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AARAMBH (2024)
We’re not afraid to die… if we can all be together DPP-02

1. What is the theme of the story? 6. Do you believe the steps taken by the narrator were
correct to save boat and family?
2. How did the family members react in the face of
danger? 7. Where did the narrator plan to go with his family?

3. What is the plot of the story “We’re not afraid to 8. What are the steps taken to get the water out of the
die, if we are all together?” ship?

4. Who consoled the narrator who had given up hope? 9. How did the New Year welcome narrator’s family?

5. What was the name of the boat and how was it 10. Justify the title: “We’re Not Afraid to die …”
made?

Hints and Solutions
1. The story is a rare example of courage and
perseverance shown by the narrator’s family. His
wife, two children and two crewmen accompanied
him on the voyage. They met with dangers and
disasters on their way towards the island. But they
faced all difficulties with patience, courage and
determination. Not even once did their confidence
and belief in themselves waver. Even the two
children showed extraordinary patience and
courage. They were not afraid to die. They were
ready to face the consequences along with their
parents.
2. The family members did not get shattered and were
very brave during the entire journey. The children
showed amazing courage and faith in the ability of
their father. Sue, only seven, never complained
about her injuries. (She had to be operated later on
for removal of a blood clot). Instead, she tried to
make them laugh by drawing caricatures of the
family. Six-year-old Jonathan declared that he was
not afraid to die, as long as they all stayed together.
They boosted the morale of their parents by their
faith in them and courage. The adults fought bravely
against the ferocious waves till the end. Herb and
Larry, worked tirelessly and cheerfully, pumping
water out of the ship. The narrator, in spite of his
injuries, kept his presence of mind and used all his
skills in keeping the ship afloat, and his wife gave
him support by steering the wheel. They did not
ever give up their efforts and were finally rewarded
and reached safely.
3. The story depicts the courage shown by the narrator
and his family during a voyage when they came
across rough weather and gigantic waves during the
course of their journey. The narrator was indeed a
daring adventurer. He decided to undertake a
voyage around the world along with his family wife,
Mary, and two very young children, Suzanne and
Jonathan. The narrator took pains to train himself
for sixteen years. During the voyage, he had to face
many problems. Due to the heavy lashing waves, his
ship almost broke into pieces. He was flung into the
sea, and all his gear and instruments were almost
smashed. At one stage, he had given up all hopes of
survival. Still, he continued to carry out all possible
efforts. He studied the position and headed for a
nearby island. His wife and children were equally
brave and helped him in his struggle against the
cruel waves.
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4. The children of the narrator supported him very
much when he had given up hope that now he would
be able to survive. His 7-year-old daughter says she
is fine, despite her two major injuries. She says this
and hides her injury so that her father can focus on
the rescue work. His 6 years old son Jonathan says
that if they are all together then he is not afraid to
die either. His words act as a tonic for his father and
fill him with energy that too at a time when he had
given up hope of being alive. On January 6, when
the situation was a bit under control, his daughter
Suzanne gifts him handmade card to her father
which works to boost his self-confidence.
5. Name of the boat was “Wavewalker”. It was 23
metres, 30 tonnes wooden boat which was made by
professionals. It was made very sturdy and its
quality tests were done so that it can easily
overcome even the fiercest storms. The narrator and
his wife, who had years of experience, had been
keeping an eye on the details of the boat for several
months. After being completely satisfied, they took
the decision of this journey.
6. Narrator saved everyone’s life by taking right
decisions at right time. He gave Mary the wheel at
the right time and engaged himself in repairing the
boat. He used his brain and engaged the crew
members to take out the water from the chartroom
with the help of pump. He used his experience and
knowledge to read the map and instructed to rotate
the boat at 185 degrees which proved to be correct
in the end. His experience of 16 years came in
handy to save everyone’s life.
7. The narrator was about to embark on a journey with
his family that James Cook took nearly 200 years
ago. The narrator was a 37-year-old businessman.
His wife’s name was Mary. They had two children,
Jonathan and Suzanne who were to accompany him
on this historic journey. It was to start with
Plymouth England. They were going to travel
1,05,000 km in this 3 yr journey for which all the
preparations were made.
8. Unfortunately, their manual hand pumps stopped
working as debris got stuck in them and the electric
pump got short-circuit. Just then the narrator
remembered that he had two spare pumps kept in the
chartroom which are in good condition. He brought
them and handed over to Herb & Larry to extract
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water from boat. Both the crew members started the
work without any delay and remained engaged
throughout the night.
9. They started their journey from Plymouth England
and everything went according to their plan when on
2nd Jan 1977 they encountered heavy waves coming
their side. Around 6 o’clock in the evening, there
was an abrupt silence and thick clouds covered the
sea. The narrator was just thinking about these
clouds that he realized this is not a cloud, but a very
high wave. That high wave collided with boat and
filled it with water and the head of the narrator hit
the wheel with which he was guiding the boat. The
narrator’s head began to bleed and her daughter,
Suzanne, also got injured. Because of this tide, his
boat was almost about to capsize. They faced lot of
difficulties in the first week of New Year.
10. The lesson is aptly and logically titled: “We’re Not
Afraid to Die …” These were the words of
Jonathan, the son of the narrator. Like his brave
father, Jon declared that they were not afraid to die
if they could be all together—Daddy and Mummy
and Sue and he. These words sum up the courage
shown by the narrator, his wife and children and, of
course, the crewmen.

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