NOTES FOR CBSE / ICSE

  It Couldn’t Be Done Edgar Albert Guest.   Somebody said that it couldn’t be done But he with a chuckle replied That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So, he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried, he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it!   Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one ever has done it;” But he took off his coat and he took off his hat And the first thing we knew he’d begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it.   There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat

    A doctor's journal Entry for August 6, 1945 By Vikram Seth “A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” is a poignant poem by Vikram Seth that describes the horrifying aftermath of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, during the end of World War II on August 6, 1945. The poem begins on a calm, beautiful, and warm morning. The narrator, a doctor, is half-clothed, stretching his arms and legs, and gazing at the shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly, two strong flashes of light startle him, and he wonders if they are magnesium flares seen during a war. In the next moment, the roof and walls of his house collapse, and dust swirls around him. He finds himself in the garden amidst the debris. His drawers and undershirt have disappeared, presumably burnt in the flashes. The doctor is wounded on his cheek and thigh, and he is bleeding on the right side. He dislodges a piece of glass from his body, all the while wondering what has happened. The poem is a drama

  Women, Caste and Reform (CBSE/ CLASS- 8/ HISTORY) Question: What social ideas did the following people support? Rammohun Roy, Dayanand Saraswati, Veerasalingam Pantulu, Jyoti Rao Phule Pandita Ramabai, Periyar, Mumtaz Ali, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Answer : These people supported the following ideas: Rammohun Roy : Ban of Sati Dayanand Saraswati: Widow Remarriage Veerasalingam Pantulu: Widow Remarriage Jyoti Rao Phule : Equality amongst castes Pandita Ramabai: Women’s education Periyar: Equality for untouchables Mumtaz Ali: Women’s education Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: Widow remarriage   Question: How did the knowledge of ancient texts help the reformers promote new laws? Answer: The reformers tried to convince people that practices like widow burning, caste distinctions, child marriage, etc. had no sanction in ancient texts. Their knowledge of ancient texts gave them immense confidence and moral support which they utilized in promoting new laws