Me at the Beginning of Life [People & Places] - NEB English Class 10 Exercise

Reading Exercise of Me at the Beginning of Life

A. Find the words from the text that have the following meanings.

a. ...Inspid........lacking taste

b. ..Inscribed.......wrote words

c. ....Tangled........twisted together

d. ....Suffocating.....causing difficulty in breathing a particular attitude towards

e. ..Offspring......a person's child or children

B. Complete the sentences below choosing the correct words from the text.

a. The word 'calm' is opposite in meaning to ...restless........

b. The phrase means ..passed away.....'died'.

c. The word ..invisible....means incapable of being seen.

d. The word 'wish' and ...desire... are synonyms.

e. The word ...soiling.....means making dirty.

C. State whether the following statements are true or false.

a. Jhamak Ghimire defines her life as a beautiful flower of creation.

True

b. According to her, our fortune decides how our life will be.

True

c. The author was happy with how she spent her childhood.

False

d. People blamed Jhamak herself for her physical disability.

True

e. According to the writer, Homer was incomplete because he was physically incapable.

False

f. Jhamak could make grandmother happy with her voice.

False

g. Jhamak's grandmother still looks after her.

True

D. Answer these questions.

a. Why does Jhamak think of her life as a burdensome life?

➡ Jhamak thinks her life is burdensome because she feels robbed by fate and believes she lacks the sweetness and joy of life. She perceives her existence as being akin to an animal's life, with no invisible sympathies or sensations of the human heart.

b. When does the fortune draw a line of fate?

➡The fortune is believed to draw a line of fate on the night when a newborn child is bathed, washed, made clean, and put her to sleep with an exercise book and a pen under her pillow. In Jhamak's case, her mother performed this ritual on the sixth day after her birth.

c. How did people respond to her life? Was she happy with their behavior?

➡ People responded to Jhamak's life with displeasure and anger. They considered her cursed by the gods and blamed her for her physical disability. Their behavior lacked sympathy and love towards her. Jhamak was not happy with their behavior towards her.

d. Who does Thamak compare herself with? What made them different from Jhamak?

➡ Jhamak compares herself to individuals like Homer, Nikolai Otrovsky, and Helen Keller. These individuals were physically weak like her but managed to make significant contributions, leave a different perspective, and convey the meaning of being human before their passing. The difference lies in the recognition and appreciation they received, while Jhamak faced criticism and negative attitudes.

e. Did achieving awareness become a curse for her? Why?

➡ Yes, achieving awareness became a curse for Jhamak because it made her aware of her desires and dreams that she could not fulfill due to her physical limitations. She longed to speak, walk, and engage with others but lacked the voice and physical strength to do so. The awareness of her limitations intensified her pain and suffering.

f. How does Jhamak picturise her family's economic condition during her childhood?

➡ Jhamak portrays her family's economic condition during her childhood as challenging. It was difficult for them to manage two meals a day, and her parents often went hungry. Despite the economic hardships, her grandmother, who loved her dearly, would feed and care for her, even sacrificing her own meals.

E. Read the opening chapter of 'Jivan Kadan Ki Phul' in Nepali and narrate the story of Jhamak's life in your own words.

Jhamak's life began with a sense of struggle and adversity. She reflects on life as a beautiful creation but questions whether her own life fits that definition. Despite facing hardships and pain, she managed to survive. Jhamak considers her life burdensome and filled with bitter truths and harsh realities. She recounts how unfortunate lines of fate were written for her when she fell from her mother's womb. On the sixth day after her birth, her mother performed a ritual, hoping for a positive line of fate. However, Jhamak believes that fortune did not favor her.

Throughout her life, Jhamak felt robbed by fate and experienced the absence of joy and sweetness. She lived without the human heart's invisible sympathies and sensations, feeling like she lived an animal's life. People saw her as cursed and treated her with displeasure and anger. Jhamak questions why society considered her incomplete due to her physical disability while celebrating historical figures like Homer, Nikolai Otrovskys, and Helen Keller, who were also physically weak but left a significant impact on the world.

Jhamak acknowledges that she was born in a different world and lived a life that was unequal and low-grade. Achieving awareness became a curse as she lacked a voice to speak and strength in her limbs to walk. She longed to fulfill basic desires like running on hills and talking with others, but her limitations held her back, leaving her wounded.

Jhamak recalls her grandmother's love and care, despite the challenging economic conditions of their home. Her grandmother fed her selflessly, even when it meant going hungry herself. Jhamak expresses gratitude for the love she received and the experiences she had because of her grandmother's care.

Jhamak's early life was marked by adversity, physical limitations, and economic hardships. However, she finds beauty and meaning in the love and support she received from her grandmother, and despite her challenges, she continues to navigate life with resilience and determination.

Grammar I

A. Read the conversation below and underline the relative clauses used in it.

Swikriti: Abdul, look at this photo.

Abdul: Is this Sahara, the girl who plays the piano?

Swikriti: No, this is Reema, the girl who won the singing competition last year.

Abdul I know her, She is the girl who has long brown hair.

B. Fill in the gaps With the correct relative pronouns.

a. I admired the player....whose .... performance was fantastic.

b. We had some juice ...which.... was in the fridge.

c. She didn't tell her teacher about her problem ...which...was her mistake.

d. My mother,......who.... is farmer, grows a lot of vegetables.

e. You are my friend...who..... I want to sit with.

f. I want to help those children ...whose....economic condition is very bad.

g. This is the road ....where.... the accident took place.

h. The mobile phone, ..which......I bought six years ago, is still working.

i. It was in 2015 .....when....the earthquake hit Nepal badly.

j. Marima is a wonderful lady .....whom..everyone can trust.

C. Join the following pairs of sentences as in the example.

a. The letter, which my friend sent from abroad, reached me this morning.

b. This is the palace that Bhimsen built. 

c. The boy who committed cyber crime was sent to jail by the judge.

d. He is a liar whom you should not believe.

e. I know an artist who moves with an artificial leg.

f. Bring me the file which is about our new project.

g. We met a girl who had lost her way.

h. I saw a soldier whose bravery impressed everyone.

i. Once upon a time, there lived a giant in a forest where nobody dared to go.

j. The dog took away the ball that the kids were playing.

Writing

Write a short biography of Nepali literary figure Til Bikram Nembang Limbu aka Bairagi Kainla. Use the outlines given below.

Birth: August 9, 1939- Panchthar, Nepal

Education : Bachelor's Arts — learnt letters at home- taught by local teachers

Publications : Bairagi Kainlaka Kavitaharu, Sappok-Chomen: Limbu Jatima Kokh-Puja, Nawacoit Mundhum and others

Contributions : Poet, former Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, pioneer of Tesro Aavam   [Third Dimension] movement

Awards:  Jagdamba Shree Award, 2076 B.S. - Sajha Puraskar, 2031 B.S. , Vishist Shrasta Samman, B.S. 20686, etc.

Answer

Til Bikram Nembang Limbu [Bairagi Kainla]

Til Bikram Nembang Limbu, popularly known as Bairagi Kainla, was a prominent literary figure hailing from Nepal. He was born on August 9, 1939, in the district of Panchthar, Nepal.

Bairagi Kainla received his primary education at home, where he learned the fundamentals of letters under the guidance of local teachers. His thirst for knowledge and passion for literature led him to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Arts.

Throughout his illustrious career, Bairagi Kainla made significant contributions to the field of literature. He authored several acclaimed publications, including "Bairagi Kainlaka Kavitaharu," "Sappok-Chomen: Limbu Jatima Kokh-Puja," and "Nawacoit Mundhum," among others. His writings delved into a wide range of themes, reflecting his deep understanding of Nepali culture, spirituality, and social issues.

Beyond his literary accomplishments, Bairagi Kainla also held prestigious positions in the Nepalese literary landscape. He served as the Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, playing a pivotal role in promoting and preserving the rich literary heritage of the country. Moreover, he was recognized as a pioneer of the Tesro Aavam (Third Dimension) movement, a literary movement that sought to explore new perspectives and break conventional boundaries in Nepali literature.

Bairagi Kainla's immense contributions to literature garnered him numerous accolades and awards. He was the recipient of the esteemed Jagdamba Shree Award in 2076 B.S., Sajha Puraskar in 2031 B.S., and the Vishist Shrasta Samman in 2068 B.S., among others. These honors not only celebrated his literary prowess but also acknowledged his profound impact on the cultural landscape of Nepal.

Til Bikram Nembang Limbu, widely known as Bairagi Kainla, left an indelible mark on Nepali literature through his insightful writings, leadership, and commitment to expanding the horizons of literary expression. His works continue to inspire and captivate readers, preserving the rich cultural heritage of Nepal for generations to come.