Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

1. NCERT-type Question Q: Why did Nick Middleton undertake the journey towards Mount Kailash? The author undertook the journey to Mount Kailash to complete the sacred kora , a pilgrimage ritual significant in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions, while also experiencing the adventure along the historic Silk Road.  2. HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) Q: How did the challenging terrains and extreme weather of the Silk Road affect Middleton’s physical and emotional experience? The harsh terrain, extreme cold, and high altitude caused severe physical discomfort to Nick Middleton, especially due to altitude sickness and exhaustion. At the same time, these difficulties made him more reflective, helping him appreciate the stark beauty of the landscape and the deeper spiritual meaning of the journey despite its hardships. 3. VBQ (Value-Based Question) Q: What does Lhamo’s gesture of giving Middleton a warm sheepskin coat tell you about the values of the local people he met on the Silk ...

 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 ...

  Background of the Poem  The poem is written by Edward Ryckman . It focuses on modern environmental problems . The poet wants readers to think about how humans treat nature. The poem warns people to stop ignoring environmental damage. Summary  The poem talks about damage being done to the environment. Each stanza shows a different environmental problem. A fisherman pulls up an empty net because of overfishing. Trees are cut down, showing deforestation. Oil is drilled and burned, causing pollution. A hurricane forces people to leave their homes. A wildfire comes close, and people pray for safety. The speaker enjoys a calm day in a park. An emergency alert interrupts the peace. The poem ends by showing that calling it a “Beautiful day” is ironic. Perspective (Point of View) The poem is written in the first person . The speaker shares what they see and feel. Setting Different places like the sea, forest, oil fields, towns,...

Background of the Poem  The poem was written by  Alfred, Lord Tennyson . It was published in  1854 . It is based on a real battle called the  Battle of Balaclava . Tennyson wrote the poem to  honour the courage  of the soldiers. The poem reminds people to remember and respect their sacrifice.   Summary  The poem is about 600 British soldiers called the Light Brigade. They fought in the Crimean War . The soldiers were ordered to charge at the enemy. The order was a mistake , but the soldiers did not question it. They rode into the “valley of death” . Cannons fired at them from the front and both sides. Many soldiers were killed, but they fought bravely. They attacked the enemy with swords. Some soldiers returned, but many did not. The world praised and honoured their bravery and sacrifice . Perspective (Point of View) The poem is written in the third person . The poet describes what the soldiers did and how b...

   Summary  The Scarlet Pimpernel is a brave Englishman who secretly helps French nobles escape from France. He sends a warning note signed with a red flower called the Scarlet Pimpernel. Sergeant Bibot is a proud guard who thinks he cannot be fooled. Bibot tells people how another guard, Grospierre, was tricked by the Scarlet Pimpernel. The Scarlet Pimpernel once escaped by hiding a noble family in a cart of barrels. Later, Bibot himself is fooled by an old woman with a cart. The woman pretends her grandson has smallpox, so Bibot lets her pass. The old woman is actually the Scarlet Pimpernel in disguise. She helps the Countess of Tournay and her children escape safely. Bibot realizes too late that he has been fooled. Characters The Scarlet Pimpernel A brave and kind Englishman Helps innocent French nobles escape Very clever and good at disguises Always fools the guards Sergeant Bibot A French guard at the city gate Proud ...

 Summary in Points The poem mourns the disappearance of natural cranes (birds) that once danced gracefully in the open countryside. These birds have been replaced by mechanical cranes used for construction and urban development. The poet contrasts the beauty and life-giving energy of nature with the destructive forces of modernisation. The dance of the cranes symbolised fertility, renewal and harmony with nature. Now, only blurred and grainy video recordings remain as evidence of what once existed. The poem warns that unchecked development leads to irreversible environmental loss. The poet expresses regret and sadness over humanity’s role in destroying natural beauty. Background of the Poem  The poem was written in the context of rapid urbanisation and industrial development . Natural habitats of birds and animals were being destroyed for construction. Mechanical cranes replaced natural cranes in the landscape. Growing environmental concerns ...

Changing Morality Morality in today’s world is constantly changing.  Morality is essentially a system of principles or rules that help us distinguish  right from wrong  and  good from bad  behavior. It guides how people act toward one another, what they value, and how they judge actions—both their own and others’. People enter our lives for very temporary reasons, and they leave because, in their minds, they were sure they would leave one day. Not everyone who comes into our life plans to stay, and accepting this truth helps us understand human behavior more clearly. If someone is giving only 50 percent, do not give 100 percent. Often, we keep people in the first position of our lives, while they have kept us in the fifth position or we are not even on their priority list. Sometimes there are cold betrayals that we do not expect. At times, some people hurt us so deeply that we shut the door of our heart permanently, and once the door of the heart is shut, it nev...

  Background of the Story Set during World War I , specifically Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1914 Takes place on the Western Front , where British and German soldiers faced each other in trenches Based on a real historical event known as the Christmas Truce , when soldiers temporarily stopped fighting to celebrate Christmas The story is written as a letter , making it personal and emotional Summary  Tom writes a letter to his sister Janet describing life in the trenches. He explains the harsh conditions—mud, rain, danger, and fear. On Christmas Eve, German soldiers decorate their trenches with trees and sing carols. British soldiers respond by singing their own Christmas songs. Both sides applaud each other, breaking the tension. German soldiers invite the British to meet in No Man’s Land. Soldiers from both sides meet, shake hands, talk, and exchange gifts. Tom befriends a German soldier who once worked in England. They sing, joke, ...

Background of the Story- It is written by  Jayant Narlikar , a renowned Indian  astrophysicist and writer . Astrophysicist -An astrophysicist is a scientist who uses physics and mathematics to study celestial objects like stars, planets, and galaxies. They work to understand the physical and chemical properties of the universe by observing cosmic bodies and developing theories based on physical laws. It is a  science fiction story  that blends  science with history . Explains scientific concepts like  Quantum Theory  and  Catastrophe Theory  through a fictional narrative. Reflects the author’s aim to  make complex scientific ideas easy to understand . Shows Narlikar’s interest in  imagination, science, and alternate realities . Setting Place:  Pune, Bombay (Mumbai), and an alternate version of India Time:  Present day (20th century) and an imagined historical timeline Type:  Realistic + speculative (science fiction) T...