Get here the notes, questions, answers, textbook solutions, summary, extras, and PDF of BSEM or BoSEM (Manipur Board) Class 10 Additional English prose (Chapter 2) “A Glory has Departed” by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. However, the provided notes should only be treated as references, and the students are encouraged to make changes to them as they feel appropriate.
Summary
In this speech, the speaker (Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru) discusses Mahatma Gandhi’s murder and the sense of failure and shame it instils in both the Indian people and the government. He admits that praising Mahatma Gandhi seems little because he was a man of divine fire and that by doing so, they are also elevating themselves. He further asserts that Mahatma Gandhi would live on in memory since he became a beloved figure in millions of Indian hearts.
The speaker also mentions that they are facing a variety of dangers while standing on a precarious precipice between the present and the future. The greatest danger, however, is the lack of faith, sense of frustration, and sinking of the heart and spirit that results from witnessing ideals go astray and the great things that they spoke about turning into empty words. He has hope that this time of darkness will soon be over. In addition, he praises Mahatma Gandhi’s greatness both in life and after his death.
According to the speaker, the only way to honour Mahatma Gandhi is to demonstrate one’s resolve, make a new commitment, conduct oneself appropriately, dedicate oneself to the great task he undertook and completed, work, labour, and sacrifice, and at least partially establish oneself as worthy of being his followers. The tragedy, according to him, is not just an isolated act of madness, but rather results from a climate of violence and hatred that has pervaded the nation for many months and years, but particularly so in the most recent few months. He pledges that the administration would use all available resources to combat the climate of violence and hatred. He also says that they are unworthy of being this government, unworthy of being his followers, and unworthy of even speaking kind words for this magnificent man who has passed away if they do not take effective measures to halt this violence and the spread of hatred.
The speaker concludes by saying that after Mahatma Gandhi passed away, the people of India felt abandoned and desolate. However, he also mentions that along with the feeling of being left desolate and forlorn, there is also a feeling of proud thankfulness that it has been given to them of this generation to be associated with this mighty person. He acknowledges that all of them sense that feeling and he does not know if they will be able to get rid of it. He exhorts them to uphold the standards set by Mahatma Gandhi, to walk in his footsteps, to revere the sacred space where his feet once stood, and to work to dispel the climate of hatred and violence that contributed to his demise.
In sum, the speaker’s address honours Mahatma Gandhi with remarkable force, recognising both his brilliance and the profound influence he had on the people of India. He exhorts the populace to pay tribute to his memory by committing themselves to the monumental task he undertook, by working, toiling, and making sacrifices, and by making an effort to overcome the climate of violence and hatred that caused his death. He also acknowledges the sense of loss and despair that the people are feeling in the wake of his passing, but he exhorts them to transform this emotion into one of proud gratitude for having been connected to such a great leader and to work hard to live up to his legacy. The speaker’s words serve as a potent reminder of Mahatma Gandhi’s influence on the people of India and the rest of the world, as well as the necessity of pursuing the principles he stood for.
Word study and use
Exercise 1: Frame sentences to illustrate the use of the following words: dominant; depart; measure; moulded; humble; succeed; tender; exist; perilous; accomplish, desolate, tread.
Answer: i. The dominant team easily won the match with a score of 6-0.
ii. The train will depart from platform 3 at 8:00 am.
iii. We need to take a measure of the room before we can buy the right-sized furniture.
iv. The sculptor carefully moulded the clay into the shape of a horse.
v. Despite his success, he remained humble and always gave credit to his team.
vi. She worked hard to succeed in her chosen profession.
vii. The tender touch of a mother can soothe a crying baby.
viii. The fire still exists in the fireplace, but it’s dying down.
ix. The perilous climb to the summit of the mountain was a challenging experience.
x. The company accomplished its goal of increasing profits by 20% by the end of the year.
xi. The small town was desolate after the factory closed down.
xii. The soldiers tread carefully as they made their way through the minefield.
Exercise 2: Frame sentences to illustrate the use of the following phrases: beyond measure; made of; spread out; struck down; pass through; pass away.
Answers: i. The beauty of the sunset was beyond measure.
ii. The statue was made of solid marble.
iii. The disease spread out rapidly throughout the city.
iv. The illness struck down the elderly man quickly.
v. They had to pass through the dangerous jungle to reach the village.
vi. The old man passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Exercise 3: There are certain cases in which ‘to’ which is a sign of infinitive is omitted. The following sentence is an example.
(a) He would not have us feel this way. Give some examples of this type
Answers: (b) She made it clear she would not tolerate any more delays.
(c) He insisted on taking the responsibility himself.
(d) The teacher advised studying for the exam.
(e) She warned us of the dangerous consequences.
(f) He suggested going for a hike.
(g) I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
(h) We’re considering buying a new car.
(i) They apologised for the inconvenience caused.
(j) He denied having any knowledge of the situation.
Comprehension
1. Why does Pandit Nehru say that a glory has departed?
Answer: Pandit Nehru says that a glory has departed because Mahatma Gandhi, who he sees as a symbol of the India of the past and future, has passed away. He describes the sun that warmed and brightened their lives as having set and they are now left in the cold and dark.
2. Why did Nehru regard the death of Gandhiji as a shame?
Answer: Nehru regards the death of Gandhiji as a shame because they failed to protect the greatest treasure they possessed. He feels a sense of utter shame both as an individual and as head of the Government of India that they should have failed to protect Gandhiji, and also because the death of Gandhiji was the result of an act of violence by an Indian, and a Hindu.
3. Why does Nehru think that Gandhiji would chide them if they merely mourn?
Answer: Nehru thinks that Gandhiji would chide them if they merely mourn because it is not a fitting way to pay homage to him. He believes that Gandhiji would want them to work, labor, and sacrifice and to prove themselves to be worthy followers of him.
4. What is the resolve of Pandit Nehru and the Government on the death of Gandhiji?
Answer: Pandit Nehru, in his speech on the floor of the Constituent Assembly of India after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, expresses his resolve to take effective means to stop the violence and spreading of hatred that led to Gandhiji’s death, and to root out the evil of hatred and violence. He also expresses his trust in the Government to spare no means, spare no effort to tackle it. He emphasizes that if the government, in its weakness or for any other reason, does not take effective means to stop this violence, then they are not worthy of being the Government, not worthy of being Gandhiji’s followers, and not worthy of even saying words of praise for this great soul who had departed.
Composition
1. Nehru says that Gandhiji has been greater in his death. Describe your feeling about Gandhiji.
Answer: Gandhiji, according to Nehru, was greater in death because his dying benefited the noble cause he had lived for and because his principles gained even more prominence after his passing. Following his passing, the people of India are left feeling both a sense of grief and sadness as well as a sense of pride and gratitude for having known such a wonderful leader.
2. What is Nehru’s view of Gandhiji’s contribution to the nation?
Answer: Nehru views Gandhiji’s contribution to the nation as immense and transformative. He describes Gandhiji as the greatest symbol of the India of the past and the future, and as having been the one who “made this country during the last thirty years or more, attain to heights of sacrifice equalled elsewhere.”
3. Why did Nehru think that the happening was a tragedy?
Answer: According to Pandit Nehru, the assassination of Gandhiji was tragic because it wasn’t just a singular act of madness that the nation witnessed but rather a consequence of a climate of violence and hatred that had engulfed the nation for many months and years, but particularly in the most recent few months prior to the assisination of Gandhiji.
4. Nehru says that Gandhiji has been greater in his death. Describe the greatness of Gandhiji.
Answer: Nehru describes Gandhiji’s greatness as being that of a “man of divine fire”, who managed in his lifetime to become enshrined in millions and millions of hearts. He spread out in this way all over India, not in places only, or in select place of assemblies, but in every hamlet and but of the lowly and those who suffer. He lives in the hearts of millions and will live for immemorial ages. He also describes him as a man of God, who served the great cause as he served it throughout his life and who has been greater in his death.
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