The Elixir of Life by C V Raman

The Elixir of Life by C. V. Raman Prepared by Sudha Sharma (Dept. of English) P. G. G. C-46, Chandigarh.

About C. V. Raman o Sir Chandershekhar Venkata Raman (18881970) belonged to Tamil Naru AND STUDIED IN Presidency College, Chennai. o He joined Civil Services in 1907, but resigned from the job when he was offered professorship of Physics in a Science College in Calcutta University. o In eighteenth year of his age , he published original findings in optical research in the Philosophic Magazine.

Contributions to the field of Science o Raman became popular after his doctoral thesis on Molecular Diffraction of Light which won him world wide acclaim. o In 1930, Raman won Nobel Prize for Physics for the discovery of the effect of monochromatic light when passed through the transparent medium, which is known as ‘Raman Effect’

Achievements o He founded Indian Academy of Sciences in 1934 o He worked as Director of Indian Institute of Sciences in Bangalore. o In 1949, Raman moved to an independent scientific institute which is now known as Raman Research Centre. o He was venerated as the father of Indian Science.

The Elixir of life: About the. Essay o Raman underlines the importance of water in human and plant life. He suggests some traditional and modern ways of its conservation. Water is so valuable that it deserves to be called the elixir of life

Importance of water o Flowing rivers and stream not only add to the beauty of the plains but also make them fertile and green. Water has played a significant part in shaping the history of mankind. Water has remarkable power of carrying slit: the land becomes fertile where the silt is deposited.

Soil-Ero. Sion o This process can also turn destructive if it is allowed to proceed unchecked. Running water can wash away top soil which is essential for agricultural activities. Soil-erosion, if not tackled in time can lead to the formation of gullies and ravines.

Life-experience o Raman recalls the day when he was standing on the line which separates the Libyan desert from the valley of the Nile in Egypt. On one side was visible a sea of billowing sand without a speck of green or a single living thing any where visible on it. On the other side lay one of the greenest , most fertile and densely populated areas to be found anywhere on the earth teeming with life and vegetation. What made this difference?

This is the magic of water… It is the water of Nile river flowing down to the Mediterranean from its source a couple of thousands of miles away. Geologists tells us that the entire soil of the Nile valley is the creation of the river itself , brought down as the finest silt in its flood waters and laid down through the ages in the trough through which the Nile flows into sea.

Afforestation o Closely connected with the conservation of water supplies is the problem of afforestation. The systematic planting of suitable trees in every possible or even in impossible areas, and the development of what one call civilised forests , as distinguished from wild and untamed jungle, is one of the most urgent needs of India. o Such plantation would directly or indirectly prove a source of untold wealth to the country. It would check soil-erosion and conserve the water , and would provide the necessary supplies of cheap fuel.

o In one sense, water is the commonest of liquids. In another sense, it is the most uncommon of liquids with amazing properties which are responsible for its unique power of maintaining animal and plant life.

Language Development activities o Match Idioms and Phrases: 1. Keep your head above water 2. Cast doubt on something 3. Pull the strings 4. Get Cold feet 5. Add insult to injury (a)to make a bad situation even worse (b)to have enough money to live or to continue a business (c)to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do (d) to be in control of an organization, often secretly (e)cause someone something or to be questioned

Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions o Long, long ago…. . a cave, there lived a clever fairy. The fairy could cure all kinds of illness…. . magical water. Every morning she would go……the hills not far…. . her cave to collect the leaves…. Certain plants. Then she would wash these leaves……. Water and dry them……. the sun. In the evening when the sun had set, the fairy would boil the leaves……a large pot filled…. . water. Then she poured the boied water glass bottles and cast her curative magic the……. bottled water.