GSEB Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 6 The Ghat of the Only World Solutions

Reading with Insight

Question 1. What impressions of Shahid do you gather from the piece?
Answer: The author Amitav Ghosh's article about Shahid shows that the poet was a diverse person. Even the terrible illness of cancer could not diminish his spirit. He was a strong fighter and never gave up hope when facing bad times. He chose not to use a wheelchair while in the hospital and liked to walk on his own feet. He was also a very talented teacher.
Shahid really appreciated good poetry, fine music, and tasty food. He was a skilled poet himself and always loved being with other poets and writers. His quick thinking and funny nature were also special. In essence, he was a neutral individual. The political events and fighting caused him great pain, so his poems often focused on Kashmir. He was a truly gifted person, indeed.

Exam Tip: Focus on highlighting Shahid's character traits, his resilience in illness, his passions, and his perspective on key issues like Kashmir to score well.

Question 2. How do Shahid and the writer react to the knowledge that Shahid is going to die.?
Answer: Shahid spoke with the narrator about his upcoming death for the first time on April 25th, 2001. After a long talk, Shahid wished that the narrator should write something about him. The narrator tried to comfort him, saying he would be fine soon, but the poet appeared to have accepted his destiny with quiet dignity.
The narrator, in the end, agreed to the poet's request. Shahid never lost his courage when the tests revealed he had a dangerous tumor. He calmly endured all the discomfort, even when he was about to have surgery. He remained a determined fighter and preferred to walk instead of sitting in a wheelchair. In his final moments, he was at peace and spoke about meeting his mother in the afterlife.

Exam Tip: Describe both Shahid's acceptance and the narrator's initial attempts at consolation, emphasizing Shahid's courage and dignified approach to death.

Question 3. Look up the dictionary for the meaning of the word 'diaspora'. What do you understand of the Indian diaspora from this piece?
Answer: The dictionary meaning of 'diaspora' is "the movement of people from any nation or group away from their own country". The narration, 'The Ghat of the Only World', explains many Indians residing in the United States, away from their homeland.
Shahid lived in Manhattan and then moved to Brooklyn. His sister taught at the Pratt Institute. Amitav Ghosh also lived a few blocks away. Even though the narrator and Shahid were living in the United States, they both loved Rogan Josh, Begum Akhtar, and Kishore Kumar. Shahid had a strong affection for Kashmir and wished to return there to pass away.

Exam Tip: Define 'diaspora' clearly, then explain how the text illustrates the Indian diaspora through Shahid's experiences and connections, even while abroad.

Gseb Class 11 English Mother's Day Additional Important Questions And Answers

Answer The Following Questions In Four To Five Sentences Each:

Question 1. What request did Shahid make to the narrator and what did he say to Shahid?
Answer: The narrator tried to comfort Shahid, saying he would recover soon. Shahid disregarded his reassurance and cut him short. He requested the narrator to write something after his death. The narrator was initially stunned into silence, but Shahid insisted on getting a promise. The narrator eventually agreed to write something after his death.

Exam Tip: Clearly state Shahid's specific request and the narrator's reaction, emphasizing Shahid's persistence in securing the promise.

Question 2. What common interests did the narrator share with Shahid Ali?
Answer: A mutual passion for poetry and literature connected the narrator with Shahid. His work, "The Country Without a Post Office," made a strong impact on the narrator. They shared mutual friends in Delhi as well as in America. Their friendship was further strengthened by a shared love for Rogan Josh, Roshanara Begam, and Kishore Kumar. Both of them enjoyed Bombay films and were equally uninterested in Cricket.

Exam Tip: List the shared interests comprehensively, including literary appreciation, culinary preferences, musical tastes, and their collective disinterest in cricket, to show the depth of their bond.

Question 3. "Shahid's gregariousness had no limit" Explain.
Answer: Shahid was very sociable. There was never an evening when there wasn't a gathering in his living room. There were always many people assembled inside. These included poets, students, writers, and relatives. Someone was always preparing food or making tea in the kitchen. Almost until the very end, his home was a 'never-ending festival of conversation, laughter, food, and of course, poetry'.

Exam Tip: To explain Shahid's gregariousness, describe the constant flow of guests, the variety of people, and the lively atmosphere of his home, highlighting his love for company.

Question 4. Give an example to show Shahid's sharpness in repartee.
Answer: Shahid was quite clever. Once, a female security guard at Barcelona airport stopped him. She asked what he was doing in Spain. "Writing poetry," he replied. Finally, the woman inquired if he was carrying anything that could be dangerous to other passengers. Shahid clapped a hand to his chest and exclaimed, "Only my heart."

Exam Tip: The example of Shahid's quick wit at the airport is key; recount the dialogue accurately to showcase his cleverness and ability to use humor effectively.

Question 5. Give an example to show Aga Shahid Ali's secular credentials.
Answer: Shahid was open-minded in his views. He remained a strong believer in the separation of religion and politics. His perspective was all-encompassing. In his early life, he wanted to build a small Hindu temple in his room in Srinagar. His mother purchased the idols and other items for him. He disliked extremism.

Exam Tip: Explain Shahid's secular outlook by mentioning his desire to build a Hindu temple despite his background and his clear stance against fanaticism, demonstrating his inclusive nature.

Question 6. Shahid had a sorcerer's ability to transmute the mundane into the magical. What incident does the author quote to explain this?
Answer: Once, Amitav Ghosh happened to go with Iqbal, Shahid's brother, and Hena, his sister, to bring him home from the hospital. By that time, Shahid had already gone through several unsuccessful surgeries. Now, he was back in the hospital to have a surgical procedure meant to ease the pressure on his brain.
His head was shaved, and the shape of the tumor was visible on his bare scalp, its edges marked by metal stitches. When it was time to depart from the ward, a hospital attendant in a blue uniform arrived with a wheelchair. Shahid waved him away, stating that he was strong enough to walk out of the hospital by himself.

Exam Tip: Detail the specific hospital incident where Shahid, despite his condition, insisted on walking, turning a potentially difficult moment into a display of his resilience and spirit.

Question 7. How does Shahid face death? Describe the hospital scene.
Answer: Shahid confronted his death with exceptional bravery. The terrible disease of cancer could not break his spirit, and he never lost hope when facing hardship. He believed he would reunite with his mother after life. Once, before his death, he was in the hospital, and an escort came with a wheelchair. He refused assistance from the wheelchair and preferred to walk on his own. However, after walking a few steps, he could not continue further.
The attendant was called once more. A sense of happiness came over him when the hospital worker returned with the wheelchair. He gave him a smile and asked where he was from. The man said he was from Ecuador. Shahid clapped his hands and declared loudly that he had always wanted to learn Spanish to read Lorca.

Exam Tip: Emphasize Shahid's extraordinary courage and acceptance of death, contrasting it with his continued wit and passion, especially during the hospital encounter with the attendant.

Question 8. What does 'The Ghat of the only World' mean?
Answer: 'Ghat' is an Urdu term, also used in Hindi, which refers to a place at a riverbank from where boats set off with passengers to the opposite side. Here, 'the only world' represents human life on this earth, and the 'Ghat' symbolizes the bank (point of death) from which a person leaves for another realm. Thus, it signifies the sole death that carries a person to the other side.
'Ghat' is simply used as a metaphor for death. Shahid envisioned himself at the 'Ghat' of the only world—the realm of the departed. He was about to say goodbye to the world of the living. Having moved past life's sufferings, he was experiencing "supreme comfort," meaning, "I like to believe that I'll meet my mother in the afterlife, if there is one."

Exam Tip: Define 'Ghat' in its literal and metaphorical sense, explaining how it symbolizes the transition from this life to the next, specifically linking it to Shahid's acceptance of death and hope for an afterlife.

The Ghat Of The Only World Summary In English

The Ghat Of The Only World Summary:

It is a serious tale about friendship and a promise one friend must keep after the other's death. The story focuses on the bond between the writer Amitav Ghosh and the poet Agha Shahid Ali. Although they had not known each other for a long time, their connection felt as deep as if they had been friends since childhood. Some friendships may not endure for very long, but the influence they have on one another can go beyond all earthly limitations.

Exam Tip: Summarize the core theme of enduring friendship and commitment, focusing on the bond between Ghosh and Ali despite their short acquaintance.

Shahid Ali and Amitav both reside in nearby neighborhoods in Manhattan, USA. Although Amitav knew Shahid from their college days, as both were students at Delhi University, their friendship developed a few months ago through a mutual acquaintance. Shahid is a talented poet from Kashmir; his poetry collection, "The Country Without a Post Office" (published in 1997), had a significant effect on Amitav.

Exam Tip: Mention their shared residency and college history, emphasizing how their friendship deepened through common connections and Shahid's impactful literary work.

Once, Amitav used a line or two from his collection in a newspaper article. It was April 25, 2001, when Shahid confirmed the news of his approaching death due to a brain tumor. In that meeting, Shahid urged Amitav to write a story about him after his passing. Amitav agreed to do so, and after that, whenever he met Shahid, Amitav took notes in a notebook.

Exam Tip: Highlight the pivotal moment of Shahid's revelation about his illness and his request to Amitav, marking the beginning of Amitav's commitment to writing his story.

Amitav describes Shahid, being a Kashmiri, as a distinct type of person. He was not a religious extremist; instead, he built a small temple in his house. Not only this, Shahid and Amitav shared many things in common, for example, cooking and some unusual non-vegetarian dishes. Even though Shahid lives in the USA, his heart remains in Kashmir, where his parents live. He used to visit there in the summer to spend time with his parents. He wished to die in his homeland, Kashmir. He seemed set on it, but later, as it involved many procedures and paperwork, he gave up the thought of moving to Kashmir to spend his final days.

Exam Tip: Detail Shahid's unique identity as a Kashmiri, emphasizing his secular views, shared interests with Amitav, and his deep emotional connection to Kashmir despite living abroad, which influenced his end-of-life wishes.

He shares that in his dreams and imagination, he sees himself flying over the Ghat of the Only World, which is Kashmir. After Shahid's death, Amitav feels that their friendship was brief, but its influence was immense, and it left a deep emptiness in his heart. In the story, "The Ghat of the Only World" symbolizes Shahid's home region, Kashmir.

Exam Tip: Conclude the summary by explaining Shahid's spiritual connection to Kashmir and how it is represented by "The Ghat of the Only World," reflecting the lasting impact of his friendship with Amitav.