In this chapter, two documentary filmmakers, Shilpi Sharma and Rita Banerji, embark on a mission to explore the dense forests of Northeast India and document the widespread issue of hunting among its tribal population. They highlight the motivations behind hunting practices in this region, emphasizing that it's primarily for food, rituals, and decorative purposes during festivals. However, the filmmakers soon discover that hunting has escalated over time, resulting in the decline of wildlife populations and the silence that now engulfs these once-flourishing forests.
Throughout their journey, Sharma and Banerji spend time with several Northeast Indian tribes, such as the Apathanis, Chakesang, and Nyshis, attending festivals and gaining insights into each tribe's relationship with hunting and wildlife. They witness firsthand the use of animal parts in different aspects of tribal culture, which contributes to the increasing demand and practice of hunting.
The filmmakers also interview various hunters across different generations, uncovering a noticeable shift in knowledge and experience with wildlife. While older hunters possess an intimate understanding of the animals they hunt, younger hunters seem to lack vital information about wildlife. Furthermore, the newest generation bears witness to a starkly different forest devoid of once-abundant wildlife and rich biodiversity.
Despite the grim outlook, Sharma and Banerji stumble across inspiring instances of change and hope for the future of wildlife conservation in the region. For example, Rachi Village decided to impose a self-inflicted ban on hunting for three years in an effort to restore their dwindling wildlife populations. In Khonoma, Nagaland, young people initiated a hunting ban that lasted ten years to revive wildlife populations and establish eco-tourism infrastructure.
The filmmakers find that many hunters are willing to become wildlife guides if given the opportunity to make a livelihood from it. An instance in Manas, Assam, demonstrates the successful transition of ex-poachers into forest guides, using their intimate knowledge of the forests and its inhabitants for conservation purposes.
Though these are only initial steps in the right direction, the chapter highlights the importance of recognizing and supporting the evolution of these tribal communities towards more sustainable practices. It inspires readers to acknowledge the power of collective action, driving the message home that protecting and preserving our forests and wildlife requires active participation, not passive observation.
Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 - The English Channel Coursebook - Class 8 - English
Renews every month. Cancel anytime
Back Questions - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
‘These are first steps, but positive ones, towards a more sustainable future.’
- Who took these first steps?
- What two important steps were taken?
- In what way were the steps positive?
- The tribal people in north-east India took these first steps towards a more sustainable future.
- Two important steps taken were the self-imposed ban on hunting for three years by the tribal people of Rachi Village and the sustained hunting ban for ten years by the youth in Khonoma, Nagaland to revive the wildlife population and set up infrastructure for ecotourism.
- These steps were positive since they aimed at protecting and preserving the forests and wildlife, acknowledging the crisis caused by hunting and showcasing a willingness to adapt for a more sustainable future.
Powered by Chatterbot AI
Why are Tai, Maga, and Jarjo?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Why did Jarjo mimic the sound of a baby deer in trouble?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓When did the film – makers’ sojourn in the northeast begin? What was their objective during their stay?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓What goal did the filmmakers intend to achieve through their latest efforts?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Why have generations of tribal people in the north-east been hunting wild animals?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓What motivated the tribal people to hunt wildlife recklessly?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓What shows that the young tribals wee more concerned about their environment than traditions?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓What positive example have some ex-poachers set? Why would this ensure a sustainable future?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Do you think it was easy for the tribal people to decide on the ban? Why?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓‘Preservation and protection of the environment is not a spectator sport.’ What does this mean? How should each of us be involved in the preservation of the environment?
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Find words in the passage that mean the same as the phrases given below.
To take out _________________
To imitate someone/something _________________
Send/go to live in another place _________________
To keep getting less and less _________________
To strengthen and support _________________
The basic requirements of a city (roads, buildings,
power supply) needed to support society _________________
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Back Exercises - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Form adjectives from these nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
- Dentist _________________
- Dispose _________________
- Hero _________________
- Historic _________________
- Chill _________________
- Rebel _________________
- Self _________________
- Whole _________________
- Dentist: dental
- Dispose: disposable
- Hero: heroic
- Historic: historical
- Chill: chill/chilled
- Rebel: rebellious
- Self: self-imposed
- Whole: wholesome
Use these words in sentences of your own.
- Amusing, amused
- Surprising, surprised
- Terrifying, terrified
- Challenging, challenged
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Exercises and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Underline and state the types of adjectives in these sentences.
- I am sorry; It was my own fault.
- Isn’t your brother in the tenth grade?
- Each child was very excited on that day.
- Which one of these pictures do you want?
- Do you have any idea what those children are up to?
- What good fortune! I found the very thing I was looking for!
- All students showed great enthusiasm to participate in the play.
- He got two presents for his parents – a black wallet and a digital watch.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Exercises and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Fill in the blanks with suitable adjectives.
- We have _________________ time to visit both the places.
- There are _________________ wildlife sanctuaries in India.
- This booklet talks about Project Tiger in _________________ detail.
- Snow leopards are seen in only _________________ northern states.
- You will find _________________ rare species of birds in this sanctuary.
- Quick! Take out the camera or you won’t get _________________ good pictures.
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Exercises and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Take turns to say each set of adjectives and your partner will arrange them in the correct order. Then use them to make sentences.
Example: blue fishing boat old
old blue fishing boat
1. Old car red ugly sports
2. White little adorable puppy
3. Big china white plate square
4. Huge beautiful Greek statue
5. Portable computer expensive
6. Huge serving Japanese bowl
7. New French interesting perfume
8. Chocolate – chip delicious small biscuits
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Exercises and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Identify whether the highlighted words are adjectives or adverbs. Write Aj for adjectives and Av for adverbs.
- Preparing for an exam is hard work. ______________
- They rise quite early in the morning. ______________
- We should be just and kind in our actions. ______________
- He took care not to walk too far from home. ______________
- Tarun went straight to the office from the airport. ______________
- He spoke in a low voice so as not to be overhead. ______________
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Back Exercises and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Quiz - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Learn Vocab & Speaking Together!
Grow your vocabulary while improving your speaking skills in one set up - simple, convenient, effective.
About the Author - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Rita Banerji is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, and environmentalist from India, known for her dedication to documenting and preserving India's diverse wildlife. She co-founded the Green Hub - a video documentation centre focused on indigenous communities, conservation, and environmental initiatives in the Northeast region of India. Rita has produced several documentaries on conservation issues, such as "The Turtle People," which showcases the dedication of a few individuals working to save the endangered Olive Ridley turtles in Orissa.
Maya Khosla is a wildlife biologist, poet, and independent filmmaker with a focus on natural history and the environment. She has contributed scientific papers, essays, and articles on conservation issues, studied rare wildlife populations, and produced documentaries on wildlife preservation and deforestation. Maya is also a published author, with works of poetry like "Heart of the Tearing" and "Keel Bone" to her name.
Summary - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Unlock the full summary
Themes - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Hunting Practices and Tribal Culture:
The chapter highlights the role of hunting in the tribal culture of Northeast India, showing how it fulfills the needs for food, bones, furs, and feathers to be used during rituals and festivals. Hunting has been a generational practice among these tribes, passed down through the ages, with each tribe having its specific reasons for engaging in it.
2. Declining Wildlife Population:
As the filmmakers travel through the forests of Northeast India, they notice the significant decline in wildlife populations due to....
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Themes and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Plot - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
The plot in this chapter follows documentary filmmakers Shilpi Sharma and Rita Banerji as they venture into the dense forests of Northeast India to investigate and document the impact of hunting practices on wildlife populations. Their journey involves interacting with several local tribes, understanding their cultural perspectives on hunting, and attending festivals to witness the traditional use of animal parts.
As the filmmakers explore the region's relationship with wildlife, they delve into the generational differences in knowledge ....
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Plot and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Important Lines - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
1. "Over the years, these tribals realized that the demand for the animals and birds they hunted was growing steadily."
This line is important because it establishes that the tribal communities are aware of the impact their hunting practices have on wildlife populations and that the demand for hunted animals has increased significantly over time.
2. "There was a strange and empty sky....
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Important Lines and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Back from the Brink (Section B) Unit 2 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
- Sojourn (noun): a temporary stay
After a short sojourn in the countryside, they returned to the city. - Rehabilitation (noun): restoration, or bringing back to normal
The rehabilitation program helped him regain his strength after the accident. - Prestige (noun): respect and admiration
The prestigious................................
[Checkpoint]
We've got so much more in store, just for you! 🤩
Sign up to unlock Vocabulary and everything else
Unlock now 🔓All this awesome.
Now on your phone.
