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Jayant Vishnu Narlikar is a famous cosmologist and astrophysicist. He was born on July 19, 1938 at Kolhapur, Maharashtra. His father Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar was a well-known teacher and mathematician. He was professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics in the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. His mother, Sumati Vishnu Narlikar was a Sanskrit scholar. Jayant inherited the intellectual brilliance from his parents and always did exceptionally well in his class and obtained top position. He also studied at Banaras Hindu University and got his B.Sc. degree in 1957.
Then he went to Cambridge University, England for higher studies in mathematics in the year 1957 and joined Fritz William House. He obtained his master’s degree in 1964 and then Ph.D. in 1963. As a research scholar he won the prestigious Smith’s Prize in 1962 and then Adam’s Prize in 1967. In the same year he secured his Sc.D. degree from the Cambridge.
He married Mangala Sadashiv Rajwade, a scholar in mathematics. They have three daughters. At Cambridge he was a student of the famous astronomer and astrophysicist Fred Hoyle.
He was also a founder staff member of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy which was set up at the Cambridge University under the guidance and inspiration of Fred Hoyle in 1966. When he returned to India in 1972 he was appointed Professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Mumbai.
Narlikar has won many honours and awards. In 1978 he got the S.S. Bhatnagar award for physical sciences and then F.I.E Foundation’s Rashtrabhushan Award in 1981. In 1993 he was given B.M. Birla Award.
Indian Express Astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar Turns 80 Sep 13, 2018, Pune: Jayant Narlikar, professor emeritus at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and one of the most famous residents of the city, turned 80 on Thursday. Currently in the United States with his family, Narlikar, the founder-director of IUCAA, said there was still a lot of work that he wanted to do, if his body and mind cooperated. In a telephonic interview with The Indian Express, Narlikar said he was deeply concerned about the fact that despite excellent work at many laboratories in the country, no scientist from India had won a Nobel Prize since 1930, when it was awarded to physicist C V Raman. “This is a reason to worry as plenty of good work is taking place at some of the laboratories in India. There should be some effort to publicise it internationally,” Narlikar said. “We do not seem to be pushing our work at the international level as much as we should”. |
Introduction
The story Adventure belongs to science fiction. Professor Gangadhar Pant Gaitonde finds himself in a strange world. No doubt he is in Pune, but the facts do not agree with history. He decides to go to Bombay and consult history books. Bombay is not what he expected to find it. East India Company is still ruling there. According to the history known to him, the East India Company was wound up just after the events of 1857. He goes to the library and finds the answer. The events took a different course after the battle of Panipat. The Marathas had won the battle, not lost it.
Summary
Professor Gaitonde: Professor Gaitonde, a historian is going to give a lecture on the implications of Catastrophe Theory in the Third Battle of Panipat. On the way his car collides with a truck and he goes into coma. In his unconscious state, he experiences another world where history is different from how we know in the real world. In the Third Battle of Panipat, Afghans defeated Marathas killing their leader Viswas Rao. But in the parallel world, Marathas win the war as Viswas Rao escapes narrowly from the bullet. The victory of Marathas brings about diverse changes and reforms in the country. He gains consciousness and his friend Rajendra Deshpande rationalizes his strange experience on the basis of two scientific theories, viz. Catastrophe Theory and the lack of determinism in Quantum Theory.
The Parallel world: Professor Gaitonde is on his way to Bombay from Pune. It is the pre-independent Bombay where he finds Anglo-Indians and Union Jack. He goes to a library and reads four volumes of history starting from the period of Asoka up to the Third Battle of Panipat. The fifth volume of the Book (Bhausahebanchi Bakhar) tells a different story where Marathas win the war against Afghans in the Third Battle of Panipat. After their victory India moved towards democracy. Absent mindedly, he tucks into his pocket a copy of the book. He reaches Azad Maidan where a lecture is going on. The absence of the chairman for the meeting makes it strange but the crowd doesn’t want one though the Professor protests. He gets on to the stage, snatches the mike and starts speaking. The crowd showers eggs and tomatoes on him and finally throws him out. He is lost in the crowd. This is where the Professor’s strange experience ends. Next we find him talking to his friend Rajendra in the real world.
Rajendra’s explanation: Rajendra explains the bizarre experience of the Professor on the basis of two scientific theories, viz. Catastrophe Theory and the lack of determinism in Quantum theory.
MCQ Questions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 7 The Adventure with Answers
Question 1.
For how many days did the professor live in the alternative world?
(a) one day
(b) two days
(c) three days
(d) a week
Answer
Answer: (b) two days
Question 2.
In reality, was the professor in two different worlds at the present time?
(a) yes
(b) no
(c) maybe
(d) cant say
Answer
Answer: (a) yes
Question 3.
What happens in the case of electrons in lack of determinism in Quantum theory?
(a) electrons don’t move from their path
(b) electrons merge with other atoms
(c) one cannot predict which path the electron takes at a point of time
(d) None of the above
Answer
Answer: (c) one cannot predict which path the electron takes at a point of time
Question 4.
According to which of the two theories did the incident with Professor Gaitonde happen?
(a) Quantum theory and Theory of Relativity
(b) Only Big Bang Theory
(c) Catastrophe theory and lack of determinism in Quantum theory
(d) Catastrophe theory and Theory of Relativity
Answer
Answer: (c) Catastrophe theory and lack of determinism in Quantum theory
Question 5.
Why did Professor Rajendra say that the incidents narrated by Gaitonde were not real?
(a) as he was in coma for two days
(b) as he was not well
(c) as his mental state was not good
(d) as Rajendra wanted to believe in facts
Answer
Answer: (a) as he was in coma for two days
Question 6.
What happened after the empty chair incident?
(a) he was in the hospital
(b) he went to his room
(c) he went to meet his friend
(d) he decided to go back
Answer
Answer: (a) he was in the hospital
Question 7.
What did the professor do when he noticed the empty chair?
(a) he sat on the chair
(b) he went away
(c) he stood in the crowd
(d) he went back to his guest house
Answer
Answer: (a) he sat on the chair
Question 8.
Towards which place did the professor decide to take a walk after having his dinner?
(a) Post Office
(b) Mandi
(c) Sea
(d) Azad Maidan
Answer
Answer: (d) Azad Maidan
Question 9.
Why did Professor start liking the new India that he was reading about?
(a) This country knew how two stand on its feet
(b) It was different from the one he knew
(c) in this form, India was a wealthy nation
(d) as he liked the ruler in this new country
Answer
Answer: (a) This country knew how two stand on its feet
Question 10.
What did Professor find in the fifth volume of ‘Bhausahebanchi Bakhar’ ?
(a) Marathas had won the Battle of Panipat
(b) India has never been under British Raj
(c) Marathas had won battle of Plassey
(d) None of the above
Answer
Answer: (a) Marathas had won the Battle of Panipat
Question 11.
Why did the professor go to town hall?
(a) to check facts from history books
(b) to pass time
(c) to read books
(d) to meet someone
Answer
Answer: (a) to check facts from history books
Question 12.
What did the Professor notice at the Hornby road?
(a) shops were different
(b) road was constructed
(c) new shopping complex
(d) new residential complex
Answer
Answer: (a) shops were different
1. What is the name of the protagonist of the story ‘The Adventure’?
A. Professor Ajay Sharma
B. Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde
C. Professor George Bush
D. Professor Gangadhar Kant Gaitonde
2. Where was Professor Gaitonde travelling to?
A. From Pune to Bombay
B. From Pune to Delhi
C. From Bombay to Pune
D. No where
3. What is the name of train by which Professor Gaitonde was travelling?
A. Deccan Queen
B. Rajdhani Express
C. Jijamata Express
D. Shatabdi Express
4. Whom did Professor Gaitonde met during his train journey?
A. Khan Sahib
B. Pathan
C. Gupta
D. Professor George
5. Where did Professor Gaitonde and Khan Sahib got off?
A. Bombay station
B. Indore
C. No where
D. Victoria Terminus station
6. Did the Professor see British officers, Parsees and Anglo-Indian staff all around at Victoria Terminus station?
A. yes
B. no
C. Don’t Know
D. Maybe
7. What did the Professor notice at the Hornby road?
A. shops were different
B. road was constructed
C. new shopping complex
D. new residential complex
8. Whom did Professor Gaitonde enquire about on entering the Forbes building ?
A. President of the company
B. Mr. Vishal Gaitonde
C. Mrs. Vishala Gaitonde
D. Mr. Vinay Gaitonde
9. Why did the professor go to town hall?
A. to check facts from history books
B. to pass time
C. to read books
D. to meet someone
10. What did Professor start investigating at Town Hall?
A. American History
B. Battle of Plassey
C. the period of Asoka to the third battle of Panipat.
D. About East India Company
11. What did Professor find in the fifth volume of ‘Bhausahebanchi Bakhar’ ?
A. Marathas had won the Battle of Panipat
B. India has never been under British Raj
C. Marathas had won battle of Plassey
D. None of the above
12. What happened after the Battle of Panipat in India?
A. India merged with neighbouring nations
B. India moved to the path of democracy
C. New ruler
D. British rule ended
13. Why did Professor start liking the new India that he was reading about?
A. This country knew how two stand on its feet
B. It was different from the one he knew
C. in this form, India was a wealthy nation
D. as he liked the ruler in this new country
14. What book did the Professor slip into his pocket before leaving the library?
A. Bakhar
B. English Literature
C. Newspaper
D. Money
15. Towards which place did the professor decide to take a walk after having his dinner?
A. Post Office
B. Mandi
C. Sea
D. Azad Maidan
16. What did the professor notice at the lecture going on in the pandal?
A. there was no crowd
B. presidential chair was empty
C. the speaker was very old
D. the language in which the lecture was unfamiliar
17. What did the professor do when he noticed the empty chair?
A. he sat on the chair
B. he went away
C. he stood in the crowd
D. he went back to his guest house
18. How did the crowd react when he sat on the empty presidential chair?
A. threw several objects at him and pushed him away
B. asked him to leave politely
C. heard his speech
D. did nothing but ignored him
19. What happened after the empty chair incident?
A. he was in the hospital
B. he went to his room
C. he went to meet his friend
D. he decided to go back
20. Whom did the Profesesor meet at the Hospital?
A. Rajendra
B. Doctor
C. Speaker
D. Librarian
21. Why did Professor Rajendra say that the incidents narrated by Gaitonde were not real?
A. as he was in coma for two days
B. as he was not well
C. as his mental state was not good
D. as Rajendra wanted to believe in facts
22. Which theory as explained by Rajendra states that a small change in any situation can result in a shift in behaviour?
A. Quantum theory
B. Theory of Relativity
C. Big Bang Theory
D. Catastrophe theory
23. According to which of the two theories did the incident with Professor Gaitonde happen? A. Quantum theory and Theory of Relativity
B. Only Big Bang Theory
C. Catastrophe theory and lack of determinism in Quantum theory
D. Catastrophe theory and Theory of Relativity
24. What happened to Marathas in reality ?
A. they lost the battle
B. they won the battle
C. they signed treaty after the battle
D. nothing as such
25. What happens in the case of electrons in lack of determinism in Quantum theory?
A. electrons don’t move from their path
B. electrons merge with other atoms
C. one cannot predict which path the electron takes at a point of time
D. None of the above
26. What happens once the observer knows about the correct placing of the electrons in every world?
A. alternative worlds can exist at a same time
B. black hole can be created
C. a new compound can be observed
D. a new substance can be created
27. In reality, was the professor in two different worlds at the present time?
A. yes
B. no
C. maybe
D. cant say
28. What did you notice about both the worlds?
A. both were same
B. both were in different universe
C. different people
D. different histories and different sets of events
29. For how many days did the professor live in the alternative world?
A. one day
B. two days
C. three days
D. a week
30. Where did the train stop beyond the tunnel?
A. a small town called Amer
B. a small town called Sarhad
C. Delhi
D. Mountains
Answer key for Class 11 English Hornbill Book Chapter 7 – The Adventure
Q. No. | Answer | Q. No. | Answer | Q. No. | Answer |
1 | B | 11 | A | 21 | A |
2 | A | 12 | B | 22 | D |
3 | C | 13 | A | 23 | C |
4 | A | 14 | A | 24 | A |
5 | D | 15 | D | 25 | C |
6 | A | 16 | B | 26 | A |
7 | A | 17 | A | 27 | A |
8 | D | 18 | A | 28 | D |
9 | A | 19 | A | 29 | B |
10 | C | 20 | A | 30 | B |