Chapter: 16. Building A New State
Comprehension
A. Answer these questions.
Which state was Kalam visiting? Had he been there before? Kalam was visiting Jharkhand. Yes, he had visited the hill region about 75 km away from Ranchi before. What did Kalam see on his helicopter ride? How did the helicopter ride end? On his helicopter ride, Kalam saw vast stretches of forest, hills, and streams. The helicopter ride ended with a sudden crash, where the helicopter hit the ground with a shattering sound, and broken parts flew around. Who was not convinced that Kalam was all right? How did Kalam handle this? Kalam’s elder brother, who was eighty-six years old, was not convinced that he was all right. Kalam handled this by interrupting his speech at the town hall meeting to personally reassure his brother by speaking to him over the phone. What is value addition? How did Kalam explain it? Value addition is a series of processes by which a raw material is refined or worked on to produce a more valuable product, making the final product more expensive than the original raw material. Kalam explained it through the example of chocolate manufacturing and, more powerfully, through the story of beryllium ore, which was mined in India, exported, processed abroad, and then sold back at a much higher price or even refused. How did Kalam respond when asked if purity was possible in politics? Kalam responded by linking it to the concept of a national vision. He stated that an entire generation of excellent leaders, including politicians, emerged during the years leading to independence because of the clear vision the nation had set for itself. He believed that if the nation forms a “second vision” today, leaders of similar stature would appear again in all walks of life, including politics. Why did Kalam say India is poor as a nation? Kalam said India is poor as a nation in spite of its enormous wealth because it does not focus on “value addition.” He explained that raw materials (like minerals, biodiversity products, grain, or fish) are exported at low prices instead of being processed within the country to generate significantly more income and jobs. What disappointed Kalam on his visit to the Bokaro steel plant? What disappointed Kalam was that there were no industrial estates around the Bokaro steel plant utilizing the steel produced there to make various products. He viewed this as a sign of “compartmentalized thinking” and “fragmented governance.” What did Kalam think must be the way forward to help Jharkhand? Kalam thought that an “integrated effort” between the state and the Centre would be the way forward to help Jharkhand. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
The pilots were in a state of shock and looked at me helplessly.
a. Who was ‘me’ in this?
* ‘Me’ in this is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
b. Why were the pilots in a state of shock and helplessness?
* The pilots were in a state of shock and helplessness because the helicopter they were flying had just crashed, hitting the ground with a shattering sound.
c. How did the speaker react?
* The speaker (Dr. Kalam) reacted with remarkable calm and composure. He simply got out of the helicopter, held the pilots’ hands, thanked them, and reassured them by saying that such incidents sometimes happen with flying machines and pilots must face them with courage. Now what I see in front of me and what the new state is famous for is its industrious people.
a. Who said this?
* Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said this.
b. Whom did the speaker say this to?
* The speaker said this to the students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya.
c. What was the ‘state’ referred to?
* The ‘state’ referred to was Jharkhand. C. Think and answer.
Kalam uses rhetorical questions for emphasis several times in this extract. Find two examples and explain how he uses them. What does he want the reader to think about? Example 1: “I wondered whether this precious natural wealth could be conserved from mindless destruction for short-term business gains.” Explanation: Kalam uses this question immediately after describing the vast stretches of forest, hills, and streams seen from the helicopter. It is not meant to be answered directly but to highlight his deep concern about environmental degradation driven by unchecked commercial interests. What he wants the reader to think about: He wants the reader to critically consider the sustainability of development, the long-term consequences of exploiting natural resources for quick profits, and the importance of conservation. Example 2: “Where was our sense of initiative? What had happened to our aims?” Explanation: These questions are posed after the shocking revelation about beryllium ore – mined in India, exported, processed abroad, and then denied back to India. Kalam uses them to express his frustration and disappointment at India’s lack of foresight and self-reliance in utilizing its own resources. What he wants the reader to think about: He wants the reader to reflect on India’s past policies, the missed opportunities for domestic value addition, and the need for a stronger national resolve and initiative to achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. (Bonus Example): “Would it be possible?” (referring to integrated effort between state and Centre for Jharkhand’s development) Explanation: This question at the end of the extract is a concluding thought, expressing a lingering doubt or challenge despite the ideal solution. What he wants the reader to think about: He wants the reader to consider the practical difficulties and political complexities involved in achieving truly integrated governance and to ponder the commitment required to overcome such systemic issues for national progress. You have learnt about the concept of value addition through this passage. Why do think the items that you buy from the malls are more expensive than the ones you buy from local shops? Explain your answer. Items bought from malls are often more expensive than those from local shops due to several factors related to value addition and overheads. Malls typically offer a higher-end shopping experience, which includes air-conditioned spaces, cleaner environments, wider aisles, better lighting, and more attractive displays. This adds to the ‘value’ of the shopping experience itself. Additionally, products in malls often undergo more stages of value addition such as: Branding and Packaging: Products in malls are usually well-branded and come in appealing packaging, which incurs design, marketing, and material costs. Local shops might sell unbranded or simply packaged goods. Quality Control and Certification: Mall products often come with assurances of quality, warranties, and certifications, implying more rigorous checks and processes. Supply Chain and Logistics: Mall retailers might have more complex supply chains, involving larger distributors, warehouses, and more sophisticated logistics, all of which add cost. Marketing and Advertising: Mall brands invest heavily in advertising, promotions, and retail space rental, passing these costs onto the consumer. Overheads: Malls themselves have high rental costs, utility bills, and staff salaries for the stores within them, which are factored into product prices. Local shops, especially small ones, often have lower overheads. In essence, the higher price in malls reflects not just the raw material but all the added services, convenience, brand perception, and operational costs that contribute to the final product’s perceived value and the overall retail experience. 
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