Get ASSEB/AHSEC Class 12 The Voyage Question Answers prepared as per academic session 2024-2025. HS 2nd Year The Voyage Solution with most important questions for Exams.
Assam Board Class 12 Alternative English Notes for 2025 Exam
Chapter: 1 The Voyage
(A) Very Short Questions & Answers : Mark: 1
1. State whether the following statements are True or False:
(i)
Bhupen Hazarika had brought his Rolleiflex from home.
Ans. False.
(ii)
The sight of the Egyptian Pyramids enthralled Bhupen Hazarika.
Ans. False.
(iii)
Bhupen Hazarika's companion on the flight from Guwahati to Dumdum was Bhaben
Das.
Ans. False.
(iv)
Bhupen Hazarika had a weakness for Kalmou Saak.
Ans. True.
(v)
Hazarika was received at Calcutta Airport by Bhaben Das.
Ans. True.
2.
What was the name of the airport situated in Guwahati in 1949?
Ans. The name of the airport situated in Guwahati in 1949 was Kanhikuchi.
3.
Who was the Governor of Assam during the inaugu- ration of the airport in
Guwahati?
Ans. Sir Akbar Hydari was the Governor of Assam during the inauguration of the airport in Guwahati.
4.
How much was the air fare from Guwahati to Dum- dum in 1949?
Ans. In 1949, the air fare from Guwahati to Dumdum was 55 rupees.
5.
In which country is the 'Temple of the Tooth Relic' located?
Ans. The 'Temple of the Tooth Relic' is located in Sri Lanka.
6.
What type of leave did the French sailor avail when he came to the shore?
Ans. The French sailor availed a two-day 'shore-leave' when he came to the shore.
7.
Who did the narrator retrieve their bag from after realizing they had left it
behind?
Ans. The bag was brought by the narrator's friend, Syed Abdul Malik.
8.
Who was the Chief Minister of Assam at the time of the narrator's voyage to
America?
Ans. Gopinath Bordoloi was the Chief Minister of Assam at the time of the narrator's voyage to America.
9.
What was the name of the ship the narrator boarded for their sea voyage?
Ans. The name of the ship the narrator boarded for the sea voyage was SM Samponio.
10.
What dance did the narrator witness during their visit to Colombo?
Ans. During their visit to Colombo the narrator witnessed the Yakuma Natum, also known as the demon dance.
11.
What item did the narrator purchase during the ship's stop in Aden?
Ans. The narrator purchased a Rolleiflex camera during the ship's stop in Aden.
12.
Where did the ship stop after Djibouti?
Ans. After Djibouti the ship stopped in Cairo.
13.
Who was the French young man the narrator witness in the sea?
Ans. The French young man the narrator witnessed in the sea was named Andres.
14.
Who was the first person the narrator met at the International House?
Ans. The first person the narrator met at the International House was a Sikh student named Gurcharan Singh.
15.
Who received the narrator at the airport in Calcutta?
Ans. The narrator was received at the airport in Calcutta by his classmate of Cotton College, Bhaben Das.
16.
Who was the pastor in Guwahati who prepared the narrator's research eurriculum
for their voyage to America?
Ans. Robert Browm was the pastor in Guwahati who prepared the narrator's research curriculum for their Voyage to America.
17.
Which newspaper from Assam did the narrator find among the newspapers and
journals offered on the plane?
Ans. Among the newspapers and journals offered on the plane the narrator found the Assam Tribune.
(B) Short Questions & Answers: Marks: 2
1.
Name the two locations that Bhupen Hazarika remi- nisces about in The Voyage.
Ans. The two locations that Bhupen Hazarika reminisces about in 'The Voyage' are Guwahati and Kolkata.
2.
What did Hazarika consider to be his only aim?
Ans. Hazarika considered singing to be his only aim.
3.
The ship set sail later than the scheduled time. How late was the ship?
Ans. The ship set sail one and a half days later than its sched- uled departure time.
4.
Name the two places associated with Buddhism men- tioned by Bhupen Hazarika in
'The Voyage'.
Ans. The two places associated with Buddhism mentioned by Bhupen Hazarika in 'The Voyage' are Bodhgaya and Sarnath.
5.
Which two Indian states associated with dances, other than Assam, are mentioned
by Bhupen Hazarika in 'The Voyage'?
Ans. The two Indian states associated with dances, other than Assam, mentioned by Bhupen Hazarika in The Voyage are Manipur and Rajasthan.
6.
What was the route chosen by the narrator for their journey to America?
Ans. The narrator, in their journey to America, chose to travel from Guwahati to Dumdum by air, Dumdum to Visakhapatnam by Indian Airlines flight. Visakhapatnam to Colombo by another plane and finally a sea voyage from Colombo to Marselle.
7.
What did the professor whom the narrator met in Lanka attribute the lack of
camaraderie between Lankans and Indians to?
Ans. The professor whom the narrator met in Lanka concerns about India's economic exploitation and the Lankan government's apprehension of progressive Indian labourers.
8.
What news did the narrator hear in Cairo?
Ans. In Cairo, the narrator heard the news of Mao Zedong's successful Long March and China's freedom.
9.
Who accompanied the narrator to the airport in Guwahati?
Ans. The narrator's mother, father, Queen (Sudakshina Sarma), Mahi and younger brother Jayanta Hazarika accompanied him to the airport in Guwahati.
10.
What did the ship's captain point out to the passen- gers in the Red Sea?
Ans. The ship's captain pointed out the star above the holy crescent moon, which is a rare sight to the passengers in the Red Sea.
11.What
natural phenomenon did the narrator witness in the sea?
Ans. The narrator saw herds of phosphorous fish lighting up the sea with their bioluminescence.
12.
What prayer did the narrator make after witnessing the rare sight in the Red
Sea?
Ans. After witnessing the rare sight in the Red Sea the narrator prayed for the blessing of a joyful journey and the endur- ance to travel from country to country, beyond borders.
13.
What was the problem faced by the narrator when they boarded the ship in Aden?
Ans. The narrator faced a problem when they boarded the ship in Aden as hardly anyone on the ship knew English. They had left everyone behind and had uncertainties about the journey ahead.
14.
Why did the captain say they were fortunate to be- hold that sight?
Ans. The captain said that although they had travelled that route numerous times, they had the great fortune of seeing that sight only once or twice. It was considered a rare occurrence.
15.
Why did the narrator feel heavy-hearted for their country when leaving
Visakhapatnam?
Ans. When leaving Visakhapatnam the narrator felt heavy-hearted for their country. It is because they had uncertainties about weather or not they would be able to return to their native place. They were aware that many who went to America never came back during that time.
16.
What did the narrator see in the sea that surprised them?
Ans. The narrator noticed a thousand neon lights in the sea. The lights turned out to be herds of phosphorous fish lighting up the sea with a dazzling display which surprised them.
17.
What did the narrator observe about the city of Djibouti during their brief
visit?
Ans. During their brief visit the narrator observed that the impe- rialist Italians had not brought any development to Djibouti. The place was littered with wine shops, and most people seemed poor. Women roamed the streets wearing burqas.
18.
Who did the narrator meet in Alexandria and what advice did they give?
Ans. In Alexandria, the narrator
met a Bangladeshi Muslim at the Youth Hostel.
The Bangladeshi Muslim advised the narrator to focus on their studies, keep away from politics, and not get involved in religious activities.
19.
What did the narrator feel upon reaching New York city?
Ans. Upon reaching New York city, the narrator felt a strange loneliness, as if they had been uprooted from their sur- roundings and thrown into an unfamiliar world.
20.
How did the narrator describe the atmosphere at the International House?
Ans. The narrator described the atmosphere at the International House as one of camaraderie and diversity. Students from various countries and cultures lived together, sharing their experiences and forming lasting friendships.
(C) Long Questions & Answers:
1.
Write a brief account of Hazarika's stopover in Sri duodii Lanka.
Ans. Hazarika arrived in Colombo on 11 September 1949. He was struck by the scenic beauty of Colombo, with its coconut trees and the Indian ocean. He observed a blend of cultures and influences, from English and Hindi music playing on the radio to stalls selling American dresses and watches. Hazarika encountered a French sailor on shore leave and witnessed the multicultural atmosphere of the city. Hazarika also visited Kandy, a city known for its Buddhist heritage. The Temple of the Tooth Relic left a deep impact on him. Hazarika felt as if he was in Sarnath or Bodhyaya, experiencing the same spiritual ambience and echoes of Buddham Sharanam Gachchami. Hazarika's visit to Sri Lanka highlighted the cultural affinities between the people of Sri Lanka and India.
2.
Briefly present your view about Hazarika's experi- ence of visiting a Sri
Lankan family home.
Ans. Hazarika had an opportunity of visiting the drawing room of a modern Lankan family. He says that the experience of visiting the Sri Lankan family home was a unique one. He found a piano and a Madonna painting by a European artist in the drawing room of the family. The children were singing English songs. Hazarika was surprised by the simi- larities between the Lankan home and his own experiences in Shillong. Despite being far away from Assam, Hazarika felt a sense of familiarity and connection, emphasizing the universality of certain cultural aspects.
3.
Present your views on the food and flavours men- tioned by Hazarika in 'The
Voyage'.
Ans. Hazarika gives an account of foods and flavours in 'The Voyage'. He mentions a dish called 'Kalmou Saak' that his grandmother used to cook for him. Although he longs for it during his journey, he is unable to find it in Sri Lanka. He also mentions 'tenga' and 'bamboo shoot', the traditional Assamese ingredients. These references to food and flavours highlight Hazarika's nostalgia for his native Assam and his longing for the tastes and aromas of home. Hazarika's account of food and flavours reflects how it can evoke powerful memories and emotions, especially when one is far away from familiar surroundings.
4.
How does Bhupen Hazarika recount his feeling about being an Indian as he moves
forward in his journey? Give a brief description.
Ans. As Hazarika moves forward in his journey, he recounts his evolving sense of identity. He recounts that as he moves beyond India's boundaries, he begins to see himself more as an Indian student rather than solely identifying with his Assamese or Bengali origin. The experience broadens his perspective and deepens his love for all of India, blurring the distinction between being an Assamese or an Indian. Hazarika's journey helps him embrace a larger national identity and see himself as part of a diverse and united India.
5.
Present an overview of Bhupen Hazarika's experi- ence during the course of his
journey abroad from your reading of 'The Voyage'.
Ans. Bhupen Hazarika's journey
abroad, as described in 'The Voyage' is a transformative experience that
exposes him to various cultures, languages, landscapes and people. Throughout
his journey, Hazarika encounters diverse cul- tures and observes their influences
in different lacations. In Sri Lanka he notices the co-existence of Lankan and
European elements in the architecture, music and lifestyle. The Yakuma Natum
dance, reminiscent of the Deodhani Nritya of Kamrupa illustrates the
similarities and shared roots of different cultures.
In London, Hazarika experiences the vibrancy of multiculturalism, where people from various backgrounds coexist and interact. Hazarika also witnesses the blending of cultures in the music of the streets, where British melo- dies mix with African rhythms and create a unique har- mony.
6.
Bhupen Hazarika's representation is not merely an account of a journey; it is
also a narrative about the convergence of cultures in different locations'.
Com- ment on the statement based on your reading of 'The Voyage'.
Ans. It holds true that Bhupen Hazarika's representation in 'The Voyage' is not merely an account of a journey, but also a narrative about the convergence of cultures in different locations. Hazarika's narrative goes beyond describing his personal experiences and observations. Hazarika's encoun- ters with different cultures highlight the fluidity and adapt- ability of human expressions.
Through his experiences Hazarika emphasizes the im- portance of cultural understanding, respect and apprecia- tion. He recognizes that despite cultural differences there are shared elements that unite people across borders, overall Hazarika's representation in 'The Voyage' captures the essence of cultural convergence, showcasing the trans- formative power of travel and the potential for meaningful connections between people of different backgrounds.
7.
What were the initial challenges faced by the narra- tor in the United States?
Ans. The initial challenges
faced by the narrator in the United States were
(i) getting acclimated to the new environment.
(ii) dealing with homesickness.
(iii) adjusting to the cultural differences.
(iv) overcoming language barriers.
8.
What motivated the narrator to continue their studies in the United States
despite the challenges?
Ans. The narrator, Hazarika was motivated to continue their studies in the United States despite the challenges. He was motivated by their strong desire to gain knowledge and contribute to the development of own country. They be- lieved that the opportunity to study abroad would provide them with valuable insights and skills that they could later apply in India.