Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 2 Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 5 Childhood Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 5 Childhood
CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Childhood Text Book Questions and Answers
Unit – I
Gist :
Going down the memory lane, Nehru states that his childhood was a dull and protective one. He grow up in an environment where his cousins often talked about arrogant and humiliating manners of the English people towards Indians and the latter’s duty to tolerate it. Besides, they discussed numerous facts connected with the difference between the rulers and the ruled. The author failed to understand anything. In spite of killing an Indian, an Englishman was declared innocent by a jury that comprised his own countrymen. Even the most crowded railway compartment were reserved for the English people. On the other hand, Indians were deprived of getting a seat, although they remained empty. Reservation was avilable for the former so far as benches and chairs in the public parks were concerned. Strangely enough, an Englishman was entitled to possess an unreserved compartment. As a result, the author developed anger towards the foreign rulers of his country. An Indian’s aggressive attack gladdened him. The way one of his cousins treated an Englishman and more frequently with Europeans and Asians is a case in point. Quarrels with them were common in the course of railway journeys in particular. Despite his angry feelings towards the foreign rulers, Nehru had no such feeling against individual Englishmen.
Glossary :
related: connected (ସଂଯୁକ୍ତ)
sheltered : protected (ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ)
uneventful : dull (କୁଣ୍ଠିତ)
overbearing : arrogant, proud (ଅହଂକାରୀ, ଗର୍ବୀ)
Eurasians : Europeans and Asians (ଇଉରୋପୀୟ ଓ ଏସୀୟ)
Instances: cases (ମାମଲା)
conflicts : difference (ପାର୍ଥକ୍ୟ)
acquitted : not found guilty (ଦୋଷୀ ସାବ୍ୟସ୍ତ ହୋଇନାହିଁ )
filled with : full of (ପୂର୍ଣ)
resentment : anger (କ୍ରୋଧ)
alien : foreigner (ବିଦେଶୀ)
infrequently : occasionally (ବେଳେବେଳେ)
encounters : meeting (ସଭା)
pick : start (ଆରମ୍ଭ କର)
oneness : unity (ଏକତ୍ଵ ଭାବ; ଏକତା)
offensive : rude (ଅଭଦ୍ର)
resent: hate (ଘୃଣା)
in my heart : sincerely (ଆନ୍ତରିକତାର ସହିତ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
Why did Nehru resent the behaviour of Englishmen in general in India?
Answer:
The English people treated Indians with disdain and arrogance. In spite of killing an Indian, they were declared innocent by a jury of their own countrymen. Reservations in railway trains, were meant only for English people, however crowded they might be. Indian people were deprived of travelling in them, in spite of remaining empty. Seats even in unreserved compartment were not allotted to them, but to an Englishman. Reservation concerning benches and chairs in public parks was meant for EuropeAnswer: His cousins talked about these facts and he listened to them as a child. Therefore, Nehru resented the behaviour of Englishmen in general in India.
Question 2.
How did he feel about the individual Englishman in India?
Answer:
In spite of resentment against the presence and unjust behaviour of the British government, Nehru didn’t have any feeling of animosity against individual Englishmen. English Governess took care of Nehru. At time he saw, the presence of English friends of his father’s calling on him. He rather heartily admired the English.
Unit -II
Gist :
Nehru recollects how their house echoed with his father’s roaring laughter that became famous in Allahabad. It happened when he was in a relaxing mood after the friends left his house. Sometimes curiosity led the writer to peep and understand the conversations of these great people. If he was seen doing so, he forcibly taken to the room. Fear seized him. His father made him sit on his knee for a while. Once he caught sight of his father and his friends drink whisky. He rushed to his mother, horrorstricken and told her that his father was drinking blood. The author deeply loved his father. To him, he was the epitome of strength and courage and cleverness, eclipsing all other men. The author had witnessed his father losing his temper at servants and others. To him, his father seemed to be ferocious at that time. The way he treated a servant made him tremble in fear, blended sometimes with anger. Nevertheless, his father was endowed with a sense of humour, a strong will and self-control. When he became old, his devastating temper abated in a great measure.
Glossary:
resound : echo (ଇକୋ)
Tremendous : profound (ବିରାଟ)
peep: Look quickly and furtively (ଶୀଘ୍ର ଏବଂ ଚତୁରତାର ସହ ଦେଖ)
embodiment: a typical living example (ଏକ ସାଧାରଣ ଜୀବନ୍ତ ଉଦାହରଣ)
treasure (v) : to keep something as extremely valuable (ଧନ)
shivered : trembled (ଥରି ଉଠିଲା)
fright : fear (ଭୟ)
iron : very strong (ବହୁତ ଶକ୍ତିଶାଳୀ)
indulge in : to do something that one likes (କିଛି କରିବାକୁ ଯାହା ପସନ୍ଦ କରେ)
Think it out :
Question 1.
How did Nehru’s father spend his evenings in Allahabad?
Answer:
Nehru’s father usually spent his evenings in the midst of his friends in his house. He relaxed with them after the day’s stress. The house would echo with his roaring laughter. His laugh carved out a name for itself in Allahaband. Nehru’s father
enjoyed drinking whisky with his friends.
Question 2.
How does Nehru express his admiration for his father?
Answer:
Nehru admires his father profusely. To him, his father was the epitome of strength, courage and cleverness. He was superior to all in these respects. He cherished the hope that he would be like him in future. In spite of possessing devastating temper, his father possessed a strong sense of humour and a determined will. With the growth of age, his father’s temper abated.
Unit -III
Gist :
Nehru remembers how he felt a prey to his father’s terrible ill-temper, when he was about five or six. One day he greedily looked at two fountain-pens on his father’s office table. Debating with himself that his father would not need both of them at the same time and this prompted him to take one. Later a mighty search for it was on. Nehru grew panicky at his guilt, but he did not confess it. They found out the pen. The author’s wrong deed came to light before everybody. The author was given a terrible thrashing. He wilted under severe pain and utter shame. Mother was the source of solace to him at that’moment, but he had not any grumbling for his father for inflicting punishment on him. His admiration and affection for him remained as strong as ever, but fear was always there. He never feared his mother, because she would always approved him for anything he did. Because of her overwhelming love for him, Nehru tried to influence her a bit. He confided everything to his mother, but never to his father. He praised his mother’s beauty and loved her astonishingly small and beautiful hands. Nehru’s mother hailed from Kashmir.
Glossary :
recollections : memory (ସ୍ମୃତି)
victim : prey (ଶିକାର)
mighty : massive (ବିରାଟ)
got frightened : got panicky (ଭୟଭୀତ ହେଲା)
confess : admit (ସ୍ୱୀକାର କର)
proclaim (v) : declare (ଘୋଷଣା କର)
mortification : shame (ଲଜ୍ଜା)
disgrace : dishonour (ଅପମାନ)
quivering : trembling (କମ୍ପିତ)
aching : injured (ଆହତ)
ill-will : bad intention (ଖରାପ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ)
admiration : praise (ପ୍ରଶଂସା)
condone : approve anything (କ୍ଷମା କରିବା)
indiscriminating : overwhelming (ପ୍ରକମ୍ପିତ)
confide : have confidence (ଆତ୍ମବିଶ୍ୱାସ ରଖନ୍ତୁ)
petite : small, thin, attractive (ଛୋଟ, ପତଳା, ଆକର୍ଷଣୀୟ)
dominate : influence (ପ୍ରଭାବ)
amazingly : astonishingly (ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ୟ୍ୟଜନକ ଭାବେ)
Think it out
Question 1.
Narrate briefly how Nehru became a victim of his father’s temper. What was the effect of this incident on him?
Answer:
When he was about five or six, Nehru caught sight of two fountain-pens on his father’s office table and looked at them greedily. He debated with himself if his father would use both at the same time. So he took one of them, Later his family made a massive search for the lost pen. Nehru got panicky, but didn’t admit his guilt. The pen was found out. Father burst into anger and inflinced a severe blow on him. Nehru suffered pain and shame. Mother applied various creams and ointments to his aching and trembling body.
Question 2.
What impression of Nehru’s mother do you get from this unit?
Answer:
This unit presents Nehru’s mother in a bright light. She was a forgiving woman. She approved everything Nehru did in his childhood, because of her abundant and overwhelming love for him. He told everything to his mother, as she seemed closer to him. Nehru’s mbther was thin, short and attractive. He praised her beauty and loved her astonishingly small and beautiful hands and feet. Nehru’s mother hailed from Kashmir.
Unit -IV
Gist :
The author cherishes the memory of his father’s Munshi Mubarak Ali, who hailed from a rich family of Badaun that had met with ruin and partial destruction as a result of the Rebellion of 1857 and the English troops respectively. This tragedy made Mubarak gentle and patient with everybody and with children in particular. In him, Nehru found a safe shelter in his moments of sorrow or trouble. In Nehru’s childhood, he seemed to be a picture of very ancient and full of knowledge of the past. Mubarak was a great story-teller. When Nehru grew up, his trustworthy Mubarak Ali was no more. He listened to the stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata narrated by his mother and aunt and this contributed to Nehru’s knowledge of Indian folkfore and mythology during his childhood.
Glossary:
confidant: trusted person (ବିଶ୍ୱସ୍ତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି)
well-to-do : rich (ଧନୀ)
exterminate (v) : destroy (ବିନାଶ କର)
affliction : suffering (ଦୁଃଖ କଷ୍ଟ)
forbearing : patient ରୋଗୀ
haven : safe place (ନିରାପଦ ସ୍ଥାନ)
refuge : shelter (ଆଶ୍ରୟସ୍ଥଳୀ)
ancient : old (ପୁରାତନ)
lore : knowledge (ଜ୍ଞାନ)
snuggle up : get closer (ନିକଟତର ହେବା)
innumerable : countless (ଅଗଣିତ)
Arabian Nights : Thousand One Night’s Tale of the Arabian Nights (ଥାଉଜେଣ୍ଡ ବାନ ନାଇଟ୍ସ ଟେଲ ଅଫ ଦ ଆରବିଆନ୍ ନାଇଟ୍ସ)
precious : valuable (ମୂଲ୍ୟବାନ)
possession : treasure (ରତ୍ନଭଣ୍ଡାର)
inexhaustible : never-ending (ଚିରନ୍ତନ)
Think it out :
Question 1.
How does Nehru cherish the memory of Mubarak Ali?
Answer:
Mubarak Ali, his father’s Munshi, and Nehru’s one of the early trustworthy persons, came from a rich family. Unfortunately, the Rebellion of 1857 ruined his family and the English troops had partially destroyed it. In spite of great suffering, Mubarak never lost his heart. This tragedy made him gentle and patient with everybody. He was a source of consolation to Nehru’s trouble. He was a remarkable story-teller and the narrator of the painful happenings in 1857 and 58. When Nehfu grew up, Mubarak was no more.
Question 2.
How did Nehru acquire the knowledge of Indian folklore and mythology during his childhood?
Answer:
Nehru was fortunate to listen to stories from the old Hindu mythology during his childhood. Besides, he lent his years to the epics such as, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. His mother and aunt always narrated these stories to him. Nehru’s aunt, the widow of Pandit Nand Lai, possessed a vast knowledge of old indian books. She knew stories that knew no end. In this way, Nehru acquired the knowledge of Indian folklore and mythology during his childhood.
Unit -V
Gist :
Nehru did not have clear ideas of religion during his childhood. Father and his older cousins dealt with it very lightly. Nehru rather enjoyed various religious ceremonies performed by the women of the family. Sometimes he went to the Ganges for a dip with his mother. Sometimes they visited temples in Allahabad and so on. But all this did not greatly influence him. Nehru goes back to his childhood days when festivals such as, the Holi, the Divali, the Janamsthami were celebrated with pomp and grandeur. The Muslims also celebrated the Mohurrum. The two Id days found their Munshiji in the big mosque for prayers. He was elegantly dressed. The author was nicely treated in his house. Most of the other Hindus did not observe some special celebrations which were important for the Nehru’s family and other Kashmiris. The Naoraz is a case in point. All of them put on new dresses and the young people were given small amounts of money as tips.
Glossary:
hazy : not clear (ଅସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ)
notions : ideas (ବିଚାର)
casual : temporary (ଅସ୍ଥାୟୀ)
revelry : noisy fun, merrymaking (ହୋ-ହଲ୍ଲା ମଜା, ହୁଳହୁଳି)
squirt : sprinkle (ସିଞ୍ଚନ କରିବା)
lit up : lighted (ଆଲୋକିତ)
conquest : victory (ବିଜୟ)
assembled : gathered (ଏକତ୍ରୀତ)
attire : dress (ବେଶଭୂଷା)
dainties : tasty food (ସୁସ୍ୱାଦୁ ଖାଦ୍ୟ)
tips : to give a small amount of money (ଅଳ୍ପ କିଛି ଟଙ୍କା ଦେବା ପାଇଁ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
How does Nehru recall the religious atmosphere in his home during his childhood?
Answer:
Nehru had hazy ideas of religion during his childhood. Father and his older cousins treated the matter in a lighter vein. Nevertheless, some sort of religious atmosphere prevailed in his family. The women of the family took part in various ceremonies and rituals from time to time. Nehru rather enjoyed it, yet he tried to take a leaf out of the casual attitude of the grown-up men of the family. Sometimes, he go to the Ganges with his mother or aunt for a dip and visited temples in Allahabad or Benares.
Question 2.
How did Nehru family observe various festivals when he was a child?
Answer:
Nehru’s family observed various festivals such as, the Holi, the Divali, the festival of light, the Janamsthami, the Dasehra and Ram Lila, Rakshabandhan, Bhayya Duj and the Naoroz in a very enthusiastic manner. Festivity was in the air, during the Holi and the Divali. They all observed the Holi by sprinkling water at each other and the Divali by lighting their houses with thousands of dim light in earthen cups. The tableaux and processions connected with the Dusehra and Ram Lila attracted multitude of people.
Unit -VI
Gist:
Nehru had great fascination for his birthdays. He enjoyed them to his heart’s content during his childhood. He was the focus of these particular days. Early in the morning he was weighed in a very big balance against some bags packed with wheat and other articles. Then they were given away among the poor. Nehru was clad in clothes. He received gifts. Later, a party took place on the occasion. He felt the central figure of his birthday ceremony. His complaint against this occasion that it did not come all the time. Of course, he tried to revolt for more continuous birthdays. Once he accompanied the whole family went to a distant town to attend a marriage. The journeys were quite enjoyable. The marriage house was packed with many families and as a result, he never felt lonely. These occasions filled all the children’ with great joy.
Glossary:
array: put on a ceremonial dress (ଆନୁଷ୍ଠାନିକ ପୋଷାକ ପରିଧାନ କରନ୍ତୁ)
grievance: complaint (ଅଭିୟୋଗ)
agitation: revolt (ବିଦ୍ରୋହ କରିବା)
advancing: growing (କ୍ରମବର୍ଦ୍ଧିଷ୍ଣୁ)
journeyed: travelled (ଯାତ୍ରା କଲେ)
numerous: many (ଅନେକ)
our … mischief (ଆମର) : Nehru and other children enjoyed playing and doing mischief to the brim
Think it out:
Question 1.
How did Nehru enjoy his birthdays during his childhood?
Answer:
Nehru enjoyed his birthdays to his heart’s content during his childhood. He played the most important part in his birth anniversary. He was full of excitement that day. Early in the morning he was weighed in a very big balance against some bags packed with wheat and other articles and they were given away to the poor. He was clad in new clothes and received gifts. His family hosted a party in the evening.
Question 2.
What was his grievane against this occasion?
Answer:
Nehru’s main grievance against his birthdays during his childhood that they did not come frequently. They occurred so rarely. Of course, he tried to start a revolt for more frequent birthdays. At that time, he was not aware of one stark truth that birthdays signalled the growth of ag
Unit – VII
Gist :
Nehru hits at the extravagant ceremonies in India. The rich and the poor spend lavishly on marriage. It is a mere waste. As a result, they are worthy of blame. Their vulgar show lacks artistic and aesthetic value. The middle classes are most affected. The poor do not mind spending carelessly, they incur heavy loans from the money lenders. Their social customs drive them to a quagmire of poverty. Of course, the poor lead terribly dull and boring lives. An occasional marriage celebration brings them a sort of happiness. In it, they find themselves in a world where life’s toil and tiredness do not exist.
These occasions are a source of consolation in thier miserable existence. Here they laugh and make merry. Nehru wants them to give up such show at any cost. However, he is sympathetic to the poor with regard to their pompous wedding ceremonies. He holds the same attitude towards the middle classes. These marriages make them united socially in a great measure. The poor and middle class people meet their distant relations and old friends after a long time. Vastness of India’s size deprives them of being together so easily. Therefore marriage celebrations have gained popularity.
Glossary:
condemnation : blame (ଦୋଷ ଦେବା)
extravagant : spending a lot of money (ପ୍ରଚୁର ଅର୍ଥ ବ୍ୟୟ କରି ଚଳୁଛନ୍ତି)
display : show (ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରିବା)
aesthetic: showing artistic taste (କଳାତ୍ମକ ରୁଚି ଦେଖାଇବା)
burdensome: hard to bear (ସହିବାକୁ କଷ୍ଟ ହୁଏ)
monotonous : boring (ଅବଶୋଷଣ)
toil: hard work (କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ)
refuge: shelter (ଆଶ୍ରୟସ୍ଥଳୀ)
domesticity: family life (ପାରିବାରିକ ଜୀବନ)
prosaic: uninteresting (ଅନାସକ୍ତ)
lessen: reduce (ହ୍ରାସ କରିବା)
rival: opponent (ପ୍ରତିଦ୍ୱନ୍ଦ୍ୱୀ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
How did Nehru enjoy himself when his family visited relatives living in distant towns to take part in wedding ceremonies?
Answer:
Not necessary. (This unit does not contain the answer.)
Question 2.
How does Nehru view customs of Indian marriages?
Answer:
Nehru’s view on customs of Indian marriages is critical out and out. The rich and the poor, in his opinion, are worthy of blame because of their wasteful and pompous show. They spend a lot of money on marriage ceremonies. Besides, waste, they sometimes seems to be untasteful that lacks artistic value of any sort. It is indeed painful.
Question 3.
Why is he sympathetic to the poor with regard to their extravagant wedding ceremonies?
Answer:
In spite of their extravagant display, the poor’ evoke Nehru’s sympathy. It is true that their poverty is attributed to their social customs. Their life is excessively dull and boring. An occasional marriage brings cheers to their lives. They feast, laugh and make merry on these occasions. They get a respite from their dreary domestic work and hard toil.
Question 4.
What is Nehru’s observation on the brighter side of wasteful marriage ceremonies?
Answer:
Nehru sees the brighter side of wasteful marriage ceremonies. These marriages pave the way for social unions. As a result, distant relations and old friends got a chance to meet each other after a long gap. It is difficult for friends to meet and for many to meet at the same times is more difficult if one takes India’s vast size into account.
Unit – VIII
Gist:
Nehru focusses on the status of Kashmiri women in the society. They never adopted purdah system. They adopted it partially in relation to non-Kashmiris. Their social status was marked by the greater freedom they enjoyed in the society then many others in North India. Kashmiri feats and ceremonies showed a sign of their togetherness. Of course the boys and girls lacked the freedom of modern West. In this way the author’s early life passed. At times his family quarrels reached a dangerous pitch. His father got angry. When these hapenings caught his attention, Nehru felt very sad.
Father’s interference sent shock waves down their spins. The little incident of his childhood lingers in memory. At the age of seven or eight, riding was a daily routine for him. A sawar from a cavalry unit always accompanied him. One evening Nehru fell down and as a result his small horse, a good-looking animal, partly Arab, came back alone to his home. At that time his father \vas hosting a tennis party. A great shocked feeling ran through all and all the party led by his father went in search of him. All kinds of vehicles were pressed into action. They met Nehru on the way and he was given a special treatment.
Glossary:
seclusion : isolation (ବିଚ୍ଛିନ୍ନତା)
prevailing : existing (ପ୍ରଚଳିତ)
inevitable : unavoidable (ଅପରିହାର୍ୟ୍ୟ)
squabble : quarrel (ବାଦବିବାଦ)
assumed unusual proportions : reached a high pitch (ଏକ ଉଚ୍ଚ ପିଚ୍ରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଥିଲେ)
reached…..ears : Nehru’s father heard (ଶୁଣିଲେ ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ବାପା)
disagreebale : unpleasant (ଅରୁଚିକର)
intervention : interference (ହସ୍ତକ୍ଷେପ)
cavalry (ଅଶ୍ୱାରୋହୀ ବାହିନୀ) : in the past, the post of an army consisting of soldiers who rode horses
pony : a small horse (ଏକ ଛୋଟ ଘୋଡା)
pretty : good-looking (ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ)
consternation : a shocked, or worried feeling (ଏକ ଚକିତ, କିମ୍ବା ଚିନ୍ତିତ ଅନୁଭବ)
set out : started (ଆରମ୍ଭ)
deed : work (କାର୍ୟ୍ୟ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
How does Nehru focus on the status of Kashmiri women in the society?
Answer:
Nehru collects those times when the Kashimiri women enjoyed greater status in society. They lived more freely than many other women in North India. They never experienced the isolation of other women. They did not have any veil. They matched the free social life of men and women. Every Kashimiri’s house was open for every Kashmiri. Men and women took part in Kashmiri feasts and ceremonies.
Question 2.
How does he record his adventure with horse-riding during his childhood?
Answer:
Nehru graphically records his adventure with horse-riding during his childhood. At the age of eight he frequently went for a ride in the company of a sawar. One evening, Nehru fell off his good-looking small horse. As a result, it got back home without him. At that time his father was hosting a tennis party. A shocked feeling ran through all and the entire family and party led by his father set out in search of him. They met him on the way. He was accorded a fabulous treatment.
CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Childhood Important Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
In the evenings usually many friends came to visit father and he would relax after the tension of the day and the house would resound with his tremendous laughter. His laugh became famous in Allahabad. Sometimes I would peep at him and his friends from behind a curtain trying to make out what these great big people said to each other. If I was caught in the act I would be dragged out and, rather frightened, made to sit for a while on father’s knee. Once I saw him drinking claret or some other red wine. Whisky I knew. I had often seen him and his friends drink it. But the new red stuff filled me with horror and I rushed to my mother to tell her that father was drinking blood. I admired father tremendously. He seemed to me the embodiment of strength and courage and cleverness, far above all the other men I saw, and I treasured the hope that when I grew up I would be rather like him. But much as I admired him and loved him I feared him also. I had seen him losing his temper at servants and others and he seemed to me terrible then and I shivered with fright, mixed sometimes with resentment, at the treatment of a servant. His temper was indeed an awful thing and even in after years I do not think I ever came across anything to match it in its own line. But, fortunately, he had a strong sense of humour also and an iron will, and he could control himself as a rule. As he grew older this power of control grew and it was very rare for him to indulge in anything like his old temper.
Questions :
(i) Describe Nehru’s childhood memories as outlined in the first part of the extract.
(ii) Throw light on the temper displayed by his Nehru’s father.
Answers :
(i) Nehru’s childhood memories as outlined in the extract were a blend of fear and curiosity. He recollects his father’s roaring laughter in the midst of his friends. Sometimes driven by curiosity, Nehru looked secretly at him and his friend’s from behind a curtain to understand what they were talking. If he was caught while doing so, he was pulled, and fear-stricken, he had to sit for a while on his father’s knee. Nehru had also seen father and his friends drank whisky. He, full of horror, ran to his mother to apprise her of his father’s act of drinking blood.
(ii) Nehru’s father was a man of devastating temper. He had seen his father losing his temper at his servants and others. His treatment of a servant made Nehru tremble in fear. As a result, at times, he was filled with anger at his father. However, his father’s old temper did not last long. With the growth of age, his habit almost became a thing of the past.
Question 2.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
But more than all these festivals I was interested in one annual event in which I played the central part – the celebration of the anniversary of my birth. This was a day of great excitement for me. Early in the morning I was weighed in a huge balance against some bagfuls of wheat and other articles which were then distributed to the poor, and then I arrayed myself in new clothes and received presents, and later in the day there was a party. 1 felt the hero of the occasion. My chief grievance was that my birthday came so rarely. Indeed I tried to start an agitation for more frequent birthdays. I did not realize then that a time would come when birthdays would become unpleasant reminders of advancing age. Sometimes the whole family journeyed to a distant town to attend a marriage, either of a cousin of mine or of some more distant relation or friend. Those were exciting journeys for us, children, for all rules were relaxed during these marriage festivities and we had the free run of the place. Numerous families usually lived crowded together in the shadi-khana, the marriage house, where the party stayed, and there were many boys and girls and children. On these occasions I could not complain of loneliness and we had our heart’s fill of play and mischief, with an occasional scolding from our elders.
Questions :
(i) Nehru enjoyed his birthdays to his heart’s content. Do you agree?
(ii) How did Nehru enjoy himself when his family visited relatives living in distant towns to take part in wedding ceremonies?
Answers :
(i) Yes, Nehru certainly enjoyed his birthdays to his heart’s content. He played the pivotal role in the celebration of the anniversary of his birth. He was full of great excitement on his birthday. A big balance was used to weigh him against some bags packed with wheat and other articles. They were then given away to the poor. Nehru was clad in new clothes and received presents. His family hosted a party. In his moment of happiness and excitement, Nehru forgot that a time would be inevitable when birthdays would be reminders of growing age.
(ii) Sometimes the entire Nehru family went to distant town to take part in a marriage either of his cousin or of some other more distant relation or friend. Nehru and other children found these journeys quite exciting. Those were the occasions when they freely laughed and made merry. There was a crowd of many families living together in the marriage house. Nehru’s enjoyment knew no end in the marriage ceremonies.
Question 3.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Kashmiris have had one advantage over many others in India, especially in the north. They have never had any purdah, or seclusion of women, among themselves. Finding this custom prevailing in the Indian plains, when they came down, they adopted it, but only partly and in so far as their relations with others and non-Kashmiris were concerned. That was considered then in northern India, where most of the Kashmiris stayed, an inevitable sign of social status. But among themselves they stuck to the free social life of men and women, and every
Kashmiri had the free entree into any Kashmiri house. In Kashmiri feasts and ceremonies men and women met together and sat together, though often the women would sit in one bunch. Boys and girls used to meet on a more or less equal footing. They did not, of course, have the freedom of the modern West. So passed my early years. Sometimes, as was inevitable in a large family, there were family squabbles. When these happened to assume unusual proportions, they reached my father’s ears and he was angry and seemed to think that all such happenings were due to the folly of women. I did not understand what exactly had happened but I saw that something was very wrong, as people seemed to speak in a peculiarly disagreeable way or to avoid each other. I felt very unhappy. Father’s intervention, when it took place, shook us all up.
Questions :
(i) What picture of Kashmiri women do you find in the extract?
(ii) Describe Nehru’s recollection of family quarrels during his childhood.
Answers :
Kashmiri women stole a march over many others in north’ India. They enjoyed a greater freedom in the society than those living in this part of the country. They never used any sort of veil among themselves. They only partly adopted this system in interacting with others and non-Kashmiris. On the whole, Kashmiri women enjoyed a great social status. Kashmiri house freely welcomed all, men and women alike. They enjoyed the feasts together. Going down the memory lane, Nehru recollects family quarrels in a large family like his. When these unpleasant happenings took a very ugly turn, they could not go unnoticed. Nehru’s father got angry. He seemed to think that all such happenings were attributed due to the stupidity of women. Nehru failed to make out what exactly took place in the family and this made him sad.
Introducing the Author:
Jawaharlal, independent India’s first Prime Minister, was also one of the finest writers of English prose. Intellectual fervour and statesmanly ferosity seldom go together. He belonged to that galaxy of writers, who are considered to be of vital intellectual dimension. His books, which include Glimpses of World History, The Discovery of India and his autobiography and many letters and speeches, are the proof of his literary skill. He has made a substantial contribution to Enligsh literature. Reading Nehru’s writings produce a kind of intoxication.
About the Story :
Childhood, an extract from Nehru’s autobiography as the title suggests, throws light on Nehru’s memories of childhood. He deals with many things such as, his high regards for his father, religious atmosphere in his house, enjoyment of his birthdays and so on.
Summary :
The topic begins with Nehru’s recollection of the discussions of his cousins. He failed to make out, what they said. But their talks were built around the arrogant and humiliating behaviour of the English rulers towards the people of India. Indians were subjected to blatant injustice of the Englishmen. In Spite of killing an Indian, they were declared innocent by a jury of their own countrymen. Reservations in railway trains, were meant only for Enlgish people, however crowded they might be. Indian people were deprived of travelling in them, in spite of remaining empty.
Seats even in unreserved compartment were not allotted to them, but to an Englishman. Reservation concerning benches and chairs in public parks was meant for EuropeAnswer: His cousins talked about these facts and he listed to them as a child. Therefore, Nehru resented the behaviour of Englishmen in general in India. Despite his hatred for the presence and unjust behaviour of the British government, Nehru didn’t have any feeling of animosity against individual Englishmen. English Governess took care of Nehru. At time he said, the presence of English friends of his father, calling on him. He rather heartily admired the English.
Nehru’s father usually spent his evening in the midst of his friends in his house. He relaxed with them after the day’s stress. The house would echo with his roaring laughter. His laugh carved out a name for itself in Allahaband. Nehru’s father enjoyed drinking whisky with his friends. Nehru admires his father profusely. To him, his father was the epitome of strength, courage and cleverness. He was superior to all in these respects. He cherished the hope that he would be like him in future. In spite of possessing, devastating temper, his father possessed a string sense of humour and a determined will. With the growth of age, his father’s temper abated.
Nehru walking down the memory lane, remembers one painful incident in his life. When he was about five or six, Nehru caught sight of two fountain-pens on his father’s office table and looked at them greedily. He debated with himself if his father would use both at the same time. So he took one of them. Later his family made a massive search for the lost pen. Nehru got panicky, but didn’t admit his guilt. The pen was found out. Father burst into anger and inflicted a severe blow on him. Nehru suffered pain and shame. Mother applied various creams and ointments to his aching and trembling body. Nehru throws light on his mother. She was a forgiving woman. She approved everything Nehru did in his childhood, because of her abundant and overwhelming love for him. He told everything to his mother, as she seemed closer to him. Nehru’s mother was thin, short and attractive. He praised her beauty and loved her astonishingly small and beautiful hands and feet. Nehru’s mother hailed from Kashmir.
Nehru also does not forget to recollect how he cherishes the memory of Mubarak Ali, his father’s Munshi and his own trustworthy person, who came of a rich family. Unfortunately, the Rebellion of 1857 ruined his family and the English troops had partially destroyed it. In spite of great suffering, Mubarak never lost his heart. This tragedy made him gentle and patient with everybody. He was a source of consolation to Nehru’s trouble. He was a remarkable story-teller and the narrator of the painful happenings in 1857 and 58. When Nehru grew up, Mubarak was no more.
Nehru was fortunate to listen to stories from the old Hindu mythology during his childhood. Besides, he lent his years to the epics such as, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. His mother and aunt always narrated these stories to him. Nehru’s aunt, the widow of Pandit Nand Lai, possessed a vast knowledge of old Indian books. She knew stories that knew no end. Therefore, Nehru acquired the knowledge of Indian folklore and mythology during his childhood. Nehru had hazy notions of religion during his childhood. He recalls the religious atmosphere in his home during his childhood. Father and his older cousins dealt with it very lightly. Nerhu rather enjoyed various religious ceremonies performed by the women of the family. Sometimes he went to the Ganges for a dip with his mother.
Sometimes they visited temples in Allahabad and so on. But all this did not greatly influenced him. Nehru’s family observed various festivals such as, the Holi, the Divali, the festival of light, the Janamsthami, the Dasehra and Ram Lila, Rakshabandhan, Bhayya Duj, and the Naoroz in a very enthusiastic manner. Festivity was in the air, during the Holi and the Divali. They all observed Holi by sprinkling water at each other and the Divali by lighting their houses with thousands of dim lights in earthen cups. The tableaux and processions connected with the Dusehra and Ram Lila attracted multitude of people. Nehru had great fascination for his birthdays. He enjoyed his birthdays to his heart’s content. He played the most important part in his birth anniversary. He was full of excitement that day. Early in the morning he was weighed in a very big balance against some bags packed with wheat and other articles and they were given away to the poor. He was clad in new clothes and received gifts.
His family hosted a party on the occasion. In those days, he was not aware of the fact that there would be a time when birthdays would become stark reminders of growing age. Nehru’s main grievance against his birthdays during his childhood that they did not come frequently. They occurred so rarely. Of course, he tried to start a revolt for more frequent birthdays. Nehru hits at the extravagant ceremonies in India. The rich and the poor spend lavishly on marriage. It is a mere waste. As a result, they are worthy of blame. Their vulgar show lacks artistic or aesthetic value. The middle classes are most affected. The poor do not mind spending carelessly, they incur heavy loans from the money-lenders. Their social customs drive them to a quagmire of poverty. Of course, the poor lead terribly dull and boring lives. An occasional marriage celebration brings them a sort of happiness. In it, they find themselves in a world where life’s toil and tiredness do not exist. These occasions are a source of consolation in thier miserable existence. Here they laugh and make merry. Nehru wants them to give up such show at any cost.
However, he is sympathetic to the poor with regard to their pompous wedding ceremonies. He holds the same attitude towards the middle classes. These marriages make them united socially in a great measure. The poor and middle class people meet their distant relations and old friends after a long time. Vastness of India’s size deprives them of being together so easily. Therefore marriage celebrations have gained popularity. Nehru collects those times when the Kashmiri women enjoyed greater status in society. They lived more freely than many other women in North India. They never experienced the isolation of other women. They did not have any veil. They matched the free social life of men and women. Every Kashmiri’s house was open for every Kashmiri people. Men and women took part in Kashmiri feasts and ceremonies. The topic comes to a close with Nehru recording his adventure with horse-riding during his childhood. At the age of eight, he frequently went for a ride in the company of a sawar. One evening, Nehru fell off his good-looking small horse. As a result, it got back home without him. At that time his father was hosting a tennis party. A shocked feeling ran through all and the entire family led by his father set out in search of him. They met him on the way. He was accorded a fabulous treatment.
ସାରାଂଶ :
ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଜବାହରଲାଲ ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ବାଲ୍ୟକାଳ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଘଟଣାବହୁଳ ନଥିଲା । ପରିବାରର ବୟସ୍କ ଲୋକେ ତାଙ୍କ ସମ୍ପର୍କୀୟ ଭାଇଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ହେଉଥୁବାର ସେ ଶୁଣୁଥିଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ କିଛି ବୁଝିପାରୁନଥିଲେ । ବେଳେ ବେଳେ ସେ ଇଂରେଜ ଓ ୟୁରେସିଆମାନଙ୍କର ଦାୟିକପଣିଆ ବିଷୟରେ ଶୁଣିଥିଲେ । ସେମାନେ ଭାରତୀୟମାନଙ୍କୁ କିଭଳି ହେୟ ମନେକରୁଥିଲେ ତାହା ଶୁଣି ବାଳକ ନେହେରୁ ଦୁଃଖାଭିଭୂତ ହେଉଥିଲା । ଶାସକଗୋଷ୍ଠୀ ଓ ଶାସିତମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମଝିରେ ମଝିରେ କଳହ ହେଉଥିବା ବିଷୟରେ ନେହେରୁ ପରିବାରରେ ଆଲୋଚନା ହେଉଥିଲା । ଏହା ଏକ ଅଖ୍ୟାତି ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଘଟଣା ହେଉଥିଲା ଏବଂ ଭାରତୀୟମାନେ ନ୍ୟାୟୋଚିତ ବିଚାରରୁ ବଞ୍ଚିତ ହେଉଥିଲେ ।
ରେଳଗାଡ଼ି ଯେତେ ଭିଡ଼ ହେଉ ପଛକେ ହେଉଥିଲା ଏବଂ ଭାରତୀୟମାନେ ନ୍ୟାୟୋଚିତ ବିଚାରରୁ ବଞ୍ଚିତ ହେଉଥିଲେ । ରେଳଗାଡ଼ି ଯେତେ ଭିଡ଼ ହେଉ ପଛକେ ଇଂରେଜ ୟୁରେସିଆମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ରେଳଡ଼ବା ସଂରକ୍ଷିତ ରହୁଥିଲା ଏବଂ କୌଣସି ଭାରତୀୟଙ୍କୁ ସେ ଡବା ମଧ୍ୟକୁ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିବା ନିଷିଦ୍ଧ ଥିଲା । ଏପରିକି ସଂରକ୍ଷିତ ନଥିବା ଡବାଗୁଡିକ ମଧ୍ୟ ଇଂରେଜମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ବାରା ଦଖଲ କରାଯାଉଥିଲା । ସାଧାରଣ ପାର୍କଗୁଡିକରେ ବେଞ୍ଚ ଓ ଚୌକିଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମଧ୍ୟ ଗୋରାମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସଂରକ୍ଷିତ ରହୁଥିଲା । ଏହିସବୁ ବିଷୟଶୁଣି ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ମନ ଇଂରେଜମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଘୃଣାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହୋଇ ଉଠୁଥିଲା । ଯଦି ସେ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ପାଆନ୍ତି ଯେ, କୌଣସି ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଭାରତୀୟ ଜଣେ ଇଂରେଜ ଲୋକକୁ ମାଡ଼ ଦେଇଛି ସେ ଭାରି ଖୁସି ହେଉଥିଲେ । ବିଶେଷକରି ଯଦି ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ବନ୍ଧୁ ବା ସମ୍ପର୍କୀୟ କେହି ଏପରି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଦଳିତ ହେଉଥିଲେ ତେବେ ତାଙ୍କ ଆନନ୍ଦର ସୀମା କହିଲେ ନସରେ । ୟୁରେସିୟମାନେ ଇଂରେଜମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସମର୍ଥନ କରୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଭାରତୀୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ନାନାପ୍ରକାର କଷ୍ଟ ଦେଉଥିଲେ ।
ନେହେରୁଙ୍କୁ ବାଲ୍ୟକାଳରୁ ଶ୍ଵେତାଙ୍ଗ ବିଦେଶୀ ଶାସକମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଘୃଣାଭାବ ଥିଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ କୌଣସି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷଙ୍କୁ ସେ ଘୃଣା କରୁନଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ପିତାଙ୍କ ଅନେକ ଗୋରାବନ୍ଧୁ ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାରକୁ ଆସୁଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ଜଣେ ଇଂରେଜ ଗୃହଶିକ୍ଷୟିତ୍ରୀ ଥିଲେ । ସାଧାରଣତଃ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କ ପିତାଙ୍କୁ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ବନ୍ଧୁ ଆସୁଥିଲେ । ବହୁ ସମୟ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଆଲୋଚନା ହେଉଥିଲା । ତାଙ୍କ ପିତା ଅଶ୍ଵସ୍ତ ବୋଧ କରୁଥିଲେ । ନେହେରୁ ଲୁଚି ସବୁ ଦେଖନ୍ତି ଓ ଶୁଣନ୍ତି । ଯସି ସେ ଏହି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରତ ବେଳେ ଧରାପଡନ୍ତି ତେବେ ମୋତିଲାଲ ନେହେରୁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ନିଜ କୋଳରେ ବସାନ୍ତି ଓ ସେ ବନ୍ଧୁମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ପିତାଙ୍କ ଆଲୋଚନା ଓ ସୁରାପାନ ମଧ୍ଯ ଦେଖନ୍ତି । ଥରେ ତାଙ୍କ ପିତା ସ୍ଵିସ୍କ ବା ପ୍ଲାରେଟ୍ ଏକ ପ୍ରକାର ନାଲି ସୁରାପାନ କରୁଥିବା ବେଳେ ନେହେରୁ ଦେଖିଲେ ଓ ସେ ଭୀଷଣ ଭୟଭୀତ ହୋଇ ନିଜ ମାତାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଦୌଡ଼ିଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ ଯେ ବାପା ରକ୍ତଦାନ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ।
ନେହେରୁ ନିଜ ପିତାଙ୍କର ବହୁ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରୁଥିଲେ । ବାପା ତାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବଳ, ସାହସିକତା ଓ ଚତୁଋତାର ଅବତାର ଥିଲେ । ବାଳକ ନେହେରୁ ନିଜ ପିତାଙ୍କ ପରି ହେବା ପାଇଁ ଦୃଢ଼ ଆଶା ପୋଷଣ କରିଥିଲେ । ଭକ୍ତି ଓ ପ୍ରଶଂସା ସହ ସେ ବାପାଙ୍କୁ ଭୟ ମଧ୍ୟ କରୁଥିଲେ । ନିଜ ଭୃତ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋତିଲାଲ ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ କ୍ରୋଧ କରୁଥିଲେ । ଏହା ଦେଖ୍ ନେହେରୁ ଭୟରେ ଥରୁଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ବାପାଙ୍କ ପରି କେହି ରାଗୀଲୋକ ସେ ଦେଖୁ ନଥିବା ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ କ୍ରୋଧ ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ତାଙ୍କର ରସିକତା, ଲୌହ ଇଚ୍ଛା ତାଙ୍କୁ ସହଜରେ ଆୟତ୍ତାଧୀନ କରିପାରୁଥିଲା । ବୟସ ଅଧିକ ହେବା ସଙ୍ଗେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ଆତ୍ମସଞ୍ଜମ ଶକ୍ତି ମଧ୍ୟ ବଢିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲା । ବାଲ୍ୟକାଳର ଗୋଟିଏ ଘଟଣା ବିଷୟରେ ସେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ତାଙ୍କର ବୟସ ସେତେବେଳେ ପ୍ରାୟ ପାଞ୍ଚ ବର୍ଷ କି ଛ’ ବର୍ଷ ହେବ ସେ ବାପାଙ୍କ ଅଫିସ୍ ଟେବୁଲ୍ ଉପରେ ଦୁଇଟି ଝରକଲମ ଦେଖୁଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ଲୋଭ ହେଲା । ମନେ ମନେ ବିଚାରିଲେ ବାପା ତ ଥରକେ ଦୁଇଟିଯାକ କଲମ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବେ ନାହିଁ, ତେଣୁ ସେ ଗୋଟିଏ କଲମ ଲୁଚାଇ ନେଇଆସିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ଏକ ବଡ଼ଧରଣର କଲମ ଖୋଜା ଅଭିଯାନ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେଲା । ଏଣେ ନେହେରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିଜ ଦୋଷ ସ୍ଵୀକାର କରୁନାହାନ୍ତି ।
ବାପା ଭୀଷଣ ରାଗି ଗଲେଣି । ଶେଷରେ କଲମ ଧରାପଡ଼ିବାରୁ ବାପା ନେହେରୁଙ୍କୁ ଏକ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚାପୁଡା ଦେଲେ । ଖୁବ୍ ମାଡଖାଇଲେ । ଅନେକ ଦିନ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ କ୍ଷତସ୍ଥାନଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ କ୍ରିମ୍ ଓ’ ଅଏଣ୍ଟମେଣ୍ଟ ବୋଳାଗଲା । ଛୋଟ କୋମଳ ଶରୀରଟା ଖାଲି ଥରୁଥାଏ ନେହେରୁ ନିଜ ମା’ଙ୍କୁ ଖାତିର କରୁନଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ମା’ ତାଙ୍କର ସବୁ ଦୋଷ କ୍ଷମାକରି ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ସେ ନେହେରୁଙ୍କୁ ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ ସ୍ନେହ ଓ ପ୍ରେମ କରୁଥିଲେ । ବେଳେବେଳେ ନେହେରୁ ମା’ଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ହାକିମ କରୁଥିଲେ । ବାପାଙ୍କ ଅପେକ୍ଷା ତାଙ୍କର ଅଧିକାଂଶ ସମୟ ମା’ଙ୍କ ଗହଣରେ କଟୁଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେ ନିଜର ଗୁପ୍ତ କଥା ମା ଙ୍କୁ ହିଁ କହୁଥିଲେ । ନେହେରୁ ନିଜ ମା’ଙ୍କ କ୍ଷୁଦ୍ରାକୃତିକୁ ପସନ୍ଦ କରୁଥିଲେ । ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ଅନ୍ୟଜଣେ ବିଶ୍ବସ୍ତ ବନ୍ଧୁ ଥିଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ପିତାଙ୍କ ମୁନ୍ସୀ ମୁବାରକ ଅଲ୍ଲୀ । ସେ ବଦୌନ ଇଲାକାରୁ ଜଣେ ଧନୀ ପରିବାରରୁ ଆସିଥିଲେ । ୧୮୫୭ ସିପାହୀ ବିଦ୍ରୋହ ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାରକୁ ନଷ୍ଟ କରିପକାଇଲା । ବୃଦ୍ଧ ମୁବାରକ ଅଲ୍ଲୀ ସର୍ବହରା ହେଲାପରେ ବଡ଼ ବିନୟୀ, ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟଶାଳୀ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ନେହେରୁ ଓ ପରିବାରର ଅନ୍ୟପିଲାମାନେ ତାଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଅନେକ କାହାଣୀ ଶୁଣୁଥିଲେ । ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ଯୁବକବେଳେ ମୁସିଜୀଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଘଟିଲା, କିନ୍ତୁ ବହୁକାଳ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ମନରେ ମୁନ୍ସିଜୀଙ୍କ ସ୍ମୃତି ଜାଗ୍ରତ ଥିଲା । ଏହାଛଡା ସେ ହିନ୍ଦୁ ପୁରାଣ ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ଧର୍ମ ବିଷୟରେ ଭଲ ଧାରଣା ନଥିଲା । ତାଙ୍କ ପିତା ଓ ପିତାଙ୍କ ସମ୍ପର୍କୀୟ ବଡ଼ ଭାଇ ଧର୍ମ ପ୍ରତି ବିଶେଷ ଆଗ୍ରହ କରୁନଥିଲେ । ପରିବାରର ମହିଳାମାନେ ନାନାପ୍ରକାର ପୂଜାକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରୁଥିଲେ । ଗଙ୍ଗାରେ ବୁଡ଼ ପକାଇଥିଲେ ।
ବେଳେବେଳେ ନେହେରୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ବୁଡ଼ ପକାଇବାକୁ ଗଙ୍ଗାସାଗର ଯାଉଥିଲେ । ଆହ୍ଲାବାଦ କିମ୍ବା ବନାରସରେ ଥିବା ମନ୍ଦିର ଦର୍ଶନ ପାଇଁ ଯାଉଥିଲେ । କେବେ କେବେ ସେ ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦର୍ଶନ କରୁଥିଲେ କିନ୍ତୁ ଏସବୁ ସତ୍ତ୍ଵେ ସେ ଧର୍ମପ୍ରତି ମନ୍ଦିର ଦର୍ଶନ ପାଇଁ ଯାଉଥିଲେ । କେବେ କେବେ ସେ ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦର୍ଶନ କରୁଥିଲେ କିନ୍ତୁ ଏସବୁ ସତ୍ତ୍ଵେ ସେ ଧର୍ମପ୍ରତି ବିଶେଷ ଆଗ୍ରହ ଦେଖାଇ ନଥୁଲେ କି ସେସବୁର କୌଣସି ପ୍ରଭାବ ତାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ପଡୁନଥିଲା ପଣ୍ଡିତ ନେହେରୁ ନିଜ ବାଲ୍ୟକାଳରେ ଭାରତରେ ପାଳିତ ହେଉଥିବା ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପର୍ବପର୍ବାଣିମାନଙ୍କଦ୍ୱାରା କିଭଳି ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ଓ ଆନନ୍ଦିତ ହେଉଥଲେ ସେ ବିଷୟରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ହୋଲି ପର୍ବ ବେଳେ ସାରା ସହର ଆନନ୍ଦରେ କୋଳାହଳପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେବା ସଙ୍ଗେ ସଙ୍ଗେ ଖେଳ ଏକ ଅପୂର୍ବ ଆନନ୍ଦ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଥିଲା । ଦୀପାବଳୀ, ଜନ୍ମାଷ୍ଟମୀ, ଦଶହରା ଓ ରାମଲୀଳା ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଢ଼େର ଆନନ୍ଦ ଦେଉଥିଲା ।
ସହରର ପିଲାମାନେ ରାମଲୀଳା ମଇଦାନରେ ରାବଣବଧ ଓ ରାମଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ଲଙ୍କା ଆକ୍ରମଣ ଦେଖ୍ ଖୁବ୍ ଆନନ୍ଦିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି । ଏହାଛଡ଼ା ମହରମ ପର୍ବର ଶୋଭାଯାତ୍ରା ଦେଖିବାକୁ ଅନେକ ଲୋକ ସମାଗମ ହେଉଥିଲେ । କାଶ୍ମୀରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଏକ ପର୍ବ ପାଳନ ହୁଏ ଯାହା ଭାରତର ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ପାଳିତ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ । ଏହି ପର୍ବକୁ ‘ନୌରୋଜ’ କୁହାଯାଏ । ସମ୍ବତ ପଞ୍ଜିକାନୁସାରେ ଏହା ନବବର୍ଷ ଦିବସରୂପେ ପାଳିତ ହୁଏ । ନେହେରୁଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମଦିନ ଉତ୍ସବ ଖୁବ୍ ଜାକଜମକରେ ପାଳିତ ହେଉଥିଲା । ତାଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଏକ ଅବଶୋଷ ଯେ ଏହା ବର୍ଷରେ ବହୁବାର ପାଳିତ ନ ହୋଇ ବର୍ଷକୁ ଥରେ ମାତ୍ର ପାଳିତ କାହିଁକି ହେଉଛି । ପିଲାବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମଦିନ ଉତ୍ସବରେ ସେ ଏକ ତରାଜୁରେ ବସୁଥିଲେ । ଅନ୍ୟ ପଟେ ଗହମ ଓ ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟ ଓଜନ କରାଯାଇ ଦରିଦ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବିତରଣ କରାଯାଉଥିଲା ।
ନେହେରୁ ନୂଆ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧୁଥିଲେ, ଅନେକ ଉପହାରମାନ ପାଉଥିବାବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାରର ସଦସ୍ୟମାନେ ବିବାହ ଉତ୍ସବରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେବାପାଇଁ ଦୂରସ୍ଥାନମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯାତ୍ରା କରୁଥିଲେ । ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କ ମନରେ ଆନନ୍ଦର ସୀମା ରହୁନଥିଲା । ନେହେରୁ ଆଡ଼ମ୍ବରପୂର୍ଣ ବିବାହ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ତୀବ୍ର ସମାଲୋଚନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ଧନୀ କିମ୍ବା ଗରିବ ଭାରତୀୟମାନେ ବିବାହ ବ୍ରତାଦି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ପ୍ରଚୁର ଅର୍ଥ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ କରୁଥିଲେ । ମଧ୍ୟବିତ୍ତ ପରିବାର ଓ ନିମ୍ନଶ୍ରେଣୀର ଲୋକମାନେ ଏହି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଅଯଥା ଋଣଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ହୋଇ ସର୍ବସ୍ଟାନ୍ତ ହେଉଥିଲେ । କିନ୍ତୁ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ପରମ୍ପରାରୁ ବାଦ ପଡୁନଥିଲେ । ସମାଜ କ’ଣ କହିଲା, ଲୋକେ କ’ଣ କହିବେ, ଏକଥା ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ସର୍ବହରା କରୁଥିଲା । ଏହାଛଡ଼ା ଭାରତ ଭଳି ଏକ ମହାନ ଦେଶରେ ବନ୍ଧୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କରିବା ଏକ ବ୍ୟୟସାପେକ୍ଷ ବ୍ୟାପାର ।
କାଶ୍ମୀରବାସୀମାନେ ବିଶେଷ କରି ମହିଳାମାନେ ପର୍ଦାପ୍ରଥା ପାଳନ କରୁନଥୁଲେ କି ନିର୍ଜନ ଗୃହରେ ଲୁଚି ରହୁନଥଲେ । ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସ୍ବାଧୀନ ଜୀବନ ପଦ୍ଧତି ପ୍ରଚଳିତ ଥିଲା । ପୁରୁଷ ଓ ମହିଳାମାନେ ଏକତ୍ର ବିବାହ ଆଉ ଉତ୍ସବରେ ରୁଣ୍ଡ ହେଉଥିଲେ । ଏକତ୍ର ବସି ଭୋଜି ସଭାରେ ଖାଇବା ପିଇବା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ହେଉଥିଲା । ବାଳକବାଳିକାମାନେ ଏକାଠି ମିଳିମିଶି ହସଖୁସିରେ ମାତୁଥିଲେ । ପରିଶେଷରେ ନେହେରୁ ବାଲ୍ୟକାଳରେ ଗୋଟିଏ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ଘଟଣା ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରି ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧଟିକୁ ସମାପ୍ତ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସେତେବେଳେ ନେହେରୁଙ୍କୁପ୍ରାୟ ସାତ ଆଠ ବର୍ଷ । ନିଜ ସର ସହ ସେ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟହ ଅଶ୍ଵାରୋହଣ ଶିକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିଲେ । ଦିନେ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାବେଳେ ସେ ଘୋଡ଼ାଉପରୁ ପଡ଼ିଗଲେ ଏବଂ ଘୋଡ଼ାଟା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଏକା ଘରକୁ ଫେରିଲା । ନେହେରୁଙ୍କୁ ନଦେଖୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ବ୍ୟସ୍ତ ହେଲେ । ବାପା ଓ ଅନ୍ୟମାନେ ନାନା ସ୍ଥାନରେ ବାହାରି ଚାରିଆଡ଼େ ଖୋଜିଲେ । ବାଟରେ ଭେଟ ହେଲା ଏବଂ ନେହେରୁ ସତେ ଯେପରି ଏକ ସାହସିକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକରିଛନ୍ତି ସେଭଳି ବ୍ୟବହାର ପାଇଲେ ।