Comprehensions

Chipko Movement

Chipko is a hindi word. It means ‘to clasp’, ‘to hug’. The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. The Chipko movement started in the year 1974, a contractor went to the forest in the Chamoli district of Uttar Pradesh, to cut trees. Gaura Devi, a brave village woman, came to know of it. She took a group of 26 women to the forest and they hugged the trees there. They said that the woodcutters would have to cut their bodies before cutting the trees. The trees were saved. Their actions inspired hundreds of people.

This incident showed a new way to save the trees and led the Chipko Movement. Sunder Lal Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhatt are the main leaders of the Movement. Bahuguna once said that, a tree is like ten sons because it gives ten valuable things: oxygen, water, energy, food, clothes, medicines, timber, fodder, flowers and shade.

Color

 What is pink? a rose is pink By a fountain's brink.

 What is red? a poppy's red In its barley bed.

 What is blue? the sky is blue Where the clouds float thro'.

 What is white? a swan is white Sailing in the light.

 What is yellow? pears are yellow, Rich and ripe and mellow.

 What is green? the grass is green, With small flowers between.

 What is violet? clouds are violet In the summer twilight.

 Death of Lord Indra's parrot

It was a meeting of all the gods in heaven. Lord Indra was also sitting on his throne. His favourite parrot was perched on one of the arms of the throne. Lord Indra loved his parrot very much.

Soon, thereafter, the arrival of Lord of Death was announced. The next moment, entered the Lord of Death in the conference hall. The Lord of Death cast a glance at the parrot and smiled. Seeing him smiling, the parrot began trembling with fear, as it knew that the smile of Lord of Death must have some meaning and it could not be without reason. Seeing the parrot trembling with fear, the gods requested Lord of Death to spare parrot's life as it was very dear to Lord Indra. 

 "I've no authority in such matters," said Lord of Death. "You'll have to speak to Destiny in this respect."