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Before you read, Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia was a member of the first, successful Indian expedition to Mount Everest in 1965., How did he feel when he stood on the highest point in, the world? Let us hear his story in his words —, climbing the summit and, then, the more difficult task, of climbing the summit within., , Of all the emotions which surged through me as I stood, on the summit of Everest, looking over miles of, panorama below us, the dominant one I think was, humility. The physical in me seemed to say, ‘Thank, God, it’s all over!” However, instead of being jubilant,, there was a tinge of sadness. Was it because I had already, done the ‘ultimate’ in climbing and there would be, nothing higher to climb and all roads hereafter would, lead down?, By climbing the summit of Everest you are, overwhelmed by a deep sense of joy and thankfulness., It is a joy which lasts a lifetime. The experience changes, you completely. The man who has been to the mountains, is never the same again., As I look back at life after climbing Everest I cannot, help remarking about the other summit — the summit, of the mind — no less formidable and no easier to climb., , 2021–22, , surged:, arose, suddenly and, intensely, panorama:, view of a wide, area, jubilant:, very happy, because of, success, tinge:, trace/shade
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exhaustion:, fatigue;, tiredness, , exhilarating:, very exciting, communion:, , state or feeling, of close relationship, defied:, frustrated;, resisted, , 76, , Even when getting down from the summit, once the, physical exhaustion had gone, I began asking myself, the question why I had climbed Everest. Why did the, act of reaching the summit have such a hold on my, imagination? It was already a thing of the past,, something done yesterday. With every passing day, it, would become more remote. A nd then what would, remain? Would my memories fade slowly away?, A ll these thoughts led me to question myself as, to why people climb mountains. It is not easy to, answer the question. The simplest answer would, be, as others have said, “Because it is there.” It, presents great difficulties. Man takes delight in, overcoming obstacles. The obstacles in climbing a, mountain are physical. A climb to a summit means, endurance, persistence and will power. The, demonstration of these physical qualities is no doubt, exhilarating, as it was for me also., I have a more personal answer to the question. From, my childhood I have been attracted by mountains. I, had been miserable, lost, when away from mountains,, in the plains. Mountains are nature at its best. Their, beauty and majesty pose a great challenge, and like, many, I believe that mountains are a means of, communion with God., Once having granted this, the question remains: Why, Everest? Because it is the highest, the mightiest and, has defied many previous attempts. It takes the last, ounce of one’s energy. It is a brutal struggle with rock, and ice. Once taken up, it cannot be given up halfway, even when one’s life is at stake. The passage back is as, difficult as the passage onwards. And then, when the, summit is climbed, there is the exhilaration, the joy of, having done something, the sense of a battle fought, and won. There is a feeling of victory and of happiness., Glimpsing a peak in the distance, I get transported, to another world. I experience a change within myself, , Honeydew, , 2021–22
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which can only be called mystical. By its beauty,, aloofness, might, ruggedness, and the dif ficulties, encountered on the way, the peak draws me to it — as, Everest did. It is a challenge that is difficult to resist., Looking back I find that I have not, yet fully explained why I climbed, Everest. It is like answering a question, why you breathe. Why do you help your, neighbour? Why do you want to do good, acts? There is no final answer possible., And then there is the fact that Everest, is not just a physical climb. The man who, has been to the mountain-top becomes, conscious in a special manner of his own, smallness in this large universe., The physical conquest of a mountain, is only one part of the achievement., There is more to it than that. It is, followed by a sense of fulfilment. There, is the satisfaction of a deep urge to rise, above one’s surroundings. It is the, eternal love for adventure in man. The experience is not, merely physical. It is emotional. It is spiritual., Consider a typical climb, towards the summit on the, last heights. You are sharing a rope with another, climber. You firm in. He cuts the steps in the hard ice., Then he belays and you inch your way up. The climb is, grim. You strain every nerve as you take every step., Famous climbers have left records of the help given by, others. They have also recorded how they needed just, that help. Else they might have given up. Breathing is, difficult. You curse yourself for having let yourself in for, this. You wonder why you ever undertook the ascent., There are moments when you feel like going back. It, would be sheer relief to go down, instead of up. But, almost at once you snap out of that mood. There is, something in you that does not let you give up the, , mystical:, spiritual, , firm in:, make yourself, firm, belays:, fixes a rope, , ascent:, climb, , The Summit Within, , 2021–22, , 77
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make your, obeisance:, show your, obedience or, submission, , 78, , struggle. And you go on. Your companion keeps up with, you. Just another fifty feet. Or a hundred, maybe. You, ask yourself: Is there no end? You look at your, companion and he looks at you. You draw inspiration, from each other. And then, without first being aware of, it, you are at the summit., Looking round from the summit you tell yourself, that it was worthwhile. Other silvery peaks appear, through the clouds. If you are lucky the sun may be on, them. The surrounding peaks look like a jewelled, necklace around the neck of your summit. Below, you, see vast valleys sloping into the distance. It is an, ennobling, enriching experience to just look down from, the summit of a mountain. You bow down and make, your obeisance to whichever God you worship., I left on Everest a picture of Guru Nanak. Rawat left, a picture of Goddess Durga. Phu Dorji left a relic of the, Buddha. Edmund Hillary had buried a cross under a, cairn (a heap of rocks and stones) in the snow. These, are not symbols of conquest but of reverence., The experience of having, climbed to the summit, changes you completely., There is another summit., It is within yourself. It is in, your own mind. Each man, carries within himself his, own mountain peak. He, must climb it to reach to a, fuller knowledge of himself., It is fearful, and unscalable., It cannot be climbed by, anyone else. You yourself, have to do it. The physical, act of climbing to the The author and Phu-Dorji on the, summit of a mountain summit of Mount Everest, , Honeydew, , 2021–22
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outside is akin to the act of climbing the mountain, within. The effects of both the climbs are the same., Whether the mountain you climb is physical or, emotional and spiritual, the climb will certainly change, you. It teaches you much about the world and about, yourself., I venture to think that my experience as an Everester, has provided me with the inspiration to face life’s ordeals, resolutely. Climbing the mountain was a worthwhile, experience. The conquest of the internal summit is, equally worthwhile. The internal summits are, perhaps,, higher than Everest., , H.P.S. AHLUWALIA, , ordeals:, painful, experiences, resolutely:, with, determination, or firmness, , Comprehension Check, 1. Standing on Everest, the writer was, (i) overjoyed., (ii) very sad., (iii) jubilant and sad., Choose the right item., 2. The emotion that gripped him was one of, (i) victory over hurdles., (ii) humility and a sense of smallness., (iii) greatness and self importance., (iv) joy of discovery., Choose the right item., 3. “The summit of the mind” refers to, (i) great intellectual achievements., (ii) the process of maturing mentally and spiritually., (iii) overcoming personal ambition for common welfare., (iv) living in the world of thought and imagination., (v) the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause., (vi) a fuller knowledge of oneself., Mark the item(s) not relevant., , The Summit Within, , 2021–22, , 79
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1. Answer the following questions., (i) What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s, climb?, (ii) Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?, (iii) What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?, (iv) One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do, it for, really?, (v) “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in, this large universe.” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in, the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?, (vi) What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on, Everest?, (vii) What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach, him?, 2. Write a sentence against each of the following statements. Your sentence, should explain the statement. You can pick out sentences from the text and, rewrite them. The first one has been done for you., (i) The experience changes you completely., One who has been to the mountains is never the same again., (ii) Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles., _________________________________________, (iii) Mountains are nature at its best., _________________________________________, (iv) The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying., _________________________________________, (v) The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual, experience., _________________________________________, , 80, , Honeydew, , 2021–22
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1. Look at the italicised phrases and their meanings given in brackets., Mountains are nature, at its best., Your life is at risk., He was at his, best/worst in the, last meeting., , (nature’s best form and appearance), (in danger; you run the risk of losing, your life.), (it was his best/worst performance.), , Fill in the blanks in the following dialogues choosing suitable phrases, from those given in the box., at hand, , at once, , at all, , at a low ebb, , at first sight, , (i) Teacher: You were away from school without permission. Go to the, principal ________________ and submit your explanation., Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?, (ii) Arun: Are you unwell?, Ila: No, not ________________ Why do you ask?, Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle., He is a doctor., (iii) Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love ________________., David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?, (iv) Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits ________________ today?, (Use such in the phrase), Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard, before., (v) Shieba: Your big moment is close ________________., Jyoti: How should I welcome it?, Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy., 2. Write the noun forms of the following words adding -ance or -ence to each., (i) endure ________________, (ii) persist ________________, (iii) signify ________________, (iv) confide ________________, (v) maintain ________________, (vi) abhor ________________, The Summit Within, , 2021–22, , 81
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3. (i) Match words under A with their meanings under B., A, remote, means, dominant, formidable, , B, difficult to overcome, most prominent, be overcome/overpowered, method(s), , overwhelmed, , far away from, , (ii) Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words from, under A., (a) There were ________________ obstacles on the way, but we reached, our destination safely., (b) We have no ________________ of finding out what happened there., (c) Why he lives in a house ________________ from any town or village, is more than I can tell., (d) ________________ by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his, valuable advice., (e) The old castle stands in a ___________ position above the sleepy town., , Write a composition describing a visit to the hills, or any place which you found, beautiful and inspiring., Before writing, work in small groups. Discuss the points given below and, decide if you want to use some of these points in your composition., Consider this sentence, Mountains are a means of communion with God., Think of the act of worship or prayer. You believe yourself to be in the presence, of the divine power. In a way, you are in communion with that power., Imagine the climber on top of the summit—the height attained; limitless, sky above; the climber’s last ounce of energy spent; feelings of gratitude,, humility and peace., The majesty of the mountains does bring you close to nature and the, spirit and joy that lives there, if you have the ability to feel it., Some composition may be read aloud to the entire class afterwards., , 82, , Honeydew, , 2021–22
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The school boy in the poem is not a happy child. What makes, him unhappy? Why does he compare himself to a bird that lives, in a cage, or a plant that withers when it should blossom., , I love to rise in a summer morn,, When the birds sing on every tree;, The distant huntsman winds his horn,, And the skylark sings with me., O! what sweet company., But to go to school in a summer morn,, O! it drives all joy away;, Under a cruel eye outworn,, The little ones spend the day,, In sighing and dismay., Ah! then at times I drooping sit,, A nd spend many an anxious hour., Nor in my book can I take delight,, Nor sit in learning’s bower,, Worn thro’ with the dreary shower., How can the bird that is born for joy,, Sit in a cage and sing., How can a child when fears annoy,, But droop his tender wing,, And forget his youthful spring., , 2021–22
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O! Father and Mother, if buds are nip’d,, And blossoms blown away,, And if the tender plants are strip’d, Of their joy in the springing day,, By sorrow and cares dismay,, How shall the summer arise in joy,, Or the summer fruits appear?, , WILLIAM BLAKE, , nip’d: (nipped) ‘to nip something in the bud’ is to stop or, destroy it at an early stage of its development, strip’d: stripped, plants strip’d of joy: if joy is taken away from plants, , 1. Find three or four words/phrases in stanza 1 that reflect the child's, happiness and joy., 2. In stanza 2, the mood changes. Which words/phrases reflect the, changed mood?, 3. ‘A cruel eye outworn’ (stanza 2) refers to, (i) the classroom which is shabby/noisy., (ii) the lessons which are difficult/uninteresting., (iii) the dull/uninspiring life at school with lots of work and no play., Mark the answer that you consider right., 4. ‘Nor sit in learning’s bower, worn thro’ with the dreary shower’, Which of the following is a close paraphrase of the lines above?, (i) Nor can I sit in a roofless classroom when it is raining., (ii) Nor can I learn anything at school though teachers go on lecturing, and explaining., (iii) Nor can I sit in the school garden for fear of getting wet in the rain., , 84, , Honeydew, , 2021–22
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Read the following poem and compare it with The School Boy., The One Furrow, When I was young, I went to school, With pencil and footrule, Sponge and slate,, And sat on a tall stool, At learning’s gate., When I was older, the gate swung wide;, Clever and keen-eyed, In I pressed,, But found in the mind’s pride, No peace, no rest., Then who was it taught me back to go, To cattle and barrow,, Field and plough:, To keep to the one furrow,, As I do now?, R.S. THOMAS, , The Other Way Round, Quicksand works slowly., There is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger, and neither apple nor pine in pineapple., Boxing rings are square., There are noses that run and feet that smell., , The School Boy, , 2021–22, , 85
