Script
Anchor (Chaitanya):
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over
it.” Oh, such great words said by Nelson Mandela, proven
true in his story.
Good morning everyone. Today, our group is here to
present a chapter from our Class 11 English textbook
‘We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together’.
It is a story about courage, family, and survival against
impossible odds. And to make it more engaging, we’ve
prepared something different for you. Maps, props, and
even a real voice from the story.
But first, let’s begin by knowing a little about the authors
who brought this thrilling account to life.
So now, I would like to invite my friend Arnav to speak
about the authors.
About The Authors (Arnav):
Gordon Cook, born on December 3, 1978, in Toronto is
a two-time Canadian Olympic sailor. He sails for the
Royal Canadian Yacht Club. He is a graduate of the
Engineering Physics program at Queen's University. Cook
and Remocker became the first Canadians to sail a 49er in
an Olympic Regatta at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where
they finished 14th. He sails for the Royal Canadian Yacht
Club and had a great interest in writing stories.
Alan East was a litigator, manager and legal trainer.
He is a co-founder of a multi-academy trust, Central
Academies Trust which has as its aim improving
standards in Secondary Education.
Along with being a sailor, Gordon Cook was also a
determined adventurer who, along with his family,
wanted to recreate the world voyage of Captain James
Cook. Alan East, a journalist and writer, helped document
this extraordinary survival story.
Thank you.
Anchor (Chaitanya):
Thank you, Arnav, for giving us that background.
Now that we know about the authors, let’s talk about the
beautiful theme of this story. For that I would like to
welcome Arnav and Bhavik on the stage to educate us
regarding the same.
Theme (Arnav and Bhavik):
Bhavik:
Imagine yourself sailing in the middle of the Indian
Ocean. The sky is dark, the waves are taller than
buildings, and suddenly a storm comes crashing. Barging
into your ship, barging into your life, barging into your
very sense of safety.
How would you feel? Terrified. Helpless. Lost.
Would any accessories, any equipment, really save you?
Maybe for a moment. But not for long.
Arnav: And yet… here is what we learn from this chapter.
Survival cannot be carried in your hands, your pockets or
your materialistic thoughts. It is about what you carry in
your heart.
This story teaches us the power of will. The art of never
giving up. And above all, the truth that courage is not the
absence of fear, it is the strength to keep going, even
when fear is all around you, as said in the beginning.
That is why “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is more of a life
lesson than an adventure story, because it is. One that tells
us that storms are inevitable, but sinking is optional,
through and through.
Thank you.
Anchor (Chaitanya):
Wow. That was one way to be dramatically poetic, wasn’t
it? But anyways, thank you, dear team members, for the
theme. That was something different. Speaking of
different, instead of just hearing the story, how about we
actually see where the journey took place? Yes. With
maps, we’ll trace the exact route of the Wavewalker,
across the oceans, through the storm, and finally to safety
on a small island in the middle of nowhere.
So now, I’d like to call upon my friends Rupal and Rashi
to present the journey through maps.
Maps (Rupal and Rashi):
Rashi (Start):
Now, instead of just hearing the story, let’s actually trace
the route taken by the Wavewalker.
The story begins in July 1976, in Plymouth, England,
where a brave family—Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, and
their two children, Jonathan and Suzanne—set off on a
round-the-world sea voyage.
Rupal:
From Plymouth, they sailed south through the Atlantic
Ocean, successfully completing the first leg of their
journey. They reached Cape Town, South Africa, by the
end of the year. Here, they stocked up on supplies and
picked up two experienced crew members, Larry and
Herb to help with the next, more dangerous stretch across
the Indian Ocean.
Rashi:
After Cape Town, they headed east into the Indian Ocean.
But by early January, they faced a brutal storm in the
southern part of the ocean. For days, the ship was battered
by huge waves, some as high as 15 meters. Wavewalker
was badly damaged, and water started flooding in.
Despite injuries and exhaustion, the family and crew
worked together to save the boat.
Rupal:
Finally, after more than a week of constant struggle, they
sighted Amsterdam Island. It was a moment of huge
relief. They landed safely, and the family’s incredible
journey became a story of courage, determination, and the
power of staying united in the face of danger.
Thank you.
Anchor (Chaitanya):
Thank you, Rupal and Rashi, for making the voyage come
alive for us.
But the heart of this story lies in the courage of the
family. And nothing captures it better than the words of
little Jonathan, just six years old, who gave strength to his
father when everything seemed lost.
Bhavik (start directly)
I was only six years old.
The storm was raging outside, the Wavewalker was
breaking apart, and my father was bleeding. My mother
was at the wheel, fighting waves bigger than our house.
My sister was injured, and water was rushing in.
Everyone was terrified. And in that moment, I looked at
my father KNEW that I have to say something now.
Something. Anything. And I said words that even I didn’t
fully understand then:
‘We aren’t afraid of dying… if we can all be together.’
I didn’t think that those words would grab his attention,
let alone give him strength. But they did. His eyes
changed. He stood up again. He fought again. And
somehow, we survived.
Today, when I think about it, I realize courage doesn’t
always come from adults. Sometimes, even a child can
remind a family that unity is stronger than any storm.
So yes, I was only six. But in that moment, I learned, and
I taught that love and togetherness are greater than fear,
greater than storms, greater than death itself.
Thank you.
Anchor (Chaitanya):
So to conclude, “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is a reminder
that no storm is too big when we face it with courage,
teamwork, and love.
This was our presentation, thank you for being such a
wonderful audience.