Memoirs of a Chota Sahib
-John Rowntree
1. Briefly describe the scene observed by the author from the veranda of his bungalow on the bank of the Brahmaputra.
Ans-
From the veranda of his bungalow, the author could have a splendid view
of the river and its shipping and, beyond, the Himalayas. There was
Peacock Island in the foreground, with the dome of a Hindu Temple just
visible through the trees.
2. What is the belief about the dividing channel between the Peacock Island and the mainland of Guwahati that the author mentions?
Ans:- The author mentions that the dividing channel between the Peacock Island and the mainland Guwahati was becoming narrower with each passing year and there was a belief that if this channel ever dried up completely it would mean the end of British Raj.
3. What does the author says about the importance of Guwahati? Is this statement true in our time today also?
Ans:- Rowntree says that Guwahati was a significant place during his tenure in Assam as it used to be the entry point to people who wanted to travel to Assam. In his time people traveling to Calcutta and Shillong or to districts further up the valley, had to pass through Assam on their way. Sometimes people also used to stay overnight at Guwahati during their journey.
Yes, the statement is also true in our time today also.
4. What character of the North Bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to?
Ans:-The author says that the North Bank of the Brahmaputra had a character of its own. He describes that it was a vast, remote stretch of flat, ageless land between the sandbanks of Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills. He further explains that it was a strange place, where the rivers dried up in hot weather or suddenly disappeared underground. He also added that there were numerous bheels replete with wildfowl and peafowl strutted through the grass.
5. What information does the author give us about Manas Wild life Sanctuary?
Ans:-The author Rowntree tells us that the Manas Wild Life Sanctuary was bordering the Himalayan state of Bhutan and few rhinos were present there. He also says that there was an abundance of fish called "mahseer", and their banks were favourite site for the Governor's Christmas camps and it was his task to build it.
6. Describe the author's experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra?
Ans:- The author Rowntree had a horrible experience of flood during his stay in Assam. During the rainy season many problems occurred in the North Bank. Flood was one such problem. Once he tried to cross the river on horseback during the floods but it was very difficult. He somehow persuaded his mount to plunge into the water but he suddenly slipped over his croup and hung on to the tail of the horse which he used as a rudder. He observed that when he pushed it to the right the horse veered to the left and vice versa. Eventually, he and his horse managed to make a safe landing on the other side of the river.
7. Relate the author's experience of the road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank.
Ans:- The author Rowntree was once touring with his family on the North Bank. They could not return on time as the monsoon broke. The roads were still motorable but driving through the roads became very hazardous. The roads were narrowand, single-track affairs. It was customary to build the roads on top of embankments to raise them well above the normal flood level. Rowntree and his family came on one such road which had turned greasy and one skid led to another forcing them to reach paddy field some six feet below the road. He and his family finally found their way back onto the road after having a bumpy ride throughout their path.
8. Relate the author's reminiscence of the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
Ans:-The forest bungalow at Kulsi was situated at the South Bank. The reserved forests mostly consisted of sal trees more like a English woodland. The bungalow there was delightfully situated on a wooden spur above the river.
9. Give an account of the author's experiences of the floods on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon.
Ans:- The author narrated two instances of experiencing flood on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon. Once he forded one of the flooded rivers on horseback. It was not an easy task. He persuaded his mount to plunge into water with great difficulty. However he slipped over his croup the next moment and hung on to the horse's tail. Later he discovered that the tail can be used as a rudder. Both he and his horse came out of the deadly situation without any injuries and made it to the other side of the Brahmaputra.
In another instance, he was traveling with his family on the North Bank. Before they could safely return the monsoon broke out. Driving through the roads became extremely dangerous and most of the roads were built upon embankments in order to raise above normal flood level. Further, these roads were narrow and single-track affairs. Rowntree and his family had to experience a bumpy ride before they could find their way back onto the road. The road they were on was motorable but slippery. So one skid led to another and eventually they slithered over the edge into a paddy field some six feet below the road.
10. Relate the author's observation on the use of mar boats as a mode of river transport in Assam.
Ans:- 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.
During the floods mar boats were used to cross the river. The author observed that it was a tedious performance but worked very well. Constant adjustments had to be made to allow the rise and fall of the river. A whole series of ghats, or landing places, had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank. But traffic was light and although crossing took time, there were few delays.
11. Give the author's description of a sal forest.
Ans:-The author Rowntree described the sal forest as having the character of English woodland. He said that the reserve forests mostly consisted of Sal trees.
12. Describe the author's experience with bats in the Rajapara forest bungalow.
Ans:-The Rajapara forest bungalow was equally delightful and charming like the one at Kulsi which served the needs of the author Rowntree but the presence of bats in the roof of that bungalow made living abysmal. The presence of the bats meant the contamination of the surrounding by their excrements and their fusty smell. Moreover, there were less smelly but huge fruit-eating bats with a wing span of five feet which lived in a tree outside the bungalow. They would come out from the tree in search of food at dusk which appeared to Rowntree like a strange host of ghostly shapes gliding through the air on silent wings.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Where was the Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree located?
Ans:- The Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree was located on Peacock Island.
17. Why did Rowntree like the forest bungalow at Kulsi?
Ans:- The bungalow at Kulsi was located on a wooden spur above the river and was comfortable and delightful. That is why Rowntree liked the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
18. 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".
19. Give a brief description of Peacock Island.
Ans:-The Peacock Island was situated in 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.
20. 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 received letter of thanks from him.
21. 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.
22. 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 to 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.
23. 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.
24. 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. Mar 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.
25. 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.
2. What is the belief about the dividing channel between the Peacock Island and the mainland of Guwahati that the author mentions?
Ans:- The author mentions that the dividing channel between the Peacock Island and the mainland Guwahati was becoming narrower with each passing year and there was a belief that if this channel ever dried up completely it would mean the end of British Raj.
3. What does the author says about the importance of Guwahati? Is this statement true in our time today also?
Ans:- Rowntree says that Guwahati was a significant place during his tenure in Assam as it used to be the entry point to people who wanted to travel to Assam. In his time people traveling to Calcutta and Shillong or to districts further up the valley, had to pass through Assam on their way. Sometimes people also used to stay overnight at Guwahati during their journey.
Yes, the statement is also true in our time today also.
4. What character of the North Bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to?
Ans:-The author says that the North Bank of the Brahmaputra had a character of its own. He describes that it was a vast, remote stretch of flat, ageless land between the sandbanks of Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills. He further explains that it was a strange place, where the rivers dried up in hot weather or suddenly disappeared underground. He also added that there were numerous bheels replete with wildfowl and peafowl strutted through the grass.
5. What information does the author give us about Manas Wild life Sanctuary?
Ans:-The author Rowntree tells us that the Manas Wild Life Sanctuary was bordering the Himalayan state of Bhutan and few rhinos were present there. He also says that there was an abundance of fish called "mahseer", and their banks were favourite site for the Governor's Christmas camps and it was his task to build it.
6. Describe the author's experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra?
Ans:- The author Rowntree had a horrible experience of flood during his stay in Assam. During the rainy season many problems occurred in the North Bank. Flood was one such problem. Once he tried to cross the river on horseback during the floods but it was very difficult. He somehow persuaded his mount to plunge into the water but he suddenly slipped over his croup and hung on to the tail of the horse which he used as a rudder. He observed that when he pushed it to the right the horse veered to the left and vice versa. Eventually, he and his horse managed to make a safe landing on the other side of the river.
7. Relate the author's experience of the road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank.
Ans:- The author Rowntree was once touring with his family on the North Bank. They could not return on time as the monsoon broke. The roads were still motorable but driving through the roads became very hazardous. The roads were narrowand, single-track affairs. It was customary to build the roads on top of embankments to raise them well above the normal flood level. Rowntree and his family came on one such road which had turned greasy and one skid led to another forcing them to reach paddy field some six feet below the road. He and his family finally found their way back onto the road after having a bumpy ride throughout their path.
8. Relate the author's reminiscence of the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
Ans:-The forest bungalow at Kulsi was situated at the South Bank. The reserved forests mostly consisted of sal trees more like a English woodland. The bungalow there was delightfully situated on a wooden spur above the river.
9. Give an account of the author's experiences of the floods on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon.
Ans:- The author narrated two instances of experiencing flood on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon. Once he forded one of the flooded rivers on horseback. It was not an easy task. He persuaded his mount to plunge into water with great difficulty. However he slipped over his croup the next moment and hung on to the horse's tail. Later he discovered that the tail can be used as a rudder. Both he and his horse came out of the deadly situation without any injuries and made it to the other side of the Brahmaputra.
In another instance, he was traveling with his family on the North Bank. Before they could safely return the monsoon broke out. Driving through the roads became extremely dangerous and most of the roads were built upon embankments in order to raise above normal flood level. Further, these roads were narrow and single-track affairs. Rowntree and his family had to experience a bumpy ride before they could find their way back onto the road. The road they were on was motorable but slippery. So one skid led to another and eventually they slithered over the edge into a paddy field some six feet below the road.
10. Relate the author's observation on the use of mar boats as a mode of river transport in Assam.
Ans:- 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.
During the floods mar boats were used to cross the river. The author observed that it was a tedious performance but worked very well. Constant adjustments had to be made to allow the rise and fall of the river. A whole series of ghats, or landing places, had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank. But traffic was light and although crossing took time, there were few delays.
11. Give the author's description of a sal forest.
Ans:-The author Rowntree described the sal forest as having the character of English woodland. He said that the reserve forests mostly consisted of Sal trees.
12. Describe the author's experience with bats in the Rajapara forest bungalow.
Ans:-The Rajapara forest bungalow was equally delightful and charming like the one at Kulsi which served the needs of the author Rowntree but the presence of bats in the roof of that bungalow made living abysmal. The presence of the bats meant the contamination of the surrounding by their excrements and their fusty smell. Moreover, there were less smelly but huge fruit-eating bats with a wing span of five feet which lived in a tree outside the bungalow. They would come out from the tree in search of food at dusk which appeared to Rowntree like a strange host of ghostly shapes gliding through the air on silent wings.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Where was the Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree located?
Ans:- The Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree was located on Peacock Island.
17. Why did Rowntree like the forest bungalow at Kulsi?
Ans:- The bungalow at Kulsi was located on a wooden spur above the river and was comfortable and delightful. That is why Rowntree liked the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
18. 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".
19. Give a brief description of Peacock Island.
Ans:-The Peacock Island was situated in 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.
20. 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 received letter of thanks from him.
21. 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.
22. 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 to 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.
23. 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.
24. 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. Mar 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.
25. 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.
26. What does Rountree often talk of in Memoirs of a Chota Sahib? marks-2
Ans:- Rountree often talks about the memorable incidents of the time he spent in Guwahati and its surrounding areas as the last British Senior Conservator of Forests of Assam.
Ans:- Rountree often talks about the memorable incidents of the time he spent in Guwahati and its surrounding areas as the last British Senior Conservator of Forests of Assam.
27. What does Rowntree say about the river banks in the Manas Sanctuary? marks -2
Ans:- Rowntree says that the rivers of Manas Sanctuary were full of mahseer and their banks were a favourite site for the governor's Christmas camps
28. What unusual visitor did the writer have in his bungalow one night? HS-2018 marks-2
Ans:- The narrator had an unusual visitor which was nothing but a tiger that had been washed up by a flood. Its footprints were visible throughout the compound of the bungalow.
29. Who was John Rowntree? HS-2022, 2024
Ans:- John Rowntree was the last British Senior Conservator of Forests of Assam.
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Prose)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Poetry)
Syllabus of HS Second year English (Supplementary Reader : Vistas)
2. The Enemy
Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami
Post Graduate Teacher (English)
Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls' Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.
Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com
Mobile: 9864425896.
Contact us (whatsapp no-7020477396) for free notes on English, Political Science, Logic & Philosophy, MIL Assamese, Advanced Assamese, Swadesh Adhyayan, Economics, Education, History.
Post Graduate Teacher (English)
Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls' Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.
Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com
Mobile: 9864425896.
Contact us (whatsapp no-7020477396) for free notes on English, Political Science, Logic & Philosophy, MIL Assamese, Advanced Assamese, Swadesh Adhyayan, Economics, Education, History.
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