Memoirs of a Chota Sahib [AHSEC Class 12 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

Memoirs of a Chota Sahib 
[AHSEC Class 12 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

About the Author

John Rowntree was the last British Senior Conservator of forests of Assam. He left Shillong with his family a few days after independence and returned to England where he took up work as a journalist and media commentator.

Brief Summary

The lesson is an excerpt from his book 'A Chota Sahib: Memoirs of a Forest Officer', a light-hearted account of the times in Guwahati and it's neighbouring areas on the event of independence as seen through the eyes of a British forest officer. The lesson starts with the arrival of the author in Guwahati after a long journey. He goes on to describe the surrounding of the bungalow allotted to him on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. The North and South banks are elaborately described in terms of its terrain, flora and fauna. The difficulty of travelling in monsoon are also touched upon. The lesson concludes with a description of the two official bungalows at Kulsi and Rajapara.

Paragraph wise Summary

Arrival in Gauhati

The author arrived in Gauhati as winter was setting in and made his first home on the banks of the Brahmaputra. The bungalow had recently a coat of fresh limewash. A raised portico in the front served as a carport, and the veranda on top gave a splendid view of the river, and it's shipping, and beyond the Himalayas. Peacock Island lay in the foreground, with the dome of a temple visible through trees. As winter progressed, the river Brahmaputra shrank, reducing the distance between the mainland and Peacock Island. By the end of the hot weather, only a narrow dividing channel remained. Gauhati was the port of entry into Assam, but most travellers passed through on their way between Calcutta and Shillong or to districts further up the valley. Occasionally they stayed overnight, and at times there were unusual visitors like a tiger washed up by a flood. Kamrup district extended to both banks of the river.

North Bank

The North Bank was a vast, remote stretch of flat land between the sandbanks of the Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills. Here, the rivers dried up in hot weather. Sometimes in the camp, they dug for water, which was dirty and had to be cleaned by dropping alum in the bucket. There were bheels with wildfowl, peafowl and a few rhinos. The rivers are filled with Mahseer fish. The Governor's Christmas camps were also organized on the banks of the river. This place was also home to the Assam cheetal. The author once glimpsed a female sloth bear carrying her cub on her back. On the middle of the wilds, a European had leased land from the forest department to grow simul trees. To protect them from the deer, they had put up electric fencing. They did not meet with much success as the deer just jumped over it. The author, on the other hand, received the full jolt of the electric current. The North Bank was delightful in cold weather but best avoided in the rainy season, as it was a hotbed of malaria at the time. 

Monsoon Travel

Travelling during monsoon could be problematic as rivers would flood and bridges washed away. The bamboo bridges creaked alarmingly under a passing car but were immensely strong. The author narrates his experience of crossing the flooded river on his horse. He persuaded his horse to enter the water, then slipped over his croup and hung on to his tail, which he used as a rudder to navigate. Crossings were usually made in a mar boat, which was rather time-consuming. It consisted of a plank platform that covered two open boats placed side by side. These were connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river and were propelled by the force of the current. This device worked well with constant adjustments made because of the rise and fall of the river. Landing places had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank. During monsoon, cars could not be driven on the dirt tracks, and there were no jeeps.

Author’s Experience

Once when the author and his family were out on tour, the rains broke out and driving became difficult. The main roads were built on top of the embankments so that they were above flood level. They were narrow and single track. The road became slippery, and after skidding, the car slithered into a paddy field six feet below the road. Paddy fields were divided into small enclosures by low banks to retain the water, and they had a bumpy ride before getting back on the road. At the start of their trip, the roads had been dry and under a cloud of dust. At one place, road work was in progress, and a six-inch-high ramp lay on the road concealed by the dust. The car hit it, and the impact was considerable. There were several of them in the car and being packed like a tin of sardines probably saved their bones.

Bungalows at Rajapara and Kulsi

The South Bank was more homely with a smaller terrain and involved shorter distances. The reserve forests were confined to one block. There were low hills and valleys, trees interspersed with villages and cultivation and the forest resembled an English woodland. There were two comfortable forest bungalows at their service, one at Kulsi and another at Rajapara. The bungalow at Kulsi was on a wooded spur above the river. The one at Rajapara was in a clearing. Bats lived in the roof here, and there were constant bat droppings and the fusty smell of bat. The tree outside was inhabited by huge fruit-eating bats. Nearby, there was a large bheel, filled with water. It was an eerie spot with tree skeletons rising out of the water. Yet, Rajapara was a pleasant place to work in, and the paddy fields were sunny and open places. Kulsi was the author's favourite. The bungalow was surrounded by teak plantations. There was a rubber plantation of Ficuselastica, nearby. The rubber was not tapped since Indian rubber was not commercially viable. Ficus Elastica grows to a huge size, having started life as climbing epiphytes on other trees, with the host tree eventually dying and the epiphyte taking over.

Also Read: English AHSEC Class 12 Chapterwise Notes

Answer the following questions : 1 Marks

1. Who is the ‘Chota Sahib’ in the ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’?        2015 2018

Ans. The ‘Chota Sahib’ is John Rowntree, the last British senior conservator of the forests of Assam.

2. What position did John Rowntree hold before leaving Shillong a few days after independence? 2016 2020

Ans. Before leaving Shillong, a few days after Independence, John Rowntree held the post of senior conservator of the forests of Assam.

3. Name the book from where the lesson is an excerpt.         2019

Ans. The lesson is an excerpt from the book, ‘ A Chota Sahib: Memoirs of a Forest Officer', by John Rowntree.

4. Where did John Rowntree and his family make their first home at Gauhati?        2017

Ans. John Rowntree and his family made their first home on the banks of the river Brahmaputra.

5. How did John Rowntree find the weather when he arrived at Gauhati?         2018

Ans. When John Rowntree arrived at Gauhati, he found the weather bearable, and winter had already begun.

6. What did the Public Works Department do to the bungalow for John Rowntree?

Ans. The Public Works Department had given the walls of the bungalow a fresh coat of limewash and painted the woodworks with earth oil.

7. Where was the Hindu temple mentioned by John Rowntree located?

Ans. The Hindu temple mentioned by Rowntree was located at Peacock Island.

8. What did the author expect to discover at Peacock Island?

Ans. Going by its name, the author expected to discover peacocks at Peacock Island.

9. What animals did the author discover in Peacock Island?

Ans. The author discovered monkeys on Peacock Island.

10. What happens to the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland in the cold weather?

Ans. In cold weather, the Brahmaputra river shrinks and the distance between Peacock Island and the mainland grows lesser, and only a narrow dividing channel remained.

11. At what time of the year was the North Bank ‘delightful’?

Ans. The North Bank was ‘delightful’ in winter, during the cold weather.

12. How did Rowntree come to know that a tiger had visited the compound of his bungalow at Gauhati?

Ans. Rowntree came to know that a tiger had visited the compound of his bungalow at Gauhati by its traceable pug marks visible in the compound.

13. What are Mahseers that Rowntree discovered in the river?

Ans. Rowntree discovered Mahseers in the river. Mahseers are large edible freshwater fish of the carp family.

14. What are bheels referred to by Rowntree?

Ans. Bheels are land that is covered mostly with water.

15. What was the delightful sight of she sloth-bear that the author had once witnessed?

Ans. Once the author had witnessed a delightful sight of she sloth-bear carrying her cuddlesome cub on her back.

16. At what season was the North Bank of Kamrup District affected by malaria?

Ans. The North Bank of Kamrup district was affected by malaria in monsoon, during the rainy season.

17. What are ghats?

Ans. Ghats are descending paths or stairways to a river.

18. With what does Rowntree compare a sal forest?

Ans. Rowntree compares the sal forest to an English woodland.

19. Why did Rowntree like the forest bungalow at Kulsi?

Ans. The author John Rowntree liked the bungalow at Kulsi because it was located on a wooded spur above the river and surrounded by teak plantations.

20. What are epiphytes?

Ans. Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants. They are not parasitic and derive their nutrients from the air, rain, water or debris accumulated around it.

21. Why couldn't first-class teak be produced in the teak plantations in Assam?

Ans. Growth in the Assam climate was too rapid for the first-class teak to be produced in the teak plantations in Assam.

22. What kind of literary account is John Rowntree’s work ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’?

Ans. John Rowntree’s work ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’ is a memoir.  A memoir is a collection of memories that an individual writes about. It includes moments or events, both public and personal, that took place in a person’s life.

23. Does the lesson ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’ have any relevance to the present time?

Ans.  The lesson 'Memoirs of  Chota Sahib' is relevant to the present time as it is an account of the times in Guwahati and its neighbouring areas on the eve of Indian independence as seen through the eyes of a British forest officer.

24. Give an equivalent of the phrase,’....to cold weather was getting underway...’

Ans. The cold weather had begun.

25. What do you understand by ‘pug marks’?

Ans. Pugmarks refer to the footprint of animals. Every animal species has a distinct pugmark and this is used for identifying them.

26. Where is the ‘North Bank’ situated?

Ans. The North Bank was situated between the sandbanks of the Brahmaputra and the foothills of the Himalayas.

27. How was the underground water cleaned?

Ans. The underground water was cleaned by dropping alum into it. Alum is used to purify drinking water as a chemical flocculant.

28. ‘...never having met an electric fence before, I received the full treatment!’ What is the treatment that Rowntree received?

Ans. Rowntree got an electric shock from the electric fence rigged up by a European couple to keep out animals from their property.

29. Explain the expression,’...I forded one of these flooded rivers...’

Ans.  It means crossed a shallow place in a river by walking or driving across.

30. What is meant by ‘....slipped over his croup...’?

Ans. Croup is the top line of a horse’s hindquarters. Slipped over his croup means glided over the croup of the horse.

31. How were the ‘dirt tracks in Assam’ used during the rains?

Ans.  The ‘dirt tracks in Assam’ could not be used by normal cars during the rains.

32. Give an example of Ficus elastics found in Assam?

Ans. Ficus Elastica belonged to the fig family and several species could be found in Assam. Some grew to enormous size, having started life as an epiphyte.

Answer the following questions: 2 Marks

1. Who was John Rowntree?

Ans. John Rowntree was the last British senior conservator of the forests of Assam. After India became independent, he left Shillong with his family and returned to England and took up work as a journalist and media commentator.

2. What does Rowntree talk often in ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’?

Ans. In ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’ Rowntree speaks about Gauhati and it’s importance. It was the point of entry into Assam. It was also a point in the passage of those travelling between Calcutta and Shillong, or going to districts further up in the valley. He speaks about the problem of travelling during monsoon, the North Bank and South Bank, and the two bungalows at Kulsi and Rajapara.

3. Give a description of the bungalow at Gauhati where John Rowntree stayed.

Ans.  The walls of the bungalow were freshly painted with limewash and the woodworks were painted with earth oil. A raised portico in front served as a carport. There was a veranda on top which gave a splendid view of the river. The Himalayas were also visible with Peacock Island in the foreground.

4. Describe the scene that Rowntree could see from the veranda of his bungalow at Gauhati?    2020

Ans. The veranda of his bungalow at Gauhati gave a splendid view of the river and its shipping and beyond it the Himalayas. Peacock Island could be seen in the foreground and the dome of a Hindu temple was visible through the trees.

5. Give a brief description of Peacock Island.         2014 2016 2019

Ans. Peacock Island is a small island in the midst of the river Brahmaputra. Though it is called Peacock Island, the author could not see any peacocks there. He could only see a lot of monkeys on the island. There is a Hindu temple also on the island, the dome of which is visible from the veranda of the author’s bungalow.

6. What does Rowntree state about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland?      2015

Ans. Rowntree states a commonly held belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland..  If the channel ever dried up completely, it would mean the end of the British Raj. It almost dried up in some years but he wasn't sure if it had completely dried up in 1947 because he wasn't in Gauhati at the time.

7. What unusual visitor did Rowntree have in his bungalow one night?         2018

Ans.  Rowntree had an unusual visitor to his bungalow one night. The visitor was a tiger, who had been washed up by a flood. The fact that it was a tiger could be ascertained from its pugmarks which were clearly traceable in the compound of the bungalow.

8. How is Rowntree’s account relevant to the present time?

Ans. Rowntree's account, 'Memoirs of a Chota Sahib,' is relevant to the present time as it is an account of the times in Guwahati and its neighbouring areas on the eve of Indian independence as seen through the eyes of a British forest officer. 

9. What happened to the Brahmaputra at the end of the hot weather?

Ans. At the end of the hot weather, the Brahmaputra would shrink visibly, reducing the distance between the mainland and Peacock Island. The shrinking would begin to happen as the cold weather advanced. 

10. What ‘delightful sight’ did the author once witness?

Ans. The author once witnessed the delightful sight of she sloth-bear carrying its cuddlesome cub on its back. The author had seen this sight on the North Bank of the Kamrup district.

11. What does Rowntree say about the river banks in the Manas sanctuary?         2017

Ans. The river banks in the Manas sanctuary were a favourite site for the Governor to hold Christmas camps.  It used to be John Rowntree's task to set up those camps, and at times for his efforts, he used to receive a letter of appreciation from the Governor.

12. What is a mar boat, and how is it operated?         2019

Ans. A mar boat comprised of a plank platform covering two open boats placed side by side. These were operated by either paddling across the river or were connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river. They were propelled from one side to the other by the force of the current.

13. Give a description of the forest bungalow at Kulsi?

Ans. The forest bungalow at Kulsi was the author’s favourite. It was located on a wooded spur above the river. The bungalow was surrounded by teak plantations. There was a rubber plantation also close by.

14. Why did Rowntree dislike the forest bungalow at Rajapara?

Ans. Rowntree disliked the forest bungalow at Rajapara because of the presence of bats. Bats lived in the roof, and their droppings were a constant reminder of their presence, and the fusty smell of bat was always there. The tree outside the bungalow was the abode(residence) of huge fruit-eating bats.

15. Why had no tapping taken place for some years in the rubber plantation near Kulsi?

Ans. The rubber grown in the plantation near Kulsi was of the species Ficus Elastica. It was no competition to para rubber, which was more viable commercially and it is for this reason tapping had not taken place.

16. How important was Guwahati at the time of Rowntree’s stay there?

Ans. Gauhati was a place of importance during Rowntree's time. As the headquarters of Kamrup district, it served as a point of entry into Assam and the neighbouring states. Most travellers on their way between Calcutta and Shillong or to districts further up the valley passed through Gauhati.

17. What did they have to do to get clean water in the camp?

Ans.  They had to dig for water sometimes in the camp. The water used to be very dirty and had to be cleaned by dropping alum in the bucket to precipitate the mud.

18. What was the incident concerning Rowntree and the electric fencing?

Ans. A European couple had put up electric fencing on their property to keep away deer and other animals that may trespass. Rowntree was unaware of this, and he received the full jolt of electricity when he came in contact with the fence. The fence did not succeed in keeping the deer out since they merely jumped over it, but it proved hazardous for Rowntree.

19. How did the author regard the South Bank?

Ans. The author regarded the South Bank as more homely in comparison to the North Bank. Distances were less, and the terrain was small. The land comprised low hills and valleys. The forest, mostly of sal reminded the author of an English woodland.

20. What according to Rowntree was the difficulty inherent in travelling anywhere in Assam during the rains?

Ans. Travelling anywhere in Assam during the rains caused a lot of problems. The rivers used to flood, and the bridges used to be washed away. The dirt tracks could not be used by ordinary cars in the monsoon and remained inaccessible. They could be motored on with a jeep, but there were no jeeps at that time.

21. What was 'mar'?

Ans.  A 'mar' was a ferry, comprising of a plank platform covering two open boats placed side by side. These were operated by either paddling across the river or were connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river. They were propelled from one side to the other by the force of the current. 

22. What does Rowntree state about the large ‘Bheel’ close to the bungalow at Rajapara?     2015

Ans. Rowntree states that close to the bungalow at Rajapara, there was a large 'Bheel' where an earthquake had once lowered the surface. The land had flooded with water. It was an eerie ( strange and frightening) spot, and there were still tree skeletons rising out of the water, as a reminder that it had once been dry land.

23. Why are ‘...crossings made in a mar boat, a tedious performance at the best of times’?

Ans. Crossings made in a mar boat were a tedious performance at the best of times. Constant adjustments had to be made to allow for the rise and fall of the rivers, for the mar boats to work. A series of ghats or landing places had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank.

24. Why did Rowntree not see the ramp on the road?

Ans. On the day that Rowntree was travelling, the roads were very dry, and the surface was almost invisible under a cloud of dust. At a certain place, road work was in progress and there was a six-inch ramp on the road. It could not be seen under the cloud of dust, and there was no warning sign either.

26. What was Rowntree’s comment regarding the accident that occurred on the road in the North Bank as the car in which he was travelling with his family, hit the ramp?

Ans. When the car, that Rowntree and his family were travelling in, hit the ramp, the impact was considerable. The car was packed like a tin of sardines, and perhaps this saved them from breaking any bones. It was carrying a lot of people and camp equipment. To the credit of the motor engineers of those days, not a single spring was broken, and the car was intact.

27. Why was the South Bank considered to be more homely?

Ans. In the South Bank, the terrain was smaller and the distances much lesser. It was a place of low hills and valleys. The trees were interspersed with villages and cultivation. The forest was mostly of sal trees. All these had the character of an English woodland making it more homely for the British forest officer.

28. What lived in a tree outside the bungalow at Rajapara?

Ans. Bats lived in a tree outside the bungalow at Rajapara. The bats were huge with a wingspan of five feet. They set out at dusk in search of food and glided silently through the air like ghost shapes.

29. What is 'Ficus elastica’?

Ans. Ficus Elastica was a variety of rubber. This was grown in the plantation near the bungalow at Kulsi. It belonged to the fig family and several species could be found in Assam. Some grew to enormous size, having started life as an epiphyte.

Answer the following questions: 5 Marks

1. What belief concerning the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland does Rowntree refer to? 

Ans. In the lesson, ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’, the author John Rowntree refers to a commonly held belief, about the dividing channel.  During winter, the Brahmaputra shrank and the distance between Peacock Island and the mainland got reduce. By the end of the hot weather, only a narrow dividing channel remained. A belief prevailed that if ever the channel dried up completely, it would mean the end of British Raj in India. The author does not know whether the channel dried up completely in 1947 when India became independent from British rule. He did not live in Gauhati when India became independent.

2. What importance of Gauhati for people travelling into Assam does John Rowntree refer to? The statement true in our time today also?

Ans. Guwahati was a very important place for people travelling into the state of Assam. It was a place of strategical importance, as it was the port of entry into Assam. It also served as an important junction for those travelling further ahead. It was also a point in the passage of those travelling between Calcutta and Shillong, or going to districts further up in the valley. Sometimes, some of these people stayed overnight and proceeded further towards their destination the next day. Gauhati was also the headquarters of Kamrup district. The Kamrup district extended to both banks of the river, the North Bank and the South Bank.

The statement is not true in our time today. Now Guwahati is not only the headquarter of Kamrup district, but it is also the headquarter as well as the capital of Assam. There is now no more forest areas or heels as mentioned by the author. It is now filled with houses and structures of concrete. 

3. Describe the character of the North Bank of Kamrup district referred to in the lesson?

Ans. The North Bank was vast and stretched between the sandbanks of the Brahmaputra and the foothills of the Himalayas. Here the rivers dried up in hot weather or suddenly disappeared under the ground. The narrator says that sometimes they had hard times for water. They had to dig for water, which was so dirty that it had to be cleaned by dropping into the bucket to precipitate the mud. There were numerous bheels filled with wildfowl and peafowl strutting(walked through) the grass. The Manas sanctuary was home to a few rhinoceros.  The rivers teemed with the edible freshwater fish mahseer. This was also the habitat of the Assam Cheetal or spotted deer.  The author could see delightful sights in nature like she sloth-bear carrying its cuddlesome cub on its back.  The North Bank was delightful in winter, but in monsoon, it became a hotbed of malaria. Travelling in monsoon also posed a lot of problems. Rivers flooded and the bridges were washed away. Mar boats used to be used for river crossings. The dirt tracks could not be used by ordinary cars.

4. What information does Rowntree give about Manas Wild Life Sanctuary?

Ans. Manas wildlife sanctuary or Manas National Park is situated at the foot of the Himalayas in the north eastern state of Assam and is home to a great variety of wildlife. It is a biodiversity hotspot. The information the author John Rowntree gives about Manas Wild Life is that it borders the state of Bhutan. It is home to a few rhinos. The rivers teemed with the edible freshwater fish mahseer. This was also the habitat (home) of the Assam Cheetal or spotted deer.  The author could see delightful sights in nature like she sloth-bear carrying its cuddlesome cub on its back.  

5. Relate the author’s reminiscence of the bats at Rajapara.

                                                    Or

Whose presence troubled the author at the bungalow at Rajapara and in what way?

Ans. The author remembers life at the bungalow at Rajapara with mixed feelings. Life there would have been very charming if bats were not present there. The bats lived in the roof, and their droppings were a constant reminder of their presence. The fusty smell of bats always remained in the air. There was a tree outside the bungalow which was the dwelling place of huge fruit-eating bats. They had a wingspan of five feet. They used to set out at dusk in search of food. The author remembers them as a host of ghostly shapes gliding ( move smoothly)  through the air on silent wings.

6. What enterprise had the European and his wife ventured into? Was it profitable?

Ans.  A European and his wife had leased a piece of land from the forest department to grow simul trees. There was a match factory nearby and they wanted to supply simul timber for the manufacture of match sticks.  There was a lot of deer in the vicinity, and the couple had put up electric fencing around their property. This was done to keep the deer out. This action of theirs did not meet with much success as the deer were not deterred by the fence. They merely jumped over it.  The author states that their venture was not a very profitable one.

7. What characteristic did the North Bank take on during the rainy season?

Ans. The North Bank took on a different character during the rainy season. Travelling during monsoon could be problematic as rivers would flood and bridges washed away. The bamboo bridges creaked alarmingly under a passing car but were immensely strong. The author narrates his experience of crossing the flooded river on his horse. He persuaded his horse to enter the water, then slipped over his croup and hung on to his tail, which he used as a rudder to navigate. Crossings were usually made in a mar boat, which was rather time-consuming. It consisted of a plank platform that covered two open boats placed side by side. These were connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river and were propelled by the force of the current. This device worked well with constant adjustments made because of the rise and fall of the river. Landing places had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank. During monsoon, cars could not be driven on the dirt tracks, and there were no jeeps.

8. How were crossings made over the river?

                                         Or

What kind of adjustment had to be made with regard to the safe crossing over in a ‘mar’ boat?

Ans. A lot of prior work and preparations had to be done to enable safe crossing over in a ‘mar’ boat Crossings over the river were made in a mar boat. A 'mar' was a ferry, comprising of a plank platform covering two open boats placed side by side. These were operated by either paddling across the river or were connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river. They were propelled from one side to the other by the force of the current. Crossings made in a mar boat were a tedious performance at the best of times. Constant adjustments had to be made to allow for the rise and fall of the river, for the mar boats to work. A series of ghats or landing places had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank.

9. Several species of which family are found in Assam? What happens to the tree around which they climb?

Ans.  Several species of Ficus elastica belonging to the fig family are found in the state of  Assam. Some of them grow to an immense size, had started life as epiphytes on other trees. Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants. They are not parasitic and derive their nutrients from the air, rain, water or debris accumulated around it. Finally, the host tree is surrounded by the ficus which forms a smooth bark around it. The host dies and the epiphyte takes over.

10. What does Rowntree state about the importance of Gauhati? Is the statement true in our time today?

Ans. Guwahati was a very important place for people travelling into the state of Assam. It was a place of strategical importance, as it was the port of entry into Assam. It also served as an important junction for those travelling further ahead. It was also a point in the passage of those travelling between Calcutta and Shillong, or going to districts further up in the valley. Sometimes, some of these people stayed overnight and proceeded further towards their destination, the next day. Gauhati was also the headquarters of Kamrup district. The Kamrup district extended to both banks of the river, the North Bank and the South Bank. Gauhati is important today also. It is the largest city of Assam. The region is host to diverse wildlife including rare animals. Gauhati is a fast-growing city and offers beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate, apartments and bungalows. It is also one of the major educational hubs in the North East.

11. Describe Rowntree’s experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback.

Ans. Travelling in Assam, during the rainy season, was filled with difficulties and posed a lot of problems. The dirt tracks became unusable by ordinary cars. Only jeeps could have accessed it and there were no jeeps at the time. The rivers used to flood over and the bamboo bridges were washed away. The author recalls an experience when he crossed a flooded river on horseback. Once, the narrator was crossing a flooded river on horseback. With difficulty, he persuaded his horse to plunge into the water, then slopped over his croup and hung on to his tail, which he was able to use as a rudder. When the narrator pushed the horse to the right, it veered to the left and when he pushed to the left, the horse veered to the right and in this way, eventually, they made a safe landing on the other side of the river.

12. Relate Rowntree’s experience of the road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank.

Or

     What was the incident involving the author and his family while driving just before the rains broke?

Ans. Once Rowntree and his family were on a tour in the North Bank. The rains broke out suddenly and though the roads were motorable, driving became difficult and dangerous. Most of the main roads were built on top of embankments so that they could stand above normal flood level. The roads were narrow and single track. The road that they were travelling on, became slippery.  The car started skidding and finally slithered into a paddy field six feet below the road. Paddy fields were divided into small enclosures by low banks to retain the water and they had a bumpy ride before getting back on the road. At the start of their trip, the roads had been dry and under a cloud of dust. At one place, road work was in progress and a six-inch-high ramp lay on the road concealed by the dust. The car hit it and the impact was considerable. There were several of them in the car and being packed like a tin of sardines probably saved their bones. The author recalls this as one of the bumpiest rides he ever had.

13. What observation does Rowntree make about Assam teak in relation to Burma standards?

Ans. Rowntree gives a description of his bungalow at Kulsi. The bungalow was surrounded by teak plantations. The trees were planted sixty years before and were on the verge of maturity. Growth in the Assam climate was too rapid to produce the first-class teak. This local variety was useful for furniture, but it did not match up to the standards of Burma teak. Burmese teak wood is of very good quality and high standards compared to other teak wood. Burma also accounts for a high percentage of naturally occurring teak. So, though the teak in the teak plantations is of a useful variety, Rowntree finds it lacking in comparison to Burma teak wood.

14. Relate Rowntree’s experiences of floods in Assam. 2018

Ans. Travelling in Assam, during the rainy season, was filled with difficulties and posed a lot of problems. The dirt tracks became unusable by ordinary cars. Only jeeps could have accessed it, and there were no jeeps at that time. The rivers used to flood over, and the bamboo bridges were washed away. The author recalls an experience when he crossed a flooded river on horseback. It was with great difficulty that he persuaded his horse to plunge into the water. He slipped over the croup of his horse and hung on to its tail. Rowntree used the tail of the horse as a rudder to control the movements of the horse. When he pushed it to the right, the horse turned to the left, and on pushing the tail to the left, the horse veered to the right side. In this way, they made progress through the flooded river and eventually reached the other side of the river safely.

Mar boats were another form of travel in monsoon. Crossings over the river were made in a mar boat. A 'mar' was a ferry, comprising of a plank platform covering two open boats placed side by side. These were operated by either paddling across the river or were connected by a running cable to another stretched across the river. They were propelled from one side to the other by the force of the current. Crossings made in a mar boat were a tedious performance at the best of times. Constant adjustments had to be made to allow for the rise and fall of the rivers, for the mar boats to work. A series of ghats or landing places had to be constructed at different levels on the river bank.

Another interesting experience, Rowntree had during floods was an unusual visitor to his bungalow- a tiger washed up by a flood. Its pug marks were clearly traceable in the compound.

16. Narrate the author’s reminiscence of the two forest bungalows he and his family stayed in in the South Bank.

Ans. There were two comfortable forest bungalows at the service of John Rowntree and his family, one at Kulsi and another at Rajapara. The bungalow at Kulsi was on a wooded spur above the river. This was the author's favourite place to reside. The bungalow was surrounded by teak plantations. There was a rubber plantation of Ficus elastica also nearby. The one at Rajapara was in a clearing. It could have very charming but for the presence of bats. Bats lived in the roof here, and there were constant bat droppings and the fusty smell of bat. The tree outside was inhabited by huge fruit-eating bats. Nearby, there was a large bheel, filled with water. It was an eerie spot with tree skeletons rising out of the water. At dusk, the bats used to set out in search of food in a silent ghostly procession. However, Rajapara was a pleasant place to work in, and the paddy fields were sunny and open places.

17. Of the two forest bungalows that the author lived in with his family, which was his favourite? Why?

Ans. There were two comfortable forest bungalows at the service of John Rowntree and his family, during his tenure as a forest officer. One bungalow was at Kulsi and another at Rajapara. The location of the bungalow at Kulsi was a delightful one. It was situated on a wooded spur above the river. This was the author’s favourite place to dwell. The bungalow was surrounded by teak plantations. The trees had been planted sixty years ago and were on the verge of maturity. There was a rubber plantation of Ficus elastica also nearby. The bungalow at Rajapara would have been charming but for the constant presence of bats. It is for this reason that the author preferred the bungalow at Kulsi to the one at Rajapara.

18. Describe the Sal forests around Kulsi at the time of Rowntree’s stay there.

Ans. In the South Bank, where Kulsi is located, the reserve forests were mostly in one block. They were not scattered in different places. The terrain comprised a beautiful combination of low hills and valleys. The trees were interspersed with villages and cultivation. It was the peaceful coexistence of man and nature. The forest had mainly sal trees, and this gave it the character of an English woodland. The author was reminded of life back home in this region.

19. Describe the author’s experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra.                      (2016)

Ans. Once, the narrator was crossing a flooded river on horseback. With difficulty, he persuaded his horse to plunge into the water, then slopped over his croup and hung on to his tail, which he was able to use as a rudder. When the narrator pushed the horse to the right, it veered to the left, and when he pushed to the left, the horse veered to the right, and in this way, eventually, they made a safe landing on the other side of the river

Exam Questions From 2012-2024

1 Marks Questions

1. Who is the ‘Chota Sahib’ in the ‘Memoirs of a Chota Sahib’? 2015  2018

2. What position did John Rowntree hold before leaving Shillong a few days after independence? 2016 2020

3. Where did John Rowntree and his family make their first home at Guwahati? 2017

3. How did John Rowntree find the weather when he arrived at Gauhati? 2018

4. Name the book from which “Memoirs of a Chota Sahib” is taken.   2019

2 Marks Questions:

1. What was the belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and the mainland of Guwahati? 2015

2. What does Round tree state about the large, 'Bheel' close to the bungalow at Rajapara? 2015

3. Give a brief description of Peacock Island. 2014 2016  2019 

4. What does Rowntree say about the river banks in the Manas Sanctuary? 2017

5. What unusual visitor did Rowntree have in his bungalow one night? 2018

6. What is a mar boat, and how is it operated?  2019          

7. Write, a brief, the scene observed by the author from the veranda of his bungalow on the bank of the river. 2020

Long Questions- 5 marks

1. Describe Rowntree’s experience of crossing a flooded river on horseback.2016

2. Relate Rowntree experiences of floods in Assam.    2018