ON KILLING A TREE

 

                                              ------- GIEVE PATEL

1. "It takes  much time to kill a tree"- Why does it take much time to kil a tree? According to the poet how is the tree finally killed?

How does a tree offer resistance to its destruction? How does its resistance fail? 

Why does "it takes much time to a kill" a tree? How is the tree finally killed?

The poem uses the word 'killed' instead of 'cutting down' a tree to indicate( দেখানো) the importance of the destruction and mutilation(অঙ্গহীনত্ব) of this tragic act.For this the murderer ie man has to follow a perfect procedure (পদ্ধতি). A simple pruning( ছাঁটা) will not be enough as the plant will heal its wounds very quickly.The small branches will regrow (পুনরায় বেড়ে উঠা) and gradually assume( শুরু করা) their original shape and thus resist its destruction(ধ্বংস).To stop this, the plant must be completely uprooted from the ground. A strong rope must be tied to it and with that help it must be pulled out of the ground.Thus the source of the tree's life will be exposed( উন্মুক্ত) to the prey (শিকার) and it will then be left to die slowly in the scorching sun(সূর্যের তাপে) where little by little it will turn brown, harden, bend(বাঁকা). Thus a plant's resistance power will fail and the killing process will be complete.

2."Not a simple jab of the knife/Will do it." What is 'it'? Why will not a simple jab of a knife do it? What else, though painful is required?

This indicates(নির্দেশ করা) the killing of the tree.The stem of the mature tree is very strong and the bark is very rough and tough. A knife is a very weak compared to a mature tree stem(গাছের গুড়ি). If a knife is used to kill a tree, it may leave a few scars(আচর) on the bark, but not kill the tree. So "a simple jab of knife" of man will not succeed in killing a tree. According to the poet, jab and cutting is not enough to kill a tree.Although this causes a lot of pain to the plant, the plant recovers (নিজেকে সরিয়ে নেওয়া)itself and grows back to its original state(অবস্থা).A tree has to be tied up with a rope and completely lifted from the ground. This method(পদ্ধতি)will expose the stalk (শিকড়) which according to the poet is the most sensitive(সংবেদনশীল) part of the tree. Once the tree's source of life is exposed(উন্মুক্ত হওয়া) then the heat and wind will hit the tree and it will become brown, stiff(শক্ত) and lifeless. This is enough to kill a tree.

3."But this alone won't do it" - What is 'this'? What happens as a result of'this'? Why won't 'this' alone do it? 

'This' refers to the hacking and chopping of trees.

Pruning and cutting damages the stem of the plant and causes a lot of pain to the plant. According to the poet, plucking and felling is not enough to kill a tree because they try to heal the wounds inflicted (রূপান্তরিত হওয়া/ সৃষ্টি করা) by the greedy human society. Although the tree heals all its wounds with its healing powers and produces green young shoots. Soon the tree grows back to its old shape. It highlights that killing a tree is not an easy task and also shows the strength and resilience( সহনশীলতা) of trees in the face of adversity.

4. "And out of its leprous hide

Sprouting leaves."

What does the expression 'leprous hide'refer to? What does 'its leprous hide ' bear? Bring out the irony suggested here. 

Here, 'leprous hide' refers to the rough scarred(ক্ষতবিক্ষত) bark of the tree.

Leprosy is an infectious disease(সংক্রামক রোগ) that disfigures(বিকৃত করা) the body. It disrupts(রোধ করা) normal growth.The 'leprous hide of the tree' bears(বহন করা) young leaves.

A leper's skin is patchy(বেমানান) and multi-colored. The bark of the tree is patchy and has various shades(আভা) of brown and green. Thus the bark of the tree has been compared to the skin of leprosy as it shows a diseased and destructive(ধ্বংসাত্মক) nature. But in this poetry it gives birth to a new leaf. It becomes a symbol of life and growth. In this lies the irony of the poem.

5."The source,white and wet,/ The most sensitive, hidden/ For years inside the earth"

How does the poet describe the source and its functions?

In the poem 'On Killing a Tree' by Gieve Patel, the source which is the root of the tree, 'white and wet' is explained as 'most sensitive and hidden'.The source is 'white' because it doesn't get sunlight 'wet' because it is always absorbing water from the soil. Roots are 'sensitive' because these roots can damage the plant with the slightest blow and 'hidden' because they are always underground.

The roots supply energy to the plant and send nutrients such as water and minerals to other parts of the plant that help the plant to survive.

6. "The poem 'On Killing a Tree' describes man's cruelty and violence to nature.......

Describe the line.

A tree is man's best friend as it helps to keep them alive mainly by providing food and oxygen.But humans treat it as an enemy and kill it mercilessly to satisfy their selfish interests.Man does not understand that by killing the plant he is destroying the balance of flora and fauna (উদ্ভিদ ও প্রাণিজগত) to destroy themselves.

The poet ironically expresses the act of cutting down a tree in the form of a detailed description of killing it. A senseless act like deforestation is a greedy and inconsiderate (অবিবেচকের মত)behavior of mankind. Premeditatedly (পূর্বেই) it reveals the cruelty and violence that humans are capable of. This is why the poet has made the tree suffer the punishment at the hands of its killers in this poem. It is the irony behind the perfect act of killing a tree that the poet brings out (দেখানো).

7. How does the tree heal itself in the poem'On Killing a Tree'.

A tree which is cut down by an insensible man heals its own bloody wounds.This results in small crooked green shoots growing close to the ground. It gradually grows into a miniature tree branch by extracting the nutrients provided by mother nature. If not controlled it reverts to its previous shape. Thus the poet expresses on one level the human perception(উপলব্ধি) of the tree as a growing menace(বিপদ) which needs to be destroyed. However, it also reflects the role of trees as a source of life and regeneration in the environment, which is brutally destroyed by humans to achieve their own materialistic goals(বস্তুগত উদ্দেশ্য).

8. How has the poet used irony in the poem On Killing A Tree.

Irony is a poetic device or technique that differs from the intended meaning (বলতে চাওয়া অর্থ) by the poet. It seems that the poet advertises(বিজ্ঞাপিত করা) the idea of violence through the title but actually he protests the cruelty of man against nature. This ceremonial act(আনুষ্ঠানিক কাজ) of killing a tree is absolutely sublime (উৎসাহ দেওয়া) as man slaughters(হত্যা করা) his best friend in a triumphant(বিজয়ী) pose(ভঙ্গিমা). The poet describes the method of killing a tree in an ironic manner. It actually paints a realistic picture of human attitudes(মনোভাব)towards nature. The poet expresses his anger and extreme frustration(চরম উদ্বেগ) by using the ironc technique, making the poem meaningfully(অর্থপূর্ণভাবে) descriptive and rich through the use of Irony.