Science: Ch

The Adventure
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English
Hornbill Chapter 7 The Adventure
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The Adventure NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English

Hornbill Chapter 7
The Adventure NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers
The Adventure Understanding the text

I. Tick the statements that are true :

1. The story ……………. is an account of real events. ( )
2. The story ………………. hinges on a particular historical event ( )
3. Rajendra Deshpande was …………….. a historian. ( )
4. The places mentioned in ……………. the story are all imaginary. ( )
5. The story …………. tries to relate history to science. ( )
Answer:
1. (✗) 2. (✗) 3. (✗) 4. (✗) 5. (✓)

II. Briefly explain the following statements from the text:

1. “You neither travelled to the past nor the future. You were in the present
experiencing a different world.”
2. ‘You have passed through a fantastic experience : or more correctly, a
cata¬strophic experience.”
3. Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he
was witnessing around him.
4. “The lack of determinism in quantum theory!”
5. ‘You need some interaction to cause a transition.”
Answer:
1. The statement was made by Rajendra Deshpande for Professor Gangadharpant
Gaitonde. The Professor went to Mumbai where he was interrupted rudely during
his presidential speech. He was quite unaware of the fact where he spent two
days afterwards. At this Rajendra tried to rationalise his experience on the basis
of scientific theories.
2. The statement was made by Rajendra Deshpande to and for Professor
Gangadhar Gaitonde. The latter had been absent for two days from Pune. He had
gone to Bombay. He also produced an evidence of his visit to Bombay. He also
talked about his experience there. But he actually didn’t know where he spent his
time after his collision, while he was absent from Pune. At this Rajendra tried to
co-relate his typical experience with Catastrophe theory calling his experience a
catastrophic experience.

3. Gangadharpant seemed to be known to Bombay pre-British Raj. Then possibly

he was posted at Pune. But as he came to Bombay he found many new buildings
and new sets of shops just like the ones in Britain. He was naturally surprised and
couldn’t help comparing it.

4. Gangadharpant felt moving between two different worlds. He was surprised

how that occur could. He also failed to understand why history took a different
turn in volume five, from that what was reality. At this his friend, Rajendra
Despande tried to explain.

He told that such incidents could take place due to lack of determinism in
quantum theory. As Alxendor could have won the battle and Marathas really won
the battle proving the same theory. According to this theory, the electrons don’t
take the same trajectory path, shot from the same neucleus like the planets.
They take different routes. Same happened in the war of Waterloo and the war of
Panipat

5. Professor Gaitonde failed to understand where he spent the time while

returning . to Pune. His memory was blank as to recollect his experience after his
collision till his return to Pune. Moreover he also failed to understand how a
person could move between two totally different worlds at a time.

At this Rajendra explained that it happens due to transition. On being asked he

told that transition could take place due to interaction. Suppose a person is
interacting about some incident, he might undergo the transition phase and the
catastrophic theory.

The Adventure Talking about the text

Question 1.
Discuss the following statements in groups of two pairs, each pair in a group
taking opposite points of view :

(i) A single event may change the course of the history of a nation.
(ii) Reality is what is directly experienced through the senses.
(iii) The methods of inquiry of history, science and philosophy are similar.
Answer:
(i) We can call history an epic of humanity. Historical events are not isolated
phenomenon. History is one of the highest and richest social arts. It is rightly said
that a single event may change the course of the history of a nation. India’s
attaining independ¬ence from the tyranny of British rule is a single event of
history. It was made possible by a long series of sacrifices made by our freedom
fighters.
When finally India was declared independent on 15th August, 1947 it changed the
course of history of a nation. Now India is the largest democracy in the whole
world. Similarly a single event-Russian Revolution- Changed the entire course of
the history of a nation. Thus we can say that a single event may change the
course of the history of a nation.

(ii) Reality is the state of things as they actually exist. For instance if we touch fire
with our hand, it will have a burning sensation. This is reality or an estabilished
fact. But we come to know about this fact only when it is experienced through the
senses.

When we go out in rain, we will get wet. This reality also is directly experienced
through the senses. When we keep water in the refrigerator it gets cold. But how
can we prove it is true. Either through touching it with our fingers or by drinking
it. In most of the cases we can say that reality is what is directly experience
through the senses. However a spiritual truth becomes a reality when it has been
proved with the mental state of mind of most of the people.

(iii) Self-attempt.

Question 2.
(i) The story is called “The Adventure”. Compare it with the adventure described
in “We’re Not Afraid to Die ….”
(ii) Why do you think Professor Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings
again ?
Answer:
(i) For self-attempt.

Question 3.
Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde was a historian. He would attend public
meetings and would address people awaring them about the important
occurrences in history. He had also written history books. The audience was
never same during his various addresses. Sometimes it was hostile. He was also
greeted warmly in some of the meetings. ’
Once he went to Pune to find out some historical fact. Thereafter having his meal
in the evening, as he was strolling, he found a meeting being assembled at Azad
Maidan.

Instinctively he moved towards the platform and then to the unoccupied

presidential chair as an iron plate is attracted towards the magnet. He started
speaking on the mike in spite of public verbal protest. But the public was not in a
mood to listen to the presidential introduction. He soon became the target of the
shower of potatoes, eggs and other articles.

But that also didn’t deter him. Valiantly he cleaned that dirt and kept on
speaking. Now the public grew so hostile that they physically pulled him. Next, he
didn’t know what happened to him When he gained consciousness, he found
himself lying on the ground.

Later, he met Rajendra Deshpande and tried to get what actually it was. Rajendra
tried to rationalise it, which the former didn’t take and announced that he won’t
address any public meeting in future as he was so rudely interrupted in his
speech by the public at Azad Maidan. He also told that he had sent his letter of
refusal regretting his denial to address at meeting in Panipat.

The Adventure Thinking About Language

1. In which language do you think Gangadharpant and Khan Sahib talked to each
other ? Which language did Gangadharpant use to talk to the English
receptionist ?
2. In which language do you think Bhausahebanchi Bakhar was written ?
3. There is mention of three communities in the story, the Marathas, the Mughals,
the Anglo-Indians. Which language do you think they used within their
communities and while speaking to the other groups ?
4. Do you think that the ruled always adopt the language of the rulers ?
Answer:
1. I think that Gangadharpant and Khan Sahib might have talked to each other in
the then layman’s language. They both were well educated so they might have
conversed in English in between. Khan Sahib was Muslim, so it was quite natural
on his part that he could have used some Urdu words. But most prominently they
might have conversed in English.But with the English receptionist, he must have
talked in English language solely, as the former was not supposed to be well
aware of Hindi or any other language.

2. ‘Bhausahebanchi Bakhar possibly was written in Marathi language.

3. I think the Marathas used Marathi language within their communities. The
Mughals used Arabic language and Anglo-Indians used English language within
their communities.

4. Yes, I think that the ruled generally adopt the language of the rulers.

The Adventure Working With Words

I. Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrases :

Question 1.
………….. to take issue with :
(i) to accept
(ii) to discuss
(iii) to disagree
(iv) to add
Answer:
(ii) to discuss

Question 2.
………….. to give vent to
(i) to express
(ii) to emphasise
(iii) suppress
(iv) dismiss
Answer:
(i) to express

Question 3.
…………. to stand on one’s feet :
(i) to be physically strong
(ii) to be independent
(iii) to stand erect
(iv) to be successful
Answer:
(ii) to be independent

Question 4.
………….. to be wound up :
(i) to become active
(ii) to stop operating
(iii) to be transformed
(iv) to be destroyed
Answer:
(iv) to be destroyed

Question 5.
……….. to meet one’s match :
(i) to meet a partner who has similar tastes
(ii) to meet an opponent
(iii) to meet someone who is equally able as oneself
(iv) to meet defeat
Answer:
(i) to meet a partner who has similar tastes

II. Distinguish between the following pairs of sentences :

Question 1.
(i) He was visibly moved.
(ii) He was visually impaired.
Answer:
(i) He was apparently moved.
(ii) He had no vision/sight was vision-wise challenged.

Question 2.
(i) Green and black stripes were used alternately.
(ii) Green stripes could be used or alternatively black ones.
Answer:
(i) Green and black stripes were used in turns.
(ii) Green stripes could be used or as a substitute black ones could be used.

Question 3.
(i) The team played the two matches successfully.
(ii) The team played two matches successively.
Answer:
(i) The team played the two maches victoriously.
(ii) The team played two matches continuously/consecutively

Question 4.
(i) The librarian spoke respectfully to the learned scholar.
(ii) You will find the historian and the scientist in the archaeology and natural
science sections of the museum respectively.
Answer:
(i) The librarian spoke with respect/honour to the learned scholar.
(ii) You will find the historian and the scientist in the archaeology and natural
science sections of the museum respectfully.

The Adventure Noticing Form

The story deals with unreal and hypothetical conditions. Some of the sentences
used to express this notion are given below :
1. If I fire a bullet from a gun in a given direction at a given speed, I know where it
will be.at a later time.
2. If I knew the answer I would solve a great problem.
3. If he himself were dead in this world, what guarantee had he that his son would
be alive.
4. What course would history have taken if the battle had gone the other way ?
Answer:
The students should note the use of conditional clauses carefully and apply them
in their day-to-day activities.

The Adventure Things To Do

I. Read the following passage on the Catastrophe Theory downloaded from the
internet.
Originated by the French mathematician Rene Thom, in the 1960s, catastrophe
theory is a special branch of dynamical systems theory. It studies and classifies
phenomena characterised by sudden shifts in behaviour arising from small
changes in circumstances. Catastrophes are bifurcations between different
equilibria, or fixed point attractors.

Due to their restricted nature, catastrophes can be classified based on how many
control parameters are being simultaneously varied. For example, if there are two
controls, then one finds the most common type, called a “cusp” catastrophe. If,
however, there are more than five controls, there is no classification.Gatastrophe
theory has been applied to a number of different phenomena, such as the
stability of ships at sea and their capsizing, bridge collapse, and, with some less
convincing success, the fight-or-flight behaviour of animals and prison riots.

II. Look up the internet or an encyclopedia for information on the following

theories:
(i) Quantum theory
(ii) Theory of relativity
(iii) Big Bang theory
(iv) Theory of evolution
Answer:
(i) Quantum theory : The theory propagates that energy exists in units that can’t
be divided. ‘Quantum’ simply means ‘electromagnetic energy’. It is related with
physics.
(ii) Theory of relativity : This theory was given by Einstein. It propagates the that
all the movement is relative and that time is a fourth dimensionrelated to space.
(iii) Big Bang theory : Edwin Hubble gave this theory which professes that the
universe was collected at a centre then a great/huge/massive explosion with big
bang occurred and heavenly bodies separated.
(iv) Theory of evolution : The theory was given by Darwin propagating the
principle of the survival of the fittest. Those who modify themselves according to
the changing environment survive, the rest die.

The Adventure Extra Questions and Answers

Read the passages given below and answer the questions thats follow :

Passage 1

Meanwhile, the racing fund of Professor Gaitonde had arrived at a plan of action
in Bombay* Indeed, as a historian he’felt he should have thought of it sooner. He
would go to a big library and brow-fee through history books. That was the surest
way of finding out how the present state of affairs was reached.

He also planned eventually to return to Pune and have a long talk with Rajendra
Deshpande, who would surely help him understand what had happened. That is,
assuming that in this world there existed someone called Rajendra Deshpande !
The train stopped beyond the long tunnel. It was a small station called Sarhad. An
Anglo-Indian in uniform went through the train checking permits. (Page 60)

Questions :
(t) Who was Professor Gaitonde and where did he hail from ?
(ii) What was his destination and what was his purpose ?
(iii) What did he feel his duty as a historian ?
(iv) Could you guess the period when the story might have been written ?
(v) Give the synonyms of the following :
(a) exist
(b) tunnel.
Answers :
(i) Professor Gaitonde was a historian and he hailed from Pune.
(ii) His destination presently was Bombay. He wanted to go there to the big
library and browse through history books to find how the present state of affairs
was reached.
(fit) As a historian, Professor Gaitonde felt it his duty that he should have thought
long before to find out the reason of the changed state of matters.
(iv) The paragraph talks about ‘An Anglo-Indian’ entering the carriage to check
the permits. Naturally he was Govt, officer. It occurred only during the British-
rule.
(v) (a) existlive
(b) tunnela long narrow (generally) underground path/a long cave with outlet at
another end also.

Passage 2
He thanked the girl politely and came out. It was characteristic of him jot to worry
about where he would stay. His main concern was to make his way to the library
of the Asiatic Society to solve the riddle of history. Grabbing a quick lunch at a
restaurant, he made his way to the Town Hall. Yes, to his relief, the Town Hall was
there, and it did house the library. He entered the reading room and asked for a
list of history books including his own.

His five volumes duly arrived on his table. He started from the beginning. Volume
one took the history up to the period of Ashoka, volume two up to Samudragupta,
volume three up to Mohammad Ghori and volume four up to the death of
Aurangzeb. Up to this period history was as he knew it. The change evidently had
occurred in the last volume.Reading volume five from both ends inwards,
Gangadharpant finally converged on the precise moment where history had taken
a different turn. (Page 62)

Questions :
(i) Who is ‘he’ here ? Do you know who is the ‘girl’ he thanked ?
(ii) What was his main concern ?
(iii) Which characteristic of the subject being talked about here, is mentioned
here ?
What does it show ?
(iv) Did he find what he wanted to ?
(v) Give synonyms of:
(a) concern
(b) converged.
Answers :
(i) ‘He’ here is Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde. Yes. The ‘girl’ he thanked is
the English receptionist at Forbes Building.
(ii) His main concern was to make his way to the library of Asiatic Society to solve
the riddle of history.
(iii) Professor Gaitonde is the subject being talked about here. He never cared
much about his lodging. That was his characteristic. It shows that instead of his
personal physical comforts, he cared more about his worth.
(iv) Yes, he found what he wanted to. He had come there to solve a riddle of
history.While reading fifth volume of the history hook, he got the clue/point which
cleared the puzzle.
(v) (a) concern — worry.
(b) converged — moved towards a point from different directions and meet to
form a large crowd.

Passage 3

Their victory in the battle was not only a great morale booster to the Marathas
hut it also established their supremacy in northern India. The East India
Company, which had been watching these developments from the sidelines, got
the message and temporarily shelved its expansionist programme. For the
Peshwas the immediate result was an increase in the influence of Bhausaheb and
Vishwasrao who eventfully succeeded his father in 1780 AD. The trouble-maker,
Dadasaheb, was relegated to the background and he eventually retired from
state politics.
To its dismay, the East India Company met its match in the new Maratha ruler,
Vishwasrao. He and his brother, Madhavrao, combined political acumen with
valour and systematically expanded their influence all over India. The Company
was reduced to pockets of influence near Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, just like
its European rivals, the Portu guese and the French. (Page 63)

Questions :
(i) What was the effect of the battle ? What was its result ?
(ii) How did this change in situation affect the British /East India Company ?
(iii) What impact did it have on Dadasaheb ?
(iv) How did Vishwasrao act as a ruler ?
(v) Give the synonyms of:
(a) relegated
(b) acumen
Answers :
(i) The battle resulted in the victory of Marathas which finally boosted them
morally. Consequently their supermacy in Northern India was established.
(ii) The East India Company had to temporarily shelves its expansionist
programme after the establishment of Maratha power in Northern India. It also
remained restricted to the pockets of near Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
(iii) Dadasaheb was regarded troublemaker by the Marathas. So he was relegated
to the background and finally he retired from state politics.
(iv) Vishwasrao alongwith his brother Madhavrao very systematically expanded
their influence all over India. The East India Company remained restricted to the
pockets of influence near Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
(v) relegated : given less important place/rank
acumen : ability to understand and judge things quickly and clearly.

Passage 4

He found a guest house to stay in and had a frugal meal. He then set out for a
stroll towards the Azad Maidan. In the maidan he found a throng moving towards
a pandal. So, a lecture was to take place. Force of habit took Professor Gaitonde
towards the pandal. The lecture was in progress, although people kept coming
and going. But Professor Gaitonde was not looking at the audience.

He was staring at the platform as if mesmerised. There was a table and a chair
but the latter was unoccupied. The presidential chair unoccupied! The sight
stirred him to the depths. Like a piece of iron attracted to a magnet, he swiftly
moved towards the chair. The speaker stopped in mid-sentence, too shocked to
continue. But the audience soon found voice.

“Vacate the chair !”

“This lecture series has no chairperson…”
“Away from the platform, mister !”
“The chair is symbolic, don’t you know ?”

What nonsense! Whoever heard of a public lecture without a presiding dignitary ?

Professor Gaitonde went to the mike and gave vent to his views. “Ladies and
gentlemen, an unchaired lecture is like Shakespeare’s Hamlet without the Prince
of Denmark. Let me tell you.” (Pages 64-65)
Questions :
(i) Where did he go for a stroll ? What did he find there ?
(ii) How did he feel after going there ?
(iii) What was the general reaction at his arHval ?
(iv) How did he try to explain- himself or his position ?
(v) Give the meaning of:
(a) mesmerised
(b) gave vent to
Answers :
(i) He went towards the Azad Maidan for a stroll. He found there a throng
moving . towards a pandal.
(ii) He felt mesmerised looking at the platform. He found the presidential chair
unoccupied. It stirred him to the depths. He felt attracted towards the chair as an
iron rod is attracted to a magnet.
(iii) The speaker was too shocked (to see Gangadharpant moving towards the
presidential chair) to continue. He stopped in mid-sentence. At this the audience
also reacted aggressively and asked Professor Gaitonde to be away from the
chair. They didn’t seem to be in mood of listening to the chairperson.
(iv) Professor Gaitonde had an experience of speaking at the public meetings. He
went to the mike after seeing the chairperson’s seat unoccupied. He told that an
unchaired lecture is like Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ without the Prince of Denmark.
(v) (a) mesmerised : spell bound/ having such a strong effect on you that you
can’t give your attention to anything else.
(b) gave vent to : expressed.

Passage 5

“Don’t smile smugly. In case you think that it was just my mind playing tricks and
my imagination running amok, look at this.” And, triumphantly, Professor
Gaitonde produced his vital piece of evidence : a page tom out of a book.
Rajendra read the text on the printed page and his face underwent a change.
Gone was the smile and in its place came a grave expression. He was visibly
moved.Gangadharpant pressed home his advantage. “I had inadvertently slipped
the Bakhar in my pocket as I left the library. I discovered my error when I was
paying for my meal. I had intended to return it the next morning.

But it seems that in the melee of Azad Maidan, the book was lost; only this tom-
off page remained. And, luckily for me, the page contains vital evidence.”
Rajendra again read the page. It described how Vishwasrao narrowly missed the
bul¬let; and howr that event, taken as an omen by the Maratha army, turned the
tide in their favour.“Now look at this.” Gangadharpant produced his own copy of
Bhausahebanchi Bakhar, opened at the relevant page. The account ran thus :‘…
And then Vishwasrao guided his horse to the melee where the elite troops were
fighting, and he attacked them. And God expressed His displeasure. He was hit
by the bullet ’ (Page 66)

Questions :
(i) Why did Gangadharpant produce a piece of paper ?
(ii) What influence did the evidence have on Rajendra ?
(iii) How did that evidence come in the pocket of Professor Gaitonde ?
(iv) What is the point of discussion between Gangadharpant and Rajendra ?
(v) Give the synonyms of the following words :
(a) smugly
(b) inadvertently.
Answers :
(i) Gangadhar produced the piece of paper as a part of evidence to prove that Iris
mind was not playing tricks and that his imaginaion was not running amok. He
really had experienced what he was narrating.
(ii) Rajendra was really moved by the evidence. Earlier, he had been taking it just
as the figment of Gangadharpant’s mind. But after seeing the evidence, he
turned serious and started reading the page (evidence).
(iii) Gangadharpant had gone to the big library. He read there a Bakhar and while
leaving library, he inadvertently slipped it in his pocket. Thus the evidence came
in his pocket.
(iv) Gangadharpant and Rajendra had been discussing over the mysterious
matter, where Gangadharpant had been for the two days while he was absent
from Bombay.
(v) (a) smugly : pleasantly for having achieved something.
(b) inadvertently : just accidently, unintentionally.

Passage 6

“A good guess. I was indeed wondering what course history would have taken if
the result of the battle had gone the other way,” Professor Gaitonde said. “That
was going to be the topic of my thousandth presidential address.”“Now you are in
the happy position of recounting your real life experience rather than just
speculating,” Rajehdra laughed. But Gangadharpant was grave. “No, Rajendra,
my thousandth address was made on the Azad Maidan when I was so rudely
interrupted. No. the Professor Gaitonde who disappeared while defending his
chair on the platform will now never be seen presiding at another meeting—‘I
have conveyed my regrets to the organisers of the Panipat seminar.’ (Page 69)

Questions :
(i) What was going to be the topic of Professor Gaitondes thousandth Presidential
address ? Could he deliver it ?
(ii) Why could he not deliver his thousandth presidential address ?
(iii) What did Gangadharpant resolve as a result ?
(iv) Why did Professor Gaitonde convey his regrets to the organisers of the
Panipat Seminar ?
(v) Give the meanings of the following words :
(a) recounting
(b) speculating.
Answers :
(i) The topic of Gangadharpant Gaitonde’s thousandth address was going to be :
‘what course history would have taken if the result of the battle had gone the
other way.’
(ii) Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde could not deliver his thousandth
presidential speech as he was rudely interrupted by the public and the speaker
there. He was actually pulled down from the stage physically.
(iii) Gangadharpant felt so offended (and shocked) by the rude interruption of the
public at Azad Maidan in Pune that he resolved never to be seen presiding at the
meeting.
(iv) Professor Gaitonde conveyed his regrets to the organisers of the Panipat
seminar,as he had resolved never to attend/ address as President of any of the
meeting in future. It was occurred as a result of his bitter experience at Pune
meeting.
(v)
(a) recounting : telling something about your personal experience.
(b) speculating : forming an opinion sth that you don’t know in detail.

The Adventure Extra Questions Short Answer type

Question 1.
Can you guess when actually the incidents of the story might have taken place ?
Answer:
The incidents of the story might have taken place after 1857 during the British
Raj only. The narrator talks about East India Company’s rule in Bombay, Calcutta
and Madras, whereas in Pune where he lived presently was unaffected.

Question 2.
How did the librarian feel at the presence of Professor Gaitonde and why ?
Answer:
The librarian at the big library in Town Hall felt at the presence of Professor
Gaitonde that here was a real researcher and scholar who had the thirst for
knowing the facts. He felt so as Professor Gaitonde had been studying the books
quite hungrily. He also forgot the count of time and kept on reading till the
librarian asked him to stop as it was closing time.

Question 3.
What mistake did Gangadharpant commit at the library ? How did it prove a boon
to him ?
Answer:
While leaving the library Gangadharpant showed a page of written notes in his
right pocket. Inadvertently, he showed ‘Bakhar’ in his left. Later when Rajendra
Deshpande tried to prove his experience a mere figment of mind, he produced
both the things proving that his was a ‘real experience’. Thus it proved a boon.

Question 4.
Name the theories with which Rajendra Deshpande tried to associate Gaitonde’s
experience at Azad Maidan?
Answer:
Rajendra Deshpande seemed to be a physicist having great interest in history as
well. First he tried to associate Gaitonde’s experience at Azad Maidan in Bombay
with Catastrophic theory. It clearly meant that it was a mere figment of
Gangadharpant’s mind. Then more seriously, he related it with ‘quantum theory’
in which there is always ‘a lack of determinism.’

Question 5.
Could Rajendra be able to make around Gangadharpant by rationalising his
experience ?
Answer:
No, Rajendra failed to make around Gangadharpant despite the fact that very
deftly he tried to rationalise the latter’s experience. Gangadharpant was not at all
satisfied his rational clarification and told that his source experience at Azad
Maidan had given him such a rude jolt that he had decided never to address any
public meeting.
Question 6.
What was the explanation to Gangadharpant’s query about his two days absence
from Pune ?
Answer:
When Gangadharpant asked from Rajendra Deshpande where the former
remained for two days while he was absent from Pune, the latter replied that the
Professor though lived in present, he experienced the past at the same time or to
put it simply he was moving in two different worlds simultaneously.

Question 7.
Rajendra Deshpande also became at one query of the Professor. What was that ?
Answer:
When Gangadharpant asked how it occurred that while living in present world by
experienced a past world. To this question Rajendra answered that it occurred
due to transition. On being asked why this transition occurred in him, Rajendra
could produce no scientific explanations. He rather told that there are several
questions of which answers are still to be found put.

Question 8.
The chapter talks about a very crucial war ? What is that ? How was it crucial ?
Answer:
The chapter ‘The Adventure’ talks about a very crucial war. It was fought between
Marathas and Moghals. It was crucial as it was war by Marathas and British Raj
was still away from this territory. But in the Provinces of Moghuls, British rule
paved way quite easily.

Question 9.
The story mentions just two characters mainly, still it doesn’t appear dull. Why/
Why not ?
Answer:
I fully agree that mainly the story talks about just two characters the physicist
Rajendra Deshpande and the historian Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde, with
the passing hue of Khan Sahib, English receptionist and audience at the Azad
Maidan. Still the story has its own point of interest. It lies in Rajendra
Deshpande’s effort to relate Gaitonde’s real experience with different scientific
theories.

Question 10.
What was the first jolt that Gangadharpant receive on getting down at Bombay ?
Answer:
Gangadharpant found a new look given to the Bombay station itself. Next as he
came out of station, he found totally new sets of shops and buildings which were
more akin to the ones in the British Town. The great jolt which he received was at
the ‘Forbes Stores’ where he had earlier worked. But now the company had no
clue of his name in the list of employees. Gangadhar felt a lost identity in his own
native place.

The Adventure Extra Questions Long Answer type

Question 1.
Justify the title of the story “The Adventure’.
Answer:
The title of the story ‘The Adventure’ is quite apt and appropriate. ‘The
Adventure’ simply means ‘an unusual and exciting experience’. Here in the story
the protagonist Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde also goes through a very
strange experience. He was a historian. He was going to Bombay (possibly his
native place) first time after the establishment of British rule here. Here many
shocks awaited him. On the carriages of the train he found the letters ‘GBMR’ and
the tiny Union Jack painted. The latter one was a gentle reminder that the British
territory had started.

Again the letters ‘East India House Headquarters of the East India Company’
proclaimed its identity to the people like Gangadharpant who didn’t know that
Bombay. Though Professor Gaitonde was prepared to receive shocks out this one
was too disturbing.

As per history books, the East India Company had been wound up shortly after
the events of 1857. So when and how history had taken a different turn. He
earlier worked in ‘Forbes Stores’ in Bombay. But as he asked his name at the
reception he found that his name didn’t exist in the list of employees there any
more. Possibly all Anglo-Indians had been placed there.

The most peculiar incident he had to come across was the meeting at Azar .Iaidan
where the presidential chair was unoccupied and people also were not at all
willing to get it occupied.Still an enigma to him was that he couldn’t decide where
he did spend those two days while he had been away from Pune. His physicist
friend tried to rationalise it on the basis of scientific theory, which Gangadhar was
ready to receive.

Question 2.
Give a pen-portrayal of Gangadharpant.
Answer:
Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde is a historian by profession. He is veiy
devoted historian. Once, he went Bombay : There he decided to find out where
the history took a different turn from what is found in reality. For that he went to
the big libraiy at Town Hall. He didn’t bother at all for his lodging and meal. He
kept browsing through the history books till the librarian reminded him of closing
time of the libraiy.

He is very particular about jotting down the important points from different
history books. He was so much absorbed in thinking about the different
incidences in history, that unknowingly to be slipped a book/bakhar in his pocket.
Later after having a frugal meal, as he went for a stroll, he couldn’t suppress his
curiosity seeing a throng of people.He had already addressed 99 meetings in
capacity of chairperson. He was so much eager to awaken the public about
different historical truths, that he didn’t care for the invitations of the public.

He rather warded off their verbal protests. He even kept on speaking even though
they started throwing eggs and tomatoes. People threw him off the stage. It’s
only next day that he regained consciousness. He felt hurt at the public-
behaviour and resolved never to speak in any public meetings, still his search for
truth didn’t stop.
Question 3.
How does Rajendra Deshpande try to rationalise Professor Gaitonde’s
experiences at Bombay ?
Answer:
Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde is a historian and Rajendra Deshpande is a
physicist. Professor Gaitonde had been to Bombay for two days to find out how
and when the history took a different turn in books and in reality in Bombay. Then
he is caught in an unfortunate experience of hostile audience while he was trying
to give vent to his views regarding the turn in history.

On return he told everything to Deshpande. He wanted to know from Rajendra

what actually happened to him and where he actually spent those two days.
Rajendra Deshpande true to his profession tried to give his adventurous
experience a scientific base.He first called it a catastrophic experience, citing the
catastrophic theory in relation with the Battle of Panipat, where leadership and
moral boosting led the Marathas win the battle. Next, he compared his
experience with quantum theory.

The lack of determinism in quantum theory leads a man to imagine many world
pictures at a time. So catastrophic situation offers radically different alternatives
for the world to proceed. But observer really can experience only one of the many
worlds. Hence by making transition, Gangadhar experienced two worlds although
one at a time. These all ‘theories of Deshpande’ appeared quite fascinating but
failed to impress Gangadharpant Gaitonde. He simply remained adamant that he
had experienced a hostile audience and hence had resolved never to preside over
a public meeting.

Question 4.
“You’ve passed through a fantastic experience.” Who spoke these words ?
Explain.
Answer:
Rajendra Deshpande spoke these words. He is a physicist. He also seemed to be
a friend of Professor Gaitonde, who is a historian. Professor Gaitonde has recently
undergone a very peculiar experience. It was an adventure to him. He had gone
to Bombay for the first time, after British rule there.

He met there public with peculiar attitude which he had never witnessed. He also
felt that the history had been tempered by someone. It was quite different
probably after 1857, to that history which he had witnessed. He wanted to find
out when and how their change occurred.

For this purpose he went to the public library also to consult history books. He
returned with a vital evidence as well to Pune there he met Rajendra Deshpande
his friend. He wanted to get the reason of that hostile public and perhaps the co-
reaction between the change in history and the change in public attitude.

At this Rajendra produced a scientific explanation. He called it a fantastic rather

catastrophic experience. According to him both the changes occurred due to two
theories, i.e. Catastrophic theory and Quantum theory. That’s a separate matter
that Professor Gaitonde couldn’t be convinced with these scientific explanations.