Notes Class 8 Chapter 1.4 Balbharati English Maharashtra Board

Revathi’s Musical Plants

1. Introduction

• The story revolves around a girl named Revathi, who is a passionate music student.
• She loves playing the violin and practices regularly.
• Revathi discovers an unusual phenomenon where her plants respond to music.

2. Revathi’s Observation

• She had a small courtyard in front of her house with potted plants.
• One day, she noticed that the balsam plants in a pot were pale and not growing well.
• Remembering that plants need sunlight, she shifted the pot to a sunny spot.
• While watering the plants, she got the idea to participate in the ‘Best Plant’ Contest.

3. Discovery of Plant’s Response to Music

• Revathi played her favorite ‘Mohanam’ raga on her violin near the plants.
• Over the next few days, she observed that the plants seemed to bend towards her while she played.
• When she played a fast, rhythmic tune, the plants moved away.
• She concluded that her plants loved her music, particularly slow and melodious tunes.
• She kept this discovery a secret, not even telling her mother.

4. The Day Before the Competition

• The plants flourished, becoming healthier and taller than other plants.
• The flowers bloomed earlier than expected, and one plant had a unique mauve-colored flower with white stripes.
• Revathi was confident that she would win the prize.

5. The Missing Plants

• On the day of the competition, Revathi found her pot of plants missing.
• She searched everywhere and asked her mother and neighbors, but no one knew about them.
• She was heartbroken as the plants had become her friends.

6. The Competition and the Discovery

• Revathi reluctantly attended the competition.
• She was shocked to see her plants displayed under a different participant’s name.
• She informed the organizers, but they doubted her claim.
• She struggled to prove her ownership.

7. Proving Ownership with Music

• She remembered how her plants responded to her violin.
• Revathi brought her violin and started playing her favorite raga.
• To everyone’s astonishment, the plants slowly bent towards her as she played.
• The organizers were convinced that the plants belonged to her.
• The neighbor admitted to stealing the plants.

8. Revathi’s Victory

• The judges awarded Revathi the first prize for the best plants.
• She proudly took her pot of plants home.
• Her discovery of plants responding to music made her feel special.