EN हिं

NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 2 The Unlikely Best Friends — Let us explore

Book page 51 Updated on2026-09-05

Q1.
The story, ‘The Elephant and the Dog’ is found in the Jataka tales. These stories are ancient Buddhist stories of life values and wisdom. These stories have been told from one generation to the next for over two thousand years. Find and read another Jataka story.
Answer

Jataka tales are stories of the Buddha's earlier births, most of them about animals, and each one ends in a simple lesson. You will find them in your school library, in Amar Chitra Katha and Panchatantra-style collections, or you can ask a grandparent to tell you one.

Jataka storyWhat happensThe lesson
The Monkey and the CrocodileA crocodile wants the monkey's heart; the monkey says he has left it on the tree and escapes.Presence of mind saves life.
The Talkative TortoiseA tortoise carried by two geese on a stick opens his mouth to answer people below — and falls.Speak less; know when to keep quiet.
The Golden GooseA greedy woman plucks all the golden feathers at once, and they turn into ordinary ones.Greed destroys what kindness gives.
The Elephant and the DogThe very story in your book — an elephant and a stray dog become inseparable friends.Friendship needs no likeness.
How to present it: Retell your chosen story in about eight sentences, name the animals, and end with one line beginning “This story teaches us that …”.
Q2.
Elephants have historically held significant roles in Indian culture, spanning history, warfare, religion, festivals and more. However, contemporary ecological challenges have strained the relationship between humans and elephants. Have a discussion in the class.
Answer

Divide the discussion into two halves — the old bond and the new problem.

The old bondThe problem today
War elephants in the armies of Porus, the Mauryas and the MarathasForests are cut for farms, roads, mines and railway lines, so elephant paths are broken
Lord Ganesha; the temple elephants of Kerala and Tamil NaduHerds enter villages and damage crops; people and elephants both die in these clashes
Thrissur Pooram, Mysuru Dasara and other festivalsPoaching for ivory; trains hitting elephants at forest crossings
Elephants in Ajanta paintings, coins, temple carvings and folk songsCaptive elephants kept in chains, without shade, water or company

What can be done: protect elephant corridors so herds can move safely, put warning systems and slow speed limits on forest railway lines, pay farmers quickly for crop damage so they do not turn against the herds, and support Project Elephant (started in 1992).

Sample opening line for the discussion: “We worship the elephant as Ganesha and put him at the head of our festivals, but we have taken away his forest. Our respect must now become protection.”
Q3.
Given below is a news report from an Elephant Sanctuary in the United States about a real-life friendship between an elephant and a dog. The elephant’s name is Tarra and the dog’s name is Bella… Read and discuss.
Answer

What the report says: Bella, a dog, came into a forest sanctuary meant for elephants and became the friend of an elephant called Tarra. They spent most of their time together. When Bella was injured and could not walk, she was kept inside a building for three weeks — and Tarra stood outside that building for all three weeks, waiting. When they finally met, both were very happy.

Why this news report is placed here: It proves that the story you have just read is not merely a made-up tale. Tarra and Bella are the real-life Gajaraj and Buntee — and the same thing happens in both: separation makes the friends refuse to carry on normally. Gajaraj would not eat; Tarra would not leave the door.
Points for your discussion: How did Tarra know where Bella was? Do animals feel friendship the way we do? Have you seen two animals in your own street who behave like friends? Write four sentences on what you noticed.
Was this helpful? Report an error