Chapter- 7           The Adventure


1. Who is the author of The Adventure?


Answer: Jayant Narlikar is the author of the story.


2. Who is the central character of the story?


Answer: Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde is the central character.


3. What is Professor Gaitonde by profession?


Answer: He is a historian.


4. Which train does Professor Gaitonde travel by?


Answer: He travels by the Jijamata Express.


5. Which route does the Jijamata Express follow?


Answer: It runs on the Pune–Bombay route.


6. What unusual thing does Professor Gaitonde notice during the journey?


Answer: The train runs unusually fast and the surroundings seem unfamiliar.


7. What is the first station where the train stops?


Answer: The first stop is Lonavala.


8. Why is Professor Gaitonde confused about the stations?


Answer: Because some familiar places and developments seem to be missing.


9. What does Professor Gaitonde plan to do after reaching Bombay?


Answer: He plans to visit a big library and read history books.


10. Why does he want to consult history books?


Answer: To understand how the present state of affairs came into existence.


11. Whom does Professor Gaitonde plan to meet in Pune later?


Answer: He plans to meet Rajendra Deshpande.


12. Why is Rajendra Deshpande important to him?


Answer: He believes Rajendra Deshpande will help him understand what happened.


13. What doubt troubles Professor Gaitonde about Rajendra Deshpande?


Answer: He wonders whether Rajendra Deshpande exists in this world at all.


14. Where does the train stop after the long tunnel?


Answer: The train stops at Sarhad.


15. What is unusual about the station Sarhad?


Answer: It is a small station and has permit checking.


16. Who checks the permits on the train?


Answer: An Anglo-Indian officer in uniform checks the permits.


17. What does this permit checking suggest?


Answer: It suggests that India is divided into different states or nations.


18. What historical event seems to have changed in this world?


Answer: The outcome of the Third Battle of Panipat seems to have changed.


19. What is meant by “blow-by-blow account”?


Answer: A detailed description of events step by step.


20. What does “morale booster” mean?


Answer: Something that raises confidence or spirit.


21. What is the meaning of “relegated to”?


Answer: Reduced to a lower or less important position.


22. What does “political acumen” refer to?


Answer: Sharp understanding of politics.


23. What is meant by “de facto”?


Answer: Existing in reality, though not officially.


24. What does “astute” mean?


Answer: Clever and quick to understand situations.


25. What are “doctored accounts”?


Answer: False or manipulated records of events.


26. What does “gave vent to” mean?


Answer: Expressed strong feelings openly.


27. What theme is central to the story The Adventure?


Answer: The theme of alternative history and reality.


28. What scientific idea influences the story?


Answer: The concept of parallel worlds.


29. How does the story mix history and science?


Answer: It combines historical events with scientific imagination.


30. What message does the story convey?


Answer: Small changes in history can alter the course of the world.


Answer by Dimpee Bora