Summary of Colours of Nature
In this passage Colours of Nature from Jungle Lore, Jim Corbett expresses his deep love for nature. He takes us to a hill where we can see the beauty of the forest below. The forest is untouched by humans, with shisham saplings and runi trees scattered around. The red powder, kamala, collected from runi berries, is crucial for dyeing wool and has medicinal uses.
The khair trees not only provide plowshares but also support a cottage industry producing kach and khaki dye. Mirza accidentally discovers the khaki dye while working with khair chips. The forest is filled with trees of different colors – dhak with orange flowers for silk dye, amaltas with golden blooms for a laxative substance, kachanar with lilac flowers, kusum with pink leaves, and semul with red flowers loved by various animals.
Later, the semul flowers turn into woody seedpods that explode in April, dispersing silk cotton to regenerate the forest. Some seeds use buoyant material or sails to travel with the wind, except for exceptions like gotail and coconuts, which rely on water for dispersion.
Theme of Colours of Nature
The theme of the story, Colours of Nature revolves around the profound connection between humans and nature, emphasizing the importance of preserving the environment. It explores the beauty of untouched forests, the value of biodiversity, and the potential harm caused by human exploitation. The narrative encourages a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the natural world, advocating for sustainable practices to maintain the delicate balance of ecosystems and ensure the well-being of both the environment and humanity.
Message
The story Colours of Nature underscores the beauty and interconnectedness of nature. Through vivid descriptions, it highlights the forest’s diverse resources and the delicate balance between human activities and the environment. It encourages appreciation for nature’s blessings, emphasizing the need for responsible coexistence to preserve the richness of the natural world.
A. Tick the most appropriate options, Colours of Nature
1. The author asks us to climb the hill so that we can
a. go to the foothills and the forests.
b. get exercise and fresh air.
c. see the foothills and the forests.
d. walk through the foothills and the forests.
2. This forest is as nature made it’ means it
a. is untouched by man.
b. has a good nature.
c. is made naturally.
d. is thickly-wooded.
3. The shisham tree is used to make
a. timber.
b. saplings.
c. wood.
d. furniture.
4. People migrate from the hills to the foothills to
a. escape food and hunger.
b. get relief from the cold.
c. get away from wild animals.
d. collect berries.
5. Corbett compared the poor people of the hills with birds because they
a. wore colourful clothes and were always singing cheerfully.
b. ate fruits from trees like the birds do.
c. migrated to the warmer foothills in the cold of winter.
d. were caged like birds.
Answer
1. The author asks us to climb the hill so that we can
c. see the foothills and the forests.
2. ‘This forest is as nature made it’ means it
a. is untouched by man.
3. The shisham tree is used to make
d. furniture.
4. People migrate from the hills to the foothills to
b. get relief from the cold.
5. Corbett compared the poor people of the hills with birds because they
c. migrated to the warmer foothills in the cold of winter.
B. Answer these questions form Colours of Nature
1. When and how is kamala collected?
2. According to Corbett, how was the colour Khaki discovered?
3. Why did the United States stop using Kamala to colour butter?
4. How is kach/catechu made?
5. What are the three ways by which seeds are carried from place to place?
Answer
1. Kamala is collected during winter. The process involves cutting down branches of runi trees, stripping the berries into baskets, and rubbing them to release a red powder. This powder is then collected on a cheetal skin or cloth.
2. The color khaki was discovered accidentally by a man named Mirza. While boiling khair chips to make kach, a white handkerchief fell into the pan. When the handkerchief couldn’t be cleaned of the color, Mirza realized he had discovered a fast dye, leading to the production of khaki.
3. The United States stopped using kamala to color butter because some dishonest people started adding brick dust to the kamala. This adulteration affected the purity of the kamala and its suitability for coloring butter.
4. Kach (catechu) is made by boiling khair chips. This process is part of a winter industry that lasts for four months and produces kach as the main product, along with a by-product, the dye known as khaki.
5. Seeds are carried from place to place by birds, animals, and the wind. Additionally, some seeds have buoyant material, parchment sails, or propellers that allow them to be carried by the winds of heaven.
C. Match the names of plants/trees with the colours of nature ascribed to them by Corbett.
1. dhak a. Gold
2. Kachanar b. Pink
3. Kusum c. Light green
4. Khair d. Orange
5. Runi e. Red
6. Amltas f. Khaki
7. Semul g. Lilac
8. Shisham h. Dark green
Answer
1. dhak – d. Orange
2. Kachanar – g. Lilac
3. Kusum – b. Pink
4. Khair – h. Dark green
5. Runi – e. Red
6. Amltas – a. Gold
7. Semul – e. Red
8. Shisham – c. Light green
D. Think and write from Colours of Nature
1. Has the forest benefited because of the scarcity of timber?
2. What do you think would have happened to the forest if the wood of the trees was valuable?
3. What devastation do you think man causes in the forests?
4. What do you think is Corbett’s opinion of the link between man and nature?
Answer
1. The scarcity of timber has likely benefited the forest by protecting it from human exploitation and destruction.
2. If the wood of the trees was valuable, the forest might have faced exploitation, leading to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
3. Man causes devastation in forests through logging, habitat destruction, and pollution, harming ecosystems and wildlife.
4. Corbett likely values the harmony between man and nature, emphasizing the importance of preserving the natural world to maintain balance and biodiversity.