Question Answers Class 11 Chapter 2.6 Yuvakbharati English Maharashtra Board

The Planners

Brainstorming – Solutions

(A1) Read the poem and complete the web about the activities the planners do.

Answer :-

(A2) Go through the poem and state whether the following statements are true or false.

(a) Planners plan to construct buildings wherever they find place.

True.

The poem states, “All spaces are gridded / Filled with permutations of possibilities,” indicating that planners exploit every available space for construction without consideration for other factors.

(b) Planners take public consent for the alterations they make in the old structures of the city.

False. The poem does not mention any public consultation. It portrays planners as imposing their vision, erasing history and landmarks without regard for public sentiment, as seen in lines like “They have it all so it will not hurt” and “So history is new again.”

(c) Planners are concerned about the environment of the area.

False.

The poem suggests a disregard for the environment, with lines like “Even the sea draws back / and the skies surrender” and “The drilling goes right through / the fossils of last century,” implying destruction of natural and historical elements.

(d) Planners make their plans mathematically perfect, at the same time they calculate their profit.

False.

The poem emphasizes mathematical precision (“The buildings are in alignment with / The roads which meet at desired points / linked by bridges all hang / in the grace of mathematics”), but there is no explicit mention of calculating profit, only their relentless pursuit of modernization.

(e) Planners deliberately find drawbacks in the old city planning.

True.

The poem implies that planners see the old city as flawed or outdated, as they erase history (“So history is new again”) and drill through “the fossils of last century,” suggesting a deliberate rejection of past planning.

(f) The newly planned city looks modern and amazingly beautiful.

True.

The poem describes the city with terms like “gleaming gold” and “perfect rows of shining teeth,” indicating a modern, aesthetically polished appearance, though this is presented with a sarcastic tone.

(g) Planners paint beautiful pictures of the upcoming changes in the city which charm the citizens.

False.

The poem does not suggest that planners actively charm citizens with visions of change. Instead, it uses terms like “anaesthesia, amnesia, hypnosis” to imply that citizens are numbed or manipulated into accepting changes without genuine engagement.

(h) Planners make tactful changes so that citizens do not recognise the familiar landmarks.

True.

The poem’s tone and imagery, such as “So history is new again” and the erasure of “fossils of last century,” suggest that planners alter the city in ways that obscure familiar landmarks, disconnecting citizens from their past.

(A3) Read the expression:

‘the blueprint of our past’s tomorrow’. Consider in a group why the poet has not mentioned ‘the present’. It is because of the planners who have possessed our ‘present’ in order to change ‘our past’ into the ‘future’ they desire. Go through the poem and write the lines which support this thought.

(a) The buildings are in alignment with the roads which meet at desired points.

(b) They erase the flaws, the blemishes of the past.

(c) Knock off useless blocks with dental dexterity.

(d) All gaps are plugged with gleaming gold.

(e) So history is new again

.(f) The drilling goes right through the fossils of last century.

(A4) The term ‘anaesthesia’ in the poem means – ‘The planner gives beautiful pictures of the new modern city’. Now find out what amnesia and hypnosis are in the given context.

Answer:-

Anaesthesia:The planners numb the pain of change by presenting the modern city in a beautiful, idealized way so that people don’t feel the loss of the past.

Amnesia:It refers to how people are made to forget their history and heritage. The planners erase memories of the past by rebuilding everything so perfectly that nothing of the original remains.

Hypnosis:Citizens are metaphorically hypnotized into accepting the changes blindly. They are made passive and unaware of how their surroundings and identity are being altered.

(A5) Pick out the statements which aptly depict the theme of the poem.

(a) In the poem the speaker memorises the past.

(b) In ‘The Planners’ the poet describes the unstoppable force of modernisation.

(c) The poet talks about the replacement of natural environment by the concrete jungle.

(d) The poet proposes to stop modernisation.

(e) The poet laments helplessly

Answer:-

The statements that aptly depict the theme of the poem “The Planners” by Boey Kim Cheng are:

(a) In the poem the speaker memorises the past.

(b) In ‘The Planners’ the poet describes the unstoppable force of modernisation.

(c) The poet talks about the replacement of natural environment by the concrete jungle.

(e) The poet laments helplessly.

(A6) The tone of the poet is sarcastic. When he writes ‘All spaces are gridded filled with permutations of possibilities’ he intends to indicate the efforts made by the planner to exploit every available piece of land without any consideration of harming nature or violating attachments of people to places. Make pairs/groups and find out some more sarcastic lines having the same effect.

Answer: – The poet uses sarcasm to criticize the planners’ mechanical, profit-driven approach to urban development, which ignores nature and human connections. Below are additional sarcastic lines from the poem that convey the same effect as “All spaces are gridded / filled with permutations of possibilities”:

1. “The buildings are in alignment with / The roads which meet at desired points / linked by bridges all hang / in the grace of mathematics.”

• Explanation: The phrase “in the grace of mathematics” sarcastically praises the planners’ obsession with precise, calculated designs, implying that their rigid, formulaic approach lacks soul and disregards the natural flow of the environment or people’s emotional ties to places.

2. “They build and will not stop / Even the sea draws back / and the skies surrender.”

• Explanation: The exaggerated imagery of nature (sea and skies) retreating before the planners mocks their unstoppable, almost tyrannical control over the landscape, sarcastically portraying their dominance as a victory over nature itself, with no regard for its preservation.

3. “The country wears perfect rows / of shining teeth.”

• Explanation: Comparing the city to “perfect rows of shining teeth” sarcastically highlights the artificial, superficial perfection of the urban landscape, suggesting that the planners’ focus on flawless aesthetics erases the authentic, natural beauty and human connections of the old city.

4. “Anaesthesia, amnesia, hypnosis. / They have the means. / They have it all so it will not hurt.”

• Explanation: This line drips with sarcasm, likening the planners’ tactics to medical procedures that numb, erase memories, and manipulate, suggesting they deliberately make modernization painless for society to obscure the loss of history and emotional landmarks.

(A7) (i) Write an appreciation of the poem.

Answer:-  Appreciation of the Poem “The Planners”

Theme: The poem “The Planners” by Boey Kim Cheng explores the theme of relentless modernization and its impact on nature, history, and human emotions. The poet critiques urban planners who prioritize mathematical precision and profit over preserving cultural heritage and natural beauty. The poem reflects a sense of loss and nostalgia for the past, as modernization erases personal and collective memories.

Tone: The tone is primarily sarcastic and melancholic. The poet uses sarcasm to mock the planners’ obsession with order, as seen in lines like “All spaces are gridded filled with permutations of possibilities.” Toward the end, the tone shifts to sorrow, with the poet expressing personal despair in the line, “But my heart would not bleed poetry.”

Structure: Written in free verse with no fixed rhyme or meter, the poem mirrors the poet’s unrestrained expression of emotions and the chaotic impact of modernization. It is divided into three stanzas of varying lengths, progressing from the planners’ actions to their consequences and the poet’s emotional response.

Language and Diction: The language is vivid and precise, using technical terms like “gridded,” “permutations,” and “blueprint” to highlight the planners’ mechanical approach. Sarcastic terms like “anaesthesia,” “amnesia,” and “hypnosis” suggest the planners’ manipulative tactics. The diction is accessible yet powerful, conveying deep emotions effectively.

Imagery: The poem features striking imagery, such as “The country wears perfect rows of shining teeth,” comparing the modern city to artificial, flawless teeth, emphasizing its superficial beauty. Natural elements like the sea and sky retreating before the planners’ dominance create a vivid picture of nature’s defeat. The image of “drilling” through “fossils of last century” symbolizes the destruction of history.

Figurative Language: Metaphors like “blueprint of our past’s tomorrow” and personification, such as “the sea draws back,” convey the planners’ control over nature and history. Alliteration, like “perfect rows,” enhances rhythm and underscores the artificial perfection of the planned city.

Emotional Impact: The poem evokes feelings of loss and helplessness, lamenting the erasure of the past and the emotional detachment caused by modernization. The poet’s reflection that his heart cannot “bleed poetry” resonates with readers who have witnessed similar changes in their surroundings.

Relevance: The poem remains relevant in today’s world, where rapid urbanization often sacrifices environmental and cultural heritage. It encourages reflection on balancing progress with preservation, making it a thought-provoking piece.

(ii) Write a summary of the poem.

Answer:- Summary of the Poem “The Planners”

“The Planners” by Boey Kim Cheng critiques the relentless urban development in modern Singapore, highlighting the poet’s concerns about the loss of nature, history, and human connection. In the first stanza, the poet describes how planners meticulously design cities with mathematical precision, filling every space with “permutations of possibilities” and aligning buildings and roads perfectly. They are unstoppable, forcing even the sea and sky to retreat. In the second stanza, sarcastic terms like “anaesthesia,” “amnesia,” and “hypnosis” suggest that planners numb people’s emotions and erase memories, making history seem “new again.” Their construction, described as “piling” and “drilling,” destroys historical remnants like fossils. In the final stanza, the poet expresses personal despair, stating that his heart cannot produce poetry amidst this sterile modernization, as it fails to connect with the “blueprint of our past’s tomorrow.” The poem underscores the conflict between progress and the loss of cultural and emotional heritage, leaving readers with a sense of nostalgia and helplessness.

(A8) Read the first and second stanza of the poem. We understand that the poet wants to suggest the powerful dominance of the planners who shape the town according to their selfish desires. Make a list of such expressions. You may begin with –

Answer:-

(a) All the spaces are gridded, filled with permutations of possibilities.

(b) The buildings are in alignment with the roads which meet at desired points.

(c) They build and will not stop.

(d) Even the sea draws back and the skies surrender.

(e) They erase the flaws, the blemishes of the past.

(f) Knock off useless blocks with dental dexterity.

(g) All gaps are plugged with gleaming gold.

(h) The country wears perfect rows of shining teeth.

(A9) (i) Read the expression ‘permutation of possibility’. The consonant sound ‘P’ at beginning of the successive words creates a sonorous effect. This is an example of Alliteration. Find out more examples of Alliteration from the poem.

Answer:-  Examples of Alliteration in “The Planners”

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of successive words, creating a sonorous and rhythmic effect. The poem “The Planners” by Boey Kim Cheng uses alliteration to emphasize the mechanical and relentless nature of urban planning. Below are examples of alliteration from the poem, in addition to the given “permutation of possibility”:

1. “They plan. They build.”

• The repetition of the “b” sound in “build” creates a sharp, forceful tone, emphasizing the planners’ relentless and commanding actions in shaping the city.

2. “Perfect rows of shining teeth”

• The “r” sound in “rows” and the “s” sound in “shining” produce a smooth, flowing effect, sarcastically highlighting the artificial perfection of the planned city, likened to flawless teeth.

3. “Piling will not stop”

• The “p” sound in “piling” and “stop” reinforces the ceaseless construction work, with the hard consonant sound mimicking the unyielding nature of the planners’ actions.

(ii) Explain the extended metaphor related with dentistry in the poem. Give suggestions to protect our national heritage monuments.

Answer:- Extended Metaphor Related to Dentistry and Suggestions to Protect the Environment

Explanation of the Extended Metaphor: The poem uses an extended metaphor comparing urban planning to dentistry, portraying the planners as dentists who reshape the city as if it were a set of teeth. This metaphor is evident in several lines:

• “The country wears perfect rows of shining teeth”: The city is likened to a mouth with perfectly aligned, artificial teeth, suggesting that the planners’ work creates a superficially flawless but unnatural urban landscape, stripped of its organic character.
• “Anaesthesia, amnesia, hypnosis”: These terms extend the dentistry metaphor, implying that the planners numb (anaesthesia), erase memories (amnesia), and manipulate perceptions (hypnosis) of the citizens, much like a dentist uses tools to make procedures painless and alter the appearance of teeth without regard for their original state.
• This metaphor criticizes the planners for their cold, clinical approach, treating the city as a patient to be reshaped for aesthetic perfection, erasing its historical and emotional significance in the process.

Suggestions to Protect the Environment: To counteract the destructive urban planning depicted in the poem, the following steps can help protect the environment:

• Promote Sustainable Development: Encourage urban planning that integrates green spaces, such as parks and tree-lined streets, to preserve natural ecosystems within cities.
• Preserve Historical Sites: Protect cultural and historical landmarks from demolition, ensuring that urban development respects the heritage and identity of the area.
• Use Eco-Friendly Materials: Advocate for construction materials and practices that reduce environmental impact, such as renewable energy sources and recyclable building materials.
• Encourage Community Involvement: Involve local communities in planning decisions to ensure that developments reflect their needs and preserve their emotional connections to the area.
• Implement Strict Regulations: Enforce laws to limit deforestation, pollution, and over-construction, balancing urban growth with environmental conservation.

(A10) Complete the following table.

Answer:-

(A11) Compose four lines expressing the grief of having lost nature due to modernisation.

Answer:-

• The trees once whispered secrets, now silenced by concrete’s rise,
• Rivers weep where skyscrapers pierce the once-blue skies,
• Green fields fade, a memory drowned in urban sprawl’s embrace,
• My heart mourns the nature lost to modernization’s cold face.

(A12) Imagine that a person who has returned to his native place after long time is talking to his old friend about the changes that have taken place in the village. Write a dialogue between two friends who have become nostalgic about their old village.

Answer:-

Rahul: (looking around) I can’t believe this is our village, Arun. So many buildings… it looks like a small city now!

Arun: I know, Rahul. It’s all changed – the old banyan tree near the temple is gone. They built a shopping complex there.

Rahul: What? That tree was over a hundred years old! We used to play under its shade after school.

Arun: Yes… and remember the small stream where we used to catch fish? It’s now covered and turned into a drainage line.

Rahul: That’s heartbreaking. I was hoping to bring my kids here and show them the nature we grew up with.

Arun: Times have changed, my friend. Development has taken over everything – even our memories.

Rahul: True… I feel happy to be back, but a part of me is deeply sad to see what’s lost.

Arun: Same here. The village may look modern now, but it has lost its soul.

(A13) (i) Write in short about at least five cities in India that are considered to be the most developed cities.

Answer:- (1) Mumbai :-  Mumbai is the financial capital of India. It is known for its stock market, Bollywood film industry, and large number of multinational companies.

(2) Bengaluru (Bangalore):-  Bengaluru is called the “Silicon Valley of India” because it is a major hub for IT companies, startups, and technological innovation.

(3) Delhi :- Delhi, the capital of India, is a well-developed city with modern infrastructure, metro transport, government buildings, and historical monuments.

(4) Hyderabad:- Hyderabad is famous for its IT parks, pharmaceutical industries, and clean city planning. It has also become a global business destination.

(5) Pune :- Pune is known for its educational institutions, automobile industries, and rapidly growing IT sector. It combines traditional culture with modern development.