Journey to the end of the Earth
By - Tishani Doshi
By - Tishani Doshi
The chapter “Journey to the End of the Earth” by Tishani Doshi describes the author’s experiences in Antarctica. She travels with a group of students as part of the ‘Students on Ice’ program, an educational journey started by Geoff Green. The aim of this program is to make young minds aware of the importance of the environment, ecosystem, and the urgent need to protect Earth from climate change.
The author begins by describing the long and tiring journey to Antarctica. It takes several flights, crossing nine time zones, six checkpoints, and three bodies of water to finally reach the southernmost continent. The first view of Antarctica leaves her amazed. She sees endless white ice sheets, silence all around, and a land completely different from the rest of the world.
Antarctica is a unique place because it has no trees, no human population, and no signs of pollution. It is the only place where one can clearly see the results of global warming and climate change. Icebergs are melting rapidly, and this can increase the water level of oceans, which may one day flood coastal areas.
The author also explains that millions of years ago, Antarctica was part of a supercontinent called "Gondwana", which included India as well. At that time, the land was warm and full of green forests. Later, due to continental drift, the land separated into different continents. Antarctica is now the coldest, driest, and windiest place on Earth. It holds secrets about Earth’s past, present, and future. By studying its ice cores and rocks, scientists can understand how life evolved and how the climate has changed over time.
During her journey, the author feels that Antarctica is like a perfect lesson in environmental balance. It shows how all living and non-living things are connected. She realises that human activities like burning fossil fuels, cutting forests, and polluting the atmosphere are harming this delicate balance. If humans do not change their ways, the future of life on Earth will be in danger.
In the end, the author reflects that visiting Antarctica is like visiting the future of Earth. It teaches us that saving our planet is not just a responsibility but a necessity for survival. Through this journey, she feels strongly that we must learn to respect nature and live in harmony with it.
“Journey to the End of the Earth” लेखक तिशानी दोशी का अनुभव है, जो उन्होंने अंटार्कटिका की यात्रा के दौरान लिखा। वह ‘Students on Ice’ कार्यक्रम के तहत अंटार्कटिका गईं, जो छात्रों को पर्यावरण, पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र और जलवायु परिवर्तन की गंभीरता के प्रति जागरूक करने के लिए बनाया गया है।
लेखिका अपने लंबी और थकाऊ यात्रा का वर्णन करती हैं। अंटार्कटिका पहुँचने के लिए उन्हें कई उड़ानें, नौ समय क्षेत्रों की यात्रा, छह चेकपॉइंट्स और तीन जलमार्ग पार करने पड़े। पहली बार अंटार्कटिका देखने पर उनका मन मोह लिया। वहाँ अनंत बर्फ के मैदान, चारों ओर शांति और एक बिल्कुल अलग वातावरण था।
अंटार्कटिका बहुत खास जगह है क्योंकि यहाँ न तो पेड़ हैं, न ही कोई स्थायी मानव बसावट, और न ही प्रदूषण के संकेत हैं। यह वह जगह है जहाँ ग्लोबल वार्मिंग और जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभाव स्पष्ट रूप से दिखते हैं। बर्फ के टुकड़े तेजी से पिघल रहे हैं, जिससे समुद्र का जलस्तर बढ़ सकता है और तटीय क्षेत्र भविष्य में जलमग्न हो सकते हैं।
लेखिका बताती हैं कि करोड़ों साल पहले अंटार्कटिका एक महाद्वीप "गोंडवाना" का हिस्सा था, जिसमें भारत भी शामिल था। उस समय यहाँ हरियाली और गर्म मौसम था। बाद में महाद्वीपीय पटल हिले और यह अलग महाद्वीप बन गया। आज अंटार्कटिका पृथ्वी का सबसे ठंडा, शुष्क और तेज़ हवाओं वाला स्थान है। इसके बर्फ के कोर और चट्टानों का अध्ययन करके वैज्ञानिक पृथ्वी के अतीत, वर्तमान और भविष्य के बारे में जान सकते हैं।
इस यात्रा के दौरान लेखिका को महसूस होता है कि अंटार्कटिका पर्यावरण संतुलन का एक जीवंत पाठ है। यह दिखाता है कि सभी जीवित और निर्जीव तत्व आपस में जुड़े हुए हैं। उन्होंने महसूस किया कि मानव गतिविधियाँ जैसे जीवाश्म ईंधन जलाना, जंगल काटना और वायु प्रदूषण इस नाजुक संतुलन को नुकसान पहुँचा रही हैं। यदि हम अपनी आदतें नहीं बदलते हैं, तो पृथ्वी और जीवन का भविष्य खतरे में है।
अंत में लेखिका यह निष्कर्ष निकालती हैं कि अंटार्कटिका की यात्रा पृथ्वी के भविष्य का अनुभव कराने जैसी है। यह हमें सिखाती है कि हमारी जिम्मेदारी है कि हम प्रकृति का सम्मान करें और उसके साथ संतुलित जीवन जिएं।
1. Who started the ‘Students on Ice’ program that the author joined?
a) Geoff Green ✅
b) Tishani Doshi
c) James Cook
d) Ernest Shackleton
2. What is the main purpose of the "Students on Ice" program?
a) To explore polar animals
b) To study glaciers
c) To educate students about environmental protection and climate change ✅
d) To conduct geological surveys
3. How many time zones did the author cross to reach Antarctica?
a) 3
b) 6
c) 9 ✅
d) 12
4. Antarctica was once part of which supercontinent?
a) Laurasia
b) Gondwana ✅
c) Pangea
d) Eurasia
5. What does Antarctica teach humans about nature?
a) That it is dangerous
b) That balance in nature is essential ✅
c) That humans are superior to nature
d) That it is full of resources
6. What evidence of climate change did the author notice in Antarctica?
a) Increased snowfall
b) Rapid melting of icebergs ✅
c) Appearance of new trees
d) Frequent earthquakes
7. Why is Antarctica considered unique?
a) It has tropical forests
b) It is inhabited by millions of people
c) It has no permanent human population and almost no pollution ✅
d) It has active volcanoes everywhere
8. Which of the following activities is harming the planet, according to the author?
a) Using solar energy
b) Polluting the atmosphere and cutting forests ✅
c) Planting trees
d) Studying glaciers
9. How does studying Antarctica help scientists?
a) To predict earthquakes
b) To understand past climate changes and evolution of life ✅
c) To measure the depth of oceans
d) To find hidden treasures
10. What feeling does the author experience at the end of the journey?
a) Fear of cold
b) Motivation to respect and protect nature ✅
c) Desire to live there permanently
d) Indifference
Q.1 When did the author start her journey to Antarctica and whataa had she to pass through ?
Ans : The author started her journey at 13.09 degree north of the Equator in Madras. She boarded a Russian research vessel - The Akademic Shokalskiy. She had to pass through the nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres.
Q.2 What emotion did the author experience when she reached Antarctica at last ?
Ans : When the author reached Antarctica at last her first emotion on facing Antarctica's expensive white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon was relif. She experienced the emotion of wonder at its immensity, isolation and its strange relationship with India.
Q.3 How would you describe Gondwana ?
Ans : Gondwana was the large landmass - a super continent, the undivided earth which existed millions of years ago. Gondwana was centered roughly around present day Antarctica. It had no human life but only Flora and Fauna.
Q.4 How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind ?
Ans : 650 million years ago, no human race existed on the earth because the environment was not favorable for human life. After many times when dinosaurs were wiped out, mammals started existing.
Q.5 What are the indications for the future of humankind ?
Ans : The future of humankind can get in danger if the carbondioxide and other poisonous gases increase. These gases deplete the ozone layer and allow the U. V. rays of the sun to enter the earth's environment and rise global warming.
Q.6 Explain "The future of humankind".
Ans : In present situation we can say that the future of humankind will be dangerous if the poisonous gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. increase in the same way. These gases deplete the zone layer and allow the U. V. rays of the sun to enter the earth's environment. This is a reason of global warming too.
Q.1 Why is Antarctica is place to go to study our present, past and future ?
Or
Justify the tittle "Journey to the end of the earth".
Ans : Introduction : The present question has been taken from the chapter "Journey to the end of the earth" written by Tishani Doshi. In this story Tishani Doshi talks about her journey to the Antarctica which is described as the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world.
About the story : In the story the writer tells that she went on a trip to Antarctica with a program called 'Student on ice'. She boarded a Russian research vessel 'The Akademik Shokalskiy' and journey began 13.09 degree north of the Equator in Madras crossing nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres. When she had reached at Antarctica, she states that if we want to study the earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is a place to go with its simple eco-system and lacks of biodiversity, it becomes the place to understand how little changes in the environment can have big results. Microscopic phytoplankton grasses of sea who nourish the entire ocean's food chain.
Conclusion : Int the last of the story the writer tells us that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals. Thus the tittle "Journey to the end of the earth" is suitable.