Short Questions
1. At what age did Arun Krishnamurthy found his NGO?
Ans:- Arun Krishnamurthy was just 17 years old when he founded his NGO.
2. What is the name of the NGO founded by Arun?
Ans:- The NGO is called Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI).
3. What was the first activity of EFI?
Ans:- The first activity was the Turtle Walk, a move to save turtle eggs and young hatchlings in Chennai.
4. In which cities has Arun’s team cleaned beaches and water bodies?
Ans:- They have cleaned water bodies in Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Coimbatore and Puducherry.
5. What inspired Arun to take up the cause of environment?
Ans:- A beautiful lake next to his house became heavily polluted, which hurt him badly and inspired him.
6. Where did Arun work before starting EFI?
Ans:- Arun worked at Google before starting EFI.
7. In which year did Arun leave his job to work for EFI?
Ans:- Arun left his job in 2010.
8. What protective gear do Arun and his team use while cleaning?
Ans:- They use nose masks and sanitary gloves.
9. What equipment do they use to collect garbage?
Ans:- They use rakes and spades to collect garbage.
10. What heavy machinery is used to clean the lake?
Ans:- Heavy machinery like earth movers and Poclain are used to desilt the lake.
11. How much time does it take to clean a large lake?
Ans:- It can take anywhere between 5 days and 3 months.
12. How much time should school-going children devote weekly for environmental cause?
Ans:- They should devote four hours a week – two hours on Saturdays and two hours on Sundays.
13. What things does Arun’s team make from waste?
Ans:- They make environment-friendly paper bags.
14. Who is the youngest volunteer in Arun’s team?
Ans:- The youngest volunteer is in Class 3.
15. What does Arun say he learned from his teachers?
Ans:- His teachers taught him humility, so that he did not become snobbish or arrogant.
Long Questions
1. What inspired Arun Krishnamurthy to work for the environment?
Ans:- A beautiful lake next to Arun’s house, which once had many birds, frogs and snakes, became heavily polluted. This led to the spread of mosquitoes and turned a lovely place into an ugly neighbourhood. This hurt him badly, so he got together with friends and cleaned the pond near his house.
2. What support did Arun get from his parents and teachers?
Ans:- Arun had supportive parents who understood that his interest was the environment, and they never stopped him from doing what he wanted. He always informed them about everything he did and took their advice before acting. His teachers taught him how to go about things and also taught him humility so he wouldn’t become arrogant.
3. Why did Arun decide to quit his job at Google?
Ans:- Arun felt he could not sit back and enjoy life while environmental damage was happening on such a large scale. He understood that if he did not leave at that moment in 2010, he would never be daring enough to do it later. So he left Google to work full-time for EFI, though he still keeps his emotional bond with his friends there.
4. What kind of garbage do people throw into water bodies?
Ans:- People throw everything from diapers to worn-out slippers into the lakes, which is very disturbing since water is the basis of life. This garbage is later used for landfill with minimal exposure to the outside environment. Arun’s team ensures that the lake area is kept free of garbage so that birds, frogs and snakes can live in peace.
5. Describe the cleaning process used by Arun’s team.
Ans:- The team wears nose masks and sanitary gloves and carries rakes and spades to collect the garbage. They dump it into collection buckets, which are taken to the garbage truck. They also use heavy machinery like earth movers and Poclain to desilt the lake and clear harmful weeds and shrubs.
6. What does Arun suggest children and young adults can do for the environment?
Ans:- Arun suggests that we should first stop throwing trash outside our homes and then reduce the amount of trash we generate. Things like straws, tissues, wrappers, and batteries end up in lakes from our homes. If we reduce garbage at home and dispose of it safely, it would make a great difference, and students are welcome to volunteer with his team.
7. How did Arun’s school and college further his interest in the environment?
Ans:- Both Arun’s school and college had plenty of green cover and were home to several other life forms. This helped him understand the importance of these life forms, how beautiful they are, and why we need to protect them. He observed that these animals find their own food, are always active, and are never lazy, which taught him a lot.
8. What does EFI offer to interested students?
Ans:- EFI offers fellowships to interested students who want to join their work. Their programme looks at young animal lovers, young wildlife photographers, film-makers, theatre artists and scientific researchers. They give them training in these areas and get them actively involved in all their environmental work.
9. Why does Arun say he is an environmentalist and not an activist?
Ans:- Arun’s teachers taught him to be simple and to keep learning all the time instead of jumping straight into actions. He learned so much just by doing his environmental work over time. This patient and continuous learning is why he considers himself an environmentalist rather than an activist.
10. What did Arun and his team achieve through their environmental work?
Ans:- Arun and his team have cleaned beaches and various water bodies in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Coimbatore and Puducherry. They clean lakes, beaches, and zoos, plant trees, educate people through street plays, and make environment-friendly paper bags. Many students who joined Arun’s team since Class 7 have continued working with him even five years later.
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