Class 11

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Chapter 2 The Legend behind a Legend Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Chapter 2 The Legend behind a Legend

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The Legend behind a Legend Text Book Questions and Answers

UNIT – I
Gist with Glossary

Gist:
The writer walks down memory lane. Exactly 25 years ago, he had spent two days and two nights with Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur, and a collection of wild animals of Saroj and Nihar. A news item on the latest exploits of Khairi evoked his interest to visit the place. He came to know that Saroj Raj Chaudhury was taking care of Khairi. He wrote a letter to him and met with a prompt response. He was filled with great joy. Mr. Chaudhury invited him to Khairi-Jashipur, giving him particular directions on how to reach there. The writer apprised him of when and how he would visit him.

Glossary:
bandit queen : queen of the robbers (ଦସ୍ୟୁରାଣୀ)
menagerie : a collection of wild animals (ବଣ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ମାନ ଙ୍କ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ)
exploits : some unusual thing that someone does that you think is brave, exciting or entertaining
domesticated : an animal trained to live with or work for humans (ଗୃହପାଳିତ)
struck : occurred (ମନେପଡ଼ିଲା)
gruff : unfriendly and cruel (ନିଷ୍ଠୁର ସ୍ବଭାବସମ୍ପନ୍ନ)
tough : strict and severe (ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ)
brooked no nonsense : tolerated only important and necessary things (ବାଜେ କଥା ସହ୍ୟ କରିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ)
suffered no feels : did not tolerate stupidity in others (ନିର୍ବୋଧତାକୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ରୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ)
itnerant articles : articles published in different magazines (ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପତ୍ରିକାରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ଅନେକ ଲେଖା )
shot in the dark : a hopeful attempt (ଏକ ଆଶାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଉଦ୍ୟମ )
utter : great (ମାତ୍ରାତ୍ଵିକ)
delight : pleasure (ଆନନ୍ଦ)
precise : exact (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ)
instructions : directions (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ )

Think it out:
Question 1.
Who is Khairi?
Answer:
Khairi is a legendary tigress of Jashipur.

Question 2.
How did the writer come to know about Khairi?
Answer:
The writer came to know about Khairi when he had read a small news item in The Statesman that threw light on the latest exploits of the tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha.

Question 3.
Who was the foster father of Khairi?
Answer:
Saroj Raj Chaudhury was the foster father of Khairi.

Question 4.
Which State does the writer belong to?
Answer:
The writer belongs to Odisha.

Question 5.
What did he learn about Saroj Raj Chaudhury as a person?
Answer:
He learnt that Saroj Raj Chaudhury tolerated only important and necessary things, but not stupidity in others.

Question 6.
How did he contact Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
He contacted Mr. Chaudhury by writing a letter to him after getting his address.

Question 7.
Why did he refer some of his articles to Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
He referred some of his articles to Mr. Chaudhury in the hope of getting his response.

Question 8.
Did Mr. Chaudhury reply to the author’s letter? What did he write?
Ans.
Yes, Mr. Chaudhury replied to the author’s letter. The former wanted the latter to inform him in advance of the manner and the time of his arrival.

UNIT-II
Gist with Glossary

Gist:
The writer reached Khairi-Jashipur by an overcrowded bus. It was 4 a.m. He was soon provided with food and shelter. In other words, he was accorded fabulous hospitality, thanks to Saroj Chaudhury. Terror seized him when he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside the door. It did not last long before the bearer met him to serve hot tea and biscuit and assured him of the presence of Khairi who was making loving inquiries about the new guest in the house. He met Saroj Chaudhury, ‘a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top; the latter greeted the former in a polite manner after asking Jambu, the bear, to get down because the animal holding on to Chaudhury’s waist. They conversed with each other. In Mr. Chaudhury, the writer found a humble and careful man. One of the most caring persons he had ever met in his life was Mr.

Glossary:
semidarkness: half-darkness (ଅର୍ଥ ଅନ୍ଧକାର)
click : sound (ଶବ୍ଦ)
detailed : was given minute instructions (ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସୂଚନା ପାଇଥିଲେ )
escort : guide (ପଥ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନକାରୀ)
with a start : in fear (ଭୟଚକିତ ହୋଇ)
terror struck : the writer was seized with fear (ଭୟ ବିହ୍ବଳିତ)
sloth : lazy behaviour (ଆଳସ୍ୟ ସ୍ବଭାବସମ୍ପନ୍ନ )
frail : weak (ଦୁର୍ବଳ)
slightly : a little (ଅତି ଅଳ୍ପ)
gruff : rude, unfriendly
no-nonsense : doing things quickly and effectively without worring too much about people’s fear (ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ପ୍ରତି ଉଦାସୀନ)
humane : caring people and animals ( ମାନବ ପ୍ରତି ସମ୍ବେଦନଶୀଳ)

Think it out:
Question 1.
How did the writer come to Bhubaneswar?
Answer:
The writer came to Bhubaneswar by train.

Question 2.
How did he go to Jashipur from Bhubaneswar?
Answer:
He went to Jashipur from Bhubaneswar in an over-packed bus.

Question 3.
How did the forest guard receive him?
Answer:
The forest guard received him in a very cordial manner. He guided the writer, took him to the guest house, and made him stay in the guest house, assuring him that the water was in the jug.

Question 4.
Why was he terror-struck?
Answer:
He was terror-struck because he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside his door.

Question 5.
What did the bearer tell him about Khairi?
Answer:
The bearer told him that Khairi was trying to know about the new guest in the house. There was a ring of friendliness about Khairi.

Question 6.
What was Mr. Chaudhury doing when the writer met him?
Answer:
When the writer met Mr. Chaudhury, he was sitting on a large chair.

Question 7.
How did Mr. Chaudhury greet the author?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury warmly greeted the author.

Question 8.
What was the name of the bear?
Answer:
The name of the bear was Jambu.

Question 9.
What was the physical appearance of Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury was a weak man in his fifties with a little baldness on the top.

Question 10.
What kind of man did the author find Mr. Chaudhury to be?
Answer:
In the author’s estimation, Mr. Chaudhury was friendly and responsive. Besides, he was caring to the core.

UNIT – III
Gist with Glossary

Gist:
This part begins with Mr. Chaudhury narrating a wonderful story to the writer. His house turned into a habitat for different species of wild animals. He conducted an experiment to exaggerate that the animals could exist with each other if they were together from childhood. He brought Khairi and one of the most dangerous snakes, krait close to her. The writer marked Khairi’s reaction – it was one of fondness for the strange creature. Whenever the krait got too close to Khairi, he would pull it by its back.

Once he became inattentive and was bitten by a krait. Some of its poison entered his blood and therefore, he was now a permanent patient of low blood pressure. As soon as Mr. Chaudhury finished this wonderful story Jambu tried to give the writer his bear hug, but the former’s stem warning prevented him from doing so. Mr. Chaudhury has a well-knit joint family that was living inside the compound. It comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name.

Glossary:
emerged : became known (ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଲା)
sips : drink (something) by taking small mouthfuls (ଅଳ୍ପ ଅଳ୍ପ ପିଇବା)
debunked : exaggerated
co-exist : live together (ଏକତ୍ର ବାସ କରିବା)
infancy : childhood (ପିଲାଦିନ)
unmindful : inattentive (ଅମନୋଯୋଗୀ)
tied : bound (ବାନ୍ଧିଥିଲେ )
tourniquet : a piece of cloth bound tightly on an arm or leg to stop bleeding
hypo-glycaemia : condition of having a very low blood pressure (ନିମ୍ନ ରକ୍ତଚାପ)
astonishing : wonderful (ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟଜନକ)
take a fancy : to start liking someone (ଜଣକୁ ଭଲ ପାଇବାକୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବା)
hug : to put ones arms around someone to show love (ଆଲିଙ୍ଗନ)
dissuade : prevent (ବାଧା ଦେବା)
fondness : affection (ସ୍ନେହ, ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା)
progressed : advanced (ଆଗେଇ ଚାଲିଲା)
intennittent : occurring occasionally (ସାମୟିକଭାବେ ଘଟୁଥିବା)
crackle : making shout sharp sounds (ସ୍ଵଚ୍ଛ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ଉଚ୍ଚ ଶବ୍ଦ)
veritable : real (ବାସ୍ତବ)

Think it out:
Question 1.
What theory did Mr. Chaudhury prove wrong?
Answer:
The theory that Mr. Chaudhury proved wrong was that the different species of wild animals cannot co-exist unless they are together from childhood.

Question 2.
What was his first story about?
Answer:
The first story was about how his house became the habitat of different species of wild animals who all come at different stages of their lives. It also dealt with their coexistence and the close relationship between Khairi and krait, a dangerous snake.

Question 3.
Why is it so unique and amazing?
Answer:
It is so unique and amazing because, during this experiment, Khairi showed her reaction to the presence of krait, the most poisonous snake. Khairi was curious to know more about the krait as it was a stranger to her.

Question 4.
Why did Mr. Chaudhury allow Khairi to come near the krait?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury allowed Khairi to come near a krait to know how they dealt with each other.

Question 5.
What was Khairi’s reaction to the presence of the krait?
Ans.
Khairi’s reaction to the presence of a krait was one of curiosity to know more about the latter.

Question 6.
How did the experiment affect him?
Answer:
The experiment made him a permanent patient of low blood pressure.

Question 7.
What did the bear try to do with the writer?
Answer:
The bear tried to put his arms around the writer to show his love.

Question 8.
What prevented the bear from doing so?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury’s strict ‘no’ prevented the bear from doing so.

Question 9.
What kind of family did Mr. Chaudhury have?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury had a genuine joint family that comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name.

Question 10.
What was his relationship with different animals?
Answer:
His relationship with different animals was quite familiar. His act of naming each of them is a case in point.

UNIT – IV

Gist:
Khairi was brought to Saroj Raj Chaudhury as a two-month cub who was hungry and confused. Veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife as he was, Saroj imitated the sounds of a mother tigress. It worked wonderfully. The tiger cub’s confidence was restored. Saroj became nostalgic. He recollected his birthday when his mother had presented him with a gun, with which he, as a young man, shot wildlife in a carefree manner. But, soon he realized that it was a mistake and happiness lies in the conservation of these harmless beautiful animals. As the Director of Project Tiger, Saroj was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. For the night, both camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. Never before had the writer experienced one night in a magnificent wooden structure with rooms and a bath that stood 15 feet high from the ground.

Glossary:
cub : (here) a young tigress (ବାଘଛୁଆ, ଛୁଆ ବାଘୁଣୀ)
famished : very hungry (କ୍ଷୁଧାଉଁ)
confused : disturbed (ବିବ୍ରତ ହେଲା)
snarls: making angry sounds in one’s throat and showing teeth
veteran : experienced (ଅଭିଜ୍ଞ, ଦକ୍ଷ)
handle : deal with (ଆୟତ୍ତ କରିବା)
firmly : determindedly (ଦୃଢ଼ ଭାବରେ )
anchored : restored (ଶାନ୍ତ ହେଲା)
the legends : (here) Saroj Raj Chaudhury and Khairi (କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ )
tag along : accompanied someone (ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷଙ୍କ ସହ ଯାତ୍ରା
snaked (v) : moved in or had a senes of long curves (ଅଙ୍କାବଙ୍କା ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଗଲା)
amidst: in the midst of (ମଝିରେ)
lush foliage: leaves of trees growing luxuriously
abandon : in an uncontrolled way (ଅବିଚାରିତ ଭାବେ)
conserving: preventing land, water, etc. from being damaged (ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବା)
wanton harm: reckless harm
authority : (here) Saroj Choudhury (କର୍ତ୍ତୃପକ୍ଷ )
pugmarks: the mark of the footprint of an animal (ପଶୁର ପାଦଚିହ୍ନ)
distinctive: very clear
meticulously: carefully attending to every detail
functional: practical and simple
build on stilts: build on one of a set of posts
a top: at the top of (ଉପରିଭାଗରେ )
magnificent : very beautiful (ଖୁବ୍‌ ସୁନ୍ଦର)

Think it out:
Question 1.
How and when did Mr. Chaudhury come across Khairi?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury came across Khairi when 12 Kharia tribals of Similipal brought her to him when she was a two-month cub. It was on October 5, 1974.

Question 2.
In what condition did he And it?
Answer:
He found it in a state of hunger and confusion.

Question 3.
How did he manage the hungry and confused cub?
Answer:
He managed the hungry and confused cub by copying the sounds of the mother tigress. Within minutes, she became firmly confident.

Question 4.
How did he treat wildlife in a young age?
Answer:
He treated wildlife uncontrollably in a young age.

Question 5.
What did he say about his change of attitude towards wildlife to the author?
Answer:
He said to the author that his change of attitude towards wildlife took place because of his realization that there was greater happiness in safeguarding the beautiful wild animals that do not cause reckless harm to man.

Question 6.
What was his contribution to the Tiger Project?
Answer:
His contribution to the Tiger Project was the introduction of the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. As a result, one can measure the pugmarks of each animal distinctly and record their characteristics very carefully.

Question 7.
What was the guest house like?
Answer:
The guest house was a wooden structure with simple rooms and a bath. It was built on one of the set of posts and was at a height of 15 feet.

Question 8.
What new experience did the author have in the Tiger Reserve area?
Answer:
The author experienced for the first time, one night stay in the Tiger Reserve area that was unique, especially on a very beautiful ‘machan’.

UNIT – V
Gist with Glossary

Gist :
The writer revisited Khairi-Jashipur after three months. His interest to know more about Khairi gained momentum. Besides Mr. Chaudhury’s old acquaintances, he caught sight of a young python. He focused on Mr. Chaudhury whose quest and passion was amazing. Meanwhile, Mr. Chaudhury got a message from the World Wildlife Fund. He went to New Delhi by air for an urgent meeting. The writer saw him off at the Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta. It was his last meeting with Mr. Chaudhury, a legend behind a legend. Khairi and Mr. Chaudhury are no more.

Glossary:
gracious: kind
in addition to besides
python: a very large snake that kills animals for food by wrapping itself around them and crushing them (ଅଜଗର ସାପ )
quest : search (ଅନ୍ଵେଷଣ)
legend: someone who very many people know about and admire (କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ ପୁରୁଷ)
unique : extraordinary (ଅସାଧାରଣ)
due: worth (ଯୋଗ୍ୟ)

Think it out:
Question 1.
After what interval of time did the writer visit Mr. Chaudhury for the second time?
Answer:
After three months, the writer visited Mr. Chaudhury for the second time.

Question 2.
What new addition to the Chaudhury family did he find there?
Answer:
The new addition to Chaudhury’s family he found there was an eight-foot-long young python.

Question 3.
Why did he get less time to interact with Mr. Chaudhury this time?
Answer:
He got less time to interact with Mr. Chaudhury because at that moment Mr. Chaudhury got a wireless message from the World Wildlife Fund to attend an important meeting at New Delhi.

Question 4.
Who died first, Khairi or Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
Khairi died first.

Question 5.
Who are the two legends the writer talks about?
Answer:
The two legends the writer talks about are Khairi and Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury.

Question 6.
Is the text more about Mr. Chaudhury or Khairi?
Answer:
The text throws much light on Mr. Chaudhury, yet Khairi does not lag far behind.

Question 7.
Can you guess now why the title of the text is “The Legend behind the Legend”?
Answer:
The title is aptly justified because the legendary passionate and instinctive lover of wildlife has been instrumental in transforming a two-month-old tiger baby into a legend. She is Khairi.

Post-Reading Activities:

I. Arranging in Order
Provided below are some events from the lesson. These are not in order. Arrange them in order as they occur in the lesson by putting numbers within the brackets provided against the items. One is done for you.
(a) Khairi played with the krait. ( )
(b) Khairi was brought to Mr. Chaudhury. ( )
(c) The writer sees Mr. Chaudhury off at Dum Dum Airport. (8)
(d) The writer reads a news item about Khairi. ( )
(e) Chaudhury writes a letter to the writer. ( )
(f) The writer reaches Jashipur by bus. ( )
(g) He stays with Chaudhury in a camp guest house in the forest. ( )
(h) The writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. ( )
Answer:
(a) Khairi played with the krait. (6)
(b) Khairi was brought to Mr. Chaudhury. (5)
(c) The writer sees Mr. Chaudhury off at Dum Dum Airport. (8)
(d) The writer reads a news item about Khairi. (1)
(e) Chaudhury writes a letter to the writer. (2)
(f) The writer reaches Jashipur by bus. (3)
(g) He stays with Chaudhury in a camp guest house in the forest. (4)
(h) The writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. (7)

II. Note-making
Notes-making helps you to develop your reading and writing skills. This lesson has, you know, two major themes – Khairi and Mr. Chaudhury. You have to read the lesson, make notes (in words and phrases) on these two, and then use these points to write about them. One has been done below on Khairi as a model. Make notes on Mr. Chaudhury.

Notes on Khairi
Para 1
→ Tigress of Jashipur
→ Made the forest famously
→ Domesticated tigress in the Similipal forest of Odisha
→ Writer reads a news item about Khairi
Para 5
→ Khairi roared to welcome the writer
→ He was terror struck
Para 9
→ On October 5, 1974, Khairi was brought as a cub, hungry, confused
Para 15
→ Chaudhury manages her imitating the sounds of a mother tigress.
The death of Khairi was followed by the death of Chaudhury.
With the help of these notes, write a paragraph on Khairi.
Khairi:
Khairi was a domesticated tigress. She made the Simmilipal forest and Jashipur famous. The writer read about her from a news item. Then he visited Jashipur to see Khairi and Chaudhury who had kept Khairi as a pet. He came to know from Mr. Chaudhury that Khairi was brought to Chaudhury on October 5, \91A by twelve Kharia tribals. It was then a small cub, hungry and confused. Chaudhury handled the cub well by imitating the sounds of a tigress. She grew up as a domesticated tigress under the loving care of Chaudhury. But she did not live long. Chaudhury also died soon after the death of Khairi.

Now write notes (from the lesson) and develop the notes into a write-up on Mr. Chaudhury.

Notes on Mr. Chaudhury
Para 3
→ Mr. Chaudhury was a very responsible person.
Para 4
→ Hospitable to the core
Para 6
→ A weak man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top
→ Nice and down-to-earth
→ One of the most humane beings
Para 7
→ His experiment concerning the co-existence of wild animals in the presence of Khairi and the krait
→ The latter is a dangerous snake
→ Noticed Khairi’s reaction of fondness
→ A permanent patient with low blood pressure
Para 8
→ Strict
→ Possessed a joint family of animals in his house
Para 9
→ An officer of the Indian Forest Service
→ Veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife
→ Showed skill in handling hungry and confused two-month-old tiger cub
→ Imitated the sounds of a mother tigress
Para 11
→ An authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India
→ Introduced the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census
Para 13
→ Gracious
Para 14
→ Journey to New Delhi for an important meeting
Para 15
→ The writer’s last meeting with him in the Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta
→ A legend behind a legend
→ He is no more.
Mr. Chaudhury
Mr. Chaudhury, responsible, hospitable, and down-to-earth, was a weak person in his fifties. He was one of the most humane beings. He made an experiment by effecting contact between Khairi and the krait, one of the most dangerous snakes, to know about the co-existence of different wild animals. Khairi’s reaction, he noticed, was one of great love. Mr. Chaudhury, a veteran forester and an instinctive lover of wildlife possessed a joint family of different animals in his house. He was strict. He showed his skill in handling the hungry and confused two-month-old tiger cub by imitating the sounds of a mother tigress. Mr. Chaudhury, an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India, was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. The writer saw such a graceful legend off in Dum Dum Airport on his way to New Delhi, for the last time. Mr. Chaudhury is no more.

III. Doing with words Collocation
(a) Collocation in expressions means which words go with which other words. Collocations are fixed expressions. For example sweet dreams, daydreams, bad dreams, pipe dreams, hard-earned money, public money, extra money, and tax-payers money.

Answer:

(b) Find out five collocations from the test. (Example: to take a fancy).
Answer:
brooked no nonsense
suffered no fools
terror-struck
no-nonsense
hypo-glycaemia

(c) Which word in each line does not collocate with the headword?
(i) a theory: come up with, do, debunk, build
(ii) a debate: open, listen to, join in, find
(iii) legend: fresh, famous, well-known, sports
(iv) veteran: soldier, idealist, activist, man
(v) gracious: welcome, hospitality, building, smile
Answer:
(i) do
(ii) find
(iii) fresh
(iv) man
(v) building

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The Legend behind a Legend Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions with Answers

1. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Khairi made the entire forest where she lived famously. She was not a bandit queen but Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur. It was exactly 25 years ago when I spent two days and two nights with Khairi and the menagerie of Saroj and Nihar, I had read a small news item in The Statesman about the latest exploits of a domesticated tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha. Suddenly, it struck me that this was happening in my own State. I thought, “why not attempt to experience it myself ?” I spoke to N.S. Ayyangar, a senior journalist in Berhampur, and a few other elders.

I was told that Khairi was under the care of a rather gruff and tough man called Saroj Raj Chaudhury who brooked no nonsense and suffered no fools. I got his address and wrote asking if I could visit him. For good measure, I referred to a few itinerant articles I had written for Indian magazines. It was a shot in the dark and I did not really expect to hear from him. But, to my utter delight, I got a letter within a week inviting me to Khairi-Jashipur, giving precise instructions about how to reach there. Mr. Chaudhury also asked me to let him know in advance how and when I was reaching. I gave him a date and said I would be taking a bus from Bhubaneswar on a particular night.

Questions :
(i) Why was the forest made famous?
(ii) “Why not attempt to experience it myself ?” What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iii) Why did the writer contact N.S. Ayyanger and a few others? What was the result?
(iv) Explain the expression “It was a shot in the dark.”.
(v) Suggest a suitable title to the extract.

Answers :
(i) The forest was made famous by Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur because it was her abode.
(ii) ‘It’ refers to the writer’s curiosity to be aware of the latest exciting things carried by a tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha. She had been to live with and work for humans.
(iii) The writer contacted N.S. Ayyanger and a few other seniors to know about Khairi. He learned that Saroj Raj Chaudhury, who was rather an unfriendly and severe man, took care of the tigress.
(iv) The writer’s reference to a few articles he had written for Indian magazines was a sort of hopeful attempt to see Khairi and Saroj Raj Chaudhury’s positive response to his letter.
(v) The Writer’s Quest of Khairi

2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I packed my bag, took the train, and boarded the overcrowded bus from Bhubaneswar. I arrived sometime before 4.00 a.m. wondering where to go in that semidarkness. To my utter surprise, within a minute there was the click of boots and a voice welcoming me to Khairi-Jashipur. The Forest Guard, detailed to escort me, took me to the guest house, put me in my room, and assured me that water was in the jug; I could sleep as long as I wanted and Saab would see me as soon as I was ready.

I think I had an hour of blissful sleep. I woke up with a start when I heard the unmistakable voice of the Tiger just outside my door. I was terror-struck. Within minutes, a bearer came to the room with hot tea and biscuits. He smiled at the expression on my face and assured me that it was only Khairi outside the door, making friendly inquiries about the new guest in the house. I finished my tea, had a quick shower and went to the main house.

Saroj Raj Chaudhury was sitting on a large chair. There was a sloth bear behind him, holding on to his waist and making gurgling sounds. He said, “Get down, Jambu, get down’’ and rose to greet me – a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top. We got talking. I didn’t find a gruff and rough no-nonsense man. What I found was one of the most humane human beings I had ever met in my life.

Questions :
(i) Describe the bus the writer had boarded.
(ii) When did he reach Jashipur?
(iii) Describe the treatment according to the writer in Jashipur.
(iv) How did a bearer react to the writer’s terror-stricken face?
(v) Throw light on Jambu.

Answers :
(i) The bus the writer had boarded was packed with passengers beyond its capacity.
(ii) The writer reached Jashipur sometime before 4 a.m. It was half-dark.
(iii) As soon as the writer reached Jashipur, the Forest Guard led him to the guest house, and showed him his room. He assured the writer of the presence of a jug filled with water. Later a bearer provided him with hot tea and biscuits in his room.
(iv) A bearer reacted smilingly to the writer’s terror-stricken face.
(v) The bear Jambu was seen in a lazy mood, behind Saroj Raj Chaudhury, and holding on to his waist making gurgling sounds.

3. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Here is the first story that emerged from this very unusual man between sips of coffee: “As you will see, I have different species of wild animals in this house. They all came in at different stages of their lives. I have debunked the theory that they cannot co-exist unless they are together from infancy. One thing I wanted to experiment with was the reaction of a young tiger to a snake. One day, when Khairi was much younger, we found a baby krait in the house. As you know, the krait is one of the most poisonous snakes.

I was noting Khairi’s reaction to its presence. Khairi was curious to know more about this strange new creature. Every time the krait got too close to Khairi, I would pull it back by its tail. This went on for some time. At some point, I must have been a little unmindful. It turned around and bit me. I immediately tied a tourniquet above that and got the poison out. I saw the doctor as soon as possible. Luckily it was a baby. Still, some of the poison got into my bloodstream and as a result, I am now a permanent patient of hypo-glycemia.”

By the time he finished this astonishing story, Jambu took a fancy to me and climbed behind to give me his bear hug. A stern ‘no’ from Saroj was enough to dissuade him from this expression of fondness. As the day progressed, between our conversations and the intermittent crackle on the VHF wireless set by which he was giving instructions to his men in the forests, I got to know a veritable joint family that was living inside the compound – a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena. Each had a name.

Questions :
(i) When did Saroj narrate the first story to the writer?
(ii) What is the theory that Mr. Chaudhury has exaggerated?
(iii) ‘It turned round and bit me.’ What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iv) How was Mr. Saroj Chaudhury’s story?
(v) Throw light on Jambu.

Answers :
(i) Between sipping coffee, Saroj narrated the first story to the writer.
(ii) The theory that Mr. Chaudhury has exaggerated is that different species of wild animals cannot co-exist unless they are together from childhood.
(iii) ‘It’ refers to a krait, one of the most poisonous snakes.
(iv) Mr. Chaudhury’s story was wonderful.
(v) The bear Jambu was a picture of fondness. He started liking the writer climbing behind. The creature was interested to give a bear hug, but in vain, because of Mr. Chaudhury’s strict ‘no’.

4. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Khairi’s story started on October 5, 1974, when 12 Kharia tribals of Similipal brought a two-month-old tiger cub to Saroj Raj Chaudhury, an officer of the Indian Forest Service. Saroj noticed that it was a female – famished and confused. His first experience of what was to become his passion in life was angry snarls and scratching claws. But, the veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife knew how to handle a hungry, angry cub. He imitated the sounds of a mother tigress.

“Within minutes, her confidence was firmly anchored in the fostering human,” is how he recalled those first few minutes between the legends. Early the next morning, Saroj started his inspection of the Tiger Reserve area. I tagged along in the jeep that snaked through a narrow road in the woods amidst lush foliage. “My mother gave me a gun for my eighth birthday. As a young man, I shot wildlife with abandon. But soon, I realized that there is greater happiness in conserving these beautiful animals that do no wanton harm to man” is one of the things he told me about his life during that long travel.

At that time, he was an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India. Saroj introduced the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census where the pugmarks of each animal with distinctive measurements and characteristics are meticulously recorded. For the night, we camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. It was a wooden structure with functional rooms and a bath. It was built on stilts and stood a good 15 feet above the ground. I experienced for the first time, one night atop a magnificent machan.

Questions :
(i) What picture of Saroj Chaudhury do you get in the 1st para of the extract?
(ii) When did he go to inspect the Tiger Reserve area?
(iii) Describe his journey to this place.
(iv) When did Mr. Chaudury’s realization concerning the conservation of wildlife come?
(v) What was the writer’s experience of staying one night at the guest house a top?

Answers :
(i) In the first para of the extract, we learn that Saroj Chaudhury, an officer of the Indian Forest Service, was a veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife. The way he handled the two-year-old tiger cub is a case in point.
(ii) Early the next morning of his arrival, he went to visit the Tiger Reserve area.
(iii) In the course of his journey, Saroj Chaudhury in the jeep went through a narrow road in the woods amidst leaves of trees growing luxuriantly.
(iv) Mr. Chaudhury’s realization concerning the conservation of wildlife came when he, as a young man, had shot wildlife in a carefree life.
(v) The writer’s experience of staying one night at the guest house atop was very beautiful.

II. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
Choose the correct option.

Unit – I
The text
Khairi made ………………. night.

Question 1.
Who was the tigress of Jashipur?
(a) Nhairi
(b) Khairi
(c) Bhairi
(d) Shairi
Answer:
(b) Khairi

Question 2.
Where did Khairi live?
(a) Bhitarkanika
(b) Similipal forests
(c) Kanchanjanga
(d) National Zoo, Kolkata
Answer:
(b) Similipal forests

Question 3.
Who was N. S. Ayyangar ?
(a) a politician
(b) a senior journalist
(c) a zoologist
(d) a veterinary doctor
Answer:
(b) a senior journalist

Question 4.
Khairi was under the care of:
(a) N. S. Ayyangar
(b) Hariharan
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(d) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
Answer:
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury

Question 5.
Khairi was a :
(a) domesticated tigress
(b) wild tigress
(c) zoo tigress
(d) tigress of a circus
Answer:
(a) domesticated tigress

Question 6.
Who had invited the author to Khairi- Jashipur?
(a) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(b) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(c) N. S. Ayyangar
(d) Forest ranger
Answer:
(b) Saroj Raj Chaudhury

Unit – II
The text
I packed my bag, ……………… met in my life.

Question 7.
Who escorted the author to the guest house from the bus stop at Khairi- Jashipur?
(a) Forest Ranger
(b) Forest Guard
(c) Forest Guide
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Forest Guard

Question 8.
What was Khairi doing outside the guest house when the author was inside the room?
(a) making friendly enquiries
(b) making fun
(c) searching for enemies if any
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) making friendly enquiries

Question 9.
Who was Jambu?
(a) a monkey
(b) a bear
(c) a sloth bear
(d) a donkey
Answer:
(c) a sloth bear

Unit – III
The text
Here is the first story……………..had a name.

Question 10.
The name of the snake living in Mr. Chaudhury’s house was :
(a) cobra
(b) Python
(c) krait
(d) rattlesnake
Answer:
(c) krait

Question 11.
Mr. Chaudhury was bitten by a snake and as a result, he became a permanent patient of
(a) diabetics
(b) hypo-glycaemia
(c) leukaemica
(d) high blood pressure
Answer:
(b) hypo-glycaemia

Question 12.
How did Mr. Chaudhury instruct his men in the forests?
(a) on the computer internet
(b) on the VHF wireless
(c) on the T.V.
(d) by the mobile phone
Answer:
(b) on the VHF wireless

Question 13.
What did Mr. Saroj Chaudhury do when he was bitten by a krait, the poisonous snake?
(a) immediately cut the biting place
(b) immediately applied for medicine
(c) immediately tied a tourniquet
(d) met a doctor
Answer:
(c) immediately tied a tourniquet

Unit – IV
The text
Khairi’s story…….. magnificent machan.

Question 14.
When did Khairi come to Mr. Chaudhury’s hands?
(a) Nov. 5, 1974
(b) Dec. 5, 1974
(c) Oct. 5, 1974
(d) Sept. 5, 1974
Answer:
(c) Oct. 5, 1974

Question 15.
Who got the baby tiger and handed it over to Mr. Chaudhury?
(a) 12 Kharia tribals
(b) 12 Gonda tribals
(c) 12 Santhal tribals
(d) none of them
Answer:
(a) 12 Kharia tribals

Question 16.
Who was Saroj Raj Chaudhury?
(a) Indian Police Service officer
(b) Indian Foreign Service officer
(c) Indian Forest Service officer
(d) a low cadre forest official
Answer:
(c) Indian Forest Service officer

Question 17.
What do you mean by the word ‘famished’?
(a) very tired
(b) very smart
(c) very careful
(d) very hungry
Answer:
(d) very hungry

Question 18.
How did Mr. Choudhury handle and consoled the hungry and angry cub?
(a) by giving it milk to drink
(b) by showing her the picture of a mother tigress
(c) by making the sounds of a mother tigress
(d) by leaving it all alone
Answer:
(c) by making the sounds of a mother tigress

Question 19.
Where does lie the greater happiness of Mr. Chaudhury?
(a) in killing animals
(b) in conserving animals
(c) in destroying animals’ habitat
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) in conserving animals

Question 20.
What do you mean by the word ‘wanton harm’?
(a) no harm
(b) less harm
(c) reckless harm
(d) secret harm
Answer:
(c) reckless harm

Question 21.
Who was then an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India?
(a) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(b) Bhasker Raj Chrudhury
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(d) N. S. Ayyangar
Answer:
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury

Question 22.
Which parts of speech is the word ‘meticulously’?
(a) noun
(b) verb
(c) adverb
(d) adjective
Answer:
(c) adverb

Question 23.
Which according to the author was a magnificent machan?
(a) a guest house deep in the jungle
(b) the building where Saroj Chaudhury lived
(c) the house where Khairi and other animals lived
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) a guest house deep in the jungle

Unit – V
The text
I went to ……………… 25 years hence.

Question 24.
When did the author come to Khairi- Jashipur again?
(a) after six months
(b) after four months
(c) after three months
(d) after seven months
Answer:
(c) after three months

Question 25.
What was the purpose of the second visit of the author to Khairi-Jashipur?
(a) to know more about Mr. Chaudhury
(b) to know more about Khairi
(c) to see the place again
(d) to enjoy the nature
Answer:
(b) to know more about Khairi

Question 26.
Which new animal do he saw in his second visit?
(a) a pangolin
(b) a blind hyena
(c) a rattlesnake
(d) a young python
Answer:
(d) a young python

Question 27.
What did the author search about in his second visit?
(a) about Saroj Chaudhury and his passion
(b) about World Wildlife Fund
(c) about the animals
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) about Saroj Chaudhury and his passion

Question 28.
Where came a wireless message to the Chaudhury?
(a) Department of Forest
(b) World Wildlife Fund
(c) Central Government
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) World Wildlife Fund

Question 29.
To whom the author has described a legend behind a legend?
(a) Khairi
(b) Mr. Saroj Chaudhury.
(c) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Mr. Saroj Chaudhury.

Question 30.
Where did the author meet Mr. Chaudhury last time?
(a) at New Delhi
(b) in Dum Dum Airport
(c) at Mumbai
(d) at Jashipur
Answer:
(b) in Dum Dum Airport

Question 31.
Who made the forest famous?
(a) Mr. Chaudhury
(b) Khairi
(c) author
(d) tourist
Answer:
(b) Khairi

Introducing the Author:
Hariharan Balakrishnan excels in the art of writing articles on wildlife. He is also a columnist.

About the Topic:
‘The Legend Behind A Legend’, as the title suggests, deals with two legends: Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury and Khairi; the former was an authority on tiger and Director of Project Tiger, and the latter a magnificent famous tigress. Mr. Chaudhury was a foster father of Khairi. The writer showers accolade on both legends.

Summary:
The writer takes us back to the Similipal forests of Odisha, which served as the habitat of Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur. The place carved out a name for itself, thanks to this tigress. She was not a queen of the robbers. She was the queen of Jashipur. The writer goes down memory lane. 25 years have elapsed since he had spent two days and two nights with Khairi and other wild animals of Saroj and Nihar. A news item on the latest exploits of Khairi evoked his interest to visit the place. He came to know that Saroj Raj Chaudhury was taking care of Khairi.

He wrote a letter to him and met with a prompt response. He was filled with great joy. Mr. Chaudhury invited him to Khairi – Jashipur, giving him particular directions on how to reach there. The writer apprised him of when and how he would visit him. This was his meeting. The writer left Berhampur by train. He reached in Jashipur before 4 a.m. by an overpacked bus. The Forest Guard was present there to cordially welcome him. He made all comfortable arrangements for the writer. He spent an hour of sound sleep.

Terror gripped him when he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside the door. Within minutes, the bearer came to his room and served him with hot tea and biscuits. He smiled at the panic-stricken expression of his face. He assured the writer of the presence of Khairi who was making loving enquiries about the new guest in the house. He met Saroj Chaudhury, a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top; the latter greeted the former in a polite manner after asking Jambu, the bear, to get down, because the animal holding on to Chaudhury’s waist.

They conversed with each other. In Mr. Chaudhury, the writer found a humble and careful man. One of the most caring persons he had ever met in his life was Mr. Chaudhury. While sipping tea, Mr. Chaudhury narrated a story to the writer. He drew the latter’s attention to the presence of different species of wild animals in his house. They all had not come at the same time. He exaggerated the theory that they could not exist with each other unless they were together from childhood. He conducted an experiment to ascertain the truth.

He brought Khairi and one of the most dangerous snakes, krait. The writer marked Khairi’s reaction – it was one of fondness for the strange creature. Whenever the krait goes too close to Khairi, Mr. Chaudhury would pull it by back by its tail. Once he became inattentive and was bitten by the krait. Some of its poison entered his blood and therefore, he was now a permanent patient with low blood pressure. As soon as Mr. Chaudhury finished this wonderful story, Jambu tried to give the writer his bear hug, but the former’s stern warning prevented him from doing so.

Mr. Chaudhury has a well-knit joint family that was living inside the compound. It comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name. Khairi’s story dates back to October 5, 1974, when twelve Khaira tribals of Similipal brought a two-month-old tiger cub to Saroj Raj Chaudhury who was an IFS officer. He found the female cub in a state of hunger and confusion. He managed it by imitating the sounds of a mother tigress. Her anger and disturbance vanished at once.

She was in her element. Saroj became nostalgic. He recollected his birthday when his mother had presented him with a gun, with which he, as a young man, shot wildlife in a carefree manner. But, soon he realized that it was a mistake and happiness lies in the conservation of these harmless beautiful animals. As the Director of Project Tiger, Saroj was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. For the night, both camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. Never before had the writer experienced spending one night in a magnificent Wooden structure with rooms and baths that stood 15 feet high from the ground.

It is three months since the writer last visited Khairi-Jashipur. Then he went there again for the second time to know more about Khairi. Saroj welcomed him in his characteristic gracious manner. This time the writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. His passion for wildlife knew no end. In a response to a message from the World Wildlife Fund, he went to New Delhi by plane with a view to attending an important meeting. In just over three months, Khairi passed away. Saroj Raj Chaudhury did not survive for long. The topic comes to a close with the writer saluting Saroj Chaudhury. He is worthy of it.

ସାରାଂଶ:
“The Legend Behind A Legend’ ବିଷୟଟି ଦୁଇଟି କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀକୁ ଆଧାର କରି ରଚିତ । ବାଘମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ନିଜର ଦକ୍ଷତା ହାସଲ କରିପାରିଥିବା Project Tigerର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury ଏବଂ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ମହାବଳ ବାଘୁଣୀ ‘ଖଇରୀ’ର ଜୀବନୀ ଉପରେ ଏହା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବସିତ । ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ଖଇରୀର ପାଳିତ ପିତା ଭଳି ଥିଲେ । ଶିମିଳିପାଳ ଜଙ୍ଗଲର ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ବାଘୁଣୀ ଥିଲା ଖଇରୀ । ସେ ଥୁଲା ଯଶିପୁରର ମହାବଳ ବାଘୁଣୀ । ଲେଖକ ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରି କହନ୍ତି ଯେ ୨୫ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ବେ ସେ ଦୁଇ ଦିନ ଓ ଦୁଇ ରାତି ଖଇରୀ ସହିତ ସରୋଜ ଓ ନିହାରଙ୍କ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟରେ ସମୟ ଅତିବାହିତ କରିଥିଲେ । ଲେଖକ ଖଇରୀର ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକଳାପ ବିଷୟରେ ‘The Statesman’ର ଏକ ଖବରରୁ ଜାଣିପାରିଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସେଇ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ବୁଲିଯିବା ପାଇଁ ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥିଲେ ।

ସେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ପାଇଲେ ଯେ, ଖଇରୀ ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କ ତତ୍ତ୍ଵାବଧାନରେ ପାଳିତ ହେଉଛି । ସେଥ‌ିପାଇଁ ଲେଖକ ସେଠାକୁ ଯିବାର ଅନୁମତି ମାଗି ସରୋଜଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖିଲେ । ସରୋଜ ଅତି ଖୁସିରେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ନିମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖୁଲେ ଏବଂ ଯିବାପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତ ତଥ୍ୟ ସହିତ ତାରିଖ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜଣାଇଲେ । ଭୋର ୪ଟା ସମୟରେ ଲେଖକ ଏକ ଜନଗହଳିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବସ୍‌ରେ ବସି ଖଇରୀ-ଯଶିପୁରରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କୁ ଉତ୍ତମ ଆତିଥ୍ୟ ସତ୍କାର କରାଗଲା । ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ପାଇଁ ସବୁପ୍ରକାରର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା କରାଯାଇଥିଲା । ଲେଖକ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ନେଉଥ‌ିବାବେଳେ ଦ୍ଵାରଦେଶର ବାହାରେ ବାଘୁଣୀର ଗର୍ଜନ ଶୁଣି ଭୟଭୀତ ହୋଇଯାଆନ୍ତି । ଏହାର ଅଳ୍ପ ସମୟ ପରେ ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଚା’ ଓ ବିସ୍କୁଟ ଧରି ଆସିଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ଖଇରୀ ବାଘୁଣୀ ବାହାରେ ଥାଇ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ଗର୍ଜନ କରି ନୂତନ ଅତିଥିଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କରୁଛି ।

ତା’ପରେ ଲେଖକ ସରୋଜଙ୍କୁ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କଲେ । ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଶରୀରଧାରୀ ପଚାଶ ବର୍ଷୀୟ ଏହି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଜଣକ ଟିକେ ଚନ୍ଦା ଥିଲେ । ସେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ଅତି ଭାବରେ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଣ୍ଟାକୁ ଧରି ଠିଆ ହୋଇଥିବା ଭାଲୁକୁ ବସିବାକୁ କହିଲେ । ପରସ୍ପର କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ହେଲେ । ଲେଖକ ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କଠାରେ ଭଦ୍ର ଯେଉଁ ବିନମ୍ର ସ୍ଵଭାବ ଦେଖିଥିଲେ, ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ଅନ୍ୟ କାହାଠାରେ ଦେଖିନଥିଲେ । କଥାବାର୍ଭା ସମୟରେ ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ମହାଶୟେ କହିଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ଘର କିଭଳି ଭାବେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କର ଏକ ଆଶ୍ରୟସ୍ଥଳୀ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି । ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯଦି ଶୈଶବାବସ୍ଥାରୁ ଏକାଠି ରଖାଯାଏ, ସେମାନେ ପରସ୍ପର ସହିତ ମିଳିମିଶି ରହିପାରିବେ ବୋଲି ସେ କହିଥିଲେ । ଏହାର ପରୀକ୍ଷଣ ନିମନ୍ତେ ସେ ଖଇରୀ ନିକଟରୁ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଗଣାରୁ ଧରା ଯାଇଥିବା

ଏକ ବିଷଧର ନାଗସାପକୁ ଆଣିଥିଲେ । ସେତେବେଳେ ଖଇରୀ ଖୁବ୍ ଛୋଟ ଥିଲା । ଖଇରୀର ସେହି ସାପ ପ୍ରତି ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟାକୁ ଲେଖକ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏଇ ବିଷଧର ସାପ ପ୍ରତି ଖଇରୀର ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ ପାଇଥିଲା । ଯେତେବେଳେ ଏହି ସାପଟି ଖଇରୀ ଆଡ଼କୁ ଆଗ୍ରସର ହେବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲା, ଲେଖକ ତାକୁ ଲାଞ୍ଜ ଧରି ପଛକୁ ଟାଣି ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ଥରେ ସେ ଅନ୍ୟମନସ୍କ ହୋଇ ଏହି ବିଷଧର ନାଗସାପକୁ ଟାଣିଦେବା ସମୟରେ, ସେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କାମୁଡ଼ି ଦେଇଥିଲା । ତାଙ୍କ ରକ୍ତରେ କିଛି ବିଷ ପ୍ରବାହିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା । ତା’ପରଠାରୁ ସେ ନିମ୍ନ ରକ୍ତଚାପ ରୋଗରେ ପୀଡ଼ିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଭାଲୁ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କୁଣ୍ଢାଇବାକୁ ଆସୁଥିଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ ସରୋଜଙ୍କ କଡ଼ା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ହେତୁ ସେ ସେଥୁରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ ରହିଲା ।

ସରୋଜଙ୍କର ଏହି ଯୌଥ ପରିବାରରେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଯଥା ନେଉଳ, ଗୋଧ, ପକ୍ଷୀ, ସାପ, ଦେଶୀ କୁକୁର, ବାଘ, ଭାଲୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ଉତ୍ତମ ବୁଝାମଣାରେ ଏକ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ ଜୀବନଯାପନ କରୁଥିଲେ । ଖଇରୀ ଯେତେବେଳ ଏକ ୨ ମାସର ବାଘଛୁଆ ଥିଲା, ସେତେବେଳେ ଶିମିଳିପାଳର ୧୨ ଜଣ ଖରିଆ ଆଦିବାସୀ ତାକୁ ସରୋଜଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆଣିଥିଲେ । ସେ ଥିଲେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ବିଭାଗର ଜଣେ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଥିଲେ । ଏହି ବାଘଛୁଆଟି ଥୁଲା ଭୋକିଲା ଓ ବିବ୍ରତ । ସେ ରାଗି ଗର୍ଜନ କରୁଥିଲା ଓ ତା’ର ପଞ୍ଝାକୁ ଘୋଷାରୁଥିଲା । ସରୋଜ ଏକ ମା’ ବାଘର ସ୍ଵରକୁ ଅନୁକରଣ କରିଥିଲେ ଯାହାକି ଖଇରୀକୁ ପୋଷା ମନେଇବା ପାଇଁ ଚମତ୍କାର ଭାବେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲା । ସେଥ‌ିରେ ସେ ସଫଳ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଖୁସିରେ ବିଭୋର ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲେ । ତା’ ପରଦିନ ସକାଳୁ ସରୋଜ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ଏକ ଜିପ୍‌ରେ ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ।

ତାହା ଥିଲା ଏକ ସରୁ ଅଣଓସାରିଆ ରାସ୍ତା । ବାଟରେ ସରୋଜ ଅତୀତର ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରି କହିଲେ, ତାଙ୍କୁ ଜନ୍ମଦିନରେ ତାଙ୍କ ମା’ ଏକ ବନ୍ଧୁକ ଉପହାର ଦେଇଥିଲେ ଯାହାଦ୍ଵାରା ଜଣେ ଯୁବକଭାବେ ସେ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତଭାବେ ଶିକାର କରିଥିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ ଯେ ପଶୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମାରିବା ଏକ ଅପରାଧ। ଆନନ୍ଦ ଥାଏ ଏହି ନିରୀହ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାରେ । ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଭାବେ ସେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ଗଣନା ପ୍ରଣାଳୀ ପ୍ରଚଳନ କରିଥିଲେ । ସେହି ରାତ୍ରିରେ ଉଭୟେ ଘଞ୍ଚ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ଏକ ଅତିଥୁ ଗୃହରେ ରାତ୍ରିଯାପନ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏହା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଲେଖକ ଭୂମିଠାରୁ ୧୫ ଫୁଟ ଉଚ୍ଚରେ କାଠରେ ନିର୍ମିତ ଏକ ଘରେ ରହିବାର ଆନନ୍ଦ କେବେ ଅନୁଭବ କରିନଥିଲେ । ସେହିଘରେ କେତେଗୁଡ଼ିଏ କୋଠରୀ ସହ ଏକ ଗାଧୁଆଘର ଥିଲା। ତିନିମାସ ପରେ ଲେଖକ ପୁନର୍ବାର ସେହି ଖଇରୀ ଓ ଯଶିପୁରକୁ ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ।

ଖଇରୀ ବିଷୟରେ ଅଧିକ ଜାଣିବାର ଇଚ୍ଛା ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେଠାକୁ ପୁନର୍ବାର ଟାଣି ନେଇଥିଲା । ଶ୍ରୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କଲେ ଏବଂ ଭାରି ଖୁସି ହେଲେ । ସେ ସେଠାରେ ଅନ୍ୟ ଜୀବମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଏକ ଆଠ ଫୁଟ ଲମ୍ବର ଏକ ଅଜଗର ସାପ ଦେଖିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାର ନିଶା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ କଲେ । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଏକ ଜରୁରୀ ସଭାରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେବାପାଇଁ ବିଶ୍ବ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ପାଣ୍ଠି ତରଫରୁ ଏକ ତାରବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଆସି ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା। ସେ କଲିକତାର ଦମ୍ଦମ୍ ଉଡ଼ାଜାହାଜ ପଡ଼ିଆରୁ ବିମାନ ଯୋଗେ ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ ଯାତ୍ରା କଲେ । ଏହା ଥିଲା ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଲେଖକଙ୍କର ଶେଷ ସାକ୍ଷାତ । ଏହାର ତିନି ମାସ ପରେ ଖଇରୀର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଘଟିଥିଲା । ତା’ପରେ ଖଇରୀ ବିନା ଚୌଧୁରୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ବେଶି ଦିନ ବଞ୍ଚୁରି ନ ଥିଲେ ।

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Chapter 1 Standing Up for Yourself Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Chapter 1 Standing Up for Yourself

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Standing Up for Yourself Text Book Questions and Answers

UNIT – I
Gist with Glossary:

Gist:
The author was alone and living in Moscow. His parents were separated. His father seldom sent letters to him. His mother was a geologist, but later she gave it up to become a singer. She was entertaining the troops. These circumstances drove the author to live in the street. The street was his world which taught him how to overcome his fear of the stronger.

Glossary:
divorced : (husband and wife) separated by a court of law
front: war front, a place where two armies are engaged in a battle (ଯୁଦ୍ଧକ୍ଷେତ୍ର)
geologist: a person who studies rocks and crust of the earth to know its history (ଭୂତତ୍ତ୍ବବିତ୍)
concert: musical entertainment
elegantly: neatly, showing a good sense of style (ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭାବରେ)
overcome : conquer (ଜୟ କରିବା)

Think it out:
Question 1.
Is the narrator a child or an adult narrating his childhood experiences?
Answer:
The narrator is an adult narrating his childhood experiences.

Question 2.
Does the narrator have happy experiences in his childhood? Why/Why not?
Answer:
The narrator has both happy and unhappy experiences in his childhood. His parents were divorced. His mother left him. These circumstances made him lonely. The street became his teacher. He cultivated all bad habits. Another good habit he developed was the spirit of fearlessness which he has kept intact till today.

Question 3.
What was his relationship with his father?
Answer:
The narrator’s father lived somewhere in Kazakhstan with his new wife and hardly he got letters from his father. In short, there was no genuine relationship between father and son.

Question 4.
How did his mother spend his time?
Answer:
His mother spent her time in singing and giving entertainment to the troops.

Question 5.
What does ‘my education was left to the street’ mean here?
Answer:
After the divorce, his father lived with his new wife and his mother spent time in singing and giving entertainment to the troops. As a result, he became lonely and the street became his master. It taught him both good and bad habits.

Question 6.
What were two habits that remained with him all his life?
Answer:
The two habits that remained with him all his life were his preparedness to face the battle of life at any moment and his spirit of fearlessness.

Question 7.
What in your opinion was the best lesson that the street taught to the writer?
Answer:
In my opinion, the best lesson that the street taught to the writer was the habit of fearlessness. It taught him not to fear anyone.

UNIT – II
Gist with Glossary:

Gist:
A boy named Red was the monarch of the street. He possessed a peculiar appearance. He with two or three of his lieutenants was a terror in the street. The whole street was in the throes of fear at the sight of Red.

Glossary:
masterfully : carelessly (ବେଖାତର ଭାବରେ )
gait : manner of walking (ଚାଲିବା ଢଙ୍ଗ)
peak: a lock of hair growing just above the forehead (ମୁଣ୍ଡ ଉପରେ ଥ‌ିବା ଜଟ)
tumble : fall (ପଡ଼ିଯିବା)
cascade : waterfall (ଜଳପ୍ରପାତ)
pock-marked face: face with marks left after the smallpox
lieutenants : (here) supporters (ସମର୍ଥକ)
impressively : (here) without the slightest hesitation (ଦ୍ବିଧାହୀନଭାବେ )
tripped : followed by walking or running (ଜୋର୍ ରେ ପାଦ ପକାଇ ଚାଲିବା)
knuckle-duster: metal covering for the knuckles, for attack or defense

Think it out :
Question 1.
What made Red look older than he really was?
Answer:
His big and broad shoulders made Red look older than he really was.

Question 2.
How did he roam in the street?
Answer:
He roamed carelessly in the street with his legs wide. He walked like a seaman on the floor of a ship.

Question 3.
How did he dress himself?
Answer:
He dressed himself in a peculiar manner. He put on a cap. From under his cap, the writer noticed its peak at the back of his head.

Question 4.
Did he intentionally dress and walk in the manner described?
Answer:
A villain as he was, Red intentionally dressed and walked in the manner described.

Question 5.
Why did his lieutenants also wear their caps back to front?
Answer:
His lieutenants also wore their caps back to front, because they, like Red, wanted to evoke fear in everyone’s mind.

Question 6.
What pet animal comes to your mind when you read the expression ‘tripped at his heels’?
Answer:
When we read the expression ‘tripped at his heels’, the pet animal that comes to my mind is a dog.

Question 7.
What was his way of forcing money out of other boys?
Answer:
His way of forcing money out of other boys was to stop them and say simply but firmly the one-word ‘money’.

Question 8.
How did he rule the street?
Answer:
He ruled the street by stopping any boy and saying simply but firmly nothing but the one word ‘money’. His hangers-on emptied his pockets, and they beat him ruthlessly in case he resisted.

Question 9.
Was the narrator afraid of Red? Quote the sentence from the text in support of your answer.
Answer:
The narrator was certainly afraid of Red. The line ‘So was /’ is a case in point.

UNIT – III
Gist with Glossary:

Gist:
The author wrote a poem about him which by the next day became very popular. The people got the poem by heart and were filled with joy in expressing their hatred for Red. The author became a victim of Red. The ruffian gave him a violent strike with his knuckle duster. The author suffered fierce wounds. He lay unconscious and was bedridden for several days. After some days he went out with his bandaged head. As soon as he saw Red, he sprang to his feet. The author’s reaction was one of disgrace. He made up his mind to face Red without any fear.

Glossary:
exulted : showed great joy and pride (ଗର୍ବ ଓ ଆନନ୍ଦ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କଲେ)
triumphant: showing great joy or satisfaction (ଅତ୍ୟଧ୍ଵ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଓ ସନ୍ତୋଷ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ)
hatred : dislike exhibited with joy (ଘୃଣା)
bore : make a bore, (here) looked pointedly (ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ଚାହିଁଲେ )
drawled : spoke slowly so that the sounds of the vowels are longer than as usual (ଧୀର କଣ୍ଠରେ ସ୍ଵର ଲୟେଇ କହିବା)
crookedly : dishonestly, shrewdly (ଚତୁରତାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଢଙ୍ଗରେ)
remuneration: reward; (here the word has been used satirically) (ପାଉଣା )
pounding : beating heavily and repeatedly (ନିର୍ଘାତ ମାଡ଼ଦେବା)
impotent : helpless or powerless (ଶକ୍ତିହୀନ)
vanquishe : defeat completely (ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପରାସ୍ତ କରିବା)

Think it out :
Question 1.
What was the first thing the narrator did to overcome his fear of Red?
Answer:
The first thing that the narrator did to overcome his fear of Red was to write a poem about him.

Question 2.
How did the people in the street respond to the poem?
Answer:
The people in the street learnt the poem by heart. They were filled with great joy and excitement. Their hatred for Red ruled the most.

Question 3.
Explain the expression ‘triumphant hatred’.
Answer:
The narrator’s poem about Red filled the people in the street with great joy and excitement. They gave up their fear of Red and expressed their hatred for him with great satisfaction.

Question 4.
How did Red sneer at the narrator?
Answer:
Red addressed the narrator as a poet slowly with a mischievous smile on his face. He commented sarcastically that at last he wrote verses and asked if they rhymed.

Question 5.
What was the result of his first encounter with Red?
Answer:
Red struck the narrator’s head with a metal covering for the knuckles. As a result, he fell down with blood gushing out of his head and lost consciousness. He was confined to bed for several days. This was the result of his first encounter with Red.

Question 6.
‘This was my first remuneration as a poet’ – was the narrator happy with his reward as a poet?
Answer:
The narrator was not happy at all with his reward as a poet.

Question 7.
What was a more difficult situation for the narrator: to be injured by Red or to overcome his fear of Red when he saw Red after his injury?
Answer:
A more difficult situation for the narrator was overcoming his fear when he saw Red after his injury.

Question 8.
What was the result of his second encounter with Red?
Answer:
The result of his second encounter with Read was his determination to defeat the fear of Red despite suffering shame and experiencing futile anger at his cowardice.

UNIT – IV
Gist and Glossary:

Gist:
The author made up his mind to face Red without any fear. He trained himself with parallel bars and weights. He bought one textbook on ju-jitsu. After practicing the Japanese form of self-defense at home, he went out again. He encountered Red and his associates when they were absorbed in playing vingt-et-un. He went to them, kicked, and scattered the cards with utter contempt. The author’s rudeness made Red violently furious. Fierce fighting broke out.

Red was bewildered at his amazing fearlessness. He was disgracefully defeated. He was sobbing and wiping out his tears with his dirty hands. Red no longer became the monarch of the street. He learnt a great lesson from his encounter with Red. There is no need to be afraid of the strong. The strong can be challenged fearlessly, but one should be trained in the Japanese art of self-defense to overcome them. Besides, to be a poet, one should write not only poetry but abide by its essence.

Glossary:
parallel bars : pair of parallel bars on posts for physical exercise (ଶାରୀରିକ ବ୍ୟାୟମ ନିମନ୍ତେ ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ଏକଯୋଡ଼ ସମାନ୍ତର ଦଣ୍ଡ )
session : single meeting
miraculous : most remarkable ( ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ )
ju-jitsu : Japanese art of self- defence (ଆତ୍ମରକ୍ଷା ନିମନ୍ତେ ଏକ ଜାପାନୀ କୌଶଳ)
vingt-et-un : a kind of card game (ଏକପ୍ରକାର ତାଳ)
impudence : utter disrespect
menacingly : in a threatening manner (ଧମକ ଦେବା ଭଙ୍ଗୀରେ)
divied into pocket : rushing quickly into pocket (ହଠାତ୍ ପକେଟ୍‌ରେ ପୂରାଇଲେ)
jabbing : aiming a sudden blow (ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟକରି ଦୃତ ଆଘାତ ଦେବା)
bewildered : puzzled, confused
grubby : dirty (ମଇଳା)
stand up for: back up (ସହାୟତା ଦେବା)

Think it out :
Question 1.
How did the narrator train himself to grow stronger?
Answer:
To grow stronger, the narrator trained himself with a pair of parallel bars meant for gymnastic exercises. Besides, he resorted to weights.

Question 2.
How did he get a textbook on ju-jitsu?
Answer:
He got a textbook on ju-jitsu in exchange of a week’s ration card.

Question 3.
How long did he train himself before the final encounter with Red?
Answer:
He trained himself for three weeks before the final encounter with Red.

Question 4.
Where did the final encounter take place? What was Red doing then?
Answer:
The final encounter took place on the lawn in their yard, when Red was lost in playing a card game called vingt-et-un with his hangers-on.

Question 5.
How did the narrator attack Red?
Answer:
The narrator kicked and scattered cards played by Red and his lieutenants.

Question 6.
How did Red react to the narrator’s attack?
Answer:
Red reacted to the narrator’s attack in a state of surprise and asked him mockingly if he was looking for more.

Question 7.
How did the narrator tackle Red?
Answer:
The narrator tackled Red by making a fast sudden blow to him. Confused, he came towards the former furiously. The narrator cut him to size by catching his wrist and squeezing slowly.

Question 8.
How did Red suffer at the hands of the narrator?
Answer:
Crying loudly in pain, Red rolled on the ground. His fingers suffered injuries. The narrator made him sob and rub the tears over his small-pox-marked face with his dirty fist.

Question 9.
What lesson did the narrator learn during his encounter with a bully like Red?
Answer:
During his encounter with a bully like Red, the narrator learns that one needn’t be afraid of the strong. Besides, it is imperative for all to know the technique of vanquishing them.

Question 10.
What career did the narrator prepare himself for?
Answer:
The narrator prepared himself for becoming a poet. Besides writing poems, he should defend their themes at any cost.

Question 11.
Which of these do you think is true: courage means not having fear at all or courage means conquering fear? Justify your choice.
Answer:
I think courage means conquering fear. The narrator’s strong determination to defeat Red, the ruler of the street, bore a fruitful result and Red was defeated by him. This is a glittering example on point.

Post-Reading Activities:

Doing the Words
(A) In order to understand what you are reading from an English text, you need to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words/expressions from the context. Guess at the meaning of words from the way it is used in the sentences/text below. This will help you read faster and easier.

Question (i).
Alexander was so good with horses that he could ride any horse masterfully.
(clue: Did Alexander behave as a ‘master’ ?)
Answer:
skilfully

Question (ii).
His courage used to bewilder many including his father. One example was when he tried to master Bucephalus, an unruly horse, everyone was bewildered at his behavior.
(clue: Bigger words come from smaller ones whose meaning you would know: be + wild + er. ‘wild’ is something that we don’t know.)
Answer:
confuse

Question (iii).
He never worked as a lieutenant in the Greek army but was always its leader.
(clue: Is a lieutenant senior or junior to the leader of an army ?)
Answer:
sub-ordinate

Question (iv).
Alexander wanted to conquer the whole world. He actually conquered most of it.
(clue: Is it to rule or defeat ?)
Answer:
rule

Question (v).
Although he died very young, his military achievement was impressive.
(clue: Bigger words come from smaller ones that you may know, impress + ive. Was Alexander’s achievement remarkable or ordinary ?)
Answer:
remarkable

(B) Some words are in italics in each of the following sentences, and three different meanings are given below the sentence. Identify the meaning that best fits the words in italics.

Question 1.
What matters in the struggle for life is overcoming fear?
(i) present situation
(ii) have an important effect
(iii) problems
Answer:
(ii) have an important effect

Question 2.
Most of the play is written in verse.
(i) prose
(ii) dialogues
(iii) poetry
Answer:
(iii) poetry

Question 3.
We have decided to complete the project at whatever cost.
(i) no matter what the risk or loss may be
(ii) without considering how much money is needed
(iii) in the least expensive way
Answer:
(i) no matter what the risk or loss may be

Question 4.
I know for certain that daffodils bloom in Spring.
(i) want to make sure
(ii) know without a doubt
(iii) declare with confidence
Answer:
(ii) know without a doubt

Question 5.
She has made up her mind to buy a car this month.
(i) hoped
(ii) decided
(iii) thought
Answer:
(ii) decided

Question6.
We must stand up for what is right even if we are standing alone.
(i) defend
(ii) represent
(iii) face boldly
Answer:
(i) defend

(C) Mark the use of ‘heel’ in “Two or three lieutenants, in peaked caps back to front like Red’s, tripped at his heels.” Look up the word ‘heel’ in the dictionary. Study the meanings of ‘heel’ in the following idiomatic expressions. Use each of them in a sentence of your own.
(a) take to one’s heels – To run away
(b) on the heels of – Following closely behind somebody
(c) cool one’s heels – Completely controlled by somebody
(d) kick up one’s heels – To be relaxed and enjoy yourself
(e) turn on one’s heels – To turn around suddenly
(f) head over heels – Loving somebody very much
(g) come to heel – To agree to obey somebody and accept his order
(h) show a clean pair of heels
Answer:
(a) take to one’s heels – The two suspicious-looking men standing outside the jeweler’s shop took to their heels when the police car drew up.
(b) on the heels of – TV camera team arrived on the heels of the police.
(c) cool one’s heels – The interviewer hadn’t arrived, so the Secretary kept the four of us cooling our heels in the corridor for hours.
(d) kick up one’s heels – They were forced to keep up their heels for nearly an hour.
(e) turn on one’s heels – She turned on her heel and went back to her room.
(f) head over heels – They met in 2000 and felt head over heels in love.
(g) come to heel – A few government rebels refused to come to heel and had to be expelled from the party.
(h) show a clean pair of heels – Butler showed them all a clean pair of heels as he raced for the finishing line.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Standing Up for Yourself Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions with Answers

1. Read through the extracts and answer the questions that follow.
In 41, I was living alone in an empty flat on a quiet Moscow street. My parents were divorced and my father was somewhere in Kazakhstan with his new wife and their two children. I seldom received letters from him. My mother was at the front. She had given up her work as a geologist to become a singer and was giving concerts for the troops. My education was left to the street. The street taught me to swear, smoke, spit elegantly through my teeth, and to keep my fists at the ready – a habit that I have to this day. The street taught me not to be afraid of anything or anyone – this is another habit I have kept. I realized that what mattered in the struggle for life was to overcome my fear of those who were stronger.

The ruler of our street was a boy of about sixteen who was nicknamed Red. Red was big and broad-shouldered beyond his years. Red walked masterfully up and down our street, legs wide and with a slightly rolling gait, like a seaman on his deck. From under his cap, its peak always at the back of his head, his forelock tumbled down in a fiery cascade, and, out of his round pock-marked face, green eyes, like a cat’s, sparkled with scorn for everything and everyone. Two or three lieutenants in peaked caps back to front like Red’s tripped at his heels. Red could stop any boy and say impressively the one-word ‘money’. His lieutenants would turn out the boy’s pockets, and if he resisted they beat him up hard. Everyone was afraid of Red. So was I. I knew he carried a heavy metal knuckle duster in his pocket.

Questions :
(i) Throw light on the writer’s father.
(ii) What bad habits did the narrator learn from the street?
(iii) Describe the physical appearance of Red.
(iv) How did his green eyes look like? What did they convey?
(v) What was the narrator aware of?

Answers :
(i) The writer’s parents were divorced. Then his father married again. He was living somewhere in Kazakhstan with his new wife and their two children.
(ii) The bad habits the narrator learnt from the street were smoking and spitting through his teeth in a nice manner.
(iii) Red had a round pock-marked face with green eyes.
(iv) Red’s green eyes looked like those of a cat. They conveyed his contempt for everything and everyone.
(v) The narrator was aware of the fact that Red carried a heavy metal covering for the knuckles in his pocket.

2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I wanted to conquer my fear of Red. So I wrote a poem about him. This was my first piece of journalism in verse. By the next day, the whole street knew it by heart and exulted with triumphant hatred. One morning on my way to school, I suddenly came upon Red and his lieutenants. His eyes seemed to bore through me. “Ah, the poet,” he drawled, smiling crookedly. “So you write verses. Do they rhyme ?” Red’s hand darted into his pocket and came out armed with its knuckle duster; it flashed like lightning and struck my head. I fell down streaming with blood and lost consciousness. This was my first remuneration as a poet. I spent several days in bed. When I went out, with my head still bandaged, I again saw Red. I struggled with myself but lost and took to my heels. At home, I rolled on my bed, biting my pillow and pounding it in shame and impotent fury at my cowardice. I made up my mind to vanquish it at whatever cost.

Questions :
(i) When did the narrator suddenly meet Red?
(ii) Why did he faint?
(iii) ‘It flashed like lightning.’ What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iv) What happened to the narrator after Red had attacked him ruthlessly?
(v) Explain the expression ‘impotent fury’.

Answers :
(i) One morning when the narrator was going to school, he suddenly met Red.
(ii) He fainted because Red struck him on the head with his knuckle duster.
(iii) ‘It’ refers to Red’s knuckle-duster.
(iv) The narrator lay unconscious and was confined to bed after Red had attacked him ruthlessly.
(v) The expression ‘impotent fury’ signifies the narrator’s futile anger at his cowardice. He was incapable of encountering cruel and mischievous Red.

3. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I went into training with parallel bars and weights. After every session, I would feel my muscles they were getting bigger, but slowly. Then I remembered something I had read in a book about a miraculous Japanese method of wrestling which gave an advantage to the weak over the strong. I exchanged a week’s ration card for a textbook on ju-jitsu. For three weeks, I stayed at home, practicing with two other boys. Then I went out. Red was sitting on the lawn in our yard, playing vingt-et-un with his lieutenants. He was absorbed in the game.

Fear was still deep in me, urging me to go back. But I went up to the players and kicked and scattered the cards. Red looked up, surprised at my impudence after my recent flight. He got up slowly. “You looking for more ?” he asked menacingly. As before, his hand dived into his pocket for the knuckle duster. But I made a quick jabbing movement and Red, howling with pain, rolled on the ground. Bewildered, he got up and came at me swinging his head furiously from side to side like a maddened bull.

I caught his wrist and squeezed slowly, as I had read in the book until the knuckle-duster dropped from his limp fingers. Nursing his hand, Red fell down again. He was sobbing and smearing the tears over his pock-marked face with his grubby fist. That day Red ceased to be the monarch of our street. And from that day on, I knew for certain that one need not fear the strong. All one needs is to know the way to beat them. For every strong man, there is a special ju-jitsu. What I also learned on this occasion was that to be a poet, I had not only to write poems but know how to stand up for them.

Questions :
(i) What is the importance of a textbook on ju-jitsu?
(ii) In what state did the narrator attack Red?
(iii) Where did Red always keep the knuckle duster?
(iv) What quality in the narrator prevented Red from becoming the monarch of their street again?
(v) Suggest a suitable title to the extract.

Answers :
(i) The textbook on ju-jitsu deals with a miraculous Japanese technique of wrestling that gives benefits to the weak over the strong.
(ii) The narrator attacked Red in a state of great determination, though fear was still haunting him.
(iii) Red always kept the knuckle duster in his pocket.
(iv) The narrator’s firm determination to overcome the fear of the strong prevented Red from becoming the monarch of the street again.
(v) The value of fearlessness.

II. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
Choose the correct option.

UNIT-I
WARM-UP
Have you ever…………..up in the streets.

Question 1.
The author belongs to which of the following country?
(a) England
(b) America
(c) Russia
(d) Germany
Answer:
(c) Russia

Question 2.
The author is:
(a) a poet
(b) a novelist
(c) a dramatist
(d) all of the above
Answer:
(d) all of the above

Question 3.
In the Warm-up section there is a reference about a child, who is :
(a) given all comfort by parents
(b) deserted by parents
(e) looked after by a destitute center
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) deserted by parents

Question 4.
In the Warm-up para, the name of a movie is mentioned. The movie is:
(a) The Wizard Millionaire
(b) The Millionaire of London
(c) Slumdog Millionaire
(d) The Mumbai Crorepati
Answer:
(c) Slumdog Millionaire

Question 5.
Who is Danny Boyle?
(a) film producer
(b) film director
(c) film actor
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) film director

Question 6.
Who is Loveleen Tandan ?
(a) a co-director of the film
(b) director of the film
(c) film producer
(d) film actor
Answer:
(a) a co-director of the film

Question 7.
The film in the Warm-up para is an adaptation of a novel. What is that?
(a) The Novel A and Q
(b) The Novel of the Young Generation
(c) The Fall of Paradise
(d) The Novel Q and A
Answer:
(d) The Novel Q and A

Question 8.
The adaptation of the novel is done by an Indian author and diplomat. Who is he?
(a) Vikash Swarup
(b) Akas Swarup
(c) Nancy Swarup
(d) Loveleen Tandan
Answer:
(a) Vikash Swaru

Question 9.
The story in the text is about :
(a) a French child
(b) an Indian child
(c) a Russian child
(d) a Chinese child
Answer:
(c) a Russian child

Question 10.
The child in the story is :
(a) a young film actor
(b) the author himself
(c) an English writer
(d) a storyteller
Answer:
(b) the author himself

The Text:
In 41, I was living alone ……….. were stronger.

Question 11.
Where did the boy live?
(a) in a bungalow in Moscow
(b) in a slum in London
(c) in an empty flat in Moscow
(d) in a modest house in Paris
Answer:
(c) in an empty flat in Moscow

Question 12.
What had happened to his parents?
(a) They were divorced.
(b) They were living together.
(c) They were always quarreling.
(d) They were dead.
Answer:
(a) They were divorced.

Question 13.
Where did his father live with his new wife?
(a) in Mumbai
(b) in Baluchistan
(c) in Kazakhstan
(d) in Moscow
Answer:
(c) in Kazakhstan

Question 14.
He received letters from his father :
(a) often
(b) seldom
(c) every month
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) seldom

Question 15.
What was his mother?
(a) an anthropologist
(b) a stenographer
(c) a historian
(d) a geologist
Answer:
(d) a geologist

Question 16.
Why did she (his mother) give up her work as a geologist?
(a) to become an actress
(b) to become a politician
(c) to become a singer
(d) to become a dancer
Answer:
(c) to become a singer

Question 17.
What was she doing after leaving her work as a geologist?
(a) giving concerts for the troops as a singer
(b) giving training to the dancers
(c) giving guidance to the youth for social work
(d) working as a film director
Answer:
(a) giving concerts for the troops as a singer

Question 18.
What do you mean by the word ‘front’ here?
(a) the border of a state
(b) in front of a place or street
(c) place where two armies are fighting in a war
(d) all of these
Answer:
(c) place where two armies are fighting in a war

Question 19.
What do you mean by the word ‘concert’?
(a) cooperation
(b) confrontation
(c) musical entertainment
(d) mutual effort
Answer:
(c) musical entertainment

Question 20.
The word ‘troop’ refers to :
(a) dance party
(b) army
(c) group
(d) herd
Answer:
(b) army

Question 21.
The author’s parents were divorced when he was :
(a) a young man
(b) a boy
(c) a middle-aged man
(d) quite grown up
Answer:
(b) a boy

Question 22.
His fate pushed him to life :
(a) in the street
(b) in Luxury
(c) in danger
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) in the street

Question 23.
To swear, smoke and spit were his :
(a) vice
(b) virtue
(c) good habits
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) vice

Question 24.
What do you mean by the word “elegantly”?
(a) showing a bad sense of style
(b) showing a good sense of style
(c) attack somebody with style
(d) it is a style of dance
Answer:
(b) showing a good sense of style

Question 25.
Which habit he has kept to this day?
(a) smoking
(b) spit elegantly through his teeth
(c) keeping his fists at the ready
(d) all of these
Answer:
(c) keeping his fists at the ready

Question 26.
Another habit he had kept was :
(a) fearful
(b) fearlessness
(c) cowardice
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) fearlessness

Question 27.
What kind of fear the boy had to overcome?
(a) fear of those who were stronger
(b) fear of losing friendship
(c) fear of being robbed
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) fear of those who were stronger

Question 28.
What was the experience of the narrator in his childhood?
(a) unhappy
(b) happy
(c) feeling of danger
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) unhappy

Question 29.
What in your opinion was the best lesson that the street taught to the narrator?
(a) spit elegantly
(b) to keep his fists at the ready
(c) not to be afraid of anything or anyone
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) not to be afraid of anything or anyone

Unit – II

Warm-up
The Text
Do you think a duster……….. in his pocket.

Question 30.
The narrator was scared of someone in his childhood. Who was he?
(a) a boy nicknamed Robbin
(b) a man who was a murderer
(c) a boy nicknamed Red
(d) a friend of his who was a terror
Answer:
(c) a boy nicknamed Red

Question 31.
How old was Red?
(a) twenty years
(b) sixteen years
(c) eighteen years
(d) nineteen years
Answer:
(b) sixteen years

Question 32.
Who was called the ruler of our street?
(a) the child
(b) the author
(c) the boy Red
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) the boy Red

Question 33.
How was Red look like?
(a) big and broad-shouldered
(b) short and fatty
(c) tall and slim
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) big and broad-shouldered

Question 34.
What do you mean by the word ‘masterfully’?
(a) to behave like a master
(b) to do the mastermind work
(c) not caring for others
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) not caring for others

Question 35.
What do you mean by the word ‘gait’?
(a) manner of standing
(b) manner of sitting
(c) manner of talking
(d) manner of walking
Answer:
(d) manner of walking

Question 36.
‘Like a seaman on his deck’ refers to :
(a) the author
(b) a seaman of the past
(c) the boy Red
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) the boy Red

Question 37.
What do you mean by the word ‘peak’ here?
(a) the highest point
(b) lock of hair growing just above the forehead
(c) the top of a mountain
(d) all of these
Answer:
(b) lock of hair growing just above the forehead

Question 38.
What is the meaning of the word ‘cascade’?
(a) vast grassland
(b) waterfall
(c) a green belt
(d) the surface of the body of water
Answer:
(b) waterfall

Question 39.
How was the face of Red looked like?
(a) red flat face
(b) round pock-marked face
(c) black round pock-marked face
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) round pock-marked face

Question 40.
His green eyes were compared with like that of a :
(a) monkey
(b) tiger
(c) cat
(d) deer
Answer:
(c) cat

Question 41.
Which word from the following is the synonym of the word ‘scorn’?
(a) angry
(b) contempt
(c) remark
(d) conserve
Answer:
(b) contempt

Question 42.
Lieutenants here refers to :
(a) assistants of Red
(b) friends of Red
(c) supporters of Red
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) supporters of Red

Question 43.
What was Red demanding from the boys stopping them on the road?
(a) to obey him
(b) money
(c) to steal for him
(d) to rob people on the way
Answer:
(b) money

Question 44.
What did his lieutenants do if somebody resisted?
(a) beat him up hard
(b) keep him confined in a place
(c) leave him to go silently
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) beat him up hard

Question 45.
What did Red always carry in his pocket?
(a) a knife
(b) a rifle
(c) a knuckle-duster
(d) a blade
Answer:
(c) a knuckle-duster

Question 46.
Why did he carry a heavy metal duster?
(a) to attack
(b) for defense
(c) both for attack and defense
(d)none of these
Answer:
(c) both for attack and defense

Unit – III

Warm-up
The text
Does the narrator ……………….. whatever cost.

Question 47.
What did the narrator want to conquer?
(a) fear of God
(b) fear of ghost
(c) fear of himself
(d) fear of Red
Answer:
(d) fear of Red

Question 48.
What did he do to win over his fear of Red?
(a) wrote a poem about him
(b) prayed to God to give the strength
(c) decided to avoid him
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) wrote a poem about him

Question 49.
This poem of the narrator was in the form of :
(a) poem
(b) verse
(c) dialogue
(d) dilect
Answer:
(b) verse

Question 50.
Which was the first piece of journalism of the narrator in verse?
(a) the first poem of the author
(b) the first article of the author
(c) the first short story of the author
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) the first poem of the author

Question 51.
What do you mean by the statement “the whole street knew it by heart”?
(a) It was distributed to people of the street.
(b) The poem was popular among the people of the street.
(c) The street people sang the poem standing together.
(d) all of these
Answer:
(b) The poem was popular among the people of the street.

Question 52.
What do you mean by the word ‘exulted’?
(a) showed displeasure and unhappiness
(b) showed physical and mental strength
(c) showed great joy and excitement
(d) showed bad temperament and falsehood
Answer:
(c) showed great joy and excitement

Question 53.
What do you mean by the word “triumphant”?
(a) the feeling of victory with satisfaction
(b) the feeling of victory with anger
(c) showing bad manners by winning something
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) the feeling of victory with satisfaction

Question 54.
What do you mean by the word phrase ‘triumphant hatred’?
(a) the feeling of victory over something or somebody you dislike
(b) feeling very bad after the victory
(c) showing bad manners after winning a match
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) the feeling of victory over something or somebody you dislike

Question 55.
At what time the narrator one day met Red and his lieutenants?
(a) in the evening
(b) at night
(c) in the afternoon
(d) in the morning
Answer:
(d) in the morning

Question 56.
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘bore through’?
(a) to look at somebody aggressively
(b) to threaten someone to kill
(c) to stare in a way that makes somebody feel uncomfortable
(d) all of the above
Answer:
(c) to stare in a way that makes somebody feel uncomfortable

Question 57.
What do you mean by the word ‘drawl’?
(a) to say something speedily and angrily
(b) to say something slowly with longer vowel sounds
(c) to say something slowly with longer consonant sounds
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) to say something slowly with longer vowel sounds

Question 58.
What do you mean by the phrasal words ‘impotent fury’?
(a) fruitful anger
(b) futile anger
(c) fruitful with no anger
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) futile anger

Question 59.
What do you mean by the word ‘vanquish’?
(a) defeat completely
(b) win completely
(c) break somebody’s power
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) defeat completely

Question 60.
Who was smiling crookedly at the narrator?
(a) people in the street
(b) Red
(c) Red’s lieutenants
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Red

Question 61.
Who told this to whom? “So you write verses. Do they rhyme ?”
(a) Red to his lieutenants
(b) Red to the people in the street
(c) Red to the narrator
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(c) Red to the narrator

Question 62.
What do you mean by the word ‘darted’?
(a) moved slowly
(b) moved suddenly
(c) moved secretly
(d) moved upward
Answer:
(b) moved suddenly

Question 63.
What is a knuckle-duster?
(a) It is an iron knife.
(b) It is an iron hammer.
(c) A metal covering for the knuckles for attack or defense.
(d) An axe-type weapon.
Answer:
(c) A metal covering for the knuckles for attack or defense.

Question 64.
What was the author’s first remuneration as a poet?
(a) a word of admiration by the people
(b) struck on his head with a knuckle-duster
(c) streaming with blood and lost consciousness
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) struck on his head with a knuckle-duster

Question 65.
Avoiding meeting Red in the second time, the author considers this act on his part as
(a) bravery
(b) cowardice
(c) cleverness
(d) wise
Answer:
(b) cowardice

Question 66.
What did he want to do at whatever cost?
(a) to conquer
(b) to win
(c) to vanquish
(d) to get rid of
Answer:
(c) to vanquish

Unit – IV

Warm-up
The text
Fear of Red ………….. stand up for them.

Question 67.
Which method of wrestling is an advantage to the weak over the strong?
(a) Chinese method of wrestling
(b) Japanese method of wrestling
(c) German method of wrestling
(d) French method of wrestling
Answer:
(b) Japanese method of wrestling

Question 68.
Which game Red was playing sitting in the lawn when the narrator went out to meet him?
(a) chess
(b) vingt-et-un
(c) length-ut-sn
(d) oxat-ut-bun
Answer:
(b) vingt-et-un

Question 69.
Which textbook on martial art did the narrator buy?
(a) on fu-fitsu
(b) on ju-jitsu
(c) on lu-litsu
(d) gu-bitsu
Answer:
(b) on ju-jitsu

Introducing the Author:
Yevgeny Yevtushenko is a promising Russian poet. His poetic career started with the publication of his first volume of poems in 1952. He represented the young generation of poets. He became the voice of the young poets who were bent upon seeing the old truths about socialist realism in a newer light. Flowers and Bullets, Freedom to Kill, and Stolen Apples testify to his poetic genius. Besides, he is a novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor and director of films.

About the Topic:
The author’s parents were divorced when he was still a boy. The divorce plunged him into a state of loneliness. He turned this loneliness into a challenge. Thus his life began on a note of challenge. This topic is built around an incident in his boyhood while he was living in Moscow. It demonstrates that fear can be met effectively and successfully.

Summary:
The present essay gives a poetic description of the author’s bold encounter with a hoodlum while as a boy he was living in Moscow. The author injects realism in his narration of the incident. The essay begins with the author’s description of his divorced parents. Their divorce drove him into the street. His life started in the street. It became his home. He found his world in it. He describes his life in the street in a lighter vein. It was in the street that he swore and smoked. Here he learned the spirit of fearlessness.

The author gives a vivid account of ‘the ruler’ of the street. A boy about sixteen nicknamed Red was the hero of the street. He was a picture of panic to all. He was walking up and down the street careless of the people around him. His wide legs, fiery forelock, and green eyes dominated the street. He was always moving with two or three lieutenants. Red was a The author gives a vivid account of ‘the ruler’ of the street. A boy about sixteen nicknamed Red was the hero of the street. He was a picture of panic to all.

He was walking up and down the street careless of the people around him. His wide legs, fiery forelock, and green eyes dominated the street. He was always moving with two or three lieutenants. Red was a ruffian. His lieutenants could stop any boy unhesitatingly and empty out his pocket. The whole ‘street reacted in blatant fear. The author was also not free. But still, he was seized with a desire to conquer his fear of Red. He wrote a poem about the ruffian who always carried a heavy metal knuckle duster in his pocket.

The poem was on everybody’s lips. The whole street exhibited their dislike for Red with great joy. One morning on the way to school, the author accidentally met Red and his lieutenants. His eyes were fixed on the author with hatred and vengeance. He struck his head violently with his knuckle duster. He was unconscious and was confined to bed for several days. He again saw Red and tom in panic, he quickly escaped his notice. A sense of shame and cowardice overwhelmed him. He mustered the courage.

Fierce determination stared him in the face. He would defeat Red come what may. It was a challenge to him. He took to training with parallel bars and weights. He also remembered the Japanese method of wrestling which he had read in a book. He had to barter his ration card for a textbook on ju-jitsu which deals with the Japanese art of self-defense. He was engrossed in practicing this art with his friends for three weeks. He was filled with renewed confidence. He went out to meet the challenge of his life.

Sitting on the lawn, Red was lost in playing vingt-et-un with his lieutenants. In spite of lurking fear, he faced them with utter rudeness scattering their cards. Red flew into anger and before he used the knuckle-duster, the author crushed him. Writhing with pain, Red lay on the ground. He came to him like a maddened bull. What that writer had read in the book prompted him to deal with him without a shred of fear. He caught his wrist and squeezed him.

His knuckle duster could not help him. He fell down and was left to sob and wipe out his tears of defeat. The strong ruffian’s vanity and rule of the street were toms to pieces. The incident still clings to the author’s memory. His encounter with the monarch of the street taught him a lesson. One can easily overcome the fear of the strong, and the secret to beating them is to master the Japanese art of self-defense. Another lesson that he learned was that to be a poet one need not only write poems but to support their essence.

ସାରାଂଶ:
ଲେଖକ ଯେତେବେଳେ ବାଳକ ଥିଲେ ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ପିତାମାତାଙ୍କଦ୍ୱାରା ଉପେକ୍ଷିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ଫଳରେ ସେ ଏକାନ୍ତ ଭାବରେ ନିଃସଙ୍ଗ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଜୀବନ କଟାଇଥିଲେ । ମସ୍କୋର ରାସ୍ତା ହିଁ ଥିଲା ତାଙ୍କର ସଂସାର । ସେ କ୍ଵଚିତ୍ ବାପାଙ୍କଠାରୁ ପତ୍ର ପାଉଥିଲେ । ରାସ୍ତାର ଶିକ୍ଷା ତାଙ୍କର ଜୀବନକୁ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ କରିଥିଲା । ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ଜୀବନ କଟାନ୍ତି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଶପଥ କରିବା, ଧୂମପାନ କରିବା ଏବଂ ହାତମୁଠା ଟାଣ କରିବା ସେ ଶିଖୁଥିଲେ । କୌଣସି କଥାକୁ ଭୟ ନ କରିବା ଏବଂ କାହାକୁ ଭୟ ନ କରିବା ମନୋଭାବ, ରାସ୍ତା ହିଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଦେଇଥିଲା । ସେ ଅନୁଭବ କରିଥିଲେ ଯେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ତାଙ୍କଠାରୁ ବଳବାନ୍ ତାଙ୍କୁ ବଳରେ ଟପିଯିବା ହିଁ ଜୀବନର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା । ସେ ସମୟରେ ରାସ୍ତାର ଦାଦା ଥିଲା ଜଣେ ଷୋହଳ ବର୍ଷ ବୟସର ତୁରଣ, ଯା’ର ଡାକ ନାମ ଥିଲା ‘ରେଡ୍’ ।

ବିଲେଇର ଆଖ୍ ପରି ତା’ର ଆଖ୍ ଦୁଇଟି ସବୁବେଳେ ଜଳୁଥିଲା । ତା’ ପାଖରେ ଦୁଇ କିମ୍ବା ତିନିଜଣ ସମପୋଷାକ ପରିଧାନ କରିଥିବା ପାଖଲୋକ ଥାଆନ୍ତି । ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଯାଉଥ‌ିବା ଯେକୌଣସି ପିଲାକୁ ସେ ଅଟକାଇ ପାରୁଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେତେବେଳେ ତା’ର ଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମରେ ସହାୟକ ପାଖଲୋକ ଦୁଇଟି ତା’ର ପକେଟ୍‌ରେ ଥ‌ିବା ପଇସା କାଢ଼ି ନେଉଥିଲେ । ଯଦି ପିଲାଟି ବାଧା ଦେଉଥୁଲା, ତେବେ ସେମାନେ ତାକୁ ନିସ୍ତୁକ ମାଡ଼ ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଲେଖକ ବି ତାକୁ ଭୟ କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ଜାଣିଥିଲେ ରେଡ୍‌ର ପକେଟ୍‌ରେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଓଜନଦାର ଧାତୁନିର୍ମିତ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ଅଛି । ରେଡ୍ ପ୍ରତି ଭୟ କିପରି ଦୂର ହୋଇପାରିବ ଲେଖକ ସେହି କଥା ଚିନ୍ତା କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ତେଣୁ ତା’ ବିଷୟରେ ଗୋଟିଏ କବିତା ଲେଖୁଲେ ।

ତା’ପରଦିନ ରାସ୍ତାର ସମସ୍ତେ ତାହା ମନେରଖ‌ିଲେ । ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଲେଖକ ବି ତାକୁ ଭୟ କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ଜାଣିଥିଲେ ରେଡ୍‌ର ପକେଟ୍‌ରେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଓଜନଦାର ଧାତୁନିର୍ମିତ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ଅଛି । ରେଡ୍ ପ୍ରତି ଭୟ କିପରି ଦୂର ହୋଇପାରିବ ଲେଖକ ସେହି କଥା ଚିନ୍ତା କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ତେଣୁ ତା’ ବିଷୟରେ ଗୋଟିଏ କବିତା ଲେଖୁଲେ । ତା’ପରଦିନ ରାସ୍ତାର ସମସ୍ତେ ତାହା ମନେରଖ‌ିଲେ । ଦିନେ ସକାଳେ ସ୍କୁଲ ଯିବା ରାସ୍ତାରେ ସେ ରେଡ୍ ଓ ତା’ର ସହକର୍ମୀମାନଙ୍କର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେଲେ । ରେଡ୍ ତା’ ପକେଟ୍‌ରୁ ସେହି ଓଜନଦାର ଜିନିଷଟି କାଢ଼ିଲା । ତାହା ଚିକ୍ ଚିକ୍ କରିଉଠିଲା । ରେଡ୍‌ର ଆଘାତରେ ଲେଖକ ଆହତ ହୋଇ ଶଯ୍ୟାଶାୟୀ ହେଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ଭାଷାରେ କବିରୂପେ ଏହା ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରଥମ ପାଉଣା ।

ମୁଣ୍ଡରେ ବେଣ୍ଡେଜ୍ ଥ‌ିବା ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ରେଡ୍ ସହିତ ପୁଣି ତାଙ୍କର ସାକ୍ଷାତ ହୋଇଥିଲା, କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ଦୂରେଇ ଯାଇଥିଲେ । ଭୀରୁତାଜନିତ ବ୍ୟଥୀରେ ସେ ଅଧୀର ହୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଥିଲେ । ରେଡ୍‌ର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବାପାଇଁ ଶକ୍ତି ସଞ୍ଚୟ କରିବାକୁ ସେ ମନେ ମନେ ସ୍ଥିର କଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ମନେପଡ଼ିଲା ଗୋଟିଏ ବହିରେ ପଢ଼ିଥିବା କଥା । ଜାପାନୀ ମୁଷ୍ଟିଯୁଦ୍ଧର କୌଶଳଦ୍ଵାରା କିପରି ବଳବାନ୍‌ଠାରୁ ଆତ୍ମରକ୍ଷା କରିହୁଏ ତା’ ଜାଣିବାପାଇଁ ନିଜୟ ପଡ଼ିକାର୍ଡ ବଦଳରେ ସେ ବହିଟି କିଣିଲେ । ତିନି ସପ୍ତାହ ଦୁଇଟି ପିଲାଙ୍କ ସହ କୌଶଳ ଅଭ୍ୟାସ କରିବା ପରେ ସେ ବାହାରକୁ ବାହାରିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ ତଥାପି ଭୟ ଥିଲା । ସେ କିନ୍ତୁ ମନରେ ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବ ପୋଷଣ କରି ରେଡ୍‌ର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେଲେ ।

ରେଡ୍ ପକେଟ୍‌ରେ ଥ‌ିବା ଓଜନଦାର ଅସ୍ତ୍ରଟି ତାକୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିପାରି ନଥିଲା । ଜାପାନୀ କୌଶଳରେ ସେ ତାକୁ ଆଘାତ କଲେ । ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାରେ ରେଡ୍ ଭୂଇଁରେ ଗଡ଼ିଗଲା । ଗୋଟିଏ ପାଗଳ ଷଣ୍ଢ ପରି ରେଡ୍ ତା’ପରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆଘାତ କରିବାକୁ ଆସିଲା; କିନ୍ତୁ ବହିରେ ପଢ଼ିଥିବା କୌଶଳ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ସେ ତା’ର ମଣିବନ୍ଧକୁ ଏପରିଭାବେ ଚାପିଦେଲେ ଯେ, ରେଡ୍‌ର ହାତର ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ତଳେ ପଡ଼ିଗଲା । ସେଇଦିନଠାରୁ ରାସ୍ତାର ଦାଦାର ଗରିମା ରେଡ୍‌ର ରହିଲା ନାହିଁ ଏବଂ ସେହିଦିନଠାରୁ ଲେଖକ ଜାଣିଲେ ଯେ, ଜଣେ ବଳବାନ୍‌କୁ ଭୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । କେବଳ ବଳବାନ୍‌କୁ କିପରି ପରାସ୍ତ କରିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ ତା’ର ଉପାୟ ଜାଣିବା ଉଚିତ । ଲେଖକ ପୁଣି ଶିକ୍ଷା କରିଥିଲେ ଯେ, କେବଳ କବିତା ଲେଖୁବା ସବୁକିଛି ନୁହେଁ, କବିତାର ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧକୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ରଖୁ ବଡ଼ କଥା ।

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 2 Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 2 After Twenty Years Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 2 After Twenty Years

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English After Twenty Years Text Book Questions and Answers

Unit – I

Gist:
One day, in a locality of New York a smart policeman was on the route doing patrol duty. The time was only 10 o’ clock at night. People in the streets had gone home early because of a drizzle and chilly weather. The majority of the houses in the locality were business places that were also closed early. The entire place was dark but a few lights were coming from a cigar store, an all-night hotel and one or two tailoring shops completing the day’s work. The policeman with his stalwart figure and smart movements was inspecting the closed doors as he went in the street.

Every now and then he was casting his watchful eyes here and there and was searching a man seriously. His boss had said him in the morning while giving the description of the man wanted : “Pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes and a little white scar near the right eyebrow.” He was ashamed that the name of the notorious criminal who Was printing counterfeit notes was not known to the Police Department. The criminal had fled away from Chicago and was moving in New York. The policeman had much confidence on himself and he felt pride of being a dutiful officer for the last eighteen years.

He had a feeling of luck with him as a debt. He had kept the reconstructed photograph of the criminal and a five-dollar note in his pocket which he looked at under a lamp-post. The policeman was in the habit of talking to himself when nobody was nearby. He suddenly looked at his watch and it was a quarter past ten. There was another thing in his mind. He hurried up to finish his duty. After a minute he saw a man standing near the doorway of a hardware store. He walked speedily to the man. He could not see the face of the man clearly as it was dark.

He was just going to address the man but suddenly changed his mind and waited the man to begin. The man, on the other hand, who thought to be looked suspicious in the eyes of the police started talking from his side. He said to the policeman that he was waiting for a friend with whom an appointment was made twenty years ago. Though it appears a little funny, he said to the policeman, it was the truth. About twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this store stands. Its name was ‘Brady’s Restaurant’. The policeman agreed to this and said it was changed into a store only in five years ago. The policeman had a chance to see the face of the man when he struck a match and lit a cigar.

ସାରାଂଶ :
ନିଉୟର୍କ ସହରର ଏକ ଗଳିରେ ସବୁଦିନ ଭଳି ଦିନେ ଜଣେ ପୋଲିସ୍ ପହରା ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ସମୟ ରାତ୍ରି ୧୦ଟା ହୋଇଥାଏ । ଲୋକମାନେ ସେଦିନ ଝିପିଝିପି ବର୍ଷା ଓ ଥଣ୍ଡା ଫେରି ଯାଇଥିଲେ । ପାଗ ଯୋଗୁଁ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା ସମୟରେ ବେଳାବେଳି ଗୃହକୁ ଦୋକାନ ଗୃହଗୁଡ଼ିକ ବନ୍ଦ ଥିଲା । ସ୍ଥାନଟି ପ୍ରାୟ ସେହ ଗଳିରେ ସେଦିନ ରାସ୍ତାକୁ ଲାଗିଥିବା ଅନ୍ଧକାରମୟ ଦିଶୁଥିଲା; କିନ୍ତୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ସିଗାରେଟ୍ ଷ୍ଟୋର, ଅହୋରାତ୍ର ଖୋଲାଥିବା ଏକ ହୋଟେଲ ଏବଂ ଗୋଟିଏ କିମ୍ବା ଦୁଇଟି ଦରଜି ଦୋକାନରୁ ଆଲୋକ ଆସୁଥୁଲୀ । ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣକ ତାଙ୍କ ବଳିଷ୍ଠ ଚେହେରା ଓ କ୍ଷିପ୍ର ଗତି ବଳରେ ସେହି ଗଳିର ବନ୍ଦ ଦ୍ଵାରଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଅନୁସନ୍ଧାନ କରୁଥିଲେ ।

ବହୁ ସମୟରେ ସେ ତାଙ୍କର ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣଣ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିକୁ ଏଠି ସେଠି ନିକ୍ଷେପ କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ଜଣେ ଲୋକକୁ ଜରୁରୀ ଭାବରେ ଖୋଜୁଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ଉଚ୍ଚପଦସ୍ଥ ଅଫିସର ଆଜି ସକାଳେ ସେହି ଲୋକର ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନାରେ କହିଥିଲେ ‘ଲୋକଟିର ଶେତା ମୁଖମଣ୍ଡଳ, ବର୍ଗାକାର ମାଢ଼ି, ଗଭୀର ଓ କଳା ଆଖ୍ ଏବଂ ଡାହାଣ ଆସ୍ପତା ପାଖରେ ଏକ ଛୋଟ ଧଳା ଦାଗ ।’’ ଲୋକଟି ଜଣେ ବଡ଼ଧରଣର ଅପରାଧୀ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେ ଚିକାଗୋରେ ଜାଲନୋଟ୍ ଛାପୁଥୁଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଲଜ୍ଜା ଲାଗୁଥିଲା କାରଣ ପୋଲିସ୍ ବିଭାଗକୁ ଏଭଳି ଏକ ଅପରାଧୀର ନାମ ଜଣା ନ ଥିଲା । ଏହି ଅପରାଧୀ ଜଣକ ଚିକାଗୋରୁ ଆସି ନିଉୟର୍କରେ ଥବର ସୂଚନା ମିଳିଥିଲା । ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣଙ୍କର ନିଜ ଉପରେ ବହୁତ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେ ଅଠର ବର୍ଷ ହେଲା ଜଣେ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟନିଷ୍ଠ ଅଫିସରଭାବେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରି ଆସିଥ‌ିବାରୁ ବହତୁ ଗର୍ବିତ ଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ସାଙ୍ଗରେ ଭାଗ୍ୟ ଏକ ଋଣ ଆକାରରେ ଅଛି ବୋଲି ସେ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଥିଲେ ।

ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଏକ ପାଞ୍ଚ ଡଲାର ନୋଟ୍ ଏବଂ ସେ ଅପରାଧୀର ଅଙ୍କା ଫଟୋ ରଖୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସମୟ ସମୟରେ ତାକୁ ଦେଖୁଥିଲେ । ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣକ କେହି ନ ଥିଲାବେଳେ ନିଜ ସହିତ କଥା ହେଉଥିଲେ । ହଠାତ୍‌ ହାତଘଣ୍ଟା ଉପରେ ନଜର ହେଉଥିଲେ । ହଠାତ୍ ହାତଘଣ୍ଟା ଉପରେ ନଜର ଗୋଟିଏ କଥା ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଥିଲା । ସେ ଶେଷ କରିବାପାଇଁ ତତ୍ପର ହୋଇଉଠିଲେ । କିଛି ସମୟ ପରେ ସେ ଦେଖ‌ିଲେ ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି hardware ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣକ କେହି ନ ଥିଲାବେଳେ ନିଜ ସହିତ କଥା ପକାଇ ଦେଖିଲେ ସମୟ ଦଶଟା ବାଜି ୧୫ ମିନିଟ୍ ହେଲାଣି । ଅନ୍ୟ ନିଜର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ଶେଷ କରିବାପାଇଁ ତତ୍ପର ହୋଇଉଠିଲେ ।

କିଛି ସମୟ ପରେ ସେ ଦେଖ‌ିଲେ ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି hardware ଦୋକାନ ଆଗରେ ଠିଆ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି । ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଗଲେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଅନ୍ଧାର ହେତୁ ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ମୁହଁ ଦେଖିପାରୁ ନ ଥିଲେ । ସେ ଲୋକଜଣକୁ କିଛି କହିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ସଙ୍ଗେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ମନ ବଦଳାଇ ରହିଗଲେ । ଲୋକଜଣକ ନିଜକୁ ପୋଲିସ୍ ସନ୍ଦେହରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କରିବାପାଇଁ ନିଜଆଡ଼ୁ କଥା ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ । ସେ ପୋଲିସ୍‌ବାବୁଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ ସେ ଏଠି ଜଣେ ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିଛନ୍ତି ଯାହା ସହିତ ଆଜି ଦିନରେ ଭେଟ ହେବାପାଇଁ ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ସେମାନେ କଥା ହୋଇଥିଲେ । କଥାଟା ବଡ଼ ମଜାଳିଆ ହେଲେ ବି ସତ୍ୟ ଥିଲା । ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ଏହି ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଏକ ଭୋଜନାଳୟ ଥିଲା ଯାହାର ନାମ ଥିଲା Brady’s Restaurant । ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣକ ତାଙ୍କ କଥାରେ ସମ୍ମତ ହେଲେ ଓ କହିଲେ ଏହି ପାଞ୍ଚ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ ଏହାକୁ ଏକ ଷ୍ଟୋରରେ ପରିଣତ କରାଯାଇଛି । ଲୋକଟି ଠିକ୍ ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଦିଆସିଲି କାଠି ମାରି ସିଗାରେଟ୍ ଲଗାଇବାବେଳେ ପୋଲିସ୍ ଜଣଙ୍କ ତାଙ୍କ ମୁହଁ ସାମାନ୍ୟ ଦେଖୁ ପାରିଥିଲେ ।

Glossary:
wit (n): the ability to say or write things that are both clever and amusing She is a women of wit and intelligence.
wordplay: use of words (ଶବ୍ଦର ବ୍ୟବହାର) He makes better wordplay in his writings.
characterization: characters in a book or play seem real (ଖେଳ ବାସ୍ତବ ମନେହୁଏ). The success of the play depends much on its characterization.
surprise: unexpected event or happenings, a feeling of astonishment (ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ) Her position in the top ten was a surprise in the last H.S.C. examination.
value: worth (ମୂଲ୍ୟ) We should better understand the value of life.
relationship: relation among people, friendship (ଲୋକମାନେ, ବନ୍ଧୁତା) He should regard our relationship.
triumph: victory, win (ଜିତନ୍ତୁ) Indians are happy with our World-Cup triumph.
on the beat: on the route doing patrol duty (ପାଟ୍ରୋଲିଂ କରୁଥିବା ମାର୍ଗରେ | କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ)
quiet road: road free from noise (ଶବ୍ଦରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ ରାସ୍ତା) He was walking freely on a quiet road.
habitual: doing something continuously (କ୍ରମାଗତ ଭାବରେ କିଛି କରିବା)
spectators: unlookers, viewers (ଦର୍ଶକ) Spectators sit in the gallery to watch the match.
kept early hours : went back home early in the night (ଶୀଘ୍ର ଘରକୁ ଫେରିଗଲେ ରାତିରେ)
chilly winds: too cold winds (ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ ଥଣ୍ଡା ପବନ) We could not go out because of chilly winds blowing outside.
drizzle: dribble, raining lightly (ହାଲୁକା ବର୍ଷା) There was a drizzle in the morning.
depeopled: emptied of people (ଲୋକମାନେ) The streets of the city were depeopled by the evening as curfew was declared.
examining : inspecting, searching, checking (ଯାଞ୍ଚ, ଖୋଜିବା, ଯାଞ୍ଚ କରୁଛି )
playful : full of fun (ମଜା ରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ) His activities were mostly playful.
movements: moving (ଗତିଶୀଳ) We cannot feel the movements of earth.
small stick : (here) lathi (ଏଠାରେ) ଲାଥୀThe policeman always moves with a small stick or lathi.
stalwart: sturdy, well-built (ବଳିଷ୍ଠ, ସୁଗଠିତ) He is a man of stalwart figure.
guardian of the law: protector of law (ଆଇନର ରକ୍ଷକ) The policeman is a guardian of the law.
tailoring shop : dressmaker’s shop (ଡ୍ରେସମେକରଙ୍କ ଦୋକାନ)
watchful eyes: vigilant eyes (ସଜାଗ ଆଖି) Nobody can escape from his watchful eye.
pale face : whitish face (ଧଳା ଚେହେରା)
square jaws : jaws having equal sides (ସମାନ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱ ଥିବା ଜହ୍ନଗୁଡିକ)
white scar: a white mark left on the skin (ଧଳା ଦାଗ)
ashamed: felt shame (ଲଜ୍ଜା ଅନୁଭବ କଲା) He is ashamed of his bad manner.
notorious: famous for bad quality (କୁଖ୍ୟାତ) Terrorists are notorious criminals.
counterfeit: illegal (ନକଲି)
serious affair: grave matter (ଗୁରୁତର ବିଷୟ) Terrorism is a serious affair of our country.
lamp-post: a post giving light (ଆଲୋକ ପ୍ରଦାନ କରୁଥିବା ଏକ ପୋଷ୍ଟ) He was standing under a lamp-post and waiting for a friend.
five-dollar note : ପାଞ୍ଚ ଡଲାରର ନୋଟ୍
reconstructed photograph: picture of a person drawn by experts basing on the reports about his or her face (ଚିତ୍ରିତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଚିତ୍ର | ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞଙ୍କ ଦ୍ ରା)The reconstructed photograph of the leader of the terrorist was broadcasted in T.V
described: saw (from a distance) ଦେଖ (ଦୂରରୁ)
suspicious: doubtful (ସନ୍ଦେହଜନକ) Police can detain suspicious people for investivation.

Think it out:

Question 1.
How does the writer describe the atmosphere of the story?
Answer:
The story begins with a policeman doing the patroling duty in a street of New York. The time was 10 o’ clock at night. The strict was almost calm and quiet and people had gone home in the early hours of the evening because of bad weather. The business houses were mostly closed and darkness has covered the major part of the street. It was all due to chilly winds and light raining. Few lights were coming from a cigar store, an whole-night hotel and one or two tailoring shops completing the day’s work. The area coming under the lamp-posts were little lighted. Thus, the atmosphere was somewhat unsuitable and unfavourable.

Question 2.
How did the policeman perform his duties?
Answer:
The polieman was on the route doing patrol duty. He was moving smartly. His smartness was real and not for the show. It was night and most of the business houses in the street were closed early due to bad weather. There was darkness everywhere except light coming from few shops and lamp-posts. In spite of this, the policeman was inspecting every closed doors. He was holding a lathi and making some funny movements. The policeman, with his well-built figure and smart movements was proving himself as the guardian of law. He was very watchful and cast his eyes on the entire peaceful road. He was seriously searching a notorious criminal from Chicago. This duty was assigned to him by his boss and he was very confident as a dutiful officer for the last eighteen years to do the job perfectly.

Question 3.
What picture of the wanted criminal do you get from the text?
Answer:
The picture of the wanted criminal given to the polcieman in the morning of the said day was as follows. The criminal had a pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes, and a little white scar near the right eyebrow. The criminal’s name was not known and he was involved in a serious affair of printing counterfeit notes. The criminal was from Chicago. The policeman had a five dollar note and a reconstructed photograph of the criminal in his pocket.

Question 4.
How did the stranger try to interact with the policeman?
Answer:
The stranger, who was standing in front of a darkened hardware store, saw a policeman coming towards him. He thought that the policeman would suspect him as he did not know his story. So when the policeman walked upto him, he said to him that he was just waiting for a friend. It was an appointment made twenty years ago. It was a truth, though it seemed funny. To remove the doubts of the policeman, he narrated that about twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this store stands. Its name was “Brady’s Restaurant”. Then the policeman said that it was changed into a store just five years ago. In this way the stranger interacted with the policeman.

Question 5.
How did the policeman see the stranger’s face?
Answer:
The stranger standing at the doorway of the hardware store, was interacting with the policeman. As the place was dark the face of the stranger could not be seen. In the meanwhile, he wanted to smoke and thus struck a match and lit his cigar. This provided a chance to the policeman to see the face of the man.

Unit – II

Gist :
The man narrating about his friend said that he had last dined with his friend Jimmy Wells at Brady’s Restaurant twenty years ago tonight. Jimmy was his best friend and the finest man in the world. He said that they were bom and brought up in New York just like two brothers. When they left each other he was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. He went to Chicago in the West to make my fortune. But Jimmy, as liked to stay at home, was unwilling to go the West with him. For Jimmy New York was the best place to live in on the earth.

Accordingly they took our last parting dinner at Brady’s Restaurant that night and agreed that they would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time in spite of their distant living or whatever conditions of life of theirs. They also felt that in twenty years each of them have made his career and met the destiny of life. The policeman listening to it said that it was very interesting. He asked the man about their contacts between this long gap. The man said that they were in touch for a year or two. But after that they lost contact of each other and remained busy in their own affairs. The man said that though Chicago was his headquarter, he kept on moving here and there.

That time he had come to meet his friend after a long interval and he had deep faith to meet his friend there. He said that his friend was very sincere and true to his words. He would never forget it. His coming to that place from a distance of thousand miles would be fruitful if he could meet his old friend there. His friend would come difinitely. Saying so, he looked at his diamond watch and it was ten twenty-five. He remembered the time that was exactly half past ten when they parted here at the restaumt door. Then the policeman wanted to know whether he had earned lots of money in the West.

He admitted of his good earnings and expressed his hope that his friend Jimmy also had earned the half of his income. He said that his friend, though a nice man, was very slow in his earnings. But he had to compete with the most cunning people of the world to earn his dollars. A man in the New York becomes very ordinary but the West makes a man to face much competition. The policeman while leaving asked the man whether he would wait his friend or not, if he would not come at the appointed time. He said that he would give his friend half an hour to come. If he was alive on earth he would be there by that time. After that, the policeman took leave of this man by wishing ‘Good-night’.

ସାରାଂଶ :
ଲୋକଟି ତାଙ୍କ ସାଙ୍ଗ ବିଷୟରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରି କହିଲେ, ସେ ଆଜକୁ କୋଡ଼ିଏ ବର୍ଷତଳେ ଏହି ବ୍ରାଡ଼ି ଭୋଜନାଳୟରେ ଆଜି ରାତିରେ ଶେଷଥର ପାଇଁ ମିଶି ଖାଇଥିଲେ । ଜିମି ତାଙ୍କର ସବୁଠାରୁ ଉତ୍ତମ ବନ୍ଧୁ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ପୃଥ‌ିବୀରେ ଅତି ଭଲ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସେ ଜଣେ । ସେ କହିଲେ, ଆମେ ଦୁଇଜଣ ନିଉୟର୍କରେ ଦୁଇ ଭାଇ ଭଳି ଜନ୍ମ ହୋଇ ବଢ଼ିଥିଲୁ । ଆମେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ପରସ୍ପରଠାରୁ ଅଲଗା ହେଲୁ ମୋତେ ଅଠର ବର୍ଷ ଏବଂ ଜିହ୍ନିକୁ କୋଡ଼ିଏ ବର୍ଷ ହୋଇଥିଲା ।

ମୁଁ ମୋର ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଗଢ଼ିବାକୁ ଚିକାଗୋ ଗଲି । ଜିଛି କିନ୍ତୁ ଘର ଛାଡ଼ି କୁଆଡ଼େ ଯିବ ନାହିଁ ବୋଲି କହିଲା । ନିଉୟର୍କ ତା’ପାଇଁ ପୃଥ‌ିବୀର ସବୁଠାରୁ ଭଲ ସ୍ଥାନ ଥିଲା । ସେହି ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଆମେ ଶେଷଥର ପାଇଁ ବ୍ରାଡ଼ି ଭୋଜନାଳୟରେ ରାତ୍ରିଭୋଜନ ଖାଇଲୁ ଏବଂ ରାଜି ହେଲୁ ଆଜକୁ ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ଏହି ଦିନ ଏହି ତାରିଖ ଏହି ସମୟ ଏବଂ ଏହି ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଆମେ ଯେକୌଣସି ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ ଥିଲେ ବି ଆସି ଭେଟ ହେବା । ସେଦିନ ପରସ୍ପରଠାରୁ ଅଲଗା ହେଲାବେଳକୁ ସମୟ ଥିଲା ରାତ୍ର ୧୦ ଟା ୩୦ ମିନିଟ୍ ।

ଆମେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭାବିଲୁ ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ଆମେ ନିଜର ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଗଢ଼ି ସାରି । ଲୋକଟିର କଥାକୁ ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣକ ଶୁଣୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ଏହା ତ ବଡ଼ କୌତୁହଳପ୍ରଦ କଥା ! ସେ ପଚାରିଲେ, ଆଚ୍ଛା ଏହି କୋଡ଼ିଏ ବର୍ଷ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ କୌଣସି ସମ୍ପର୍କ ନ ଥିଲା କି ? ଲୋକଜଣକ କହିଲେ, ହଁ ଥିଲା, ତାହା କେବଳ ପ୍ରଥମ ବର୍ଷେ କିମ୍ବା ୨ ବର୍ଷ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଏବଂ ପରେ ପରେ ଆମେ ନିଜ ନିଜ କାମରେ ବ୍ୟସ୍ତ ରହିଗଲୁ ।

ଲୋକଟି କହିଲା, ଚିକାଗୋ ମୋର ମୁଖ୍ୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାଳୟ ହେଲେ ବି ମୁଁ ଚାରିଆଡ଼େ ଘୂରି ବୁଲୁଥୁଲି । ଆଜି ସେ ଆସିଛି ତା’ର ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଭେଟିବାପାଇଁ ସୁଦୂର ଚିକାଗୋରୁ ହଜାର ମାଇଲ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରି ଏବଂ ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଭେଟିବ । ସେ କହିଲେ ମୋର ସାଙ୍ଗ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସତ୍ୟବାନ୍ ଏବଂ ସଚ୍ଚା ଏବଂ ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ମୋତେ ଭେଟିବାକୁ ଆସିବ । ଏହା କହି ଲୋକଟି ତାଙ୍କ ହାତରେ ଥ‌ିବା ହୀରା ଘଣ୍ଟାଟିକୁ ଚାହିଁଲେ । ସେତେବେଳକୁ ୧୦ଟା ୨୫ ମିନିଟ୍ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ସେ ମନେ ପକାଇଲେ ସେ ସେଦିନ ରାତ୍ର ୧୦ଟା ୩୦ ମିନିଟ୍‌ରେ ସେମାନେ ପରସ୍ପରଠାରୁ ଅଲଗା ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ପୋଲିସ୍ ବାବୁଜଣଙ୍କ ଚିକାଗୋରେ ତାଙ୍କ ରୋଜଗାର ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଚାହିଁଲେ । ସେ ସେଠାରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଭଲ ରୋଜଗାର କଥା ମାନିଲେ ଏବଂ ଆଶା କଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ସାଙ୍ଗ ମଧ୍ଯ ଅତି କମ୍‌ରେ ତାଙ୍କ ରୋଜଗାରର।

Think it out

Question 1.
What was the appointment made between two friends twenty years before?
Answer:
The two friends in the story are Bob and Jimmy Wells. Both were born and brought up in New York and bred like two brothers. When they come of age, Bob went to the West to make his fortune but Jimmy stayed in New York. On the day of parting, they had dined together in a restaurant and agreed that night that they would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time in spite of their distant living and conditions. This appointment was made between two friends twenty years ago.

Question 2.
What information about the friends do you gather from their conversation?
Answer:
After listening to the man about their appointment that was made twenty years ago, the policeman expressed his curiosity to know more about them. He asked the man about their correspondence, if any, during this long gap. The man said that they were in touch for a year or two but after that they lost contact of each other. It was perhaps due to increase of work and personal involvement. He said that though Chicago was his main place of living, he moved extensively in and outside of it. Then shifting his mind to his friend the man said that his friend Jimmy was always very sincere and true to his words.

He would never forget their appointment. He would meet him definitely. He had come from a distance of thousand miles to meet him and it would be worthwhile if his old friend comes back. Saying so he looked at his diamond watch and the time was ten twenty-five. He said that it was exactly half past ten when they parted there at the restaurant door twenty years ago. This Brady’s Restaurant had been changed into a hardware store. The policeman asked about his good income in the West which he admitted. He also expressed that his friend Jimmy would be earning at least half of his income.

Though a good human being, Jimmy was very slow in brain. He had to compete with the cleverest people of the world in Chicago for his livelihood. He said that life in the West was very fast and one had to struggle hard for earning and living. But in New York one became very ordinary. The policeman listened to all these and said him that his friend would be coming around. Before leaving him, he asked him whether he would wait for his friend or not. The man said that he would wait for his friend for an hour only. He would definitely come by that time. In short, two friends naturally exchanged pleasant words and talked old times without recognizing each other.

Unit – III

Introduction:
In this part of the story “After Twenty Years” the readers get surprised by coming across an unexpected situation. It gives a kind of displeasure as well as pleasure to the readers when they read about the arrest of a friend by another friend who has done it for the sake of his duty at the cost of personal relationship. Readers express sympathy on the friend who had come to meet his friend from a long distance after twenty years and got arrested by his friend. They also admire the another friend who out of his devotion to duty got his friend arrested by keeping personal relationship away from duty. Let us read the story to know the interesting happenings.

Gist:
The cold wind was blowing severely with the rain continuing all over the street. The few people who were out had hurried home. The man, who had come from thousand miles to meet an appointment at the doorway of the hardware store, was smoking and waiting his friend Jimmy Wells. About twenty minutes of his waiting a tall man wearing a long overcoat with collar turned upto his ears appeared before the man. “Is that you, Bob ? ” he asked doubtfully. “Is that you, Jimmy Wells ?” asked the man.

They shook their hands. Bob said that he was sure to find him there if he was alive. Jimmy said that they would have dined again if that old restaurant had existed. Then, he asked his friend about his days in the West. He said that the West had given him every thing. The man also enquired about Jimmy. Jimmy said that he was well and working in a departmental store as assitant manager. He was getting good salary and other benefits. Then he told Bob to go round to a place and talk about their old days. The two friends walked on the street holding arm in arm. Bob was talking of his possessions and of his important friend’s in Chicago elsewhere. The other friend wearing a overcoat was listening with deep attention.

They could not see each other’s face in the darkness. They came near a medicine store located in a lighted area. There they could see each other’s face. Bob stopped suddenly and freed his arm from his friend’s arm. He said to tha man that he was not Jimmy. Twenty years is a long time but not long enough to change a man’s sharp nose to a flat one. The tall man said that it sometimes changes a good man into a bad one. Then he arrested Bob and told that the Commissioner of Police, Chicago wanted to talk with Bob in connection with some bundles of five dollar counterfeit notes. He took Bob to the police station.

While going to the police station, the tall man handed over a letter to Bob by saying that it was from Assistant Sub-Inspector Jimmy Wells. The friend from Chicago opened the letter and it was a short note. “Bob: I was at the apointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I could not do it myself, so I went around and got a plain-clothes policeman to do the job.” It was revealed from the story that though Jimmy knew his friend, the wanted criminal he made him arrested. He ignored his personal relationship when it came in the way of his duty. His devotion to duty was so much that it undermined his personal relationship. Only a few people could do it and Jimmy Wells was one of them.

ସାରାଂଶ :
ନିଉୟର୍କ ସହରର ସେହି ଗଳିରେ ସେଦିନ ଥଣ୍ଡା ବଢ଼ି ବଢ଼ି ଯାଉଥିଲା ଏବଂ ତା’ ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ବର୍ଷା ମଧ୍ଯ । ଯେଉଁ କେତେକ ଅଳ୍ପ ଲୋକ ବାହାରେ ରହିଥିଲେ ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଘରକୁ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଫେରି ଗଲେଣି । କିନ୍ତୁ ହଜାର ମାଇଲ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରି ସୁଦୂର ଚିକାଗୋରୁ ନିଜ ବନ୍ଧୁଙ୍କୁ ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ଦେଖା କରିବାକୁ ଆସିଥିବା ଲୋକଟି ସେହି hardware ଷ୍ଟୋର ଆଗରେ ଛିଡ଼ା ହୋଇଥିଲା । ସେ ସିଗାରେଟ୍ ଟାଣୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସାଙ୍ଗ ଜିୱି ୱେଲସ୍ ଆସିବା ବାଟକୁ ଅନାଇ ବସିଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିବାର ପ୍ରାୟ ୨୦ ମିନିଟ୍ ପରେ ଜଣେ ଡେଙ୍ଗା ଲୋକ ସାଧା ପୋଷାକରେ ଏକ ଲମ୍ବାକୋର୍ଟ ପିନ୍ଧି ତାଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ।

‘ତୁମେ ବବ୍ କି ?”’ ସେ ସହେନ୍ଦରେ ପଚାରିଲେ । ‘ତୁମେ କ’ଣ ଜିହ୍ନି ୱେଲସ୍ ?”’ ଲୋକଟି ପଚାରିଲା । ପରିଚୟ ମିଳିଥିବାରୁ ସେମାନେ ହାତ ମିଳାଇଲେ । ବବ୍ କହିଲେ, ‘ମୁଁ ନିଶ୍ଚିନ୍ତ ଥୁଲି, ତୁମେ ଯଦି ବଞ୍ଚାଅ ଆସିବ ।’’ ଜିହ୍ନି କହିଲେ, ‘ଆଜି ଯଦି ସେ ପୁରୁଣା ଭୋଜନାଳୟଟି ଥାଆନ୍ତା ଆମେ ପୁଣିଥରେ ସେଠି ଭୋଜନ କରିଥା’ନ୍ତେ । ଆଚ୍ଛା ହେଉ, ତୁମେ ପଶ୍ଚିମରେ କେମିତି ଅଛ କୁହ।’’ ଉତ୍ତରରେ ବବ୍ କହିଲେ, ‘ପଶ୍ଚିମାଞ୍ଚଳ ମତେ ସବୁକିଛି ଦେଇଛି । ତୁମେ ନିଉୟର୍କରେ କେମିତି ଅଛ ?’’ ସେ କହିଲେ ‘ମୁଁ ଭଲରେ ଅଛି ଏବଂ ଏକ ଡିପାର୍ଟମେଣ୍ଟାଲ ଷ୍ଟୋରରେ ଉପମ୍ୟାନେଜର ଭାବରେ କାମ କରୁଛି । ମୁଁ ଭଲ ଦରମା ସହ ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ସୁବିଧା ମଧ୍ଯ ପାଉଛି ।’’ ତା’ପରେ ସେ କହିଲେ ‘ବବ୍, ଆସ ଆଗକୁ ଟିକେ ବୁଲିଯିବା ଏବଂ ଆମର ସେହି ପୁରୁଣା ଦିନଗୁଡ଼ିକ ବିଷୟରେ କଥା ହେବା ।’’ ଦୁଇ ଜଣଯାକ ସାଙ୍ଗ ହାତ ଧରାଧରି ହୋଇ ଗଳି ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଆଗେଇ ଚାଲିଲେ ।

ବବ୍ ଚିକାଗୋରେ ଥିବା ତାଙ୍କର ଧନ ସମ୍ପତ୍ତି, କୋଠାବାଡ଼ି ଏବଂ ଧନୀ ଓ ପ୍ରତିପତ୍ତିଶାଳୀ ସାଙ୍ଗମାନଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ କହି ଚାଲିଲେ । ଅନ୍ୟ ସାଙ୍ଗଟି ସାଧା ପୋଷାକ ଉପରେ ଏକ ଓଭରକୋର୍ଟ ପିନ୍ଧି ବାଟ ଚାଲୁଥିଲାବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କ କଥା ମନଦେଇ ଶୁଣୁଥା’ନ୍ତି । ସେମାନେ ପରସ୍ପରର ମୁହଁକୁ ଅନ୍ଧାରରେ ଦେଖ୍ ପାରୁନଥିଲେ । ସେମାନେ ଆସ୍ତେ ଆସ୍ତେ ଆଲୋକିତ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଥ‌ିବା ଏକ ଔଷଧ ଦୋକାନ ପାଖରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ । ସେଠାରେ ସେମାନେ ପରସ୍ପରର ମୁହଁକୁ ଦେଖିପାରିଲେ । ବବ୍ ହଠାତ୍ ରହିଗଲେ ଏବଂ ସାଙ୍ଗ ହାତରୁ ହାତ କାଢ଼ିନେଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ‘ଆପଣ ତ ଜିଛି ୱେଲସ୍ ନୁହଁନ୍ତି । କୋଡ଼ିଏ ବର୍ଷ ଏକ ଲମ୍ବା ସମୟ ହୋଇପାରେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏତେ ଲମ୍ବା ନୁହେଁ ଯେ ଏକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଗୋଜିଆ ନାକକୁ ଚେପ୍‌ଟା ବବ୍ ହଠାତ୍ ରହିଗଲେ ଏବଂ ସାଙ୍ଗ ହାତରୁ ହାତ କାଢ଼ିନେଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ‘ଆପଣ ତ ଜିଛି ୱେଲସ୍ ନୁହଁନ୍ତି । କୋଡ଼ିଏ ବର୍ଷ ଏକ ଲମ୍ବା ସମୟ ହୋଇପାରେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏତେ ଲମ୍ବା ନୁହେଁ ଯେ ଏକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଗୋଜିଆ ନାକକୁ ଚେପ୍‌ଟା ନାକରେ ବଦଳାଇ ଦେବ ।’’

ଡେଙ୍ଗା ଲୋକଟି କହିଲେ, ‘ଏହି ଲମ୍ବା ସମୟ ବେଳେବେଳେ ଜଣେ ଭଲ ଲୋକକୁ ଖରାପ ଲୋକ କରିଦିଏ । ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ତୁମକୁ ଆରେଷ୍ଟ କରାଗଲା। ଚିକାଗୋର ପୋଲିସ୍ କମିଶନର ତୁମ ସାଙ୍ଗରେ କଥା ହେବାପାଇଁ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସେ ତୁମ ସହିତ କିଛି ଜାଲନୋଟ୍ ବିଷୟରେ କଥା ହେବେ । ତୁମେ କୌଣସି ଚାଲବାଜି ନ କରି ମୋ ସାଙ୍ଗରେ ଆସ ।’’ ପୋଲିସ୍ ଷ୍ଟେସନ୍‌କୁ ଗଲାବାଟରେ ସାଧା ପୋଷାକଧାରୀ ପୋଲିସ୍‌ ତାଙ୍କ “‘ବବ୍, ମୁଁ ଠିକ୍ ସମୟରେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରିତ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଥୁଲି । ତୁମେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ସିଗାରେଟ୍ ଲଗାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଦିଆସିଲି କାଠି ଲଗାଇଲ ମୁଁ ସେହି ଆଲୋକରେ ତୁମ ମୁହଁକୁ ଦେଖୁଲି ଓ ଜାଣିଲି ଏ ହେଉଛି ସେହି ମୁହଁ ଯାହାକୁ ଚିକାଗୋରେ ମୋଷ୍ଟ ୱାଣ୍ଟେଡ୍ ତାଲିକାରେ ରଖାଯାଇଛି ।ଯାହାହେଉ ମୁଁ ସେ କାମ କରିପାରିଲିନି । ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ଚାଲିଗଲି ଏବଂ ଏକ ସାଧାପୋଷାକଧାରୀ ପୋଲିସ୍ ଜରିଆରେ ତୁମକୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ କଲି ।’’ ଏହି ଗଳ୍ପରୁ ପ୍ରତୀୟମାନ ହେଉଛି ଯେ ଜିୱି ଏକ ପୋଲିସ୍ ଭାବରେ ନିଜର କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରିବାକୁ ଯାଇ ତାଙ୍କର ଜଣେ ଅପରାଧୀ ବନ୍ଧୁଙ୍କୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ କଲେ । କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଆଗରେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ସମ୍ପର୍କ ଆସିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ପ୍ରଥମଟିକୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ଵ ଦେଲେ । ଏହା କେବଳ ଖୁବ୍ କମ୍ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପକ୍ଷରେ ସମ୍ଭବ ହୋଇଥାଏ ଏବଂ ଜିମି ୱେଲସ୍ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଥିଲେ ଜଣେ ।

Glossary:
unexpected: not expected An unexpected (ଅପ୍ରତ୍ୟାଶିତ) danger puzzled him.
twist: put into confusion (ଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱରେ ପକାନ୍ତୁ) He is twist and is unable to take a decision about his future.
hardware store: deals with hardware (ହାର୍ଡୱେର୍) He is a manager of a hardware store.
puffed up: feeling proud (ଗର୍ବିତ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଛି )He was puffed up by the his success in the civil examination.
sure as fate: very certain (ବହୁତ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ) His achievement was sure as fate.
rapt: deep (ଗଭୀର) He listened to the discussion with rapt attention.

Think it out:

Question 1.
How long did the man from the West wait? What was weather then?
Answer:
The man from the West waited about twenty minutes and then a tallman in a long overcoat came from the opposite side of the street to meet him. The weather then was very bad. The wind was too cold and the rain was continuing. People who were out hurried up home.

Question 2.
How did the man from the West and the man in a long overcoat greet each other?
Answer:
When the man from the West was waiting at the doorway of the hardware store, the man in a long overcoat appeared. Looking at the man at the hardware store he doubtfully asked, “Is that you, Bob ?” “Is that you, Jimmy Wells V asked Bob. Then they could know each other and shook hands. “Bless my heart !” exclaimed the new arrival. In this way they greeted each other.

Question 3.
When did Bob realise that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells?
Answer:
When Bob and the tall man reached at the medicine store walking arm in arm, they could see each other’s face in the electric lights. Bob suddenly stopped by leaving his arm. He thought that how this tall man with flat nose would be Jimmy Wells who had a sharp nose. One could be 6 to 8 inch long in twenty years time but it is not long enough to convert a sharp nose to a flat nose. Thus Bob realised that the tall man he had met was not Jimmy Wells.

Question 4.
Why did Jimmy get Bob arrested?
Answer:
Jimmy, who was a policeman, was a man of principle, honest and dutiful. Bob, on the other hand, was a professional criminal who printed counterfeit notes and earned easy money. Once upon a time in twenty years ago they were good friends. Before they got separated, they had promised to meet each other at the Brady’s Restaurant where they had taken their last dinner. But when they meet, Jimmy saw the
face of the man who was wanted in Chicago. The responsibility and devotion of his duty made him to ignore his personal relationship. Therefore he got him arrested.

Question 5.
Did Jimmy keep his appointment with Bob after twenty years? What consideration did he show for his old friend?
Answer:
Yes, Jimmy did so because he was exactly on time at the hardware store where they decided to meet after twenty years. He kept his appointment. At the same time he was assigned the duty to catch a notorious criminal from Chicago. He had the reconstructed photograph of the criminal with him which matched the face of his friend. So he did not disclose his identity. As a policeman he considered his duty more than his friendship. Thus instead of enjoying with his old friend Bob after twenty years, he made him arrested by another policeman’ who played the role of Jimmy Wells. Though he did not arrest his friend directly he did it by another policeman. This could be his only

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English After Twenty Years Important Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Examining closed doors as he went, making various interesting and playful movements with his small stick, the officer, with his stalwart figure and smart movements made a fine picture of the guardian of the law. He could see a few lights coming from a cigar store, an all-night hotel, and one or two tailoring shops completing the day’s work. The majority of the houses were business places that had long since been closed. Now and then he would suddenly turn about, and cast his watchful eye along the peaceful road. He was thinking of what his boss had said in the morning: “Pale face, square jaws, deep and dark eyes, and a little white scar near the right eyebrow.” As a part of the police organization, he felt a little ashamed that the name of this notorious criminal was still unknown, and that he was still at large. Printing counterfeit notes was a serious affair, he knew, and the criminal must be caught. He took out his pocket-book under a lamp-post and looked at the five-dollar note and the reconstructed photograph. He became thoughtful: Chicago – a thousand miles away. What chance ?” Then he said to himself aloud, ‘Never mind, my boy, you have been a dutiful one these last eighteen years, and luck owes you a debt.’ He was in the habit of talking to himself, sometimes,- when nobody was by. And he liked to refer to himself as a boy, though he was forty. There was another thing in his mind. He looked at his watch, – a quarter past ten; fifteen minutes more. It was a long road; but there was enough time. After a minute he descried about five hundred metres ahead the outline of a man near the doorway of a darkened hardware store. He quickened his steps. The place was slightly dark, lying exactly midway between two lamp-posts. He was about to address the man, but changed his mind and allowed the man to begin. The man realised that the way he was standing there must look suspicious to one who didn’t know his story. So he said, as the policeman walked up to him: ‘It’s all right, officer; I’am just waiting for a friend. It is an appointment made twenty years ago. It sounds a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain so as to remove all suspicion from your mind: About twenty years ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands, “Brady’s Restaurant.”

Questions :
(i) Describe the policeman’s feelings while doing patrol duty?
(ii) ‘There was another thing in his mind.’ What was that?

Answers :
(i) The policeman was assigned a duty to catch a die-hard criminal. He was in search of that notorious criminal. He was quite sure to be successful in performing his duty. He thought that he had been a sincere and dutiful policeman since last eighteen years and luck always remained with him. At the same time he felt a little ashamed that the name of such a notorious criminal was still unknown to the police department. Thus, the policeman had serious feelings while doing patrol duty.
(ii) Though police man was assigned a duty to catch a notorious criminal, still there was another thing in his mind. Perhaps he had to meet someone or to do something on a particular time. Therefore, he looked at his watch and said that there was more fifteen minutes in his hand.

Question 2.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
The two men started up the streets, arm in arm. The man from the West, somewhat puffed up by success, was talking of his possessions and of his important friends in Chicago and elsewhere. The other, covered with his overcoat, was listening with rapt attention. They had not yet taken a good look at each other’s face. They neared a medicine store lit brilliantly, with electric lights. There each of them turned simultaneously to gaze at the other’s face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and let go the other’s arm.
‘You’re not Jimmy Wells’, he faltered. ‘Twenty year is a long time, but not long enough to change a man’s sharp nose to a flat one?’
‘It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one’, said the tall man.
‘You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob, or whatever your name is. The Commissioner of police, Chicago, longs to have a chat with you in connection with some bundles of five-dollar notes, which have come his way. Come quietly, please, and no tricks. Before we gQ to the station, here’s a note I was asked to give you. It’s from Assistant Sub-Inspector Jimmy Wells.’ The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed to him. His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished. The note was rather short.
‘Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was theface of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn ’t do it myself, so I went around and got a plain-clothes policeman to do the job.’

Questions :
(i) Give a picture of Bob and Jimmy when they were in the streets?
(ii) Comment on the ending of the story.

Answers :
(i) We find the two friends, Bob and Jimmy, in the streets walking arm in arm. Bob who had now come from the West was in high spirits. Unprecedented success had made him as if he were over the moon. He kept on talking of his wealth and of his great friends in Chicago. Jimmy, covered with his overcoat, was listening with deep attention. In spite of being with each other for some time, they had not looked distinctly at each other. The inevitable happened. They gazed at each other’s face at the same time.
(ii) The two friends, Bob and Jimmy, have kept their appointment after twenty years, but there is a turning point in the end. Bob is shocked in disbelief when the man tells him that he has been under arrest. The man talking to him is asked to hand over him a note which outlines Jimmy’s arrival at the appointed place on time and recognition of his face wanted in Chicago while lighting his cigar and his inability to arrest his friend and hence through a plain-clothes policeman. This is the consideration Jimmy Wells showed for his old friend Bob. Honest and dutiful as he is, Jimmy Wells has done his job perfectly. The ending is superb for its ‘O’ Henry Twist’ or suprising ending.

Introducing the Author:
William Sydney Porter was an American writer. He was known by his pen name O’ Henry. He lived for a successful period of forty-eight years. Before his death, he had written a good number of short stories. All his short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and surprise.

About the Story: 
Now-a-days people mostly value their personal relationship. They even undermine their duty when it clashes with their personal relationship. But there are still people who prefer duty to their relationship. Duty is god to them. O’ Henry describes this story to show – ‘Devotion to duty triumps over personal relationship’. In the story, there are two friends who gets separated at a point of time and meet again after a period of twenty years. But the duty of a friend compels him to undermine his relationship. A friend in the way of his duty has been forced to arrest his friend. The story is narrated in three units which depicts the irony and pathos of life in a subtle and dramatic manner.

Odisha State Board Elements of Mathematics Class 11 Solutions CHSE Odisha Chapter 14 Limit and Differentiation Ex 14(b) Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 Math Solutions Chapter 14 Limit and Differentiation Exercise 14(b)

Question 1.

Using the ε – δ definition prove that
(i) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\) (2x + 3) = 3
Solution:
Let f(x) = 2x + 3
Here a = 0 and ℓ = 3
Let ε be any positive real number however small it may be.
Now |f(x) – ℓ| =| 2x + 3 – 3| =|2x|
Thus |f(x) – ℓ| < ε whenever
|2x| < ε i.e |x| < \(\frac{\varepsilon}{2}\)
Then |f(x) – ℓ| < ε
whenever |x – 0| < δ
under the condition δ = \(\frac{\varepsilon}{2}\)
∴ \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\) (2x + 3) = 3

(ii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}\) (2x – 1) = 1
Solution:
Here f(x) = 2x – 1, ℓ = l and a = 1
Now |f(x)| = | 2x – 1 – 1|
= |2x – 2| = 2|x – 1|
Thus |f(x) –  ℓ| < ε
whenever 2|x – 1| < ε
i,e. |x – 1| < \(\frac{\varepsilon}{2}\) put δ = \(\frac{\varepsilon}{2}\)
Then |f(x) – ℓ| < ε
whenever|x – 1| < δ
Hence \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}\) (2x – 1) = 1

(iii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow -2}\) (3x + 8) = 2
Solution:
|(3x + 8) – 2|
= |3x + 6| = 3|x + 2|
So |3x + 8 – 2| < ε
whenever 3|x + 2| < ε
i.e. |x + 2| < \(\frac{\varepsilon}{3}\)
Hence |(3x + 8) – 2| < ε
whenever | x + 2 | < δ
∴ \(\lim _{x \rightarrow -2}\) (3x + 8) = 2

(iv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3}\) (x² + 2x – 8) = 7
Solution:
|(x² + 2x – 8) – 7|
= |(x² + 2x – 15|
= |(x + 5) (x – 3)|
=| x + 5| | x – 3|
If |x – 3| < 1 then| x + 5| =| x – 3 + 8| < |x – 3| + 8 < 9
Thus |(x² + 2x – 8) – 7| < 9 |x – 3|
So |(x² + 2x – 8) – 7| < ε
whenever 9|x – 3| < ε
i.e.| x – 3| < \(\frac{\varepsilon}{9}\)
Choose δ = minimum of 1 and \(\frac{\varepsilon}{9}\)
Then |(x² + 2x – 8) – 7| < ε
whenever |x – 3| < δ
∴ \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3}\) (x² + 2x – 8) = 7   (proved)

(v) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 9}\) √x = 3
Solution:
|√x – 3| = |\(\frac{(\sqrt{x}-3)(\sqrt{x}+3)}{\sqrt{x}+3}\)|
= \(\frac{|x-9|}{|\sqrt{x}+3|}\)

(v) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) √x = √a, a > 0
Solution:

(vii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}\) |3x + 2| = 5
Solution:
When x → 1, 3x + 2 is always positive.
So |3x + 2| = 3x + 2
Thus ||3x + 2| -5| = |3x + 2 – 5|
= 3|x – 1|
∴ ||3x + 2| – 5 | < ε
whenever 3|x – 1| < ε
i.e. |x – 1| < \(\frac{\varepsilon}{3}\)
put δ = \(\frac{\varepsilon}{3}\)
Hence ||3x + 2| – 5| < ε
whenever |x – 1| < δ
∴ \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}\) |3x + 2| = 5

(viii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2}\) |5x – 7| = 3
Solution:
Let any arbitrary ε > 0
then |5x – 7 – 3| < ε
If |5(x – 2)| < ε
i.e. if lx – 2| < \(\frac{\varepsilon}{5}\)
Choosing δ = \(\frac{\varepsilon}{5}\) we have
for any arbitrary ε > 0 there exists a δ > 0 depending on ε
Such that
|x – 2| < δ ⇒ |(5x – 7) – 3| < ε
∴ \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2}\) |5x – 7| = 3

Question 2.
If \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) = ℓ then prove that \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) |f(x)| = | ℓ | Is the converse true ? Justify your answer with reasons.
Solution:
Let \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) = ℓ
Then |f(x) – ℓ| < ε whenever |x – a| < δ
Now |f(x)| – ℓ| < |f(x) – ℓ| < ε
whenever |x – a| < δ
So \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) |f(x)| = | ℓ |
The converse is not always true because | ℓ | = | -ℓ |
So \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) = ℓ or -ℓ

Question 3.
(i) Prove that \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) x = a
Solution:
Let ε is any positive number
Let f(x) = x
Now |f(x) – a| < ε
if |x – a| < ε
Choosing δ = ε we see that for each ε > 0 we find a δ > 0 depending on ε such that
|x – al < d ⇒ |f(x) – a| < ε
⇒ \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) = a i,e. \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) x = a

(ii) Using (i) and the laws of limits prove that \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} x^n=a^n\), when n is an integer.
Solution:
Case-1: Let n > 0 and n ε z
Now \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} x^n=\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) (x. x. x…….. n factors)
= a. a …… n factors = aⁿ
Case-2: Let n = 0

(iii) Using (ii) and the laws of limits prove that \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} \frac{x^n-a^n}{x-a}=n a^{n-1}\) where n is an integer.
Solution:

Case-3: n = 0  Hence the case is obvious

(iv) Using (iii), the laws of limits and assuming that \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} \frac{1}{x^m}=a^{\frac{1}{m}}\) where m is a non-zero integer prove that for any rational number n, \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} \frac{x^n-a^n}{x-a}=n a^{n-1}\).
Solution:

Question 4.
Evaluate the following :
(i) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}\) (1 + 2x – 3x² + 4x³ – 5x⁴)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}\) (1 + 2x – 3x² + 4x³ – 5x⁴)
= 1 + 2 – 3 + 4 – 5 = 7 – 8 = -1

(ii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\) (3x² + 4x – 1)(x⁴ + 2x³ – 3x² + 5x + 2)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0}\) (3x² + 4x – 1)(x⁴ + 2x³ – 3x² + 5x + 2)
=(-1). 2 = -2

(iii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2}\) \(\frac{x^2+3 x-9}{x+1}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2}\) \(\frac{x^2+3 x-9}{x+1}\)
\(\frac{2^2+3 \cdot 2-9}{2+1}=\frac{1}{3}\)

(iv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3}\) \(\frac{x^2-9}{x-3}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3}\) \(\frac{x^2-9}{x-3}\)
= \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3} \frac{(x-3)(x+3)}{x-3}\)
= \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3}\) (x + 3) = 3 + 3 = 6

(v) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{x^3-1}{x-1}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{x^3-1}{x-1}\)
= \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{(x-1)\left(x^2+x+1\right)}{x-1}\)
= \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3}\) (x² + x + 1)
= 1 + 1 +1 = 3

(vi) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2} \frac{x-2}{x^4-16}\)
Solution:

(vii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2} \frac{x^3-8}{x^5-32}\)
Solution:

(viii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 3} \frac{x^2+2 x-15}{x^2-x-6}\)
Solution:

(ix) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{(3+x)^3-27}{x}\)
Solution:

(x) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2} \frac{\frac{1}{x^2}-\frac{1}{4}}{x-2}\)
Solution:

(xi) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{1}{(x-1)}\left\{\frac{1}{x+3}-\frac{2}{3 x+5}\right\}\)
Solution:

(xii) \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{(x+h)^3-x^3}{h}\)
Solution:

(xiii) \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{(x+h)^4-x^4}{h}\)
Solution:

(xiv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{x^m-1}{x^n-1}\), where m, n are integers.
Solution:

(xv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{x^2-2 x+1}{x^2-x}\)
Solution:

(xvi) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{x^2+x-2}{x^3-x^2-x+1}\)
Solution:

Question 5.
Evaluate the following :
(i) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{2 x+1}{3 x-2}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{2 x+1}{3 x-2}\)
= \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{2+\frac{1}{x}}{3-\frac{2}{x}}=\frac{2}{3}\)
[ ∵ As x → ∞, \(\frac{1}{x}\) → 0]

(ii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{3 x^2+x-1}{2 x^2-7 x+5}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{3 x^2+x-1}{2 x^2-7 x+5}\)
\(=\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{3+\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{x^2}}{2-\frac{7}{x}+\frac{5}{x^2}}=\frac{3}{2}\)

(iii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x^3+2 x^2+3}{x^4-3 x^2+1}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x^3+2 x^2+3}{x^4-3 x^2+1}\)
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow\infty}\frac{\frac{1}{x}+\frac{2}{x^2}+\frac{3}{x^4}}{1-\frac{3}{x^2}+\frac{1}{x^4}}=\frac{0}{1}\) =0
[ ∵ As x → ∞, \(\frac{1}{x}\) → 0]

(iv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x^4-5 x+2}{x^3-3 x+1}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x^4-5 x+2}{x^3-3 x+1}\)
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x-\frac{5}{x^2}+\frac{2}{x^3}}{1-\frac{3}{x^2}+\frac{1}{x^3}}\) = ∞

(v) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty}\left(\frac{x^3}{2 x^2-1}-\frac{x^2}{2 x+1}\right)\)
Solution:

(vi) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{n}{n+1}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{n}{n+1}\)
= \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{n}{1+\frac{1}{n}}\) = 1

(vii) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left(\frac{n^2+n+1}{5 n^2+2 n+1}\right)\)
Solution:

(viii) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left(\frac{\sqrt{n}-1}{\sqrt{n}+1}\right)\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left(\frac{\sqrt{n}-1}{\sqrt{n}+1}\right)\)
= \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{1-\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}}{1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}}\) = 1

(ix) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left(\frac{6 n^5+2 n+1}{n^5+n^4+3 n^3+2 n^2+n+1}\right)\)
Solution:

(x) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{1+2+3+\cdots+n}{n^2}\)
Solution:

(xi) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{1^2+2^2+3^2+\ldots+n^2}{n^3}\)
Solution:

(xii) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{1^3+2^3+3^3+\ldots+n^3}{n^4}\)
Solution:

(xiii)  \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{1+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2^2}+\ldots+\frac{1}{2^n}}{1+\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{3^2}+\ldots \frac{1}{3^n}}\)
Solution:

(xiv) \(\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \frac{\lfloor n}{\mid n+1-\lfloor n}\)
Solution:

Question 6.
Examine the existence of the following limits :
(i) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \sqrt{3}}\) [x]
Solution:
L.H.L. = \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \sqrt{3}-}\) [x] = \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0}\) [√3 – h] = 1
R.H.L. = \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \sqrt{3}+}\) [x] = \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0}\) [√3 + h] = 1
Thus L.H.L., R.H.L both
exist and L.H.L. = R.H.L.
So the limit exists and its value is 1.

(ii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0}[x]\)
Solution:

(iii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow-2}[x]\)
Solution:
L.H.L. = \(\lim _{x \rightarrow-2-} \frac{x-2}{|x-2|}\)
= \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0}\)[-2 – h] = -3
R.H.L. \(\lim _{x \rightarrow-2+}\) [x] = \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0}\)[-2 + h] = -2
Thus L.H.L. ≠ R.H.L.
So the limit does not exist.

(iv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{|x|}{x}\)
Solution:

(v) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 2} \frac{x-2}{|x-2|}\)
Solution:

(vi) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \frac{1}{2}} \frac{|2 x-1|}{2 x-1}\)
Solution:

(vii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1}[2 x+3]\)
Solution:

(viii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x}{[x]}\)
Solution:

(ix) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \frac{x^2-x}{\left[x^2-x\right]}\)
Solution:

(x) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} \frac{\left|x^2-3 x+2\right|}{x^2-3 x+2}\)
Solution:

(xi) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty}(-1)^{[x]}\)
Solution:
\(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty}(-1)^{[x]}\)
[Put n ≤ n + 1,As n→ ∞, x → ∞
= \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty}(-1)^n\) [ ∵ [x] = n
= ± 1 [If n is odd, (-1)ⁿ = – 1 and if n is even (-1)ⁿ = 1 ]
We know that whenever the limit exists it must be unique.
So \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty}(-1)^{[x]}\) does not exist.

(xii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \sin x\)
Solution:

(xiii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \cos x\)
Solution:

(xiv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \cos \frac{1}{x}\)
Solution:

(xv) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow \infty} \sin \frac{1}{x}\)
Solution:

(xvi) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 1} f(x) \text { if } f(x)= \begin{cases}2 x-1, & x \leq 1 \\ 2 x+1, & x>1\end{cases}\)
Solution:

(xvii) \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} f(x) \text { and } \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} f(x)\)
if \(f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{l}
0 . x \leq 0 \\
1-2 x, 0<x \leq 1 \\
3-4 x, x>1
\end{array}\right.\)
Solution:

Question 7.
Let f(x) = {1 if x is rational, 0 if x is irrational then show that \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) does not exist for any a ∈ R.
Solution:
Let x → a through rational numbers.
Then \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) = 1
If x → a through rational numbers.
Then \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) = 0
Thus \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}\) f(x) does not exist.

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 2 Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 1 Three Questions Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 1 Three Questions

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Three Questions Text Book Questions and Answers

Unit – 1

Gist :
A king was worried, because he had three questions constantly troubling him. He wanted to know what was the right time for the right work with the right person, who were the most important men whom he should consult and what was the most important work. Many learned persons came but failed to satisfy the king with their answers. Some said that the right time could be ascertained if the king consulted a table of days, months and years strictly. Others said the king should seek the help of a magician. In reply to the second question, some said the people the king most needed were the council of ministers, others said they were priests or doctors. To the third question, the answer was equally confusing. The king could not agree with anyone of them. So he decided to approach a learned hermit living in a wood. In other words, the hermit was living far from the madding crowd. He was famous for wisdom.

Glossary:
above all: more than anything else (ଅନ୍ୟ ସମସ୍ତ ବିଷୟଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ )
occurred: came to mind (ମୁଣ୍ଡକୁ )
proclaimed:  made known publicly or officially (ଆନୁଷ୍ଠାନିକ ଭାବରେ)
pastimes: things done to pass time pleasantly (ସମୟ)
Reward: prize (ପୁରସ୍କାର)
beforehand: in advance (ଆଗୁଆ)
letting: allowing (ଅନୁମତି)
absorbed: giving the whole mind to (ମଜ୍ଜିଯିବା)
skill: expertness (ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞତା)
warfare: the state of being at war (ଯୁଦ୍ଧ)

Think it out

Question 1.
What were the three questions that occurred to the king? What did he do get the answers to his questions?
Answer:
The three questions that occurred to the king were if he was always aware of the right time to start everything, whether he had the knowledge of who the perfect people to listen to, and whom to get rid of, and at last if he was alive to do what the most genuine work to perform. To get the answers to his questions, he announced a great reward for anybody who would answer these three questions satisfactorily.

Question 2.
What answers did the wise men give to his first question?
Answer:
The happy prospect of being rewarded by the king fabulously attracted many wise men. They made a beeline to the presence of the king hoping to answer his questions. In reply to the first question, some suggested that the king ought to consult a table of days, months and years in order to know the right time to do the right work. Others advised him to consult a council. Yet there were some who even suggested to the king to seek the help of a magician in the matter.

Question 3.
How did the wise men answer his second question?
Answer:
In reply to the second question, the wise men were not unanimous in their answers. Some said that the king should consult his councillors. Others said he should consult priests and doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.

Question 4.
What answers did the king get for his third question?
Answer:
The king got various answers for his third question from the wise men. In their opinion they differ from each other. Some wise men replied that the important thing in the world was science. To others, it was skill in warfare. The answer did not end there. Some other wise men replied that it was religious worship.

Question 5.
Why did he decide to consult a hermit?
Answer:
Different answers to his three important questions failed to satisfy the king. In other words, he did not subscribe to any of the answers provided by the wise men. There was a hermit who was exceedingly famous for his wisdom. Therefore, the king decided to consult a hermit.

Unit – II

Gist :
The king approached the hermit in the guise of a common man. The holy man was then digging a hole outside. He blessed the visitor and went about his work. The king asked him the three questions seeking his answers. But the hermit didn’t bother to answer the questions. He went on digging the hole as before. He looked very tired. The king took pity on the old man and offered his help. The hermit took rest and the king went on digging the hole till it was evening. He was now impatient and begged the holy man to answer his questions. But the holy man was as silent as before. In the mean time, a man came running towards them.

He was bleeding profusely from a wound in his stomach. The king was moved and washed the man’s wound and bandaged it. The hermit served the man too. Both of them carried the wounded man inside and laid him on a bed. Being tired the king fell asleep on the threshold. When he woke up, he heard the wounded man aplogising to him. It was now revealed that the man was a former enemy of the king who had followed him to kill him, but he was found out by the king’s bodyguards and was mortally wounded by them. The man said that if the king had been late, he would have killed him. The king was happy to know that a die hard enemy of his had been won over so easily. The wounded man swore to devote the rest of his life serving the king.

Glossary:
quitted : left ବାମ
cell : a single room ଗୋଟିଏ କୋଠରୀ
hermit : a holy person living alone ଏକ ପବିତ୍ର ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି
dismounted : climbed down ବିସର୍ଜନ
approached : went towards ଆଡକୁ ଗଲା |
unfastened : opened ଖୋଲିଲା
soaked : wet ଓଦା
ceased : stopped ଅଟକି ଗଲା
revived : got well again ପୁଣି ଭଲ ହୋଇଗଲା
crouched down : ଆଣ୍ଠେଇ
threshold : doorstep ସୀମା
frail : weak and thin ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଏବଂ ପତଳା
spade: an instrument for digging (କୋଡ଼ି)
fainting : collapsing (ଅଚେତ, ବେହୋସ )
moaning : making a low mournful sound ଏକ କମ୍ ଶୋକର ଶବ୍ଦ ଶୁଣିବା
feebly: slowly (ଧୀରେ ଧୀରେ)
intently : eagerly ଉତ୍ସାହର ସହିତ
executed : punished by death ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦଣ୍ଡିତ
ambush : hiding ଲୁଚି
restore : to give back ଫେରାଇବାକୁ

Think it out :

Question 1.
Where did the king meet the hermit? How did the hermit receive the king?
Answer:
The king clad in simple clothes met the hermit in the wood which was his permanent abode. The hermit’s meeting was only confined to the common folk. However, he received the king as usual. There was not a touch of extra-ordinariness about it. After greeting the king, the hermit kept on digging the ground in front of his hut.

Question 2.
How did the king help the hermit?
Answer:
The king saw the hermit digging the ground single-handedly. The old man was weak and frail and skinny. He seemed exhausted. The king took pity on him and kind as he was, he wished to lend a helping hand to the holy man. He took the spade from him and dug the ground himself. Thus, the king helped the hermit.

Question 3.
How did the king nurse the wounded stranger?
Answer:
As soon as the king saw the wounded stranger, he along with the hermit opened his clothing. He carefully washed and bandaged the large wound in his stomach with his handkerchief, yet the blood kept on flowing. Therefore, the king again and again removed the bandage soaked with blood, and washed and bandaged it once again. At last blood stopped flowing. The injured man came to his senses and asked for water. The king rose to the occasion. At last, he along with the hermit carried the wounded stranger to the hut.

Question 4.
Why did the wounded person desire to serve the king as his most faithful slave?
Answer:
The wounded man was a die-hard enemy of the king. The king had executed his brother and confiscated his property. So the man wanted to take revenge by killing the king while he was paying visit to the hermit alone. But the way with which the king nursed him and saved his life moved the man. It was unbelievable. The hostility he had nurtured for the king vanished. His heart was filled with repentance. Therefore, the wounded person desired to serve the king as his most faithful servant

Unit: III

Gist :
The king wanted to return to the palace. He again approached the hermit seeking answers to his questions. But the holy man replied smilingly that he had already had his answers. The right time is the time which is ‘now’, the right work is the work before you and the right person is the one with whom you are. The most important affair is to do good to the man who needs your help at the moment. The king understood everything. He took up the work that the holy man had been doing and that work and that time were the most important ones. The hermit who was before him was the most important man needing his care and attention.

Glossary :
taken leave of : ଛୁଟି
wounded : ଆହତ
injured : ଆହତ
porch : a covered entrance to a house ଗୋଟିଏ ଘରର ଆଚ୍ଛାଦିତ ପ୍ରବେଶ
sowing : scattering seeds over ବୁଣିବା
pitied : showed pity ଦୟା
attended to : treated ଚିକିତ୍ସିତ
made peace : ଶାନ୍ତି ସ୍ଥାପନ କଲା
dealings : treatment କାରବାର
that…. life ତାହା …. ଜୀବନ: God had sent man into this life for the welfare of all ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ପାଇଁ man ଶ୍ବର ମନୁଷ୍ୟକୁ ଏହି ଜୀବନରେ ପଠାଇଥିଲେ

Think it out:

Question 1.
How did the hermit answer the king’s questions?
Answer:
Before taking leave of him, the king again asked the hermit to answer his three questions, but he was told that he had already been answered. The most important time for him the day before was when he was digging the bed, the most important man was the hermit. Afterwards when he attended to the wounded stranger that was the right time, the stranger the right man and the help given was the most important work otherwise the injured man would have died. Therefore the right time is always the present time, the most important man is one whom one deals with at that time and the right occupation is to help others.

Question 2.
Was the king satisfied with the hermit’s answers? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer:
The king was greatly satisfied with the hermit’s answers. Each answer the hermit gave to his questions was relevant. For instance, the enemy would have killed the king, had he not digged the ground and consequently, staying with him. The hermit’s focus on ‘now’ impressed him most. The king was satisfied, when the hermit wanted him to do good to the man of that moment is the most important affair, because
God has created man only for this purpose.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Three Questions Important Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone. When the King approached, the hermit was digging the gound in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily. The King went up to him and said : “I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time ? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest ? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention ?” The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.
“You are tired,” said the King, “let me take the spade and work awhile for you.”
“Thanks !” said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.
When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his questions.
The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said: “Now rest awhile and let me work a bit.”
But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the king at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said :
“I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home.”
“Here comes some one running,” said the hermit, “let us see who it is.”
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach.
Questions :
(i) Throw light on the hermit.
(ii) What picture of the king do you find in the extract?

Answers :
(i) The hermit lived in a forest. He was very fond of this place. He identified himself with the common man and shared their feelings. Against this backdrop, he received none except the common folk. He was the epitome of great values. He cordially greeted the king clad in common clothes, the hermit was thin and weak. He believed in the philosophy of duty. In spite of being physically weak, he was digging the soil with a spade. In him, the king found a wise man. He was interested to ask his questions to the hermit.

(ii) The extract presents the king in a bright light. He is averse to exhibiting his royal glamour. He was simple to the core. He meets the hermit, putting on simple clothes. He understands the feelings of the hermit. He is a kindhearted person. He cannot stand the sight of the hermit digging the soil with a spade. The king takes the tool from him and performs his work. Despite everything, his curiosity to ask his questions to the hermit and find answers does not diminish. The king also shows kidness to the injured bearded man.

Question 2.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet, but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep- so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.
“Forgive me !” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.
“I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the King.
“You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me !” The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.

Questions :
(i) What made the king enjoy a sound sleep?
(ii) Describe the meeting between the injured person and the king.

Answers :
(i) The king came forward to relieve the wise hermit of his work, because the latter was thin and weak. He did not allow the hermit to go on digging with the spade. The king requested him to give him the spade. He kept on doing his work. The hermit want him to take rest, but in vain. In the meanwhile. a bearded person came running out of the wood, with blood gushing from the stomach. The king and the hermit rose to the occasion. At last, they helped him carry to the hut. Walk and work made the king dog-tired. At last, he fell a sound sleep.
(ii) The king learnt that the bearded man was his enemy, because of his act of executing his brother and seizing his property. Knowing that he had come alone to meet the hermit, the man had promised to slay him. On the way his soldiers recognised him and attacked him. But for the king’s compassion, he would have been bled to death. Again, the man expressed his wish to serve the king and be his most trusted servant, and begged the king’s forgiveness. The king was glad to establish peace with his enemy and promised to give his property back.

Question 3.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.
The King approached him, and said:
“For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.”
“You have already been answered !” said the hermit, still crouching on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.
“How answered? What do you mean ?” asked the King.
“Do you not see,” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitied my weakness
yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds, and I was the most important man, and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business. Remember then : there is only one time that is important Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life !”

Questions :
(i) How was the king’s life saved?
(ii) What idea of the writer’s message do you get in the extract?

Answers :
(i) Kind hearted as the was, the king took pity on the hermit and wished to lend him a helping hand. He took the spade from the hermit and dug the ground till sunset. If he had not stayed with the holy person and gone away, he would have attacked by his enemy, who resolved to kill him. Because of his kindness and helpful nature his life was saved.
(ii) This extract forms the essence of the story ‘Three Questions”. Tolstoy here conveys a very salutary message to mankind. His emphasis on ‘now’ is a case in point. Man’s present moment always needs a careful attention. The writer brings home another fact that man’s life on this earth should not be meaningless. God has created him to serve mankind. Man should not lose sight of this fact.

Introducing the Author
Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), a great moral teacher of recent times, was an eminent writer and thinker of Russia. In 1879, he underwent a spiritual transformation which he has described in his ‘Confession’. He was a staunch believer in God: his love for men was matchless. His amazing creativity finds expression in his books novels, plays and exhortations. His writings were censored, but nothing could stop him from preaching the virtues of self-purification, love and compassion for all forms of life. He had a great impact on Gandhiji, the sage-politician of India. His short stories are remarkable for great moral conviction and deep religious spirit. The style is simple and is packed with realistic details and colloquial diction purged of all rhetoric.

About the Story
Tolstoy’s ‘Three Questions’ gives us a piece of practical wisdom. It prescribes for man three moral ways of living. The scriptural persuasiveness of tone accounts for its impact and appeal. We are ever in need of guidance and wisdom to know the right way and time to do the right thing with the right person. But man is often at a loss to know this. So he gropes in moral and spiritual darkness and in his confusion and bewilderment does the wrong things detrimental to him and the society as well. Faced with such a situation, a king had to go to a hermit in the guise of a common man where he had to do hard work, spend the night and know things the hard way. As a reward, however, the answers he found were fully satisfactory and convincing.

Summary
Once, a king was in a pensive and reflective mood. He was racking his brain to find apt answers to three important questions – how to know the right time to do the right thing* how to know who the right people were to listen to, and what was the most important things to do. He thought that if he got answers to these tricky questions he could conduct his affairs smoothly and wisely.

Many learned people came to the palace to answer these questions. But the king found their answers quite unsatisfactory. The answers were various and even contradictory. In reply to the first question, some said that the king ought have to draw up a table of days, months and years and live strictly according to it. Others suggested that he should abandon idle pastimes and the habit of procrastination. In reply to the second question, the answers were equally confusing.

Some said that a council of wise men must be handy for ready consultation. Yet others suggested that the help of a magician ought to be sought in this regard. To the third question, as to what was the most important work or occupation, some replied that it was science; others said it was skill in warfare or religious worship. The king could agree with none of them. So he sought the advice of a learned sage living in a wood. The king went to the holy hermit in the guise of a common man. When he reached the hermitage, he saw the skinny hermit digging a hole. He was in sweats. The king asked him the three questions and begged him to answer them. But the hermit paid little heed to the king’s repeated queries. He went on digging till he was damn tired.

The king offered to dig the hole himself. The hermit handed over the spade to the king and took rest. The king dug and dug till it was night. The hermit was as silent as before. At this moment, a wounded man came running. The hermit and the king nursed him. The king bandaged his wound and forgot all about his questions. They carried the wounded man inside and laid him on the bed. The man fell silent. He seemed to have felt better. The king was so tired that he too fell asleep on the threshold. When he woke up, he saw that the wounded man was fixing his gaze on him. The identity of the wounded man was revealed.

He was a die-hard enemy of the king, who had followed him to kill him on his way to the hermitage. But as the king was detained long at the hermitage, he came out of his hide and was wounded mortally by the king’s bodyguards. The man apologised to the king and swore to be his faithful slave the rest of his life. The king was happy to know that he had won over his enemy with such ease. The king took leave of the wounded man and before leaving the hermitage, approached the hermit again.

He was now disgusted with the holy man’s puzzling silence. When he asked the questions for the last time, the hermit replied that he had already got the answers. The king was startled. But the holy man explained to him that the right time was the time at hand. It was ‘now’ which was most important. The king took pity on the hermit and helped him in the work. For him, that time was the most opportune one and that work was the most important one. The hermit was the most necessary man at that time. The most necessary man is he with whom one is at the moment and the most important affair is, to do him good. Man is sent into this life to serve his fellow beings. The king got his answers and returned to the palace wiser and more enlightened.

ସାରାଂଶ :

ଲିଓ ଟଲ୍‌ଷ୍ଟୟଙ୍କଦ୍ବାରା ରଚିତ ଉକ୍ତ କ୍ଷୁଦ୍ରଗଳ୍ପଟିରେ ମଣିଷମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଉପଦେଶ ପ୍ରଦାନ କରାଯାଇଅଛି । ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ମଣିଷ ଆପଣାର ଜୀବନ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବହୁ ଘାତ ପ୍ରତିଘାତର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହୋଇ ଭୂଲୁଣ୍ଠିତ ହେବାବେଳେ ଭାବିବସେ ଯେ ଯଦି ସେ ସଫଳତା ହାସଲ କରିବାର ଉପାୟ ଓ କଳାଟିକୁ ଜାଣିପାରନ୍ତା, ସେ ହୁଏତ ଆପଣାର ଜୀବନଟିକୁ ସରସ, ସୁନ୍ଦର ଓ ଋଦ୍ଧିମନ୍ତ କରିପାରନ୍ତା । ସେ ଜାଣେନାହିଁ ଯେ ସାଫଲ୍ୟର ଚାବିକାଠି ତା’ର ହାତ ପାହାନ୍ତାରେ, ତା’ର ଚେତନାର ଉପର ସ୍ତରରେ – ଖାଲି ଯାହା ତାହାର ଦୃହକ୍ଳିଷ୍ଟ, ବିକ୍ଷୁବ୍‌ଧ ମାନସିକତା ଯୋଗୁଁ ସେ ଏବେ ବି ଅଜ୍ଞାନ ଅନ୍ଧକାରରେ ଆଚ୍ଛନ୍ନ, ମରୀଚିକାର ପଛରେ ନିୟତ ଧାବମାନ ।

ଏକଦା ଜଣେ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ମନେହେଲା ଯେ ଯଦି ସେ ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ପାଇପାରନ୍ତେ, ତେବେ ସେ କେବେହେଲେ ବିଫଳତାର ଗହ୍ଵରରେ ପତିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତେ ନାହିଁ । ପ୍ରଥମ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ – କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବାର ପ୍ରକୃଷ୍ଟ ସମୟ କ’ଣ ? ଦ୍ଵିତୀୟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ – ଉତ୍ତମ ପରାମର୍ଶଦାତା ଓ ଉତ୍ତମ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି କିଏ ଯାହାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ସେ ନିର୍ଭର କରିପାରିବେ ଏବଂ ଯାହାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସେ ଆପଣାକୁ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କରିପାରିବେ ? ତୃତୀୟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ – ସର୍ବୋତ୍କୃଷ୍ଟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟଟି କ’ଣ ? ଯଥା ସମୟରେ ରାଜ୍ୟସାରା ଡେଙ୍ଗୁରା ଦିଆଗଲା । ଯେଉଁ ବିଜ୍ଞବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଏହି ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଇପାରିବେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ବିପୁଳ ଭାବରେ ପୁରସ୍କୃତ କରାଯିବାର ଘୋଷଣା କରାଗଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ ହାୟ, ଅନେକ ବିଜ୍ଞବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ପୁରସ୍କାର ଲୋଭରେ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଦେବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟାକଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରାଜା କୌଣସି ଉତ୍ତରରେ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ । ଭିନ୍ନ ଭିନ୍ନ ବିଜ୍ଞବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଭିନ୍ନ ଭିନ୍ନ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ ।

ପ୍ରଥମ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କିଏ ଉପଦେଶ ଦେଲେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଉତ୍ତମ ପଞ୍ଜିକାରୁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାରମ୍ଭର ସଠିକ୍ ତିଥି, ବାର, ନକ୍ଷତ୍ର ଜାଣିବାକୁ ତ ଅନ୍ୟ କେତେକ ବେଶ୍ ଦାର୍ଶନିକ ଭାବରେ ଉପଦେଶ ଦେଲେ ଯେ ରାଜା ଆଳସ୍ୟର ବଶବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ନ ହୋଇ ଯେଉଁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯେତେବେଳେ କରିବାର କଥା ତାହା ଯଥାଶୀଘ୍ର ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରିବା ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍କର । ସେହିଭଳି ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କିଏ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ମନ୍ତ୍ରିପରିଷଦ ଉତ୍ତମ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦେଇପାରିବେ ବୋଲି କହିଲେ ତ ଆଉ କେତେକ ରାଜପୁରୋହିତ କିମ୍ବା ରାଜବୈଦ୍ୟ କିମ୍ବା ସୈନ୍ୟସାମନ୍ତ ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ବା ପରାମର୍ଶଦାତା ବୋଲି ଘୋଷଣା କଲେ । ତୃତୀୟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କିଏ ଜ୍ଞାନାର୍ଜନ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୃତ୍ତି ବୋଲି କହିଲେ ତ ଆଉ କିଏ ଯୁଦ୍ଧବିଗ୍ରହ କିମ୍ବା ଧାର୍ମିକ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନମାନ ଉତ୍ତମ ବୃତ୍ତି ବୋଲି କହିଲେ । ସୁତରାଂ ରାଜା ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର କୌଣସି ସଠିକ୍ ସନ୍ତୋଷଜନକ ଉତ୍ତର ପାଇପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ଜିଜ୍ଞାସା ପ୍ରବଳରୁ ପ୍ରବଳତର ହେଲା । ପରିଶେଷରେ ରାଜା ରାଜ୍ୟର ଏକ ଅରଣ୍ୟର ନିକାଞ୍ଚନ ପରିବେଶରେ ଏକ କୁଟୀରରେ ରହୁଥ‌ିବା ଜଣେ ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ସାଧୁଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ପାଇବାପାଇଁ ଛଦ୍ମବେଶରେ ଗଲେ ।

ସାଧୁଙ୍କ ବାସସ୍ଥାନର ଅନତି ଦୂରରେ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଅଙ୍ଗରକ୍ଷକମାନେ ରହିଲେ । ରାଜା ଘୋଡ଼ାରୁ ଓହ୍ଲାଇ ଏକ ସାଧାରଣ ଜନତାର ଛଦ୍ମବେଶରେ ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟିବାକୁ ଗଲେ । ଯେତେବେଳେ ରାଜା ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟିଲେ, ସେତେବେଳେ ସେହି ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ଆପଣାର କୁଟୀରର ବାହାର ପ୍ରଦେଶରେ ମାଟି ହାଣି ଏକ ଶସ୍ୟପଟାଳି ତିଆରି କରିବାରେ ବ୍ୟସ୍ତ ଥା’ନ୍ତି । ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଶରୀର ତାଙ୍କର କଠିନ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଅନୁପଯୁକ୍ତ ଥିଲେ ବି ସାଧୁ ନିର୍ବିକାର ଭାବରେ ମାଟି ଖୋଳି ଚାଲିଥା’ନ୍ତି । ରାଜା ଖୁବ୍ ବିନମ୍ରତାର ସହ ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ ନିଜର ଆସିବାର ଅଭିପ୍ରାୟ ଜଣାଇଲେ ଏବଂ ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଦେବାପାଇଁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ସାଧୁଜଣଙ୍କ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ଶୁଣି ନ ଶୁଣିବାର ଅଭିନୟ କଲେ ଏବଂ ପୂର୍ବବତ୍ ମାଟିଖୋଳା କାମରେ ଲାଗିପଡ଼ିଲେ । ଦୟାଳୁ ରାଜା ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିବାପାଇଁ ନିଜେ ମାଟି ଖୋଳିବାରେ ଲାଗିଲେ ଓ ସାଧୁଜଣଙ୍କ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ନେବାପାଇଁ ବସିପଡ଼ିଲେ । ଘଣ୍ଟା ଘଣ୍ଟା ଧରି ରାଜା ଶସ୍ୟପଟାଳି ହାଣି ଚାଲିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସାଧୁ ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ ନାହିଁ ।

ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା ଉପନୀତ । ଦୂରରୁ ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ବିକଳ ଚିତ୍କାର କରି ଦୌଡ଼ିଆସି ସାଧୁ ଓ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଭୂପତିତ ହେଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ପେଟରେ ଏକ ବିରାଟ କ୍ଷତ ଏବଂ ସେଥିରୁ ପ୍ରବଳ ରକ୍ତସ୍ରାବ ହେଉଥାଏ। ରାଜା ଓ ସାଧୁ ତା’ର ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ ସେବାଯତ୍ନ କଲାପରେ ଲୋକଟି ସାଷ୍ଟମ ହେଲା । ରାଜା କ୍ଲାନ୍ତ ହୋଇଥିବାରୁ କୁଡ଼ିଆର ଗୋଟିଏ କୋଣରେ ଶୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଲେ । ନିଦରୁ ଉଠିବା ପରେ ସେ ଜାଣିଲେ ଯେ ଯେଉଁ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ସେ ସେବାଶ୍ରୁଶ୍ରୂଷା କରିଥିଲେ ସେ ତାଙ୍କର ଜଣେ ଘୋର ଶତ୍ରୁ ଯିଏକି ତାଙ୍କୁ ମାରିବାପାଇଁ ଅରଣ୍ୟକୁ ଆସିଥିଲା । ଯାହାହେଉ, ସେ ଲୋଟି ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଅନୁତପ୍ତ ଏବଂ ସବୁଦିନ ପାଇଁ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ବିଶ୍ବସ୍ତ ଭୃତ୍ୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବାପାଇଁ ସେ ଶପଥବଦ୍ଧ ହେଲା । ଖୁବ୍ ସହଜରେ ଆପଣାର ଜଣେ ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ ଶତ୍ରୁର ହୃଦୟ ଜୟ କରିପାରିଥିବାରୁ ରାଜା ଆନନ୍ଦିତ ହେଲେ । ତେବେ ଆଉ ବେଶି କାଳ ସାଧୁଙ୍କ କୁଟୀରରେ ରହିବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ନ ଥ‌ିବାରୁ ସେ ଯିବାକୁ ବାହାରିଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ରାଜପ୍ରାସାଦକୁ ଫେରିଯିବା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଶେଷଥର ପାଇଁ ସାଧୁଙ୍କଠାରୁ ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ଆଶାକରି ପୁନଶ୍ଚ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେହି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ପଚାରି ବସିଲେ । ରହସ୍ୟମୟ ହସ ହସି ସାଧୁ କହିଲେ ଯେ ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର କେବେଠାରୁ ପାଇ ସାରିଛନ୍ତି । ଚକିତ ରାଜା ସାଧୁଙ୍କର ଏହି ଇଙ୍ଗିତ ବୁଝି ନ ପାରିବାରୁ ସାଧୁ ବୁଝାଇଦେଲେ ।

ଯେତେବେଳେ ରାଜା ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ ମାଟି ହାଣିବାର ଦେଖ‌ିଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଦୟାପ୍ରକାଶ କରି ତାଙ୍କୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିବାପାଇଁ ନିଜେ ମାଟି ହାଣିଲେ, ସେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅଜ୍ଞାତସାରରେ ଆପଣାର ପ୍ରଥମ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତର ପାଇଗଲେ । କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବାର ପ୍ରକୃଷ୍ଟ ସମୟ ସର୍ବଦା ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ । ତୁମ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଯେଉଁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ, ସେହି ମୁହୂଉଁଟି ହିଁ ସେହି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବାର ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମୁହୂର୍ଭ । ତୁମ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଯେଉଁ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ତୁମର ସାହାଯ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ, ସେହି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ହିଁ ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଏବଂ ସେହି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ସେବା ହିଁ ତୁମର ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୃତ୍ତି । ଠିକ୍ ଯେମିତି ରାଜା ଆହତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ସେବା କରିଛନ୍ତି, ତାହାହିଁ ହେଉଛି ତାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ କର୍ମ, ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତ ରାଜାଙ୍କର ଜ୍ଞାନୋଦୟ ହେଲା। ସେ ତାଙ୍କର ତିନୋଟି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ସନ୍ତୋଷଜନକ ଉତ୍ତର ପାଇ ପ୍ରାଜ୍ଞ ସାଧୁଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଣାମ କଲେ ଓ ସହର୍ଷ ମନରେ ରାଜପ୍ରାସାଦକୁ ଫେରିଆସିଲେ ।