Overview of the Story “Silk Road” is a travelogue written by Nick Middleton , a British travel writer. The chapter describes his journey from Darchen to Mount Kailash in Tibet , along the ancient Silk Route. Through physical hardships, cultural encounters, and spiritual observations, the author presents a vivid picture of Tibetan life, landscape, and faith . Background of the Story The Silk Road was an ancient trade route connecting Asia with Europe. Nick Middleton travels along a part of this route in Tibet , an isolated and harsh region. The journey is both physical (high altitude, cold, lack of oxygen) and spiritual , as Mount Kailash is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains. The story reflects the author’s personal experience rather than a fictional narrative. Tone and Mood Tone Reflective and observant At times humorous (especially about altitude sickness and human reactions) Respectful towards Tibetan culture and religion Mood Adventurous – d...
Q1. Describe Professor Gaitonde's fantastic Town Hall experience in the library. Ans. Professor Gaitonde visited the Town Hall library after noticing that the East India Company still existed. He found his five history books there. While the first four matched known history, the fifth described a different version where the Marathas won the Third Battle of Panipat because Vishwasrao survived. The British stopped their expansion and leased Bombay from the Peshwa. A similar account was found in Bhausahebanchi Bakhar . Shocked by this distorted history, Professor Gaitonde accidentally carried the Bakhar with him while leaving. Q2. How did Rajendra Deshpande rationalise Professor Gaitonde's experience? Ans. Rajendra explained Professor Gaitonde’s experience using catastrophe theory and the concept of parallel worlds. He pointed out that Vishwasrao’s death was the turning point in real history, leading to Maratha defeat. In the alternate version, Vishwasrao ...