The Adventure Past Paper Questions and Answers PDF

**THE ADVENTURE** **by JAYANTH NARLIKAR** **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."** Ans: This statement was made by Rajendra to Professor Gaitonde. As he made...

**THE ADVENTURE** **by JAYANTH NARLIKAR** **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."** Ans: This statement was made by Rajendra to Professor Gaitonde. As he made a transition from one world to another, he had a real-life experience for two days in an alternative reality. It was a time experience for him. He neither travelled to the past nor the future. He was in the present all the time. **2. "You have passed through a fantastic experience: or more correctly, a catastrophic experience."** Ans: This statement was made by Rajendra to Professor Gaitonde. When he was hit by the truck, he was thinking about Catastrophe theory and its role in the war. He was unconscious in the hospital for the next two days but he was in an alternate world having a real-life experience of many things which were not true in the real world where he lives. He noticed that the scenario was different and facts about history were different. So, he had passed a catastrophic experience. **3. Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew what he was witnessing around him.** Ans: Gangadharpant Gaitonde had witnessed different facts of history which were the decline of Marathas and British rule. But here in a different world, the reality was different. Marathas had won the Battle of Panipat and there was no slavery under the white man. India was free and here people had self-respect. When he compared two different facts of the same country, he liked this different version of India more. **4. "The lack of determinism in quantum theory!"** Ans: The lack of determinism means the inability of the scientist to know where the electron would move. Quantum theory means in physics, it can be measured how the energy is produced and in what direction electrons may move. This happened when the Professor saw two different sets of history in the case of the Battle of Panipat. In one reality, Marathas had won the war and in another, they had lost the battle. The same happened in the case of the Battle of Waterloo. **5. "You need some interaction to cause a transition."** Ans: Professor Gaitonde before the collision with the truck was thinking about catastrophe theory and its role in the war. He was wondering what might happen if the result was different in the Battle of Panipat. When he hit the truck, the neurons in his brain made the transition. This was explained by Rajendra to the professor when he failed to understand why only he made the transition. **Talking about the Text** **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.** Ans: For: A single event may change the course of the history of a nation. In the case of the Battle of Panipat, when Marathas won the war. The course of history changed and it led to a different shape of India. British rule ended and India soon became a democratic nation. People no longer were slaves under the white man. India was self-dependent and had self-respect. Against: It is a matter of perspective that a single event may change the course of the history of a nation. As explained by Rajendra in the chapter, it is a catastrophic phenomenon that the Battle of Panipat had two courses of history in different worlds. Similarly, there may be different worlds having a different history of the same nation. **(ii) Reality is what is directly experienced through the senses.** Ans: For: As Gangadharpant experienced a different reality in the different world for two days, he even brought back a torn-off page of Bakhar book. He was experiencing different realities one at a time. It happened due to the lack of determinism in quantum theory and catastrophic theory. We sense our reality with our taste buds, hearing, seeing, smelling and a sense of touch. Against: Reality is not entitled to the senses. Electrons can move to any direction at any point in time. They don't have a definite path to travel. When we can predict the direction of the fired bullet, we cannot predict the same thing about electrons. **(iii) The methods of inquiry of history, science and philosophy are similar.** Ans: For: The methods of inquiry of history, science and philosophy are similar. In the chapter, history, philosophy, and science converge and Professor Gaitonde experiences a different set of events and reality in two different worlds. In one world, the Battle of Panipat was won by the Marathas and in another, it was won by the Mughals. Later, Rajendra explained to him the catastrophe theory and lack of determinism. This explained to us how history and science converged. Similarly, in Philosophy, truth is relative. Against: It is inaccurate to say that the methods of inquiry of history, science, and philosophy are similar. In the chapter, Rajendra tried to explain the events with a catastrophic theory which surely convinced Professor but not us. Philosophy is speculative, while science is about the exact fact that ko is tested. History is based on a set of events and how they shaped the existing reality. The chapter is a science fiction where the writer tries to show the convergence of the three different subjects but in reality, it employs different methodologies. **2. (i) The story is called 'The Adventure'. Compare it with the adventure described in 'We're Not Afraid to Die...'** Ans: 'We're Not Afraid to Die...' is a story about a family who went on a seafaring trip with their two children and two crewmen. The challenge was to keep them alive and reach the shore safely when the Storm hit the sea and affected their boat. Their experience was real and painful. On the other hand, Professor Gaitonde's experience was imaginative. After his collision, he travelled the world through his mind when he was unconscious for two days. **(ii) Why do you think Professor Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again?** Ans: When in a different world, the professor noticed the empty presidential chair on the stage in the ongoing lecture. He tried to sit on it as it should not remain empty. He was asked to move away by the speaker. Later when he started talking on the mic, the audience was not ready to listen to him. They threw many objects at him and asked him to move aside. They physically lifted him from the stage.\ Such experiences prompted Professor to never preside over meetings again. **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?** Ans: Gangadharpant and Khan Sahib talked to each other in the Hindi language. On the other hand, Gangadharpant talked to the English receptionist in the English language. **2. In which language do you think Bhausahebanchi Bakhar was written?** Ans: It was written in the Marathi language. **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 group?** Ans: The Muslims used to speak Urdu, the Marathas used to speak the Marathi and Anglo-Indians used to speak in English within their communities. **4. Do you think that the ruled always adopted the language of the ruler?** Ans: No, the ruled did not always adopt the language of the ruler. **The Adventure Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type** Question 1.\ What was Gangadharpant's experience in the Azad Maidan? Did it have any effect on his life?\ Answer:\ Gangadharpant was keen to address the people at Azad Maidan. He spoke as if he was presiding over a public meeting. People did not allow him to speak. This happened in the freak 'adventure' that he lived through. As a result, he decided in his real life never to preside over any public function or to address a gathering. Question 2.\ Why do you think Prof. Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again?\ Answer:\ Prof. Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again as he had a bitter experience at one of the lectures going on in the Azad Maidan. Question 3.\ Who was Professor Gaitonde? Why was he surprised to see the name of East India Company on an imposing building in Bombay?\ Answer:\ Prof. Gaitonde was a history professor living in Poona in the 20th century. He was surprised to see the name of East India Company on a building in Bombay because it belonged to the 18th and 19th centuries when the Company was ruling India. It did not exist in the present time. Question 4.\ What was a vital piece of evidence that Prof. Gaitonde had with him to show that he had experienced a different reality?\ Answer:\ Prof. Gaitonde had a page from the history book Bhausahebanchi Bakhar that he was reading in the library in Bombay. Question 5.\ Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was witnessing around him. Explain briefly.\ Answer:\ Mumbai was different. Gangadhar Pant saw the East India Building and mostly Anglo-Indians, Parsee. and British officers-Railway by the name of Greater Bombay Metropolitan, Railway Stations looked remarkably clean. He was living in the late 20th century. What he saw was India under the British. Question 6.\ What sights did Prof. Gaitonde encounter to feel that he was going to a different Bombay?\ Answer:\ Prof. Gaitonde felt that he was going to a different Bombay because the trains had markings of G.B.M.R with the Union Jack printed on them. The station looked tidy. He could see British offices on the platform. There was also the building of East India Company. He came across many shops and office buildings. Question 7.\ What important discovery did Prof. Gaitonde make on reading history books?\ Answer:\ Professor Gaitonde found that the Marathas had won the Third Battle of Panipat and that was a turning point in India's history. Question 8.\ Why was the consequence of the Battle of Panipat important for the Peshwas?\ Answer:\ The victory established the supremacy of the Marathas in northern India and later over the rest of India East India Company was confined to some areas near Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. Question 9.\ How did the Peshwas keep in step with the changing times in the 20th century?\ Answer:\ The Peshwas kept pace with the changing times in the 20th century by setting up centres of science and technology. They were highly inspired by the West, India moved towards a democracy. For technology development, they also accepted help from the East India Company. Question 10.\ What information did Prof. Gaitonde get from 'Bhausahebanchi Bakhar,'?\ Answer:\ From 'Bhausahebanchi Bakhar', Prof. Gaitonde got the information about Vishwasrao. He got to know that Vishwasrao was not killed in the battle. Moreover, Vishaswasrao guided his horse to the battle. Question 11.\ How did Prof. Gaitonde behave in the Azad Maidan? Why did he behave so?\ Answer:\ Prof. Gaitonde went on the dais and sat on the unoccupied presidential chair. He refused to vacate and started speaking into the mike. He behaved so because he was drawn by the empty chair. Question 12.\ What is 'the catastrophe theory'?\ Answer:\ Catastrophe Theory means 'a critical event' which happens in a different way. This changes the entire course of history. Question 13.\ How did 'the catastrophe theory' work in the battle of Panipat?\ Answer:\ Catastrophe Theory in Panipat is that Vishwasrao did not die. Marathas won the battle. As a result, Marathas became the dominant power, the British were contained. Question 14.\ What have we been told about the quantum theory in the story 'The Adventure'?\ Answer:\ Because of the lack of determinism in quantum theory, the bullet missed Vishwasrao and the Marathas were victorious. Question 15.\ Why was Prof. Gaitonde going to Bombay?\ Answer:\ Professor Gaitonde was going to Bombay to check whether his son was alive and to read history books to find out how the present state of affairs was reached. Question 16.\ Who was Professor Gaitonde? Why was he surprised to see the name of East India Company on an imposing building in Bombay?\ Answer:\ Prof. Gaitonde was a professor of history in Puna. He lived in independent India. He was surprised to see the name of East India Company, as it had been wound up after 1857. The Adventure Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type Question 1.\ 'Gangadharpant had not been to this Bombay before.' Show how this Bombay is different from the one he knew.\ Answer:\ Bombay had completely changed for Gangadharpant. The Bombay he now visited had the trains that now paned through the suburban rail traffic. The blue carriages had the marking of G.B.M.R with the Union Jack printed on them. The station looked remarkably neat and clean. The staff included mainly Anglo-Indians and Parsees along with a few British officers. There was an imposing building of the East India Company. Walking about Hornby Road, Gangadharpant could find a different set of shops and office buildings. The British rule was prevalent only in Bombay. All the other parts of the nation were not under the rule of The British. Question 2.\ Gangadharpant was able to find the precise moment 'where history had taken a different turn for India'. What was this moment? How did it affect India and the Indian people?\ Answer:\ The precise moment where history had taken a different turn for India was the moment when Vishwasrao had narrowly dodged a bullet in the battle of Panipat. This was a great morale booster to the Marathas which led to their victory in the battle and established Maratha supremacy in northern India. The East India company watched through the sidelines and shunned their expansionist programme. To its dismay, the East India Company met its match in the new Maratha ruler, Vishwasrao. He and his brother, Madhavrao, combined political acumen and expanded their influence all over India. The East India Company was reduced to pockets of influence near Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, just like its European rivals, the Portugese and the French. Question 3.\ How did Rajendra Deshpande explain Gangadhar Pant's experience? Write in detail.\ Answer:\ Prof. Rajendra explained Prof. Gaitonde's theory based on catastrophe theory and the lack of determinism in the quantum theory. He applied catastrophe theory to the Battle of Panipat. Both armies were well-equipped, so, a lot depended on the leadership and the morale of the troops. He said that the point at which Vishwasrao was killed proved to be the turning point. Whether he was killed in the battle or survived was not known at that time. But, the troops were under constant stress of losing their crucial leaders. They lost their morale and fighting spirit. Now, when the bullet missed Vishwarao, the battle took the other way, and the troops felt encouraged. It boosted their morale and they applied a lot of effort to lion the battle. This happened due to the lack of determinism in quantum theory which means that you cannot predict the behaviour of anything, even if the outcome may be vastly different. Prof. Gaitonde was able to experience a different reality because he made a transition to another India where the Marathas had won the Battle of Panipat. The transition occurred because, at the moment of the collision, Prof. Gaitonde was thinking of the catastrophe Theory and the Battle of Panipat. Question 4.\ Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was witnessing around him. Explain briefly.\ Answer:\ Mumbai, which Gangadharpant was familiar of was completely different when the train stopped beyond the long tunnel, at a small station called Sarhad, Gangadharpant was stunned to see an Anglo-Indian in uniform checking permits. He got to know that this was the place where the British rule began. For Gandadharpant, this was the new Mumbai. When the train paned through the Suburban rail traffic, he noticed blue carriages with the marking, GBMR and the tiny Union Jack painted on each carriage. The station looked so spick and span. The staff included Anglo-Indians and Parsees along with some British officers. He also noticed the building to be East India Company along with some different shops and office buildings. Bombay was now completely under the influence of British rule.