The Ugly Princess
Chapter 13 class - 8th
This is the story
of a beautiful princess who turned into ugly princess because of the witch.
Once there was a
queen and king. The queen's name was Queen Samantha and the King's name was
King Harry. They were a sad couple because a few months after the king and
queen got married, they had a child. Here, it was little different story. The
queen and king had been married for 10 years and they still had no children.
One day, as
Queen Samantha sat sewing Sill: shelf along the beside the window sill, she saw
a shooting bottom eagle of a star in broad daylight.
Oh, my,"
she thought. “It must be a magical star. I'll make a wish.” She did just that.
And you know what she wished for? She wished for a child. A few days later she
gave birth to a baby girl. The kingdom was filled with happiness. King Harry
held a festival in honour of the princess. One of the things in the festival
was to give a name to the child. After the festival was over, Queen Samantha
and king Harry would select a Tame. By the end of the festival, there was quilt
a long list. It took quite a while but finally Queen Samantha and King Harry
decided on Dorothy. It was a beautiful name.
When Dorothy
turned young then, she was for the first time, permitted to go into the woods
all by herself. Now in these very woods, there lived a witch, and a very mean
witch that. Back to our story now. Dorothy was so happy that she danced. She
danced by the crashing creek. She danced into the clearing where the cranky old
witch lived. It so happened that she danced into the witch’s flower bed and
happened to step on a potion flower. To make it make it worse, the witch was
watching the whole thing.
Alacazam! Alackazoo! A very terrible fate shall fall upon
you!" screeched the witch.
At the sound of
the witch's voice, Dorothy spun around, screamed and ran. She ran out of the
flower bed. She ran out of the clearing. She ran by the crashing creek. By me
time she got home, she was totally out of breath and her dress was torn. What's
happened to you?" asked Queen Samantha. Oh, mother. I'm really sorry. You
see, I was running through the woods, and my dress taught on a bramble,"
said Dorothy.
“No, not that,
child. Don't you ever look in a mirror?” said Queen Samantha. Following her
mother's orders, Dorothy went over to the mirror and looked in. “Oh, my!"
she cried. "It must be the witch's spell! To be ugly!” The princess had
been
very beautiful up until now.
But now she had short hair and buck teeth.
"Harry,"
called Queen Samantha. "Yes,” said king Harry.
"I'd like
you to go into the woods to find the witch,” she said.
"I'm on
it!" answered King Harry. So he rounded up three nights to go with him in
the forest. After a while, they rode past the crashing creek. They rode into
the clearing where the witch lived. They rode up to her yard and halted their
horses. Kit Harry dismounted and walked up to the witch's hut. He knocked on
the hut door. “What do you want?" said the witch. "I'm here to see
that you undo the spell you put on my daughter,” answered kin Harry “Can't undo
it, but she can, by finding someone who loves her. Good bye!” said the witch,
closing the door. King Harry remounted his horse, then turned around ant
started home. When they got home, King Hary spilled the news to his family. "And
she's not even old enough to marry," said the queen, disgusted, once she
heard. Dorothy just cried.
Eight sad
years passed. Soon Dorothy would be turning eighteen. On the day of her
eighteenth birthday, Dorothy was walking in the forest (being very careful not
to into the clearing where the witch lived). As she was walked along, she came
across at ugly prince. “Oh, I'm very sorry,” said Dorothy. “That's Okay,” said
the prince. “What's your name? My name is Henry.” “My name is Dorothy,” said
Dorothy. “You know, you're beautiful,” said Henry.
"Well, you're
handsome," said Dorothy.
“Will you marry me?" asked Henry.
“Sure, if my parents say, yes," answered Dorothy. “Come
on, let's go to my castle.”
When they came to
the king's and queen's chambers, Dorothy said, “May I marry this prince?"
“Sure," was both parents’ responses.
On the wedding day,
when Henry and Dorothy both said, “I do, there was suddenly a gust of wind.
When it had gone, in the place of an ugly princess there was a beautiful
princess. In the place of an ugly prince, there was a handsome prince. Dorothy
and Henry lived happily ever after.
Dal Delight
Chapter 14 class 8th
Read in this
chapter how Sadiq brings Nawab Hasan Ali just in time to eat his father's
special preparation.
Sadiq was
sitting in his father's food shop in the small lane of Lucknow fanning flies
away from a tray of biryani. Suddenly he saw a man in a silk sherwani got down from
a horse 'Looks rich’. Is he coming to: our shop?
Sadiq wondered. Sadiq's father Mohammad
Qadir looked up from the Kebabs he was frying as one of the servants came
forward and said grandly, “Nawab Hasan Ali has come!”
The man in silk
entered, looked around their small shop and said in bored tones, “I hear you
are the famous cook, Mohammad Qadir, I like tasting new dishes. What is your
speciality?" Dal,” said Sadiq's father and went on frying the Kebabs.
Dal?” The nawab looked surprised. “Only dal?” i can make biryani and mutton
curry and all the usual things, but you asked me what i cook the best,"
Qadir replied calmly. But, dal! that doesn't sound very exciting, my friends
praised your cooking so much! expected something better.”
But you haven't
tasted the dall make.” Fine, I'll taste it. What kind of dal you make?”
Urad." "Get me some. Let's see what's special about
it.”
“I haven't got it now." What!" The nawab was
looking angry now. Sadiq realized worried.
only make my shahi
dal urad on order," Qadir said. “It takes me a day to make it with secret
spices.
If your honour so
wishes I'll cook it for tomorrow lunch." All right.” Nawab Hasan Ali gave
in. “I live nearby. You can bring it to my house."
“I'm sorry sir,
but that is not possible,” said Qadir.
Sadiq sighed. His
father lost a lot of customers by being so difficult. Nawab Hasan Ali had never
met such a rude cook, yet he was amused, “What's the problem now?" “Huzoor
to enjoy my dal you will have to come to my shop to taste it. It spoils if it
is taken off the fire. And your honour, once I call, you will have to come
immediately." “Really? What if I'm late?" "I'll throw the dal
away or feed it to poor,” Qadir said as he slid some Kebabs into the hot oil
which began to hiss. Nawab Hasan Ali shook his head. He had never seen a cook
like Qadir. Ah well, he thought; let's taste his dal first maybe it will be
worth the trouble.
“Call me tomorrow
when you are ready," he said and left the shop.
Sadiq, sighed
with relief that the nawab had not his temper and gone away. He knew that
nawabs often gave handsome rewards to cooks if they liked a dish and his father
had nearly spoiled everything. It was lucky the nawab had been in a good mood
and agreed to everything Qadir said.
In the evening
Sadiq went with his father to the market to buy the ingredients for the Shahi
Dal Urad. Only the best would do, of course. All of it had to be fresh and
perfect Sadiq heard in the market that Nawab Hasan Ali had rewarded many cooks
in the past. He hoped nothing would go wrong the next day. You never knew with
his father! Sadiq was at work early next morning helping father-cleaning the
dal, making ghee, grinding turmeric, peeling and chopping onions and ginger.
Then he watched Qadir cook the dal. The smell was mouth-watering. With the dal
Qadir made a light cucumber raita, ming chutney and a dish of cauliflower and
potatoes. Once the nawab sat down to eat he would serve freshly baked hot
tandoori roti and for dessert there were bowls of phirni. Sadiq had sneaked a
quick taste of the dal when his father wasn't looking. It tasted heavenly. It
was those secret spices that made all the difference. The time was right. The
dal in the pot bubbled softly on the stove. The dough was ready to be slapped
into rotis, the raita cooling in an earthen bowl. Qadir turned to his son and
said, "Go call the nawab, son. I'm ready to serve."
Sadiq ran all the
way to the nawab's house. At the door he panted to the servant, “I've come to
call the Nawab Saab to lunch.” The dal is ready.
“Ah, yes Nawab
Saab told me of that. Go up to the roof. He is flying kites there."
Sadiq, puffed
up the stairs to the roof. The nawab and his friends were busy with kites and
rolls of kite string. Sadiq went up to Hasan Ali and saad apologetically, “Sir,
the dal is ready. My father is calling you."
Hasan Ali looked
down at Sadiq and said, “Who?" and then seemed to remember. "Ah yes,
the dal."
One of his
friends laughed. “Forget the dal, look! Your kite is in danger, that green one
is about to cut it."
Hasan Ali
hurriedly pulled his kite away yelling, “Just you wait, green devil! I'll get you!”
“But..."
sadly Sadiq gave up. All his dreams were drifting away. He knew what would
happen, he knew his father's temper.
Drifting away:-
chance of dream coming true were decreasing Sadiq could forget about the
reward. He fell like crying.
Slowly Sadiq walked
home. He looked up to see the nawab's kite flying just overhead. Then he
noticed that his friend Aman was flying a kite from his root top across the lane.
Sadiq got an idea. He went up to his friend...
Soon Sadiq was racing back to the nawab's give
a quick pull and...
“Oh no!"
Hasan Ali groaned in dismay as his kite swooped and fluttered to the ground.
"Your honour," Sadiq said quickly, "the food is waiting. The dal
is delicious." “Oh yes, yes”. The nawab suddenly seemed to remember. “Now
the kites gone, let us eat."
The nawab and
his friends walked with Sadiq. Nearing the shop Sadiq raced ahead, his heart
thumping nervously. “Oh God”, he prayed “don't let my father lose his temper,
please don't let it be too late." "They are coming!” he yelled.
"is everything ready?" "Of course," muttered Qadir.
"What too you so long?" The nawab and his friend entered the shop. A
white cloth, was laid out in the best room with the food in the best bowls on
it. As they sat down on the carpet, Qadir came in with the dal and Sadiq
followed with piping hot and dripping with butter.
is of the heavens:- absolutely delicious rotis, pales before
this:- is nothing compared to this
Nawab Hasan Ali broke a piece of roti, as
Sadiq watched breathlessly, dipped it into the dal, put it in his mouth, chewed
slowly and then his eyes closed, “Ah!” he said louder. "Qadir Mian this
shahi dal urad is of the heavens." have never tasted such dal before even
roast chicken pales before this. You deserve a reward, “Hasan Ali continued.
What would you like?". For the first time that day Mohammad Qadir smiled.
"I would like to a better food shop, your honour-in a big market. Near the
Imambara, may be." "Done!” said Hasan Ali, dipping into the
vegetable. He called one of his servants and waved at Qadir. The servants bowed
low and put a bag full of money in Qadir's hand. “It should be enough if not
ask for more. Now give me some more of your shahi dal and a roti," said
Nawab Hasan Ali.
--Subhadra Sen Gupta
Thank for watching
We will give MCQ I
our next video
Like subscribe and share.
Queen of the Skies
Class 8 th chapter 15
Read the
following interview with India's first woman pilot, Durba Banerjee and find out
what her experiences were.
Interviewer:-
Why did you want to be a pilot when there were no women pilots.
Durba:- In my
time, girls were just becoming
teachers and doctors. I thought I should be completely
different. And I had read a poem as a child about walking the skies and that
had fired my imagination about flying. My father was a liberal,
educated man and always supported me. He encouraged me by saying, “The women in
my family have taught me that girls can do better than men in whatever they
undertake.”
Liberal:- not very closes in outlook but
willing to
Interviewer : When did you start flying?
Durba:- I first, started flying in 1951. I became a
pilot with great difficulty. No one was willing to hire me
because I was a woman. They were scared to be piloted by a woman! Whenever I
went for flying tests in Kolkata, they kept issuing medical certificates saying
my eyesight was not OK. Finally, my instructor suggested that I try my luck in
Delhi. I went there, got a licence and started flying in 1953.
Pestered : keep asking
aerial : attacked by people in aeroplanes
I approached Air Marshall Mukherjee
and
pestered him with endless requests that I be allowed to enter
the Air Force till he wrote to the Director of Air survey to hire me as a
survey pilot. I was paid only Rs 3000 while male pilots earned Rs 22,000. I was
asked to carry out flights for aerial
mapping. I had to fly at a height of 15,000 feet without oxygen and
pressurization. It was quite risky. It was also very tedious
(थकाने वाला) as the photographer made me flyover
and over the same area again and again until he got the co-ordinates right. It was
very complicated work.
Interviewer:- Was flying rewarding in those
days?
Durba My salary was only Rs 356 when I first
joined as a pilot. The first plane l ever flew was a Tiger Moth. It was very
small with the wings on the top and the bottom. It was made of cloth and open
on top. My helmet and belt were the only safety. I kept trying for a commercial
airlines job but they never even bothered to reply to my applications. When I
sent on application without prefixing Miss in front of my name, they called me
for the interview but when they saw that I was a girl, they immediately
rejected me.
Interviewer:- When did you begin flying as a
commercial pilot?
Durba:- In 1957,
I joined Airways India as a commercial pilot. I flew freight
and passengers from Ambari to Kolkata and back Indian Airlines refused to
accept me initially. They preferred to hire men with 100 hours flying
experience even I had already logged 6000 hours!
It was only in 1996 that I finally joined IA.
Freight: Goods carried
Logged: Recorded officially
Interviewer:-
Was it difficult being the only woman pilot?
Durba:- The
male pilots accepted me almost immediately. In the air I was just another pilot
and they judged me on my performance. I never saw myself as an extraordinary
phenomenon. I just wanted to do the job as best as I could as it was my bread
and butter. I never felt one up on my colleagues.
IA also treated me
fairly once. I joined them. Initially, it was some passengers who were afraid
to fly with me. Many VIPs used to mistake me for an air hostess. I need to
enjoy the shock on their
faces when they learnt the truth!
Interviewer:- What
routes were you flying and what were the planes you flew?
Durba:- I flew all
the eastern routes, as well as to Chandigarh, Kashmir, Leh, Chennai, Colombo,
Male, Andamans and of course to Bangladesh. flew a Fokker friendship, a
Chipmunk, a Dakota, an Avion as well as a Boeing and an Airbus 300. I am mentioned
in the Guinness Books of World Records as the first woman pilot to fly an A300.
Interviewer:- When
did you earn your commander's badge?
Despair: lose hope,
Ammunition:
explosives, bombs, bullets
Anguish:
great pain
Durba:- For getting
any command I had to go through so many tests that almost gave up in despair. It was only in 1977 at I became a
commander, and as captain Durba Banerjee, I went to the US as the Indian
representative at the World Lady Pilot's Association gathering.
Interviewer:- Which
are some of your most memorable flights?
Durba:- My first
solo flight, when my sister and I flew alone to Delhi to attend the
International fair and my heart was bursting with joy. I felt I had finally
achieved my dream. I also remember flying DC3's in Arunachal Pradesh to drop
food packets. I applied to the government for flying food and ammunition to soldiers during the
Sino-Indian/Indo-China war. I remember the anguish
of the soldiers who were starving. I didn't even have on my uniform-I just wore
a salwar kameez, and when we landed for full in a small town, people were
surprised to see me that they thought we might be spies! Another time I
remember racing against the clock as we were flying with a marriage party on
board. We landed at an air force base in the nick of time before the auspicious
hour for the wedding passed.
Interviewer:- Any disasters or scary moments?
Durba:- I remember landing without communication aids in the
paddy fields in dense fog in Coochbehar. The villagers thought we had landed
from heaven! One of my most terrifying memories was when I was caught in a
storm. We were flying over the Ganga and the weather was fierce. From 16,000
feet the storm threw us down to 12,000 feet and then to 4,000 feet. I thought
we would hit the ground. All the engine guages
had started freezing by then and the engines were croaking as if they would
fail. We just kept our courage and used all the strength in us to climb up
again. God saved us. When we returned to Kolkata, the engineers told us that
the wings on both sides had only one joint left after this drama, and may have
fallen off any time!
Guages : instruments used for measurement
Interviewer : Any
regrets.
Durba:- I never
married as I thought my career would not allow me to devote sufficient time to
family life. I never took a days leave in my life, even for sickness. But
overall, but overall, it has been great.
Interviewer:-
What advice would you give aspiring women pilots?
Durba:- Many
girls think that a pilot's life is glamorous, but they have to be willing to
sacrifice a lot. It is a hard life with no fixed hours. You have to be ready to
fly anytime, night or day I would advise women to join the Air Traffic Control
on the meteorological department if they cannot become pilots straight away and
not to give up hope.
Interviewer : Do
you miss flying now?
Durba:- I stopped
flying in 1989 when I retired from IA. By then I had logged 19,500 flight
hours. I had no means to fly privately after retired. But I still fly as a
passenger. I love travelling and I get two free passes every year to travel
anywhere in the world.
- Interviewed by Moutussi Acharyya
Karma
Chapter 16 class 8 th
This short story
has been written in 1948 at the time when India became an independent nation,
free from British rule.
Sir Mohan Lal
looked at himself in the mirror of first-class waiting room at the railway
station. The mirror was obviously made in India. The red oxide at its back had
come off at several places and long lines of translucent
(अद्ध पारदर्शक) glass cut across its surface. Sir Mohan smiled at the mirror with an air
of pity and patronage. (संरक्षण
आश्रय) "you
are so very much like everything else in this country, inefficient, (अयोग्य,
असमर्थ, अदक्ष) dirty, indifferent,” (संवेदन
हीनता, उदासीन) he murmured. The mirror smiled back
at Sir Mohan. "You are a bit of all right old male,' it said. Distinguished, (विख्यात, मशहूर, प्रसिद्ध) efficient- (सफल, फलोत्पादक, कार्यकुशल,
दक्ष) even handsome.
eau-de cologne: perfume made originally at
France.
That neatly trimmed moustache-the
suit from Savile (सफल, फलोत्पादक, कार्यकुशल, दक्ष) Row with the carnation (गुलाबी रंग का पुष्प) in the
buttonhole-the aroma (सुगंध, खुशबु) of eau de cologne, talcum
powder, and scented soap all about you! Yes, old fellow, you are a bit of all
right.
Sir Mohan threw
out his chest smoothed his tie, waved (लहरा कर) a goodbye to the mirror.
He glanced at his
watch. There was still time for a quick one. “Koi hai?'
A bearer in white livery (वर्दी) appeared through a wire gauze (जालीदार) door.
‘Ek chota’ ordered Sir Mohan and sank
(घुस कर) into a large cane chair to drink and ruminate. (सोचना) Outside the waiting room Sir Mohan
Lal's luggage lay piled along the wall. On a small grey steel trunk Lachmi,
lady Mohan Lal, sat drawing a betel leaf and fanning herself with a newspaper.
She was short and fat and in her middle forties. She wore dirty. white sari
with a red border on one side of her nose glistened a diamond nose ring and she
had several gold bangles on her arms. She had been talking to the bearer (संदेशवाहक) until Sir Mohan had summoned him
inside.
ek
chota : One small peg (of whisky)
ruminate:
think.
zenana: carriage for women.
As soon as he had gone, she hailed (नमस्कार) a passing. railway coolie.
'Where does the zenana
stop?'
'Right at the end of the platform.
The coolie flattened (सम्हालते
हुए) his turban to make a cushion, hoisted (ऊपर उठा कर) the steel trunk on his head and moved
down the platform. Lady Lal picked up her brass tiffin-carrier and ambled धीरे – धीरे चलना) along behind
him. On the way she stopped by a hawkers stall to replenish (फिर से भरना) her silver betel-leaf case, and then joined the coolie.
hawker: one who carries and sells goods.
She sat down on her steel trunk (which the
coolie had put down) and started talking to him.
“Are the trains
very crowded on these lines?'
'These days all
trains are crowded, but you'll find room in the zenana.!
'Then I might as
well get over the bother of eating.
Lady Lal opened
the brass carrier and took out a bundle of cramped
(ऐंठी) chapattis and some mango pickle. While she ate, the coolie sat opposite
her on his haunches, (मूल स्थूल
दंड) drawing lines in the gravel
(कंकड़, बजरी) with his finger.
'Are you
travelling alone, sister?'
'No, I am with
my master, brother. He is in the waiting room. He travels first class. He is a
barrister, and meets so many officers and Englishmen in the trains- and l am
only a nature woman. I can't understand English and don't know their way, so I
keep to my zenana inter-class.
Lachmi chatted away merrily. (प्रसन्नता के साथ)
She was fond of
little gossip and had no one to talk to at home. Her husband never had any time
to spare (व्यतीत) for her. She lived in the upper
storey of the house and he on the ground floor. He did not like her poor
illiterate relatives hanging about his bungalow, so they never came. He just
ordered her about in anglicised (अंग्रेजीयत) Hindustani, and she obeyed passively.
The signal came
down and the clanging (टन टन) of the bell announced the approaching
train. Lady Lal hurriedly finished off her meal. She got up, still ticking (चुसना) the stone of the pickled mango. She
went to the public tap to rinse (प्रक्षालन) her mouth and wash her hands. After washing she dried her
mouth and hands with the loose end of her sari walked back to her steel trunk,
thanking the gods for the favour of a filing meal.
The train steamed in Lachmi found
herself facing an almost empty inter-class zenana compartment next to the
guard's van at the tail end of the train. The rest of the train was packed. She
heaved (हांफते हुए) her squat, (पालथी
मारकर) bulky (जगह घेर कर) frame (चौखट) through the door and found a seat by the window. She
produced a two-anna bit from a knot in her sari and dismissed the coolie. She
then opened her betel case and made herself two betel leaves charged with a red
and white paste minced (कीमा) betel nuts and cardamoms. (इलायची) These she thrust into her mouth till
her cheeks bulged (उभार) on both sides. Then she rested her
chin on her hands and sat gazing her chin on her hands and sat gazing idly at
the jostling (धक्का मक्की) crowd on the platform.
The arrival of
the train did not disturb Sir Mohan Lal's coolness. He continued to sip his
scotch and ordered the bearer to tell him when he had moved the luggage to a first-class
compartment. Excitement, bustle (हलचल) and hurry were exhibitions of bad breeding (प्रजनन, अंत) and Sir
Mohan was eminently (उत्कृष्टता) well bed. He wanted everything' tickety-boo
and orderly. In his five years abroad, Sir Mohan of the upper classes. He
rarely spoke Hindustani. When he did, it was like an Englishman-only the very
necessary words and properly anglicised. But he fancied
his English, finished and refined at no less
a place then the university of Oxford.
He was fond of
conversation, and like a cultured Englishman he could talk on almost any
subject-books, politics, people. How frequently that he heard English people
say that he spoke like an Englishman.
Sir Mohan
wondered if he could be travelling alone. It was a cantonment
(छावनी) and some English officers might be on the train. His heart warmed at the prospect (संभावना, आसार) of an impressive (प्रभावी) conversation. He never showed any
sign of eagerness to talk to the English as most Indians did. Nor was he loud,
aggressive and opinionated like them. He went about his business with an expressionless (वर्णनातीत) matter of factness. He would retire
to his corner by the window and get out a copy of the Times. He would fold it
in a way in which the name of the paper was visible to others while he did the
crossword puzzle. The Times always attracted attention. Someone would like to
borrow it when he put it aside with a gesture signifying 'I've finished with
it.' Perhaps someone would recognise his tie, which he always more while
travelling. That would open a vista leading to a fairyland of Oxford colleges,
masters, dons, (विशेषज्ञ) tutors, boat races and sugger matches. If both the times and the tie
failed, Sir Mohan would take out his handsome gold cigarette case filled with
English cigarettes. English cigarettes in India? How on earth did he get them?
Sure he didn't mind? And Sir Mohan's understanding smile-of course he didn't.
But could he use the Englishman as a medium to commune with his dear old
England? Those five years of grey bags (पायजामा) and gowns, of sports blazers (कोट) and mixed doubles, and of dinners at
the Inns of court. Five years of a crowded glorious life. Worth far more than
the forty-five in India with his dirty, vulgar (नीच, अभद्र, अशिष्ट देहाती) countryman, with sordid (मैला, फटेहाल, घृणित, कंजूस, गंदा) details of the road to success.
jostling: knocking and pushing.
vista: a long succession of remembered events.
bags: trousers.
coupe: a half compartment in a carriage.
Sir Mohan's
thoughts were disturbed by the bearer announcing the installation
(डालना, रखना या स्थापित
करना) of the Sahib's luggage in a
first-class coupe next to the engine. Sir
Mohan walked to his coupe with a studied gait (चलते हुए). He was dismayed. (भयभीत) The compartment was empty. With a
sigh he sat down in a corner and opened the copy of The Times he had read
several times before.
Sir Mohan looked
out of the window down the crowded platform. His face lit up as he saw too
English soldiers trudging (पैदल चल रहे) along,
looking in all the compartments for room.
They had their haversacks (सिपाहियों का झोला) slung (लटका हुआ) behind their backs and walked unsteadily. (लड़खाड़ाते
हुए चलना) Sir
Mohan decided to welcome them, even though they were entitled (अधिकार) to travel only second class. He would speak to the guard.
One of the soldiers
came up to the last compartment and stuck his face through the window. He
surveyed the compartment and noticed the unoccupied berth. 'Ere, Bill,' he
shouted 'one 'ere'.
His companion
came up, also looked in and looked at Sir Mohan.
'Get' in out,' he
muttered to his companion. They opened the door and turned to the half-smiling,
half-protesting (विरोध) Sir Mohan 'Reserved!' yelled bile.
'Fanta— Reserved.
Army-fauj, exclaimed Jim, pointing to his khaki shirt.
'Ekdum jao- get
out!'.
I say, I say,
surely,' protested Sir Mohan in his Oxford
accent. The soldiers paused. It almost sounded like English, but they knew
better than to trust inebriated (मत्त) ears. The
engine whistled and the guard waved his green flag.
They picked up Sir Mohan's suitcase and flung (फेंक दिया) it into the platform. Then followed
his thermos-flask, suitcase, bedding (बिस्तर) and The Times. Sir Mohan was lived
with rage. (क्रोध)
'Prosposterous, preposterous', (निरर्थक, असंगत) he shouted, 'hoarse (कर्कश, रूक्ष) with anger.
I'll have you arrested guard, guard!
Kings: The king's English correct proper
English.
'Bill and Jim
paused again. It did sound like English, but it was too much of the kings for them.
'Keep your ruddy (लाल, रक्तवर्ण) mouth sheet!' (बंद कर) And Jim struck Sir Mohan flat on the
face.
The engine gave
another short whistle and the train began to move. The soldiers caught Sir
Mohan by the arms and flung him out of the train. He reeled (जल्दी से) backwards, tripped (यात्रा का
सामान) on his bedding,
and landed on the suitcase.
'Toodle-00! (बहुत हो गया)
Sir Mohan's feet
were glued (चिपक गए) to the earth and he lost his speech.
He stared at the lighted windows of the train going past him in quickening (जल्दी से) tempo. The tail end of the train
appeared with a red light and the guard standing in the open doorway with the
flags in his hands.
In the inter
class zenana compartment was Lachmi, fair and fat, on whose nose the diamond
nose sing glistened against the station lights. His mouth was bloated with
beetle saliva which she had been storing up to spit as soon as the train had
the cleared the station. As the train sped past the lighted part of the
platform, lady lal spot and sent a pit of red dribble (लार टपकाते हुए) flying across like a dart. (झपट कर)
-Khushwant Singh
Chapter 10 class 5 th
Self-Sacrifice आत्मबलिदान
Once there lived
a fowler in a village situated at the edge of a forest.
He was so cruel
that even his friends and relatives had abandoned him.
Now he would
wonder about in the forest, day in and day out, with a cage, a net and a staff
in search of birds to sell them in the market or kill to feast upon.
He never felt
even a bit of kindness in his heart and his ruthless conduct made even the
forest birds dread of him and they lived in mortal fear of him.
Thus passed
many months. One day he wandered about the forest as usual and succeeded in
catching a she-pigeon.
He wanted to sell her in the market, for he
needed to buy some articles for his use.
So, he set out
towards the town while the she-pigeon requested him, “O fowler! My husband
would die in my separation.
Please allow me
to go to him for some time. I promise to return after bidding him good bye.
But can a
cruel-man heed to such a request? He didn't and continued to walk towards the
town with a sly smile looking at the she-pigeon.
As luck would
have it, not long he had gone those dark clouds overcast the sky turning that
bright afternoon look like a dark evening.
Soon after it
began to rain cats and dogs.
Made the fowler
scurry for cover and he stood under a dense enormous peepal tree waiting for
the rain to stop, but the ferocity of the rain increased with every passing
minute.
It was a winter
month and the patched blanket of the fowler was hardly sufficient to keep away
the increasing cold.
He shivered
terribly and tried to huddle himself. But soon his feet and hands went cold and
numb.
Scarce knew the
fowler what to do that he sighted a large hollow in the tree. Its mouth was
large enough to enter.
Before he
entered, he called, “I seek refuge of those animals that live in this tree and
in this hollow.
I've gone numb
with cold and hunger has aggravated my condition further. Whoever helps me out
in this time of need, I shall be grateful to him for all times to come.”
Now you would
wonder that the hollow belonged to he-pigeon who happened to be husband of the
she pigeon trapped by the fowler.
When the
fowler was entering the hollow, the he pigeon was sitting on a branch of the
tree bemoaning about his wife.
Seeing the
bewailing he-pigeon, the she-pigeon was moved that her husband loved her so
much.
She said to
her husband, “I'm so near to you yet so far from you.
This fowler
has trapped me in his cage and it's what my destiny is.
It's certainly
the result of my acts done in the previous life.
Any creature
is bound undergo the fruits of his deeds, so you must not be mean about me.”
The words of
the she-pigeon soothed the he-pigeon.
He stopped
bewailing.
Then the
she-pigeon said to him, “This fowler has sought your refuge and it's the duty
of every creature to honour his guest.
If any
creature doesn't honour his guest, he suffers immensely and is termed a sinner.
“Listening to the word of his wife, the
he-pigeon said to the fowler, you need not worry.
O fowler!
You're my guest and serving you is my paramount duty.
Tell me what I
can do for you."
"I'm numb
with cold. Do something to ward off cold if you can, “replied the fowler.
It still
rained but not as furiously as it did a little before.
The he-pigeon
flew away and soon returned with embers and put on fire the dry leaves and
twigs lying with compassion for the kind pigeon.
He asked, “Do
you live alone here?”.
“Yes, for I'm
left alone after you've trapped my wife in your cage,” replied the pigeon.
Taking pity on
the he-pigeon, the fowler released the she-pigeon.
After the
fowler warmed up by the fire, he was relieved to a great extent and hunger
began to tickle him the stomach.
The he-pigeon
too was delighted at the reciprocity of the fowler and ask him “If he could do
anything more of him.”
The fowler
said, “It has been kind of you to save me from biting cold.
I'm hungry but
you need not worry about it. I'll arrange something after the rain stops.”
“No,” cried the
he pigeon, "I'm your host and it's beyond my imagination for my guest to
go on a hungry stomach.
Moreover, you've
shown your gratitude by releasing my wife.
So, I must
arrange for your food.”
The he-pigeon
had nothing in his hollow to feed the fowler, so he decided something and
before the fowler could understand anything, he jumped into the fire to
sacrifice himself for the appetite of the fowler.
The fowler was
so taken aback at the gesture of self-sacrifice of the kind he-pigeon that he
cursed himself for his greed and cruelty and he threw away his net and cage
deciding never to catch birds again.
Seeing her
husband sacrificing himself, the she-pigeon bewailed loudly crying, “O dear he
her husband! Now there is nothing left in the world to live for.
It's worthless
to live without you.”
Saying so she
jumped into the fire.
The fowler was
stunned and astonished.
He began to cry
at seeing the self-sacrifice of the him little birds and he became
disinterested in the worldly affairs.
He shunned his occupation
and violence and took over the life of an ascetic.
Thereafter, he
passed his life meditating and subriding on vegetation only.
This incident
had changed his life forever.
Class -6 th chapter 12
The Song of Songs
The
guru-shishya relationship is symbolized by respect and true devotion.
This is
evident in the relationship of Tansen and his guru, Sant Haridas.
Slowly,
gently, the exhausted musician laid his tanpura (tanpura:
- an Indian musical instrument) on the carpet.
The exquisite strains (exquisite strains:- beautiful sounds of
music) of raag darbari still vibrated within the hall.
Emperor
Akbar looked up his eyes hit with admiration.
"Wonderful”
he said, "Superb! I listen to you every day, but I cannot seem to have
enough!"
Tansen loved in silent gratitude.
“I think you
have the most wonderful voice in the world!” said Akbar.
"But I
do not, Shahenshah!" said Tansen with a smile.
“There is
someone else who sings for better than I do."
"Really?” cried the disbelieving, Akbar.
“Then I must have him sing in my court can you arrange
it?"
Tansen shook his head.
I am afraid he will not come Sire.
(Sire: word used to address a king)
"What! Not
even if he hears that the emperor himself summoned (summoned:
ordered to appear in court) him?”
“No, not even
them."
This reply would
have enraged any other emperor.
But Akbar was
different.
“Very well Ustadji," (ustadji: term used to refer a senior
musician) said Akbar, smiling into Tansen's half-scared eyes.
“If he would not
come, I shall go to him myself.
Will you take me
to him?"
“Yes, Sire,
provided you do not come as the emperor of Hindustan.
" I shall be
as a humble lover of music.
Sant Haridas
was the man Tansen had spoken of.
He had been
Tansen's music teacher, and he lived the austere
(austere: nothing that gives pleasure) life of a hermit.
(Hermit: person who lives alone)
When Tansen and
the emperor reached his hut, he was busy with his daily chores.
When they asked
him to sing, he smiled, but said firmly, 'I am long past the age for singing'.
Even his
favourite pupil could not persuade him to change his mind.
But Tansen knew
how to get around him.
He offered to
sing before his guru and he made a deliberate mistake as he sang.
'That is not
the right note, (right note: single sound of
particular length) Tansen' cried his teacher, amazed.
“What has
happened to you?"
Tansen pretended
not to understand his teacher and he made the same mistake again.
Exasperated, (exasperated: extremely annoyed.) Sant Haridas took the
Tanpura from Tansen's hand and sang the right note.
Then he went on
the next and the next.
The melody of his
voice spread across the forests like the first glimmer of dawn or the fragrance
of jasmine.
Both Akbar and
strong effect on them that they Tansen listened to him as if they were hypnotized (hypnotized: the music had such strong
effect could not pay attention to anything else.) and the emperor realized that
Tansen had spoken the truth he had not known that to music could be like this!
He had certainly never heard anything like it before.
As they walked
back, the emperor suddenly broke the silence to ask Tansen, "Why cannot
you sing like him, Ustadji?"
Tansen smiled,
“Shahenshah, I sing at your command-the command of the emperor of Hindustan.
But Guruji sings for one who is king of kings! His music springs from the
depths of his soul, free and unasked. How can my music hope to reach those
heights?"
-Adapted and Abreasted
Claas 5th chapter 11
David and Goliath
David was a young
boy who lived with his parents in a small village in Israel.
A three elder
brothers.
They served in the
king's army.
David was a brave
boy.
H wanted to serve
the king's army along with his brothers.
But his father
stopped him.
He wanted him to
stay at home and look after his sheep.
So young David
stayed back and helped his father in household chores.
They had a flock
of sheep.
Every day, David
took, their sheep on the hills for grazing.
There were many
wild animals in the nearby forest. So, David had to remain alert.
While the sheep
were on graze, he would search for flat round stones along the river bank and
put them in his bag.
Whenever hungry
wolf came to kill the sheep, David would take out a stone from his bag and put
in his sling.
alert.
He whirled the
sling above his head and the stone flew from it, through the air and hit the
wild beast between the eyes and killed it.
Then he always
ran to it and cut off its head and took the skin home.
One day, his
father called him.
“The
Philistines, who are our enemies, are marching into Isreal,” he said, “go to
the town and meet your brothers in the king's army.
Give them this
bag of flour and these letters before they go to fight.”
David took the
bag of flour and the letters. He kept his sling in his pocket and left for the
town.
He walked for
many days and at last reached there.
He met his
brothers in the king's army and gave them the bag of flour and letters.
Now, the
soldiers of the king's army were in great panic.
Goliath, a huge
Philistine giant, was standing in front of their camp and felling loudly.
“I am Goliath,” he was saying, “I am the
mightiest of all.
I will destroy the land of Isreal and its
people. Send your best soldiers to fight against me and I will kill them all.”
When David
heard it, he ran to his brothers, "I shall go and fight the giant, “he
said.
But his
brothers only laughed at him. “Goliath is a mighty giant and you're still a
boy,” they said, “Go back home and look after our father's sheep,” The king of
Isreal was also afraid of the giant.
He had made an announcement that
"Anybody, who would kill Goliath, will marry his daughter".
I'll give
him gold and jewels and he'll be the richest man in Isreal."
When David
heard the king's announcement, he went to him and said he could go and fight
the giant.
The king
was very surprised because David was still very young and even the most
courageous man of Isreal was not ready to go and fight the giant.
However,
the king had no other choice. So, he allowed David to go and fight Goliath.
He gave his
own sword to David and said, “Take this sword and fight with the giant.
I pray to
Almighty for your victory.” But David refused to accept the sword.
“I am a
shepherd boy. I don't know how to use a sword.
What shall I
do with it? I have my own weapon and I shall fight with it.”
he politely
said? Then he took his bag full of round smooth stones and his sling and went
to fight Goliath.
When the
giant saw that a little boy was coming to fight with him, he was confused.
"You are a
little boy! Why have you come here? Aren't you afraid of me? Go back and hide
in your house,” he mocked.
But David was
a brave boy. “I have come here to kill you.
Fight with me
and kill me if you can,” he challenged the giant.
The giant
became angry.
His eyes
became red in anger.
The ground
shook as he walked towards David.
“So, Isreal has
sent a boy to fight against me? I will cut off your head and give your body to
the wild beasts,” he cried out in anger.
But David was
no coward.
He remembered
God and then said, “Even a little boy of Isreal is braver than you.
I'm a boy, but
I'll cut off your head and throw your body before the wild beasts.”
When Goliath
heard these words, he went mad with rage.
He took out
his huge sword and ran towards David.
David
quickly took a stone out of his bag and put it in his sling.
He whirled
the sling above; his head and the stone flew through the air.
It hit
Goliath between his eyes and he fell down with a loud cry.
David ran
forward and snatched the sword from his hand.
Then he cut
off the giant's head with the big sword and carried it with him.
When the
Philistines saw the dead giant, they were so panicked that they ran away from
the battlefield.
When the
king of Isreal heard the news, he was very glad.
He, at once,
sent for David.
David came to
the royal court and bowed before the king.
Then he took
out the giant's head out of his bag and put it at the king's feet.
The king was
so happy that he embraced David and made him sit beside him.
The people of
Isreal were also very happy because David had saved them from Goliath.
The king kept
his promise.
married his
daughter to David and gave him half of his kingdom and plenty of gold and
jewels.
David lived
happily with his wife and ruled over his kingdom.
Chapter 13 class 5th
A Hero of Freedom Struggle
“Sacrifice is a
must for achieving freedom. Just decide, we are not going to remain slaves any
more. Get ready to shed your blood for the freedom of our motherland. Give me blood and I will give you freedom. Delhi is
not far away, now. Jai Hind!” These words of courage and patriotism bring to
our mind the picture of one great leader of India's freedom struggle: Subhash
Chandra Bose, popularly called Netaji'. He was born at Cuttack on 23rd January,
1897. He was brought up in his family with great love and care. He went to school
at the age of five. He was a meritorious
student and got scholarships. As a student, he served the needy and sick
people. After completing his early education at the Presidency College in
Calcutta (now Kolkata) he took admission to BA in Scottish Church College, also
in Calcutta.
Once his BA was
completed, he went to England where he passed the Indian Civil Service (ICS)
examination within eight months. Having passed the ICS examination, Subhash
Chandra Bose could well have served on a high post of his choice under the
British Government, but he did not like the idea. When he returned to India, he
joined the Indian National Congress. At the call of Gandhiji, Subhash Chandra
Bose jumped into the struggle for freedom. He boldly opposed the policies and
programmes of the British who were bent on crushing the struggle. They arrested
him and put him behind the bars in jail. Subhash Chandra Bose was still as
fearless as ever. Not once, not twice, but it was several times when he went to
jail. His too much participation in the freedom struggle and the jail-life
badly affected his health. Yet he went on fighting like a soldier for the
Freedom of his country. Indian National Congress chose him its President twice.
Here he worked with great Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru.
He had different
views about the freedom struggle and other leaders of the party did not agree
with him. But his love for the country was as strong as anybody else's.
When the Second
World War broke out in 1939, Subhash Chandra Bose was again put into jail by
the British. He wanted to come out, so v he started a hunger strike there.
Because of his poor health, the government shifted him to his own house under
the police guard. But Subhash Chandra Bose outwitted
the British. He stopped shaving his beard and grew it long enough. And, then,
one day he dressed like a Kabuli and escaped from the house on 26th January,
1941. First, he went to Peshawar and then to Afghanistan. From there he flew to
Europe in an Italian plane and reached Berlin, the capital of Germany. In
Germany, Subhash Chandra Bose met Adolf Hitler, the ruler of that country.
Hitler was to greatly impressed with Subhash Chandra Bose and he gifted him an
aeroplane and a radio transistor. Subhash himself broke the news of his escape
and stay in Germany to the world on that radio transistor. In 1942, he went to
Japan.
There he took
charge of the Indian National Army, which was raised by another Indian patriot
Rasbihari Bose.
Now Subhash came
to be known as “Netaji' the leader of the people. The Indian National Army
under his orders marched into Manipur and occupied it. On their back was there
the Japanese army. The British were afraid of the growing strength of Subhash
Chandra Bose, as he was supported by Germany and Japan. But soon these two
countries started facing defeats in the world war. The British army surrounded
the Indian National Army. On August 12,1945. Netaji Subhash boarded a plane to
his aeroplane crashed on the way. Japan radio declared that Netaji was no more.
With this he did place. Mother India will always remember this great son with
love and respect.
Word Basket struggle = fight;
sacrifice = the action of giving up
something; achieving = getting, gaining; slave = one who is not free; to shed = to let flow; patriotism
= strong love for motherland; meritorious =
good at studies, so praiseworthy, scholarship = a financial help to a studious
student; bent on = set on; determined to crushing = breaking or grinding as if
by feet; participation = the act of taking part; broke out = started; hunger
strike = the act of not taking food or drinking; outwitted = defeated cleverly;
escaped = moved out secretly and safely; occupied = took control of; surrounded
= gathered; moved into position from all around boarded = got onto;
unfortunately = unluckily; crashed = fell and was destroyed.
Chapter 14 class 5th
Ganesh Chaturthi
India is a land
of many festivals like Holi, Dussehra, Diwali, Id and Christmas. There is another
important festival known as Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi is an important
festival of Maharashtra. It is also celebrated in some parts of Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu. “Chaturthi,” stands for the fourth day of the month according to
the Hindu calendar. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated during the month Bhadrapada,
in Roman calendar, this festival falls in August or September. On this day,
people worship Lord Ganesha. He is the God of wisdom and well-being. The
Ganesha idol is a round, jolly figure with the head of an elephant and a human
body with a bullying belly.
This festival
is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Preparations are made almost a month
before. The potter collects a special kind of clay and after wetting, put it
into a mould. When the clay dries up, Ganesha emerges as a fragile but shapely idol. This idol of Ganesha is
baked at a high temperature. The idol hardens and it is no longer fragile. The
master craftsman gives the idol its features. Finally, he decorates the idol
with different colours. Now the idol is ready for worshipping. There are
various stories and legends about Lord Ganesha. Here is one told by the clay
idol of Ganesha. I am a clay idol of the Hindu elephant-headed God, Ganesha. I
have been installed in a household for the Ganesha Festival, to be worshipped
for seven days. On Ganesh Chaturthi, I will be taken out in a procession and immersed
in the sea. Every year this happens, I drown and die, but I am born again. When
I am fully made and decorated, I am taken to a shop. There I stand in all my
glory among so many other idols. Many people come with their families to see
me. Soon I am chosen by any family and become a proud member of a Maharashtrian
family. I am dressed in fine clothes and have been given the pride of place in
the family temple. Special grass leaves are placed before me. I am served with
laddoos made from gram flour which is my favourite food. The men and women keep
fast during the festival. There are many legends and stories about how I got
the elephant head. Long, long ago, I was a happy and an obedient child. I did not have the elephant head. One day my
mother, Goddess Parvati was going to bathe. She asked me to keep a watch at the
door. She said, “Don't let anyone enter the house." "Mother, don't
Worry, I' 11 guard the door strictly, “I assure her. Then I sat guarding the
door. Soon God Shiva came there. He wanted to enter the house. He said, “Move a
side, child, I want to go inside.” "No, no, I cannot permit you to do
that. It's my mother's order," I replied. "How dare you say no to
me?” said Lord Shiva angrily. "I will have to fight with you if you don't
stop,” I said. This made Lord Shiva's anger grew more. He grabbed his trisula
and beheaded me.
When my mother
came and saw what had happened, she grew furious.
“What have you done?” she said. “Bring him back to life at once before it is
too late," she pleaded. Seeing my
mother's anger, Lord Shiva had to find a way to bring me back to life.
But my head lay
lifeless, on the ground. There were some elephants close by. Lord Shiva chopped
off the head of a baby elephant and put it on my body and I came alive again.
Ever since I have had an elephant's head and thus, I got the name Ganesha or
Ganapati. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in honour of this day. I am worshipped
for seven days. Sometimes, I am even called Vinayak. I am the centre of attraction for everyone for these seven days.
Everyone gazes at me in own. An aarti takes place twice a day—morning and
evening. A special sweet called modak is prepared and distributed
as prasad. On the seventh day of the festival, that is the day of Ganesh
Chaturthi, I am carried out in a procession
through the streets and lanes.
These are my
final moments. People shout with joy, “Ganapati Bappa Morriya”. I am carried
towards the sea or the river. Before sunset, I am immersed into the water with
great ceremony. I slowly sink and start dissolving Soon I am one with the
ocean.
I have a
special place of honour in Hindu mythology.
I am considered as a symbol of good omen for
the Hindus. I am invoked at the beginning of
all the auspicious occasions like marriages
and inaugurations. It is believed that if I
am worshipped before the start of a new venture,
all hindrances are removed. I attained the
honour in a contest amongst the Gods. This
was held to decide who should be worshipped first. I won the contest through my
wisdom, so I have the honour of being worshipped first.
Word Basket Bhadrapada = a name of Hindu month; great enthusiasm = with great interest, belly = stomach, legends = myths, beheaded = cut off.
.jpg)
0 Comments
If you have any Misunderstanding Please let me know