Memories of a Chota Sahib
A. Very Short Answer Questions
1. Who is the author of “Memories of a Chota Sahib”?
Answer: “Memories of a Chota Sahib” was written by John Rowntree.
2. Where was the author’s bungalow situated?
Answer: It was situated on the bank of the Brahmaputra at Guwahati.
3. What island could the author see from his bungalow?
Answer: Peacock Island.
4. What is Peacock Island popularly known as today?
Answer: Umananda Island.
5. Which temple stood on Peacock Island?
Answer: The Umananda Temple.
6. What could be seen beyond the Brahmaputra from the bungalow?
Answer: The distant Himalayan ranges.
7. What belief was associated with the channel between Peacock Island and the mainland?
Answer: It was believed that if the channel ever dried up completely, British rule in India would come to an end.
8. How did the author describe Guwahati?
Answer: He described Guwahati as an important port and entry point into Assam.
9. Why was Guwahati important in those days?
Answer: Travellers passed through it on their way to Shillong and different parts of the Assam Valley.
10. What lies between the Brahmaputra sandbanks and the Himalayan foothills?
Answer: The North Bank region.
11. What was unusual about some rivers on the North Bank?
Answer: They dried up in hot weather or disappeared underground.
12. How did people sometimes obtain water in camp?
Answer: They had to dig for water.
13. How was muddy water cleaned?
Answer: By adding alum so that the mud would settle.
14. Which wildlife sanctuary is mentioned in the lesson?
Answer: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.
15. Which country borders Manas?
Answer: Bhutan.
16. Which large animal was found in small numbers in Manas?
Answer: The rhinoceros.
17. Which fish were abundant in the rivers of Manas?
Answer: Mahseer.
18. What is a mahseer?
Answer: A large freshwater fish.
19. What kind of camps were held on riverbanks in Manas?
Answer: The Governor’s Christmas camps.
20. How did the author once cross a flooded river?
Answer: On horseback.
21. What happened when the horse entered the flooded river?
Answer: The author slipped over the horse’s rump and held on to its tail.
22. How did the author use the horse’s tail?
Answer: He used it like a rudder to steer the horse.
23. What happened to the author’s car during the monsoon?
Answer: It skidded off the slippery road and fell into a paddy field.
24. How far below the road was the paddy field?
Answer: About six feet below the road.
25. Was anyone seriously injured in the accident?
Answer: No.
26. Which forest bungalow was the author’s favourite?
Answer: The bungalow at Kulsi.
27. What surrounded the Kulsi bungalow?
Answer: A teak plantation and a rubber plantation.
28. Which species of rubber tree grew near Kulsi?
Answer: Ficus elastica.
29. Why had rubber tapping stopped there?
Answer: Because rubber from Ficus elastica could not compete commercially with Hevea rubber.
30. Which other forest bungalow is mentioned in the lesson?
Answer: Rajapara Forest Bungalow.
31. What problem did the author face at Rajapara bungalow?
Answer: Bats lived in the roof and created a musty smell and droppings.
32. What kind of bats lived outside the Rajapara bungalow?
Answer: Large fruit-eating bats.
33. What was the approximate wingspan of those bats?
Answer: About five feet.
34. What is a “mar boat”?
Answer: A special river ferry made of two open boats joined by a wooden platform.
35. What does “bheel” mean?
Answer: A large wetland or water body.
36. What does “pug mark” mean?
Answer: The footprint of an animal.
37. What does “forded” mean?
Answer: Crossed a river through the water without using a bridge.
38. What does “eerie” mean?
Answer: Strange and frightening.
B. 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.
Answer:
From the veranda of his bungalow, the author enjoyed a magnificent view of the broad Brahmaputra. Boats moved across the river, while Peacock Island stood prominently in the foreground. Through the trees on the island, the dome of a Hindu temple could be seen. In the distance rose the Himalayan ranges. The whole scene was peaceful, picturesque and unforgettable.
2. What belief about the channel between Peacock Island and the mainland does the author mention?
Answer:
A popular belief held that British rule in India would end if the channel separating Peacock Island from the mainland ever dried up completely.
3. What does the author say about the importance of Guwahati? Is the statement still true today?
Answer:
The author describes Guwahati as the main port and entry point into Assam. In those days, travellers coming from Calcutta passed through Guwahati on their way to Shillong or to districts further up the Assam Valley.
The description remains broadly relevant because Guwahati continues to be a major transport, commercial and communication centre connecting Assam and much of Northeast India.
C. Think as You Read — North Bank and Manas
1. What character of the North Bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to?
Answer:
The North Bank had a wild and unusual character. It lay between the Brahmaputra sandbanks and the Himalayan foothills. Its rivers behaved unpredictably—some dried up in hot weather while others disappeared underground. In camps, water sometimes had to be dug out of the ground and cleaned with alum before use.
2. What information does the author give about Manas Wildlife Sanctuary?
Answer:
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary lay close to the Bhutan border and was rich in wildlife. A few rhinoceroses lived there, while the rivers contained plenty of mahseer. The riverbanks were favourite places for the Governor’s Christmas camps.
The area also had deer, sloth bears and other wildlife. The author mentions a European couple who had leased forest land to grow simul trees for a match factory and had erected electric fencing to keep deer away, though with limited success.
3. Describe the author’s experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback.
Answer:
The author once had to cross a flooded river on horseback. He persuaded the reluctant horse to enter the strong current, but as the horse jumped into the water, the author slipped backward over its rump and found himself hanging on to its tail.
He then used the tail almost like a rudder—pushing it one way to make the horse turn the other way. In this awkward but humorous manner, horse and rider finally managed to reach the opposite bank safely.
D. Think as You Read — Monsoon and Kulsi
1. Relate the author’s experience of a road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank.
Answer:
Once, the author was travelling with his family on the North Bank during the monsoon. The narrow road ran along a raised embankment and had become extremely slippery.
Suddenly, the car lost control, skidded off the road and dropped about six feet into a paddy field. The journey through the field was rough and uncomfortable, but they eventually managed to return to the road. Fortunately, neither the passengers nor the car suffered serious damage.
2. Relate the author’s reminiscence of the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
Answer:
The forest bungalow at Kulsi was one of the author’s favourite places. It stood on raised ground above the river and was surrounded by a mature teak plantation.
Nearby was also a plantation of Ficus elastica, a rubber-producing tree. The combination of forest, river and plantations made Kulsi a beautiful and memorable place for the author.
E. Understanding the Text
1. Give an account of the author’s experiences of floods on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon.
Answer:
The author recalls several adventurous experiences caused by the monsoon floods on the North Bank.
On one occasion, he had to cross a flooded river on horseback. The horse was reluctant to enter the water, and when it finally jumped in, the author slipped over its back and had to cling to its tail. He used the tail like a rudder and somehow guided the horse safely across.
On another occasion, while travelling with his family, the monsoon had made the roads dangerously slippery. Their car skidded off a narrow embankment road and fell six feet into a paddy field. After a rough drive across the muddy field, they managed to regain the road.
These incidents show both the difficulties of monsoon travel and the adventurous nature of life on the North Bank.
2. Describe the use of mar boats as a mode of river transport in Assam.
Answer:
A mar boat was a practical type of river ferry used in Assam. It consisted of two open boats joined together by a wooden platform.
The ferry could be paddled across the river or moved by using the force of the current with the help of cables stretched across the river. Because the water level rose and fell greatly, landing places had to be constructed at several different heights along the bank.
The author considered the mar boat a clever and effective device. Since traffic was comparatively light in those days, the river crossings, though slow, caused little inconvenience.
3. Give the author’s description of a sal forest.
Answer:
The author compares the sal forests of Assam with English woodland. These forests spread over flat stretches of land and often formed large continuous blocks.
The sal trees were interspersed with villages and cultivated land. Their ordered appearance, shade and broad extent gave the forests a distinctive and impressive character.
4. Describe the author’s experience with bats in the Rajapara forest bungalow.
Answer:
The Rajapara forest bungalow could have been as pleasant as the one at Kulsi, but bats living in its roof made the stay uncomfortable. Their droppings and strong musty smell constantly reminded the author of their presence.
Outside the bungalow lived large fruit-eating bats with wingspans of about five feet. At dusk they flew out in search of food, gliding silently through the air and appearing strange and almost ghost-like.
F. Long Answer Questions
1. Describe the natural beauty and geographical character of Assam as presented in “Memories of a Chota Sahib.”
Answer:
John Rowntree presents Assam as a region of remarkable natural beauty and great geographical variety.
From his bungalow at Guwahati, he could see the vast Brahmaputra, Peacock Island, temple domes and distant mountains. The North Bank had a wilder character, with rivers that changed dramatically according to the season.
Manas offered rich wildlife, rivers full of mahseer, forests and animals such as rhinoceroses, deer and sloth bears. Kulsi impressed him with its river, teak plantation and rubber trees, while the sal forests of the South Bank reminded him of English woodland.
At the same time, nature could be dangerous. Floods, slippery roads and unpredictable rivers made travel difficult during the monsoon.
Thus, the lesson presents Assam as beautiful, adventurous and deeply shaped by rivers, forests, wildlife and seasonal change.
2. Describe the author’s adventurous experiences on the North Bank.
Answer:
The author’s life on the North Bank included several memorable adventures.
One of the most amusing incidents occurred when he attempted to cross a flooded river on horseback. The horse entered the current, and the author slipped over its rump, clinging to its tail. He then used the tail to guide the horse and finally crossed safely.
Another adventure happened during the monsoon when the author was travelling with his family. Their car skidded off a wet embankment road and dropped into a paddy field six feet below. Despite the rough journey through the field, they managed to return to the road without serious damage.
These incidents illustrate the unpredictable nature of travel in Assam during that period and also reveal the author’s humorous and adventurous outlook.
3. What picture of Manas does the author present?
Answer:
The author presents Manas as a rich and remote wildlife region close to the Bhutan border.
It was home to rhinoceroses, deer, sloth bears and many other animals. Its rivers were full of mahseer and its riverbanks were used for the Governor’s Christmas camps.
The area combined dense forests, wildlife, rivers and human activity. The mention of a European couple trying to grow simul trees and protect their plantation from deer also shows the difficulty of controlling nature in such a wild region.
Thus, Manas appears as a place of abundant wildlife and striking natural beauty.
4. Describe the forest bungalows remembered by the author.
Answer:
The author remembers several forest bungalows, but Kulsi was his favourite. It stood in a beautiful elevated position above the river and was surrounded by mature teak trees. Nearby grew Ficus elastica rubber trees.
Rajapara bungalow, however, was less pleasant because bats lived in the roof. Their droppings and smell made the bungalow uncomfortable. Huge fruit bats also lived in a tree outside and flew out silently at dusk.
Through these memories, the author shows both the charm and the inconveniences of life in remote forest stations.
5. Explain the significance of the title “Memories of a Chota Sahib.”
Answer:
The title is appropriate because the lesson is a collection of personal memories from John Rowntree’s years in Assam as a British forest officer.
The term “Chota Sahib” refers to a junior British official in colonial India. The author recalls places, journeys, rivers, forests, wildlife and incidents from his working life.
The chapter is therefore not a continuous story but a nostalgic record of experiences that remained vivid in his memory. The title effectively captures this autobiographical character.
G. Talking About the Text
1. Which island is referred to as “Peacock Island”? Which temple is mentioned there?
Answer:
The Peacock Island mentioned by the author is Umananda Island, situated in the Brahmaputra at Guwahati. The temple referred to is the Umananda Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
2. What was the status of Guwahati around the time described in the lesson?
Answer:
Guwahati was already an important administrative and transport centre. It served as the main entry point into Assam. Travellers coming from Calcutta often passed through it on their way to Shillong and different parts of the Brahmaputra Valley.
3. Why had rubber tapping stopped near Kulsi?
Answer:
The plantation consisted mainly of Ficus elastica. Its rubber was less commercially competitive than the latex obtained from Hevea brasiliensis, the main source of natural rubber. As a result, tapping had been discontinued.
H. Thinking About Language
1. Assamese or Indian-origin words used in English
Examples include:
-
Bheel
-
Mahseer
-
Cheetal
-
Mar boat
-
Ghat
-
Simul
-
Sal
-
Muga
-
Paat
-
Mekhela-chador
2. English words commonly used in Assamese
Examples include:
-
School
-
Bus
-
Train
-
Office
-
Table
-
Bottle
-
Inspector
-
Conductor
-
Film
-
Market
I. Choose the Correct Meaning
1. “The pug marks of the large cat were clearly traceable.”
A) Stripes
B) Spots
C) Footprints
D) Scratches
Answer: C) Footprints
2. “The rivers were full of mahseer.”
A) Sandbanks
B) Reptiles
C) Tortoises
D) Freshwater fish
Answer: D) Freshwater fish
3. “I once forded one of these rivers on horseback.”
A) Jumped across
B) Crossed through the water without a bridge
C) Swam across
D) Used a bamboo bridge
Answer: B) Crossed through the water without a bridge
4. “It was an eerie spot…”
A) Charming
B) Strangely frightening
C) Noisy
D) Very bright
Answer: B) Strangely frightening
J. Important Additional Questions
1. Why was Peacock Island important in the author’s view from the bungalow?
Answer:
It formed the most striking feature in the foreground of the Brahmaputra landscape and added beauty to the scene with its temple visible among the trees.
2. Why was water sometimes difficult to obtain on the North Bank?
Answer:
Some rivers dried up or disappeared underground during the hot season, forcing people to dig for water.
3. Why was alum added to water?
Answer:
It was added to make suspended mud settle so that the water became clearer.
4. Why were the roads built on embankments?
Answer:
They were raised above the normal flood level to keep them usable during periods of high water.
5. Why were the roads dangerous during the monsoon?
Answer:
They were narrow, often single-track and became extremely slippery in heavy rain.
6. Why did the author admire the mar boat?
Answer:
He considered it an ingenious and practical device for crossing rivers with changing water levels.
7. What does the chapter reveal about transport in old Assam?
Answer:
Travel depended heavily on rivers, ferries, horses and narrow embankment roads, making journeys slower and often adventurous.
8. What impression do the bats at Rajapara create?
Answer:
They add an eerie and slightly humorous touch to the author’s memories of forest life.
9. What quality of the author is revealed through his narration?
Answer:
His narration reveals keen observation, humour, love of nature and an adventurous spirit.
10. What is the central theme of the lesson?
Answer:
The lesson is a nostalgic account of Assam’s rivers, forests, wildlife, transport and everyday life as remembered by a former forest officer.
K. MCQs — 20
1. Who wrote “Memories of a Chota Sahib”?
A) John Rowntree
B) William Douglas
C) Louis Fischer
D) Asokamitran
Answer: A) John Rowntree
2. Peacock Island is now popularly known as—
A) Majuli
B) Umananda Island
C) Dibru Island
D) Chandubi
Answer: B) Umananda Island
3. Which temple is located on Peacock Island?
A) Kamakhya Temple
B) Navagraha Temple
C) Umananda Temple
D) Basistha Temple
Answer: C) Umananda Temple
4. What was believed to happen if the Peacock Island channel dried up?
A) The river would change course
B) Guwahati would flood
C) The island would disappear
D) British rule would end
Answer: D) British rule would end
5. Guwahati was mainly regarded as—
A) an entry port into Assam
B) a mining town
C) a hill station
D) a tea garden
Answer: A) an entry port into Assam
6. Which sanctuary is mentioned in the lesson?
A) Kaziranga
B) Manas
C) Orang
D) Pobitora
Answer: B) Manas
7. The rivers of Manas were rich in—
A) Hilsa
B) Rohu
C) Mahseer
D) Prawn
Answer: C) Mahseer
8. Manas lies near the border of—
A) Nepal
B) Bangladesh
C) Myanmar
D) Bhutan
Answer: D) Bhutan
9. How did the author cross a flooded river?
A) On horseback
B) By boat
C) By swimming
D) On a bamboo bridge
Answer: A) On horseback
10. What did the author hold when he slipped from the horse?
A) Its ear
B) Its tail
C) Its saddle
D) Its reins only
Answer: B) Its tail
11. What happened to the author’s car during the monsoon?
A) It stopped at a bridge
B) It broke down
C) It skidded into a paddy field
D) It fell into a river
Answer: C) It skidded into a paddy field
12. Which bungalow was the author’s favourite?
A) Manas
B) Rajapara
C) Guwahati
D) Kulsi
Answer: D) Kulsi
13. What kind of plantation surrounded Kulsi bungalow?
A) Teak
B) Tea
C) Coffee
D) Bamboo only
Answer: A) Teak
14. Which rubber tree grew near Kulsi?
A) Hevea only
B) Ficus elastica
C) Sal
D) Simul
Answer: B) Ficus elastica
15. What troubled the author at Rajapara bungalow?
A) Snakes
B) Elephants
C) Bats
D) Monkeys
Answer: C) Bats
16. A mar boat consisted mainly of—
A) one canoe
B) a motorboat
C) a bamboo raft
D) two boats joined by a platform
Answer: D) two boats joined by a platform
17. What does “pug mark” mean?
A) Footprint
B) Claw wound
C) Fur mark
D) Tail mark
Answer: A) Footprint
18. “Mahseer” is a kind of—
A) bird
B) freshwater fish
C) deer
D) tree
Answer: B) freshwater fish
19. “Fording” a river means—
A) sailing across
B) flying across
C) crossing through shallow water
D) building a bridge
Answer: C) crossing through shallow water
20. The chapter is mainly—
A) a political essay
B) a fictional mystery
C) a biography of a king
D) a nostalgic account of Assam and the author’s experiences
Answer: D) a nostalgic account of Assam and the author’s experiences
Teacher Generate Question Answer
Memories of a Chota Sahib
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.
Ans: From the veranda of his bungalow, the author could see the wide and majestic Brahmaputra River flowing calmly. In the middle of the river stood Peacock Island. Boats moved slowly across the water, and the surrounding hills and greenery added to the natural beauty of the place. The scene was peaceful and picturesque.
2. What is the belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland of Guwahati?
Ans: There is a common belief that the channel of the Brahmaputra River that separates Peacock Island from the mainland of Guwahati is extremely deep. Many people believe that the bottom of the river cannot be seen at that point.
3. What does the author say about the importance of Guwahati? Is the statement true today?
Ans: The author says that Guwahati is an important town and the gateway to the northeastern region of India. It is a major center for trade, culture and communication. This statement is still true today, as Guwahati remains the most important city in Northeast India for education, business and transportation.
THINK AS YOU READ
1. What character of the North Bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to?
Ans: The author describes the North Bank of the Brahmaputra as a region rich in forests, rivers and wildlife. The area is known for its natural beauty and wild landscapes, making it a unique and attractive place.
2. What information does the author give us about Manas Wildlife Sanctuary?
Ans: The author mentions that Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a famous wildlife reserve located on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra. It is known for its rich variety of animals and birds and is an important place for the conservation of wildlife.
3. Describe the author’s experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra.
Ans: The author once crossed a flooded river on horseback while travelling on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra. The river was full of water and the current was strong, making the crossing difficult and risky. However, the experience was adventurous and memorable for the author.
THINK AS YOU READ
1. Relate the author’s experience of the road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank.
Ans: During the monsoon season, the roads on the North Bank became muddy and dangerous. Once, the author experienced a road accident because the road conditions were very poor. The incident showed how difficult and risky travelling in that region could be during the rainy season.
2. Relate the author’s reminiscence of the forest bungalow at Kulsi.
Ans: The author remembers staying in a forest bungalow at Kulsi. The bungalow was surrounded by forests and natural beauty. The place was quiet and peaceful, and the author enjoyed the calm atmosphere and the closeness to nature.
THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE
1. Examples of borrowed words
(i) Assamese words used in English
Learn a Language
Bheel
Mar boat
Cheetal
Bungalow
(ii) English words used in Assamese
School
Bus
Train
Office
Market
2. Choose the correct meaning
(a) The pug marks of the large cat were clearly traceable.
Answer: (iii) footprints
(b) The rivers were full of mahseer.
Answer: (iv) fresh water fish
(c) I once forded one of these rivers on horseback.
Answer: (ii) crossed the river without using a bridge
(d) It was an eerie spot where trees skeletons still rose out of the water.
Answer: (ii) causing a strange fear
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