11th English : Everest is Not The Only Peak
Unit 5.2 > Everest is Not The Only Peak
Warm Up
Identify the following personalities and their fields of achievement.
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| Kailash Satyarthi | Mithali Dorai Raj | Nammalvar | V. Shanta |
| Social Activity | Cricket | Traditional Agriculture | Cancer Treatment |
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| Pitchai Sundararajan | Bachendri Pal | Amartya Sen | Kalpana Chawla |
| IT Field | Mountaineering Field | Economics | Aero Space Engineering |
Mention a remarkable achievement of any of these personalities.
V. Shanta is a prominent cancer specialist and the chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai. Her career has included organizing care for cancer patients and research in the prevention and cure of the disease. Her work won several awards, including the Magasaysay Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award by Government of India.
What quality do you admire the most in each of these achievers?
I admire their perseverance, dedication and commitment for the cause they have championed.
What are the qualities that you may share with them?
I share the following qualities with them:
- Unflinching commitment
- Selflessness
- Service-mindedness
- Firm determination
Name a few more popular personalities who have made our nation proud.
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Dr. Abdul Kalam
- Dr. Myilsamy Annadurai
- Anil Ambani
- M.S. Subbulakshmi
- Chetan Bhagat
GLOSSARY
- virtues – good qualities
- devotion – loyal commitment towards a particular activity
- repel – hate or detest
- cringing – behaving in an excessively humble or servile way
- adore – worship someone
- nourish – to help the growth and development of someone
- summit – the highest point of a hill or a mountain peak
- stoop – yield or submit, to descend from dignity
- competence – the ability to do something efficiently
- merit – the quality of being particularly good or worthy
A. Based on your understanding of the poem answer the following questions in a sentence or two each.
1. Which line is repeated in this poem? What is the effect created by this repetition?
The line ‘We are proud and feel so tall’ is repeated in this poem. The repetition emphasises the point that we are happy and proud with what we have and what we are.
2. Who are the ‘deserving ones’?
‘Deserving ones’ are those who are successful in achieving great things in this world.
3. What quality does the speaker wish to nourish? What is the mission?
The speaker wishes to nourish the quality which helps the growth and development of someone. The mission is to bless and appreciate such people.
4. Which path should we follow in life?
We should follow the path of dignity and honour.
5. What does ‘Everest’ in the title stand for?
‘Everest’ in the title stands for great achievement.
6. What does ‘hillock’ refer to in the line ‘Every hillock has a summit to boast’?
‘Hillock’ refers to small achievement we accomplish in this world.
7. Why does the speaker say ‘Everest is not the only peak’?
Climbing Everest is not the only achievement; even climbing a small hillock is also achievement. Here the speaker means that we should be happy with what we achieve in this world – big or small.
8. What does the ladder symbolize?
Ladder symbolizes the help we do for others to go up in their life.
B. Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow.
1. Our nature it is that whatever we try
We do with devotion deep and true.
a. Who does ‘we’ refer to?
The term ‘We’ refers to people.
b. How should we carry out our duties?
We should carry out our work with deep devotion.
2. Defeat we repel, courage our fort;
a. How do we react to defeat?
We hate defeat.
b. Which is considered to be our strong hold?
Courage is considered to be our strong hold.
3. We are proud of the position we
Hold; humble as we are
a. What is the speaker proud of?
The speaker is proud of the position he holds in the society.
b. How is the speaker both humble and proud?
The speaker is proud of holding his position but at the same time he is humble before others.
c. Pick out the alliteration in these lines.
proud – position.
4. He, who does not stop, is a king we adore
We bow before competence and merit;
a. Who is adored as a king?
One who does not stop in his movement towards achievement is adored.
b. What is the figure of speech used in the first line?
Metaphor.
5. Honour is our property, common to all;
In dignity and pride no one need to be poor
a. Who are considered rich?
Those who lead an honourable and dignified life are rich.
b. What is their asset?
Honour is their asset.
C. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 100 – 150 words each.
1. In what way is every hillock similar to Everest?
Prof. V C. Kulandaisamy in his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ brings to our understanding that some people may be lucky to achieve great things but others will also achieve something according to their talents. Everest is not the only peak. There are other peaks which may not be as tall as Everest. But climbing them is also an achievement. We should feel proud and great for the virtues what we have. Whatever we do should be done with deep devotion. We should hate defeat, and courage should be our strong hold. We may be humble but we need not worship anybody else. We can bless and praise the achievers. We should be proud of the position we hold in the society. The pride for one comes from the way he leads his life in this world. Our path is dignified and honourable. We do not bend and kneel before others because we are proud of our life. Everest may be the tallest peak but there are other peaks also. Those who try to reach those peaks without stopping their attempt should also be praised. We bow before the people of competence and merit.
2. The poem does not focus on the destination but the journey towards it. Discuss.
Prof. V C. Kuladaisamy in his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ brings to our understanding that some people may be lucky to achieve great things but others will also achieve something according to their talents. Everest is not the only peak. There are other peaks which may not be as tall as Everest. But climbing them is also an achievement. The destination is not as important as the journey towards destination. This poem focusses more on the journey than on the destination. So the poet says that Everest is not the only peak and there are many other peaks before reaching Everest. Those who reach the other peaks are also achievers. Our life should be a life of dignity and honour. This poem does not praise only those who reach the destination; it praises even those who have competence and merit. The people who are true to their life and take their own stand are the ladder for others to rise to greater heights in their life. Honour is for everyone – for those who reach the destination and those who take the journey towards destination.
Creative Activity.
v Write eight words you associate with success.
goal, plan, hard work, smart work, right direction, commitment, achievement, confidents.
v Use the words to write eight lines that mean success to you or how success makes you feel.
We should have a goal which is aligned with our value system.
We should make a plan to achieve our goal.
We should work hard towards the goal.
We should work smart only with the desired activities.
We should follow the right direction towards the goal.
We should have discussion with our like minded people.
Then we will enjoy success.
v Arrange your lines into a poem.
SUCCESS
Keeping goal is the first step for success
It should be followed by our plan to reach success
Hard work is our way of life to attain success
Along with hard work, smart work will bring success
Assessment of our work will keep us towards success
Right direction is a positive step to reach success
Discussion with our friends about how far is success
Following all the above steps will lead us to success.
SPEAKING ACTIVITY
Discuss the following topics in groups of five and choose a representative to sum up the views and share them with the class.
a) To succeed in life, one must have a single-minded devotion to duty.
Doing our duty is the basis for our success. Our success depends on how we do our duty. To be successful in life we should carry out our duty sincerely. Commitment towards our duty is the first step for our successful life. If we avoid unwanted and undesirable things in our life it would be easy to achieve our goal. So single-minded devotion to duty will surely lead to success.
b) ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal.’ It is the courage and perseverance that counts.
Success leads to success. So one success is not final. It will lead to another success. So success is never ending. A war can be won after winning many battles. Failure is the stepping stone for success. People learn more from failure than from success. Failure is a learning ground and it teaches what should not be done. So failure is not final.
c) Successful people neither brood over the past nor worry about the future.
Yesterday is dead; tomorrow is yet to be born; only today is a boon presented to us. So nothing will happen if you cry over the split milk. So the successful people will never think of what happened in the past. If today is taken care of it becomes the past and we need not worry about the past. In the same way tomorrow depends on today’s work. So if we do things well today everything will fall in its own way. So successful people will not unnecessarily brood over the past and they will not worry about the future because bygones are bygones.
Explain the following lines with reference to the context.
1. To seek a gain we adore none;
We are proud and feel so tall.
Reference:
These lines are taken from the poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ written by Prof. Kulaindaisamy.
Explanation:
Prof. V. C. Kulandaisamy, known as Kulothunagan was an eminent technologist and a man of letters. In his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ he enumerates why an ordinary man’s achievement should also be appreciated and accounted. We should have courage to face any situation. We should never bow down before others for any unnecessary favours. Just to gain something we should not show respect to anybody.
2. We deem it our duty and mission in life
To bless and praise the deserving ones.
Reference:
These lines are taken from the poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ written by Prof. Kulaindaisamy.
Explanation:
Prof. V. C. Kulandaisamy, known as Kulothunagan was an eminent technologist and a man of letters. In his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ he enumerates why an ordinary man’s achievement should also be appreciated and accounted. We should bless and praise those who do praiseworthy activities in the society. We have to take this as our duty and mission in this world. Such people’s accomplishments should never be forgotten.
3. Never shall we fail in what we commit
Shall nourish the ones that nourish the world.
Reference:
These lines are taken from the poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ written by Prof. Kulaindaisamy.
Explanation:
Prof. V. C. Kulandaisamy, known as Kulothunagan was an eminent technologist and a man of letters. In his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ he enumerates why an ordinary man’s achievement should also be appreciated and accounted. We should never fail to accomplish what we promise in the world. We should appreciate someone who helps the growth and development of others.
4. Our pride springs from the way we live
Ours is the path of dignity and honour.
Reference:
These lines are taken from the poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ written by Prof. Kulaindaisamy.
Explanation:
Prof. V. C. Kulandaisamy, known as Kulothunagan was an eminent technologist and a man of letters. In his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ he enumerates why an ordinary man’s achievement should also be appreciated and accounted. Our pride does not come from our achievements; it comes from the way we lead our life in the society. Our way should be dignified and honourable.
5. Everest is not the only peak,
Every hillock has a summit to boast!
Reference:
These lines are taken from the poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ written by Prof. Kulaindaisamy.
Explanation:
Prof. V. C. Kulandaisamy, known as Kulothunagan was an eminent technologist and a man of letters. In his poem ‘Everest is not the Only Peak’ he enumerates why an ordinary man’s achievement should also be appreciated and accounted. . Everest may be the tallest peak but there are other peaks also. Those who try to reach those peaks without stopping their attempt should also be praised. Climbing Everest is not the only achievement; even climbing a small hillock is also an achievement. Every small action has a success behind it. It does not matter what height we reach in the society; one who does not bend before others to gain favours will be respected as a king.
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