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 The Ghat of the Only World, Explanation, Line by Line, Meaning of Difficult Words, English CBSE Class 11 NCERT Snapshot Chapter 6

THE GHAT OF THE ONLY WORLD 

(Explanation and Meaning of difficult words)

Author – Amitav Ghosh

Word Meaning
Approaching Nearing, Coming soon
Conversation Talk, Discussion
Routine General

On 25th April 2001, Agha Shahid Khan had spoken to me that he might die soon. It was for the first time that he had spoken about his death. It was a general discussion.

 

 

 

Word Meaning
Apartment Flat

I had made a call to him to remind that we were to go to friend’s house for lunch. I told him that I would pick him up from his flat.

 

Word Meaning
Still standing on his feet Remained fit
Lucid Sharp, One who can think clearly

He was taking treatment for cancer since last fourteen months. In spite of that Shahid was fit and could think clearly. Though sometimes he used to lose his memory.

 

Word Meaning
Thumbing through Turning pages
Engagement book Daily work diary, Book of appointment

Once while turning pages of his diary of works, he suddenly said that he could not see anything. Then he stopped for some time. Then he said that he hoped he was not about to die.

 

 

Word Meaning
Talked a great deal Talked a lot
Touched on the subject of death Talked about death

Shahid and I had talked a lot during last weeks. But he had not talked about death earlier.

 

Word Meaning
Completely at odds Totally opposite
Jocularity Humour
Light to the point of jocularity Something said as joke or not seriously
Mumbled Whispered, Told in low voice
Innocuous Innocent

I did not know how to give a reply. He had not said it seriously though he was talking about a serious aspect. Innocently I told him in low voice that he will certainly not die. Everything will be OK.

 

Word Meaning
Cut me short Started speaking before I had stopped speaking
Quizzical Puzzling

He started speaking before I had stopped speaking. His voice was full of a puzzle. He had felt some problem. He directly asked me to write something about him after his death.

 

 

 

Word Meaning
Bring myself to say Had the courage to speak

I was shocked and remained silent for a long time. Gradually I had the courage to say something which people say on such occasions. I told Shahid that he will be fine and he needed to be strong.

Word Meaning
Blackout To become unconscious

From window of my study room, I could see a corner of the building in which he lived. That building was eight house away from my house. Only a few months ago he had shifted in that building. Earlier he was living in Manhattan which is a few mile away for this place. He had suddenly become sick in February 2000. He had become unconscious.

 

 

 

Word Meaning
Revealed Disclosed
Malignant tumour Tumour of cancer

Through test it was disclosed that he had cancer tumour in brain. Then he decided to shift to Brooklyn to live with his younger sister. His sister was a teacher at Pratt Institute. It was a few buildings away from the street on which my house was situated.

Word Meaning
Reassurances Comforting, Consolation, Solace
Dead serious Very serious

Shahid neglected my advice of consolation. He started laughing. Then I understood that he was very serious about what he had said.

Word Meaning
Entrusting Giving responsibility
Charge Work
Recitatives Talks, Dialogues

I understood that he was giving a specific responsibility to me  to do a work. He did not want me to remember him through dialogues between friends or in my memory. He wanted me to write about him so that people remembered him.

 

 

 

Word Meaning
Inbuilt Internal
Resistance Opposition, Not in favour of
Bereavement Sorrow, Sadness

Shahid knew it very well that some writers want to write only about reality or factual situations. Such writers do not want to write about loss or sorrow.

Word Meaning
Instincts Inner feelings, Natural habits

He was aware that my natural habit would have guided me to give an excuse to not to write about his death. I would have told him that I was not a poet. I would have told him that we became friends only recently. Many other people know about him more that I know. Hence they will be able to write about him in a better manner.

 

 

Shahid had thought about all such probable excuses. He had decided not to accept any excuses I could think of till this time. He again told me that I must write about him.

 

Word Meaning
Imperative Order, Compulsion
Acknowledge Accept

It was clear to me that this order would have to be accepted. But I could not say anything. I could not find words to promise him that I would write about him after his death. Finally I told him that I would make my best effort.

 

 

 

At the end of the discussion I knew exactly what I had to do. I picked up my pen and noted down all the details of discussion I could recall.

 

 

Word Meaning
Pledge Promise

I continued to write our discussions for next couple of months. Through this record of discussion I was able to fulfill the promise I had made to him on that day. I was aware about the writing of Shahid even before I had met him.

Word Meaning
Powerful Strong
Lyrical Like a song, Poetic
Fiercely Greatly
Engaged Impressive, Involved
Deeply inward Thinking about self

I was strongly impressed by his book ‘The Country Without a Post Office’. This was published in 1997. I had never heard a voice similar to his. Sometimes his voice was poetic and greatly disciplined. On some occasions his voice was impressive and he appeared to be talking with his innermost feelings.

 

 

 

Word Meaning
Mock-casual Falsely normal, Artificially normal
Contemporary Of this era, Belonging to present time
Bardic Person who writes poems of warriors
Bardic register A poetic style
Conceive Think

His voice did not look artificially normal similar to somebody reading a poem in the style of reading a prose. He was not ashamed to recite poem in a bardic register style. I could not even think of someone who could write – ‘Mad heart, be brave.’ Shahid was the only person who could speak and write in such fashion.

Word Meaning
Quoted Gave reference
Touched briefly Mentioned briefly, Mentioned few words

In 1998 I gave a short reference from the book ‘The Country Without a Post Office’ in an article written by me. At that time I knew that Shahid was from Srinagar and had studied in Delhi. I did not know anything more about him.

Word Meaning
Overlapped Common, Simultaneous
Put me in touch Introduced me

I had also studied in Delhi. For a short time we both were simultaneously in Delhi. But we never met each other. Some of our friends were common to us. One such friend introduced me to Shahid.

 

 

Word Meaning
Acquaintances Known but not friends,

In 1998 and 1999 we had talked many times on phone. We had also met a few times. Though we knew each other, we were not friends. We became friends after he had moved to Brooklyn next year.

Word Meaning
Impede Hinder, Prevent, Obstruct

After becoming neighbour we occasionally started having our food together. Soon we found out that we had many things in common. By this time Shahid was seriously ill. But his sickness did not prevent our friendship from growing.

Word Meaning
Roster Group, List
Indifference Unliking

We found that we had several common friends living in America, India and at other places. We found that we both liked to eat rogan josh. We liked to listen to songs of Roshanara Begum and Kishore Kumar. We did not like cricket. We both liked old Hindi movies.

Word Meaning
Trivial Very small, Minute
Exchanges Discussions
Charge Importance
Inescapable Unavoidable
Poignance Sorrow
In this instance In this case, In this situation

Condition of Shahid was really serious. So even the smallest discussion was important and urgent. The discussion with Shahid about food and people who were almost forgotten should have been avoided because he was dying. This sorrow or pain increased a lot because Shahid was a poet. He had achieved a greatness that only I could realise as friend. Shahid was probably not talking to anybody else.

 

Word Meaning
Adda A meeting place
Conviviality Friendliness, Sociability

A writer Suketu Mehta also used to live in Brooklyn. One afternoon we all had lunch together. We planned to create a meeting place. The meetings will not have any agenda. It will be  a meeting for social gathering and for fun.

Word Meaning
Enthusiastic Eager, Keen
Crew Group
In the least bit Not at all
Put out Upset,

Shahid was very keen about these meetings and we started meeting regularly. Other writers used to join us occasionally. Once a team from television with camera reached our meeting place. Shahid was not at all upset. Without any hesitation he accepted that he liked being photographed.

 

 

Word Meaning
Sorcerer Astrologer, Wizard
Transmute Change,
Mundane Worldly, Pertaining to this world

Shahid was capable of changing the aspects of this world into some form of magic. Once I had gone with his brother Iqbal and her sister Hena to the hospital. We had gone there to bring Shahid from hospital to home.

Word Meaning
Intended Planned, meant
Relieve Reduce

The date was 21st May. Before this date several operations on him were unsuccessful. We had once again gone to the hospital for one more surgery. This was planned to reduce pressure on his brain.

Word Meaning
Bare Naked
Scalp Head
Sutures Stitches
Escort Helper, Person who accompanies

All the hair from his head were removed. The shape of the tumour was now clearly visible on his naked head. We could also see stiches around the tumour. At the time of leaving the hospital ward, a person from hospital came with wheelchair. He was wearing blue uniform.

Word Meaning
Groggier Weaker
Buckled Bent

Shahid signaled the person to go away. He declared that he was quite strong and he would walk out of the hospital without any help. But he was weaker than he had imagined. His knees bent after a few steps. He was about to fall down.

Word Meaning
Leaning Taking support
Cheerless Dull
Rapture Joy, Happiness
Descended Came, Arrived

Iqbal ran to bring a wheel chair. We all were standing in the corridor. We were holding Shahid so that he did not fall on the ground. Shahid had taken support of the wall. At that moment a happiness came to Shahid.

Word Meaning
Orderly Peon
Beaming smile A broad smile
Gleefully Happily
Lorca A poet of Spain

When peon of the hospital came back with wheel chair, Shahid gave him a broad smile. Shahid asked from he was. He replied that he belonged to the country Ecuador. Shahid happily clapped and loudly said that he wanted to learn Spanish language. He wanted to read works of Lorca.

 

 

Word Meaning
Gregariousness Habit of being with people, Sociability

Shahid liked to be among people. He was very social person. Every evening there was a party in his living room. He once told me that he liked very much when people were in his house.

Word Meaning
Festivity Celebration, Party
Depressed Sad, Unhappiness

I like it when people come to my house and I have food for them. I like the feeling of celebrations. This ensures that I do not become sad.

Word Meaning
Spacious Big, having lot of space
Split-level Multi level
Renovated Reconditioned, Modified
Cavernous Huge, Very big

His flat was big. It had floors at many levels in it. It was on the seventh floor of a reconditioned building. The top floor had a very big study room. The terrace was very wide. One could see a beautiful view of sky of Manhattan city across both banks of the East River.

Word Meaning
Waterfront Area near a waterbody

Shahid liked the view of the Brooklyn city along the water bodies. It looked like a ghat on the East River under the shining lights of Manhattan.

Word Meaning
Foyer Entry, Porch
Voyage Long journey
Fragrance Smell
Invade Attack
Dour Dull, Grimly
Oddly Different, Special, Weird

Distance from the entrance of his house to the door of the building was very long. Author has equated this to travel between two continents of the world. While going to the building the sweet smell of organ josh and haak dishes would travel upto the dull and grey coloured interiors of the lift. Sound of songs and other voices used to always come from his apartment. The sound of the bell of his apartment was different and sounded musical.

Word Meaning
Flinging open Open with a jerk
Heeng A spice,
Frosty Very cold, As cold as frost

Suddenly Shahid would open the door of his flat with a jerk. Smell of heeng would come from his house into the cold air of New York. He would clap and welcome me into his house.

Word Meaning
Invariably Always, without any variation
Perpetual Permanent, occurring everyday
Carnival Gathering

Inside his house, six or more people would always be present. They were students, writers or relatives. In the kitchen someone would be either cooking or making tea. He was slowly dying because of his death. But till the end of his life, there used to be a gathering of people in his house. They laughed, discussed, had food and listened & recited poetry.

Word Meaning
Distracted Divert the attention
Loose the track of To become unaware of

Though there used to be many people in his house, he never diverted his attention from cooking of dinner. From time to time, he would stop his discussion with his guests to give instructions for cooking, It could even be an advise to add curd.

Word Meaning
Eyesight was falling Eyesight was getting weak

When his eyesight became week, he used to judge cooking from its fragrance. If the fragrance was good he would exclaim, ‘What a fragrance the food has.’

Word Meaning
Legendary Great personality, Expert
Prowess Abilities

Shahid had a great expertise about cooking. Meaning that he had vast knowledge about cooking. Many times he used to spend several days in planning and preparation of a dinner party.

Word Meaning
Radically Completely
Alter Change
Encounter meeting
Metrical patterns A style of poetry

In one of such parties at Arizona, Shahid met a poet James Merrill. After this  meeting Shahid completely changed his style of poetry. Now he adopted the metrical patters and verse form of poetry.

Word Meaning
Explicitly Clearly
Prefigured Guessed
Envoy Messenger, Delegate, Ambassador

James Merrill had the highest influence on Shahid’s poetry. In one of the poems, Shahid had imagined about his death. In that poem James Merrill was a messenger who talked to him about death. In that poem James conveyed the message that good people always leave this world.

Word Meaning
Placed great store Emphasized, Had a firm belief
Authenticity Correctness,
Exactitude Accuracy
Had pity To show sympathy or mercy

Shahid firmly believed in adopting correct methods for cooking and then accurately following these. He did not accept any deviation from traditional recipes. He showed mercy at those people who  did not follow this approach. He had a special attachment to food of his region. He called it ‘Kashmiri food in the Pandit style’.

Word Meaning
Recurrent Repeating frequently
Vanished Disappeared
Extinct Not existing

I once asked him the reason for his passion about this style of food. He said that he had repeatedly seen the dream that all Pandits had disappeared from Kashmir. They stopped living in Kashmir.

Word Meaning
Nightmare Fear
Haunted him Troubled him

This was a fear to him and it troubled him again and again. Many times he talked about it and even wrote poetry about it. One of his such poetry is indicated below –

Shahid is talking about Pandits of Kashmir. At certain point of time I became unaware about you. That time you needed me. You wanted me to protect you. But I did not support you so you thought I was your enemy. I can very well remember that you used to live with us. But I lost your faith. I am your enemy. I very well remember that you used to live with me.

I have not done anything good for you, so you will not forgive me. I was sad because you were in trouble. But I did not disclose my pain to you. The pain was within me. If we were living together as friends, we could have achieved everything in this world.

Once Shahid told me that he loved Bengali food. I objected and told him that he had never been to Calcutta. Nowadays Calcutta is known as Kolkata.

Shahid replied that he had never been to Kolkata. But he had some friends who used to bring Bengali food. When I ate that food, I understood many things that were not known across the country.

Word Meaning
Cuisine Type of cooking food
Make a space Create a situation

This is why Shahid used to tell that we should be happy with style of cooking and style of clothes and other wonderful things. He stopped for a while and again spoke. He said that here we have created a situation so that we all can be together as we talk about good things.

One of the many good things that he liked was music of Begum Akhtar. He had met this great ghazal singer when we was a boy. A friend had introduced him to her. Her music was a necessary part in his life. He was influenced by her music.

Word Meaning
Repartee Talks full of satire, Witty talks, Banter
To board a plane To get into an aeroplane

Shahid knew many stories about her talks that were full of satire. Shahid himself could talk wittily. Once famous incident had occurred at the airport of Barcelona. A security guard stopped him while he was about to get into an aeroplane.

 

 

The guard was a woman. She asked him what was his profession. Shahid replied that he was a poet. The guard asked him what did he do in Spain. Shahid said he writes poetry.

 

Word Meaning
Exasperated Irritated, Frustrated

Whatever be the question, Shahid answered in his poetic style. At last the woman guard got irritated. She asked if he was carrying anything dangerous for other passengers. Shahid touched his chest with his palm and said he was carrying his heart.

Word Meaning
Wildean moments Witty incidents

This was his one of the best witty incident. He wrote the poem ‘Barcelona Airport’ on this incident. He remembered such moments. He once told me that he liked when people gave him an opportunity to answer questions.

On 7th May 2000 I was with him when one such opportunity came. That day Shahid was teaching at the Baruch College at Manhattan during semester of spring season. This was to be his class of the semester. Eventually it turned out be last class of his life.

This class was scheduled for a short duration because he had to go to the hospital after the class. I had heard a lot about fantastic method of teaching of Shahid. But this was the first and the last class I had witnessed his teaching.

Word Meaning
Evident Clear
Adored Liked too much
Not in the least Not at all
Subdued Depressed, Dejected, Sad

The moment I entered the class I understood that students liked Shahid too much. They had printed a magazine and it was dedicated to him. Shahid was not at all depressed that it was his last class.

Word Meaning
Sparkling Shining
Diva A famous person
Akhtar Star
Incarnate Taking another form
Brimming Full of

From the start to the end of the class he looked like a famous person, a shining star who was full of laughter and ‘nakhra’. An Indian student arrived late in the class. He said that a person from my subcontinent has arrived.

Word Meaning
Clasping Joining
Feigned Pretended
Swoon Affection, Admiration
Behold See, Observe, View

He joined his hands and pretended to show affection to her. He said that he had the feeling of patriotism whenever he saw a person from South Asia.

Word Meaning
Unmitigated Uncontrolled, Abundance
Vibrant Lively, Energetic

He recalls that his stay at Penn State was full of happiness. There he grew as a reader, poet and a lover. there he liked company of many energetic students . Many students were from India. Shahid used to often say that it was the happiest time of his life.

After sometime Shahid shifted to Arizona. He wanted to take a degree in creative writing. He did job in various colleges and universities. Finally he was appointed a professor in University of Utah in Salt lake in 1999.

He had taken a leave for some time from Utah University to do job at New York University. During this period he had the first attack of unconsciousness in February 2000.

 

 

In 1975, Shahid had shifted to Pennsylvania. Since then he lived in America most of the time. His brother had already shifted to America and later his two sisters also came there.

 

But parents of Shahid lived in Srinagar. It was his routine to go to Srinagar during summer month of every year. He used to say that he used to always think about poor countries.

 

 

Word Meaning
Intermittent Irregular
Mounting violence Increasing violence
Seized Gripped, Affected

Since he used to go to Srinagar, he was an irregular but a direct witness of the increasing violence in that region. The violence had increased after 1980.

In 1989 signs of change started becoming very clear. Kashmir would soon be practically burning.

Word Meaning
Steady Regular
Deterioration Decline, Worsening

The political situation in Kashmir continuously worsened. The violence and measure to control violence both increased. These had a great effect on Shahid. After some time the situation of Kashmir became the main theme of his poetry. In fact he wrote his best poems about Kashmir.

Word Meaning
Irony Contrast, Paradox

But Shahid did not have any desire to become a poet who wrote about politics. Once he said that if anyone was from a place full of difficulties and that was the only topic to write then one should stop writing. One must respect art and culture of one’s own country. These are also as important as writing about that place.

Word Meaning
Anguished Unhappy, Agonised,
Destiny Fate
Resolutely With firm determination
Embrace Accept, Take up

Shahid was unhappy about the likely future situation of Kashmir. Shahid firmly refused to accept the role of a victim of situation of Kashmir though he could have easily done that. If had accepted such role, he could have been a regular person on talk shows and news channels.

 

 

Word Meaning
His calling His choice

But Shahid was sure about his choice. He was a poet and he wanted to remain a poet. This field of language is strongly competitive and does not forgive any mistake. He had respect towards his religion. But he believed that religion and politics should be considered separately.

Word Meaning
Gaze Opinion, Thought
Inclusive Comprehensive, Overall
Ecumenical Involving all religion
Credited Assigned, Attributed
Upbringing Education during childhood by parents

Thoughts of Shahid were not political. Thus they could not be included in a policy nor could be a solution. In a wider perspectives, his thinking was to have an overall view and included all religions. He attributed such thoughts to the teachings and education he had received from his parents during his childhood.

Word Meaning
Seized Gripped, Affected

Many times he narrated that during his childhood he wanted to construct a small Hindu temple in his room in Srinagar. Initially he hesitated to tell his parents. But when he told his parents about it, they also agreed for it. Their enthusiasm was equal to that of Shahid’s.

Word Meaning
Accouterments Other things needed for an activity
Assiduous Taking great care, Careful, Diligent
Fanaticism Passion, extremism

His mother brought idols and other things required for a temple. For some time he was very careful in doing puja at his temple. This was his favourite story. Whenever people talked about extremism of Muslims, Shahid used to narrate this story. He used to tell that his mother had helped him in making a temple in his room.

Word Meaning
Shot back Replied quickly
Nationalist Person favouring his own nation or region

I once told Shahid that he could become national poet of Kashmir. He replied that he wanted to be a national poet (poet of India) but he did not want to be poet of a part of Kashmir. In the main poem of his book ‘The Country Without a Post Office’ he has described a person who comes back to Kashmir. He becomes caretaker of a broken minaret.

He had further narrated that nothing will survive, everything will be destroyed. These are the pious words. You will read what I am writing and I will read what you are writing. Oh my son, please come and open the envelops that contain our letters. This is an old poem of Shahid. I have read remaining part of this poem. Expressions in this poem are very nicely narrated.

Word Meaning
Figuring Understanding
Inextricably Inseparably
Linked Attached
Prefigured Be an early indication of something

In this understanding of his homeland, he himself became a representative of the situation prevailing in Kashimr – a witness as well as a martyr. His destiny is linked with Kashmir as a witness and as a martyr. One does not know which role came first.

 

 

The ‘Safron Sun’ and the ‘Times of Rain’ are two poems written by Shahid. In one of the poems he had expressed his desire to die in Kashmir.

Word Meaning
Therapy Treatment
Put off Deferred, Postponed, Stopped

I had recorded a telephonic discussion of 5th May in my notes. The previous day, on 4th May, he had gone to the hospital for getting a scan done. This report was expected to disclose the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Every other treatment had been stopped till receipt of this report.

The scan was to start at 2:30 in the afternoon. I called his number many times in the late afternoon. I called him in the evening also. But he did not pick up the phone. I called him in the morning of next day. This time he answered my call.

Word Meaning
Preambles Introduction, Preliminary

We did not have any preliminary talk. He directly informed about the scan. He said that the news was not good. They will stop all medicines including chemotherapy. They think I will die within one year.

Word Meaning
Suspect Guess, Doubt
Dazed Surprised, Unable to think

They have a doubt that medicines are not having desired effect on my body. After sometime they will give me radiation. But they do not hope that it will cause major improvement. I was not able to think anything. I just kept looking at my table. I asked Shahid what he will do now.

Word Meaning
Will Legal document about one’s property
Leave a mess Become trouble
Siblings Brothers and sisters

Shahid said that he wanted to go to Kashmir. He wanted to die there. He did not appear to be disturbed. I want to write my will and do other similar works. I do not want that my brothers or sisters should have any trouble after my death. After completing these works I want to go to Kashmir.

Word Meaning
Feudal system A system in which family is given priority

Shahid said that even now people in Kashmir respect family bonding so lot of support is available. And his father also lived there. He did not want his brothers and sisters to travel to USA on his death. He had to travel to India when his mother had died.

Word Meaning
Logistics Detailed arrangement about an event or travel
Content Satisfied
Laid to rest Cremated
Vicinity Close to, Near to

Afterwards he changed his plan of going to Kashmir because a detailed plan could not be worked out. There could have been other reasons also. He was satisfied to be cremated in Northampton. It is a town close to Amherst. He considered Amherst a sacred town because another poet Emily Dickinson had lived there. Shahid admired her poetry too much.

Word Meaning
Accident Chance
Overlaid Associated
Inseparable That cannot be separated

I do not think it was a matter of chance that Shahid started thinking about Kashmir when he was about to die. In one of his poems ‘death, Kashmir and Shahid’  always appeared together. It was just like an old photograph dissolved in rain. it was not possible to separate these three.

Following is a part of his poem –

Shahid through above poem has picturized his death. His death will mean setting of sun. from this world he will be shifted to a grave that is about two yard long. People will be talking about my death. But I will remember the famous lines about Kashmir – If there is a paradise on earth it is in Kashmir .

 

Word Meaning
Intermittently Not continuously
Converse Talk

I met Shahid for the last time on 27th October. We met at the house of his brother in Amherst. He was not able to talk continuously. Most of the time we repeated the discussion we had already had in the past.

Word Meaning
Trace Sign
Anguish Agony, Pain

Since a long time he knew that his death would be coming soon. He had understood this fact. There was no sign of pain or discord in him. His family and friends were with him. He looked calm, satisfied and peaceful person.

Word Meaning
Consolation Satisfaction

He liked to think that after his death he would be meeting his mother, somewhere in the other world. I realised that  during his last days of his life, he was quite satisfied. On 8th December at 2 AM he peacefully died in his sleep.

 

 

Word Meaning
Amazed Surprised
Vast Huge
Void Gap, Emptiness

Now he is no more with us. It is a matter of surprise that such a short friendship has created such a big emptiness within me. Many times I recall his presence in my living room. I particularly remember the night when he had read a poem about his departure from this world.

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