Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

 Fire Stones by Eoin Colfer (Summary Only For Reading) Fire Stones by Eoin Colfer is a short story based on the tsunami and earthquake that affected the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the year 2004. Set in the islands, the story deals with the bravery of a local Shompen boy who saves an island boy from the tsunami. The story begins with the island boy admiring a “beautiful” sight in the island where the earthquake hits the sea and it consequently retreats to the horizon. But then, it comes back with a very high wave and rumbles as it gets closer. Unaware of the impending danger, the boy feels that the noises sound like that of a lion’s roar, a bull’s bellow and a snake’s hiss. He then hears a thumping sound behind him and finds a Shompen boy standing. The Shompen boy points to the wave and calls it a mountain wave and then points to the sea and says that first the earth shakes and then the mountain wave hits. He exhorts the boy to leave but the island boy does not pay any heed sinc...

 Background of the Story  The travel account is based on the author’s journey through the Chadar Trek in the Zanskar Valley of Ladakh . It is written by Salehin Arshady , who narrates his personal experience and reflections. The trek involves walking over the frozen Zanskar River , which becomes a sheet of ice in winter. The author is inspired by a documentary showcasing the region’s beauty and the lives of its people. The journey begins in Leh and proceeds through remote Himalayan terrain. It highlights both the physical challenge of the trek and the cultural richness of the region. Summary of Walking on a Frozen River   The writer Salehin Arshady narrates his experience of the Chadar Trek in the Zanskar Valley, Ladakh . The journey is inspired by a documentary that highlights the beauty and hardships of the region. The trek begins in Leh , where the group spends a few days exploring local culture, monasteries, and Ladakhi life. From Leh, they travel to ...

 Walking on a Frozen River by Salehin Arshady (Summary Only For Reading) This travel account chronicles the experience of the writer-speaker as he undertakes the greatly challenging but deeply rewarding Chadar Trek in the Zanskar region of Ladakh, India. The account gives the readers a glimpse of the breathtaking journey that travellers take across the frozen Zanskar River. The Chadar Trek takes place in the Zanskar Valley, a remote and isolated region ensconced within the Trans-Himalayas. This region is known for its stunning beauty and harsh winters and this combination offers a unique and challenging experience for trekkers. The Zanskar River freezes over during the winter months and forms a blanket or a chadar of ice over the river thus creating a perilous path that winds through the valley. The word chadar which means blanket refers to the thick blanket of ice that forms on the river. Inspired by a documentary showcasing the region's beauty, the speaker had long dreamed of emb...