Memoirs of Chota Shahib Question Answer Class 12 | Notes AHSEC

Page no. 90
Think as you read
1. Briefly describe the scene observed by the author from the veranda of his bungalow on the bank of
the Brahmaputra. (AHSEC 2020)
Ans: The author's bungalow was situated on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. From the veranda on the top of the
bungalow, the author had a splendid view of the majestic river with the boats sailed over it and the Himalayas in the
distance. Moreover, at the forefront, an island called Peacock island with the dome of a Hindu temple could be visible
through the trees.

2. What is the belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland of
Guwahati that the author mentions? (AHSEC 2015)
Ans: There is a belief that the British raj would come to an end in India if the channel between the Pea-cock island
and the mainland ever dried up entirely.

3. What does the author say about the importance of Guwahati? Is the statement true in our today
also?
Ans: The author highlights the importance of Guwahati by describing it as the port entry into Assam. In earlier times
most of the travelers passed through Guwahati on their way from Calcutta to Shillong or to districts lying further up
the valley. At times, they used it as a resting place by staying overnight.

Yes, the statement is true in our time today also. Still, it connects the rest of India with the Northeast region and hence
called 'Gateway to North-East India.' Moreover, tourists from across the country and abroad visit Guwahati in a large
number and it is a transit spot for the people traveling to other parts of the North-East region.

Page no. 91
Think as you read

1. What character of the North bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to?
Ans: The North bank, lying between the sandbanks of the Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills was a vast,
solitary stretch of flat and age land. The specialty of the region was that during the hot weather the rivers dried up or
suddenly disappeared underground. the dwellers of the region had to dig for water which was so dirty that it had to be
cleaned by using alum to precipitate the mud.

2. What information does the author give us about Manas Wildlife Sanctuary? (AHSEC 2017)
Ans: The Manas Sanctuary, bordering the Himalayan state of Bhutan, was the habitat of a few rhinos. The rivers were
full of 'mahseer', a kind of fish and their banks were favourite sites for the governor's Christmas camps. The sanctuary
was also replete with cheetal fish, sloth bears, and deer. Amid the forest, a European and his spouse had leased a piece
of land from the forest department to grow simul trees for the nearby match factory. They had put up miles of electric
fencing in an attempt to keep out the deer, but with little success.

3. Describe the author's experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North bank of the
Brahmaputra. (AHSEC 2016)
Ans: The author has given a humorous account of his adventurous ride on horseback while crossing a flooded river.
The author with much difficulty persuaded the horse to jump into the river but in the process, he slipped over the
rump of the horse and hung onto its tail. The author used the tail as a rudder and pushed it right when he tried to push
the horse to the left and vice versa. In this manner, they eventually, crossed the river safely and the ride came to an
end.

Page no. 92
Think as you read

1. Relate the author's experiences of the road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank.
Ans: Once, the author was touring the North bank with his family. They had either planned wrongly to return late
after the monsoon or monsoon was early that year. Though the roads were still suitable for moto vehicles, but driving
was extremely risky. Most of the roads were constructed on the top of embankments to raise them well above the
normal flood level. Moreover, the roads were quite narrow and single-track. The road on which the author's car was
running was extremely slippery. Consequently, the author's car went out of control and started sliding along the road,
and fell into a paddy field six feet below the main road. The adventurous journey through the paddy field was quite
jerky but they finally reached the road again. Fortunately, 20 damage was done to the motor car as well as the people
inside it.
2. Relate the author's reminiscence of the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
Ans: The bungalow at Kulsi was the author's favourite and it was beautifully situated on a raised and forested area
above the river. It surrounded by a teak plantation planted some sixty years back and was nearly matured. There was
also a rubber plantation of the Ficus elastica of very close to the bungalow.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1 Give an account of the author's experiences of the floods on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra
during the monsoon. (AHSEC 2018)
Ans: The author relates the various experience of the floods on the North- Bank of the river Brahmaputra during the
monsoon. Once the author crossed a flooded river on horseback. He, with much difficulty, persuaded the horse to
jump into the river but in the process, he slipped over the rump of the horse and hung onto its tail. The author used
the tail as a rudder and pushed it right when he tried to push the horse to the left and vice versa. In this manner, they
eventually, crossed the river safely.

On another occasion, the author was touring the North bank with his family. They had either planned wrongly to
return late after the monsoon or monsoon was early that year. Though the roads were still suitable for moto vehicles,
but driving was extremely risky. Most of the roads were constructed on the top of embankments to raise them well
above the normal flood level. Moreover, the roads were quite narrow and single-track. The road on which the author's
car was running was extremely slippery. Consequently, the author's car went out of control and started sliding along
the road and fell into a paddy field six feet below the main road. The adventurous journey through the paddy field was
quite jerky but they finally reached the road again. Fortunately, 20 damage was done to the motor car as well as the
people inside it.

2. Relate the author's observation on the use of mar boats as a mode of river transport in Assam.
Ans: The author presents a detailed description of a kind of special boat called 'mar' boats as a mode of river transport
in Assam. Mar boat is a kind of ferry consisted of two open boats covered with a platform made of a wooden plank.
These boats were paddled across the river or were propelled by the force of the current along a cable that connected
the boats to another cable stretch across the river.

The mar boats as considered by the author was a brilliant device and it performed successfully. However, to balance
the rise and fall of the river, continual modifications had to be made. A good number of landing ghats had to be
constructed at different levels on the river bank for the landing of the travellers. Fortunately, at that time, traffic was
light and though crossing overtook time, there were minimal delays.

3. Give the author's description of a sal forest.

Ans: The author compares the sal forest of Assam to the English woodland. The sal forest of Assam was found in the
flat terrain of South-Bank. In this vast stretch of land, the reserve forests comprising particularly sal trees were mostly
in one block, and the trees were scattered with villages and cultivation.

4. Describe the author's experience with the bats in the Rajpara forest bungalow.
Ans: The author John Rowntree has vividly described his experience with the bats at Rajapara Forest Bungalow. He
expressed his view that Rajapara Forest Bungalow would have been beautiful and charming like the one at Kulsi if
some bats had not lived in the roof. Their excrement droppings and fusty smell constantly reminded the author of
their presence. The huge fruit-eating bats, with a wingspan of five feet, were less fusty and lived in a tree outside the
bungalow. They flew out at dusk in search of food they appeared like uncanny figures gliding in the sky on silent wings.

IMPORTANT /PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTION FOR AHSEC

1. What does Rowntree talk often in 'Memoirs of Chota Sahib'? (2014)

Ans: In 'Memoirs of a Chota Sahib' John Rowntree often talks about the time he spent in Gauhati and its neighboring
areas.

2. What position did John Rowntree hold before leaving Shillong a few days after
independence? (2016, 20)
Ans: Senior Conservator of the Forests of Assam.

3. Give a brief description of peacock Island? (2014, 16, 19)

Ans: Peacock Island was located in the middle of the river Brahmaputra. When viewed from Rowntree's bungalow on
the other bank, it offered a splendid view with the dome of Hindu temple just visible through the trees. But a funny
contradiction was that unlike its name, Peacock island housed no peacocks but instead troops of monkey dominated
the island.
4. What does Rowntree state about the large 'Bheel' close to the bungalow at Rajapara? (2015)
Ans: Rowntree mentioned that the bheel at Rajapara had been formed after an earthquake lowered the land which
subsequently became inundated with water. He characterized it as an eerie spot because of the dead trees that rose out
of the bheel. To Rowntree they seemed to resemble skeletons, serving as reminders of a past when the land was dry.

5. Who is 'Chota Sahib' in the 'Memoirs of Chota Sahib'? (2015, 18)

Ans: John Rowntree, the last British Senior Conservator of the Forest of Assam, is the 'Chota Sahib' in the 'Memoirs
of Chota Sahib.'

6. Where did John Rowntree and his family make their first home at Gauhati?

Ans: John Rowntree and his family had made their first home in a bungalow at Gauhati.

7. How did Jhon Rowntree find the weather when he arrived at Gauhati? (2018)
Ans: John Rowntree, when he arrived at Gauhati, found the weather bearable.

8. What unusual visitor did Rowntree have in his bungalow one night? (2018)
Ans: The unusual visitor that Rowntree has in his bungalow one night was a tiger.

9. Name the book from which 'Memoirs of Chota Sahib' is taken. (2019)
Ans: It is taken from the book 'A Chota Sahib: Memoirs of a Forest Officer'.

10. What is mar boat and how is it operated? (2019)

Ans: Mar boat is a kind of ferry consisted of two open boats covered with a platform made of a wooden plank. These
boats were paddled across the river or were propelled by the force of the current along a cable that connected the boats
to another cable stretch across the river.

11. What is the belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland of
Guwahati that the author mentions? (AHSEC 2015)
Ans: See (Think as you read Page no. 90) Question no. 2

12. Describe the author's experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North bank of the
Brahmaputra. (AHSEC 2016)
Ans: See (Think as you read Page no. 91) Question no. 3

13. What information does the author give us about Manas Wildlife Sanctuary? (AHSEC 2017)
Ans: See (Think as you read Page no. 91) Question no. 2

14. Give an account of the author's experiences of the floods on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra
during the monsoon. (AHSEC 2018)
Ans: See (Understanding the text) Question no. 1

15. Briefly describe the scene observed by the author from the veranda of his bungalow on the bank of
the Brahmaputra. (AHSEC 2020)
Ans: See (Think as you read Page no. 90) Question no. 1

FAQ

1. Who is John Rowntree?

Ans: John Rowntree was the last British Senior Conservator of the Forest in Assam.

2. What animals did the author discover in Peacock Island?

Ans: The author discovers monkeys on Peacock Island.

3. At what time of the year was the North Bank 'delightful'?

Ans: The North Bank was delightful during the cold weather.

4. What are mahseers?

Ans: Mahseers is a type of freshwater fish.

Extra Questions
1. Who is the "Chota Sahib" in the " Memoirs of Chota Sahib" ?
Ans: The Chota Sahib mentioned in the "| Memoirs of Chota Sahib is John Rowntree who was the last British Senior Conservator
of Forests of Assam.

2. What position did John Rowntree hold before leaving Shillong a few days after independence ?

Ans: John Rowntree held the position of Senior Conservator of Forests of Assam a few days before independence.

3. Where did John Rowntree and his family make their first home at Guwahati ?

Ans: John Rowntree and his family made their first home in a bungalow at Guwahati.

4. Where was the Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree located ?

Ans: The Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree was located on Peacock Island.

5. Why did Rowntree like the forest bungalow at Kulsi ?

Ans: The bungalow at Kulsi was located ona wooden spur above the river and was comfortable and delightful. That is why
Rowntree liked the forest bungalow at Kulsi.

6. What does Rowntree talk often in "Memoirs of a Chota Sahib"

Ans: Rowntree often talks about the time he spent in Guwahati and its neigbouring areas in the " Memoirs of a Chota Sahib".

7. Give a brief description of Peacock Island?

Ans: The Peacock Island was situated im the middle of the Brahmaputra river. It can be seen from the veranda of Rowntree's
bungalow. There was a Hindu Temple in the Peacock Island and its dome was just visible through the tress if viewed from the
veranda. Unlike its name peacocks were nowhere to be found and only monkeys roamed the island.

8. What does Rowntree say about the river banks in the Manas Sanctuary ?

Ans: Rountree said that the river banks were the favourite site for the Governor's Christmas camps and it was his duty to build it
for which he sometimes receive letter of thanks from him.

9. What does Rowntree state about the large " Bheel " close to the bungalow at Rajapara ?

Ans: Rowntree states that there was large "Bheel" close to the bungalow where an eathquake had once lowered the surface, and
the land became inundated with water. According to him it was an eerie spot where tree skeletons still rose out of water which
bring back memories into one's mind that it was once a dry land.

10. What enterprise had the European and his wife ventured into ? Was it profitable ?

Ans: The enterprise that the European and his wife ventured into was planting simul. There was a match factory nearby for which
simul trees were needed. So, they had leased a piece of land from the forest department with a view of growing simul trees for the
factory.
No, their enterprise was not a profitable one. Their attempt to keep out the deers by putting up miles of electric fence did not
work out as the deer just jumped over it.

11. How were crossings made over the river ?

Ans: During the cold weather bamboo bridges were made to cross the river but in rainy season they get washed away by flood.
More usually, crossings were made in a mar boat. Mar is a ferry consisting of a plank platform covering two open boats placed
alongside one another. These were either paddled across the river or connected by a running cable to another stretched across the
river, were propelled from one side to the other by the force of the current.

12. What kind of adjustment had to be made with regard to the safe crossing over in a "mar" boat ?

Ans: Crossing with mar boats across the river was a tedious performance. mr boats worked very well but constant adjustments had to be made
to allow for the rise and fall of the rivers. Further, a whole series of ghats , or landing places, had to be constructed at different levels on the river
bank.

13. What lived in a tree outside the bungalow at Rajapara ?

ans: There lived the huge fruit-eating bats with a wing span of five feet outside the bungalow at Rajapara.