Helping students with live doubts, mock tests, coaching comparisons, college finders, and more.
Updated : 3 weeks ago
The first part of the chapter is about Santosh Yadav, the only woman to have scaled Mt. Everest twice. She was born in a small village in Haryana, where girls were traditionally not encouraged to pursue education or sports. However, Santosh was determined to break these barriers and lead her life on her own terms. She defied norms, studied in Delhi, and then trained as a mountaineer, eventually climbing Everest. Santosh's journey is a story of determination, courage, and breaking gender stereotypes.
इस अध्याय का पहला भाग संतोष यादव के बारे में है, जो माउंट एवरेस्ट पर दो बार चढ़ने वाली एकमात्र महिला हैं। उनका जन्म हरियाणा के एक छोटे से गाँव में हुआ था, जहाँ लड़कियों को शिक्षा या खेलों में भाग लेने के लिए प्रोत्साहित नहीं किया जाता था। लेकिन संतोष ने इन बाधाओं को तोड़ने का निश्चय किया और अपने तरीके से जीवन जीने का निर्णय लिया। उन्होंने दिल्ली में पढ़ाई की और फिर पर्वतारोहण का प्रशिक्षण लिया, अंततः एवरेस्ट पर चढ़ाई की। संतोष की यात्रा दृढ़ संकल्प, साहस और लिंग रूढ़ियों को तोड़ने की कहानी है।
The second part of the chapter is about Maria Sharapova, a world-famous tennis player. Born in Siberia, Russia, she moved to the United States at the age of seven to pursue tennis. Despite challenges like being separated from her mother, Maria remained focused and determined. She worked hard and eventually won the Wimbledon title at just 17. Her story is a testament to perseverance, ambition, and dedication to achieving one’s dreams.
इस अध्याय का दूसरा भाग मारिया शारापोवा के बारे में है, जो विश्व प्रसिद्ध टेनिस खिलाड़ी हैं। उनका जन्म साइबेरिया, रूस में हुआ और वह सात साल की उम्र में टेनिस खेलने के लिए संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका चली गईं। अपनी मां से अलग होने जैसी चुनौतियों के बावजूद, मारिया ने ध्यान केंद्रित किया और दृढ़ निश्चयी रहीं। उन्होंने कड़ी मेहनत की और अंततः 17 साल की उम्र में विंबलडन का खिताब जीता। उनकी कहानी दृढ़ता, महत्वाकांक्षा और अपने सपनों को पूरा करने के समर्पण की मिसाल है।
The holy man was surprised because Santosh's grandmother wanted a blessing for a daughter rather than a son, which was not a common request in their society.
When Santosh was told to wear traditional Indian dresses, she refused and opted to wear shorts because she found the traditional dress code unreasonable.
Though Santosh’s parents could afford to send her to a school in the city, she was sent to the local village school in line with the prevailing traditions of her family.
Santosh left home for Delhi when she was 16 years old because she wanted to get a proper education, something she felt the local village school couldn’t provide.
Santosh’s parents agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi when she threatened them that she would work part-time to pay her fees. This shows her determination and courage to pursue her education despite family opposition.
Santosh’s fascination with mountaineering began when she watched villagers climbing the hills near her hostel. This inspired her to enroll in a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.
During the Everest expedition, Santosh helped a fellow climber who had difficulty breathing by sharing her oxygen supply, showing her selflessness and concern for her teammates.
Santosh collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas, showing her dedication to environmental conservation.
At the summit of Everest, Santosh felt a deep sense of pride and satisfaction, but her feelings were also accompanied by the realization of the responsibility she now had to inspire others.
Santosh got into the record books because she was the youngest woman to scale Everest and the first woman to do it twice.
...watch the villagers going up the Aravalli hills and sometimes climbed them herself.
...she had secretly joined a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without informing him.
...climbing skills, while her concern for fellow climbers endeared her to the team.
Working in small groups of 4–5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova and complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences.
Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
---|---|---|
Their humble beginning | Santosh was born in a small village in Haryana, where the norms of society often limited girls. | Maria's family moved to Siberia from Russia, where they faced financial hardships but supported her tennis career. |
Their parents’ approach | Initially, Santosh's parents wanted her to follow traditional ways, but later they supported her education. | Maria’s parents sacrificed a lot to ensure she could train in the U.S. even though they couldn’t accompany her. |
Their will power and strong desire to succeed | Santosh refused to conform to societal expectations and followed her passion for mountaineering. | Maria's determination and hard work led her to rise in tennis despite the struggles she faced in the U.S. |
Evidence of their mental toughness | Santosh showed courage and resilience, especially during her expeditions, where she faced life-threatening situations. | Maria showed mental strength by training in the U.S. at a young age, enduring loneliness and hardships. |
Their patriotism | Santosh is proud to be an Indian and always values her roots, contributing to mountaineering in India. | Maria is proud of her Russian heritage and sees herself as a representative of her country in the world of sports. |
Read the passage once. Then close your books. Your teacher will dictate the story to you. Write it down with the correct punctuation and paragraphing.
The Raincoat
After four years of drought in a small town in the Northeast, the Vicar gathered everyone together for a pilgrimage to the mountain, where they would pray together and ask for the rain to return.
The priest noticed a boy in the group wearing a raincoat.
“Have you gone mad?” he asked. “It hasn’t rained in this region for five years, the heat will kill you climbing the mountain.”
“I have a cold, father. If we are going to ask God for rain, can you imagine the way back from the mountain? It’s going to be such a downpour that I need to be prepared.”
At that moment a great crash was heard in the sky and the first drops began to fall. A boy’s faith was enough to bring about a miracle that not even those most prepared truly believed in.
(translated by JAMES MULHOLLAND)
Imagine that you are Santosh Yadav, or Maria Sharapova. You have been invited to speak at an All India Girls’ Athletic Meet, as chief guest. Prepare a short speech to motivate the girls to think and dream big and make an effort to fulfil their dreams, not allowing difficulties or defeat to discourage them.
The following words and phrases may help you:
Here is some information on Maria Sharapova’s rankings for reference:
Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav?
Write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh's character.
Santosh Yadav was a determined and independent woman. From a young age, she exhibited a strong will to defy societal norms and chart her own path. Her perseverance was evident in her decision to pursue mountaineering, a field traditionally dominated by men. Despite the hardships, she remained focused and continued to climb, eventually becoming the first woman to scale Mount Everest twice.
She was also resourceful and considerate. During her expeditions, she not only took care of herself but also showed deep concern for her fellow climbers, helping save lives and maintaining the spirit of teamwork. Santosh’s courage and dedication made her an inspirational figure for many young girls across India.
The story 'Reach for the Top' is a motivational account of two extraordinary individuals, Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova, who overcame societal and personal challenges to achieve great success in their respective fields. Their stories inspire readers to follow their dreams and break barriers.
No forum posts available.