Class 11 English - MAHARASHTRA
The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement Role
The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement Role is an insightful essay by Nani Palkhivala, published in The Indian Express. It highlights the deteriorating health of planet Earth and the crucial shift in human perception from a mechanistic view to a holistic, ecological one. The chapter discusses the 'Green Movement,' which started in 1972, and the concept of sustainable development. It emphasizes that the earth is a living organism and we are merely its trustees, not masters. For Maharashtra Board Class 11 students, this chapter is vital for prose comprehension, summary writing, and essay questions focusing on environmental awareness and responsibility.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Green Movement
A worldwide ecological movement that began in 1972 in New Zealand, fundamentally shifting humanity's perception of the earth and its fragile environment.
Holistic and Ecological View
A shift from a mechanistic, exploitative view of the world to a holistic perception that recognizes the earth as an integrated, living organism.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, first popularized in 1987.
The World's Most Dangerous Animal
A famous zoo exhibit in Lusaka, Zambia, featuring a mirror where visitors see themselves, highlighting human beings as the primary threat to earth.
The Four Principal Biological Systems
Fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands—which form the foundation of the global economic system and are currently being overexploited.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Maharashtra (MSBSHSE) Class 11 English Kumarbharati curriculum, prose lessons like 'The Ailing Planet' typically contribute to questions on textual comprehension, vocabulary, personal response, and summary writing. They often carry around 4 to 6 marks in the board-pattern internal tests and terminal exams through extract-based and long-answer questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central message of 'The Ailing Planet'?
The central message is that Earth's health is rapidly declining due to human overexploitation, and we must adopt sustainable practices and view ourselves as trustees of the planet rather than its absolute owners.
What was significant about the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia?
The zoo featured a cage with a notice reading 'The world's most dangerous animal' and inside was a mirror, implying that human beings are the greatest threat to the survival of the earth.
Why does the author call forests and fisheries the foundation of the global economy?
Because they are part of the four biological systems that supply not only food but virtually all raw materials for industry, barring minerals and petroleum-derived synthetics.
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