ЁЯМ┐ The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role
✍️ By Nani Palkhivala
ЁЯзСЁЯПл About the Author – Nani Ardeshir Palkhivala (1920–2002)
Nani Palkhivala was a renowned Indian jurist, economist, and diplomat. He was one of the most respected constitutional lawyers in India and a passionate advocate for civil liberties and economic freedom. Apart from law, he was deeply concerned about the environment and the ethical responsibilities of humans toward the planet. His writings and speeches often emphasized sustainable development and the urgent need to preserve natural resources for future generations. “The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role” reflects his concern for the deteriorating environmental condition of the Earth.
ЁЯМН About the Lesson
“The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role” is an essay adapted from an article written by Nani Palkhivala, published in The Indian Express on November 24, 1994. The essay draws attention to the condition of our planet, which is suffering due to human greed, deforestation, pollution, and over-exploitation of natural resources.
The author discusses the significance of the Green Movement, which began in 1972, emphasizing that humans must treat Earth not as a resource to exploit but as a “trust” to protect for future generations. He highlights how the Earth’s health is linked to the survival of all living beings and urges a shift in human attitudes from domination to cooperation with nature.
ЁЯУЦ Summary of the Lesson
The essay begins by describing how the Green Movement, which started in New Zealand in 1972, has become one of the most important movements to save our planet. This movement changed people’s perception of the Earth — from viewing it as a possession to be used, to recognizing it as a living organism that must be protected.
Palkhivala refers to the Earth as “The Ailing Planet”, meaning it is sick due to human exploitation. He explains that man’s greed and uncontrolled industrial growth have severely damaged the natural balance. Forests are disappearing, water and air are polluted, and wildlife is dying.
He quotes a report from the World Commission on Environment and Development, which states that the Earth belongs not only to the present generation but also to future generations. Therefore, we must act responsibly and ensure sustainable development — development that meets today’s needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
The essay introduces the idea of “Four Principal Biological Systems” — fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. These systems form the foundation of global economic and ecological stability. However, all these systems are under threat due to overuse.
Palkhivala emphasizes that the population explosion is the biggest threat to the environment. The uncontrolled increase in human population puts immense pressure on land, water, and food resources. He mentions that India, though rich in natural resources, faces a crisis due to overpopulation and misuse of resources.
The author appreciates countries that have realized the importance of environmental protection and population control. He appeals to the Indian government to take strict steps for environmental conservation and education.
In conclusion, Palkhivala calls for a change in human outlook — from careless exploitation to responsible stewardship. He warns that if humans continue to harm the planet, Earth’s future will be doomed. The essay ends with a powerful reminder that we are the “trustees of this planet” and not its owners.
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. Which movement does Nani Palkhivala refer to?
Ans- Nani Palkhivala refers to the Green Movement. It started in 1972 to protect the environment and make people aware of the need to save the Earth and its natural resources for future generations.
Q2. “What goes under the pot now cost more than what goes inside it.” Explain it.
Ans-This means that firewood, which is used for cooking, has become more costly than food itself. It shows the shortage of forest wood and the growing environmental problem in our country.
Q3. What do we need to plant more forests in India?
Ans- We need strong laws, proper care, and public awareness to plant more forests. People and the government should work together to protect and increase forest areas in India.
Q4. How can over-fishing and decimation of forests prove harmful?
Ans- Over-fishing and destroying forests can disturb nature’s balance. It can harm animals, reduce food sources, and cause environmental problems like soil erosion and climate change.
Ans- Nani Palkhivala refers to the Green Movement. It started in 1972 to protect the environment and make people aware of the need to save the Earth and its natural resources for future generations.
Ans-This means that firewood, which is used for cooking, has become more costly than food itself. It shows the shortage of forest wood and the growing environmental problem in our country.
Ans- We need strong laws, proper care, and public awareness to plant more forests. People and the government should work together to protect and increase forest areas in India.
Ans- Over-fishing and destroying forests can disturb nature’s balance. It can harm animals, reduce food sources, and cause environmental problems like soil erosion and climate change.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q.1. Why does Nani Palkhivala call the earth ‘The Ailing Planet’? How can the ailing planet survive?
100 Difficult Words Meanings (in Hindi)
| No. | Word | Pronunciation (in Hindi) | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ailing | рдПрдЗрд▓िंрдЧ | рдмीрдоाрд░, рдЕрд╕्рд╡рд╕्рде |
| 2 | Planet | рдк्рд▓ैрдиेрдЯ | рдЧ्рд░рд╣, рдкृрде्рд╡ी |
| 3 | Movement | рдоूрд╡рдоेंрдЯ | рдЖंрджोрд▓рди |
| 4 | Ecology | рдИрдХोрд▓ॉрдЬी | рдкрд░्рдпाрд╡рд░рдг рд╡िрдЬ्рдЮाрди |
| 5 | Sustainable | рд╕рд╕्рдЯेрдиेрдмрд▓ | рдЯिрдХाрдК, рд╕्рдеाрдпी |
| 6 | Development | рдбेрд╡рд▓рдкрдоेंрдЯ | рд╡िрдХाрд╕ |
| 7 | Environment | рдПрдирд╡ाрдпрд░рдирдоेंрдЯ | рдкрд░्рдпाрд╡рд░рдг |
| 8 | Exploitation | рдПрдХ्рд╕рдк्рд▓ॉрдЗрдЯेрд╢рди | рд╢ोрд╖рдг, рджोрд╣рди |
| 9 | Degradation | рдбिрдЧ्рд░ेрдбेрд╢рди | рд╣्рд░ाрд╕, рдкрддрди |
| 10 | Commission | рдХрдоिрд╢рди | рдЖрдпोрдЧ |
| 11 | Generation | рдЬेрдиेрд░ेрд╢рди | рдкीрдв़ी |
| 12 | Conservation | рдХंрдЬрд░рд╡ेрд╢рди | рд╕ंрд░рдХ्рд╖рдг |
| 13 | Awareness | рдЕрд╡ेрдпрд░рдиेрд╕ | рдЬाрдЧрд░ूрдХрддा |
| 14 | Organism | рдСрд░्рдЧैрдиिрдЬ़्рдо | рдЬीрд╡, рдк्рд░ाрдгी |
| 15 | Biodiversity | рдмाрдпोрдбाрдпрд╡рд░्рд╕िрдЯी | рдЬैрд╡ рд╡िрд╡िрдзрддा |
| 16 | Deforestation | рдбिрдлॉрд░ेрд╕्рдЯेрд╢рди | рд╡рдиों рдХी рдХрдЯाрдИ |
| 17 | Replenish | рд░िрдк्рд▓ेрдиिрд╢ | рдкुрдиः рднрд░рдиा |
| 18 | Erosion | рдЗрд░ोрд╢рди | рдЕрдкрд░рджрди, рдХрдЯाрд╡ |
| 19 | Depletion | рдбिрдк्рд▓ीрд╢рди | рдХрдоी, рдХ्рд╖рдп |
| 20 | Affluence | рдЕрдл्рд▓ुрдПंрд╕ | рд╕рдо्рдкрди्рдирддा |
| 21 | Pollution | рдкॉрд▓्рдпूрд╢рди | рдк्рд░рджूрд╖рдг |
| 22 | Stewardship | рд╕्рдЯीрд╡рд░्рдбрд╢िрдк | рдк्рд░рдмंрдзрдХ рдХी рднूрдоिрдХा |
| 23 | Crisis | рдХ्рд░ाрдЗрд╕िрд╕ | рд╕ंрдХрдЯ |
| 24 | Habitat | рд╣ैрдмिрдЯैрдЯ | рдЖрд╡ाрд╕ рд╕्рдеाрди |
| 25 | Population | рдкॉрдкुрд▓ेрд╢рди | рдЬрдирд╕ंрдЦ्рдпा |
| 26 | Renewable | рд░िрди्рдпूрдПрдмрд▓ | рдирд╡ीрдХрд░рдгीрдп |
| 27 | Resources | рд░िрд╕ोрд░्рд╕ेрдЬ | рд╕ंрд╕ाрдзрди |
| 28 | Balance | рдмैрд▓ेंрд╕ | рд╕ंрддुрд▓рди |
| 29 | Species | рд╕्рдкीрд╢ीрдЬ | рдк्рд░рдЬाрддिрдпाँ |
| 30 | Responsibility | рд░िрд╕्рдкॉрди्рд╕िрдмिрд▓िрдЯी | рдЬिрдо्рдоेрджाрд░ी |
| 31 | Awareness | рдЕрд╡ेрдпрд░рдиेрд╕ | рдЬाрдЧрд░ूрдХрддा |
| 32 | Forests | рдлॉрд░ेрд╕्рдЯ्рд╕ | рдЬंрдЧрд▓ |
| 33 | Fisheries | рдлिрд╢рд░ीрдЬ़ | рдордд्рд╕्рдп рдЙрдж्рдпोрдЧ |
| 34 | Grasslands | рдЧ्рд░ाрд╕рд▓ैंрдб्рд╕ | рдШाрд╕ рдХे рдоैрджाрди |
| 35 | Croplands | рдХ्рд░ॉрдкрд▓ैंрдб्рд╕ | рдХृрд╖ि рднूрдоि |
| 36 | Stability | рд╕्рдЯेрдмिрд▓िрдЯी | рд╕्рдеिрд░рддा |
| 37 | Overuse | рдУрд╡рд░рдпूрдЬ़ | рдЕрдд्рдпрдзिрдХ рдЙрдкрдпोрдЧ |
| 38 | Threatened | рде्рд░ेрдЯेрди्рдб | рдЦрддрд░े рдоें |
| 39 | Exploited | рдПрдХ्рд╕рдк्рд▓ॉрдЗрдЯेрдб | рд╢ोрд╖िрдд |
| 40 | Pollution | рдкॉрд▓्рдпूрд╢рди | рдк्рд░рджूрд╖рдг |
| 41 | Resources | рд░िрд╕ोрд░्рд╕ेрдЬ | рд╕ंрд╕ाрдзрди |
| 42 | Planetary | рдк्рд▓ैрдиेрдЯрд░ी | рдЧ्рд░рд╣ рд╕ंрдмंрдзी |
| 43 | Humanity | рд╣्рдпूрдоैрдиिрдЯी | рдоाрдирд╡рддा |
| 44 | Misuse | рдоिрд╕рдпूрдЬ़ | рджुрд░ुрдкрдпोрдЧ |
| 45 | Coexistence | рдХोрдПрдЧ्рдЬ़िрд╕्рдЯेंрд╕ | рд╕рд╣-рдЕрд╕्рддिрдд्рд╡ |
| 46 | Deprived | рдбिрдк्рд░ाрдЗрд╡्рдб | рд╡ंрдЪिрдд |
| 47 | Endangered | рдПंрдбेंрдЬрд░рдб | рд╕ंрдХрдЯрдЧ्рд░рд╕्рдд |
| 48 | Decrease | рдбिрдХ्рд░ीрдЬ़ | рдХрдоी |
| 49 | Global | рдЧ्рд▓ोрдмрд▓ | рд╡ैрд╢्рд╡िрдХ |
| 50 | Industrialization | рдЗंрдбрд╕्рдЯ्рд░िрдпрд▓ाрдЗрдЬ़ेрд╢рди | рдФрдж्рдпोрдЧीрдХрд░рдг |
| 51 | Urbanization | рдЕрд░्рдмрдиाрдЗрдЬ़ेрд╢рди | рд╢рд╣рд░ीрдХрд░рдг |
| 52 | Deterioration | рдбिрдЯीрд░िрдпोрд░ेрд╢рди | рдмिрдЧрдб़рдиा |
| 53 | Irreversible | рдЗрд░िрд╡рд░्рд╕िрдмрд▓ | рдЕрдкрд░िрд╡рд░्рддрдиीрдп |
| 54 | Fossil Fuels | рдлॉрд╕िрд▓ рдл्рдпूрд▓्рд╕ | рдЬीрд╡ाрд╢्рдо рдИंрдзрди |
| 55 | Commitment | рдХрдоिрдЯрдоेंрдЯ | рдк्рд░рддिрдмрдж्рдзрддा |
| 56 | Urgency | рдЕрд░ेрдЬेंрд╕ी | рдЖрдкाрдд рд╕्рдеिрддि |
| 57 | Degraded | рдбिрдЧ्рд░ेрдбेрдб | рдЧिрд░ा рд╣ुрдЖ, рд╣्рд░ाрд╕िрдд |
| 58 | Consumption | рдХंрдЬрдо्рдк्рд╢рди | рдЙрдкрднोрдЧ |
| 59 | Perspective | рдкрд░्рд╕рдкेрдХ्рдЯिрд╡ | рджृрд╖्рдЯिрдХोрдг |
| 60 | Ethics | рдПрдеिрдХ्рд╕ | рдиैрддिрдХрддा |
| 61 | Vital | рд╡ाрдЗрдЯрд▓ | рдЖрд╡рд╢्рдпрдХ |
| 62 | Harmony | рд╣ाрд░्рдордиी | рд╕рдорд░рд╕рддा |
| 63 | Interdependence | рдЗंрдЯрд░рдбिрдкेंрдбेंрд╕ | рдкрд░рд╕्рдкрд░ рдиिрд░्рднрд░рддा |
| 64 | Overpopulation | рдУрд╡рд░рдкॉрдкुрд▓ेрд╢рди | рдЬрдирд╕ंрдЦ्рдпा рд╡िрд╕्рдлोрдЯ |
| 65 | Civilization | рд╕िрд╡िрд▓ाрдЗрдЬ़ेрд╢рди | рд╕рдн्рдпрддा |
| 66 | Greed | рдЧ्рд░ीрдб | рд▓ाрд▓рдЪ |
| 67 | Prosperity | рдк्рд░ॉрд╕्рдкेрд░िрдЯी | рд╕рдоृрдж्рдзि |
| 68 | Balance | рдмैрд▓ेंрд╕ | рд╕ंрддुрд▓рди |
| 69 | Awareness | рдЕрд╡ेрдпрд░рдиेрд╕ | рдЪेрддрдиा |
| 70 | Humanity | рд╣्рдпूрдоैрдиिрдЯी | рдоाрдирд╡рддा |
| 71 | Environmentally | рдПрдирд╡ाрдпрд░рдирдоेंрдЯрд▓ी | рдкрд░्рдпाрд╡рд░рдгीрдп рд░ूрдк рд╕े |
| 72 | Equitable | рдЗрдХ्рд╡िрдЯेрдмрд▓ | рди्рдпाрдпрдкूрд░्рдг |
| 73 | Planetary | рдк्рд▓ैрдиेрдЯрд░ी | рдкृрде्рд╡ी рд╕ंрдмंрдзी |
| 74 | Scarcity | рд╕्рдХैрд░рд╕िрдЯी | рдХрдоी |
| 75 | Sustainability | рд╕рд╕्рдЯेрдиेрдмिрд▓िрдЯी | рд╕्рдеाрдпिрдд्рд╡ |
| 76 | Ecological | рдИрдХोрд▓ॉрдЬिрдХрд▓ | рдкाрд░िрд╕्рдеिрддिрдХ |
| 77 | Forested | рдлॉрд░ेрд╕्рдЯेрдб | рд╡рдиों рд╕े рдЖрдЪ्рдЫाрджिрдд |
| 78 | Perspective | рдкрд░्рд╕рдкेрдХ्рдЯिрд╡ | рджृрд╖्рдЯिрдХोрдг |
| 79 | Endangered | рдПंрдбेंрдЬрд░рдб | рд▓ुрдк्рддрдк्рд░ाрдп |
| 80 | Degraded | рдбिрдЧ्рд░ेрдбेрдб | рдХ्рд╖ीрдг |
| 81 | Drought | рдб्рд░ॉрдЯ | рд╕ूрдЦा |
| 82 | Famine | рдлैрдоिрди | рдЕрдХाрд▓ |
| 83 | Ecosystem | рдИрдХोрд╕िрд╕्рдЯрдо | рдкाрд░िрд╕्рдеिрддिрдХी рддंрдд्рд░ |
| 84 | Plantation | рдк्рд▓ांрдЯेрд╢рди | рд╡ृрдХ्рд╖ाрд░ोрдкрдг |
| 85 | Natural Resources | рдиेрдЪुрд░рд▓ рд░िрд╕ोрд░्рд╕ेрдЬ | рдк्рд░ाрдХृрддिрдХ рд╕ंрд╕ाрдзрди |
| 86 | Decrease | рдбिрдХ्рд░ीрдЬ़ | рдХрдоी |
| 87 | Afforestation | рдЕрдлॉрд░ेрд╕्рдЯेрд╢рди | рд╡рдиीрдХрд░рдг |
| 88 | Disappearing | рдбिрд╕рдПрдкिрдпрд░िंрдЧ | рдЧाрдпрдм рд╣ोрдиा |
| 89 | Imbalance | рдЗрдо्рдмैрд▓ेंрд╕ | рдЕрд╕ंрддुрд▓рди |
| 90 | Future Generations | рдл्рдпूрдЪрд░ рдЬेрдиेрд░ेрд╢рди्рд╕ | рдЖрдиे рд╡ाрд▓ी рдкीрдв़िрдпाँ |
| 91 | Pollution Control | рдкॉрд▓्рдпूрд╢рди рдХंрдЯ्рд░ोрд▓ | рдк्рд░рджूрд╖рдг рдиिрдпंрдд्рд░рдг |
| 92 | Bio-sphere | рдмाрдпोрд╕्рдлीрдпрд░ | рдЬैрд╡рдоंрдбрд▓ |
| 93 | Recycle | рд░ीрд╕ाрдпрдХрд▓ | рдкुрдирд░्рдЪрдХ्рд░рдг |
| 94 | Reuse | рд░ीрдпूрдЬ़ | рдкुрдиः рдЙрдкрдпोрдЧ |
| 95 | Awareness Campaign | рдЕрд╡ेрдпрд░рдиेрд╕ рдХैंрдкेрди | рдЬाрдЧрд░ूрдХрддा рдЕрднिрдпाрди |
| 96 | Overconsumption | рдУрд╡рд░рдХंрдЬрдо्рдк्рд╢рди | рдЕрдд्рдпрдзिрдХ рдЙрдкрднोрдЧ |
| 97 | Responsibility | рд░िрд╕्рдкॉрди्рд╕िрдмिрд▓िрдЯी | рдЬिрдо्рдоेрджाрд░ी |
| 98 | Trustees | рдЯ्рд░рд╕्рдЯीрдЬ़ | рд╕ंрд░рдХ्рд╖рдХ |
| 99 | Urgency | рдЕрд░ेрдЬेंрд╕ी | рддाрдд्рдХाрд▓िрдХрддा |
| 100 | Revival | рд░िрд╡ाрдЗрд╡рд▓ | рдкुрдирд░्рдЬीрд╡рди |



