UNIT I

HUMOUR
AN ASTROLOGERS DAY
-By R. K. Narayan
Q 1) a humorous person or situation is amusing and makes us laugh. What makes An
Astrologers Day a humorous story?

Ans: An astrologer day written by R.K. Narayan, its a humorous story about an astrologer.
Punctually at mid day he opens his bad and spread out his professional equipments, which
consists of dozen cowries shells, a square piece of cloth which obscure mystic charts on ash
and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam which was really an
outcome of a continual searching look for customers.

He had a working analysis of mankinds troubles: Marriage, money

and tangles of human lies. Long practice and sharpened his perfection within 5 minutes he
understood what was wrong. He charged three lies her questions, never opened his mouth till
the other had spoken for at least ten minutes. Which provide him enough stuff for a dozen
answers and advice? When he told the person before him, going at his palm, In much way
forgetting the fullest results for your supports nine out of ten were disposed to agree with
him. Or he questioned, If there any woman in your family, may be even a distant relative
who is not well disposed towards you or he gave an analysis of character.

Q 2) what techniques did the astrologer due to surprise and satisfy his customers?

Ans: He had a working analysis of mankinds troubles: Marriage, money and tangles of
human lies. Long practice and sharpened his perfection within 5 minutes he understood what
was wrong. He charged three lies her questions, never opened his mouth till the other had
spoken for at least ten minutes. In the mean time he would be ready with the stuff to answer
many questions and to give pieces of advice. He used to gave at the persons palm and tell
that the person wouldnt get the fullest result for his efforts. This statement would satisfy
many peoples ago. Thus he had many techniques to win the hearts of the people quickly.

3) How did R.K. Narayans an astrologer prove that he was a successful professional

Ans: An astrologers day is the first story in the collection of short stories called the malgudi
days written by R. K.narayan. Thus narayans popular town first appeared in print in 1943
and since then enjoyed a healthy readership. In this way the town became a microcosm of
India and the book containing variety of stories covered vast aspects of the Indian society.
The television shows aired by Doordarshan from 1986 also has a great following as his book
has.

To know the suspense that surrounds the astrologer and to enjoy the writers
enormous skill in writing funny prose, one has to read this fine story. R. K. Narayan
introduces his astrologers with a perfect background. Exactly at mid- day he would open his
bag spread out his professional equipment such as sea shells, charts etc. His forehead was
resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion. His searching eyes gave him assort of power to
attract the customers. In this way with his usual business finesse, he would earn his honest
money by impressing people. Truly, telling about past, present and future of people is a great
art and he had mastered it. Thing were smooth until one day a stranger turns up and the
astrologer tells every thing about the stranger.

At this point the story picks up pace. At first the reader enjoys the picture
painted of the bazaar and the astrologers way of duping people. Then suddenly the pace of
the story gets better of the reader because of the turn in the story. Then the curiosity of the
reader reaches the peak and anyone gets a hang of what will happen next. The suspense starts
building up and is retained till the end of the story. Who was the stranger? And how could
the astrologer be able to tell everything correctly is for the reader to find out after going
through this finely knitted story.
With an eye for details, the writer conjures up an environment perfect for an astrologer to
function in humor is direct in this story. The starts of the story is extremely picturesque the
description of the situation there. The writer gives the readers a delightful narration of the
bazaar with a touch of humor. The way the astrologer is introduces and the place where he
sits has been told in a perfect tone. The interesting part in the story is that the writer never
tells the name of the astrologer in the entire story. The whole history is known to the reader
by the end of the story but not the name. Thus the reader gets a sense of satisfaction after
complete reading the story.

The astrologers lost client of the day was in search of a person on whom he
wanted to take revenge. The astrologer could get to know the intension of the customer easily
because he had known him in his past life. Truly the client was the only reason for his
become astrologer. One day in his past the astrologer on a fit of range tried to kill a person.
He thought the person was dead and left his village. The same person was seen by the
astrologer as his client. So, for his safety only the astrologer suggested to his client not to
come out of his village as there was harm for his life. The customer went away hurriedly.
Thus the entire story is really fun.

4) What situation is the story based on?

A: The reader meets R.K.narayans astrologer in a perfect and suitable situation with his
usual business frame, the astrologer used to earn his honest money by duping people. Telling
about the peoples past, present and future was an art and he had mastered it well. He sat
under a big branch of a tamarind tree which is located on the main street. It was a remarkable
place because a big could was always among up and downs the road. A variety of traders and
occupations took place along the way. Vendors of fried ground nut and questioners of cheap
cloth played their part to make the area a busy one. The story An Astrologers day is based
on such a wonderful situation.

5) What does the astrologer look like? How does his appearance help in his profession?

A: The astrologer regularly starts his business at mid-day by opening his bag and spreading
out his professional equipment such as sea shells, charts etc. His forehead was bright with
scared ash and vermilion. His eyes sparkled with unusual gleam as he used to search
continuously for customers the power of his eyes was considerably entranced since they were
between the pointed foreheads and the dark whiskers. To peak the effect, he would wear a
saffron colored turban round his head. Even a polish persons eye sparkle in such a setting.
So there is no doubt that people were attracted to him as been were attracted to cosmos.
6) What challenges was the astrologer made to face by his last of the day?

A: the astrologers last client of the day was searching for a person to take revenge on him.
At the very sight of the customer the astrologer could understand the feelings of his client.
After a little argument the client accepted to pay a rupee, if he was convinced by the
astrologers answers. To the astonishment of the client the astrologer called him by name and
told his entire past easily. The client was extremely happy for all the facts he would hear.
Finally the astrologer warned his client not to move outside as his face was not good. The
client was informed that the person he had been searching for was no more since he had met
with an accident and died. The customer paid some coins and left the place satisfied.

7) Hoe does his luck help the astrologer handle a difficult situation?

A: The astrologer was in a fix when he saw his last customer of the day because he had
known him. The client could not recognize in the darkening evening and the attire the
astrologer wore. Actually the so called astrologer had drunk and had a quarrel with one of his
friends and hurt him badly with a knife. The person was left for dead and the astrologer ran
away from the village. The same person he had seen alive there as his customer. Thus his
luck helped the astrologer handle a difficult situation with his client.
 1. HOMI JAHANGEER BHABHA (from new horizons)

1) Describe the bhabhas childhood, Education and his contribution to Indian nuclear
programs?
A: Homi Jahangir bhabha was popularly knows as The father of the Indian nuclear
programmer. He was the nuclear physics who set up two-pre- eminent institutions
famous for their reaerch capabilities. One is the famous Tata institute of fundamental
research (TIFR) and the other named after him is bhabha automatic research center
(BARK). These two institutions were instrumental in developing nuclear weapons in
India. Bhabha was the versatile personality who possessed many skills.

Bhabha was born on 30 October, 1909 in Mumbai India. His

Persian name means the conqueror of the world which proved true since he won the
hearts of the educated world. His family was wealthy and cultured. His father J.H. bhabha
was a leading barrister and mother maharani Bhabha , was a beautiful, gentle, educated
lady. His grand father Hormuiji jehenger Bhabha was the director of the department of
Education in the Mysore state.

As an infant he used to sleep less but if was due to his

extremely active brain. His auist lady tata was a successful social worker who wanted
him to receive a well-rounded education and contributed to the development of nation. At
the age of fifteen he studied at ethereal Farmer School in Mumbai. His father had both
Indian culture and the best values of western style in him. So he wanted to Bhabhas
schooling should be in India jumbling Indian culture. His mother, sister and every family
member took a keen interest in his education. Apart from education, he had keen interest
in music and painting. His parents had a wonderful library, which provided him great
opportunity in studying many books on science, technology, education, literature and
arts.

Bhabha used to spend a lot of time in his aunt lady tatas home. Thus he could
keep in close touch with great freedom fighters like Gandhi and Nehru, because they used
to visit the house frequently. He could also develop a general. Understanding of doing
thing in a grand way.

Homis father insisted him to study in Cambridge University and to take a

degree in mechanical engineering to which he had agreed. But in this University ha was
attracted to mathematics and physics. After much convening, his father agreed on a
condition that he should get a first class in his mechanical engineering science exam. He
satisfied his father and got first class after which he plugged into research in physics. He
was working at the famous Cavendish Laboratory under the leadership and lord
Rutherford. The laboratory could achieve significant break through in the nuclear and
atomic structures of matter. Bhabha received various awards and grants. The rouse Ball
studentship allowed him to meet Bohr who inspired him a lot.

In 1939, Bhabhas obtained a royal society grant to work at

Manchester. At that time World War II broke out in Europe and that changed every thing
most scientist took up war related research. During this period Bhabha met C. V. Raman
 was offered a position in the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and wanted to start
a new center for fundamental research. He throught there was essential urgency for an
indigenous research centers in India. Thus Tata Institute of fundamental Reserch was
setup Mumbai. The Institute went on well and attracted many eminet scientists. In this
way Bhabha life is an inspirstion to the youth Indian minds.

SHORT QUESTIONS

1) What was the cause of young Homis insomnia?

A: Homi Jehangir bhabha was born on 30 October, 19.9 in Mumbai, India His name are of
persion origin which means, The conqueror of the world. As an infant he never used to
sleep well enough. His worried parents consulted their family doctor who gave some
medicine. But it did not help, finally a well known specialist from Europe conformed that the
boy was healthy. This insomnia was just because he had active mind.

2) Name 2 privileges young Homi enjoyed, which would kenifit him later in his life?

A:Young Homi Jehangir Bhabha enjoyrd many privileges unlike normal children of his age.
One of them was that he was related to din Shaw Maneekji petit who had been the founder of
first textile mill in India. Homi also had relationship with dorabji Tata who was a key figure
on the history of tata group, Homis aunt Lady Tata was a famous social worker. These
relations certainly helped him in his later life.

3) What was the one thing Homis father insisted on during Homis childhood, resisting
pressure from the rest of the family?

A: Homis father could combine western and traditional Indian culture in himself. So he
opposed to the views of other family members, who wanted to send abroad Homi at a very
young age. He insisted that his sons early education must take place in India. He wanted
young Homis to imbibe Indian culture and etiquette before going abroad.

4) Which historical incident prompted Homi Bhabhas stay in India and his contribution
to Indian scientific development?

A: Homi Jehangir bhabha obtained Royal society grant work at Manchester. Before taking up
the assignment, he returned to India for a vacation. Exactly at that time World War II broke
out in Europe. The war had charged the situation in the scientific community most scientists
took up war-related research. In the mean time Bhabha established rapport with C.V. Raman.
Thus Bhabha was offered a position in the Indian Institute of science in Bangalore. Thus
World War II had prompted Bhabhas stay in India.

5) Homi and his father research a compromise regarding his education, which kept them
both happy what was that compromise?

A: Homis father wanted him to take a degree in mechanical Engineering from Cambridge
University. He agreed to his fathers wish and enrolled his name at gonville and Ciaos
College. There, he closely interacted with another Indian, siddiqui, an influential theoretical
Physicist. The atmosphere at Cambridge way very inspiring and he wanted to study
mathematics and physics. So he wrote an emotional letter to his father about his desire to
study physics. The father was not convincing. But finally both of them reached a compromise
that he should get first class in his mechanical science examination. He took the examination
and got a first class and thus both of them were happy.

6) Name 2 of Homi Bhabhas reasons for setting up TIFR?

A: the 2 reasons for setting up of TIFR as bhabha emotioned in his letter to the chairman of
the Tata trust were-i). At the time there was no big school of research in the fundamental
problems of physics,ii). There were competent workers all over India, who were not doing
any good work they would do, and they would do better if they were brought together. Thus
he proposed to from TIFR.

7) Homi Bhabha always saw a bigger picture. What childhood experiences might have
led to the same?

A: In his childhood bhabha used to spend a large amount of tome in his Aunt Lady Tatas
home. They had excellent terms with national leaders like Patel and Gandhi. At young age he
could see those leaders closely. He could also develop a very good understanding of science,
trades and Industry as he grow up, hearing his family members talking about large scale
business, mega projects, factories and Industry. These might have him to do the in a bigger
way.

8) Amongest the many awards Bhabha won, one led to a special opportunity, which
award was that?

A: Bhabha was many awards such as solomons studentship in engineering duing the year
1931-32, but the rouse ball traveling studentship award in mathematics was very special. It
allowed him to visit the nails bohr institute in Copenhagen. It was the main hub of
developments in theoretical physics. Bohr way fond of interacting with young minds to
inspire them for further research.
 UNIT-II
INSPIRATION
2. BUILDING A NEW STATE
1. What was the purpose of Kalams visit to Jharkhand and how he could accomplish it?

A: APJ Abdul Kalam tries his level best to inspire the young minds throughout his book
Building a new state. From his earlier visit to Jharkhand state he knew that it was a gifted
state in many ways under the ground and above it, there were minerals in abundance. He had
been made patron of the science and technology council of the state. His teams propose way to
workout a developmental programmed in the areas of herbs, forests products and others natural
resources.

He recalled his earlier visit to the hill region about 75km away from Ranchi.
He met the people there. All the components for development were available there a fertile
area with good rainfall, tell trees and rich vegetation and people with spirit to work hard. His
teams purpose then was that the drugs be manufactured within state itself so as to provide
increased income to the from value addition and to boost Industry there.

After the meeting, the team started for Bokaro the steel city. While flying in a
helicopter Kalam was wondered whether the precious natural wealth could be conserved from
mindless destruction for short term business gains. There was a crash when their Helicopter
landed but simply got out of it. He had to address the chin Maya vidyalaya students. So they
rushed to the school leaving behind the crash and the shock.

The news of crash had reached the students and they were silent. To ease the
tension Kalam told how gifted they were. The lovely forests, the valleys and hills, the throught
of the wealth they hold in terms of forests was very reassuring. So this state has all the wealth
needed. It depends upon the youth there on how they use that core completence to make it a
well developed state. He motivated the young people that their goal should be to make
Jharkhand great.

Kalam continued his engagements after the function at chin maya

vidyalaya. They had a meeting at town hall where kept it short and preffered to discuss. One of
the audiences asked a potent question why raw material is exported from many parts of India.
That was relavant because Jharkhand is a store house of mineral wealth. The answer is simple.
The upshot of all is that India is poor as a nation inspire of its enormous wealth because it does
not focus on value addition. The raw material which is available here has been exported at a
low cost and products have been imported at a high cost Kalam says this is the primary because
Industrialization is the answer. He says that industries and should be established to use the
natural resources and produce products here to export.

The following day Kalams team traveled to Bokaro stell plant, the largest
steel plant in India. He was disappointed to see that there was no industrial estate around it, to
utilize the steel produced there to make various products. He was informed that setting up of
industrial estate came under state preview. So he thought compartmentalized thinking is the
real cause for Indias lagging behind. He thought center and state should together have some
planning for real prosperity. Finally he says that the state and center projected integrated as
mission made operations would bring rapid development at minimum cost.
 At last Klam says to students that challenges through up opportunities. One should select
a task and get immerse in it whether on succeeds or fails. At least failures give
experience. There is always a risk involved when one elemnt into something new. But if
one breathed in thoughts of success, success would follow with all practical proposes.
2) Why was Klam visiting the stare of Jharkhand?

A: Abdul Kalam had been made patron of the science and technology council of the
Kharkhand, his purpose of the visit was to work out a developmental programmed in the area
of herbs, forest products and other natural resources. All the components for development
such as a fertile area with good rainfall, tall trees and rich vegetation, and spirited people
with sense of handwork were available in Jharkhand state. Available plan was made to
develop a herbal drug industry there.

3) How does Kalam attempt to motivate the chin Maya vidyalaya students?

A: Kalam had to address the students of chin Maya vidyalaya. Because of the news of a
minor crash of their helicopter, the students were tensed. To ease them, Kalam told that he
had admired Gods great gift to the state. The rich soil can give plenty of crops. Really the
wealth stored there in the form of forest and herbal products was enough to make the state
well developed. Finally tried to motivate them to come forward and use core competence to
make the state an advanced one.

4) What are Kalam thoughts on education system and potential improvements that could be
made to it?

A: The chinmaya vidyalaya students Kalam addressed were on the vegetation of entering
adult life and taking up careers. He thoughts they would be a part of a national Endeavour to
become a knowledgeable society. Their contribution to their state could be graet. After
seeing the exhibition put up by the students, kalam thought the education system be
improved a lot and it shoud not prevent the power housed of creativity from achieving their
goals.

5) What do you think kalam means by telling the school students he addressing that it would
be possible to develop the state if they worked in the mission mode?

A: Abdul Kalam knew very well from his visit to Jharkhand that there were a lot of a positive
stored there. The fertile land, forest cover and reasonable rain fall provides room for
developing the state. Minerals under the ground also give plenty of scope for the up liftment
of the state as a whole. He told the students that the wealth they hold in terms of forests and
herbal products was very reassuring. He motivated the students by telling that it was a land
waiting for a transformation to occur. At the end of his marvelous speech he says that the
students have to work in a Mission mode to make their state as well as the nation a stranger
one.

6) What does Kalam think about value addition in India?

 A: Abdul kalam had to speck at the town hall on Jharkhands core competence and
Industries purposefully he kept his speech short to let a discussion develop. One of the
questioners asked him why raw material is exported from many parts of India. This
question was relevant to Kharkhand as it possesses a huge store house of minerals,
wealth. The simple reason is that there os no value addition idea in the peoples minds.
They export valuable raw material at low cost and products at a high cost. The buyers say
that the product of inferior quality. So the sales do not contribute anything much to the
economy. Instead if the raw material is utilized here it would certainly generate for more
income. The same thing is repeated in other states too. So India is poor as a nation inspire
of its enormous wealth.

7) Why was kalam filled with sense of disappointing at the Bokro steel plant?

A: Kalam traveled to the Bokro steel plant to pay a visit. The scale of the plant was
unusually huge. He saw many men working in an organized way the sweat powered off
their bodies. The molten steel was flowing from the finance like a river on fire. He knew
the iron ore was available for years. He was disappointed because there were no
industrial estates around it. He was told that the setting up of industrial estate came under
state preview. So Kalam regretted at the compartmentalized thinking of the governance.
So state-based industries should work one huge national mission for real prosperity.
 2. ACHARYA JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE

1) Describe briefly Boses education and Inventions?

A: Chandra bose was a polymath like Rabindranath Tagore. He hailed from British era
Bengal. He was a physicist, Biologist, Botanist, Archocalogist, and a writer of scientific
fictions. He did pioneering research in the fields of radio and macro wave optics. His
contribution in shaping botany as a subject is worthy to be praised. He laid foundation for
experimental science in India.

Bose was born in Bikrampur on 30 November, 1856. His father Bhagaban Chandra
Bose was deputy magistrate and tried a lot to lift the nation by helping the poor. Bose was
educated at St. Xaviers college, located in Calcutta. He went on pursuing his higher
education at the University of London. But he had to give up medicine due to health reason.
After, he joined Cambridge University to study natural sciences. He got a Bachelor of
Science degree from the University of London. He was the first Indian to be admitted in
person to the sanction sanctorum of English.

Bose did pioneering research in physics and physiology Bose

produced millimeter length radio waves and also studied properties. He ignited gun powder
and rang a bell at a distance using millimeter range equal length microwaves. He wanted to
pursue scientific research and conducted research in a very small room. He could build a
unique and sensitive radio receiver. Boses demonstration of remote wireless signaling has
priority over Marconi. Bose was given credit for pioneering work in the area of wireless
technology. One of the scientific remarked that Bose was at least 60 years ahead of his time.

From metal, Bose turned his concentration to plants. He thought there was
underlying unity in the natural world between the living and non living. He devoted his full
time to this line of investigation. He studied the physiological properties of plant tissues. He
was open in presenting his research out come in the form of monograph. He invented several
novel and highly sensitive instrument such as Cresco graph, used to measure the growth of a
plant. He was also elected a fellow of the Royal of London in 1928.

Thus Bose stands out among scientists before and after him because he
was unwilling to patent to his inventions. He was of the belief that science should be applied
for the mankind and not for making money. Throughout his life, he followed his fathers
ideology that serving the human is above all brutes.

2) Write a short note on Acharya Jagadish Chandra Boses education?

A: Boses father Bhagaban Chandra was a man of many ideas. Jagadish Chandra Bose
imbided his fathers ideas and lived by then all his life. First he was sent to school in Kolkata.
Then he was admitted at st.xaviers college. There Bose came into contact with father eugone
lafont, who inspired young Bose a lot. 1979 Bose passed BA examination in physical
sciences. He sailed for England to study medicine, but abandoned it after a year to join the
University of Cambridge. Thus Boses education was a special one in many ways.

3) Look up what the world polymath means in the dictionary. Can Bose be called a
polymath? Give your reasons?

A: the dictionary says that polymath has the meaning A person with vast knowledge about
many difference subjects Bose can certainly be called polymath because he possessed vast
knowledge in different subjects. First he had a lot of interest in physical sciences. He then
concentrated on medical sciences. He also showed interest in physiology. His pioneering
work in the area wireless technology was recognized. Finally from metals he returned his
attention to plants. Thus Botany was his propriety at that time.

4) Was Boses father a good man or an irresponsible person for spending all this fortune on
schemey which never materialized? Give your reason?

A: Boses father Bhagaban Chandra was a very responsible citizen. He was no ordinary civil
servant but, a man full of ideas. He sent his elder son to a local school. He believed that first
sted in education should be mother tongue. He wanted to help common people. For this
reason he invested a lot of money in several businesses. He started workshop in carpenter
metal turning, general metal work and even a foundry. Although many of his initiatives were
unsuccessful, he was a man of ideas.

5) What did Bose feel about patenting his inventions?

A: Bose was never interested in self-centered financial gains. He always kept his research
works open so that would use his inventions and discover for further research works in an
interview, he openly expressed disinterest in commercial telegraphy. He even suggested
others to use research work. In this way, Bose, throughout his life followed his fathers ideas
in serving humanity as a whole.

6) What were the obstacles which Bose faced after completing his education and returning to
India?

A: After completing his education aboard, Bose came back to India. He joined Presidency
College as a professor of physics in Kolkata in 1885. He was the first Indian to do so. His
appointment was strongly opposed by Sir Alfred croff. He was then the director of public
instruetion of Bengal. Even the principal R. Tawny opposed Boses joining. But Boses merit
was so high that they had to accept him as a professor.

7) Write short notes on any two of Boses inventions? Discoveries.

A: Boses inventions are a lot useful for further research works. On his 35 th birthday he
decided to go for research and not confined to teaching. There was no Laboratory or peers.
He conducted his research in a small room. He devised and constructed new apparatus for his
research on electric radiation. He devised and fabricated a new type of radiation for
generating radio waves. He also built a unique and highly sensitive radio receiver.