3. Santosh Yadav is an Indian mountaineer. She is the first woman in the
world to climb Mount Everest twice, and the first woman to successfully
climb Mt. Everest from Kangshung Face. She was a daredevil who was
dedicated to her mission. Her strength was her physical fitness, mental
toughness, and climbing skill.
(The Kangshung Face or East Face is the eastern-facing side of Mount Everest, one of the Tibetan sides of
the mountain. It is 3,350 metres (11,000 ft) from its base on the Kangshung Glacier to the summit. It is a broad
face, topped on the right by the upper Northeast Ridge, and on the left by the Southeast Ridge and the South
Col. Most of the upper part of the face is composed of hanging glaciers, while the lower part consists of steep
rock. It is considered to be a dangerous route of ascent, compared to the standard North Col and South Col
routes, and it is the most remote face of the mountain, with a longer approach.)
4. THEME OF THE STORY
Success comes to those who dare and do.
Santosh defied all odds, customs, traditions and prejudices to script her
phenomenal success through hard work, persistent effort, focus on the
goal and mental and physical toughness.
MESSAGE
The life and achievements of Santosh Yadav conveys the message that
success comes to those who strive hard to achieve their goal, setting
aside all impediments and surging past other barriers, Santosh Yadav
achieved her goal through hard work, determination and constant
efforts.
5. CENTRAL IDEA
Reach for the Top tells us that one must set one's eyes on the stars and
strive to achieve the goal through hard work, determination, constant
and persistent efforts.
Instead of complaining against the ills in society, one can dare to change
the system and shape one's own destiny.
The lesson also helps us understand that hard work and determination
can help us to achieve unsurmountable goals. Moreover, it also shows us
that in order to achieve immense success, we require determination,
training and sacrifice.
6. CONTENT ANALYSIS
Santosh Yadav is the only woman in the world to have climbed Mt Everest
twice. She was born in the small village of Joniyawas of Rewari district in
Haryana where the birth of a daughter was not generally welcomed. She was
the sixth child in the family of five sons, a sister to five elder brothers. Her
family named her ‘Santosh’ which means contentment.
Santosh was not content with her place in the traditional set up of the family
and adopted a different lifestyle. She used to wear shorts instead of
traditional Indian dresses. She was determined to change the people around
her because only then she could achieve what she had dreamed.
7. Character Sketch
Santosh Yadav
-firm willed
- decisive
- courageous
- adventurous girl endowed with a rational mind and physical and mental
toughness
- independent
- benevolent
8. Asset Questions
1.Which word is OPPOSITE in meaning to ‘idolise’?
A. admire
B. revere
C. hypnotize
D. Vilify
2. In line with the prevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local school..
The underlined phrase DOES NOT mean
A. following
B. in accordance with
C. according to
D. going against
9. 3.Which of the following is NOT a synonym of endurance
A. a. tolerance
B. b. forbearance
C. c. indifference
D. d. perseverance
4. Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because:
A. a. she liked to wear shorts
B. b. she left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi
C. c. she joined the Maharani college in Jaipur
D. d. she got herself enrolled at Uttarkashi
10. ASSIGNMENT
Answer in 30-40 words
a. How did Santosh develop an interest for mountaineering?
b. How can we say that Santosh was concerned about the environment?
Answer in 40-50 words
a. What incident during the Everest expedition reveal Santosh’s concern
for her team mates?
b. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times that she scaled
mount Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Answer in 100-120 words
a. ‘If I chose a correct and rational path, the others around me had to
change, not me’ said Santosh Yadav. How did her life justify her words?
