NCERT Book Class 8 English The comet I

The comet – I

Before you read

A new comet has appeared in the sky and is heading straight for the earth. A head-on collision, which is nearly unavoidable, will mean the end of life on this planet. Scientists and religious leaders react to this situation in two different ways. What happens to the comet? IT was a moonless night in December. A burst of cool breeze from the window was enough to disturb the sleep of Indrani Debi. Half awake she felt for the adjoining pillow, although she knew the answer. Duttada was not there.

“So he has gone to hobnob with that wretched Dibya! At least he might have bothered to close the door.” Even as she muttered her complaints Indrani Debi could not repress her smile. She knew how utterly oblivious her husband was of the practical problems of living. Didn’t his doctor tell him to take special precautions against the cold? But he wouldn’t remember to put on a sweater even if it was lying on his bedside chair! How could he when Dibya had put her spell on him? She picked up the white woollen pullover, wrapped herself in a shawl and made her way to the roof, to break up his tete-a-tete with Dibya. She found them both huddled together eye to eye. At least Duttada was looking into Dibya’s eyes.

When Duttada acquired this telescope he was so thrilled that

he called it Dibya Chakshu — Divine Eye. To Indrani Debi the telescope was like a designing woman who had ensnared herhusband. So she just called it Dibya and the name stuck. To Duttada the telescope marked the fulfilment of the ambition of a lifetime. As an amateur astronomer he had longed for enough money to buy a good telescope and for enough spare time in which to observe the heavens. He got them both when he retired with ample money. The telescope was duly installed and long were the dark nights that Duttada spent in star-gazing. At least Indrani Debi thought so.

“Here! Put on this sweater — or do you want Nabin Babu to order bed-rest tomorrow?” Like every other amateur astronomer, Duttada had a secret ambition that he would one day discover a new comet. For, comets can be new, coming as they do from the remote corners of the Solar System. Like planets, comets also orbit round the Sun but their orbits are highly eccentric. So once in a while a comet comes close to the Sun; it has a longish tail that is lit brilliantly by the sunlight and then it recedes into darkness not to be seen again for years, or for centuries. What chance did he stand with his eight-inch Dibya? Didn’t professional astronomers have gigantic telescopes? Duttada was optimistic... he knew that the professionals with their pre-assigned programmes would be looking at faint stars and nebulous galaxies. They might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet which they were not expecting to see anyway! Indeed amateurs had often discovered new comets which the professionals had missed.

And, it looked to Duttada that tonight was going to be the big night. For against the background of the same old stars Duttada had detected a faint stranger. He re-examined the charts with him, checked his Dibya for any smudges on the optics, did some calculations on his pocket calculator in torchlight — for, though absent-minded about daily chores, he was meticulous in his observations. Yes, there can be no mistake. What he was looking at had not been there earlier and it did look like a new comet. Two days later the Ananda Bazar Patrika came out with the news: Calcutta Man Discovers New Comet (From our special correspondent)

Shri Manoj Dutta, a resident on the northern outskirts of Calcutta* has claimed to have discovered a new comet. He has seen the comet on the last two nights and has informed the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Bangalore* of its whereabouts. The IIA runs a 90-inch telescope, the biggest in Asia, at Kavalur. If it confirms Dutta’s finding it will be the high point in his lifelong career as amateur astronomer. Duttada, as he is affectionately called by his friends and admirers, estimates that the comet would be clearly visible to the naked eye in the next few months. He gives all credit for his discovery to his eight-inch telescope which he calls Dibya.

Thereafter it took just one week for ‘Comet Dutta’ to be recognised and so named. For the IIA confirmed the findings and communicated it worldwide and, according to the accepted practice, the new comet was named after its discoverer. This brought in unwelcome publicity to the introvert Duttada. There were numerous receptions and functions to attend. Returning from one such ceremony Duttada muttered to himself in disgust, “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet.” To his surprise Indrani Debi agreed. “I wish the same, though not for the same reason”.

“May I ask why you wish I had not discovered this comet?” Duttada asked. “Comets bring ill-luck and I wish a good man like you were not associated with the discovery of one,” Indrani Debi said with concern. Duttada laughed. “I see that even an MA degree has not cured you of your superstitions! There is no corelation whatsoever with the arrival of a comet and the calamities of the earth. On the contrary comets have been scientifically studied and their composition is well understood. There is nothing harmful about them. Well, you will soon see this comet of mine pass harmlessly by causing no anxiety to anybody.” In this last comment, however, Duttada was not going to be exactly right.

Comprehension Check

1. Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya?

2. She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?

3. (i) What was Duttada’s secret ambition?

    (ii) What did he do to achieve it?

4. What is the difference between a planet and a comet, as given in the story?

5. Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?

6. Why does Duttada say — “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet.”?

7. Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 8 English The comet – I