Summary: “An Indomitable Spirit” is Lesson 6 from the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 6 English textbook Rainbow. The lesson is the inspiring real-life story of Anamika Pegu, a young para-athlete from Assam, presented in the form of an interview/news report. Despite a physical impairment, Anamika took up adaptive running at the age of 12 with the encouragement of her physical therapist Ranen Patar. With strong family support and rigorous training, she went on to win the State Sports Award and emerged as a “rising star” in Indian para-athletics, drawing inspiration from India’s first woman paralympic medallist Deepa Malik. The lesson teaches students the values of determination, hard work, courage, discipline and optimism, and shows how an indomitable spirit can overcome any obstacle.
Summary
Lesson 6 of the ASSEB Class 6 Rainbow textbook tells the story of Anamika Pegu, a brave para-athlete from Assam. Born with a physical disability, Anamika could have given in to self-doubt and despair, but instead she chose to fight back. At the age of twelve, with the loving encouragement of her physical therapist Mr. Ranen Patar and constant support from her parents, she took up adaptive running — a form of athletics specially adapted to a person’s physical needs. The lesson is structured as an interview conducted by Sunil Gogoi, a sports correspondent, who introduces Anamika to readers as “a rising star” of Assam.
Anamika trains three times a week, running at least five kilometres in each session, and focuses on building balance, stamina and endurance. Her hard work soon paid off — she won the State Sports Award, which she calls “a great feat” of her life. She draws inspiration from Deepa Malik, India’s first woman para-athlete to win a paralympic medal. Through her story, Anamika sends a clear message to the youth of Assam: believe in yourself, work hard, manage your time, and never give up on your dreams. Her ultimate goal is to win national championships and represent India at international para-athletic events. The lesson celebrates her indomitable spirit — a spirit that cannot be defeated by any difficulty.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Indomitable | Impossible to defeat or overcome; unconquerable |
| Spirit | The strong feeling, energy, or attitude inside a person |
| Para-athlete | An athlete with a physical disability who takes part in adaptive sports |
| Adaptive running | Running specially adapted to suit a person’s physical needs |
| Paralympic | Relating to international sporting events for athletes with disabilities |
| Resilience | The ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks |
| Infrastructure | Basic physical and organizational facilities (roads, buildings, equipment) |
| Self-doubt | The feeling of being unsure about one’s own ability |
| Determination | Firmness of purpose; strong will to do something |
| Encouragement | The act of giving someone support, courage or hope |
| Therapist | A person trained to give a particular form of medical treatment |
| Correspondent | A reporter who sends news from a particular place or on a particular topic |
| Feat | A great or remarkable achievement |
| Rising star | A person who is becoming famous or successful very quickly |
| Endurance | The ability to keep doing something difficult for a long time |
| Stamina | Physical or mental strength to keep working for a long time |
| Optimistic | Hopeful and positive about the future |
| Disciplined | Following rules and a regular routine carefully |
| Courageous | Brave; not afraid of danger or difficulty |
| Dedicated | Devoted to a task or purpose with whole-hearted effort |
Question Answers
A. Multiple Choice Questions (Tick the correct option)
(a) Who encouraged Anamika Pegu to take up adaptive running?
উত্তৰঃ Ranen Patar (her physical therapist) encouraged Anamika Pegu to take up adaptive running.
(b) At what age did Anamika Pegu start running?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika Pegu started running at the age of 12 years.
(c) Who is India’s first woman para-athlete to win a paralympic medal?
উত্তৰঃ Deepa Malik is India’s first woman para-athlete to win a paralympic medal.
(d) What did Anamika Pegu win?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika Pegu won the State Sports Award.
B. Oral Comprehension Questions
1. Who is Anamika Pegu?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika Pegu is a young para-athlete from Assam. She is well known for her achievements in adaptive running and has been honoured with the State Sports Award. She is regarded as a rising star in Indian para-athletics.
2. How did Anamika overcome her challenges?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika overcame her challenges through the loving support of her family, the proper guidance of her coach and physical therapist Ranen Patar, and her own dedicated, regular training. She refused to give in to self-doubt and worked hard despite limited resources and infrastructure.
3. What is Anamika’s typical training routine?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika trains three times a week. In each training session she runs at least five kilometres. Her training mainly focuses on improving her balance, stamina and endurance.
4. What message does Anamika Pegu give to the youth of Assam?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika tells the youth of Assam to believe in themselves, stay dedicated to their goals, and pursue their dreams without being discouraged by obstacles. She encourages them to be hardworking, disciplined and optimistic.
5. What is Anamika’s ultimate goal?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika’s ultimate goal is to win national championships and to represent India at international para-athletic competitions, including the Paralympics.
C. Match the Following
Match the names with their roles in the lesson:
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Anamika Pegu | A para-athlete from Assam |
| Deepa Malik | A paralympic medal winner (India’s first woman para-athlete to win a paralympic medal) |
| Sunil Gogoi | A correspondent of a sports channel |
| Ranen Patar | A physical therapist (Anamika’s coach and motivator) |
D. Vocabulary — Meanings of Phrases
Find out the meanings of the following phrases used in the lesson:
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A great feat | A remarkable achievement that requires great skill, strength or courage |
| A rising star | A person who is becoming famous or successful very quickly |
| A physical therapist | A trained person who helps patients recover movement and strength after illness or injury |
| Time management | The skill of using one’s time effectively and productively |
| Adaptive running | Running specially adapted to suit the physical needs of a person with disability |
| Indomitable spirit | A spirit or attitude that cannot be defeated or discouraged |
E. Vocabulary — MCQs on Word Meanings
1. What does “adaptive running” mean?
উত্তৰঃ Running adapted to a person’s physical needs.
2. What is the meaning of “resilience”?
উত্তৰঃ The ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
3. What does “infrastructure” refer to?
উত্তৰঃ Basic physical and organizational facilities such as roads, buildings, and equipment.
4. What is “self-doubt”?
উত্তৰঃ The feeling of being unsure about oneself or one’s abilities.
5. What is “determination”?
উত্তৰঃ Firmness of purpose; the strong will to achieve something.
6. Why does Anamika keep training hard despite challenges?
উত্তৰঃ She keeps training hard to overcome her challenges and to reach her goals of winning national and international medals.
7. How does support from coaches and family help Anamika?
উত্তৰঃ Their support motivates her, guides her and helps her improve her performance, while also keeping her positive and confident.
8. What lesson can young readers learn from Anamika’s story?
উত্তৰঃ Young readers learn that they should never give up on their dreams. With hard work, courage and an indomitable spirit, any obstacle in life can be overcome.
F. Qualities of Anamika Pegu
List the qualities that Anamika Pegu has, and use any three of them in sentences of your own.
উত্তৰঃ The main qualities of Anamika Pegu are:
- Determined
- Hardworking
- Courageous
- Disciplined
- Optimistic
Sample Sentences:
- Determined: Anamika is a determined girl who never gives up on her dreams.
- Hardworking: She is so hardworking that she trains for five kilometres in every session.
- Courageous: Anamika’s courageous attitude inspires every young athlete in Assam.
G. Grammar — Suffixes
Add the suffixes -tion, -ment, -al, -ship to the following root words and form new words:
| Suffix | Root Word | New Word |
|---|---|---|
| -tion | educate | education |
| -tion | compete | competition |
| -tion | determine | determination |
| -ment | encourage | encouragement |
| -ment | achieve | achievement |
| -ment | treat | treatment |
| -al | nation | national |
| -al | person | personal |
| -al | tradition | traditional |
| -ship | champion | championship |
| -ship | friend | friendship |
| -ship | relation | relationship |
H. Vocabulary — Cricket Terms
Match the following cricket-related words with their meanings:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Batsman | The player who hits the ball with the bat |
| Bowler | The player who throws the ball towards the batsman |
| Wicketkeeper | The fielder who stands behind the wicket to catch the ball |
| Stumps | The three upright wooden poles that form the wicket |
| Umpire | The official who makes decisions in a cricket match |
| Fielder | A player whose job is to stop the ball and return it |
I. Writing / Discussion
1. Write a short paragraph on “My favourite sportsperson”.
উত্তৰঃ (Sample Answer) My favourite sportsperson is Anamika Pegu, the brave para-athlete from Assam. Even though she has a physical impairment, she has never let it stop her. With the help of her physical therapist Ranen Patar and her supportive family, she took up adaptive running at the age of twelve. She trains three times a week and runs five kilometres in every session. Her hard work won her the State Sports Award, and now she is a rising star in Indian para-athletics. Anamika inspires me to be hardworking, disciplined and optimistic in life.
2. Why is fitness important for students?
উত্তৰঃ Fitness is very important for students because a healthy body keeps the mind sharp and active. Regular exercise helps students concentrate better in studies, builds strong bones and muscles, and gives them more stamina and endurance. Fitness also reduces stress, prevents diseases, and develops qualities like discipline, time management and team spirit — all of which help us throughout life.
3. Imagine you are a sports correspondent. Write five questions you would ask Anamika Pegu in an interview.
উত্তৰঃ (Sample Questions)
- How and when did you first become interested in adaptive running?
- Who has been your biggest inspiration on this journey?
- What kind of difficulties did you face during your training, and how did you handle them?
- What does winning the State Sports Award mean to you?
- What message would you like to give to other children with disabilities in Assam?
Additional Questions and Answers
1. Why is the lesson titled “An Indomitable Spirit”?
উত্তৰঃ The lesson is titled “An Indomitable Spirit” because Anamika Pegu’s life shows a spirit that cannot be defeated. In spite of her physical disability, lack of proper sports infrastructure, and other difficulties, she did not give up. With determination, courage and constant training, she achieved success in para-athletics. Her never-say-die attitude is the perfect example of an “indomitable spirit”, and the title celebrates this quality.
2. What role did Anamika’s family play in her success?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika’s family played a very important role in her success. They never treated her differently because of her disability. Instead, they encouraged her, motivated her and supported her financially and emotionally throughout her training. Their faith in her abilities helped her overcome self-doubt and develop confidence to chase her dreams.
3. Who is Deepa Malik and why is she mentioned in the lesson?
উত্তৰঃ Deepa Malik is India’s first woman para-athlete to win a paralympic medal. She is mentioned in the lesson because she is a great source of inspiration for Anamika Pegu and for all young para-athletes in India. Her achievements show that physical disability cannot stop a person from reaching the highest level of sports.
4. What difficulties do para-athletes in Assam face, according to the lesson?
উত্তৰঃ According to the lesson, para-athletes in Assam face several difficulties such as lack of proper sports infrastructure, limited training facilities, shortage of trained coaches, financial problems, and sometimes social attitudes that discourage people with disabilities. In spite of all these difficulties, athletes like Anamika continue to train hard and achieve success.
5. What lesson does Anamika’s story teach us about handling challenges in life?
উত্তৰঃ Anamika’s story teaches us that challenges are a part of life, and they should not stop us from chasing our dreams. With determination, hard work, discipline, the right guidance and the support of family, even the biggest obstacles can be overcome. Her life shows us the importance of resilience, time management and a positive attitude.
6. Make meaningful sentences using the following words: (a) indomitable, (b) determination, (c) encouragement, (d) feat, (e) endurance.
উত্তৰঃ
- (a) indomitable: Anamika’s indomitable spirit helped her win the State Sports Award.
- (b) determination: With great determination, she trains five kilometres in every session.
- (c) encouragement: The encouragement of Mr. Ranen Patar gave Anamika the confidence to start running.
- (d) feat: Winning the State Sports Award is a great feat for any young athlete.
- (e) endurance: Long-distance running builds both stamina and endurance in a player.
7. Why do you think the writer chose the form of an interview to tell Anamika’s story?
উত্তৰঃ The writer chose the form of an interview because it allows Anamika to share her own story in her own words. Through her direct answers to Sunil Gogoi’s questions, readers feel as if they are listening to Anamika herself. This makes the story more personal, more believable and more inspiring than a simple narrative would be.
8. What qualities should a young para-athlete develop, according to this lesson?
উত্তৰঃ According to this lesson, a young para-athlete should develop the following qualities — strong determination, hard work, courage, discipline, optimism, good time management, resilience to recover from setbacks, and an indomitable spirit that never accepts defeat. With these qualities and the right guidance, even the toughest obstacles can be turned into stepping stones to success.