Class 8 English Chapter 4 Solution
The Great Escape
1. Very Short Question Answer
1. Who was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose?
Ans: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the most famous Indian nationalist leaders.
2. What did Subhas do for India’s freedom?
Ans: Subhas fought for India’s freedom from British rule.
3. When was Netaji Subhas Chandra born?
Ans: Netaji Subhas Chandra was born on 23 January, 1897.
4. What did Subhas set up? What was its speciality?
Ans: Subhas set up the Indian National Army (INA). The army included a women’s regiment too.
5. What was the purpose of the Indian National Army?
Ans: The purpose of the Indian National Army was to fight against the British and to free India.
6. In which year was Subhas put under house arrest and by whom?
Ans: In 1941, Subhas was put under house arrest by the British Government.
7. What was Subhas doing when Sisir entered his bedroom?
Ans: Subhas was reclining on his pillows when Sisir entered into his bedroom.
8. What was Sisir’s task?
Ans: Sisir’s task was to help plan and carry out Subhas’s escape from India.
9. Where would Sisir have to drive Subhas? (
Ans: Sisir would have to drive Subhas to a railway station far away from Calcutta.
10. Name the car mentioned in the text.
Ans: The car mentioned in the text was ‘Wanderer’ owned by Sisir Bose.
11. Why had Subhas cabled Akbar Shah?
Ans: Subhas had cabled Akbar Shah to meet him at Calcutta and help him escape.
12. What was the real identity of Muhammad Ziauddin?
Ans: Muhammad Ziauddin was actually the disguise of Subhas Chandra Bose.
13. What are the names of Subhas’s niece and cousin?
Ans: The names of Subhas’s niece and cousin are lea and Dwijen respectively.
14. How did Subhas make his disguise?
Ans: Subhas made his disguise as Muhammad Ziauddin.
15. Who signalled and from where?
Ans: Dwijen, Subhas’s cousin signalled from an upstairs window.
16. What did Dwijen signal?
Ans: Dwijen signalled that no policemen was nearby.
18. What did the policemen prefer on January 16?
Ans: On 16 January night, the policemen preferred the comfort of the warm blankets on the charpoi.
19. Why did Subhas keep the light glowing in his bedroom?
Ans: Subhas kept the light glowing in his bedroom to give the impression that he was still there.
20. What did Subhas offer Sisir during the journey?
Ans: Subhas offered coffee to Sisir during the journey
21. Why did Subhas and Sisir feel anxious?
Ans: Subhas and Sisir felt anxious because the car engine faultered once
22. Where is Bararee?
Ans: Bararee is situated near Dhanbad.
23. When did Subhas and Sisir reach Bararee?
Ans: Subhas and Sisir reached Bararee at 8.30 a.m.
24. Why did Subhas leave for Gomoh Station?
Ans: Subhas left for Gomoh Station to catch the Delhi – Kalka Mail.
25. Where did Sisir park his car?
Ans: Sisir kept his car a little further from Ashok’s house.
2. Short Question Answer
1. Who was Akbar Shah?
Ans: Akbar Shah was a co-worker in the freedom struggle against British-Raj. He operated in the north-western frontier provinces
2. How did Subhas look like when Sisir entered his bedroom on that December afternoon?
Ans: When Sisir entered his bedroom on that December afternoon, Subhas was looking pale and thin, with a bushy half-grown beard.
3. How did Sisir feel when he walked back to his own house from his uncle’s house?
Ans: When Sisir walked back to his own house from his uncle’s house, he was in a state of wonder and subdued excitement.
4. What was Subhas’s excuse to meet his nephew?
Ans: Subhas’s excuse to meet his nephew was that Sisir helped him listen to foreign broadcasts as he was good at operating the radio.
5. Why did Subhas and Sisir, as their plan of escape, decide to drive out in ‘the most natural fashion through the main gate?
Ans: Subhas and Sisir, as their plan of escape, decided to drive out in “the most natural fashion through the main gate” so that nobody especially the police could not suspect them.
.6. What items were purchased for Subhas to be carried with him on his journey?
Ans: Baggy shalwars, a black fez, a suitcase, a bedroll, shirts and pillows and a set of calling cards were purchased for Subhas to be carried with him on his journey.
7. Why do you think Subhas had to put on a false identity?
Ans: The British Government put Subhas under house arrest but he wanted to escape from the country. Under this circumstances, Subhas had to put on a false identity so that none could recognize him.
8. Why did Sisir go to the printer’s shop?
Ans: Sisir went to the printer’s shop to order a false set of calling cards for Subhas as Muhammad Ziauddin
9. How was Subhas dressed?
Ans: Subhas was dressed in a long, brown coat, baggy salwars and a black fez. He wore gold wire-rimmed spectacles.
10. Why did Sisir pick Subhas up in his car a little farther from Ashok’s house?
Ans: Sisir picked Subhas up in his car a little farther from Ashok’s house to show that Muhammad Ziauddin left the house alone.
4. Fill in The Blanks
(a) The children were full of . (excite) as they went for a picnic.
(b) We should not (courage) anyone.
(c) It was a (comfort) journey, as I got a place to sit.
(d) India became an (dependent) nation in 1947.
ANSWERS:
(a) excitement (b) discourage
(c) comfortable (d) independent.
5. True And False
1. F He (Akbar Shah) operated in the north-western provinces.
2. F Together they went to a shop in Central Calcutta where they purchased baggy shalwars (trousers) and a black fez for Subhas’s disguise.
3. F None of the family members knew anything except Subhas’s niece lla and a male cousin. Dwijen.
4. T On the cool winter night of January 16th, they (the policemen) had preferred the comfort of the warm blankets on the charpoi.
5. F Together they (Akbar Shah and Sisir) went to a shop in Central Calcutta.
6. F Muhammad Ziauddin… was the false identity with which Subhas was to travel.
7. T Sisir owned a German car called the Wanderer.
8. T None of the family members knew anything except Subhas’s niece lla and a male cousin, Dwijen.
9. F Subhas and Sisir waited until the rest of the Bose family had fallen asleep.
10. F On 16 January, 1941, Sisir finished his dinner early and drove to Elgin Road around 8.30 p.m.
11. F Subhas kept his disguise on as Muhammad Ziauddin, and said he had come on insurance business.
12. T He (Subhas) wanted to catch the Delhi-Kalka Mail from there (Gomoh Station).
13. F None of the family members knew anything except Subhas’s niece Ila and a male cousin, Dwijen.
14. F He (Sisir) parked the Wanderer at the back of the house.
15. T He (Subhas) wore gold wire-rimmed spectacles.
16. F Sisir walked back that night to his own house at 1, Woodburn Park in a state of wonder and subdued excitement.
17. T Finally, they (Subhas and Sisir) decided to drive out, in the most natural fashion, through the main gate.
18. F Looking pale and thin, with a bushy half – grown beard, Subhas was reclining on his pillows.
19. F Akbar Shah was co-worker in the freedom struggle against British – Raj.
20. F Sisir was good at operating the radio.