The scene was impressive(प्रभाव). I was actually speechless(शब्दहीन) and we passed the whole(पूरा) day in silence(शांति), walking through his forest. It was in three sections(भाग), eleven kilometers long overall(सम्पूर्ण) and, at its widest point, three kilometers wide. When I considered(माना) that this had all sprung(उठना या उगना) from the heads and from the soul(आत्मा) of this one man - without technical aids(तकनीकी मदद) - it stuck(आया) me that men could be as effective(प्रववशाली) as God in domains(क्षेत्र) other than destruction(विधवंश).

Hindi Translation:

अगले दिन बाहर जाने से पहले, उसने बलूत के फल को एक बाल्टी पानी में भिगोया जिसे उसने बहुत सावधानी से चुना और गिना था। वह चलने की छड़ी के रूप में एक लोहे की छड़ भी रखता था। उन्होंने मुझे अपने साथ आने के लिए आमंत्रित किया.

जिस स्थान की ओर वह जा रहा था, वहां पहुंचकर उसने अपनी लोहे की छड़ को जमीन पर पटकना शुरू कर दिया। इससे एक छेद बन गया जिसमें उसने एक बलूत का फल रखा और छेद को फिर से ढक दिया। वह ओक के पेड़ लगा रहा था। इस प्रकार उसने बड़ी सावधानी से अपने एक सौ बलूत के फल लगाए।

उन्होंने मुझे बताया कि अब तीन साल से वह इसी तरह अकेले पेड़ लगाते आ रहे हैं। उसने एक लाख पौधे लगाए थे। इनमें से एक लाख, बीस हजार आये थे।

यही वह क्षण था जब मुझे उसकी उम्र के बारे में आश्चर्य होने लगा। वह स्पष्ट रूप से पचास से अधिक का था। पचपन, उसने मुझसे कहा। उसका नाम एल्ज़र्ड बाउफ़ियर था। उसके पास मैदानी इलाके में एक खेत था, जहाँ उसने अपना अधिकांश जीवन बिताया। उन्होंने अपना इकलौता बेटा और फिर अपनी पत्नी को खो दिया था। वह इस एकांत में चले गए थे, जहां उन्हें अपनी भेड़ों के झुंड और अपने कुत्ते के साथ धीरे-धीरे रहने में आनंद आता था। उन्होंने निष्कर्ष निकाला था कि यह देश पेड़ों की कमी के कारण मर रहा है। उन्होंने आगे कहा कि, करने के लिए अधिक महत्वपूर्ण कुछ न होने के कारण, उन्होंने स्थिति को सुधारने का संकल्प लिया है।

अगले दिन हम अलग हो गये.

अगले वर्ष वह दिन आया, जिसमें मैं पाँच वर्षों तक लगा रहा। युद्ध ख़त्म होने के बाद, मुझे थोड़ी शुद्ध हवा में सांस लेने की बहुत इच्छा हुई, और मैं फिर से उस निर्जन देश के रास्ते पर निकल पड़ा। ज़मीन नहीं बदली थी. एक दिन पहले से ही मैं उस चरवाहे के बारे में सोच रहा था जिसने पेड़ लगाए थे। मैंने अपने आप से कहा था कि दस हजार ओक वास्तव में बहुत अधिक जगह घेरेंगे।

जब मैं इस बार एल्ज़र्ड बाउफ़ियर से मिला, तो मैंने पाया कि युद्ध ने उन्हें बिल्कुल भी परेशान नहीं किया था। उन्होंने अपना रोपण जारी रखा था। 1910 के बांज अब दस साल पुराने हो गए थे और मुझसे और उससे भी ऊँचे थे। दृश्य प्रभावशाली था. मैं वास्तव में अवाक रह गया था और हमने सारा दिन चुपचाप उसके जंगल में घूमते हुए बिताया। यह तीन खंडों में था, कुल मिलाकर ग्यारह किलोमीटर लंबा और, अपने सबसे चौड़े बिंदु पर, तीन किलोमीटर चौड़ा। जब मैंने सोचा कि यह सब इस एक आदमी के सिर और आत्मा से उत्पन्न हुआ है - बिना किसी तकनीकी सहायता के - तो मुझे यह बात समझ में आई कि मनुष्य विनाश के अलावा अन्य क्षेत्रों में भगवान के समान प्रभावी हो सकते हैं।

Textual Questions:

Activity - 1

Tick the correct alternative:

(i) The narrator was speaking of his experience

(a) of recent times

(b) about forty years ago √

(c) forty years into the future

(ii) The land could produce only

(a) plants of all types

(b) wild lavender √

(c) oak trees

(iii) The village where he was camped was inhabited by

(a)the villagers

(b) wild animals

(c) none √

(iv) The sound of the wind is compared to

(a) a flute

(b) drums

(c) a wild beast √

Activity - 2

Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:

(1) The narrator had been walking for three days. I

(2) He came across a dry spring. V

(3) No vegetation grew in the region except wild lavender. II

(4) The narrator's camp was near an abandoned village. III

(5) He was in search of water. IV

(6)  He lost all hopes of water when his search produced no result after five hours. VI

Activity - 3

Answer the following question:   

Q. Why do you think the village was abandoned?

Ans:- I think the villagers of that area gradually cut down the vegetation of that area. As a result of the deforestation of that area the rainfall was decreasing day by day and finally raining was stopped. So the villagers migrated somewhere else and the village was abandoned.

Activity - 4

Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 

(a) In the text, 'l' refers to Jean Giono the writer himself.

(b) The shepherd's cottage would be the narrator's shelter for the night since the closest village was still more than a day and a half farther on.

(c) With a great deal of attention, the shepherd began to examine.

(d) The impression provided by the shepherd to the narrator was that nothing could disturb him.

Activity - 5

Answer the following questions:

(a) Give two examples of the shepherd's hospitality towards the narrator.

Ans:- the shepherd gave the narrator shelter in his cottage. He also gave the narrator a drink and he shared his soup with the narrator.

(b) State the profession of the people who inhabited the four or five remote villages.

Ans:- They are woodcutters who make charcoal.

(c) "I was intrigued." Why was the narrator 'intrigued'?

Ans:- The company of the shepherd brought the narrator a feeling of peace. The shepherd gave the narrator the impression that nothing could disturb him. So, the narrator was intrigued and he wanted to find out more about the shepherd. 

Activity - 6

Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements in the given boxes. Give supporting statements for each of your answers:

(a) The next morning the shepherd left his house all by himself. F

S.S:- He invited me to come along with him.

(b) Twenty thousand trees had sprouted from among the trees planted by the shepherd. T

S.S:- Of these one hundred thousand, twenty thousand had come up. 

(c) The narrator met Elzéard Bouffier after a time span of five years. T

S.S:-  The next year the was came, in which Iwas engaged for five years.

(d) The forest had sprung with the combined effort of the villagers and the shepherd. F

S.S:- When I considered that this had all sprung from the hands and from the soul of this one man without technical aids - it struck me that men could be as effective as God in domains other than destruction. 

Activity - 7

Answer the following questions:

(a) How did Elzéard Bouffier plant the acorns?

Ans:- Elzéard Bouffier pounded his iron rod into the ground. This made a hole in which he placed an acorn, and covered over the hole again.

(b) How many years later did the narrator revisit the country?

Ans:- The narrator revisited the country after five years.  

(c) "I found that the war had not disturbed him at all"-Why do you think that the war had not been able to disturb Elzéard Bouffier?

Ans:- Elzéard Bouffier lived in an isolated place that was far away from the battlefield.

 (d) What was the narrator's reaction on seeing the massive oak trees?

Ans:- The scene was impressive. The narrator was actually speechless seeing the massive oak trees.

Activity - 8(a)

Combine the following pairs of sentences by using Infinitives:

(1) My mother went to Agra. She wanted to visit the Taj Mahal.

Ans:- My mother went to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal.

 (2) The man held a meeting. He wanted to select a manager for the factory.

Ans:- The man held a meeting to select a manager for the factory.

 (3) She was too tired. She could not work.

Ans:- She was too tired to work.

 (4) The school has appointed a new teacher. He would teach Bengali to the students.

Ans:- The school has appointed a new teacher to teach Bengali to the students.

Activity - 8(b)

Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect Continuous tense of the given verbs:

(i) The dog has been barking (bark) since last night.

(ii) The man has been reading (read) the newspaper for two hours.

(iii) The students has been preparing (prepare) themselves for the quiz competition for everal months.

(iii) Mother has been cooking (cook) dinner for all of us throughout the evening.

Activity - 8(c)

Change the underlined verbs into the Past Perfect Continuous tense:

(i) He said that he had tried to contact us over phone since 8 o'clock that day.

Ans:- He said that he had been tring to contact us over phone since 8 o'clock that day.

(ii) For a long time they had planned to visit the caves of Ajanta and Ellora.

Ans:- For a long time, they had been planning to visit the caves of Ajanta and Ellora.

(iii) The actor who had played the part of Netaji became ill after the show.

Ans:- The actor who had been playing the part of Netaji became ill after the show.

(iv) My sister explained that she got up late because she had studied till midnight.

Ans:- My sister explained that she got up late because she had been studying till midnight.

Activity - 8(d)

Change the following sentences into Indirect speech:

(i) Mohan said, "My brother will leave tomorrow".

Ans:- Mohan said his brother would leave the next day.

(ii) My friend said to me, "I will be grateful if you help me now."

Ans:-My friend told me that he would be grateful if I  helped him then. 

(iii) The child said to his father," Please give me a toy."

Ans:- The child requested his father to give him a toy.

(iv) "Oh! what a hot day it is today," said Rita.

Ans:- Rita exclaimed that it was very hot that da

(v) “May we save our good earth!" said the teacher

Ans:- The teacher wished that we save our good earth.

Activity - 9

Find words in the third section of the text which mean the following:

(a) a way of improving an unpleasant or difficult situation

: resolve

(b) to repeatedly hit at something

: pound

(c) a place with no people in it

: deserted

(d) left with no words

: speechless

Let's Talk:

Trees are an important part of our planet. We are losing a number of trees everyday because of various reasons. Discuss in groups what you can do to prevent the cutting down of trees in your neighborhood.

Activity - 10(a)

Q. Write an imaginary conversation between yourself and a tree which you had planted and which has grown green and tail.

Ans:- 

Tree: "Hello friend ! Glad to meet you."

Man: "Hello, nice to meet you too."

Tree: "I appreciate your efforts to plant me and water me to this level. You must be of a good heart person."

Man: "Oh thanks ! I appreciate too. So how's going so far ?"

Tree: "It is indeed a nice time growing day by day and enjoying with birds charm. The only challenge is the fear of being cut down anytime."

Man: "Do not worry. I am always here to ensure you."

Tree: "Thanks for the assurance. But the constant population that chokes me many times, what can you do about it ?"

Man: "I have tried but sometimes those who pollute environment are not sensitive, but hope everything will change soon."

Tree: "I also wish and pray so let human race do something about its change."

Man: "Oh dear, I must ensure your well being."

Tree: "Thanks friend and have a nice time."

Man: "You too my friend."

Activity - 10(b)

Suppose your friend, who lives in a hostel, is missing his/her friends and family. He/she is feeling very lonely and sad. Write a letter inspiring him/her to cope with his/her present situation.

Ans:-

[Friend’s Address]

[City, State, ZIP]

Dear Shyam,

         I received your letter last week and got to know that you have been feeling in the hostel. I know this is the first time you being away from your family and friends. But remember we are always there for you. This time too shall pass soon. Don’t forget your aim and focus on that. We too miss you here. Try doing new things and meet people. Explore nearby areas as much as you can. There are days when you might feel to come, then do come home and meet your loved ones. And remember don’t cry ever. Keep writing to us.

Hope to see you soon.

Yours lovingly friend

 

Ramaish(your name)

Let's work together:

Locate a plot near your school, collect a bag of seeds. With the help of your friends, plant the seeds and water them. Write four sentences on what you have done.