NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Hornbill: The Adventure

Summary of the Chapter

"The Adventure" by Jayant Narlikar is a science fiction story that explores the concept of alternative history through the experience of Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde, a historian. While traveling by train from Pune to Bombay, the professor suddenly finds himself in a parallel reality where history has taken a different turn.

In this alternate world, the Marathas won the Battle of Panipat against Ahmad Shah Abdali, leading to a India that was never colonized by the British. The East India Company still exists but has limited influence, and India is a self-respecting, technologically advanced nation. Professor Gaitonde discovers that the pivotal moment that changed history was when a bullet narrowly missed Vishwasrao, the heir to the Peshwa, during the battle, which instead boosted Maratha morale and led to their victory.

After two days in this parallel world, the professor suddenly returns to his original reality. His friend Rajendra Deshpande explains the experience using two scientific theories: the Catastrophe Theory, which suggests that small changes can lead to dramatically different outcomes, and the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum physics, which proposes that all possible alternative realities exist simultaneously.

The story brilliantly blends history with science fiction, raising philosophical questions about reality, determinism, and the role of chance events in shaping history.

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NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers

Understanding the Text (Page 10)

Question I: Tick the statements that are true.

Answer-

1. The story is an account of real events. - False
2. The story hinges on a particular historical event. - True
3. Rajendra Deshpande was a historian. - False
4. The places mentioned in the story are all imaginary. - False
5. The story tries to relate history to science. - True

Question II: Briefly explain the following statements from the text.

Question 1: "You neither travelled to the past nor the future. You were in the present experiencing a different world."

Answer-
This statement explains that Professor Gaitonde did not travel through time but experienced a parallel present - an alternative reality where history had unfolded differently after the Battle of Panipat. He was still in the contemporary time period but in a world with a different historical trajectory.

Question: 2. "You have passed through a fantastic experience: or more correctly, a catastrophic experience."

Answer-
Rajendra describes the professor's experience as "catastrophic" in reference to the Catastrophe Theory, which studies how small changes can lead to sudden dramatic shifts. The professor's transition between worlds represented such a catastrophic shift between alternative realities.

Question: 3. "Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was witnessing around him."

Answer-
In the alternate reality, India was a self-respecting, technologically advanced nation that had never been colonized, unlike the India the professor knew from his own world which had experienced British rule. The stark differences made comparison inevitable.

Question: 4. "The lack of determinism in quantum theory."

Answer-
This refers to the quantum physics principle that at the subatomic level, events are not predetermined. Unlike macroscopic objects whose behavior can be predicted, elementary particles like electrons have probabilistic rather than definite outcomes.

Question 5. "You need some interaction to cause a transition."

Answer-
This suggests that some triggering mechanism was needed for the professor to transition between parallel worlds. Rajendra speculates that the professor's thoughts about the Battle of Panipat combined with the physical shock of the collision might have served as this interaction.

Talking about the Text (Page 10-11)

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.

Answer-
For: Historical evidence shows that single events like battles, assassinations, or discoveries have dramatically altered national trajectories. The story itself demonstrates how one bullet missing its target changed India's entire history.
Against: History is shaped by broader social, economic and cultural forces that evolve over long periods. Single events are merely manifestations of these deeper currents.

(ii) Reality is what is directly experienced through the senses.

Answer-
For: Our sensory experiences provide the most immediate and verifiable evidence of reality. Scientific instruments extend our senses but still provide direct measurable data.
Against: Reality extends beyond sensory perception. Mathematical truths, quantum phenomena, and historical facts exist independently of whether we directly experience them.

(iii) The methods of inquiry of history, science and philosophy are similar.

Answer-
For: All three disciplines use evidence, logic, and reasoning to arrive at conclusions. They all seek patterns and explanations for observed phenomena.
Against: Each discipline has distinct methodologies - history relies on documentary evidence, science on experimentation, and philosophy on logical reasoning without empirical evidence.

Question 2:

(i) The story is called 'The Adventure'. Compare it with the adventure described in 'We're Not Afraid to Die...'

Answer-
Both stories involve extraordinary experiences, but they differ significantly. 'We're Not Afraid to Die...' describes a physical adventure involving real-life danger during a sea voyage, where the characters struggle against natural elements. 'The Adventure' is a mental and philosophical adventure involving travel between parallel realities, exploring theoretical concepts of history and quantum physics.

(ii) Why do you think Professor Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again?

Answer-
Professor Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again because his experience of being violently rejected when he tried to occupy the presidential chair in the parallel world had traumatized him. He felt that his "thousandth address" had already been delivered in that other reality, and the humiliation he experienced there made him reluctant to ever chair another meeting.

Thinking about Language (Page 11)

Question 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?

Answer-
Gangadharpant and Khan Sahib likely conversed in Hindustani (a mix of Hindi and Urdu) or possibly in English, as both were educated Indians. With the English receptionist, Gangadharpant would have spoken in English.

Question 2: In which language do you think Bhausahebanchi Bakhar was written?

Answer-
Bhausahebanchi Bakhar was written in Marathi, as Bakhars are historical narratives written in Marathi during the medieval period.

Question 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?

Answer-
Within their communities: Marathas spoke Marathi, Mughals spoke Persian initially and later Urdu/Hindustani, Anglo-Indians spoke English. For inter-community communication, they likely used Hindustani/Urdu as the lingua franca, or English with the British.

Question 4: Do you think that the ruled always adopt the language of the ruler?

Answer-
No, the ruled do not always adopt the language of the ruler. While there is often influence and borrowing of vocabulary, complete language adoption depends on various factors including the duration of rule, educational policies, cultural prestige, and practical necessity. In India, despite long British rule, English coexists with numerous Indian languages rather than replacing them.

Working with Words (Page 11-12)

Question 1: Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrases.

1.to take issue with - (iii) to disagree
2.to give vent to - (i) to express
3.to stand on one's feet - (ii) to be independent
4.to be wound up - (ii) to stop operating
5.to meet one's match - (iii) to meet someone who is equally able as oneself

Question 2: Distinguish between the following pairs of sentences.

1.(i) He was visibly moved. - His emotions were clearly apparent to others.
(ii) He was visually impaired. - He had problems with his eyesight.

2.(i) Green and black stripes were used alternately. - The stripes followed a green, black, green, black pattern.
(ii) Green stripes could be used or alternatively black ones. - There was a choice between using green stripes or black stripes.

3.(i) The team played the two matches successfully. - The team won both matches.
(ii) The team played two matches successively. - The team played two matches one after the other.

4.(i) The librarian spoke respectfully to the learned scholar. - The librarian showed respect while speaking.
(ii) You will find the historian and the scientist in the archaeology and natural science sections of the museum respectively. - The historian is in the archaeology section and the scientist in the natural science section.

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Important Keywords from the Chapter

• Blow-by-blow account: A detailed description of an event.
• Morale booster: Something that increases confidence and enthusiasm.
• Relegated to: Assigned to an inferior position.
• Political acumen: Skill and judgment in political matters.
• De facto: In fact, whether by right or not.
• Astute: Having an ability to accurately assess situations.
• Doctored accounts: Falsified or manipulated records.
• Gave vent to: Expressed feelings freely.
• Catastrophe Theory: Mathematical theory studying sudden shifts in behavior.
• Quantum Theory: Physics theory dealing with atomic and subatomic systems.
• Determinism: Philosophy that all events are determined by causes.
• Bifurcation: Division into two branches.
• Many Worlds Interpretation: Quantum theory suggesting parallel realities.