MEMOIRS OF CHOTA SAHIB By John Rowntree
About the author:
John Rowntree (1906-1975) was the last British senior conservator of forest of Assam. Aftera few days of Independence he left India and returned to England. He was a man of smooth observation who narrated his practical experience about both the banks of the river Brahmaputra.
Introduction to the lesson:
In this lesson the author has given an account of Guwahati and its neighbouring areas on the eve of Independence.Here, Guwahati has been seen through the eyes of a British forest officer.He has mentioned every detail of the North bank and South Bank of the river.Also he narrated about his bunglow at Kulsi & Rajapara as well.He said about diverse animals and birds.
Textual Question Answer
page--90
1. Briefly describe the scene observed by the author from the varanda of his bunglow on the bank of the Brahmaputra.
Answer- The author John Rowntree lived in a bunglow on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. He used to have a splendid view of the beautiful river and its shipping with the Himalaya.
The author also had the view of a peacock island with the dome of a Hindu temple. It was visible through the trees. The author observed all these from the varanda of his bunglow.
2. What is the belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland of Guwahati that the author mentions.
Answer- The belief of the author is that if the dividing channel between the peacock island and the main land of Guwahati ever dried up, it would mean the the end of british raj.
3.What does the author say about the importance of Guwahati ? Is the statement true in our time today also?
Answer- The author says that Guwahati was the part of entry into Assam. Most of the travellers passed through on their way between calcutta and Shillong or to districts further up the valley.
Yes, the statement is true. At present Guwahati is called the gateway of Assam and North-East India as well.
Page -- 91
1. What character of the North-bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to ?
Answer- The author refers to the North bank of the river Brahmaputra with its unique features. Its own character is that it is vast, remote stretch of flat, ageless land between the sand rocks of the river Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills. The author further says that it was a strange place. He observed that the river dried up in the hot weather or suddenly disappeared underground there.
2. What information does the author give us about Manas wild Life sanctuary ?
Answer- The author gives us information about the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. He says that it is an area bordering the Himalayan state of Bhutan. There were a few rhinos in the sanctaury.
3. Describe the author's experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North baknk of the Brahmaputra .
Answer- The author has narrated his experience of crossing a flooded river. Once he crossed the river on horseback with much difficulty. He persuaded his mount to plunge into the river, then slipped over his croup and hung on to his tail as a rudder. When he pushed the tail to the right, the horse went to the left and vice versa. At last, somehow he crossed the river.
PAGE---92
1. Relate the author's experience of the road accident during the monsoon on the North- bank.
Answer-- The author had a horrible experience of driving a motor car along a one track road on embankment. It was during monsoon season and on the North bank of the river Brahmaputra.
One day the author was touring with his family comprising of his wife, baby, ayah and some eqiupments as well. Besides, it had a single track road. Due to rainfall it become greasy. As a result one skid led to the other. The author lost his control over the car and it slithered over the edge into a paddy field about six feet below the road. At last he found his way back after much difficulty.
2. Relate the author's reminescence of the forest bunglow at Kulsi .
Answer-- The author says that the bunglow situated in Kulsi was his favourite place. Here, the bunglow was surrounded by the teak plantation. The trees were planted some sixty years before which looked almost mature then.
UNDERSTANDINT THE TEXT---
1. Give an accout of the author's experiences of the floods on the north bank of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon.
Answer-- There were many small rivers on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra. These rivers, many a times caused problems during monsoon. Most of these rivers were overflooded during rainy seasons. People had to make bamboo bridges for their convenience.
However, once the author had to cross such a flooded river with difficulty. He was on horseback. He pursuaded his mount to plunge into the water. The author slipped over his croup and hung on to his tail. He had to use the tail as rudder. When he pushed it to the right, it veered to the left and vice versa. At last he made a safe landing on the other side of the river.
2. Relate the author's observation on the use of mar boat as a mode of river transport in Assam.
Answer-- The author has given us detail of his observation about 'Marboat'. It was a means of communication during monsoon. Infact, in those days, it was the only means of transport in the river of Assam. The common people used this type of boat to cross the river very often.
However, journey on a marboat was, of course, tedius. The mar which was, indeed, a ferry, consisted of a plank plateform covering two open boats placed alongside one another. These were either paddled across the river or connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river. They were propelled from one side to the other by the forces of the river current.
3. Give the author's description of a Sal forest.
Answer-- The sal forest that the author described was situated on the south bank of the river Brahmaputra. It was, indeed a country place of two hills and villages. The trees of this forest interspersed with villages and cultivation. The trees of the forest mostly of sal. It had more the character of English woodland.
4. Describe the author's experience with bats in the Rajapara forest bunglow.
Answer--- According to the author Rajapara forest bunglow was the second bunglow. It was a pleasant place to work in. Still, the author's favorite place was Kulsi.
However, different types of bat were found on the roof of the forest bunglow. At Rajapara. their droppigs were a constant reminder of their presence. Moreover, the fusty smell of the bats was always with them. The fruitt eating bats had wings of five feet length. They lived in the tree outside the bunglow. They flew away at dusk in search of food. They were a strange group of ghostly shapes gliding through the air.
Q.1. Give a brief description of 'Peacock Island'.
Answer-- The author states that the peacock island was situated in the middle of the river Brahmaputra. When the author enjoyed the splendid view of the island from the varanda of his bunglow, he could see the dome of a hindu temple also. He saw it through the trees.
Although the island was called peacock island, it was, infact dominated by monkey. The island housed no peacock at all.
EXTRA/ INSIDE QUESTION ANSWERS.........
1.Who is the Chota Sahib in 'Memories of Chota Sahib"?
Answer-- The last British senior conservationist of the forest of Assam, John Rowntree is the chota sahib here.
2. Who made their first home on the bank of the river brahmaputra ?
Answer-- The british forest officer John Rowntree and his family.
3.What did the PWD do to the bunglow for Rowntree ?
Answer--- The PWD had given the walls of the bunglow a coat of fresh lime wash and had painted the wood work liberally with earthen oil.
4. Name the book from where this lesson has been taken ?
Answer-- The book is -'A Chota Sahib' or Memories of Forest of Ficar.
5. Where does the hindu temple located ?
Answer-- The hindu temple was located in the peak of island.
6. What is mar ?
Answer-- Mar was a ferry consisted of plank plateform covering two open boats place along side one another.
7. What feature did Rowntree mention about the North-bank ?
Answer-- The north-bank had its own features.It was a vast remote stretch of flat and ageless land. It was located between the sand banks of the Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills.
8. What is ficas-elastica ?
Answr-- Ficas elastica is a type of rubber. It belongs to the fig family of which several other specis are found in Assam.
9. What animal did the author discover in the peak of the island?
Answer--Monkey
10. When or in which season was the north bank delighted ?
Answer--During the cold season or weather.
11. What are Bheel referred to in the lesson ?
Answer-- Bheel refers to the ponds or wetlands with motionless waters.
12. What was almost close to the Rajapara banglow ?
Answer-- A large Bheel.
13.What was found in the bheels of Kamrup district ?
Answer-- Wild foul, peafoul etc.
14. What do you mean by epiphytes ?
Answer-- Epiphytes are the plant that grows on other host plants.
15. Why were the paddy fields divided into small enclosures ?
Answer-- To prevent the water from running away (from the field)
16.What disturbed the writer at Rajapara bunglow ?
Answer-- Bats
17. What tree sorrounds the bunglow of kulsi ?
Answer-- Teak plants.
18. Who was the last british forest conservator ?
Answer-- John Rowntree.
19. Name of fish mentioned in the lesson.
Answer-- Mahsheer
20.Who took land lease for commercial simul plantation?
Answer-- An english couple.
21.What is 'Cheetal' in the lesson ?
Answer-- The word cheetal refers to spotted deer (found in the forest of Assam)
22.Where does Ficaus Elastica belong to ?
Answer-- Fig family.
23. Which wood was preferred for furniture in the market?
Answer-- the wood from Burma.
24. What happens to the host tree ?
Answer--The host tree is completely taken by the epiphytes and it is even killed.
25. Which Indian tree is mentioned in the last paragraph of the lesson?
Answer-- Bunian tree.
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