Bihar Board Class 11 English Book Notes: Chapter 1 Animal in Prison

Chapter 1 Animals in Prison

Bihar Board Class 11 English Animals in Prison English Book Questions and Answers

Work in small groups and discuss these questions:

Animals In Prison Question 1.
Make a list of the birds whose songs are sweet. Do you hear them often? When and where do you hear them?
Answer:
Bulbul and Koel are some of the singing birds. I don’t hear them often. But sometimes I hear one of the birds singing when I go out for a walk in the afternoon.

Question 2.
What is the relation between birds and trees? Can you imagine birds without trees?
Answer:
There is an intimate relation between birds and trees. Most birds make their nests in trees to lay eggs. They eat fruit of trees and find shelter from heat and cold in their leaves. They protect themselves from their predators by flying from tree to tree. Indeed, I can hardly think of birds without trees.

Question 3.
Do you love animals How do you show your love to them ?
Answer:
Yes, I love animals. I never harm them. I feed animals and try to protect them whenever I can. I believe God has made them, and so they have a purpose to serve.

1.1 Read the following sentences and write T for true and F for false statement:

1. Nehru disliked the little cell.
2. Nehru lived with other prisoners in his cell.
3. Nehru was allowed to go out and walk up and down in front of the gate.
4. Nehru was imprisoned in the European Lock-up.
5. Nehru loved the sight of the Himalayas.
6. Spring in Dehra Dun is longer than that in the plains.
7. The change from bud to leaf is sudden.

Answer:

1. F
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. T
7. T

Animal In Prison Question Answer Bihar Board Class 11

1. 2. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
How long did Nehru live in his little cell in Dehra Dun Jail?
Answer:
Nehru lived for fourteen and a half months in his little cell in Dehra Dun jail.

Question 2.
Whom did Nehru treat as his old friends? Can you make friends with them?
Answer:
Nehru treated tufts of grass and bits of stones in the little yard outside his cell as his old friends.

I cannot make friends with them.

Question 3.
Who were the other occupants of the little cell? Did Nehru like them?
Answer:
Lizards, wasps and hornets were the other occupants of the cell. Nehru liked them.

Question 4.
‘………. but in Dehra Dun I had one privilege. ‘What is the privilege Nehru is referring to ? Was it Nehru’s special privilege?
Answer:
Nehru had the privilege to walk every morning and evening up and down in front of the gate (but not outside the gate).

It was not Nehru’s special privilege. All A and B class prisoners had this privilege.

Question 5.
What was European Lock-up meant for? How was it different from the other jail?
Answer:
The European Lock-up was meant for European convicts. It was different from the jail because it had no enclosing wall. A person inside his cell could have a fine view of the mountains and life outside.

Question 6.
‘Only a prisoner who has been confined for long behind high walls can appreciate the extraordinary psychological value of these outside walks and open views.’ What does Nehru mean by this ? Explain.
Answer:
In prison, Nehru greatly admired the mountains and enjoyed the traffic on the public highways outside the prison gate. But the people outside would not find much to admire them. We appreciate the value of a thing when we aie deprived of it. We value freedom when we are confined. Only a thirsty man in a desert knows the value of a drop of water.

Question 7.
How did the sight of the towering Himalaya move his heart? What lesson did he derive from the mountains?
Answer:
Nehru found a great comfort being in the proximity of the mountains. There was secret intimacy between Nehru and the mountains.

Nehru learned to be calm when he was depressed, sad or lonely.

Question 8.
Which sight does Nehru call ‘gay’ and ‘cheering’? How does he describe it?
Answer:
Nehru calls the budding of bare peepal trees ‘gay’ and ‘cheerful’. He describes it a wonderful sight to see green buds all over the naked tree. Then suddenly the buds turned into leaves. It is a mystery. It appears that some secret operations had been going on behind the scenes.

He says………… very rapidly the leaves would come out in their millions and glisten in the sunlight about the breeze.”

1.2. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the lesson:

1. The monsoon rains were always welcome because
2. One longed for decent habitation, because of
3. The prisoners became more observant of nature’s way because
4. Nehru wanted to exterminates wasps because

Answer:

1. The monsoon rains were always welcome because they ended the summer heat.
2. One longed for decent habitation, because of a hail
3. The prisoners became more observant of nature’s way because the watched the various animals and insects that came their way.
4. Nehru wanted to exterminates wasps because they had stung him.

Animal In Prison Question Answer Bihar Board Class 11

2. 2. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
What is the color of fresh mango leaves? When do they become green?
Answer:
The colour of the fresh mango leaves are of reddish-brown & chocolate (coffee) colour. But they soon change their colour and become green.

Question 2.
What made Nehru cooped up?
Answer:
Within the first five or six weeks of the monsoon-break, there had been heavy rain, about fifty to sixty inches and so it was not pleasant for Nehru to sit in a small place.

Question 3.
What made noise like an artillery bombardment?
Answer:
In Autumn or in winter sometimes it rained with thunder. Occasionally there would be hailstorm with hailstones bigger than marble coming down on the corrugated iron roofs and making a tremendous noise, something like an artillery bombardment.

Question 4.
Why does Nehru remember 24th of December 1932? How does it throw light on Nehru’s Love for Nature?
Answer:
There was a thunder storm and rain all day, on 24th December, 1932 and it was bitterly cold : Nehru realised it as one of the most miserable days from the bodily point of view that he had spent in the prison. It was shivering cold that day. But in the evening there came a sudden change and his misery ended as the weather cleared up shortly. The next day—Christmas day was lovely and clear with a beautiful view of snow-covered mountains. As such Nehru remembers that day very much.

Question 5.
“I realized that while I complained of loneliness, that yard, which seemed empty and deserted, was teeming with life”. Which life is being referred to here?
Answer:
During his confinement Nehru was prevented from indulging in normal activities, he felt loneliness. But soon he observed that he is not alone there. All sorts of insects were living in his cell and the open outer spaces. Those small creatures (insects) had removed the monotony. Their presence had brought life in the cell. Nehru had referred the presence of creeping, cranling or flying insects there. It had brought life in the cell and the yard.

Question 6.
How was the problem of feeding the lost baby squirrels solved? What was ingenious about it?
Answer:
Nehru solved the problem of feeding the lost baby squirrels, with the help of a fountainpen filler. A little cotton wool had attached to it and made it an efficient feeding bottle.

Question 7.
What behaviour of the parrots does Nehru describe here? Does it have any resemblance to human behaviour?
Answer:
While Nehru was in Naini Jail, thousands of parrots were there and many of them lived in the cracked portion of the barrack walls. Sometimes there was fierce quarrels between the two male parrots over a lady parrot, to show their superiority and then sit calmly to see the reaction of the female parrot, as to whom she agreed to marry with.

Such type of tendency is also found in human behaviour. They also have the same psychological activities and reaction to this effect.

Animal In Prison Summary

3.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the lesson:

1. Nehru could not see most of the birds, he could only hear them because …………………
2. In Alipore Jail Nehru woke in the middle of night because …………………
3. Long term convicts often keep animal pets because …………………
4. The bitch used to come to Nehru for food because …………………
5. The puppy survived because …………………
6. Nehru could not look after his pet dogs properly because …………………

Answer:

1. Nehru could not see most of the birds, he could only hear the because of the fact that there were no trees in his little yard in the prison.
2. In Alipore Jail Nehru woke in the middle of night because he f T something crawling over his feet.
3. Long term convicts often keep animal pets because they often seek some emotional satisfaction by keeping them.
4. The bitch used to come to Nehru for food because he began to feed her regularly.
5. The puppy survived because Nehru nursed her with care, even to get up a dozen times during the night to look after her.
6. Nehru could not look after his pet dogs properly because other matters claimed his attention.

3.2. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
‘Dehra Dun had a variety of birds. Make a list of the birds that make this variety.
Answer:
Dehra Dun had a variety of birds and there was a regular jumble of singing and lively chattering and twittering. They include the Koel’s plaintive call.

Various kinds of birds in Dehra Dun Jail whom Nehru happened to see or hear were

1. Koels
2. Brain fever birds
3. Eagles
4. Kites and
5. Wild ducks.

Question 2.
Why was “Bird-Fever” named so?
Answer:
The brain fever bird was so named because it wonderfully went on repeating the same notes continuously, in day time and at night, in sunshine days and in pouring rain.

Question 3.
How did the little monkey rescued?
Answer:
The parent (presumably) of the little monkey saw from the top of the high wall that a bit of string was tied round the neck of him (the baby monkey). A huge monkey suddenly jumped down into the crowd which surrounded the baby monkey. The crowd fled terrified and thus the little monkey was rescued.

Question 4.
We often had animal visitors that were not welcome. Name the animals Nehru is referring to.
Answer:
Nehru is his reference is talking of those animals who were frequently found in his cells. After thunder storms scorpions were often visible there. Snakes were also found. Once a centipede had also visited his cell and was found on his bed in the middle of night. These were the animals frequently visling his cells, who were disliked by Nehru.

Question 5.
“As a matter of fact I welcomed the diversion.” Which diversion is Nehru talking about?
Answer:
Actually prison life is dull enough, and everything that breaks through the monotony is appreciated. Sometimes the most unimportant and undesirous creatures remove monotony and brings happy change. Nehru was leading a dull and isolated life in the prison. In support of his views, he described his meeting with snakes, scorpions and centipedes. He was neither horrified nor disliked them, rather he found them his best companion during his rough and monotonous prison life.

Question 6.
What made Nehru vault clear out of the bed?
Answer:
In Alipore Jail in Calcutta one night Nehru felt something moving slowly over his feet. With the help of a torch he saw a centipede on his bed. He jumped out of his bed immediately with wonderful swiftness and almost touched the cell wall.

Question 7.
How did Nehru get tied to some dogs?
Answer:
At Dehra Dun Jail dogs were not allowed. But Nehru got tied up with some dogs incidentally there. A jail official had brought a bitch. He left her at Dehra Dun Jail, when he was transferred to some other jail. She became homeless living in a covered drain and picked up bit of uneaten foods from the warders. She used to come to Nehru also for the needful. He (Nehru) began to feed her regularly.

Question 8.
What did Nehru do when the puppy fell ill? Do you have a similar experience of your own?
Answer:
One of the puppies, given birth by a bitch, in a covered drain of Dehra-Dun Jail fell ill with a violent distemper (a disease of dogs). She gave a shock of Nehru. He nursed her with great care and sometimes he would get up a dozen times in the night to look after her. She became all right and Nehru was happy to see his efforts become fruitful. It was the greatest pleasure for him.

I remember, similar incident had happened in my life few years back. There was a street dog in my neighbourhood. He was regularly visiting my house. I used to wait his coming at my residence and provide him with some bread or other cooked meal. One day he did not turn up. The day following, I inquired about him and came to know of his illness. He was lying in an open space under a tree. I arranged to bring him at my residence and nursed him. He became cured within a couple of days. It was the matter of great pleasure for me.

1. Long Answer Questions:

Question 1.
Pick out instances that show Nehru’s love for small animals.
Answer:
While in prison Nehru derives pleasure from watching different animals and gives respect even to the tiniest animals. His love for small animals comes true with his expression and action. He spent his lonely time in association with wasps, hornets, and Lizards. According to Nehru, Creeping, crawling and flying insects living there were removing his monotony of life. A pair of ‘Mainas’ had got great intimacy with him.

He developed intimacy with a bitch and her puppies. At Lucknow Jail, squirrels were his best friends. Almora jail witnessed his intimacy with a pair of ‘mainas’. In Naini jhil there were thousands of parrots. In Bareilly Jail Nehru met with a large number of monkeys. In Alipore jail he saw a centipede on his bed at night. It was crawling his feet which compelled him to come out of the bed immediately. Some uncalled-for visitors like snakes and scorpions were also frequently found in his cell or outside the yard.

The above noted instances shows Nehru’s intimacy and love for small animals.

Question 2.
How did the parent monkey rescue its baby? Why does Nehru call its courage “reckless” ?
Answer:
Nehru narrates his experience relating to the efforts of parent monkey to the rescue of its baby. There was a large colony of monkeys in Bareilly jail. Nehru had referred to a particular incident. A baby monkey managed to come down into the barrack of the jail compound but he could not climb up the wall again.

The warder and some convict overseers with some other prisoners caught hold of him and tied a bit sting round his neck. The parent, as presumed, of the monkey baby saw it with anger from the top of the wall. Then after a huge monkey jumped down into the crowd surrounded the monkey baby. His reckless and abrupt act terrified the crowd and the little monkey was rescued.

Nehru was highly impressed to see this extra ordinary brave act of the monkey.

Question 3.
Does the parent monkey’s behaviour in saving its baby tell anything about the human nature?
Answer:
The incident which took place in Bareilly jail shows that we are not kind to the animals. It very well throws light on human nature. At Bareilly jail, there was a large colony of monkeys. Monkeys used to jump and climb hither and thither, creating an interesting scene. In one occasion a baby monkey came down into the barrack enclosure but he could not mount up the high wall. The warder and other prisoners caught hold of him and tied a bit of sting round the neck. The parents’ monkeys watched it with angers. Suddenly a huge monkey jumped down fearlessly and get the baby monkey freed as the terrified crowd of men fled. Thus, the baby monkey was rescued.

Therefore, it shows the inhuman behaviour and nature of human beings and their merciless deeds. Had the parent monkey did not free him the warder and other prisoners might have penalised him.

Question 4.
What are the advantages and the disadvantages of the monsoon? How did it effect Nehru’s life in jail?
Answer:
Monsoon rains are most pleasant. When after the scorching heat of the summer season we get the comfortable showers, we become happy. Trees, plants, bushes and creepers, they all become green and gives a nice look. But there is another aspect. The torrential rain creates a number of discomforts and trouble. Heavy rainfall creates inconvenience and disrupt the day’s work.

Nehru had an immense love for nature. He used to feel pleasure in watching the nature. Monsoon was highly soothing and pleasant for him. The rain drops of the monsoon was the gift of pleasant atmosphere for Nehru. The earth covered with green grassy sheets. But the heavy rainfall was disliked by Nehru. Torrential rain compelled him to confine in the jail’s cell. It had caused much discomfort to him as the rain water was dripping from the ceiling.

Question 5.
Why does Nehru say that worship and kindness do not always go together? How does he show it?
Answer:
Nehru says that Indians believe in non-violence and look upon all life as sacred. But they are indifferent to them. He shows this by the example of cows. Many Hindus worship cows. But they are indifferent and unkind to them. We can see hundreds of stray cows. But no one cares to look after them. Indeed, worship and kindness do not always go together.

Question 6.
What does Nehru say about people and their patron animals?
Answer:
Nehru says that different countries have adopted different animals as their patrons. Those animals are the symbols of their ambition or character. Eagle is the patron animal of the United States and that of Germany. Bull dog is the symbol of and Germany have adopted the eagle as the symbol of their countries. The lions and bull dog are of England, the fighting cock is of France.

The bear is of old Russia. These patron animals mould national character. Most of them are aggressive, fighting animals, beasts of prey. It is not surprising that the people who grow up with these examples before them should mould themselves consciously after them and strike up aggressive attitudes, and roar, and prey on others. Nor it is surprising that the Hindu should be mild and non-violent for his patron animal, the cow.

Question 7.
‘We would not see most of these birds; we could only hear them as a rule, as there were no trees in our little yards.’ What light does it throw on the relation between the birds and plants?
Answer:
Nehru wants to point out the close relationship between birds and trees. He could hear the chirp of birds in the jail of Dehra Dun but he could not see them as there were no trees in the yard. He used to watch the flying eagles and kites gliding gracefully high up in the air. Sometimes they were swooping down and then carried up themselves by a current of air.

A hord of wild duck used to frequently fly over his head. There was variety of birds in Dehra Dun. Nehru could only hear their singing, chattering and twittering. He could hear the koel’s plantive call. During the monsoon the Brain-fever bird used to visit the jail. But he could not see most of the birds because there was no tree. They build up their nests on the tree. They rest in the night in their nests so they could be seen at least in the morning and in the evening. The birds are also attracted towards the fruits which the trees bear.

They make their abode to the trees in rains and storms. They lay eggs in the nests which they build on the trees. So there is a close relationship between birds and trees. This is what Nehru wants to say through his statement.

Question 8.
All animals, howsoever small they might be, deserve respect. Pick out instances from the lesson in favour of this statement
Answer:
The following instances in different jails tell us that Nehru’s point of view was in favour of the animals, however small they may be.

In the jail of Dehra Dun there were wasps, hornets and lizards in his cell. In the campus he could see mainas, koels and brain fever birds. He considered them the source of entertainment and to break the monotony in the jail life. He took special care of puppies and their mother bitch when she was left wanderer by a jail official. He looked after her puppy’s day and night when they fell ill. At Lucknow jail there were a number of squirrels which were 4 friendly to him. In Naini Jail there were thousands of parrots. In Bareilly jail he enjoyed the funny actions of monkeys. At Alipore jail he met with scorpions and snakes and did not have disliking for these uncalled visitors. He had similar sympathy and affection for all these animals.

Question 9.
A good autobiography is honest In what ways do you think Pandit Nehru is honest in writing about his life in jail ? Use specific references from the lesson as examples.
Answer:
Nehru has given a true account of his life in jail. He has neither exaggerated nor has tried to win undue sympathy of his readers. He has honestly expressed his feelings and emotions, his joys and his actions.

He has described how lonely and depressed he was when there were no interviews. He would sit quietly and look at the distant mountains. He describes how he watched plants, trees and animals. He has even faithfully described a few events like the rescue of the baby monkey by its parent in the face of danger to his life.

Nehru has very honestly described his feelings about animals. He tells us how he got angry when a wasp stung him, and he tried to destroy their nest. He also honestly tells us about his feeling of repulsion about centipedes. One night he jumped out of his bed because he found a centipede there. He was panicked. He does not ‘try to hide the fact that he was not very brave. He has given a true account of his strength and weakness.

Question 10.
A good autobiography is also very self-aware. How self-aware do you think the author has been in the personal statements contained in the work? Use examples from the work to support your opinion.
Answer:
As autobiography is the description of true incidents drawn from one’s life in his own language. It is also self-awarded. The person expresses about all that he thought and felt in his life. It is important that what he writes should be based on self-awareness. Nehru has also maintained all these in his autobiography. He has described the true facts of his life in his autobiography. He is very much particular in describing the real facts and circumstances of his life.

In this piece he has described his activities and reactions while he was in different jails. He broke his monotony enjoying the natural sights from the jail campus especially in Dehra Dun Jail. Different birds and small animals were his friends and companions to break up his monotony. It is also a point to be noted how he expressed his pity and sympathy for them. How he was judicious to them. He developed intimacy and love for mainas, parrots, pigeons, squirrels, puppies etc.

He was even judicious for wasps, hornets, lizards and other creeping, crawling and flying insects. He had also love for nature. He was impressed with the beauty of the spring and explained, “It was a gay and beautiful sight. How wonderful is the sudden change from bud to leaf.” Further he adds’, “The monsoon rains were always welcome.” His compassion for small creatures reflects from this line, “One of the puppies fell ill with a violent distemper and gave me a great deal of trouble. I nursed her with care. She survived her normal.” Thus, Nehru’s autobiography is the best example of his self-awareness.

2. Group Discussion :

Discuss the following in groups or pairs.

Question A.
The company of nature is most soothing.
Answer:
Nature is our mother. As a child finds comfort in the lap of his mother, so does man find peace in natural surroundings. Green trees, flowing rivers, flowers, floating clouds, towering mountain peaks, multi-coloured birds, and animals and insects all are wonderful, objects of nature. Whenever man is sick of noise and pollution, haste and tension, he goes for a holiday on a hill station or a coastal place on the sea. There he forgets his worries and finds comfort and peace. Our rishis and saints liked to live in the lap of nature because they felt close to God there. Great poets and philosophers loved nature and expressed the joy they felt there.

Question B.
Life would be dull if there was no variety of life on the earth.
Answer:
They say that variety is the spice of life. If there is no variety, there is monotony. A person gets sick of seeing the same thing, however beautiful, all the time. Nehru was a great admirer of mountains. But he confesses that he got wearied of it too. Monsoon is welcome after a long spell of summer. But we soon get tired of it also. One may love sweets, but one cannot eat too much of it. One craves for salt. We find abundance of variety in nature-animals, plants, insects and birds. Each has its own beauty, and its own ways. This variety brings us joy.

Question C.
Live and let live.
Answer:
Nehru’s foreign policy was based on the principle ‘Live and let live’. He called it peaceful co-existence. There are a number of philosophies and several religions. Every man is peculiar. No two humans are alike. We cannot change everyone to our point of view. Shall we kill all those who do not agree with us ? No. If a man like Hitler wanted it, he too could not do it. The best way is to live and let others live. Only then there can be peace, and peace leads to progress and happiness.

3. Composition:

Write a paragraph of about 100 words on the following:

Question a.
Ecological balance
Answer:
Ecology includes all living things, men, animals, plants, and non-living things like water, soil and air, and their inter-relationship. Our earth is not a lifeless rock. It is a living thing with a variety of animals and plant life. When air, water and soil are not polluted, when all living things live the way, they have lived for centuries there is ecological balance. But when there is pollution, when things are over-used, and misused, the balance is disturbed. Today we are worried about global warming, pollution, ozone hole, extinction | of species, contamination of water and air. Man is blamed for creating this mess. We must know that we are part of this ecology. If it goes out of balance, I we may not live.

Question b.
The need and importance of plantation drives.
Answer:
Only a hundred years ago, we had vast forests in our country. Those forests provided us with medicines, wood, timber, fruit and cosmetics. They were full of wild animals. Now most of them have been driving. Besides other I things, it has resulted in greenhouse effect because trees take up carbon dioxide and give us oxygen. It has resulted in less rain and erosion of the soil. We are deprived of natural beauty too.

Now we must plant more trees to restore the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide. Trees will cool the atmosphere and check erosion of the soil. But planting trees is not enough. We must protect them also, so that they grow up into tall and sturdy trees.

Word-Study:

D. 1. Dictionary Use:

Ex. 1. Correct the spelling of the following words:

inadvertantly- inadvertently

avoidence- avoidance

interfare- interfere

ordinarly- ordinarily

persistance- persistence

squirels- squirrels

ocasionally- occasionally

ingeniaously- ingeniously

efficiante- efficient

erie- eerie

presumabily- presumably

divertion- diversion

centipides- centipedes

goaler- gaoler

Ex. 2. Look up a dictionary and write two meaning of each of the following words – the one in which it is used in the lesson and the other which is more common:

CELL, PREY, PRIVILEG, CONVICT, TINT, GAUNT, INTIMACY

Answer:
Cell:
(i) a room for one or more prisoners in prison.
(ii) the smallest unit of living matter that can exist on its own

Prey:
(i) a bird that is hunted and eaten by officials (in the jail).
(ii) a person who is harmed or tricked by somebody.

Privilege:
(i) a special advantage that prisoner of classes A and B had
(ii) something that you are proud and lucky to have the opportunity to do

Convict:
(i) prisoners
(ii) to decide and state officially in court that somebody is guilty of a crime

Tint:
(i) hue, colour
(ii) an artificial colour used to change the colour of hair

Gaunt:
(i) thin
(ii) not attractive and without any decoration

Intimacy:
(i) closeness
(ii) the state of having a close personal relationship with somebody.

2. Word-formation:

Look at the following example:

I knew every mark and dent on the whitewashed walls and on the uneven floor and the ceiling with its moth-eaten rafters.

You see that in the above sentence ‘whitewashed’ is made of two words ‘while’ (adj) and ‘washed’ (verb) and ‘moth-eaten’ of’moth’ (n) and ‘eaten’ (verb). You also see that ‘uneven’ is derived from ‘even’ by adding prefix ‘un’ to it.

Ex. 1. Pick out from the lesson the compound words and tell, as illustrated above, which words have been combined together to make a compound word.
Ex. 2. Pick out from the lesson the words which have been derived by adding a ‘prefix’ or ‘suffix’ to it.
Answer:
Ex. 1.
‘Ankle-deep’ – It is made of two words – ‘Ankle’ (n) and ‘deep’ (adj).
‘Sunlight’ – It is made of two words – ‘Sun’ (n) and ‘light’ (adj)
‘Snow covered’ – It is made of two words – ‘Snow’ (n) and ‘covered’ (v)
‘Love-making’ – It is made of two words – ‘Love’ (n) and ‘making’ (v)
‘Brain-fever’ – It is made of two words – ‘Brain’ (n) and ‘fever’ (n)
‘Long-term’ – It is made of two words – ‘Long’ (v) and ‘term’ (n)
‘Bed-bugs’ – It is made of two words – ‘Bed’ (adj) and ‘bug’ (n)

Ex. 2. Uneven, enclosing, denuded, remarkably, lovely, inadvertently, impatient, distemper, outside.

3. Word-meaning :

Ex. 1. Match the words given in Column-A with their meanings given in Column-B:

(b) Occasionally there would be a hailstorm
(c) In Lucknow goal I used to sit reading almost without moving

You see that used to /would in the above sentences are followed by an infinitive and they suggest habitual action in past.

Ex. 1. Pick out from the lesson sentences with ‘used to’ and ‘would’.
Answer:
I would have welcomed the outing in my place, …. (Para-3) and I would be startled to find little bits of green peeping out all over them. (Para-5)
Occasionally there would be a hailstorm …. (Para-8)
I used to watch the ants and the white ants ….. (Para-12)
They would become very venturesome ….. (Para-13)
In Lucknow Gaol I used to sit reading almost without moving ….. (Para-13)
And then it would look into my eyes and realize… (Para-13)
………… and then it would scamper away. (Para-13)
A pair of them nested over over my cell-door in Dehra Dun, and I used to feed them. (Para-14)
But, I used to watch the eagles and the kites ……. (Para-16)
for I would come across them in the most unlikely places on my bed ….. (Para-14)
But there would be no feeling of repulsion ……. (Para-19)
………. and sometimes I would get up a dozen times in the course of the night to look after her. (Para-21)

Animal In Prison Summary in Hindi

पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू ने देहरादून जेल की काल कोठरी में साढ़े चैदह महीने काटे थे।  वे जेल के कोने -कोने से पूरी तरह परिचित थें  वे अपनी काल कोठरी में अकेले नहीं थे अपितु उसमें अनेक प्रकार के प्राणी जैसे – कीट-पतंग,  बारों , हड्डे तथा छीपकीलियाँ थीं। काल-कोठरी इतनी छोटी थी कि इसमें टहलने की भी जगह नहीं थी।  नेहरू को सुबह-शाम जेल गेट के आस-पास घूमने की अनुमति थीं। वे वहाँ से हिमालय का सौन्दर्य निहारा करते थे। वे उड़ती हुई चिड़ियाँ और आकाश में मंडराते हुए बादलों को देखा करते थे। वे हिमालय की निकटता में अपूर्व सुख प्राप्त करते थे। वसंत ऋतु देहरादुन में तराई की तुलना में ज्यादा मादक थी। पीपल का पेड़ जो जेल गेट के ठीक सामने था, के प्रायः सभी पत्ते गिर चुके थे। शरद ऋतु भी सुखद थी। नेहरू एक दिन को विशेष रूप से याद करते हैं। यह 1932 का 24 दिसम्बर का दिन था । पूरे दिन गरज के साथ पानी पड़ रहा था। कड़ाके की ठंढक थी। यह दिन नेहरू के जेल जीवन का सबसे खौफनाक दिन था। नेहरू ने अपने को सामान्य क्रियाओं में न उलझकर प्रकृति के क्रिया-कलाप को देखा।  अपने मार्ग में आने वालें नाना प्रकार के प्राणियों तथा कीट-पतंगों को देखा। चूँकि वे अत्यन्त विवेकी थे, इसिलिए उन्होनें अपनी काल-कोठरी तथा बाहर के आँगन में भी इन संगीत प्राणिंयों के कार्य-कलापों में विघ्न नहीं डाला और न नेहरू को उनके कार्य – कलापों में विघ्न डालने का कारण समझ में आया। लेकिन खटमलों, मच्छरों तथा कुछ हद तक मक्खियों से उनका अनबरत संग्राम चलता रहा। एक बार नेहरू ने बर्रो से छुटकारा पाने के बारे में सोचा परन्तु बर्रो ने अपने अस्थायी घरों, जिसमें शायद वे अपने अंडों को रखा करते थे, के रक्षार्थ बहादुरी से लड़ाई लड़े। अतः उन्होने निर्णय लिया कि उन्हें शांतिपूर्वक रहने दिया। नेहरू जब तक अपनी काल-कोठरी में बरे और हड्डों की संगति में रहे उन्होने कभी भी इन पर आक्रमण नहीं किया और वे एक-दूसरे को आदर देते रहे। 

नेहरू को जानवरों से गहरा लगाव था। वे चमगादड़ों को नापसंद करते थे। वे उनसे डरते थे।  लेकिन वे उनके प्रति सहिष्णु थे।  वे घंटों चिटियों , दीमकों तथा अन्य कीट-पतंगों को घंटों निहारते रहते थे।  गिलहरियाँ अत्यन्त हिम्मती थीं और उनके बिल्कुल समीप आ जाती थी। लखनऊ जेल में तो एक गिलहरी उनके पैरों पर चढ़ जाती थी और घुटनों पर बैठकर चारों ओर देखती थी। अलमोड़ा के पहाड़ी-जेल को छोड़कर नेहरू जितने जेलों में गए उनमें कबुतर काफी संख्या में थे। देहरादून जेल की काल कोठरी के दरवाजे के ऊपर मैना की एक जोड़ी ने घोंसला बना रख था और वे उन्हें खिलाया करते थे। भोजन में देर होने पर वे उनके काफी समीप आकर बैठ जाते थे और जोर-जोर से चिल्लाकर भोजन मांगते थे। नैनी के जेल में हजारों तोते थे। तोतों को प्रेमालाप एक अद्भुत दृष्य हुआ करता था और कभी-कभी दो नर तोते के बीच किसी मादा तोते के कारण भयानक लड़ाई भी ही जाती थी। मादा तोता चुपचाप लड़ाई देखते रहती थी और लड़ाई के परिणाम की प्रतीक्षा करती थी तथा विजेता तोते  के साथ प्रणय के लिए तैयार रहती थी। 

देहरादून जेल में अनेक प्रकार के पक्षी थे। नेहरू कोयल के गीत, बाजों, चीलों तथा जंगली-बत्तखों के उड़ान को देखा करते थे। बरेली के जेल में अनेक बंदर थे। बंदरों की एक ठिठोली ने नेहरू को बहुत प्रभावित किया। एक शिशु बंदर किसी प्रकार छावनी के के नीचे आ गया तथा वह पुनः दीवाल फांद कर वापस नहीं जा सका। कैदियों ने उसे पकड़ लिया। थोड़ी देर के बाद एक बड़ा बंदर भीड़ के बीच कुदा और शिशु बंदर को बचाकर ले भागा। काल – कोठरी में बिच्छू प्रायः दिख जाया करते थे। नेहरू जी ने एक बिच्छू को कुछ समय के लिए एक बोतल में बंद कर रखा था और उसे कीट-पतंग खिलाया करते थें। काल-कोठरी के अन्दर और आस-पास तीन-चार साँप भी पाए गए थे।  उनमें से एक साँप के बारे में समाचार-पत्रों की सुर्खियाँ भी बनी थीं।

वस्तुतः नेहरु जेल जीवन में परिवर्तन का स्वागत करते थे क्योंकि यह जीवन उबाऊ था।  नेहरू साँपों के प्रति कोई सहिष्णु नहीं थे परन्तु उनसे डरते भी नहीं थे।  कनखजूरे से वे काफी भयभीत होते थे लेकिन प्रति उनके मन में कोई विकर्शण का भाव नहीं था।  देहरादून के जेल गेट पर नेहरू ने एक नये प्राणी को देखा जिसे कोई बनवासी भूजी यानी एक प्रकार का व्यंजन बनाने के लिए जा रहा था।  बाद में उन्होने एफ0 डब्लू चैम्पियन की पुस्तक ‘द जंगल इन सनलाइट ऐंड शैडों ’ पढ़कर पता लगाया कि उस जानवर का नाम पैंगोलिन था। 

नेहरू का अपना विचार है कि कैदियों केा भावनात्मक-क्षुधा से सबसे अधिक पीड़ित होना पड़ता है।  वे पालतु जानवरों को रखकर भावनात्मक संतुष्टि ढुँढते है। गिलहरियाँ तथा नेवले सामान्यतः सर्वाधिक पालतू थे। जेल में कुत्ते पालने की अनुमति नहीं थी । परन्तु बिल्लियों को उत्साहित किया जाता था। नेहरू ने एक पिल्ले से मित्रता की थी। यद्यपि कि कुत्ते पालने की अनिमति नहीं थी फिर भी उन्होने देहरादून में कुत्तों से अपना सम्बन्ध बनाया। वे एक कुतिया जो एक जेल पदाधिकारी के स्थानांतरण होने के कारण त्याग दी गई थी, उसको भोजन कराते थे। उस कुतिया ने पिल्लों के एक झूण्ड को जन्म दिया । उनकें से एक पिल्ला बीमार पड़ गया। नेहरू ने उसकी सेवा की। कभी – कभी उन्हें रात में दर्जनों बार उठकर उसकी देख-भाल करना पड़ता था। वह पिल्ला बच गया जिससे नेहरू को काफी आनन्द की अनुभूति हुई। 

जेल में नेहरू जानवरों के साथ रहकर उनके प्रति अत्यन्त कृतज्ञ थे । वे कहते है कि भारतीयों का दर्शन जानवरों के प्रति अहिंसा का है फिर भी ये प्रायः उनके प्रति कठोर होते है । हिन्दू लोग गाय की पूजा करते है लेकिन उनमें पूजा के साथ दया का भव की कमी होती है । अन्ततः नेहरू का कहना कि विभिन्न देशों ने विभिन्न जानवारों को अपना राष्ट्रिय प्रतीक बनाय है और जानवरों में अधिकांश जानवर आक्रामक और लड़ाकू है । इसका यह तात्पर्य नहीं है कि उन देशों के लोग भी आक्रमक प्रवृत्ति अपनाएँ और हिन्दुओं को नाजुक और अहिंसक होना चाहिए क्योकि उनका प्रतीक पशु गाय है जो सीधी है । 

Next Chapter

• Chapter 2 Nalanda : Ancient Seat of Learning