The Silk Road
The Silk Road is a story about the author, Nick Middleton's journey to Mount Kailash
through Tibet. The author wants to go to Mt. Kailash to finish his Kora (a sacred ritual
for Hindus and Buddhists) because he wanted to develop positive thinking in his life.
The author took Daniel as his companion . They started their journey from slopes of
Ravu. They had a driver named Tsetan who knew a route to Mount Kailash in the
southwest direction. Lhamo, a local lady from Ravo, gifted the author a sheepskin coat-
the general attire of drokbas.
During their journey, the author observed wide, barren fields with gazelles eating the
grass, a herd of wild asses called kyang and isolated drokbas taking care of their cattle
and nomads' tents guarded by large Tibetan mastiff that were highly valued as hunting
dogs in imperial China.
The group saw snow-covered mountains that were challenging to cross, and the author
experienced headaches due to the altitude, which was 5,210 meters above sea level
according to their watch. The cold weather also affected the author's physiological
functions.
Later in the day, they reached a town named Hor, which was described by the author as
"miserable" with a lack of vegetation and surrounded by rocks and dust. Daniel returned
to Lhasa, leaving the author feeling disappointed about the Mansoravar Lake, located
near the town of Hor, which was filled with garbage.
Later that night, they arrived at a guest house in Darchen, but the author was unable to
sleep. The next morning, Tsetan took the author to the Darchen Medical College for
evaluation. Upon being assured that the author was fit enough to do the kora, Tsetan
returned to Lhasa.
The next morning, the author woke up feeling refreshed and found Darchen to be not as
bad as he initially thought. He described the town as dusty and run-down with a few
basic shops. Not many pilgrims were around, and the author thought he might have
arrived too early for the pilgrimage season. With most of the way blocked by snow, the
author didn't want to do the kora alone.
While waiting for the right conditions, the author met Norbu, a researcher from the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing who was studying the significance of
the kora in Buddhist literature. The author got to know Norbu and found out they were
both there to do the pilgrimage. So, they decided to do it together, and the author felt his
positive mindset was paying off.
Conclusion of The Silk Road
The author concludes the story on a positive note, that being determined and dedicated
toward one’s goal will bring positive results in life. Despite the challenges that the author
,faced during his journey he was able to find a partner who was as interested in kora as
he, and both completed their pilgrimage together.
Important Questions:
1. Why were Tibetan Mastiffs popular in China’s imperial courts?
2. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Discuss.
3. How was Tsetan a big support to the author during the journey?
Or
Tsetan was not just a skilled driver but a thorough professional who did not mix
emotions with work. Discuss.
4. “As a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it didn’t really matter if I passed away, but
he thought it would be bad for business.” What is the significance of this statement?
5. What do you understand about the term ‘Kora’ as used in the lesson?
6. What was Norbu’s importance for the writer?
The Adventure
"The Adventure" is a science fiction about Professor Gaitonde who discovers a
conflicting history and sets out on a journey to solve the mystery. He visits a library and
discovers a new perspective on history.
The Adventure, summary…..
"The Adventure" chapter explores Professor Gaitonde's doubts about historical facts
and reality. He is a well-known historian traveling from Bombay to Pune, but finds
himself in an alternate world where history has taken a different turn.
He discovers that the East India Company still exists and the Maratha leader was saved
in the Battle of Panipat, contrary to historical records. After a car crash, Gaitonde
experiences this alternate reality in a coma.
The Mumbai he is in is completely different from the actual Mumbai. The Victoria
Terminus Station where he gets down is very clean, coaches of train read ‘Greater
Bombay Metropolitan Railway’. Even the staff were Anglo-Indian with some British
officials.
Gaitonde noticed the East India Company Headquarters when he exited the train.
Similar structures included banks and brands that were primarily British. In reality, the
Forbes office where his son worked was not even there. He went to the library to read
about the Battle of Panipat in an attempt to solve the mystery. Reading reveals that the
details differ from what actually occurred. In reality, he discovered through reading that
India was never under British rule, which shocked him.
,After going to the library, he went to the Azad Maidan and got into a brawl with some of
the spectators there. Gaitonde was pushed off the stage and found unconscious in
Azad Maidan after waking from his time-travelling nightmare. He therefore goes to
Professor Deshpande to ask a question. He discovers during his visit that reality is
different from what our senses may perceive. As a result, the world we inhabit might
take on several forms or dimensions.
Rajendra Deshpande, Professor Gaitonde's friend, tries to explain his strange
experience using Catastrophe Theory and the lack of determinism in Quantum Theory.
He explains that according to Catastrophe Theory, a small change in circumstances can
lead to a sudden shift in behavior. He applies this to the Battle of Panipat, where a
missed bullet caused the Maratha army to lose morale and ultimately led to defeat. He
believes that a small change in the situation could have changed the outcome of the
war and favored the Marathas.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, The Adventure summary teaches us that there are realities besides the
ones we perceive, and while they may appear real, they are all simply imaginary.
Important questions
1. What sort of ‘Adventure’ has been narrated by Jayant Narlikar?
2. What was Gangadhar Pant's experience on the way to Bombay?
3. Give a brief account of Professor Gaitonde’s stay and study of history books at
Town Hall library. What riddle was he keen to solve?
4. How did Rajendra Deshpande apply his theory of catastrophic experience
regarding the Battle of Panipat?
5. How did Rajendra explain the concept of reality with the example of movement
of an electron? / How did Rajendra rationalize the professor’s experience?
6. Describe Gangadharpant’s journey by train from Pune to Bombay.
We’re not Afraid to Die
, In 1976, Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, his son Jonathan, and daughter Suzanne, along
with two sailors, Larry Vigil (American) and Herb Sailor (Swiss), plan a voyage around
the-world They get a ship named the Wavewalker which is 23 mt. long & weighs 30
tons wooden-hulled . The initial part of the journey, covering approximately 105,000
kilometers to Cape Town, went smoothly. However, during their second trip to Cape
Town, they encountered strong windstorms and waves that were as high as the
mainmast, reaching up to 15 meters. Despite these challenges, the narrator was not
discouraged. On December 25th, they arrived in the Southern Indian Sea, about 3,5000
kilometers east of Cape Town, and celebrated Christmas together. On January 2nd, the
waves became massive in size, causing the sailors to slow down the boat's speed,
lower the storm jib, and take precautions to ensure their safety. The sailors even
conducted a life-raft drill and secured the life-boats and life jackets. Suddenly, at 6 pm,
a massive explosion rocked the Wavewalker and the narrator was thrown off from the
ship. He could see his death and started losing consciousness but another huge wave
hit it and righted it. The narrator was thrown back onto the deck and sustained head and
rib injuries from hitting the walls of the Wavewalker. Despite his injuries, the narrator
took control of the situation and decided to handle it on his own. Meanwhile, Larry and
Herb started pumping out water from the ship.
Despite the challenges, the narrator managed to cover the gaps with canvas to prevent
water from entering the ship. However, the hand pumps failed and the electric pumps
short-circuited at the same time. Fortunately, the narrator found a working spare
electrical pump. The entire night, they all worked together, pumping, steering, repairing,
and sending out radio signals for help. After checking the charts, the narrator realized
that their last hope was the French scientific base on ILE Amsterdam Island.
Sue and Jon were badly injured, but they were not afraid to die as long as they were
together. Sue had a swollen head and a deep injury, but the narrator was determined to
show courage for his children. Finally, they reached Ile Amsterdam and were greeted
by the 28 inhabitants of the volcanic island.
In conclusion, we can say that the Sailor’s collective strength and never-bombing
certainty allowed them to survive and emerge from the jaws of death.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS-
1- List the steps taken by the captain
1. to protect the ship when rough weather began
2. to check the flooding of the water in the ship
2- Describe the mental condition of the voyages on 4th and 5th January.
3- Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text.
Give a subtitle to each section.
4- What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when
faced with danger?
5- Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How had the narrator equipped and tested it?
6- Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text.
Give a subtitle to each section.
The Silk Road is a story about the author, Nick Middleton's journey to Mount Kailash
through Tibet. The author wants to go to Mt. Kailash to finish his Kora (a sacred ritual
for Hindus and Buddhists) because he wanted to develop positive thinking in his life.
The author took Daniel as his companion . They started their journey from slopes of
Ravu. They had a driver named Tsetan who knew a route to Mount Kailash in the
southwest direction. Lhamo, a local lady from Ravo, gifted the author a sheepskin coat-
the general attire of drokbas.
During their journey, the author observed wide, barren fields with gazelles eating the
grass, a herd of wild asses called kyang and isolated drokbas taking care of their cattle
and nomads' tents guarded by large Tibetan mastiff that were highly valued as hunting
dogs in imperial China.
The group saw snow-covered mountains that were challenging to cross, and the author
experienced headaches due to the altitude, which was 5,210 meters above sea level
according to their watch. The cold weather also affected the author's physiological
functions.
Later in the day, they reached a town named Hor, which was described by the author as
"miserable" with a lack of vegetation and surrounded by rocks and dust. Daniel returned
to Lhasa, leaving the author feeling disappointed about the Mansoravar Lake, located
near the town of Hor, which was filled with garbage.
Later that night, they arrived at a guest house in Darchen, but the author was unable to
sleep. The next morning, Tsetan took the author to the Darchen Medical College for
evaluation. Upon being assured that the author was fit enough to do the kora, Tsetan
returned to Lhasa.
The next morning, the author woke up feeling refreshed and found Darchen to be not as
bad as he initially thought. He described the town as dusty and run-down with a few
basic shops. Not many pilgrims were around, and the author thought he might have
arrived too early for the pilgrimage season. With most of the way blocked by snow, the
author didn't want to do the kora alone.
While waiting for the right conditions, the author met Norbu, a researcher from the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing who was studying the significance of
the kora in Buddhist literature. The author got to know Norbu and found out they were
both there to do the pilgrimage. So, they decided to do it together, and the author felt his
positive mindset was paying off.
Conclusion of The Silk Road
The author concludes the story on a positive note, that being determined and dedicated
toward one’s goal will bring positive results in life. Despite the challenges that the author
,faced during his journey he was able to find a partner who was as interested in kora as
he, and both completed their pilgrimage together.
Important Questions:
1. Why were Tibetan Mastiffs popular in China’s imperial courts?
2. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Discuss.
3. How was Tsetan a big support to the author during the journey?
Or
Tsetan was not just a skilled driver but a thorough professional who did not mix
emotions with work. Discuss.
4. “As a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it didn’t really matter if I passed away, but
he thought it would be bad for business.” What is the significance of this statement?
5. What do you understand about the term ‘Kora’ as used in the lesson?
6. What was Norbu’s importance for the writer?
The Adventure
"The Adventure" is a science fiction about Professor Gaitonde who discovers a
conflicting history and sets out on a journey to solve the mystery. He visits a library and
discovers a new perspective on history.
The Adventure, summary…..
"The Adventure" chapter explores Professor Gaitonde's doubts about historical facts
and reality. He is a well-known historian traveling from Bombay to Pune, but finds
himself in an alternate world where history has taken a different turn.
He discovers that the East India Company still exists and the Maratha leader was saved
in the Battle of Panipat, contrary to historical records. After a car crash, Gaitonde
experiences this alternate reality in a coma.
The Mumbai he is in is completely different from the actual Mumbai. The Victoria
Terminus Station where he gets down is very clean, coaches of train read ‘Greater
Bombay Metropolitan Railway’. Even the staff were Anglo-Indian with some British
officials.
Gaitonde noticed the East India Company Headquarters when he exited the train.
Similar structures included banks and brands that were primarily British. In reality, the
Forbes office where his son worked was not even there. He went to the library to read
about the Battle of Panipat in an attempt to solve the mystery. Reading reveals that the
details differ from what actually occurred. In reality, he discovered through reading that
India was never under British rule, which shocked him.
,After going to the library, he went to the Azad Maidan and got into a brawl with some of
the spectators there. Gaitonde was pushed off the stage and found unconscious in
Azad Maidan after waking from his time-travelling nightmare. He therefore goes to
Professor Deshpande to ask a question. He discovers during his visit that reality is
different from what our senses may perceive. As a result, the world we inhabit might
take on several forms or dimensions.
Rajendra Deshpande, Professor Gaitonde's friend, tries to explain his strange
experience using Catastrophe Theory and the lack of determinism in Quantum Theory.
He explains that according to Catastrophe Theory, a small change in circumstances can
lead to a sudden shift in behavior. He applies this to the Battle of Panipat, where a
missed bullet caused the Maratha army to lose morale and ultimately led to defeat. He
believes that a small change in the situation could have changed the outcome of the
war and favored the Marathas.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, The Adventure summary teaches us that there are realities besides the
ones we perceive, and while they may appear real, they are all simply imaginary.
Important questions
1. What sort of ‘Adventure’ has been narrated by Jayant Narlikar?
2. What was Gangadhar Pant's experience on the way to Bombay?
3. Give a brief account of Professor Gaitonde’s stay and study of history books at
Town Hall library. What riddle was he keen to solve?
4. How did Rajendra Deshpande apply his theory of catastrophic experience
regarding the Battle of Panipat?
5. How did Rajendra explain the concept of reality with the example of movement
of an electron? / How did Rajendra rationalize the professor’s experience?
6. Describe Gangadharpant’s journey by train from Pune to Bombay.
We’re not Afraid to Die
, In 1976, Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, his son Jonathan, and daughter Suzanne, along
with two sailors, Larry Vigil (American) and Herb Sailor (Swiss), plan a voyage around
the-world They get a ship named the Wavewalker which is 23 mt. long & weighs 30
tons wooden-hulled . The initial part of the journey, covering approximately 105,000
kilometers to Cape Town, went smoothly. However, during their second trip to Cape
Town, they encountered strong windstorms and waves that were as high as the
mainmast, reaching up to 15 meters. Despite these challenges, the narrator was not
discouraged. On December 25th, they arrived in the Southern Indian Sea, about 3,5000
kilometers east of Cape Town, and celebrated Christmas together. On January 2nd, the
waves became massive in size, causing the sailors to slow down the boat's speed,
lower the storm jib, and take precautions to ensure their safety. The sailors even
conducted a life-raft drill and secured the life-boats and life jackets. Suddenly, at 6 pm,
a massive explosion rocked the Wavewalker and the narrator was thrown off from the
ship. He could see his death and started losing consciousness but another huge wave
hit it and righted it. The narrator was thrown back onto the deck and sustained head and
rib injuries from hitting the walls of the Wavewalker. Despite his injuries, the narrator
took control of the situation and decided to handle it on his own. Meanwhile, Larry and
Herb started pumping out water from the ship.
Despite the challenges, the narrator managed to cover the gaps with canvas to prevent
water from entering the ship. However, the hand pumps failed and the electric pumps
short-circuited at the same time. Fortunately, the narrator found a working spare
electrical pump. The entire night, they all worked together, pumping, steering, repairing,
and sending out radio signals for help. After checking the charts, the narrator realized
that their last hope was the French scientific base on ILE Amsterdam Island.
Sue and Jon were badly injured, but they were not afraid to die as long as they were
together. Sue had a swollen head and a deep injury, but the narrator was determined to
show courage for his children. Finally, they reached Ile Amsterdam and were greeted
by the 28 inhabitants of the volcanic island.
In conclusion, we can say that the Sailor’s collective strength and never-bombing
certainty allowed them to survive and emerge from the jaws of death.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS-
1- List the steps taken by the captain
1. to protect the ship when rough weather began
2. to check the flooding of the water in the ship
2- Describe the mental condition of the voyages on 4th and 5th January.
3- Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text.
Give a subtitle to each section.
4- What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when
faced with danger?
5- Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How had the narrator equipped and tested it?
6- Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text.
Give a subtitle to each section.
