Class 11 Chapter 5 The Adventure
THE Jijamata Express sped along the Pune-Bombay* route considerably faster than the Deccan Queen. There were no industrial townships outside Pune. The first stop, Lonavala, came in 40 minutes.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Jijamata | जिजामाता | जिजामाता |
| Express | एक्सप्रेस | एक्सप्रेस |
| Pune | पुणे | पुणे |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | मुंबई |
| route | रूट | मार्ग |
| faster | फास्टर | तेज़ |
| Deccan | डेकन | डेक्कन |
| Queen | क्वीन | रानी |
| industrial | इंडस्ट्रियल | औद्योगिक |
| townships | टाउनशिप्स | नगरपालिकाएं |
| outside | आउटसाइड | बाहर |
| stop | स्टॉप | ठहराव |
| Lonavala | लोनावला | लोनावला |
| came | केम | आया |
| minutes | मिनट्स | मिनट |
The ghat section that followed was no different from what he knew. The train stopped at Karjat only briefly and went on at even greater speed. It roared through Kalyan.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| ghat | घाट | घाट |
| section | सेक्शन | खंड |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| stopped | स्टाप्ड | रुका |
| Karjat | कर्जत | कर्जत |
| briefly | ब्रीफ्ली | संक्षेप में |
| went | वेंट | गया |
| greater | ग्रेटर | अधिक |
| speed | स्पीड | गति |
| roared | रोर्ड | गर्जना |
| through | थ्रू | के माध्यम से |
| Kalyan | कल्याण | कल्याण |
Meanwhile, the racing mind of Professor Gaitonde had arrived at a plan of action in Bombay. Indeed, as a historian he felt he should have thought of it sooner. He would go to a big library and browse through history books.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| racing | रेसिंग | दौड़ना |
| mind | माइंड | मन |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंड | गैटोंडे |
| plan | प्लैन | योजना |
| action | ऐक्शन | कार्रवाई |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | मुंबई |
| historian | हिस्टोरियन | इतिहासकार |
| big | बिग | बड़ा |
| library | लाइब्रेरी | पुस्तकालय |
| browse | ब्राउज़ | खोज करना |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| books | बुक्स | पुस्तकें |
That was the surest way of finding out how the present state of affairs was reached. He also planned eventually to return to Pune and have a long talk with Rajendra Deshpande, who would surely help him understand what had happened.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| surest | सुरेस्ट | सबसे निश्चित |
| way | वे | तरीका |
| finding | फाइंडिंग | खोज |
| present | प्रेजेंट | वर्तमान |
| state | स्टेट | स्थिति |
| affairs | अफेयर्स | मामले |
| reached | रीच्ड | पहुंचा |
| planned | प्लैन्ड | योजना बनाई |
| eventually | एवेंच्यूअली | अंततः |
| return | रिटर्न | वापसी |
| Pune | पुणे | पुणे |
| long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| talk | टॉक | बातचीत |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| Deshpande | देशपांडे | देशपांडे |
| help | हेल्प | सहायता |
| understand | अंडरस्टैंड | समझना |
| happened | हैपन्ड | हुआ |
That is, assuming that in this world there existed someone called Rajendra Deshpande!The train stopped beyond the long tunnel. It was a small station called Sarhad. An Anglo-Indian in uniform went through the train checking permits
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| assuming | अस्यूमिंग | मानकर |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| existed | एक्सिस्टेड | मौजूद था |
| someone | समवन | कोई |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| Deshpande | देशपांडे | देशपांडे |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| stopped | स्टाप्ड | रुकी |
| beyond | बियॉन्ड | पार |
| long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| tunnel | टनल | सुरंग |
| small | स्मॉल | छोटा |
| station | स्टेशन | स्टेशन |
| called | कॉल्ड | कहलाता |
| Sarhad | सरहद | सरहद |
| Anglo-Indian | एंग्लो-इंडियन | एंग्लो-इंडियन |
| uniform | यूनिफॉर्म | वर्दी |
| went | वेंट | गया |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| checking | चेकिंग | जांच |
| permits | परमिट्स | अनुमतियां |
“This is where the British Raj begins. You are going for the first time, I presume?” Khan Sahib asked. “Yes.” The reply was factually correct. Gangadharpant had not been to this Bombay before. He ventured a question: “And, Khan Sahib, how will you go to Peshawar?
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| British | ब्रिटिश | ब्रिटिश |
| Raj | राज | राज |
| begins | बिगिन्स | शुरू होता है |
| going | गोइंग | जा रहे हैं |
| first | फर्स्ट | पहली |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| presume | प्रीज्यूम | मानना |
| reply | रिप्लाय | जवाब |
| factually | फैक्चुअली | तथ्यात्मक |
| correct | करेक्ट | सही |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | बॉम्बे |
| before | बिफोर | पहले |
| ventured | वेंचर्ड | उठाया |
| question | क्वेश्चन | सवाल |
| go | गो | जाना |
| Peshawar | पेशावर | पेशावर |
“This train goes to the Victoria Terminus*. I will take the Frontier Mail tonight out of Central.” “How far does it go? By what route?” “Bombay to Delhi, then to Lahore and then Peshawar. A long journey. I will reach Peshawar the day after tomorrow.”
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| goes | गोज | जाती है |
| Victoria | विक्टोरिया | विक्टोरिया |
| Terminus | टर्मिनस | स्टेशन |
| take | टेक | लेना |
| Frontier | फ्रंटियर | सीमा |
| मेल | मेल | |
| tonight | टुनाईट | आज रात |
| Central | सेंट्रल | केंद्रीय |
| far | फार | दूर |
| go | गो | जाना |
| route | राउट | मार्ग |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | बॉम्बे |
| Delhi | दिल्ली | दिल्ली |
| Lahore | लाहौर | लाहौर |
| Peshawar | पेशावर | पेशावर |
| long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| journey | जर्नी | यात्रा |
| reach | रीच | पहुंचना |
| day | डे | दिन |
| after | आफ्टर | बाद |
| tomorrow | टुमारो | कल |
Thereafter, Khan Sahib spoke a lot about his business and Gangadharpant was a willing listener. For, in that way, he was able to get some flavour of life in this India that was so different.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Khan | खान | खान |
| Sahib | साहिब | साहब |
| spoke | स्पोक | बोले |
| lot | लॉट | बहुत |
| business | बिजनेस | व्यापार |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| listener | लिसनर | सुनने वाला |
| way | वे | तरीका |
| able | एबल | सक्षम |
| get | गेट | प्राप्त करना |
| flavour | फ्लेवर | स्वाद |
| life | लाइफ | जीवन |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| different | डिफरेंट | अलग |
The train now passed through the suburban rail traffic. The blue carriages carried the letters, GBMR, on the side. “Greater Bombay Metropolitan Railway,” explained Khan Sahib. “See the tiny Union Jack painted on each carriage? A gentle reminder that we are in British territory.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| passed | पास्ड | गुजर गई |
| suburban | सबर्बन | उपनगरीय |
| rail | रेल | रेल |
| traffic | ट्रैफिक | यातायात |
| blue | ब्लू | नीला |
| carriages | कैरिजेस | रेलगाड़ी |
| letters | लेटर्स | पत्र |
| explained | एक्सप्लेंड | समझाया |
| Greater | ग्रेटर | अधिक |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | मुंबई |
| Metropolitan | मेट्रोपोलिटन | महानगरी |
| Railway | रेलवे | रेलवे |
| tiny | टाइनी | छोटा |
| Union | यूनियन | संघ |
| Jack | जैक | जैक |
| painted | पेंटेड | पेंट की गई |
| each | इच | प्रत्येक |
| carriage | कैरिज | रेलगाड़ी |
| gentle | जेंटल | कोमल |
| reminder | रिमाइंडर | याददाश्त |
| British | ब्रिटिश | ब्रिटिश |
| territory | टेरिटरी | क्षेत्र |
The train began to slow down beyond Dadar and stopped only at its destination, Victoria Terminus. The station looked remarkably neat and clean. The staff was mostly made up of Anglo-Indians and Parsees along with a handful of British officers
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| began | बिगन | शुरू हुआ |
| slow | स्लो | धीमा |
| down | डाउन | नीचे |
| beyond | बियांड | पार |
| Dadar | डाडर | डाडर |
| stopped | स्टॉप्ड | रुक गई |
| only | ओन्ली | केवल |
| destination | डेस्टिनेशन | गंतव्य |
| Victoria | विक्टोरिया | विक्टोरिया |
| Terminus | टर्मिनस | टर्मिनस |
| station | स्टेशन | स्टेशन |
| looked | लुक्ड | दिखी |
| remarkably | रिमार्केबली | अद्वितीय |
| neat | नीट | सुस्त |
| clean | क्लीन | साफ़ |
| staff | स्टाफ | कर्मचारी |
| mostly | मोस्टली | अधिकांश |
| made | मेड | बनाया गया |
| Anglo-Indians | आंग्लो-इंडियन्स | आंग्लो-भारतीय |
| Parsees | पारसीज | पारसी |
| handful | हैंडफुल | हैंडफुल |
| British | ब्रिटिश | ब्रिटिश |
| officers | ऑफिसर्स | अधिकारी |
As he emerged from the station, Gangadharpant found himself facing an imposing building. The letters on it proclaimed its identity to those who did not know this Bombay landmark: EAST INDIA HOUSE HEADQUARTERS OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| emerged | इमर्ज्ड | उभरा |
| station | स्टेशन | स्टेशन |
| facing | फेसिंग | सामने |
| imposing | इम्पोजिंग | प्रभावशाली |
| building | बिल्डिंग | इमारत |
| letters | लेटर्स | अक्षर |
| proclaimed | प्रोक्लेम्ड | प्रख्यात किया |
| identity | आइडेंटिटी | पहचान |
| know | नो | जानना |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | मुंबई |
| landmark | लैंडमार्क | सीमाचिह्न |
| EAST INDIA | ईस्ट इंडिया | पूर्वी भारत |
| HOUSE | हाउस | घर |
| HEADQUARTERS | हेडक्वार्टर्स | मुख्यालय |
| COMPANY | कंपनी | कंपनी |
Prepared as he was for many shocks, Professor Gaitonde had not expected this. The East India Company had been wound up shortly after the events of 1857 — at least, that is what history books said. Yet, here it was, not only alive but flourishing. So, history had taken a different turn, perhaps before 1857. How and when had it happened? He had to find out.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| shocks | शॉक्स | झटके |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैतोंडे | गैतोंडे |
| expected | एक्स्पेक्टेड | उम्मीद की |
| East India | ईस्ट इंडिया | पूर्वी भारत |
| Company | कंपनी | कंपनी |
| wound | वाउंड | बंधना |
| events | इवेंट्स | घटनाएँ |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| books | बुक्स | किताबें |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| alive | अलाइव | जीवित |
| flourishing | फ्लोरिशिंग | फलने-फूलने |
| turn | टर्न | मोड़ |
| perhaps | परहैप्स | शायद |
| happened | हैपन्ड | हुआ |
| find | फाइंड | ढूंढ़ना |
| out | आउट | बाहर |
As he walked along Hornby Road, as it was called, he found a different set of shops and office buildings. There was no Handloom House building. Instead, there were Boots and Woolworth departmental stores, imposing offices of Lloyds, Barclays and other British banks, as in a typical high street of a town in England.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| walked | वॉक्ड | चला |
| Hornby | हॉर्न्बी | हॉर्न्बी |
| Road | रोड | सड़क |
| set | सेट | सेट |
| shops | शॉप्स | दुकानें |
| office | ऑफिस | कार्यालय |
| buildings | बिल्डिंग्स | इमारतें |
| Handloom | हैंडलूम | हथकरघा |
| House | हाउस | घर |
| Boots | बूट्स | जूते |
| Woolworth | वूलवर्थ | वूलवर्थ |
| departmental | डिपार्टमेंटल | विभागीय |
| stores | स्टोर्स | दुकानें |
| imposing | इम्पोजिंग | प्रभावशाली |
| offices | ऑफिसेस | कार्यालयों |
| Lloyds | लॉयड्स | लॉयड्स |
| Barclays | बार्क्लेज | बार्क्लेज |
| British | ब्रिटिश | ब्रिटिश |
| banks | बैंक्स | बैंकों |
| typical | टिपिकल | आम |
| high | हाई | उच्च |
| street | स्ट्रीट | सड़क |
| town | टाउन | शहर |
| England | इंग्लैंड | इंग्लैंड |
He turned right along Home Street and entered Forbes building. “I wish to meet Mr Vinay Gaitonde, please,” he said to the English receptionist. She searched through the telephone list,
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| turned | टर्न्ड | मोड़ा |
| right | राइट | दाहिना |
| along | अलांग | साथ |
| Home | होम | घर |
| Street | स्ट्रीट | सड़क |
| entered | एंटर्ड | प्रवेश किया |
| Forbes | फोर्ब्स | फोर्ब्स |
| building | बिल्डिंग | इमारत |
| wish | विश | इच्छा |
| meet | मीट | मिलना |
| Mr | मिस्टर | श्री |
| Vinay | विनय | विनय |
| Gaitonde | गैतोंडे | गैतोंडे |
| please | प्लीज | कृपया |
| said | सेड | बोला |
| English | इंग्लिश | अंग्रेजी |
| receptionist | रिसेप्शनिस्ट | आपरेशनिस्ट |
| searched | सर्च्ड | खोजी |
| telephone | टेलीफ़ोन | टेलीफ़ोन |
| list | लिस्ट | सूची |
the staff list and then through the directory of employees of all the branches of the firm. She shook her head and said, “I am afraid I can’t find anyone of that name either here or in any of our branches. Are you sure he works here?
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| staff | स्टाफ | कर्मचारी |
| list | लिस्ट | सूची |
| through | थ्रू | माध्यम से |
| directory | डायरेक्ट्री | निर्देशिका |
| employees | एम्प्लॉयीज़ | कर्मचारी |
| branches | ब्रांचेज़ | शाखाएँ |
| firm | फर्म | कंपनी |
| shook | शुक | हिलाया |
| head | हेड | सिर |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| afraid | अफ्रेड | डरता हूँ |
| find | फ़ाइंड | ढूंढ़ना |
| anyone | एनीवन | कोई भी |
| name | नेम | नाम |
| either | इथर | या तो |
| here | हीयर | यहाँ |
| branches | ब्रांचेज़ | शाखाएँ |
| sure | स्योर | पक्का |
| works | वर्क्स | काम करता है |
This was a blow, not totally unexpected. If he himself were dead in this world, what guarantee had he that his son would be alive? Indeed, he may not even have been born
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| blow | ब्लो | मार |
| unexpected | अनिर्दिष्ट | अप्रत्याशित |
| himself | हिमसेल्फ | खुद |
| dead | डेड | मरा हुआ |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| guarantee | गैरंटी | गारंटी |
| son | सन | बेटा |
| alive | अलाइव | जीवित |
| even | ईवन | भी |
| born | बोर्न | जन्मित |
He thanked the girl politely and came out. It was characteristic of him not to worry about where he would stay. His main concern was to make his way to the library of the Asiatic Society to solve the riddle of history. Grabbing a quick lunch at a restaurant, he made his way to the Town Hall.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| politely | पोलाइट्ली | शिष्टतापूर्वक |
| came | केम | आया |
| worry | वरी | चिंता |
| stay | स्टे | ठहरना |
| main | मेन | मुख्य |
| concern | कन्सर्न | चिंता |
| make | मेक | बनाना |
| way | वे | रास्ता |
| library | लाइब्रेरी | पुस्तकालय |
| Asiatic | ऐशियाटिक | एशियाई |
| Society | सोसायटी | समाज |
| solve | सॉल्व | हल करना |
| riddle | रिडल | पहेली |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| grabbing | ग्रबिंग | पकड़ना |
| quick | क्विक | त्वरित |
| lunch | लंच | दोपहर का भोजन |
| restaurant | रेस्टोरेंट | रेस्टोरेंट |
| Town | टाउन | नगर |
| Hall | हॉल | हॉल |
Yes, to his relief, the Town Hall was there, and it did house the library. He entered the reading room and asked for a list of history books including his own.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| relief | रिलीफ | राहत |
| Town | टाउन | नगर |
| Hall | हॉल | हॉल |
| house | हाउस | घर |
| library | लाइब्रेरी | पुस्तकालय |
| entered | एंटर्ड | प्रवेश किया |
| reading | रीडिंग | पठन |
| room | रूम | कक्ष |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| list | लिस्ट | सूची |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| books | बुक्स | पुस्तकें |
| including | इंक्लूडिंग | समेत |
| own | ओन | अपना |
His five volumes duly arrived on his table. He started from the beginning. Volume one took the history up to the period of Ashoka, volume two up to Samudragupta, volume three up to Mohammad Ghori and volume four up to the death of Aurangzeb. Up to this period history was as he knew it. The change evidently had occurred in the last volume.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| volumes | वॉल्यूम्स | खंड |
| arrived | आराइव्ड | पहुँचा |
| table | टेबल | मेज़ |
| started | स्टार्टेड | शुरू किया |
| beginning | बिगिनिंग | शुरुआत |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| period | पीरियड | युग |
| Ashoka | अशोका | अशोक |
| Samudragupta | समुद्रगुप्त | समुद्रगुप्त |
| Mohammad | मोहम्मद | मोहम्मद |
| Ghori | ग़ोरी | ग़ोरी |
| death | डेथ | मौत |
| Aurangzeb | औरंगज़ेब | औरंगज़ेब |
| change | चेंज | परिवर्तन |
| last | लास्ट | आखिरी |
| volume | वॉल्यूम | खंड |
| occurred | ऑकर्ड | हुआ |
Reading volume five from both ends inwards, Gangadharpant finally converged on the precise moment where history had taken a different turn.That page in the book described the Battle of Panipat, and it mentioned that the Marathas won it handsomely
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Reading | रीडिंग | पठन |
| volume | वॉल्यूम | खंड |
| five | फाइव | पांच |
| both | बोथ | दोनों |
| ends | एंड्स | अंत |
| inwards | इनवर्ड्स | अंदर |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| finally | फाइनली | अंततः |
| converged | कनवर्ज़्ड | मिल गए |
| precise | प्रिसाइस | सटीक |
| moment | मोमेंट | पल |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| different | डिफ़रेंट | अलग |
| turn | टर्न | मोड़ |
| page | पेज | पन्ना |
| book | बुक | किताब |
| described | डिस्क्राइब्ड | वर्णन किया |
| Battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| Panipat | पानीपत | पानीपत |
| mentioned | मेंशन्ड | उल्लेख किया |
| Marathas | मराठा | मराठा |
| won | वन | जीत लिया |
| handsomely | हैंड्समली | शानदार ढंग से |
Abdali was routed and he was chased back to Kabul by the triumphant Maratha army led by Sadashivrao Bhau and his nephew, the young Vishwasrao The book did not go into a blow-by-blow account of the battle itself.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Abdali | अब्दाली | अब्दाली |
| routed | राउटेड | पराजित किया |
| chased | चेस्ड | पीछा किया |
| Kabul | काबुल | काबुल |
| triumphant | ट्रायम्फन्ट | विजयी |
| Maratha | मराठा | मराठा |
| army | आर्मी | सेना |
| led | लेड | नेतृत्व किया |
| Sadashivrao | सदाशिवराव | सदाशिवराव |
| Bhau | भाऊ | भाऊ |
| nephew | नेफ्यू | भतीजा |
| young | यंग | युवा |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| book | बुक | किताब |
| battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| blow-by-blow | ब्लो-बाय-ब्लो | विस्तार से |
| account | अकाउंट | खाता |
rather, it elaborated in detail its consequences for the power struggle in India. Gangadharpant read through the account avidly. The style of writing was unmistakably his, yet he was reading the account for the first time!
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| elaborated | इलाबरेटेड | विस्तृत किया |
| detail | डिटेल | विवरण |
| consequences | कानसीक्वेंसेस | परिणाम |
| power | पावर | शक्ति |
| struggle | स्ट्रगल | संघर्ष |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| read | रेड | पढ़ा |
| account | अकाउंट | खाता |
| avidly | अविड्ली | उत्सुकतापूर्वक |
| style | स्टाइल | शैली |
| writing | राइटिंग | लेखन |
| unmistakably | अनमिस्टेकेब्ली | निश्चित रूप से |
| first | फर्स्ट | पहली |
| time | टाइम | समय |
Their victory in the battle was not only a great morale booster to the Marathas but it also established their supremacy in northern India. The East India Company, which had been watching these developments from the sidelines, got the message and temporarily shelved its expansionist programme.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| victory | विक्टरी | जीत |
| battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| morale | मोरेल | मनोबल |
| booster | बूस्टर | बढ़ावा |
| Marathas | मराठा | मराठा |
| supremacy | सुप्रेमेसी | शासकता |
| northern | नॉर्दर्न | उत्तरी |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| East India | ईस्ट इंडिया | पूर्वी भारत |
| Company | कंपनी | कंपनी |
| developments | डेवलपमेंट्स | विकास |
| sidelines | साइडलाइन्स | क्षेत्रों |
| message | मैसेज | संदेश |
| temporarily | टेम्पोरेरिली | अस्थायी |
| shelved | शेल्व्ड | स्थानांतरित |
| expansionist | एक्स्पैंशनिस्ट | विस्तारवादी |
| programme | प्रोग्राम | कार्यक्रम |
For the Peshwas the immediate result was an increase in the influence of Bhausaheb and Vishwasrao who eventfully succeeded his father in 1780 A.D. The trouble-maker, Dadasaheb, was relegated to the background and he eventually retired from state politics.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Peshwas | पेशवा | पेशवा |
| immediate | इमीडिएट | तत्काल |
| result | रिज़ल्ट | परिणाम |
| increase | इंक्रीस | वृद्धि |
| influence | इन्फ़्लूअंस | प्रभाव |
| Bhausaheb | भाउसाहेब | भाऊसाहेब |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| succeeded | सक्सीडेड | सफल हुआ |
| father | फ़ादर | पिता |
| A.D. | ए.डी. | ईसा पूर्व |
| trouble-maker | ट्रबल-मेकर | मुसीबत उत्पन्नकर्ता |
| relegated | रेगलेटेड | हटा दिया |
| background | बैकग्राउंड | पृष्ठभूमि |
| retired | रिटायर्ड | सेवानिवृत्त हो गया |
| state | स्टेट | राज्य |
| politics | पॉलिटिक्स | राजनीति |
To its dismay, the East India Company met its match in the new Maratha ruler, Vishwasrao. He and his brother, Madhavrao, combined political acumen with valour and systematically expanded their influence all over India
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| dismay | डिस्मे | निराशा |
| East | ईस्ट | पूर्व |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| Company | कंपनी | कंपनी |
| match | मैच | मिलान |
| Maratha | मराठा | मराठा |
| ruler | रूलर | शासक |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| brother | ब्रदर | भाई |
| Madhavrao | माधवरावो | माधवरावो |
| political | पॉलिटिकल | राजनीतिक |
| acumen | ऐक्युमेन | बुद्धिमत्ता |
| valour | वैलर | बहादुरी |
| systematically | सिस्टेमेटिकली | व्यवस्थित रूप से |
| expanded | एक्स्पैंडेड | विस्तारित |
| influence | इन्फ़्लूअंस | प्रभाव |
| all over | आल ओवर | पूरे |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
The Company was reduced to pockets of influence near Bombay, Calcutta* and Madras , just like its European rivals, the Portuguese and the French
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Company | कंपनी | कंपनी |
| pockets | पॉकेट्स | छोटे क्षेत्र |
| influence | इन्फ़्लूअंस | प्रभाव |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | मुंबई |
| Calcutta* | कलकत्ता | कोलकाता |
| Madras | मद्रास | चेन्नई |
| European | यूरोपियन | यूरोपीय |
| rivals | राइवल्स | प्रतिद्वंद्वी |
| Portuguese | पोर्चुगीज़ | पुर्तगाली |
| French | फ़्रेंच | फ़्रांसीसी |
For political reasons, the Peshwas kept the puppet Mughal regime alive in Delhi. In the nineteenth century these de facto rulers from Pune were astute enough to recognise the importance of the technological age dawning in Europe.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| political | पॉलिटिकल | राजनीतिक |
| reasons | रीजन्स | कारण |
| Peshwas | पेशवा | पेशवा |
| puppet | पपेट | कठपुतली |
| Mughal | मुग़ल | मुग़ल |
| regime | रिज़ीम | शासन व्यवस्था |
| alive | अलाइव | जीवित |
| Delhi | दिल्ली | दिल्ली |
| nineteenth | नाइंटीन्थ | उन्नीसवीं |
| century | सेंचुरी | सदी |
| de facto | डी फ़ैक्टो | वास्तविकता में |
| rulers | रूलर्स | शासक |
| Pune | पुणे | पुणे |
| astute | अस्ट्यूट | चतुर |
| enough | इनफ़ | पर्याप्त |
| recognise | रेकग्नाइज़ | पहचानना |
| importance | इम्पोर्टन्स | महत्व |
| technological | टेक्नोलॉजिकल | प्रौद्योगिकी |
| age | एज | युग |
| dawning | डॉनिंग | आरंभ होना |
| Europe | यूरोप | यूरोप |
They set up their own centres for science and technology. Here, the East India Company saw another opportunity to extend its influence. It offered aid and experts. They were accepted only to make the local centres self-sufficient
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| centres | सेंटर्स | केंद्र |
| science | साइंस | विज्ञान |
| technology | टेक्नोलॉजी | प्रौद्योगिकी |
| East | ईस्ट | पूर्व |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| Company | कंपनी | कंपनी |
| opportunity | ऑपर्चुनिटी | मौका |
| extend | एक्स्टेंड | बढ़ाना |
| influence | इन्फ़्लूअंस | प्रभाव |
| offered | ऑफ़र्ड | पेश किया |
| aid | एड | सहायता |
| experts | एक्सपर्ट्स | विशेषज्ञ |
| accepted | अक्सेप्टेड | स्वीकार किया |
| make | मेक | बनाना |
| local | लोकल | स्थानीय |
| self-sufficient | सेल्फ-सफ़िशन्ट | स्वतंत्रता से संतुष्ट |
The twentieth century brought about further changes inspired by the West. India moved towards a democracy. By then, the Peshwas had lost their enterprise and they were gradually replaced by democratically elected bodies.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| twentieth | ट्वेंटीथ | बीसवीं |
| century | सेंचुरी | सदी |
| changes | चेंजेस | परिवर्तन |
| West | वेस्ट | पश्चिम |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| democracy | डेमोक्रेसी | लोकतंत्र |
| Peshwas | पेशवा | पेशवा |
| enterprise | एंटरप्राइज | उद्यम |
| gradually | ग्रेजुअली | धीरे-धीरे |
| replaced | रिप्लेस्ड | बदल गया |
| democratically | डेमोक्रैटिकली | लोकतांत्रिक रूप से |
| elected | इलेक्टेड | चुने गए |
| bodies | बॉडीज़ | संगठन |
The Sultanate at Delhi survived even this transition, largely because it wielded no real influence. The Shahenshah of Delhi was no more than a figurehead to rubber-stamp the ‘recommendations’ made by the central Parliament
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Sultanate | सल्तनेट | सल्तनत |
| Delhi | दिल्ली | दिल्ली |
| survived | सर्वाइव्ड | बच गया |
| transition | ट्रांज़िशन | परिवर्तन |
| largely | लार्ज्ली | बड़े हिस्से में |
| influence | इन्फ़्लूअंस | प्रभाव |
| Shahenshah | शाहेंशाह | शाहेंशाह |
| figurehead | फिगरहेड | आदर्श व्यक्ति |
| rubber-stamp | रबर-स्टैम्प | मंजूरी देना |
| recommendations | रेकमेंडेशंस | सिफारिशें |
| central | सेंट्रल | केंद्रीय |
| Parliament | पार्लियामेंट | संसद |
.As he read on, Gangadharpant began to appreciate the India he had seen. It was a country that had not been subjected to slavery for the white man; it had learnt to stand on its feet and knew what self-respect was.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| India | इंडिया | भारत |
| read | रेड | पढ़ते |
| appreciate | अप्रीशिएट | महत्व प्राप्त करना |
| seen | सीन | देखा हुआ |
| country | कंट्री | देश |
| subjected | सबजेक्टेड | अधीन किया |
| slavery | स्लेवरी | गुलामी |
| white | वाइट | सफेद |
| man | मैन | आदमी |
| learnt | लर्ंट | सीखा हुआ |
| stand | स्टैंड | खड़ा होना |
| feet | फीट | पैर |
| knew | न्यू | जाना था |
| self-respect | सेल्फ-रिस्पेक्ट | आत्मसम्मान |
From a position of strength and for purely commercial reasons, it had allowed the British to retain Bombay as the sole outpost on the subcontinent. That lease was to expire in the year 2001, according to a treaty of 1908
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| position | पज़ीशन | स्थिति |
| strength | स्ट्रेंग्थ | ताकत |
| purely | प्यूरली | पूरी तरह से |
| commercial | कॉमर्शियल | वाणिज्यिक |
| reasons | रीजन्स | कारण |
| allowed | अलाउड | अनुमति दी |
| British | ब्रिटिश | ब्रिटिश |
| retain | रिटेन | रखना |
| Bombay | बॉम्बे | मुंबई |
| sole | सोल | एकमात्र |
| outpost | आउटपोस्ट | बाहरी प्रदेश |
| subcontinent | सबकंटिनेंट | उपमहाद्वीप |
| lease | लीज | पट्टा |
| expire | एक्स्पायर | समाप्त होना |
| year | यियर | साल |
| treaty | ट्रीटी | सन्धि |
| according | अकॉर्डिंग | के अनुसार |
Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was witnessing around him. But, at the same time, he felt that his investigations were incomplete. How did the Marathas win the battle? To find the answer he must look for accounts of the battle itself.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| country | कंट्री | देश |
| knew | न्यू | जानता था |
| witnessing | विटनेसिंग | गवाही देना |
| investigations | इन्वेस्टिगेशंस | जांच |
| incomplete | इन्कंप्लीट | अपूर्ण |
| Marathas | मराठा | मराठा |
| battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| find | फाइंड | ढूंढ़ना |
| answer | आंसर | जवाब |
| must | मस्ट | होना चाहिए |
| look | लुक | देखना |
| accounts | अकाउंट्स | खाते |
he went through the books and journals before him. At last, among the books he found one that gave him the clue. It was Bhausahebanchi Bakhar.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| books | बुक्स | किताबें |
| journals | जर्नल्स | पत्रिकाएँ |
| before | बिफ़ोर | से पहले |
| him | हिम | उसे |
| last | लास्ट | अंतिम |
| one | वन | एक |
| gave | गेव | दिया |
| clue | क्लू | संकेत |
| Bhausahebanchi | भाउसाहेबांची | भाऊसाहेबांची |
| Bakhar | बाखर | बाखर |
Although he seldom relied on the Bakhars for historical evidence, he found them entertaining to read. Sometimes, buried in the graphic but doctored accounts, he could spot the germ of truth. He found one now in a three-line account of how close Vishwasrao had come to being killed:
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| relied | रिलायड | भरोसा करना |
| Bakhars | बाखर्स | बाखर |
| historical | हिस्टोरिकल | ऐतिहासिक |
| evidence | एविडेंस | सबूत |
| found | फाउंड | पाया है |
| entertaining | एंटरटेनिंग | मनोरंजक |
| read | रेड | पढ़ना |
| buried | बेरीड | दबा हुआ |
| graphic | ग्राफिक | ग्राफिक |
| doctored | डॉक्टर्ड | संशोधित |
| accounts | अकाउंट्स | खाते |
| spot | स्पॉट | ढूंढ़ना |
| germ | जर्म | बीमारी का कारण |
| truth | ट्रूथ | सच |
| three-line | थ्री-लाइन | तीन पंक्तियों |
| account | अकाउंट | विवरण |
| close | क्लोस | करीब |
| killed | किल्ड | मार दिया |
…And then Vishwasrao guided his horse to the melee where the elite troops were fighting and he attacked them. And God was merciful. A shot brushed past his ear. Even the difference of a til (sesame) would have led to his death.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| guided | गाइडेड | मार्गदर्शन किया |
| horse | हॉर्स | घोड़ा |
| melee | मेले | हाथापाई |
| elite | एलीट | अभिजात |
| troops | ट्रूप्स | सैनिकों |
| fighting | फाइटिंग | लड़ रहे |
| attacked | अटैक्ट | हमला किया |
| God | गाड | भगवान |
| merciful | मर्सिफ़ल | दयालु |
| shot | शॉट | गोली |
| brushed | ब्रश्ड | सरसराना |
| past | पास्ट | गुज़र गया |
| ear | ईयर | कान |
| difference | डिफ़रेंस | अंतर |
| til | तिल | तिल |
| sesame | सेसम | तिल |
| led | लेड | ले जाता |
| death | डेथ | मौत |
At eight o’clock the librarian politely reminded the professor that the library was closing for the day. Gangadharpant emerged from his thoughts. Looking around he noticed that he was the only reader left in that magnificent hall.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| librarian | लाइब्रेरियन | पुस्तकालयाध्यक्ष |
| reminded | रिमाइंडेड | याद दिलाया |
| professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| library | लाइब्रेरी | पुस्तकालय |
| closing | क्लोज़िंग | बंद हो रहा |
| day | डे | दिन |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| emerged | एमर्ज्ड | उभरा |
| thoughts | थॉट्स | विचार |
| Looking | लुकिंग | देखते हुए |
| around | अराउंड | चारों ओर |
| noticed | नोटिस्ड | ध्यान दिया |
| only | ओन्ली | केवल |
| reader | रीडर | पाठक |
| left | लेफ्ट | बचा हुआ |
| magnificent | मैग्निफिसेंट | शानदार |
| hall | हॉल | हॉल |
I beg your pardon, sir! May I request you to keep these books here for my use tomorrow morning? By the way, when do you open?” “At eight o’clock, sir.” The librarian smiled. Here was a user and researcher right after his heart. As the professor left the table he shoved some notes into his right pocket. Absent-mindedly, he also shoved the Bakhar into his left pocket
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| pardon | पार्डन | माफ़ी |
| sir | सर | सर |
| request | रिक्वेस्ट | अनुरोध |
| keep | कीप | रखना |
| books | बुक्स | किताबें |
| use | यूज़ | उपयोग |
| tomorrow | टुमारो | कल |
| morning | मॉर्निंग | सुबह |
| open | ओपन | खोलना |
| librarian | लाइब्रेरियन | पुस्तकालयाध्यक्ष |
| smiled | स्माइल्ड | मुस्कान |
| user | यूज़र | उपयोगकर्ता |
| researcher | रिसर्चर | शोधकर्ता |
| right | राइट | दाहिना |
| heart | हार्ट | दिल |
| professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| left | लेफ्ट | बाया |
| table | टेबल | मेज़ |
| shoved | शव्ड | धक्का दिया |
| notes | नोट्स | नोट्स |
| पॉकेट | जेब | |
| Absent-mindedly | अब्सेंट-माइंडेड्ली | भ्रान्तिपूर्णता के साथ |
| Bakhar | बाखर | बाखर |
He found a guest house to stay in and had a frugal meal. He then set out for a stroll towards the Azad Maidan. In the maidan he found a throng moving towards a pandal.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| guest | गेस्ट | मेहमान |
| house | हाउस | घर |
| stay | स्टे | ठहरना |
| frugal | फ्रूगल | मितव्ययी |
| meal | मील | भोजन |
| set | सेट | सेट करना |
| stroll | स्ट्रोल | सैर करना |
| Azad | आज़ाद | आज़ाद |
| Maidan | मैदान | मैदान |
| found | फाउंड | पाया है |
| throng | थ्रांग | भीड़ |
| moving | मूविंग | चल रहा है |
| towards | टॉवर्ड्स | की ओर |
| pandal | पंडाल | पंडाल |
So, a lecture was to take place. Force of habit took Professor Gaitonde towards the pandal. The lecture was in progress, although people kept coming and going. But Professor Gaitonde was not looking at the audience. He was staring at the platform as if mesmerised. There was a table and a chair but the latter was unoccupied
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| lecture | लेक्चर | व्याख्यान |
| place | प्लेस | जगह |
| force | फोर्स | बल |
| habit | हैबिट | आदत |
| took | टूक | लिया |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंड | गैटोंडे |
| pandal | पंडाल | पंडाल |
| progress | प्रोग्रेस | प्रगति |
| people | पीपल | लोग |
| coming | कमिंग | आ रहे हैं |
| going | गोइंग | जा रहे हैं |
| looking | लुकिंग | देख रहे थे |
| audience | ऑडियंस | दर्शक |
| staring | स्टेरिंग | देख रहे थे |
| platform | प्लैटफ़ॉर्म | मंच |
| mesmerised | मेस्मेराइज्ड | मोहित |
| table | टेबल | मेज़ |
| chair | चेयर | कुर्सी |
| latter | लैटर | अंतिम |
| unoccupied | अनॉक्यूपाइड | खाली |
The presidential chair unoccupied! The sight stirred him to the depths. Like a piece of iron attracted to a magnet, he swiftly moved towards the chair. The speaker stopped in mid-sentence, too shocked to continue. But the audience soon found voice.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| presidential | प्रेज़ीडेंशियल | राष्ट्रपति |
| chair | चेयर | कुर्सी |
| unoccupied | अनॉक्यूपाइड | खाली |
| sight | साइट | दृश्य |
| stirred | स्टर्ड | उत्तेजित |
| depths | डेप्थ्स | गहराई |
| piece | पीस | टुकड़ा |
| iron | आयरन | लोहा |
| attracted | अट्रैक्टेड | आकर्षित |
| magnet | मैग्नेट | चुंबक |
| swiftly | स्विफ़्ट्ली | तेजी से |
| moved | मूव्ड | चला |
| speaker | स्पीकर | वक्ता |
| stopped | स्टॉप्ड | रुक गया |
| mid-sentence | मिड-सेंटेंस | बीच में वाक्य |
| shocked | शॉक्ड | चौंका |
| continue | कंटिन्यू | जारी रखना |
| audience | ऑडियंस | दर्शक |
| soon | सून | जल्दी |
| found | फाउंड | मिला |
| voice | वॉइस | आवाज़ |
Vacate the chair!” “This lecture series has no chairperson…” “Away from the platform, mister!” “The chair is symbolic, don’t you know?”What nonsense! Whoever heard of a public lecture without a presiding dignitary?
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Vacate | वेकेट | खाली करें |
| chair | चेयर | कुर्सी |
| lecture | लेक्चर | व्याख्यान |
| series | सीरीज़ | श्रृंखला |
| chairperson | चेयरपर्सन | कुर्सीधार |
| away | अवे | दूर |
| platform | प्लैटफॉर्म | मंच |
| mister | मिस्टर | साहब |
| symbolic | सिंबोलिक | प्रतीक |
| nonsense | नानसेंस | बेतुका |
| heard | हर्ड | सुना |
| public | पब्लिक | सार्वजनिक |
| presiding | प्रिसाइडिंग | प्रभुत्वपूर्ण |
| dignitary | डिग्निटेरी | महान व्यक्ति |
Professor Gaitonde went to the mike and gave vent to his views. “Ladies and gentlemen, an unchaired lecture is like Shakespeare’s Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. Let me tell you…
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Professor | प्रोफ़ेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंडे | गैटोंडे |
| went | वेंट | गये |
| mike | माइक | माइक |
| gave | गेव | दिया |
| vent | वेंट | अभिव्यक्ति |
| views | व्यूज़ | दृष्टिकोण |
| Ladies | लेडीज़ | महिलाएँ |
| gentlemen | जेंटलमेन | गणपति |
| unchaired | अन्चेयर्ड | अव्यवस्थित |
| lecture | लेक्चर | व्याख्यान |
| Shakespeare | शेक्सपियर | शेक्सपियर |
| Hamlet | हैमलेट | हैमलेट |
| Prince | प्रिंस | राजकुमार |
| Denmark | डेनमार्क | डेनमार्क |
| Let | लेट | चलिए |
| tell | टेल | बताओ |
But the audience was in no mood to listen. “Tell us nothing. We are sick of remarks from the chair, of vote of thanks, of long introductions.” “We only want to listen to the speaker…” “We abolished the old customs long ago…” “Keep the platform empty, please…
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| audience | ऑडियंस | दर्शक |
| mood | मूड | मनोदशा |
| listen | सुनो | सुनना |
| tell | टेल | बताओ |
| remarks | रिमार्क्स | टिप्पणी |
| chair | चेयर | कुर्सी |
| vote | वोट | मत |
| thanks | थैंक्स | धन्यवाद |
| long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| introductions | इंट्रोडक्शन्स | परिचय |
| speaker | स्पीकर | वक्ता |
| abolished | अबोलिश्ड | समाप्त किया |
| old | ओल्ड | पुराना |
| customs | कस्टम्स | रीति रिवाज |
| keep | कीप | रखना |
| platform | प्लेटफ़ॉर्म | मंच |
| empty | एम्प्टी | खाली |
| please | प्लीज | कृपया |
But Gangadharpant had the experience of speaking at 999 meetings and had faced the Pune audience at its most hostile. He kept on talking.He soon became a target for a shower of tomatoes, eggs and other objects.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| experience | एक्स्पीरियंस | अनुभव |
| speaking | स्पीकिंग | बोलना |
| meetings | मीटिंग्स | मीटिंग |
| faced | फेस्ड | सामना किया |
| audience | ऑडियंस | दर्शक |
| hostile | हॉस्टाइल | दुश्मनाना |
| talking | टॉकिंग | बातचीत |
| target | टारगेट | लक्ष्य |
| shower | शॉवर | बौछार |
| tomatoes | टमाटर्स | टमाटर |
| eggs | एग्स | अंडे |
| objects | ऑब्जेक्ट्स | वस्तुएं |
but he kept on trying valiantly to correct this sacrilege. Finally, the audience swarmed to the stage to eject him bodily. And, in the crowd Gangadharpant was nowhere to be seen.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| trying | ट्राइइंग | प्रयास |
| valiantly | वैलियंट्ली | साहसपूर्वक |
| correct | करेक्ट | सुधार करना |
| sacrilege | सैक्रिलेज | अपवित्रीकरण |
| audience | ऑडियंस | दर्शक |
| swarmed | स्वॉर्म्ड | भीड़ लगी |
| stage | स्टेज | मंच |
| eject | इजेक्ट | निकालना |
| bodily | बॉडिली | शारीरिक रूप से |
| crowd | क्राउड | भीड़ |
| nowhere | नोव्ह्वेर | कहीं भी नहीं |
| seen | सीन | देखा गया |
That is all I have to tell, Rajendra. All I know is that I was found in the Azad Maidan in the morning. But I was back in the world I am familiar with. Now, where exactly did I spend those two days when I was absent from here?
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| tell | टेल | कहना |
| found | फाउंड | पाया गया |
| morning | मॉर्निंग | सुबह |
| back | बैक | वापस |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| familiar | फ़मिलियर | परिचित |
| exactly | एक्सैक्ट्ली | सटीकता से |
| spend | स्पेन्ड | खर्च करना |
| days | डेज | दिनों |
| absent | अब्सेंट | गैरमौजूद |
| here | हीयर | यहाँ |
Rajendra was dumbfounded by the narrative. It took him a while to reply. “Professor, before, just prior to your collision with the truck, what were you doing?” Rajendra asked. “I was thinking of the catastrophe theory and its implications for history.” “Right! I thought so!” Rajendra smiled.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| narrative | नैरेटिव | कथा |
| reply | रिप्लाई | जवाब |
| prior | प्रायर | पहले |
| collision | कलीशन | टक्कर |
| truck | ट्रक | ट्रक |
| thinking | थिंकिंग | सोच |
| catastrophe | कैटास्ट्रोफी | आपदा |
| theory | थीयोरी | सिद्धांत |
| implications | इम्प्लिकेशन्स | प्रभाव |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| smiled | स्माइल्ड | मुस्कान |
Don’t smile smugly. In case you think that it was just my mind playing tricks and my imagination running amok, look at this.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| smile | स्माइल | मुस्कान |
| smugly | स्मग्ली | अभिमानपूर्वक |
| think | थिंक | सोच |
| mind | माइंड | मन |
| play | प्ले | खेल |
| tricks | ट्रिक्स | चालें |
| imagination | इमैजिनेशन | कल्पना |
| running | रनिंग | चल रही |
| amok | अमोक | अनियंत्रित |
| look | लुक | देखें |
And, triumphantly, Professor Gaitonde produced his vital piece of evidence: a page torn out of a book. Rajendra read the text on the printed page and his face underwent a change. Gone was the smile and in its place came a grave expression. He was visibly moved.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| triumphantly | ट्रायम्फंट्ली | विजयपूर्वक |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंडे | गैटोंडे |
| produced | प्रोड्यूस्ड | उत्पन्न किया |
| vital | वाइटल | महत्वपूर्ण |
| piece | पीस | टुकड़ा |
| evidence | एविडेंस | सबूत |
| page | पेज | पन्ना |
| torn | टॉर्न | फटा हुआ |
| book | बुक | किताब |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| read | रीड | पढ़ना |
| text | टेक्स्ट | पाठ |
| printed | प्रिंटेड | मुद्रित |
| face | फेस | चेहरा |
| underwent | अंडरवेंट | गुज़र गया |
| change | चेंज | परिवर्तन |
| smile | स्माइल | मुस्कान |
| grave | ग्रेव | गंभीर |
| expression | एक्सप्रेशन | अभिव्यक्ति |
| visibly | विज़िबली | स्पष्टतः |
| moved | मूव्ड | गंभीरता से हिल गया |
“grave expression. He was visibly moved. Gangadharpant pressed home his advantage. “I had inadvertently slipped the Bakhar in my pocket as I left the library. I discovered my error when I was paying for my meal.”
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| expression | एक्सप्रेशन | अभिव्यक्ति |
| grave | ग्रेव | गंभीर |
| moved | मूव्ड | हिला दिया |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| pressed | प्रेस्ड | दबाया |
| home | होम | गृह |
| advantage | ऐडवांटेज | फायदा |
| inadvertently | इनाडवर्टंट्ली | अनजाने में |
| slipped | स्लिप्ड | फिसल गया |
| Bakhar | बाख़र | बाख़र |
| पॉकेट | जेब | |
| left | लेफ्ट | छोड़ दिया |
| library | लाइब्रेरी | पुस्तकालय |
| discovered | डिस्कवर्ड | खोजा |
| error | एरर | त्रुटि |
| paying | पेइंग | भुगतान |
| meal | मील | भोजन |
“I had intended to return it the next morning. But it seems that in the melee of Azad Maidan, the book was lost; only this torn-off page remained. And, luckily for me, the page contains vital evidence.” “
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| intended | इन्टेंडेड | इरादा हुआ |
| return | रिटर्न | वापसी |
| morning | मॉर्निंग | सुबह |
| seems | सीम्स | लगता है |
| melee | मेले | हलचल |
| Azad Maidan | आजाद मैदान | आजाद मैदान |
| book | बुक | किताब |
| lost | लॉस्ट | खो गया |
| torn-off | टॉर्न-ऑफ़ | फटे हुए |
| page | पेज | पन्ना |
| remained | रिमेन्ड | बचा हुआ |
| luckily | लकिली | भाग्यशाली |
| vital | वाइटल | महत्वपूर्ण |
| evidence | एविडेंस | सबूत |
“Rajendra again read the page. It described how Vishwasrao narrowly missed the bullet; and how that event, taken as an omen by the Maratha army, turned the tide in their favour.”
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| page | पेज | पन्ना |
| described | डिस्क्राइब्ड | वर्णन किया |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| narrowly | नैरोली | छोटे से से |
| missed | मिस्ड | छूट गया |
| bullet | बुलेट | गोली |
| event | इवेंट | घटना |
| taken | टेकन | लिया गया |
| omen | ओमन | शकुन |
| Maratha | मराठा | मराठा |
| army | आर्मी | सेना |
| turned | टर्न्ड | मोड़ दिया |
| tide | टाइड | लहर |
| favour | फेवर | पक्ष |
“Now look at this.” Gangadharpant produced his own copy of Bhausahebanchi Bakhar, opened at the relevant page. The account ran thus:
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| look | लुक | देखना |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| produced | प्रोडूस्ड | उत्पन्न किया |
| own | ओन | अपना |
| copy | कॉपी | प्रति |
| Bhausahebanchi | भाऊसाहेबांची | भाऊसाहेबांची |
| Bakhar | बाखर | बाखर |
| opened | ओपन्ड | खोला |
| relevant | रेलेवंट | मान्य |
| page | पेज | पन्ना |
| account | अकाउंट | खाता |
| ran | रैन | चली |
…And then Vishwasrao guided his horse to the melee where the elite troops were fighting, and he attacked them. And God expressed His displeasure. He was hit by the bullet
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| guided | गाइडेड | मार्गदर्शन किया |
| horse | हॉर्स | घोड़ा |
| melee | मेले | हाथापाई |
| elite | एलीट | अभिजात |
| troops | ट्रूप्स | सैनिक |
| fighting | फाइटिंग | लड़ाई |
| attacked | अटैक्टेड | हमला किया |
| God | गॉड | भगवान |
| expressed | एक्सप्रेस्ड | व्यक्त किया |
| displeasure | डिस्प्लेज़र | असंतुष्टि |
| hit | हिट | मारा |
| bullet | बुलेट | गोली |
His displeasure. He was hit by the bullet. “Professor Gaitonde, you have given me food for thought. Until I saw this material evidence, I had simply put your experience down to fantasy. But facts can be stranger than fantasies, as I am beginning to realise.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| displeasure | डिस्प्लेज़र | असंतोष |
| hit | हिट | मारा |
| bullet | बुलेट | गोली |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंडे | गैटोंडे |
| given | गिवन | दिया |
| me | मी | मुझे |
| food | फूड | भोजन |
| thought | थॉट | विचार |
| saw | सॉ | देखा |
| material | मटीरियल | सामग्री |
| evidence | एविडेंस | सबूत |
| simply | सिम्प्ली | बस |
| put | पुट | रखा |
| experience | एक्सपीरियंस | अनुभव |
| down | डाउन | नीचे |
| fantasy | फ़ैंटसी | काल्पनिक |
| facts | फैक्ट्स | तथ्य |
| stranger | स्ट्रेंजर | अजनबी |
| beginning | बिगिनिंग | शुरुआत |
| realise | रियलाइज | समझना |
“Facts? What are the facts? I am dying to know!” Professor Gaitonde said.Rajendra motioned him to silence and started pacing the room, obviously under great mental strain. Finally, he turned around and said,
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Facts | फैक्ट्स | तथ्य |
| dying | डायिंग | मरता हुआ |
| know | नो | जानना |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंडे | गैटोंडे |
| said | सेड | बोला |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| motioned | मोशन्ड | इशारा किया |
| silence | साइलेंस | चुप्पी |
| started | स्टार्टेड | शुरू हुआ |
| pacing | पेसिंग | चलता हुआ |
| room | रूम | कक्षा |
| obviously | ऑब्वियस्ली | स्पष्टतः |
| under | अंडर | के तहत |
| great | ग्रेट | महान |
| mental | मेंटल | मानसिक |
| strain | स्ट्रेन | तनाव |
| turned | टर्न्ड | मुड़ा |
| around | अराउंड | चारों ओर |
| said | सेड | बोला |
Professor Gaitonde, I will try to rationalise your experience on the basis of two scientific theories as known today. Whether I succeed or not in convincing you of the facts, only you can judge — for you have indeed passed through a fantastic experience: or, more correctly, a catastrophic experience!”
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंडे | गैटोंडे |
| try | ट्राई | कोशिश करना |
| rationalise | रैशनलाइज | तार्किक बनाना |
| experience | एक्सपीरियंस | अनुभव |
| basis | बेसिस | आधार |
| scientific | सायंटिफिक | वैज्ञानिक |
| theories | थियोरीज | सिद्धांत |
| known | नोन | जाना हुआ |
| today | टुडे | आज |
| succeed | सक्सीड | सफल होना |
| convincing | कन्विंसिंग | प्रभावशाली |
| judge | जज | न्याय करना |
| passed | पास्ड | गुज़र जाना |
| fantastic | फैंटास्टिक | अद्भुत |
| correctly | करेक्ट्ली | सही ढंग से |
| catastrophic | कैटास्ट्रॉफिक | विपर्यासी |
Please continue, Rajendra! I am all ears,” Professor Gaitonde replied. Rajendra continued pacing as he talked. “You have heard a lot about the catastrophe theory at that seminar. Let us apply it to the Battle of Panipat. Wars fought face to face on open grounds offer excellent examples of this theory.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| continue | कन्टिन्यू | जारी रखना |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| all | ऑल | सभी |
| ears | इयर्स | कान |
| replied | रिप्लाइड | जवाब दिया |
| pacing | पेसिंग | चलना |
| talked | टॉक्ड | बात की |
| lot | लॉट | बहुत |
| catastrophe | कैटास्ट्रोफी | महाप्रलय |
| theory | थियोरी | सिद्धांत |
| seminar | सेमिनार | सेमिनार |
| apply | अप्लाई | लागू करना |
| Battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| Panipat | पानीपत | पानीपत |
| Wars | वार्स | युद्धों |
| fought | फॉट | लड़ा |
| face | फेस | चेहरा |
| open | ओपन | खुला |
| grounds | ग्राउंड्स | मैदान |
| offer | ऑफर | प्रस्ताव |
| excellent | एक्सेलेंट | उत्कृष्ट |
| examples | एक्साम्पल्स | उदाहरण |
| theory | थियोरी | सिद्धांत |
The Maratha army was facing Abdali’s troops on the field of Panipat. There was no great disparity between the latter’s troops and the opposing forces. Their armour was comparable. So, a lot depended on the leadership and the morale of the troops
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Maratha | मराठा | मराठा |
| army | आर्मी | सेना |
| facing | फेसिंग | सामने |
| Abdali | अब्दाली | अब्दाली |
| troops | ट्रूप्स | सैनिकों |
| field | फ़ील्ड | मैदान |
| Panipat | पानीपत | पानीपत |
| great | ग्रेट | महान |
| disparity | डिस्पैरिटी | असमानता |
| latter | लैटर | बाद का |
| armour | आर्मर | कवच |
| comparable | कंपेरबल | तुल्य |
| lot | लॉट | बहुत |
| depended | डीपेंडेड | निर्भर किया |
| leadership | लीडरशिप | नेतृत्व |
| morale | मोराल | मनोबल |
The juncture at which Vishwasrao, the son of and heir to the Peshwa, was killed proved to be the turning point. As history has it, his uncle, Bhausaheb, rushed into the melee and was never seen again. Whether he was killed in battle or survived is not known.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| juncture | जंक्चर | संधि |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
| son | सन | बेटा |
| heir | हेर | उत्तराधिकारी |
| Peshwa | पेशवा | पेशवा |
| killed | किल्ड | मार डाला |
| turning | टर्निंग | मोड़ |
| point | पॉइंट | बिंदु |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| uncle | अंकल | चाचा |
| Bhausaheb | भौसाहेब | भौसाहेब |
| rushed | रश्ड | जल्दबाजी से |
| melee | मेले | हंगामा |
| seen | सीन | देखा गया |
| battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| survived | सरवाइव्ड | जीवित रहा |
| known | नोन | ज्ञात |
But for the troops at that particular moment, that blow of losing their leaders was crucial. They lost their morale and fighting spirit. There followed an utter rout. “Exactly, Professor! And what you have shown me on that torn page is the course taken by the battle, when the bullet missed Vishwasrao.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| troops | ट्रूप्स | सैनिक |
| moment | मोमेंट | पल |
| blow | ब्लो | मार |
| leaders | लीडर्स | नेता |
| crucial | क्रूशियल | महत्वपूर्ण |
| morale | मोरेल | मनोबल |
| fighting | फाइटिंग | लड़ाई |
| spirit | स्पिरिट | उत्साह |
| rout | राउट | पराजय |
| course | कोर्स | पथ |
| battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| bullet | बुलेट | गोली |
| missed | मिस्ट | छूट गई |
| Vishwasrao | विश्वासराव | विश्वासराव |
A crucial event gone the other way. And its effect on the troops was also the opposite. It boosted their morale and provided just that extra impetus that made all the difference,” Rajendra said.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| event | इवेंट | घटना |
| troops | ट्रूप्स | सैनिक |
| opposite | ऑपोजिट | विपरीत |
| boosted | बूस्टेड | बढ़ावा |
| morale | मोरेल | मनोबल |
| provided | प्रोवाइडेड | प्रदान किया |
| extra | एक्स्ट्रा | अतिरिक्त |
| impetus | इम्पीटस | प्रेरणा |
| difference | डिफरेंस | अंतर |
Maybe so. Similar statements are made about the Battle of Waterloo, which Napoleon could have won. But we live in a unique world which has a unique history. This idea of ‘it might have been’ is okay for the sake of speculation but not for reality,” Gangadharpant said.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| statements | स्टेटमेंट्स | बयान |
| Battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| Waterloo | वॉटरलू | वॉटरलू |
| Napoleon | नेपोलियन | नेपोलियन |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| idea | आइडिया | विचार |
| speculation | स्पेकुलेशन | परिकल्पना |
| reality | रियैलिटी | वास्तविकता |
I take issue with you there. In fact, that brings me to my second point which you may find strange; but please hear me out,” Rajendra said.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| issue | इश्यू | मुद्दा |
| fact | फैक्ट | तथ्य |
| second | सेकंड | दूसरा |
| point | पॉइंट | बिंदु |
| strange | स्ट्रेंज | अजीब |
| please | प्लीज | कृपया |
| hear | हियर | सुनो |
| me | मी | मुझे |
| out | आउट | बाहर |
gangadharpant listened expectantly as Rajendra continued. “What do we mean by reality? We experience it directly with our senses or indirectly via instruments. But is it limited to what we see? Does it have other manifestations?
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत (नाम) |
| listened | सुना | सुना |
| expectantly | एक्स्पेक्टेंट्ली | आशापूर्वक |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र (नाम) |
| continued | कंटिन्यूड | जारी रखा |
| mean | मीन | मतलब होता है |
| reality | रिऐलिटी | वास्तविकता |
| experience | एक्सपीरियंस | अनुभव |
| directly | डायरेक्ट्ली | सीधे |
| senses | सेंसेज़ | इंद्रिय |
| indirectly | इन्डायरेक्ट्ली | प्रत्यक्षतः |
| instruments | इन्स्ट्रुमेंट्स | यंत्र |
| limited | लिमिटेड | सीमित |
| see | सी | देखना |
| manifestations | मैनिफेस्टेशन्स | प्रकटीकरणों |
That reality may not be unique has been found from experiments on very small systems — of atoms and their constituent particles. When dealing with such systems the physicist discovered something startling.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| reality | रिऐलिटी | वास्तविकता |
| unique | यूनिक | अद्वितीय |
| found | फाउंड | पाया |
| experiments | एक्स्पेरिमेंट्स | प्रयोग |
| small | स्मॉल | छोटा |
| systems | सिस्टम्स | प्रणाली |
| atoms | ऐटम्स | परमाणु |
| constituent | कन्स्टिच्यूएंट | घटक |
| particles | पार्टिकल्स | कण |
| dealing | डीलिंग | संबंधित होना |
| physicist | फिज़िकिस्ट | भौतिक विज्ञानी |
| discovered | डिस्कवर्ड | खोजा |
| startling | स्टार्टलिंग | चौंका देने वाला |
The behaviour of these systems cannot be predicted definitively even if all the physical laws governing those systems are known. “Take an example. I fire an electron from a source. Where will it go? If I fire a bullet from a gun in a given direction at a given Rationalised 2023-24 THE ADVENTURE 53 speed
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| behaviour | बहेवियर | व्यवहार |
| systems | सिस्टम्स | प्रणाली |
| predicted | प्रेडिक्टेड | पूर्वानुमानित |
| physical | फिजिकल | भौतिक |
| laws | लॉज | कानून |
| governing | गवर्निंग | निर्देशित करना |
| example | एग्जाम्पल | उदाहरण |
| fire | फायर | आग लगाना |
| electron | इलेक्ट्रॉन | इलेक्ट्रॉन |
| source | सोर्स | स्रोत |
| bullet | बुलेट | गोली |
| gun | गन | बंदूक |
| given | गिवन | दिया गया |
| direction | डायरेक्शन | दिशा |
| speed | स्पीड | गति |
I know where it will be at a later time. But I cannot make such an assertion for the electron. It may be here, there, anywhere. I can at best quote odds for it being found in a specified location at a specified time
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| know | नो | जानना |
| later | लेटर | बाद में |
| make | मेक | बनाना |
| assertion | असर्शन | दावा |
| electron | इलेक्ट्रॉन | इलेक्ट्रॉन |
| here | हीर | यहां |
| there | थेर | वहां |
| anywhere | एनीवेर | कहीं भी |
| quote | क्वोट | उद्धरण देना |
| odds | ऑड्स | संभावना |
| found | फाउंड | पाया जाता है |
| specified | स्पेसिफाइड | निर्दिष्ट |
| location | लोकेशन | स्थान |
| time | टाइम | समय |
The lack of determinism in quantum theory! Even an ignoramus historian like me has heard of it,” Professor Gaitonde said “So, imagine many world pictures. In one world the electron is found here, in another it is over there.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| lack | लैक | अभाव |
| determinism | डीटर्मिनिज़म | नियमवाद |
| quantum | क्वांटम | क्वांटम |
| theory | थीरी | सिद्धांत |
| ignoramus | इग्नोरेमस | मूर्ख |
| historian | हिस्टोरियन | इतिहासकार |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| pictures | पिक्चर्स | चित्र |
| electron | इलेक्ट्रॉन | इलेक्ट्रॉन |
| found | फाउंड | पाया जाता है |
| over | ओवर | ऊपर |
| there | थेर | वहां |
In yet another it is in a still different location. Once the observer finds where it is, we know which world we are talking about. But all those alternative worlds could exist just the same.” Rajendra paused to marshall his thoughts.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| another | अनदर | एक और |
| still | स्टिल | अभी भी |
| different | डिफ़रेंट | अलग |
| location | लोकेशन | स्थान |
| observer | अब्जर्वर | अन्वेक्षक |
| finds | फाइंड्स | पाता है |
| talking | टॉकिंग | बात कर रहे हैं |
| alternative | आल्टरनेटिव | वैकल्पिक |
| worlds | वर्ल्ड्स | दुनियाओं |
| exist | एक्ज़िस्ट | मौजूद होते हैं |
| same | सेम | समान |
| paused | पॉज्ड | थाम गए |
‘But is there any contact between those many worlds?” Professor Gaitonde asked. “Yes and no! Imagine two worlds, for example. In both an electron is orbiting the nucleus of an atom…”
“Like planets around the sun…”
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| contact | कांटैक्ट | संपर्क |
| many | मैनी | कई |
| worlds | वर्ल्ड्स | दुनियाओं |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| electron | इलेक्ट्रॉन | इलेक्ट्रॉन |
| orbiting | आरबिटिंग | गोलारोही |
| nucleus | न्यूक्लियस | केन्द्र |
| atom | ऐटम | परमाणु |
| like | लाइक | की तरह |
| planets | प्लैनेट्स | ग्रह |
| around | अराउंड | चारों ओर |
| sun | सन | सूरज |
Gangadharpant interjected. “Not quite. We know the precise trajectory of the planet. The electron could be orbiting in any of a large number of specified states. These states may be used to identify the world. In state no.1 we have the electron in a state of higher energy. In state no. 2 it is in a state of lower energy.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| trajectory | ट्रेजेक्टरी | पथ |
| planet | प्लैनेट | ग्रह |
| electron | इलेक्ट्रॉन | इलेक्ट्रॉन |
| orbiting | आरबिटिंग | गोलारोही |
| specified | स्पेसिफाइड | निर्दिष्ट |
| states | स्टेट्स | अवस्थाएं |
| identify | आईडेंटिफाई | पहचानना |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| higher | हायर | उच्च |
| energy | एनर्जी | ऊर्जा |
| lower | लोअर | कम |
It can make a jump from high to low energy and send out a pulse of radiation. Or a pulse of radiation can knock it out of state no. 2 into state no.1. Such transitions are common in microscopic systems. What if it happened on a macroscopic level?” Rajendra said.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| jump | जंप | उछाल |
| high | हाई | उच्च |
| low | लो | कम |
| energy | एनर्जी | ऊर्जा |
| send out | सेंड आउट | भेजना |
| pulse | पल्स | नाड़ी |
| radiation | रेडिएशन | किरण |
| knock | नॉक | ठोकर |
| transitions | ट्रांसिशन्स | परिवर्तन |
| common | कॉमन | सामान्य |
| microscopic | माइक्रोस्कॉपिक | सूक्ष्मदृश्य |
| macroscopic | मैक्रोस्कॉपिक | बड़ी स्केल का |
My theory is that catastrophic situations offer radically different alternatives for the world to proceed. It seems that so far as reality is concerned all alternatives are viable but the observer can experience only one of them at a time.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| transition | ट्रांजिशन | परिवर्तन |
| world | वर्ल्ड | दुनिया |
| explanation | एक्स्प्लेनेशन | समझावट |
| offer | ऑफर | पेश करना |
| fantastic | फ़ैंटास्टिक | अद्भुत |
| seem | सीम | दिखाई देना |
| suggest | सग्जेस्ट | सुझाना |
| made | मेड | बनाया गया |
| back | बैक | पीछे |
| again | अगेन | फिर से |
| can | कैन | सकते हैं |
| get | गेट | समझना |
| ask | आस्क | पूछना |
| though | थो | हालांकि |
| only | ओन्ली | केवल |
By making a transition, you were able to experience two worlds although one at a time. The one you live in now and the one where you spent two days. One has the history we know, the other a different history. The separation or bifurcation took place in the Battle of Panipat. You neither travelled to the past nor to the future
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| transition | ट्रांजिशन | परिवर्तन |
| experience | एक्स्पीरियंस | अनुभव |
| worlds | वर्ल्ड्स | दुनियाओं |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| live | लिव | रहना |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| know | नो | जानना |
| separation | सेपरेशन | अलगाव |
| place | प्लेस | स्थान |
| Battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| Panipat | पानीपत | पानीपत |
| travel | ट्रैवल | यात्रा करना |
| past | पास्ट | भूतकाल |
| future | फ्यूचर | भविष्य |
You were in the present but experiencing a different world. Of course, by the same token there must be many more different worlds arising out of bifurcations at different points of time.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| present | प्रेजेंट | वर्तमान |
| experiencing | एक्सपीरिएन्सिंग | अनुभव करना |
| different | डिफरेंट | अलग |
| worlds | वर्ल्ड्स | दुनियाओं |
| arising | अराइज़िंग | उत्पन्न होना |
| bifurcations | बायफर्केशन्स | द्विभाजन |
| points | पॉइंट्स | बिंदुओं |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| many | मैनी | कई |
| more | मोर | अधिक |
| different | डिफरेंट | अलग |
| arising | अराइज़िंग | उत्पन्न होना |
As Rajendra concluded, Gangadharpant asked the question that was beginning to bother him most. “But why did I make the transition?
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Rajendra | राजेंद्र | राजेंद्र |
| concluded | कन्क्लूडेड | समाप्त हुआ |
| Gangadharpant | गंगाधरपंत | गंगाधरपंत |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| question | क्वेश्चन | सवाल |
| beginning | बिगिनिंग | शुरुआत |
| bother | बादर | परेशान करना |
| transition | ट्रांजिशन | संक्रमण |
| why | वाई | क्यों |
| make | मेक | करना |
If I knew the answer I would solve a great problem. Unfortunately, there are many unsolved questions in science and this is one of them. But that does not stop me from guessing.” Rajendra smiled and proceeded
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| answer | आंसर | जवाब |
| solve | सॉल्व | हल करना |
| great | ग्रेट | महान |
| problem | प्राब्लम | समस्या |
| unfortunately | अनफ़ोर्च्यूनेट्ली | दुर्भाग्य से |
| unsolved | अनसॉल्व्ड | अनसुलझा हुआ |
| questions | क्वेश्चन्स | सवाल |
| science | सायंस | विज्ञान |
| stop | स्टॉप | रोकना |
| guessing | गेसिंग | अनुमान लगाना |
| smiled | स्माइल्ड | मुस्कान की |
| proceeded | प्रोसीडेड | आगे बढ़ा |
You need some interaction to cause a transition. Perhaps, at the time of the collision you were thinking about the catastrophe theory and its role in wars. Maybe you were wondering about the Battle of Panipat. Perhaps, the neurons in your brain acted as a trigger.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| interaction | इंटरैक्शन | परस्परक्रिया |
| cause | कॉज़ | कारण |
| transition | ट्रांजिशन | परिवर्तन |
| collision | कोलिशन | टक्कर |
| thinking | थिंकिंग | सोच |
| catastrophe | कैटास्ट्रोफी | प्रलय |
| theory | थियरी | सिद्धांत |
| role | रोल | भूमिका |
| wars | वॉर्स | युद्ध |
| Battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| Panipat | पानीपत | पानीपत |
| neurons | न्यूरॉन्स | न्यूरॉन |
| brain | ब्रेन | मस्तिष्क |
| trigger | ट्रिगर | प्रेरणा |
A good guess. I was indeed wondering what course history would have taken if the result of the battle had gone the other way,” Professor Gaitonde said. “That was going to be the topic of my thousandth presidential address.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| guess | गेस | अनुमान |
| wondering | वंडरिंग | आश्चर्य |
| course | कोर्स | पथ |
| history | हिस्ट्री | इतिहास |
| result | रिज़ल्ट | परिणाम |
| battle | बैटल | युद्ध |
| topic | टॉपिक | विषय |
| presidential | प्रेसीडेंशियल | राष्ट्रपति का |
| address | एड्रेस | संबोधन |
| good | गुड | अच्छा |
| thousandth | थाउजंडथ | हज़ारवां |
Now you are in the happy position of recounting your real life experience rather than just speculating,” Rajendra laughed. But Gangadharpant was grave. “No, Rajendra, my thousandth address was made on the Azad Maidan when I was so rudely interrupted.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| position | पोज़िशन | स्थिति |
| recounting | रिकाउंटिंग | बयान करना |
| real | रीअल | असली |
| life | लाइफ | जीवन |
| experience | एक्सपीरियंस | अनुभव |
| speculating | स्पेक्युलेटिंग | अनुमान लगाना |
| grave | ग्रेव | गंभीर |
| thousandth | थाउजंडथ | हज़ारवां |
| address | एड्रेस | संबोधन |
| Azad | आज़ाद | आज़ाद |
| Maidan | मैदान | मैदान |
| rudely | रूडली | असभ्यतापूर्ण |
| interrupted | इंटरप्टेड | बाधित |
No. The Professor Gaitonde who disappeared while defending his chair on the platform will now never be seen presiding at another meeting — I have conveyed my regrets to the organisers of the Panipat seminar.
| English Word | Hindi Pronunciation | Hindi Meaning |
| Professor | प्रोफेसर | प्रोफेसर |
| Gaitonde | गैटोंडे | गैटोंडे |
| disappeared | डिसैपियर्ड | गायब हो गया |
| defending | डिफेंडिंग | संरक्षण करना |
| chair | चेयर | कुर्सी |
| platform | प्लेटफ़ॉर्म | मंच |
| seen | सीन | देखा गया |
| presiding | प्रिसाइडिंग | प्रभुत्व संभालना |
| meeting | मीटिंग | बैठक |
| conveyed | कन्वेड | संचालित |
| regrets | रिग्रेट्स | पश्चाताप |
| organisers | ऑर्गनाइज़र्स | आयोजक |
| Panipat | पानीपत | पानीपत |
| seminar | सेमिनार | सेमिनार |