The Passing Away of Bapu Unit 3

 Unit 3

Some days after the funeral, a special train took Gandhiji's ashes to Allahabad. The compartment was decked with flowers. People on the train sang bhajans. People did not weep anymore for they could feel Gandhiji's presence amid the flowers and the songs. At every station sorrowful crowds filled the platform. Amid song and prayer the train reached Allahabad. The ashes were immersed in the Ganges where a huge crowd had gathered at the bank. Afterwards we all went back to Delhi.

Back in Delhi, I felt at sea. I had not directly walked with Gandhiji, gone to prison at his call or made any sacrifice for my country. My sisters and I, and other young people like me, had been merely onlookers. But still felt at sea. I felt had grown up within a magic circle. With Bapu's passing away, felt the magic circle had vanished, leaving me unprotected.

The Passing Away of Bapu

With an effort I roused myself. I asked myself-had Bapu lived and died for nothing? How could so easily lose courage when he was no longer there? My values were not so weak. Millions of people would have been ordinary folk but for Bapu. He brought them out of indifference and awakened them to one another's suffering. What if now Bapu is gone? We were still there, young, strong and proud to bear his banner before us.

Bapu had passed away but his India would continue to live in his children.

Comprehension exercises

7. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) Gandhiji's ashes were taken to

(i) Ahmedabad

(ii) Allahabad

(iii) Delhi

(iv) Benaras

(b) A huge crowd had gathered by the

(i) Ganges

(ii) Yamuna

(iii) Brahmaputra

(iv) Narmada 

(c) Gandhiji awakened people to one another's

(i) indifference

(ii) jealousy

(iii) suffering

(iv) greed

8. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

(a) People on the special train_ sang bhajans.

(b) The author felt she had grown up within  a magic circle.

(c) Bapu had passed away but his India would continue to live in his children.

9. Fill in the chart with information from the text.

Grammar in use

Read the following pairs of sentences:

1. Men and women were sad. They collected around Birla House.

Ans: Being sad, men and women collected around Birla House. (participle)

2. Gandhiji is a great leader. He is known as the Father of the Nation.

Ans: Gandhiji, Father of the nation, is a great leader. (phrase in apposition)

3. The people were stunned. They could not speak in the beginning.

Ans: The people were too stunned to speak in the beginning. (infinitive)

4. The funeral was over. The narrator returned to Delhi.

Ans: The funeral over, the narrator returned to Delhi. (nominative absolute)

5. The ashes were immersed in the Ganges. Then the sun set.

Ans: The ashes were immersed in the Ganges by sunset. (adverbial phrase)

6. We listened to the broadcast. We realized that Bapu was no more.

Ans: On listening to the broadcast, we realized that Bapu was no more. (preposition with a gerund)

Here we see that two or more simple sentences can be joined into a single simple sentence by using a participle, noun or phrase in apposition, infinitive, nominative absolute, adverb or adverbial phrase and preposition with a gerund.

10. Join the following pairs of sentences into single sentences as directed:

(a) I saw a snake. I ran away. (use participle) 

Ans: Seeing a snake, ran away.

(b) He learns music. He listens to the chords. (use preposition with gerund)

Ans: By listening to the chords, he learns music.

(c) Gold is a precious metal. It is used to make ornaments. (use noun in apposition)

Ans. Gold, a precious metal, is used to make ornaments.

(d) Ramu has some money. He can buy books. (use infinitive) 

Ans. Ramu has some money to buy books.

(e) The sky was cloudy. We postponed our journey. (use nominative absolute)

Ans. The sky being cloudy, we postponed our journey.

(f) The boy wrote the answer. The answer was incorrect. (use adverbial phrase)

Ans. The boy wrote the answer in an incorrect way.

Read the following pairs of sentences:

1. I was filled with sadness. I was numb with shock.

Ans: I was not only filled with sadness but also numb with shock. (cumulative conjunction)

2. We heard of Bapu's death. We could not accept the fact.

Ans: We heard of Bapu's death but could not accept the fact. (adversative conjunction)

3. They did not make a sound. They did not stir.

Ans: Neither did they make a sound nor did they stir. (alternative conjunction)

4. People did not weep anymore. They could feel Gandhiji's presence amid the flowers and the songs.

Ans: People did not weep anymore for they could feel Gandhiji's presence amid the flowers and the songs. (Illative conjunction)

Here we see that two or more simple sentences can be joined into a single compound sentence by using cumulative conjunctions (adding one statement to the other), adversative conjunctions (express contrast), alternative conjunction (express a choice between two alternatives) and Illative conjunction (based upon drawing inferences from two or more statements).

Note:

'Both', 'and', 'not only... but also' are Cumulative Conjunctions. 'But', 'still', 'yet', 'nevertheless', 'however', are Adversative Conjunctions. 'Or, 'either...or, 'neither...nor' are Alternative Conjunctions. 'Therefore', 'for', 'so', 'as', are Illative Conjunctions.

11. Join the following pairs of sentences into single compound sentences as directed:

(a) The old man is unwell. He cannot go out. (use Illative conjunction)

Ans: The old man is unwell, so he cannot go out.

(b) He is honest. He is humble. (use cumulative conjunction)

Ans: He is not only honest but also humble.

(c) Sonali cannot write poetry. She keeps on trying. (use adversative conjunction)

Ans: Sonali cannot write poetry but she keeps on trying.

(d) Study hard. You will not pass the examination. (use alternative conjunction)

Ans: Study hard or you will not pass the examination.

Read the following pairs of sentences:

1. I was not merely in the midst of grieving people. I understood this.

Ans: I understand that I was not merely in the midst of grieving people. (noun clause)

2. It was a walk. It was agonizing.

Ans: It was a walk which was agonizing. (adjective clause)

3. I was having tea at home. It was evening.

Ans: I was having tea at home when it was evening. (adverb clause)

Here we see that two or more simple sentences are joined into a single complex sentence by using noun, adjective or adverb clauses. Note that these clauses act as dependent clauses in the joined sentences.

12. Join the following pairs of sentences into single complex sentences as directed:

(a) Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet. He won the Nobel Prize. (use adjective clause)

Ans: Rabindranath Tagore, who is a famous poet, won the Nobel Prize.

(b) He returned home. Everyone in the family had fallen asleep. (use adverb clause)

Ans: When he returned home, everyone in the family had fallen asleep.

(c) The sun rises in the east. Everyone knows it. (use noun clause)

Ans: Everyone knows that the sun rises in the east.

13. Join the following pairs of sentences into single sentences as directed:

(a) It rained hard. The roads were not flooded. (compound sentence)

Ans: It rained hard but the roads were not flooded.

(b) He completed his work. He took rest. (simple sentence)

Ans: On completing his work, he took rest.

(c) Rahul is a great singer. He can sing different kinds of songs. (complex sentence)

Ans: Rahul, who is a great singer, can sing different kinds of songs.

(d) The time of departure of the train has changed. Alia knew it. (complex sentence)

Ans: Alia knew that the time of departure of the train has changed.

(e) I do not watch television. I do not listen to the radio. (compound sentence)

Ans: I neither watch television nor listen to the radio.

(f) The child was short. The child could not pick the guava from the tree. (simple sentence)

Ans: Being short, the child could not pick the guava from the tree.

Read the following pairs of sentences:

1. I was numb with shock as got into the car.

2. Bapu had passed away but his India would continue to live in his children.

Sentence 1 carries two ideas: 'I was numb with shock' and 'I got into the car'.

It can be split into simple sentences:

• I was numb with shock. I got into the car.

Sentence 2 carries two ideas:

'Bapu had passed away' and 'his India would continue to live in his children'. It can be split into simple sentences:

• Bapu had passed away. His India would continue to live in his children.

Sentences are split according to the ideas present in the sentences.

Now, read the following sentences: 

1. It was the question in many of our hearts as we sat, still shocked.

2. There was silence in the room as Gandhiji breathed his last.

Sentence 1 carries two ideas. The first idea is 'It was the question in many of our hearts' and the second idea is 'we sat, still shocked'. So the sentence can be split in this way:

• It was the question in many of our hearts. We sat, still shocked. 

Sentence 2 carries two ideas. The first idea is 'There was silence in the room' and the second idea is 'Gandhiji breathed his last'. So the sentence can be split in this way:

• Gandhiji breathed his last. There was silence in the room.

Sentences are split according to the sequence of ideas.

Read the following sentences:

1.Words of Bapuji's death had spread through Delhi like a flame fanned by wind.

2. Back in Delhi, I felt at sea.

Sentence 1 can be split into two sentences:

• Words of Bapuji's death had spread through Delhi. Words spread like a flame fanned by wind.

Sentence 2 can be split into two sentences:

• I was back in Delhi. I felt at sea.

The subject 'It' and the subject 'l' are provided while splitting the sentences.

Thus, sentences are split according to-

(i) the number of ideas,

(ii) the sequence of ideas,

(iii) the subject implied in the sentence.

14. Split the following into two sentences:

(a) It and I could not leave my room.

Ans: It rained. I could not leave my room.

(b) He thought that he could win the race.

Ans: He could win the race. He thought it.

(c) Having been informed of the trouble, the Principal left for home.

Ans: The Principal had been informed of the trouble. He left for home.

(d) Nasir, who was the captain of the team, scored a century.

Ans: Nasir was the captain of the team. He scored a century.

Writing activities

15. Write a biography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (within 100 words) based on the hints given below:

born on 11 November 1888-composed poetry in Urdu-worked as a journalist, protested against British Raj-enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji's ideas-wrote many books-like 'India wins freedom', 'Ghubar-e-Khatir' etc.- first Education Minister of independent India-birthday celebrated as National Education Day-died on 22 February 1958

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a versatile genius, is known to us as a great freedom fighter. His contribution to India's freedom movement is unforgettable. He was born on November 11, 1888. He worked as a journalist for a long time. He composed poetry in Urdu. In everything he continued his protest against the British Raj. He was a great and enthusiastic follower of Gandhiji and his philosophy. He wrote many books voicing his protest against the British. Some of them are 'India wins freedom', 'Ghubar-e-Khatir', etc. After independence he became the first Education Minister of India. Now his birthday is observed as National Education Day. Unfortunately, we lost him for ever on February 22, 1958.

16. Use the following flow-chart to write a paragraph (within 100 words) on how a building is constructed:

drawing of a plan of the building by the architect-getting the plan sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities-engaging masons and labourers-starting the construction with bricks, cement and sand-fitting doors and windows-plastering of walls-wiring-electric and water connections-painting-building completed-fit for living 

When a building is to be constructed, we have to follow a long process. First of all, the drawing of a plan is to be collected from an architect. Then it is to be sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities. After that, masons and labourers are engaged. The construction is started with bricks, cement and sand. In the middle, if possible, the doors and windows are fitted. After the completion of the construction, the walls are plastered. Then electric wiring is done. Electric and water connections are to be put in. Then the walls are painted both inside and outside. Now the building is complete and fit for living.