A Visit to Cambridge
“A Visit to Cambridge” describes a memorable meeting between writer Firdaus Kanga and world-famous scientist Stephen Hawking. Both are differently abled and move in wheelchairs. When Kanga learns that Hawking lives in Cambridge, he requests to meet him. In their short conversation, Hawking speaks through his computer voice, explaining that he has “no choice” but to live with his disability. Kanga feels inspired by Hawking’s courage, brilliance, and inner strength. Hawking advises disabled people to focus on what they are good at. The meeting deeply moves Kanga, showing him the true meaning of determination and the beauty of the human spirit. The visit becomes a life-changing moment for him.
📌 हिंदी अनुवाद
“ए विज़िट टू कैम्ब्रिज” में लेखक फिरदौस कंगा की प्रसिद्ध वैज्ञानिक स्टीफन हॉकिंग से मुलाकात का वर्णन है। दोनों ही दिव्यांग हैं और व्हीलचेयर पर चलते हैं। कैम्ब्रिज पहुँचकर कंगा को पता चलता है कि हॉकिंग वहीं रहते हैं, तो वह उनसे मिलने की अनुमति लेते हैं। बातचीत के दौरान हॉकिंग अपने कंप्यूटर की मदद से बोलते हैं और बताते हैं कि वे अपनी स्थिति से बच नहीं सकते। कंगा उनके साहस, प्रतिभा और आंतरिक शक्ति से प्रेरित होते हैं। हॉकिंग दिव्यांग लोगों को सलाह देते हैं कि उन्हें उसी काम पर ध्यान देना चाहिए जिसमें वे अच्छे हों। यह मुलाकात कंगा के लिए अत्यंत प्रेरणादायक और जीवन बदल देने वाली साबित होती है।
Word Meanings with Hindi Translation
Here are some important words from the text with their meanings and Hindi translations:
Disabled (विकलांग): Having a physical or mental condition that limits movements, senses, or activities. (शारीरिक या मानसिक स्थिति होना जो गतिविधियों, इंद्रियों या क्रियाओं को सीमित करती है।)
Differently Abled (विशेष रूप से सक्षम): A term used to describe people with disabilities, focusing on their abilities rather than limitations. (विकलांग लोगों का वर्णन करने के लिए इस्तेमाल किया जाने वाला शब्द, उनकी सीमाओं के बजाय उनकी क्षमताओं पर ध्यान केंद्रित करता है।)
Paralysis (लकवा): The loss of the ability to move (and sometimes to feel anything) in part or most of the body. (शरीर के कुछ या अधिकांश हिस्से में हिलने-डुलने (और कभी-कभी महसूस करने) की क्षमता का नुकसान।)
Confines (सीमित करना): To keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of space, scope, or time. (किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु को स्थान, दायरे या समय की कुछ सीमाओं के भीतर रखना या प्रतिबंधित करना।)
Wheelchair (पहिये वाली कुर्सी): A chair fitted with wheels, used by people who cannot walk because of illness, injury, or disability. (पहियों से सुसज्जित कुर्सी, जिसका उपयोग बीमारी, चोट या विकलांगता के कारण चल न सकने वाले लोग करते हैं।)
Brittle bones (भंगुर हड्डियाँ): A condition where bones are unusually fragile and break easily. (एक ऐसी स्थिति जिसमें हड्डियाँ असामान्य रूप से नाजुक होती हैं और आसानी से टूट जाती हैं।)
Astrophysicist (खगोल भौतिक विज्ञानी): A scholar of astrophysics, a branch of physics dealing with stars, planets, etc. (खगोल भौतिकी का विद्वान, भौतिकी की एक शाखा जो सितारों, ग्रहों आदि से संबंधित है।)
Metaphor (रूपक): A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. (एक अलंकार जिसमें एक शब्द या वाक्यांश को किसी ऐसी वस्तु या क्रिया पर लागू किया जाता है जिस पर वह शाब्दिक रूप से लागू नहीं होता है।)
Successor (उत्तराधिकारी): A person or thing that succeeds another. (एक व्यक्ति या वस्तु जो दूसरे के बाद आती है।)
Propelled (प्रेरित करना/धकेलना): To drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction. (किसी विशेष दिशा में चलाना, धकेलना या गति देना।)
Buoyant (उत्प्लावन/प्रफुल्लित): Able to float easily; cheerful and optimistic. (आसानी से तैरने में सक्षम; हंसमुख और आशावादी।)
Disembodied (अशरीरी): Existing without a body. (बिना शरीर के अस्तित्व में होना।)
Disintegrating (क्षय होना/टूट जाना): Breaking up into small parts as a result of impact or decay. (प्रभाव या क्षय के परिणामस्वरूप छोटे-छोटे टुकड़ों में टूट जाना।)
Anguish (पीड़ा/व्यथा): Severe mental or physical pain or suffering. (गंभीर मानसिक या शारीरिक दर्द या पीड़ा।)
Corpses (शव): A dead body, especially of a human being. (एक मृत शरीर, विशेषकर मनुष्य का।)
Chronically (पुरानी रूप से): In a persistent and recurring way. (लगातार और बार-बार होने वाले तरीके से।)
Patronise/Patronize (संरक्षण देना/कृपा करना): To treat with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority. (स्पष्ट दया के साथ व्यवहार करना जो श्रेष्ठता की भावना को दर्शाता है।)
Torso (धड़): The upper part of the body. (शरीर का ऊपरी हिस्सा।)
Incandescence (प्रदीप्ति/चमक): Light produced by high temperature; inner glow or light. (उच्च तापमान द्वारा उत्पन्न प्रकाश; आंतरिक चमक या प्रकाश।)
Accessory (सहायक/गौण): A thing that can be added to something else to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive, but is not essential. (एक ऐसी चीज जिसे किसी और चीज में जोड़ा जा सकता है ताकि वह अधिक उपयोगी, बहुमुखी या आकर्षक लगे, लेकिन वह आवश्यक नहीं है।)
Inflection (स्वर-परिवर्तन): A change in the pitch or tone of a person’s voice. (किसी व्यक्ति की आवाज की पिच या स्वर में परिवर्तन।)
Exhilaration (उत्साह/प्रसन्नता): A feeling of great happiness and excitement. (बहुत खुशी और उत्तेजना की भावना।)
Cliché (घिसी-पिटी बात): A phrase or idea used so often that it loses its meaning. (एक वाक्यांश या विचार जिसका इतनी बार उपयोग किया गया है कि उसका अर्थ समाप्त हो गया है।)
Claustrophobic (संकुचित/घुटन भरा): Feeling distress from being in a confined or narrow space. (एक सीमित या संकीर्ण स्थान में होने से संकट महसूस करना।)
Gleefully (प्रसन्नतापूर्वक): With great delight. (बहुत खुशी के साथ।)
Embodiment (अवतार/प्रतिरूप): A tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling. (किसी विचार, गुण या भावना का मूर्त या दृश्यमान रूप।)
Extracted Questions with Answers
Comprehension Check (Page 5)
1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.
(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.
(iii) Cambridge was the real England.
Answer: (iii) Cambridge was the real England.
2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
(i) from the nearest phone booth.
(ii) from outside a phone booth.
(iii) from inside a phone booth.
Answer: (ii) from outside a phone booth. (He almost tore the cord so it could reach him outside).
3. Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
(i) he wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.
(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
(iii) he was face to face with a legend.
Answer: (ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.
4. “I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
(i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.
(ii) standing up, walking.
(iii) speaking, writing.
Answer: (i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist. (The context is his appreciation of these small movements, contrasting with his inability to walk or stand).
Working with the Text (Page 5-6)
Here are the same original questions with easy English answers (20–30 words each). I have not changed any question:
Comprehension Check
1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,
Answer: The writer felt that Cambridge showed him the true picture of England, including its culture, people, and real way of life in a simple and clear manner.
2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house
Answer: The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house from outside the phone booth because the wire was short and his wheelchair could not go inside.
3. Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because
Answer: The writer felt guilty because Stephen Hawking had to use his special voice machine again and again to speak, which caused him trouble and tiredness.
4. “I felt a huge relief… in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to
Answer: The words refer to small body movements like shifting the wheelchair and turning the wrist, which the writer could still do easily without difficulty.
Working with the Text
1. (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
Answer: Yes, the writer felt nervous and weak because he was going to meet a world-famous scientist who had achieved great success despite his serious physical disability.
1. (ii) Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?
Answer: Yes, he felt very excited because Stephen Hawking’s life inspired him and showed that even a disabled person can achieve great success in life.
2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.
Answer: The writer first asked Stephen Hawking if he felt happy inside and laughed often, even though many people believed that disabled people were always unhappy.
3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
Answer: Yes, the writer felt that Hawking had a choice. He believed Hawking chose to live bravely, positively, and creatively despite his physical suffering.
4. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?
Answer: The anguish was Hawking’s pain, tiredness, and struggle to speak using only a small switch with his hand, which made communication slow and difficult.
5. What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
Answer: The writer admired Hawking for his honest nature, sharp mind, strong spirit, and great intelligence, which made him truly beautiful beyond physical appearance.
6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?
Answer: The most beautiful sentence is: “Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man.”
7. (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?
Answer: The ‘walls’ of the lantern refer to Stephen Hawking’s weak and disabled physical body which covered his powerful mind inside.
7. (ii) What is housed within the thin walls?
Answer: Inside the thin walls is housed Stephen Hawking’s bright mind, great intelligence, strong spirit, and powerful thoughts that make him truly special.
7. (iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
Answer: The writer concludes that a person’s real strength lies in the mind and spirit, not in the physical body, which is only an outer covering.
8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Answer: Stephen Hawking’s message is that disabled people should focus on what they are good at and use their talents instead of feeling sad about their weakness.
9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Answer: The guitar incident shows that the writer wasted time on something he was not good at. It supports Hawking’s idea of focusing on one’s real strength.
10. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
Answer: The writer is grateful because Hawking helped him accept his own life and body and showed him that physical weakness does not stop true success.
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