Class 11 English - WEST-BENGAL
The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement Role
The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement's Role by Nani Palkhivala, included in the Class 11 English curriculum for West Bengal (WBBSE) students, highlights the alarming degradation of the earth's environment. Written initially as an article for The Statesman, the chapter discusses the shift from a mechanistic view of the world to a holistic and ecological one. It emphasizes the concept of 'sustainable development' and warns humanity about becoming 'successful predators' who are consuming the planet's resources faster than they can regenerate. For board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing comprehension, critical thinking, and essay writing on environmental issues.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Green Movement
A worldwide political and ethical movement that started in 1972 with the founding of the world's first green party in New Zealand, aiming to protect the environment and promote sustainable living.
Holistic and Ecological View
A shifting human perspective that views the earth not as an inert collection of resources to exploit, but as a living organism—a distressed organism—that requires our care and stewardship.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as popularized by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987.
The World's Most Dangerous Animal
A famous plaque in a zoo in Lusaka, Zambia, that reads 'The world's most dangerous animal' above a mirror, highlighting human beings as the primary threat to the earth's survival.
Biological Systems vs. Economic System
The author's argument that the four principal biological systems—fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands—form the foundation of the global economic system, and their collapse will lead to the collapse of humanity.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) Class 11 English examination, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Common question types include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Short Answer Type Questions (SAQs), and Broad/Long Answer Type Questions (5 marks) focusing on the author's message, environmental degradation, and the role of the Green Movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the significance of the year 1972 in the Green Movement?
In 1972, the world's first environmental green party was founded in New Zealand, marking the formal political awakening of the global environmental movement.
What does the zoo mirror in Lusaka, Zambia signify?
The mirror reflects the human viewer, emphasizing the plaque's message that human beings are the world's most dangerous animal responsible for the destruction of earth.
Why does Nani Palkhivala call the earth an 'ailing planet'?
He calls it an ailing planet because its vital signs—forests, fisheries, grasslands, and croplands—are declining due to overexploitation and environmental degradation by humans.
Learn The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement Role with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards