In CBSE Class 8 English Poorvi Book, Unit 4 (Environment), “The Cherry Tree” by Ruskin Bond is a beautiful and inspiring story about patience, care, and the wonders of nature.
The story revolves around a six-year-old boy named Rakesh, who lives with his grandfather in a small cottage on the outskirts of Mussoorie. One day, while returning from the bazaar, Rakesh eats cherries brought from Kashmir and saves the last seed instead of throwing it away. His grandfather advises him to plant it. Rakesh sows the cherry seed in a shady corner of the garden where the soil is soft.
At first, Rakesh forgets about the seed as he gets busy playing and going to school. Slowly, the seed germinates and grows into a tiny sapling. The young tree faces many challenges — a goat eats its leaves, a woman accidentally cuts its stem while weeding, and it struggles through harsh weather. Despite all difficulties, the cherry tree continues to grow with quiet determination.
As years pass, both Rakesh and the cherry tree mature. The tree finally blossoms with delicate pink flowers and bears small, sweet cherries. Rakesh feels immense joy and pride watching the tree he planted from a tiny seed. In the end, he experiences a divine feeling and wonders, “Is this what it feels to be God?” — realising the satisfaction of nurturing life.
This chapter teaches important lessons about patience, care for nature, resilience, the joy of creation, and our deep connection with the environment.
Watch the full explanation, summary and NCERT solutions of Class 8 Poorvi Chapter 7 The Cherry Tree here:
If you are a Class 8 student looking for easy summary, important questions and answers, word meanings, or complete NCERT explanation of “The Cherry Tree” by Ruskin Bond, this video will help you understand the chapter clearly and score better in exams.