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English story for children

 

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

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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.

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