A visit to Cambridge
This chapter is about a day of meeting between two great people who are differently abled or disabled. One person is Stephen Hawking who suffers from paralysis and abides to a chair. The second person was Firdaus Kangana, a very famous writer from India who is suffering from brittle bones and he also abides by the chair.
Firdaus Kangan went to Britain to write about his travels. During his tour, he really wanted to meet with Stephen Hawking and he got half an hour time to meet him.
यह अध्याय दो महान लोगों के बीच मुलाकात के दिन के बारे में है जो अलग-अलग सक्षम या विकलांग हैं। एक व्यक्ति स्टीफन हॉकिंग हैं जो लकवा से पीड़ित हैं और एक कुर्सी पर टिके हुए हैं। दूसरे व्यक्ति थे फिरदौस कंगना, भारत की एक बहुत प्रसिद्ध लेखिका जो भंगुर हड्डियों से पीड़ित है और वह भी कुर्सी का पालन करती है।
फिरदौस कंगन अपनी यात्रा के बारे में लिखने के लिए ब्रिटेन गए। अपने दौरे के दौरान, वह वास्तव में स्टीफन हॉकिंग से मिलना चाहते थे और उनसे मिलने के लिए उन्हें आधे घंटे का समय मिला।
He said he was feeling weak but meeting someone like you who has achieved something, it makes you stronger and motivates you to reach anywhere you can think. Next day when Firdous went to meet Hawkins, he was asking some questions and he saw Hawking was struggling to give answers. He needed to tap the button of a machine on his wheelchair to speak, which made him frustrated and firdous, feeling a little bit guilty for making him do this. Stephen Hawking said to him he is not a very strong and brave person but there is no choice, he had so he has to live in this way. Stephen Hawking has very intensive and active thoughts in conversation.
उन्होंने कहा कि वह कमजोर महसूस कर रहे थे लेकिन आप जैसे किसी व्यक्ति से मिलना जिसने कुछ हासिल किया है, यह आपको मजबूत बनाता है और आपको कहीं भी पहुंचने के लिए प्रेरित करता है जो आप सोच सकते हैं। अगले दिन जब फिरदौस हॉकिन्स से मिलने गया, तो वह कुछ सवाल पूछ रहा था और उसने देखा कि हॉकिंग जवाब देने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा था। उसे बोलने के लिए अपनी व्हीलचेयर पर एक मशीन के बटन को टैप करना पड़ा, जिससे वह निराश और बेचैन हो गया, उसे ऐसा करने के लिए थोड़ा सा दोषी महसूस कर रहा था। स्टीफन हॉकिंग ने उनसे कहा कि वह बहुत मजबूत और बहादुर व्यक्ति नहीं हैं लेकिन उनके पास कोई विकल्प नहीं है इसलिए उन्हें इस तरह से रहना होगा। बातचीत में स्टीफन हॉकिंग के बहुत गहन और सक्रिय विचार हैं।
Firdaus said, when he first looked at Stephen Hawkins he got shocked because he was looking like a still photograph as if all those pictures of him in magazines were in 3D. Then he saw that his body and eyes can speak a lot. They are still but have huge energy and things to tell what are those things no one knows. Firdaus asked Stephen is he happy or sad the way he is? He replied that everyone treats him with great respect, plus people like him often come to interview him.
फिरदौस ने कहा, जब उसने पहली बार स्टीफन हॉकिन्स को देखा तो वह चौंक गया क्योंकि वह एक स्थिर तस्वीर की तरह दिख रहा था जैसे कि पत्रिकाओं में उसकी सभी तस्वीरें 3 डी में थीं। तब उसने देखा कि उसका शरीर और आंखें बहुत कुछ बोल सकती हैं। वे अभी भी हैं, लेकिन उनके पास बहुत बड़ी ऊर्जा है और यह बताने के लिए कि वे कौन सी चीजें हैं जो कोई नहीं जानता। फिरदौस ने स्टीफन से पूछा कि वह जैसे हैं वैसे खुश हैं या दुखी? उन्होंने जवाब दिया कि हर कोई उनके साथ बहुत सम्मान से पेश आता है, साथ ही उनके जैसे लोग अक्सर उनका इंटरव्यू लेने आते हैं जो उन्हें पसंद नहीं है।
In between the conversation with Stephen, Firdaus was thinking that the body is mainly a shadow. The main part is your soul light or inner glow describes you as a person. Now he asked from Stephen what he thinks about or feel about being disable and he said there is nothing good about being disabled, next he asked about kindness the world carries around them and Stephen replies yes there are so much of kindness and Firdaus believed in his voice while the device on his machine doesn't contain any shades of tone or voice moderator but he can feel what Stephen was expressing.
स्टीफन से बातचीत के बीच फिरदौस सोच रहा था कि शरीर मुख्य रूप से एक छाया है। मुख्य भाग आपकी आत्मा का प्रकाश है या आंतरिक चमक आपको एक व्यक्ति के रूप में वर्णित करती है। अब उसने स्टीफन से पूछा कि वह विकलांग होने के बारे में क्या सोचता है या महसूस करता है और उसने कहा कि विकलांग होने के बारे में कुछ भी अच्छा नहीं है, इसके बाद उसने दुनिया के बारे में दयालुता के बारे में पूछा और स्टीफन ने जवाब दिया कि हाँ बहुत दयालुता है और फिरदौस को अपने में विश्वास था आवाज जबकि हिड मशीन पर डिवाइस में टोन या वॉयस मॉडरेटर का कोई रंग नहीं होता है, लेकिन वह महसूस कर सकता है कि स्टीफन क्या व्यक्त कर रहा था।
Now Firdaus told him how big inspiration he is for for him and for others, while Stephen got disagree on this and said it is very sad or foolish to be happy or to see other people happy and smiling towards you when that person knows that he is going weaker day by day and can only breath ,how one can get inspiration from search person.
अब फिरदौस ने उसे बताया कि वह उसके लिए और दूसरों के लिए कितनी बड़ी प्रेरणा है, जबकि स्टीफन इस पर असहमत हो गया और कहा कि खुश होना या दूसरों को खुश और मुस्कुराते हुए देखना बहुत दुखद या मूर्खता है जब वह व्यक्ति जानता है कि वह है दिन-ब-दिन कमजोर होता जा रहा है और केवल सांस ही ले सकता है, कैसे कोई खोज करने वाले से प्रेरणा प्राप्त कर सकता है।
Next he asked what message Stephen wants to give disabled people and he said concentrate on the things in which they are good and in support of his statement,he said disabled Olympics are a waste of time. After listening to Stephen, Firdaus agreed on the statement and he remembered his Spanish guitar which is larger than him and one day happily unstringed it. This was the last question he asked from Stephen, his half an hour got over and he asked to leave and thanked him for the time. Stephen asked him to stop and offered the tea and showed his big garden at home.
आगे उन्होंने पूछा कि स्टीफन विकलांग लोगों को क्या संदेश देना चाहते हैं और उन्होंने कहा कि उन चीजों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करें जिनमें वे अच्छे हैं और अपने बयान के समर्थन में उन्होंने कहा कि विकलांग ओलंपिक समय की बर्बादी है। स्टीफन की बात सुनकर फिरदौस उस बात पर राजी हो गया और उसे अपना स्पेनिश गिटार याद आ गया जो उससे बड़ा है और एक दिन खुशी-खुशी उसे खोल दिया। यह आखिरी सवाल उसने स्टीफन से पूछा था, उसका आधा घंटा खत्म हो गया और उसने जाने के लिए कहा और समय के लिए उसे धन्यवाद दिया। स्टीफन ने उसे रुकने के लिए कहा और चाय की पेशकश की और घर पर अपना बड़ा बगीचा दिखाया।
Outside, Stephen got quit because his screen disappeared in the sun glare and after an hour Firdaus left his home and kept his hand on the arm of Stephen as bye and thanks. He can feel Stephen waving his hand. Firdaus was overwhelmed and inspired a lot after meeting him. It was his dream to meet Stephen Hawking which is over now.
बाहर, स्टीफन ने नौकरी छोड़ दी क्योंकि उसकी स्क्रीन धूप की चकाचौंध में गायब हो गई और एक घंटे के बाद फिरदौस ने अपना घर छोड़ दिया और स्टीफन की बांह पर अपना हाथ रखा और धन्यवाद दिया। वह स्टीफन को अपना हाथ लहराते हुए महसूस कर सकता है। फ़िरदौस उनसे मिलने के बाद अभिभूत और बहुत प्रेरित हुआ, स्टीफन हॉकिंग से मिलने का उनका सपना था जो अब खत्म हो गया है।
Comprehension Check
Which is the right sentence?
1.“Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
Ans-1. Cambridge was the real England.
2.The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house.
Ans-2. from outside a phone booth.
3.Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
Ans-3.he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
4.“I felt a huge relief... in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
Ans-4.shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
Working with the text
1.(i)Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
Ans- (i) The writer was nervous at the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking because Hawking was a very famous, renowned and brilliant astrophysicist despite being physically disabled. He was a worthy successor to Sir Isaac Newton and succeeded to his Chair at Cambridge University.
(ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Ans-(ii) yes he is very excited to meet Stephens because he is idle from him plus despite being physically challenged he had achieved great heights and was considered a worthy successor to Sir Isaac Newton and succeeded to his Chair at Cambridge University.
2:Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Ans-2. The first question put to the scientist by the writer-is he is happy the way he is living means by his achievements and by his life.
3.Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Ans-3.Although Stephen Hawking stated that he had no choice, but to remain confined to the wheelchair. The writer felt that living creatively with the reality of his disintegrating body was a choice for him. Firdaus strongly felt that Hawking could have easily sulked and surrendered to life, rather he chose to accomplish new heights despite being disabled.
4.“I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Ans-4. The writer could understand Hawking’s anguish for his helplessness and felt that there were innumerous things which he wanted to express, but was unable to do so. His entire existence was dependent on a computer for expressing his thoughts and emotions. He was full of anguish for this reason.
5.What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Ans-5. The writer felt that he was indeed looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world, who although is disabled physically, has a beautiful soul, not a body, which is nothing but just an accessory.
6.Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Ans-The most beautiful sentence in the description of ‘the beautiful’ man is – “Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man.”
The above sentence describes Hawking’s personality as his inner beauty or glow that’s so beautiful and vibrant which renders his physical inability nothing but just an accessory.
7. (i)If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
Ans- If ‘the lantern’ is the man, would its ‘walls’ be the body.
(ii)What is housed within the thin walls?
Ans- human soul is housed within the thin walls
(iii)What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Ans-The author implies that inside the human body there is an eternal soul which is incandescent of a man, the outer physical structure is nothing more than just an accessory.
8.What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Ans- Stephen Hawking emphasised on the fact that every person irrespective of his capacity or disability should try to focus on enhancing or working towards what they are good at. He further added that disabled should not make unnecessary foolish efforts to imitate so called normal people. They should make the best utilisation of the available resources and be thankful to God for granting them the ability to achieve or accomplish any impossible task.
9.Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Ans-the writer refer to the guitar incident(, he loosened the guitar strings without any regrets) for supporting the idea of stephens hawking’s fordiabled to do whatever they can do, besides mocking normal people.
10.The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is gratitude for?
And-.The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking because he brave enough to achieve such big things in life despite his disability plus showed him a new way of leading life without complaining of the disability all the time.
11.Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.
Ans- (i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.
(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.
(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find the words on his computer.
(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent – it is hard to tell what.
(v) It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.
Working with language
Q1-Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.
Ans- (i) I met a traveller from an antique land.
(ii) I need special guidance in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.
(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy successor to Isaac Newton.
(iv) His other problems paled into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.
(v) The meeting was chaired by the youngest member of the board.
(vi) Some people say ‘yours truly’ when they informally refer to themselves.
(vii) I wish it had been a drawn match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.
Q2-Look at the following words.
Ans-
Q3-Use all or both in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.
Ans(i) He has two brothers. Both are lawyers.
(ii) More than ten people called. All of them wanted to see you.
(iii) They all cheered for the team.
(iv) Both her parents are teachers.
(v) How much have you got? Give me all of it.
Q4-Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets
Ans-4(i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road.
(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read.
(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday.
(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.
(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.
